Caroline smiled to herself at Lawrence's antics at the farm. She realised he was slowly turning into a young man and obviously the very cheeky one who would charm his way through life. Lawrence had decided to stay at the farm with Raff and not be with Caroline and Kate. They had arranged that Celia would bring him to the hospital later the following day so he could see his sister Helena.

It was gone seven when Caroline finally arrived at Kate's. She rang on the way to let Kate know what she was doing. She collected a pizza on the way back for them to share.

Entering Kate's house Caroline found her on the sofa in front of the television.

Kate wasn't asleep so much as lying down to find a comfortable position. She was still quite sore and the painkillers were working but they were making her extremely sleepy. Kate didn't want to live in a constant daze so she limited her intake.

"Hello Kate." Caroline knelt next to the sofa and gently stroked Kate's hair from her face. Kate immediately smiled at the sight of those beautiful blue eyes and her girlfriend's huge smile. "Hi, I've missed you."

Caroline smiled and knelt closer laying a soft kiss on her girlfriend's lips. Kate found the kiss warm and loving. She put her arm up around Caroline's shoulder and pulled her into a more passionate embrace. Caroline moved in closer and gave into Kate's neediness. She pulled back from their kiss. "That was a nice welcome back. I really needed that after the day I've had."

Kate looked questioning at her. "Why what's happened?" She looked worried at Caroline's expression but Caroline stroked her hand. "It's okay. It's nothing to worry about." Caroline changed the subject not wanting to worry Kate. "Are you hungry?"

Kate frowned. "Caroline. I know you too well and recognise your diversion tactics straight away. Spill the beans or there will be no more kissing and you'll be sleeping on the sofa tonight!"

Caroline laughed that she had been caught out so easily. She usually succeeded with diverting people away from issues which were sensitive but that was in work. She knew Kate was far more knowledgeable about how she worked a room now. She looked over to Kate in the doorway and smiled. Kate looked up at her and smiled knowing she was right. "Come to the kitchen and we'll talk whilst we're eating."

They settled down across the small table from one another and hungrily devoured their shared chicken and spinach pizza. Kate looked up at Caroline having satisfied her hunger. "So?"

Caroline smiled with her mouth still full. There was a glint in her eye that told Kate she was stalling for time. Kate looked with a wide expression waiting patiently for Caroline to finish eating. Caroline finished. "You know you are very good at interrogation without evening uttering a word. You should have been a police officer. I would confess anything to you."

Kate laughed. "Mmmm, I see yet another diversion from Dr Elliot. Spill now or I'll carry out my threats and extend the time until 12 o'clock tomorrow lunch time."

Caroline took another piece of her pizza in her mouth and arched her eyebrows in mock surprise at Kate's threats. She finished her pizza and placed her knife and fork down, using a napkin to wipe her mouth. "Okay. Well where do I start? Greg came to the house whilst I was there and initially he was trying to intimidate me."

Kate's expression changed to concern at the realisation Greg had tried to take on Caroline. "Oh god. Caroline! What did you do to him? Is he alright?"

Caroline laughed and continued to explain what he had said about the night in the hotel and what he said about their encounter.

Kate stopped Caroline mid flow by placing her hand on her lover's cheek. "Caroline I'm so sorry. I know what happened that night really hurt you and for him to use it was below the belt."

Caroline looked down at her half eaten pizza. Kate pulled her chin up to her to see those blue eyes watering over. Kate reached across the table and kissed Caroline on the lips. "I can't take back what happened. I don't know what he told you but I didn't enjoy the experience one bit. In fact after we had done the deed I went back to my room and cried. I cried for you, cried at the experience and cried for risking everything just for one last chance at being a mother."

Caroline pushed her plate aside and took Kate's hand in hers. She used the other to wipe her tears from her cheeks. "Kate I know we've both done things we don't feel proud of. We can't change them and they're in the past. I don't think badly of you. I understand. But I can't help getting upset by the thought of you and him. But then I change my thoughts to Helena and realise we wouldn't have her otherwise. You came back and that's all that really matters to me now."

Kate smiled and then finished off the last of her pizza. Having wiped the plates clean they washed up and Caroline made them tea. She made Kate go sit back on the sofa in the sitting room and brought the cups through to her.

Kate made space for Caroline on the sofa so that she could lay against her side and they could snuggle up together for a much-needed break from their termoil. Kate then asked Caroline to continue with the details of her day. Caroline explained that she had brought Greg round to a more co-operative and engaging state. He was now thinking about whether to have any part in Helena's life. Caroline told Kate she thought that it would be good for Helena to know her father and have regular contact as long as it was for the long-term. She told Kate she had explained this to Greg and he was thinking about what he would do. "He told me he didn't think he would be involved in Helena's life and said he didn't want her to be like Lawrence is now with his father running off. I hope you're not mad at me for encouraging him to be involved Kate. I just thought about Lawrence's situation with John not making time for him. Lawrence is very unsettled at the moment and he really misses having his father around."

Kate didn't answer straight away. "I'm not mad Caroline. I just hope we can make it work if he does decide to become involved. I do understand that it would be right for Helena but I just hope he doesn't make any problems for us."

Caroline kissed Kate on the side of her head. "I don't think he will now Kate. He changed in front of me. All his bravado disappeared and he seemed really genuine. Anyway, I was just about to leave to come back here when John arrived."

"What did he want?"

Caroline sighed. "He wants me to drop the price of the house so we can get a quick sale. He wants to leave Judith's flat and get a place of his own. He's realised happiness is not at the bottom of a bottle in Judith's flat. She's behind on the rent and she fleecing him."

Kate didn't immediately answer Caroline. She stroked Caroline's upper leg. "I don't think it's a bad thing to drop the price if it means it sells quicker. I mean, it would free you up and I could sell this place. We could all get a place together much sooner.

Caroline rubbed Kate's shoulder with affection at her reasoning. Having all of them altogether was a nice thought and a dream she had already had. "Yeah I told him I would as soon as the Estate Agents office opened. I'm sure the offices will be shut for the Christmas break." Caroline changed the subject yet again. "Oh speaking of Lawrence. The little sod caught me out again. I went to see him at the farm as you know. I asked if he wanted to come over here to stay with us tonight because I was worried he felt so left out. Anyway he decided against it but then told me he'd heard us both when we were….. you know… in my bedroom."

Kate laughed out loud and moved to a sitting position so that she could see the look on her lover's face. "What did you say? Oh I bet you turned in to Elmer Fudd stumbling over your words?" Caroline blushed and Kate laughed. "Oh you did."

Caroline gave Kate an affectionate nudge in the arm and continued. "Well the little sod then looked all embarrassed and I was ….. Then he told me he was winding me up and he asked me if were noisy when we…. You know!"

Kate smiled and then took Caroline unaware into a deep and passionate kiss. She searched for her lover's tongue and delved deep into her, wanting her and needing to take her. Caroline let herself fall into her own needs which had been unfulfilled for the last few days. She realised she had missed that passionate contact with her lover. She reached under Kate's loose blouse and stroked her breast finding her erect and pert nipple. Kate let out a moan after Caroline's touch. Kate wanted Caroline and knew she was still sore but didn't care. She had missed her as much and just wanted to feel her beautiful smooth naked body against her own. "Caroline. Will you take me to bed now? All the talk of us being noisy has me … wanting you."

Caroline stopped, unsure if she should continue. She didn't want to hurt Kate knowing she would still be sensitive and sore. "If you're sure? I don't want to hurt you and…." She looked to Kate for reassurance before they were interrupted by her mobile. She looked at the screen and jumped. "Oh bugger. Its John again." Caroline hit the decline button and dropped it on the floor by the sofa.

She continued where she had left off placing her hand under Kate's half open blouse touching her soft warm skin. She moved in for another soft kiss and her phone started ringing again. Kate stopped her hand. "It will be John again. Just ignore it. He'll give up when he gets the message."

The phone stopped ringing and a bleep indicated a message had been left. A short time late the phone began to ring again. Caroline stopped their kissing this time and picked her phone up to check it was John. She didn't think he would be so persistent after they had talked. She checked the missed calls and her expression changed to panic. "Oh god Kate. It's the hospital!"

Kate immediately panicked. "Oh god it's late. What's wrong?"