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

Chapter 13/15 DONNA'S LAST BIRTHDAY part 2

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Hand in hand, Donna led Ross down the stairs. April, with cake all over her face, was first to spot them and went zipping over to the base of the staircase.

"Mummmeee...Rosssssss"

Marlon, who was talking to Paddy snapped his head round and saw Ross looking straight at him as he and Donna reached the base of the stairs.

"WHO LET YOU IN? HOW DID YOU GET IN?"

Ross placed his hands over Donna's shoulders from where he stood behind her, "You best go check on those windows...ANYONE can just crawl in..."

Marlon was getting worked up and was already trying to pull on Ross's arm towards the front door, "I want you out, now"

Donna was looking like she had no energy to fight, she looked so pale, but she mustered up a, "I don't...I want him here and it's MY Birthday..."

Marlon met her eyes, "and it's MY house"

Bob came forward and tried to play the medium, "Marlon...Donna wants him here, can't do no harm, can it?"

The biggest shock came from Laurel, Marlon looked at her like she had betrayed him when she said, "He's right Marlon"

"You can't be serious.."

Donna leaned on the bannister post and held the side of her head, "Marlon please...I haven't the energy to argue"

Ross put his hand into Donna's hand and squeezed it, he smiled at her, then turned to Marlon, "Listen to her, why don't ya...it's HER day"

Donna smiled back at him, "and I want him here, with me"

Marlon swallowed down, everybody in the room was looking at him, "Well...it looks like I have no choice, does it"

Ross managed a quick smirk in Marlon's direction, "No, it doesn't"

Donna could detect the smugness in his tone, "Ross please..."

Ross looked at her and pointed to Marlon, "I'll behave...just as long as HE does as well"

Bob quickly stood in between them and clapped his hands together with a smile, "That's it, play nicely...now...I was going to say, shall we cut the cake, but some little monkey as already at a nibble..."

April laughed.

XXX

Marlon followed Laurel into the kitchen where the rest of the food was wrapped up one plates, "Why are you standing up for him, for?"

Laurel was peeling off the wrap from the plates, "I'm not...but it's Donna's day and if she wants him here...it's only fair she has her way, Marlon"

Marlon was shaking his head, glaring as he saw Ross pick up April so Donna could kiss her daughter on the cheek and ruffle her hair.

"I don't like it, just look at him"

Laurel threw him a glance, "I know...but it's called making an effort, isn't it...now help me get these sarnies into the other room please", she handed him two plates.

Brenda was then with them smiling, " Is there a knife I could borrow...that cake needs cutting into slices"

Laurel pulled out a drawer over near the sink, "Help yourself Brenda"

Brenda picked out a knife and closed the drawer with a twirl and a smile, "Hey, that Ross has gone and brought Donna a lovely necklace...it's all sparkly"

Marlon dismissed it with a, "it's probably stolen"

Laurel shot him a glare, "Marlon!"

Marlon followed them into the lounge, "I know I know...make an effort"

XXX

Donna was outside looking across to the fields that backed onto the house. Ross was coming up behind her and noticed that she was toying with the necklace around her neck.

"You've got it on I see"

Donna laughed and turned around to look at him, he kissed her forehead, "I love it...I wanted to show it off"

Ross stood behind her and put his arms around her tummy and put his mouth to her right ear, "I saw the blood", he muttered.

Donna got that impression, "yeah...I know you did"

Ross sniffed, "Do THEY know...inside?"

Donna was quick to turn around and look at him with pleading eyes, "no...and it's how I want it...so PLEASE don't tell them..."

Ross stroked her hair, "as IF that bunch in there would take a blind bit of notice of me anyway"

Donna tilted her cheek into his hand, "stay with me tonight...?"

Ross looked a bit unsure, "but what about them? They're gonna have something to say if I stop over with you"

"Please Ross...I'll speak to them"

Ross looked a bit nervous, but he shook his head and kissed her forehead, "course I will"

XXX

"I take it I AM allowed to use the shithouse", said Ross to Marlon in the kitchen, "I mean...I don't have to ask your permission or anything"

Marlon shook his head, Ross frowned before he headed inside the downstairs toilet, "What? You not gonna have a go?"

Marlon just shook his head and walked off. Ross shrugged and shut the door. He locked it and sat on the toilet seat and put his head into his hands. He needed five minutes.

Donna was in the living room with Bob. Bob could see she was looking tired.

"Why don't you sit down and take the weight off love...Brenda and Rhona have got the kids"

Donna sat on the sofa and smiled at him, "Thanks Bob...you're a star"

Bob turned, "you like young Ross a lot, don't you?"

Donna felt bad as she nodded yes, "sorry...I know you don't like him that much...and who can blame you with the reputation he's got...not every fathers ideal boyfriend for his daughter"

Bob shrugged, "but he's done nothing to me...well...I've known him to have a pop when his coffee is served up cold, but apart from that"

"I didn't want to fall in love again...this was all not meant to happen"

Bob looked sympathetic, "but you did..."

Donna nodded, "I know it sounds bad...but he wanted me to run away with him...me and April and if things were different Bob, if I wasn't for the cancer...I think I would have done..."

"Love makes you think stupid things, love..."

Donna shook her head and wiped away a tear, she gathered Bobs's hand up and asked, "Bob will you do something for me...will you look out for Ross after I've gone?"

Bob frowned at her, "But he's got his own family to do that, hasn't he?"

"He'll be shunned...you know he will...I won't be there to help him through it...I NEED to know that somebody will be on his side, please Bob..."

Bob slowly nodded, "Of course, love...course I will", and he kissed his step-daughter on the forehead as she leaned in to him.

XXX

Later, the party was over and Donna was tired. She turned from the sink and smiled at Marlon and Laurel at the table, "thank you for today..."

Marlon had his hand grasped in Laurel's, "did you enjoy yourself..."

Donna nodded and in turn gave Marlon and Laurel a parting hug before going upstairs.

"I not sure about him being here"

Laurel stood up to clear away the cutlery from the sink, "It's what Donna wants and that's all that matters isn't it..."

Marlon dried up the remaining items, "have you lost your senses...have you forgot what that man did to you"

Laurel shrugged and leaned on the side counter, "no...but...just lately I have seen a different side to him...I'll never like him...but I can see he's not all bad...well...I don't know about after when..."

"Shusshh...lets not talk about that"

XXX

April was in bed. Donna was one side, Ross was the other, Donna closed her eyes and smiled as Ross read April the story about the sleeping princess and the prince that tried to wake her.

April looked up to Ross, "is the princess dead Ross?"

"No...she's just sleeping..."

"Like mummy"

Ross looked at Donna who had her eyes closed. He looked at April and closed the book, "Your Mummys really tired now...so I think you should get some shuteye yeah..."

April dug herself under the pink fluffy covers, "I like you Ross...you're nice"

He looked down to her sadly, "I am sometimes"

He ruffled her hair and April sprang up and gave him a sloppy kiss on the cheek, "You have a hairy face...like a big bear"

"I can roar like a bear too when I want to, now you get to sleep yeah"

Donna opened her eyes and saw Ross stand up, he held his hand out to her and she took it and they rounded the bed. Donna went and kissed her daughter goodnight.

"I love you April...god bless"

XXX

In the bedroom, Donna was soon in her nightdress and was in bed. She laid her head on her pillow and looked across to Ross standing up at the window looking out.

"Are you coming to bed?"

Ross looked at Donna through the reflection in the glass, then turned around and smiled, "yeah"

"Leave the curtains open...there's a storm coming"

The flash lit up the room. Ross unzipped his hoodie and then undid his belt and pulled his jeans off. Just in his boxers, he slipped into Donna's bed and they snuggled up together.

"hold me tonight"

Ross had tears in his eyes, "I will"

"I feel scared tonight...I hate storms"

"I'll won't let the storm get you", said Ross through a sad chuckle.

Donna looked up at him, "I miss my Mum and dad...but I feel close to them tonight...like they are watching me"

Ross tried to hold back his pain back through the tears as he cradled her head to his chest

Donna moved a hand to Ross's hand and he held it over his tummy.

"Does your tattoo still hurt?"

"Hurts like fuck, girl..but I'll live"

"You and me...to the end, Ross"

"To the end..."

Satisfied, Donna smiled and closed her eyes and the storm drew near.

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