Poppy - I'm glad you enjoyed it. X

Bex - We're all fine, just very shocked. Thanks for you concern and story praise. As always, much appreciated.

Waterloo road2000 - It was my favorite chapter to write. Pure Kevasty cuteness. :)

Guest - The fact that you say you couldn't think of anything to add and yet still took the time to review means the world to me. I'm happy you're reading and enjoying this.

Chapter Eighteen

Kevin awoke to a mane of golden curls strewn across his neck and chest. Dynasty's steady breathing stirred the hair beneath his chin and tickled his face as she rolled away from him in her sleep.

Kevin reached out for her quickly but before he could prevent her from rolling onto her stomach Dynasty moaned loudly, burying her face into the pillows.

"Are you okay? I tried to stop you," Kevin whispered in her ear.

He kissed her cheek and helped her roll back over.

"I keep forgetting that," Dynasty said sleepily, ignoring the throbbing that resonated across her abdomen.

Kevin attempted to stifle the ever present anxiety he felt towards Dynasty's condition and instead focused his thoughts on the immensity of this seemingly small moment.

Dynasty's trust in him was flattering, her willingness to let him kiss her again even more so. Overall though, Kevin was overwhelmingly proud of her courage and her honesty the night before.

"Thank you," Kevin murmured.

He settled himself down beside Dynasty as her eyes followed the swirls in the ceiling pattern absently.

"For what?"

Dynasty pulled her eyes away from their mesmerizing path and turned her head to Kevin.

He did not turn his gaze to her however. Dynasty saw her opportunity to assure him and pressed a soft lingering kiss to his cheek and slid her hand over his beneath the covers.

As she leaned away and lay her head back down, Dynasty caught Kevin's smile before he spoke.

"Thank you for last night. Thank you for this -" He gestured to the two of them. "- and... and thank you for not giving up."

Dynasty squeezed Kevin's hand.

"You never gave up on me," Dynasty replied in a hushed voice.

For a moment, within the confines on Kevin's room, Dynasty felt more oblivious to the world than she had for weeks. Beyond this moment, Dynasty was able to easily erase everything that plagued her. She knew that eventually it would end and resolved to face the stark daylight whilst she could still feign a demeanor that passed for chipper.

"Right, well are you going to help me out of this bed or not?"

Dynasty patted Kevin's shoulder lightly before dramatically attempting to haul herself out of bed without bending.

"Alright, alright. Give up," Kevin laughed, jumping out of bed theatrically and padding around to Dynasty.

Once she was standing, with Kevin's help she shrugged on her dressing gown, retrieved from the back of the door where Kevin had left it.

"Is there any of my stuff left at the flat now?" Dynasty questioned as Kevin closed the bedroom door behind them.

He slipped a now hoodie clad arm around Dynasty's waist to support her as they neared the staircase.

"Maybe some shampoo and such, but I got all of your clothes and the rest of your things are in the top draw so you don't have to bend."

Kevin smiled, pleased with his efforts but Dynasty was distracted by a different aspect of his response.

"You mean, you went back to flat?"

Kevin winced nervously as Dynasty squeezed his arm as they descended, each step causing her unimaginable discomfort.

"Well, I figured you wouldn't want Chalky going through your underwear. I owed it to him to clear the place up as well, you know, with him having to go back to London so soon." Kevin lowered his gaze awkwardly as they reached the hallway. "I binned most of it; glasses, sheets..."

Dynasty remained silent. As an afterthought she brushed Kevin's fringe out of his face when he lifted his head.

"I thought you two had run away," Mrs Budgen exclaimed.

Kevin smiled and Dynasty said her good mornings as she eased herself slowly into a chair with Kevin's aid.

Dynasty greeted Lula quietly as she entered a moment later, taking her seat across the table beside Mrs. Budgen. Kevin busied himself in the kitchen with Harley.

"Can I get you a cup of tea, pet?" Mrs. Budgen offered, already pulling herself briskly out of her chair.

"No," Dynasty snapped abruptly.

Kevin shot her a worried glance from behind the work surface, his butter adorned knife frozen mid-spread as he cringed internally.

"I'm sorry, Miss. No, thank you," Dynasty corrected quickly, her eyes flickering down into her lap.

"I'll just get me and Dynasty some water," Kevin interjected.

Mrs. Budgen smiled warily as Kevin passed and placed two plates of toast on the breakfast table. With a concerned glance at Dynasty, Mrs. Budgen drifted off down the hallway when she heard the front door open.

"Thanks," Dynasty muttered when Kevin took his seat beside her.

She nibbled noncommittally at one of her slices but found that her previously enthusiastic mood had faded quickly.

Kevin squeezed Dynasty's leg reassuringly beneath the table and Dynasty smirked meekly in return.

As Dynasty's appetite returned and she took a more ambitious bite of her toast, Kevin raised his head as voices floated down the hall into the dining room.

"And I'm telling you, Christine, that she isn't ready. These kids are under my roof and if I feel that they need additional support then I will arrange for it myself," Mrs. Budgen said, her voice rising with fury.

"I know what Dynasty needs right now much more than you do, Maggie, and I have made an executive decision as her head of year to intervene."

Dynasty's head shot up at the mention of her name. Kevin's eyes flitted quickly to Dynasty, but returned swiftly back to the door as a flustered Mrs. Budgen bustled through, followed by Mrs. Mulgrew and a women neither Kevin nor Dynasty had met before.

Dynasty admired her sleek blonde hair and manicured nails enviously whilst Kevin eyed the tall, slender figure with suspicion.

"Good morning, Dynasty," Miss. Mulgrew chirped.

Dynasty nodded a similar greeting as she continued to study the lavishly dressed woman that was now setting her handbag on the counter.

"Dynasty, I want to introduce you to Miss. Harrow." Miss. Mulgrew waved at the golden haired woman. "She's a counseling psychotherapist that specializes in sexual trauma. I thought you could both have a chat about how you're feeling at the moment."

Kevin shot to his feet, horrified by the teacher's interference but Dynasty caught his arm before he could speak.

"Miss. Harrow?" Dynasty said softly.

The woman beamed and stretched a pristine hand towards Dynasty.

"Please, call me Katie."