Caroline and Kate were sitting at a small table together. They had ordered a breakfast of toast and tea and were waiting. Caroline looked out the window at the beautiful blue sky and smiled. She wished it had been this way back on Kate's birthday. It was so perfect. She felt Kate take hold of her hand which was resting on the table.

"Caroline. Are you okay?"

"Mmmmm. Yeah." Caroline turned to face Kate who looked happy. "Are you happy Kate?"

"Yes. Very." Kate felt Caroline's hand stroking her own and looked down.

"Do you have plans for later? Would you like to join us for Christmas dinner?"

"Well... I would love to but I promised my mum I would go to hers. And I kind of don't want to let her down." Kate saw that Caroline looked disappointed. "I could come over later in the evening?"

Caroline smiled. "That would be really nice. Will you stay over for the night?"

"If you're sure." Kate didn't want to make any assumptions. "Are you cooking Christmas dinner for everyone?"

"Well not everyone. Just Celia, Alan, Lawrence, William. Oooooo and Roxy, William's new girlfriend."

Kate looked at Caroline. "Are you sure you don't mind me coming over? I imagine you'll be shattered after that."

"I don't care. I just want to see you and I'd be very disappointed if you didn't. Besides the deal is; I cook and they clean up after!" Caroline looked around before leaning in to Kate, "I've really missed waking up next to you."

Kate felt herself blush and decided to distract things. "What time?"

"Anytime you like." Caroline smiled as she gazed into Kate's eyes. She couldn't believe how things were now after they had looked so bleak. Her whole outlook had changed to polar opposites. She was now looking forward to the New Year rather than dreading a lonely night in on her own with a bottle for company. She had felt herself slipping into John's lifestyle and it worried her immensely. But that was then. "Maybe next year we can have your mother over too?"

Kate smiled. "She'd really like that. She's desperate to meet you."

Caroline blushed. "Really? I thought she'd hate me after the way I treated her daughter!"

Kate hesitated not sure whether it was a good idea. "Caroline. I know I'm being cheeky but you could come and pick me up later? You could meet mum at the same time?"

Caroline hesitated not wanting to disappoint but not really sure she could face it just yet. "Do you mind if we do it another time? It's just it will be a mad afternoon and I'm not sure I can face it without a glass of wine or two!"

Caroline watched Kate's face to check she was okay. Not really sure of the impact her request had she tried again. "How about we take her out for dinner one night later in the week? That way we can chat and get to know each other before the little one arrives?"

Kate smiled again, "That would be really nice. She loves going out and getting dressed up."

Their breakfasts arrived and they both jumped straight in, hungry from their emotional roller coaster the day before and their energetic night of love.

Caroline and Kate walked together into the car park. Caroline saw Kate's car parked next to hers. Caroline placed her bags inside her car and turned to Kate. "Thank you."

"For what?" Kate looked puzzled.

"For giving me another chance. Forgiveness and for the best night I've ever had."

Kate smiled and reached in kissing Caroline on the lips briefly. "Thank you. I was half expecting you to turn me down."

Lawrence interupted them. "Get a room you two."

Lawrence and Angus came walking up to them. Angus said hello not really sure what to call Miss Mckenzie and Dr Elliot.

Kate and Caroline blushed at the two boys faces knowing that they had seen everything and they were forever changed.

Angus smiled and turned. "Merry Christmas Miss Mckenzie. See you next year. I'm looking forward to Choir practice!"

"Thanks Angus. Merry Christmas to you too. "

Lawrence then asked his mum, "Can I stay at Angus' house tonight? His mum has said she will collect us. We've got a rugby match tomorrow and he lives closer to school."

"On Boxing Day? Rugby? ... Yeah of course as long as you behave."

"Thanks mum."

"Okay. Now get in the car while I say goodbye to Kate."

Both boys groaned and Lawrence joked, "No kissing. I've just had my breakfast!"

Caroline laughed, "What else?"

Lawrence had a big grin on his face, "No kissing please!"

Caroline laughed and turned to Kate. "He asked so nicely as well!" She hugged Kate bringing her in close not wanting the time to end.

Kate saw two faces looking through the car window. "We're being watched."

Caroline took Kate's chin in her hand and pulled her lips closer for a kiss. "Ignore them. Just young adolescence boys. They'll get used to it in time!"

Caroline released Kate allowing her to put her bag in her car. She turned to Angus and Lawrence and pulled her tongue out at them.

Lawrence leaned out the window. "If you two carry on like that were going to start scoring you with marks out of ten!"

Caroline laughed and got in her car and pulled out closely followed by Kate. Kate followed Caroline's car down the drive. She then saw Angus and Lawrence holding up two pieces of paper in the back window. Much to Kate's amusement they both contained a crude drawing of the number 5!

Kate laughed to herself. "Oh well. More practice required!"