A/N: I know! But this turned out to be super-long! So I split it in order to post something today. Consider this as Chapter 50 Part 1.
Part 2 is forthcoming!
10 Years later...
Sophie emerged from the school just as the rain had started. Despite the fact that there had been dark ominous clouds in the sky that morning she had not taken an umbrella. Now her optimism was getting her soaked. Man makes plans and God laughs she thought to herself as she ran to the bus stop.
Also damn her generosity. She had let Sian take the car this morning to pick up their girl from school. One more reason that she cursed herself and her maker. Well and the parents that had made her stay for their useless parent/teacher "discussion." Sophie loved being a teacher and all-if only it weren't for the parents.
She sighed as she crossed her arms while ducking under the meager bus shelter. Well she wanted God to know that these heels aren't waterproof either.
It all seemed a bit unfair.
She crossed the threshold of their home drenched and cursing up a storm. Looking up she saw the love of her life stifling the giggles as she came towards her.
"Such language Miss Webster! What would your students say if they heard you?" Sian mocked her as she reached to take off Sophie's coat.
"Oi! I'd just put the blame on their flaming parents!" Sophie shook off her heels. She made a sound of disgust and she cursed them too.
"Oh babe!" Sian laughed and hung up the sopping wet coat. "Why don't you get out of those clothes and draw a bath eh?" she whispered into Sophie's ear.
Sophie purred for a moment at the thought but then looking upstairs something dropped into her mind. "Where's the little one?" she asked turning around toward Sian.
"She's watching telly. X-Factor is on" Sian said with a slight grin.
"Oh she shouldn't be watching that crap!" Sophie whispered with mock disgust.
"Oh really! You try stopping her! Go On" Sian laughed. "Why what you thinking?" Sian asked.
"I think you know" Sophie said with an arch eyebrow. She leaned in as her eyes darkened.
Their lips nearly met when…
The hearty whistle of the kettle cut through the sexual tension that had built up between them. "Kettle's On!" Sian shook her head. She headed towards the kitchen.
"You go on upstairs Sophie Webster" she through over her shoulder. "I'll be there in a minute" she winked as she disappeared.
Sophie huffed as she heading upstairs. So typical.
The hot water had just begun to seep into her bones when she heard the creak of the door. Sophie had kept her eyes closed but the edges of her lips instantly turned up because she knew who it was. She had memorized that scent long ago.
"So is Cheryl still hot?" she asked mockingly.
"Hey don't mock that old bird, she's still got it" Sian said as she closed the bathroom door behind her.
"So how'd the meeting go?" Sian asked sitting down parallel to the tub.
"Argh! Don't ask" Sophie shook her head. "Some parents just don't understand that sometimes kids fall off things. It's called gravity" she said sarcastically.
"Did the principal back you up?" Sian asked.
"Well in his own passive-aggressive cover his own ass way" Sophie explained. "I think he still believes that my hiring was some kind of diversify the staff initiative so he doesn't take me seriously" Sophie rubbed her forehead frustratedly.
"Babe if he says anything I'll sue his balls off for discrimination" the blonde said getting riled up. Sophie sat up letting bath bubbles cascade back into the tub. She looked toward her partner.
"Let's not talk about this anymore" she whispered. "I can think of much better things we could be doing" she grinned widely.
"You are insatiable Sophie Webster!" Sian said leaning in over the edge of the tub. Their lips connected for the first time since Sophie had gotten home. She couldn't get enough of them as she pushed in harder. However before it could get frantic, Sian pulled away. Sophie made a noise in protest. Sian got up and stood near the door.
"That's all you get when your daughter is waiting for her Tea" the blonde said breathlessly.
Sophie huffed in response. At least she could tell that Sian had to regain herself before leaving the room. She could still take Sian's breath away at least. As much as she loved her child and all, she was standing in the way of her getting laid. Sophie didn't appreciate that part of parenthood.
It hadn't been the easiest decision for them. They had discussed it a few times over the years. Sophie had always wanted a family. It was what she had come from in her early days and recreating it in her own home was a fancy that she owned up to having. Sian was less keen. Having been thrown from pillar to post without parents to depend on she worried that their own home would end up the same. It became a strain and even lead to them being separated for a time. These times were labelled "the rough patch" and were best left forgotten.
During that time Sophie lived with her parents on the street, Sian stayed in the flat. Lived is a word that doesn't quite describe how Sophie felt at that time. Zombie was more like it. It was a time when Sophie let everything get on top of her. She nearly lost it at the Rovers one night with Steve and Michele chucking her out onto the cobbles. At least Sian had not been there to see it. Thank god because Sophie had lost her head. Whiskey being the only choice to dull the hot poker of pain in her chest.
She had made it home somehow that night and found her mum and dad comforting each other on the couch. It sobered her up right quick seeing them like that. Her suspicions were confirmed when they told her that her mum was sick again. Her cancer had come back for a Round 2 and this time it was winning. Sophie had been so wrapped up in herself that she hadn't seen the signs. Her own selfishness now was bright and clear.
Sally's death had put everything in perspective. It was still an inconsolable loss, but it brought the girls back together. It was decided at her graveside that their future was meant to be together. And that while it was relentlessly scary that they could be mums just as good as their own had been.
Their own little towhead Emily had come into the world nearly 2 years later. It hadn't been easy but they have managed to keep the child alive thus far.
"Come down when you're ready baby" Sian said as she left the room. Just before she shut the door she turned around and added "And there's a letter from Rosie on the table."
Later on that night Sophie laid in bed going over her plans for the next days lessons. Similarly Sian was going over briefing materials. It was all very grown up Sophie smirked to herself. Still she admired how smart and hard-working Sian had become as an adult. She worked hard at the law firm where she had settled for a job. Being the only female attorney, Sophie knew that she took a fair amount of stick. But Sian was tough and she showed those pricks how hard she could be.
After graduation Sophie knew that Sian had gotten job offers as far away as London. Yet she knew that Sophie wanted to stay close to her family so she took the offer from a small firm in nearby Salford. They settled into a flat there, and later a house when Emily came along. Each of them believed that a child should have a bit of grass to play on which they had never had. Kevin and Jack had stayed in old No. 4, while Rosie took over their flat on Rosamund. That is, until she nearly burned it down. Rosie never really did learn how to cook. Sian had sold it to developers rather than bother with fixing the flat. They took that little bit of money and put a porch on the house. All in all, it had turned out alright in the end.
"So what did Rosie have to say?" Sian as she highlighted a sentence in front of her.
Sophie sighed. Sian knew there was only one reason that Rosie ever sent them mail. It was either she needed help because she'd gotten in trouble with some bloke...or…
"It's time to get Ems a new dress" Sophie said with a smile.
"Not Again?!" Sian said exasperated.
"Yep! Save the date! A Webster is getting married" Sophie said in a mocking tone.
"Again" Sian rubbed her forehead with her left hand as she reached for her appointment diary. "Who this time?" she said as she looked over her calendar.
"Who do you think? Grimshaw. And it isn't Todd" Sophie laughed.
"Funny aren't you?" Sian gave her a playful smack on the arm.
Before it got any further, they heard a creak at the door. Both looking up they saw the love of their lives. The blonde peaked her head thru the door then giggling maniacally she jumped onto the bed between them. Papers went everywhere but for the moment no one cared.
"Hey baby! What's that I smell?" Sian asked as she leaned in and pecked her daughter on the head. It had been Sian's choice to carry their baby. She had volunteered because she knew that if she was going to now was the chance. Keeping up with her work had been hard but Sian felt like she wanted to show everyone how strong she could be. And she had wanted to be a mum even though it scared her death. Luckily the pregnancy had gone smoothly with Sophie being there all the way. Sometimes to an annoying degree as she watched her girlfriend read every parenting book in Manchester.
"Oh is that the smell of fairy dust? I think it is" Sian said beginning to tickle her daughter-who loved it. Soon enough Sophie broke it up having lost most of her lesson plans on the floor. Having subsided Sophie pulled her daughter into a hug. Releasing her, she let her stay seated between them.
"So what do you think about getting a new dress?" Sophie asked her. The young girl squealed in delight. She was turning into a girly-girl which bemused her parents.
"Well you're Aunt Rosie is getting married and she'll need the prettiest ring-bearer ever. Do you think that you can do it?" Sophie asked. The young girl nodded her head earnestly smiling. Sophie hugged her again. She couldn't get enough of her little girl.
Releasing her again, she saw a new look come over her daughter's face. She went quiet.
"Can I ask you something mummy?" Emily turned her head to each side then it lowered to the ground.
"Course you can" Sophie said running her hands thru the girl's blonde hair.
"What does ille...ille..illegitimate mean?" she asked stumbling over the larger word.
Sophie looked over the girl's head to Sian not quite believing what she had just heard. Sian just shook her head and sighed. She leaned back onto the pillows with her arm around the little girl's shoulder.
"Well that's a five-pound word. Where'd you hear it baby?" Sian asked softly. Meanwhile Sophie kept her emotions in check but she subconsciously clenched her fist.
"Andy on the playground said that's what I am because my parents aren't married and that I could be put into care at any minute" Emily explained softly.
"Well at least half of that is true" Sophie said under her breath. Sian gave her an angry glare. "Not helping" she said over Emily's head icily to Sophie. She turned to Emily who had her head down. She lifted the girl's chin so that their eyes met.
"Baby, your mum's are going to take care of you the best we can. We don't have to be married to do that. And it doesn't make you any less because we aren't" Sian said softly and gave her daughter's shoulder a squeeze.
Sophie nudged her from the other side. Whispering in her daughter's ear softly "You're our special little princess" and she kissed her cheek. Pulling away she lifted her up by her two little hands and lifted her off the bed. She set her back down on the ground and scooted her toward the door.
"Now the next time anyone says anything like that" Sophie kneeled down so that she was looking at Emily face-to-face. "You look at them and say "You don't know what you're talking about" and walk away" she smiled then moved in closer. Nuzzling her nose softly she then sent her off to bed.
Walking back to their bedroom Sophie processed what had just happened. The more she thought about it-the more it wound her up. As she entered their bedroom Sian had returned to her papers. Sophie started gathering up her papers that had scattered. Underneath the surface though she seethed with anger. Not only did she hate it whenever her daughter was made to feel upset, but she also felt an old resentment creeping up.
It had gone unsaid but Sophie had resigned herself to the fact that when it came to marriage that Sian drove the bus. After their "rough patch" and then Emily coming along, she had been content enough to just get her love back. Actually, screw contentment! She was damn elated and grateful. But now she remembered how Sian seemed to be so indifferent to the idea of a deeper commitment between them. It was a thorn in Sophie's side, even after all this time. Still she was afraid of rocking the boat, so she kept quiet.
"I'm going to talk to her teachers tomorrow. I won't have it" Sophie declared.
"Soph, if you do that she'll be made fun of worse. Let it go" Sian warned looking up from her papers.
"Well then I'll pull her out and put her in another school" Sophie crossed her arms.
"Babe, if you do that every time someone gives her trouble because of us then you'll run out of schools in Northern England" Sian reasoned "I don't like it either but she best get used to it. And this isn't even the worst either." She reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.
"Well I'll have to pull her out of school anyway with the wedding and all" Sophie handed over the Save the Date card that Rosie had sent. Sian looked it over and groaned. Picking up her diary she noted the date.
"Of course she'd have to pick the week that the trial starts. Argh!" Sian set aside her work.
"Well I'll just go down separately and you can join us later eh? You know Rosie will need me there anyway while she goes insane. Her and Dad will just get all shouty" Sophie said lying back as her eyelids got heavier.
"Yeah you and Jack will have to keep them from murdering each other" Sian agreed as she turned off her table lamp.
"It'll be so great" Sophie said in an uncanny imitation of her sister.