DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...ITV'S PROPERTY

Chapter 9/15

XXX

BANK HOLIDAY AUGUST.

"I don't like this..."

Laurel came in through from the kitchen with a couple of wine glasses in her grasp, "She insists she is fine, Marlon...she could do with a night out"

Marlon put the cork screw into the bottle of red, "I know that...it's just HIM"

Laurel put the wine glasses down and looked at him as he pulled out the cork, "We've been through this a million times...I don't like it just as much as you don't...but we can't keep her here prisoner...she's entitled to a life"

Marlon shrugged, "We'll see"

Both turned to see Donna come down the stairs, her clutch-bag in her hand, "Well...April's been all tucked in...you SHOULDN'T get a peep out of her...I think she's exhausted herself on the swings", she laughed.

Marlon looked at her closely, "You look exhausted...are you sure you are up for this night out?"

Laurel gave him a sharp look, "Marlon"

The chef tried to excuse himself, " I'm only asking..."

Donna tried to be all reassuring with them both, "I'm FINE...Ross said we are not making it late..."

Laurel ignored Marlon's scowl at Ross's name and made the effort for Donna and took an interest, "So...where's he taking you?"

Donna laughed, "He said it was a surprise"

"Probably joy-riding...", mumbled Marlon, Laurel scowled at him and then praised Donna, "You look nice...doesn't she look NICE Marlon?"

Marlon half looked at her as he thumbed through some DVD's, "Hmmmmm...for his benefit is it?"

Donna didn't see why she needed to hide it, "of course...he likes me in this"

Laurel scrutinised it more, "Ohhh, that's the outfit you wore for Cain and Moira's wedding, wasn't it...it really suits you"

Donna smiled at Laurel, she knew it was hard for her to be nice about her seeing the dreaded Ross, but she was making an effort for her, "thanks Laurel...", she grabbed her cardy and made for the front door, "...right I best be off...don't wait up"

"Have a nice time", called Laurel with a smile and then Donna was gone. Marlon sat on the sofa with his wine and the TV remote, "I bet she comes back tired"

Laurel rolled her eyes and sat next to him, "You can't leave it alone can you? You've got to have your little digs...she does notice it you know"

Marlon looked at her and waved out a hand, "What does HE know about her condition anyway?"

Laurel picked up her glass of red and turned to him, "Probably just as much as you do...nobody knows better than her...now come on, are we watching this DVD or not..."

XXX

Donna waited by the bridge as Ross pulled up in a big red Ferrari. Donna couldn't hold in her excitement, she was opened mouthed and screeching, "Wow!"

Ross had his head stuck out the window, "Didn't I say I'd get you there in style!"

Donna was amazed and was in awe of the car, "You did...but just LOOK at this!"

Ross was more interested in her, he raised his eyebrows looking pleased on what she was donning, "You wore that dress for me?"

Donna stood back and laughed, "I might of...I see the grey suits having another airing..."

Ross nodded to the passenger seat beside him, "You best get in so I can get a closer look girl"

Donna tottered round in her high heels and gets in, Ross's eyes feasting on her legs as she tried to push her dress down, "Wow...real leather...this is flash, where did you get it?"

Ross shrugged and pulled a face, "I nicked it"

Donna's face was a picture she looked at him opened mouthed, "What...!", she was looking around for the cops.

Ross broke into a cheeky grin, "Your face...gets me every time"

Donna playfully punched his upper arm, "You!"

Ross laughed, "I've borrowed it off a mate of mine in town...HE might've nicked it though..."

Donna raised her eyebrows in question not sure if he was still having her on, "really?"

Ross put the car in gear and glanced at her, a twinkle in his eyes, "I won't say anything if you don't"

Donna fastened her seatbelt, "you are SO naughty"

Ross leaned over and kissed on the cheek, "YOU wanted excitement girl! And besides, that's why you love me..."

He then put his foot down on the accelerator and Donna gasped out an excited, "Woahhhh!", as they sped off.

XXX

In the back room of the pub, Chas closed the door on the last Barton boy to arrive in the room. Finn sighed and plonked himself down in the armchair, "Why are we here?

Pete looked annoyed too, "Yeah...I was banking on spending sometime with Debs and the kids this evening..."

James glanced at Chas, then he stepped forward, "I need to talk about Ross"

Pete looked at his father, "What about him...?"

James enlightened them, "Donna, that's what...we need to think ahead...we need to think about when she dies and how it is going to effect him"

Finn blew out a laughed, it was plain obvious how Ross would react, "Ross'll lose it"

"Exactly"

Pete frowned at them, "what can we do? We can't go round there and politely ask Donna not to die so as not to push Ross totally over the edge of sanity, can we"

James pressed forward, "NO...but we can keep an eye on him"

Finn was a bit cynical if this little family meeting had another goal too, "is this meant to bring us closer together, is it? After ALL what's happened to this family...shouldn't Adam be here"

James looked pleadingly down at his youngest son, "can we PLEASE just put all our differences aside just for tonight"

Pete shook his head and summed it up, "I must admitt...Ross have NEVER been like this before...he's never been in love"

Finn looked at him, "It's the heartbroken bit you have to be more worried about"

James sat down and looked at his son's in turn, "which is why we are here...we just need to be ready for when it does happen...and with what I've heard...that's not going to be very long..."

XXX

Donna was stood up at the bar in the nightclub. DJ FRESH's louder was playing out and she looked around at the revelling clubbers. It was such a long time ago she had chance to do this.

Ross was then beside her with what she wanted, "There you go...a straw..."

"Awwwwwww, my hero"

"That as well may be...but I looked a right Pratt over there asking for one"

Donna took a suck of her drink and turned to him, "what you do for me"

Ross put his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him so he could kiss the side of her head, "Well...just for you...SO...have you been here before?"

Donna looked about the place and smiled back at him, "Only when there was a need to chuck out the undesirables...you know, when I was a copper"

Ross laughed and turned her around so he could look at her, "I was PROBABLY one of those undesirables...nicking cars and getting into fights"

Donna put her hand on his cheek and stroked his stubble, "not any more though..."

Ross swallowed and they kissed, he pulled back and turned to see what he had been waiting for, "look, a table's become free...you wanna go sit down?"

Donna pulled a face at him, "You not want to go dance with me?"

Ross frowned at her, "Errrr...Dance?"

Donna laughed at him, "yes! It's when you move your body to the beat and wiggle your bum a bit!"

Ross looked pleased by that description, "I'll tell you what...I'm prepared to sit this one out and watch YOU wiggle your bum at me"

Donna was opened mouth and blew out a laugh, "That's so cheesy!"

Ross laughed and he took her hand and kissed it, before leading her to the bar, "that's me...come on, I'll buy you another drink"

XXX

At Tall Trees cottage, Laurel could see that Marlon was distracted from the DVD. She glared at him, "Aren't you not watching this film or not Marlon...Rhona has to take it back tomorrow...but then again she and Paddy have gone away over the Bank Holiday...are YOU even listening to me?"

Marlon tilted his head as he listened towards the stairs, "Was that April again?"

Laurel pressed pause on the film and looked at him, "Why don't you go read her that story she wants"

Marlon looked like he was in two minds to. Then he looked at her, "Do you think I should call Donna?"

Laurel raised her eyebrows at him, "What, and spoil her night out?"

Marlon stood up and went to the stairs, "Yeah...I know that...but if April's unsettled...", he trailed off.

Laurel was insistent because she wasn't too sure of the real reason to call Donna, "No Marlon, April's fine...and besides, Donna said she won't be too late...just give it a couple of hours"

Reluctantly. Marlon shook his head.

XXX

At the Nightclub, Donna was in the toilets. She checked her makeup, then felt giddy and weak. She took in some deep breaths. She went into a cubicle and took her tablets out of her clutch-bag and chucked a few down her throat. Alcohol and medication...not a good mix, but she hoped for the best.

She flushed the toilet, feeling a bit better and left the ladies to see Ross waving over at her from the bar, "Donna..."

Donna smiled at him and went to go over to him. Suddenly out of nowhere there was a punch up and Donna went flying to the floor as she was knocked. Ross darted over and helped her up, then making sure she was okay, he turned and grabbed the lad by his lapels and had him up against the wall.

"CAN YOU SEE WHAT YOU DID! YOU KNOCKED MY GIRLFRIEND OVER AND THAT MAKES ROSS A VERY ANGRY GUY!"

Donna went over and placed her hand over his shoulder, "Ross...it's okay"

"NO IT'S NOT OKAY!"

"Ross please...don't spoil it", pleaded Donna.

Ross glanced at her, she looked tired. He shoved the lad aside and held her, Donna's head rested on Ross's shoulder, "All this has been too much for you...why do I ALWAYS get it wrong!"

Donna lifted her head and kissed his cheek, "I just need a sit down sweetheart, that's all"

Ross met her gaze and they kissed again, before he led her hand in hand to a table.

XXX

Back at the village, Marlon was up in April's bedroom with the storybook. April was jumping up and down on the bed in her pyjamas, "I want MUMMY to read to me...I want Mummy"

Marlon placed the book down and grabbed his phone, "Shall I call her? Do you want me to call Mummy?"

"Yes I want Mummy"

Marlon couldn't help but smile and pressed call on his phone.

XXX

At the club, Donna was sitting with a girl who had just plonked herself down unannounced, Donna smiled at her unsurely, the girl smiled back in her low-cut glittery top.

"I'm Carly...I've been watching you...you don't seem Ross's usual type"

Donna knew from that moment that Ross had been 'there before'.

"No? What is his usual type then?"

Carly breezed out a chuckle and pouted at her, "Well...me really"

Donna looked at her long legs and the skirt up her crutch, "Yes...I can imagine"

"What do you for work? I bet you do some really boring job, don't you? Let me guess...a secretary?"

"No...I'm a pole dancer actually", answered Donna with a hint of a smirk on her face.

"Ohhhh really...you don't look the type", gasped Carly really shocked. Ross was then coming over from the bar, "You never said that she swung round poles Ross...you are really scraping the barrel there"

Donna was opened mouthed in playful shock acting.

Ross played the game as Donna moved and sat on his lap, "Well that's it Carly...if she wants to swing round my pole who am I to want to go stop her...

Carly pulled a face and was off. Donna turned around and laughed, "Well I never...so that's your usual type then"

Ross looked at her as she stood up from his lap and sat back down in her seat, "Well...me and her...I've...errrrrr...shagged her a couple of times...nothing special like, just in the alley...well...you know"

Donna gave Carly the once over as she stood at the bar, "that figures...she seems the 'shagging up the alley type'"

"Meaow!, laughed Ross.

Donna's phone was lighting up and she grabbed it off the table, she looked at the display, "It's from Marlon...it says April's pining for me"

Ross put on his playful sad routine, "Does that mean we have to go now"

"Afraid so...I'm sorry"

"Don't be girl...you've got nothing to be sorry for".

She pulled him up and they made their way through the crowd to the exit.

XXX

Within half an hour, Donna was back at Marlon and Laurel's. April was in the living room jumping on the sofa when Donna came in through the door, Ross stood back in the porch, Marlon glared at him.

"Ohhhhhh April! Look at you still being up this late...you should be in bed!"

"I want a story!", whined April.

Laurel grabbed the empty wine bottle and glasses and went into the kitchen saying, "She's be up and down all night"

Marlon tried to make excuses, "I tried giving her a story...but she just wanted you to read it to her, what else could I do but call", he threw a glance at Ross as he said it.

"That what she said was it", Ross muttered.

Marlon glared at him, "You still here!"

Ross looked past Marlon, "Donna...I'm off"

Donna came over and with both hands pulled his face to hers and kissed him. Ross was a bit narked but he managed a smile, "I'll call you tomorrow...maybe WE could take April out"

Marlon didn't like the sound of that, Donna nodded, "That would be nice...text me"

Ross kissed her again their hands trailed off and Donna was then carrying April up the stairs, he then faced Marlon.

"I KNOW your game, I'm on to you", he hissed.

Marlon dismissed that with a, "am I supposed to be bothered?"

Ross sniggered and nodded in the direction of Laurel in the kitchen, "wifey-to-be know how much concern you are throwing your EX-wife's way, does she? Or should I alert her to the fact"

"Just GET OUT!"

Ross smirked at him, "Buy Marlon...I'm sure I'll have a cracking day tomorrow...errr...what IS April's favourite ice cream...", with another chuckled from the bad boy, he was gone leaving Marlon reeling.

If only he could wipe that smug smile off his face...

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