Don't Mix Business With Pleasure

Chapter One

"Daddy! Your Back!"

Her father smiled widely. He caught her as she threw herself on him. With one swing, he had her placed on his hip. She giggled childishly and hugged him tightly around his neck, happy he was back.

"You know your over an hour late Dad. It shouldn't happen, but I love you so I'll let it go"

She used the term Dad to let him know that she was serious. Although she liked playing in 'Eddies Bar', she loved her Daddy more. The adults in the room all chuckled simultaneously as the young Morgan tried to be serious. It was definitely one of their favourite moments when she was like this.

With a knowing smirk Ash said "I'm sorry Darlin,I promise that it will never happen again. I love you too Laura. Am I forgiven?"

"Always. I love you daddy." The young child said with slight confusion as to what was so funny.

"So the how are you Laura?" Her Daddy asked.

"Very good. I played with Uncle Eddie." She told him overly gleefully.

"More like she kept on hiding all my drinks away from me…" Uncle Eddie muttered darkly.

She then turned red in embarrassment at the now revealed fact and hid her face in her Daddy's neck, although she couldn't resist giggling heavily as she remembered the fun she had had that day with Eddie.

"Sure sounds like fun Laura." Her Daddy laughed, "Now when do we get see those picture's you promised me - the ones to give to Mickey and Albert?"

Her eyes instantly sparked in memory of this, she then proceeded to struggle in her father's grip. He let her go, chuckling to himself at her enthusiasm, as she rushed to her rucksack past embarrasment forgotten. She rummaged around for a moment before she seemingly jumped with life, holding a collection of paper tightly to her chest. "Everyone must now sit down," she announced loudly and confidently.

Sharing a bemused look, the four adults complied by sliding into a booth with Laura now positioned in the middle so that she could see everyone. Her eyebrows furrowed together in concentration as she tried to read the words she had written herself (with some help from her school teacher). She announced their names and slid the pictures across the table. She beamed proudly at them as her work was admired.

"Brilliant my dear - Did you draw it all yourself Laura?"

She nodded furiously. "Miss Dibble helped me with the words but everything else is mine…do you like it?" she almost whispered in hope that all her efforts weren't for nothing.

Her Daddy reached over and hugged her tightly, kissing her head. "It's perfect Laura."

"Its a Beautiful picture Babygirl."

"I'll even hang it up behind the bar. I Promise."

She beamed brightly up at the four adults, completely innocent and naïve of the world around her. She thought the gesture as nothing and certainly not how much these pictures meant to the adults who worked in a world consumed by greed and corruption.

Laura Morgan was waiting for them at the bar, cradling a glass in the palm of her hands. She sipped the drink softly and slowly wishing she could speed up this long awaited reunion process. Her legs sliding against each other shifting in her seat, she leant against the counter leisurely. Her eyes scanned the old place with content – it had been far too long since she'd been here last. She had missed this place as much as she missed the people that resided within. She was glad to be back.

As seconds turned to minutes and minutes to an hour she beleived that her new found hope would be lost. Sighing and tilting her head backwards, Laura ran a hand through her dip dyed, she'd done it last week when she felt the need for a change. Laura then lookeddown ather outfit as if wondering ifit would be okay. She was wearing a simple vest with a skater skirtand cutup leggings. She also wore her favourite denim jacket. Laughter drew her attention to the door leading down into the bar.

They were here.

Nervously, she shifted in her seat and glanced at Eddie. The man caught her gaze and smiled encouragingly. Ushering her to remember who it ws that was there and what they were to her. She returned the smile awkwardly, messing with her fingers – something she often did to calm her nerves.

With wide eyes, Laura watched as the voices became louder, clearer, and the dark shadows became familiar faces. Two faces she didn't recognise, young (not all bad looking), but the other three she had vivid memories of, although they had aged dramatically from the last time she saw them. However, she mused,she had also.

The laughter imediately fell to a shocked silence. Laura smiled weakly at them and waved her hand, half heartedly. Almost as if she was scared they would judge her and hate her.

"Hello..."

"...Laura? Is that you? Is It really?"

"Yeah Dad...it's really me..."

Laura soon found herself pulled into a tight embrace; a familiar hug that she had missed all the time she had been forced to stay away. She clung to im and blinked back the tears of happiness and joy

Ash pulled away from his daughter and looked at her properly. "Jesus Laura, you look so grown-up..."

Laura gave him a watery smile. "And So I should Dad. I turned 21 this year."

"Has it been ten whole years?"

"Yeah...it really has..."

"Hey Babygirl." Mickey's voice, happiness clear and all, broke into the small reunion of father and daughter. Laura's eyes sparked with memories and happiness, when she saw the conman's smiling face and, although reluctantly, Ash released the young morgan so she could hug her old companions and his dearest friends.

"Uncle Mickey!" she cried, laughing, "You're still taller than I remember."

"So are you." Mickey laughed, "I'm glad you're back."

"It's good to be back," she assured, moving away so she could hug the man who had acted as her grandfather for her childhood, "Albi! All your hair is white now!"

"Thank you for reminding me," Albert said dryly, as they shared a hug, "It's good to hear your voice again."

Emma and Sean stood to the side, feeling awkward as they watched the exchange with no idea what was happening, or who this girl was. How come she had never been mentioned before? The brother and sister shared a look, silently deciding whether or not they should say anything. In the end, it was Emma who finally spoke up.

"Ah, um, hello?" she cleared her throat, drawing the attention of the room, "Care to explain?"

"Emma, Sean, this is Laura Morgan, my daughter." Ash introduced, "Rosie, this is Emma and Sean Kennedy..."

Laura smiled at the siblings, holding out her hand. "Hi, it's great to meet you."

"You too," Emma smiled accepting the hand, finally happy that there may be another girl and soeone for her to talk to.

Sean, who was of until then lost in thought of how gorgeous Laura looked no matter what the way, took her hand, raising it to his lips to press a kiss to the back. She looked bemused, almostas ifshe had expected itbut asthough something seemed much better in her life . He wriggled his eyebrows and she had to hide a laugh behind her hand. "It's a pleasure." he smiled charmingly,never loosing his charms not even ifhe was moments ago thinking of how perfect the fixers daughter was , although it did then falter when he saw the fixer's deathly glare aimed in his direction.

"So why are you guys having a reunion now?" Emma asked curiously, as they slide into one of the booths Eddie had offered to them.

Laura tilted her head as she thought of a way to explain the situation. "My Mum and Dad never really actually got along..."

Mickey snorted into his drink failing to keep the laughs at bay.

"An understatement my dear," Albert scolded teasingly.

Laura sighed in defeat. "Okay, my parents hated each other. It still amazes me that they even got together in the first place. As soon as my Mum married my Step-dad, she moved us to America so fast we left vapour trails. I haven't seen my Dad – or this lot – in ten years. I decided it was high time for a reunion, so I asked my Step-dad to pay for a flight over and here I am."

"How long are you planning on staying?" Albert questioned.

"I don't know yet." She grinned widely up at them, "How long would you want me to stay?"

Ash gave her a one armed hug. "For as long as you want sweetie."

Her smile widened as she leant into the touch, pausing for a moment before her face became serious; "There is also another reason why I came back…"

"What is it?"

The smile softened. "I have a mark for you."

Mickey arched one eyebrow. "A mark, huh?" Almost impressed.

Laura hummed and sipped her drink.

"Who?" Sean leant forward in his seat, hands clasped together in anticipation.

"Her name is Rhona Christie ." Laura explained.

This is based on an older season 4 episodeas it should be easier. thanks. Like comment Enjoy. xxx