SO...I'm sure it was no surprise to anyone that Kate was standing at the bottom of the stairs. Her arrival is going to really put Amy under some pressure to work out what..or really who she wants. This is a bit of a bridging chapter. I've had a few reviews which are up for Karmy & Amy and a couple that really don't want Amy to go back to Karma and want me to carry on the Kate and Amy story. I'm sort if this story isn't going in the direction you had hoped, but I hope you'll stick by it until the end.

Enjoy the show those of you in the States. Will have to wait until tomorrow to try and watch it online.

Amy looked down in disbelief. She couldn't believe that Kate was standing in HER house...next to her mum! She genuinely felt excited and despite what had nearly happened in her bedroom she was happy to see Kate...or maybe it was BECAUSE of what had nearly happened that she was so happy. "oh my god Kate...what the fuck are you doing here?" Amy said happily as she ran down the stairs.

"Amy! No swearing!" Amy's mum said
"Sorry mum!" Amy replied without really meaning it. Amy planted her lips on Kate's and the two girlfriends embraced.
Amy's mum turned away and pretended to busy herself whilst her daughter made out. They were still hugging when Amy heard a floorboard on the landing creak and Amy realised Karma was there. Looking down.
Fuck! Now this WAS awkward. Amy pulled away from Kate "ummm Kate this is Karma. We were just... talking"
"Karma...this is Kate...my umm girlfriend".
Amy didn't know if it was the sight of them kissing or the word girlfriend, but Amy could see the hurt Karma was feeling at that instant. Karma cleared her throat and started making her way down the stairs, unable to look at Amy.
"Hi Kate." Karma said the chirpiest voice she could manage "it's nice to meet you." The act continued "umm I'd better be going.."

"Won't you stay for some dinner?" Amy's mum asked helpfully. Amy at that point could have killed her mother. Really mother. You have no idea! The last thing Amy needed was to have to have dinner with her girlfriend and her first love who she had just confessed to still having feeling for and very nearly kissed.
Karma finally looked at Amy and saw the panic in her eyes. Karma recognised all the signs. Much to Amy's relief she declined the invitation. "That's very kind of you, but I'll leave these two lovebirds to catch up.." Ouch Amy thought. That hurt.
"Besides..." Karma added "I should probably get an early night before tomorrow."

Karma said her goodbyes and left the house. Leaving Amy slightly winded. Kate was standing beside her clearly waiting for Amy to react and Amy's mum was so oblivious to it all.

"So Kate... It is SO nice to finally meet you...you must be hungry right? Come on let's all sit down and have a glass of wine and some
dinner".
"That would be great" Kate replied, obviously in an attempt to make a good impression with her.

Amy headed towards the kitchen shouting over her shoulder "I'll get the wine". Once alone in the kitchen Amy let out a massive sigh.
"Shit!" She said under her breath. She couldn't believe the situation she was in. She felt sick that she had SO very nearly kissed Karma. Couldn't believe how much at that precise moment she had wanted to. And now she was hiding in the kitchen. Fucking hiding from her girlfriend and her mum like a complete idiot. Amy took a deep breath and told herself to pull it together.

She splashed some water on her still somewhat tear stained, puffy face and then wiped it with a towel before telling herself to pull her shit together. She reached up and grabbed three wine glasses and a bottle of red wine before making her way back out to where Kate and her mum were sitting.

Kate looked over at Amy as she walked back into the room, the concern clearly visible on her face. Amy smiled back in an attempt to reassure her that, despite how things might look, she was OK. She opened the wine and poured three glasses and handed them out.

"I'm sorry to arrive unannounced" Kate said to Amy mum "I just really wanted to surprise Amy"

"And you certainly did that!" Amy replied

"In a good way I hope!" Kate answered

"Of course babe" Amy said as she leant in for a kiss on the cheek. "cheers" She said raising her glass.

"I wasn't interrupting anything there was I? With you and Karma. You both looked pretty upset" Kate asked

"No...not at all. It's just an emotional time right now...what with the funeral and everything!" Amy lied. Then thinking back to the moment when she had almost kissed Karma. Shit, she could't believe how close she had been, and then remembered that all of Karma's cards and photos were scattered over the bed"

"Listen..." I'm a bit chilly. I'm just popping upstairs to grab a sweater. I'll take your bags up as well" Amy said as she got up to her feet and picked up Kates suitcase. She carried it upstairs and then once the door was shut quickly swept all of the cards and photos back into the brown envelop and then quickly threw it under the bed. Before heading back downstairs.

"Where'e your jumper Amy dear?" her mum asked.

Shit! She had forgotten her own lie as to why she had needed to go upstairs. Amy concluded she was a rubbish liar.

"Oh I changed my mind" Amy lied again.

"Well it really isn't cold in here Amy" her mum added "I do hope you are not sickening".

Amy smiled over at her mum.. it was weird being round her, having her fuss over her. She knew it wouldn't last long, but clearly Amy being way at college had made her mum all of sudden be more..mum like!

"I'm fine thanks mum." Amy smiled over at Kate who was watching her intently.

"Soooo what's for dinner. All of a sudden I'm starving!" Amy said in an attempt to take the attention off her.]

"Oh nothing fancy. Just your favourite... chicken"

WOW - Amy's mum was even cooking her favourite dinner...she must have really missed her!

Over dinner the three of them discussed the TV station and Amy and Kate told stories about New York.

"We're actually thinking about moving into together next term aren't we babe?"Kate said catching Amy off guard.

She took a swig of wine and mumbled a reply "sure".

"Well won't that be nice" Amy's mum smiled and Amy could tell that she was acting and that maybe she wasn't as 'cool' with it as she was pretending to be in front of Kate. Amy found it funny that they were both putting on an act. Kate hadn't sworn once the whole time she had been there. That had to be a first!

Amy went to the kitchen to get another bottle of wine. As she was heading back she felt her phone in her pocket buzz. Pulling out the phone she stopped in her tracks when she saw Karma's name on the screen.

Looking up at Kate she saw that they had now moved to the sofa and Amy's mum had the photo album out. Amy would have normally died at this point, but she was too concerned by Karma's text message.

'I get I was too late. I get I missed my chance. You know where I am if you ever find yourself not wanting to stop yourself next time x'.