Title: Moving On

Author: Raven Shadowrose

Rating: M

Pairing:?/?

Summary: Dixie has been left broken hearted by Cyd's departure from the Holby team, what happens when Cyd is replaced by Hannah Darbyshire and Dixie takes a liking to her. Will she end up with even more of a broken heart or will she find the happiness that she has been searching for?

Disclaimer: I do not know or own any of the characters from Casualty, all original characters and the story are my property and I do not give permission for anyone else to use this story.

Author's Note: This story will contain will contain some femslash, if you do not wish to read it then by all means back away slowly the way you came, other than that enjoy the story and reviews are appreciated :)

Thank you to chan. nelson444, olivia. c. king1 and beethovenRIP for your comments. There is a little bit of squish in this chapter, enjoy :)

Chapter Forty-Three.

Hannah looked at the photos that had joined the other ones on her wall, they were ones from the trip to Yorkshire for James' wedding. Her dad had sent her the one he'd taken of her with Dixie, it was her favourite one of them all and she had looked at it a few times since she'd framed it and put it on the wall. Dixie looked so happy on it and it made Hannah smile, they had some very good memories of the time they had spent together, she hoped that they go away together again soon. Hannah checked the strings on her guitar, Polly was coming over and they were going to play together for a while, Polly's skill had grown a great deal since she had her own guitar to practice with. Dixie was going out with Jeff for a hot chocolate, Hannah thought it was good for her to meet up with Jeff away from work. Jeff and Dixie had been friends for a long time and Hannah felt that Dixie still missed Jeff and it would do her good to spend some time with him that didn't involve them looking after patients and completing paperwork.

Dixie sat on the bed she shared with Hannah, she'd washed and dried her hair and changed into her casual clothes. She'd put on a little bit of make up and sprayed a bit of perfume onto her wrists and neck too. Dixie went to the jewellery box that had belonged to her mother, she looked through the items that were in there until her fingers brushed against the item that she was looking for. Dixie picked up the sterling silver ring with three diamonds embedded into the surface, it had been her grandmother's engagement ring. Dixie's mother had given it to her a few weeks before she died and told her to give it to the woman that she was in love with and wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Dixie remembered her grandmother Miriam and granddad George well; they were married for sixty years, maybe the ring would be good luck and she would be married to Hannah for that long. Would Hannah like the ring? Would she think it was too old fashioned? Maybe she should buy Hannah a ring instead. Dixie put the ring back in her jewellery box, she was going out with Jeff soon, maybe she could ask him what he thought.

Dixie thought back to Hannah's first couple of days working at Holby when she had treated the old man that was having a heart attack, the topic of marriage had come up and Hannah had said she wanted to be married to someone for a long time. Dixie wondered what Hannah would say if she proposed, would she say yes? She was thinking a lot about marriage and settling down, the relationship she had with Hannah was special and she really wanted to make it official. Dixie found herself taking the ring out of the box and touching it again. There was only one place that the ring belonged and that was on Hannah's finger. She jumped when she heard the knock on the door, was it that time already? Dixie quickly finished getting ready, she was going out with Jeff soon, he would be able to give her some advice on if and when she should ask Hannah about getting married.

Hannah let Jeff and Polly in when they knocked on the door, she hugged them both and followed them into the lounge after she closed the front door. 'I am glad to see you both.'

'It is nice to see you too Hannah.' Hannah smiled at Polly and sat down.

'Dixie will be down soon, she's looking forward to going out with you Jeff.'

'I am looking forward to it as well princess.' Hannah smiled and looked around as Dixie came into the lounge and hugged Jeff and then Polly. 'Hi Dixie, are you ready to go?' Jeff said.

'I am, have fun Hannah and Polly, we won't be back too late.' Hannah hugged Dixie and whispered in her ear.

'Have fun Dixie, you deserve it, go on, have a good catch up with Jeff.' She kissed Dixie and then waved at them as they got into the car. Hannah really hoped that Dixie and Jeff enjoyed themselves this evening, she loved that Dixie had a best friend like Jeff, he was good to her and she wouldn't trust anyone else to look after Dixie while they were out on shouts.

Polly had taken her guitar out of its case while Hannah had gone to wave Dixie and Jeff off, the guitar reminded her of her birthday party and the special evening that they'd shared together. It was one of her favourite memories and she often went back to it whenever she felt a little bit down or upset. Hannah came back in and picked up her own guitar from the side of the sofa. 'How are you Polly?'

'A bit tired, it feels as if it has been a long week.'

'Indeed it has, nights are hard work, at least we have some time off now.'

'I love the job we do but I appreciate time off too.' Polly gently plucked a few of the strings on the guitar.

'Why don't you play something for me Polly.'

'I couldn't, I'm not as good as you Hannah.'

'Yes, you are, you are very good.'

'Do you really think so?'

'Yes, I do think so, you are very talented.' Polly smiled, Hannah was always genuine in her praise and it made Polly feel good.

'Thanks Hannah, I am happy that you think so.' Polly took a deep breath and started to play, she hoped that Hannah would like what she was playing for her.

Dixie wrapped her hands around the cup of chocolate that Jeff had bought her. 'Thanks Jeff.'

'No problem princess, I got us a slice of chocolate cake too.'

'Lovely, chocolate cake sounds good to me. It is nice to know that you still want to call me princess, I can't imagine not hearing you say it.'

'You are my princess Dixie, you look like you have something on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?' Dixie took a little box out of her pocket and opened it, she had decided to take the ring with her after all. Jeff was her best friend and she wanted his opinion on what she was thinking about.

'Your grandmother's engagement ring, I see, you want to give it to Hannah, don't you?'

'Yeah, I do.' Jeff had always known about the ring, she'd shown it to him one evening when she was feeling a bit sentimental and thinking about her mother. 'I don't know if she would like it or not.'

'You want to ask Hannah to marry you, don't you?'

'Yeah, what if she says no?'

'Honestly Dixie, I do not think that Hannah would say no.'

'I hope not, I don't think that I can ask her right now.'

'Then wait, you will know when the right moment to ask her is.' Dixie watched Jeff close the ring box and he put it in her hand then closed her fingers over it.

'Do you think I should buy her a ring instead of giving Hannah this one?'

'Buy her one, why?'

'Maybe it would be better, Hannah might prefer it.'

'If I were you Dixie then I would give her the ring that belonged to your grandmother. I know how much it means to you and Hannah will understand that you're giving it to her because she means a lot to you too.' Dixie smiled and carefully put the ring in her pocket, Jeff was right, Hannah would know what the ring meant.

'Thank you Jeff, I don't know how you know what to say to make me feel better but I am glad that you do.'

'Dixie, you're my best friend, I know you better than anyone, apart from Hannah of course.'

'You're my best friend too.'

'I am glad to hear it princess.' Dixie smiled at Jeff again and took another drink of her chocolate, she was glad that she had found the courage to talk to Jeff about Hannah and the ring, he always made her feel better.

Jeff drank his own chocolate and put the last of the chocolate cake into his mouth, he was quite enjoying himself. It made him feel good that Dixie still came to him for advice about things, he was glad that she hadn't lost contact with him the minute she moved in with Hannah. Their friendship hadn't changed in any way; they still shared hugs and jokes just like they used to. They were still close and it pleased him to think that their friendship wouldn't change at all. Jeff studied Dixie, she looked more settled and happier than ever. He was glad that his advice had helped her to relax a little bit, he was certain that Hannah wouldn't say no to a marriage proposal from Dixie. 'Jeff, are you all right?'

'I'm fine Dix, why wouldn't I be?'

'I don't know, maybe it I just me but you seem a bit different.'

'Don't worry Dixie, I'm fine, really.'

'Are you sure?' Dixie sounded worried, he wasn't sure how to answer that question. 'Jeff?'

'Life just deals you a not so great hand sometimes I guess.'

'What do you mean?'

'I just look at you and Hannah sometimes and wish I had what you do with her.'

'Are you lonely Jeff?'

'Sometimes, nearly all the time lately.'

'Jeff, why didn't you tell me?'

'You're happy princess, I didn't want to take that away from you. Don't tell Polly, she's a nice girl and I enjoy her company, I wouldn't want her to think that I don't.'

'Got it, I won't tell a soul.'

'Thanks Dixie.'

'You'll find someone Jeff, I know that you will. You're a special man and I will make sure that whoever it is knows that and treats you right.' Jeff smiled at Dixie, it made him happy to know that she took his happiness seriously.

'Come on Dix, it is time we got you home.' Jeff stood up and held his arm out to Dixie and she slipped hers through it, he had enjoyed himself tonight, being near Dixie always made him feel good, she had the natural ability to make anyone feel good about themselves.

Hannah sat listening to Polly play her guitar, she was getting to be an excellent player and Hannah really enjoyed teaching her. 'You are wonderful,' Hannah said when Polly had finished playing. 'You've really picked up playing so very well.' Hannah saw Polly's face light up in a smile and she gently put the guitar down.

'I am happy that you think so, I would hate to disappoint my teacher.'

'You could never disappoint me Polly, you learn quickly and have a natural talent for playing. I like teaching you.'

'I like our lessons too. I know I've said it before but I'm so glad you came to Holby Hannah.'

'I am glad I came here too. Meeting you, Dixie and Jeff has changed my life in so many ways.'

'That's so sweet, I love having you here Hannah.'

'You're a sweet woman Polly.' Hannah smiled, her life had changed so much since she'd arrived in Holby; there was no way that she would change her decision if she was given the opportunity to do so. Hannah watched Polly packing her guitar away and she yawned. 'You look tired.'

'I am, I will be so glad to lie in tomorrow and get myself back to normal.'

'I know what you mean, I don't think I will be long out of bed.'

'Me either, Jeff makes me go to bed when I am tired.'

'He's so caring.'

'That he is, he might joke about and say things that get him into trouble but he is a good man at heart.'

'I agree.' Hannah smiled again and put her own guitar away, she sat back down on the sofa next to Polly and they waited for Dixie and Jeff to come back.

Dixie opened the door and went inside. 'Hannah, Polly, we're back.' She went into the lounge and found Hannah and Polly chatting together. 'Hi, did you have a good time?'

'We did, did you?'

'It was lovely, we had chocolate cake.' Dixie gave Hannah a quick kiss and a hug as Jeff came into the room. 'Jeff, you should take Polly home, she looks tired.'

'I think you're right there princess, come on Pol, I think it is time you got some sleep.'

'Yes dad,' Polly said and laughed, she hugged Hannah and Dixie and then picked up her guitar. Dixie went over to Jeff and hugged him.

'Thanks for the cake and chocolate Jeff, get Polly home.'

'You're welcome Dixie, don't worry, I will and she'll be going straight to bed.' Dixie smiled at Jeff and then moved back so Hannah could hug him too, she knew that he wouldn't say anything to Hannah about what they'd talked about. Dixie heard them say goodbye and then Hannah came over to her and Dixie held Hannah's hand. 'Jeff, give Little Abs a big cuddle for me.'

'I will do Dix, I'll bring him round and he can spend the day here if you like.'

'I'd love it, thanks Jeff.'

'My pleasure.' Dixie hugged Jeff one last time and she waved at him and Polly as they drove away, she shut and locked the door and then turned to Hannah.

'Come on then beautiful, I think it is time for bed for us too.'

'I agree, I believe it is time for snuggles.'

'I like the sound of that.' Dixie turned out the lights and then took Hannah's hand and went upstairs with her, her fingers closed around the box with the ring in, she would ask Hannah about getting married when the time was right, Jeff was right, she would know when to do it and she had every hope that Hannah would say yes.