Caroline closed her eyes and breathed deeply.

"Mmmmmm….Well the thing is…..Mmmmmmm, will you marry me?"

The air between the two women crackled and Caroline felt the charge. She held her breath thinking that she had read the situation wrong and Kate didn't feel the same way. Her heart was busy flipping around all over the place.

She was just about to retract her question and cover it with her usual apologetic waffle when Kate placed a finger on her lips. Kate leaned in to Caroline's ear and whispered her reply.

Caroline froze in shock as Kate gently moved back to face her. Kate's smile confirmed Caroline had heard Kate correctly. Kate watched as a single tear traced it's way down Caroline's cheek.

Kate moved her finger and caught the tiny droplet just in time. Caroline released her breath and a huge smile spread across her face.

"God I love you Kate."

Kate nodded and couldn't help shouting out. "Yes!"

Caroline laughed at Kate's joy before realising Celia may think the two of them were doing something else.

"Kate?"

"Yes Caroline?"

"You do realise my mum will think you're shouting out for another reason!"

Kate started to laugh and snuggled into Caroline's neck to dampen the noise she was making. Caroline joined in.

The two women settled down for the night holding each other close. Caroline lay facing the ceiling, eyes wide open with plans already running through her head of flowers, dresses, venues before she stopped herself. She realised it needed to be jointly organised and not another Elliot walk over.

The next morning Kate woke to find Caroline and Helena missing. She checked the clock and realised it was after nine o'clock. Kate found them both in the kitchen and smiled at the sight of her girlfriend in the kitchen making toast whilst holding their daughter in one arm and singing to her.

"Morning gorgeous."

Caroline moved to place a kiss on Kate's lips and handed over their daughter. "Toast and tea okay?"

"Mm, lovely thank you. How long have you been up Caroline?"

"About an hour or so, Helena started to cry and I was already awake with a mind full of weddings! I wanted you to rest whilst you could."

"Thank you. You've very kind. Where's your mum?"

"She left early to pick up Alan. They have plans for the afternoon on Harry's canal boat and house hunting."

"Have you told her we're getting married?"

"Yes I did."

"And?"

The silence spoke volumes to Kate. She didn't know what to say to Caroline who had turned away not wanting Kate to see her face.

"Caroline. What did she say?"

"She wasn't really impressed. She asked why we needed to 'flaunt it' to everyone."

Kate moved to take Caroline in a hug. The tears Caroline had been holding on to flowed once again.

"Caroline I know it's hard but I'm sure she will come round to the idea in time. She just needs time to adjust to things that's all."

Caroline quickly changed the subject not wanting to dwell on matters.

"Kate we need to go into school a little earlier than lunch time. I've spoken with Graham and we need to sit down to discuss a staffing issue. You can come with me or I could come back to collect you both if you like?"

"We'll come with you. The time isn't important its being together at the school for all the staff to see and know we are together. Should we tell them about our plans?"

"Not yet. I want to tell William and Lawrence first and we need to tell your mum too. I don't want us to rush into things and get it wrong again. Family comes first."

Helena's cries interrupted them again.

Caroline walked into the outer office to find Beverley busy helping Graham go through Caroline's diary for her meetings.

"Caroline, Kate! Ooooo is this who I think? Helena." Beverley leaned into the carry cot to see Helena unimpressed and fast asleep.

"She is beautiful. You must be very proud?"

Kate smiled whilst looking at Caroline to find her with her head down blushing. Kate realised this out and proud new way of being wasn't going to be as easy as Caroline had stated.

"Thank you Beverley. We are both very proud." Kate turned to Caroline who was now smiling.

"Graham. Shall we get down to business? Kate and Beverley can 'coo' to their hearts content without us!"

Beverley giggled after catching Kate's face. Kate had mouthed to Beverley that Caroline was blushing. Graham had missed the interaction and felt out of place not really understanding what was happening. He hurriedly followed Caroline into her office.

Caroline and Graham settled down around the table only for Beverley to interrupt them. "Tea?"

Caroline nodded her thanks to Beverley and Graham did the same.

"Graham. We have ourselves a bit of a problem I understand?"

"Yes Caroline. I didn't want to talk about it in front of Beverley or Kate because I'm sensitive to the issue. You see….. I don't really know how to put this but …. Well the fact is Caroline. I am gay too."

Caroline didn't know where to look. She felt shocked not really guessing Graham was. He didn't really open up much about his personal life and she didn't pry. She then smiled to herself thinking she was as bad as everyone else making judgements.

"Right Graham. Well, what a senior team we make? Does this make the situation more of an issue for you?"

"I have to admit Caroline I did think about it for a short time but then I thought. You know what 'stuff him' and his bigoted views. I say we both make a stand and let him go. Leaving will be the best outcome for everyone."

Graham handed Caroline the resignation letter from Michael Dawson where he registered his beliefs not being in line with the changing views and ethos of Sulgrave.

"Graham. Believe me when I say on the one hand it would give me great pleasure to accept his resignation. He is one huge pain in the posterior and Sulgrave Heath can well do without him. However, I am concerned that it may be seen by certain board members as him being pushed out by the management team because of his very different views about us personally."

"Caroline, please don't get me wrong. I agree entirely and I understand but to ask him to stay as Head of maths and his popularity with the pupils with his strong out of touch views would send out the wrong message to staff and pupils. There are several other staff the same as us Caroline and how would they feel?"

Caroline had turned to glance out the window into the courtyard watching the sun glisten on the ground frost. Her head snapped back to Graham at him comments about her staff.

"Who? I mean how many?"

Graham laughed. "Caroline. Do you seriously want me to start naming people?"

"No Graham. Sorry you're right it would be unprofessional." Caroline started to smile.

"God Graham. Listen to me? I think we should be very careful and at least ask him to reconsider. That way we can be seen not to simply judge him purely on his opposing views. We can record the fact we have asked and if he is adamant then we let him go. We'll need to think about hiring another Head of Maths and appoint an interim. Chris Barber is very capable as Deputy Head of Maths. Do you think she would take the temp job if it came to it?"

"I'm sure she would be delighted. She is very capable and eager to progress."

"Good then its settled. Are you okay to speak with Michael and ask him to reconsider? I can do it if you prefer?"

"No Caroline. I said I would step in and enable you to have some time. I stand by that and everything that comes with it."

Caroline smiled as Beverley entered the office with the tea and biscuits. She left more quickly than usual realising that it was private business.

"Caroline can I just say. You seem a much happier woman now than the last year or so. If Kate and Helena are the reason then having someone special in your life certainly suits you."

Caroline blushed for about the third time that day. She took a sip of her tea wanting to take her time before answering.

"Thank you Graham. I am very happy and I have Kate and Helena to thank for that. Things have been extremely difficult for me personally for a long time. I know I haven't shared this with anyone at school least of all you. I have struggled personally and made a lot of mistakes. I'm sorry. I must have been a real pain to be around?"

"No Caroline. I'm sorry. I knew you were in a bad place and I should have asked and taken the time to support you."

Caroline let out a laugh. "Believe me Graham the mood I was in I would probably have bitten your head off and spat it out."

Graham and Caroline laughed together before Caroline thought about how she came across to staff. Was she really so distant they didn't think a kind word when she looked so down was possible.

"Graham. Do you have anyone….special at the moment?"

"To be honest Caroline. I'm not sure yet. There is someone but it's very early days and I never tempt fate. I've had a great many bad experiences with men over the years."

"Very wise."

"Why do you ask?"

"Well I have an idea that we could turn all this negativity into something positive. Kate told me it is LGBT history month in February and I thought it would be good to do something to highlight it and give out a positive message to the whole school, staff and pupils. What do you think?"

"Yeah, sounds great. What exactly do you have in mind?"

"I'm not exactly sure yet but Kate got me thinking and I'm sure there are enough of us staff to be able to come up with a message and a focus on the subject for the month. I thought may be running themes for the morning assemblies, story boards around the school with historic events, as well as a school night of music and entertainment with an LGBT theme."

"That sounds great. I've got a friend who works for Stonewall and I'm sure she would happily advise us on what we could do. They often run campaigns throughout the year."

"Could you arrange for us to meet up and maybe include a number of the other LGBT staff in the meeting? The more we have the better and there isn't much time until its February."

"Yeah sure."

"So come on Graham. How many are there in the school?"

Graham laughed again at Caroline's curiosity. "That's not very professional Dr Elliot!"

"No you're right. It isn't is it?"

"At least five that I'm aware of."

Caroline looked shocked. She placed her cup down on the table. "Five! Does that include ….you know you, me and ..?"

Graham stood up from the chair and placed his cup on the table in front of Caroline. "I'm not telling."

Caroline started laughing knowing that her deputy was playing with her.