In Any Event 15

A/N- I know it's been a while but real life is crazier than fiction sometimes. So here is the final chapter. xx

Kate pushed her way into the ladies and found what she was looking for.

Caroline, stood examining her reflection in the mirror, her hands braced either side of the sink, her stare flicking momentarily to Kate's reflection as she appeared behind her.

"I'm fine." Caroline protested at Kate's silent appraisal. The blonde placed her hands beneath the tap and moved them around impatiently in order to activate the motion sensor. The sound of the blast of water breaking the deafening silence of the too bright room.

"I don't know how I'm going to look her in the eye, when they say it. How I'm going to go outside and tell Raff, Alan, if it doesn't go our way." Caroline voiced her thoughts honestly.

"You can do it, if it comes to that. You've come this far." Kate assured, stepping closer and putting one hand out to lay on Caroline's shoulder.

Caroline tried a smile and covered Kate's hand with her own. "I've been praying this day would get here and now I feel...terrified."

Kate moved in fully behind Caroline, her remaining hand going to the blondes other shoulder, their bodies separated by only an inch. "I'm here." She said simply.

Caroline moved backwards into the warmth of Kate's body, finally Kate's chest pressed against her back, fitting them together snugly. Kate moved her arms to circle Caroline's waist and let her chin rest on her shoulder. A moment of peace. Kate's cheek brushed against Caroline's before she moved to let her lips touch the same spot.

When Caroline found herself tense, anxious or stressed, physical contact was usually the last thing she wanted, she wasn't a hugger, in the past it had always made her feel simply more uncomfortable, devoid, unatural. With Kate however, she craved it, all the more when she needed support and Kate offered it so instinctively.

The door behind them opened and Kate stiffened, anticipating Caroline's move away. It didn't come, in fact Caroline placed her hands over Kate's before they could drop from their place wrapped around her.

A slightly older woman, who seemed familiar to Caroline, passed by them to enter one of the cubicles, she looked them over once, but Caroline had gone back to looking in the mirror, at the image of herself and Kate entwined, it calmed her, it gave her strength, she closed her eyes and soaked it in.

"I feel guilty." Caroline confessed shyly. Kate regarded her, the question in her eyes. "I have you, I have Mya, the boys...I don't deserve to be so happy while she ..."

"It doesn't work like that Caroline. It's not a trade off. You do deserve to be happy. So does Gillian, and she will be again." Kate said certainly.

"The question is when?" Caroline asked as she realised who the woman in the lavatory was, one of the jurors.

Caroline slid around in Kate's arms and met her lips with a brief kiss before they heard the sound of the flush and finally broke apart just as the lady juror joined them at the sinks.

Caroline's eyes burned into the back of her head, obviously trying to tunnel through to the secrets of her mind and the woman nervously washed her hands and left with only a worried glance in the blondes direction.

Kate shook her head with an indulgent smile and offered a hand to Caroline. "Come on, you can't hang around in the toilets trying to intimidate jurors."

Caroline looked slightly indignant, but followed Kate gladly.

Xxx

They were seated.

It was unreal to think that the weeks, the hours, all the witnesses and the waiting in corridors had all been leading to this one moment. That it would be over in a few short minutes.

The jury had come back.

Caroline had scoured each face, each expression, as they filed into the courtroom for the final time. Did they look regretful? Sympathetic?

The foreman of the Jury was asked to stand and confirmed that a verdict had been reached. A grave silence descended upon the whole room at once.

Gillian stood, so small in her boxy suit jacket, her hands neatly folded in front, no sign that her head was on the block.

"On the charge of Murder, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"

"Not guilty." The foreman announced to an instant gasp and a wave of whispers.

Caroline's eyes remained fixed on Gillian's, but the edges of her mouth turned up happily as she braced herself for the next judgment.

"...the charge of manslaughter, do you find the defendant Gillian Greenwood, guilty or not guilty?"

"The jury find her guilty as charged." The foreman announced.

Xxx

As they burst out of the courtroom, down the stairs and into the foyer, the face's of Alan and Raff, amongst others, rushed into view. The news had already made it outside and they had dashed in to meet her. To see for themselves that what they had dreamed of was a reality.

She was free. She was a convicted criminal, but she was finally free. She had been found guilty of the manslaughter of her husband. Yet the sentence reflected the circumstances around her crime, she had been heard, people had understood how she was pushed, they had forgiven her. An 18 month sentence, which taking into account the fact that she had been on remand for 9 months now saw her walk away from court a free woman, in more ways than one. It was more than she had hoped for. It was better than being found not guilty.

Raff took hold of his mums small waist and picked her up, swinging her in a circle as she grabbed a hold of his shoulders and pulled him in to a hug.

Gillian moved a little ahead of the crowd now, eager to get outside of this building and into the world beyond. As she emerged and took a breath of freedom she stopped and held her hand up to shield her eyes from the glint of sunshine that peeked out over the tall building that faced this one.

"Hiya." She said as a figure moved in to block her view, she grinned as she made out who the outline belonged to.

"I'm sorry." Robbie said quickly. "I mean, I'm glad...that you're free. I'm sorry, sorry that you had to go through all of this, all of that, at the time, everything. I'm sorry I didn't do something then, back then, if I'd known. I should have known. " Robbie struggled to explain.

Raff who had been following his mother out, seemed set to step forward until Gillian put her hand out and stopped him.

"Thanks." She said cheerfully. "I wish it had come to this years ago. I feel like a weights been lifted. Like I've been carrying around this thing, punishing myself for it ever since, not letting myself ever forget it, ever be happy. If I'd have got ten years at least there would have been an end to it!"

Robbie didn't know what to say, he studied his shoes, then Gillian's shoes, noticing her step toward him. She reached up on her toes and hung on to his shoulder as she kissed his cheek, then slapped him heavily in the chest. "Maybe now, you can move on too?"

Robbie nodded, putting his hands in his pockets as Gillian turned back to her family, taking Raffs hand in hers and wrapping an arm around Alan's.

"Come on." Gillian announced. "Lets go home."

Xxx

Laurence was thrown on the couch, his body feeling tired in the satisfying way it did when one did a spot of manual labour. Caroline brought him in a bottle of beer and tossed a packet of crisps in his direction.

"Nice one Ma!" He said accepting the reward for his efforts today.

He had offered to help with the move without being asked and even roped Popsicle into helping out. His mum had been a little uncertain about that at first but Kate had said that they would welcome the help and Laurence hadn't realised until she said it, how important it was to him. Both to spend some time with his Dad, but also for John to be welcome at his home, by everyone.

As he flicked on the TV and got comfortable he heard the key in the front door and Caroline in the hallway greeting the latest additions to the house.

A moment later, the living room door was pushed wide and Mya came in trailing a pink bag on wheels behind her, the bag was almost as big as she was and managed to make it into the room despite bumping every table leg and sofa corner en route.

"This My house now! Lawrie!" Mya told him importantly.

Kate appeared in the doorway and rolled her eyes at her daughter, nodding at Laurence.

"Myaaaaa." Kate said her daughters name in a warning tone.

"It is My house mummy, Caline said so!" Mya told her mother.

Kate came into the room. "She did sweetheart and it is, but it is also Lawrie's house remember."

"Yes! Lawrie house too, and mummy house and Caline house!" Mya clapped her hands together and squealed as Laurence lent forward and scooped her up from behind and plopped her onto the sofa beside him.

"That's right munchkin, this is your house too now, but this..." He held the TV remote out in front of her, just out of reach. "Is my remote control." He looked at her seriously.

When Caroline entered a moment later there was a tussle on the sofa with joyful squealing and the TV screen was a blank blue. Kate looked on happily. Caroline sat on the arm of Kate's chair and dipped to kiss her lightly while the children were occupied.

"Fine!" Lawrie said raising his hands in surrender as Mya pushed one of her knees into his tummy and squirmed around until she was perched on his mid section. "10 minutes of Peppa Pig and that is it."

Mya clapped her hands. "I brought all my D.B.D'S with me" She told him.

"Great." Laurence said with a sarcasm that was completely lost on the infant. "Have you and the munchkin eaten Kate?" He asked now as Mya jumped down from the sofa and began to empty the full contents of her bag out over the living room floor.

Kate shook her head. "I just wanted to get madam back here before bedtime. Mum gave Mya something earlier."

"Shall I ring a Pizza then Ma?" Laurence asked Caroline hopefully.

Mya looked up, suddenly interested and as though she had had one ear on the conversation all along. "Yes Ma, Pizza!" She agreed.

Xxx

As they had reached the farm today and piled out of the jeep, Caroline had been transported back in time to the first visit she had mad here, her mother and Alan's little engagement party. What a drama that had turned out to be, a signal surely of the times to come. Who could have foreseen that a few short years later they would all still be here, with a few important additions, inexplicably tangled in one another's lives.

Caroline guided Mya patiently inside whilst chatting with Raff in the doorway, Kate had gone in first and as Caroline finally found a seat inside, Mya having been led away by Calamity, Kate joined Caroline with a drink from the kitchen, she put her lips close to her ear.

"Be nice." She instructed.

Once Caroline had recovered from the tingle that Kate's breath against her skin had caused, she looked puzzled until she saw who had entered the room behind Kate.

"Robbie!" Caroline exclaimed.

"Careful Caroline, if the wind changes your face'll stick like that." Gillian chided as she appeared also from the kitchen.

Caroline made her face relax and felt Kate take her fingers in hand.

"Everyone got a drink?!" Gillian called as William and his pretty girlfriend came in through the front door. "Ah, you're here! Excellent!" Gillian hurried back to the kitchen and brought out a glass of wine and a bottle of beer slipping them into the youngsters hands as she delivered kisses to cheeks and thanked them for coming.

"Right!" She announced taking up her own drink again and standing before them all. "Thank you all for coming up here for this little celebration of my release from prison!" She said cheerfully.

Celia looked disapproving and attempted to cover Mya's ears as the little girl sat on her knee, playing with a pearl necklace she wore and paying absolutely no attention to Gillian but turning to Calamity who was nudging her with an elbow and passing her a jelly baby that she had fished out of Alans jacket pocket as he pretended to be unaware.

"I really want to thank you all for standing by me at a really shi...difficult time." Gillian amended as she took in the look on Celia's face. "Especially you Caroline." Gillian said, finally turning serious. "I'll never forget everything you've done for me, you didn't have to, Dad, Raff, they didn't really have much choice...you can't choose your family, but you did and I want you to know that, I'm here for you too, whatever you need, whenever."

Caroline's cheeks had turned pink and she looked away from the intensity and sincerity that Gillian had turned on her, but she smiled and nodded quietly, raising her glass in the air and burrowing a little into the arm that Kate had put around her.

"I'll drink to that!" William called, probably hoping to put an end to his mothers discomfort and suddenly everyone lifted a glass, some clinking them into their neighbour's before taking a drink.

Xxx

"So, how's it been so far? Living with lady muck?" Gillian asked Kate as they found themselves in the kitchen together later in the evening.

"Yeh, it's been good. It's early days though, two weeks, she's still on her best behaviour, I'm sure that won't last forever." Kate remarked.

"Honeymoon period?" Gillian smirked.

"Mya seems to have settled in right away though, so that's the most important thing." Kate continued.

"Sure. I can't believe how much the pair of them have grown up, her and Calamity, you miss a lot when they're that age." She said sadly. "Anyway, I'm glad you decided to move in. Caroline can be a fulltime mum now, she doesn't have to miss anything." Gillian mused aloud.

"So am I." Kate agreed and nibbled at a cocktail stick loaded with cheese, pineapple and mini sausage from the small buffet on the table. "What about you and Robbie then? Are the two of you...?"

Gillian grinned smugly. "Could you break it to her gently?"

Xxxx

A week later Gillian found she had to do her own dirty work and decided that over the phone was the best bet.

"I just spoke to Gillian, they're back together, did you know?" Caroline seemed to demand an answer from both Kate and Celia as she stormed into the kitchen, hands on hips.

Celia shrugged. "It's not rocket science."

Kate cringed but nodded. "They did seem to be getting on very well." She admitted.

"And we're all supposed to be alright with that are we?" Caroline checked.

Celia got down from the breakfast bar sensing a storm brewing. "I'll go and check on Mya." She offered.

Kate nodded and smiled gratefully at Celia as she headed upstairs where Mya was having an afternoon nap.

Caroline came to Kate's side. "How can she just forgive him?" She mused.

Kate wrapped an arm around Caroline's waist and pulled her in. "She must love him. It's her decision. The time in prison must have made her feel that life is too short, she's getting on with things. You have to try and be happy for her...for them both."

Caroline's deep frown remained and Kate brushed her lips to the blondes crinkled forehead. "Try and be happy."

Caroline turned her eyes on Kate and shook her head. "No." She said suddenly. "I am not."

Kate looked hurt and pulled back slightly, causing Caroline to bring her hands to Kate's. "I'm not." She said more gently.

"You mean with us." Kate stated. "Is it too much? Us living here...?" Kate began.

Caroline's grip on Kate tightened. "No, no, it's not that. I love having you here." She shook her head. "But, it's just not enough." She admitted.

Kate looked a little relieved but still unsure. "What?" She prompted.

Caroline sighed. "I don't care how we do it but I want you to be my wife, a big wedding, a small, I don't care, I've been listening to the radio wondering what song we would have for the first dance or whether we could get Alan and the boys to do another boy band performance. I want to choose flowers and something beautiful to wear, all that horrible stuff that a bride cares about. I want to get excited about telling everyone how much I love you. But most of all I don't want to be afraid to tell you what I've been daydreaming about, I want to share it with you." She confessed.

Kate looked a little surprised yet obviously pleased. Before she could form a reply, however, Caroline went on.

"And while we are at it." She launched. "I want Mya to legally be my child, officially, I want it written down. And I want us to have another child, for Mya to have a sibling closer to her age, whether you carry a child or we adopt. I know you need to think about that, we need to talk about it, but I 've been thinking about it for months and I'm certain it could be wonderful. I could take time out of school or even go part time..."

"Woah! Woah." Kate interrupted. "You really have been thinking about this!"

Caroline looked concerned as she tried to decipher Kate's expression, her heart sank and her intention to be bold suddenly felt like a mistake. "Shouldn't I have said anything?" She asked.

"Of course you should and it's not that I haven't been thinking about any of it too, I just suppose I tried not to, I wanted to be careful, not to jeopardise what we have." Kate admitted.

Caroline nodded several times. "So what have you been thinking?" She asked.

Kate smiled excitedly. "That I would like another child, that Mya would love it, once she got used to the idea, that we make a great parenting team, any child would be lucky..."

Caroline cut her off with a kiss, taking Kate's upper arms in hand and pulling her from her stool into Caroline's embrace.

Kate pulled back breathlessly. "And about the wedding..." She said. "I think something small...just family."

"Just family." Caroline agreed.

Xxxx

The End.

Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed and supported me. Also thanks to Dixie for posting The Verdict on her youtube channel which helped me to finally decide on an outcome for Gillian and just cause who doesn't like watching Sarah do stern?

Lots of love xx