Sian gave Stella a fleeting smile as she made her way toward the door. The clock above the drink rack told her that it had just gone eleven and with any luck she could return to the Webster's house to find Sophie all curled up on the sofa waiting for her. The thought lingered in her mind as she crossed the cobbles but something caused her to pause in the middle of the street. To her right sat the take-a-way and surgery; ahead of her lay the bookies and her flat; to the left lay every other occupant of the street. Taking in a deep breath of the cool air she veered toward the Webster home. Oh, had she mentioned she fancied curling up with Sophie on the couch because she really did.

Upon lifting her hand to knock on the cool panel of the door there came no reply which caused her to frown. Her testing of the handle showed it was open and without any hesitation she stepped over the threshold and shut it behind her. For a moment she thought about taking her shoes off but didn't and merely ventured through the second door into the Webster living room.

"Sian?" A voice questioned the moment she entered the room. She was met with the slightly confused faces of Sally and Kevin. "Sophie's gone over to your flat," Kevin furthered with an inquisitive, yet vaguely amused, smile. For a couple of seconds Sian thought it would be a wise idea to say something but she merely bid the pair goodnight and disappeared out of the way she had come.

Her thoughts were drifting ahead to New Year's eve and also backward to the one new year that she and Sophie had spent as a couple. Sophie's nervous mutters and that look on her face of pure surprise when Sian complimented her. Sian sighed quietly and tucked her hands further into the pockets of her jacket. The walk around the corner wasn't too long but she did wonder why Sophie hadn't sent a text her way or popped into the pub to tell her she was going to the flat. Unless, her cheeks flared a little, Sophie had decided to spring a surprise on her like yesterday. French maid? Naughty nurse? Her mind ran away at a mile a minute, galloping like a horse on crack. When she approached the door her hand fumbled in her pocket for her keys which, upon finding, she rammed into the lock. If Sophie was in there she must have used the spare one.

"Soph?" She yelled the moment the door swung shut behind her. When there was no reply, the blonde frowned and quickly ascended the staircase. Upon reaching the
top floor her eyes widened. In the centre of the living room clothes were thrown everywhere. A glass was shattered on the coffee table and two bags were laying open and half full on the floor. "Sophie?" Sian called more insistently this time. She pushed forward and jogged across the room, clasping onto the doorframe of the kitchen to gaze inside. Empty. Furrowing her eyebrows she turned around and moved quickly toward the bedroom. Just as she was about the step over the threshold there was the sound of swearing from inside and then a body nearly collided with hers.

"Sian!" The brunette yelped, jerking her head up to meet gazes with her. For a moment there was silence. Then Sophie stepped forward and shoved past the blonde, slamming the clothes she'd been carrying into one of the bags.

"Sophie!" Sian stammered before regaining her composure and rushing over, grabbing the brunette around the waist. "What the hell are you doing?" She snapped as she moved the brunette off to the side. Before Sophie could stop her she had forced her hands into the bags and begun to pull out the articles of clothing Sophie had stashed in there. For a moment, Sian thought Sophie had given up but upon turning the blonde could feel the eyes of her ex burning into her.

"Just put it back," Sophie breathed. She sounded close to tears and looked like she'd already cried once already.

"I don't wa-"

"Just leave!" Sophie yelled, the tears beginning to spill down her cheeks. Sian searched the other woman's face frantically. Why was she saying this?

"Sophie," She began in a small voice. Sophie sniffed loudly then grasped the older woman's hand and forced something into it. For a moment the pair connected gazes then Sian's fell down to the item in her hand. "You kept it," The blonde breathed as she examined the bracelet. Her thumb skimmed over the engravement. "Five years," She whispered. Sophie wasn't listening however and was beginning to pile Sian's clothes back into her bag. Sian suddenly realised something. "Sophie, this is my home, you can't get me to leave!" She defended as she yanked the bag away and tossed it behind her, far out of the brunette's grip. Sophie looked like she was going to kick off but she remained calm and just slumped down onto the couch. "Soph," The blonde whispered as she slowly took a seat beside her. "If you don't want me here..." She trailed off, unable to say anymore. Sophie groaned in frustration and pushed her hands back into her hair with more force than was needed.

"I do, Sian," She muttered as her face became covered by her hands. "I just can't have you here. It's too hard," Sian frowned gently and tucked some hair behind her ear, breathing out hard through her nose as she looked around.

"Sophie, I-"

"No, Sian, you need to go because you stay everything's goin' ta go wrong again!" Sophie urged, snapping her head up to look at the blonde. "Someone's goin' to get hurt and you come back here and fuckin'-" She was cut off.

"I had no choice, Soph," Sian murmured. The brunette blinked and looked at her. "I was living in my flat and I had someone over," She trailed off and gazed down at her hands. "They wanted a relationship and in all fairness I had been sayin' some things but she got ahead of herself and I mentioned you, Sophie," The brunette's lips parted slightly. "I was so over you and it was the first in years that maybe I could give it a go with someone else and I messed it up, I mentioned you, Sophie. I fucking mentioned you," Her voice was breaking with the strain of each word. "I don't know whether it was her or just an accident but when I came home from work the fire brigade was there and everything had been burnt. I don't know where dad is and mum didn't answer the phone so I had no choice. I didn't come back specifically for you, there was just nothing else I could do,"

"Great, great, so I'm turfing out the sob story," Sophie hissed, looking quickly away.

"I'm not leaving, so you're not," Sian replied simply, leaning forward to put her forearms on her knees. Sophie exhaled sharply through her lips. She even flinched a little when she felt Sian's fingers wrap around her wrist. Her eyes fixed onto Sian's face as the blonde concentrated on her hand. They were silent as the older woman slipped the dated bracelet onto Sophie's limb. "And you're not getting rid of me that easy, Webster," She added with a small smile. Sophie sniffed gently and raised her head once more. The blonde's movements were slow as she leant up and ran her fingers over the back of Sophie's head. "I know I hurt you by leaving, Sophie..."

"But I know I hurt you, Sian," Sophie cut in quickly. She ran her tongue slowly over her lip. "I need you to tell me something," She breathed. Sian blinked. "I need you to tell me that you love me," She blurted. Sian swallowed hard and looked away. "Sian. Tell me," Sophie hissed.

"I can't," The blonde murmured easily. She couldn't.

"Sian, you can," Sophie breathed as she scooted closer. Sian recoiled.

"I can't, Sophie!" She snapped, head jerking toward the younger woman. Her eyes were wide and tinted with anger. Sophie scoffed and rose to her feet, walking across the room toward the kitchen.

"Come on, Sophie, you know full well why I can't!" Sian defended as she threw herself up off the sofa and dashed after the brunette.

"No, Sian, I don't," Sophie said simply. "I have never stopped loving you and if after all that time I was still in your head then it means something to you too!" Sian shook her head sadly. "Please," Sophie sobbed, leaning forward and grasping onto the lapels of Sian's leather jacket. The blonde sighed and pressed her forehead gently to the brunette's.

"I'm not ready," Sian muttered.

"How would you feel if you lost this, Sian?" Sophie questioned, her eyes dropping closed as she gripped harder on her jacket. Sian blinked and looked down at her jacket.

"What does this have t-"

"How would you feel if you lost your jacket, Sian?" Sophie asked, slightly louder. Sian blinked and just watched as the brunette stepped back. She then brushed her hands over her jacket. This jacket had been with her in all the moments she could think back too. All those momentous times. It almost seemed lucky to her. She wouldn't be her...she blinked and lowered her gaze away from...she wouldn't be her without it. Sophie bit her lip. Sian breathed out shakily.

"Lost," Sian murmured, connecting eyes slowly with the brunette who shrugged slowly.

"You're my black leather jacket, Sian,"

Six words;

Five years;

and Sian slowly felt her heart coming back together.

Well that's it, lads and laddesses. It's been a long road full of pain and general sex and I have loved EVERY SINGLE MINUTE of it. I've loved every bit of feedback and all the support I have gotten for this. I am actually really upset that it's ended and I felt this is the only way it could end for me. It's open for a sequel but closed enough for an ending. It's not sad but it's hopeful! I love you all!