A/N: FYI This has some references to events in Chapter 18 so check that out if you feel a bit lost or need a reminder.
Sophie had moved her stuff in with some help from Chesney and Sinead. It wasn't that hard but everything's more fun when you do it with friends. This all took place while Sian was in Newcastle, which was for the best because it allowed Sophie to deal with some longstanding organizational issues. Ever since Sian had moved in, Sophie had wanted to clean up a bit and she knew that she had a better chance of doing it unhindered with the other girl gone.
Of course she had to sit down and talk to her mum and dad first. It was very nerve wracking to tell her parents that she was moving in with her girlfriend. Not only because she knew they were still worried about her anxiety problems but also because it meant that she was getting serious about being a proper grown up. She knew that her mum had given up on her belief that this whole "gay thing" was a phase but it was still hard for Sally to swallow. On the other hand she worried that her dad would get all shouty and "my girl" about it. She had an entire speech prepared about how they were "very committed" and it didn't automatically mean that they were getting married or anything.
Strangely, Sophie thought, for her it meant that they could return to a place that they had been when they first got together. It meant a more grown up version of their relationship could emerge than they had had when they practically lived together at the Webster's. Moving in together on summat equal ground meant that they had an obligation to deal with not only the petty squabbles they had but also the bigger questions. Either way Sophie knew that if she screwed it up, it meant that her things would be thrown out into the street for all to see. So she was doubly committed to not letting that ever happen.
However when Sophie started to launch into her big speech about it she found that it was wholly unnecessary. She had carefully broken the news that she was moving out across the dinner table and her parents just gently nodded. Sophie didn't know what to do. She had expected a fight. Instead Kevin just shook his head and said "Surprised it hasn't happened already. I mean it's good of you to stick with your mum, but it's time you moved on a bit aye?" he sipped his tea. Sally strangely just nodded along with him. Sophie was a bit flummoxed. She had not expected that.
"No really. Are you two just pushing me out the door? Looking to get a lodger?" she smart-assed.
"No Sophie, Come On. You are nearly 20. Both me and your dad were practically kicked out of our homes at your age. It's been great having you here. But really darling, there's a time when you have to let your kids go" Sally responded.
"Thanks mum" Sophie said grinning ear to ear. She knew that this was hard for her mum. They had stuck together through her mum's terrible boyfriends and her dad's absence in Germany. Through it all Sophie believed that her parents were meant to be together. God made family for a reason. And the Webster's were a venerable institution.
But she knew that she had to start moving towards something. Sian had started down the path of getting back in school and figuring out what she wanted. And she couldn't think of a better person to continue down the path with hand-in-hand.
Of course she had moved and re-arranged everything in time before Sian got back from Newcastle. Her girlfriend had been gone for an entire week so she couldn't wait to see her. She had arranged with her dad to pick her up from the train station. Sure it really hadn't been that long but she loved sneaking up behind her on the platform. The poor blonde was searching everywhere, checking her phone, and then looking back out into the crowd. Sophie slyly slid behind her placing her hand on her hips slowly massaging them. She knew that Sian liked that. It well turned her on. Her girlfriend quickly turned around to face her. Sophie grinned ear to ear as Sian launched into one of her full-throated laughs.
"Hey there beautiful" Sophie said lowly as she leaned in and covered the blonde's lips. Pulling her in closer Sophie had never been happier in her life. She couldn't wait to get the blonde out of her clothes. Sian at least had the sense to break it off before it got more than PG.
"Sophie! There's kids and old folks about!" she said as she caught her breath.
"Well I know a place where we can go" Sophie said with a wink.
Of course they proceeded to have sex on every possible surface once they made it inside the flat. They only paused for water and food.
Sophie had stocked the fridge the night before, fully intending to cook. However she found herself too exhausted as it is.
During a break Sian had filled her in on her trip to Newcastle. Not surprisingly her extended family were just as charming as her dad had been.
"Yeah they had all his things crated up, ready for trash or donation. Had to fight to go thru them at all. But they offered to pay for law school if I get in and help me buy a car to get back and forth from school and that" she filled Sophie in.
Sophie was glad to hear that they'd pay for University but she didn't want Sian to be indebted to the Powers. Sian reassured her that it just meant that it'd be easier to deal with things once they were both in school come January.
"I got used to driving in California and it's been proper hard not being able to get around. Just think about it babe, you won't have to worry as much about getting me home aye?" Sian tried to convince her.
"Listen to you trying to convince me. You're becoming more like an attorney every day" Sophie smirked as she leaned in to start another round.
Once they'd gotten all the sex out of their systems, Sophie and Sian started to mold into the next level of their relationship as adults.
Sophie delved back into school, which wasn't always easy. Science work was a particularly fresh version of hell. Both of them continued to work and save money for the time when they would have to cut back. Sian worked around the clock at the Rovers, which Liz was happy to allow her to do. She had really grown on the punters down there being the girl they all wanted but couldn't have. Luckily if there was any trouble someone was always there to step in and stop it. Sophie couldn't help but still worry during the late night shifts though.
Sian was getting ready for work when they heard the knock on the door.
"Can you get it?" Sian yelled.
Sophie got up. "It's weird, we're not expecting anyone."
Sophie checked the eyehole. She couldn't believe what she saw.
Swinging open the door standing before her was none other than a bereft Rosie Webster.
"Sophie! I need your help!" she said waving her hands dramatically.
"Well are you going to let me in?" Rosie demanded as she stood in the hall. Sophie took in the sight of her older sister. She was dressed in her typical white leather pants and tight top with stylish jacket that you can't buy at the Trafford Center. She had bags at her feet.
Sophie shook her head. "No way" Sophie said looking for Sian who was still in the bathroom.
"Whatever Sophie!" Rosie charged thru and into their flat.
"You can't just barge your way in Rosie!" Sophie shouted.
"A word Sophie" Sian pulled Sophie into the bathroom.
"What is she doing here?" Sian said with a mardy tone. She was clearly not pleased to see Rosie.
"I don't know but she's clearly gotten into some trouble" Sophie sighed. It was so typical of her life that when things are going so well something would come up.
"You know that she still hasn't apologized for what happened in California" Sian said her voice rising.
"And I still won't!" Rosie shouted from the front room.
"Look just go to work and I'll talk to her" Sophie giving her a peck on the lips.
"Okay I'll text you when I get off so you can meet me" Sian said smiling.
"You better" she said as she moved in for something deeper.
"I'm still here!" Rosie catcalled. Sophie sighed.
"No more than one night Sophie" Sian said as she headed out the door. Sophie walked into the living room where Rosie had parked herself on the couch.
"I can't believe that she is still mad about that it was ages ago! Do you have anything to drink? I am so parched" Rosie said at the speed of a freight train.
"Rosie! What are you doing here?!" Sophie asked looking at her sister like she was bonkers. She sat down next to her and braced herself for the madness that was assured whenever her sister was involved.
"It's all so rubbish Sophie. I've lost all my money! You have to let me stay here, I've got nowhere else to go" Rosie sobbed. Sophie pulled her poor sister in for a hug. As much as Sophie could not understand her sister 85% of the time they were still sisters and she hated seeing her in bits. Sophie knew that as awful as Rosie could be-she made up for it in other ways. Although she would never say it aloud but Sophie owed Rosie. She had been off the rails for a moment there when Sian had knocked her back for six. Rosie had pulled her back together and now it looked like she could repay the favor.
"Alright now, whut happened?" Sophie asked when Rosie had finally stopped crying.
"Oh Sophie! He was so nice to me and he took me to nice places. And even though he was older, he had so much stamina for someone his age" Rosie started to explain. Sophie groaned in disgust. Hetero sex was so gross to start with, but she didn't want to think about it with her sister.
"So when he said that he was working for charity I just thought that was even better. He told me that he was working to help get poor people the internet in Africa. And that I would be a spokes model and it was tax deductible, so I gave him some money…and then he pulled a runner Sophie! I was so embarrassed" Rosie let the story tumble out.
Sophie nodded as she listened. It all sounded too familiar. She too had been taken advantage of before by those who seemed good intentioned. But while Sophie was just naïve, her sister was just such an easy mark.
"Oh Rosie. But why aren't you at mum and dads?" Sophie asked.
"I went over there but dad got all shouty and mum just gave me that look like you're the biggest disappointment in the world. Sophie, you have to go and talk to them. Make them see" Rosie begged.
"Well you can stay tonight Rosie, but if it comes between you and Sian then I will chuck you out into the street, sister or nowt" Sophie declared.
"Where is that girlfriend of yours anyway? I don't know why she's still mad. That was ages ago" Rosie asked. Sophie went to make them a cup of tea.
"I dunno but I wouldn't push it Rosie. We just got to a good place and I'm not going to screw it up," Sophie said bringing the cups back to sit down. "Why didn't you go over to Eileen's? She'd take you in," Sophie asked.
"Jason's with that skank Eva Price so that's owt of the question" Rosie said haughtily.
"Oh" Sophie yawned. She intended to stay up so that she could be there to meet Sian when she got off, but her sister had worn her out.
"You look shattered Sophie. What are you up late doing?" Rosie winked. Her sister never missed a chance for innuendo.
"Rosie! Sian's on a night shift so I want to stay up to pick her up from the Rovers" Sophie explained.
"Well I'm here. So take a nap, I'll wake you up when she texts you" Rosie said as she picked up a gossip rag from the coffee table.
"Really sis? Cause that'd be great" Sophie said as she felt her eyelids getting heavy. She allowed herself to drift off as she listened to her sister's running commentary on Kim Kardashian's ass.
She was not awoken by the sound of the door closing. It was her girlfriend's voice whispering her name in her ear that brought her out of a dead slumber. Her eyes were sewn shut and every muscle ached in her body.
"Sophie" she heard Sian's voice drift in.
"Yeah babe" her voice still husky from sleep. Sophie could not move any of her limbs even if she wanted too. She collapsed back onto the couch.
"Why is Rosie sleeping in our bed?" Sian said with an edge in her voice.
Sophie's eyes flew open.
"Argh! Rosie! I'm gonna kill her" Sophie raged.
"Well she owes you for my cab fare. Help me pull out the sofa bed" Sian said wearily. Sophie could tell that she was too tired to fight over it.
"She'll be out tomorrow, I swear" Sophie promised as she cuddled up next to her girl.