Green Eyes

&

Satiny Ties

by

Suzi Jay

© 2010, 2011 by Suzi Jay.

All rights reserved. No part of this

document may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of

Suzi Jay.

http://www.suzijay.co.uk/

Dedication:

This book is dedicated very simply to all those in my life

who have been there through the good times and the not so

good times, to those who have loved me no matter how hard

work I have been, to those who  have believed in me.

To M, thank you for being my rock, my love and

my total supporter.

To P, thank you for everything.

To my Daffodils – you know who you are

and you know how special and valued you all are.

To the three most important people in my life. To B, H and F.

Thank you my darlings for keeping me as sane as I am.

I love you so much.

Chapter One.

Alex refilled her coffee cup for the third time this morning and looked despondently at the stack of paperwork already filling her pigeon hole and demanding her attention. The new term hadn't even started yet at St Catherine’s, known by those who loved the old place as St Kitts, yet she already had more work than she felt she could handle, she was already counting down the weeks until half term and she was tired, although that could be due to her late night last night and far too much wine. Alex never normally drank a lot during the week, certainly not at the start of term. She wasn't that stupid to go to school with a hangover – well not normally, but this had not been a “normal” occasion.

Two days ago it had been one of her oldest friends weddings, she had begged Maria to move her wedding to somewhere nearer the middle of the holidays, not the weekend just before the start of term. Alex had used every excuse such as the better, more predictable weather, better more open venues and yet everything had been disregarded, not surprisingly though, Alex wouldn't change a date that significant to her to suit someone else’s work schedule! However, there was no way that Alex would be missing this wedding no matter what the date; she had been waiting for it for what seemed like forever. Maria and Michael (Over the years they had made so many M and M jokes that they had all run out) had been a couple since they had met at one of the infamous “house parties” when they were 13 and had always been together ever since. They had survived school, sixth form, university and they had been travelling together too. Not once had either of them strayed to anyone else, they really were “meant to be together” as sad as it sounded. But now they really were Mr and Mrs M and M Wright.

At the reception Alex had drunk far too much, which she really hadn't meant to, but she had ended up on a table with her choice of dinner partners from hell. These included Maria's overly judgemental Aunt and Uncle who vocally had always told her that her “lifestyle choice” really was “something which she would regret later on in life” and that they were “surprised that the head teacher at St Kitts had allowed her to teach in an all girls school of such standing when she had been open about her private life” and even worse, her ex, Veronica,  who had spent the whole six courses giving her guilt trips about the way that their relationship had ended and how it had been the only good thing to ever happen to her, until it ended. So, unsurprisingly Alex had drunk her way through the whole dinner. Big mistake. A very worse for wear Alex and Veronica had ended up sharing her very expensive hotel room and one thing had led to more than another. It had been good, easy, as far as she had been concerned it had been totally without strings, yet it had been glaringly obvious in the morning that she was the only one who had felt like that. The countless texts, phone calls which she had ignored had proved that one. What had she done?

“Penny for them?”

“What? Oh yes, sorry I was miles away Geoff.”

“Yes I gathered that. Good holiday?”

Alex was not in the mood for small talk, especially with Geoff, who really would not approve, he was a strictly one woman man, he had a strong faith and believed that you were to save yourself for “the one”. He had been very happily married for years, he had a great sense of humour but he had terrible taste in jumpers and ties, although now she was sure that he almost wore the most mismatched items that he could, purely as he was aware of the long running jokes and it had almost become his trademark. He was however, a wonderful teacher. He was able to get even the most challenged and challenging students to love his subject – maths. Not an easy feat by any means. The jumper and tie combo this morning was hideous; there was no other word for it. His wife had obviously knitted this jumper for him, being one with mathematical signs in gaudy colours all over with a tie which looked as if someone had splatted different colours of paint over it.

“Yes thanks” Alex lied “not too bad at all, you? Nice jumper by the way, Mary been busy huh?”

“Oh yes, thank you. She spent ages on this one, I think it is very apt.” he said grinning, “Great holiday, we went off to Wales and had a brilliant time rambling and just reconnecting as a couple you know how important that can be” he winked, and gave her a cheeky grin.

Geoff and Mary had been trying for a baby for a long while now and yet nothing had happened. Along with everyone else who knew about their journey Alex so wished that it would happen for them, they were such a great couple and would make wonderful parents.

“Ah there you are” Alex had been saved from another lecture about how and what they had been up to, which she really didn't want to know in graphic detail by the interruption from her friend Petra.

“Petra hi, good to see you”

They didn't have long to chat as the morning briefing meeting was about to start.

In walked Hillary, the very able head teacher dressed in her normal dark blue jacket with matching tartan just-below-the-knee-skirt, just off white blouse, tan tights and blue low heeled court shoes, from nowhere else but Marks and Spencer. She stood in the middle of the room with her deputy Lucinda.

The two of them made a formidable force to be reckoned with. Exceptionally organised, well groomed and efficient they started by greeting everyone, welcoming those back who had been at the school before and welcoming the new staff. They had this way of always making you feel inferior, that you should have already be half a term ahead in all planning and that you were totally under dressed even in suits and heels.

Typically everyone stopped and stared at the new teachers, the same as they had when she had been new, the same that the girls do when there is a new pupil in the class, funny how some things do not change when you “grow up”...

She joined in the looking, trying to work out how old they were, where they had come from and making the immediate face value judgements which she hated other people making of her. Alex was lucky she was sitting with her usual crowd of suspects, most of which would rather be in the smoking room or setting up their classes, than be here as would she...

On the other side of the room she was instantly drawn to someone who was obviously one of the newbie’s, she looked vaguely familiar, but that could be due to Alex having shown her around the school as one of her duties as a deputy head of department. She looked more closely, hoping that she wasn't being too obvious.

It wasn't that she was stunningly beautiful; it wasn't as if she was dressed any differently than the normal trouser suit that many of the female staff wore, but there was something, something different... The red hair, the green eyes framed by those wonderful glasses... Alex found herself wondering far more than she should be in a meeting, like what it would be like to kiss those large, full lips, what it would be like to gaze into those eyes, run her fingers through her hair when suddenly she was elbowed in the side by Petra.

“Stop staring” she whispered

“Oh god was I?” asked Alex, hoping that it was only her friend who had noticed, and not the rest of the packed staffroom

“Oh yes, but don't worry I don't think that anyone else noticed...”

Alex breathed a sigh of relief and tried to work out where in proceedings they had got to. She wanted to get out of here, she wanted to go somewhere away from here, have a fag and think about things... She didn't know what was happening to her, first the weekend adventures with Veronica, now day dreaming about this new girl. This was really unprofessional, and the one thing that Alex had always prided herself on was her ability to separate her private and school life. Although she was out to most of her friends at work as well as at home there were some lines that you just didn't cross. Besides the chances of someone that alluring, working here and being gay were just too farfetched to be possible. She had to snap out of this. Focus on work.

The meeting continued, news was given – the building work to the performing arts department was finally finished and classes would be beginning in there as from today. This she knew; she had spent part of her summer holidays here helping Petra move her equipment from the old drama department to the new Performing Arts Centre – known as the PAC. She also knew that this had meant that the old building had been converted to an art studio and gallery for art work. There were a few more notices, generally about nothing much – or nothing that wouldn't be included in the pile of paperwork glaring at her from her pigeon hole for her to go through later.

Finally the meeting was over with ten minutes to spare until tutorial sessions were to begin. As it was the start of term there would be a double tutorial so they could all go through the whole rigmarole of sorting out timetables, teachers, handing in the holiday homework, listening to the excuses why the homework was not being handed in, and so on. Alex had been given a year one tutor group this year, so there would be much hand holding, tears to wipe, expectations and rules to go through amongst everything else. Really she should head straight to the tutor room, her classroom, but she decided to head off with her friends to the smoking room for 'one for the road' as was an old habit they had started a few years ago, one which she just wasn't ready to break right now besides she had a feeling that it was going to be a long day, first break was just too far away right now, and certainly never long enough..

As she walked in she was met by Muriel – the larger than life head of English, her superior, the first teacher (apart from Hilary) she had come out to at St Kitts, the person who had accepted her for her in the whole of her teaching career, someone who she had the utmost and deepest respect for. Muriel pulled her towards her and squeezed her tight.

“All right dear girl? Good holiday? Light? Ready? Which year group have you been dumped with? My dear girl I do hope that you don't do all of that paperwork this side of Christmas or you will make me look terrible, unless of course you are after my job?” Muriel did this, asked lots of questions, never paused for breath or answers. She laughed heartily and pulled Alex towards her for one of her special hugs,

“Muriel, I have missed you.” Was all that Alex needed to say. It was true, she had come to love this older woman, this 'once was actress', she was one of the best, most wonderful people here, someone whom the staff and the girls all respected and confided in.

Alex smoked her cigarette whilst talking to the others in the room and then made her excuses to get to her room on time, she had lots to get through with her new class, she would be the first to get to suss them out ready for the rest of the teachers, hoping that just for once they would be a good and nice class. She could but hope.

Alex walked towards her classroom a few minutes early and was horrified by the noise which greeted her. St Kitts was not somewhere which was known for its unruly pupils, but going by the noise emitting from her classroom Alex had them all in her room. She breathed in deeply, ready for anything. Or so she thought. The scene that greeted her was certainly not something which she would ever have expected, not here at St Kitts, not of first years on their first day. There was a group of girls round a couple in the middle who were fighting; the bigger one of the two had the other one by the hair kicking her as hard as she could. The smaller one was trying to fight back. Around these two the circle of girls were screaming and chanting. Alex could not believe her eyes, in all the years that she had been teaching at St Kitts she had never, ever come across anything like this. It was not 'the done thing'. She put her pile of papers down on the desk loudly and marched straight into the middle of the circle and pulled the fighting pair apart.

“Who on earth do you think you are? How dare you? Where do you think you are? This is not what is expected at St Kitts! You have a lot to learn if this is how you think that you will behave here! Explain yourselves this instant.” She began, very sure of herself, asserting her authority.

The girls in the outer circle stopped their chanting and immediately broke up and went to sit behind a desk as if nothing had happened. Immediately quiet and calm was restored.

Alex looked at the pair she had interrupted, “I am waiting for your response.”

The first girl began “Sorry Miss”

The second repeated, through her sobs and sniffs “Sorry Miss”

“Sorry is not what I asked for, I asked for an explanation of your behaviour.”

The girls looked at each other each not knowing what to say...

“Well, as you both appear to not be able to explain your actions to me, maybe you would be best being escorted to the Mr Jennings office and explain them to him?”

Although neither girl knew exactly who Mr Jennings was, it was obvious that he was a more senior teacher and that neither of them would want to be put up in front of him on their first day,

“No Miss, please no. It was my fault. We were disagreeing about something and it got completely out of hand”

“Well you will both have to go and see Mr Jennings and explain it to him to start with; I cannot and will not have fighting. Ever. The rest of you sit down, get your pens out and be ready I shall be back in a moment.”

Alex took the girls to Harry Jennings, head of the lower school. He can handle this. There was not nearly enough coffee in all the world which would have prepared her for this this morning.

She gave Harry a very brief summary of what had happened and returned to her class, leaving the two behind her. Harry would fill her in later, she knew that he would. She also knew that it was always best to stand up and make sure that the girls start knowing what would and would not be tolerated and who they would have to see should they dare to put a foot wrong. Alex was shocked at the way that these two girls had been behaving, how could they disrespect her beloved St Kitts like that? Although she may moan about the amount of work that she had to do and many other things, Alex felt at home here. She loved it.

As she walked back into her classroom the sight which greeted her was far more like what she was accustomed to, girls sitting neatly behind their desks, waiting for her to begin.

She started off by finding out their names, handing out diaries, timetables and explaining the basics of life at St Kitts – the general expectations, that when a member of staff or a visitor walked in the classroom you are expected to stand up immediately and say “Good morning.”

Alex found out that most of the class seemed the standard type of girl for St Kitts, ones either from very well off backgrounds or those who have come from parents in the forces. Most were boarders, although there were some Sarum girls. She found out their interests and made sure they knew the basic premise of how to find which rooms their classes in, showed them where certain departments were on the map and answered their very varied questions. She liked the group. At that point the two fighters were returned to her by Mr Jennings. He had ruled that they were both to go to detention this afternoon and that their house mistresses had been informed. All sorted then, thank goodness.

Alex had just finished handing out the rest of the informative bits of paper to the fifteen girls in her class when the bell rang.

“OK class that's it, pack up quickly and quietly and I shall walk you to your first class.”

The rest of the morning passed without misadventure, everything running smoothly as it would do normally at St Kitts, yet she still hadn't found out who that teacher was in the meeting this morning. She would ask Petra, she would know, she knew everyone...

At lunchtime she waited to walk over to lunch with Petra, luckily neither of them were attached to their houses today, so they could have lunch together without having to sit next to a group of schoolgirls talking about the latest crush, or the far off exotic holidays which they had been on or any other matter of girly chit chat.

As soon as Petra saw her friend, she knew that Alex was going to pump her for information, she was not disappointed...

“Who is she? What subject does she teach? How old is she? Where is she from? Is she single? Is she...”

“And breathe” laughed her friend, “Alex come on, I thought you said 'there are lines which shall never be crossed' and that you would never date someone from school!”

“I know, I’m not suggesting dating her, just being friendly that's all” she winked at her friend.

“Oh no, not just friendly! The poor girl doesn't stand a chance! Come on, we'll be late...” Petra linked arms with her friend and started walking over the bridge to the staff dining room.

Over lunch Petra imparted the knowledge about the new member of staff, her name was Niamh, originally from Ireland, she was 30 and had moved to St Kitts from one of the near state schools as she wanted a change. She taught music and would be working on the staff choir amongst other projects.

Alex was thrilled, she was part of the staff choir, she had been for years, since Petra had talked her into it and she actually really enjoyed it. So, Irish, into music, not too much younger than herself. All looking positive...

The rest of the day passed in more of a daydream than she had ever done before, she had no idea why, but there was something about this Niamh, she just had to work out what it was.

Chapter Two

That evening Alex met up with Petra before heading home. They exchanged stories about their days, how much work they had to do and the pressures they were under from their respective heads of department over a coffee in the staffroom.

Alex was so relieved that she was under the very laid back Muriel, although it did have its drawbacks. It normally meant several weeks of 'all nighters' before any deadline to get the planning, assessments or reports in, as even though Muriel was the most wonderful teacher, her lack of organisation and efficiency had always been something which Alex had always been fighting to change. This year things were going to be done differently. Alex would be putting things in place, as she had already started to, which would mean that things were being done right from the start. No matter what Muriel thought. It had to be done, inspections were getting harder to pass and were happening with even shorter notice than before, she couldn't and wouldn't risk being caught out and not showing what she can do.  This new hope for organisation and efficiency was something that Alex had talked about with Petra who had just wished her the best of luck with convincing Muriel.

Petra wished she had similar problems with her head of department. He was far more demanding, she had already had the first half terms meetings issued to her with his expectations for each meeting, planning deadline, expectations for the year, targets and so on already handed to her in a neat presentation folder. Petra really was concerned that she would be able to keep up with the workload and be able to teach to the best of her ability, whilst also being given the task of running several of the drama related after school activities as well as the junior school play. Pressure was something she liked, but not this amount.

The two friends had no idea how long they had been talking until there was a knock at the door from Mrs H the caretaker’s wife and head cleaner. She was a wonderful old lady with a broad country accent who always made you a 'nice pot of tea dear' but who was generally snubbed by so many of the overly rich girls who attended the school which was something which Alex and Petra felt strongly about. Without Mrs H the girls would be in a very different environment, but they both knew that Mrs H would welcome in any girl or member of staff who needed a quiet get away or a friendly ear. The teachers apologised for holding her up and collected their piles of books and papers needed for that nights marking and planning for the following day and headed out towards the car park.

Alex and Petra had arrived here at St Kitts on their first day, both amazed that they had been offered the positions at this prestigious school. It was never so much about that though, this school was just beautiful, there was something about it which drew you in and you just fell in love with it. Both of them had grown up here, being sent here by their parents as boarders when they were old enough to attend. They both came from incredibly different backgrounds, but they had bonded as best friends from the first week, they had followed each other through the school, sixth form and now back here as teachers together. They had parted at University and through their first teaching jobs, but had never lost contact with each other. Even now, they lived in two flats right above each other which suited them fine, it was nice to be so close, but still have that distance should they need/want it.

“Come on then, home!” Petra announced, “It's been a long enough day, let’s go back to mine and I will cook.”

Alex never passed up an opportunity for Petra to cook, she certainly had the culinary skills of the two of them, and she knew it. Petra was lucky to be offered a salad, or beans on toast at Alex's home, it would be more likely that they would order in, but Alex knew that Petra would 'rustle up something using leftovers' which would be divine and meant that she would be able to unwind properly with a glass of wine with someone who wouldn't get bored or bore her, yet who would also understand when she sloped back to her flat to get her work done ready for the following day.

Once back at their block, Alex nipped upstairs, dropped off her stack of work, changed into her jeans and t shirt and bought down a bottle of wine just in time for Petra to already be cooking up a storm in her 'small but perfectly formed' kitchen. There was fresh pasta already cooking with what looked and smelled like a cream and mushroom sauce, a salad, and homemade garlic bread already baking. It smelled delicious.

Alex looked around Petra's home; it certainly was very different to her own. Petra’s' was not exactly minimalist in style, there were objects which she had picked up from various street markets and antique shops from each one of her travels, or from when one of her friends had bought her back something which was more than often the case. Covering the chunky coffee table in the middle of the lounge and over the fireplace were some of the little oil lamps which she had collected, with the pride of place being given to the highly decorative mirrored mosaic candle sticks which Alex had given to her as a moving in present several years ago. The old saggy sofa had a brightly coloured throw over it, nothing went together in this room, it was mismatched, nothing was new, it was all passed down to her from one way or another. It just reminded her again of their different backgrounds. She started thinking about Niamhs place and what it would be like. Would it be like Petra’s? Comfortable, easy, messy, but full of love? Or would it be more like her own clean cut, spacious, overly tidy, some would say boring and predictable home?

“Are you going to open this wine then, or am I just meant to be looking at it?” laughed Petra behind her, “I'm not cooking, opening the wine and talking to myself you know! You seem to be miles away Alex, is everything OK?”

“Sorry, just coming, no I’m fine, just reminiscing that's all” Alex turned, went back to the kitchen and obliged her friend by pouring her a very large glass of wine; a deep full flavoured Merlot, her favourite.

“Come on then, what were you thinking about? Spill”

Alex knew that it was futile to try to hide anything from her best friend and she wouldn't want to. They hadn't had secrets from each other ever. There was no need to; neither would judge the other too harshly, although they would always be honest with each other, about anything and everything from what they thought of a new outfit or a new boyfriend no matter how hard it was to tell the other.

“I was just thinking how different our homes and decorating styles are”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, that and how hungry I am smelling how delicious that smells”

“Good, 'coz I've made loads and its ready!” Petra handed Alex a very full plate of food and sat down at the table with the salad and garlic bread

“You can't fool me,” she said, “I know that you were thinking about someone else. Who is she? Should I be jealous?” she teased, there had never been anything more than friendship between the girls, although she knew that there had been a time when Alex had wished that there had been.

Alex giggled and turned slightly flushed, “I don't know what you mean.” She looked at the Petra’s face and exploded into a fit of laughter, “Alright, alright, I was thinking about the differences in our homes, but my mind may have wandered to thinking about someone else and what their house may be like...”

“That's more like it.” Petra laughed; she had a feeling that this is where her friends mind was heading. She knew her so well and had lived through many of her relationships, but this seemed different somehow, for a start she hadn't asked out Niamh yet, or slept with her in a drunken state, this was at least progress as far as she could see it.

“Now leave me alone and eat before it gets cold. It’s delicious, thank you” Alex ate heartily as she usually did at Petra’s, which was most nights although you would never know that she could eat that much as she never put on any weight at all, totally the opposite of Petra who was always on this diet or that diet.

They sat and ate, chatting occasionally about nothing, but they had the kind of friendship which didn't need one or other of them to be talking constantly, silence was comfortable too.

After they had cleared away and had another glass of wine Alex made her excuses and left, they both had work to do before tomorrow.

She walked into her flat, closing the door behind her she surveyed her home and was pleased, she loved it here, it felt safe. Her home was as different to Petra’s as it could possibly be, everything had a place and nothing was out of it, everything was new and shiny in pale colours; creams and neutrals ran throughout her home with the odd splash of colour in the accessories. The stainless steel range was totally lost on her, she had always promised herself that she would learn to cook, but not got around to it. This would be her year; she would talk Petra into teaching her. She dropped onto her soft and squidgy black leather sofa and curled her feet under her.

She looked through the pile of paperwork, decided that most of it could wait, totally unlike her. She flicked on the TV and found herself watching the late rerun of Eastenders, perfect for just switching off and having in the background.

Her mind wandered from the latest escapades of the residents of Albert Square to her friend downstairs. She loved Petra; she always had done as a friend. She was the first person that she came out to. Alex smiled as she fondly remembered the coming out party that they had, just the two of them which involved many bottles of wine, discussing which celebrities 'you would' with, who you wouldn't touch with a barge pole and some very grown up conversations about whether it was better to be straight or gay and why.

Alex just wished that they could both find someone to make them happy, although she wanted it more for Petra than for herself. Petra didn't deserve to be alone. She had had such a hard time at school where she had been dumped by her aunt after her parents had passed away. Her aunt really didn't want to have a young girl hanging around, it cramped her style. She had made it clear that being left in charge of this child was the worst thing that could ever have happened to her. So Petra was put on a train and spent her time in the boarding school. The staff and other pupils of St Kitts helped her through her grief of losing her parents, it was clear that her aunt really couldn't be bothered. She had always managed her own way through everything, yes it might have been the case that her aunt had given her an allowance each term and if she ever wanted anything her aunt would provide the money, but that has never been what Petra needed or desperately wanted, she needed someone to love her and to look after her, and that is where Alex had been her life line.

Neither of them had totally fitted in at St Kitts to start with, but it didn't matter, they had each other. Petra had always been into drama and music and had starred in every single school play, been in every concert and Alex had been there cheering her on. Every holiday they went home together to Alex's parent’s house. Her high flying doctor mother and barrister father could not have done more to make Petra feel wanted and part of the family; she was just automatically included in every family event and occasion. It was Alex's father who had bought Petra her first car, the same car which she was driving now. He had been so amazed by her determination and the way in which she relied on no one but herself he had gift wrapped the keys in several boxes in the same way that he had done for Alex too, after all for her parents it was like having the second daughter that they had never had.

The phone ringing disturbed her thoughts,

“Whoever that is at this time of night can just sod off” Alex thought out loud, she was rarely called after about 9:30 and it was now over an hour later than that.  She breathed deeply and answered the phone, “Hello”

“Hello only me darling, just wanted to find out how your first day back went, sorry to be calling late”

“Dad, hi! I was just thinking about you”

“Nothing bad I hope” he joked

“No, nothing. School was fine thank you, was just going to finish up some paperwork and get to bed actually”

“That's good, I won't keep you long, just wanted to make sure that you were OK, I wanted to just call Petra too, but I've only just got in. I won't call her for long, just a quick one to say hi. I will be up in your direction at the weekend if you both want to meet up for dinner?”

“Oh Dad, you really shouldn't be working so late, you should be taking it easier.” Alex worried about her father; he seemed to be working harder than ever, yet wasn't getting any younger, although her Mother was just as bad, “This weekend? That would be marvellous, will you book somewhere? The three of us, unless Mum is coming with you?”

“Not sure about your Mother, she might be working cover this weekend, but that's great, I will book somewhere and meet you both there about 8? I'll email you to confirm. Night then petal get some sleep. I'll just call Petra now”

“Night Dad, please take it easy. Will look forward to the weekend, night” and she put down the telephone.

She went for a hot bath and went to bed, worried about her father, he had sounded tired, but looking forward to the weekend. It would be good to see him again; dinner with him was always a giggle. She hadn't asked him about why he was coming to town. Hmm, she assumed it would be something regarding a case he was working on.

She felt her eyes close and she drifted off to sleep thinking about dinner at the weekend with her Father, although it was not unusual for him to have to come into town for business it was not usual for him to call her late at night. She felt as if there was something bothering him and she didn't like it, it made her feel uneasy. She thought about Petra, hoping that one day soon she would find someone who would love her as much as she did and treat her like the princess that she deserved to be. She deserved more than anyone else she knew to be the centre which someone else’s world revolved around. Alex thought about Niamh, there was so much that she didn't know yet, so much that she desired to know. That night Alex dreamt, a lot.

Chapter Three

The following morning Alex was roused from sleep by her radio alarm clock playing some total and utter nonsense which had no place being called music, let alone being allowed to pollute the air waves and infect her ears, so why several hours later when she was sitting in the staff room drinking coffee was it still going round and round and round and round in her head? Argh, she hated things like this...

Petra had left for work early this morning as she had another departmental meeting to attend, so Alex had driven to work on her own still preoccupied with the events of the last couple of days.

The door opened as several of her colleagues came in chatting and looking for that important cup of coffee of the day. A couple of them stopped to look at the notice board and check for new 'too important to miss information' which seemed to appear on a daily basis, although she was quite sure that things didn't change that much overnight!

Alex glanced up at the clock wondering how much longer until the morning briefing would start, also wondering how much longer Petra would be, and she wanted to talk to her about dinner with her father.

As her eyes looked up she found herself gazing not at the clock, but at the most unusual mug she had ever seen. It was not unusual to check out each teacher’s mug, as your mug is one of the most treasured possessions in the teaching profession. This mug was obviously handmade, with a green and brown background with vibrant green vines and flowers of the most daring reds, yellows, pinks, purples covering the surface. Alex had never seen anything like it, it was different, it was unique, it was beautiful, her eyes drank in every detail, and she was intrigued as to who owned such a mug which broke all the unwritten rules of the staffroom. All the other mugs, hers included were fairly plain, generally rather nondescript with minimal decoration mostly relating to mass produced flowers, chocolate or 'best teacher' style. This was different; it traversed the 'mug rules'. Her eyes moved up from the mug to the soft delicate hand which caressed the whole mug, not just the handle, she allowed herself to continue following the delicate lines up past a wrist, past the cuff of a black and white stripped blouse, up past the cuff of a black jacket, up past an elbow up to the shoulder. Alex was following the path upwards slowly, taking in every detail; her mind was taking her further... She looked up at the red hair, the lose curls, then she was there, the red, full lips, it was as if time had stopped. Alex had become aware of her own breathing now being deeper and slower than before. She allowed herself to continue watching this wonderful woman, there was no one else it could be but Niamh, no one else had such amazing red hair, lips and oh those green eyes...

Niamh had become acutely aware that she was being watched; she turned and caught her audience’s eyes. She winked. It was not unusual for her to be watched where ever she went, she was quite used to the attention, although she was not what she would describe as beautiful, she had been told that she was pretty. It was more her classic Celtic looks, the bright red wavy hair, the pale complexion and the most stunningly piercing, haunting green eyes. The woman who had been watching her averted her eyes as she had winked at her, she looked embarrassed. Niamh decided to walk over and say hi; after all she was the new girl in town and could do with some friends.

Petra dropped into the seat next to her friend looking frazzled, fed up and as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

“Another hard day at the office then Hun?” Alex asked her friend, “Oh shit, she's coming over...”

“Yes hard day, been here for hours and it hasn’t started yet, what do you mean? Who?”

Petra looked up to see Niamh nervously walking in their direction caressing a mug of coffee, she cleared one of the other chairs round the small table of her rather large part of folders, file, planning and papers for her. There was a pecking order regarding seats, and these were the ones that they had been 'allowed' by the older members of staff. Their time would come for the better and more comfortable seats, but for now, this small round table with four chairs around it would do.

“Hi, I’m Niamh. I was wondering if this seat was taken?”

“Hi, I’m Petra, and this is Alex,” She noticed that Alex had suddenly become nervous and was suddenly engrossed in paperwork – something most unusual for her friend. She wondered what had happened in here this morning...

Niamh put her mug on the table and sat down opposite the brunette who had been watching her this morning.

“Ah, so you are Petra? I have heard lots about you from Muriel and Francis when I was taking to them yesterday. They have lots of positive things to say about you, you certainly are well liked by them. We were talking about the plans I have for the staff parent choir which I am taking over running this term.  They say you like singing?”

“Ah yes, Muriel and Francis, not sure how much of what they say I would listen to in all honesty, they seem to have been here for years and like people who will sit and listen to them and their stories. A word to the wise, Muriel loves telling anyone who will listen about the times when she was an actress and you have probably already heard all about Francis and when he was a concert pianist. They both really were something special apparently, well according to them!" she laughed, “and yes I have been in the staff parent choir before, but am nothing special, not like Alex here”

Alex blushed,

“Alex, hi. I noticed this morning that you liked my mug.” She smiled a knowing smile,

“Er, yes. It’s very different.” Alex said, feeling as if she was a child who had just been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Niamh sat down between the others. “So I can assume then that you will both be coming to choir then? Say you will; I’m desperate for some friendly faces”

Alex and Petra looked at her, “Depends what you are going to throw at us this year” Petra laughed,

“Well I know that there is a long tradition of doing a big concert each year and that the SPC have always played a part in that, but I thought that it would be really nice for us to do something for the Christmas concert. Show the kids what we are made of? What do you think?”

“Sounds good, doesn't it Alex? Put my name down, I'm up for it.”

“Excellent, thank you so much, really glad you have said yes! Alex?”

“It does sound good but with the amount of work that needs to be done before Christmas I’m not sure that it will be possible,”

“Any thing’s possible, if you want it to be so” said Niamh with a very cheeky smile and a wink.

At that moment Geoff walked in and took the last chair around the table

“Morning lovely ladies, and how are we today?” He asked more cheerfully than any of the other women thought was appropriate for this time in the morning. He continued, “So what's happening?”

“We were just talking about the SPC and my idea for putting on a Christmas Carol concert for the kids this year. I was just trying to talk Alex into agreeing to do it”

“Oh yeah, that sounds like fun, put my name down. I've been in the choir since I started working here, that is if you will still have me?” He laughed

“Oh that will be great, now you just have to help me talk these two into it too” She ginned the most alluring smile that Alex had seen from anyone in a very long time.

“I'm not going to get a minutes peace unless I agree am I?” Alex smiled

“Nope, never, I always get what I want.” Niamh looked deep into Alex’s eyes as she said this, which made Alex's stomach do a flip and she looked away as the bell rang with the five minute warning until class.

“No rest for the wicked” Geoff said as he picked up his bag. As he headed towards the door he shouted behind him “She'll do it, I promise, even if I have to tie her up and bring her kicking and screaming! See you later everyone.”

“That's an interesting proposition” Niamh smiled, “Maybe we could all meet up over a drink at the weekend and talk about what I have in mind?”

Although the invitation had been extended to all those present, Alex couldn't help but feeling that it was more directed at herself. She was thrilled, but surely Niamh was just being nice, there was no way that she was that lucky that this wonderful woman who she could not stop thinking about was actually not straight. Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the next bell, the one now telling her to move herself quickly as she was now late for her tutor group.

“Will have to let you know about that later” she said as she picked up her bags, files and other paraphernalia, “I’m now late for my tutor group and it sets a terrible example.”

Alex rushed out of the door and headed towards her tutor group, her mind very definitely focussed. Shame it was not focussed on her tutor group, and certainly not the rest of the day ahead. She was trying to work out whether Niamh was being nice, whether it was just her personality or whether she had been flirting with her. It didn't help that she was hoping so much that she was being flirted with, although it certainly was not a good idea to mix school with a relationship with another teacher, it would be around the school in a second. Nothing can be kept quiet in an all girl’s school. She had seen it before with other staff relationships, if they were true or not a teacher’s life could be made so difficult by the rumour mill... No, definitely not a good idea she thought and tried to put it all to the back of her mind, however hard that was.

Alex made her way through the tutor group and through the first lessons and all the way to lunchtime. She was relieved when the bell went and she was able to take her mind off “Lord of the Rings” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” and her thoughts wandered back where she admittedly wanted them to be, no matter how much of a bad idea she thought it was; on what had happened this morning. Had she imagined the wink? Had she imagined the way that Niamh had looked straight into her eyes? Had she got completely the wrong end of the stick? Was she just reading something into what hadn't happened? Why was this so difficult?

“Ah there you are” She was relieved to see Petra standing over her as she didn't have to pretend and that she could talk over the thoughts in her head with her friend, “lunch?”

They spent the lunchtime sitting on a table with some of the most boring members of staff as they had been late arriving, so instead of being able to talk about the important matter of flirting and feelings about the sexy new member of staff they ended up making small talk about lesson planning, the weather and what they had done over the school holidays.

It wasn't made any easier as Alex was sitting with a really good view of Niamh, Francis, Muriel and Geoff who all seemingly involved in joyful and typically animated discussions. Alex was quite sure that every now and again Niamh kept looking over in her direction, smiling and then continuing her conversation. She was so desperate to talk to her friend about it all, but sitting here with Dr Moss and Mr Ashford, two physics teachers who only became animated at all when discussing something about the mystics of the physical and scientific world, or Elvis Presley. She had sat through enough discussions about which of 'The Kings' songs are the best, which are over rated and who has done the best cover versions (Ronan Keating of 'In the Ghetto' was the last highest ranked by the pair) enough to know never to go there again!

She was so relieved when they finally finished their sticky toffee pudding and chocolate sauce and left. She refilled her water glass, wishing that it was something stronger and broached the conversation with Petra.

“Look, you are going to think that I am mad, but I need to talk to you about something”

“OK, but for the record I have thought that you were mad for years! Nothing is going to change that Hun I know you too well!”

“It's about Niamh”

“I thought it might be”

“Why? What makes you say that?”

“Why? Well could it be because you haven't been able to take your eyes off her all lunchtime? That something happened this morning which made you act really strangely around her? That you aren't sure about singing in the choir – which I know you love – since she asked you? The fact that I know you so well?  Need I go on?” Petra said smiling softly. It was true she did know Alex so well, she could spot that there was someone who might 'be of interest' way before Alex did. It had happened so often before, she knew when the woman in question was not good enough for her and when things were going badly. She had been there and done that, listened to the heartbreak and picked up the pieces after all Alex’s previous relationships. This one would be no different, she was sure of it.

“Am I really that obvious?” Alex watched her friend nod vigorously with a smile. “Oh OK thanks! Anyway, I think that she has been flirting with me, but she can't have been as I’m not nearly that lucky. But if she has been then what the hell do I do? I made a rule never to date anyone from school.” She paused... “You think I’m mad don't you? You think that I am imagining everything and that there is no way that she would ever be interested in me?”

Petra laughed, “Alex, you are being ridiculous and totally paranoid! She may have been flirting, but she may have just been being nice, why don't you just get to know her instead of trying to take her to bed before you know anything about her?”

“Novel idea” Alex laughed, “Hadn't thought about that. Of course I have thought about it, I can't get her out of my head and I just don't know how to sort it. Help me?”

“In what way do you want me to help you? I gave my dark glasses and PI Mac away over the summer!” joked Petra, however seeing the look on Alex's face she said, “Yes of course I will help you, and you know that. I will do anything I can to help. On one condition...”

“What condition?”

“You have to come to choir and you have to learn to cook so you can cook me a decent meal.”

The pair cleared their plates, cutlery and glasses away and walked back towards the school,

“OK, OK you have a deal, but it might all be for nothing as I don't even know if I am her type!”

Chapter Four

They walked back into the school through the impressive Gothic front door and wandered through the corridors over the highly polished floorboard floor, making their way towards the staff room in readiness for a cigarette in the smoking room and then onwards towards class for the afternoon.

Alex and Petra walked into the smoker’s room to find Muriel, Geoff and Francis sitting in loud conversation about nothing in particular. They sat and joined in the conversations eagerly, trying to get Niamh out of her mind. Little did she know that Niamh was standing right behind her as she was asking whether the others were going to be in the choir and what plans they had for the Christmas festivities, which were always spectacular at St Kitts.

She had been talking with Petra over the summer break about maybe suggesting that they put on a traditional Christmas Pageant, obviously more along the her speciality, but with traditional poetry, music, acts, plays and so on. They had suggested it to the others she was sitting with; they all seemed to really like the idea, think that it certainly was a brilliant idea, something special and different to the normal Christmas parties and the Sixth Form Ents which were put on every year by the lower sixth. This was to be put on by the staff and the students, tickets sold to raise money for Charity...

“Oh my goodness, that sounds absolutely amazing, why don't we go for it?” came a lilting Irish voice from behind her.

At the sound of Niamhs voice from behind her Alex jumped, she hadn't noticed that she had come into the room and had been listening to everything that she and the others had been saying.

“I'd love to, I think it would be really popular and bring back more about the traditional meaning to Christmas, not necessarily all Religious based, although I think we should definitely include some, but about family time, thinking about others, that kind of thing? Maybe with a setting in Victorian times, maybe something along the lines of 'St Kitts Christmas Carol' with three spirit guides through the different scenes?” Petra spoke passionately to the others about her idea who all listened attentively, nodding in agreement, she continued, “Obviously this will be something that we will need to talk about it and ask Hillary, it will take loads of planning and hard work, late nights and dedication, but I think it might be a really really good thing for us to do. I'd even like to suggest a charity, if that's OK?”

Alex had known about this up to this point, she also knew where Petra was heading and it really was not going to be easy for her. She wasn't sure that it was a good idea to go totally public about what had happened to her when she was at uni, but she had promised her friend that she would be there with her all the way, just like she was then. She had never forgiven herself for that night; she should never have left her friend and let her walk home on her own.

It had been late November in their third year of a four year teaching course, they had been out to celebrate a friend’s birthday, it was late, they were all dressed up and had gone out in town to a couple of pubs and a club. Petra had found Alex at the bar talking to a group of people and told her she was heading back to their flat as she was tired, had too much to drink and wanted to go home. Alex had tried telling her that she would go home with her, but she would not have any of it. They had always had a pact where they would leave together if they went out together, always. But not this night and the consequences had been severe. Petra had insisted that Alex stay longer. They had never split up before, always going home together, whether one of them wanted to stay or not, it had just been what they had always done. But not on this night.

The first thing that Alex had known about what had happened was when she had a call from the police as she was just leaving the club. She could hear Petra sobbing in the background, not making much sense at all but the policewoman told her that there had been, 'an incident' that Petra had been attacked and that she was going to St Mary’s hospital, could she meet her there? Alex didn't hesitate; she was in a cab and got there as soon as she could. The scene which she was greeted with was something that she had only ever seen on posters about domestic violence, or on 'Crimewatch.' She took a huge intake of breath and just stood there, rooted to the spot. Her best friend had police and nurses around her; she was shaking with tears streaming down her face. Her right eye was so swollen, she was covered in bruises all over her body, and she had a broken wrist where she had been stamped on. This was not the worst of it all, she had been brutally raped. Petra had always believed that sex was something special, something that you should only take part in with someone who you truly loved. She had been teased for this belief throughout school and had still been a virgin until tonight. She had never found 'the one.' For some bastard to take something which was part of who she was, what she stood for was just more than unthinkable. They had taken her so forcefully that she was in need of stitching to repair the damage which had been caused. Alex felt so sick at the thought of the horrific acts which her best friend, her almost sister, had been subjected to.

Eventually she moved forwards and went forwards to hug her friend but couldn't as she would cause her too much pain. So, she just sat there for hours quietly with her whilst she was examined, stitched, she gave statements, she had her wrist plastered and her cuts and bruises looked at; whilst the medical teams put her back together again. It was horrible, humiliating, degrading and most horrific process that she could ever imagine, and she was just there to be there with her friend who had asked her to stay. She wouldn't have left her anyway. The guilt was incredible. Right now Petra needed her, and she would never let her down again. She called her parents when she could who insisted on coming down to be with her too.

Petra knew who had attacked her. It just made it so much more real, a worse situation; it was Petra’s ex boyfriend. They had been together for nearly the whole time that they had been at Uni; they had been talking about marriage, until they broke up. The relationship ended over the fact that they had argued about having sex. Petra had wanted to wait, he didn't. He called her 'frigid' amongst other far more horrible names. He had only asked her to marry him because he thought that it meant then that she would agree to sleeping with him. He had been wrong. She had seen through him and his proposal and kicked him as far away as she could. He had got his revenge for that now well and truly.

Petra hadn't seen him in the club when she was dancing with our group of friends, both male and female. She hadn't seen him when he followed her as she walked home. She hadn't seen him until he grabbed her, beat her and raped her, taking from her what she had refused to give, what was so important to her, her virginity.

That had been over a year ago. Since then Alex had accompanied Petra to the hospital for all her check up appointments, to the doctors, the police station, to court, to counselling, everywhere, even to the shops when she had been too terrified to go alone. Alex had stuck by her words and stayed with her continually. Petra had done amazingly well, she was now beginning to live her life as she wanted to, she had managed to get back the power and the control which he had taken from her and she had managed to get her life back on track. She hadn't felt that she had been able to go out clubbing or that she was ready for a new boyfriend or anything similar yet, but she would in time, Alex was sure of that, her friend was remarkable and she secretly thought of her as her hero.

“Yeah course, it’s your baby, tell us which charity?” The conversation snapped Alex back to the here and now in the middle of the conversation in the staff room.

“I want the proceeds to go to women’s aid. They were a great help to me last year and I would like to do something which would be of help to them too.”

“Women's aid?” Geoff looked uneasy, he obviously didn't want to push the whys and the wherefores, but wondered whether this would be something that she was trying to get out in the open, “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not right now, as the bell is going to go and you have a class, but maybe this weekend? If we are meeting up for drinks anyway?”

“OK no problem, but you know where I am?”

The bell rang and everyone got up to leave, except Petra, Niamh and Alex none of whom were teaching that afternoon. Alex’s tutor group were being registered by Mrs Walker who covered the time which the teachers were off for planning, preparation and assessment.

“Coffee love?” Alex put her arm on Petra’s arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze,

“Oo please, that would be great”

“Can I have one two please?” Niamh asked, “You OK hunni? Do you want to talk about it? I know you said no to Geoff, but I’m here this afternoon? Or shall we go and speak to Hillary and see if we can do this as a joint venture? You have drama, music and English here so we can just go with it?”

Alex returned with the coffee to overhear Niamhs suggestion. “That sounds like a great idea, strike while the iron is hot and keep your mind off things if you like?”

Petra agreed, the girls finished their coffee and headed over to Hillary's office. They explained their plan to her and she loved it, thought that it was a brilliant idea, that it was certainly a very apt charity as it was a girl’s school, and maybe one of them could contact women’s aid and see if they could get someone in to talk to the girls about domestic violence and raise awareness.

Alex, Petra and Niamh had been in there for what felt like hours, but had come up with even more ideas whilst talking to Hillary. They had been told that it was a definite “yes” to them being allowed to organise it, just make sure that they double check any prospective dates with the office so that it doesn't clash with any of the other normal Christmas celebrations.

They left feeling elated that this was really going to be something which they could do, that it was going to be a reality and that they would make money for such a wonderful worthy charity. They returned to the staff room and continued planning until the bell went at the end of the day. They all promised to work on the planning and ideas and meet the following day.

They all had to go off and run their various after school activities, junior drama club, junior string orchestra and poetry club respectively. There really was no resting.

By the time that Alex got home all she wanted was a hot bath, and sleep. She made sure that she was going to eat that night and called for a Chinese delivery.

She had run her bath full of bubbles, and sank deep into it. She needed this. A great feeling. Soaking away the stresses of the day. She soaked herself enjoying the feeling of the hot soapy water all over her, she washed her hair and was lying back just breathing deeply, relaxing, thinking about far more pleasurable things, well people. She wondered what Niamh was doing now, wondered about how she liked her bath, what it would be like feeling her lying in the bath with her, touching her, washing her all over..

She was disturbed from her fantasies by a knock at the door. She didn't think that she had been in the bath that long, she had ordered her Chinese to be delivered much later than when she had got in, knowing that she would just relax in the bath for a while. She reluctantly got out of the bath and wrapped a towel around her hair and a bath sheet around her, pulling on her satin dressing gown.

“Just coming” she called out.

She answered the door to find Petra in tears.

“Oh baby what's wrong?”

“I’m so sorry, I just can’t get things out of my mind tonight, and I just don't want to be alone.”

Alex put her arms around her shaking friend and pulled her towards her, “no problem sweetie, come on in and you can share my Chinese which should be here soon”

Petra walked into Alex’s flat and sat on the sofa in tears. “I'm so sorry to be a burden to you”

“You aren't a burden, you could never be. Come on, I'll pour you a glass of wine and we can watch shit on TV, eat Chinese and ice cream and you can stay with me tonight.”

“Thank you Alex, I don't know what I would do without you. I really thought that I was over it. I can't believe that it’s still getting to me like this. I’m so weak and pathetic.”

“Weak and pathetic? You? I hardly think so and you know what I think. You are amazing, you are someone who is so strong, so wonderful and to have got through everything you have done, especially standing up in front of him in court giving evidence, hunni you are amazing”

Alex spent ages just hugging and talking to her friend. They shared the Chinese, drank the wine and snuggled in a duvet watching rubbish and flicking from one channel to another. Although this really wasn't how Alex wanted it, she loved snuggling with her friend like this. It reminded her so much of easier times, when they had been growing up together.

“Why don't you move in P? I have a spare room and I'd love you to. We spend so much time at each other’s flats; it makes sense for us to share. No strings, no ties, but it would be great.”

“Alex, really? Are you sure? I’d love to. I’m struggling with the rent anyway. Would be so wonderful, but I’m not sure I can live to your neatness though” she managed a laugh, it felt good, she hadn’t laughed or smiled much today.

“No problem, we can sort something out. So that's sorted, you will move in as soon as possible?”

“Definitely. As soon as possible!”

The girls went to bed happier, knowing that they had decided on something which would make both of them happier and Alex really loved helping her friend out. Petra felt safe with Alex.  This would be brilliant, would give her time to work through things more with someone who she could be herself with and not pretend that everything was OK when it wasn't. No more worrying about the rent, no more worrying about flat inspections from the landlord as Alex was her own landlord, she owned her own flat. Really she just could do without the worry and the anxiety of it all. She just wanted to come in at night and feel safe, not having to worry when she was going to lose the roof over her head. She was relieved, happy and felt very settled and slept deeply and the best she had in ages. It had to be a good omen.

Chapter Five

'It was the weekend! Hooray!' thought Alex as she woke on Saturday morning. 'No work, no need to get up, time to do what I want to. Even better today Petra is moving in, lunch with Petra and Dad and we are going for drinks and something to eat this evening with Niamh and Geoff. Brilliant.' She got up smiling and put the kettle on.  She had had the same weekend routine for years, she got up, made a coffee, two slices of toast lightly buttered with Marmite (much to Petra's disgust, it was true you either loved it or hated it!).  She curled up on the sofa and clicked play on her music system. The sound of Mozart’s Requiem, which they had sung last year in the choir and she had fallen in love with it, came out through the speakers and just engulfed her. She curled up tighter and just savoured her coffee. She loved coffee, it was one of her guilty pleasures, she had been called a coffee snob before now but just laughed it off, and after all it was accurate. She refused to drink cheap coffee and decaf was just a pointless exercise in her opinion – wasn't the caffeine the whole point of having a coffee?

Today was no different, it was early, nothing was happening for a while so she just sat, just enjoyed her Columbian freshly ground strong black coffee looking forward to the day ahead. She really was glad that Petra was moving in, she had felt almost lonely when she had been living on her own, it just wasn't what she was comfortable with, and it would be good for Petra too. It would mean that she could save up and actually buy her own place when she was ready, rather than living in rented flats which she wasn't able to decorate the way that she wanted and which could be taken away from her at any point. It would also give her more time to get over everything. It may have been a year, but she was still feeling the effects of the badly broken wrist and was still getting flashbacks. This would be far better, let’s face it they practically shared a flat now...

With these thoughts and an empty coffee cup she stood up, put her cup down in the kitchen and went to get dressed. She pulled on her favourite black lingerie, black jeans and a black t-shirt 'ready for anything' she thought as she looked in the mirror. Alex was far from vain, but she was fairly satisfied with what she saw. Yes, like any woman there were plenty of things which could be changed or improved on, but generally she was content.

She returned to the kitchen singing along to the music as she went in the search of more coffee. There was a knock at the door as she had just refilled her mug. She answered the door to find a rather smiley Petra standing there with a couple of suitcases,

“Am I too early?” She said excitedly, “If I am then I can go back to the flat or just stand here and wait?” She winked...

“Don't be daft; I have been up for ages waiting for you! I have been far too excited! Come on in and have a coffee!”

Petra walked in and put her suitcases in the spare room, which during the course of the day would become hers. She was so pleased.

Over the next few hours the two girls managed to move most of her belongings and the little furniture she had up into Alex’s flat with the help of the guys from the flat next door to Petra’s now old flat. They stood in the middle of the kitchen looking around at the piles of boxes, bags and the total mess of Alex's once pristine home.

“Oh God Alex, look at this! I'm really sorry”

“Petra, don’t be daft, by the end of the weekend it will be sorted and it’s our flat now, not mine!”

Petra started crying, “Oh Alex, I’m so happy, thank you so much for this.”

Alex instinctively hugged her friend tightly, “I'm more than happy to Hun, come on we'd better sort ourselves out, we're meant to be meeting Dad soon, and I’m not going like this!” She laughed looking down at herself and at her friend. They both looked a complete mess, dusty, sweaty and covered in fluff from all the moving.

Whilst Alex went for a shower Petra continued putting her stuff away in her new room. She looked around her feeling relieved, happy, and more settled than she had felt in a very long time. 'Ironic' she thought as she looked around at all of her worldly belongings and treasures stuffed in boxes and bags. She felt as if she had finally come home.

Alex came out of the shower and went to get changed, “showers free Hun” she called brightly. She went into her room to pick out something suitable for lunch with her father in 'Arcludes,' their favourite, but very expensive restaurant. She heard Petra going into the bathroom, the shower running and was sure she had made the right decision about asking her to move in when she heard her singing while she washed. She loved hearing Petra sing, she had a beautiful voice.

Chapter Six

A little while later the girls walked out dressed to kill in heels, smart dresses and jackets, light make up and arms linked. They made their way to Alex’s car, but changed their mind and decided to start walking into town instead as they both wanted the option to have a glass of wine or so with their lunch.

They arrived at the door of the restaurant and walked in smiling and happy. Alex saw her father sitting alone waiting for them before they met the maître d'. Alex saw that her father had aged since they last met, which wasn't that long ago, only a couple of months. He sat staring into his glass seemingly miles away, his hair was greyer and his face had become pale and full of more wrinkles. Alex was worried, although he was sat upright and dressed very smartly in a blue tailored suit with shirt and tie, there was something wrong, Alex was sure.

Her father saw the girls and stood up acknowledging them with a smile. He stood up behind his chair as they approached, the typical English upper class gentleman. He smiled, yet Alex knew that this was not his normal smile, this was almost forced. She did not doubt that he was pleased to see them, but was sure that there was something serious on his mind. The last time she had seen him like this was when she had called him to tell him about Petra being in hospital after her attack. He was so worried then. She was so glad that her parents had taken Petra under their wing; she just wished that Petra would accept the financial help which they gladly wanted to give, just to relieve the burden on her.

Petra had obviously noticed that there was an issue with her father as she whispered to Alex, “Hun, your Dad really doesn't look well, is there something you should have told me?”

“I agree, he looks awful. I have absolutely no idea what is bothering him, but I have a feeling we are about to find out. I'm worried”

They reached the table and each greeted Harold with a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek, as they had done for years. Alex was shocked by how thin he felt, which made her even surer that there was something really wrong.

“Alex, Petra, I am so glad that you could both come. It feels like ages since we met up for lunch. I do so enjoy it when we do.  We should do it more often”

“Dad, it’s good to see you”

“Harold, thank you for the invite. It is good to see you and gets us away from the unpacking, marking and planning!”

“Unpacking? Oh yes, it’s today that you are moving in with Alex isn't it? I shan't keep you too long then as I am sure that you wish to be at home unpacking and organising.”

“Oh no Daddy, we would far rather be here with you. You are right it has been an age.”

He passed around the menus and they quietly studied their choices. As always it was hard to decide as everything sounded so delicious. They ordered their meals and poured the wine.

After a while of small talk, discussing the weather and such like Alex decided that she needed to find out what it was which was distracting her father.

“Dad, is there something that you wanted to talk to us about? You do seem rather distracted, and it seems far more than just work. Is everything OK? Is Mum OK? I'm sure she is working too hard, but apart from that?”

“Oh Alex, you know me too well, there is something, but I really didn't want to worry you. I do think that maybe we should eat first?”

“Dad, I think I would rather you told me what was on your mind and I'm sure that P feels the same.”

Petra nodded in agreement, “Definitely Harold, you have always told us that it is really important to talk about things and not let them bottle it up.”

Harold sighed, he was so proud of his daughter and Petra, whom he and his wife saw as the second daughter that they never had. He really didn't want to tell him what he was about to. He was quite sure that it was his job as a father to keep them safe, to protect them from anything which could hurt them, and now he was about to do that. But they had a right to know, they had to be told. He took a long intake of breath and composed himself.

“There is something that you need to know, but I don't want you to panic and be upset. OK?”

The girls nodded. At this moment Alex had several things running through her head, it was either death, illness or divorce, she was sure.  She wished that he would just tell her what it was so that she could start to 'deal with it.'

“It's not easy to tell you this, but I wanted it to come from me, not anyone else.”

“Dad, whatever it is can you please just tell us. Whatever it is, we will deal with it together, and nothing is so bad that we can't deal with it as a family.”

“Well we shall see. There have been some issues at work. You know the case that I have been working on? Well it's got complicated and things have happened and things have been said. Your mother and I have decided that you should be aware of what has been happening before it hits the papers.”

“Papers? Harold what is it? Please tell us” Petra put her hand on Harold’s and gave it a little squeeze.

“As you know I have been appointed as the prosecution barrister for the crown against the Snow brothers and their recent erm, shall we say activities? Obviously I can’t and won’t discuss the case, but things have been said. They have been trying to intimidate and discredit the team and in some cases they have succeeded. We have had phone calls, blackmailing post, threats and much more. Angela has asked to be moved away to another barrister as she is so frightened, even too scared to open the post.”

“But she has been your PA for years! She has been with you since you started there.”

“That is true. Your mother has typically ignored the advice of the police who have been heavily involved and she has refused to move away to stay with your Aunt Claire, just until things calm down a little. I have come to tell you as it is coming up to the trial and you both know some of the defendants. Their faces will be all over the media. I do not want it to come as a shock for either of you.” He looked straight into Petra's eyes, “Especially you Petra, it is not going to be pleasant for anyone, but for you it is likely to be hell. This is why I was so relieved when I heard of your plans to move in together.”

“Bloody hell Dad. Why didn't you tell me earlier? I can't believe that you have been going through this alone.”

“I didn't want to worry you, besides I hoped that it would just blow over, was just a show of their bravado or be sorted out. I certainly didn't want either of you to be involved or put at risk, but I really have now had to warn you as they are branching out to other family members in an effort to get the team to step down. You have to start being careful. You will have to warn St Kitts as well as it is now possible that you may become a target. I'm just sorry that we have to tell you now, but I cannot just walk away from this, these people need to be put behind bars for a very long time. There is nothing to say that you will be a target, but you needed to know and be put in the picture.  But please, I really do not want to ruin a wonderful lunch talking about it anymore. Please can we talk about more pleasurable things? Tell me what is happening at school”

Alex was dumbstruck. She had no idea whatsoever that what was worrying her father was anything like this. She didn't know what to say. She wanted to tell him to drop the case, to just move on and carry on with his life. The stresses and strains were obviously getting to him, but she knew better. She knew that there was no point in wasting her breath. He would never give up a case which he believed in passionately, and she knew that this one he did.

She was far from stupid and kept in touch with the news. She knew about the Snow brothers, everyone did. They led a small group of teenagers on the worst estates around the town. They were always in trouble with the police, mostly for smaller, lesser offences, but more recently there had been suggestions that they had been involved in more serious crimes. This was all a world away from her own life and interests, but she knew that this was something which she did not want to be involved in, more so as the bastard who had attacked Petra last year had been a relative of these scum bags She was terrified for Petra as the same low life had, according to the papers, been involved in the incidents for which they were facing trial. How had her father ended up with this case?

Infuriatingly he refused to talk about it anymore. He had put back up his wall of silence and his typically British stiff upper lip and would only talk small talk, or talk about what they were up to at school. The girls told him about their plans for Christmas at school and he agreed that it was a wonderful idea and he stated that he wanted an invite and would definitely contribute to the cause.

They finished their meal and as they went to leave Harold just held their hands and said, “Just remember what I have said, just be careful and stick together.”

“We will be, we promise” They said almost together.

They parted on good terms, but the girls were worried. It was not often that Harold ever discussed his work with them. For Alex's mother to have been suggested by the police to go to stay with her sister means felt really sinister and concerning. Right now neither of them felt like evening drinks with Niamh and Geoff. They looked at their watches and decided to go straight to the pub as they both felt like they needed a very stiff drink.

“Come on Alex, your Dad would not want you worrying. I need a drink and a fag and I’m sure you do too.” She grabbed hold of her friends arm and pulled her onwards towards the pub.

“OK, I’m coming. You are right about the drink and the fag though.” She went into her handbag and pulled out a packet of Marlboro and a lighter. She lit the cigarette and drew heavily on it.

They walked to the pub together and being cautious. They looked around them more and more carefully, was that someone they hadn't seen before? Were they being followed? Of course not, but after having been told what Harold has just told him they didn't think that anyone would blame them for being paranoid.

When they arrived at the pub they ordered their drinks at the bar (“vodka, double, no ice or lemon please”) and made their way through the other tables to one near the back in the corner. They wanted room to sit and talk together now, and space to plan the Christmas event when the others arrived, which was very far away in their thoughts right now. But they also wanted to be able to see the door and to see the other patrons of the pub that night. Petra was convinced that she had seen at least one of the 'Snow Boys' as they referred to themselves as. She double took a couple of times and was really pleased and relieved that she wasn't alone and that Alex was there with her, also looking around and double taking in the faces in the bar. She knew that she was seeing things but she also was quite sure that it was better to be over cautious... Paranoia rules OK? Paranoia keeps you alive? Melodramatic? Probably, but better safe than sorry and the stuff that had been printed in the paper really was just the tip of the iceberg as to what they had been up to, and she would bet her entire salary on it.

Chapter Seven

Alex and Petra sat waiting for their friends and colleagues to arrive. They sat looking around them in far more detail than they ever had done before. They noticed the smell and the look of the pub, the large round wood tables, the padded seats; the section by the door with the old squishy sofas, the barmen stood trying to look busy, obviously waiting for the busy Saturday night crowd. They watched everyone who was in the pub or anyone who ventured inside both on edge, nervous, yet chatting to each other about anything but the revelation from her Dad earlier on.

They saw Geoff and Niamh waving from across the pub. They were relieved to have someone else to talk to, something else to think about. Geoff had made it to the bar and signalled to the girls to see if they wanted a drink. Both of them nodded furiously. They had all been out for drinks enough over the years so Geoff knew what to order for each of them going on the size of their glass. Niamh came over to them,

“Hi girls, you both OK? You look a little stressed. Moving was that bad huh?”

Alex looked at Petra and they both decided to tell the truth about what was going on, it was probably best that people knew so they can help to keep an eye out, and also to understand should either of them be a little out of sorts.

“Erm, no, the moving went fine but there is something that I think maybe you should know.” Said Alex.

“OO gossip? You must tell me everything!” Geoff said camply and eagerly...

“Not really gossip and it is serious, so I think maybe you should sit down.” Alex continued.

Alex told the others what her father had told her and Petra earlier. The looks on their faces said everything that they already were feeling,

“Bloody hell, what the fuck are you going to do?” Geoff sounded as concerned as the girls were,

“Oh god, do you want to talk about it?” Niamh said softly with her hand on Alex's arm,

“Not really, could do with taking our minds off things to be honest.” Said Petra, speaking for both of them. “Please can we just talk about something totally different, we need to have time to think about this later, and to absorb everything? I'm sure you understand. Can we talk about Christmas?”

Alex nodded in agreement, “Please?”

Although it was tense at the start they all soon started getting into the flow of planning the Christmas event. They decided on who would sing what, who they would get involved and whose help they would need to get it up and running. The art department would be needed for the posters and tickets, the office admin would be asked to take these and to print and distribute them. Obviously Niamh would take care of the musical numbers and incidental music; she decided that she would involve as many groups as possible, choirs, stings, wind bands, orchestras and some soloists. Petra would supervise the drama slots, some suitable sketches both of Victorian era and of modern day style. Again she would try to get at least one group per year group organised. Geoff, although not able to contribute year groups or any performances volunteered to be involved on a personal level with anything needed and to help in the background. He loved being involved in things like this and was something of a legend at St Kitts because of it. Geoff was always on hand to help organise anything be it from the menial tasks such as setting chairs out to the sublime of scenery and set work to lighting, sound and the technical. Petra was so glad to have him on board. That left Alex. She would organise her English students with poetry readings, both established and those of their own writing and she would, alongside Geoff pick up anything else which needed organising and supervising.

Petra looked up from the piles of paper strewed all over the table in front of them and the pack of coloured pens. It was true the best way to plan anything was to do it with paper and coloured pens! It had been the way that she and Alex had worked right through school, onto and throughout university and now as teachers. Now she only had the challenge of taking all the information and different colours and putting it into something which was understandable to everyone else who needed to know about it! Shouldn't take her too long, they had been fairly systematic in their planning, which of course had got freer as their drinks had been refilled, consumed and refilled several times.

Alex was surprised with how much they had got done in what felt like a short space of time, but when she glanced at her watch she realised that they had in fact been planning for hours. It was getting late and tonight she really didn't think that she and Petra should go home on their own. Niamh sensed that there was something wrong and she asked Alex if she was OK..

“Sorry, mind wondering. Time is getting on,” she looked at Petra, “I really think that we should be making a move, shall we call for a cab?”

“Oh god is that the time? Yes I suppose we should. We did promise your Dad that we wouldn't be out late.” she giggled the giggle of someone who was just past the merry stage firmly on the way to being drunk, “Oh God I sound like a teenager!” She stopped when she saw Alex's face. This was not something to joke about. “OK, no problem, I'll just pack up here and we shall make a move. Besides we haven't eaten anything this evening.”

“Good point, neither have we” said Geoff. “You sure you can't come out with us to get something to eat now?”

“No, sorry Geoff, I really think that we should be going now, although you are both welcome to come back with us and we can get a curry or a Chinese on the way home?” Alex looked hopeful, for some reason she felt that having Geoff and Niamh with them would be a good thing to do tonight.

“Niamh, what about you? Fancy going back to theirs for something to eat? We could grab a bottle of something too if you like?”

“Yeah why not, sounds like a good thing to do.”

“Wonderful, that's decided then!” Alex looked relieved.

They decided to walk round to get a Chinese take away and called a taxi from there. By the time they arrived at the girl’s home laden down with bags from the off license and the Chinese. Yes they had bought far too much to eat and drink, but sod it, tonight was not a night for decisions, and it was about friendship and security.

As they walked in they were relieved to see everything how they had left it, a mess, yes, but still it was theirs. Petra excused the mess as hers and Alex laughed loudly. Petra thought it was good to hear her friend laughing; a laugh which rang all around the flat. They cleared off the table, whilst Alex got the plates, glasses, bottle opener and cutlery and optional chopsticks. They didn't bother laying the table; they just started opening everything and putting it in the middle of the table. It was a case, as normal, of helping yourself and first come first served. This was not a rare occurrence, although it was the first time that Niamh had been involved.

Alex sat down and looked at Niamh; this was the perfect opportunity to find out more about her. She knew that Petra and Geoff would help her to find out what she needed to know, and now it was a definite case of needing rather than wanting to know. She watched her anxiously smooth out her tight black jeans and sit opposite her at the table. Her red hair cascaded over her shoulders, in complete contrast to the black of her shirt, it was a thin shirt and Alex couldn't help but wonder what she wore under it. She snapped back as she was being handed the chow mien, that and Petra kicked her under the table... She knew she could rely on her friend to keep her in check...

“More wine Niamh? Geoff? Petra?” Alex offered the Merlot around the table and topped up everyone's glass. Distracted she might be, but she was a brilliant hostess and that wouldn't change no matter what was on her mind.

They sat, ate, drank and chatted for ages. Niamh had investigated Alex's CD collection, nodded approvingly at some, laughed at others and eventually just pressed play to see what was in the system already. She nodded her approval at Alex, “Good taste, I love the Mozart Requiem, so beautiful, yet tragically sad.”

“Totally agree.” Said Alex, who had been watching every movement which Niamh had made since she walked into her flat. She appeared to have made herself at home and had now migrated to the sofa; Alex decided that now was as good as any to find out more about this intriguing woman. “So Niamh, why St Kitts?”

Niamh looked at her and her eyes smiled, “Well, you know? How could I pass up an opportunity to teach at the legendary St Kitts?” She laughed, “No seriously, I fell in love with the school when I came for my provisional look around. I knew then that I just had to work there.”

The others in the room all understood exactly what she meant, it was something which was so hard to explain to anyone who hadn't been to St Kitts, everyone felt it, and everyone who was meant to be there and to stay there did anyway. It had been likened to the whole “calling” thing talked about by priests, working at St Kitts was something similar, you were called, pulled towards the establishment, once there you never wanted to leave, and it was very rare for anyone to leave before retirement age.

“Did you move far to come?” Petra asked, “I know it sounds like a stupid question, but your accent is still strong, so just wondering....”

“Actually I was teaching on the other side of town, but had felt unsettled for a while. So I had been looking around for something different when I saw the ad in the TES for assistant head of music here. I came for a look around and met Hillary and decided that this was definitely the place for me. I haven't been disappointed.” she added.

They carried on chatting between themselves about what they had all done prior to teaching at St Kitts and talked about their home lives and what they liked doing in their time off. They all loved music, they loved to sing, and they loved to chill out watching TV or a DVD and surfing the net on things like the many social networking sites. Alex found out that Niamhs favourite film was “A room with a view” and her favourite musical was “Rent” closely followed by “Miss Saigon”, the same as hers. There were far more similarities with their likes and dislikes.

“So, I know Geoff is happy at home with Mary, P and I are single, so what about you Niamh? Anyone special at home waiting for you?” Alex asked, hoping she wasn't being too obvious...

“No, no one, not any more, there was, but that was a while ago. All single here I'm afraid with nothing but Oscar my teddy bear to look out for me, well and Berlioz my cat” she laughed.

Even though she knew it wasn't nice, Alex was so thrilled that she could have punched the air or jumped for joy. Of course this didn't mean that she wasn't looking for a 'nice young man' to settle down with, but she could still hope.

After another couple of glasses of wine and some seriously cheesy music on the stereo Geoff made his excuses and called a cab. They promised to do it again sometime soon and next time he would bring Mary, who couldn't be there as she had gone over to her mother’s for the weekend.

“Do you mind if I stay for a little while? Or do you want me to go too?” Niamh asked Alex.

“No, that's fine; you can stay for a bit if you like. More wine?”

“Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Never!” Alex giggled.

Petra genuinely started to feel tired and knew that she had had far too much to drink, so made her excuses to the others and went off to bed. Alex went in to check on her after she heard a crash, wanting to make sure that nothing was damaged, but more importantly that her friend was safe. She couldn't help but laugh when she saw her oldest and best friend half on and half off the bed struggling to get herself back up and failing miserably. She did what any decent friend would do, pulled out her mobile and took a photo on her phone for posterity and sharing publicly on the social networking site they both used the most and then helped her into bed.

Alex returned to find Niamh curled up on the sofa drinking wine, having moved it to the coffee table. She had already cleared up most of the debris after dinner which impressed Alex as it was something that she would have done in the same situation, she hated mess and clutter.

“Sorry about that, I had to put her to bed properly” laughed Alex,

“No problem. I guessed as much. Hope you don't mind me interfering with the mess” smiled Niamh.

“Of course not” she said,

Niamh leant forward and tenderly kissed Alex. At first Alex pulled away, although she knew how much she desperately wanted this she needed to be sure it was what Niamh wanted and not just something she'll regret and blame on too much drink. Niamh pressed harder and Alex kissed her back. This was wonderful, sexy, impulsive, and fabulous. She stopped and pulled away again, she had to be sure that this was for real, not just a drunken experiment, it took everything she had, she wanted this more than anything,

“What's up? Sorry, you don't want this? I should go...” Niamh went to stand up, she looked hurt, upset and worried,

“No, you don't understand. I do want this, more than you will ever know, but I have to make sure it's what you want to. I couldn't do anything to hurt you, I really really want this and far more but...”

“Well stop talking and kiss me then” said a smiling Niamh as she leaned so far in to Alex and put her hands on her shoulders to pull her closer.

Alex didn't need to be asked twice, she willingly pulled Niamh towards her and next to her on the sofa so that she was nearly on top of her. She put her hands under Niamhs shirt and began to feel her way softly up towards her shoulders. Her skin felt so soft, her breathing became deeper, she wanted this, and she needed this.

Her hands moved softly and gently over Niamhs back, they moved round to her stomach and up towards her breasts, her fingers lightly touching her and found the outside of Niamhs bra. 'Lace and embroidered, nice’ she thought, 'oh wow, she feels amazing, oh my god this is just incredible, what a day.' Her thoughts were interrupted by Niamh letting out a deep sigh as she slid her hands inside her bra and found her already very erect nipple. She felt Niamhs hand undoing the zip to her dress and gently pulling it off her shoulders so that she could continue to explore Alex's body.

“Shall we move somewhere a little more private?” Alex asked, only just aware that Petra could walk out from her room in any given moment, that and she wanted to take her time and explore Niamh totally and without the restrictions of the sofa.

The moment had been broken, in the seconds it had taken her to stop what they were doing and ask about moving to her room she had destroyed the spark, she was sure she saw a look of doubt flicker across her eyes. 'Bollocks!' She thought, 'Why didn't I just go with the flow or just not say anything and pull her towards my room?' She looked at Niamh and she instantly knew the answer, she had wanted it to be special, not just a one night stand or a drunken fumble on the sofa, she wanted more.

“Look its late, maybe I should just get a cab and see you at school on Monday?” Niamh asked, although she didn't sound as if she really wanted to leave, and Alex was sure that she didn't want her to,

“If you want to” she smiled, “but I would rather you stayed here tonight, it’s too late for you to be going anywhere, and you are welcome to the sofa if you like? No strings”

“No strings? Dam, I was at least hoping for some gentle ties” she laughed.

“So you want to stay? Really?” Alex had never been this nervous around anyone before, certainly not someone who she wanted to do such explicit things to. She had never felt like this before, she had always been the more dominant of any coupling that she had been involved in throughout her past,

Niamh nodded, “If you'll have me?”

Alex couldn't take any more and she pulled Niamh towards her room desperately wanting to spend the night with her, and longer if she would have her... She just knew that this would not be for the short term; she knew that this would be for the foreseeable future and she liked that.

Chapter Eight

As Alex led her into her bedroom Niamh looked around. She was interested in what she saw. The rest of the flat was decorated in very neutral tones of magnolia and white with off white carpets and black furniture. This room was as different to the other rooms as it was possible to be. It was painted in rich tones of purple and black with pink and purple accessories. It was wonderful, full of character. This was not a bedroom, it was a sanctuary, somewhere Alex could be herself and really let loose. There were photos over the wall and a bookcase full of her most treasured books, many of which were old and had obviously been read and re read. She noticed some titles which she owned herself such as “Rubyfruit Jungle” and “Chicken Run.” There were some really erotic, yet beautifully artistic photos and prints on the wall in black and white which were stunning. This was not a room for just anyone to see, it was more like a window right into Alex's heart and soul.

As they reached the large, purple satin covered bed, still hand in hand, Alex pulled Niamh to her and kissed her deeply, intensely, passionately. Niamh drank in the kiss, feeling the passion and the true desire. She wanted more, she hadn't wanted someone as much as she wanted Alex in a very long time, her body was aching to be taken, she arched into Alex and knew that she wanted it too. She slipped Alex's dress off her shoulder whilst still kissing her; she stood back a little and admired her view. Alex was wearing the most delicately beautiful black lingerie, intricately embroidered with purple roses. Niamh more than liked what she saw, as the dress fell to the floor and her eyes drank in the whole of Alex’s body her hands joined her eyes taking in every detail. She was thrilled to see that Alex was wearing a suspender belt and stockings, something which she personally loved and always had loved.

Alex was amazed with how relaxed she felt standing there in front of Niamh in nothing but her lingerie; she smiled and slowly started to undo the buttons one by one of Niamhs shirt. The desire was intense, she desperately wanted to rush and just to take Niamh, but she wouldn't, she couldn't. She had to make this special and last. As she undid the last of the buttons, she pushed the shirt off her shoulders and it fell to the floor. Alex had been right, Niamhs bra was made of the softest pink satin and lace, it held her voluptuous breasts perfectly. She was stunningly beautiful to Alex. She undid the button on her jeans and put her hand down the back of them, cupping her buttocks. With the other hand she undid the zip and pushed them down so they revealed her matching underwear.

Niamh wasn't nearly as confident standing in her underwear. She did not have the figure which Alex had; she was much larger and was very self conscious about her body. Alex somehow knew this sat on the sumptuous bed, she pulled Niamh so she was standing in front of her, oh my god she was loving this. She put her hands behind Niamh and undid her bra, letting her breasts fall free as she took it from her shoulders. She leant forward and took her left nipple in her mouth sucking and gently biting as she played with the right. Niamh let out a moan of pleasure and gently pushed herself into Alex who responded by pulling her down onto the bed with her.

They were lying side by side as Alex continued to kiss Niamh deeply. She moved down her body, kissing every bit as she went, she kissed her neck, her shoulders, her breasts, then down spending time on her stomach playing with her belly button. Niamh was desperate to feel her move down, to feel her hand between her legs, she felt herself pulsating, stronger and stronger, faster and faster. Alex lightly swept her hand across Niamhs underwear, she felt her tense and heard her hold her breath, but she had moved her hand, back up to her waist, then lightly sweeping it down over her underwear again, then straight down to her thigh. This time she stroked her thigh, moving her hand upwards, then inside the underwear, her fingers exploring her lover entirely. She felt the wetness and the heat escaping from Niamh, matched only by herself. She thrust her fingers deep inside her, enjoying the reactions that she was getting, Niamh stopped breathing, tensed up and then released, Alex continued moving her fingers in and out and around moving faster and harder, matching Niamhs breaths, easily bringing her to orgasm.

The moans were getting louder as Alex moved up the bed and kissed her hard. She sat upright and pulled off Niamhs underwear which she threw on the floor. She moved down the bed and gently parted Niamhs legs; she kissed her inner thighs, first one then the other, always listening attentively to her breathing, matching this with her kisses, the firmness and the intensity. As she made her way to the source of Niamhs desire she started by kissing her gently, licking the area, first tentatively, then more definitely as Niamh groaned with pleasure. Alex let her tongue roam freely and as she entered her firmly she felt the ripples of delight, her spasms intensifying with each movement. She tasted every bit of her new lover, enjoying and savouring each taste as she lay on her bed shaking with ecstasy. Alex continued until she had selfishly drunk every drop of her juice, not wanting to miss the smallest amount. She moved up to the head of the bed took Niamhs head in her hands and kissed her passionately. She held her while she bought her to orgasm once more with her fingers, watching her, getting lost in the look of release in her eyes.  Alex made Niamh cum several more times that night, but also knew when she was so tired that she couldn't cum any more, she held her protectively and she rested Niamhs head on her shoulder.  Niamh felt safe, felt exhausted and soon slept watching Alex’s breasts rise and fall, she had never felt so comfortable, wanted and loved...

The following morning Alex woke to someone kissing her neck, deeply. As she opened her eyes she found herself staring into the brightest green eyes that she had ever seen. She was sure that Niamhs eyes hadn't been that green last night...

Alex smiled at Niamh, “Morning gorgeous” she murmured unable to finish speaking with her mouth being found by Niamhs lips. She returned the kiss deeply, thrilled to see that there were obviously no regrets on Niamhs behalf. As Niamhs hands started to roam over her body she realised that she had fallen asleep last night still wearing the underwear that she had had on yesterday. She felt Niamhs hand cup her breast and her fingers tracing the edge of her bra. She was so turned on, to be woken like this by someone she really wanted to be with was something she had been waiting for, it may have only been one night of pure unadulterated pleasure, but she knew that this was different to anything that she had felt before and more than that, she really liked it.

Alex pulled Niamh towards her, kissed her deeply and let her hands roam up and down her back. The feel of Niamhs bare skin was more than Alex could take this early in the morning, she wanted to make her explode with pleasure right now. As she gently pushed Niamh onto her back she let her hands do all the talking... She looked into Niamhs eyes and saw nothing but an intense look of desire. Alex had always been selfish in bed with her other partners, but now her own satisfaction was reached through watching Niamh have the most pleasurable experiences that she was able to give her.

Niamh reached up above her and carefully undid Alex’s bra, pulling it off her. She reached up and let Alex’s erect nipple fall effortlessly into her mouth. She caressed it with her tongue and watched her face melt into longing and lust. She cradled Alex’s other breast in her free hand, playing with the nipple, squeezing and gently flicking it so it became as hard as the one in her mouth.  She suddenly stopped.

Alex moved off from being above her and she looked deep into her eyes, “What's up hunni?” She asked gently, concerned that Niamh was having second thoughts.

“Nothing,” Niamh lied,

“I can tell that there is something sweetie, please tell me what it is”

“You'll laugh at me, I'm being silly” said Niamh coyly,

“I won't. What you are feeling is important to me, I care, tell me love, please?”

“I've never done this before, last night was my first time with a woman and I’m really worried that I will be a letdown to you. I have never cum as much as you made me cum last night and I just don't know if I can do the same for you.” She looked away from Alex, who turned her head so she could look into her eyes,

“Oh my god baby, really? God, I wish I'd known I would have spent far more time on you and making sure you were OK Shit, I’m sorry”

“Sorry? You are sorry? You were what I wanted last night. You have nothing to be sorry for, you gave me the best sex of my life, both physically and emotionally. I loved every minute of it, I just don't want to let you down and be crap. I can't see what you see in me anyway, look at you, you are stunningly beautifully. I’m just not...”

Alex interrupted her words by kissing her deeply, “Niamh, you are beautiful, I have wanted you since the first time I saw you. I loved making you cum last night; it’s what I have been dreaming about doing for days... You could never let me down, do what you feel is right and you won't be wrong. That is as long as you still want to? No pressure...”

It was Niamhs turn to interrupt Alex, “Not want to? What fucking planet are you on you eejit? I would be mad to not want to be with you. Kiss me Alex, kiss me now”

Alex did as instructed; she kissed her deeply, hard, and intensely. She let Niamhs hands move over her body freely and helped her by removing her own underwear whilst Niamh was watching. She was so turned on, she wanted desperately to feel Niamhs hands over her and her fingers inside her, but she was determined to take it slowly and not to put any more pressure on this beautiful, sexy woman lying naked next to her in her bed.

Niamh watched intently as Alex moved easily back into bed and lay down next to her. She shuddered with wanton lust and more than a little self consciousness. She still couldn't believe that Alex wanted her, but she really wanted Alex, right now. She rolled over on her side and hugged Alex to her. She kissed her full on the lips, she allowed her hands to move from around her shoulder area and let them move downwards, stroking her back slowly until she found Alex's buttocks. Niamh encircled Alex’s buttocks with growing intensity and began to move her hand round to the front of her thigh.

Alex rolled onto her back as she felt Niamhs hand creeping up inside her thighs and the moist pressure as her nipple was gently bitten. Niamhs free hand was supporting herself as she gazed into Alex's face gaining in confidence, watching her expressions as she became more and more aroused. As Niamhs hand moved down and flicked over her clitoris. Alex let out a deep moan; Niamh sucked her nipple harder as she moved her finger back and forth over and over again. Alex's moans became deeper and her breath became faster as Niamh pushed her finger deep inside her. She came hard and Niamh smiled, pleased that she had had this effect on Alex. She didn't stop; she carried on wanting to make her reach orgasm more and harder. Niamh felt every single spasm of each orgasm which she bought Alex to, 'this truly is what making love must feel like' she thought as she lay next to Alex. She couldn't stop smiling. As she fingered Alex, finding which pressure points she liked, exploring every part of her she took a sharp intake of breath as Alex had slid her fingers into her.

They stayed there, playing and teasing each other for what could have been hours, bringing each other to the brink of orgasm, stopping, touching, kissing until they finally released the pressure and allowed each to explode with the full feelings and passion that they were feeling. Alex and Niamh collapsed in each other’s arms, hot and sweaty, emotionally and physically spent. They just lay there breathing fast and deeply together, yet smiling.

It was some time before either woman felt that they could move, yet they both felt they needed to,

“Coffee?” asked Alex with a grin,

“I thought you'd never ask...”

As Alex got up she threw Niamh her pink satiny robe and she slid into her old towelling dressing gown.

“Thanks,” Niamh laughed as she pulled it on, laughing when it didn't fit her properly. “Erm, can we swap?” she asked as she noticed that the old greying towelling dressing gown was obviously much larger.

“Shit, sorry, course we can sweetie.” Alex bought the gown over to her and kissed her as she pulled it over her shoulders. She seriously had to resist the urge to touch Niamh and to make love to her once again.

As she walked out into the flat Alex was greeted with the sight of Petra sitting at the breakfast bar holding her head in her hands nursing a cup of strong smelling coffee and a glass of water with dissoluble aspirin in it. The very worse for wear Petra looked up and attempted a smile at her friend and casually said, “No need to ask if you had a good night then?”

“Just about the best ever” answered Alex, not realising that Niamh had come out of her room and was standing right behind her. “Oh my god she is amazing”

“Why thank you” Niamh said, making Alex spin round on the spot.

“Don't do that!” laughed Alex who made her way to her precious coffee machine. She got two cups out of the cupboard and poured them both coffees. 'This feels so right,' She thought, 'my best friend and the woman I want to be with for the foreseeable future under the same roof. This has to be too good to be true.'

At that moment the telephone rang.......

Chapter Nine

Alex stared at the phone with an impending sense of doom, she had just spent the most amazing night of her life with someone who she really felt for, she wouldn't say 'love' and jinx it, but she knew that this was more than lust, so why did she just know that this was a telephone call with nothing but bad news? She couldn't explain it, she just knew.

“Will someone get that?” Asked Niamh, who was wondering why they were just letting it ring.

“Oh god Alex, please answer that fucking phone, my poor head” was all that Petra could manage under the current circumstances.

Alex walked over to the stylish sleek silver cordless phone in its cradle and answered it as matter of factly as she could. She had caller ID, she had done for years, but this came up with “number unavailable” which was rare. The caller had a short, crisp, business like, mature woman’s voice

“Good morning. Can I speak to Ms Alexandra St John please?”

“Can I ask who is calling?”

“It's about her father.”

“Dad? Why? What's happened? Who are you?” Alex was more than slightly concerned; she knew that it had to be serious as her father never gave out her phone number. She knew it was stored on his mobile, but that was it... her mind was racing covering every eventuality.

“Ms St John? Sorry to disturb you, but I am calling from St Phil’s hospital, we...”

“Hospital? Why? What's happened?”

“Ms St John, please don't panic, but your father has been admitted after being involved in an accident, we think you should get here as soon as you can. It is serious.”

“Shit, has anyone called mum?”

“We couldn't get through. Please Ms St John, you need to come now.”

“I’m leaving now”

Both Petra and Niamh had been listening to the conversation and had been throwing on clothes while Alex was still on the phone. They had collected together some jeans, a shirt and underwear for Alex who was obviously and understandably panicking. She pulled on her underwear and jeans whilst trying to call her mother. As she was doing up the buttons on her shirt she managed to get through and told her mother briefly what was happening, told her to hurry and put the phone down promising to call her as soon as she knew any more.

“Sorry” said Alex, mainly to Niamh

“Don't be, I’m coming with you if you want.”

Alex didn't argue, both her and Petra would need the support of someone and selfishly she wanted Niamh there with her. She didn't want to part like this.

Petra had called a cab as none of the trio were in a fit state to drive which was downstairs outside waiting for them as they had run down the stairs. The drive to St Phil’s hospital felt like the longest journey in the world that morning and they sat in silence as there really was nothing to say. They were all relieved to see the hospital in front of them. Niamh had told them to go ahead whilst she settled up with the driver, that she would meet them inside. Alex was grateful, she just needed to know what had happened to her father, the only man who had ever been there for her and for Petra and who hadn't let them down. She was glad that she wasn't alone, that she had both Petra and Niamh with her, but she so wished that her Mother was here. She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to deal with what lay ahead of her. She had such a bad feeling, especially after what they had discussed yesterday. It all seemed such a coincidence.

The normally cool and collected Alex who was so used to being in total control of every situation was a shaking, nervous wreck. Petra was so pale and jittery and was doing all she could do to hold Alex together. So it was Niamh who took control of the situation, she went over to the reception desk, explained who she was, who she had bought with her and who they needed to see. The man behind the desk was kind, patient and helpful as he showed them into the bland relative’s room leaving them with the ominous phrase “someone will be along to see you shortly.”

When she had sat them both down on the uncomfortable blue plastic chairs Niamh sat opposite them. She desperately wanted to hold Alex close, to make it all OK, but right now she didn't know what it was that she needed to make OK They had no idea what was going on with Alex's dad, but she knew it had to be really urgent and serious for them to have had the call they did and now to have been shown into the relatives room. If it hadn't been serious they would have been asked to just sit in the waiting room or taken straight through. She felt sick. 'If I feel sick what the hell do Alex and Petra feel like? I don't even know the man.'

The door opened and in walked a nurse dressed in a dark blue uniform. Her name badge stated that her name was Violet Smith. She introduced herself as being part of the team looking after Mr St John and explained that he really was rather poorly. They had just stabilized him, but things could change at any point. She stated that Mr St John had been involved in some sort of accident, they weren't sure of the facts, but they know that he had been found in his car beaten up and had been unconscious when they had found him. On the route to the hospital his heart had stopped working, but for now they had managed to bring him back. His face was really swollen and he had several broken ribs, a punctured lung, severe bruising and other injuries which they hadn't investigated as thoroughly yet, wanting to get his heart stable first. Violet Smith suggested that she took Alex into see her father. Alex insisted that Petra was as much his daughter as she was and so she was allowed to go too. Niamh waited outside the room.

Alex and Petra just sat there in complete shock. They had been shocked listening to the details of the injuries which Harold had suffered and yet here he was literally fighting to stay alive, hooked up to monitors, oxygen, drips and other equipment with nursing staff and doctors working quickly all around him.

“Talk to him, tell him you are here love” said the calm voice of Violet Smith. “It's important. He might respond. Right now we need to make sure that he stays with us. You can help us with that. Talk to him...”

“But” started Alex, this was just too much, “what do I say?”

“Just tell him that you are here, it’s as good a place to start as any” she smiled the smile of someone who had been here and done this many many times before.

Alex wanted to scream at her that this wasn't just anyone, this was her dad, her hero, and the one person who had always made everything OK It was always him who had held her when she was little... Didn't this nurse understand? Instead she moved a little closer, trying to be close enough that he could hear her, but not so close she was in the way of the working staff.

“Dad?” She began uncertainly, “Dad, it’s me, Alex. I've got P with me too. Dad, what happened?”

At that moment there seemed far more activity around her father, who looked so weak lying there unresponsive. The doctors and nurses started moving around with more urgency as the numbers on the monitors were being scrutinized. None of it made any sense to Alex and she wished her mother was there to explain things to her and to hold her hand. She reached for Petra and grabbed hold of her hand as they were ushered from the room whilst the staff were trying to sort out whatever the problem was.

“What's going on?” Petra asked the nurse, who took them outside the emergency room,

“It seems that there is a further problem which is causing his blood pressure to drop.” The look on the faces of the women in front of her gave away exactly how they were feeling; “It's OK” the nurse said softly, “He's in really good hands. They will do everything they can do. Wait here, I will be back to tell you more when I can.”

With that she walked purposefully back into the room, leaving the women outside gazing in through the window watching the most special man in their lives facing the hardest fight he had ever been part of.

For what seemed like hours they sat in silence, just watching the doctors and nurses hustling and bustling busily around the bed, coming and going, working on the grey haired, pale older looking man in their care. Niamh squeezed Alex's hand reassuringly and silently willed him to pull through and for everything to be OK Alex squeezed back, wishing herself back in bed with Niamh, it seemed like a whole lifetime ago.

“Alex, Petra!” came the worried voice of a well spoken woman hurrying down the corridor in their direction.

“Mum, thank god you are here” said Alex laden with so much relief that now everything would have to be OK her mum was legendary and still worked occasionally at this hospital. Suddenly everyone seemed to notice Mrs St John had arrived and one of the doctors working on her husband signalled for her to come in.

Alex watched as her mother read her father’s chart, while she looked at the monitors and while she spoke to the medical staff taking care of him. It was obvious that they knew who she was and that she meant business.

Within minutes they were wheeling the trolley with her father on it towards the lift, he was going up for emergency surgery she was told. Best to go up and wait in the relative’s room the nurse continued. If they came now then she would show them where to wait, but the police wanted to talk to them as well and so would be meeting them up there.

In shock the three women followed the trolley being pushed by two porters with a doctor, a nurse and Mrs St John upstairs to sit and wait in another soulless room for the results of the emergency surgery, not knowing if they would ever see him alive again.

Niamh settled her lover and her friend in the relative’s room; made sure they had some coffee and made her excuses. Although she was loathed to leave Alex and Petra she had some calls to make and she wanted to go and get some things so that those still waiting would be able to freshen up a little.  As she went out of the room she leant forward to kiss Alex goodbye and saw the fear, pain, confusion and bewilderment in her eyes.

“Don't leave...” Alex pleaded,

“I have to. I’m sorry. I won't be long and I will be back, I promise.” She meant it. She wanted to be here for Alex, but also for Petra, whom she hugged goodbye.

She walked out of the door refusing to look back as she knew that she would feel unable to walk away and do what needed to be done. She felt as if she was being torn in half.

Chapter Ten

As she left the hospital Niamh reached for her mobile phone. She had to call Geoff and let him know what had happened, he had been friends with Alex and Petra for years. She would call him, and Hillary to let her know that neither of the friends would be in tomorrow, but first she had another call to make, one she didn't want to have to make and one which she had been putting off for hours.

“I can't do this anymore..... I don't want to......... Don't be like that.......... I just can't and won't do it... Leave me alone and never contact me again.”

She pressed the button on her mobile to cut off the call and wiped away the tears now rolling down her cheeks. She hadn't expected it to be easy, but not this hard either. But she had done it. She had cut the ties, that was it. She was on her own.

She made the other calls to Geoff and to Muriel who promised to contact Hillary at home and let her know what was going on too. Whilst she had been talking she had been walking back towards her own home on the other side of town. She had been in a daze, miles away, thinking about Alex, thinking about last night and this morning, how it had changed her so much as a person. Was it right that she was feeling like this? She thought that she was being daft, after all she had always been straight, always had boyfriends in the past, never even kissed another girl. She had always thought about it, dreamt about it, fantasized about it, especially when going through the motions with other boys, but never acted on it before. So why last night? Why Alex? Why play with fire? Someone who she would have to work with for the foreseeable future unless she left the job she loved and the comfortable feeling of St Kitts. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't hear the car pull up next to her, the car door slam as someone got out of the car, came up behind her and grabbed her arm.

Niamh screamed as she felt herself being pulled round on the spot, what the fuck was going on? Who the fuck was this? What did they want? Shit, she was scared...

“Niamh, how dare you think that you call the shots? Who do you think you are?” Came a deep voice of someone who had obviously been drinking even though it was still only early lunchtime on a Sunday.

“Steve? You? What the fuck do you think you are doing? You scared the living shite out of me? You want to do this right here, right now?” She was terrified, she knew the strength of the man standing in front of her, she knew that he could make her do pretty much what he wanted her to do, but she tried not to let it show. She had to stand up to him. If she didn't now then she never would.

“Where the fuck have you been? D'ya not think that we have all been worried? You selfish cow. With the way that things are and you just piss off do you?”

“I am not taking part in a shouting match with you here on the street, if you want to talk sensibly then we can go in here, but you talk to me as if I’m worth something, not something that you would scrape off your shoe. Understand?”

Steve had obviously never been spoken to in this way before, let go of Niamhs arm and stood there open mouthed.

She walked into the nearest café, ordered mocha and sat down at one of the empty tables, of which there were many. As she sat down she looked around briefly at her surroundings. It was a typical town coffee shop, nothing special with some fairly anonymous prints on the wall. She stirred her mocha, waiting. She took a sip of her drink. It was too hot. She returned it to the saucer wondering what the hell she was doing. Was she stupid?

He strode into the café, pulled the chair out and sat down.

“So, are you going to tell me what is going on?”

Niamh took a deep breath and wondered where to start. She knew he wouldn't understand. He never had.

“Steve, things have changed, that's all. I just can't do what you want me to do any more; I can't be who you want me to be. Things have happened and I can honestly say that for the first time in my life I am happy. Just be pleased for me?”

“How can I be pleased for you when you haven't told me what it is that has changed and what it is that you are doing?”

“You won't understand. I know you won't.”

His look softened, he looked into her green eyes, “Try me. I'm your big brother. It's my job to look out for you; you can't blame me for being concerned. You disappear and we know nothing, we don't hear from you in weeks and it has taken me this long to find you.”

She started to cry again. This is not what she wanted. She had never meant to hurt anyone, certainly not her family, but she hadn't been able to think of any other way at the time.

“I got into trouble” she started through her tears, “I ran away from home, from what I had got into and ended up here.” Naimh saw the look of concern on her brother’s face, “Alone” she added.

She went on to explain that when she had been at home with her fiancé Emmett he had been putting a huge amount of pressure on her to have a baby – something she hadn't felt ready for. She had been trying to find a way of leaving him for ages, that she really couldn't hide who she was and that she really didn't want to hide that she wanted to be with a woman. She had just run away, found herself somewhere to live and had started her new job at St. Kitts. She thought that it was just better that no one knew where she had gone as her sexuality had always been something which had been a problem for her family.  Even though she had always gone through the motions, pretending that she was “normal” she had talked to her mother about her feelings on more than one occasion. She had been told that it was “a sin to be talking like that”. Her mother had called it “unnatural” and “evil” amongst other things. It had been so hard for her living a lie, being with various boys just to keep up the pretence to her mother and her family. She had just not been able to do it anymore and had chosen what she thought was the easiest way out for everyone.

“Oh Niamh. Why didn't you tell me?” Steve asked when he had heard everything that she had to say. “I thought that you could tell me anything? I thought that we covered for each other and looked out for each other? So you run away?”

They talked a while longer and eventually Steve asked her whether she had found anyone and Niamh told him about her job and then she told him all about Alex. He seemed genuinely pleased for her.

She finished her coffee and he offered her a lift home after she had told him about Alex being at the hospital and what had happened. She gratefully accepted his offer, besides she had missed him, missed his humour, his hugs, and his protectiveness. She was glad that he had found her.

They talked all the way back to her tiny little house. It was pokey but she loved it. It was a little two bed roomed house stuffed full of her treasures, but all perfectly organised, everything had a place and was in it apart from a large pile of manuscript on the dining room table which was comprised of her marking and her arrangements for the Christmas Soiree that they were planning. Niamh invited Steve in. He gladly followed her in and enjoyed her impression of a tour guide which honestly took less than a few minutes. She asked him to make himself comfortable while she had a shower and threw some bits in a bag to take up to the hospital as he had offered to drive her back there when she was ready.

In less than an hour she was on her way back to the hospital, hoping to persuade at least one of her friends to go for a rest. They stopped off to get something for them all to eat, although she knew that they wouldn't be hungry, but should eat.

She arrived at the hospital having said goodbye to her brother, saying that she would get in touch with her mother, relieved that she had him back on side. He had promised that he would deal with Emmett, so that he wouldn't call her again and so she could just move on. He had told her that he was proud of her for being able to move away and be herself, that he had better be the first of the family to meet the woman who was lucky enough to have captured his baby sister’s heart. They had laughed and it had felt good.

As Niamh walked into the room she was not prepared for what she found. Sitting in the room were Alex and Petra, the woman they both referred to as 'Mum.' Mrs St John and a doctor looking far more serious than she thought it was possible to. It really didn't look good. She didn't want to interrupt and just closed the door and waited outside for the time to be right for her to go in. It felt like ages before the doctor opened the door and walked through it, smiling at Niamh as he went, dressed in green scrubs.

Niamh pushed the door slightly ajar and asked if it was OK for her to go in.

“Of course you can come in my dear.” said the lady who earlier had looked so in control, now who just looked worried.”

“Thank you Mrs St John. I won't stay long; I just wanted to drop some things off for you all. It's not much, just something to eat while you are waiting.”

“That's very kind of you dear, but please stay as long as you want or as long as Alex and Petra want you to, oh and please call me Sarah”

“OK, thank you Sarah.” She turned to Alex, “Sorry I was gone so long Alex, I had some things I had to take care of, what did the doctor say?”

Alex looked at her, grateful that she had returned so quickly. As the tears streamed down her face she explained that he should make a full recovery.

“He had internal bleeding in his abdomen, as well as the other injuries you already know about, but the surgeons think that they have fixed everything. It will take some time, but he should be OK the only thing that they aren't sure about is how much of it he will remember.”

“Oh my god that’s brilliant. I am so pleased for you all.”

Petra looked at Niamh, “According to the CCTV cameras and the witnesses he was beaten up after a meeting in the firms’ office car park. Whoever it was were waiting for him. They left him for dead. He managed to make it to the middle of the car park where he was found by Security who had seen something on the cameras. The police know who they think it was and they are investigating. Poor Harold.”

A nurse opened the door and asked if Sarah wanted to come through to see her husband. She explained that the girls would be able to go in later; they had to limit the number of people around his bed.

Petra excused herself to go to the toilet. Niamh sat down next to Alex, wanting and needing to feel her close. She wanted to hold her, to kiss her, but all she did was hold her hand. She looked into Alex’s eyes and knew that she had done the right thing by coming, that Alex wanted her here as much as she wanted to be here with Alex.

As Alex leant in towards Niamh, overcome by lust the door opened and they were interrupted by one of her father’s colleagues. Although she had always been open with her parents about her sexuality and often discussed her girlfriends amongst other issues with them, she had respected their positions and standings and had never done anything which could cause raised eyebrows or anything, knowing that many of the men her father worked with just wouldn't be able to deal with it. So although they knew she had always decided to never do anything which she felt might embarrass them, so instead of kissing Niamh she leant forward and grabbed a chocolate bar and a bottle of 7up out of the bag which was on the chair next to her. “I'm sorry” she mouthed silently at Niamh, but she knew that she didn't need to apologise.

“Alexandra, how is your father? Is there any news?” Enquired the tall, elderly man standing in front of them with the almost uniform blue pinstriped suit and polished shoes.

“Mr Walker, hello. Thank you for coming. Mum has just been allowed into see him. He has come through the surgery and although he is still really poorly, he is stable and they are hopeful for a full recovery physically. We just have to wait and see really.”

“It's a terrible business, terrible. I cannot believe that something like this happened on our own property. Your poor father. I feel so awful about it. If there is anything that I can do then... Well you know Alexandra.”

Alex did know. Mr Walker was the senior partner at her father’s firm and had become a close family friend. It was obvious that he was almost as shocked as she was.

“Mr Walker, it wasn't your fault. Please do not blame yourself. Will you wait for Mum? I know she would like to see you.”

“Of course I will. Thank you”

With that he sat down opposite the couple. He kept apologising. Alex and Niamh sat just trying to reassure him that no one held him responsible for the attack. They were relieved when Petra and Sarah returned. Although Sarah had obviously been crying she put a brave face on in front of everyone else. Petra on the other hand seemed unable to hide her torment. For her it was not only the shock and the worry of what had happened to Harold, but the link to who had done it to him.

As Sarah came into the room she noticed Harry waiting for her. He stood up acknowledging her arrival and put his hand on her arm to comfort him. She nodded in acceptance of his sympathy and sat down beside her daughter. She explained that he was stable, but they couldn't tell how much damage had been done. It really was just a waiting game.

She thanked everyone for being there, but told them that they should all go home, she would be going back in to sit with him, but there was little point in them all hanging around in the relative’s room when they were unable to come and see him.

Alex, Petra and Niamh exchanged glances. They all offered to stay longer, just so that they were there, just in case she needed any of them, in case they could do anything. Sarah wouldn't hear of it. She told them to go, so reluctantly they did, promising that they would be back later.

The girls walked out of the hospital and started walking. They all wanted just to walk, to breathe some fresh air and to stretch their legs. Alex had asked Niamh if she was going to come back with her and Petra, or whether she was going home. Niamh readily agreed to going back to Alex’s. Besides none of them had eaten and she was a fantastic cook, she wanted to be there for her two friends and to do whatever she could to make things as easy for them as she could. She told them that she had already called Geoff and Muriel who had promised to pass on messages to the other members of staff who would need to be aware. None of them were expected in for the following days, much to their relief.

Chapter Eleven

When they reached the comfort of the flat Alex and Petra sank on the sofa, still not quite believing what had happened. They switched on the TV, not really watching it, not caring what channel they were on, staring through it more than watching it, just wanting the distraction that it provided.

Niamh on the other hand had walked straight into the kitchen and had rummaged around in cupboards and the fridge and was chopping onions, garlic and chilli seeing it as her job to make sure that they were both eating. As her own mother had said as she was growing up, “you can't look after anyone else if you don't look after yourself first.”

Alex and Petra looked up as Niamh came into the front room area with a bottle of wine and some glasses. She poured the Merlot while the girls thanked her,

“Niamh, something smells wonderful, what'cha cooking?” Asked Petra, who although didn't feel like eating, knew that she should,

“Oh it’s nothing, Thai style prawns with noodles. Nothing too hot, but you should both eat.” She paused, “Look, I don't want to get in the way, you two need to be together to sort things out, so I'll cook this for you and then I'll get out of the way, OK?”

“Don’t go.” Alex spoke quietly, “Please don't go. I'm sure that P won't mind if you stay, and I'd really like you to, that is if you want to?”

“Of course I don't mind, would be glad of the company actually.” Said Petra who was by now laying the table with the chopsticks that Alex had been given by Harold when he had been to China on holiday with Sarah last year,

“Really? Christ, I’m glad you said that. I really didn't want to leave you,” she looked from Alex to Petra, “either of you.”

They sat around the table, exhausted, but enjoying the simple Thai style dinner prepared by Niamh. 'My god, she can cook, she hasn't run away either, which she should have done after today.' Thought Alex as she was half eating and half watching Niamh. Suddenly it hit her, this was more than an infatuation, this was more than just lust, and she had serious feelings about this woman. She was scared by this. It wasn't her style. She was a 'pick-them-up-in-a-bar-and-shag-them-for-a-night-or-two' kind of woman; she didn't 'do' commitment, yet right now the idea of Niamh not being here for her, with her, wanting her was just too awful to think about.

Niamh jumped slightly as she felt Alex’s hand on her knee under the table. Instantly it flicked a switch inside her and she felt her stomach do a back flip. She wasn't expecting anything tonight, in fact she hadn't even thought about staying over being an option tonight after the day that the girls had had. Suddenly though she wanted to protect Alex, she wanted to wrap her arms around her and hold her tight, she wanted to shower away all the horrible events and feelings and just make everything better for her. She stopped thinking about the things she would like to do to Alex, and just squeezed her hand under the table.

The three girlfriends sat around the table eating, talking and just trying to take their minds off the image they each had of Alex’s father lying in a hospital bed, with her mother sitting next to him.

As the phone rang Alex answered it, the others listened into the conversation once they heard Alex say that it was her mother on the phone.

“Hi Mum, how are things?... Really?..... OK, I'll be there in the morning.... So you have somewhere to stay?...... OK good, although you are welcome here if you wanted... Oh alright, see you in the morning then. Thanks for calling. Night Mum, love you.” Alex put the receiver back in its cradle and turned to see the two other women looking at her expectantly,

“Well?” Asked Petra, “What did she say? How is he?”

Alex smiled, something she hadn't done since being in bed this morning with Niamh, “She said he is doing fine, they have taken him off the oxygen and he has come round. He is talking. Most fed up of being in hospital and being an inconvenience.”

Both Alex and Petra laughed, “That sounds like him!”

Niamh hugged Alex, “That's brilliant news! I'm so pleased for both of you!” She said also hugging Petra. “What about your Mum? Is she coming over? Do you need me to go?”

“You don't get away that easily,” laughed Alex, “Mum is staying in one of the on call rooms in the hospital, but even if she was coming over then you wouldn't have to go anywhere.” She added with a cheeky smile, “She thinks you are lovely and wants to meet you officially”

“What? She knows? But I thought we had been so careful, I’m so sorry Alex”

“What on earth are you sorry for? Sarah has always known about Alex and her women. She has encouraged her to be as open as she wants to be. She can spot someone who Alex likes a mile off, and she's not normally wrong!” Said Petra laughing hard thinking about the idea of Sarah not being happy with her daughter being a dyke as she refers to her.

Petra, Alex and Niamh talked for ages about how Sarah and Harold were happy with each of the girls being who they were, not having to pretend and how they involved themselves as much as they could in both of their lives, although they weren't pushy with it either.

“shit” Niamh jumped as her mobile phone in her pocket rang loudly, “sorry I have to get this,” she apologised, walking away from the table answering it as she went, “Hi, what do you want?... No, I’m not at home, I’m out.... No, not tonight, maybe tomorrow. Will call you. Bye” and she put the phone down. She turned around ready to explain herself, “Sorry, my brother, I caught up with him this morning and he wanted to know if he could come round to mine tonight” she smiled.

“I didn't know you had a brother” said Alex, “any more skeletons in your cupboard?” she grinned, “Might as well get them all out in the open now”

“Skeletons? Me? Nah, not tonight anyway!”

Petra made her excuses after the next glass of wine and went to bed, she didn't feel like being around these two as a couple right now, she needed some space, wondering whether she had done the right thing by deciding to give up her flat and moving in with Alex. Had she known that her best friend would get herself a girlfriend then maybe she would have waited or thought about it more carefully. But she was glad that she had done it by the time she had got to her room and shut the door behind her. She turned on the little bedside light and put some music on, Tori Amos, “little earthquakes” album, perfect for her mood right now. As she sat on her bed, taking off her trainers, her socks, the rest of her clothes she realised she felt safe. This was the right thing for her to have done. She had just taken off her clothes, absorbed in the music when she heard a tap at the door.

“Come in” she called softly, pulling her robe around her,

In walked Naimh. Petra was surprised to see her standing there, looking embarrassed and very self conscious. If it had been Alex then she would have expected it, they had made a point of saying good night to each other ever since they were children.

“Petra I’m sorry to bother you, but there is something on my mind. Alex was going to come and see you, but I wanted to. I hope you don't mind?”

“No of course not, what's up?” She patted the bed and gestured that Niamh go and sit next to her.

Petra walked over and sat down on the spot which Petra had just indicated, “Honestly are you sure that you are OK with Alex and I? Are you sure you are OK with me staying over tonight? I don't want to get in the way or outstay my welcome; I know it has to be awkward for you and everything...”

“Stop! Please stop worrying!” Said Petra kindly, “I have no problem, in fact I'm glad that you two have got together, she has been driving me mad for weeks about you, but don't tell her I told you that! I have no problem with you staying over, and it’s not awkward for me at all, I like you both and I hope you will both be happy. Now I just have to find me a man and everything will be fine.”

Niamh leant forward and hugged Petra tightly.

“Thank you. It means so much to me what you think, and I know it does to Alex too. I shall leave you in peace. Night hunni, sleep tight.” With that she walked out and shut the door behind her leaving Petra inside the room chuckling to herself about how sweet they both were.

Niamh left Petra’s room feeling far happier and more comfortable being there and staying the night. Alex had gone to have a shower so she finished her wine and opened another bottle. She took off her heel boots and the relief was amazing, it felt like she had been on her feet all day.

She heard the bathroom door open and she looked around to see Alex standing there in nothing but a towel. She didn't need to say anything, she knew that Niamh would know exactly what she was thinking, especially when she let the towel slip on one side revealing her silky wet dripping breast.

Niamh stood up and made her way to the bathroom taking off the layers she was wearing as she went. She discarded the jumper, the t shirt, her bra and started unzipping her jeans as Alex pulled her into her arms and shut the door, locking it behind them.

The bathroom was steamy; the water was running hard and hot misting up the shower door. As the pair got into the cubicle the water hit them, poured over them as they stood under the flow hugging and kissing. As the water ran over them it seemed to take with it the stresses and strains of the day along with any inhibitions that Niamh had. Suddenly she was touching Alex with her fingers, caressing her breasts one by one with her hands and her mouth. Instinctively she was following the flow of the water with her hands moving down over her lover’s soft curves. She stopped she stood back a pace and just looked at this beautiful, intelligent, naked woman she was sharing a shower with. 'There really is nothing as beautiful as a naked woman’s body' she thought. She felt relieved, she felt more than that, she felt free.

Alex returned her gaze wondering what she was thinking, but she was unable to say anything apart from let out a gasp as Niamh was on her knees, flicking her clit with her tongue. Alex almost lost her footing as Niamh took her closer and closer, flicking and licking her with more and more intensity, faster, with more pressure. Alex grabbed Niamhs head and ran her fingers through her hair as best as she could. She tried to resist pulling her head into her as she didn't want to scare her. Alex was aware that Niamh wasn't very experienced, but she was ready to teach her, there was no hurry, they had forever.

They stayed in the shower just touching and loving each other until the water ran cold. They got out of the cubicle, wrapped themselves in the huge, fluffy bath towels which were ready and waiting, all warm and toasty from being on the heated towel rail. They moved towards Alex's bedroom where Niamh giggled to see she had put out ties on her wrought iron bed frame, all ready... Niamh looked at Alex, raised an eyebrow and said “Oh yeah?”

“Well, you did say last night that although no ties, you were hoping for satin ties, so for you I've found some. Green eyes and satiny ties, my idea of perfection.”

Chapter Twelve

As the almost naked, wrapped only in a towel lovers sat on the bed Alex felt Niamh shake as she giggled.  “Perfection?” she laughed out loud this time. “I have never thought of myself as perfection or been called it before!”

“Well, you have never been with the right person in the right setting before then have you?” Alex raised an eyebrow and smiled.

The laughter had broken any awkwardness that had arisen from walking from the shower to the bedroom. Alex leant forward and kissed Niamh,

“May I?”She asked as she started to slip the towel from around her lovers’ still wet body,

Looking Alex straight in the eyes Nimah nodded, “uh huh” she murmured.

Alex pushed the towel slowly down over Niamhs breasts. She stopped to kiss her on the lips, and then followed her fingers down over her neck, her collar bone, her breast, her other breast, her nipple whilst still cupping her other breast. Nimahs breathing changed as she became more and more turned on, watching Alex move down over her body. She felt herself being pushed gently back on the bed and felt the weight of Alex leaning on her. It was great to feel her so close, she could feel Alex's breath over her, feel the rise and fall of her chest as she was becoming as aroused as Niamh.

As Alex played with Niamh, teasing her she felt Niamhs hand on her thigh moving up under the towel. Her stomach did a flip as she felt the ache and desire for the overriding joy and pleasure which she knew that she would be able to achieve with Niamh.

Slowly the women became unwrapped from the towels and entangled in each other, enjoying the sensations they were experiencing from each touch, each tantalising movement that each other was making. This was what they both wanted.

Alex looked at Niamh, “So my green eyed perfection, would you like the satiny ties?”

Niamh couldn't talk for fear of screaming Alex's name as she rode towards the next orgasm, she nodded. Alex gently pulled her arms one by one up above her head, towards the ties. She slowly tied the right wrist, kissing her all the way down her arm, across her chest, her lips as she pulled up the second arm and tied it in the satin. Almost immediately Alex felt Niamh change below her, the gentle look in her eyes had become more intense, more desperate for the touch which only Alex would be able to do, the thrill of being tied up had sparked something deep and base within her.

Alex could not wait any more; she teased Niamh kissing her all the way down until she came to her most treasured place, the place which Alex would explore as much as she wanted for as long as she wanted. Alex was in total control and she liked it. She was in her element. Niamh could not touch her, she could not give anything but herself and Alex loved it. She wanted to give Niamh the most explosive orgasm of her life.

She started licking and sucking Niamh, tasting her desire, the sweet sticky nectar pouring from her, Alex lapped it all up hungrily wanting more. She stayed like this just flicking, licking and sucking until suddenly she stuck her fingers hard and deep inside Niamh. She watched smiling as her lover erupted with orgasmic shudders, listening to her trying to muffle her shouts of her name. Alex drank more heavily from her and was delighted at the way she responded with orgasm after orgasm. Eventually Alex untied Niamh and she fell asleep in her arms, with Alex stroking her hair, exhausted from the hours of lovemaking that they had shared.

The following morning they awoke to Petra knocking on the door.

“Sorry guys, thought you should know the time..” she said as she opened the door, “it's 10 o'clock and I know that you will want to get to the hospital later, and Niamh your phone has been ringing..”

“Shit, OK thanks hunni” said Alex

“Coffee is brewing now love, strong and Columbian just as you like it...” laughed Petra as she turned and left.

Niamh got up quickly and pulled on Alex’s robe and went out to get her phone, there were 5 missed calls. She looked through the listings and noticed that they were all from her brother Steve, apart from one. She double took at the number; it was one that she hadn't expected to ever see on her phone again. One that she hadn't seen for years. One she wasn't ready to see. One which wiped away the pleasure of the last two nights and being able to wake up with Alex.... her mother. She wasn't ready to talk to her yet, to listen to her rubbish about why women can't be with women and all the reasons that she would burn in hell... She deleted the log of the call, put her phone back in her handbag and went to get some coffee.

It was lovely for all three women sitting around the table drinking coffee and eating homemade bread which Petra had been up early baking. They chatted for a while about nothing and everything together and then as first Alex, then Niamh went for a shower and to get dressed ready to go to the hospital. As they all left the flat Alex gave Niamh a kiss as she went off back to her home and she and Petra went off to the hospital.

As Niamh walked back home and opened the door her phone was ringing again. It was Steve, again... “Yes Steve, what can I do for you?”

Steve went on to explain that their mum had been trying to get hold of her, that she had managed to get him to tell her that he had seen her and that she was OK He said that he hadn't told her where she was living or working, just that he had found her. Could she please give her a ring as it would make things much easier for him?

As much as she didn't want to, which she made very clear to Steve, she somehow ended up saying that yes she would make contact with her mother, but she couldn't do it now as she was up to her eyes in work.

Steve picked up on the fact that she wasn't at work, and wanted to know that she was alright  and he wanted to know where she had been last night and why she hadn't answered the phone to him earlier.. Niamh really didn't want to tell him about staying with Alex yet, as she wanted to enjoy her relationship without having to introduce her to him, she wanted to keep Alex and this very special affair, although it was far more than that, to herself. As much as she wanted to hide things she did end up telling him that she spent the night at a friend’s house and he guessed that there was more to it, so she spilled everything. Unsurprisingly he was pleased that she was getting more serious with Alex who Niamh had already told him about, but he did want to meet her and to “make sure she's good enough for you.”

Niamh laughed, “Her good enough for me? Don't you mean me good enough for her?”

They agreed that she would try to set something up for that weekend or so and yes she would contact her mother.

Niamh smiled as she put the phone down to her brother, he always managed to make her smile, to make things better, he always had as they were growing up and things still haven't changed. She threw her bag down on the sofa and put pressed play on her mp3 player, turning the speakers up loud. She was enveloped by the sound enjoying it, but wishing it was Alex wrapping herself around her rather than the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto...

She made herself a coffee, just instant which tasted so bland and flavourless compared to the real Columbian which she had been drinking at Alex's. She took the coffee and sat down at the table which was covered in organised piles of books, papers and manuscripts. She sat down to begin the marking, planning and assessment which she should have finished over the weekend. She hated having things hanging over her, she was normally so meticulous.

Several hours and cups of coffee later she had finished the marking and planning for the following week, lessons, individual lessons and the after school activities which she ran. She then continued where she had left off with the Christmas Soiree. She loved planning things like this. All she was going to do was come up with some possible ideas, run some arrangements and work out which year groups she was going to involve.

Niamh wanted to encompass both the traditional and the more modern Christmas music as well as being able to showcase some of the schools own composers. This would provide a perfect brief for the girls who were doing composition as part of their G.C.S.E course. As she continued to work out the details and the options she changed the music to 'Rent' and she sang along loudly to the beautiful music as she poured herself another coffee and smoked a cigarette.

She became so involved in the music and her work that she was startled when someone knocked on the door. As she answered the door she was both pleased and surprised to see Alex, Petra and Geoff standing there with several bags, some of which contained a Chinese and others which contained other supplies such as wine, soft drinks and a bottle of vodka.

“Planning meeting?” Said Geoff, “So are you going to let us in then?”

She stood aside and let her friends in only just noticing that it had become dark and that she had been so caught up in everything that she hadn't eaten all day. Suddenly she was ravenous and the Chinese smelt so good that as soon as they had come in she found plates, cutlery and cups in no time,

“Sorry guys, I'm not used to entertaining, I only have a couple of each” She said embarrassed at her lack of matching crockery,

“Who needs matching?” Said Petra kindly

The friends tucked in talking about how Alex's dad was (much better, should be out by the end of next week), and the plans which Niamh had begun during the day. They were totally engrossed in the discussions with coloured sticky notes and felt tip pens when they were interrupted by another knock at the door.

Niamh got up from her seat and went to answer the door; she opened it to find Steve standing on the doorstep with a bottle of wine in one hand and a big grin on his face...

“Hi sis, can I come in? I bring wine...”

“Steve, I’m busy now really isn't a good time, I have guests and we are working...”

“I know you have guests, I popped round earlier and heard the noise so thought I would grab a bottle and come back and join you all. Come on, it’s wet out here, let me in? I promise to be on my best behaviour...” He smiled the cheeky grin which he knew that she wouldn't be able to resist; he had always been able to get his own way with her.

“Oh alright then, but only as it's raining. You can't stay long.”

She returned to the others with a dripping wet Steve in tow.

“Sorry guys, we have a gatecrasher...” she started looking embarrassed, she gestured to each of her friends as she introduced them to her brother, and “This is Geoff, Petra and Alex. Everyone, this is Steve.” She saw the looks that she was getting, especially from Alex so she added, “my brother.”

The look of relief on Alex's face told a whole story. Niamh was thrilled that she had obviously cared so much as to who this man was. It had also not gone unnoticed by her the look on Petra's face.

Steve was welcomed and really helped contribute to the planning and suggestions that were being raised. They talked about everything, right from the music, the sketches, the year groups being involved, the catering ideas and Steve volunteered to help with anything he could. He was really interested in what they were planning, especially as the proceeds were to go to such a worthwhile charity. They talked for a little while longer about their plans until Geoff had to go.

Niamh made coffee for those still left and found some chocolates in the cupboard. They packed away their papers and plans and moved to the sofa and chairs in the front room. Steve put some music on and they just sat and talked. He soon worked out that Alex was the woman in Niamh's life and he was pleased for her. Alex was beautiful, self assured, well spoken and lovely. Although he was more taken with Petra. He couldn't work out what it was, but there was most definitely something about her, and he was really enjoying talking to her.

Alex felt comfortable here in Niamhs house, far more than she was expecting, that is, until Steve turned up. She had wanted to kiss her, but now didn't feel that she could as she didn't know whether he knew about her or not. Alex didn't want to ruin anything for Niamh, but she didn't know how much longer she could keep her hands to herself. Even just dressed in old black jeans, slipper socks and a large grey over sized baggy jumper she looked stunning to her. Just thinking about what she might be wearing under her clothes was making her feel so turned on, all she wanted to do was to slip her hands one by one inside her jumper, placing her hands over her body, feeling every part of her. Suddenly she couldn't stop herself; she leant back on the sofa, close to Niamh and placed her hand on the small of her back. Alex subtly put her hand up inside Niamhs jumper feeling the soft skin which was waiting for her touch. Her hand started moving up and exploring what she knew to be there already. Alex stopped, she had to, otherwise she would have blown everything for Niamh in front of her brother. She had learnt to be discreet in her time, to contain her feelings and desires for the sake of propriety.

“So, how long have you two been together then?” Steve asked outright...

Alex choked, looked at Niamh, looked at Petra and went bright red; she hoped that this was not going to be a problem for Niamh, if only she could have kept her hands to herself...

“Not long, but I hope that it will be for quite a bit longer” said Niamh  blushing as she looked at Alex, hoping she would confirm that she too wanted to be with her for the foreseeable future..

“Oh my god, really?” Alex said looking at Niamh, she leant forward and kissed her strongly and passionately. “Shit, sorry” she said to Steve, “I didn't realise that you knew.” She looked back into Niamhs eyes and saw only desire and happiness gleaming back at her. Her heart melted there and then, her stomach did a back flip and she let the sofa swallow her.

“Well, I should go, don't want to outstay my welcome” said Steve after a little longer.

“Yeah me too” agreed Petra. “I assume you are staying here Alex?” she said with a wink,

“Erm, I don't know. I haven't been invited to stay, I might not be welcome.” She said with a smile.

“Stay Alex, please...” Niamh implored.

“Well if you are staying here with my sis, then I’m going to have to offer to take this wonderful woman home.” Steve said looking directly in the Hazel eyes of Petra.

She hesitated, looking scared. She was nervous, which was totally understandable to both Alex and Niamh who had been told about everything that Petra had been through.

“Hey, instead of staying here, why don't we all walk that way?” said Niamh, wanting to cover Petra’s nervousness and make her feel more comfortable. “I need to get some milk and fags anyway so it makes sense.”

Alex squeezed her hand and Petra’s eyes said “thank you.”

They all headed off, Steve walking with Petra and Alex and Niamh hand in hand. They walked easily as a group and the two girls listened in to Steve and Petra’s conversation which flowed easily and comfortably. When they reached the shop near to Alex and Petra's house they stopped. Niamh leant into Petra and asked her if she wanted them to carry on with her, assured her it wasn't a problem and that Steve would be fine about it too. Petra assured her that it would be great if they didn't mind as she didn't feel ready...

Steve and Niamh popped into the shop leaving Alex and Petra outside chatting. Petra told Alex that she thought that they were convinced that she was being silly and that she should be able to be walked home and not drag everyone else out too. Alex reinforced that she really wasn't being silly at all and that she would far rather that she told her that she wanted her to come with her. That there was no pressure.

Inside the shop Niamh told Steve that he had to be gentle with Petra, that she had had a really crap time. She didn't tell him what had happened as it wasn't her place. She knew him well enough to know that he really liked her. She also knew that he was kind and gentle and that he would take it as slowly as necessary. The group continued walking up towards their flat. They carried on chatting and things continued as easily as they had been.

They reached the door of Alex's flat and Alex went in to get some clean clothes and other over night bits whilst Steve said good night to Petra. He had walked her to the door and did ask her for her number and if he could take her out for dinner soon. She agreed, although with a hesitance. They decided that it would be good for them to double date for a while so that she could get to know him. She was relieved.

Steve decided that he would walk Niamh and Alex home as it was late and after all they were “two women alone”. Niamh knew there was no point in trying to argue with him and so let him tag along.

When they got back to Niamhs, Steve went off without any fuss, whispering “congratulations, she's great and I would get in there meself if you weren't in the way” in his sisters ear, said his goodbyes and left them to themselves.

They just managed to get inside the door before they started taking off each other’s clothes...

Chapter Thirteen

That night the girls christened every room of Niamhs house several times over. By the time that the door had been shut and locked and the red velvet curtains closed Alex was standing in her underwear and Niamh was topless.

Niamh pushed Alex down onto the sofa and sat astride her. She held her arms above her head and kissed her hard, desperately wanting to enjoy this moment and to take the lead. She dropped her nipple into Alex’s mouth and she worked her magic bringing Niamh so close to orgasm. Somehow Alex managed to wriggle her hands free and pulled Niamh harder towards her. She pulled off the rest of her underwear and took the liberty of finishing undressing Niamh kissing and caressing as she went.

The two naked women moved towards Niamhs bedroom, Alex was intrigued, with this being the first time in her house she had no idea what to expect. She knew that the downstairs of the house was sparsely furnished with old and comfortable, worn items but still had a cosy feel to it. She climbed the stairs touching Niamh as she went up in front leading the way. Alex stopped half way up noticing that all the way up the stairwell there were photographs, of who she wasn't sure. She knew that some of them had to be her family and some were obviously friends from her past. Niamh turned her head and smiled at Alex who carried on up the stairs, on to what she knew would be a wonderful and truly amazing experience no matter what her room looked like.

Niamh pushed the white wooden door open and led Alex into her lair. She was more than ready for this, and being in her own home, knowing where everything was and what she had to play with was all in her advantage. She sat on the bed and pulled Alex down with her. Alex felt the cotton duvet cover beneath her, far from her satin bed linen. Yet this felt right. She allowed Niamh to push her backwards on the bed and to sit aside her.

Before she knew what was happening Niamh lit the candles at either side of the bed. She pulled up Alex's hands and asked her to “sit still please...”

Enchanted Alex did as she was asked watching as Niamh got up and went around the small room lighting the multitude of candles which were placed around the edge. The flickering light was more than flattering to Niamh and made her feel far more confident. She had always hated harsh lighting. She felt more in control, more at ease and felt it was far more erotic than the traditional light bulbs Alex watched as Niamh moved around the room. She loved the way that her breasts moved up and down with each step, the way that the light flickered off her naked body. She couldn't help but lay there transfixed on the beauty of this woman in front of her, with all her “lumps and bumps in the wrong places” as she called them, Alex thought she was beautiful. She had never been with a woman like Niamh before. Someone who literally enchanted her every waking minute. Alex could not stop thinking about her, couldn't wait to see her and wanted to be in bed touching her, tasting her, making love to her, watching her and holding her. She knew that they would have to return to the real world and back to regular teaching at St Kitts in a day or two and she had to be at the hospital tomorrow  and talking to the police in the afternoon, but she didn't want tonight to ever end.

No, this room was only furnished in old, third or fourth hand furniture, but this is where Niamh was, the woman she truly loved.... Alex stopped... Loved? Shit did she really mean that? She had said it in the past to people normally as a way to get what she wanted, but this time she did really really mean it.  This sudden realisation hit her hard, she was frightened, terrified. What if Niamh didn't feel the same? Oh for fuck sake, it’s only been a few days, was this normal? She had heard of lesbians who have decided to move in together after the first drunken shag in the basement of 'Pink' the gay club in town. She had always decided that she would never be like that. She had given up the idea of love at first sight when she was far younger. So what was happening now? Why did she feel like this and why could she not imagine her life without Niamh in it?

“Are you OK hunni? Have I done something wrong?” Niamh had noticed that Alex was miles away, and suddenly the paranoia was back again. She still hadn't realised that actually Alex found her deeply attractive and what was on her mind right now.

“Oh god, sorry babe...” Alex looked into Niamhs face with the candlelight flickering all around her, she had never looked so beautiful thought Alex, “You haven't done anything wrong, you couldn't ever do anything wrong. I was miles away, thinking about how much I care for you..” she paused wondering whether this was the right thing to do or say, but then decided just to go for it, “Hunni, I was thinking about how much I love you.” She stopped wondering whether she had just ruined the best thing that had ever happened to her when Niamh replied...

“Oh Alex” She kissed her deeply as she realised that she was speaking honestly.  “I love you too” and she meant every word of it.

They made love passionately after their confession. Their touch seemed more genuine, more real, more honest and every slight connection felt more intense and satisfying. They came together and carried on, tasting, wanting, full of love and lust. They reached new heights of pleasure until they collapsed, sweaty, overcome with emotionally charged sex. Niamh leant over and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. She lit one on a candle next to her and offered it to Alex who took it gratefully and she lit another one for her. They both laid in Niamhs bed smoking, watching the candlelight flickering across the ceiling and walls.

Alex hadn't even realised that the walls in here were a really horrible green colour and that everything was old, broken and mismatched. Niamh saw her looking and suddenly was overcome with embarrassment. She pulled the duvet over her and apologised. Alex looked at her, felt guilty and a rush of love and pulled her to her.

She kissed her hard and said, “Darling, it doesn't matter to me what your room looks like, I love you. I have told you that. We can always do it up how you want it later can't we?”

Niamh had never felt encased in so much love before and she felt the thrill being wanted, loved and protected. She didn't reply with words, but grabbed her lover and kissed her starting the lovemaking all over again. Her fingers were all over and inside Alex intuitively knowing where to go to really drive her wild. It worked. She came within seconds.

They fell asleep in each other’s arms, Alex in front with Niamh curled behind her. Niamh had blown out the candles and fell asleep so happy and settled. If only this is what things could be like every day, but she knew that it couldn't be. She wasn't that lucky.

The following morning Niamh woke, rolled over remembering everything which happened last night only to find that Alex had gone, her side of the bed was empty and cold. Niamh got up quickly and threw a blanket around her. She left the magic of the bedroom and went past the empty bathroom to the stairs. As she went down the stairs she heard music and smelt coffee and freshly baked breakfast.

“Morning gorgeous” said a fully showered and dressed Alex to a dishevelled Niamh, who stood in amazement watching her girlfriend in her home.

“Erm, morning darling. What are you doing up?”

“Well I decided that after such a spectacular night we should celebrate with proper breakfast together before I have to unceremoniously dash off to the hospital and then police station.”

They sat round the table drinking coffee and eating croissants together comfortably chatting then in silence until Alex had to go. She wanted to see her Dad, but she really wanted to stay with Niamh and make love to her all over again. Niamh wanted it to, but knew that other things had to happen. She had to get to work whilst Alex went to the hospital.

“See you later?” she asked Alex, not wanting to put too much pressure on her.

“Definitely my darling. Petra and Steve have asked us to dinner. I didn't think you'd mind so I said it would be fine and that we would go to mine? You don't mind do you?”

“Petra and Steve? Wow, no of course I don't mind. Sounds great. I'll try to get out earlier tonight then. What time at yours?”

“About 830 please babe. Don't worry if you are late, I've arranged a cab to get you straight from school to mine.” Alex smiled.

“Thank you darling. Now I'd best hurry or I shall be late.”

Alex let Petra get into the shower and get dressed. Whilst she was there she cleared away the breakfast things and packed away all of Niamhs marking and planning into her red teacher’s bag. As Niamh walked down the stairs she was greeted again by Alex and a kiss, she thought how lovely it would be if this is how it always was...

Niamh handed Alex a spare set of keys as she went out and said “can you lock up as you go love?” When she saw Alex nodding she added, “You might as well keep hold of them if you want to? But don't tell me now, if you don't want them, just put them back through the letterbox.”

“Not want them?” Alex stared incredulously at Niamh, “how could I not want them, it’s a key to your home. Thank you.”

With that, and another hard deep snog, Niamh went off to school leaving Alex to potter off to the hospital when she was ready. They had been together for just about a week and already they had confessed that they loved each other and she had handed over keys to her home. This was moving so fast, but felt so right...

Chapter Fourteen

Niamh walked back into school really happily thinking about the whirlwind few days she had had with Alex and how lucky she was. Her good mood continued through the morning briefing and throughout the day.

She explained to each of her classes about the Christmas Concerts that she was planning, the ones for all of the students to be involved in.  They all seemed to be really excited about it. She set her CGSE and A level groups the challenge of composing music to be performed at the Soiree which would be for charity. Apart from a couple of grumbles she was pleased at their reaction, especially when she told them that it would be something which they would be doing with the staff.

When it reached lunchtime she really missed sitting with Alex and Petra and naturally wondered how things were going. She sat with Geoff and they talked about the plans for Christmas, how their respective days were going and how things were going between him and Mary. They were going to be going through IUI and then IVF as they still hadn't conceived the baby which they had been trying for for years. Niamh sat and listened, her mind on the conversation, but also occasionally wondering to Alex, how her father was and knowing that in a little while she would have to be interviewed by the police about what he had told her and Petra when they had been out for lunch.

She admired Geoff and Mary; they had been a couple since they were 15 and had only ever been together. It was a wonderful story and even though they had this pressure and this constant feeling of failure each month their relationship was solid and he did love her so much. She had only been able to dream of feeling this loved by anyone, and now she had Alex.

“So, you and Alex? Going well is it?” Geoff said reading her mind, but interrupting her thoughts.

Niamh laughed, “That obvious is it?” He nodded, “Well we'd better be a bit more subtle then, neither of us wants to be schoolgirl or staffroom gossip!”

“It'll be fine love, don't worry. There are only a couple of the old fuddy duddies who won't understand, but sod them! As long as you are happy that's all that's important in the grand scheme of things. You have some good people around you, so if there is any problems then let us know... OK?”

He was genuinely concerned for them and she liked that. In her last school she had never been one of the 'in crowd' and had pretty much kept herself to herself, but here it was different. She loved working with people who could easily become friends if they weren't already. She loved the social side to working here. Everyone had made her feel really welcome and she always had someone to talk to if and when she had a hard lesson or something had upset her. For the first time in her life she felt like things really were going her way and that she was truly truly happy. She had a job she loved, friends, and a woman she was head over heels in love with.

Although she was looking forward to seeing Petra and Steve tonight she almost wanted to cancel, she wanted Alex to herself...

Her mobile rang just as she had left the lunch room and was on her way to the staff room. It was Alex, her heart missed a beat and her stomach did a back flip. Wow what had happened to her? Was it right that she was feeling like this?

She answered the phone “hi hunni, how's your dad? How are you? What time are you going to the police station?”

“Whoa hunni...slow down! I wanted to check that you were having a good day...but yes Dad's doing fine, I’m OK, if a little tired with someone keeping me up late last night and sitting in hospitals is just exhausting! I’m just on my way there now; I just wanted to hear your voice. Is that OK? Have I answered all of your questions?” Alex laughed

“Sorry love, I've been thinking about you all morning wondering how things were, amongst other things” she said in her beautiful lilting Irish accent...

“Well all I've wanted to do is to be with you, all I have been thinking about is you and how perfect you are.”

“Aww Alex didn't know you were the soppy type.” jested Niamh, thrilled that Alex had been thinking about her in this way and had called to check up on her.

“Actually I have been thinking about tonight and I hope you don't mind but I have done something I probably shouldn't have.”

“What?”

“Well we are still going to dinner with Petra and Steve; she's thrilled about it, totally looking forward to it. She likes him; he seems to be really good at just listening. Apparently after we left them last night and after he had walked us home he called her and they spent half the night talking. She explained to him that she wanted to take things really slowly and he had no problem with that saying that it was fine to just take things at her pace with no pressure. She hasn't stopped talking about him – even told Mum and Dad about him! Can you believe it? How strange would that be if they got together, two best friends -well sisters really dating brother and sister?” Alex laughed

“Oh that is brilliant. I did tell him to be nice!” Niamh laughed, “But you still haven't told me what you have done and now I’m worried...”

“Don't be worried darling, it’s a good something, I think. I have bought you a present, just a little something and its back at yours waiting for you, that's all.”

“Present? You have bought me a present? Oh Alex, you shouldn't have”

“Why not? I wanted to. I saw it and thought of you. Anyway darling I have to go as I’m at the station and if you don't hurry up you won't make it to have a fag before your next class. I love you. See you tonight.”

“I love you to, can't wait to see you.” She paused, “Alex, and thank you”

“What for?”

“Just for being you hunni...”

Alex put her phone down and Niamh stood in a world of her own for a few seconds and was snapped back to reality by the girls running down the stairs in front of her.

“No running girls please.”

The reply came from the girls, “Yes Miss.”

Niamh continued up to the staff room wondering about what this present from Alex could possibly be. As much as she wanted to she couldn't spend long wondering about it as she had to get everything and get down to cover Alex's tutor group and then run off to her next lessons. It was at times like this she wished she taught something like maths, English or History. At least those subjects were taught in the main building, not like Music which was all the way in the other end of the school grounds. She looked out of the window; typically it was windy and raining. 'Bugger no umbrella and my coat is in my office! She thought, oh well nothing she could do about it now.

She picked up the register and the information she had to give out to the girls in Alex's tutor group about the new opening times for “The San.” This was something that she was pleased about. The San was in the building next to the music department and was staffed 24 hours a day with a sister and a nurse during the day and a nurse at night. The letter was to say that there would now be regular doctors clinics held there too at an appointment only basis for several hours and then as a first come first served basis on three afternoons a week. This was brilliant; she knew that this would be a huge plus point for many of the girls.

With the lunchtime tutorial over she went out of the main building and into the wind and rain. She still thought that St Kitts was beautiful, even against the dark grey sky. She was not particularly looking forward to her afternoon. She had first and second year groups this afternoon which meant lots of “trying to impress” and then “we don't particularly care”. She kept reminding herself that she was very different to Francis and as lovely as he was he was a bit of a stick in the mud and she really was far more progressive in her teaching styles and how she covered what needed to be covered.

The first lesson went well, and the girls approved of her plans to let them have a say in whether they wanted to take part in the Christmas concerts. Traditionally at St Kitts it had only been those in orchestras, choirs, wind band, string ensembles who had been given the opportunity to perform, however she felt that this then excluded those who had never had the chance to learn an instrument or join a choir and it could be rather daunting, even though it was divided into juniors and seniors. When you have just started at a school like St Kitts even the mighty third years are big and scary and seem so far off. She knew from experience that sometimes you just have to give a glimmer of hope for someone to try harder and to prove that you were right, sometimes it only takes a little faith, she could be that person and make things better for someone, after all that's why she went into teaching – so she could change the world, one person at a time and even though she had been through some horrible times she still had that idealistic view on life and wanted to be that person.

During the course of the middle of the afternoon sessions she happened to be going around listening to what each of the girls were composing on a theme of Christmas past and present when she heard something remarkable. There were two girls in one room working together on a song. They had written some of the lyrics and whilst one was singing out the melody the other was playing an accompaniment on the piano. The melody was truly truly haunting, it made Niamh stop in her tracks. It couldn't be something which they had just composed, there was no way. They were only eleven, this sounded eerie, magical, transported you to somewhere else. She opened the door slightly, pushed her head around it and asked if she could come in and listen.

The girls performed their piece to her and it blew her away, it wasn't lyrically amazing, but that wasn't to be expected, after all they were only first years and they had only had about half and hour to work on it, but that melody, the music, amazing. She told them how brilliant she thought it was and made sure that they had at least some of it written down so that they could come back to it in their next lesson. It wasn't often that you would find a pair of girls who could work this well together and produce something amazing. She had high hopes for them.

The next session passed without episode and she was glad when the clock said 3pm. It meant that she had a half hour break before she took junior choir for an hour, then she had a meeting with Francis, then senior choir where she played the piano for Francis to lead (unless he had been excused in which case she took it) then finally after locking up she could leave at about 7pm, rush home and drop everything off, get changed and get to the restaurant for 830. 'Oh God' she thought, 'I have no idea where I am going and won't have time to call unless I do it now. Oh well I didn't need a coffee and a wee' Suddenly the rest of the evening looked daunting and as if it would take forever to get through. She just wanted to be at home now. Alex didn't pick up her call so she left a message. She hoped that everything was OK, but assumed she had got held up somewhere.

Niamh walked into Junior Choir a few minutes early as always and prepared for the session ahead. She went through the warm ups, handed them out some music and just got through the session, she really had surprised them by doing a version of a medley of songs from “Cats” with them. They had been expecting to do something naff, but she had hit them with something challenging. They coped, just.

Her meeting with Francis was as she expected, tedious in the most, with just a few snippets of interest. He really had lost a lot of his enthusiasm and was in all honesty just holding out until he could retire. He had decided and informed her during this meeting that he was expecting her to take over many of the duties, the majority of the teaching and he would basically take the 'A' Level practical side and would check on the GCSE groups, but she would be doing all the junior teaching and at least half of all the upper school as well. Niamh tried to explain that with the rest of the activities and duties she had taken on as part of her job description she wouldn't be able to take on the majority of the teaching. He dismissed her totally and said that if she wasn't up to the job then he would have to find someone who was.

Niamh left the meeting feeling very down, really angry and generally fed up. What he wanted was an easy life and for her to do all the work and not get the job title, prestige or the salary that went with it. The last thing she felt like doing now was running senior choir as he had decided that he wasn't feeling well and so would be going home just after their meeting. So, run the senior choir she did. Luckily she knew what they were working on and so was able to lead it well.

Seven o’clock couldn't come quickly enough for her, all she wanted to do was to go home and curl up in her pjs and watch whatever rubbish was on TV, and ‘oh god, dinner and I can't cancel.' She thought. Niamh picked up her bag and all the paperwork that she would need over the weekend from her office. 'Office? That's a joke it's more like a sodding broom cupboard whilst he has the large office downstairs which opens onto the garden. Oh well, it won't be too bad when it’s been painted' she thought glumly. In her teaching bag were just the marking which needed doing for the next couple of days, she picked it up after she had gone round every single room and the toilets to make sure that no one was left in the building and walked out locking the door. She knew that the caretakers would be going around later, but she always did this as a matter of habit.

When Niamh finally got home she was exhausted, but she brightened up when she opened her front door and walked in to find the place absolutely spotless and a big gold box tied with a large red ribbon. With everything that had happened during the day, mainly her meeting with Francis, she had completely forgotten about this present. She decided that although she was now running late as it had taken her longer than normal to get home tonight that she would stop and open it.

As she slowly and carefully undid the ribbon and lifted the lid as gently as she could she squealed when she realised that Alex had been out and bought her not only the most amazing gorgeous purple satin lingerie (she checked the size – perfect!), but there was an entire outfit for her. As she lifted the lingerie out of the box she found a note from Alex, it read...

My darling Niamh,

I saw this and thought of you, then I saw something else and thought of you, and then I had to get the accessories to go with it, don't be cross, but hurry, a cab will be with you at 8 and will bring you to me. I can't wait to see you.

All my love

Alex

Niamh thought she had died and gone to heaven. This was so wonderful. No one had ever bought her things like this before, certainly not in exactly the right size. She looked at her watch, shit she had better hurry it was 740 already she had twenty minutes.

As she put on the satin underwear she not only instantly felt sexy and turned on by the thought that Alex had bought it for her, but it fitted her perfectly, as if it had been specially made for her. She chuckled to herself when she found the stockings and the suspender belt and it took her a while to get the stockings on straight! She then added the black wrap around dress which again was made for her; it enhanced her naturally large cleavage, whilst making the most of her waist and hiding the bumps and lumps which she would rather no one knew about. When she finally found the bottom of the box she found some black shoes (slight heel, but not too high) and a couple of boxes. As she opened the first one she found the most elegant and beautiful silver and cubic zirconium studded earrings, in the next was the matching tear-drop pendant necklace and in the third was a matching bracelet. She felt like a million dollars, a proper princess with her red hair cascading over her shoulders. As she had just got finished getting ready and swapping things from one bag to a more special one sent by Alex when the cab arrived. She walked out and locked the door behind her leaving the worries and stresses inside the house as she went out and put her fate in the hands of the driver, still not knowing where she was going.

Chapter Fifteen

Niamh spent the car journey looking out of the window trying to work out where they were going. They had left the town centre and were heading out into the surrounding area. She became more concerned when she saw a big hotel looming in front of her. It was gorgeous that much was true, like a huge manor house. It was obviously very expensive and not somewhere she could afford. She was really glad that she had opened Alex's present and not just put on what she was going to wear, a different pair of black trousers and a shirt of some description.

As the cab pulled up she thanked him and asked how much it was, he said that it had already been covered and told her to enjoy her evening.

Niamh got out of the cab, really not sure that this was a good idea when she was greeted by a doorman who escorted her into the main foyer and over to the restaurant. She was shown to the table where her friends and brother were waiting for her, relieved to see some friendly faces. They had been seated in a table in the corner, private and not too close to anyone else.

“Niamh you look beautiful.” Gasped Alex as she stood to hug her lover and welcome her to the table, “I am a good judge of what would suit you! Mind you I always think you look best wearing nothing at all.” She laughed as she sat next to Niamh.

“Well you shouldn't have,” started Niamh, “but I’m really glad you did. Thank you. You look stunning as always darling.” She suddenly became more aware of Steve and Petra, “Sorry guys, evening, you both look wonderful too. I've never been here before.”

The conversation flowed easily from there for the rest of the evening. There were times when they were talking together, and other times that Steve and Petra were involved in heavy discussion and Alex and Niamh were whispering sweet nothings at each other. Niamh was getting more and more aroused as Alex told her what she wanted to do to her, putting her hand on her thigh and running it up and down seductively.

Polite conversation returned as they talked about their respective days. Alex and Petra explained what had happened when they had been to the police station to give their statements. They had said that Harold was making good progress and was thrilled that things were going so well between Alex and Niamh and that Petra had a date for that evening. They listened as the two girls talked about how the nursing staff seemed to think that he was doing well and that he may even be coming home within the week, unless there were any complications. They were talking about how Sarah was doing well, although living at the hospital hardly leaving her husband’s side as she was overseeing every bit of treatment and making a general pain in the rear end of herself! Having met Sarah once Niamh was totally sure that this was totally how things were!

Steve talked about his day and how he had been really busy sorting out the computing systems in one of the offices that his firm covers. Petra hung on every word he was saying, she obviously felt something more than friendship for him. He did have a habit of talking endlessly about his job and what it entailed, although Niamh knew that he didn't mean to be he could be terribly boring about it. He did truly love his job.

When they asked Niamh about her day she glossed over most of the day but she did tell them what had been said by Francis in the meeting they had had this evening. The others sat listening, not believing that he could be so awful to her. They knew as well as she did that the workload that he was talking about was too much for any one person, hence why there was a head and a deputy head of each department. Especially the music department as there were all the peripatetic instrumental teachers to manage as well as maintaining all the academic grades and all the performances of which there were numerous every term. Alex and Petra both suggested that she went to talk to Hillary about it, not to complain but just to let her know what was going on. It would also cover herself should anything go wrong. They all offered to help her as much as possible, knowing that there was not that much that they could do. Steve suggested that she should call her union and talk to them urgently. Niamh asked if they could change the subject, so they did.

They ate the delectable food placed in front of them all chatting and enjoying each other’s company. Between them they consumed several bottles of wine and generally had a good time ignoring the stresses and strains of their days and lives. Before they realised what the time was they had taken their coffee and after dinner mints and it was time to go. Niamh was expecting the hotel to organise cabs for them to take them home until Alex leant in to her and whispered,

“Don't worry about the bill darling it’s covered, and we have a room upstairs if you want to join me? No pressure though hunni.”

“Oh Alex” Niamh swooned, “I don't have anything with me, except what I'm wearing and I can't let you pay for me.”

“But I want to darling, and everything you will want and need is upstairs waiting for you.”

Niamh didn't know what to say, so she said nothing but nodded her agreement.

They moved from the restaurant to the bar and had a few drinks, Petra and Steve were staying over as well in separate rooms, but Niamh didn't think it would be too much longer before they would be sharing a room. They had been getting on incredibly well and they had been seeing each other every night which she was pleased about. They had been taking everything at Petra's speed and Steve had not even tried pushing her into anything at all. Niamh was pleased. She sat back in her comfy worn leather sofa and surveyed her friends for a while. They were all happy, even their eyes were sparkling and happy.

After a couple of drinks Alex took Niamhs hand and asked her “So darling, shall we go upstairs?”

Niamh nodded, and was more than happy for Alex to make their excuses to Petra and Steve who said that they would be going up in the next few minutes; they were just finishing their drinks. Alex held Niamhs hand totally uncaring as to who saw and she pulled her up from the sofa and took her towards the lift.

Niamh had never been in such a grand hotel before and was totally blown away by everything that she saw, the high decorations, the staff all pristinely turned out in their black suits and gold name badges.

The lift was large and spacious and had it not been for the lift attendant the girls would not have made it to their floor fully dressed. As it was Alex had been whispering detailed descriptions of what she wanted to do to her lover all the way up.

By the time they had got to their suite Niamh was so aroused she didn't know how she could possibly wait for Alex to show her around the very luxurious rooms which made up their suite. Luckily she didn't have to wait long. As soon as they had shut the door behind them Alex had come up behind Niamh and kissed her deeply on the neck, holding her firmly around the waist, yet allowing her hands to roam over her body.

Niamh loved the feeling of Alex pressing her body into her back, she loved the feeling of her round firm breasts moving as Alex’s hands expertly found their way inside her wrap around dress to her hard erect nipples, she loved the way that Alex knew where every single one of Niamhs buttons were and she knew exactly how to press them to make her shake and tremble with desire and as she came closer and closer to orgasm. She loved the way that Alex could bring her to the point of no return within minutes, yet she stopped in time to make it so much more intense She loved the way that Alex not only knew exactly how to make her explode, but also knew how to make each sensational session different. No two of their sessions had been the same, lasted for the same length of time or given her the same sensations. This was something which drove her wild. She never knew what she was going to feel each time. Niamh loved that Alex came as she bought her closer and closer without being touched herself. The knowledge and watching her lover enjoy herself was enough to bring her to orgasm.

The next thing that Niamh realised was that they had moved to the lounge area and she was standing with Alex kneeling before her. Alex was on her knees; she was kissing the inside of Niamhs thighs and moving upwards.

“OOO easy access” She murmured obviously pleased that Niamh wasn't wearing any knickers.

Alex flicked and licked Niamh who didn't think she would be able to stand for much longer; the sensations were just too much to take to be able to stand as well. Niamh came hard. She erupted, shaking all over, she was so aware of Alex still drinking her juices as she steered her towards the sofa.

When she had recovered enough to move, Alex pulled Niamh up and they went to the bedroom. Niamhs eyes lit up as she saw the 4 poster bed waiting for her. Alex really hadn't spared any expense. Tonight was meant to be special and it certainly had been up to now. Niamh knew that this was just the beginning of the night and she was, for the first time in her life, going to be spoilt rotten and treated just like a princess. Her heart missed a beat and she just looked at Alex.

Alex saw the look on Niamhs face and caved, this was what she was hoping for, just to spoil her. She had never wanted to spoil anyone and to treat them as carefully as she wanted to with Niamh. She wanted to wrap her up, to give her everything that her heart desired and to make her truly truly happy. Alex wanted to make sure that no one or anything ever hurt her lover ever again. This surprised Alex, who had certainly been around, but had never felt anything like this before. Love didn't come close to describing how she felt about Niamh... Even her as an English teacher did not have the words to convey the power of the emotions she felt for this woman who she could still taste.

Niamh had moved to the bed and was just sitting on the edge, Alex couldn't stop herself, she went over and gently pushed Niamh to be lying down as she knelt down at the edge of the bed, she knew she could make her explode within seconds, but she didn't want to, she wanted to make this last longer. She pushed open Niamhs legs and ran her tongue tantalisingly up the inside of one thigh and then down the next one, she enjoyed listening to Niamh gasp as she moved up and down, teasing her.

Alex loved the feeling of Niamhs stockinged legs, she loved that she was still mostly dressed. This drove her wild; she had to stop herself from bringing her straight to orgasm so that she exploded at the same time. She expertly flicked and licked Niamhs clit and sucked her until she could not take any more without climaxing with her. Alex moved to the bed and lay down next to Niamh panting in time with her. Both women felt so in tune with each other. They experienced idealistic togetherness each time they made love.

When they had recovered enough to be able to breathe evenly Alex sent Niamh off for a bath while she called down to room service.

Niamh walked into the bathroom and was totally amazed; it was a far cry from her own little bathroom at home, and even the cheap and cheerful hotels she had stayed in previously. This was incredible. The bath was huge and standing in the corner of the bathroom with beautiful tiles all around it. It certainly was more than she could ever hope for.

As she sank into the bath full of bubbles she just wished that this could last forever, this perfect relationship, being away from everything and everyone. Nothing to worry about as everything was being taken care of. She loved this.

Alex came into the bathroom a little while later whilst Niamh was under the water soaking her hair; this bath was amazing, long enough that she could properly stretch out and enjoy the feeling of the water completely surrounding her. As she sat on the edge of the bath Alex thought that Niamh really was the most amazing person. She was so glad that she had organised this for her, to take her away from work completely. Even at home she had piles of paperwork, to do lists and other notes all over her dining room table which doubled as her office area. Here there were none of those distractions, nothing nagging at her telling her that she should be doing something else, rather than just enjoying the moment, the event, and the sex. Alex thought that she had never seen Niamh look as relaxed, happy or as beautiful as she did right this moment under the water.

Niamh jumped slightly as she came out from under the water as she saw Alex sitting there watching her. She pulled her down towards her and kissed her. That kiss told everything, her happiness, her lust, her desire, her thanks, everything. Alex slipped off the edge of the bath and into it splashing water and bubbles everywhere. She did no more than laugh loudly and kiss her lover more.

“Well, I was hoping to join you in here, but I was planning at least on taking off my clothes first” she joked,

“I suggest you take them off now darling” said Niamh winking

Alex got out of the bath and stood slowly taking off each item of clothing whilst being watched by Niamh. She loved watching Alex. She always seemed so amazingly confident, self assured and oozed sex appeal. Niamh was instantly turned on by this slow striptease being performed just for her.

As Alex slipped into the bath next to her she couldn't help but sidle over to her and lie right next to her, this was amazing, she felt so good in water. Niamh let her hands run over her lover, taking special time over each of her breasts, kissing her all the time. Alex parted her legs as Niamhs hands moved to find the source of her arousal. She slipped her fingers straight into her, easily finding her magic spot which bought her to an instant climax.

The lovers spent more time touching and bathing each other until they decided to move back into the bedroom where room service had been and Alex had set up a bottle of champagne and strawberries next to the bed.

As she laid her lover on the bed Alex took an ice cube and placed it into Niamhs mouth. As she kissed her she took it back and moved to her nipple teasing her with the ice cube. Niamh responded exactly as Alex hoped that she would, writhing on the bed as the cold made her nipples harder and more erect than Alex had ever seen them. Alex knew what she wanted to do, but was not sure whether it was pushing things just a little far with Niamh. She decided to try it and see. She took another ice cube and licked it all over. She pushed it deep inside Niamh who instantly erupted with writhing shakes. Alex laid on her side propping herself up with her left arm, using her right hand to tease Niamh into climbing higher and higher until she could not climb any more. Alex was thoroughly enjoying watching the pleasure on Niamhs face. She knew that her lover had never experienced anything like this before, but she was damn sure that she would in the future.

When Niamh had stopped shaking Alex passed her a glass of champagne and they sat in the luxurious surroundings drinking champagne and eating strawberries. Niamh was exhausted from her long week at school, but more from the endless and intense orgasms she had enjoyed that night.

They sat up talking, drinking champagne and just being together until they couldn't drink any more,

“Thank you” said Niamh as she looked into her glass, not being able to look in Alex's eyes,

“For what?” Alex laughed,

“For this, for tonight, for my new clothes, for being you, for loving me, for... well for everything really.”

Alex turned Niamhs head towards her, looked deep into her eyes and kissed her, “Darling, you have nothing to thank me for, I love you.”

Niamh started crying silently trying to move her head away from Alex. She was being silly; she didn't want Alex to see her like this.

“Baby, what's wrong?” Alex noticed, but Alex noticed everything about Niamh. “Sweetheart, have I done something wrong?”

“Oh god no, you are perfect, this is perfect, I'm just being silly. I'm sorry for ruining the night.”

“Niamh, you have not and could not ruin tonight. It's only perfect because you are here with me. Hunni, you are not being silly. Whatever it is I would like to think that you could tell me anything. I know I feel that way about you.” She pulled Niamh towards her and held her tightly.

“Really it's silly. I just don't want this to end, but I know it will. You will never want to stay with me. You are the first person who I feel really loves me, but I know that someone else will come along who is beautiful and has the perfect figure and can offer you so much more than I can. I just can't see why you would want to be with me.” She broke into uncontrollable sobs, “My own mother didn't want anything to do with me when she found out that I didn't want to get a boyfriend, get married and be like her, so why would you want me?”

“Oh Niamh” Alex was so moved, she knew that there were issues between her and her mother, but she didn't know how bad things had got or how much it still affected her, “I can't foresee the future, but I do know that I love you. I think that you are the most beautiful woman in the world. If I wanted some size 8 supermodel then that's who I would be with. I don't and I'm not. I don't want you to ever change. You make me happy, you make me feel loved, and it’s you I want. I don't care what you think you can give me, you give me more than you will ever know” and she kissed her deeply with the full force of her love.

Alex pulled Niamh even closer towards her and hugged her so tightly that Niamh felt completely surrounded by Alex and her love.

After they had made love several more times they fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms and love.

The following morning Niamh woke up to the feel of Alex lying behind her, her breasts feeling firm in her back. She was awakened by the feeling of Alex’s hands running all over her breasts, moving down over her stomach, back over her breasts, just roaming. Niamh loved the feeling of being touched by Alex. It was special, something which she would never get used to, but couldn't imagine being without.

Alex kissed the kids of her neck and moved forwards over her mouth, her breasts, turning her onto her back.  Niamh laid on her back looking up into the eyes of the woman she loved, feeling as if every worry which she had had just melted away and she really didn't have a care in the world. She reciprocated the kisses and let her hands move freely all over Alex’s body.

As soon as it had started they had reached the climax of their lovemaking passionately, furiously, yet at the same time gently and thoughtfully.

As Alex finished in the shower she heard Niamh talking to herself about what was she going to wear, all she had was what she had been wearing last night, which was not exactly subtle for her to be wearing this morning. Alex persuaded her to get into a shower and reminded her that she had told her last night that everything that she could possibly want was here. While Niamh was in the other room Alex went to the lounge area and retrieved the bags which she had put behind the sofa yesterday when she had arrived and had checked in. She placed the shopping bags on the bed simply labelled, “To the woman I love”.  Alex returned to the sofa and pretended to read the paper drinking the coffee which she had ordered from room service. She also arranged the continental breakfast ready for her lover to join her.

“Oh my god Alex!” came Niamhs voice from the bedroom as she saw the shopping bags with the label attached. She put her head around the door, looked at Alex and said, “Are you sure? Hunni you shouldn't have!”

Alex smiled, “Do you like them?”

“How could I not? They are great! Thank you”

“Well, put them on and let’s have a look” She liked spoiling Niamh, she was totally aware that she was probably the first person to have ever done so.

A little while later Niamh emerged wearing the boots, black jeans and large purple sweater which had been bought for her by Alex.

“I know its stuff that you pretty much already have at home darling, I don't want to change you, I just didn't want to go through your stuff, so got you new ones of things that I know you already love.”

“Oh Alex, you are so thoughtful darling. Thank you”

“Come on over here and eat your breakfast, you need to keep your strength up.” She winked at Niamh, “Darling. Can I ask you a favour?”

“You can ask me anything you want to.”

“Well, my father is desperate to get to know you better, as is Mum. So is there any way that you would mind terribly coming to the hospital with me later? You don't have to stay long?”

“Of course I don't mind. I'd love to.”

They carried on talking, with moments of comfortable silence until they were ready to leave. They collected their bags and left their suite, even though Niamh wanted to stay there forever and Alex certainly didn't want to leave yet. She had plenty of thoughts of ways that they could spend the next few hours... However they really did have other things to do. There was plenty of time to carry out those thoughts later.

Alex and Niamh made sure that Petra and Steve were fine, which they both were, and they were found sharing breakfast, although no they promised that nothing had happened, although they were not ruling it out for a later time. The couple went downstairs to reception and went to pay the bill.

Nervously Niamh got in the taxi with Alex and went to meet the parents of the person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

Chapter Sixteen

During the journey from the hotel to the hospital the couple talked about everything, from the weather to what Niamh should expect from spending time with Alex's parents. It was strange for Niamh as although she had already briefly met Sarah it was under difficult circumstances waiting to hear whether her husband had come through the operation.

Sarah had seemed lovely, really efficient, well spoken, well dressed, but it was very different to Niamh to now being introduced as Alex's girlfriend rather than just her friend. She knew that her parents were more than happy about Alex being into women, she knew that they had told Alex when she first came out to them “who you sleep with doesn't change who you are. We love you and we always have, what happens behind closed doors doesn't make any difference to us.” They then wanted to know all about who she “fancied” and still asked her regularly, just wanting her to settle down with “a nice young woman”. This was totally alien to Niamh who knew that as things stood she would never be able to talk to her mother about Alex, although she would love to have her blessing and understanding, but that just wouldn't happen.

Alex watched Niamh looking out of the taxi window, staring into space. She noticed the single tear drop rolling down her cheek, she had known that this wouldn't be easy for her, although Niamh had only glossed over the events with her mother Steve had gone into far more detail. Alex had been totally shocked that any mother and father who are meant to love and protect their children could treat their daughter in the way that they had treated Niamh. Alex didn't normally judge people, but she couldn't help judge these two people.  She truly couldn't believe how anyone could deliberately hurt the woman whom she had fallen so head over heels in love with.

She squeezed Niamhs hand and said sweetly, “Hunni please don't cry. If this is too much then we can leave it darling, I don't want you to be upset.”

Niamh wiped her eye and forced a smile, “No, don't be daft, I'm OK, just maudlin that's all.”

Alex pulled her to her side so she had Niamhs head on her shoulder and put her arm around her. They spent the rest of the journey like this with Alex stroking Niamhs hair comforting her. She reassured Niamh all the way to the hospital about how much her mother liked her from when she had met her and how much her father was really excited to meet her. Alex told her that “all the gossip” has already been discussed between the parents, Petra and Alex and this was nothing serious. They were just pleased that Alex had found someone to be happy with.

When they arrived at the hospital Alex paid for the taxi and the girls ran to the entrance. Neither of them had noticed the rain whilst they had been together in the taxi, but now it was pouring down. Alex grabbed Niamhs hand protectively and they walked towards the life and to her waiting parents.

Sarah greeted their entrance by standing up, moving over to her daughter and kissing her first on one cheek and then the other, “Niamh lovely to see you again” She hugged Niamh who was slightly taken aback at the warmth extended to her by a virtual stranger.

Harold was sitting up in bed, even though he was still poorly he looked Niamh up and down and said in a stage whisper “Well, Alex you were right, she is beautiful...”

Niamh turned a beetroot shade of red

“Sorry, too soon?” He joked. “Niamh, it is wonderful to finally meet you Alex and Petra have told me so much about you. I have been longing to meet you myself!” He extended his hand for Niamh to shake,

“Mr St John pleased to meet you.” Said a shy, but now laughing Niamh.

“Please call me Harold, only clients, judges and doctors call me Mr St John, makes me sound so old don't you think?”

Alex had been right, her parents really were lovely and she now understood why Petra said that she was so comfortable around them and how much she loved being their almost adoptive daughter.

They sat and talked until Harold decided he was hungry and that he would like to be able to get out of his private room for a while and go on his daily trip to the cafeteria,

“It's not good food, but it’s better than the slop you get bought to you lying here in bed!” he giggled, “although I'd really quite like a pizza or a curry and a rather large glass of single malt.” he added mischievously. “Naimh, be a dear and push me in this blasted thing will you please?” He gestured towards the standard hospital issue wheelchair, “Then we can really get to know each other and leave them to gossip.”

Niamh felt very comfortable with the ageing man. He was light hearted and jovial. She knew where Alex got her charm from that was for sure. He had a way of putting her totally at ease.

They went to the cafeteria and Harold was most definitely right, the food was awful, but that really didn't seem important. It was wonderful to see Alex with her parents, full of banter and chatting more like friends than parents and daughter. They loved her very much and she them, that was more than obvious.

Eventually the lovers left Alex’s parents and headed off back to Niamhs house. They were not planning on spending the night together, as much as they wanted to, but they both had a large amount of work to do.  They were in the middle of eating a light supper when Alex’s mobile rang, it was Petra.

“Hi Petra, everything OK?.... you need a favour?.... house to yourself?...” she giggled, “can I leave you alone? Yes no problem, can I just come and pick up what I need for school? What? You aren't back from lunch yet?” more laughing, “OK I shall go and get everything now... yes.. Will be out... have a great evening can't wait to hear all about it in the morning.”

Alex put the phone down to Petra and looked at Niamh... “Babe, fancy helping me with something?”

“Anything.”

“Well come on, I'll tell you as we go, we need to be quick. Petra is taking Steve back to ours tonight and she wants everything to be perfect and the flat all hers. So can I stay here tonight? I promise not to interrupt or distract you” she smiled, that irresistible smile.

“Of course you can, any time I'd have you here all the time if I could.” She stopped, embarrassed, she hadn't meant to say that. She bypassed it quickly, “So what do we need to do? Obviously get your teaching stuff, a suit for school and a few bits, is that it?”

“Well we need to get some bread; milk and I thought a bottle of champagne would be nice. I’m so thrilled for her.”

By now they had reached the little shop and were picking out the things that they would need both for Petra and for themselves. They carried on going until they got to Alex's flat. Niamh had flashbacks of the first night that she and Alex had got together, the wonderful night that they had spent in this flat. It was wonderful. She snapped back to the present and helped get everything ready and collect all of the odd bits and books which Alex would need in the morning. They were done. They left the champagne, flowers, strawberries and chocolates on the table with a note saying “love Alex and Niamh” and left.

That night whilst Niamh and Alex sat working Naimh stopped, looked around her and smiled. She was so happy, this felt so right with Alex with her. She put her pen down, got up from her chair and walked over to Alex, leant down and kissed her, looked into her eyes, “shall we call it a night and go to bed?”

She led Alex up to her bedroom and laid down with her on her bed, “thank you for such a wonderful, magical weekend.” she said sighing happily, “I just don't want it to end.”

“There is no reason that it has to end darling,” replied Alex.

As much as she wanted to ask Alex to move in with her she knew that Alex wouldn't want to leave Petra so soon after her moving in and certainly not until things had been going for longer. The arrangement that they had of sharing homes right now seemed to be working well, although the nights apart seemed so hard, lonely, long and empty.

They fell asleep in each other’s arms, both loving the feeling of the other one lying next to them.

The alarm clock rang out far too early for either of their liking, but they dutifully got up, showered, dressed and ate breakfast together. Niamh suddenly looked concerned, “Alex, how are we going to get into school unnoticed together? I'm not sure that St Kitts is ready for us to rock the boat yet.”

“We will be fine, as far as anyone needs to know we are just friends who walked into school together, you worry too much about appearances. All will be fine.”

They collected together their belongings and headed off for another day at school, Niamh dreading trying to talk to Hillary about her issues with Francis.

They walked to school together both wanting to show the other some kind of affection, but both knowing that it really wasn't a good idea. They wanted their relationship to remain something which was not up for total public scrutiny just yet. It was not an issue for Petra or Geoff to know; even Muriel wouldn't have a problem. Even Hillary would be understanding and more than likely pleased for them, but they weren't quite ready to fight their corner with some of the more elderly god fearing prejudiced staff. Alex was quite convinced and always had been that she should be able to be open about her relationships and she always had been about her sexuality as she believed that in an all girls school there should be at least one member of staff who any girl going through what she went through growing up gay would be able to understand. She had never hidden her sexuality. Her parents had more than supported her in that choice. As she said it didn't make any difference to the 1st degree she got or the highest grade other qualifications, or her outstanding reports from Ofsted or the brilliant GCSE and A level results her students got so it really shouldn't make any difference to anyone else. But as she knew, she had been lucky. Her parents had been with her and behind her every single step of the way. She knew that it had been the opposite for Niamh and there was no way she would do anything which would or could make her uncomfortable. Besides, she had enough on her plate with having to deal with Francis.

Chapter Seventeen

The staffroom was buzzing with activity when they walked in. The general hum of the other members of staff was almost alive as people were discussing what they had done over the weekend, what they had planned for this week and the run up towards Christmas. Each department was busy with their preparations, although it was only half way through September and they would not be teaching what they had been planning generally until after the half term break, which for many of the more seasoned professionals couldn't come quickly enough.

Niamh and Alex spotted Geoff in an animated discussion with Petra sitting at the table which they normally occupied. Petra spotted the couple and waved to them, Niamh waved back as she started walking over to them, whilst Niamh went over to get the generally revolting instant coffee.

“So tell me everything, then I shall tell you everything” Said Geoff with a beaming grin from ear to ear.

“Yes, come on Petra tell us what happened last night.” said Alex, very used to girly gossip with the pair.

“Well it was wonderful. He was such a gentleman. I was so scared, but it was so wonderful. We had dinner, chatted, snuggled on the sofa and watched a film and...”

“And....” interrupted Geoff,

“Well we went to bed and just snuggled and slept. There was no pressure at all, but it was so lovely to have someone to cuddle up to.”

Petra looked so happy, Alex and Niamh were thrilled for her, although Geoff was obviously disappointed by the revelation that nothing more had happened.

“Tell me you have more interesting news” he said to Alex

“Things are wonderful with Niamh” she said quietly. “I promised her we would be careful and not become staffroom gossip or gossip for the girls.”

Niamh came over carrying two mugs of coffee having noticed that Geoff and Petra had some already.

“Morning all” she said brightly.

“Morning Niamh.” said Geoff, “good weekend?” he winked

“Wonderful weekend thank you. Yourself?”

“Well I was hoping that someone would ask, as yes I did have a rather good weekend actually...” he leant in to the centre of the table and encouraged the others to do the same, “can you keep a secret?” He paused for dramatic effect and to wait while they nodded, “well, I found something out. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!!!” he shouted.

The whole staffroom had stopped what they were doing and turned around to see who was shouting. When they realised what had been said and who had said it the whole room erupted in cheers and congratulations to Geoff. He had never made a secret that he and Mary had been trying for a very long time and this was the long anticipated news.

“Oh God, Mary's going to kill me, I promised her I would keep it quiet!” He said shyly amid the teachers shaking his hand, patting him on the back and congratulating him.

No one had noticed that Hillary had walked into the staffroom in time to hear what Geoff had said or that she was standing at the front of the room waiting to start the important Monday morning briefing.

“I would like to start the briefing please.” She said shortly. Everyone returned to their seats and faced the front, “May I begin by extending the congratulations of the whole staff to you and to Mary, Geoff. That really is wonderful news.” Geoff turned a wonderful shade of pillar box red being singled out in this way by Hillary whom he respected so much.

The briefing continued in its normal way, she welcomed Alex and Petra back to school, glad to hear that their father was doing well in his recovery.  As Hillary walked from the front of the room towards the exit at the back she made a detour towards Geoff to shake his hand and to wish him well. Alex saw this as the perfect opportunity to ask her for a meeting, and following her lead Niamh did the same, even though she thought it was a waste of time. Both meetings were set up for later that day and Hillary left to get ready to take the morning assembly, known as “prayers” at St Kitts.

When they were on their own Niamh asked Alex why she had arranged a meeting with Hillary, assuming it was to do with something regarding school business. Alex told her that it was to do with the donation that her father wished to make to the Christmas Soiree evening.

Alex went off to meet with her tutor group and Niamh went off to get ready to play the piano for the morning Prayers, she was not only playing for the hymns, but was playing something as the students walked in and sat down. She had already been asked to play Mozart by Hillary for this morning as it fitted with her theme of being the best that you possibly could be so went to get everything in order.

After Prayers Niamh went along the corridor lined with notice boards smelling the now familiar smell of the polished floorboards until she reached the impressive main entrance of the school. She knocked on Hillary's PA's door to let her know that she had arrived with time to spare for her meeting with Hillary.

Hillary was sitting behind her large desk which was set in the far corner of her office, opposite the fireplace. She stood up, welcomed Niamh into her room and directed her to the sofa and the more comfortable chairs.

“What can I do for you Niamh? Are you settling in well?”

“Thank you for seeing me Hillary, I am really sorry for taking up your time, I'm sure that it is nothing, but I do want to discuss something with you.”

“Never apologise for coming to see me about anything, I try to make sure my door is always open to my staff. Why don't you tell me what is bothering you and I shall see what I can do to help.” She said kindly.

Hillary listened whilst Niamh explained what Francis had said to her in their last meeting on Friday, not saying a word, just nodding occasionally. When Niamh had finished telling her the whole story she looked at Hillary and said, “Well I don't expect you to do anything, but Alex said that it would be best to talk to you about what was going on just in case something slips.”

“I am very glad that you listened to Alex, she is a very valuable asset to the school. You were right to come and see me about this. You should not be running the department, that is not what your job description is at all, you do not have the experience to be running it single handily, no one would be able to.; Do not worry, I shall see Francis and suggest that things change.” She saw the look on Niamhs face, “Niamh, honestly, I know that it was difficult for you to come and see me and I promise that I will not let on to him about this meeting. In the meantime just keep doing what it is that you are doing, you are a very popular member of staff, especially with Alex I have noticed.” She grinned.

Niamh had heard that Hillary liked to be well and truly included in all the gossip, but didn't really believe it, until now. She flushed with embarrassment at the mention of Alex's name, especially in that context.

Hillary continued, “It's OK, I’m not prying” she said smiling, “but I just want you to remember that if there is something going on between you then I’m right behind you and I wish you the best of luck.”

Niamh smiled an embarrassed, knowing smile which told Hillary everything that she wanted to know and more besides. She thanked Hillary for her time and left so that she could walk down to the music department in time for the class which she was due to be teaching. At least it was a decent class, a double period of year 5 composition.

Niamh wasn't able to catch up with Alex until lunchtime with their various timetables of lessons, cover and meetings.  Over lunch she discussed what had been said by Hillary in their meeting and Alex told her about her meeting. From their discussion they both realised that Hillary had asked them both about their relationship with the other one. They had a good laugh as they realised that they had both become the gossip which they had tried so hard to not to be. Alex knew that Hillary would keep the news to herself, but that if she had worked it out then others would have too. They thought that they had both been so subtle.

They finished their lunch and met up with Geoff and Petra in the staffroom who both found the fact that Hillary had spoken to them both really funny. They were glad that the couple had the full backing of her, knowing that other staff who had become involved together had been the centre of gossip for both the staff and the girls. Both Geoff and Petra knew that this could be a really rough ride, especially when the parents got involved, and get involved they would. It may not have been such a scandal if it were two gay men, but two women becoming a lesbian couple in an all girl’s school? Geoff and Petra could hear the telephone calls, the letters, the comments and the threats already. They would need all the support of all the staff and definitely of senior management to get them through this.

The rest of the teaching day passed without too many issues for any of the friends. News had got around about Geoff and Mary's pregnancy and in each class he had several comments and some lovely messages on the board for him, even if some of them were a little cheeky, but that was his A level class most of whom he had known since they were in the first year of the school.

At the end of the day Niamh was called into see Hillary. She was nervous. She didn't understand why she would be calling her into see her so soon after their chat this morning. At least she didn't have to wait for long until she found out. As she was walking up the driveway she bumped into Alex who was obviously coming down to see her.

“Where are you going? Aren't you meant to be leading junior strings in ten minutes? I was just bringing you cake which I snuck out of tea.”

“Aw thank you for thinking of me,”

“How could I not?” said Alex looking around to make sure that they weren't being overheard.

Niamh smiled, “Ah, I have to go and see Hillary. I have been called....”

“Really? I wonder what that is about.”

“No idea, I hope that she hasn't spoken to Francis and something has gone wrong. I haven't seen him for most of the day.”

“Well why don't I go down and find one of your A level crew and get them to take strings whilst you have your meeting? I can sit down there and look after things for you.”

“Oh would you mind? Thank you darling.”

They parted ways and Niamh carried on retracing her steps to Hillary's office. Once inside she sat down on the same chair which she had been directed to earlier that day and waited to find out the reasoning behind this meeting.

Hillary started by thanking her for coming to the meeting and explained that it was informal and so there was nothing to worry about. For some reason being told this made her far more nervous. Niamh listened as Hillary told her that she had spoken to Francis and her heart dropped into her stomach, she just felt that there would be a problem. According to Hillary she had not mentioned that Niamh had been to see her. Francis had told her over a chat about planning and assessment, something which she would do with every head of department  on a regular basis that he had decided to delegate his planning and assessing of a large amount of his workload as he was feeling under the weather and that he didn't feel that he could continue much longer in his post and that he would be looking to retire at the end of the year, he didn't want to go before then, but he had a vision of training Niamh up to take over his role.

Niamh sat stunned listening to this. She knew that he was just waiting to retire, but certainly didn't think that he thought that she would be able to take over his job when he did that, she didn't even think that he liked her very much, thinking that she was too interfering and “not of the right material” to take over running such a demanding and well known music department. She looked at Hillary and said, “But, that can't be right?”

“Oh it certainly can. I have known Francis for very many years and we have a mutual understanding and a very healthy professional respect for each other.”

“But I haven't been here for long. What do you think about it all?”

“Well obviously when the time comes the vacancy will have to be externally advertised, but based on what I know of you and what I have seen of you so far then I would have no problem and would definitely want you to apply. Take this time, you have a couple of terms of taking on additional responsibility and learn from Francis. Yes he's very old school, but he is full of knowledge and has been doing this job for a very long time. Let's keep meeting and see how you feel you are doing and with the regular meetings you have with Francis then we can see. Obviously though he doesn't want you to know this plan and I would rather it wasn't discussed.” She saw Niamh looking uncomfortable, “however, you can obviously tell Alex as it's impossible to keep something like this from a partner, especially when it is likely to mean that your workload and your hours will be increased, obviously we shall see about your salary after Christmas as well.”

She left Hillary's office feeling as if everything was such a whirlwind to Niamh. She hadn't even been here for a term and yet now she was being suggested that she should be taking on far more responsibility and thinking about promotion. With this and with her new relationship with Alex she really had to pinch herself to make sure that it was all real.

She walked back down to the music department knowing that she had totally missed junior strings; she now had hours of practise sessions to supervise and then an hour of senior strings. At least they would play in tune and can manage something more challenging which she might enjoy. She had been told by Hillary that Francis had left early tonight, and would not be back tonight.

She walked into the warm old music building which was buzzing with sounds of girls practising their instruments, other girls chatting, waiting for the practise rooms to become free, the peripatetic staff loitering, drinking coffee, about to start or just finishing lessons.  Alex asked her if she could go over some of the planning with her in her office. As they entered her office Niamh told Alex everything. Alex literally jumped for joy for her lover and promised that the longer hours, more work and more pressure really wouldn't affect their relationship at all. It took all of Niamhs strength not to throw her arms around Alex and kiss her with joy, but she knew that it could be a disastrous thing to do, not only for the rumour mill, but because she knew that she wouldn't be able to stop there.....

Chapter Eighteen

Niamh was exhausted by the time she staggered home. She got as far as two doors away from her own front door and stopped, puzzled. As far as she remembered Alex was staying the night at her own flat tonight and she was meant to be on her own. In which case why were there lights on?

Expecting it to be Alex she carried on towards her door, got the keys out of her handbag and made sure she had her mobile to easy reach. As she got to the door she panicked when she pushed her key in the lock and the door just pushed itself open. She moved away from the door and got her mobile out. She called Alex who told her to call the police and not to go in. She chose to ignore her and summoning all her bravery she pushed open the door and walked into her home...

Alex had already pulled on her trainers and told Petra what was happening. She had interrupted her on the phone to Steve, who said that he would meet Alex at Niamhs. Alex ran all the way to Niamh's home worrying about what she would find when she got there. Niamh had sounded scared, and after what had happened to her father she really didn't want to take any changes. She had made sure that Petra had locked the door after her as she had left.

The journey from her own flat to Niamhs house felt as if it was taking forever, even though she knew that it really wasn't.

She was really thrilled to see Steve running down the adjoining road towards her. At least she wouldn't be on her own. She had so many horrible images flashing through her mind. She kept running as fast as she could.

Niamh dropped her work bag on the floor as she had entered her home. She called out “hello, is there anyone there?” as bravely as she could, hoping that her voice did not betray her.

She heard movement from the kitchen and she kept walking. She was terrified, but wanted to get this encounter over.

“Ah you're home. I have been waiting for you.”

She knew that voice. Why couldn't she think who it was? Situations, people all flashed before her and she came upon the answer, shit... she had placed it...

“Emmett? What the fuck are you doing here and more importantly why the fuck are you in my home? I thought I made it very clear that I wanted nothing more to do with you, EVER. Get out! Get out of my home and don't come back you fucking eejit!”

She hadn't given him any chance to interject; far from being frightened she was so angry. She couldn't believe that he had found her, she had been so careful.

“What? No hello darling and welcome to my home? No what have you been up to since we saw each other last? No striptease for your fiancée?” he laughed a self assured laugh. He was drunk. She knew how he could be when he was drunk and in this mood.

“How did you find me?” She asked him straight, she needed to know.

“Ah now that would be telling” he seemed not to want to realise how angry she genuinely was with him. He seemed to believe that this was a joke. It wasn't. She wasn't laughing.

With relief Alex and Steve arrived at Niamhs house and pushed open the door. They walked in to see Niamh standing in the lounge area staring at this strange man whom she had no idea who he was leaning on the wall. She looked at Niamh, “hunni are you OK?”

“Hunni? Why would she call you hunni?” asked the drunk

Steve pushed past the girls, “Shit, what the fuck are you doing here?” He shouted at the drunk. “Emmett, I want you to get out and leave my sister alone.”

“You know this man?” Alex asked Niamh

“Emmett, I have told you to leave, now don't you make me make you leave you bastard.” Steve had taken complete control of the situation. He was walking towards Emmett as he said it.

Niamh had never seen her brother so protective towards her. She liked it, although she wished that she hadn't had cause to see it at all. She was steered out of the way by Alex as Steve bought Emmett through the house and threw him outside in the rain.

“Hunni, are you OK?” Asked Alex who watched Niamh nod, “Good, now will someone please tell me what's going on and who that man is?”

“In a minute, I am sure that she will tell you everything, but right now we need to sort some things out. Alex, can you call Petra and let her know that everything is OK, and I shall call her in a bit? Niamh, sit down before you fall down please sis.”

Steve pulled out a chair and directed Niamh into it. She had suddenly started to look very pale and quite ill. Niamh gladly sat down holding her head in her hands repeating, “but how did he find me?” over and over again.

Alex did as she had been told, called Petra and told her what she knew, which wasn't a lot. She then went to make sweet tea; everyone needed it, especially Niamh who looked so fragile. Her heart melted, she couldn't be angry, she wanted to protect her.

When she arrived back at the table she caught the tail end of a conversation about whether she should be told everything. “Please tell me everything, nothing can make me change the way which I feel about you darling. Whatever it is, tell me...?”

Niamh took a sip of her tea and grimaced, it was far too sweet, but she knew it was a good idea. She breathed deeply and started to tell everything. Steve offered to leave, but Niamh asked him to stay. She told Alex everything, the whole story with her mother, the whole story with the way in which she had been forced into agreeing to a marriage proposal from Emmett, how she had moved away from Ireland and moved just down the road from where she had now settled in an attempt to hide from him as he had promised to ruin her life. Niamh told Alex how she had spoken to him recently, but that she had no idea how he could have found out where she was living.

Steve interrupted. He apologised as he thought it might be his fault. He had let it slip to their mother where he was settled and working. That he had found a really wonderful girl who he had started a relationship with and that he had bumped into Niamh as a friend of the girl. He was so shocked that Emmett had obviously been told by their mother and furious that she would give out the information.  He went over to his sister and his eyes begged forgiveness for his stupidity,

“You ficking eejit” she said to him, “how could you have done that?”

Alex was the voice of reason, “Look, it’s done now. We can sort this out. Let’s call a locksmith and get the door fixed, Steve I think we should call the police,”

“God no, then everything will come out. I just don't want that right now” wept Niamh,

“OK OK hunni, why don't I stay here with you tonight or you come back to mine?”

In the end Niamh agreed to pick up her things and went back with Alex to her flat and the waiting, worried Petra. As she got in, she went straight into a shower as she felt dirty after the confrontation with Emmett.

Alex explained everything to Petra whilst she cooked something for them all to eat. Alex could tell how worried she had been, and still was as she had handmade pasta. She only did this when she was trying desperately to take her mind off other things.

The phone rang, it was Steve. He had sorted the door, and had put Emmett in a taxi to take him to the airport so he could return to Ireland. Alex mouthed a question to Petra who was still busy whipping up a storm; she relayed the message to Steve, asking him if he wanted to join them tonight.  He agreed saying that he was going to ask if he could pop in to see how Naimh was. He asked Alex whether she had, or would forgive him.

By the time that he had arrived Petra had made enough pasta, garlic bread and various sauces to feed an army. Over dinner he handed over the new keys to Naimh and he explained what he had done and that he had also called his mother and told her exactly how upset and angry he was. She had apologised, saying that she hadn't meant to tell Emmett but neither Steve nor Niamh believed her at all. They both knew her well enough to know that she would stop at very little to make her point, and her point was that Niamh should be married to a nice catholic Irish man who she has found for her, whether he was a drunk with a history of violence or not.

They changed the topic of conversation which was a relief to them all, wondering how many more things could go wrong.  The group of friends had been through so much recently either directly or indirectly and all they wanted now were for things to just relax so that they could just get on with doing everything else they had planned.

After dinner Alex took Niamh to bed, she had been through so much. As she went she stopped to ask Petra if she was happy enough with Steve still around or if she wanted her to get rid of him. Petra said that she was more than happy and that she was just going to see how things went. Alex wished her good luck and reminded her that she had the right to say “no” at any point, that she was only in her room and that she could be woken at any point if needed. Petra laughed, thanked her and sent her to bed with Niamh. She then turned her attention back to Steve.

Alex went into her room and sat on the edge of the bed just looking at the beautiful woman lying naked in her bed. She had turned away from Alex, which was unusual, but Alex could hear her crying. Alex laid down next to Niamh and put her arm over her body, she pulled her back towards her, looked her in the eye and said softly, “hunni, do you want to talk about it?”

Niamh tried to look away from her, but couldn't help it; she was so easy to talk to. She didn't need to pretend about anything. She explained that she was terrified earlier, that she really didn't know how she could ever trust her brother again and that she really wasn't sure that she wanted to go home, but that she didn't want to be a burden to Alex, especially with everything she was going through too.

As she laid there holding Niamh in the dark, listening to her let out everything which was playing on her mind all Alex could think about was how much she didn't want to ever leave her that she wanted to hold her and keep her safe forever. She had to stop herself from asking her there and then to move in together, she knew that it was too soon and that it might be as if she was taking advantage of the situation.

Alex and Niamh talked for hours, and Niamh slept wrapped in Alex's arms.

Chapter Nineteen

The following morning came round far too quickly and the couple unwound themselves from each other reluctantly and dragged themselves out of bed. They opened the bedroom door amazed to see Petra sitting at a table laid for four with coffee, toast, croissants, crockery and cutlery.

Alex looked inquisitively at her, raised an eyebrow and said “oh yeah? Something you want to tell us?”

Petra flushed and launched into her evening with Steve. She had taken him into her room and he had stayed the night in her bed. She was so thrilled. She had trusted him and he had not let her down. He hadn't tried anything, although he had been honest with her and told her that he would love to make love to her; but that he wouldn't rush it and he would wait until she was ready. She had decided that she was ready. Petra continued giving Niamh and Alex a full run down of how marvellous everything had been, including many details which neither of the girls wanted to hear, but which they both did listen to as it was Petra and this was such a massive deal to her.

Steve came out of Petra's bedroom looking part guilty, part embarrassed, but mostly thrilled. He muttered a “good morning” as he bent down to kiss Petra.  He smiled at her and looked deep into her eyes. She smiled back, “good morning again” she laughed.

Alex and Niamh smiled back, genuinely pleased that Petra looked so happy, although it was strange for Niamh as it was her brother and her friend. Noticing the time and knowing that they had to stop off at Niamh's house to pick up her things for school they had to go. Steve stopped them and asked if they all wanted a lift, he had the car and had time to take them where they needed to go and get to work on time. They gratefully accepted.

As they reached Niamhs house Alex and Petra waited in the car whilst Steve and Niamh went in to grab the bits she needed for the day ahead. As she went in she shivered at the memory of seeing Emmett standing there last night, an intruder in her home and in her mind which she thought she had banished. Steve rallied her and helped her to collect the items which she needed. They were quick and she was glad that he was there. She told him that she was pleased about him and Petra and he thanked her.

They left and returned to the car where Alex and Petra had obviously been chatting and gossiping as they heard the loud laughter as they approached the car, the kind which is shared by lovers, or by really old friends. Even though they hadn't heard the joke, Steve and Niamh slipped into the car not feeling as if they were interrupting, but like they were just joining in.

The journey to school was full of laughter which patched over the cracks of everything that the group were worrying about individually. Niamh and Alex shared the back seat of the car, holding hands all the way. It was nice for them to be able to show some sign affection to each other on the way into their workplace. Alex couldn't help but let her hand rest on Niamhs thigh. She wanted to be able to move it higher; she had missed the intimacy over the last couple of nights. Alex was desperate to kiss away the obvious pain which Niamh was feeling. She wanted to make everything alright, whether it was down to her or not. But right now she couldn't. She had to let her work through this on her own, just let her know that she was there and would always be there for her.

They arrived at St Kitts and Steve was suitably impressed by the somewhat overwhelming, beautiful building. He was speechless, as each of them had been when they had first arrived here, either as a young girl or later in life as a respected teacher. Steve bade them farewell and they all got out of the car, ready to start the day ahead.

The day went ahead for each of them as smoothly as possible, with meetings, lessons and so forth until Alex and Niamh were called into Hillary's office at the end of the day. Petra and Geoff were both around after the meeting as they were planning the set and props for the Christmas Soiree. Niamh and Alex arrived in the drama studio, both looking shocked and ashen.

“Oh god hunni, what's up?” Said Petra when she saw her friends walking towards her, “What did Hillary say? Is everything OK?”

Alex looked at Niamh who nodded giving her agreement for Alex to tell them what was going on, this was obviously something quite serious.

“We have a situation and right now we are going to need your support if you don't mind?” Alex started. Both Geoff and Petra were silently listening to everything which was being said, they had a horrible feeling that this was not going to be pleasant.

“Of course you have our support, what’s up? Tell us everything....”

“Someone has found out about us. There have been complaints and apparently they weren't from parents. As expected there have been issues raised from some of the members of staff. We haven't been told who, but we are in shock. Neither of us thought that anyone would stoop this low. We are both amazed. Obviously Hillary is in a difficult situation. She will be backing us totally and has been brilliant, but she isn't sure what the best way of proceeding will be.”

Geoff and Petra were visibly shocked not being able to totally believe what they had been told.

The group carried on talking about everything, debating who it might be and what they can do to sort it out. They all decided that something needed to be done and that they would just keep doing what it was that they did and do it “with bells on”.

Whilst Alex and Niamh had almost expected comments from the parents, or even staffroom gossip, they really hadn't thought that anyone would go to Hillary with their homophobic issues. They were both hurt. Hillary had suggested that she mention something in the morning briefing, but as Niamh had said, she wouldn't mention if a heterosexual couple had been formed from the staff, so doing it over a pair of lesbians seemed to really draw attention to their relationship and single them out, when all they wanted was to be able to have a normal loving relationship with no special treatment at all. Hillary had understood these points and had decided that she would do a “celebrate the differences prayers” instead so that she could address this and other issues with the whole school in one go. She had also said that she would be talking to Mrs Bunter about raising such issues within her PSHE sessions with the girls, “after all, the best way to stop any kind of prejudice is to tackle it from the children, to teach them that it is good to be different, then they can educate their parents and the other adults and people around them” she had said. Whilst being sceptical, Alex and Niamh had little other choice. So they went along with it.

The following morning all of the staff had been called into Prayers, this was not unusual as most staff were expected to attend anyway. After the perfunctory “Good morning” routine Hillary began her prepared talk for this morning’s session. Hillary handled the whole assembly and covered the points she wanted to cover brilliantly and sensitively. She said,

“Today I want to talk to you about differences. I want you to start by looking around you and see how many people sitting around you are different to you.” She paused to allow the whole school to look around them, “Each one of us are different, it might be something obvious like our height, or size, it might be hair colour, eye colour or skin colour. It might be something not so easily seen such as our shoe size. It might be something hidden such as our likes and dislikes, it might be our religion; it might be our home life. In this hall there are around a thousand people and each of us is different. It is a truly wonderful thing.” Again she paused. She moved in front of the stand which she had been standing behind up until this point. “However, there are some people who believe that someone else’s differences are not things to be celebrated, but which are something to ridicule and use as a weapon against the other person. I could quite easily pick on anyone of you and find something about you to use against you and throw at you as an insult. This is disgraceful and if I hear that this is happening to anyone by anyone else, no matter whom, I shall treat the matter with the utmost urgency. I will not have bullying in this school.” She paused once again. “I have heard that there are some members of St Kitts who believe that it is fine for them to be making comments about staff and students and I will not tolerate it. I have heard that there are some girls who are finding things very difficult due to the behaviour of their peers. I will not tolerate it. I have been told that there are some people who have issues with other members of St Kitts because they are different to themselves. I will not tolerate it. If you are one of the people who are being victimised, if you are being bullied or made to feel as if you are worth less than anyone else then I ask you to come and see me. If you do not want to see me then please see another member of staff whom you feel that you can talk to. It is important. You are important to me, to the school.” Another pause. “I have invited several groups into school to talk to you all. We shall as a whole school be focussing on differences, acceptance and tolerance for the remainder of the term. This should help anyone with any prejudices be challenged. If there is anything that anyone would specifically like covered then they can either come and see me directly or if they do not feel comfortable doing that then they can leave me a note which I shall pick up. This can be done either with a name or anonymously. I shall take each suggestion seriously. This should be an exciting journey of discovery and we should all learn a lot about ourselves. The groups I have spoken to so far will be talking about gender differences, religious differences, racial differences, money and class differences and the first group coming in shall be talking to you about sexual differences. No matter what your beliefs, your race, your colour, your gender or your sexual connotation you are each a very valued member of St Kitts and more than that you each have your part to play in the world.”

She ended her speech; they sung a hymn and said a prayer. Notices were given and she left the hall. As the girls and staff left the hall there were many hushed conversations, not only from the students, but from the staff as well.

Chapter Twenty

Over the following weeks Hillary stuck to her promise of addressing each difference with the students and the staff of St Kitts. Some of the sessions had proved to cause more of a stir than others, the sessions regarding gender differences had raised interesting debates as to whether women or men were better and why, as would be expected from an all girl’s school it was voted that the female population were far better than the males at everything.

During these weeks it had become widely accepted that Alex and Niamh were now a “proper couple” which had varied responses from the staff. Apart from the comments already made to Hillary there had been the suspected and expected staffroom gossip, mostly positive and congratulatory as most of the staff had known Alex for years and Niamh had made a very positive start to her time at St Kitts. Several of the girls had found out, apparently they had overheard something from some members of staff and obviously this had made its way around the school. Again there were some negative comments and letters regarding the “high level of risk having a lesbian teaching my precious and innocent daughters” and other comments made in a similar vein, however Hillary did not allow these and explained that actually she would be more than happy to trust Alex and Niamh with any of the students and had not found such wonderful and dedicated teachers.

It had made it easier for some of the students who had obviously been struggling with their sexuality to actually have some positive role models to look up to and people who they could go and talk to who would genuinely understand what they were feeling, their fear of coming out and who would listen and really be able to talk openly.

As a matter of course several societies had been set up during these weeks, there was a  religious one which enabled girls and staff to come together to pray and to discuss religious matters and differences in a supervised and safe environment. One of the teachers had started a political society where there were interesting debates following political veins. The most shocking was the request from some of the students for a LGB society. This was something which was fraught with legalities, yet Hillary decided that something was necessary.  She had decided to follow the SCHOOLS OUT ideas and asked the staff to volunteer to run the group. She was already involved in all of the societies, and went to as many sessions of each of them as she could, but she needed people to run this one.

Alex and Niamh offered to run the group with a couple of other members of staff, Petra, Geoff and a gay teacher Neil volunteered to help. The group was a massive success. They not only had girls who were bi or lesbian, but their friends and even some who just wanted to know more. It was brilliant. Alex and Niamh ran the group with a really positive manner and really empowered the girls and the staff who up until now had felt that they had to keep quiet about their sexuality.

The attitude of the students and the staff had changed. Rather than seeing the series of anti discrimination topics as something to be ridiculed, or a pain, or worse the majority of people had seen the change in the students, the way that they appeared to be more open about their issues as well as finding some of the staff more approachable. Hillary was really pleased with the way that things had developed and the way that the girls had been asking for more involvement and suggesting more ideas and areas which they would like to look at.

Any resistance which had been found from the parents was soon diminished when the plans were explained as a way of developing the girls and allowing them the maturity to make up their own minds.

During this time Alex and Petra had some brilliant news. Harold was being released from hospital. He had made a nearly full recovery, although he still suffered from some short term memory loss, he was doing well and wanted to return to work as soon as possible. Alex tried to talk him out of it and failed. Between them Sarah, Alex, Petra and Niamh managed to persuade him to stay off work for another week. However, by the third day he had colleagues from the office sneaking work into him at home. Sarah was livid.

Alex took Niamh over to see them for the weekend when he had come home to help support Sarah.  That Saturday evening whilst Niamh and Sarah set the table ready for dinner Alex took the opportunity to talk to her father. She tried explaining to him that her mother was terrified that the people who had attacked him and put him in hospital would come back to finish off what they had started. Harold knew deep down that everything his daughter was saying was totally right and true, but he explained to her that he felt that he had to finish this. He knew that she would understand what he meant and how he was feeling; he also knew that she would help act as a go between with Sarah.

Niamh talked to Sarah while they were setting the table. She found out that Sarah was even more worried about Harold than they thought she was. From what Niamh understood Harold was determined to do the whole job that he had been tasked with, to stand up in court and prosecute the same people who were responsible for his own predicament.

Dinner passed well, although a little strained at times. They tried to keep the conversation as light as possible talking about school, the girl’s relationship, how things were going between Steve and Petra, what they had planned for half term and so on.

Alex and Niamh had explained to them that they had been looking forward to half term tremendously. They had been counting down the weeks and days since the first day of term. At one point they had been thinking about going away for the week, but with everything that had happened to them neither of them thought that it was a really good idea. They had decided that a week redecorating Nimahs house together would be the better way for them to spend their time.

Petra had asked whether Alex and Niamh would be at the flat during the break as she had wanted to invite Steve over for the week as he had taken the time off to be with her. Naturally Alex had said that no of course she didn't mind and that she would relish the time to spend with Niamh who she had just managed to persuade her to let her help with the mammoth redecorating challenge which she had decided to undertake.

That night after Harold and Sarah had retired to bed Alex and Niamh sat up talking and drinking a bottle of merlot from Harold’s wine cellar. That night after Harold and Sarah had retired to bed Alex and Niamh sat up talking and drinking a bottle of Merlot from Harold’s wine cellar. They talked about everything. Alex shared her fears about her father, that he was trying to get back to work far too soon, he still looked ill and drawn. Both of the girls had seen exactly how tired and old he was looking.

All of their troubles were soon forgotten after their second glass of very good wine and they moved from the front room sofa to the bedroom which Alex had grown up in. Niamh had only seen this room as she dropped off her bags this morning and had then returned to her hosts. She stopped and looked around her. It was totally different to how her room had been. This room was full of things which screamed about how accepted and loved Alex was and always had been. There were trophies and rosettes which she had won through the years still displayed and obviously dusted regularly while she was away.

On the bookshelves were Alex's prized collections of literature. She had a leather bound, well read and old set of the complete works of Shakespeare, well loved copies of all the lesbian mystery books, erotic fiction and other lesbian interest books. Even though she had read all of these and more besides it was amazing to her that her parents had always been so unfazed about her sexuality, that the books out on display and the posters of the women on the wall were seen as normal.

Alex read Niamhs mind, came up behind her and put her arms protectively around her lover. Niamh responded favourably by melting into her. It seemed like less than a single step from the bookcase to the bed.

Niamh said, “This feels really naughty under your parent’s roof. I feel like a naughty teenager!”

“OOO yeah!” Alex slipped her hands under the pillow and pulled out two satin ties.

Niamh couldn't help but laugh, even though she was trying to be hard and subtle. Alex tied Niamhs hands to the rails of the bed frame For a fleeting second she wondered how many times Alex had done this in this bed to other people, but the thought didn't last long as Alex undid Niamhs shirt and slipped off her jeans.

The rest of the night was familiar, yet different, loving and gentle lovemaking until the early hours of the morning.

The rest of the weekend flew by in the luxury of the St John home. Niamh felt so welcome and at home here, something which she had never felt even in her own home as she was growing up. They relaxed in the garden, ate well and drank from fine wine, helping in the kitchen and spending hours chatting. It was so accepting and heavenly.

Chapter Twenty One

Before they knew where they were half term was upon them and school was deserted for a week, except for the odd teacher trying to prepare for the following half a term and the run up to Christmas which was always a manic time at St Kitts, more so for Petra in the drama department and Niamh who was almost single handily doing all the teaching, planning and running the whole music department. She was exhausted.

The couple had decided that although they would try to redecorate Nimahs house they wanted to focus on just relaxing as well. They had spent so much time with Harold and Sarah or with Petra and Steve, or at school around either students or staff, they just wanted to be alone.

As the phone kept ringing for one thing or another, and they were surrounded with boxes of work they decided to take the day off from everything and just be a couple, doing coupley things. They got up late, showered and changed into jeans and a jumper, grabbed the essentials and locked the door behind them. They had no plans, they just decided to jump on a train, head into London and go for a wander around.

They spent hours just walking around London, popping in and out of the various shops, walking around the National Gallery and doing all of the traditional sight seeing things. They had a wonderful time, and as it headed into the late afternoon they headed off to China Town for dinner and then moved into Soho for the evening. It had been years since Alex had been here and was totally out of touch. Niamh had never spent any time in Soho, having been terrified of the image it had. She hadn't realised what a wonderful place it really was, somewhere where it was totally accepted that you could walk down the street holding hands with someone of the same sex, someone of a different sex, anyone. You really could be who you wanted to be.

They had a wonderful evening and a wonderful taxi journey home. Neither of them cared what they cab driver was thinking they were so caught up in the moment and in each other. By the time that the car had stopped outside of Niamhs house they had worked themselves up into a total state of desire and lust. Alex had bought Niamh to the edge several times, but hadn't let her explode yet, she wanted to tease her.

The rest of the half term was filled of passionate lovemaking, a little decorating, less work but far more spending time together. Whether it was doing something mundane like cooking or washing up they were just really enjoying the experience of living together. It may only have originally been for a week, but neither of them wanted to go back to being in separate homes. They both felt comfortable here, they were getting used to their routines and had enjoyed decorating the bedroom together, in a way that they both liked. Neither of them spoke about it, apart from the odd comment. However, late one evening Petra called just to see how the girls were. They hadn't seen each other for a few days both being caught up with their respective partners. She too had loved having Steve around all the time and didn't want him to have to leave either.

Whilst they were on the phone Alex and Petra came up with a basic plan. Neither of them wanted things to be the way that they had been, but Alex didn't want to sell her flat and Petra didn't want to buy something with Steve as she was still trying to save whilst also paying off her student debts. She said that she still had to think rationally. Between them they came up with the best plan possible. Alex would talk to Niamh about moving into her house with her and Petra would talk to Steve about moving in with her. It seemed to be the best plan. That way Alex would help with the cost of her house and get to live with the woman she loved, she wouldn't have to sell her flat as she could rent it out really cheaply to Petra and Steve who she knew would look after it, but then they would be able to save to get their own place as and when they were ready. Both friends promised to talk to their partners and they would talk to each other again later.

Niamh jumped at the idea. She got a bottle of sparkling wine out of the fridge and took Alex to bed to celebrate. Their celebrations lasted all night and into the following day when they fell asleep exhausted in each other’s arms.

The following day Alex had another phone call from Petra who had discussed the idea with Steve. It seemed that everyone was all for the idea and they decided to go ahead as soon as possible. They started moving Alex's belongings that afternoon, much to the total delight of Alex and Niamh. Steve bought his things over from the room that he was renting by the week from a friend of his in his car, emptied his belongings and picked up Alex's which he then took down and helped to load into Niamhs.

By the end of the night they had finished swapping all the essentials over. Alex had called through to her father and asked him to draw up a contract for all parties to sign as they wanted to keep things legal to make sure that there would be no misunderstandings in the future. He had agreed and said it would be ready for them all to sign on Tuesday.

The two couples decided that rather than struggle to cook around the boxes and bags that night that they would all go out for dinner. Harold and Sarah had asked if they could accompany them and pay for the evening. Everyone had agreed and the two couples arrived at 'Arcludes' together really looking forward to meeting up with Harold and Sarah who were sounding far happier than they had in ages.

Steve had not met Harold and Sarah yet and was incredibly nervous. His anxiety was only quelled by Niamh and Petra agreeing with Alex about how wonderful the older people were.  They had not been wrong. They all had a wonderful evening talking and eating the delicious Italian food presented to them by the waiters. Harold and Sarah were thrilled that their girls had both found people to settle down with and who so obviously made them happy. It made everything so much easier for them. They did worry so much about both of the girls.

Harold and Sarah gave Steve their blessing and they invited all of them up to their house for Christmas. This was something which Alex and Petra did each year, something which they would not miss for anything. Christmas at the St John’s home was lovely, traditional yet very relaxed. Niamh had no intention of going back to her mother’s house this year and was thrilled to be able to accept the offer. Steve felt torn and although he really really wanted to spend Christmas with Petra, he had a stab of guilt about not being with their mother. His heart won over, after all she wouldn't be on her own and after the way in which she had behaved towards Niamh his mind was made up.

The rest of the evening was wonderful... Steve and Petra went home and Niamh and Alex went back to their new home as they both saw it.

Niamh was still on cloud nine about being accepted by Alex’s parents and being invited for Christmas, a festival she had always dreaded in the past, she was now really really looking forward to it. She grabbed Alex and pushed her onto the sofa where she put her hands up inside her lover’s jumper playing with her nipples through her bra. None of their clothes lasted long as they were discarded as they moved up towards their newly decorated room and away from the boxes staring at them waiting to be unpacked.

Their lovemaking was sensual that night. They took their time, similar to the first night that they had made love, but this time knowing exactly which buttons to press, exactly what the outcome would be for the other person, how to bring each other to the brink of explosion and then slow the pace to bring them from peak to trough in easy, comfortable, knowledgeable strokes. When they finally allowed each other to reach orgasm they came in waves, together, happy and fully. They were so satisfied, yet within the hour they had started again, and again and again....

They woke late enjoying the feeling of being wrapped around someone in what was now their house, their home, their room. They felt closer today, more solid as a couple. They were happy and were looking forward to moving Alex's bits out of the bags and boxes and out into their home. They had very different tastes, yet had managed to decorate the bedroom well together, so they held out lots of hope for the rest of the house.

As they spent the rest of the day pottering, touching and making love, they did not manage to get as much put away as they had hoped, so they worked late into the evening. Each time they brushed past each other senses were aroused and it took so much self discipline to not allow it to go further than just a touch. It was a shame that their desire was far stronger than their discipline. However it was half term, they had all the time in the world.

Chapter Twenty Two

It was the last day of the holiday and Niamh had to go into school to start photocopying music ready for the next half terms events. During the day they managed to get a huge amount of work done, all of the ensemble music was put in the right files ready just to pick it up for each session.  Niamh had to be there to wait for the piano tuner to come in and to tune each of the pianos in the whole department. Alex had popped out to get some lunch for both of them while Niamh was sorting through the instrumental store room, making sure that all of the instruments were there, that the music store cupboards were all neat and tidy and double checked on the departmental store of manuscript paper, lined paper and books which were used for the juniors.  By the time she had finished she walked downstairs into the entrance hall to find Alex sitting there and waiting for her. She had set out a wonderful looking picnic for them to enjoy. Whilst Niamh tried to protest, Alex stopped her by kissing her and telling her that she had to eat...

The rest of the term was filled for them with Christmas planning and events, not least the Christmas Soiree which they were organising. They worked hard, all of them. Petra put in many hours after school had finished every day and it was not unusual to find her making sets, props, planning the order, making sure all the equipment was ready, organising the catering with the schools head chef who had agreed to do it for her for a very reasonable amount. She still had the tickets to print, the order to finalise and to print, seating plans to organise as well as sound and lighting and many many other things which needed to be sorted with plenty of time.

Geoff was a wonderful help and even Mary came into help design, make and paint scenery having specialised in drama and art when she was younger. It was so lovely to see her blossoming through her pregnancy which Geoff was still beaming about.

Niamh was busy rehearsing each of the musical acts for the evening, some of which she never thought would be ready and others which were just wonderful and really bought a tear to her eye. She had always loved the magic of the run up to Christmas, it was just the actual day which she hated, but this year she was so looking forward to it.

Alex was helping with anything which she could and was also busy listening to those who were reciting poetry or prose for the evening. Things were going well, although it would be wonderful should some of the girls be able to remember the words. They really would not look nearly as wonderful standing there with pieces of paper in their hands. She decided to make up something to hold the words should it be needed just in case.

One evening in the following week the four staff, and Steve who had been called in to help, had stayed really late rehearsing and trying to put everything together when Petra broke down in tears. It came completely out of the blue and no one had any idea why. Alex asked her if she was OK and what was up,

Niamh said, “I just can't thank you enough, you have been able to make my initial idea into something real. If it wasn't for all of your support” she squeezed Steve’s hand, “then it would never have come to fruition. Honestly, thank you.”

The others reached towards her and they all had a group hug. They all loved this project and had decided to suggest that it became an annual event. It was good for the girls to learn about something which, even though they hoped so much that it would never be something they would need, they might have cause to call on in the future. If they could all help and do something which could make a real difference then the staff thought that this was something they should be encouraged in doing.

The tickets were selling at a furious rate and many of the parents had sent in donations for the charity as well as or instead of buying the tickets. The staff had all pulled together and had managed to get some amazing items which were going to be auctioned off at the end of the night. This had been Alex's idea and she knew that it had the potential to raise an enormous amount of money. Both Harold and Sarah had bought tickets wanting to support the girls in what they believed was a wonderful cause; they had also sold tickets to other colleagues and friends. Several of the items on the auction list were to be sold under a silent auction so Harold and Sarah had helped to get some silent bids in for many of the more exclusive prizes.

The catering had been organised with an amazing menu to be cooked in the main kitchens and bought over. Some of the students had offered to help cook the three course meal whilst others offered to act as waitresses for the evening. This was an amazing time for the whole school to pull together to create something wonderful which would not only benefit all those who were present for the event, but for those who the money would be benefiting.

There had been several practises of each part of the menu as those who would be cooking on the night strived for absolute perfection. Often at some point in the late evenings of planning and preparation for the soiree a group of three or so hopeful students would arrive with foil trays for Alex, Niamh, Geoff, Petra or any other generally grateful member of staff to taste. So far the starters of sweet chilli prawn parcels, or goats cheese and chutney tartlet, a choice of pate and stuffed mushrooms had proved incredibly delicious so far that night. They were each much improved from the first few attempts some of which really had been inedible.

Later that evening the staff were going through the envelopes with the secret bids in them trying to keep up with the highest bid each couple of days. So far they had raised thousands, not bad for a school fund raising event. Niamh and Petra were shocked by the generous bids which had been made, even for the most ridiculous of items. £500 had been bid by one of the parents for a piece of artwork by one of the students; another bid was for a bottle of champagne – nothing special except for the bid of £250. There was a lot for a night at a hotel in London with tickets for a show; someone had put a bid of £750 for something which you could easily buy on the internet for far less. It really was a case of more money than sense to be promising to part with those kind of sums, in their opinions although they were all thrilled with what they had raised so far, and there were still several weeks left to go. Who knows how much they would raise!

Geoff had left several hours ago and the others had had enough for the night. They wanted to finish what they were in the middle of, but they also knew that if they stayed much later then they would start making mistakes and they certainly didn't want to do that. It was past nine o'clock and they were all exhausted, grateful for the bits they had been offered to eat during the course of the evening and even more relieved that Steve had his car and so could drive them all home.

Chapter Twenty Three

It was the final week of the trial which Harold St John was prosecuting. Alex and Petra had taken it in turns to call him, to try to make sure that he wasn't working too hard preparing for it. He had, under duress, been working primarily at home in an effort to limit the amount of travelling and hours he could work without taking a break. His PA and other associates had almost moved in, or so it felt to Sarah who was just desperate for it all to be over. She hated the fact that they had been living with panic alarms, added security and police 'popping in.' Although she knew that all the precautions had been advisory she really just wanted to get back to how things were.

Sarah hadn't felt able to tell Alex and Petra exactly how worried Harold was. She had never seen him so concerned about a case before. There was something that he wasn't telling her, and that terrified her. They normally talked around everything, although he had never discussed a case in depth with her as he wasn't allowed to, he did tend to tell her what things he would worry about, but not with this case. He had been involved in much bigger and more influential cases than this one. Although he hadn't been hospitalised before... but she just knew that there was more.

Alex was awoken by the phone ringing on the Sunday morning before the trial. She glanced at the clock and noticed that it was not even 5am. She rubbed her eyes as she reached over and answered it to stop it ringing. Niamh was lying asleep next to her, not a lot woke her and Alex was hit with a pang right inside her stomach, a pang of such intense love, lust and desire.  She brushed her hand over Niamhs soft back and sleepily spoke into the receiver, “Hello?”

“Alex, its Steve, can you wake Niamh?”

He didn't sound himself at all, “Steve, you must be joking!” she joked, “What's up? It’s not even 5, are you drunk?”

“Alex, it's important. Wake her please.”

Alex apologised to Steve and immediately woke her sleeping lover. Niamh woke with a start, pulling the duvet up around her as she took the receiver, “Steve, what's up?”

As Alex listened to Niamhs part of the conversation she knew that something was really wrong. Whatever it was involved their mother and Steve was obviously really worried and wanting to go back to see her, however Niamh was making it quite clear that she had no intention of flying back to Ireland to see to the woman who had hurt her repeatedly for as long as she can remember. Alex squeezed her hand to reassure her that she was there for her and would support her throughout everything.

Niamh was crying into the phone before long. Alex pulled her close and held her while she sobbed and talked to Steve. Eventually she put the phone down and sobbed even harder onto Alex's breasts. Through her sobs she explained that Steve had told her that her mother had found out about her and Alex and had told him that she had been having pains in her chest. Emmett had returned to her mother and had recently told her everything; that she was living with a woman sharing a bed with her and bringing shame on the family.

Alex was furious. She wanted to call Niamhs mother and tell her exactly what she thought of her, but she knew that it wasn't her place and right now she was needed in so many places. She thought of her parents and what they would say to Niamhs mother. They had stood up for her so many times to so many different kinds of people, she had never had to suffer anything which Niamh had been through, let alone at the hands of the person who is meant to love you and protect you most, no matter what.  All she could do was hold Niamh and listen to her. Even like this Alex thought she was beautiful, how could what they have ever be seen as wrong?

The alarm clock went off all too soon, after their disturbed night neither of them wanted to get up and they certainly didn't want to have to go and face school. They had promised Harold that they would not be in court today. He wanted them to “just carry on as if nothing was up” but it was, there seemed to be things “up” which at the moment seemed just too much to bear.

They dragged themselves up and into school where they met Petra who also had been up most of the night talking to Steve. She understood the split loyalty he was feeling. She had often felt something similar when she was having issues with her aunt, but she felt totally for Niamh. It must have been unbearable for her growing up with such prejudice surrounding her, making her feel as if what she was feeling was wrong. To then have been pushed into a relationship with Emmett just to try to get her mother’s approval was just unbelievable to Petra.

As soon as Petra saw Alex and Niamh she went straight over to them and hugged each of them in turn, they sat at their normal table and started talking about the events which were on each of their minds. Petra told them that Steve had flown out this morning to sort things out with his mother; that he was on Niamhs side, even though he had been trying to get her to go with him last night on the phone. He had said to Petra that he had understood how Niamh felt and he would explain to her that he would be supporting her in her decision to not have anything to do with their mother again until she stopped with the homophobic attitudes.

Niamh burst into tears, so touched by what Steve had said. She had never and would never ask him to choose between them. She knew that it was difficult for him, but she couldn't bring herself to even talk about her mother without feeling the familiar stab of pain which she had felt for years, the feeling that she was such a disappointment.

Niamh put her hand over that of her friend and Alex put her arm around her lover. Niamh was seriously touched that her friends were there for her and felt able to show her affection when things were so hard for them as well. She dried her eyes so as not to attract too much attention to herself; she didn't want to have to explain things to anyone else.

The trio changed the subject talking about Harold. Sarah had called both Alex and Petra that morning to tell them that Harold was really concerned about them, but that he felt that he had to continue. Apparently he wanted them all to meet up really soon, but that he didn't want them anywhere near the courtroom for the duration of the trial as so far they had been safe and he didn't want to parade them in front of the defendants and their associates...

At lunchtime Alex and Petra went to find Niamh when she hadn't arrived in the staffroom to go to lunch together. They had decided to stick together this week so they could support each other and be there when each of them wanted or needed to talk. They did have the best excuse of excluding other members of staff, apart from Geoff who was just very caught up in baby talk, with the upcoming Soiree.

As they walked into the music department they were greeted by the familiar smells and sounds which they had come to love since working so closely with Niamh. They knew that Francis was not around today as he had called in sick again. They also knew that if they didn't drag Niamh off for a lunch break with them then she would not take a break during the day and she certainly wouldn't eat. Alex had taken to filling Niamhs top drawer of her desk with random chocolate bars, cereal bars and other nibbley items so that she could at least grab something as she was moving from one thing to another.

They walked into Francis's office to start with, but the musty room which smelt of 'old man' was empty. As they walked around the department checking Niamhs office and then each room in turn Alex began to worry. She really hadn't been herself this morning which was totally understandable, but she was concerned as to where she was.

Finally they found her helping one of the first years to extract their violin from the back of the instrument store room. Alex and Petra sighed with relief when they saw her. They let her finish helping the first year and then dragged her off to lunch.

That evening Petra came back to Niamhs with her and Alex. They had arranged with Steve that they would all stay together until he returned; Petra loved knowing that he wanted to protect her, even though he was nowhere near.

They sat and ate the Chinese that they had stopped off to pick up on the way home, none of them wanting to eat, but all knowing that they should. None of them felt like chatting, but they did anyway, waiting for the phone to ring, willing it to ring so they would have news from Steve and from Sarah. It wasn't until much later that their wish was granted. It was Sarah phoning to let them know that today had gone “as well as expected” and that Harold was so tired that he had gone to bed early in preparation for tomorrow. Alex thanked her mother for the call but explained that they were waiting for a call from Steve who had gone back to see his mother whilst in Ireland on business, although none of them wanted to lie to Sarah, they certainly didn't want her worrying about what else was going on. Sarah had understood and got off the phone, she was going to bed anyway. She sent her love to everyone and told them that she would call again tomorrow.

Steve called about half an hour later when the girls were all sat on the sofa watching stuff on TV which didn't need any thought. Niamh had answered the phone and Steve had explained to her that he had spoken to his mother. He had continued to tell her that Emmett had exaggerated everything to their mother, but he had put her straight. They had talked about the way that their mother treated Niamh both now and in the past and he had told her that he wouldn't be standing for it. He said that he would stay in touch with her, but that he would not be telling her anything about Niamh; that was up to her. Steve continued to say that their mother had broken down and cried throughout the conversation, but had made no apologies for “bringing up her daughter in the way that she felt was best for her and in the eyes of God” amongst other things.

Niamh cried her way through the conversation until she handed the phone over to Petra. Steve and Petra were on the phone for ages. Alex and Niamh listened for a while, but then Alex decided to take the initiative and took Niamh upstairs to bed. Niamh didn't feel special right now and Alex wanted to change that. As they climbed the stairs hand in hand Alex just wanted to hold Niamh right now, just wanted to make her realise that someone did love her for being her, that someone did want to hold her, to love her and to protect her forever.

That night the pair lay down together and just hugged all night. Although things could easily have developed to more, both of them just wanted to feel closeness and understanding, not sex.

Chapter Twenty Four

By the end of the week Steve had returned from Ireland in a far more positive mood. He had chosen to side with his sister over his mother. He had said that it was a far easier choice to make than he thought it would be as he couldn't sit and listen to her “bigoted shite” any more. Petra was thrilled to have him back; she really hadn't thought that she would have missed him so much. She had never felt like this about anyone else ever before and she loved it.

Niamh was over the moon about Steve backing her up, it made her feel accepted – even though she had always known that Steve had no problem with her sexuality this was even more special. It felt more real. She felt terribly guilty that Steve had made a choice between herself and their mother, something which she had hoped would never have to happen, but this had been his choice and she had to remember that.

The trial had gone well, Harold and his team had won the case and the Snow brothers had been found guilty and sentenced to several life sentences and a minimum of 25 years in prison. It was a good result for the whole team who had so much at risk. They were all over the papers and heralded as heroes.

Strangely it had bought more closure to what Petra had experienced too, she had learnt when they were together that, 'the scum bag' had been involved with the Snow Bros. as he had referred to them, and that it had partly been down to this involvement that he had beaten, abused, violated and raped her in the savage and brutal way in which he had. Knowing that he would be away for an additional minimum of 15 years was music to her ears; at least she was saved from bumping into him on the street for any time soon.

Harold's health had been picking up, but the trial had taken its toll and he was exhausted, so much so that when Sarah had told him that he had to go away for a relaxing break he hadn't argued – something totally unheard of ever since Alex could remember. He had even let her pick the destination. They were heading to Florence for a couple of weeks to a retreat that they had heard of and she was looking forward to it, Harold on the other hand was looking forward to getting a break from her moaning at him about taking a break!

Christmas fever was really winding up at school and all around them. Petra had kicked up a gear, as had all the staff involved in the Soiree as well as all the other 'normal' Christmas events such as the Carol Concert by candlelight in the Cathedral, the parties and the shopping.

The silent auction bids had rolled in thick and fast and the totals were phenomenal, they had raised far more with just this part of the night than any of the organisers had ever felt was a possibility, even in somewhere like St Kitts.

The Christmas Soiree was an amazing event. The girls all shone. It was a complete success. They sold every ticket, and had enough demand that they had to print more tickets and make the stage smaller to fit all the tables in, as well as using the balcony.

Each of the acts had performed almost faultlessly, and those who needed to covered up any slips so they went unnoticed unless you knew the act inside out and backwards as the staff involved did.  The stars of the night had to be the group of representatives from Women’s Aid who came to the event. Some of whom had been victims of domestic violence. The whole group stood up and gave a brief presentation which moved most of the audience to tears about why this event meant so much to them and what their money would be helping to fund.

The sobriety was short lived, although the message stuck as they enjoyed the rest of the night. Although at many points during the night many tables were overheard discussing how impressed they had been with the representatives who told their heartbreaking tales with heart and soul.

Neither Petra nor Niamh had heard much of what had happened as they had many responsibilities that evening, which was probably for the best as the stories that had been recounted rang of what they had been through, not just the one incident, but the beatings and the violence throughout the pressured relationship.

Petra had to organise the acts to be in the right place at the right time and to keep a general overseeing eye over everything at once, even though she had help from some of her most trusted members of staff. She had made sure that she wouldn't be anywhere near the stage when the representatives were talking as she needed to remain focussed and she knew she wouldn't be able to if she had heard what they were saying, she knew that she would start reliving everything...

As the sound and lighting department she had Geoff. He was doing a brilliant job and had even bought tickets for Mary and a few of their friends who all seemed to be enjoying the show. Geoff had been thrilled when she had asked him to run this part with the help of a couple of students who were using it as an assessment piece. He had always wanted to be part of something like this, but had in the past been over looked until Petra had come and taken charge of the department. Her predecessor had always just assumed that as he ran the mathematics department that he would have no interest in anything theatrical. He had been so wrong.

The auction ran brilliantly. Every item, not only in the silent auction went for hundreds or thousands of pounds, much to the delight of the organisers and the representatives.  The cheques were signed by the winners who were thrilled with their purchases. Alex had been right, it was an event where people were just showing off as to who had the most money to burn, which seemed to be the cause of some amusement to those watching from the sidelines who were trying to keep their heads still and their arms held down so that there was no way that they could end up bidding on something for more than their annual salaries.

Harold and Sarah St John had placed a few bids for items of jewellery and for a weekend away, neither of which they won, but they did win a week’s holiday in a chalet in France which they had not decided whether they were going to use it on their own to help Harold recuperate properly or whether they were going to offer it to Petra and Alex, but the details could be sorted out later.

As Niamh took her place for the final time behind the piano with her chamber choir of staff and students preparing to walk up onto the stage she felt a huge swell of pride. She was watching Alex in her tight black pencil skirt, her white shirt tucked in accentuating her curvaceous figure. Niamh couldn't help but think to what she knew to be under her outer layers and she smiled a knowing smile. She also knew that Alex loved to sing, she loved to shine, hence why she had been given one of the solos, as had Geoff and of course Petra. This really was the grand finale to the whole show and would be a show stopper.

One of their A level students started with the traditional solo for 'Once in Royal David's City.' Her voice rang out clearly and perfectly. As the solo ended Niamh started to play and the choir joined in, it was a beautiful sound, Christmas carols ringing out, which could be heard right outside the building.  Carol by carol they sang celebrating Christmas, celebrating all being together, working for something far bigger and more important than they were individually.

The trio of Geoff, Petra and Alex was amazing. They performed a wonderful arrangement by Niamh of 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing'. The whole audience were moved by the beauty of the three voices, the way they combined and the amazing performance which the staff gave. It was incredible. Niamh played note perfectly and was busting with pride. None of those singing had performed something which was originally so well known, and yet through this gentle and careful arrangement became something new, different and far more beautiful than anyone had ever heard it. As they sung it Niamh was able to take in the quality of the sound, thinking how stunning Alex looked, how much she wanted to shout that Alex was her girlfriend, but she just smiled instead and allowed her heart to feel all warm and proud instead.

At the end of the concert Petra was asked to join the hosts on stage and thanked and congratulated, in turn Geoff, Niamh and Alex were called up to more standing ovations. It was an amazing end to the night. The four members of staff had been relieved from clearing up duty, to their great relief; it was always the hardest part of putting something like this together was knowing that you then had to spend hours clearing everything away before you got to go home.

However tonight they took only the essentials and locked everything else in the staff room ready for them to deal with on Monday. They collected Mary, Alex’s parents, Steve (who had come along as a surprise to Petra and sat with Harold and Sarah) and each party’s guests and all headed off to the local hotel for a drink. It was within walking distance for Alex and Niamh and Petra and Steve, and an easy place to request taxis for those who were drinking and not driving.

As they were sitting in the bar of 'The Curly Snail' hotel Niamh whispered into Alex’s ear exactly what she wanted to do to her when she got her home. Alex couldn't help but smile, trying to disguise what they were talking about, but failing miserably. She was drinking too much to be subtle and just wanted to get Niamh home strip her off and fuck her senseless.

All of those around the table were full of praise for the night; they were amazed at how well every group had performed. There were, of course and to be expected, a few comments about who had outbid who in pure show, “in such a vulgar way.”

As the others were partaking in chit chat Alex looked up and saw that Steve had hold of Petra's hand and was whispering something in her ear. She had a huge smile on her face... She looked happy Alex thought, so pleased.

Harold stood and flicked the rim of his champagne glass, “Excuse me, may I have your attention please?”

Everyone stopped talking amongst themselves and looked up at him. He continued, “I would like to bring your attention to this wonderful woman sitting here,” he gestured towards Petra, “I know that she has already had people telling her how wonderful she is, but I think it is important to note amongst friends that she has pulled off a miracle. She has raised a huge amount of money for an amazing charity of which she has had to make personal use in the past.” Sarah was trying to get him to stop, she really didn't think that Petra would want it all dragged up again, but he wasn't listening and carried on regardless, “I know that she would not want me to tell anyone what happened, and so I won't embarrass her, but I would like her to know that the bastard that did it to her shall rot in hell for as long as I can make him. I also would like her to know how proud of her I, er we are of her, every single day and how grateful we are for her coming into our lives.” He looked at her and saw her blush, “Ladies and Gentlemen and general assembled company... I give you our daughter, Petra”

This was the first time that he had called her his daughter in public and she felt all warm and wobbly inside, she loved it. She had always felt like it, but this was different.

Not one to give short speeches, her continued, “Petra will be the first person to tell you that she did not and could not have pulled off tonight on her own and I know that she had amazing help from my other daughter, Alex, her girlfriend who we are delighted to welcome to the family, Niamh, their friend, who I have been told is expecting his first baby so added congratulations to him, Geoff. Would you all stand and raise your glasses once more to Alex, Niamh and Geoff, and again to Petra, my family...”

With the toasts over, the conversations resumed. Several drinks later and Sarah and Harold made their excuses to leave, much to Harold’s disgust. “His family” all agreed to go over on the Sunday for lunch where they would make arrangements for Christmas.

Chapter Twenty Five

They left the party as soon as they could without appearing rude as they wanted to be together. They wanted to be on their own, they were still on a high from the evening’s success as much as from the alcohol and just that they could, the other pressures and strains from their lives had been pushed from their minds as they gently, but urgently stripped each other, removing layer by layer, item by item. As each layer was removed their desire for each other was becoming more and more heightened. They couldn't stop kissing and caressing each other, touching and exploring once again. Each time they made love it felt so different. Sometimes it was fast, furious and desperate, other times it was slow, gentle, step by step, but it was always easy, always felt right.

With them both on a high after the Charity evening and them both having had several more than they should have done to drink tonight started fast and furious right inside the front door, on and over the dining table, the sofa, the rug on the floor and then on the stairs as they made their way more slowly up to bed.

The night was amazing, they spent the whole night making love to each other, then gently dozing, then making sure that the other was satiated, dozing and continuing the cycle of pleasure and desire.  It was heavenly. Not a care in the world except for each other and the pleasure that they could give to the one that they were deeply and passionately in love with.

Alex looked at Niamh as she gently woke her, kissing her tenderly until she came round. Niamh loved waking up looking into the eyes of the only person who had ever loved her and who had ever accepted her for who she was, “I love you Alex” she whispered, “I don't want this to ever end.”

“There is no reason why it has to angel; I only have eyes for you.”

They sealed their love in the best way they knew, by staying in bed and making each other as happy as possible....

This was the start of the rest of their lives together, they had Christmas just around the corner and this would be the first New Year when they would be spending it with the person who they intended to see out not only the whole year with, but the rest of their lives too.

The purest happiness involved green eyes and satiny ties most definitely for Alex.

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