Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

‘can I have a word boss?’

Carla considered Betsy for a moment. ‘Yeah sure’

Betsy sat down, her eyes fixed on her hands which were clasped together tightly in her lap. ‘I wondered whether I could maybe change my shifts and start a bit later?

Carla frowned as she looked at the girl, who was on the verge of tears. ‘What’s bought this on Betsy?’

‘nothing’

Carla kept her own counsel, sensing Betsy had more to say, but much like her mum needed to get round to it in her own way.

‘It’s just…I might not be staying in Weatherfield for a while, but I really want to keep this job. I really like it here. I know I moan but I really do like working for you’

Carla’s heart started to race, ‘what are you on about, where are you going? Is your mum going with you?

‘It’s just I might have to stay with my aunt or my grandma, maybe they’ll come here but just in case I want to agree my shifts’

Carla smiled, she knew the younger girl would pole up whenever she liked anyway, this wasn’t about the shifts. ‘you and your mum been fighting again?’

‘No it’s not that’

‘well what then? Why would you want to move out?’ Carla suddenly caught on fully to what Betsy had said ‘hang on, why would people have to come here to look after you? What's wrong with your mum?'

‘look I don’t know for certain it will happen, I’m just making plans ok?

Carla could feel the adrenaline rising again ‘Right, now you’re scaring me, what’s going on?’

Betsy’s eyes teared up ‘It’s mum, she killed Joel and it’s my fault. It’s all my fault’

Carla screwed her face up, angry now. ‘ya mam didn’t kill anyone Betsy, what’s this about?’

‘She got into a fight the night Joel died. Her back's covered in bruises I think she’s cracked some ribs, he knew where I lived. Do you know what they do to coppers in prison? I’ve ruined her life and mine…and the only thing I’ll have left is this stupid job!’

Carla moved her chair closer to Betsy’s and gently placed her hand on the teenagers. ‘Listen to me. Your mum didn’t kill Joel. She’d turn us in for nicking a mars bar, she’s not gonna commit murder kid is she?’

The tears were falling down Betsy’s face now ‘what if he came looking for me? She might not have had a choice’

Carla shook her head ‘I’d know if she did it and she wouldn’t have covered it up for starters’

‘she would’ve done, to make sure I wouldn’t be alone. But nothing stays hidden forever does it? I’m scared Carla’

‘There’s nothing to be scared of darlin, I promise you’

Betsy sniffed and wiped her eyes quickly ‘you think?

Carla nodded. ‘I know it. Whatever your mum’s done it won’t be that. Have you tried talking to her?’

‘She said it was body combat but she’s the worst liar'.

‘Did you ask her if she killed Joel?

‘no, I don’t want to know the answer’

Carla let out a sigh ‘Well you must’ve come to me for a reason. You trust me to talk to her?’

‘What if she admits it will you dob her in?’

Carla met Betsy’s eyes ‘Never’

Betsy nodded solemnly. ‘ok then’

Lisa hauled herself gingerly off the sofa at the sound of the doorbell. She opened the door slowly. ‘oh, hi Carla’

Carla smiled thinly ‘hi’

‘You coming in?’

‘Thanks’

Carla followed Lisa into the lounge, her eyes lingering on the detective’s back, now wondering how much her injuries had a part to play in Lisa running away the other day. She hadn’t planned what she was going to say, knowing in her heart Lisa would never have covered up a murder but also knowing they had some work to do with Betsy. Somehow, being so close to her now, the Joel thing seemed secondary to finding out how much pain Lisa was in.

‘I’ve just been talking to Betsy, she says you’re hurt’

Lisa took a sharp intake of breath ‘she didn’t waste any time did she?’

Carla took a large stride forward ‘Lisa’

The blonde stopped and turned back to face the taller woman. ‘I’m fine’

Carla closed the last remaining gap. She took Lisa’s hands, ‘did I hurt you? The other night…did I hurt you?’

Lisa smiled softly ‘only for a moment, you weren’t to know’

Carla’s eyes moistened ‘I’m sorry’

Lisa cupped Carla’s cheek and moved her hand gently until her eyes met with the brunette’s ‘you’re not to blame’

Carla nodded, somehow Lisa’s words had shaken her out of her trance like state, she found herself putting one hand on Lisa’s collarbone, a little bit lower than the other night. ‘I need to know who hurt you, i’m gonna kill them’

Lisa started to smile but the earnest look in the other woman’s eyes stopped her dead. Instead she shook her head as she slowly stroked Carla’s cheek, her other hand making it’s way to Carla’s hip. ‘I’m fine, it’s part of the job’

‘You promised me you wouldn’t put yourself in harm’s way’

‘this was before that’

Carla’s voice was shaky but urgent ‘Lisa’

Lisa’s focus darted back and forth between Carla’s eye’s and lips. Her body unable to stand much more contact without intent.

It was Carla who gave in first, her hand moving to Lisa’s cheek and pulling her into to a firm kiss, she bought her other hand up first to Lisa’s cheek and then to her hair. She felt Lisa push herself closer into her and reciprocated as the kiss deepened.

Both women pulled away at the same time, already in sync. Carla took a moment to get her breath back before resting her forehead against Lisa’s. ‘I don’t want to hurt you’

Lisa smiled ‘you won’t….not tonight anyway’. She took her time to trace the outline of Carla’s jaw before leaning in for another kiss.

Both women heard a door, faintly, in the distance. It wasn’t Lisa’s door, that would mean they would have to stop kissing and neither of them were going to do that.

Betsy stood, hands on hips. ‘oh brilliant! You in it together? Some bonnie and clyde type stuff? Or are you that bad at playing detective Mrs Connor?’

Lisa moved away from Carla in an instant ‘Betsy what do you mean?’

‘Forget it. You can both rot in prison as far as I’m concerned’

‘err Bets…’ Before Lisa could get any further Betsy turned away in a strop, stopping only to slam the door on her way out the house.

Lisa turned to Carla expectantly. ‘what the hell?’

Carla exhaled loudly as she rubbed her furrowed brow ‘yeah, so......she thinks you killed Joel’

Lisa’s eye’s widened ‘she thinks I did what?!’

Chapter Text

Lisa didn’t wait around for Carla to answer, she raced out the door in an effort to catch up with her daughter.

Carla hesitated for a moment before scanning the room for keys to lock up before she went to help Lisa. The only source of clutter was the large sideboard on the far side of the room, so she started there. She smiled sadly as she spotted a photo in a plain wooden frame, the Swains in happier times. Betsy and Lisa smiling sweetly..and Becky…a petite and pretty brunette…in the middle of them both sporting a wide smile.

She turned to face the door at the sound of Betsy and Lisa returning.

‘well what am I ‘sposed to think Mum? Joel had a fight before he died, you’re covered in bruises with painkillers dated the day after he snuffed it and I walk in to see the person who was supposed to help me sort it out has decided to chew your face off instead’

Lisa raised her arms in exasperation ‘how about anything but I’ve killed a man and covered it up! And don't be so rude’

Betsy let out a sigh and made for the stairs.

Carla watched as Lisa let Betsy head upstairs. ‘You not going after her?’

‘Not tonight, I just needed to know she was safe. Wine’s in the kitchen by the way’ Lisa plonked herself down on the sofa.

Carla opened her mouth to say something but decided against it and went to fetch the wine instead.

She bought the bottle and two glasses, sitting down next to Lisa she held up both glasses, asking silent permission to join her in a drink.

Lisa shrugged and took a glass from Carla, watching as the factory owner filled the glass.

Carla poured her own glass and then set the bottle down quietly on the coffee table. ‘I am really sorry I didn’t tell you straight away, you know. It sort of slipped my mind..which I know is a crazy thing to say’

Lisa scoffed ‘I’m not mad’. She turned to face Carla ‘I’m not sure whether I’m not mad because I’m not supposed to be mad or whether it’s cause it’s you and it’s really hard to be mad at you’

Carla concealed her smile by taking a sip of wine ‘this is you when you find it hard to be mad?’

Lisa raised an eyebrow ‘don’t push it’

‘fair enough’

The two women sat in silence for a moment, sipping their wine.

Carla shuffled in her seat ‘Are you going to tell Bets what happened?’

Lisa took a large swig of wine, her heart somehow aching at the sound of Carla saying Bets. ‘no, not tonight’

‘ok, I mean, it’s your choice but it seems a bit cruel to leave her stewing’

Lisa turned to face Carla with a frown ‘oh really? But it’s ok for you to take your sweet time to tell me my own daughter thinks I’m a killer’

Carla nodded ‘I deserved that’

Lisa sighed ‘look, I don’t think I can tell her the truth tonight or any other night, I need some time to think’

‘why can’t you tell her the truth Lisa?’

Lisa drained her glass and gingerly reached towards the coffee table for the wine bottle.

Carla could almost feel the pain the blonde was in, she silently offered her nearly full glass to Lisa and taking the empty one in return.

Lisa nodded in appreciation. ‘It’s no big deal. I got clipped by a car, some idiot who tried to steal a women’s bag’

Carla reached for the blonde’s arm ‘you got hurt, it’s a big deal’. She took a deep breath, determined not to derail the conversation with her own feelings like she had earlier. ‘Why can’t you tell Besty this?’

Lisa’s eyes were drawn to the picture on the sideboard, she stood up, wincing as she did. ‘You remember I told you Becky died on duty?’

‘yes’

The blonde turned back to look at Carla ‘she was runover, died at the scene. The scumbags drove straight at her’

Carla stood up and slowly went to Lisa’s side, lightly brushing the blonde woman’s arms briefly. ‘I’m sorry’

Lisa nodded as tears slowly fell. ‘I can’t put that on Betsy’

‘I get it, I do’

‘why do I sense a but coming?’

The brunette hesitated ‘look Lisa, it’s awful and I’m so sorry’ Carla held Lisa’s gaze. ‘My ex, well sortof ex, Liam, I told you about him once’

Lisa nodded.

‘well he died the same way, someone knocked him over….deliberately..and it was the worst thing.’ Carla bit her lip, determined to keep her composure for Lisa’s sake.

Lisa moved closer to the brunette, taking her hands.

Carla shivered at the contact but carried on. ‘and hearing you got injured the same way…yeah of course it made me think of him…for a moment…. but would it be any better if you got hurt a different way? Would I feel any less sick? I don’t think so’

‘I’m really sorry Carla’

‘it’s fine it was a long time ago’ Carla took a step back from Lisa and wiped her eyes quickly. She took a deep breath to steady herself. ‘I’m not sure lying to her will be worth it in the end. Sorry if that’s crossing the line’

Lisa smiled ‘I think we’re way past that aren’t we?’

Carla felt her face flush at the reference.

Lisa made her way back to the comfort of the sofa. ‘I was thinking maybe I could say I had some sort of accident?’

‘You could do, yeah’

Lisa let out a long breath as she sat back further on the sofa, letting her head fall back so she was looking at the ceiling. ‘You don’t understand how long it took Bets to accept me going back to work, every day she’d beg me not to go in, terrified I’d die like her mum’

Carla sat down next to Lisa, she leant on the sofa back, her face close to the blonde's. ‘I’m sorry, i’m not saying any of this is easy’

Lisa lifted her head and turned to Carla ‘can I tell you something?’

‘Anything, you can tell me anything’

‘She’s never said it but I know, if she had the choice, she’d rather I’d have died than Becky’

Carla’s heart hurt, without thinking she reached across to stroke Lisa’s cheek and bring her in closer. ‘no, no you mustn’t think like that. She loves you’

Lisa let the tears fall ‘Becky would have been so much better than me’

‘please don’t talk like that Lisa, Betsy knows she’s lucky to have you’

Lisa scoffed ‘I don’t know about that’

‘well I do and I know about crap mums, I’ve told you before, you’re not one of them’

‘yeah, maybe’

Carla bought her hand down to clasp Lisa’s ‘Look I know it’s not the right time now but you do really need to talk this through with Betsy. I know she’s a pain but she needs to hear how you feel’

Lisa gave a short nod. ‘Let me sleep on it’

Carla sighed, she could tell the walls were coming back up. ‘that my cue to go?’

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m really grateful for everything, I don’t know why you put up with us’ Lisa caught Carla’s eye and gave a weak smile.

Carla couldn’t help herself ‘don’t you?’

Lisa swallowed hard and closed her eyes ‘I’m sorry Carla, I can’t do this. Not now. I don't even know what i'm going to say to Betsy about what she saw’

The brunette nodded. ‘I’m going to go’. She set her wine glass down and moved off the sofa.

Lisa caught hold of Carla’s arm as she was walking past ‘I do want to talk about what happened…earlier I mean, before all this nonsense’

Carla swivelled back to face Lisa, suddenly wanting to be out the door ‘ok, yeah, good, ok then. I’ll see you Lisa’

‘See you later….tourist’ Lisa smirked as Carla’s face reddened in an instant.

Carla couldn’t contain her grin as she made her way to the door.

Chapter Text

Carla froze half way towards the café counter, the sight of Lisa made her breath catch.

Lisa had got up to pay when the brunette had come in. ‘morning’

Carla shook her head in an attempt to clear her head ‘er morning. I haven’t seen you in civvies for a while. You look different’

Lisa smiled ‘Different good or different bad?’

Carla couldn’t tear her eyes away from Lisa, every fibre of her being drawn to her, imagining herself pulling Lisa close, burying her head in that beautiful hair, that Lisa was wearing down for a change. ‘huh?’

Shona leant over the counter, ‘she said different good or different bad’

Carla stared intently at Lisa ‘either way I’m trouble’

Lisa held Carla’s gaze for a moment before dipping her head, biting her lip gently.

Carla, realising how she sounded, spluttered an explanation ‘I mean because whatever I answer will be an insult…partly’

Lisa was about to respond when her phone rang, she looked at the display and frowned ‘sorry, I better get this’

Carla moved to clear a path for Lisa, this motion bringing her back down to earth. ‘Latte to go please Shona’

Shona nodded as she went about her work.

‘here you go’ Shona put a cup on the counter and handed Carla the lid separately. ‘I put…well tried to put…a heart on top’

Carla peered at the coffee and then at Shona

Shona shuffled her feet, ‘on account of you and the hot detective’

Carla raised her eyebrows at Shona but said nothing.

Shona put a hand to her chest ‘oh sorry was it supposed to be a secret. I mean, it’s pretty obvious. The electricity coming off you two jeez it could power the whole of the north-west’

Carla remained silent, not sure where she stood with Lisa, not wanting to jinx something by acknowledging it.

Shona, sensing it wasn’t the celebration she thought it was, smiled sadly ‘its not easy..being the one after is it?’

Carla cocked her head ‘the one after what?’

‘the dead wife…..her wife died right?’

Carla exhaled, she hadn’t made the connection with Shona’s experience ‘yeah’

Shona smiled ‘I’ve been there, it can be hard work, but hang in there’

‘must’ve have been tough’

‘yeah, but it’s worth it. Takes a lot of patience of course. In time you understand that they don’t want you to replace her, and you don’t want that either. That your path is different’

Carla said nothing, deep in thought

‘But for what it’s worth make sure look after yourself as well. Be understanding but don’t lose yourself in the process’

The factory owner nodded. She took her coffee from the counter thinking it was probably colder than she’d like by now but choosing to keep quiet as she strode out of the café.

Carla walked into her office to the now usual site of Betsy slumped in one of the chairs, ‘how are you this morning?’

Betsy didn’t look up ‘yeah I’m ok apart from your stupid wifi’

‘and what’s wrong with our wifi?’

‘What’s right with it more like’

‘I didn’t think you were even working today?’

Besty shrugged, ‘I’m not, I came in to use your wifi to try and get these stupid resale tickets cause my stupid mum bailed on getting them to go into stupid work even though she promised this was our time’

Carla sat in the chair nearest to Betsy ‘and how are you after the other night?’

Betsy remained resolutely glued to her phone ‘fine’

‘and what does fine mean in Betsy land?’

Betsy sighed ‘mum told me what really happened. The car. I hate that she’s a copper’

Carla nodded ‘yeah me too sometimes’

‘she kept pretty quiet on you though’

‘oh yeah?’

The younger woman smiled ‘yeah. Could be wedding bells or your marching orders…who knows?’

Carla pursed her lips. ‘And how would you feel if it was somewhere in the middle?’

Betsy stared resolutely at her phone. ‘weird’

‘yeah me too’

Betsy looked at Carla for the first time ‘but I’d get used to it I guess. You’ve grown on me I suppose’

Carla supressed a smile by biting her lip, that was as close to as an endorsement as she felt Betsy was capable of right now.

Betsy suddenly threw her phone into a nearby chair ‘brilliant, sold out. Another win for the mother of the year’

Carla rolled her eyes and retrieved the phone ‘let me have a look’

Lisa rounded the corner and headed into Carla’s office, she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of both Carla and Betsy concentrating on their respective sketches.

‘Betsy, I’ve been looking for you everywhere’

Betsy raised her eyebrows ‘I go to like 3 places how hard was it? Another win for Manchester’s finest’

Lisa rolled her eyes and shared a look with Carla. ‘look I’m sorry, work wanted to speak to me about a Joel thing but I’m free now’

Betsy sighed. ‘I tried to get those tickets but they’d all gone, I wouldn’t have been able to pay for them anyway to be fair.’

Carla got up from her desk, ‘I’ve got to go check something in packing’

She walked towards the door, pausing briefly behind Lisa to place a piece of paper in the policewoman’s hands discreetly.

Lisa sent a confused look Carla’s way but Carla was already half way out the door.

Lisa opened the paper and smiled

‘What have you got there?’ Betsy’s interest had piqued

‘erm… lets call it a peace offering’ Lisa smiled as she presented Betsy with the printout

Betsy took the paper and beamed ‘you got them? How? When?’

Lisa smiled. ‘you know I love you right? I want this to be our fresh start’

Betsy hugged her mum carefully, both mother and daughter holding back the tears. ‘thanks mum’

‘you deserve it’

‘can I go tell Sabrina?’

‘Yeah sure, I want to head home soon though, got a lot to get ready, meet me out front in ten?

Betsy nodded and bounded toward the exit

Lisa was leaning on Carla’s desk as she watched the brunette come back into the room. ‘another day another good deed’

Carla smiled as she perched on the desk next to Lisa. ‘she happy?’

Lisa turned toward the brunette ‘As happy as she gets. Thanks Carla. Our white knight yet again. We don’t deserve you’

Carla took a deep breath in an attempt to slow her heart rate. ‘so how does a festival work in November anyway? I assume I’ve not sent you both to die a horrible death in a tent?’

‘no thankfully, it’s in the city so we’ll be nice and warm, cause they were last minute returns we’ve got to sort our own accommodation but I’ll book something nice, this Joel things a bit annoying but I’ll deal with it when I’m back’

‘have you told them what happened?’

‘yeah, which has got me into a bit of trouble but Kit’s convinced he’s got some other stuff on me but it’s all bravado. If I had the energy I’d be raging but with everything else that’s gone on I just haven’t got any fight left in me’

Carla nodded thoughtfully.

Lisa rose from the desk. ‘look, I better go’

‘yeah of course, have fun..both of you’

The blonde smiled ‘we will do, because of you’

‘Honestly Carla you should have seen her dancing. Mortifying doesn’t even begin to describe it’

Carla playfully swatted Betsy’s arm ‘oi you I’m sure it wasn’t that bad’

Lisa raised her eyebrows and turned to Carla ‘Not that bad? Thanks for the vote of confidence’

The brunette smiled ‘sorry, you know what I mean’

‘Yeah yeah, anyone would think you didn’t want your presents’

Betsy flashed a grin ‘oh yeah…we got you something’ She rummaged in her bag and produced a bucket hat, neatly folded.

Lisa smirked as Betsy handed over the day glow headwear.

‘oh….thanks guys…this is….’

Betsy looked at the older woman expectantly ‘well, put it on’

‘Yeah Carla, put it on’ Lisa’s grin was as wide as Carla had ever seen it.

Carla hesitated for a moment before putting the hat gently on her head. ‘Well I’m only doing this to make Betsy laugh’

Lisa smiled and gave the hat a playful tug ‘it’s not just for Betsy’

Betsy could tell things were getting intense for some reason ‘we also bought you some wine, locally brewed so it’s probably worse than the hat to be fair.’

Lisa cocked her head in the direction of the bistro ‘we’re off to get some dinner, I’m too tired to cook. You fancy joining us?’

Carla looked tentatively at Betsy who flashed a sweet smile. ‘ok, if you’re sure’

‘black coffee to go please Roy’

‘certainly DS Swain’ Roy went about making the beverage and then set it on the counter.

Lisa held her card out to pay ‘thanks’

Roy nodded. ‘I hope you don’t mind me saying, I saw you in the street yesterday, you and Betsy…and Carla’

Lisa paused ‘oh yeah?’

‘You looked happy. She looked happy, Carla I mean. I’ve never seen her in that type of headwear before’

The blonde smiled ‘just a daft little gift we bought back for her’

‘still, it seemed to mean a lot to her’

‘you’ve spoken to her about it?’

The older man shook his head ‘not yet, I expect she’ll be around when she’s ready. I did want to say, she doesn’t do that sort of thing for anyone. Well, in the whole time I’ve known her she’s done that sort of thing for precisely no one as it happens. You and your daughter must be very special to her’

‘she hasn’t done what? Put a bucket hat on?’

Roy sighed ‘Whilst that is factually correct my observation was more about her showing her vulnerable side. My wife used to say that Carla loved with all her heart, no matter the consequences. I think, perhaps, if Hayley was here, she’d revise that statement, maybe she’d say that Carla kept a bit back….for you’

Lisa remained still. ‘Why do I feel like you’re warning me off?’

Roy shook his head. ‘Not at all detective, quite the opposite in fact. Carla has been through an awful lot, almost certainly more than she has disclosed to you. She has an admirable tendency of looking after everyone around her and you strike me as someone who deserves that..and maybe…you could return the favour.’

The blonde smiled softly and took her coffee ‘I’ll see you Roy’

Lisa stepped out into the cold November air, spotting Carla heading toward her, probably for her morning caffeine fix.

‘morning DS swain’

Lisa’s brain took a second to realise the voice wasn’t Carla’s but was coming from her left. ‘oh it’s you DC Green’

Kit sent a smarmy smile Lisa’s way ‘Now i’ve got a riddle for you if you’ve got time to accompany me to the station?’

‘ah I’ve had enough cryptic flipping talk for one day..what do you want Kit?

‘Why do you always have to spoil my fun?’

Lisa raised an eyebrow ‘just built that way I guess’

Carla had made her way towards the two officers. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Well apparently I’m wanted down at the station’

Carla looked first at Lisa then at Kit ‘again…what for now? Does she need a solicitor?’

Kit shrugged his shoulders and motioned for Lisa to follow him to his car ‘all I can say is it’s in a formal capacity’

Carla reached for her phone ‘I’ll get Dee Dee’

Chapter Text

Carla tapped her foot intensely, Betsy, having tried to be patient, leant over and reached out a hand to steady the older woman’s foot. They’d been at the station for hours now, Kit was still questioning Lisa, Dee Dee had arrived a while ago and headed straight in.

Finally Lisa and Dee Dee emerged from the interview room into the reception area.

Betsy ran to hug her mum whilst Carla stood up to address the two women ‘what’s happening?’

Dee Dee beamed as she looked first at Lisa and then at Carla ‘Lisa was amazing. Honestly breath-taking’ She turned toward Lisa with a big smile.

Lisa nodded ‘I’m just glad it’s over’

Carla threw a dirty look Dee Dee’s way. ‘What do you mean breath-taking? What happened?’

Betsy smirked at Carla’s reaction and leant into her mum further.

Lisa went to speak but was beaten to it by Dee Dee ‘It was Kit all along! He tried to turn it on Lisa but she was amazing….spectacular..honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it.’

Carla shook her head ‘wait, what? Kit did it? He was the one trying to frame you?’

Lisa again tried to speak but was cut off by Dee Dee ‘Drinks on me in the pub..no arguments’

Lisa shook her head ‘it’s been a long day, I think I’ll just go home’

Dee Dee reached out and squeezed Lisa’s arm ‘you deserve your moment in the spotlight, come on..please’

Carla supressed an urge to get in between the two women. ‘I agree with Dee Dee, come and let people see you get this win, this is big. I mean I still can’t get my head round it if I’m honest’.

Lisa nodded ‘ok ok i’ll nip in for a bit’. She turned to look at Dee Dee. ‘later though’

‘ok no worries, I’ll see you there?’

‘yeah..see you in a bit’

As Dee Dee made her exit Lisa started to move away from Betsy but the younger woman stayed with her and stuck an arm out in the direction of Carla. ‘get in here then’

Lisa and Carla’s eyes met as the brunette silently asked for permission to join the group hug. Lisa held her hand out too as Carla smiled and moved towards them.

The hug was awkward and Betsy broke it nearly as soon as it started but it awakened a part of Carla’s heart she wasn’t sure she’d ever known she had.

Carla and Betsy shared a knowing smile as they both took a step back and let Lisa walk into the rovers first.

‘here she is, the woman of the hour’ Jenny beamed as she held the bottle of champagne aloft.

News had spread fast so the pub was full of the street’s residents, who let out a muted cheer as Jenny popped the cork with dramatic effect.

Carla smiled as she watched Lisa squirm at the attention.

After what felt like hours of congratulatory drinks and questions she couldn’t answer Lisa finally made her way back to Carla, who had bagged a table in the corner with Ryan.

The brunette motioned for Lisa to sit down but the detective remained standing and held a hand out to Carla ‘can I borrow you for a minute?’

Carla nodded and took Lisa’s hand.

The two women made their way through the crowd and into the street outside. Lisa turned to face Carla and took her other hand. ‘I’m so tired’

Carla let out a throaty laugh ‘I thought you were going to say something deep and meaningful’

‘yeah me too’

‘Well, being a hero can take it out of you’

Lisa scanned Carla’s face ‘Knowing you were out there waiting for me made me more determined to get out’ Lisa paused. ‘Not that I need any more motivation than Betsy but….’

Carla smiled ‘it’s nice to have’

The blonde returned the smile ‘definitely’

Carla pursed her lips ‘Dee Dee being there helped as well I’m sure’

Lisa let go of one of Carla’s hands and gave her a gentle prod on the shoulder ‘you’re not actually jealous of her are you? She’s straight!’

The brunette scoffed ‘So was I..so am i…oh, I don’t even know’

‘Does it bother you…if you don’t know?’

Carla gave Lisa an intense stare ‘No. And I’m not jealous of Dee Dee for the record, I just would like to tell her to step off’

Lisa smiled and bit her lip ‘that I would like to see’

‘I guess, I don’t know if I have the right…to tell her….you’re mine’

The blonde brushed Carla’s cheek with her hand ‘that sounds nice’

Carla nodded ‘so I can go and tell her now then’. She swivelled back towards the pub.

Lisa knew she was joking but never-the-less pulled Carla back toward her with one hand, the other cupping the brunettes cheek as Lisa kissed her firmly, she could feel Carla smile against her lips as she deepened the kiss.

Carla wrapped her arms around Lisa’s neck and felt Lisa whimper as their bodies moved closer together.

After a heartbreaking short amount of time Carla could feel Lisa slowing down the kiss, reluctantly she followed suit.

Lisa reached out and tucked a stray hair behind Carla’s ear. ‘Betsy will come looking for us soon and I’d rather not make a habit of being interrupted by her’

‘Agreed. And I want you to know that I know we’ll have to tread carefully with her..and you’

‘And I want you to know that I want this, I’m all in’

Carla gave a wide grin ‘me too. There’s so much I want to say to you Lisa, but I want us to take our time’

‘same’ Lisa gently tugged at Carla’s jacket.

Carla couldn’t resist reacting to the touch by leaning in for another kiss.

‘Snogging in the street now is it? Classy’

Both women shared a groan as they turned in sync to see that Betsy had poked her head through the pub door.

‘Sorry Betsy’ both women said in unison.

‘I’ll let you off this time but you really need to stop acting like teenagers’

Carla shared a smile with Lisa and squeezed her hand gently as they headed back inside

***the end***