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. Squishy time again :)

Chapter Forty-Eight.

Hannah lay in Dixie's arms, it had been quite late when they got in last night, after Dixie had proposed they'd walked along the beach together for a while and then eventually driven back to the house where they'd gone straight to bed and held each other as they fell asleep. Hannah had been surprised by Dixie's proposal but she'd known what her answer would be, there hadn't been any doubt in her mind as to what she should do. It was still early, the hospital had called to let her know that her dad was being moved to a general ward today, the visiting times were later in the day but as they were already awake they decided to just lie in bed and cuddle up for a while. 'What are you thinking about?' Dixie's voice broke Hannah's thought pattern and she looked at her.

'How different everything is now than when I first arrived at Holby.'

'Different how?'

'I have you and we're engaged.'

'How does it feel?'

'I like it, it feels good.'

'I am glad to hear it. Do you like the ring?'

'I do, it is very pretty and it means a lot to you, I am touched that you gave me something that means so much to you.'

'Good, I hoped that you would like it.'

'We'll have to get you a ring Dixie, it doesn't seem right that I have one and you don't.'

'I don't mind, you have one and that is what matters.'

'I want to get you a ring.'

'Okay, you can get me one then.' Hannah snuggled up to Dixie and kissed her, she really wanted to buy Dixie a ring to show her that she was serious about marrying her and being with her for life.

Dixie traced lazy circles over Hannah's back as she held her and they slowly kissed, she was happy, Hannah had agreed to marry her, the ring looked right on Hannah's finger. It had taken her a long time to find the woman that she wanted to give the ring to but now she had and they were engaged. 'Hannah, when we get married what will we do about our names?'

'How do you mean?'

'Usually one person changes their name to that of the other person.'

'Oh, I'm not sure, there's time to think about that. It's not like we're going to get married right this second.'

'Yeah, you're right.'

'I just want to enjoy the feeling of being engaged first.'

'Me too. I can't wait to tell everyone.'

'I think I can imagine how they will react, especially Polly.'

'I'll be surprised if my eardrums are still intact after we tell her.'

'I think she will be excited, Jeff will be too.'

'I promised him that he could be my best man when we got married.'

'Really?'

'Yeah, back when we went for Sunday lunch with Jeff and Polly.'

'Was it after we spent our first proper night together?'

'It was, Jeff knew, he said that I glowed.'

'Polly said the same about me. I think it will be good for you to have Jeff as your best man, he is your best friend after all.'

'I know, we've had our ups and downs over the years, he's been there for me for as long as I can remember.'

'He's been a good friend to you Dixie.'

'I know, when he first started working with me I thought I was going to murder him, he annoyed me so much.' Hannah laughed and Dixie smiled. 'He asked me for photographic proof that I was a lesbian, I really wanted to kill him then.'

'I would say he has had his proof the day he saw us kissing in the changing rooms.'

'I would say so too. Over time Jeff grew on me, he had a way of getting under your skin and making you like him. When Cyd left I thought I wasn't going to make it through but he was there for me, holding me when I needed it, bringing me chocolate when I needed it.'

'I'm glad you made it through.'

'It is partly due to you that I did. When you walked into my office that day I almost forgot that Cyd existed. Seeing you reminded me that I could find other women attractive.'

'I had no idea you felt that way.'

'I've grown accustomed to hiding my feelings about people.'

'You don't have to hide any more.'

'I know.' Dixie wrapped her arms around Hannah and held her close, she was happy and felt fulfilled and loved, it was all she'd ever wanted.

Hannah eventually persuaded Dixie to get up, they had breakfast together and she spent some time tidying up. Now that the smell of bleach had gone from the kitchen it wasn't so hard to go in there. Her dad was on the mend and her mother was where she belonged, in prison, she hoped that she was going to be there for a very long time. It would depend on if she was convicted and how long the sentence was that the judge gave her but there was a lot of evidence against her that nobody could ignore. Hannah put her mother out of her mind, there were happier things to think about. She touched the ring that Dixie had given her, it obviously meant a lot to Dixie and Hannah felt so very special and loved because Dixie had chosen to give it to her. She was getting used to the feel of it on her finger now, she quite liked that it showed to the world that she was taken and belonged to someone. She still felt like her own person but there was the added dimension now that she belonged to Dixie and Dixie belonged to her, it was a thought that made Hannah smile, she liked belonging to Dixie.

Dixie pulled up Jeff's number on her phone and dialled it, she didn't have to wait long for him to answer. 'Hi princess.'

'Hi Jeff, it is good to hear your voice.'

'Yours too Dix. How are you? Is everything all right?'

'Yeah, everything is fine. Lawrence is on the mend, he's going to be all right. He's lucky that the bitch of woman that stabbed him has a terrible aim.'

'That's good to hear princess. How is Hannah?'

'She's okay, now that she knows her dad is out of danger she is her usual self again.'

'Good, she has you supporting her Dixie, so she'll be all right.'

'You think so?'

'I know so.'

'Thanks Jeff. Is Polly there?'

'Yeah, she's with me now.'

'Good. How is it going at work?'

'Everything is fine, though we're missing you and Hannah.'

'We miss you too.'

'Polly is all right but she's not you Dixie.' Dixie laughed when she heard Polly telling Jeff off for his comment.

'You're a naughty man Jeffrey Collier, you'd be better be careful or you'll find yourself being attacked by another gorilla.'

'Yeah, that's true, I don't want that happening again.'

'Jeff, I have something to tell you.'

'What is it?'

'Put it on speaker phone, I want Polly to hear this too.'

'Okay princess, go ahead, what do you have to tell us?'

'I asked Hannah to marry me last night and she said yes.' Dixie heard the silence descend over Jeff and Polly but she knew that it wouldn't last long once her words sunk in. Dixie felt Hannah's arms close around her from behind, she'd obviously heard her tell them the news and wanted to hear their reaction.

Jeff made sense of what Dixie had just told him, Polly looked equally stunned, he saw the smile bloom on her face and then she moved closer to the phone. 'Oh my goodness, Dixie, I am so happy for you both. You have to let me help you plan your wedding, I can't wait, I will need a new outfit and everything. There's so much to think about.'

'Polly, take a breath,' Dixie said and Jeff smiled, he was so happy for Dixie and Hannah.

'Congratulations Dixie, I'm still your best man, right?'

'Yes Jeff, you are, that will never change, you're my best friend.'

'I am glad to hear it Dix, are you going to wear a dress?'

'No, I don't know, I haven't thought about anything like that.'

'I'm sure we can find you a huge fluffy, meringue type number.'

'Don't you dare Jeffrey Collier, you might find that you end up wearing it.' Jeff laughed, he loved teasing Dixie, she was so easy to wind up sometimes.

'At least let me organise your hen do, I'm sure I can find you a stripper, maybe Hannah would do the honours.'

'You are going the right way about getting slap Jeffrey.'

'I'm only teasing you Dixie, Polly would kill me if I did that.'

'So would I.' Jeff heard the humour in Dixie's voice, she knew that he was joking and that he wouldn't really get her a stripper and a massive meringue style dress.

Hannah laughed as she followed the conversation, Jeff was very funny, he and Dixie were quite the double act. She was happy that both Jeff and Polly were pleased for them and wanted to be involved. Hannah sat down by Dixie at the table and put her hand on top of Dixie's, she was telling Cyd about the engagement and Hannah noted that Cyd sounded happy her friend was getting married. Cyd offered to make a cake for them and Dixie happily accepted. It made Hannah happy to think that she had brought the two friends together again. Dixie put the phone down after catching up with Cyd and telling her all of the news. 'There's just one person left to tell now beautiful.'

'My dad.'

'Come on, I really want to tell him.' Hannah knew that Dixie loved Lawrence, he had welcomed her and Hannah was certain that he loved Dixie like a daughter. She had seen Dixie turn to that love and let it heal the hurt she felt about her own father. Hannah made sure that Dixie knew how much she was loved, she had family now and that selfish man did not deserve his daughter. Dixie had a beautiful soul, she helped people without a second thought, she was caring and giving and it was those qualities that made Hannah fall in love with her. Dixie gave the best hugs in the world and being held by her was enough to make anyone feel better.

Dixie sensed Hannah's impatience as they walked through the hospital to the ward that Lawrence was now recovering on, he would only be here for another couple of days and then he could go home. Dixie saw him look up as they approached his bed, he put his book down and smiled at them both. 'Hannah, Dixie, it is good to see you again.' He hugged them both and they sat on the chairs that were provided in his room. 'Dad, we have something to tell you.'

'Oh, what would that be?'

'We're getting married, Dixie asked me and I said yes.'

'Come here Hannah.' Hannah went over to her dad and he hugged her, he stroked her hair as he held her. 'You have made me so happy with this news, I love you so much. You'll always be my little girl, I want the best for you and you have that in Dixie.'

'I love you too dad.' Dixie watched Hannah and Lawrence hugging and his words brought tears to her eyes, she wished that her father was that loving towards her.

Hannah looked over her shoulder and saw Dixie with tears in her eyes. 'Dixie, come here.'

'I'm coming.' Dixie came over and she stood by Hannah, she gently played with her hair and rested her hand on Hannah's shoulder. 'Dixie,' Lawrence said. 'Come here, I'd like to greet my future daughter.' Hannah felt Dixie move away and she went around to the other side of the bed, her dad hugged Dixie with the arm he had free. 'You're part of this family Dixie, if there's anything that I can do for you then let me know.'

'Thank you.' Dixie's voice was full of emotion and Hannah reached her arm out to Dixie and she hugged her, Hannah knew that Dixie valued family above everything else and that being welcomed and loved was making her emotional.

Lawrence hugged Hannah and Dixie at the same time, the news that Hannah had accepted Dixie's proposal had made him feel so happy. He felt as if he was a lot better already, happy news was good for lifting the spirits and he couldn't wait to see them get married. He felt as if he could take on the world. Lawrence kissed Hannah's head, he'd meant it when he said that she would always be his little girl, he wanted the best for her and she had started on that path the day she moved to Holby and met Dixie. He was looking forward to the day that Hannah and Dixie had children and he would get to meet his first grandchild. The future held so much potential and he was glad that he was alive to see that potential realised.