The next few days seemed to drag for Rose. Hyacinth didn't return her calls and according to Daisy she wasn't even speaking to Richard or Sheridan. Her reputation once again coming before her family. Daisy suspected that she was only still speaking to her to get updates on Daddy. Daisy too had voiced her opinion that Sheridan's happiness should come first.

After calling in her favour with Violet Rose rang Emmet to see if he still fancied a dirty weekend in the country with her. She needed something to take her mind off her family drama.

"Her ladyship didn't take the news about her precious Sheridan well then?" Emmet probed.

He heard her sigh over the receiver. "No, she's not talking to me. I think she's got the impression it was me who encouraged all this. And its easier to blame me, I suppose. How do you know about it any road?"

"Liz heard her sobbing in the back garden, she popped her head over the fence and Hyacinth told her everything over coffee."

"Oh, how is she?" The concern in her voice surprised Emmet. Due to his views on Hyacinth he found it strange someone would be concerned about her welfare, even if it was her sister.

"Not good I don't think. She seems to have cut herself off from everyone and everything."

"Oh dear. She still rings Daisy to ask about me dad but she hasn't been round."

"She will come round, eventually. I mean it's no big deal."

"I hope so. Anyway do you fancy cheering me up this weekend? Our Violet says I can have her cottage this weekend on account of owing me a favour and I think she wants to annoy Bruce as much as she can before she files for divorce."

"Yes that would be lovely." He bit his tongue, he nearly said he was desperate to get away from Liz and her endless worrying about Hyacinth. He on the other hand thought Hyacinth deserved the silent treatment.

"Great!" The tone in Rose's voice perked up. "I'll pick you up, round the corner from yours Friday about 5.30. Just listen out for the sound of a car backfiring and you'll find me."

"Are you sure Onlsow will let you borrow the car?" Emmet asked unsure if Rose was actually permitted to drive.

"Oh yes he will do anything for a few cans and it also means if father disappears he won't have to worry about not drinking all weekend. 'Cos he wont have to drive when they have to go off and find 'im. I'll see you Friday." Things were starting to look up for Rose.

At half past five that Friday Emmet didn't know where to look when Rose pulled up. Not only did the car backfire but the tyres screeched to a holt.

"Sorry, I haven't driven for a while, I'm a but rusty. Plus I'm having to drive in these awful flat shoes of our Daisy's. All I've got is high heels and her feet are bigger and wider than mine."

Emmet swiftly reached for the seat belt. "You do have a driving licence don't you?" He asked through gritted teeth as Rose crunched into second gear.

"Of course, passed first time me. My licence is in my bag, feel free to check. Just don't look at my date of birth. Not that I celebrate me birthday." She replied, her eyes on Emmet and not on the road. Emmet obliged and pulled out her paper license. He was relieved somewhat that she actually was allowed to be on the road. Though how she passed was beyond him. He didn't know if he was more shocked at that or learning her surname. It had been the first time he had frequently slept with a woman without knowing her full name.

"Next question, you are actually insured to drive?" He asked, panic ringing through his voice.

"Ah, well I used to be but Onslow informs me he couldn't keep up with the premiums of having me and Dais on the policy and as we rarely drive he took us off. He assures me the MOT is up to date, by some miracle it managed to scrape through. Though if it does suddenly break down I know a little about cars. On account of Onslow being bone idle our Daisy and me have had to learn a bit of basic mechanics to keep the car going."

"I mean its great you can fix the car but that doesn't take away from the fact you are driving it illegally!" Emmet cried.

"Calm down its fine, if we get pulled over I'll insist Charlie comes to see us and failing that I'll flutter my eyelashes and use my feminine charms."

"Like that will work! Who's Charlie?" Emmet asked, contemplating asking Rose to pull over and he would walk home.

"A sergeant at t'local nick who had an affair with me. He won't want it broadcasting so he will sort things out."

"Ye gods! I don't think it works like that!" Cried Emmet.

"Well it worked when I was caught speeding a while back. Relax Emmet where's your sense of adventure?" She asked touching up her lipstick in the rear view mirror as she waited for the traffic lights to turn to green.

Emmet didn't say much for the rest of journey. Between the unreliability of the aging car and Rose's erratic driving, he didn't have any faith he would make it to their destination in once peace. Or if he did the police would be taking the Cortina away because it was on the road illegally and he really would be walking home.

Rose on the other hand seemed calm, happy even. Touching up her makeup every time she had to stop, constantly letting her hand wander up Emmet's thigh as she drove. Her rule of one hand on the wheel at all times, unlike Mr Finchley.

She continued to crunch through the gears, her heavy foot crashing down on the break and accelerator in turn. There was only the odd moment when her bliss was interrupted when she would shout some abuse out of the window to a fellow driver. Ironic given her driving, Emmet thought.

He closed his eyes and covered them with his hands as her left hand fumbled in the glove box. She eventually pulled out a tape, inspected it and threw it on the backseat. This cycle repeated itself until she found a tape she approved of. She thrust it into the badly fitted cassette player and turned up the volume of some awful cheesy 80s pop music. At one stage he recognised Kylie's 'Got to be Certain,' which Rose was singing enthusiastically at Emmet. That put him even more on edge. If he hadn't had been in fear for his life and appalled by the choice of music Emmet might have noticed that unlike her sister, Rose could hold a tune.

After what seemed like an eternity for Emmet, Rose finally pulled into the gravel driveway of the cottage. It was rather grand on first impression. As Emmet got out the car his legs were still shaking. He felt like kissing the ground, he was so grateful to have made it in one piece.

Rose unlocked the door and made her way to the bedroom to dump her bag. Emmet chose to explore the property. Unsure of what to make of it. There was clearly a clash of personalities when the decor was chosen. He looked in disgust at the tacky ornaments which in his opinion objectified women. He wasn't surprised from what he had heard about Bruce.

"There's a note for you," he called out to his companion as he picked it up off the large oak farmhouse table.

"How do you know it's for me?" She shouted back.

"Because it's addressed to 'Our Rose' so I took a wild guess."

"Very funny." She said making Emmet jump as she snuck up on him. "What does it say?"

He unfolded the piece of paper and read aloud, "Our Rose, I've left food and wine in the fridge. Enjoy, don't do anything I wouldn't do! Don't worry about making a mess. The cleaner ought to do what she's paid for rather than chasing Bruce! Thanks again for helping me out. Have fun. Love Vi."

Rose was somewhat disappointed when Emmet suggested they should make the most of the last of the daylight and go on a walk rather than going straight to bed. But Rose obliged as she had remembered there was a secluded spot in the woods where they could have some fun.

It was clear Emmet relished being in the country. He told Rose how he and Liz had enjoyed summers at their aunt and uncle's farm and that's where his love of nature came from. Rose admitted her love of the country came from frolicking about in fields and back seats of cars, rather than horse riding and bird watching.

As they walked further into the woods Emmet was baffled how Rose was managing to walk through the mud and mulch in high heeled boots and very skimpy, tight leather hot pants. She didn't flinch when stray brambles grazed her legs and she didn't appear to feel the bitter cold breeze. "I don't really feel the cold. Only in winter my shoulders sometimes feel it." She explained.

Ever since the journey to country Rose couldn't help feel that her driving had scared Emmet off. He seemed quiet, like something was on his mind. She took his hand and said, "I'm sorry if my driving scared you. I was just so excited to get here, I must have forgotten how to drive."

"It's okay and yes you did scare me. You're driving was somewhat erratic and the fact you don't have insurance scared the hell out of me." He explained still sounding somewhat distant."

"Well, we've the rest of tonight, all of tomorrow and most of Sunday not to worry about that, so shall we start enjoying ourselves?" She smiled seductively.

He stopped walking and looked into her sparkling blue eyes and for the first time ever, he appreciated Rose for who she was and not just as the woman he occasionally had casual had sex with. That was until Rose dragged him off to the disused boating shed, perfectly tucked away off the woodland path and as the boating lake had dried up no one would disturb them. His near brush with death earlier had caused Emmet to be cautious of the reckless streak Rose stirred within him and to be honest he was rather disgusted at the idea of having sex in a damp, dirty, rotting shed. But Rose eventually convinced him that it could be a fun way of getting back to nature.

After working up quite an appetite the couple walked to the village pub for a drink and a spot of supper. They were just in time as the kitchen was about to close.

"Oh look an 80s disco tomorrow night! That looks like fun!" Rose exclaimed when she saw the poster on the wall next to the bar.

"That sounds like hell!" Emmet groaned.

"Oh you'll enjoy it, a few vodkas down you and you'll be dancing to Bananarama with the best of 'em."

"I don't dance, especially not to awful pop music!"

"Come on Emmet, don't be such a spoilsport." Rose tried, "When we get back I'll do that thing you like," she whispered huskily into his ear.

"We don't have to dress up for this disco do we?" He stuttered. The idea of what Rose could do to him set his pulse racing.

Rose beamed, she always could get men to do what she wanted, as long as they didn't have to consider their wives. "Oh no, I doubt dressing up is compulsory."

"Fine, but I'm not staying long!" He said, he never could resist a pretty lady. Especially one who knew exactly how to satisfy him.

The rest of the night and most of the Saturday daytime was spent in bed. Rose wasn't interested in going further afield to explore the area and Emmet certainly didn't want to go anywhere in an uninsured car.

Mid afternoon Rose took a trip to scour the few charity shops and vintage clothes shop about half a mile from the cottage in hope of finding a suitable outfit for the 80s night.

A couple of hours after she returned it was Emmet's turn to stroll into the local village. He went to collect a pizza and a bottle of wine for dinner, before having to go to the dreaded disco. When he returned back to Violet's cottage he smiled seeing Rose recumbent across the sofa in nothing but a thin see through silk gown. He put the wine in the fridge and pizza on the side and joined Rose on the sofa where she appeared to be getting a fair few of the quiz questions correct.

"15 to 1, I used to enjoy this programme, I was never very good at the answers though." He said, gesturing to the television.

"Oh that, there was nothing else on. I keep telling Onslow he should go on this but he won't as he's worried they would make him wear a shirt." She then grinned wickedly. "I don't think the questions will be the only hard thing around here, with any luck." She said saucily, pulling Emmet on top of her. Neither of them seemed to notice the log fire had burned out.

Emmet had a spring in his step as he got ready for this god awful disco. Rose fulfilled her promise of doing thing he liked again, before leaving him to wait while she got ready.

"I thought you said we didn't have to dress up." He said when Rose emerged. She was sporting a strapless, shocking pink figure hugging mini dress, fishnet tights, bright yellow heels and matching florescent yellow clutch bag. Her look was completed with fully back combed curls, doused in hairspray and bright tacky costume jewellery. Looking like she'd come through a portal straight from the 1980s. She was just missing the leg warmers.

"I said you didn't have to, just because you are a spoilsport doesn't mean I'm going to be. Now are we going or not?"

The pub was packed to the rafters with punters, all dressed in 1980s clobber. Emmet wanted to bolt straight out the door there and then. He thought if he stayed for a few drinks, Rose would soon be on the dance floor with a handsome man and he could slip away. It didn't quite work like that.

Almost immediately after Emmet had bought her a vodka and lemonade and himself a very large whisky, Rose pulled him onto the sticky dance floor.

He moved awkwardly and looked to the floor a lot, while everyone else seemed to be enjoying dancing to the likes of Kylie, Rick Astley, Bannarama, Wham and The Pet Shop Boys. Given the option he would rather have been sung at by Rose's older sister. At least that didn't drag on all night.

"I'm going to go and sit down," he eventually shouted to Rose, the noise from the speakers was deafening.

"Okay, I won't be long, I can tell you don't want to be here. We will go soon. Ooh I love this one!" She exclaimed as the next track came on. Emmet took that as his opportunity to retreat to a table and sit down. Never taking his eyes off Rose as she danced to Erasure's 'A Little Respect.' He loved how full of fun she was. In fact he was a little jealous. He wished he could be more carefree and less rigid. Emmet found Rose's attitude rather attractive. He just wished she had better taste in music.

Clocking that Emmet had been watching her, she played up to it, dancing in his line of vision. She even sung the chorus at him. "I'm so in love with you, I'll be forever blue. That you give me no reason, you know you make a me work so hard."

Emmet couldn't help but smile at that especially as she was dancing so enthusiastically her drink went everywhere. Rose decided not long after that Emmet was clearly ready for home and she fancied an early night herself.

The weekend had gone too quickly for Rose, after all the upset with Hyacinth it was just what she had needed. And 'dishy' Emmet had been the perfect person to escape to the country with. This weekend especially, she had felt herself growing closer to him. While yes, the majority of the weekend had consisted of carefree sex, they really had seemed to get to know each other a lot more. Rose hoped Emmet was starting to feel the same way as she did.

This illusion was shattered however during Sunday lunch. Emmet had prepared a beautiful roast beef dinner with all the trimmings Violet had provided them with. While Emmet was busy cooking Rose had enjoyed a leisurely time in the jacuzzi bath.

"I wanted to thank you Rose." Emmet said.

Rose passed him the roast potatoes, "whatever for? I couldn't have done this weekend without you." She smiled sweetly.

"I've really enjoyed this weekend but I don't want to just thank you for this weekend. I want to thank you for helping me find myself. For the last god knows how long, I was a shadow of my former self. I had no confidence and discovered how dull my life was. And without you injecting excitement into it I dread to think what I would have become."

Rose was genuinely touched, "Well you are very welcome Emmet, it's been an absolute joy to help add excitement to your life." She was just about to say how she hoped they would share more exciting moments when he dropped a bombshell on her.

"I wanted to make today special as I think it will be our last time together. I've been thinking about it for a while now and I've decided I finally have the courage to ask Caroline out on a date."

The blonde's heart sank. Emmet's crushing blow had knocked her for six. She smiled politely and managed to say, "Good for you. Caroline is a very lucky woman. I really hope it works out for you." Rose stabbed a roast potato with her fork aggressively. Reading the situation Emmet had a feeling he had disappointed Rose more than he had intended.

They both made the effort to try and enjoy the meal and they made polite, trivial conversation. Rose knew this moment would have come at some stage. It always did and besides she had been the one to suggest a bit of 'no strings' fun all those months ago. She just hadn't expected it to go on for as long as it did. The longer it had gone on, the fonder she had become of Mr Hawksworth.

Emmet was grateful the drive back wasn't quite as erratic as the journey there. He was saddened however, that Rose wasn't her usually chatty self. She pulled up in the road behind Emmet's. The car backfired as it stopped.

"Thanks for a lovely time Rose." Emmet said, unbuckling his seat belt. Rose allowed him to kiss her cheek.

"You are welcome, thanks for a fun time. I enjoyed the ride. Take care Emmet. I'll see you around." She said trying not to sound too melancholy.

"Goodbye Rose." Emmet said solemnly as he got out of the car.

Rose watched him jump as the car back fired again when she pressed down on the accelerator.

As she drove onto her estate, she pulled up outside the local shop. She bought a bottle of cheap vodka for herself, 8 cans of ale for Onslow, a handful of Mars bars for Daisy. 40 Benson and Hedges, 20 for her, 20 Onslow and she bought tokens for the electric and gas meters.

"Is it Giro day in your house Rose or is it last of the big spenders?" The shop owner said sarcastically.

"Shut your face Ravi." Quipped Rose sharply, pouting her lips. "You had your chance."

"Unlike most of the men round here, I value my marriage." He replied as he handed Rose her change.

"What about her that works for you? Everyone says there's something between you two." She probed, taking her carrier bags from him.

"You of all people know not to listen to rumours, Rose. See you later."

A few minutes later Rose pulled up in front of her house's allotted garage. Onslow can put it back in the garage, she thought to herself. Rose reached over to the passenger seat and opened a packet of cigarettes. She sat and enjoyed her smoke, flicking ash and throwing the cellophane wrapping from the packet into driver's foot well. She took the carrier bags, changed out of Daisy's awful shoes, got out and locked the car. Rose walked the short distance to the back of the house and opened the rotting gate.

She tutted and rolled her eyes when she saw her elderly father dressed in his world War Two get up, asleep in his home made trench. His 'rifle' and bayonet propped up.

Rose gingerly made her way up the mudded garden. She didn't dare disturb her father. She wasn't in the mood for sentry duty.

"I'm back! I'm guessing you know Father is asleep in a trench in the back garden." She called out as she entered the grubby kitchen. After taking off her muddy boots she made her way to the living room. She handed Daisy her battered shoes, the chocolate and the utility meter tokens. She thrust the open box of cigarettes and beer in Onslow's lap and collapsed into the free arm chair. She took a swig of vodka straight from the bottle.

"Have you crashed my car?" Her bother-in-law asked?

"No it's still in once piece, just." She said throwing the keys across the room. They landed at Onslow's feet, which didn't impress him as he had to reach down to pick them up.

Noticing her sister knocking back the booze Daisy asked, "You're home early. Did your weekend not go well, our Rose?"

"Oh it went well, right up until he said he was ditching me for some other woman. The swine! I thought Emmet and I had potential." She cried.

"It was only a matter of time," Onslow said, opening a can of beer and slapping the top of the television to turn it on.

"Plenty more fish in the sea. It would never have worked our Rose. Our Hyacinth would have been dead against it from the start." Daisy reasoned.

"Oh bog off you two. I'm off down the pub."

"Emmet, you're home early, I wasn't expecting you quite so soon." Elizabeth said as her brother walked gingerly into the living room.

"I can see." He replied nodding to the pulled out furniture and vacuum cleaner.

"Did you have a nice weekend?"

"Till the end," Emmet sighed.

"Oh why's that?" His sister shouted over the top of the vacuum.

Sensing she wasn't really listening, Emmet turned off the hoover at the wall and pulled the plug out.

"Because after a rather nice weekend, I spoiled by saying something stupid."

"What like you love her?" Liz said in jest. Her brother didn't find it funny he just scowled.

"Like I won't be seeing her again because I want to ask someone else out."

"Oh dear. Still at least you don't have to worry about Hyacinth finding out now. Who do you want to ask on a date anyway?"

"I don't think she took it all that well. But she did know Caroline was in the picture from the start. She's this woman at work. She works in the office. She's wonderful and so caring we have so much in common."

"So why have you spent the last god knows how many months messing around with Rose?"

"It was her idea," he smirked. "She said she could help me build my confidence. There wasn't meant to be anything in it but the longer it went on and the more we got to know one another, I think she started to feel differently about the situation."

"And you knew she felt differently but you continued to use her. I can't believe I'm defending Rose." Admitted Liz.

"It wasn't like that, she never said anything it was just a feeling I got. Anyway, I doubt I was the only man she's been seeing these last few months."

"Yes that had worried me, anyway I'm just glad it's over. Its about time you settled down with a nice steady woman."

"You're only glad it's over so you don't have to worry about accidently blabbing to her next door." Scoffed her brother.

Over on the other side of town, Rose walked up to the bar at her local 'dive.'

"Usual, Rose?" Asked the man behind the bar.

"Make it a double please Jerry."

"Oh man trouble again?" The landlord said sarcastically. "Not to worry Boris is outside." He replied handing over Rose's large vodka and lemonade. She passed over the exact change, took her glass and headed toward the beer garden.

"A little bird said I might find you out here." She said joining the man sat on the tired looking bench, located underneath the greasy kitchen extractor fan.

"I thought you were away all weekend, Rose." The man replied offering her a cigarette. Which naturally, she obliged.

"Change of plan, came home early. Where's your fancy piece this evening?" Rose probed as Boris light her cigarette.

"Dunno, back with the father of her kid I wouldn't wonder."

Rose puffed on her cigarette, "Better luck next time."

Boris turned to her and gave her a serious look, something unusual for Boris. "Do you ever wish things had worked out differently, Rose?"

"How?" She asked, watching her exhaled smoke billow away.

"I don't know do you ever wonder what might have been if we'd ya know-"

"What? Stayed together and had t'baby?" Rose said finishing off his sentence as she inhaled her next drag.

"Well I think we'd have been like most people, we would have made a pig's ear of it, ended up hating each other. You'd have still run off with some floozy and I would have been left raising a snotty little brat on me own before I was 20 and resenting every minute." She reasoned.

"Do you really think so? I could have been a good husband to you."

"Give over," Rose sniggered. "You had your chance and you ran away."

"We were to young for a babby."

"Oh,I know." She admitted. "Still it would have made things easier and there would have been a lot less hassle and heartache for both of us, if we had stuck it out."

"True. We probably would have been grandparents or even great grandparents by now." He said almost wistfully.

Rose scoffed, "I wasn't destined to be a grandmother."

"You'd have been a glamorous granny. No doubt about it, Rose."

"Oh shut up, Boris." She said downing the remainder of her beverage.

They sat in silence for a good few moments before Boris asked, "So, are we going back to your place then? It's freezing out here and I'm sure Jerry has watered down the lager again."

"Yeah, why not, I've not had any better offers. I want some chips on the way 'ome first though, you're buying." She winked."

"Deal, with lashings of curry sauce, I know. I might even thown in a battered sausage, if you're lucky. Whoever he was has lost out big time. He isn't worth it Rose."

"I'm starting to think that meself." She lied. "You deserve better than that tart, y'know."

"Funny, she says exactly the same to me about you."

"Bog off Boris."