Kate hesitated. "Caroline you don't have to say anymore. I think I know ….." Kate hesitated not wishing to speak the unthinkable. "It's best left unspoken. We have Helena to think of now. We've both had too much turmoil and pain recently and this issue is not ours." Kate took Caroline's hand in hers and ran her thumb over Caroline's palm. It was a gentle move intending to reassure Caroline that she understood. The look on Caroline's face told Kate all she needed to know. The matter settled. Kate left Caroline on her own in the kitchen to check on her mother and Lawrence.

Caroline looked down placing her heavy head in her hands reflecting the weight of her heart. The words unspoken meant the burden wasn't released but it was clear Kate understood. Kate was right their future was more important than the events of another's past. Caroline decided that she wasn't going to take the burden anymore. She had told Gillian that it was best they didn't speak of it anymore and that is exactly what she was going to do. Forget it.

She rose and walked to the doorway of the sitting room. "Anyone for a cup of tea?" Kate was sitting on the sofa and looked up at Caroline. She half smiled and Caroline smiled back at her. Grace and Lawrence were locked in mortal combat, concentrating too much to notice the glances. Caroline mouthed 'I love you' to Kate before returning into the kitchen.

That night as they both lay in bed together Caroline's mind pondered on their future, the house, Helena and work. She had run Lawrence over to their house to collect his dirty rugby kit and spent the night washing the kit and drying it on the radiators. She knew Lawrence was grateful for doing it and Caroline had felt guilty his needs had taken a back seat lately. "Kate, are you still awake?"

Kate rolled over, "Yes. I can't sleep."

Caroline beckoned for her to rest against her and she wrapped her arm around Kate's back and pulled her in close. "There was a message on the answer machine from the estate agents when I went to collect Lawrence's Rugby kit. They have two viewings arranged for tomorrow afternoon. I've promised Lawrence I'll watch him play Rugby tomorrow and then go see Helena. Shall I book the viewings later in the day and then you can come back here and get some rest?"

Kate looked up at Caroline. "I can come to the house with you if you like. I don't mind."

Caroline smiled and kissed Kate's forehead. "That would be ….. nice. Luckily John has left the house tidy so I don't have to spend time cleaning beforehand. Are you coming with me to watch Lawrence play or will you go straight to the hospital?"

"How about if I watch Lawrence for the first half and then leave you to watch until the end. Then you can both come over to the hospital afterwards?" Kate kissed Caroline's stomach where she rested her head.

"Mmm. Sounds like a good plan." Caroline smiled and snuggled into Kate enjoying the feeling of comfort and warmth. "This is always the best part of the day. Snuggling up to you."

Kate agreed with a simple laugh. "Does that mean you don't want any ….. you know…..?"

Caroline laughed. "Oh I think I do." She shuffled down into the bed so she was facing Kate and lifted the duvet over their heads.

"Why are we hiding under the duvet Caroline?"

Caroline kissed Kate. "Because I don't want to wake your mum or Lawrence when I make you sing from the roof tops!"

Kate started giggling. "I can't believe my mum heard us both the first night. I was just so…."

Caroline stopped Kate continuing as she took her lips in her own and relished the soft and warm feeling as she curled around her girlfriend. Their passion developed into love making with faint cries but no shouting. Sleep took over as the events of the day finally caught up.

Caroline woke and found Kate was missing. She heard voices downstairs and guessed she was in the kitchen with her mum. She glanced at the clock and realised she needed to get up in order to deliver Lawrence to the match. She showered quickly and went down to a lovely breakfast of toast and tea. Grace had already left early to go back home and check on things before visiting her husband.

They all set off with Caroline and Lawrence in her car and Kate in her own. Kate needed to leave half way through to go to the hospital so they needed both cars. It was a lovely bright sunny day but with a definite cold wind in the air. Caroline had wrapped up warm in her long padded jacket, warm gloves and fluffy hat. Lawrence had looked at his mother with a smirk. Caroline didn't understand his face, "What? Is my attire not to your liking? Is mum's spectator rugby kit not up to scratch?"

"You'll need your wellies on the pitch mum. It's very muddy. You can't wear those out on the field at this time of year."

Caroline hadn't thought about this but remember she had some wellies in the cupboard in her office at school. Kate had thought about it and was sporting a bright pink pair of wellies. She took her shoes to change into for her visit to see Helena.

They arrived at the school and Caroline parked in her usual spot outside the main entrance. Kate parked behind her and joined Caroline as she walked inside meeting Beverley in her office on the way. "Caroline, Kate. How are you both? How's the baby doing?"

Both women smiled at Beverley and Kate answered. "She's doing really well thank you Beverley. Did you have a nice Christmas?"

"It was quiet with just me and my mum for dinner. How about you two. What did you get up too?"

Caroline smiled. "Oh I cooked for what felt like a whole army." She looked at Kate and smiled. "Then we drank too much and watched the same films as last year on the television, didn't we?"

Kate laughed at Caroline. "I beat Lawrence and Angus on the new PlayStation he got for Christmas, which went down like a lead balloon. Then Helena decided she wanted to see what all the fuss was about."

Beverley smiled. "Oh Helena. That's a lovely name. My grandmother was called Helena. You two must be so thrilled?"

Caroline laughed. "We are. Thank you Beverley."

"Are you going out to watch the match? My nephew is playing. I'm just preparing a flask of tea. Would you like me to prepare one for you both?"

Caroline hadn't thought about drinks and the cold weather. She was so pleased Beverley was there. "That would be lovely. Yes thank you. I'm just going to get my wellies out of the cupboard. I don't think I'd last very long in these on the field do you?"

Caroline grabbed her wellingtons and changed out of her heels. She put her shoes in the boot of her car on the way out to the fields. It didn't take long for some of the pupils to realise Miss McKenzie was there. One bright girl called Lucy who was rather fond of Kate came straight over to them both. "Hiya Miss. We've missed you. Have you had the baby?"

Kate smiled. "Yes I have Lucy. We've called her Helena."

Lucy smiled at Kate's words knowing that she and Caroline were together. "That's nice Miss. Where is she?"

Kate explained to Lucy about Helena and left Caroline to go over to see Lawrence outside the changing rooms. "Hi mum. I like your wellies."

Caroline looked down at her bright yellow and blue flowered wellies which were slowly being devoured by thick black mud. "Thanks. I like them too." She looked across to his team mates and shouted. "Good luck boys."

She re-joined Kate on the side lines. Kate had managed to lose Lucy and was talking with Angus' mum Felicity. Beverley joined them a short time later and passed a flask of tea in a bag to Caroline. "Oh Beverley. You're an angel. Thank you. Which one is your nephew? I wasn't aware he was a pupil here."

"Ah well. He's actually on the other team so I may get some funny looks cheering for the opposition!"

Caroline laughed at the thought. "Well. All is fair in love and …. Rugby." She turned back to Kate. "Would you like some tea?" Kate held onto the cup of the flask given to her by Caroline whilst she poured out the steaming tea. "How is Lucy? Still smitten with you?"

Kate laughed. "Oh still a little interrogator. She asked me whether you and I intended to have a Civil Partnership."

Caroline looked shocked. "Really? God, I wouldn't dare to ask. What did you say?"

"I couldn't stop laughing at her sheer forthright approach. I tried to distract her by telling her she should think of a career in journalism but that didn't stop her. I told her we had other things to think about now that Helena had arrived early."

The end of the second half whistle interrupted their talk and the mood on the pitch was high with Sulgrave Heath beating Appleforth 27 to 12. The team gathered in the centre of the field with their coach to talk tactics. Kate said her goodbyes to everyone and then kissed Caroline on the lips in front of the watching crowd. "See you later Caroline. Tell Lawrence we'll be rooting for him."

Caroline blushed putting her head down not daring to look at the gathering spectators. She watched Kate walk off across the field and turned back to the smiles of Beverley and Felicity. Just when Caroline thought she couldn't blush anymore Beverley whispered to her. "You two make a lovely couple."

At that moment Caroline's mobile rang and she saw it was Gavin, The Head of the Board of School Governors. "Hi Gavin. How was your Christmas?"

Caroline chatted with him for a short time and they arranged to meet formaly the following day to discuss Caroline's plans for the new term and the urgent appointment of a Modern Languages Teacher to cover Kate's maternity. Caroline ended the call feeling a little uneasy. Gavin told her news of her and Kate's relationship had reached some of the less liberal members of the board and he needed to speak with her about it.