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Suki was busy stacking the shelves when Stacey walked into the Minute Mart and placed a rainbow gift bag down on the counter. “Someone's birthday?” Suki asked as she turned around and walked up to the counter. “No, this is for you for finally being brave enough. A little bird told me it's your favourite." Stacey said as she pushed the bag across the counter. Suki opened the gift bag and picked out a bottle of brandy. "I wouldn't exactly call her little, but she was right. This is perfect, thank you Stacey!" Suki exclaimed as she replaced the bottle in the gift bag.
"She talks to me about you all the time, you know?" Stacey said as she leaned on the counter so that she was more comfortable. "I know she does. I just wish I'd had someone to gush about her to before we became public." Suki exhaled as she looked down at the counter. "You can always gush about her to me if you want to, I promise I won't tell her." Stacey said as she placed her hand on Suki's arm, softly rubbing it to comfort her.
"I know you won't, because you never told anyone about us." Suki remarked as she gently removed Stacey's hand from her arm. "To be honest, you still kinda scare me." Stacey whispered as she smiled at Suki. At this point, Eve walked into the Minute Mart. "She isn't that scary when she lets her walls down, trust me. She might look like a cheetah, but she's a kitten really." she said as she approached the counter, receiving a slap on the arm from Suki in response. "Ow that hurt. So she was talking about you then." Eve continued as she rubbed her arm. "We were talking about you too." Stacey added as she turned to face Eve.
"You were talking about me?!" Eve exclaimed as she dramatically held her hand to her chest as if she was clutching at a pearl necklace. "Stacey just gave me a bottle of brandy and was telling me about you talking about me all the time." Suki laughed as she looked at Eve, who had now started blushing with embarrassment. “You said you weren't going to tell her! I can't believe you've betrayed me Stace, that's practically grounds for divorce.” Eve exclaimed as she looked at Stacey, avoiding Suki's gaze.
"Suki was actually about to start gushing about you, but then you interrupted. Anyway, who's on the bap van? I hope there's not a queue." Stacey said as she looked at Eve, who now looked quite timid, having lost all of her butch confidence knowing that Suki now knew she talks about her all the time. "You're going to hate it, but Shrimpy's covering for me." Eve said as she braced herself to receive a slap on her other arm, but it never arrived.
"In that case, you definitely need to go." Stacey said as she pushed Eve towards the door. "Alright, I know when I'm not wanted!" Eve exclaimed as she reached the door, stopping for a moment to look at Suki with an exaggerated frown on her face. "She's only sulking because she didn't get to kiss me." Suki said as she faced Stacey, completely ignoring the dramatic performance that Eve was putting on. "Eve, I mean it, go!" Stacey shouted as she pushed Eve out of the door. "Okay I'm going, but I'm coming back later for my kiss!” Eve shouted back before starting to run back to the bap van. Stacey closed the shop door and turned the wooden sign to say ‘closed’, allowing her and Suki to have some privacy in the shop.
“I love her so much. I never meant to hurt her as much as I did, I was just trying to protect her.” Suki sighed, feeling tears starting to form in her eyes. "But look at you now! You're both so much happier." Stacey said as she gently picked up Suki's hand and squeezed it. “I can see why she married you, you're not as bad as I thought you were. She seems to be drawn to women who seem stone cold, but are actually quite soft. That's why she's so fiercely protective of us… What's so funny?” Suki asked as she looked up at Stacey, who was now giggling. “I never thought I'd be stood holding my wife's girlfriend's hand to calm her down. If you'd have told me that this was going to happen last year I would have laughed at you, but you did it, you're free.” Stacey said as she squeezed Suki's hand again before letting go of it.
“By the way, she constantly talks about you as well you know?” Suki said as she pulled her hand away from Stacey. “Does she?” Stacey asked, sounding slightly shocked. “Yeah, she thinks you're amazing. She sees you as a sister, not one to replace Erica, but as another sister for them both. You and the rest of the Slaters are her found family.” Suki said as she walked around to the front of the counter. “She said that? Oh Suki, no wonder you've been smiling at me more recently. I'd never want to replace Erica, but she's like a sister to me too.” Stacey said as Suki pulled her into a hug. “Come here. It's okay Stace, let it all out.” Suki said as she felt Stacey starting to sob against her shoulder.
They embraced for a moment before Stacey pulled back to compose herself. “No wonder she says your hugs make her feel so comfortable. I didn't expect you to be such a good hugger.” Stacey said as she wiped tears from her cheeks. “My mum never hugged me when I was younger, but when I had my own children, I knew hugging them would reassure them that I love them. Now I hug people to comfort them, but only if I feel comfortable enough around them.” Suki said as she squeezed Stacey's arm. “In that case, I feel very honoured. Come here.” Stacey said as she pulled Suki into another embrace.
“Did the kids enjoy their gifts from Leeds by the way? I know it was ages ago, but Eve never told me if they liked them or not.” Suki asked as she pulled away from Stacey. “Yeah, they did. Why are you bothered though? Eve paid for them didn't she?” Stacey said as she looked at Suki inquisitively. “Actually, that was me. She always talks about your children so lovingly that I thought it would be best to try and cheer them up, even if I had to make her lie about who paid for them. I'd do anything to make her smile.” Suki said as she returned to her position behind the counter. “Thank you for that then, Suki. Hope and Arthur absolutely love those stuffed animals and sleep with them every night. Arthur even sprayed some of Eve's perfume on his. And Lil absolutely loves that CD, she'd been waiting over a year to get it. Here, that should cover it.” Stacey said as she placed a £20 note down on the counter.
“There's no need for that. Just knowing they were happy with them is enough for me. Plus I know how much money is an issue for you. Hence why I was shocked to receive a bottle of brandy.” Suki said as she slid the £20 note back towards Stacey. “You really are a kitten when your walls are down aren't you?” Stacey said as she put the money back into her purse. “I am, but you better not tell everyone else.” Suki responded as she walked back towards Stacey.
“Here, take these for the kids, I know they love them.” she continued as she picked up a couple of chocolate bars and a big packet of sweets and held them out for Stacey to grab. “Suki, you really don't need to do that.” Stacey said as she pushed them back towards Suki. “I'm doing it because I want to, not because I feel like I need to. Those kids make Eve so happy and I want you to know that seeing her be so comfortable with them makes me really happy too.” Suki said as she returned to the counter and placed the sweets into a carrier bag. “Thank you so much, they'll love these!” Stacey exclaimed as she picked up the carrier bag and headed for the door, returning the sign to ‘open’, and reopening the door.
Suki stood in the door of the Minute Mart and watched as Stacey made her way through the market and back towards the bap van, seeing her excitedly hold the bag up when she got close enough for Eve to see her. She smiled as she watched Stacey and Eve embrace, knowing that they were probably discussing how kind she had been. She returned inside and was about to enter the stock room when she heard footsteps running towards the shop. "Suki! Suki!" Eve shouted as she began entering the shop. "Where's the fire?" Suki asked as she turned the corner and smirked at Eve. Eve didn't respond and instead pulled Suki into a kiss, placing her hands on her cheeks.
"You've made Stacey so happy. I love you." Eve said as she pressed her forehead against Suki's, their noses gently colliding. "I love you too, Eve. Stacey deserves to be happy." Suki said as she pulled Eve into a hug. "Did you tell her about buying the kids the gifts from Leeds by the way? She smacked my arm for lying to her about it." Eve asked as she bent her knees and melted into Suki's embrace. "Yeah, I thought it was best to be honest with her now that we're public. I'm sure your arm will be fine." Suki said as she rested her head on Eve's shoulder. "I'm so proud of you. We're finally together." Eve whispered as she leaned back to look at Suki. "And we're free." Suki added as she cupped Eve's cheeks and kissed her again.