'er…what are you still doing here?' Carla threw a suspicious look Betsy's way.

The teenager looked up from her machine 'oh don't tell me I'm in trouble for being in work now boss?'

'You're supposed to be at college for that thingymebob aren't you? You've been at pains to tell us all you don't care about it for days'.

'whilst working on your portfolio non-stop' Sally chimed in, pleased with herself.

Betsy rolled her eyes and looked back down at her machine 'yeah well if my mum can't be bothered then why should I'

Carla sighed. 'she not here?'

Betsy looked around in an exaggerated manner 'wow maybe you should be the detective instead of her'

Carla took a deep breath 'grab your stuff I'll take you'

The factory was awash with raised eyebrows, Fizz was the fastest. 'Is this one of those new employee benefits I've heard about Mrs Connor, cause if so Hope's parents evening is coming up and well…you know'

Carla smiled sarcastically 'when she's shows an interest in fashion then I'd be happy to' She nudged Betsy gently 'I'm not taking no for an answer'

Betsy paused, stuck between a perfect opportunity to punish her mum but actually wanting her assessment to go well. Maturity won out for once and with a huge sigh Betsy grabbed her stuff slowly, for show.

Carla gave a little nod of appreciation and smiled as they headed toward the exit.

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'promise me you won't give your mam too much grief?'

Betsy shrugged as she and Carla walked down the steps away from college. 'You're asking a lot there'

'You just had a glowing assessment, why not focus on that'

'Yeah and she wasn't even there to see it, working again. Couldn't even answer her phone'

Carla pursed her lips 'I get that but you also said on the way here that she'd been making an effort to spend more time with you'

Betsy considered this for a moment before turning toward the sound of tyres screeching in the car park. She folded her arms, unimpressed as she watched Lisa get out the car.

'Betsy love, I'm so sorry. I got stuck in an interview, I couldn't get out. Have I missed it?'

Betsy kept her arms folded 'No not at all mother, everyone's just been waiting for you for over an hour. The world revolves around DS Swain didn't you know that?

Carla stepped in between mother and daughter 'What Betsy means is it's a real shame you couldn't make it today but she understands..' Carla paused to look sternly at Betsy. 'she understands that you would've made it if you could cause you've been trying really hard to be there for her more'

Lisa smiled softly at Carla before focusing on Betsy 'I'm really sorry, I'll make it up to you'

Betsy screwed her face up, considering how far to stretch the situation out, already bored. 'dinner at the bistro?'

Lisa nodded. 'deal. Am I allowed to ask how it went?'

'maybe I'll tell you over a pudding…or two'

Carla smiled 'glad that's sorted, I'll be going now'

Lisa reached out a hand to stop Carla before retracting it swiftly 'can I borrow you for two minutes first?

Carla nodded, her eyes going straight to the floor for some reason.

Lisa looked at Betsy and not so subtly moved her head towards the car. The two women watched as Betsy ambled to the car.

'thanks for today, being there for her. I can't believe I got stuck, today of all days'

'no don't do that. She did great' Carla smiled. 'sorry to ruin the surprise'

The blonde woman chuckled 'I forgive you'

Carla eyes rose to meet her friends 'you need to forgive yourself, you're doing great'

Lisa nodded. 'I'll see you Carla'

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'and then Carla said that she'd seen me do that in the factory, it wasn't just on paper'

Lisa smiled broadly as she twirled her spaghetti, how things had changed. She allowed herself a moment to imagine how Betsy would react now to the notion of a secret affair with Carla. She felt her face flush the same way it did the first time.

'mum? You listening?

'yeah sorry, you did amazing. I'm so proud of you, and your mum would be too'.

Betsy's smile was tinged with sadness 'I talked about her at work the other day'

Lisa nodded 'that's good. You getting a long with people a bit better now?'

'Well no they're all old and boring. But Carla did a thing for mental health day or summat'

The older woman looked up from her food, surprised at what Betsy has just said ' Carla did a thing for mental health day?'

Betsy shrugged 'she's been on a course I think, do you have to say died by suicide at work too?'

Lisa put her cutlery down 'what are you on about Bets?'

'Carla's brother died by suicide..that's how she said I had to say it'

Lisa rolled her eyes 'why how did you say it at first?...actually never mind…Carla had a brother who died?'

Betsy nodded 'yeah Sally showed me a picture afterwards, he was pretty fit to be fair'.

Lisa shook her head, partly at Betsy, partly at the thought of Carla going through something so horrific.

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'oh, yeah course come up…I'm just leaving actually, I mean I'll be here when you get up but I'll be going when you get here. Not cause of you I was going anyway'

'Ryan!'

Ryan nodded and pushed the buzzer ' I was going for cool'

Carla stood with her hands on her hips in the kitchen 'yeah well, ya missed'

Lisa walked through the door 'everything ok?'

Ryan grabbed his coat 'I was just leaving'

Lisa smiled, biting her lip. 'yeah I gathered'

Carla shook her head and she watched her nephew leave. 'sorry about him'

'he seems stranger than normal'

Carla nodded 'yeah'. She sighed. 'you ok? Everything ok with Betsy?'

Lisa took a step forward 'she's fine, ate too much. I sent her home in a cab to enjoy her food coma…I just wanted to stop by to say thank you again'.

The brunette waved a dismissive arm, 'no need, it's what friends do right, and we're friends…right? Carla looked up nervously.

Lisa took a deep breath 'yeah. I hope so. I mean I know we said we wouldn't swerve each other and I know we have but that's kindof why I'm here'

'you want a drink? Coffee I mean…or wine if you wanted wine but it's risky, I didn't mean that…well do you want a drink or not?

The blonde woman grinned. 'coffee would be good thanks'

Carla bought her hand to her forehead in an effort to calm herself down.

'Betsy told me you did a thing for mental health day?'

'She spoke really well about her mum, about you too, you went through a lot'

Lisa nodded and sat down at the table as Carla bought over two mugs.

'she also told me you talked about your brother?'

Carla joined Lisa at the table 'Aidan'

'Thanks' Lisa took her mug. 'She didn't tell me much but it takes a lot of guts to talk about that sort of stuff, especially with your employees'

'I didn't upset her did I? Betsy?'

'no of course not. She admires you. I admire you' Lisa looked up and held Carla's glaze.

Carla smiled, allowing herself to really look at Lisa for the first time since their moment. 'That means a lot. I find it really difficult to talk about it, but not talking is what killed him so I try, you know?'

Lisa nodded and took Carla's hand, allowing herself to acknowledge the electricity for a moment. 'That's why I came over really, I wanted to say I'm sorry for the things I said, I can't imagine what you must have thought of me.'

'no, don't ever say sorry for saying how you feel, maybe if I'd have been easier to talk to back then..' Carla trailed off as she lightly stroked Lisa's hand.

Lisa shook her head 'hey, no don't ever say that'

Carla nodded, breaking the contact to wipe her eyes briefly.

Lisa took a deep breath 'I wanted to say that it makes sense now, the other night….the moment. I just dumped all this crap on you and you wanted to comfort me and….'

Carla stood up, enraged 'are you serious?'

Lisa swivelled in her chair as Carla paced toward the front door 'Carla, sorry. I was trying to say I understand and sorry for assuming you were….you know…'

'A tourist? You think this is better? What's that they say on the cop shows? Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one?'

Lisa threw Carla a puzzled look 'I'm…I'm not sure what you mean?

Carla shook her head. 'As I'm sure you know I've been around the block a bit. I've had my chances to be with women, to experiment…you know why I never did? Cause I never wanted to Lisa'

'What's going on? That's what I was saying, I judged you and I'm saying sorry'

The brunette raised her head to the heavens before locking eyes with the other woman. 'so I'm not a tourist now I'm just some stupid arrogant cow who thinks the best way to stop my gay friend from topping herself is to sleep with her'

Lisa rubbed her face with her hands, confused about how this situation had escalated. 'Sorry i'm just trying to make sense of what happened, when Betsy mentioned what happened it just clicked'

Carla let out an exasperated groan 'I wanted you Lisa, I still want you. How can you not see that? Not cause I'm having some mid-life crisis, not cause I pity you but because my body, my mind, craves you, wants to be near you. Why is it so hard for you to consider that possibility?'

Lisa bit her lip in an effort to stop the tears from falling.

Carla wanted to run way, adrenaline coursing through her veins but she knew there was no going back now. They had to resolve this. 'If you are, you know, wedded to this idea you can't be with a woman who's been straight her whole life, if you don't feel the same then ok that's fine but please stop making excuses for me. I know my mind'

Lisa stood up, holding on to the chair to steady herself. She walked toward Carla slowly ' I feel like I've lost myself.'

Carla smiled softly 'I can relate'

'I think…I think I'm just scared. It's easier for me to convince myself you don't want this than to accept that I do'

'oh jee thanks'

Lisa shook her head 'see, I don't know what I'm doing…or saying'

Carla looked down toward the floor, still reeling from how honest she had been, she hadn't even been that honest with herself until now.

Lisa moved closer ' I've replayed that night in my head so much, wishing I'd done something different'

Carla nodded 'a handshake and a swift exit?'

The blonde closed the gap between the two women and cupped Carla's cheek with her hand. 'Stayed'

Carla started to smile but was cut off by Lisa's lips firmly meeting her own. Carla deepened the kiss in an instant, wrapping her arms around the blonde's waist and pulling her closer. Lisa moved her hand into Carla's hair eliciting a groan from both parties. It was Carla's turn to bring her hand up to Lisa's cheek whilst the rest of her attention was fully focused on her lips on Lisa's, tongues making fleeting but desperate contact.

Carla could feel Lisa slowing down the kiss gently, reluctantly she followed suit, knowing she had to breathe at some point. Carla rested her forehead on Lisa's. 'Not sure it's for me now I've tried it'

Lisa broke out into a big grin 'oh really?'

The brunette bought her lips back to Lisa's lips for a gentle kiss 'that was a joke by the way'

'I actually knew that, you're still gonna have to make it up to me'

Carla took Lisa by the hand and moved slowly further into the flat, towards her room. 'now?'

Lisa nodded 'yeah, now works'

the end*