Caroline and Kate arrived in the baby care unit to find Helena with the young nurse who was feeding her. They quickly realise that everything they need is back at their home. They decide that Kate would stay with Helena and Caroline would go back to Kate's to collect Helena's carrying seat and her bag. Caroline kissed Kate and Helena goodbye and walked back down the long corridors back to the car park.

Caroline opened her car door and took her seat behind the wheel. Her shoulders dropped and she let out a huge sigh. She felt relieved to be sitting somewhere familiar, safe and comforting. She became overwhelmed with everything that had happened and her tears flowed freely without Kate's presence. Her 'me time' was interrupted by ringing of her mobile phone. She looked at the phone sitting upside down on the passenger seat, thinking whether she should answer or relish her time alone. She took her phone and turned it over to show the caller's I.D.

"Hi mum. Is everything alright?"

Celia knew her daughter too well. "Have you been crying love?"

"Noooo, don't be silly. What's up?"

"Mmm, I don't believe you." A long silence left by Celia in the hope Caroline would admit how she felt. Nothing but silence on the air moved Celia along.

"I rang to find out how Grace is doing. You were going for your breakfast when I rang and I thought you'd have some news by now."

Caroline wiped her eyes whilst looking in the rear view mirror. "Oh sorry mum. She's doing really well. She's off the ventilator and she's awake."

"Oh thank goodness. Kate must be so pleased. Are you in the car?"

Celia was interrupted by Alan. "Has she got Helena with her? Are they on their way home?"

Caroline heard Alan in the background and smiled at their banter and happiness. She couldn't believe everything had turned out so well. Helena coming home, the house looks to be practically sold, Grace getting better and her mum is happy.

"Mum. I'm on my way to Kate's to pick up Helena's things so we can bring her home. How is Lawrence?"

Celia stops Alan midway through his questions.

"Sorry love. Lawrence is still in bed. He was up late playing on his what-chama-call-it. He's worn out. Poor love. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Can I ring you later when we get settled?"

"Are you going to live at Kate's place? Is it big enough for all of you?"

Caroline sighed at her mother's persistence in digging for the finer details. Details that hadn't really been worked out and Caroline knew would need to be dealt with very soon.

"Mum. I'll ring you later."

"Well. You can't avoid it forever love."

"I know. I know. I love you."

"I know you do love. Bye for now."

"Bye mum. See you later."

Caroline arrived at Kate's and quickly tidied the house up not wanting them to return back to a mess. She was half way through her mission when she realised that Helena coming home would create a mess of its own and laughed at herself. She took a minute to sit down and enjoy the silence in Kate's cottage. She knew in her heart that silence would soon be something very precious for her and her beautiful girlfriend. Her tranquillity was interrupted by her phone. It was Gillian.

She finished her call with Gillian and finally got the bag of baby things together for her trip back to the hospital to pick up Kate and Helena. On the journey back she ran through the list of things she would be doing over the following days including a mental note for her to contact Beverley to organise some time off work.

On her arrival at the hospital she collected the baby carrier and the bag of things and set off across the car park towards the baby unit. She was distracted by a voice that sounded familiar and at the same time awkward.

"Hi. Caroline isn't it?"

"Yes, Its Felicity isn't it? Angus' mum?"

"Yes. That's right. Are you here for your …. friend, Kate?"

Caroline's body instantly tensed at the comments made by Angus' mother. The mention of Kate being her friend and the intonation of the words made her realise Felicity knew that Kate was more than just her friend. Caroline heard the blood rushing in her head. The feeling of being cornered and trapped overwhelmed her. The sheer panic and fear gripping her, pinning her to the spot. Fight or flight. Caroline took a deep breath to calm her remembering the promise she had made to herself and to Kate.

"Yes. I've come to pick up Kate and our old daughter, Helena. We're bringing her home."

Without so much as a flinch from Felicity, no acknowledgement of the meaning of her words, her reaction had a profound effect on Caroline.

"Oh you must be so proud. I can still remember the day we brought Angus home. I remember I was so happy and so exhausted. Listen, if you want to off load Lawrence to get some time to yourselves please send him our way. We love having him and he's really no trouble."

Caroline laughed feeling more relaxed.

"Are you sure we're talking about the same Lawrence? The sulky, grumpy teenager on the game's box must be an imposter."

Felicity laughed with Caroline.

"Well Angus and Lawrence must have a signal to switch into sulky mode because when Lawrence leaves Angus becomes grumpy too. Teenagers eh, who'd have them?"

Caroline smiled awkwardly. "Thank you. You've very kind."

"Look the offer still stands. I really mean it. Lawrence is a lovely lad and well… I understand what you're facing. You see I'm not sure if Angus mentioned it but my sister Katherine is gay, so you both have our full support."

Caroline didn't know how to react or what to say to the declaration made. She was surprised and at the same time quite shocked at the frankness of the women whom she had met less than a dozen times.

"Thank you Felicity. We may just take you up on your offer."

The women bid each other their goodbyes and Caroline continued on her mission. As she walked the now familiar corridors of the hospital it occurred to her she wasn't facing bigoted views among the parents and governors as she had expected. She couldn't believe the amount of people whom she had bumped into recently who were either gay, knew someone who were or related to someone who was. Had she really spent most of her life hiding from her own self-imposed bigotry and cowardice or had society simply changed with time? She felt such a release but at the same time a little sad and what she had missed.

She arrived to find Kate and Helena packed and ready waiting for her. She watched proudly as Kate placed Helena gently into the baby carrier. Kate looked so beautiful and proud. Caroline's heart burst at the biggest and brightest smile she had ever seen.

"Helena has just been to see her Grandma Grace."

"How is she doing?"

Kate smiled. "She looks much better and she smiled when I showed her Helena."

Caroline stroked Kate's arm giving her comfort and support. She turned to her daughter who eyes were as bright as her mother's.

"Come on Helena. It's home time for you and your mum."

Kate lifted the carrier up in one hand containing her most prized possession and used her free hand to hold the hand of her other most prized possession. The two women walked up the corridor hand in hand and outside to the car park. They joy was short lived as they saw who had parked next to the Jeep.

"Well I never. The shame of it and you a headmistress of a prestige private school. I cannot believe what a bad state of affairs the world is coming to when the likes of you flaunt your filth for everyone to see."