Disclaimer:  This story features consensual sexual relationships between adult women, some implied m/m and m/f relations. If this bothers you, is illegal in the State, Province or Country you live or if you are the under age of 18, find something else to read. There are loads of general stories out there.

Language: There is some occasional strong language.

Violence: This one is written without violence.

Hurt/Comfort:  Have some of this too, but hope it is the pleasant loving kind this time.

Dedication:Betty this was written for you as promised. Once again my gratitude to the 'Dream Team', they know who they are.  Thank you once again to the readers who have emailed me with feedback, it is gratefully received and essential.

This is the third in the series with these characters; although reading Define Destiny and Haunting Shadows are not absolutely necessary, it would assist in understanding the circumstances surrounding this story. This is my first attempt with a so-called 'love story', a piece of 'fluff', so please let me know what you think.

Constructive comments are appreciated and will be answered: jmdragon@jmdragon.net

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Part 1

Chapter one
(Six months after Haunting Shadows)
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Jace watched over the extended drive to the house with longing. It had been three weeks since Catherine had been called to a meeting in New York, which then bounced from Rio, London and finally to Singapore. When those particular meetings had been completed, Catherine had reluctantly agreed to a series of business interviews about the past, present and future of Xianthos in light of the changes to key personnel and her own circumstances. Constance had originally agreed on her behalf, to do a couple of them, but once problems surfaced once again within her organisation, Catherine had to agree to several more to keep the blood hounds at bay. Now, she was due home and Colin had left to go the local airfield to pick her up. And knowing the speed at which those two interacted with each other; Jace was sure Catherine should be arriving through those gates within the next half-hour.

Jace looked once more over the drive, shrugged her shoulders, accepting the fact that she was being anxious about nothing, after all, Rio was with her. Catherine had sounded tired, but otherwise relaxed when she'd called earlier that morning from her personal flight to Christchurch from LA. Originally, they had agreed that Jace and the family would travel with her on any of the journeys outside New Zealand, and after Jace's kidnapping and the shooting in her New York office six months ago; however, reality being what it was, when Catherine was unexpectedly called away this time, Jace had declined to remove the children from school and disrupt them again. After all, they had been with Catherine in New York only two weeks earlier. Mentioning the schooling and the possible disruption to the children had convinced Catherine, reluctantly, to go on this trip alone; but she had been far from happy. Her three calls, or more if she could a day, had made Jace smile indulgently at the woman. This tall raven-haired woman, who scared the hell out of her employees and business associates, but one who was loving, warm and enchantingly pliable with her family.

Jace looked across at their youngest daughter taking her morning nap; she was fast asleep in the travel crib that Catherine had insisted they purchase on the first trip to New York over four months ago, which had become one of the favourite places Elena would sleep peacefully immediately. Knowing her daughter, she would associate it with Catherine and having the tall woman carry it about for hours, softly crooning to the baby through all the flights and the red tape, as well as customs people, who could be real slow sometimes; especially in America when you weren't a citizen. It brought memories flooding back to the first visit the family made to New York, and made Jace smile broadly as she recall the event.

Jace had chuckled at the agitation of Catherine, as she had to wait in a long line of people with the children. None of them had an American passport, even her own daughter; they had decided that Elena would have her own passport and as she had been born in New Zealand she held a brand new, New Zealand passport. Jake and Lisa also had new passports as neither one of them had one prior to living on 'Destiny'. It had been simple to gain one for them. Catherine's passport was British, as she had still to clear up the matter of her temporary residence status, which had also prevented her from carrying out the plan to adopt Jake and Lisa; her lawyers were adamant that a solution would be imminent on that subject matter.

Jace continued to watch Catherine shuffle around in the queue, Rio held in her left hand and the travelling crib in her stronger right hand. The two older children immediately in front of her and as with children, they were fooling around, which didn't help to alleviate Catherine's impatience any.

Fortunately, their luggage was being attended to; Catherine had requested that security check it with scanners anyway, there was never going to be an opportunity for someone to tamper with their belongings, if a simple scan could prevent it.

Jake tugged Catherine over to the free customs desk; she planted all four passports on the desk and waited in silence.  The customs officer, a large woman with a sombre face peered at the family and looked first at Jake and his passport, then Lisa and gave a quick glance at the baby that Catherine held securely on her right hand side. "Are you planning on staying long in New York Ms. Devonshire?" The nasally voice asked officially.

Catherine knew the reason why she used the business waiver form when she travelled alone, but with the children, that had been impossible, especially, as Jace had to go through another entry port. "Two weeks." Catherine replied shortly.

"Have you the necessary funds to enjoy your stay?" The seemingly, uncaring, customs woman asked in a disinterested fashion.

Catherine was annoyed, she had a headache and was tired, the children had been a handful, but this stupid red tape was the limit. Raising her left eyebrow to meet the top of her forehead, she snarled at the woman. "I have sufficient funds to enjoy my stay and keep my children off the streets! Is that all?"

The woman deemed her answer insolent and asked her several more meaningless questions, all of which continued to aggravate Catherine. When she had finally been stamped to go through the customs gate, she was fuming.

Jace took that moment to walk over to her and place a gentle hand on her left forearm. "Hey Catherine, we love you, please smile for us, or we will think your mad with us, also." Jace suggested, as she lightly put her face close to her lovers in sympathy; the children had grown upset also, at Catherine's angry tone of voice with the woman at the desk.

Catherine gave a heavy sigh and she gave Jace a weak smile, acknowledging that it was stupid to take her frustrations out on Jace and the children over the customs personnel. She should have taken up Constance's offer to have the red tape removed and go through customs as a VIP. But no, she had said, she wanted to do things the regular way and not have the children used to thinking the VIP way was the normal way to do things. Now, she wished fervently that she had shelved her misguided logic and accepted the trappings of her wealth. "Come on, let's get out of here and go to the apartment. I know someone who will be happy to welcome us to New York.

Catherine's chauffeur driven car was waiting as ordered; complete with their luggage; at least that hadn't turned out to be a chore. Forty minutes later they were walking into the apartment block that seeped wealth and luxury; Jace had difficulty not being overawed by the opulent reception area, as well as the security personnel, who immediately came to their assistance as they alighted from the vehicle.

"Hi Rio, brought back your mistress for another visit, huh?" A cheery voice beamed over to the dog; three pairs of eyes all focusing on him at the same time stunned him momentarily. Smiling at the three watching faces, he ruffled Rio's ears and spoke quietly to Catherine. "I see you brought the family as promised Ms. Devonshire."

Catherine smiled genuinely for the first time since they left the aircraft, "Yes! Everyone's accounted for Henry, just as promised. You better get used to their faces, because I don't want them being locked out at any time, do you hear me?"  Catherine chuckled as she held out her hand in greeting to the man, who was obviously the concierge.

"No problem about that Ms. Devonshire, if you let me know the names, we can get started on recognition as of now."  The man said, laughing in a very deep tone that had Lisa giggling; he reminded her of a big cuddly bear.

"Better start with my eldest daughter Henry, she appears to have captured everyone's attention as usual." Catherine said with a smile, eventually making all the introductions and when it came around to introducing Jace, Catherine pulled her close and placed her arm around Jace's shoulders.

"This Henry, is the woman whom you had better watch out for, as she makes mincemeat out of me most of the time; would you believe? Jace Bardley meet Henry the best concierge in the city," Catherine smiled, as Jace held out her hand to the jovial man.

"Pleased to meet you Henry, and she's wrong about me really, it's not most of the time, actually, it's all of the time," Jace smiled at the man's appreciation of the slight joke at her friend's expense.

"Ms. Bardley anyone who can make this woman happy is surely welcome. She has lived here on and off for eight years, and I've never seen her smile so much as I have today. This has got to be good for the building's reputation. Now, let's get you all up to the apartment or Susan is going to skin me alive for keeping you all waiting here." Henry grinned and Catherine laughed, as she could well imagine Susan having something to say on the subject, she did on most others.

The door to the apartment was open as the elevator stopped and two adult's, two children, one baby and a dog all stepped out; Rio was immediately released to go in search of Susan, who had agreed to stay until a new housekeeper that Jace approved could be screened and placed in the soon to be vacated position.

Jake looked around at the apartment with saucers for eyes, as he glanced at the paintings on the wall, the pieces of sculpture on pedestals in the hallway, not to mention the other very expensive decorations and furnishings. It was so different in every way possible to their home on 'Destiny'; he didn't know where he should go next, or if he was allowed to sit on any of the furniture, it looked so new and very expensive.

Lisa on the other hand immediately chased after Rio and found herself face to face with a small woman who looked at her kindly with a large smile on her face. "Are you Susan?" Lisa asked with all the confidence of youth.

Susan looked at the small redhead and laughed, she was certainly going to be a handful that one. "Yes. I am, and you must be Jace?" Susan said teasing the youngster.

Lisa looked at the older woman and she shook her head. "No, I'm Lisa. I'm to young to marry Catherine but Jace isn't," the girl said innocently.

"I see. Well, I hope they both know that, do they?" Susan thought his child certainly went about things fast, if her repartee was anything to go by.

Lisa walked over to the older woman and whispered, "We think so at home, but they're not getting married yet, not like Grace and Colin. We think they should, don't you?"

Susan burst out laughing at the remark and was stopped from answering as Catherine entered the kitchen. "I thought I might find you here Lisa, have you found Susan for me?"

"Yeah! She's here aren't you Susan; I'm going to look at the big window onto the park now," the child skipped off in the direction of the lounge.

"She's quite something Catherine." Susan glanced at the tall woman and noticed her pallor and the tired look around her eyes.

"Yes, she certainly is Susan. How have you been since I was last here?" Catherine walked over towards the older woman and engulfed her in a warm hug.

"I'm very well Catherine, but, I can see that you are still far from one hundred percent yourself. What have you been doing with yourself?" Susan broke the embrace and switched on the kettle to make tea, that was something she knew would perk up the tall woman beside her.

"Well, it's been hectic and I had a nasty stomach bug which was around for a couple of weeks; it helped to delay the feeding up process, I think." Catherine failed to mention that the stomach bug was in actual fact an electronic bug, that had failed to dissolve totally and caused her some discomfort; eventually the hospital had done minor surgery and she was now 'bug free,' so to speak.

"How about tea and where are the rest of the family?" Susan smiled at her and shook her greying head of hair in exasperation.

As if on cue, Jake walked in with Elena in his arms, the child was now three months old and exhibiting a restless streak, which didn't come from Jace, or that's what Jace said anyway, but Catherine had her doubts in a big way. "Catherine, where can we sit down?" The boy asked quietly.

Susan looked the boy over and was amazed at his initial resemblance to Catherine, all that thick black hair and the stoic expression on his face. "Anywhere you want Jake. First, come here and meet Susan. Susan, I would like you to meet my son Jake and if I'm not mistaken by the chuckles, I can hear, he has Elena, my youngest daughter in his arms."

Susan held out a hand to the boy and smiled warmly at him. "Welcome to New York Jake. And she's right, you can sit anywhere; to the best of my knowledge none of the furniture bites you back." She watched the boy's face change from its stoic expression to a warm grin, as he shook her hand feeling very important.

"I've always wanted to come to America, since Jace talks to us about it all the time." The boy said quickly, as he shuffled Elena into a more comfortable position, she was getting heavier everyday.

"How about I take your baby sister Jake, then you have these cookies as a replacement and go share them with Lisa. Is that okay with you?" Susan offered and held out her arms for the squirming child.

The boy immediately relinquished his load, collected the chocolate cookies and placing a hand of farewell on Catherine's shoulders, he left the room.

"She's a cute one Catherine." Susan looked the baby over, noticing the baby's green eyes tracked at regular intervals towards the tall woman now seated at the kitchen table.

"Yes, she is just like her mother." Catherine grinned, immediately her attention was caught as she felt Jace enter the room silently.

"Okay, who left me to supervise where all the luggage had to go, huh?' Jace smiled at the older woman who held her daughter in a comforting hold, and held out her hand in greeting to the older woman. "Hi, you must be Susan, I'm Jace Bardley; thanks for getting everything ready for us and staying around to help me out with the family." Jace thought that a quick introduction and thanks might be her best approach. She'd heard so much about Susan from Catherine, and had been a little anxious about making the right impression; not that Catherine was aware of that of course, because she would have laughed it off as insecure and foolish.

The older woman noticed the nervous introduction and smiled into the dark hair of the baby. She knew exactly how Catherine could make her out as some paragon or dragon of a housekeeper, and if her conversations with Grace were anything to go by, she was certainly different than the New Zealand former housekeeper. "Hello Jace, I'm pleased to meet you at last. I often wondered what the person would be like, that eventually enticed this lady to settle down," Susan smiled warmly at the younger woman and saw her relax visibly.

"Thank you, but I'm not quite sure if she's settled yet, time will tell." Jace said and wished she hadn't, when she noticed Catherine stiffen at the words and glance in her direction.

"Susan how's the tea brewing?" Catherine asked quietly absorbing the comment made by Jace, what did she mean 'not settled yet?'

"Be right with you, I think your daughter needs changing, who gets that pleasure?" Susan said as she realised that her boss was a little disturbed by the small blonde's remark.

"I'll take her, be right back." Jace responded as she rescued Susan from her damp daughter, leaving the room to the two older women.

Susan within minutes put a steaming mug of tea on Catherine's right; and then sat down with her as she watched Catherine take her first sip and then saw the sombre expression change to one of appreciation. "Hell, Susan, you still know how to make a mean mug of tea. I'm going to miss you when you retire." Catherine's voice held the appreciation for her housekeeper's skills.

"I know, but you have lots of things to look forward to in the future. I hardly think this old woman is going to be on the top of your list. Now, if I had blonde hair and had twinkling green eyes, with a smile that makes you come alive and happy even though you can't see it, then perhaps I would have a chance," Susan laughed as she saw Catherine blush at the words.

"She still looks the same? I wondered after all the things that have happened in the last year." Catherine said tentatively.

"Catherine what makes you think that she has changed; it's only been what eighteen months since you last saw her with vision isn't it?" Susan enquired of her softly.

"Yes, but, I miss not seeing her Susan. I can't tell her that, for it would upset her, but I do miss not seeing the light in her eyes and how they look at me with that innocent trusting expression as if I can solve all her problems. Then, there's that smile of hers, where she lights up the whole sky when she wants to, and I want so much to see it all again."  Catherine gave Susan a sheepish glance, although she wasn't sure if she was looking in the right direction.

"Perhaps, one day you will see her again and if you don't, trust me, she still looks at you with that same expression and I hazard a guess, that you still solve all those problems for her, am I right?" Susan placed a gentle hand on top of Catherine's.

"Yes, I still solve all those problems for her." Catherine said simply, ' usually because I've caused them in the first place,' Catherine added silently.

"Whose problems?" Jace asked, as she entered with a laughing, clean baby, if the smell of fresh powder was anything to go by.

"Mine, my dear, about moving to Louisiana, to my sister's. Catherine volunteered to help me with the move and I'm holding her to it." Susan indicated the teapot to Jace, who shook her head and looked longingly at the coffeepot. Susan saw the look and motioned her to sit as she poured a cup of the freshly made brew for the younger woman, as she sat on the right of Catherine.

"Give Elena to me Jace, I want to go and show her the view from the lounge window and check up on the kids." Catherine said quietly, as she placed a hand on Jace's arm tenderly.

"Anytime Catherine, here she comes," the young blonde said fondly, as she handed the baby over to her lover, smiling, as Catherine hugged Elena to her and kissed the chuckling baby on the head. Jace watched in fascination as Catherine walked confidently out of the kitchen towards the lounge. "I really don't know how she does that?"

The comment wasn't lost on Susan, as she watched the love that shone out of the woman's green eyes at the retreating back of her employer. "She's always been a very confident woman, from the day I first met her over eight years ago. I suspect she has much of her Daddy's indomitable character traits, although, she would never admit it." Susan smiled at Jace as she handed her the coffee.

"Thanks Susan, you don't know how much I need this? Did you know her father for any length of time?" Jace asked conversationally. Catherine had never mentioned that Susan knew her father, only that she had worked for Catherine for quite a few years.

Susan grunted at the comment. "I guess she never mentioned, I was her Daddy's housekeeper for twenty years before she came along?' Seeing the look of surprise on Jace's face she carried on, "She's like her father all right, he never gave much away either. I hope she's more open than he ever was with her family." Susan said, looking at the expression of Jace's face for confirmation that Catherine had changed in some ways, from the woman that had left her first family.

Jace looked towards the open kitchen doorway and smiled wistfully. "I don't know what she was like then, and I might never know, but she's a very loving and caring parent to our children and that's all that matters now. We can't change the past, but we can learn from it and I think she's doing that Susan, in far more profound ways than we will probably ever realise." Jace spoke softly and her voice was filled with the love and admiration she had for Catherine.

"She's made a very good choice with you Jace, I hope she realises it." Susan stated, impressed by the other woman's quiet words of support for her friend.

"Oh, I think I was the one who made the good choice here Susan. I intend to always keep it." Jace smiled at the older woman over her coffee cup, as they sat in companionable silence for the next few minutes.

Catherine was facing the window in the lounge as Lisa continued sitting precariously on the back of the leather sofa, swinging her legs and talking animatedly about going to feed the ducks and swans tomorrow in the park below. Jake was peering out of the window at the lake and wondering if Jace would take them rowing, if the weather stayed clear.  Elena was looking at the colours in the room, but her eyes were slowly drooping, indicating she was about ready to fall asleep.

Catherine had an uncanny rapport with Elena and always knew when the child needed to be put into her crib for her rest. Jace would tease her, as she was sure Catherine was more her mother than she was, but it amused them both and Catherine felt closer to the child when Jace made comments that included her at the base level of their daughters conception.

Walking to her room, Catherine had called Rio to heel and follow her into the room. The luggage and the position of the crib could be a problem to her and she didn't relish falling over anything with her daughter being held in her arms.  Ten minutes later, having settled Elena for her afternoon nap, she stroked Rio's ears and smiled, "Guess I'd better go and find out if Susan has divulged any of my old secrets to Jace while I've been gone Rio."

Several hours later, the children had been fed, tucked into bed early on the grounds that they were tired and becoming irritable, pretty much like a certain tall dark and beautiful parent had been earlier in the day. Eventually, Catherine had told them in no uncertain terms, there would be no visit to the park in the morning, if they didn't get some sleep.  The children duly retired and asked for a story, which Jace obliged as she settled Elena back down, fortunately the baby didn't protest, she loved her sleep too much to argue Jace suspected, very much like herself.

Susan was drinking her final coffee sitting opposite Catherine, who had decided that the sofa was ideal for her to put her feet up and relax with her tea at the corner table to her right. "She loves you very much Catherine." Susan stated and noticed the tender smile that moved onto Catherine's features.

"I know, and I certainly love her Susan. She is everything to me and more." Catherine replied softly, her voice had an awed quality to it, as if, she couldn't believe it herself.

"Those children love you too, Catherine, and I can see that they make you happy, grumpy too, but that's to be accepted with your disposition." Susan grinned at the aggrieved expression on the raven-haired woman's face. She was so easy to tease about her family; it was strange, but an entirely satisfying situation for Susan to encounter with this woman whom she loved as a daughter.

"Are you still going to come to New Zealand at Christmas, now that you have met all the family? Ah, but I forget before you answer, there is still Grace to consider and her mother also; come to that, Colin too, whom you can sympathise with." Catherine joked and heard Susan stifle a laugh at her inclusion of Grace and her family.

"Grace and I may not have seen each other, but, I know what Grace is like and, I'm looking forward to meeting the woman who has kept you out of trouble for years; she's been a very good friend also, I suspect Catherine." Susan inquired.

"Grace is more than a friend, Susan.....she's family. I think if I'd had a sister, I would have wanted it to be Grace; and you, Susan are family also, you knew that of course." Catherine had never been one to labour the point over the emotion issues.

Susan smiled at her as Jace came back into the room and took up her place at the end of the sofa Catherine had taken over. "Yes, I know Catherine, and you're like a daughter to me too."

Jace watched the interchange between the two women and knew that Susan was going to be not only a very powerful ally with Catherine, but also a very informative one. Susan knew things about Catherine that Jace wanted to know, but couldn't ask her, she would have laughed off the questions as irrelevant. To Jace it was going to be like visiting your parents and they bring out the baby photos only in this case, Catherine had been some big baby. Shuffling uncomfortably at the other end of the sofa, as Catherine's toes touched the outside of her thigh.

Susan watched the blonde as she tried to relax on the sofa, but it was clear all she wanted to do was get as close as possible to Catherine and Jace obviously thought that Susan might not approve. Smiling at Jace, she glanced over to Catherine who was twisting her hands together as if she wanted to do something more with them. "Can I make a suggestion ladies?"

Catherine looked over to Susan, as did Jace, they both said in unison, "Yes."

Susan levered herself out of the chair and went towards the door. "I'm going home now, but in future, I expect that you will at least hold hands in your own home. You're not children being scrutinised by your parents on your first date you know!" Susan grinned as she went to fetch her coat and Catherine burst out laughing as she turned to Jace who was looking embarrassed at the comment.

"Do we look like that?" Catherine asked Jace, her good humour clearly in ascendancy.

"Yeah, we do. And thank god Lisa wasn't here to add her usual artless comments." Jace laughed softly, shifted a little on the sofa, but did not move any closer to Catherine.

Catherine smiled at the thought of the type of comment Lisa was apt to come out with and then became aware that Jace hadn't taken any steps to refute the comment with action. "Ms. Bardley how would you like a hug and perhaps a few lessons in my particular brand of appreciation of how much you mean to me?"

Jace turned her head to look at her partner and saw the slow seductive smile that crossed her face. She was to damn beautiful and sexy, it was a dynamite combination. "I think I would love to accept a hug and a few lessons Ms. Warriorson. Have you any objections, if I want to follow through with a few lessons of my own?" Jace closed the gap between them and was enclosed in a warm embrace that had her lying on top of Catherine, facing each other, their lips almost touching.

"Absolutely, no objection at all. I'm always interested and appreciative of any lesson you can teach me Jace. Oh, and one more thing, welcome to New York my love. Jace, everything I have is yours, don't forget that will you, and I mean everything." Catherine's voice went down a few octaves just to the level she knew had a rather splendid effect on her partner.

"Thank you Catherine, the only thing I can think of right now that I want and need is right here in my arms. Now, what were you saying about a lesson or two?" Jace closed the gap between their lips; they began an exploration that was both ancient to them and new at the same time, as each of their kisses appeared to be.

Susan didn't bother to say goodnight, she felt that it would have been inappropriate, as the two children had been remarkably quick at understanding her last comment. Locking the door as she departed from the apartment, she smiled at the thought of the next couple of weeks; which she believed, were going to be quite enlightening for all of them.

Jace heard a vehicle and looked back over to the drive, seeing the green Land Rover that Colin always used.......at last Catherine was home!

~ ~ ~

Chapter Two

Catherine looked tired as she climbed into the Land Rover next to Colin. He had as usual been punctual and gave her a warm smile of welcome as he collected her limited luggage. Once he saw how tired she looked, he also took charge of the laptop she used, with enhanced voice features in its' software packages.

Sinking into the leather upholstery, Catherine closed her eyes as Rio jumped in the back of the vehicle and put his head out of the lowered window of the back seat. Colin seconds later joined her in the front and started the vehicle towards home. "You look tired Catherine, Jace is going to give you a hard time." Colin smiled as he thought of the small blonde and her protective streak over Catherine's health, usually, because Catherine didn't take care of herself properly, especially, when she went away alone.

"You know something Colin, I could never be an actress, and it is hard work doing ten minute interviews, never mind TV series and movies. I think I will leave the media options to others in the future." Catherine replied, her voice betraying the exhaustion her body was exhibiting.

"Well.....;unfortunately, Jace will still give you a hard time, but I'm sure you can find ways to counter her disapproval." Colin smirked, as he thought about his own ways of countering Grace, when she went into full mother hen mode; it was quite entertaining for the both of them.

"Yes, I'll think of something, I usually do. Although, if I fall asleep on her shoulder, do you think she might get the message? By the way, how are the plans for the wedding going, it's only about five weeks away isn't it?" Catherine smiled; she imagined what Grace had been going through recently with her mother.

"Oh, from my point of view, everything is going really well. Grace on the other hand is having a hard time convincing Faith, she doesn't have to have the final fitting for the dress for at least another couple of weeks, but you know Faith, she's adamant Grace might put on weight and spoil everything at the last minute. I've had to diffuse the odd argument between them and I think Jace has actually been the go between for the last few weeks, especially, when they stopped talking for days." Colin chuckled, he knew that it wasn't really funny, but with Grace and her mother, they did have rather hilarious arguments and all over trivial items too!

Catherine laughed at the image she created in her mind of Grace and her mother arguing. Catherine knew that Grace wasn't keen on getting involved with the numerous arrangements for the wedding; had asked or rather pleaded with Jace to help her out and fend off her mother. Catherine had found it a source of great merriment on occasion, especially, when Jace had been almost at the end of her tether on a few occasions at the wide gap in understanding between mother and daughter. Jace had commented that at least, she wasn't like that with her mother and then had gone silent and left the room feigning a headache, which Catherine had not pushed, She knew exactly what had upset her friend, for it hadn't been Grace or Faith. "I guess I'll hear about it soon enough." Catherine said and closed her eyes as she recalled the unscheduled visit she'd made in LA the day before.

Catherine had decided to turn up at the house without notice. She had been thinking about it for sometime and having the few hours stop over in LA, as her flight was being prepped for take-off early in the morning, it had been the opportunity she wasn't going to miss.

The car and driver she had hired for the day had brought her quickly to her destination in the suburban, middle class, housing environment, holding the family of her friend and lover Jace Bardley. The driver had stopped the car outside the drive of the house and he had been instructed to wait until he was given a message otherwise. It was early evening and she surmised that Jace's father would be home, possibly her sister might be here, but it depended on what college she had eventually taken and where it was located. Her mother worked from home, so chances were, if no one else were around, Alison Bardley would be. Taking Rio's harness, they walked confidently towards the door of the residence.  She could hear children playing close by and the odd car pull along the road, but so far no movement from the house directly in front of her. Rio halted at the steps, and then they negotiated the four obstacles and quickly landed on the decking of the small porch. Rio then led her to the left and stopped at what she assumed was the door. Feeling in front of her at the unfamiliar door, she eventually found the doorbell and pushed the button. Waiting for someone to answer was the one of the longest periods of her life, except when she had been waiting to hear the outcome of the birth of their daughter.

Within a couple of the minutes, the door was opened, "Hi, what can I do for you?" The deep voice obviously male, asked in a friendly fashion.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but does this happen to be the residence of the Bardley family?" Catherine said quietly, her accent indicating to the man in front of her that she wasn't American.

Catherine could feel the eyes on her and the speculative gaze she was being given. "Yes, I'm Jason Bardley. I'm sorry, but have me met?" The blind stranger had perturbed Jason at his door; he had hoped that it might be his eldest daughter coming home, but as always it was only a wishful thought.

"Mr. Bardley we have never met, but I believe you have heard of me." Catherine replied her voice businesslike, she wasn't sure what reaction she was going to get from the Bardley family members, however she had to try, because Jace wasn't making the effort to bridge the gap and it was eating away at her lover.

"And you would be?" Jason asked intrigued this woman was beautiful and held herself with an arrogance that defied her disability in many ways, as if it was a minor annoyance to her. That kind of bearing wasn't seen that often and certainly not in his backyard, although she did look familiar.

"My name is Catherine Warriorson or perhaps I'm better known to you as Catherine Devonshire, either way I'll answer to whichever you use," she heard the startled, sharp intake of breath as Jason Bardley now put the face to the name.

Jason was stunned, he had never expected to meet Catherine Devonshire in his life. She was a legend in the publishing world. Although, he'd considered there might be a possibility of meeting Catherine one day after finding out that the woman Jace loved happened to be this woman. After her disappearance and Jace's marriage to Adamson, he had thought it a pipe dream. Now, a year and half later, here he was face to face with the woman on all the current business programs and the TV didn't do justice to her beauty, that was for sure. "I'm sorry Ms. Devonshire, but I'm a little......; No! A lot surprised at your arriving at my door."

"Yes, it would look odd I realise that, but Jace....." Jason stopped Catherine.

"Jace isn't here Ms. Devonshire, we haven't seen her for over a year," he sounded upset to her sensitive hearing.

Catherine gave him a smile of compassion. "Perhaps I can help you understand that problem Mr. Bardley if you will allow me a few minutes of your time?" Catherine said softly. Then she heard a woman calling him.

"I'm sorry Ms. Devonshire please come inside, my wife will want to hear the story also!" Jason held the door open and Rio waited for his mistress to acknowledge the forward movement.

"Thank you." Catherine let Rio lead her inside and she slowly followed her host as he moved along the hall.

Alison Bardley watched in fascination as her husband led a tall, stunning looking woman into the house and into the lounge with a guide dog, so the woman was blind, but on initial reactions you could be forgiven in thinking that she wasn't, her easy gait very confident. Jason showed her inside the room then excused himself as he went to inform his wife and bring her to meet Catherine.

Minutes later he came back in the room followed by Jace's mother, Catherine assumed. "Ms. Devonshire, this is my wife Alison." Catherine acknowledged the woman in the room with a smile and held her hand out. Alison Bardley took the hand in hers and shook it in a warm grasp that reminded Catherine of Jace's small hands.

"Your daughter has your hands." Catherine said quietly, not really meaning to say the thought aloud.

"You've seen my daughter recently Ms. Devonshire?" Alison questioned, the emotion filled words caused her voice to crack noticeably. They had been worried sick about her for months, especially when Peter was in town and admitted to some mutual friends that the marriage was over, but refused to say anything else on the matter, particularly the whereabouts of his ex-wife.

"Yes, three weeks ago and hopefully, if the plane gets the go ahead for take-off, I will be seeing her metaphorically speaking, that is, tomorrow,' Catherine's hand indicated her disability and she gave a rueful smile. " I'm not allowed to stay away from home to long, Jace gets upset."

Alison had tears running down her cheeks, she gave her husband a watery smile, they now knew that Jace was safe, not in the country, but safe, and that was the most important thing. "Ms. Devonshire how is Jace?"

Jason Bardley had taken the seat next to Catherine as she mentioned that she would be seeing his daughter tomorrow if only they could too!

"She's very well, keeping me on my toes I might add, our children are fortunate that she came back into my life." Catherine explained, as it was only fair that they knew that Jace was part of her life, the most important part, as far as she was concerned!

Jason cleared his throat from the emotions he was feeling; clearly Jace had reached her goal and made Catherine Devonshire take her back into her life. His daughter never ceased to amaze him with her fortitude. "We're about to have dinner Ms. Devonshire would you like to join us?" It was a tentative question; she was probably busy and had other appointments, more important than spending any more time with them.

Catherine heard the unsure note in his voice and she smiled. That sounded like Jace's uncertainty in the early days of their relationship, it certainly didn't happen now. "Well, if you could ask my driver to come back in a couple of hours, I'd be pleased to accept your invitation to dinner, but, I have to feed Rio too?" Catherine said, smiling towards the voice of Jace's father.

"No problem there, I'll be right back." Jason went out of the room quickly to take care of the driver.

Catherine could hear Jace's mother move around the room, uncertain if she should ask the tall woman any more questions. "Jace has been with me for nine months, Mrs. Bardley." Catherine said quietly.

Alison was surprised at the compassion she heard in the voice of the woman in the room with her. All the rumours she'd heard and the TV reports had indicated that she was a very ruthless woman and someone you never underestimated.  "Thank you for coming here to let us know about Jace, Ms. Devonshire. We have been very worried about her; things sometimes get out of hand and you can't always see the trees for the forest in certain circumstances. We were all hasty I think, the last time we saw our daughter." Alison said in a contemplative mood.

"Yes, I know. She told me about the problem. It was unfortunate, but, I believe not insurmountable and in the circumstances, I believe it will be in the best interests for you all to get back together again, and soon." Catherine
smiled warmly towards the direction of Alison Bardley.

"Circumstances? Jace isn't ill is she Ms. Devonshire?" Alison asked, just as Jason returned and saw the pale features of his wife, he walked over to her and put an arm around her shoulders in comfort.

"Is something wrong Alison? Ms. Devonshire?" Jason questioned softly.

"No, nothing except, if you don't mind, I'd prefer you to call me Catherine. In the current situation it might be appropriate." Catherine turned on one of her dazzling smiles that gave her already beautiful features a stunning glow to them.

"Of course, my wife is Alison, and I'm Jason." Jace's father was not surprised his daughter had lost her heart to this woman, she was stunning and god knows what she must have been like, when she could focus those ice blue eyes in your direction.

Over dinner, they discussed briefly her accident and Jace's visit to see her nine months ago, which became the basis for their renewed friendship.

"Are you saying that my daughter is your friend only Catherine?" Jason asked, he had assumed a more in depth relationship from their earlier conversation.

Catherine blushed, and moved around in her chair; if she had been at home the children would have commented that she was fidgeting and Jace would probably be laughing and making some teasing remark. "Well, actually at first we were friends and that doesn't mean were not friends now, of course but.....that is to say....." Catherine was nervous for the first time in years with someone other than Jace; and Jace wasn't here to help her out.

"Perhaps I can help you out here Catherine, if you would like, that is?" Jason said smiling at the obvious discomfort of the otherwise confident woman.

"Yes. By all means, please." Catherine breathed a sigh of relief.

"My daughter decided she couldn't live without you, then finally persuaded you that you couldn't live without her either, will that about cover it?" Jason chuckled at the shy glance he received from Catherine.

Sheepishly Catherine replied. " Yes, that covers it very well, thank you."

"I was with my daughter after she read the article about you Catherine; I always knew she would eventually find you and that she would convince you that she loved you in the way you obviously love her." Jason said as he recalled the morning he had taken in the newspaper and waited for his daughter to read the scandal and digest the worst about her friend.

"Then you had greater faith than either of us at the time Jason, because neither of us was kind to each other for the intervening months, I can tell you." Catherine said, her tone betraying elements of bitterness and sadness.

"Well, the main thing is that you're together now and didn't you say something about children?" Alison answered for her husband.

Catherine's face changed dramatically at the mention of her children. "Yes, Jake is eleven and getting taller every day, he's a very quiet boy, but loves the outdoor life and wants to be a soccer player when he grows up. He's a very special boy. Lisa is eight and a handful. I guess it matches her red hair, she is one of the most loving children I have ever come across in my life. She reminds me of how I imagine Jace to be at that age. When you meet her you can let me know if that's the case."

Jason chuckled at the description of her daughter; "If she's anything like our eldest daughter than you are going to be busy keeping her out of trouble, I can tell you."

Catherine wasn't sure what to say about Elena, but thought, hell, they'd come this far, why not the whole truth. "We have a younger daughter also, Elena is six months old and she has her mother's green eyes and sleeps at the drop of a hat and can eat about as much as her mother also."

Catherine heard the catch in the breathing of Jace's parents. Finally, she heard Jason ask in such a quiet voice, she wasn't sure if she'd heard him correctly. "Jace has a daughter?"

"Yes, Jace is the mother of our youngest daughter. I'm sorry you have to hear it like this. I had wanted Jace to be the bearer of the news and have Elena here too, but she's stubborn." Catherine supplied.

Catherine heard Alison fight the tears she wanted to shed, and at that moment the doorbell rang, probably the driver.

Ten minutes later Catherine was about to leave Jace's parents. "I was hoping , if you haven't firm plans for Christmas, you might want to consider coming over to visit us in New Zealand. I have invited a couple of other guests and I have a private flight out of LA a couple of days before Christmas. We have a wedding of my best friend planned on the ranch Christmas Eve; then we plan to celebrate as a family until the New Year and as it's the millennium. I thought it might be time to meet your granddaughter too. I'll understand of course, if you can't at this short notice, but please think about it and call the number on this card if you want to discuss the plans. It's my secretary in New York and she can have me call you."

Jason had his arm around his wife as they walked her to the door. "Catherine you now have three more guests to take care of; I'd rather you kept this from our daughter. I want it to be a surprise, if that is okay with you?" Jason asked her, not wanting her to be dishonest with Jace.

Catherine turned and gave them a grin. "No problem, your daughter will be thrilled at the surprise trust me. I look forward to meeting Lucy at Christmas. Thank you for dinner, I'll be in touch." Rio led Catherine towards the porch steps.

"No! Thank you, Catherine. You have just made two people very happy." Jason smiled and Alison rushed over to the tall woman and placed a kiss on her cheek and whispered. "Give my daughter and granddaughter a kiss from us both Catherine."

"Yes, I'll do that." Catherine's eyes were smarting and she caught herself from stumbling as Rio trotted slowly down the steps.

Finally opening her eyes from her recent memories she smiled, "Have the children been behaving Colin?"

Colin gave her a startled look, he thought she was asleep she'd been quiet for over fifteen minutes and they were nearly at the ranch. "Oh yes, but Lisa is going to give Grace's mother a heart attack one day, I'm sure."

"Oh god, what's she been up too now?" Catherine asked smiling, she could well imagine what her eldest daughter had been doing and they chatted about the child until the house came into view. Catherine always savoured the feeling of coming home and now, with Jace in the house, 'Destiny' had indeed become her home; because wherever Jace Bardley was in the world that would be Catherine's home.

The vehicle crunched to a halt on the gravel drive. The sounds of laughing children could be heard in the background as Catherine got out of the front seat and opened the door for Rio to plummet out.

Within minutes, her children surrounded Catherine; Lisa who hugged her and tugged at her to lift her up so she could place a few wet kisses on her cheeks. Then Jake sauntered up and Catherine could hear the spinning of a football of the toe of a boot, Jake was learning new footwork skills, now that his leg had been given a clean bill of health. Catherine wasn't sure if it was Jace's perfume that assailed her first or the approaching footsteps. Whichever it was, Catherine stood silently at the foot of the porch as the children ran off to inform Grace that Catherine and Colin were back.

"I see you haven't taken care of yourself as usual Catherine?" Jace scolded in a gentle maternal tone, which Catherine could now also associate with her mother.

"Ah, well.....Jace, I guess if you're not with me, I tend to forget those small inconsequential matters." Catherine turned her face up towards the voice of her lover, her heartbeat racing at the image that presented itself for inspection of the woman she'd sorely missed.

"Then, I guess I have a job for life?" Jace said softly and walked the few steps to bring her level with her friend.

"And the rest, Ms. Bardley, and the rest! I was hoping that perhaps you could start the welcome home process with a little tender loving care, what do you say?" Catherine gave Jace a smile, she could feel the heat and scent of Jace's body, and knew she was inches away from her.

Jace moved slowly to wrap her arms around her lover, pulling the dark head towards her for a kiss that both women hungrily devoured, it was remarkable how a simple kiss could ignite their bodies to fever pitch in a short space of time. "I've missed you Catherine." Jace huskily replied, as she pulled away slightly from the kiss.

Catherine smiled at the emotion she felt from her lover. "I've missed you too Jace, I love you." Catherine moved the short distance between them this time, and continued her passionate exploration of Jace's lips and trailed down her neck.

A throat being cleared from the entrance to the house broke up the embrace, as Catherine turned her head in the direction of the open door, Jace's was unable to see the person, as her back was to the intruder. "Why don't I go hire you two a room for the night, so you can continue this necking session in private. Believe me, my mother does NOT want to see this display of passion. She might get jealous, because sure as hell, I am!" Grace Thornton laughed at the blush that stained Catherine's cheeks; she was pretty sure Jace could match her as the smaller woman put her head on Catherine's shoulder.

"Good to see you too Grace, how's the wedding dress?" Catherine quipped back to her friend.

"Welcome back Catherine, I've really missed your dry wit." Walking closer to the couple, she looked over at her fiancé and smiled at him. "I think I'm going to take a leaf out of your book Catherine, and go and welcome my lover back home too." Grace walked down the steps gave Catherine's a quick peck on the cheek of welcome, "See you later Romeo." Grace said, as she strode towards Colin, who was happy to accept the scorching kiss that Grace supplied moments later.

"Colin hasn't been away has he?" Catherine asked in surprise. Jace laughed at the puzzled expression on Catherine's face.

"No, darling, he hasn't, but come on let's get you inside and you can have some tea and tell me all about your exploits, what do you say?" Jace grabbed her hand and together they went inside the house.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Three

The family settled into a routine very quickly once Catherine arrived home. Catherine ensured that the first few hours of the morning were in a family atmosphere of breakfast together. The children, happy that Catherine spent the hour before they went to school chatting amiably, going over what lessons they had, and how they thought they were doing.

Jake would continually talk around the academic subjects and only became enthusiastic when he talked about the sports, especially his beloved soccer matches. Now that he was fully fit, he had been working towards achieving his first team place back. It had been given to another boy who wasn't as good with the control of the ball in the air, or in a close up situation with a defender, but who had the speed and the tactical mind to find spaces for others who could. Jake had been upset at first that he wasn't given his place back immediately, but, he had been informed in no uncertain terms that everything worth having had to be worked for; he couldn't expect things to fall into his lap. The boy had sulked for an hour after school once he'd been told that and especially when he'd come home for sympathy. When he eventually arrived from out of his bedroom to have dinner, he placed his arms around the woman who had come to understand that very philosophy and practised it. Catherine had listened intently to Jace's words to the boy, and it had surprised her, but had been very proud of her stance and attitude, which proved Jace didn't give in to the children as she had originally thought.

Lisa every morning regaled them all with a story of some disaster she was sure to meet that day and inevitably, with the child she did. Fortunately, they were all small disasters and usually of her own making. This particular morning Lisa had looked around the room to see if anyone was watching, then tried to place a note unobtrusively next to Catherine's mug of tea. Catherine couldn't see the child try the devious tactic, but she could feel the movement next to her. A playful smile slowly formed on her face as she heard Jace arrive in the kitchen with Jake talking about the light jacket he would need today to ward off the rain that threatened.

"Do you want to tell me something Lisa?" Catherine asked her daughter quietly. Lisa shuffled in her chair and tried not to look at the others that had come into the room making enough noise to drown out her answer.

"No, Catherine, everything's fine." Lisa said slowly and shifted around in her chair again.

"So, there's nothing you want me to know, from the school perhaps?" Catherine's voice rose slightly. She knew that Jace had picked up on the question and could imagine Jace looking at their eldest daughter in speculation.

Lisa had turned a bright red by this time, as both Jace and Jake had decided to listen to the vague conversation.

Judy who was now in the last three months of her position as housekeeper for the family, as she would be going to work as a teacher at the local senior school, brought over their cereals and noticed the note located next to Catherine's mug of tea. She raised an eyebrow in Jace's direction, motioned her attention to the note.

Jace smiled her thanks at Judy and waited for Lisa's answer.

"I...;that is....; there's nothing really, I've been good, really I have Catherine!" The child replied, her voice catching in distress.

Catherine noted the change in the child's voice as she placed her hands on the table and moved them around next to her mug.  As she placed her hand at the bottom of the mug, she felt the paper next to it. Long slim fingers wrapped themselves around the note and she pulled it up for inspection. "I see the tooth fairy brings notes too these days?" Catherine tried to ease the tension in the child, she hadn't liked the fact that Lisa was lying to her, but at the same time, she wasn't sure why and until she did know, then the child had the benefit of the doubt. A tactic she'd used on numerous occasions in her business dealings, might be a skill that she could adapt for parenting.

"You haven't lost any teeth have you Catherine?" Lisa asked her in a surprised tone, which was far better than the previous distressed one.

Catherine handed the note over to Jace for her to read. Jace accepted it reading the note carefully, then squeezed Catherine's thigh under the table in a gesture that indicated there wasn't a serious problem.

"Nope not me and no one else in the household either so, that must mean that someone wants me to know something that they're not prepared to tell me in person. Now, who could that be you think Lisa?" All eyes in the room turned to the child who had the presence to look down at her cereals.

"I wanted you to read the note when I was at school," the child explained.

"Why? We don't have secrets here do we Lisa? You know that I can't read it on my own and that anything from the school you give to us immediately upon coming home. So, why not this note Princess? I assume it is from school?" Catherine asked her in a quite authoritative, but unthreatening voice.

"Yes it's from the school Catherine. I forgot it last night and I thought you might be mad with me." Lisa had the first traces of tears welling up in her eyes. Everyone else in the room saw the tearful embarrassed child except Catherine. And that was useful, because Jace was sure she couldn't have chastised the child when she looked so upset.

"Mad at you? Now, why would I be that, if it were a genuine mistake? Are you in trouble at school Lisa?" Catherine continued her questions and felt Jace's hand curl around hers in support.

The girl started to sob and in small gulping breaths answered her. "I hit a boy in my class yesterday because he was teasing me!"

Jace caught her breath at the admission and Jake gave a big brother snigger which he silenced immediately when Catherine tracked him with an ice blue gaze, that although, not focused left him in no doubt that she wasn't happy with that particular type of reaction. Judy was studying the scene and thought that Catherine wasn't doing to badly for a surrogate parent in her mind. Catherine turned back to her eldest daughter and gave her a wry smile. "Come over here Lisa." She heard the child scrape back the chair and arrive next to her within seconds.

Catherine held out her arms and the child ran into them and jumped on her lap. "You know its not the right thing to do, hitting people, don't you Lisa? No matter how much you think they deserve it."

Lisa placed her head on the broad shoulder of her guardian and nodded her head, which Catherine could feel. "Not even when it's a boy who's bigger than me and he says horrid things?" The child said petulantly.

Catherine had to stop herself from chuckling, because she wasn't so sure that she wouldn't have done the same herself given the circumstances. Even now, she certainly felt like knocking the heads together of several of her executives, in some of the more voracious meetings. "No Lisa, you have to find another way to solve the problem. Couldn't you have spoken to your teacher?"  Catherine asked the child who had now stopped sobbing, but her tears were obviously still leaking because they soaked the collar of her shirt.

"The teacher wasn't there and that would make me a tell-tale Catherine, and I can't do that!" The child was affronted by the suggestion.

"Right, sorry I forgot about that situation in school. What did the boy say to you that made you want to box his ears or whatever you did?" Catherine had to smile as she placed a brief kiss on top of the red head.

"I punched him on the nose Catherine and it was bleeding too!" The child said proudly. Then continued with her story. "He called me carrot top and that I was a dunce in the class, because I was in trouble everyday for dropping something or breaking things. He said, I was a klutz and that you would be sending me back to the orphanage if I didn't do better in school. I don't want to go back to the orphanage Catherine? And I'm trying to be good, honest I am. But I can't help it if things break when I touch them! I can't, can I Jace? I do it here too, and no one calls me a klutz at home." The child said passionately, turning in Catherine's hold and gave Jace a beseeching look.

Catherine was tempted to go to the school with her and ask for the boy to be put in another class, but she figured that her daughter might have solved her own problem; and perhaps there was occasionally a reason for the rare violent reaction. Catherine pulled the child into a position where, she could place her hands gently around the small face and her thumbs tracked down the tears on the child's face and smoothed them away. "Okay Lisa, this is what I think, and my word is final, got me?"

"Gotcha." Lisa gave her a smile, which Catherine could feel under her fingers and she smiled back at the girl.

"First, you're never going back to the orphanage, shortly when the lawyers have all the details worked out, we are going ahead with the adoption. Then there will never ever be any possibility of you even being teased about it and that goes for you also, Jake! Second, yes, you're a klutz. Sure we all know that, but you're our klutz, and we love you, so never be ashamed of that Lisa. We will try and work on improving your co-ordination okay? I think you might enjoy the exercises that I do to help me co-ordinate now I'm blind, so I'll take you in hand on that one. Thirdly Lisa, you came fifth in your class overall out of thirty. So, there is no way you are a dunce and that's on record; bet that boy didn't come in the top ten did he?" Catherine spoke decisively, but with compassion and understanding of the child's predicament.

"No, he came in the bottom half of the class Catherine." Lisa answered her as Catherine placed another kiss on her head.

"Finally, I love your red hair. It's beautiful and carrots are my favourite vegetable, did you know that?" Catherine said, as she gently released the child as she slid off her lap onto the floor.

"Are they? I didn't know that. In that case, I don't care if anyone calls me that name again; now I know you like carrots Catherine, that's cool." The child went back to her seat and began the demolition process of her breakfast cereal.

Later the children left for the school bus at the end of the drive, as usual escorted by one of the ranch hands, until they were safely on the bus. Jace smiled and placed her hands on the table and her chin in them in quiet contemplation of her lover. Judy had left them alone to set up the laundry.

"I'm impressed Catherine, I don't think I would have handled it quite in the diplomatic way you did and calling carrots your favourite vegetable, was fast thinking." Jace watched the colour flood Catherine's face at the compliment.

"Actually carrots are my favourite, mainly because I heard they were good for your eye sight. And I can do with a little help in that area, don't you think?" Laughing at her fanciful thoughts.

"Any help in that particular direction will be accepted with grateful thanks. The note by the way was to inform us that there is an open day at the school next week, I think in light of what's going on with our klutzy eldest daughter, we both should attend don't you?" Jace smiled and watched as Catherine's expression became thoughtful.

"Definitely! I wouldn't mind meeting the parents of the boy that made those remarks to Lisa. I think we could ask them politely to teach their son manners." Catherine gave Jace a wicked grin as she considered the possible outcome of that confrontation, might be interesting and colourful as well.

"No! No, way are you going to meet the parents of the boy. Hades, Catherine, knowing you, Lisa wouldn't be the only one slugging someone in the family now would she?" Jace laughed at the image of Catherine doing exactly the opposite of what she'd told Lisa to do in the future.

"Spoilsport! Hell, Jace, what a combination our kid is; Lisa the slugger klutz, Jesus we could have fun with her when she makes some of her less than appreciative comments that she's famous for around here." Catherine chuckled at the thought of gently teasing the child.

"Why did I mention the word to you, you're going to give the child a complex, as if she hasn't got one already with this little episode." Jace moved closer to Catherine and her breath ended up sharing the same space as her lover's.

"Can I call her slugger once in a while, just to see the reaction? When I get through training her, she won't be a klutz I can assure you of that, please?" Catherine pleaded in a whisper as her breath mingled with Jace's, as she gently lowered hers to trap Jace's in a tender kiss that they relinquished earlier than they normally would, as Judy was due back in the room. They'd taken enough ribbing from Grace over their inability to keep their hands off each other; especially, as Grace would often describe the actions vividly to tease Catherine shamelessly.

"No, you can't! And when you teach her one of your many skills, make sure it's not lethal too." Jace whispered back, giving her another kiss as she closed her hands around the larger one's held between the two of them.

"Oh, I leave all my lethal skills as you call them, all for you, and only you. Which we could always go and practice, if you're not doing anything in particular, what do you say?" Catherine's voice dropped to a low seductive tone, that Jace invariably couldn't resist.

Jace placed her forehead on her lover's and sighed in frustration. "I promised to go with Faith into town and pick up some of the items we ordered and then have lunch. We were taking Elena also; so, you could have some peace and finish up you're work early. Then we could have a session with the family early tonight, play a few games, thought it might help the bonding process around here."

Catherine exhaled softly, "I must be losing my touch, if you prefer a shopping trip with Faith, to being with me!"

Jace looked at her lover's face and noticed the indulgent smile that was placed there. "Under normal circumstances, you know I would be with you, but Grace and her mother haven't exactly seen eye to eye over the wedding. I thought we might be having a wake rather than a reception a few weeks ago but....." Catherine placed a finger on her lips to stop the apology.

"I love you Jace Bardley! I love your compassion and your magnanimous nature with people, don't ever change my love, I'm always going to be here for you and it sounds good, our family night. Later perhaps, you and I and a large bed that calls our names.......;what do you say?" Catherine held Jace in a loving embrace, to give support to her words.

"Can we go to bed earlier than normal?" Jace beamed into Catherine's neck, experiencing the generous unstinting love this
woman had for her.

"My idea exactly! Come on darling, let's go and see how Faith is doing with our youngest." Catherine pulled Jace up and they swapped another ripened kiss before they went on their way to find Faith and Elena.

~ ~ ~

Catherine smiled as she recalled a conversation from the previous evening as they talked quietly about several subjects as they put their youngest child in her crib to sleep.

"Catherine I've been thinking about my parents recently. I was wondering if I should finally call them and let them know they have a granddaughter. What do you think?" Jace asked her eyes on her daughter, who was kicking in delight as Catherine tickled her feet.

"To be honest, I'm surprised it's taken you this long, with your love and compassion for people." Catherine was smiling at the sensation of her daughter's reactions to the tickle of her feet. Although her thoughts were on a conversation she'd had with Jace's parents the week before.

"I guess everything escalated out of control and I'm scared to tell them." Jace watched with an indulgent smile as Catherine continued to play with their daughter.

"Are you scared to tell them about Elena or maybe about us too?" Catherine turned her profile in the direction of Jace's voice.

"I'm not ashamed of us! Did you think I could be?" Jace replied upset at Catherine's comment it was uncalled for what on earth was she thinking?

"Actually no, I know you're not ashamed of us, but maybe you think your family might not approve, especially you living here with me instead of with the father of your child?" Catherine already knew the answer to that, but she wanted Jace to be sure of everything there must be no more misunderstandings with her parents it was too painful for them all.

"They were mad at me for marrying Peter when they knew I loved you, you would be top of the friendly list believe me!" Jace walked over and placed her arms around Catherine's waist.

"Excellent they have taste always knew you got it from somewhere." Catherine retorted back playfully and was given a light slap on the behind for the teasing comment. "In that case I suggest you call them when you're ready and lets see what happens." Catherine couldn't stop Jace calling earlier and spoiling the surprise.

"Sounds good to me, will you be there when I call?" Jace asked her shyly.

Catherine gave a chuckled and hugged the smaller woman closer and placed a slow sensual explosive kiss on her lover's lips " Okay Bardley, I'll hold your hand, but I want a payback for my good deed, you have any ideas?" Catherine's voice lowered to a sexy growl that made Jace go weak at the knees.

"I think a certain gym not too far away might just be calling our names. If I get a babysitter do you want to join me?"  Jace replied in a sultry voice of her own, this woman didn't have all the skills in this payback game they played.

"Try and stop me Jace Bardley. Hell, if it's the payback before I do the good deed, what do I get when I actually do deliver?" Catherine spoke, as she drew within an inch of Jace's lips.

"Depends on the result. If it's good, you get your hearts desire, if it's bad you end up the babysitter for the evening and I find another champion." Jace teased her and them moved to place a tender kiss on her lips.

"In that case I'll endeavour to succeed first time around." Catherine growled and they fell forward on the bed, and only the sounds of the baby's laughter could be heard above the sexually charged emotional ramblings of the two women for the next hour or so.

Jace would be home soon, and they might or they might not make that call to her parents, either way at least they all wanted the same thing, which was kind of unusual in this day and age.

They had planned on playing some games with the children when they arrived home and that would be soon too. She wondered if Lisa was in more trouble today? Chuckling she listened to her voice mail and smiled at one of the comments from Constance about the stupidity of the new Sales executive they had hired. 'Maybe she should punch him on the nose to see what effect it would do.' Catherine thought but decided against that particular advice, for now anyway.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Four

Jace was trying to stem the flow of happy tears that had begun as Catherine had her pinned to the floor and had mercilessly started to tickle her feet, much as she did with their youngest daughter. It had a most interesting conclusion with the small blonde, she had laughed and protested and had screamed her happy outrage as Lisa and Jake rallied Catherine to continue her tickling campaign in earnest.

"Catherine please, I can't take much more!" Jace chuckled, her voice bubbling with the laughter of the attention she was receiving.

Catherine turned towards the direction of the children who were shouting for her to continue. "Well, kids has she had enough do we think?"

Both children laughed loudly and said in unison, "No!"

"Guess you're unlucky my love." Catherine had leaned her tall frame over her captive and whispered the words into her ear and moved quickly before Jace could pull her closer and effectively stop the onslaught of the tickle fight.

Catherine moved away so quickly Jace didn't have time to recover, before she heard Catherine tell the kids it was their turn to continue and Jace had two giggling children attempting to tickle her in place of Catherine's large hands and strength. "Catherine I'm going to pay you back for this!" Jace spluttered in short ragged gasps as her breathing was caught with the gentle tickles of the two children.

"I look forward to that Jace, if I'd know that was my punishment, then I would have thought up several other games we could all play together." Catherine's voice held a warmth and love that Jace heard, but was unable to respond to as two happy children were attacking her again.

"Jace, be right back there's the children's trivia game in the toy room and I think you might need a break when I get back." Catherine laughed and stood up to her full height and smiled towards the children and her lover as she went out of the room and walked towards the stairs. Rio had moved from his settled position at the fireplace to aid her. "Rio stay. I think I can negotiate this one myself, thanks boy." Catherine ruffled his ears as he trotted after her to the bottom of the stairs and waited below, as she walked confidently to the top and towards the toy room of the children, the dog turned back into the room they had vacated.

Earlier, she and Jace had rifled through the toys that the children had accumulated in the last year and had found the trivia game which they had placed on the small table on the right of the room. They had originally intended to bring it into the lounge with them previously, but Jake had insisted that he would fetch the games and along with Lisa they had brought just about everything you could think of except that one, including several toys to keep Elena happy. Their arms had been so full of items; Jace had rushed forward to help them both as they stumbled through the door of the lounge.

Catherine had listened in fascination as the children tried to explain why they brought so many toys and games. Although, Lisa had been sure she had brought the soft toy dog that Elena particularly liked with her, it wasn't in the handful of toys Jace rescued before they ended up in a heap on the floor. Eventually, they had worked through three board games and a session of describing objects for someone to guess. That led to a tickle fight between them all and Jace had been the last to participate and she had been definitely nailed by Catherine, as they all had at some stage, miraculously Catherine had managed to remain unscathed. Now, she had her hands on the trivia game that she could participate in easily, she also searched around for the soft toy dog that Lisa had mentioned earlier. After several attempts in the different boxes to feel out the toy, she gave up; it must have become hidden at the bottom in one of them.

Walking out of the room and with the game held securely, she went towards the top of the stairs. Whistling happily at the way her life was turning out now, everything was settling down and once the lawyers had finalised the details with the New Zealand immigration people for her to gain a full citizenship again, she could continue with the adoption of the children. That had been a bitter disappointment for her when her temporary visa was insufficient to proceed with the adoption. There had been muted negative views on her lifestyle in general. The Reverend Stott had been very supportive and along with Grace, they had worked in the background to educate some of the negative opinion into a very positive force. Things would work out eventually, she had one partner, three children and numerous friends, all willing it and so she would have the faith too, after all that's what got them this far.

Catherine had always had a sense of impending disaster in the past and today was no different. Her feet normally so sure and confident in her own home hit something that she wasn't expecting, she tried to remain upright and retain her equilibrium, but was unable to do so, and toppled forward and down the stairs at what seemed slow motion to her senses. She felt her shoulders hit a couple of the stairs as she tried to break her fall. The game flew out of her hands and became another obstacle for her to hit on the way down; unable to judge where she was or what was coming towards her, she crashed to the bottom of the stairs, firmly hitting her head on the right side, knocking her out immediately.

Rio barked loudly and headed for the partially open door of the lounge as a loud thudding could be heard from the stairs.

Jace was tickling the two children in repayment for their actions and looked towards the door with a horrified expression on her face. Jace didn't need anyone to tell her what had happened, it was clear by the eerie silence.....the resulting thuds brought in their wake. Moving quickly away from the children, who had turned to her in fear, as panic etched onto their young faces!

Jace ran out of the room putting a hand to her mouth to stifle the scream she was sure would emit if she hadn't. Catherine was lying at the bottom of the stairs totally still. Jace turned to the children and told Jake in a quiet, but firm voice to find Colin, and bring him quickly. The boy ran out of the hall without a backward glance towards the foreman's house on the other side of the drive.

Jace knelt down next to her lover and tenderly placed her hand on Catherine's neck to check for a pulse, she found one and immediately drew in a sigh of relief. Hearing muffled sobs behind her Jace turned and smiled weakly at Lisa. "Lisa she's going to be alright. How about you take Rio into the lounge and keep watch on Elena, she might wake up, okay?" Jace saw the small girl try to stop her tears, as she caught Rio's collar to drag the unwilling dog towards the lounge.

"Okay Jace, but she's not dead, is she?" A small plaintiff voice asked.

Jace looked at the child with love and compassion. "Of course not Lisa, you know Catherine, she always likes to give us a scare now and again, and she hasn't for ages, come on now go and check on Elena for me please, darling."

The child nodded her head and pulled Rio along behind her and closed the door to stop the dog from going back to his prone mistress.

"Hades, Catherine! Why do you continue to try and give me a heart attack?" Jace stroked away the dark hair that had fallen over her face and noticed the dark red mark on the right temple. She gently placed a finger at the temple, which in turn brought a moan from the prone woman.

"Catherine, can you hear me? Come on love, how about you open those beautiful eyes and let me know you're going to be okay." Jace spoke inches from her left ear, which was turned to her.

Catherine tried to open her eyes, but it hurt her too much and decided the best option was to keep them tightly closed for now. "Jace give me a few minutes okay? I'll be fine," she said quietly, but clearly.

Jace wasn't convinced and heard the pounding of footsteps as Colin bounded through the house main door and breathlessly came to a halt at the foot of the stairs. Jace turned to him and gave him a tearful glance.

"How is she?" He asked, concern evident in every facet of his body and voice.

"She spoke to me, but she won't or can't open her eyes, we need to get her to the hospital Colin. She might have done more damage then we can see. I dare not move her, it might be worse for her if we did." Jace answer back, noticeable fear sounded in her tone.

Colin glanced at Jace in compassion and understanding. He knelt down next to Catherine and looked at the position of her body at the bottom of the stairs. "I'll go call the paramedics, and we'll get her to hospital."

"No!" Catherine exploded as the two onlookers watched in dismay.

"What do you mean no?" Jace whispered but loud enough for Catherine to hear, unable to understand her furious comment.

"I'm not going to any bloody hospital. Do you hear me Jace? Get me up and into bed. You can call a doctor, but that's it.....got me?" Catherine said her voice strong and demanding.

Jace looked towards Colin and he looked at his boss and her obvious determination to stay home, he shrugged his shoulders, maybe the doctor could convince her. "Catherine, if we move you, we might do some damage, we don't want to do that!" Colin valiantly tried backing up Jace's previous observation, not caring what Catherine thought, at times, she was too stubborn for her own good!

Catherine this time struggled to sit up and was stopped forcibly by Colin who looked at his boss with a grim expression on his face. "Get off me you stupid idiot. I know if I should be in the hospital or not; it's not your bloody body is it?" Catherine sparred with him verbally.

Jace heard the quick footsteps of two more people enter the house and turned her head to see Grace coming in holding Jake's hand her face showing her concern and the paleness of the boy's face showing how upset he was. "Catherine, I'll agree to Colin moving you up to our room, if you do what the doctor says and if it means the hospital, it means the hospital and that's final!"  Jace stated, voice clearly upset with the situation and the un-necessary aggression from her friend.

Grace looked at the scene and shook her head. "You really shouldn't move her you know, not until we have someone here whocan say if she's broken anything." Grace said her voice carried enough for Catherine to hear the conversation.

"Shut up Grace, who gave you permission to add your crappy, sentimental comments?" Catherine bit back sarcastically.

Grace gave a tight smile to Colin and Jace and she bent her head to Jake's and smiled confidently at him to take away the sting of Catherine's barbed comment aimed at her. "Jake go and keep Lisa and Elena company will you and we will catch up once we have Catherine settled okay?" Grace squeezed his shoulder in concern; he was trying valiantly to hold back tears.

Catherine drew in a sharp breath as she realised that one of the children had heard her vicious remark to Grace.

"Okay." The boy replied quietly and threw one quick glance towards Catherine and went inside the lounge.

"You know something Warriorson, for an intelligent woman you sure are a bitch at times, it's a wonder you have anyone thatcares about you!" Grace finally replied to her earlier remark and knelt down next to the others. "Here, let me look her over, maybe some of the training I had as a rookie cop in first aid might come back to me, although she deserves to have a broken back with her stinking superior attitude." Grace moved closer to Catherine, as Colin and Jace moved away for her to examine the angry and distressed woman who lay on the floor.

Several minutes later, Grace placed a warm hand on Catherine's left shoulder and gently squeezed it and heard the sharp intake of breath at the motion. "Guess you hit your shoulder when you fell, huh?"

"Both of them and my head, I think, but I'm not too sure what happened after that." Catherine replied quietly, ashamed of her display of anger and frustration, it shouldn't be aimed at her friends.

"Right! Okay Colin, do you need some more help or can you drag this bag of bones up to her room on your own?" Grace gave her fiancé a quirky grin and touched a finger to his cheek in a tender caress.

Colin smiled back at her warmly. "I can do it on my own, she's tall, but like you say, there's not much meat on the bone."

Jace looked at them both and gave them a quizzical look, Catherine was hurt and they were cracking jokes about her as if it wasn't important. "Grace is she okay?" Jace asked tentatively, a worried frown appearing on her forehead.

"Jace have you ever known anything stop this old battle horse here?" Grace gave her a smile that indicated that Catherine hadn't broken anything, except she hoped her pride at the fall.

"Quit calling me names Grace, or I'll do something bad to you!" Catherine growled at her friend, now encouraged and a little happier with Grace's comment to Colin.

Jace gently stroked the cheek of her lover and she gave a weary smile of her own. "No, I guess not, but I wish she wouldn't keep finding things like this to challenge the status quo."

"I'll try not to Jace." Catherine said in a sad voice, now embarrassed at her earlier loss of control.

"Okay, let's get this show on the road shall we. Jace, you hold her head as I put my arms under her, then together, we will lift her slowly off the floor, get her upstairs and a lot more comfortable than here." Colin spoke decisively, now that the course of action had been agreed.

Jace held the dark head securely and Colin used his broad shoulders and strength to pull her surprisingly gently into his arms, then together they walked slowly back up the stairs she'd fallen down earlier. Grace had gone up the stairs first to open the door to the bedroom and ensure there wasn't any obstacles to the movement through the room. A short time later, they had Catherinem comfortably lying on top of the bedclothes and all of them sighed in relief.

"How do you feel Catherine?" Jace sat gingerly on top of the bed next to her, stroking the dark hair away from her eyes.

"I ache and my head hurts. Guess I do need to see the doctor about that, huh?" Catherine admitted sheepishly.

Grace chose that moment to comment. "I'll go and call him. I guess you want me to get someone other than Doctor Simpson?"  There was no love lost between the local doctor and Catherine after his foolish remarks earlier in the year.

Jace decided to answer, "Grace we need someone now, I don't care a hoot if it's Simpson, just get someone quickly, okay?"

Catherine tried to protest, but Jace put a gentle finger over her lips to still the flow. "No, this time, I decide Catherine!" The answered response was short and to the point.

"Fine." Catherine muttered.

Grace left the room with Colin as Jace contemplated her lover.

"How did it happen Catherine?" Jace asked. She just needed something to say, to stop the tears that threatened to flow at any time.

"Stepped on something at the top of the stairs, not sure what. I lost my balance, it was an accident." Catherine alleged, her voice sounding suddenly very weary.

Jace picked up one of Catherine's larger hands and interlaced their fingers and felt the warm clasp as her lover flexed her fingers at Jace's touch. "I see. That's strange, we're really very careful about leaving things about."

"It's okay, Jace. Hell, I'm surprised I haven't done that before now, I don't exactly conform to the blind person etiquette, now do I?" Catherine said slowly, her face had a tiny grin, but she as yet had not opened her eyes and that was worrying Jace.

"No! No, you don't Catherine. How's the headache now?" Jace asked her tentatively and placed her head close to her lovers and kissed her tenderly on the side of her mouth.

"It hurts, saw lots of stars this time around. I'm sorry for losing my temper with all of you earlier." Catherine said remorsefully.

Jace smiled at her in quiet compassion, she was so independent, it was un-nerving and so totally Catherine. It was difficult to stay mad at her for long. "I think Grace will forgive you."

"Will you? And what about.....Jake?" Catherine faltered at her son's name.

Jace gave Catherine a soft light kiss on her lips, "I will always forgive you Catherine, but there's really nothing to forgive and Jake well.....he'll be cool, once he sees that you are going to be okay."

"Mmmm can you hold me Jace, I need to feel you beside me. I guess it's taken a sturdy toll on me this time around. I must be getting old." Catherine slurred as she spoke.

Jace gave her a concerned glance and slipped onto the bed and gently placed her arms around the tall woman and hugged her in a loving embrace. "How's that, feel better?" Jace asked her concern clear in her tone, she fervently hoped that the doctor was going to come soon; Catherine's sudden lethargy scared her.

Moment's later Catherine was sleeping and Jace watched her chest rise and fall evenly, and then a quiet knock at the door and Grace popped her head round the door. Walking silently into the room she gave Jace a rueful look, then looked at her sleeping friend. "I was able to reach Doctor Andrews from the hospital, the doctor who has given her the monthly checkups on her eyes and the facial scars for the consultant in Christchurch. He will be here within the next half hour, he was going to a BBQ at his daughters, but said he can go there later." Grace said quietly.

"Thanks Grace, Catherine likes Daniel Andrews at least, that's something good out of this new drama in our lives." Jace sighed heavily and looked at her friend with a worried expression.

"What's the matter Jace?"

The small blonde gently extracted herself from her sleeping partner and the other two women walked towards the door and away from the bed.

"I'm worried. She hasn't opened her eyes and she's complaining of a really bad headache and she went to sleep. Should I have let her do that Grace?" Jace asked anxiously.

Grace pulled the shorter woman into a comforting hug. "I'm worried too, but this is Catherine were talking about and she defies the norm most of the time and hopefully she will again, I know we shouldn't let her sleep, but what could you have done, I think her body was in shock."

"She's not indestructible Grace, everytime things like this happen, I die a little inside; it's like watching her dig her own grave." Jace knew she was being over emotional, but looking at the pale features of the woman on the bed, it was like watching her in a burial casket and there was nothing she could do, except cry for her and what they were losing.

"She's from strong Greek stock, that one, and didn't they mix with the god's in ancient times, maybe she's a throw back from them. Not to mention her British ancestry, which is so stubborn it's remarkable they ever lost the empire. She's a survivor Jace, she always will be and more so now she has you!" Grace saw the tears falling and wiped them away with a tissue from out of her trousers pocket.

"You make her out as someone super human Grace, she's a flesh and blood woman, nothing more." Jace replied, but gave her a tearful smile.

"I know but you have to give me credit for my imagination and anyway, I believe it at times with Catherine, and while I believe it, I know she's always going to come back to us all, no matter what happens." Grace said seriously and tipped Jace's chin back so she could see the sincerity of her words.

"Then I will believe it also Grace." Jace whispered and turned back to sit by the bed of her lover, who was motionless in her sleep, except for the rising and falling of her chest.

Grace gave them both another look, then preceded downstairs to placate the children. Glancing down, she noticed a small soft toy dog at the top of the stairs, tucked away in the corner, bending down she picked it up and glanced at it thoughtfully and went down the remaining stairs and into the lounge.

~ ~ ~

Doctor Daniel Andrews spoke quietly to Jace, as they both looked at Catherine, who had woken up briefly for the doctor. He had examined her thoroughly, even though she protested that she didn't need it, all she needed was sleep, but it was half-hearted and ignored.

"She's going to be sore and grumpy by the sound of it for a couple of days. I expected the headache to be bad, she's hit that head a fair few times now, and it's starting to bite her back, I suspect. I'll come over again in the morning and check up on her; perhaps we can pursued her to go into the hospital for a scan, just to make sure she hasn't scrambled what's left of that wonderful brain of hers. I believe she will be alright Ms. Bardley?" The doctor was in his late fifties and reminded Jace of her father, as he had dark grey eyes that held compassion and understanding.

"Thanks Doctor, she had me worried, especially with her headache and not wanting to open her eyes. What should I do now?"  Jace asked him, he looked at her and smiled.

"Let her sleep, but I would suggest that you wake her every couple of hours, and for the next twelve hours there should be someone with her as a precaution, if she has any problems you have my number ring me and I'll be right back. Knowing Mrs. Warriorson as I do, and her bodies healing powers she should be making light of this in about twenty-four hours time I surmise."  The doctor's eyes twinkling at the blonde, he could see she was clearly stressed at her friend's predicament.

He liked Catherine Warriorson strangely enough; she was abrupt and gave the impression that she didn't give a damn, but he knew differently. About a year ago a large donation was given to the hospital and the only string attached was that no one outside the board of trustees of the senior consultants knew who had made the donation, if that part was fulfilled a further donation would be forthcoming the next year. Catherine Warriorson was the person behind the donation and to say it had been a lifeline for the severely under funded hospital in the area wasn't an understatement. Rumours of the hospital closure had been imminent, until she had stepped in and closed that rumour down immediately, now they were looking forward to another donation of equal measure and the benefits that it would bring the hospital and the community in general. If Catherine Warriorson wanted anything, they would do their utmost to provide it; he had felt privileged to be the consultant on her case every month, as she had amazing recuperative powers.

He also liked her friend and although, it was fairly certain that they were lovers from all the reports around the town and the media speculation, it was never discussed and he didn't ask. But, he felt the love they had for each other as he'd examined the tall beautiful woman and she had been difficult until the green eyes had rested on Catherine and she gently reminded Catherine of a promise. It was quite something to see this gentle creature next to him tame the wild beast that obviously lurked in the background of Catherine Warriorson's personality.

"I'll be with her all the time doctor, thanks again for your quick response to our call, we thought we might have to use the local doctor in town." Jace said with a genuine smile of thanks.

"Ah, well Mrs. Warriorson is a very special patient for me Ms. Bardley and let's say, I would have been upset if someone else had the pleasure of watching you talk to her as you did. It was enlightening and educational, think you could give me some tips?"  The Doctor chuckled at the blush that formed on Jace's cheeks.

"I think I could be persuaded to consider that possibility Doctor." Jace express quietly.

"I will see you in the morning Ms. Bardley good night." The Doctor went out of the door and then turned back, "She has enough pain killers already, I suspect, so I won't leave anything for her, if she complains of the headache again call me okay?" He smiled as she nodded and then said good night.

Walking back towards the bed, she sat down in the chair next to Catherine and took her left hand inside hers and stroked the back of the hand which she then placed to her cheek. "I love you Catherine. Sometimes, I wonder if you really do know how much." Jace's voice went quiet and reflective.

"I love you too, and yes I do." The slurred voice from Catherine who was held half between the light of wakefulness and the dark of sleep surprised Jace as she looked down, but Catherine had now fallen back into a deep sleep. Closing her own eyes Jace placed her head on the side of the bed and gave a heartfelt sigh, Catherine was going to be okay. That's all that mattered, all that would ever matter to her.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Five

Grace had the soft toy in her hand as she ventured into the lounge, Lisa was being held in a tight hug on Colin's knee on one ofthe sofas. Jake was sitting with his back to the sofa with his legs drawn together and his arms around them he appeared lost in his own world. All three sets of eyes looked up at her entrance and she gave Colin a small grin at his relaxed stance with Lisa, he was going to make a great dad one-day.

"Okay the doctor's on his way and it's Doctor Andrews, so, Catherine won't be looking to start a fight we hope. Looks like she's got a lot of bruises and a headache, but hopefully that's it, she's been lucky." Grace told the two children as Colin already guessed what Grace was going to say, it had been implied earlier, as he'd been asked to pick her up to go upstairs.

"Is she really Aunt Grace, she won't die will she?" Lisa asked and cuddled further into Colin's broad chest.

Grace smiled at the child's action and thought she could do with that shoulder of comfort too about now, although she was outwardly calm, Catherine's accident had shook her up inside as much as it had Jace she surmised. "Princess, she's going to be fine, and within a day or two she'll be teasing you again just as she always does." Grace smiled warmly at the child.

"Grace, where did you get Elena's dog from? I was looking for it." Lisa asked her and gave her a grin, as Grace was turning the dog around in her grasp.

Jake looked at the toy and he then looked suspiciously at Grace who gave the soft toy another concentrated glance. "Yes, Grace where did you find it?" Jake said his hazel eyes looking deep into brown ones.

Grace knew that both children were waiting for her answer; it would have been so easy to say the truth, but that wouldn't help the situation at all. There had been enough traumas today. And if either of the children had been responsible for leaving the toy on the stairs and it had caused Catherine's fall well...... "Actually, I found it on the floor next to Elena's crib, thought she might want it when she wakes up." Grace gave them both a smile and both children seemed to let out a breath that had been held in anticipation of her answer.

Walking over to the travel crib that Elena was asleep in, she placed the soft toy at the bottom of the crib, then looked at the peacefully sleeping baby. At least there was someone in the household who wouldn't be upset about the events of earlier; she fortunately would never know. Then there was her mother and Judy, who had gone to the local town hall to participate in the line dancing evening, having found a mutual interest, the two went twice a week and enjoyed the break from the ranch.

"Okay, what are we going to do until you two have to go to bed, huh?" Grace asked in a jovial tone.

"Can we play Monopoly Grace?" Jake asked quietly, he was sure that Grace hadn't said the truth about the dog, because he'd seen Lisa with it in the toy room earlier, but surely Grace knew where she found it, she wouldn't lie to them he didn't think, or would she?

"Okay Junior Monopoly it is then, you playing Lisa? Colin?" Grace asked the two snugglers on the sofa.

"Yep, count me in." Colin said, as he tried to extract himself from his redheaded limpet.

"Me too, if Colin is playing." Lisa piped in and held onto his hand as they went over to the table in the room and began to set up the game while waiting for more news when the doctor had seen Catherine.

~ ~ ~

Catherine was floating between waking up and continuing down the dark path of sleep. It was peaceful and she felt warm, loved and content in the dark cocoon that surrounded her. She knew that the possibility of waking up could mean pain in some for or other and at the moment, she was content to glide between the two plains and leave the pain behind for a little while longer.  The only thing she sorely missed in this twilight world she wanted to remain in was Jace. She knew in her subconscious, Jace was close, she could feel the small blondes presence as clearly as if she was a physical entity in the twilight world with her. Catherine believed that in some form or other she was there beside her. It was a feeling of well being that only Jace could bring her, and which she couldn't live without, even in the lonely places that her mind drifted to on occasion. Fortunately, Jace was placing far more good memories in her mind these days that replaced and kicked out the old demons she had fought with for years. When people talked of a rock against the storm, Jace Bardley was hers, without a doubt, her lifeline to the world of happiness and love. Something she had convinced herself it was impossible to achieve and in walked a woman who not only broke every fence and every barrier that had been erected, but also knew her heart as if it were her own.

Catherine tried to open her eyes and found that her right eye smarted and she immediately closed it in a sensitive reaction. 'God that was strange.'

Trying again as her other senses picked up the even breathing of a body close to hers, her left hand clasped tight by another, which she knew by it's size and texture and the essence of the woman beside her, was Jace.

She tried once again to open her eyes, this time she kept them open, but was shaken to the core by the kaleidoscope of colours and bright light that permeated the open orbs. The cloudy shadowy vision she had become used to was being replaced by a wonderful and miraculous clearing of her vision in her right eye. The darkness of her left making her feel disorientated as her right eye began to quickly take in the images before her. Catherine felt as if she were falling again as her body senses tried to compensate for the recall of vision in her right eye. She tilted her head slightly in the direction of the blonde head lying on top of the bedclothes next to her left hand. Catherine was amazed at the myriad of feelings that just the top of the head of her lover created within her heart. The most profound of which was the wonder, awe and implicit love she felt for the smaller body close to hers. Catherine's view of the woman became a shimmering vision as her eyes filled with tears at the miracle bestowed on her at a freak accident. Although, her head still pounded with a dull ache, the pain became almost pleasurable, due to the gift that it was working on her eyesight.

Catherine sensed the changing tempo of the breathing of Jace, who moved cautiously and straightened up her back from her bent position over the bed. For Catherine watching the fluid movements of her lover it was like being behind the glass wall of an aquarium; she could see everything and was tempted to reach out and touch the image that appeared before her and surprise the younger woman at her side. This feeling and announcement was something she wanted to savour and reveal in a slow awakening and with shared joy at the miracle having been wrought upon them.

"Catherine, how are you feeling?" Jace placed a gentle hand on Catherine's head and close to the bump and bruising on her right temple.

Catherine wanted to capture the small hand and put it to her mouth and kiss away the worry that was shadowing Jace's eyes. "Better." Was all Catherine replied, words drying up at the pleasure of her first sight of Jace since their altercation in the UCP offices!

"You had me worried darling, I thought we might be taking another trip to the hospital and we both know how you love that." Jace moved closer and placed a tender kiss on the bruised temple.

Catherine reacted to the sentiment in the only way she knew how and brought her hands up and placed them around her lover's face. "I love you Jace Bardley and I think it's time you made an honest woman of me." Catherine had the secret pleasure of seeing the surprise flash across Jace's serious countenance, but watched as it quickly turned into an elated expression as the meaning of the words hit her squarely in the chest.

"Catherine do you know what you implied with that statement?" Jace wondered if perhaps the fall had scrambled Catherine's mind a little and she was disorientated after her fall and would perhaps regret the words later. They had never discussed a recognised public commitment to their relationship, knowing that to them both it was enough they felt as they did and nothing was going to come between them except death; even that was debatable in Jace's mind! Now hearing Catherine speak about the possibility, brought to mind her own needs on the subject and the question she had wanted to ask Catherine around the time the baby had been born, but other circumstances had foiled her plans. Now, was obviously a very good time, but it puzzled Jace enormously.

Catherine recognised the tension she had just created with the simple words and placed her lips against Jace's eyelids, which closed at the tender gesture. "I know what I implied my darling, and if you look into my eyes tell me what you see reflected back at you, that will be the answer you seek?"

Jace expression became momentarily startled at the words; they seemed like words out of a fantasy novel they might read to the children.

Gazing into the ice blue sightless eyes, her own widened as she saw the pupil of the right eye dilate and look back at her in a measurable gaze green on blue. The warmth and love she saw reflecting back at her caused Jace to hold her breath at the miracle they had prayed for, and yet never expected to happen. It must all be a dream she was going to wake up from in a moment, Jace was sure of that. Jace hesitantly touched a featherlight finger in front of the right eye and watched in fascination as the pupil tracked the movement, her heart spinning out of control at the simple display. "Catherine can you see me? Can you really see me?" Jace sobbed out her emotions now completely swamped that caused tears to flow.

"Yes! You've grown even more beautiful than the day I last saw you and that was an awesome experience my love." Catherine smiled broadly at her recollection of their first evening of shared passion and waking up to find the smaller woman held in a close embrace in her arms. It was a moment to cherish and she had when her world had crashed unceremoniously into darkness of both the heart and the mind.

"The last time you saw me Catherine was in anger." Jace stated sadly her own memories sharp and clear of that last time.

Pulling Jace completely into her arms and holding her as tight as she could against her own body Catherine kissed Jace with tender concern and a deep love. "No, Jace. The last time I saw the woman I loved, she was dressed in a large T-shirt with our favourite cartoon character emblazoned on the front and she had just given me the greatest gift of all, her complete love both body and soul. The other woman I saw later that day never stood a chance against the image I held in my heart, how could she?" The words spoken held a deep understanding of the rift that had severed their relationship for months and yet the connection according to Catherine had always remained true and strong, no matter the obstacles that had transpired.

Jace cried, her happiness and joy overwhelming her. Having suitably soaked Catherine's night attire, she pulled away a little and looked into the most wonderful ice blue gaze she had ever experienced in her life or would ever she was sure. "Catherine would you like to see our daughter?"

Catherine gave her a grin. "Try and stop me!" moving with Jace to get up and out of the bed.

"No! Catherine stay in bed please, you do need the rest. I'll go and collect her and bring her here, what about Jake and Lisa, they're pretty shook up at the accident?" Jace gave her a beseeching look.

"Great the more the merrier, bring all my children in Jace; I'm going to love teasing them about this anyway." Catherine said with a wicked grin forming on her face.

"You're bad Catherine. I've a good mind to set Grace on you for that remark." Jace chuckled as she moved towards the door.

"Where is Grace, I thought she'd be having a field day watching me wake up with a headache, she probably thinks I deserve it?"  Catherine asked it was going to be good to see her best friend again, she'd missed that infectious smile that Grace produced at some of Catherine's worse times.

"Earlier she was with the children and playing Monopoly, but I think Faith has cornered her to discuss the fitting of the wedding dress." Jace opened the door and in rushed Rio, who had been patiently waiting for a chance to see his mistress. Jace smiled as she watched the dog pound over to the bed, it was charming to see Catherine laugh at the dog's obvious agitation. "Guess you won't mind Rio's company while I go and retrieve our brood, see you shortly." Jace left the room her smiled set to stay there for some time.

"Rio come here boy." Catherine laid a hand on the bedspread and watched as the golden Labrador jumped effortlessly next to her on her command.

Catherine looked at the dog for the first time and it brought a lump to her throat to think that he had been her eyes to the outside world for over a year. She let the tears fall unashamedly down her cheeks as she hugged the dog to her, smiling as Rio thumped his tail excitedly on the bed as he revelled in the unexpected show of affection from his mistress. Suddenly, the crashing footsteps could be heard on the stairs as she waited for the emergence in the room of the children. Catherine wondered if Lisa would ever walk anywhere softly. The door swung open and Catherine was once again overtaken with emotion as she saw her eldest daughter waltz in and rush over to her.

"Catherine you're awake? We were worried about you." Lisa swooped on to the bed without a second thought displacing Rio and placing her arms around Catherine's neck.

"Yes, I'm awake Lisa, but if you keep a hold of me that tight, I might faint from the lack of oxygen." Catherine chuckled happily as the child reluctantly released her death grip and placed a sloppy kiss on her cheek instead.

"You have another bruise on your face Catherine, can I kiss it better for you?" It wasn't really a question as the child did just that!

Discreetly Catherine saw Jake move towards the bed cautiously. "You going to strangle me too Jake?"

"No! I will kiss you better though, like Lisa." The boy replied and turned shy hazel eyes towards Jace as he said the words and blushed engagingly as Jace gave him a wide grin. The boy proceeded to place a light kiss on Catherine's cheek. At his action Catherine placed a hand gently on his head and whispered to him. "Don't look so worried Jake, I'm going to be better, much better than before." Watching his expression change as he deciphered the meaning in the words and he turned to gaze at her in wonder.

"Can you see us now, Catherine?" he asked in a surprised voice.

"Yes, I can Jake, so there's going to be no more secrets like the basketball in Lisa's room huh?" Catherine laughed softly as she saw the two children look at each other in astonishment 'How had she known?'

Jace moved closer to the bed and brought their six-month-old daughter closer to the bed. Elena was wriggling about and had been watching her brother and sister with her other mother wanting to be on the bed too!

"I think Elena wants to say hello also, Catherine." Jace saw the emotion in the sighted right eye and she couldn't stop her own tears flowing as she placed their squirming daughter into Catherine's arms. Lisa moved over to Catherine's left on the bed and began to stroke Rio as Catherine drank in the first sight and images of their youngest child.

For Catherine this was a momentous occasion, she saw with wonder all the facial features that belonged to her mother. Taking in the snub nose, green eyes that looked up at Catherine in innocence and love a positive reminder of who her mother was. Catherine was amazed at the dark hair, which did indeed look the shade of hers; the baby could easily have been taken for hers, with the long body certainly not from Jace's side of the family, she was sure. Having met both her parents who had medium to small frames and Adamson hadn't been tall either. Gently tracing her fingertips delicately over the baby's chubby cheeks Catherine grinned as she thought, 'that's a sure Jace sign must eat well too.'

The baby took that moment to grasp one of her hands and started to chew on a finger, as if she hadn't been fed. Catherine looked in surprise towards Jace. "She has a tooth?" wondering how she'd missed it before.

"Yes, I found it this morning, must have come through during the night. As you know she's been cranky lately. I was going to tell you later when we put her to bed, guess you now have first hand experience in every way of the tooth Catherine." Jace answered her with a smile.

Catherine returned the smile with a brilliant one of her own.

"Well kids, how about you both go and rescue Aunt Grace from Grandma Faith, she'll want to come and see Catherine now that she is awake." The children immediately shouted their acceptance of the task and as they were about to leave the room Lisa shouted back.

"I know you just want to kiss her Jace, but we don't mind if you do that with us in the room, you usually do." Jake immediately grasped Lisa's hand and pulled her through the door muttering, "do you ever shut up Lisa?" there was a muffled retort as the door closed behind them.

Catherine turned her attention to her lover and gave her a sultry smile. "Was she right?"

Jace went weak at the knees with the smile added to that she could feel the emotion in the glance from the ice blue eyes. Sitting down heavily on the bed, Elena happily playing with the edges of the bedspread, but held safely by one of Catherine's hands.  "Oh yeah, that kid is never wrong when it comes to you and I Catherine." Jace moved closer to demonstrate.

Surfacing gradually from the passion filled exploration, they glanced down at their daughter, who was now chewing the edges in earnest. "She's beautiful Jace, just like her mother." Catherine replied softly her gaze concentrated on their daughter.

"Thank you darling, but today all I want to do is drink in the sight of your eyes and lose myself in their depths and know that you can see the love I have for you, without words." Jace said quietly.

"Jace Bardley are you going to answer my earlier question?" Momentarily stunned into silence, Jace's mind trying to grasp the significance.

Jace suddenly starred wide eyed at Catherine and moved to where her lips reached Catherine's earlobe and as she gently bit down and heard the low throaty growl she loved, Jace finally asked the question she's been holding back since their child was born. "Catherine Devonshire Warriorson will you commit to me your body and soul forever in the sight of our family and friends."

Catherine had thought about how she would ask Jace that very same question, but her friend was far more eloquent with fewer words than she would have been. The simple statement so utterly encompassed everything about their relationship and what it meant to them both, was forever long enough? Hell, they would see. Whatever sacrifices she had had to make in her personal life to allow this woman in had been compensated a million times over in the glorious life she had every waking moment knowing Jace was there with her. Whatever else happened, or how long they shared this gift together, in the years to come, it would never change the spirit of the emotion they had, it would only enhance and enrich them further and their family and friends as well.

"I love you Jace Bardley and the answer is simply, yes!" Catherine said huskily and they shared a deep, meaningful kiss to seal the words etched in each other's hearts.

Jace smiled in complete joy and wished she could take a picture that would capture the moment forever but her memories would do that and it would never fade. "When?"

Catherine held Jace's face between her hands and gave her a grin. "No way are we having the problems with Faith that Grace has had to endure, I was thinking about a small service here in the New Year. Then you and I take a holiday to any spot in the world you want. What do you say?"

"I say, roll on New Year and I know just the place." Jace gave her a saucy smile, which Catherine proceeded to remove with a satisfying kiss.

"You do, do you? And would I by any chance know the destination?" Her lips curved in a knowing smile.

"Well, as you know, the owner, one Ms. Devonshire, yeah, I think you might just know of it." Jace replied her voice held laughter as she noted the left eyebrow raise and she was given a quizzical look.

"Tell me more....." the door to the room was discreetly opened and a chuckle came from the door.

"God you two, do you ever take a rest?" Grace laughed from the doorway. "Want me to come back later?"

Catherine looked at her friend and a happy smile graced her lips as she saw her friend for the first time in over a year. "No, we don't and long may that last and secondly get yourself here, so I can give you a hug."

Grace glanced at Jace in surprise at the mention of a hug, but moved closer to the bed as Jace stretched and got up taking her daughter up with her and towards the bathroom to change her.

Jace left the two women in privacy.

"You don't really want to hug me do you Catherine?" Grace was surprised and a little daunted by the suggestion, which was clearly out of character. Maybe that fall had done more damage than the doctor thought?

"Not if you're a chicken no!" Catherine smirked, as Grace noticed the enthusiastic exuberance from her friend and sat down on the bed and was engulfed in a gentle hug.

"How are you feeling Catherine, the kids said you looked great and had a secret to share with me?" Grace asked her eyes roaming her friend's face to try and pick up any idea of what was going on.

"I feel wonderful, and Grace you're looking haggard." Catherine said softly, noticing the temper flare slightly in her friend at the comment.

"Yeah? Well, you would also, if your mother was here hounding the hell out of you about a wedding dress and .....did you just say, I looked?" Grace had started her tirade and then realised what Catherine had implied.

"Yes, dark shadows under the eyes you better get rid of those before the wedding or you could be in trouble with your mother over that too." Catherine smiled and it lit up her eyes particularly so the right that now had sight.

Grace put her hands around Catherine's face and starred brown deep into ice blue and her face became wreathed in a grin that almost split it in its intensity. "Oh! Christ, Catherine this is great news and what a thing to happen just before Christmas and the new Millennium. I can't believe it I....." tears stopped Grace from saying more, as she just looked at her friend in shared happiness.

A door opening brought Jace and Elena back into the room. "Any chance I get to join in the group hug?"

Placing Elena in the crib at the side of the bed, she walked over to the other two women and they all shared the joy that the miracle of sight had been restored to their friend and loved one.

~ ~ ~

Catherine looked back on the last few hours and realised there were elements to her life, that she had had to do without, that she hadn't noticed until they had been restored. Small inconsequential things really, like watching the expressions flit over Lisa's features, as she became engrossed in the story Jace told them at bedtime. Then there was the scowl that was never far from Jake's profile, as he muttered something about going to bed too early; and as Rio who licked Lisa as she hugged the dog goodnight, or of Jake balancing a football on his toes in practised ease. Then there had been the cute expressions from Elena, and now the noises she made had been given another dimension for Catherine as she watched the expressions that went with each of them, she was indeed her mothers daughter as her face became as expressive as Jace's. Catherine could have spent the whole night watching her children, but for the fact that there was another person in the room that she couldn't take her eyes away from. Jace Bardley looked to Catherine exactly the same as she had done all those months ago and except for the maturity motherhood had bestowed on her, that Catherine found becoming, Jace enchanted her all over again. At times Catherine wasn't sure if this was a dream she was going to wake up from, where the darkness would invade her waking hours again, but she was prepared to relish every single second, if that turned out to be the case.

Catherine looked at Jace asleep in their bed and turned and watched the rise and fall of her chest, breathing a sigh of relief in many ways that she had the opportunity of seeing her lover again and taking delight in the simplest of observations.

Padding silently over to the window Catherine watched the moon burn brightly in the inky blue night sky and the stars shining throwing their light into all the dark places of a children's fantasy story.

The shadows the night sky passed through the window, as they presented Catherine's silhouette up for inspection by the very gods themselves.

To anyone observing the woman at the window, they would have seen someone who had made peace with herself and the world around her; she was simply happy with her life. Whatever else happened in the future, she knew that she had a partner for life, who was going to be beside her no matter the struggle or the pain that might transpire. Because they shared a love that transcended the bounds of the physical plain, they quite simply shared a soul, one to last through eternity!

Catherine silently walked back over to the bed, glanced at the baby fast asleep in the crib, then towards her mother, who had a similar if a little older contented expression on her face. 'Damn, I love you to distraction Jace Bardley.' Cautiously getting into bed and avoiding waking up her lover, she was surprised when the smaller woman turned to her and pulled her into a hug, holding her securely.

"I love you." Jace mumbled as sleep regained possession.

Catherine smiled at the mumbled comment and placed a tender kiss on her head as she closed her eyes; knowing that tomorrow, she would wake up and start a new phase in her life. Catherine would see the Christmas Eve wedding, Christmas itself, the Millennium party, Jace's parents visit and the most important thought to sleep happily with, a public commitment to Jace and a long holiday to celebrate the event.

Catherine's body gently slipped into the arms of Morpheus in a very welcome sleep and as she did so words from a song drifted into her semi-conscious.
 

The Love Principal

If this is eternal love, please count me in.

When struggle and pain have the stage, remember what we share, an eternal love never to throw away.

As jealousy strikes and others interfere, I'm here for you and you're there for me, who can thwart our love?

If we have to walk away and part our ways, never forget the thread that weaves us together in an eternal bond, unbreakable and sound.

With my arms around you and your head on my shoulder, there's a gift we posses that cannot die, my love is eternally yours as yours is mine.

Now here you are sleeping beside me, I wonder if you know what you mean to me and how you make me feel, how can you not when our love shines bright and true.

Waking up to find your eyes glowing into mine, you smile; I do too. For eternal love is the key and you've never forgotten which lock it fits as our hearts move together and we unlock each other's desires.

Our hands fit together, our bodies meld, will you look to the future and beyond, with our love there's nothing, but happiness to greet each day that transpires.

No matter the problems, together we are one that will be our goal, living our lives with love to last eternally.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Six

Jace watched in wonder and with the largest smile plastered over her face as the four people who had become for her the mainstay of her life appeared into view from the paddock area.

Catherine was laughing at something the redheaded girl was saying to her, as she pulled the tall raven-haired woman along by the hand. Jake as walking much slower behind them with his hands held by Elena, who had managed to get on her feet and stay there by some miracle or at least with help anyway. Their eight-month-old daughter was becoming a handful, but Jake had the measure of the little one and appeared to take his role of older brother very seriously. Jace saw her daughter smile at the dark boy, as he smiled back genuinely, it was a definite bonus the way their relationship was turning. Elena was alarmingly into every possible situation that could cause her parent's anguish, and it had, especially, now that Catherine could actually see what the child was getting into. If Jace could have a dollar for every time Catherine had turned pale at the situations their youngest daughter attempted to indulge in, she would be a very rich woman. Catherine was so protective, obsessively so, at times!

Jace saw Catherine turn towards their son and youngest daughter; she saw the tender smile that flashed across the often-stoic expressive features. 'God, I love you Catherine!' Everyday that the young woman woke up beside the raven haired woman, or woke up being held in the strong arms of her lover, Jace never failed to send up a silent pray that she had been given the chance, to rescue her relationship with the very private, loving and incredibly, gorgeous woman. The raven-haired beauty had allowed her inside again and enabled all those broken bridges to be repaired. If Jace knew one thing about her life with Catherine, it was that at no time would it ever be dull, no way, no how!

She knew her family and at the stances of them on the path strolling towards the house, where Jace was sitting in a chair watching and waiting for them to return. Jace also knew, they were plotting something, as it was only a week before Christmas; inevitably, it had something to do with that! Catherine was such a child when the mere word Christmas was mentioned; she gave one of her most beguiling smiles and went around with a beam on her face for several minutes after that. Catherine was so, so very cute, when she did that, and even if she'd done something really stupid that Jace didn't approve of, it was always difficult to chastise her. Anyway now that Catherine could see out of her right eye, it made the situation even more difficult, a simple matter of eye contact with those ice blues and her green ones were captured forever.

Now, Lisa was heading in her direction and Jake in the opposite towards the stables. Catherine had taken up Jake's relinquished possession of Elena and she was now held aloft on top of broad shoulders and Jace caught her breath at the sight.  Small hands that tugged were swirling around raven hair on the tall frame and Jace grimaced at the obvious pain it must be causing her partner. Elena's own hair which, was practically the same shade as her playmate's was moving about her head with the small gusts of wind that had appeared a hour ago, the breeze cooling down the otherwise dry and hot day. Elena was filling out perhaps a little too much but she did have an appetite to be proud of, as Catherine would say indulgently and winked in her direction. Anyone seeing the child and woman together would assume they were mother and daughter, although in all the important things in life that was the case, in truth, Catherine was not biologically related to the child at all.

Lisa bounded up the short steps towards Jace and breathlessly dropped next to her chair on her knees a grin on the child's face.  She was infectious, this child, in many ways, her love was fathomless.

Jace turned to the child and gave her a smile back. "So, what are you all planning out there?"

Lisa giggled and gave Jace a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Nothing, really Jace, but you know Catherine, and Christmas."

"Yep, I'm certainly beginning too," came the soft reply, as she turned her gaze back to her laughing partner, who was steadily moving towards them.

"Catherine is taking us to town this afternoon and she says it's a surprise." Lisa said, her tongue in her cheek as she considered if Jace was invited also.

"Great! I have to help Faith this afternoon with the final arrangements for Christmas Eve. So, that will be a nice surprise when you get back." Jace smiled at the girl and held her breath as Catherine mounted the steps to the porch and came within close scrutiny range.

Lisa scrambled up and was given a playful pat on the head as she headed for the kitchen, and with Lisa no doubt, the promise of food and the special festive cookies that both Grace and Judy loved to cook up. If it were up to those two, everyone in the household would be packing at least an extra ten pounds easily. Fortunately the two older children had quite active lifestyles and she and Catherine had taken the gym to heart in more ways than one. Elena was perhaps paying the price, but she would lose it soon enough, she was certainly active enough.

Jace turned her green gaze to that of her partners ice blue one and they exchanged a loving glance, words un-necessary between them. "I hear you're going into town later, any particular reason?"

Catherine gave her a wry smile as she helped Elena from her shoulders and handed the lively bundle over to her mother. "Mmm.....I might and then again, I might not. Depends, why are you asking?"

Jace looked into the smiling face of her daughter and was initially stopped from answering as Faith chose that moment to come onto the porch. "Ah, so there she is! Come on Elena let's go and see what Judy has for lunch shall we?" Faith looked towards Jace for approval and Jace smiled and handed over her daughter, who chuckled as she was held in the comforting hold of her surrogate grandmother.

Catherine had moved away from them as Faith arrived and was currently leaning on the railings, watching the exchange with a small smile playing around her lips. It never ceased to amaze her that Jace was so amiable about giving up her daughter. Yet, the indulgent young mother never looked annoyed at having so many people interested in taking over her child for hours at a time in some instances. Faith went through the door towards the kitchen and that left Catherine and Jace alone.

Jace looked over at the negligent stance of her lover, it brought a smile of possession over her face as she once again relished the power of having the woman in front of her look at her with such raw emotion, it was breathtaking. "Just interested in what my family is up to, especially, when I have to do other things." Jace continued their previous conversation before the interruption from Faith.

Catherine gave a low gravely sound from her throat that set Jace's heart beating erratically. "Oh this and that, but I promise to keep them out of trouble, especially the little one." Catherine gave her a grin.

Jace knew that Catherine wouldn't let anything happen to the children and there would always be a ranch hand around to help, Catherine couldn't after all drive, she still only had vision in one eye. "I see. Who's going to keep you out of trouble though?" Jace raised her green glance to capture the ice blue one above her, signals passing between them at a force that set both women's hearts beating faster.

"Oh, well I think I can muster up a volunteer, if I need to don't you? The boy we set on a few weeks ago, appears to be taken with me, perhaps he can keep an eye on me?" Catherine gave Jace an innocent look as she noticed the blonde's body bristle at the comment.

"You will do no such thing Catherine! He's a boy leave him alone or....." Catherine swiftly moved closer to the chair that held her partner and dropped down in front of her and cupped Jace's head between her large gentle hands.

Jace was mesmerised by the look of affection and amusement from the ice blue that held her green eyes. "Or what, my love?" effectively silencing any answer with a kiss of passion.

Eventually surfacing, Jace shook her head at the action and rested her forehead on her partners. "I love you Catherine, no one gets to keep an eye on you and if they ever did, I would volunteer, okay?"

Catherine quirked her left eyebrow at the statement, she knew that Jace had chosen the words to indicate that she was still a free spirit, but that an invisible cord had been attached to them. It made Catherine wonder if she would be so magnanimous, if Jace bantered her in such a way? Not bloody likely! 'I already watch you like a hawk Jace Bardley, I wonder if you know that!  I also wonder if it bothers you that I get jealous when you smile at some of the young ranch hands and they flirt with you and you respond as you always would in a friendly manner.' "Yeah you're the only one I would allow to keep an eye on me and you can do that anytime my love, anytime at all."

"Then let's see if eye contact brings about contact elsewhere shall we?" Jace looked directly into the ice blue eyes and gently pulled away a little to allow her to see Catherine's expression.

"Jace, did anyone tell you that the simplest words from you, could be the sexiest, I've ever heard?" Catherine gave her a rakish look as the blonde considered the words and smiled wolfishly back.

"Yeah, I think someone once did, but for the life of me, I can't remember her name." Jace gave a giggle that had Catherine grinning from ear to ear.

"In that case, I think its time for a refresher course," with that Catherine moved into not only close eye contact, but mouth and upper body contact as well, it would be sometime before they surfaced to allow anyone or anything to disturb them.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Seven

Lisa had the most amazing expression on her face, as they looked at all the alpine trees cut and ready for the Christmas festivities.

Catherine had wanted to indulge her Christmas spirit with the children last year, but circumstances and her physical condition had decreed that they use an artificial tree. This year was always going to be different, Catherine had been planning the purchase of the largest tree she could find that would fit in the house; they were going to trim it together, as a family!

Catherine's own memories of the event had always been powerful and entirely happy; nothing had tarnished the festivities for her, even when she'd been bitten by the business bug that had separated her from her family for most of the year. Adam had so enjoyed the couple of days that Catherine had always allowed for the time of the year; she recalled the last one, when Lucas had been four years old.

The house in the respectable London suburb was alight with twinkling lights in numerous colours and patterns, from the windows, which had lights doing a merry dance around the frame. The three-foot snowman set in the front of the garden was brightly lit against the dark night sky. Then to cast the image in your imagination forever, a three-foot high Santa and sleigh full of presents being pulled by the reindeers. That appeared to glow in the inky darkness of the night. It was cold and Catherine was sure that ice, if not snow, must be forecast as she alighted from her taxi and paid the driver as he handed over her small case, indicating the stay as short.

Catherine stood and pondered the scene for a few moments before she opened the gate that led to the path of the front of the house. As her steps made a crunching noise on the gravel surface, she heard voices at the front door as it was opened hurriedly and she was suddenly engulfed by a small tornado. Lucas was wrapped around her to ensure that she didn't disappear, it was at this time that she felt the palpable hurt she inflicted on her child at her absence. 'One day they would be together.'

"Hey, Baby, you have a kiss for mama?" Catherine picked up her son who smiled into the features that clearly stamped her own mark on her son; he looked like her brother in lots of ways.

"Yes!" the child replied, wrapping his arms around his mother and gave her several sloppy kisses as she basked in the pure innocent affection of her son.

Catherine looked beyond her son and saw Adam looking at the scene with a gentle look that had affection, love and tenderness rolled into one glance, their glances locked and she gave him a wry smile of affection. "I see you've added to the scene this year, it looks great."

Adam gave her a warm smile and nodded his head. "Yes, Lucas insisted that his mommy would be upset if we didn't have the most lights on the block, guess he was right."

Catherine gave an appreciative laugh and looked back at her son. "Are these all for me Lucas or do you like them too?" Catherine kissed her son, and hugging his small body close to her in quiet appreciation of the love of her child.

Lucas looked at her with the grey eyes that he'd inherited from his father; they looked wise beyond their years. "Mama you know you love the toys and tree and everything about Christmas, but I do too!" the child chuckled and hugged his mother closer.

Catherine had tears welling in the corners of her eyes, it was times like this that the business could kiss her arse, and she didn't give a damn, but it never lasted. "How about we get inside and show mama the tree Lucas?"

Adam noticed the emotional charge coming from his wife and he knew she wouldn't want Lucas to think she was upset in any way, that wasn't Catherine's way, never had been.

The child almost screamed his agreement into Catherine's ears as she gave Adam a nod of acknowledgement; he'd always understood her even when she hadn't understood herself. Adam moved forward, picked up her bag as she continued to hold onto the limpet that clung to her as they walked inside the house.

After dispensing with her outside coat from the cold chill of the London weather, Catherine was being tugged towards the lounge and as Lucas opened the door and they entered together. Catherine let out a sigh as she saw the seven-foot alpine decked out in a multitude of toys, ribbons and baubles that had either been purchased recently or handed down from her family. It was a tradition with her family that the Christmas toys would be part of the heritage and every year each member of the family bought another toy to enhance the collection.

"Mommy, we saved the new toys for when you arrived. Daddy said you would like that," her son gave her an infectious smile and held onto her hand.

"Yeah, I think that's a great idea. Thanks Adam and before you both ask yes I brought one too." Catherine gave them both a dazzling smile. It would have been difficult to create the image that the woman in the room had only arrived less than half an hour earlier; it was as if they had never been separated.

"Do you want to freshen up before the hanging of our final baubles, or carry on?'' Adam saw the childish pout that came over Catherine's face at that question? 'Guess not huh?" He smiled and passed over a small package to Lucas and held one of his own.

Catherine pulled out a small package of her own and they all looked at each other as to who would go first. "You first Lucas." Catherine smiled at the child.

Lucas turned a dazzling smile that matched Catherine's in every way towards his parents and held up a rocking horse with a sleeping child on its back. It was made of wood; the horse was a chestnut brown with a gold harness about its mouth and body. The child was a small boy asleep in a white long nightshirt, holding with one hand onto the reigns of the horse and in the other had a small stocking ready for Christmas presents. The boy went forward and reached up to place the toy in a spot, which was empty, only he wasn't tall enough and turned in frustration to his father. "Let me." Catherine pleaded softly and walked towards her son and lifted him the few inches he needed to claim his area.

Adam moved forward at that moment as Catherine gently lowered the boy to the soft carpet and held him in a loose hold around the shoulders. Adam's toy was two-inch tin soldier repellent in a dark blue uniform; full of gold braid he hung it on the opposite side of tree to Lucas's toy.

Both males turned to Catherine "Your turn," they said in unison.

Catherine fingered her toy; it was a blown glass bauble that depicted a snow scene with two children throwing snowballs at each other. She placed the object in the middle of the tree, and then took a backward pace as she gave the tree a once over for effect. Catherine frowned at the missing piece she noticed and just as she was about to comment a small hand placed an object in her hand, glancing down she saw the porcelain faced Angel which had been her mother's. She fingered it gently in loving memory of her family, until she turned to her son, who was gently tugging on her sleeve.

"Mommy, only you know how she goes on top of the tree, so Daddy and I thought we'd better wait."

Tears she had previously held in check now made a slow trail down her cheeks. Yeah, this was the spirit of Christmas all right. Not having any words, she stood on the small step that Adam had moved for her to complete the task and placed the final piece of the puzzle on top of the tree. Finally finished, they all stood back to admire the view; it was a wondrous scene with all the colours, different toys and baubles that cast a glow with the lights that shed shadow and brightness to different areas of the tree.

"Next year we better get a bigger tree Daddy, or we won't have space for the new toys will we?" Lucas gave them both a grin.

"Sure son, we can do that. What do you say Catherine?" Adam gave her a reassuring smile as she glanced his way suspiciously.

"Definitely next year we need a taller tree." She gave them both a warm smile as they watched the tree for several moments together as a family.

Catherine came out of her revere as Jake tapped on her arm for attention. "Sorry Jake, what's the problem?" Catherine said absently, her mind trying to bring itself back into the present.

"Elena is pulling the needles from the tree over there and poking them at Lisa; she doesn't like it." Jake said quietly, he'd been watching his guardian for several moments and the differing expressions that had travelled across her face before he'd got her attention, but she hadn't looked sad at any time.

Catherine looked over at her daughters and noticed that Elena, although, safely in her baby stroller was indeed tormenting the elder child. Lisa was getting close to doing something about it and a baby with a black eye from 'slugger' Lisa was something that Catherine wasn't about to go back home and face Jace with, no way!

"Hey, how's it going Princess, have you found our tree yet?" Catherine placed a gentle hand on Lisa's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze as she managed to manoeuvre herself between the two of them.

"No!" Muttered Lisa and she walked away towards Jake, obviously upset.

Catherine looked at the retreating small back and considered what would get Lisa's happy countenance back, turning she looked at the baby who was seconds away from inflicting the same pain on the tall woman, that she had Lisa. "Hey little one, cut it out or your Mommie is going to be mad at you."

Green eyes gave her an affronted look at the serious tone from her tall playmate. The child then tried to put the needle in her mouth and Catherine quickly stopped her and moved her out of reach of the tree. 'This child of theirs was a nightmare at times, Jace was going to have to teach her that trees couldn't be eaten or used as weapons.'

Turning towards the two older children, she saw them looking at a tree with smiles wreathed all over their faces. 'Looks like we found our tree.' Catherine pushed the stroller with the baby towards them; ten minutes later they were on their way towards the shops and the selection of a new toy for each of them for the tree. The tree would be loaded up on the Land Rover while they continued to shop. The rest of the afternoon was relatively sedate after that especially, as Elena went to sleep. Catherine decided that the other two children deserved ice cream for putting up with the babies somewhat unorthodox use of pine needles. It was kind of funny though, when you thought about it.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Eight

Jace watched in fascination as Catherine marshalled them all into action of the trimming of the tree. They had prudently decided that Elena was going to stay in her playpen and watch rather than join in, well at this moment anyway.

As the hours slipped by, and it came close to bedtime for the children the tree was filling up nicely and Jace had enjoyed the family atmosphere that was created as they all helped with the decorations. Catherine was by far the most excited, and even when the tree toppled over twice. And she was pinned under it for the time it took the rest of them to rescue her, it hadn't shaken her obvious enjoyment of the event.

Now, they were on the last toys, the new ones the children had purchased in town that day. Jace had been informed of this ritual by Lisa and Jake one evening the previous week and she'd been totally disarmed at her partner's continuance of a tradition that she thought, must have ended when she'd left her old life behind. Not so, even Grace had been party to this odd tradition and she would be along shortly with her bauble.

"Who goes first?" the children asked, their eyes alight with the prospect of being first to put their toys on the tree.

Jace looked at Catherine, who appeared to have a far off look in her eyes, a memory obviously invading her at that moment.  She didn't look upset; perhaps wistful would be the correct expression. Walking over to Catherine, she placed her hand inside one of her larger ones and looked up at her partner. "Who goes first Catherine?" Jace repeated softly as the two older children looked at them in eager anticipation.

Catherine glanced down at the hand that held hers steadfast and strong and she sighed and turned a warm smile on them all, 'Ladies first, I think Jake what do you say?"

Jake gave her a grin and a shrug of his shoulders. "Okay, all yours Lisa," as the girl gave a whoop of joy and went to place her snowman on the lower branches of the tree. It wobbled precariously for several seconds and then settled down in its selected place.

Jake looked towards Catherine and Jace as Jace moved away from Catherine and went towards the tree. Catherine gave her a quizzical look, she hadn't mentioned anything, so how did Jace know? She had been going to share hers with her partner and the baby.

Jace placed her ice skater in the middle of the tree, it spun around as it found it's direction, and then she turned towards Catherine, her smile one of indulgent affection.

"I didn't know you knew about this Jace?" Catherine whispered, as her partner gave her a hug.

"I know. That's what made it all the more special. You, my friend are very special and I know that your family be it old or new, think that also." Jace placed a gentle hand to the back of her neck and tugged Catherine's head down for a quick, gentle kiss.

Jake snorted and muttered, he thought it might be his turn, but stopped quickly when the door opened and in walked Grace, Colin and Faith. The two older women chuckled and motioned for him to take his turn at the tree.

Jake had a brass horn, which he tried, to place on an exposed branch, but it was too high for him, he turned pleading eyes towards Colin for help, but just as Colin moved forward, Catherine placed a hand on his arm. "No, let me please."

Hoisting the child the few inches needed to perform the task she was awash with her memories of the last time she'd held a dark boy aloft. Just as she settled him down on the floor, Catherine gave Jake a warm hug and kissed him on the cheek as he turned a beetroot colour at the affection from his guardian.

Everyone in the room watched the display with equal surprise and affection. Grace placed her glass swan on the tree next, and then Faith placed a fairy on the opposite side of her daughter's ornament. Colin looked at the toboggan in his hand, smiling as he placed it high in the tree.

Catherine went over to a frustrated baby, who was rattling the poles of the playpen for not being able to join in the fun. "Your turn little one." Picking the child up from the playpen and bringing her close to the tree, holding her at shoulder height, she spoke to her youngest daughter. "You get to share mine, Elena," then Catherine produced a white rocking horse with a sleeping girl on it's back; it mirrored the one her son had placed on the last tree they had together. Elena helped a little to place the toy on the tree. By coincidence, it was opposite the original one her son had bought, how very fitting. she thought.

"Now the angel, Catherine." Lisa piped up as she watched Catherine turn and tenderly handed Elena to Jace.

Catherine gently removed the angel from the tissue; it was nestled in and tenderly fingered the object with love and affection. It held such memories for examination, but once a year, she was grateful her memories were all good at this particular time of the year. Looking around the room she knew that with the new family she had, it was only ever going to be that way.

"Who wants the privilege?" Catherine asked the quietly waiting family and friends in the room.

Everyone looked in her direction, smiling they all replied in unison, "You!"

Catherine gave them a grin, moved towards the tree and went up the stepladder and placed the angel at the top of the tree, the place of pride. As she walked back towards her family and friends, Colin turned the light off in the main room as they all looked at the well-lit tree and the effect of its decoration.

Jace was standing next to Catherine, her hands full with their youngest daughter and the two older children clasping Catherine's hands as they all contemplated the sight before them. Colin had his arms around Grace and Grace held her mothers hand in quite appreciation of the wonders of this festive time of the year.

Several minutes later, Grace had the two older children shepherded towards the bathroom and Faith had Elena in hand as they trouped out, with Colin going towards the kitchen and the cookies he was becoming addicted to.

As the door closed behind the departing family and friends, only the two lovers remained in the room. Jace gently placed her hand in Catherine's and clasped it in quiet understanding as she noticed that her partner had drifted away on another memory.

Catherine brought up Jace's hand to her mouth as she caressed the fingers with soft lips. "I love you Jace Bardley, thank you for indulging me."

Jace looked up into the ice blues she loved and gave her a watery smile. "I love you also Catherine, and if this is the power of indulging you, then please let me indulge you more."

"It's memories like these that make everything worth while, did you know that? I want to share all the rest of my Christmas's with you Jace." Catherine placed a gentle finger down her cheek and tenderly let it be kissed.

"Yes, darling, memories like this are worth while, and you and I and the rest of our family and friends will see to it that we have lots more, that my beloved, I'm going to guarantee you." Jace turned her head up for a caring kiss, as they gazed at each other for several moments before Catherine finally finished.

"I don't need guarantees Jace, I just need you!" Catherine then drew her partner into a deep sensuous embrace, holding the smaller woman gently around the waist with her left hand as her right hand slowly unbuttoned the green silk blouse Jace had worn tonight, just for her. Catherine's lips moved down the pulsating neck and nibbled gently on the now moaning shorter woman's throat. Jace breathing became shallow and short, with decisive moaning sounds, slowly escaping the blond woman's lips as Catherine's sensuously moved down the pulsating throat and proceeded to nibble the flesh of the sumptuous shoulder to the sensitive collar bone of her young lover. These ministrations causing the knees of the shorter woman to slowly give way. Catherine held the keeper of her heart in a tighter hold, continuing her nibbling and carefully lowered her beloved to the plush, thick carpet covering the lounge floor. Jace fastened both hands into the raven-hair and drew the darker woman's mouth to hers. And for the next several hours, Catherine passionately demonstrate exactly how much her young lover was needed and why. If you passed the lounge door, you would have heard numerous, as well as bountiful, gently intakes of breath and an occasional, "Oh, Catherine."

~ ~ ~

Jake was looking at the Christmas tree, and it had been decorated the week before. He stared at it's lights, with and the patterns, and glow that showered in every direction. It had fragments of light that gave the impression that the whole array was a figment of the imagination, wondered if it would disappear, if you shut your eyes long enough. He was waiting for Lisa to finish her bath and have Catherine bring her down for the story hour. It was their ritual and made him smile at how the small redhead had persuaded Catherine to execute this task every evening she was home. Catherine had always been good to them, but at this time of the year, a different Catherine appeared, one who relished the season and made everyone around her participate in all conceivable activities, she could call to mind. Frequently, his guardian had often commented, that living in Europe at this time of year was better suited for the festivities. He had listened, avidly to a conversation that Catherine had undertaken with Jace only that morning from a slightly open door to the study.

"Jace there's nothing like experiencing snowing and going tobogganing down the hills and valleys in Europe." Catherine said petulantly as she looked out at the bright sunlight of the warm summer day that heralded Christmas in this part of the world.

Jace smiled at her partner, giving her a rueful look. "Catherine, how many years is it since you last saw snow at Christmas?"

Catherine looked a little despondent at the remark. 'How long had it been?' "I suppose six maybe seven years," she finally responded.

"Darling you could have gone on holiday to Europe and experienced all the excitement you say you miss in that period of time, why didn't you?" Jace gave her a long thoughtful look, her green eyes never leaving the captured ice blue turned towards her.

Catherine frowned at the question, 'you know why Bardley.' "I guess I never had anyone to share the joy of the moment with me," her voice forlorn and wistful.

Jace managed to smile at the words, although, she felt the sting of tears at the back of her eyes at the simple admission. Catherine had wealth, status and yet for year's she had sought a loneliness that defeated all those trappings they had become simply worthless. "Oh, is that all! Catherine, you do realise, that now you have three children to help you out on that one?"

Catherine noted the missing party in the equation and it brought a look of consternation on her face. "What about you?" She whispered.

Jace linked her hand in one of Catherine's larger ones and gently clasped it. "Me? Oh, you forget Catherine, I'm Californian, I'm used to this weather for the festivities, something tells me I'd freeze to death if you had a choice of destination." Jace laughed up into the face that had cleared of its lack of confidence over her previous answer.

"Yeah, Californian, I forget. Tell me are all Californians like you and enjoy the warmth over the possibilities of a good old fashioned cold snap?" Catherine gave her a lopsided smile that reflected her teasing in the right eye that was now sighted.

"We have our cold snaps Catherine! Come now, were not totally cosseted from the weather extremes, but we do prefer it warmer rather than colder." Jace reached up her right hand and stroked Catherine's left cheek gently, the small scars feeling like a trace outline to her touch.

"I often wondered how you put up with the weather here, after living your whole life in that climate?" Catherine had pondered this question and had wanted to ask, but feared to do so, if it brought about an answer she wasn't prepared to deal with.

"Mmmm I've often wondered too,' Jace saw the shadow of, was it fear? Pass briefly over Catherine's face as she answered. 'Catherine you live her. Where else in the world would I want to be?" Jace saw the joy that answer produced over her partner's often-expressionless visage.

Catherine brought Jace's hand to her lips and kissed the fingers reverently. "You say the simplest, but quite the most considerably eloquent words that anyone has ever said to me, do you know that?"

Jace chuckled and snuggled closer to her partner, who put her arms around her and hugged her in warmth, companionship and love. "I hope, I'm the only one whoever gets the opportunity, I could get jealous you know?"

"Never, ever, get jealous Jace, you're the one the only one who will ever reach me and play havoc with my heart and soul. I thought you knew that?" Catherine disconcerted, was Jace having doubts about her commitment?

"I knew! I know, Catherine, I was just making sure you never forget it." Jace said gently and turned around in Catherine's arms to face her.

"Never! This is forever and beyond, but if I decided to move to the North Pole, do you think you'd come?" Catherine laughed at the look of surprise on Jace's face and was immediately engulfed in a passionate kiss to convince her.

Eventually, they released each other from the embrace and rested their foreheads together in quiet appreciation of their mutual happiness. "You can always produce the warmest igloo in the North Pole, then, hey, presto! I'm right there, Catherine." Jace giggled and was once again taken into an embrace that left both women breathless as it finished.

"Next year then, a colder climate for sure." Catherine responded and was given a playful smack on her behind for her presumptuous comment.

Jake had turned a lovely shade of crimson, as the private conversation came to end and he sidled away from the door, with a watching Rio, looking at him from black eyes with what appeared to Jake to be a look of complete understanding at his predicament.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Nine

It was two days before the wedding on Christmas Eve, everything had been arranged. Even, Faith was now finally convinced, that her daughter would be ready for the event.

Jace had been a remarkable help with the preparations and more importantly the diffusion of any antagonism between mother and daughter! That particular task had taken it's toll on them all at some stage or other, Grace didn't like all the pomp and ceremony and Faith wanted her eldest daughter to have all the trimmings. She had finally used blackmail to pursued Grace.  Saying that her father would be turning in his grave that a daughter of his hadn't opted for the traditional wedding, Grace had just looked up into the heavens and smote a hand to her forehead and agreed with everything from there on in. Well, at least until the wedding dress fittings, that had been a mean task to keep Grace in one place long enough for them to finally agree upon the finishing measurements. It had taken a few friendly caustic remarks by Catherine to Grace to trap her at the shop long enough to complete the feat; Catherine had been useful that day, but otherwise stayed clear of the machinations that went on around her.  She often took her beloved Tralargon for long rides over the hills; often accompanied by the children at the weekends or the early evening. She might not be in a position to drive a vehicle, but she could certainly ride her horse, the authorities couldn't take that away from her.

Jace and Catherine would be glad when the wedding was over and they could just celebrate the festivities with their friends.  Then they could plan their own simple event for the New Year. It was a new century, a new millennium no less and they were going to celebrate it in the most glorious way they knew how. A statement publicly of their love for each other and the bonding of their family as a single unit; this would be the final element to their lives together.

Jace watched in fascination as Catherine vaulted her tall frame into the saddle on Tralargon for her afternoon ride, it was a marvellous sight the magnificent powerful horse that waited patiently for its mistress to join her, it was almost as if they became one. You could hear the click of heels and the crunch of hoofs on the gravel drive, as they manoeuvred towards the paddock and the egress to the open fields. They looked superb together and it brought back memories to Jace of her first encounter with the enigmatic owner of 'Destiny' that cold rainy afternoon. She'd looked good that day, also. Jace knew it had been the first glance from those ice blue eyes, which had captured her heart and sent it on it's way to the destination it craved, Catherine Warriorson and all that entailed.

Jace had often wondered how her life would have turned out, if she had known that Catherine was also her 'enemy' Catherine Devonshire, the ruthless owner of Xianthos. That particular event had taken place after she'd fallen deeply and unequivocally in love with Catherine. Even so, it had caused a rift and now she was grateful for the omission by Catherine, because Jace felt sure that she wouldn't be here now, looking at the retreating back of her lover, who had given her everything her heart desired, and oh, so much more!

What of Catherine, would she still be reclusive? Perhaps!

Would she have let those two bright and wonderful children into her heart? Maybe not! Hadn't Catherine admitted that it had only been Jace's breaking down the barriers that had let the children inside?

Would they be due to celebrate a wedding on the property? Hard to say and highly doubtful!

Grace had once said it was hard to define your destiny, how right that was, a simple omission had led to events so unforeseen it was out of a storybook. Jace was sure she was living a fictional novel at times. Tragedy, hatred, jealousy had all reared their ugly head, but had been over powered by the greater emotions of caring, compassion, happiness and love.

Finally, there was Elena her daughter, who was now eight months old and becoming a terror as each day dawned. Jace was sure she hadn't been such a handful. She was certain Peter Adamson couldn't have been either; he had always come over as the gentle type. Her daughter certainly wouldn't be in existence that was for sure; it was amazing how many golden opportunities had transpired out of what had appeared to be desolate circumstances. One thing for sure she needed to call her folks it was time and she'd been remiss not to do so earlier. Tonight, she would ask Catherine to sit with her as she made the call. She needed the quiet support from her partner, and Catherine could always be relied upon to give the most wonderful support.

'Yep! A close encounter with Catherine Warriorson was most definitely worth anything else that life had to offer.' Jace chuckled at the thought and went towards the kitchen; Judy had arrived back from her short visit with her family. Although, they had insisted that she could stay over the holidays with her family, Judy had declined, saying after all she'd gone through in the preparations of the wedding, she was certainly not going to miss it, that was for sure. Funny how people seemed to become attached to Destiny, regardless of some of the unhappy events that had happened in the past six months.

Jace gave a second look over her shoulder at the tiny speck on the horizon and smiled, 'Yes! I'm sure glad that the X had not been mentioned that first day.'

~ ~ ~

Catherine had taken every opportunity to ride with Tralargon once she had gained her sight back in her right eye. It was something she had sorely missed. As intrepid as her determination had been when she was blind, her heart had often shed a tear or two at the loss of this particular pastime. For her, it was a part of her very essence; Tralargon had become more of a silent friend and shoulder to cry on over the five years she had sought a reclusive state.

As she neared Cutters Ridge, she reigned in the mare towards the burial area that held her deceased family, 'had it really been six years since their deaths?'

Dismounting the mare, the tall stoic woman tethering the beloved animal at the nearby oak tree, which was growing well in this beautiful area of the property. Catherine looked at the twenty-foot waterfall that was a centrepiece of the plot she had chosen for her family. Walking over the trim grass that was diligently cut by the children once a month, especially in the summer months, she removed her gloves and placed a hand on the stone that held the epitaph for her son.

Sitting down on the lush green grass, she placed her elbows on her thighs and held her head in quiet contemplation.

"Lucas you would have loved your new family, as much as I. Lisa is a handful but so loving and she would have caused you many a heart searching at her comments and activities. We call her slugger because she punched a young man at school. I know we shouldn't encourage that, and we don't really, but she was defending herself. I think in this day and age there is a always going to be that fine line we all have to cross from time to time to ensure we're not used deplorably in this world. Jake on the other hand is totally different in personality. He's very caring and loves soccer, maybe that would have been something you would have had in common? Elena is the baby of the family; quite frankly, I'm not sure what to say about her! We haven't been able to understand her yet, but she's a terror that's for sure. It's going to be an enlightening experience bringing that child up, but she's worth it. She is after all her mother's daughter and Lucas I love her mother quite beyond explanation. Everyday I wake up, I thank god that she came into my life and made it her mission in life to stay beside me, regardless of the problems. You'd like her Lucas; she has the most compassionate nature I've ever met in my life and when you look into her green eyes you lose all sense of reality and she makes you feel safe held in her gaze. It's strange really, that fate decreed that for me to fall in love I would have to lose everything I held dear to my heart and I did my son, I lost you and to the end of my days I will always regret that! The only thing that kept me from following you was that you had daddy to watch over you. I know deep in my heart that my mother will be there, also. As well as my brother and I think surprisingly enough, my father too. I just wanted you to know that no matter where I am in the world, or what changes I've made to my life, I will never ever forget you. You are irreplaceable in my heart, my son." Catherine dashed a tear away from her left cheek, she might not see out of that eye, but it sure leaked the most!

Turning to a side she looked at her husband's headstone and gave it a wry smile. "Irony of all ironies huh Adam? There was, I ridiculing you over your soulmate theory, and whoops, here I am, sure that I've found mine. I think you would have liked Jace, Adam. She has your naivety of people, which is both endearing and annoying. In you it annoyed me. In her it endears me to her more, and more, and all I want is to protect that image she has and keep it safe for her. Guess I fell well and hard wouldn't you say? In life Adam, you and I would have been a tolerable couple at best. But Jace completes everything that is good and bad in me. It's difficult to explain and I'm not going too; it defies explanation and that's how it should always be this feeling of love!  Who wants to dissect the emotion? Isn't it better to let it wash over you and just feel? That's what I'm doing now, Adam I'm feeling, as I've never ever allowed myself to before. Even in the hard times and the harshness this world brings forth from time to time, I know that her love is out there for me and together or apart it binds us as one and I'm never letting it go. Yes, you would have liked her, but I guess hated her also, as she can make me feel all the emotions you wanted to bring out in me. With a glance from her green eyes, she can turn the frozen Catherine Warriorson into a puddle before your very eyes; that I'm sure would amuse you." Catherine smiled wryly at her wayward thoughts, and then pulled on her leather gloves.

"Time to move on Tralargon, in more ways than one." Catherine said to the mare as she vaulted effortlessly on her back and they headed back towards the ranch.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Ten

Jace was sitting in the large high-backed leather armchair in the lounge listening to the dark rich tones of Catherine telling a story to the two older children. Elena was asleep in her arms and quite content. Faith had been prised from her daughter to go into town with Judy for a break from the ranch before the events descended on them starting tomorrow as relatives and friends of the couple began arriving in town. Alison, Grace's sister was due to arrive in the early hours of the morning, Catherine's personal helicopter had been put on standby to pick her up as she landed from a flight from Saudi Arabia. It had been touch and go that she was able to get home on time. Frank her pilot had confirmed that he would drop Alison at the local airport at two a.m.  Colin had decided to pick her up himself. She was after all going to be his sister in law and what better way of getting acquainted than a trip back to the ranch. Although, Catherine had nearly choked on her tea at this comment over breakfast, when had Colin been particularly talkative on a drive home, she had to wonder. Jace had thumped her on the back in a supportive gesture, but a little harder than Catherine expected and she'd looked at her partner aggrieved, but was quickly thrown into confusion at the look of love she received, that made up for anything, anything at all!

Grace was going over details of the honeymoon with Colin, or at least that's what she'd implied. Jace had smirked at the comment, having been given a playful tap on the shoulder for her pains from Grace.

Outside, the ranch was quiet, the air around them had an ethereal quality about it, as if, the ranch itself knew that it was about to be turned upside down in the wake of the wedding.

Catherine was so engrossed in her story telling, she failed to notice Jace watching her with a blissful expression on her face. It was sometime later when she called a halt to the story, which a sigh went up around the room. "What?" Catherine asked perplexed at the action of her audience, blushing slightly at Jace's regard from her corner of the room.

"Catherine, we wanted more. It's going to be busy for the next few days, you might not get a chance to finish the story for ages!"  Lisa said, with a pout giving her a less than angelic expression.

Catherine shook her head and her shoulder length raven hair cascaded around her like a mist. "Ages Lisa? It's only going to be a few days, and we will finish it, trust me."

"Can't we take the book to read in bed tomorrow Catherine?" Jake asked her innocently and gave her his best behaviour smile.

That kid was definitely learning how to get around ladies, that was for sure; god help them when he was a teenager and breaking all the young girls hearts, just as she was sure Lisa would do the same with the men. Mind you, there were also other possibilities and variables living in this household and that made her chuckle. "You find that funny Catherine?" Jace asked her, puzzled at the unexpected chuckle from her partner at the child's suggestion.

"No! No, I was thinking about something else, totally unrelated sorry!" Catherine did turn a slight shade of red at being caught daydreaming.

"Mmmm......now, I wonder what? Do you care to enlighten us?" Jace saw her look up furtively and shook her head. "Well, in that case I suggest you answer our son's question." Jace gave her a wry smile.

Jake was watching the interchange between the adults; Lisa was fidgeting with the hem of her nightdress. "Well, it's like this Jake I could give you the book to read but....." all eyes went towards Catherine at her prevarication.

"But what?" Lisa asked, impatient to know what the problem was.

Catherine wiped a hand across her brow, 'hell she'd been caught out again.' "I made it up, okay!" Catherine finally admitted.

All three of them stared at Catherine in astonishment and wonder.

"You made it up?" Jace asked her voice taking on an awed quality.

"Yes, is that so bad?" Catherine looked towards the patio window hoping it would open and let her fly out like the little dragon that she had made up in the story.

Jace swiftly got up from the deep recesses of her comfortable chair and placed Elena in the crib at her side. "Catherine, how could you think that? It's a wonderful talent and you do it so well too."

"Do you really think so?" Catherine asked tentatively, her heart started to hammer as she saw the look of immense pride from Jace.

Lisa put her hands around Catherine and hugged her in a bear hug that she was sure must have been from a giant, rather than a thin eight year old who you could metaphorically, knock down with a feather. "That's cool Catherine, just like the first story you ever told us."

"Yeah, just like the first time Lisa. So, sorry Jake, unless you want to make up your own conclusion to the story, it is after all in the imagination you know." Catherine tousled the boy's hair as he shook his head at her comment.

"Oh, no, I'm going to wait for you Catherine, it will be worth the wait." Jake gave her a hug around the knees, as he was sitting at her feet and always did when she resided in the room for any length of time.

"Fine! Well, I guess I'll try to get to the end as soon as possible, how about a short session on Christmas Eve to settle you down okay?" Catherine gave then a happy smile.

"Yeah!" Both children said in unison and were given a brilliant grin that only Catherine Warriorson transmitted.

"Come on now, time for bed before I get into trouble and the little dragon bites off more than she can chew." Catherine easily rose from her chair with Lisa, who she then slung over her shoulder as the child giggled with joy at this simple of attentions from their guardian.

Taking the stairs quickly, Catherine gently threw Lisa onto the bed and the child laughed as she rolled over and landed next to her medium sized teddy bear that Catherine had brought back from her last trip abroad. It was chocolate brown fluffy and a somewhat unkempt looking beast, but as Catherine had predicted to Jace, Lisa loved it at first sight. Catherine had the impression that her eldest daughter had a penchant for the stragglers in this life and that wasn't so bad. At least they had a chance to educate her to watch out for the people who prey on the good nature of others. That certainly wasn't going to happen to any of her children; they would have to go through her first! Lisa hugged the bear, then pulled back the bed covers and settled herself down, her smile infectious to the watching serious expression of her guardian.

Lisa held out her arms and Catherine smiled and walked over to the child. If anything happened to these children now, she wouldn't know what to do, it would break her heart. "Love you Catherine." Lisa whispered into her ear and gave her a warm wet kiss on the cheek.

Enfolding her in a warm hug, Catherine whispered back into the red hair of her eldest child. "I love you too Princess, never forget that." This simple affection from the child always embarrassed her, but she'd live.

Jace had followed them up to say goodnight and heard the quiet exchange between the two of them, 'how you've changed Catherine and how wonderful it is to see the love around you.' "Hey, you have any kisses left for me?" Jace laughed as she let Catherine compose herself and move away from the bed. Jace knew that Catherine found the child's easy affection difficult to deal with; between them they hadn't managed to quite breach all the stoic demeanour that she put forth to the world at large but time was on their side.

"Yeah!" Lisa shouted in glee as she spied her favourite guardian, Catherine was wonderful and made her feel safe, but Jace was like her mother, loving and warm to be around.

Catherine turned towards Jace briefly, smoothed her hair away from her eyes in a nervous gesture. "I'll be with Jake. Goodnight, sleep well Princess."

"Goodnight Catherine." The child responded as she was engulfed in a warm hug from Jace as Catherine left the room for the boy's.

Jake was looking out of the window of his bedroom; he had a serious look on his face as he contemplated the quiet scene. The horses had been stabled for the night. The men had been given time off earlier than normal and most of them had gone into town to celebrate the forthcoming nuptials of their boss. "Penny for your thoughts?" Catherine asked the boy as he slowly turned to look at her and gave her a shrug.

"Not worth any money Catherine; I was just thinking how peaceful it looks outside tonight." Jake responded without prompting.

Catherine walked over to the window as she contemplated the scene with him and smiled. "Yes, I guess it is." She put a gentle hand on his shoulder in understanding.

"How do you think up stories Catherine?" Jake asked her, his eyes going to hers in eager interest.

Catherine gave a low laugh and smiled her ice blue eyes taking on a warm glow of affection towards the boy. "Funny you should ask me that, I don't really know it happens, an idea comes into my head and suddenly 'Hey Presto' a story is born. Doesn't happen that often, so, it might be a while before you get another slice of my particular brand of storytelling again."

"I think even when I'm older I'm going to like your brand of story telling Catherine." Jake said earnestly.

Catherine laughed loudly at that comment. "Flattery will get you everywhere boy. Now, come on, into bed with you. We have some really busy days ahead of us and tomorrow is going to be special, but it's a secret so, don't you go saying anything okay?"

Jake smiled at her. "No, I won't say anything; you can trust me Catherine." Jake stated with quiet devotion.

"Aahh.....I have no doubts about that at all Jake, no doubts at all!" Catherine watched in gentle amusement Jake climb into bed, he was certainly getting taller. Catherine was sure that soon now this particular event would be a thing of the past, it was going to happen, but while it lasted she was going to enjoy tucking the boy into bed. She felt in some small way a connection to her own son with this simple ritual.

"Goodnight, Catherine, sleep well." Jake said quietly, as he watched her tall form bend down and place a light kiss on his forehead.

"Goodnight to you Jake, and you sleep well also." Catherine swiftly left the room, knowing that he would be up at least another hour watching something on his personal TV set or reading.

Jace was at the top of the stairs waiting for her partner to exit the room, Jake wasn't like Lisa, the only person he tolerated to say goodnight was Catherine, otherwise his bedroom was out of bounds, it often amazed her this simple rapport she had with the boy.

"How do you do that?" Jace asked her quietly.

"Do what?" Catherine raised her eyebrow in question as she reached Jace at the top of the stairs.

"You have a gift over that boy, do you know that?" Jace reached up and pulled Catherine's head down for a quick kiss.

"Mmmmmm that so, anyone else I have a gift with?" Catherine gave her a rakish smile.

"Oh! Yeah! Definitely you have a gift over me and what a wonderful feeling that is I can tell you." Jace answered breathlessly as they descend the stairs back towards the lounge and their youngest daughter, who was still happily in the arms of Morpheus.

Catherine followed her lover into the room and watched as Jace settled into the sofa that had become their private snuggle area once the children had gone to bed. "You going to join me?" Jace asked her, her voice taking on a suggestive tone.

"Might. Depends on what you have to offer me?" Catherine gave her a sardonic look that never went to her eyes; it was playful in its direction.

Jace laughed out loud at the audacious comment, this woman before her was too much, and way to beautiful. It was hard enough not to resist her in the normal day-to-day events at home, and now the raven-haired lover was teasing her. "I was kinda of hoping that you might hold my hand as I called my folks?" Jace replied tentatively.

Catherine quickly turned towards the patio window to hide her surprise at the comment. 'Shit they would be here tomorrow, how the hell am I going to stop this call without it causing Jace upset?' Catherine cleared her throat as she tried to respond.

"Is there a problem Catherine, we have had this conversation remember?" Jace was concerned at the silence that particular question had brought on Catherine.

"No, Jace far from it! I was kind of hoping that tonight, you and me a bottle of wine and perhaps if your willing an early night, to compensate for the next few days when all hell will be let loose, and we won't get much privacy. What do you say?" Catherine came over to the sofa and looked down at her lover with a look that Jace could have sworn was undressing her there and then, not that she minded; oh, no not, at all!

Jace held out her hand and smiled a sultry smile of her own at the look of primitive manoeuvring from Catherine. "You never cease to surprise me."

Catherine sank down into the depths of the sofa and tugged Jace onto her knee, capturing her in a hold that melted the two of them together as one. "Excellent, that means you're never going to get bored of me and leave huh?" Catherine's tone very playful and not accusing or mocking in anyway.

Jace turned in a forty-five degree angle and looked up into the ice blues of her lover and gave a wink of her green left eye.  "How on earth could I get bored? Things happen much to fast here, or should I say, wherever you are my darling. It's going to be quite something watching you relax for a few weeks, when we go away together. It will be you, me and a long stretch of white sand and no one else around us for miles. Oh! Yes, that's certainly a dream that's going to come true for me real soon Catherine."

Catherine placed her larger hands around Jace's face and smiled into the naturally unguarded and innocent expression. "I love you Bardley and don't let anyone tell you different okay?"

Jace saw the tell tale look of anxiety at the words. Even now, it was there a brief glimpse into the profile of the once lonely woman, but there none the less, it was poignant and sad, but Jace had a remedy for that. "When would anyone dare tell me different Catherine? You are mine! Body and soul my love, and soon everyone that matters, is going to know that, right?"

Catherine let a single tear track its way down her cheek, "Yes, right." She then let her head drop to place her lips tenderly on her partners in a gesture of quiet affection, deep warmth and passionate love. They had ardour in abundance; sometimes the gentle approach often extolled the virtues of their love in a powerful conviction that fervour could never represent.

"So, we call my parents tomorrow, okay darling?" Jace looked at her with an adoring, glazed look in her eyes.

"You got that right Jace, tomorrow your parents, absolutely. Nothing will stop that, nothing at all, I guarantee that." Catherine grinned happily, thinking that was one guarantee that was pretty foolproof.

Jace gave her a quizzical look. "Catherine you sound so positive, if I didn't know better, I would say you are up to something?"

Catherine gave her a blasé look and quirked her left eyebrow to her forehead. "Jace really.....why ever would you get the impression that I'm planning something and about your parents too!" Catherine had been tempted to add that she'd never met Jace's parents so how could she, but that would be an outright lie, and she didn't want to lie to Jace, but a little prevarication wouldn't be too bad.

"You have the scheming look on your face that I've seen when you plan things with the children, usually good things I might add, but a plan that is often secret from me." Jace gave her a good-natured smile as she stroked the grey hair at each of Catherine's temples; it had fascinated her ever since she'd first encountered it when they were reunited almost a year ago. In fact, in a couple of weeks it would be a year ago that she'd returned to the ranch and started the only life she would ever want to experience, here with this woman at her side.

"Scheming Jace? I'm desolate that you think that about me!" Catherine smirked and watched the lines around the sparkling, green eyes in front of her crinkle in silent laughter.

"In that event, what do we do to console you, Catherine?" Jace looked deep into the ice blue eyes and saw them intensify in quickly developing passion. Her own heart started to race at the incredible possibilities now being transmitted to her with the sumptuous look from the tall, dark and gorgeous woman, who was consciously enticing her.

Catherine leaned in and captured Jace's lips in a sensuous exploration that left no doubt to either woman exactly what Catherinenhad in mind when it came to Jace consoling her. "Everyone is out, the kids are in bed, and Elena is in what can only be one of her mother's deep sleeps. What do you say we encourage an early night for us? You, know......resting a little for the activities of the next few days?"

Jace rested her forehead on her partners. "Oh, I'll accept the early night concept, but believe me Catherine, you won't be resting anytime soon."

Catherine gave her a low sexy laugh and was rewarded with a shiver from her partner in anticipation. "I see. Time to test the theory then."

Jace was pulled up out of the sofa and landed softly next to Catherine still held in her arms, her expression one of adoration. "Just one theory, huh?"

Catherine gave her a stimulating smile. "Oh! No, in my book one theory always leads to another and another and another......" She placed her arm around Jace shoulders and picked up the travel crib holding Elena.

Jace had her own arm around Catherine's waist and hugged her whispering into the bent ear as they exited the room. "I love you Catherine."

"Love you also, Jace," the words spoken with warmth, feeling and a deep conviction.

They went towards the stairs and the promise of a beautiful night.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Eleven

Colin Montgomery was leaning against the railings of the paddock looking around the area with disinterest. His mind preoccupied with the events of tomorrow when he would be marrying Grace. God how he longed for the formalities to be over and he could just walk away with Grace to their honeymoon destination. Catherine had offered him one of her numerous properties all over the world, some of which were eminently suitable for a honeymoon, although she had taken one option out and when he'd asked her about that she'd been rather embarrassed but refused to disclose the reason. He had a good idea anyway; Jace had often talked about white sands and a certain tall raven-haired woman at her side.

"I see you couldn't sleep either Colin?" Catherine had approached the man silently and considered going to saddle up Tralargon and leaving him to his thoughts but.......

Colin turned at his boss's voice and gave her a shrug and a brief smile. "Guess not, too many things on my mind."

"Yes, I think you do have, it can't be easy thinking that from tomorrow you have our dear Grace by your side for the rest of your life." Catherine said quietly, her tone sounding serious, but her eyes teasing him.

He looked at her aghast at the remark, 'Grace would be devastated that Catherine thought like that.' "I'm sorry I don't understand what your implying Catherine?"

Catherine slapped him on the shoulder and laughed at his affronted expression. "Hey, I was joking Colin. Grace is wonderful we both know that; she's going to be good for you as you are going to be for her. I always thought you and she would make a really happy couple, sure glad the good doctor got his marching order." Catherine grinned at him.

"Well, I'm sure glad one of us thought that way, because I was definitely worried about the doctor." Colin replied, his eyes travelling over to the ranch house.

"Things happen for a reason Colin, and the good doctor was, perhaps a catalyst to Grace even considering marriage as part of her lot in life. I had the distinct impression that she was pretty set in her routine, well, some of the routine anyway." Catherine considered her own comment.

Colin gave her a brighter smile. "Yeah, you could be right." He then looked at her quizzically. "Would you like me to come with you to the airport this afternoon?"

Catherine gave him a brief smile. "No, you will be far too busy and didn't you pick up Alison early this morning too?"

"Yeah, she's not like Grace. Maybe some facial features but personality wise they are certainly different. Alison is, how do you put it, worldly wise and harder also, I suspect. She is nice enough, she obviously loves Grace and wants her to be happy." Colin said in a remote tone.

"Wouldn't be good to have them the same. Hell you might have had difficulty knowing who to marry." Catherine quipped at his remark. Grace had given her a brief description of her sister and her personality. No, they were different, but Alison had a profession that entailed she look out for herself. Only by growing a hard skin could she succeed at that.

Colin laughed at the reply and turned to face her again, he noticed that she was dressed in casual jeans a royal blue polo shirt, boots that looked like they could do with retiring, but obviously held a comfort that made that decision difficult. Her black leather gloves held in one hand as she too, leaned on the railing of the paddock fence. "What about you, are you going to give up your single status?"

Catherine was taken aback by the unexpected comment and a slow smile lit her expressionless features. "Well, would you believe, I have been asked that very question recently?"

Colin smiled at her and waited for her to finish, when she didn't he continued. "You answered that question surely?"

"Answered it Colin! I nearly snapped her hand off, no way, is Jace going anywhere without me and I want everyone to know how I feel about her." Catherine replied her voice resolute.

"Good to hear that, when?" Colin saw the happiness reflected in her eyes, or at least, the one that could see.

"We kind of thought, that when you and Grace came back, we would have a small commitment ceremony with our family and friends and then go away for a few weeks. Obviously, I need to discuss that with you both and the rest of the household, but we thought when you came back would be fine, there's enough going on here at the moment." Catherine said quietly, they hadn't wanted anything to detract from Colin and Grace's wedding, it was their day and that's how it should be.

Colin looked at her bent head and smiled, he knew why she hadn't said anything before. "Thank you."

Catherine gave him a wry smile and nodded her head in understanding.

"Time to go for that ride before Jace surfaces and requests the pleasure of my company for breakfast. You coming over later to join us?"

"Sure, wouldn't miss it and anyway Faith has banned me from seeing Grace the rest of the day. Something about it being unlucky, can't figure that woman sometimes." Colin said indulgently, thinking of his future mother in law.

"Tradition Colin, see you later." Catherine moved swiftly away from the railing and went towards the stable and her mare.

"Yeah, see you later Catherine." He then continued his absent contemplation over the empty paddock.

~ ~ ~

Jace woke up to find herself alone in the bed and she smiled. 'You went for a ride. How predictable Catherine.' Jace stretched her arms over her head and realised she was a little stiff. Well, they had kind of exercised late into the night or was it early morning. More than likely, as they had heard the vehicle arrive with Grace's sister before they finally gave into a sated sleep.  Catherine had certainly exercised her imagination in the creation of new theories, and how!

Looking over to the crib that held her daughter, she noticed that the baby was happily playing with the mobile attached to her crib and Catherine had been true to her early pledge, she'd obviously changed the child too. "Got to love you for that Catherine; makes getting up that much more pleasurable." Jace said quietly to the otherwise empty room.

Elena on hearing her mother's voice gave a short wail to indicate her wakefulness. "Okay darling I'm getting up. Guess its time for you to eat huh?" her smile crinkling the corners of her eyes.

Slowly she persuaded her body to relinquish the bedclothes and moved out of the bed and went towards the bathroom, her natural body functions requesting relief. Snatching up a robe to cover her nakedness, should any of the other children decide to descend on her, which often was frequently quite possible?

Strolling over to her daughter, who was now whining through lack of attention. Jace looked down at the baby and gave her a smile. "Hey, beautiful, good morning."

Elena gave her mother a gurgle of pleasure and held her arms up to be picked out of the crib. Jace duly obliged and was hugged in a tight embrace by the surprising strong child. She really must ask her parents if these traits in her child had ever been evident when she and Lucy were growing up. Tonight, Catherine promised, Hades no! Catherine had guaranteed. That was something unusual, not that Catherine had not done something she'd agreed to do, but a guarantee wasn't a comment that Catherine was known to use. She was far too confident in most things to ever warrant using the expression. At the back of her mind Jace was fairly sure Catherine was up to something but she had said she wasn't and when had Catherine ever lied to her? Never!

There was a rap on the door and as Jace called for the party to enter, and then the door exploded open and in rushed Lisa. "Jace you're up?"

Jace laughed at the surprised expression from the child. "Sure hope so, or you're talking to me in my sleep."

Lisa ran over and jumped on the rumbled bed and giggled at the remark. "Where's Catherine?" Lisa asked her eyes roaming round the room looking for the tall woman.

"Not sure, but I suspect she's gone riding with Tralargon, any opportunity, that's Catherine." Jace shrugged her shoulders and gave the child a wry grin.

"Does she love the horse more than she loves us Jace?" Lisa looked at her with speculation in her childish eyes.

"Well, I certainly hope not but she does love that horse too, that much is supremely evident." Jace replied, her mind pondering that very question. It made her smile to think of the reaction that would cause if that particular question were raised over breakfast.

"Jake is up too, he's gone over to see Colin." Lisa said informatively.

Jace considered that the boy would miss Colin when he went away for the honeymoon; Colin was after all a surrogate father figure for the boy. Catherine actively encouraged the association; living in a household full of women could be hard on the boy, especially as he matured. Catherine wanted the boy to have the influence of a male role model, who better, than Colin in her eyes; to her it rounded out not only Jake, but Lisa and Elena as well. As it turned out, Colin had taken on the role from the early days, actually it was second nature to him and even when his own children came into the world, Catherine was sure the man would still be there in whatever capacity the children required. "Jake will miss Colin when he's away from the ranch for a few weeks, so we have to understand that and don't tease him okay?"

Lisa looked at Jace puzzled. "Why will he miss him, he's coming back?"

"Well, if you were in a house full of men and the only woman you knew who was a good friend was leaving, even if for only a little while wouldn't you be a little sad?" Jace tried to explain to the child.

Lisa considered that and curled up in a ball on the bed and watched Jace struggle with the active baby. "Yeah, I would, so okay Jace I won't tease him about that. But, I'm gonna about other things."

Jace laughed at the child. "Sure, when don't you."

Elena was squirming that much that Jace deposited her on the bed next to Lisa. "Tell you what darling how about you keep little miss fidget here occupied, while I get a shower and change, I'll be as quick as I can."

"Okay, she likes to play with her blocks, so, no problem Jace." Lisa gave her a smile.

Jace reached over to the box that held some of Elena's toys and retrieved a multitude of blocks. "Here you go and if she does anything you don't like call me, but don't leave her for one minute okay?"

"I know Jace, I promise not to leave her at all." Lisa said seriously.

Jace considered the two of them and wondered if it was prudent to leave them together, casting another glance at the happily engrossed children she went into the bathroom, but left the door ajar, no way was she not going to hear if there was a problem.

Five minutes later Catherine walked into the bedroom and was shocked to find Lisa alone with Elena on the bed. 'What the hell was Jace thinking?' "Where's Jace Lisa?" Catherine asked her in a quiet remote voice, her sharp hearing picking up the sounds of the running shower.

"Hi Catherine, Jace is having a shower and I'm playing with Elena." The child answered not picking up on the remote tone of her tall guardian.

Catherine slowly walked over to the two children and rushed forward as Elena tried to bounce off the bed in her excitement at seeing Catherine. "Hey, baby, you are going to hurt yourself trying that trick."

Catherine picked up the baby and held her aloft and smiled at her, "you going to be good and play in your pen for a little while."  It wasn't a question as Catherine deposited the baby into the playpen in the room and then turned to Lisa.

"Now then, Lisa how about you go and see if breakfast is ready and we'll be down shortly okay?" Catherine tweaked the girls' nose gently and gave her a big smile.

"Yeah, okay, see you soon." Lisa smiled back and went out of the door to investigate what was happening in the kitchen.

Catherine sat down heavily on the bed and held her hands between her legs, as she contemplated a none-existent spot on the floor, her face devoid of expression as she waited for Jace to re-enter the room.

Minute's later Jace walked in her hands towelling her wet hair, "wasn't too long Lisa." Jace's smile faded as she noticed the tall frame of her partner sat on the bed with a particularly expressionless visage. "Catherine, where's Lisa?"

Catherine looked at Jace her eyes sparkling with anger. "What the hell were you thinking Jace, leaving Lisa to look after Elena without any safety precautions?" Catherine retorted her words dripping with sarcasm.

Jace was taken aback by the vitriolic words. "Catherine I was here all the time, if there had been a problem, I would be right there."

Catherine stood up and walked towards her, her stance menacing as she placed her hands on Jace's shoulders in a crushing grip. "The baby could have fallen off the bed and you wouldn't have been that quick to avoid that disaster now would you? Lisa doesn't have the strength to hold our terror when she wants something badly. Hell, Jace, you can hardly control her at times."

Jace was annoyed and upset at Catherine's attitude. Okay, so maybe she had been a little foolish, but there was no harm done and her shoulders hurt with the pressure Catherine was exerting. "That's completely untrue Catherine and you know it! What the Hades is the matter with you, okay perhaps, I was foolish to not put her in the pen as you have so thoughtfully done, I made a mistake."

Catherine gave her a shrewd glance and shook her head at Jace, "For god's sake don't do it again Jace, just wait for me or ask someone else, but not the kids please; it's irresponsible and I know you're not that! I'm going grey enough, I can do without this worry too." Catherine was exasperated, but decidedly happier with her partner's acceptance of her error and she released her painful hold on her partner.

Jace locked her green gaze onto the ice blue and noticed them thawing. "I'm sorry, it will never happen again."

"Pleased to hear it, now come on let's get all my beautiful ladies fed or I'm going to have worse trouble on my hands that's for sure." Catherine gave her a brief hug, a chaste kiss and went over to collect the baby that was merrily pulling at the bars on the pen.

"I'll be along shortly Catherine, I have to dry my hair, go along without me." Jace said quietly.

Catherine held on tight to the baby and nodded her head. "See you in a little while." She walked out of the room not giving the solemn woman a second glance.

'Damn!' Jace sat down heavily on the bed, 'had this been their first domestic dispute? Catherine had been right, when wasn't she!' her heart thudded at the accusations from her lover. 'I know I was stupid but.....will things ever run smoothly between us, Zeus knows that's all I want out of this life, not give her reason to worry!'

Getting up she quickly dried her hair, brushed it to sheen and looked at her face in the mirror. "Do you think I'm a child also, Catherine? I guess I give you cause to wonder and how." Her stomach growled at that moment and she gave herself a desultory smile in the mirror 'some things never change.'

Jace walked out of the room to find the rest of the family and hopefully a better start of the day with Catherine.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Twelve

Grace glanced at Jace, and watched the younger woman's profile for a few minutes. Catherine had given her a task and it looked like it was going to be fairly easy to carry out. At breakfast, although it had been friendly and everyone was eager to make acquaintances with Alison Grace's sister, deep down Grace had seen the cool regard that Catherine had given Jace on a couple of occasions. The blonde had either ignored it or hadn't noticed, but Jace knew when Catherine was watching her so that particular scenario was a little hard to believe especially to her. Hell, she'd seen them through the thick and thin and had thought that it was now going to be plain sailing here on in. Well, at least that had been the dream she had for their relationship, in her mind they had been through enough trauma it was time to settle down to some good old-fashioned loving and happiness in each other's company and that of their dearest family and friends. It was the wedding tomorrow and she wanted her two best friends to settle whatever differences and enjoy the day as she was planning too. If ever her nervous system settled down long enough for her to consider that an option.

"Jace?" Grace looked at the small blonde as she leaned against the railing of the porch, watching the antics of Jake and Lisa as they chased each other around the stable in some game or other.

Jace turned her head and gave her a small smile, but it never reached her green eyes, they appeared sad and to Grace inconsolable. "Grace hi, what can I do for you?" her polite tone another indication that something was wrong.

Grace walked slowly but deliberately to her side and settled her own body against the railing as she too watched the children happily playing in the stable area. "You seem kind of withdrawn today, do you need someone to talk too?" Grace asked tentatively.

Jace continued to watch the children, her eyes scanning the area and then tracking towards the entrance to the drive. "She's gone and never mentioned where she was going. Did Catherine mention anything to you Grace?" The sound was plaintive and upset in it's timbre.

Grace looked down at the gravel drive, what to say to that? "Well, I guess Catherine must have thought she'd mentioned her trip earlier, she had a sudden business meeting to attend with the lawyers." Grace didn't look up from her observations of the gravel and dirt, it wasn't exactly a lie Catherine did have business with the lawyers, but had only tagged it on last minute as a diversion if she had needed it.

"Sure." Jace said quietly not convinced.

Grace turned her head towards the bent blonde head and reached out a hand to her friend. "That's not the problem here Jace, so unless it's so private between the two of you, how about this shoulder to cry on, it's wide enough.' Grace gave Jace a smile that held a twinkle, which went straight to her eyes. 'Come on give it a try, we've been here before you and I and hell Jace I hate to see you sad."

Jace looked into her friend's concerned warm brown gaze and she gave a shrug. "I was stupid with the girls this morning. Catherine wasn't pleased, I gave her cause to wonder if she was living with a child I think." Jace muttered softly.

Grace gave a soft chuckle. "A child! Give me a break Jace; if Catherine thinks of you as a child she needs locking up! Trust me on this the woman knows you! You are all woman and I mean that! Have you looked in the mirror recently?"

Jace looked at Grace and gave her a wry smile. "Yes, I know what I look like, but I think Catherine thinks my mind isn't quite in line with the body, especially after this morning."

"Tell me?" Grace asked softly and gently placed her hand on Jace's arm and led her over to one of the seats at the far end of the porch, giving them a modicum of privacy for a sensitive chat.

Jace regaled Grace with the details and the fact that Catherine had been pre-occupied all morning finally leaving the ranch un-expectedly on her own with a young ranch hand immediately after lunch.

Grace pondered both her friend's problems, she wondered if her relationship with Colin was going to be as fraught with simple misunderstandings as her friend's seem to be; she damn well hoped not! "I think you're reading too much into the situation Jace, Catherine said her piece this morning, why would you think she's still angry with you. Come on, you know Catherine better than any of us, she gets focused and forgets everything else that's happening around her."

"Why did she have to go off the ranch with that particular ranch hand?" Jace said, her tone implying she was jealous. Grace gave her a second look and had to wipe a smirk off her face before she answered that one.

"Perhaps there wasn't anyone else available and he's new, so he probably needs the experience." Grace looked over Jace's head as she said the last word. 'Wrong choice Thornton.'

"Exactly my point Grace, experience!" Jace bit out, leaving the words hanging in the air.

"Jace, Jace you sound like a jealous teenager who isn't sure about the person they love, and is fighting unknown, and in this case purely fictitious rivals!" Grace chuckled, she couldn't help herself it was funny. These two women loved no one else but each other and if you looked into their eyes, which shone only for the other, it was ludicrous to think otherwise. Ludicrous and dangerous if Catherine thought anyone else was interested in Jace. Jace was another entity altogether, but it was turning out to be interesting to find out exactly how unsure she was and that wasn't good. The information could be put to good use, if it was diverted to a suitable interested party, Catherine!

"Would you believe, I feel like a jealous teenager? Catherine was only talking about the man recently, how he seemed to be interested in her, maybe she's decided that she's had enough of me Grace!" Jace sobbed out in distress.

Grace moved swiftly out of her chair and went to kneel in front of the younger woman. Pulling the woman into her shoulder and allowing her to cry her frustration out. "Jace don't cry please. Catherine would be gutted if she knew that her not telling you that she was leaving the ranch was going to do this to your composure, than she sure as hell wouldn't be away. He's an employee Jace, and if you hadn't already noticed he's a man?"

Jace cried softly into Grace's shoulder it struck her as comic finally the absurdity of the situation, Yeah, he is a guy. Catherine was definitely not interested in guys, now anyway! She'd make sure that Catherine never was again and that the only interest she was ever going to have would be in her! "I'm sorry Grace." Jace apologise on a hiccup.

"No worries Jace. Hell, what's a friend for after all?" Grace looked at the tear stained face and gave her a bright smile. At that moment she heard a vehicle approaching and if she wasn't mistake it was Catherine and they had agreed that she would have Jace out of the way for her family to get into the house unseen. "Jace come on, I think Catherine is home, how about you go and clean up. If she sees you with tears, it might not be a good idea, what do you think?"

Jace looked at her with a red blotchy face and eyes to match. "Yeah you're right, thanks Grace." Jace stood up and placed her hands around the waist of her friend and hugged her. "I love you Grace."

Grace gave her a smile and patted her on the wet cheek. "Go clean up Ms. Waterworks, I'll see you shortly."

Jace trotted off and headed for the main door, which gave easier access to the main staircase and her room, 'what was getting into her today, she was becoming paranoid.'

Grace turned to the sight of the approaching vehicle and smiled. Hell of a way to keep a relationship fresh all this emotion. She really did have to hand it to Catherine and to make it all the more implausible, Catherine never realised she was even participating in engineering the reaction. Well this was one surprise that Jace was sure to love and knowing Catherine everything would be fine at the end of the day. Wasn't that exactly what Catherine had vowed in her heart to ensure, Jace always happy and loved; it was her prime goal in life and she was trying hard to do that.

Grace stepped down the short flight of steps to the drive and awaited the visitors with interest.

~ ~ ~

The local airport had never seen Catherine Warriorson so agitated, as she appeared to be this afternoon waiting for her private plane to arrive. Usually Warriorson only ever had her private helicopter arrive, but obviously more visitors were due than the helicopter could seat.

John Cruisal had been watching the woman in fascination. She was simply stunning to his eyes. He had arrived on the ranch two months ago and fallen for the tall raven-haired beauty from the first day he'd set eyes on her. All the men had teased him unmercifully at his crush on the owner of the property and informed him in no uncertain terms, he was wasting his time in dreaming about her, never mind thinking he had any sort of chance with her! Well, he didn't care what anyone else thought, he was happy to dream about her, and having just spent over two hours in her company, at least part of that two hours as she had seen the lawyers in town for over an hour, he was smitten all over again. She might not be the most communicative woman he'd ever met, but they had conversed about the ranch and she had joked with him about the upcoming wedding of his boss Colin Montgomery.

He was a quite presentable young man to many eyes, his blonde hair in the DiCaprio style along with bright topaz eyes and a face that made him a lookalike 'James Dean' in profile. He knew that he did make heads turn in his direction, but the head he wanted to turn looked on him with a calm and cool relatively friendly appearance, this was early days yet he thought. 'Wonder what was causing her to be so like a cat on hot bricks, she had appeared so calm earlier, guess I'll find out soon enough.'

Catherine walked over for about the hundredth time to glance out of the window of the airport waiting area and once again noted that the aircraft wasn't in sight. 'Damn, I hate waiting around and Frank is late!' Turning abruptly, she strode purposefully over to the vending machine and contemplated a drink, just as she was about to fish in her pocket for some small change, a hand brushed her gently aside.

"Allow me. Ms. Warriorson." John Cruisal said shyly, placing several coins in the machine.

"Thanks, but you didn't need to do that!" Catherine looked directly at him and gave him a speculative stare from her ice blue eyes. 'Interesting colour eyes, but not a patch on some incredible green ones I know,' she thought absently a small smile passing her lips unconsciously at her final thought.

"I know, what would be your poison?" The young man asked earnestly a bright smile on his face.

"God knows vending machines in my experience give you weak, very weak, strong or nothing at all! So, in that case I'll take a coffee with milk, no sugar." Catherine responded with a hint of sarcasm in her tone. 'Poison indeed, if he knew her better he would know that people would gladly give her poison, not this kid though he looked a little wet behind the ears.'

That had her thinking about Jace and earlier in the day, it had irritated the hell out of her with that juvenile action of Jace's with the girls. Still, there had been no harm done, and Jace was intelligent enough to learn from her mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes while bringing up children; it isn't exactly plain sailing and when you're little more than a kid yourself, it must be hard.  Hell, she'd been lucky that Adam had been the prime parent otherwise god help her son in the early days, she had been little more than an arrogant punk in those early days not suitable parent material at all! Maybe that's why she'd been so strung out over the incident this morning it hadn't been in Jace's character to do something like that. Catherine smiled warmly at her picture of Jace as a kid, no Jace was definitely not a child, she was all woman and it just so happened she was her woman and that was entirely satisfactory in her eyes.

John had snagged a cola from the machine himself, he knew that coffee and tea wasn't always the best selection from the machines but he had to admit Ms. Warriorson didn't look the cola type. He wasn't exactly sure what type she did look, but cola no! He sat down opposite her and drank thirstily from the can as he observed the surroundings. He had never been in the local airport before, even though; he had lived in the area all his life. Okay, so he was only nineteen, but that was long enough. He noticed that the receptionist was looking at him and giving him a warm and welcoming smile, she was pretty in a doll like way and about his age, he could do worse, but she paled into insignificance with the woman before him. He looked down at his feet to avoid the girls' obvious flirtatious stare, leaving him free to dream about other options.

Catherine saw the boy turn a slight pink and looked over to the reception counter and saw the look on the young girl's face. 'So the boy's a heartbreaker, well he has the looks, that's for sure better keep him away from Lisa if he stays on the ranch any length of time.' Catherine mused unhappily, and then shook her head of those stupid thoughts; Christ Lisa was only eight! Okay, almost nine but..... The droning of twin jet engines caused Catherine to leap up from her seat and walk over to the window and watch as her private plane advanced towards the short runway. 'Excellent, finally....family.'

John moved quickly too and almost collided into the back of Catherine who gave him a steady stare out of her right ice blue eye and her left eyebrow hit the forehead in question of his antics. "Sorry, got carried away." The boy looked suitably deflated at being found out to being less than calm.

"No problem, John go and bring the vehicle nearer. I'm sure the baggage will fill at least three rows of seats in the battlewagon, her nickname for the converted Land Rover, which could seat ten people comfortably and more if necessary.

John dutifully left the building and did exactly what he'd been instructed.

Catherine turned to the owner of the airport. "Steve, I'm going to get away quickly if that's okay? Frank will fill out any of the details if there is any problems call me at the ranch. See you again." she was gone before Steve could answer and he gave a wry smile to his co-workers and shrugged his shoulders.

Catherine waited at the small fence that effectively dissected the runway from the pedestrian access. Her hair was blowing in the slight breeze but the heat was certainly plastering her black polo shirt to her back. She was pleased that her clothing option of jeans had been frowned on later that morning and she'd changed into khaki shorts with the hem of the shorts reaching her knees.  They were comfortable and presentable also. They showed more than she usually did to meet quests, but then again these guests were family, so she allowed herself the luxury of being comfortable, if still a little conscious of the silver threads of scars down her left leg. Placing her hands on the fence, she watched the plane taxi down the short runway about two hundred yards away from her placement at the fence. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she watched in quiet anticipation as the door hatch opened and she saw Jace's father make his way down the small steps that had automatically lowered as the door opened. He looked happy enough Catherine thought and then smiled as he saw her and she continued to glance up the plane and watch the rest of the passengers disembark. Next was Jace's Mother Alison, then came a teenager obviously, Jace's Sister Lucy, although they didn't lookalike from her distance anyway. Catherine's smile widened as Susan her old housekeeper in New York ventured forth and she was given an enthusiastic wave, which Catherine returned and then saw the puzzled look on her face, Catherine's grin widened at that. The final passenger came into view James Thompson; he looked different to how Catherine had imagined the late Paul Strong's partner would look. Well, it was time they met they had a long overdue conversation to have and although it might cause sadness and heartache for them both, Catherine felt that it might ease both their hearts in the long run.

The assembled party walked directly over to where Catherine was standing. As she held out her hand to first welcome Jace's father and then the rest of Jace's family, they all looked at her in incredulity, could she see them? Enfolding Susan in a hug, she whispered into her ear. "Told you so," giving her a smirk. Susan gave her a warm smile and patted her on the behind in mock censure at her remark.

Catherine then held out her hand to James. He gave her a smile that made his normally plain features light up; in an obscure way it reminded her of Jace. "Glad to meet you finally James, we are happy you could make it. Jace will be thrilled you agreed to share the holidays with us." Catherine spoke sincerely and then turned to her guests.

"As you will no doubt have noticed, I can see as in no longer blind and that's a story for a nice drink before dinner this evening.  How about we get into the vehicle and move on to the ranch and clean up and meet the rest of the family. I know one for sure, who is going to be in shock for the rest of the evening," she chuckled and made her way towards the large green vehicle outside the airport office. The rest of the entourage followed, the baggage being efficiently off-loaded onto a cart by one of the local airport staff.

Fifteen minutes later they were all loaded up and Catherine was having last minute words with her personal pilot.

Jason Bardley looked at the woman from his seat on the first row from the front. "She looks different from the last time we saw her Alison."

Alison Bardley looked over at the smiling woman who was the centre of their attention. "Well, I guess having your sight restored would have that effect on you, it certainly would me!"

"Well sight or no sight, Catherine would be happy no matter what this time of year, she adores it." Susan supplied from her vantagepoint in the middle of the vehicle, she liked Jace Bardley's parents and her sister was both witty and charming, a credit to her parents.

"That bodes well for a good holiday then." James Thompson put his quarter in for good measure and sat back and watched discreetly this woman, who had been his partner's friend and boss.

Catherine walked back towards the vehicle her long stride eating up the few yards that were between her and her guests. Her long raven hair flowing freely over her shoulders giving her the impression from a distance of a person who didn't have a care in the world and maybe, now, she didn't, to her this was the final hurdle with Jace and her parents. Then there would be only good times; she was going to ensure that! "Well folks time to move on and meet up with the rest of the family. John let's get moving or I'm going to be in trouble for staying out too long on my own again." With that she laughed and settled into the front passenger seat and rested her head on the headrest and closed her eyes briefly in thankfulness that everyone had arrived safely. 'This isgoing to be a fantastic surprise for not only Jace, but for the kids too. Grandparents no less, what a wonderful way to start the holiday!'

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirteen

Colin watched the arrival of the Land Rover and quickly ran around the stable to stop Jake and Lisa from rushing over to greet Catherine and the new visitors. He had been asked to entertain the children until Jace's parents and sister were in the house, ensconced in the study for the surprise meeting with Jace, and Catherine had decided the children too!

"Hey kids, what you up too?" Colin shouted as he saw the red hair of Lisa bounce forward and turns towards the approaching vehicle.

"We were playing hide and seek Uncle Colin, but Catherine's home and she has some new people with her. We thought we would welcome them." Lisa said excited at the prospect of new visitors to the Ranch, it always fascinated her.

"Catherine will be busy helping her guests settle down Lisa, so how about you give them a little time to do that and we can catch up with them later. What do you say?" Colin went over to the child and placed a callused hand on her head gently, and smoothed down the unruly hair that was always flying around.

"We could help though Uncle Colin." Jake interceded and gave the older man a smile.

"That you could son, that you could. But the visitors are all American and they have been travelling for hours, lots of hours. You know how grumpy adults get when they do that don't you?" Colin didn't really know how to counter Jake's generous offer of help.

Jake looked at the older man, his face had a mixed expression of doubt and then it cleared as he nodded his head and a memory obviously had reared its head. "Yeah, I remember Catherine getting really grouchy that first trip to New York. She was bad tempered to the people at the airport."

"Yeah, she was Colin. She was really upset with them and Jace said it was her age and that she was tired, so we didn't have to worry." Lisa said her own memories of the customs incident winging back.

Colin momentarily turned his back on the children and stifled a laugh. He could just imagine what a grouchy Catherine Warriorson had said to the officials. He would bet that it wasn't for children's ears, if she'd had free reign over her emotions. He spun on his heal and picked up a startled, but laughing Lisa in his arms and put her on his shoulders, the child was a light weight.  "In that case, do you now understand my point?"

Both children smiled at him, and Jake nodded his head and Lisa hugged Colin around the neck tighter. "Hey, not too tight Lisa; I have a wedding to go to tomorrow remember?" He laughed, as she released the man a little.

"Whoops! Sorry Colin, Grace would be mad wouldn't she?" The child said softly from her elevated position on his shoulders.

"Yeah, I think she would especially now that Faith has finally tracked her down to have the final fitting for the wedding dress."  He chuckled as he thought of the running battle that dress had been between the two of them.

"Oh, no Colin, she loves you and wouldn't want anything to happen to you. We love you too, don't we Jake?" Lisa bent her head and kissed the man on the top of his head.

Jake gave Colin a bashful look and his cheeks started to turn a deep red at Lisa's remark. "I know you do Lisa. I also know, Grace loves me too, now how about we saddle up and go for a nice leisurely ride for an hour. Everyone will be settled by then and we can meet the new visitors, what do you say?" Colin knew the boy was embarrassed at the possible requirement to show affection and decided that it was easier all round to leave it.

"Yeah, good idea, where shall we go?" Jake asked his love of horseback riding as much a passion as his beloved soccer.

Colin tousled the boy's hair, as they proceeded towards the stable entrance and the saddling up of their respective mounts, it would be a slow ride with Lisa on Diamond, the pony, but that would serve the purpose well, very well indeed.

~ ~ ~

Catherine had introduced Grace, Faith and Judy to the new visitors. It had been entertaining to finally see Grace and Susan together for the first time. The initial greeting had been friendly and within minutes had warmed to a genuine liking of each other and not only that they both had stories of their ex-employer to share. No matter how much Catherine protested these two women were going to have at least one good conversation after dinner about her and there was nothing, absolutely nothing, she could do about it.

Within the space of a few minutes all introductions were made and Catherine quietly took Grace aside.

"Where are Jace and Elena? You haven't locked them in a storeroom or something as dumb as that, have you Grace?"  Catherine said although the twinkle in her eyes clearly indicated the teasing evident in the statement.

"Me? Now Catherine you wanted her out of the way, and so, I duly obliged and Elena is asleep in your bedroom, which is where her mother is too. I think she wanted to look beautiful for you when you returned home, for some inexplicable reason that goes quite over my head." Grace placed some well earned teasing remarks of her own back at her friend.

"Jace always looks beautiful to me, wouldn't matter how she outwardly looks. Something going over your head would have to have wings Grace, for sure as hell you catch on to anything else that goes on around here." Catherine smiled at her and gave her a warm look from her ice blue eyes.

"Well in that case, I have a tip for you that a little bird just happened to drop by me today." Grace gave her a dazzling smile back and put her hand through her friend's arm as they strolled out onto the porch for some privacy.

"That would be, my dear Grace?" Catherine was surprised that Grace had thought it prudent to leave the kitchen area and the guests, must be important.

"You love Jace, no don't answer that I know! Jace was upset today Catherine something to do with a problem this morning and for some strange reason, she's jealous of the youngster you went into town with. Now, I'm no expert here, but I think my friend you need to build a bridge that puts a tin hat on that little problem, what do you think?" Grace said quietly watching the look of amazement and surprise flash across her friend's usually still and expressionless face.

Catherine swallowed a few times and tried to answer and then couldn't and turned towards the drive and leant against the railings, her body sagged as if in defeat. Eventually, Catherine stood tall and turned to her friend who had stayed silent at her action. "I didn't realise Jace was upset, I thought that was cleared up this morning about the girls, it isn't an issue anymore, not to me anyway. The boy, well he's an employee and I can't drive into town on my bloody own Grace, what else was I supposed to do, take the ugliest man on the property to take me to town? This is absolutely ridiculous!"

Grace moved to Catherine's side and saw the emotional maelstrom starting in the ice blue eyes. "Yeah, ridiculous, but young women in love tend to let small matters like particularly good looking ranch hands spending time with their loved one, who happens to be secretive that day and after an argument, kind of makes them think strange thoughts. I know I would, if Colin had gone off with a beautiful woman at his side with all those events taking place."

"Jesus Grace, I could understand it, if it was a beautiful woman by my side but... He's a boy for gods sake!" Catherine bit out exasperated.

"Look Rome wasn't built in a day, you have a wonderful surprise, which wont be a surprise if you don't get them to the study about now, Jace will be down any minute so come on. My friend, I thought it wise to let you know, I'm sorry if I was wrong to tell you." Grace reluctantly admitted, her heart going out to the clearly upset woman at her side.

"Yes, yes you're right as always Grace, I need to get Jace's parents to the study, come on let's go and get that particular event underway shall we?" Catherine said quietly and turned back towards the kitchen entrance.

As they neared the door Catherine put a hand on her friends shoulder.

"Thanks Grace, and no my friend you were right to tell me and I'm glad your always there for me."

"Always Catherine and for Jace too." Grace whispered back with a half smile as she watched the tall back of her friend as she entered the kitchen area. "Always!" Grace whispered to the empty porch as she followed her friend inside.

Catherine galvanised herself into action, all trace of her own emotional turmoil blanked off in some dark corner of her mind until she could have time to evaluate it and produce a plan to counter her partners fears. "Jason, Alison and Lucy if you wouldn't mind following me. I think we have a reunion that needs to be attended too and the sooner the better, wouldn't you say?"

Jason was holding his wife's hand in a loving clasp and an arm around his daughter. "Yes, lady it's time we got out wayward daughter back in the fold, please lead the way."

Catherine walked out of the door towards the hall with the family behind her.

Judy looked at Grace and saw the pensive expression on her face, "Grace anything wrong?"

The absorbed expression turned towards the part time housekeeper cum private tutor for the children. "No, no why ever would there be, I have my last day of freedom and I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a drink."

Judy laughed at the sudden lightening of the woman and nodded her head. "Well I'll join you in a glass of wine, what about you Faith?"

Faith looked at her daughter and although was tempted to question her further she just nodded her head. Susan and James readily agreed that a glass of wine would be welcome; it would clear out the cobwebs of the travel.

"Great." Grace went over to the wine rack and selected one of her favourite New Zealand white wines, a crisp Chardonnay that suited most palates.

~ ~ ~

Jace had been watching her daughter sleep for several minutes, as her mind had been running on why she had suddenly lost confidence with her love for Catherine, or was it Catherine's love for her. It hadn't made sense, but her heart had ached that Catherine seemed hell-bent on keeping things from her and now she'd even brought guests home and they hadn't discussed it, never mind allowing them to stay at the house! What was it with Catherine, this insistence that she was still single and not part of a couple! Did she regret accepting Jace's offer? Was she finding it to difficult to allow Jace to participate in the decision making after so many years alone? Why not tell me Catherine?

Her ears picked up laughter and general merrymaking, which was all part of Catherine's plans to enjoy the season. Jace knew that Catherine would do that even if all the walls around her were falling down! Closing her mind to her desolate thoughts and walking towards the door she checked that the monitor in the room was switched on. Just as she neared the door, it opened and in walked Catherine.

Jace stood still a few feet away from her partner who looked at her with a sad expression and yet behind it was an excitement building that reminded her of a child about to spring a surprise. "Catherine you're back?" it was a pointless remark, but true!

Catherine walked further into the room closing the distance between them to mere inches. Reaching out a hand she touched the cheek of her partner. "Yes." said simply but the undertone in it sending to Jace's raw heart a soothing balm that only Catherine controlled.

Jace turned her face towards Catherine, a smile playing around her expressive face as tears glistened in her eyes. Catherine saw the tears and with her newfound knowledge from Grace knew exactly what to do.

"Come here." A gentle demand but a totally acceptable one to Jace, who moved swiftly to close the minute gap between them and was crushed in a loving and protective hold as lips caressed the blonde head, Jace heard the only words she ever needed to repair her aching heart. "I love you!"

Turning up her head she looked deep into the ice blue eyes that held an expression of such devoted love. Pulling the dark head closer to hers she whispered "I love you too, don't ever forget that," as she crushed her lips to Catherine's in a desperate need to remove the pain of the last few hours she'd tortured herself with.

"Never!" Was the husky reply when Jace released her finally.

Jace rested her forehead against Catherine's and looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong love?" Catherine asked.

"I wasn't aware we had guests tonight Catherine, something sudden come up?" Jace moved away a little to take in her expression.

Catherine used the small space between them to consider her options. 'Mmm...........not many.' "Actually no, could it be, I've been a little remiss in telling you about them? I'm sure I would have told you." Catherine stalled, her cheeks turning a shade pinker.

"No, no you never told me." Jace wanted to laugh at her partner's obvious discomfort, but this silence over the guests had hurt.

"Okay, I'm busted, but Jace I have extenuating circumstances and if you come with me to the study, I'm sure you will give me a chance to explain?" Catherine blustered and crossed her fingers behind her back.

"Why not here and now, this is as good as the study. 'In fact it's better, we will definitely not be disturbed here at this time of the day they know better." Jace moved over to the bed and sat down and patted the space next to her.

Catherine felt trapped and looked around the room for an escape route.

"Catherine get your British arse over here and talk to me!" Jace finally exploded and Catherine moved swiftly to her side.

"Well, that was sure to the point Jace, you've never spoken to me like that before?" Catherine looked at her with wonder and not a little smirk playing around her face.

"When the need arises, I have the necessary equipment to counter that need." Jace replied and tapped Catherine's nose as the smirk disappeared and a sultry look took over.

"I know from first hand experience that you have the equipment Jace believe me on that one. This is something new altogether.  Is it going to be part of your new skills?" Catherine had to stop herself from laughing, it was a new dimension to Jace and although not unwelcome it was certainly a surprise.

"If you continue to keep things from me, yes!" Jace answered and gave her a thoughtful look.

"Right, right well, Susan and James Thompson are here, I wanted it to be a surprise, I'm sorry." Catherine muttered and waited with her eyes downcast on the bed for more of....what, she didn't know.

"Susan and James, why Catherine that's wonderful; why didn't you tell me before? You're such a schemer." Jace threw her arms around the taller woman and hugged her and placed tiny kisses all over her neck, which they were in the right place, but entirely the wrong time, damn! As Catherine's body responded with delight at the assault.

"Yes, well thought you might appreciate a surprise. So how about we venture down to the study and talk to them?" Catherine tried to extricate herself from Jace's embrace, even though; she was loath to do so.

Jace continued her assault of her 'unwilling' partner and was engrossed in an exposed collarbone. "I think they can wait just a little while, I'm sure the others will be good hosts for us." Jace mumbled into Catherine's exposed flesh, this was far to inviting to leave, even for guests.

Catherine had experienced raw Jace sexual power before and shaking her head, she tried once again to find a release from her quite deliciously turned on partner. 'God I love you woman, do you know what you're doing to me, yes of course you do!' pushing Jace down towards the bed Catherine was leaning over her lover and a slow smile of pleasure past her lips as did the growl that followed close on it's heels. Catherine turned her own powers of persuasion on her lover and bent her head to capture lips ready and willing to receive whatever Catherine had to offer. "Bardley your dangerous," with that Catherine gave Jace a swift kiss and moved with amazing speed towards the door.

"You're leaving me like this?" Jace whispered in astonishment, unable to register the fact in her sensually overloaded mind.

"Guest's Jace, we have guests. Now if I was you I'd wipe that rather sexy and primal look off your face and come and hold my hand as I assist you down the stairs." Catherine chuckled, ducking her head as a pillow shot in her direction.

"Not bad Jace, almost as good as Lisa!" Catherine continued to chuckle, and smiled at her lover. "Please?" giving her a pleading puppy dog look that never failed normally.

Jace looked at the tall woman and knew that a simple please from Catherine was all it would ever take and that look.....well it was all over. "Okay you have me beat. I can't believe this, I really can't!" Shaking her head, she straightened her clothes and gave Catherine a smirk and ducked out of the door and sashayed towards the stairs with her most seductive walk.

Catherine hit her head on the door and thought, 'Bloody family!' and followed her partner down the stairs.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Fourteen

"Jace?" Catherine called down, as her partner hit the bottom rung of the stairs and headed in the direction of the study.

"Ye....sss?" Jace looked up to see Catherine half way down the stairs and leaning again the rail handle, stopped in what looked like mid-flight.

"Go ahead without me will you, I need to go and collect something from the room that I've forgotten, see you shortly." Catherine gave her a warm grin and pierced Jace with a loving glance.

"Sure, don't take forever, I know what you can be like." Jace smiled back and went on her way to the study.

"Forever, no Jace I won't take forever that's the life, I want to live with you, forever." Catherine said quietly and turned back towards their room, a certain baby daughter needed to be woken gently to meet her grandparents.

Jace was excited about seeing Susan and a little unsure about James, although they had talked at length over the last six months, they hadn't managed to see each other face-to-face and she so wanted to do that! Her hand reached out for the door handle and she opened it and strode in with remarkable poise and calm, belying all her churning emotions.

"Hi!" Jace called out as she entered the room and stopped dead in her tracks as she saw the occupants, it certainly wasn't Susan or James.

Jason Bardley had waited over a year to see his eldest daughter again and he wasn't disappointed, she looked wonderful and happy. He didn't have the words to say exactly how happy this reunion was creating inside him, he just wanted to enfold his Jace in a loving hold that wiped away all the hurt that they had inflicted on each other. "Jace, hi yourself," he finally managed to say, his voice sounding hoarse with unshed emotion.

Jace looked at the faces of her family, her father who for the first time in her life actually looked uncomfortable and unsure at the reaction he was going to get. Then her mother, who had tears streaming down her face. 'Oh Mom it's going to be okay.' Finally Lucy who smiled at her elder sister and was looking around the room to stop her from shedding the notorious Bardley tears.  Jace stepped further into the room and her own tears poured down her face unheeded this was a wonderful surprise and so like Catherine to arrange it and not let her know! "Daddy!" that was all Jason needed and he engulfed his daughter in a hold that told her everything she needed to know words irrelevant.

"Jace you had us worried." Jason spoke huskily into his daughter's blonde hair, as she turned a tear-stained face up to him and gave him a small apologetic smile.

"I can't believe this! You're all here it's incredible. I never meant to worry you but....." Jason smoothed down a wayward curl on her head and shook his head explanations a thing of the past between them.

Her mother and sister then came forward to hug her, "I'm sorry, Mom." Jace's voice emotionally charged.

Alison Bardley looked at her daughter and noted the new maturity in her eyes and the general glow around her. "There's nothing to be sorry for, Catherine explained it all to us long ago."

Jace gave her a startled look as she hugged her younger sister and they laughed together. "Great to see you again Jace, now you can help me with some of this college stuff I have, the parents are hopeless." Lucy said chuckling as she received a gentle tap on the nose for her cheeky remark.

"I've missed you little sister and no problem, if I can remember that far back." Jace gave her a dazzling smile.

Eventually they settled down in the study, Jace sat at the feet of her father and her mother and sister sat on the comfortable sofa next to one of the large bookcases. Words seemed to be forgotten for several minutes as they all revelled in the reunion that had been so stupidly delayed with little reason.

"It's very beautiful here Jace, Catherine has a wonderful home, this room in particular." Jason eyed the books with obvious appreciation and just like his daughter had that first time she'd entered the study, itching to touch some of the rare volumes he could see on the shelves.

"Yep, Catherine has made it a very happy place to be that's for sure. I thought you might enjoy this room Dad, it was her husbands idea." Jace said quietly, her fingers restlessly moving over her father's trousers hem.

"I'm sure it has more significance to her and you, than merely an idea of her husbands?" Jason countered at her sad inflection.

Jace gave him a bright smile and her eyes reflected memories of her own of the room, "You're right Dad it does, this was the room we officially met for the first time on a stormy rainy day, would you believe over two years ago?"

Alison spoke up at that moment. "Two years, that's how long you've known Catherine? I didn't realise time had flown quite that fast. So, Jace what have you been up to since we last saw you?" Alison knew what she wanted to hear and her maternal side wanted so very much to see her granddaughter, but they had to wait for Jace, it was her story.

Jace gave her mother a long thoughtful look. 'You know.' "Yeah two years and no matter the circumstances they will always be the best two years of my life and all I'm doing now is adding to those feelings."

"Jace what about......." Lucy started to say, but was effectively stopped by a sharp dig in the ribs from her mother. Turning she gave her mother an affronted look but remained silent.

"Before I tell you about the last eighteen months, can I ask how long Catherine has been planning this little surprise?" Jace looked at all of them in turn to see their expressions.

"Catherine came to see us five weeks ago and informed us of your whereabouts and that you were happy and safe." Jason smiled as he recalled the blind woman at his door that evening.

Jace smiled a warm feeling spreading through her body, which had been her last trip to America, when they hadn't been able to go for various reasons. "She did? I never knew."

"No, I guess you didn't Jace. It was a shock to find the renowned C. X. Devonshire, at my door I can tell you and being blind into the bargain, that was something else too! Although we had heard of course that she was blind on the news and the tabloids, but actually face to face with the personage is something else again." Jason still had that awe-struck memory in his mind and he doubted that he would ever forget it; after all it was his first meeting with her. The woman who had years previously taken his business and who had now managed to take his eldest daughter also!

"Daddy, I always told you she was unforgettable." Jace grinned at his expression of awe, he was after all talking about her partner and who was definitely part of the family now.

"You certainly did Jace, but she should have a warning around her neck, she's stunning both in looks and personality. Mind you, she doesn't talk much does she?" Jason chuckled as he recalled trying to start a conversation with the silent woman in his home.

"Jason really, Catherine perhaps isn't as talkative as you and Jace and let's face it......all our family." Alison said joining in the banter. Lucy ignored the remark and snorted at the inference that she talked as much as Jace, no one did that!

Jace reflected on that point and nodded her head at her father. "Catherine will say her piece and let others ramble, but she has been known to be very eloquent, when the need arises."

"Pleased to hear it, or you would be talking to yourself most of the day Jace." Jason smiled at his daughter and placed a gentle hand on the blonde head and ruffled her hair.

A knocking on the door and the handle turning indicated another visitor and they all turned as the new party put a head around the door. "Okay to come in?" Catherine asked tentatively her eye tracked to Jace's for confirmation and assurances that her partner was happy with this ruse of hers.

Jace pushed herself off the floor at the feet of her father and walked over to her partner and pulled her inside. "How can you ask that?" Jace said quietly to her alone.

Catherine gave her an enigmatic look out of her ice blue eyes. "Just did actually," her teasing not lost on Jace, who gave her a beaming smile.

"Paybacks Catherine, paybacks." Jace replied equally enigmatically.

"Excellent idea Jace, I can't wait." Catherine spoke quietly so only she could hear and Catherine smiled slowly as she saw her partner shiver in anticipation.

"Everyone happy in here?" Catherine asked them all giving them a wry smile as she took in the contented and obviously delighted looks she received at her remark. "Guess I don't need an answer, if all your faces are anything to go by."

"Yes," they all responded in unison. Catherine chuckled and Jason looked at the normally reserved profile and watched as Catherine's gaze rested on his daughter. What he saw there made him realise that this was more than love it went deeper than that, he wanted to use the word obsession, but it didn't feel right either. There was a spark a light that conveyed more than love; he would work it out to his satisfaction before the festivities were over.

"I was kind of having trouble keeping the kids back, so I thought I would find out, if it was okay for them to meet you all, Jace?" Catherine looked at Jace and watched her flush slightly and noted her slight indrawn breath.

"Well, Catherine ......that is I was going to......" Catherine smiled softly and placed a finger to her lips to silence the rather jumbled words spilling out.

"I know. It's okay. Everything is going to be okay from now on Jace trust me." Catherine spoke quietly, but all assembled in the room heard the gentle words of assurance.

"I think it's a wonderful idea, I'm champing at the bit to see my grandchildren, all my grandchildren." Alison spoke to release some of the tension in the room.

Jace turned a tearful gaze to her family and smiled, they knew! "Well, bring them in Catherine by all means, I know how you hate the children to hassle you." Jace laughed as she saw the ever faithful left eyebrow rise to her forehead in question.

Catherine went towards the door and opened it wide. "Okay you brats, get yourselves in here and meet the family and behave!"  Her tone gentle at what appeared to be harshly spoken words.

Lisa rushed in and placed herself in the middle of the room and looked at the three newcomers in excitement, her fidgeting a sure sign she wanted to do more than stand quietly as instructed by Catherine. "I'm here Catherine," the child said solemnly and Jace had to put a hand to her mouth to hide the grin that plaintive remark brought on.

Jace turned her attention to Jake, who was slowly leading Elena by the hands into the room, her heart went out to the boy as he patiently let his younger sister make her own way into the room with lots of help. Jace then looked at the expressions on her parents face, they both had tears running down their cheeks at the first sight of their biological grandchild.

Catherine had taken a stance close to the patio window and watched the small scene playing out in front of her, she wasn't far from tears herself, but that wasn't going to happen, not in front of everyone! Inwardly she smiled at Lisa who was doing her damnedest to keep silent and there was Jake helping Elena steal the show and how. Then there was Jace who looked as if she had been handed a million dollars and didn't know what to do with it. 'Some dreams are worth everything Jace and I'm in pursuit of yours and will make them come true for you.'

Lisa had remained silent enough or so she thought. "Are you our Grandfather?" Their guileless child decided to add to the silence in the room. Catherine cringed from her corner position at the window, Jake shook his head in the sure knowledge that Lisa would never keep quiet and Jace laughed merrily at the comment and looked at her father to gauge his answer.

"Depends on who you would be little lady?" Jason replied a twinkle in his eye as he looked directly into the blue innocent eyes of the girl before him.

Lisa placed a finger to her chest and with pride announced. "I'm Lisa their eldest daughter and Elena is their youngest daughter, but she's only a baby. That's Jake and he's their son, he's older than me, but I can still beat him at most of the games we play together." The child pointed to each individual and waited for her reply.

Jason and Alison Bardley laughed at the exchange, which reminded them of a certain eldest daughter of theirs, when she'd been seven or eight.

"He might not want to be our grandfather Lisa, so maybe you should keep quiet as Catherine told you." Jake said quietly, looking at the floor as Jace looked towards Catherine and gave her a smile at Jake's choice of words.

Lisa dismissed that comment immediately, "Don't be silly Jake, cause he does, don't you?" her bright blue eyes looked into his older ones' and she saw a reciprocal twinkle that reminded her of Jace. Lisa grinned even wider at that.

"Yes, I do little lady. So, how about you come here and give your grandfather a hug?" Jason held out his arms and the intrepid tornado called Lisa ran into them whooping with joy.

Jake looked on long suffering as he relinquished his hold of Elena to Jace, who gave her mother a rueful smile and held out her daughter for inspection. "Mom I'd like you to meet your granddaughter Elena, she's eight months old and a real terror."

Alison Bardley couldn't stop the single track of tears she shed at those simple words and retrieved the baby from her daughter.  Placing a kiss on the baby's forehead she looked her over in true grandmother adoration. "She looks like you and yet....." Alison looked briefly over to Catherine who had her back turned and was watching something from the patio window.

Jace saw the puzzled look and placed a hand on her mother's shoulder and pressed it lightly. "Best not to dwell on the particular question Mom, I was kind of going to ask you something's about my childhood anyway for my own peace of mind." Jace chuckled and then went over to talk to her sister.

"What do you think about my family Lucy?" Jace asked her sister, interested in how her sister viewed the new additions to her family.

Lucy gave her a challenging look and concentrated on the serious question that had been posed. It would be so easy to just say, great wonderful family and leave it at that. Lucy wasn't that type of person if Jace wanted an opinion; she was going to get one, even if she might not like what was said it had always been that way with them. "Well, I have to hand it to you Jace you certainly don't do things by half measures. I thought I was going to glide gracefully into this Aunt business, but oh, no big sister, decided that she wants me to be aunt to three, all at the same time, kind of hard on me wouldn't you say?"

Jace looked at her sister wondering if she really was upset. "I'm sorry guess, I didn't think huh?"

"Think oh, no Jace you did think, because I doubt tall, dark and beautiful over there would hardly have taken notice of you if you had acted dumb." Lucy smiled as she looked over at the back of her sister's lover.

"You think she's tall, dark and beautiful too, I wouldn't have thought you noticed that in a woman?" Jace smirked and was playfully thumped in the arm.

"Hey, I might not want to take a woman to my bed, but I'm not blind and when dad got over his animated ramblings over how stunning she was, well you have to look don't you and wonder what all the fuss is about." Lucy chuckled at the red stain that traced over Jace's cheek.

"Dad was rambling, really? He never rambles Lucy, he's so usually word perfect it can be embarrassing." Jace smiled and looked over at her father who was chatting amiably with Lisa held in his arms.

"Rambling is second nature when he talks of Catherine Devonshire, you ask Mom. I'll tell you this for free, if Catherine was available you wouldn't be the only Bardley interested that's a fact." Lucy gave a cheeky smile of her own.

"You can't say that! What would Mom think?" Jace said shocked at her sisters' observation, Catherine would be embarrassed if she heard this particular conversation.

"Mom? Oh, Mom knows alright I found her the other morning in the supermarket looking at shades of brown hair colouring, she just said don't tell your father." Lucy pulled a face, both sisters laughed out loud at the last comment, leading all eyes, to be splayed in their direction.

Catherine raised her eyebrow and looked questioningly at Jace.

Jace took her sisters hand and pulled her reluctantly over to her partner. "Catherine I know you've met my sister, but have you really met my sister!" Jace pushed Lucy forward and she came to a halt inches from the tall woman who secreted a powerful ambience out of every pore.

"Hello Lucy." Catherine responded quietly and dutifully, her ice blue eyes pinning the younger woman's in a frank gaze.

Lucy was awe-struck just as Jace had known she would be, Catherine stating a simple hello was all that was needed especially with that gorgeous eye contact. "Hi Catherine." Lucy finally managed to utter her mind blown away it was those eyes she was sure of it.

"Everything okay Jace?" Catherine asked her and removed her gaze from Lucy and smiled warmly at Jace and held her in a glance that pierced the young woman's heart with love.

"You got that right Catherine." Jace moved closer to her partner and threaded her fingers with the larger one's of her partners.

Catherine continued to smile and gave her a nod of understanding, then was suddenly surprised as Jace pulled her gently forward and was given a kiss so gentle and swift it was difficult to know if it happened or was a figment of her imagination. "Love you." The words floated towards Catherine as Jace turned away and grabbed Lucy's hand and guided her towards her nephew and nieces.

Lucy had watched the display of affection and had been surprised but pleasantly so when Jace had kissed the woman; it had produced a bashful look from the receiver, she looked cute when she was embarrassed. So, Catherine Devonshire was human after all and her big sister was responsible for that she was sure of it. "See you later Catherine." Lucy added as she followed behind Jace.

Catherine shook her head in acknowledgement of the statement, but said nothing as she watched Jace meld her old and new family together it was an art Catherine was sure of it. Jace was a master when it came to this type of good old-fashioned sharing of love. 'Another dream Jace.'

Jason Bardley had released his hold over Lisa so she could become acquainted with her grandmother and Aunt. He now watched the solemn boy who was shuffling closer and closer towards Catherine Devonshire. He was nothing like the young girl, she would charm a snake if she had too to get attention, although she was adorable with it and she did so remind him of Jace as a youngster uncanny really. "Son, what do you do to get away from all these females, must be murder for you?" Jason grinned at the boy who stopped in his tracks and looked at the older man who had a head of grey hair, he knew that Catherine had grey hair but not much, 'wonder if hers would one day be as grey as the older man in front of him?'

Catherine from her position at the window had seen the boy's slow movement towards her and smiled as she heard Jace's father take the initiative with the shy boy.

"I play football." Jake answered, looking towards Catherine, who gave him a glance indicating that he needed to change the answer he changed his comment accordingly. "Sorry, soccer actually."

Jason nodded his grey head. "Have you ever watched baseball Jacob?" Jason gave the boy his full Christian name.

"No! Is it good?" Jake looked at the older man and waited for the answer.

"How about you explain to me all the rules about soccer and I'll do the same for baseball, what do you say have we a deal?"  Jason gave the boy a genuine smile; he enjoyed sport and it would be enlightening to have an insight to another game.

Jake considered the invitation and finally answered. "Sure I can do that! My names Jake granddad." The boy said gruffly as he walked towards the older man and they began a discussion about sport around the world.

Catherine watched all the interchanges going around the room and silently walked over to the door of the study and let herself out.

Grace was walking by at that moment and she stopped at the foot of the stairs. "Going well?"

Catherine smiled and turned to her friend. "Yes."

"You sound surprised why?" Grace had to stop a chuckle at the look of almost childish puzzlement in Catherine's eyes.

"Thought it might be more difficult than that to make up for misunderstandings, especially when they have let it fester so long."  Catherine stated simply.

"Would you have found it difficult, if you had the opportunity with your father?" Grace asked her and looked deep into the ice blue pools that suddenly took on a lost look.

"Yeah, I would Grace, but you know if my father had been alive today and I was with Jace, I think she would have solved that problem for me." Catherine gave her a rueful look.

Grace pondered that remark and suddenly recalled a conversation they'd had some time ago. "Catherine you once said you had an Aunt who brought you up when your father left for the States, when was the last time you talked to her?" Grace wasn't sure it was a good idea to bring it up, but somehow it fitted the conversation they were having.

"Sixteen years ago, funny I was thinking of her recently too, for different reasons though. It's time!" Catherine responded her tone reflective.

"Time for what?" Grace asked tentatively.

"Time I made my peace with her, I think I can cope with that now and perhaps she will see me." Catherine appeared surprised at her choice of words.

"Did you leave each other on bad terms?" Grace wasn't sure she would receive a reply and put her foot on the first rung of the stairs.

"Grace bad terms were hardly the description, she hated me at the end with good cause. Well, I probably deserved it at the time." Catherine looked directly into the warm compassionate brown eyes of her friend.

"Oh! No, well things have a habit of changing with time and sixteen years is time enough I would hazard." She smiled and moved up another rung.

"Grace as it's your last night of so called freedom, what would you say to you and me and a bottle of wine and some good jokes." Catherine surprised Grace with this statement and she almost lost her balance on the stairs.

"Yes, with you and jokes anytime. I've had a couple of glasses with the others but yeah go for it Catherine, where?" Grace moved back down into the hall.

"Great, I'll get the wine and glasses you get us a couple of chairs on the porch furthest corner, then, let's see how it goes." Catherine moved quickly towards the kitchen in search of the wine.

Grace shook her head and smiled at the departing back. 'You might find the wine, but I bet you have to ask Judy to get the glasses.' Grace laughed softly and headed for the requested spot on the porch.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Twelve

Jace wandered onto the porch and spied her two favourite women, and smiled at the warmth of their friendship, and the loud laughter that had originally caught her attention, when she'd come looking for her invisible partner. Obviously, now well inebriated by the amount of alcohol they had apparently consumed, if the three bottles on the small wicker table they had pulled up towards them was any indication. Walking quietly over to them, she saw Grace give her a wide grin and a wink of her eye, but the heightened colour in her cheeks gave the game away, Grace was potentially drunk! Catherine's back was turned towards her and she was certain that her partner wasn't aware of her approach. "So, this is where you hide when you want to be the shrinking violet at a party, huh, Catherine?" Jace smiled at Grace, who held her hand to her mouth to stop the loud laugh she wanted to expend at Catherine's sudden guilty expression that only Grace could see.

Catherine moved quickly, too quickly, and had to hold onto the chair as it careered towards the decking of the porch with a loud clatter. She looked up from her observation of the overturned chair and gave Jace a weak smile, her eyes having trouble focusing on her with any precision. "I'm not a shrinking violet Jace!" Catherine finally responded and her voice held a childish petulance about it.

"No? Could have fooled me; what do I tell all our guests this evening for dinner, the hostess and our bride to be are both drunk and unable to attend tonight? That about cover it ladies?" Jace watched both of the women with a serious expression on her face that was proving to be difficult to hold onto. This was a rare, priceless opportunity for her to get back some teasing points of her own against these two jokers.

"Well, I'm not dr....unk!" Catherine slurred on the last word.

"Same here Jace, could eat dinner anytime, wanna tell me when and where?" Grace answered, she appeared to be speaking in her normal tone, but her question clearly proved that she wasn't in total control.

"Mmmm so, how many glasses have you consumed would you say? I'll give you a clue, a number over six might be a good starting point." Jace remained serious in tone and demeanour and Catherine turned to Grace and they shook heads at each other.

"No, Jace, no.... I've only had......about...... well, maybe seven......maybe?" Catherine finally allowed and looked at her partner with a huge smile plastered on her face. It was the time when you never quite had the camera handy for those shots that had to be captured at that very moment, or the image was lost in time.

"Grace?" Jace wasn't going to let her friend off the hook either, although Jace's own estimation would have topped nine glasses.

"Me Jace? Oh, well, I guess we shared as friends do you know, seven too, I think?" Grace looked at the chair that was laid on its side and she reached down and tried to right it. Only creating more havoc as her chair moved forward and she slid ungraciously onto the decking with a loud thump!

Jace turned her back to them both and stifled a giggle this was too much, and way too entertaining! Slowly turning back to the women she saw Catherine bending her tall frame towards her friend and heaving her up onto her feet; it wasn't elegant, but they did stand or should she say, the "swayed there together,' as partners in crime.

"YOU had more than me Grace." Catherine burst out suddenly.

"NO, I didn't!" Grace blurted out affronted at the claim.

"Yes, you did you stupid cow, you had a couple of drinks with the others before I asked you to have a drink with me." Catherine retorted aggressively.

"Who you calling a stupid cow? You are not exactly a prize part of the herd yourself you know, have you looked in the mirror recently?" Grace looked at her friend with a matching fire burning in her eyes.

Jace saw the sudden changing of their body language; and she decided that perhaps, it was time she intervened in their little dispute, which could and did look as if, it was going to escalate into something both would regret later. "Okay, time out children. Catherine, I suggest you and Grace agree that you have both had enough to drink and need to go sleep it off for an hour or so. Does that sound reasonable to the both of you?"

Catherine and Grace looked at each other and turned back towards her. "Were not children!" They both said in unison, looking at Jace with a childish quizzical look.

"No problem! Bad choice of words, I'm sorry, okay? Ladies, please your beds are waiting and you will both be refreshed for your dinner, what do you say?" Jace decided this was worse than trying to get the children to eat their greens. As amusing as the current situation was, Jace had the children and the guests to consider, not mentioning Faith, that is, if she got wind of this particular episode. Fortunately, she had taken Alison into town to buy something suitable for the wedding. Alison hadn't had the time, working as she did and at least knowing Faith, they would be gone until dinner at least.

Both inebriated women looked at each other and then nodded at Jace, mollified at her apology.

Grace moved forward towards the door to the kitchen, then Jace took hold of her arm and led her towards the door of the main entrance. It was quicker to their destination, and less people to see the inebriated state they were actually in. Although, Jace suspected that last bottle would have been quite something to watch them retrieve from the kitchen, never mind open.

Grace went through the door and stumbled towards the stairs, Jace had to hold her breath and hope she didn't fall. Catherine was still standing in the same position where she had been left. The tall swaying woman looked at the door but did not make an attempt to move in any direction, much less towards the door. "Give me a minute, I'll be back." Jace ran towards the kitchen entrance and went inside, a minute later she was back, having sent Judy out to watch over Grace as she headed towards her room. Judy had chuckled at the request and had swiftly gone on her errand.

"So, Catherine what about you?" Jace watched Catherine's eyes try to focus. It reminded her of when the tall woman had been blind, but she wasn't physically blind this afternoon; blind drunk might be the description. But, she wasn't that bad, thank god!  Jace had never seen Catherine consume more than a couple of glasses of wine, three at the most and that was rarely, still it was enlightening and if she had to admit quite entertaining, also!

"Me? Me.....I'm good to go, Jace." Catherine said her head brought up in attention as if she was in the army and about to salute.

It was patently obvious she was far from that to Jace, as she put a hand to her chin and stopped herself from laughing at her partner. "Shall we?" Jace held out her hand to Catherine.

Catherine swayed slightly and then clutched the hand that was held out before her. Before Jace could react she was held in a tight hug close to Catherine's chest. Catherine bent her head to the blonde one and breathed in her fragrance. "I love you Jace, do you love me?" the voice husky, and said in a ridiculously pitiful tone to boot.

Jace struggled to breath in the tight hold, but managed to extricate herself enough to look up at the glazed eyes above her. "Yes, I love you Catherine, now come on let's get you into bed."

"Now that's an off.....er I'm not going to refuse....I have you too?" Catherine stole a kiss as she looked into those beautiful green eyes.

"Well, we have guests and children Catherine, I think one of us should be here just in case they need anything. Don't you think that would be a good idea?" Jace whispered and had to smile as a look of complete despair crossed Catherine's features.

"I want you!" Catherine replied huskily, burying her head in Jace's neck and began to nuzzle her exposed skin.

Jace heard the opening of a door and knew that someone else had arrived on the porch, she wasn't in a position to see the new entrant but she hoped it wasn't one of her family. Hades, why did things like this happen? "Now Catherine, let's get you to bed and have a sleep before dinner, please." Jace pleaded as she whispered into her lover's ear.

"Need any help?" Jason Bardley said quietly from his position at the door to the kitchen, he hadn't realised until he was on the decking that Jace and Catherine were on the porch. He also realised that maybe his little girl might need help with the tall woman, who, obviously was the worse for wear with alcohol.

Jace cringed at the comment, not the actual content, but who actually had spoken the words, 'Hades why did it have to be you Dad?' "I'm okay dad, she's going to bed for an hour or so before dinner. Isn't that correct Catherine?"

Catherine looked up from her tasty meandering over Jace's neck and looked at the intruder as best she could in her current inebriated state and shook her head. "Only if you come with me."

Jace had the manoeuvrability to turn and face her father and did so the pink staining her cheeks.

"Well Dad, I think that about sums up my little problem here,' shaking her own head in resignation. "Sure, please give me a hand Dad." Jace changed tactics, she had the children to consider and Catherine was definitely in no state to consider herself, much less them. 'She thought I was foolish this morning. God knows what she thinks this action is!'

Jason Bardley walked over to the two women and gave his daughter a smile. "Does she do this often?" He took Catherine's right arm and felt her resistance, as they began to lead her reluctantly towards the main door.

"No, first time I've ever seen it. Kind of different, and I'm sure she will be suitably chastened by the event later; now that will be something Dad." Jace laughed, placing a hand to Catherine's cheek and gave her a smile, which held only tenderness, Catherine responded by walking without further comment or agitation.

Several minutes later, they had her sprawled out on the bed. Jason backed towards the door chuckling softly. He waved his hand at his daughter, quickly exiting the room.

Catherine gave Jace a look of longing that nearly had the blonde weakening and climbing onto the bed with her lover. Jace watched as Catherine closed her eyes and within a short space of time, she was sleeping or nearly so a few words uttered as she eventually slipped into a deep sleep. "Love you Jace, you don't know long.....I."

Jace sat at the edge of the bed and stroked back the stray hair that had fallen over her face, "Sure, I do Catherine, and our love is forever." Whispering into her ear as she placed a tender kiss on her cheek, then pulled a blanket over her and moved to leave the room, giving her a second look and a wry smile. 'Lord how I love you, Catherine.'

~ ~ ~

Everyone except Colin was present at the dinner that evening; he had been banned by Faith, who was looking at her rather pale daughter with concern.

"Grace are you sure you're feeling well, you don't look it?" Faith said all eyes turned to Grace at her mother's remark.

"Yes, Mother, I'm quite well. Great actually, how about you Catherine?" Grace looked at her friend with bloodshot eyes and noted that Catherine's had pretty much the same look.

"Me?" Catherine was surprised at the attention, it had been bad enough that she had only just managed to wake up and get the shortest shower in history to arrive at dinner on time. That had only been because Grace had stumbled in and woke her up. Jace hadn't awakened her; which had surprised her and if, she was honest, worried her some also. The fact that she hadn't had the opportunity to say more than hello to Jace since her arrival in the dining room had also irked her somewhat. She'd kill Grace when the woman came back from her honeymoon; that so called friend had got her drunk!

"Yeah, Catherine to the best of my knowledge, you're the only Catherine in the room?" Jace quipped and Lisa laughed out loud and Jake chuckled at the white-faced profile of their guardian.

Catherine gave the children one of her thunderous looks and they stifled any further laughter at her expense. "I'm well." She finally muttered and looked down at the first course of the meal.

Jason Bardley decided that Catherine Devonshire or whatever she wanted to call herself was a prime target for some fun. "I've got a cure for a hangovers that works every time."

Catherine turned to him and gave him a glacial look out of her rather bloodshot ice blue eyes, "I appreciate the sentiment Jason, but I haven't got a hangover." She said shortly.

"No? Wasn't the impression I got when you looked at the wine being served tonight? Besides that, when someone can't manage to retire to their room without aid, well sure strikes me of being the worse for wear?" Jason persisted a grin that Catherine was sure she'd seen Jace use many a time covering his face.

'What the hell did he mean, she couldn't get to her room unaided?' The raven-haired woman thought, but attempted to stay serene.

Alison Bardley nudged her husband in the ribs and whispered to him, "You shouldn't say that Jason, what will Catherine think about us." Jason looked at his wife and smiled.

"Wine! Yes, right, the wine. Grace over to you." Catherine passed that particular hot potato over to her friend, she seriously didn't want to think about wine, it made her feel sick, although she knew that a toast tonight was definitely required.

Grace looked at her friend and gave her a weak grimace and then turned to the rest of the diners and gave an even weaker smile. "Oh! Well wine, yes Catherine hates to look at the wine, she just drinks it."

Jace laughed at that comment as did most round the table that knew of the two women's happy hour or two together.

Lisa piped up, "She doesn't Grace, she chooses the wine carefully. She only likes certain ones, you know that!" All eyes turned to the innocent child and Jace decided it was time she stopped not only her father, but also anyone else who wanted to take pot shots at her lover. Catherine's face showed her consternation at her father's statement about retiring to her room; oh, well, that she would answer later.

"Catherine and Grace decided to have a few drinks together as old friends do at this very special time in anyone lives, perhaps they didn't eat enough at lunch and it went to their heads, but now their fine, right?" Jace looked first at Catherine, who gave her a smile that warmed her whole body, then to Grace who looked pathetically grateful.

Catherine looked at Grace as Grace turned her glance towards Catherine and they gave each other a small smile. "Yes that's right and let's toast to Grace and Colin and a splendid day tomorrow." Catherine held up her glass of wine and gave Grace an encouraging look, as she picked hers up with a shaky hand.

All the diners, including the children who were drinking apple juice toasted Grace and the dinner resumed with various stories and getting to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere.

When the dinner was over, everyone retired to the lounge and they all began to mingle, even the children until Catherine escorted them to bed. Catherine felt bad enough that she'd lost control and didn't have a clue how she'd managed to end up on the bed; that was a stupid and foolish thing to happen. 'What had she implied to Jace yesterday that the woman was a child, well with that stunt this afternoon, she certainly put herself firmly in that category herself!' She was sure that Jace had something to say about that situation but so far Jace had been entirely supportive and her face gave away no indication that she was going to blow up at any time, the woman was far too easy on her. Sure as hell, she would have had something to say if the roles had been reversed!

Walking back into the room Catherine looked for Jace as she always did on entering a room, even when she knew Jace wasn't there it never mattered, it had become second nature to her. Jace was talking animatedly with her sister and although Lucy was taller and had chestnut hair, she did have the same nose and the same smile that Jace had, it made her smile as she thought of the same smile on Elena. Catherine walked over to the only area of the room that wasn't occupied, close to the window and she looked out at the numerous shining stars that always made her smile, they looked so fascinating to her.

"Penny for them?" Jace had seen her partner come back into the room and watched as she edged her way to a free space, as only Catherine would do in a crowd. Her partner was at times very protective over her personal space and tonight it looked like she was going to be awkward in the conversation stakes.

Catherine looked down at the flashing green eyes that held warm affection and love; she placed a hand on Jace's cheek and stroked it giving her a responding smile back. "I was looking at the stars." She stated simply.

"So, how do they look?" Jace leaned into the gentle caress of her lover, it was a touch she delighted in and Catherine knew it.

"Fascinating as always but.... not as fascinating as you." Catherine shrugged her shoulders at the words, giving Jace a wry look.

Jace saw the slight shift of her partner, usually she only said romantic comments when they were alone, yet if she thought about it Catherine would view the lounge and her single presence at her side as close as being alone as they could get in a crowded room. "Do you know what you remind me of?"

Catherine looked deep into the green eyes she loved and gave her a quizzical look. "No, although maybe, I have an inkling after today. Why did you leave me to sleep, I could have missed dinner altogether if Grace hadn't decided to drop by?"

"I was busy with my mother and Elena, then Faith was throwing one of her famous, everything is going wrong routines and before I knew it, you had arrived in the room and I suddenly realised the time, I'm sorry." Jace gave a small pout that indicated her apology was sincere.

"How is it that you're saying sorry to me, when it should be I who sure as hell should be on my knees asking you to forgive me for that particular deviation this afternoon." Catherine looked out towards the stars and her face held a serious expression.

"No way Catherine you and Grace have a history that made this afternoon special for you both. I'm glad it happened, you both needed it! That's all in the past now, okay? Although, if either of you work together to make me blush for a practical joke in the future, you might get it thrown back at you; just remember that!" Jace chuckled and was engulfed in a hug that was unexpected, but sorely welcome. She knew Catherine wasn't the overly affectionate type in full view of complete strangers or casual acquaintances, but this was family, all of it and Catherine had to acknowledge that at some stage.

"So what do I remind you of?" Catherine asked her softly.

"You are one of the most alluring and yet enigmatic people I know, yet I love you to distraction and I think of the moon. Dumb huh? I know, but you remind me of the moon, I see pieces of you and then suddenly, I get the full charisma of Catherine Warriorson, just as you get the beauty of a full moon. Darling you are impossible to hold in that state and yet I know I have you here in my heart, no matter if I have the quarter, half or full moon you will always have my heart and soul forever." Jace looked at the still profile before her and she suddenly saw the light in Catherine's eyes; along with the glow that she knew only she could instil it was worth simply everything that life had to offer her.

"Catherine we are having a discussion about media exposure in the lives of private citizens and thought you might like you join in?" James Thompson spoke directly at the couple yards from him and looked at her in expectation.

Catherine gave Jace a slow concentrated glimpse into her heart with an expressive ice blue gaze that conveyed her emotions over Jace's admission. "Sure, I have something to say." She touched her lover's hand in a gentle show of appreciative affection and walked over to the group.

Jace smiled as she watched the retreating back of her partner. 'Yeah I bet you do have something to say on that particular subject.' Turning, she saw Grace standing attentively at the edge of a group which held Faith, and her mother, Alison, Grace's sister, as they were all was engrossed in a discussion with Jace's father and sister.

"Grace?" Jace said and saw the woman turn towards her and gave her a grin. Walking over to Jace, she placed a hand on her arm.

"Thanks, don't think I could have taken anymore of the wedding plans tonight. I tell you Jace, I'll be glad when it's over. I could sure do with Colin by my side at the moment, I miss him!" Grace said in a sheepish voice, her face strained.

"You feeling okay?" Jace said quietly and looked at her friend in compassion.

"Yeah, I guess, I have a headache and I wouldn't doubt a certain close friend of ours isn't nursing one too. Otherwise, I'm fine and it was worth it." Grace gave her a smile that added weight to her admission.

"Yes, she'll not admit it, but I suspect you're right. I'm glad she let herself go. It is very rare." Jace said. her expression understanding.

"Rare! Jace it was a miracle, although, we shouldn't have drunk quite the volume we did, I'm glad too. I think just the odd occasional letting down the barriers, is what she needed. But, she would never accept that." Grace said quietly, her gaze wandered over to their tall friend who was indulging in what was for Catherine, an animated conversation.

"Well, she's going to have to face my Dad at some stage alone, he had to help me to get her to our room." Jace chuckled and watched the grin appear on Grace's face.

"She's going to be so......so embarrassed at that one, Jace. Does she know?" Grace asked her keen sense of humour open to all sorts of possibilities with that gem.

"She does now! And knowing my father, he will milk it for all its worth, and who can blame him." Jace laughed.

"Not me, I'd go for it definitely. Almost worth delaying the honeymoon for that particular encounter." Grace smiled, and then winked at Catherine, who had turned at their laughter.

"She hates your doing that you know?" Jace chuckled at the consternation on Catherine's face.

"I know that's why I do it! Hell, the woman gets her way on most things, but she can't stop my eye action. now can she?"

"Guess not, she's got some pretty special eye action's of her own." Jace answered and smiled as she saw the ever-faithful left eyebrow go up in response to part of the conversation she was having.

"Well, shall we go and rescue her or leave her to the rather dry conversation she got herself into?" Grace smirked at Jace.

"Let us......rescue her; you forget Grace, I have to live with her." Jace replied and started to walk towards her partner.

"Yeah! I know, thank god she found you in time." Grace followed closely behind her friend.

'I'm glad I found her in time too.' Jace went close to Catherine and put her hand through her partner's arm and joined the
conversation, receiving a smile of welcome at her presence.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Thirteen

Colin was talking to several of the ranch hands, which had decided that his last night as a bachelor, wasn't going to be left to his own devices; they had heard that he had been banned from seeing Grace that day. Women, and their silly traditions.

They had all brought over beer, deciding that hard liquor wasn't exactly conducive to Colin getting to his wedding in a fit state and as they had met his mother-in-law to be, also. They didn't want her harassing them for overindulging with the groom.

"Where you going on your honeymoon Colin, you've been rather secretive about the whole thing?" Seth Lantry asked. He had worked with Colin for the six years, all the time that Colin had worked at Destiny.

"Now why would I go telling you boy's. I'd never have a minutes peace knowing you all had that information?" Colin laughed as he took a healthy swig out of his bottle of beer.

"Oh, come on spoil sport, didn't you get one of Mrs Warriorson's properties as a hideaway? We read that she had lots of them scattered around the world." Mat Renfrew gave him a knowing smile. Everyone on the ranch knew the owner had a special relationship with the ranch Forman and Grace was closer to the owner than a sister, they all thought.

Colin looked a little embarrassed at the question. "She offered and I accepted. But, NO, you're not going to have that particular information, even Grace doesn't know our destination yet. She thinks she does, but she doesn't." Colin smiled as he recalled their discussion over dinner about the honeymoon retreat. He'd simply agreed with every thing Grace had said and then promptly did nothing about it because the plans had been made and settled. It was going to be a surprise for his wife, because she deserved it, and he knew that it was difficult to keep things from Grace. Catherine had been the ace in the hole, she'd literally taken the whole thing in hand, and he had been presented with the tickets and the information yesterday and then she had just walked off as if it was a regular occurrence.

"Wow! How did you manage to keep that a secret? Hell, those women at the house know everything, even young Lisa." One of the ranch hands said in awe. They all loved the small redhead, but she couldn't keep her mouth closed even if her life depended on it they suspected.

"Not Ms. Warriorson, she's the soul of discretion and I don't even think Jace knows." Colin smiled at that last comment. Catherine was good at keeping secrets, and he was willing to stake his last paycheck that the petite blonde hadn't a clue about her parents arriving.

John Cruisal looked over at Colin over the rim of his beer. "Mrs. Warriorson doesn't say much at all. I was with her today and she's kind of quiet." The young man reflected on his journey of that day with the owner.

"Well boy, some women don't need words." Seth said and chucked the youngster under the chin in a friendly way.

"Yeah, looking like she does, why does she need to speak, what wouldn't I give........?" Mat agreed with his co-worker.

"Hey, enough of that Mrs. Warriorson isn't the talkative type." Colin intervened.

"I agree with Mat, she is absolutely stunning and if I got the chance....." John trailed off his eyes had a far away look.

"You haven't a chance boy, if you hadn't noticed, she is taken." Seth laughed at the blush that stained the boy's cheeks.

"Yeah, yeah I know, but she once must have looked at men..... Maybe she will again, I for one will wait and see." John said his confidence causing the other men in the room to give him a look of indulgent affection.

"Don't wait around too long boy. You might find you are past your 'sell' by date with other women." Mat inferred, his remark bringing loud laughter from the rest from the group.

"Ah, but I can still have other women while I wait. Where is the harm in that?" smirked the youth bringing out the arrogance of the remark.

Mat put his hand on the boy's shoulder "Let's get you another beer Romeo."

Colin looked at the young man and smiled Catherine would be irritated by the young mans arrogance and attitude, but she wasn't likely to find out, it was all talk anyway!

"Colin, come on man, let's get a few more beers down you and did you hear about Grace and Mrs. Warriorson this afternoon, both blind drunk or, so I was told......." The man continued to feed Colin with news of his fiancé and he chuckled, as he thought of the two of them drinking more than normal. Although, he suspected that Grace would handle the tolerance level far better than Catherine he hoped that Grace was feeling okay she always had a headache if she drank more than a couple of beers or glasses of wine.

~ ~ ~

Catherine was nursing a headache, as she closed up the house for the night and set all the necessary alarms externally. It would be just her luck to have something happen at the eleventh hour and that she could certainly do without.

Walking around the desk in the study, she saw the spine of a book slightly protruding from the heavy wooden bookcase. 'Maybe the kids hadn't put it back correctly.' She place her hand on the book and began to push it back in place, then stopped and withdrew the volume intrigued as to the title.

Catherine sat down in the sofa close to the bookcase and examined the book, it was certainly old and she suspected one of Adam's original collection, although her own tastes and that of the children were now vying for space in the room. Soon perhaps, they would have to consider a library on it's own not sharing a room with her office.  That was certainly something she needed to talk to Jace about, the renovation of the house.

The children had been allocated rooms on an ad hoc basis when they first arrived; but now that the situation was permanent, and with Elena needing her own room soon, they really needed to consider extending the main building. Catherine had been thinking about the addition of a guest wing, and then converting some of the original guest's rooms into larger living areas for each of the children. It appeared an excellent idea to her, and she wouldn't be unhappy about having the extra space the room Jake currently occupied being added to her and Jace's bedroom. Maybe even a sitting area of some sort. Still she would need to discuss that with Jace, who might have her own ideas on the subject, together they would find a solution to the renovations, on that she was sure.

Turning the volume over in her hands, she saw the title and a wry smile flashed over her still face. 'Interpretation of Dreams.' By A.L.T. World. Catherine chuckled at the name of the author 'hell some people sure used the weirdest pen names.'

"Well A.L.T. World, I don't need to read your book to know what my dreams will be interpreted into, she's called Jace and that's all I'll ever need to know for sure." Catherine whispered into the empty room and stood up and replaced the book back in the case, turning to switch off the desk lamp and finally the room light and closed the door. 'Well, the good dreams at any rate.'  Catherine's thoughts reminded her reluctantly.

The hall light she left on as they always did, just as a precaution if either of the children came down the stairs for anything in the night. Although, she'd never known it yet; but, there was always the first time and Catherine knew the house could have a scary feel to it in the darkness and she wanted the children to feel only safe in the house. That had been difficult to achieve after the kidnapping six months ago, but everyone appeared to be more relaxed now. She was eternally grateful for that or they might have had to move 'home'

altogether. Catherine wasn't sure she could do that and it gave her a sense of weakness that hadn't happened to her before or she hoped ever would again.

Swiftly taking the stairs two at a time, she quickly checked up on Lisa whose door was slightly open, peering in she saw the small redhead wrapped in a sheet to ward off the early morning chill of the summer season. The child looked like a mummy and Catherine had to stifle a laugh as she considered that would be the only way to stop the child talking. Catherine saw the bear, on the floor at the edge of the bed, obviously throw out with the child's movements in the bed. Walking silently into the room Catherine picked up the ragamuffin bear and deposited it next to Lisa gently, who immediately wrapped her arm around the soft toy as if, uncannily aware of Catherine's presence in the room. She stood taking that reaction as a good sign to remove herself from the room before the child did wake, and she did so silently.

Walking towards her own room, passing Jake's although his door was closed and she was in two minds over peeking inside; it might wake him and she was loath to do that Jace would kill her. Still Jace hadn't done it yet, and who knew, the boy might be having a nightmare, so she opened the door quietly even if the hinge did creak a little. Inside she saw that the boy was half out of his sheet and half in, his legs wound around it like a contortionist. He looked relaxed in sleep and her mind went over what her son would have looked like at this age. That was something she had to leave in the past this habit to compare Jake to her son it was insensitive to him and it also kept torturing her about what could have been. Or could it she had never been there for her son in the early days, would things have been so different had he lived? No, she doubted it, it could have little benefit this continued recall, and it only gave pain.

Shaking her head of the thoughts she closed the door and went over to her room and opened it as quietly as she could. One thing for sure,

There was no way did she want to wake Elena or she could be up for another hour or more playing with the baby. Certainly Jace should not have to take that task upon herself, even if Catherine had a headache. They had decided that from tomorrow Elena would be moved temporarily into Lisa's room and then after the guests left she would take up residence in Jace's old room next door to Lisa. It was time for that change, the baby was old enough now and slept pretty much through the night anyway.

Creeping towards the bathroom, she noticed that Jace looked deeply asleep and she wasn't surprised about that, after last nights marathon and the exhilaration and excitement over the arrival of her family, it had to take it's toll at some stage and tomorrow was going to be a long day.

"Why do you take so long to come to bed?" a muffled voice spoke tiredly from the comfort of the king-sized bed.

"Sorry, I found a book and I kind of started to thinking." Catherine responded softly, closing in on the bathroom door.

"Catherine come here." Jace said and propped her head on her hand as she looked at the puzzled expression on her lover's face.

Catherine moved quickly to her side. "Anything wrong?" She whispered and pushed back a strand of blonde hair from her lover's face as she gingerly sat on the edge of the bed.

"No, but by the time you've finished in there, I'm going to be asleep and I wanted to say goodnight." Jace gave her a warm smile and watched a matching smile pass over Catherine's face.

"Oh!" Catherine was taken aback at the words, but pleasantly so.

Placing her hands over Catherine's Jace pulled the tall woman into her arms. "I love you Catherine. I want to say that to you every waking minute of my life, if I could say it to you in my dreams. I would certainly do that also." Jace placed her lips on her lover's and gave her a heartfelt kiss that had Catherine's body responding immediately.

"Say it in your dreams Jace, because I'll hear them, believe me, I will hear them!" Catherine spoke with quiet conviction.

Jace looked at her keenly. "I do believe you would Catherine. Yes, I think you actually do." Jace stroked a hand down the left scarred cheek and relished the movement of the dark head the touched invoked beneath her hand. "Go and get cleaned up, or you will be asleep here in your clothes."

Catherine held Jace's gaze in a piercing one from her ice blue eyes. "I would sleep anywhere and in any condition if you were by my side."

"I will be Catherine, but you know how I prefer you to sleep beside me?" Jace gave a tired smirk and settled back down into the bed her eyes trying desperately to clear away the sleep, but to no avail it was working it's magic on her no matter how much she wanted to stay awake.

Catherine gave a low chuckle and stood up and towered over her partner. "Yes! I do, no clothes at all, right?"

"Right.' Jace mumbled as she gradually released her hold on her wakefulness, 'what was the book about?"

Catherine smiled as she turned away towards her original destination.

"Interpretation of Dreams."

"Dreams huh? What's in your dreams Catherine?" The voice heavily laden with sleep and Catherine knew that the woman who had asked the question would not hear her answer.

"You are!" Catherine turned replying softly to her now deeply sleeping lover, it really didn't matter if she heard or not because it was something that would always be the good dreams. 'Jace Bardley you are simply my dream of the present, future and whatever makes up forever, what else do I need to dream about?'

Closing the door behind her in the bathroom, she caught a glimpse of the moon and tonight it was full, she smiled and went on wit her final task for the night.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Fourteen

The hustle and bustle of a house that was not only holding the bride to be, but also the whole event also was to say the least hectic. Faith was running around calling after the caterers who had arrived promptly at six a.m. as requested. The owner of the local caterers had received several caustic comments from Faith Thornton in the past few months, although she wasn't a relative of Ms. Warriorson, who you definitely did not piss off in any way; this woman was equally as formidable and Grace had always been a good ally in that household. How she had kept her sense of humour had often intrigued the locals. Having both a mother and Ms. Warriorson in the household to contend with, well everyone thought that Grace had become a saint over night and they were going to make sure that her wedding went of without a hitch.

Judy was watching the rather fraught antics of Faith and she smiled at her friend, in both understanding and the hilarity of the situation. It was now close to seven, the rest of the family not to mention the guests would no doubt start surfacing. It was as well that they had decided to open up the dining room for breakfast. Judy didn't quite see Catherine Warriorson relishing the situation in the kitchen and trying to have a quiet mug of tea to start her day. If Catherine didn't get her tea, then they would be in for a very difficult day indeed.

Moving past one of the numerous or so it seemed catering personnel, she went towards the dining room and heard voices and smiled. 'Yep, you couldn't keep that woman away from her tea.'

"Good morning?" Judy smiled as she walked briskly into the room and saw Catherine trying to secure Elena into her high chair as Susan watched with an indulgent smile on her face.

"Good morning Judy, how are things going?" Susan asked she had been given a short synopsis of the events leading to the wedding at mid-day today.

"I think its going well, but if you looked at Faith well, I wouldn't or you might get the wrong impression." Judy chuckled and was given an understanding look from Catherine, who was still struggling to put Elena into the chair and who seemed to want to fight any attempt to secure her in the contraption.

Susan resumed her watchful eye over her ex-employer, the mirth never far from her eyes as she watched the struggle between the baby and the adult. "Would you like me to help?" Susan finally asked as Judy left to bring in the tea and coffee.

Catherine gave Susan a pathetic look of thanks at the offer. "Jace usually takes care of this, she has the touch and I obviously don't."

Susan walked over and placed a hand gently on the baby's forehead. "Hey little one, do you want to have some breakfast?" Her soft gentle tone calming the baby who continued to watched her with green interested eyes. Susan swiftly, but firmly placed the harness about the child and clicked the clasps into place. The baby was secure and waiting patiently for her breakfast or that was how it seemed to Catherine.

"Hell! She never moved so much as an eyelash with you Susan?" Catherine retorted her voice held a niggling annoyance. Elena giggled as Susan gave her a small piece of buttered toast to suck on as the child had only two teeth and they did nothing, but chew on fingers usually Catherine's or Jake's and not food at the moment.

"I have the touch Catherine, perhaps you should ask Jace to give you some tips? You are far too gentle with the baby, she needs a firm hand also Catherine, and it won't hurt her." Susan replied and smiled at the crestfallen expression on the face opposite her.

"I couldn't do that Susan, she looks at me with Jace's eyes, I couldn't hurt her in any way. Tea, I need tea that's what's wrong with me." Catherine exclaimed, giving a heavy sigh as Judy walked in with the prerequisite item.

"Looks like you need this Catherine?" Judy put down the pot of tea next to Catherine and poured a cup of coffee for Susan, then placed the carafe on the side table on a hot plate.

"How well you have come to know me Judy. How long has it been?" Catherine quirked an eyebrow at the young housekeeper, but also gladly had been acting as tutor to the children when the family travelled. It was working out to be not only an excellent arrangement but also one they desperately needed if Catherine wanted to keep the family together when she went abroad.

"Nine months almost ten and it's flown by." Judy smiled and went on her way to collect the cooked breakfast selection.

Susan was looking at Catherine with a speculative glance and shook her grey peppered head at the interested look she received back.

"What?" Catherine finally said as she sipped her tea.

"Being firm with a child isn't hurting them Catherine. What gave you that idea?" Susan continued her earlier conversation she had been disturbed at Catherine's assumption that being firm meant that it would cause the child pain.

Catherine shot Susan a glare hoping to silence the question, but she knew better, Susan never gave up; she would just try another angle.

"My aunt was firm it hurt, I don't want any child of mine experiencing that!" There was bitterness of old wounds reflected in her voice.

"How old were you Catherine?" Susan asked her gently, knowing the battle would always be worth the effort with Catherine when she finally released her pain. Jace had arrived at the dining room doorway and was waiting for her partner's answer to the question. She knew it wasn't right to eavesdrop on the conversation, but Jace also knew that Catherine would clam up immediately when she arrived and perhaps this was a conversation only someone like Susan could broach.

"Old? I was eleven when Papa dropped us on Constantia three months after Mothers' death. Lucas didn't know that Constantia only put up with us because we were her younger sisters off spring; she never loved us!" Catherine said her mind pulling up images she'd have rather kept in the dark recesses of her mind that's where they belonged.

"Eleven, quite the young woman I suspect and still grieving over your mother, and then your father leaving could not have helped." Susan said gently.

"Yes, Papa leaving wasn't good. It was devastating. We loved him. Why didn't he know that Susan?" Catherine's voice choked on the words and she drank heavily from her mug. Jace had to put a hand to her mouth to stifle a cry of anguish for the child her partner was describing, as well as the perceived hurt of long ago.

"He did Catherine, but he couldn't deal with your mother's death, it happens. He thought he had found you a safe place to grow up and with someone who loved your mother also; someone who could give you love as she did." Susan explained, her limited knowledge of the situation and the rare conversations she'd had with Catherine's father helped her to assimilate the information that she was receiving.

"Constantia loved mother yes, she never loved us, well me! She did love Lucas, but then he never caused any trouble, he was just happy loving Lucas." Catherine placed a hand to her forehead and braced it there as if to ward of the memories.

"I see, perhaps you were wrong and she loved you too, but the situation was never right to express it to you. By all accounts, even from what you say, you became a little wild. Is she still alive?" Susan asked and her heart cried silent tears for the unhappy child that had turned into a very lonely woman. Although, she was beginning to turn that around with her current life and family, it was evident there were still scars that needed healing.

"Yes. I believe so." Catherine said after a few moments.

"Why not bury the hatchet as they say, and go and see her, take the family; be a family Catherine!" Susan said with quite determination in her tone.

Jace smiled at Susan's choice of words how very apt.

"I'll think about it." Catherine answered, to her the conversation closed.

Susan knew this particular subject matter was over, but she had tried and she thought that maybe, just maybe, she might have broken through, who knew.

Jace expelled several breaths and then breezed into the room "Hi everyone. Good morning." Walking over to Catherine, she kissed her on the cheek and went over to Susan and did the same, whispering into her ear. "Thank you for loving her." The older woman looked up at the words and smiled and nodded her head.

Closing in on her daughter, she gave her a bright smile and tousled the short spiky dark hair. "Hi darling, what's Catherine feeding you with today huh?" Getting a peeved look from Catherine at the words.

"Anyone would think I give her chocolates all day." Catherine bit out agitated at the reference, but more from the earlier conversation, as it had rattled her profoundly.

"You spoil her rotten Catherine, as you do all the children, just as well I'm here to keep a watch over you, or they would all be spoiled, fat and uncontrollable." Jace laughed at the pout she was receiving from Catherine.

"No, they wouldn't Jace. And you know it! I dislike chocolate as well you know, but someone not so very far away happens to have a store cupboard full of it, or doesn't that count?" Catherine changed her tone to a bantering one, after all it was a time for happiness today, and bloody bad memories could take a back seat for certain.

Jace pulled a face and placed a kiss on her daughter's cheek removing the soggy finger of toast, and presenting her with another before she start wailing for a replacement. "Well, whose fault is that? You bought it all for me. Every month, I think I've killed the problem and what do I find, you have miraculously filled it up again, I think I've put on twenty pounds in the last couple of months alone." Jace sat at Catherine's right hand side.

Catherine gave Jace a long look and smiled rakishly at her taking in the toned body before her. "I have very good memories that are associated with a chocolate cupboard in a certain apartment in LA, so please let me continue that small chore. Besides Jace, I wouldn't care if you put on hundred pounds, just so long as you're here with me."

Jace returned the stare and forgot for a moment that they had a guest. "Well if you put it like that lover, how can I refuse?" Her voice low and enticingly seductive, giving Catherine reason to grind her teeth at the fact, that they had company.

Grace chose that moment to come into the room and heard the last comment and Catherine placing Jace's fingers to her lips.  "Oh god give me strength, when will you two give it a rest," her voice chastising, but her chuckle deposing any kind of censures.

"Well, I think it's wonderful to see Grace and wait until you are doing the same." Susan interposed, laughing at the pink stained cheeks of the two women they were discussing.

"Okay! Carry on. You two might just be giving me some much needed pointers, who knows." Grace laughed and collected a coffee and poured one for Jace, for some reason the small blonde had a one-track mind and it was focused on a tall raven-haired woman next to her.

"Thanks Grace," Jace acknowledged the coffee set in front of her, although Grace wasn't too sure what she was being thanked for.

"Grace when have you needed any pointers?" Catherine decided to join in the conversation.

"The day you changed all the rules." Grace said enigmatically.

"Which day would that be dear?" Susan asked interested, she knew about the two of them yesterday in fact she'd seen the two of them laughing like schoolgirls, trying to locate the correct bottle of wine for their indulgences. Although by then it was the thirdand she doubted either of them would have a clue what they were drinking.

"Ah, now Susan that's a strange tale, as its surrounds a stormy night and an unwelcome visitor, who just happened to steal our Catherine's heart that night." Grace smiled at what she could see as great ways to spend her last breakfast as a single woman, oh, yeah-great fun.

"Don't be ridiculous Grace!" Catherine said dismissively.

Jace looked at Grace and gave her a grin and then turned to Catherine. "It never happened like that?" Jace asked innocently.  There were times when it was so good to be with friends and have innocent fun at a friend's expense. Unfortunately, she doubted that Catherine would think like that; but, Catherine had a lot to learn about letting friends into her life, however, she was a very fast learner and how!

Catherine looked at the three women and then at the baby who was happily sucking to death the finger of toast. 'Do you want to change places Elena?' Catherine considered that a much better position than the one she was currently in. "Well, it didn't happen quite like that."

"No?" Grace continued to tease Catherine knowing that Jace was happy with the situation at least for now. Jace could become very quickly defensive for Catherine, if she felt it was getting out of hand.

"No! In fact the rule changing as you call it came before that, when I couldn't keep my mind on the Reverend's conversation, because I was thinking of green eyes that I'd left to suffer in the storm." The statement was a surprise that was certain, especially for all three women in the room. Catherine's quiet, yet completely honest adaptation of her life changing experience had never been revealed to any of them before.

Several minutes later no one had spoken. "Does the cat have everyone's tongue?" Catherine asked the still astonished people.

"Cat got our tongue, fuc.......' Jace looked at Grace who quickly stopped her use of words not suitable for a baby's ears. "I always wanted to know what got that particular ball rolling and now I find out it was the great Bardley herself, and she wasn't even in the room, way to go Jace." Grace chuckled and got up to pour herself a much-needed second coffee.

"Is that true?" Jace turned to Catherine and grasped her hand as if she needed the contact to gauge the truth.

"Yes, I was thinking how gutsy you were talking back to me on the ridge and how insipid Adamson and the rest looked in your wake; what's a girl to think." Catherine shrugged her shoulders in a gesture of nonchalance at her comment.

"I know what I think." Jace gazed deep into the ice blues of her partner.

"What do you think?" Catherine asked as she gently played with the fingers in her hold.

"I love you, I've always loved you!" Jace reached over and placed her lips on her partners in a gentle affirmation of her love.

Catherine looked down at the table at the show of affection and then looked back at the three pairs of eyes that were looking at her, no strike that, four pairs even Elena was getting in on the act. "Pleased to hear it. Now shall we have breakfast or not."

A crescendo of noise greeted them as the door was pushed wide on it's hinges and in rushed Lisa in her nightgown, with Jake running close behind, at least he'd changed into sweats and a T-shirt.

"Okay, what's wrong with you two?" Catherine asked her voice resigned but happily so.

"She wouldn't change Catherine, and do I really have to wear that bow tie?" The boy asked in an offended tone.

"Right, let's get this into perspective shall we, good morning is the start. 'She's' the cats mother Jake. Lisa why didn't you change? Yes, Jake you do!" Catherine said with quiet authority and smiled as Judy came back with food. 'Oh the joy of children at breakfast.'

Susan smiled not understanding the reference to the cat's mother but that would probably be one of Catherine's English sayings and selected her food, 'You're a fast learner Catherine, a very fast learner.'

~ ~ ~

Chapter Fifteen

Jason and Alison Bardley were watching their youngest daughter talking animatedly with one of the younger ranch hands, he was quite handsome too, had that James Dean look about him and he couldn't be that much older than their recently turned eighteen year old child.

"Lucy looks like she's enjoying the company." Jason said in a cautious tone to his wife. He'd never worried about Lucy in quite the way he had Jace. She had always appeared more worldly wise than her elder sister for some absurd reason.

"Yeah, wasn't that the young man who drove the vehicle yesterday" Alison asked knowing that she was right; who could have missed him, he certainly could turn any head that was for sure.

Jason squinted his eyes at the sun and looked at the man in closer detail or as close as you could from this distance. "Sure looks like him."

"Well, she always did go for the blonde types and knowing our daughter she will probably have him eating out of her hand in no time." Alison smiled; it wasn't the fact that her daughter was particularly beautiful. Although, she was in their eyes it was more she could talk people into a relationship, it was a family trait that had obviously originated from Jason. Alison had decided years ago, especially when the girls had started to talk that it was better to try and exist in that plane than be outside it! Her thoughts then drifted to Catherine Devonshire and how she coped with the Bardley effect. Jace was a good conversationalist and her compassion for people and their sometimes-unusual circumstances could either irritate the hell out of someone, or they became enchanted by it. Quite obviously Catherine was enchanted and although she might not say that much, it was clearly apparent that they had a conversation system all of their own and words had no place in it, strangely enough it suited her eldest child.

"Yes, I believe you're right as always darling. What do you think about our granddaughter?" Jason had fallen asleep as soon as his head at hit the pillow last night, so they hadn't managed to have a private conversation until now.

"Jason you had better not let your daughter hear you say that, we have two granddaughters and a grandson now remember?"  Alison chastised him and then gave him a knowing smile.

"Okay. Okay, what do you think about Elena then?" He looked suitably chastised; he liked his two elder grandchildren as well.  They were so different and yet you'd think Lisa was really a chip off the old Jace Bardley block. As for the boy, well if he wasn't Catherine's son, he should have been; they had the same set of expressions.

"She looks like Jace in lots of ways, and yet if I didn't know better I would swear she had a look of Catherine also. I know it crazy, but even Jace didn't deny that!" Alison had to laugh at her completely absurd notion.

"You know Alison, I thought the same thing. She doesn't look one bit like that sorry excuse of a husband Jace married, that is certain." Jason said his voice taking on a deeper timbre at the thought of his ex-son in law.

"Jason really, you can't say that! Jace would be upset. Anyway the man wasn't that bad, he did love Jace and it might have worked out." Alison reflected, although her words didn't sound that convincing.

Jason snorted "Worked! No way on gods green earth would that have worked. She was a zombie when she married that ineffectual excuse for a man, and he used that to get her to marry him, we both know that. Jace was very much a fool. She was lucky she didn't pay the final price." He said his voice carrying over the silence of the porch.

"Jason behave, she must have thought something about him if she married him and what price would that be exactly?" Alison questioned, not entirely happy at her husband's stance on the subject.

"Jace loved him and she broke all our hearts......that was the price." A voice they immediately recognised and wished they hadn't responded from the door of the kitchen.

Both turned and came face to face with Catherine Devonshire, her visage still and closed, showing nothing of her emotional state.

"Sorry Catherine, we didn't realise you were there." Jason said in an embarrassed tone.

"No, I guess you didn't and you're right Alison, Jace would be upset, possibly more than you will ever know. Adamson is the father of her child, how can she not have loved him, even if it was only as a very dear friend." Catherine moved closer to them and looked out to where she could see Lucy and the ranch hand John Cruisal. 'They looked a little too friendly,' she thought.

"Jace left him when she came to her senses; we know she loves you more." Jason countered, not really knowing how to answer the quiet astute comments from this usually stoic and silent woman at his side.

"Yes, she did. Yes, I certainly believe she does love me more, and long may that last." Catherine gave him a smile but it never reached her eyes they were effectively closed and cold to him.

"Catherine, Elena looks like you and that was a surprise." Alison thought changing the subject matter might help, her husband was struggling and that was unusual.

"Yes, when she was born Jace described her to me and I thought she said it to make me happy. When I could see for myself, I must admit she does have the Devonshire look by some strange coincidence. I would have been happy for her to be just healthy and with the bonus of my mother's name, that would have been enough but....." Catherine warmed to the subject of their youngest daughter.

"She's still sceptical and I did too try to convince her!" Jace chose that moment to appear and closed in on her partner and parents and put her arms around Catherine's waist and laid her head on her back.

"I did too!" Catherine using Jace's expression in an about turn of the conversation then swiftly changed her position so that Jace was held in her arms and she could look into the expressive green eyes.

Both parents laughed at the light banter and they looked indulgently at their daughter, at least it was better than seeing the deadly serious look in those ice blue eyes. "Well, glad we have that one worked out."

"One day this woman is going to believe me that Elena is her daughter too." Jace said her eyes sparkling with laughter, but to Catherine she heard the serious undertone in the voice.

"Perhaps." Catherine said quietly and released her hold on Jace. "I need to go over and check on Colin see you shortly." She kissed Jace on the forehead and went quickly down the steps and her feet crunched on the gravel drive as she strode purposely towards the foreman's ranch house.

Jace watched as Catherine diverted her steps towards the paddock and her sister, "Typical Catherine and so predictable." Jace said softly.

Jason raised his eyebrows and looked at his daughter. "What do you mean by that little comment Jace?"

Jace looked at her father and gave him a small wry smile. "My partner there is looking out for Lucy's interests, I guess I'm going to have to enlighten her that my sister can handle most situations. Especially, those involving her love life."

"Yeah, well he's a good looking young man that's for sure." Alison said and watched the tall woman approach the young couple, which were oblivious to the arrival.

"Yes, he is, would you believe I was jealous of him yesterday, he got to spend some time with Catherine alone, when I couldn't." Jace said absently.

"Well, I can see why that would be dear, but looking at what you have I think I'd prefer the real thing than a boy, just my opinion." Alison said and turned crimson and looked down at the drive.

"Mother really! Gosh, Dad can't you control your woman." Jace laughed and got between the two of them and placed an arm either side of them and gave then a hug. "I love you both very much."

"Control women? Me Jace? When has that ever been possible, unless you can give me a tip or two?" His eyes wandered to the tall woman and wondered what she was saying to the younger folks.

"Dad! Catherine doesn't come under the control aspect believe me, but I know a trick or two." Jace smiled at her mother's snort of censure at the conversation.

"Come on you two, let's go and see what my kids are up too; also we have a wedding to attend in a couple of hours and the last time I looked, my eldest daughter was still playing with her toys in her nightgown."

All three walked off towards the entrance to the house leaving Catherine to her own devices.

~ ~ ~

Colin was watching the friendly verbal sparing that was going on close to the paddock and now low and behold Catherine had entered the arena. He would have loved to listen to the conversation, but doubted either of the youngsters were intimidated by the tall woman, although maybe Cruisal might be, he was after all besotted with the owner.

He looked over at his grey suit and all the necessary trimmings; thank god Faith hadn't insisted on a hat, because he definitely would have balked at wearing a top hat and it was at the ranch not in some fancy city church.

He had looked over the arrangements that had been set out in the grassed area behind the main house. It had a white pagoda style trellis and the platform to go with it, along with a red carpet that stretched from the patio door of the study through the chairs that were positioned either side of the carpet to the foot of the platform. All around the platform were the most wonderful display of colours from the numerous flowers that were arranged to enhance the effect. All that was needed was the bride, groom, reverend and the guests and hell, they had a wedding, which would be happening in little over two hours. He was nervous, but it was a happy feeling, not the type that has your gut tied in knots for days. He wanted this like he'd never wanted anything else in the world before. In two hours, Grace was going to be his; they would forge a partnership together that he hoped never wavered.

He continued his observation of Catherine, who looked a little disturbed and it was now clear she wasn't happy about the association but why that was he was at a loss to decide. He knew with certainty that she had no designs on the boy herself, well Jace would see to that and he doubted it would even cross Catherine's mind she had it so full of Jace, the children or her business, that another distraction was unlikely, impossible also, he thought. He considered making his way out in the open for some fresh air, but there again, he wasn't going to get involved, not today anyway or for the next month either. He was officially on holiday from today and he was going to keep it that way! Catherine could fight her own battles today, she was equal to the task he was certain. He laughed at that thought and went over to check up on all the travel documents one last time, just for his peace of mind, he told himself.

~ ~ ~

Grace plucked at the sleeves of the faultless dress she wore; it was fifteen minutes before the ceremony. She'd watched the selected guests arrive and had breathed a deep sigh of relief when the Reverend Stott arrived. Not that she thought he might not, but one could never tell at this stage in the game, and here things never sort of quite went as you would predict them. A knocking on her door brought her attention back to the room, which she had used for the years she'd been resident here at 'Destiny'. She would miss it; it was home!

"Come in." Grace said quietly, it was probably her mother again fussing over the last minute creases in the bloody dress.

Catherine walked into the room and looked at her friend her eyebrows shot up reaching her forehead both of them. "What?  Never seen a woman in a wedding dress before?" Grace asked perplexed at the expression from her friend.

Catherine came closer and gave her a wide infectious grin. "Not one who looks like you do that's for certain Thornton, you're beautiful."

Grace laughed at her friend's choice of words, but also the awed inflection to them. "Give a girl a break Catherine, beautiful is not me, but I must admit I clean up pretty good wouldn't you say?"

Catherine lifted her friend's chin gently with her left hand and smiled into the brown eyes of her friend. "Yes, you do, and in my eyes Grace, you will always be beautiful. You make me proud to have you have as a friend. I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me in the past and for the future as well. Because, I think you and I have lots more mileage in our relationship, which will not end with this marriage or mine either."

Grace dashed away a tear at the comment. "Yeah, Jace told me she'd asked you and that you practically snapped her hand off, rather clever of you I must say Catherine. I'm pleased and you're right you and I have a way to go together yet. I think after all your mother told you to listen to me, right?"

Catherine gave her a rueful look and shook her head at the last comment. "I don't think I've ever thanked you properly for your unquestioning friendship and support especially in those early dark days after the accident. I wanted you to know..." Catherine was stopped as Grace stood up next to her and placed a well-manicured finger over her lips.

"Stop that Catherine, you and I will never need to say the words, it just will always be! For you, Jace, the children, always I think that's part of my destiny, you just have to live with it, that's all." Grace responded her tone croaky with unshed tears. "Where is the future Mrs...... what are you going to call yourselves by the way?" Grace looked at her friend it was an interesting question.

Catherine chuckled at her question. It removed the need to say what she thought about Grace's previous statement, there would be another time and place for that conversation. "God only knows; I think she's rounding up Jake, he went missing a few minutes ago still bemoaning the bow tie I think. Some how Devonshire would fit the bill, but I'm not sure Jace would be happy with it, then again Warriorson is my name here, but is that fair to Adam's memory? I think Jace and Catherine might be the solution, works for me anyway."

"Yeah, Jace and Catherine sounds a pretty solid combination to me, now come here give me a hug and let's get this circus on the road." Grace smiled at her friend who gladly hugged the best friend she had outside of Jace.

Eventually the two women looked at each other with tears in their eyes, "Better go and get seated Catherine or Jace will kill me.  Anyways, if my mother found out you crushed her perfect dress, well god help you." Grace laughed at the very thought of her mother in direct confrontation with Catherine it was a glorious, if unlikely possibility.

"Yeah, sorry, I'd better go and Grace you look the perfect bride, Colin better be good to you or he has me to contend with not to mention your mother." Catherine smiled and went out of the room as her friend replied.

"Get out of here Catherine and don't you dare laugh when I walk up the aisle." Catherine popped her head back in at that remark and gave Grace a devilish smile and then shut the door.

"God give me strength from women like that." Grace sat down and waited for Jake, he was going to lead her up the aisle if they could find him, now that would be fun. She wondered if the kid has any straw in his hair, for he had probably been hiding in the barn knowing Jake.

~ ~ ~

Catherine walked with poise towards her seat next to Jace; she was incredibly the last one to arrive and the look she received from Jace as she sat beside her told her it wasn't the best decision she'd made that day. "Sorry." Catherine murmured in Jace's ear and was immediately clutched by the jacket lapels by Elena who was squirming uncontrollably on Jace's knee.

"Excellent, you're sorry, take Elena please and keep her still at least until I make sure that Lisa is holding the wedding dress properly and Jake is doing his duty by Grace." Jace sounded fraught and tense, handing the child over to her partner.

"No problem Jace that's fine." Catherine gave her a wary look and pulled the baby into her arms and held her on her knee, her silk skirt in Royal blue that matched the jacket not exactly a fitting place for a baby, but what else could she do!

Jace quickly departed to the patio door entrance and went inside, the ceremony five minutes away.

"Lisa are you ready?" Jace asked her daughter and saw the redhead look at her and gave her a big smile. The child looked marvellous in a light blue silk dress that matched in style the one Grace was wearing, her hair in braids and held on top of her head by a headband in blue primroses.

"Yeah, I am Jace. But Jake isn't, he keeps fiddling with that tie thing round his neck." Lisa looked at her brother and saw the answering scowl.

"That's enough Lisa. Jake do you or don't you want to look handsome for all the girls out there today?" Jace asked the boy in a diplomatic tone. He looked handsome anyway in the grey suit and light blue silk bow tie that was being tugged un-mercilessly to death around his neck.

"There aren't any girls out there except her." He jabbed his finger in Lisa's direction.

"Now, that's not polite Jake, and my sister certainly would be hurt at that remark also." Jace smiled at the obviously nervous child.

"Lucy is a woman not a girl Jace." Jake stated and a tinge of red appeared on his face as he looked at Jace, but it had effectively stopped him pulling at the offending tie.

"Yes, I guess she is, but even so, it's always worth looking good at anytime Jake, what do you say?" Jace noticed how he reacted to her sister's name, a possible crush no less.

Grace chose that moment to enter with her mother in full sail behind her fussing over the dress. Grace seeing Jace in the room gave her a long-suffering glance. "Hi Jace, come to see me before I go and do something every girl dreams of?"

"You look wonderful Grace, really you do and Colin will be so proud. I think he's going to wonder who the woman walking up the aisle to greet him is." Jace said sincerely, Grace had a glow about her and the dress in a simple white silk off the shoulder design certainly enhanced the image.

"Thank you Jace, want to swap places, I think the nerves are finally surfacing." Grace smiled at her and walked towards the window and her next destination.

"Only if I can swap the person standing at the foot of the platform as well." Jace replied wistfully.

Grace laughed and patted her shoulder, which was encased in an emerald green Chinese style silk dress that came to her knees it was a tight fitting creation but suited the blonde to perfection. "That could be arranged," was the drawled reply, as Grace knew who the replacement would be for sure.

"Well, my deed is done, Lisa here will help you with the dress going down the aisle and Jake here will take you by the hand and give you away, how does that sound?" Jace smiled at them all and watched the thrill and excitement pass over Lisa's face, as a proud bearing started taking shape in Jake at the simple words.

"Couldn't wish for anymore, thanks for taking care of everything Jace. You know we couldn't have done it without you, right Mom?" Grace turned to her mother.

"Yes, Grace, without Jace you wouldn't be standing here that's for sure, you would have eloped or something equally as drastic." Faith said dryly, but came over and hugged Jace and together they left Grace to the final couple of minutes before the music called the pace of the event.

"Guess it's just us now kids, what do you think about that?" Grace smiled at them her own emotions in turmoil and saw the differing expression cross their faces.

"You're going to be fine Grace." Jake said to her in a quiet solemn tone that belied his age, was he really only eleven?

"Thanks Jake." She then turned as the music started, "Think that's our cue, shall we?" Grace offered her gloved hand to Jake and she turned and grinned at her only bridesmaid, they both looked stunning and what a hell of a way they had all travelled in such a short space of time. Funny how crazy life could be, but how wonderful too!

They stepped out into the bright sunshine and the waiting guests and her future husband.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Sixteen

The marquee that Faith had arranged with Catherine's permission on the green area close to the paddock was now flowing with guests and the catering personnel, not to mention the four-piece band that Catherine had personally arranged. For her, it had been something she had wanted at her own ceremony to Jace, but the band had other engagements, failing that, she had asked them to play at Grace and Colin's wedding. Fortunately for her, the band members all came from the South Island and she had personally agreed to fund whatever travel arrangements they required to get to their home's that evening as it was after all Christmas Eve. The band 'Infinity' had been duly signed up for the afternoon celebrations, the fact that it was her favourite group was hardly the point, or not to her anyway. Jace had laughed at her when she'd mentioned the band playing and Catherine had personally taken great delight, in tickling her partner to stop the wicked laughter at her expense.

The wedding went ahead without a hitch. To say that Colin's expression when he saw Grace arrive beside him was to say the least astonished, as her appearance would be stating the obvious. Neither had shown nerves when the vows had been spoken, it was very clear to all assembled, they had eyes only for each other. The congratulations shortly after the ceremony had been rather laborious for the children, but eventually Jake had been given permission to take off the dreaded tie and he became once more at ease with the situation. Lisa was enthralled by the day and not only that her new grandparents had taken her in tow and she was happily dragging either or both around to be introduced to the other guests that she did know and Lisa knew them all!

Catherine was patiently trying to wipe away the signs of dribble her youngest daughter had deposited on her pale blue silk tunic style blouse. Alison and James Thompson, who between them had rescued Catherine when the child had become somewhat vocal in her attempts to keep all the attentions on her, were now trying to entertain Elena. Catherine was to say the least upset and her temper was certainly surfacing.

"Catherine give her to me, I'll take her for a while, she likes to be the centre of attention." Alison had smiled shyly at her, they had had little contact and although, Alison had been given all the inside information you could possibly get about the owner of Destiny, it was still an intimidating prospect to meet her face to face.

"Yeah, Catherine let Alison take her for a short time and I'll help." James gave her a huge smile, and Catherine was certain his face would split if he kept that up.

Holding up her hands with the baby in them who chuckled in delight at the treat of flying in the air, Catherine gave them both a nod of her head in thanks and handed over the energetic baby. 'Hope they had better luck.' She thought, and then went over to the makeshift water fountain that had been installed for the event, trying to remove the offending mark off her clothes.

Jason Bardley chose that moment to track her down and he watched her trying to clean up her expensive, but understated clothes! She was certainly a very beautiful woman and in clothes like the ones she was wearing, they enhanced the effect, no doubt about it. "I see our granddaughter has made her mark on you?" he asked her quietly.

Catherine turned to the man and she gave him a quiet reserved glance. "Yes, Elena has a habit of making her mark," her voice reflective.

"She certainly is a handful, Jace was never quite that inexhaustible as Elena appears. What about you, were you that energetic as a child?" Jason continued to trade glance for glance with this woman, who he was sure, must have warmth under all that ice she exuded to people, especially those she didn't know or care for, he wasn't sure yet where he came into the picture, or which category she had pegged him into.

"Me? No, I wasn't energetic far from it, quiet as a mouse.' Catherine gave him a thoughtful look. "Perhaps Adamson was and he lost it along the way, who knows." Catherine said her voice held sarcasm.

"Could be, although Jace would never agree to that, she thinks you're the other parent in both body and spirit, Adamson doesn't come into the equation at all for my little girl." Jason gave her a long look of his own trying to guess how that would affect her.

Catherine tossed her raven hair back and she gave him a half smile. "Jace is a dreamer," her eyes constantly scanning the marquee interior for the site of her partner.

Jason watched her closed features scan the area and he knew the second it had reached his goal as a faint smile registered on her face and her eyes glowed at the sight before her. "I guess so, but she was never one easily persuaded away from her dreams."

Catherine turned her gaze back to Jason Bardley and gave him a thorough inspection if he didn't know better he thought she was looking him over as she would some horse flesh, but then what did he know perhaps she was. "Yes, Jace has many dreams; I'm very happy she chose to come back and allowed me to share them with her."

"Do you hate my little girl for marrying Adamson?" Jason had wondered about that particular question when Jace had gone through with the marriage, he was certain that the reputation of Devonshire would not take the slight well, but Warriorson was another entity. He had always hoped that they could somehow get back together. His hope had materialised, but he always doubted a woman as closed off as this one before him would find it hard to forgive. Hell, she'd admitted that Jace had broken her heart that morning on the porch, so maybe she did feel some negative emotion to their daughter no matter how much she loved her.

Catherine's expression had a subtle change from cold to glacial as he said those words. She then laughed hollowly and pierced him with a cool regard. "Got to hand it to you Jason, you certainly know how to press all the buttons, did they give you classes in college in California?"

"Never went to college Catherine, didn't have the money, my parents died when I was fifteen. I had two younger brothers to keep. So, I kind of skipped school and went to work early." Jason informed her casually, as if it was a normal topic of discussion between them.

Catherine turned her head in interest, so he wasn't the typical middle class American she had perceived him to be. "Go on." She said quietly.

"I worked for fruit farmers and then decided to try my hand in the towns see what work I could get. Went to LA and worked as gopher for a small publishing house,' Catherine quirked her eyebrow in question. "Names don't matter Catherine, it's long gone now, bought out by people like you, or your father then I guess." Jason gave her a wry smile and she inclined her head in acknowledgement of the statement.

Catherine looked at him and pointed to a couple of chairs at a small round table to their left that was empty. "Do you want a drink?" She asked as a waiter passed by them with a fully laden tray.

"Can you take it?' He saw her heckles rise slightly, but she gave him a smile.

"Yes, well that was an experience, I'm not going to take a chance on again in the near future. I'll have a beer, you?" Catherine stopped the waiter and pointed to the beer.

"Make that two." Jason was given a large glass of beer and he drank a long draught and put it on the table in front of him.

"Jace never mentioned your background?" Catherine said quietly, watching the man being washed by long ago memories.

"No, I doubt you and she talk about anyone else, but the important things between yourself and the family, I would think?" Jason looked out over the area and saw his wife making her way towards Jace and Lucy with Lisa in tow.

"You're right. We don't, but we have discussed her family in depth." Catherine was surprised that Jace hadn't mentioned how her father had worked for his business, but then again it wasn't the best subject between then, it had separated them once before.

"Jace wouldn't consider it important! Then again it's hardly the best topic for you and she to talk about is it?" Jason gave her an understanding smile as a cloud passed over her eyes at the comment.

"I've never had to struggle for my money Jason, it has always been there, my Papa made the money and he eventually left it to me his only living relative. I doubt I would do so well given the same circumstances." Catherine looked away her voice tinged with a critical depreciation of her own skills should the situation have been reversed.

Jason saw the face take on a sad expression, her tone of voice not lost on him. "Oh, I think you would have done remarkably well Catherine, you have the strength of purpose that never gives up, that's all it takes. A little luck also, of course, but you have that a plenty in my little girl, she's a good luck token for you never forget that."

Catherine smiled genuinely at him for the first time since the disastrous words of the morning. "Between you and me, Jace would hate you to call her a little girl and a lucky charm, but Jason I'll not forget it, believe me!"

"So, you never answered my original question do you hate my little girl?" Jason was sure he knew the answer to that.

"Yes, I do!" Catherine answered her face serious but her eyes if he'd known her long enough held a teasing look.

Jason was astounded he hadn't expected that at all. "You do?" He whispered and drank heavily from the beer in front of him.

"Oh, yes. How many people have you lived with that are so good it makes you feel inadequate next to them; she's just......I can't explain your daughter. Yes, I hate her, but it's a good hate that is so much a part of the love I have for her that it's integral to my feelings for her. They will always protect and cherish her, trust me on that one." Catherine chuckled at the change in his face.

"Well, that's all I wanted to know." Jason said his voice wavered and he gave her a grin that reminded her of Jace.

"Look over there Jason, what do you see?" Catherine asked him her eyes pinpointed on her partner and the others with her.

"I see my wife, two daughters and a granddaughter, no two granddaughters, hell that didn't take long." Jason laughed as he saw Alison and James wandering off to a table and the company of Susan, Faith and Judy.

"Do you want to know what I see?" Catherine continued to keep her eyes on Jace at all times.

"No, what?" he looked over at the scene of the five women.

"I see the past, present and future, all of it represents what love has come, to mean, to me!" Catherine spoke in a quiet awed voice.

"Catherine you have taken the words right out of my mouth. How about another drink?" Jason was warming to this woman, maybe she wasn't as cold as he'd thought after this morning; you just had to find the subject matter to crack the visage. That was easy, it was his little girl and he was proud of her, it was a sure sign that Jace had the staying power that could make or break you in life. He now knew that she had it in abundance. He was no longer worried about her life with this woman; it was fine with him.

"Can't hurt thanks I'll have another beer."

They then discussed how he'd taken those first tentative steps to owning his own business.

~ ~ ~

"Mom, what do you think Catherine and Dad are talking about?" Jace asked her face anxiously turned in the direction of her partner's sitting talking to her father. They had been like that for over half an hour.

"Your father wanted to have a chat with Catherine. Is there a problem with that?" Alison Bardley looked at the anxious expression on her daughter's face and smiled. She then grinned at Lucy who was scanning the various tables for something, or was it someone?

"No problem, but I kind of have the feeling this morning that things didn't go too well earlier?" Jace ventured and saw her mother give her a nod.

"Hey, it didn't go too well with me either. Can't you keep your pet pitbull on a leash Jace?" Lucy joined the conversation of her least favourite person in the building. She had been embarrassed at some of Catherine's comments and a warning from the owner wasn't exactly going to be ignored by a lowly ranch hand. She'd been having fun too. What the hell did it matter that he was only ranch hand?

"What do you mean Lucy?" Jace had asked Catherine about her encounter with Lucy and Cruisal, but Catherine had used her powers of seduction to take her mind off the question and it for some strange reason never managed to get answered.

"Oh, come on, you know, Don't tell me the body beautiful over there, who can't keep her eyes off you, hasn't told you she tactfully, if you can call it that, told John, he wasn't to get involved directly with the guests. That he had a job to do, and she didn't want anything interfering with his work, or it could have severe consequences. I can't believe she didn't tell you, or does she keep secrets from you like all good lovers do? Catherine's a snob Jace. That's what they call them in England, people who think they come from a better class or are fabulously wealthy." Lucy was cutting and her tone annoyed in the extreme.

Jace was upset at her sister's tone and the implied words behind some of her statement; Catherine never kept things from her.......well. "Lucy Catherine was probably only looking after your interests. She takes a keen involvement in family matters. It's important to her that her family does not get hurt." Jace said, her voice attempting to convince Lucy that was the reason.

"She might be your family Jace, but she's certainly not mine. You're not married are you, for god's sake what gives her the right?" Lucy wasn't mollified by Jace's comment.

"No, we're not married yet! Catherine owns the property Lucy, if she wants to talk to her men, she will, and her word is paramount here." Jace pointed out.

"Well, thank god you're not married to that despot, for sure as hell she'll turn you into a snivelling suppliant within weeks." Lucy suddenly turned her gaze towards the entrance to the marquee and saw what she'd been looking for, John Cruisal. "Excuse me folks, I have a ranch hand to seduce and sure as hell, I'm going to do it too!" Lucy walked away before her mother could say a word.

"Hades, Mom, what's wrong with her?" Jace said with feeling.

"Ah, takes after your father for the temper I think Jace. But to be fair, it was a little overbearing of Catherine to take a stand, when she doesn't really know your sister or how she can handle herself." Alison saw the dejected look on her elder daughter's face; thank god Lisa and Elena had been taken to get something to eat by Faith, and she wouldn't want the children to see her daughter so unhappy.

"Catherine would be upset if she knew you all thought that about her. Is that the problem with her and Dad too?" Jace asked her face clearly distressed at the turn of the conversation.

"Your father thinks Catherine doesn't like him, he wanted to find out how much or if it was true. Looking at them and the beers they are consuming together, I think that's no longer an issue. How about we go over and join them. Weddings have a tendency to bring out the best and worse in a family Jace, and were not even the bride or groom's family!" Alison said as she placed a hand in Jace's arm and dragged her towards the pair that was totally engrossed in a deep conversation.

"Jason, how many beers have you downed since I've been gone?" Alison said her voice had a happy lilt.

"Why? Wondering how many you need to down to catch up?" Jason smiled at his wife and snaked a hand around her waist.

"Too right Jason, come on let's you and I go and get some drinks for this table." Alison smiled at Jason and dragged him off towards the bar.

Catherine smiled at Jace and looked over at her departing parents. "Something I said?" Catherine said her tone teasing, but she quickly changed it to one of concern as she saw the tears in her partner's eyes. "Jace? What's the matter? Is something wrong?"

"Something wrong? No, how on earth could it!" Her voice held bitterness that Catherine had only ever heard once before and that was a meeting she hoped she never had to experience again even in her memories.

Catherine wasn't sure what to say, so she gently guided Jace towards the vacant chair next to her and moved her chair closer so that they were inches away from each other, their breaths mingling. "Tell me, please?"

Jace looked at the concern in the still features before her and she gently extended a hand and touched the faint scars on her left cheek drawing her own comfort from the touch. "My sister thinks you're a snob, my mom thinks your overbearing and my Dadm thinks you don't like him. How's that for starters?" Jace looked down at the table and refused to keep eye contact with Catherine, even when she was forced to do so when Catherine lifted her chin to meet her eyes.

"Well.....I guess I just need to know what the most important member of that family thinks about me?" Catherine waited for her answer, her free hand shaking under the table, 'god I've made a mess of this family reunion thing.'

Jace gathered her wits over the remark and took a deep breath and gazed into the ice blue ones that held an anxiety she herself had felt only minutes before. "I love you." Jace saw the pain of the moment disappear and lights begin to shine again.

"I think I've got your father covered; I'll work on your mother and your sister well, it might take a little time, I was a little hard on Cruisal." Catherine spluttered out her emotions strained, but now soothingly calmed by Jace's words of love.

Jace chuckled and her own expression cleared. "You're way too much Catherine at times. I'm not surprised we have trouble with you." Her hand was taken and the fingertips kissed in a hunger that Catherine was hard pressed not to continue in a more intimate fashion.

"Not for you Jace, you can ask me anything and I'll do it!" Catherine responded and pulled her petite blonde into a loving hold.

"Well, in that case you already promised the children a Christmas Eve story and as you're the only one who knows about the dragon......." Jace gave her a saucy smile.

"I knew it! I get the message Bardley, no more drinks for me, and I have parent duty this evening correct?" Catherine smiled widely and placed her forehead against her partners.

"Yes, I'm going to help you build some of those bridges with my folks and you're going to watch me get drunk today. What do you think of that?" Jace smiled at her and their eyes locked in quiet appreciation of their love for each other.

"I think I might enjoy the fall out later." Catherine replied enigmatically as Jace's parents returned with the drinks.

"Mmm, how did I know you were going to say that?" Jace replied and sat forward with her back resting on Catherine's chest her eyes fixed on her mother, this was going to be a piece of cake, well her mother anyway.

~ ~ ~

Catherine was watching Jace dance with Colin, neither of them had a right foot between them, but it was fun to watch. Elena was asleep in her travelling crib at her side, Jake was talking with a couple of the resident ranch hands close to Lucy and John Cruisal, and Lisa was dancing with Judy. All in all, it was going reasonably well for her after the initial shock of Jace's earlier comments. Alison, Jace's mother was won over or she hoped so. Lucy was another thing and she hadn't had the opportunity to talk to the young woman, but there was time yet, a week no less. They didn't go home until the third of January, so there was definitely time for a rectifying chat.

"Hi, Catherine." Grace said loudly, her voice carrying so that others in their vicinity looked over and smiled at the bride.

"Hi, Grace. I see you've taken up where we left off yesterday?" Catherine smiled at her friend as she sat down heavily next to her.

"Yep, we're not leaving until tomorrow at six a.m. Soo......I'm enjoying myself. I see you got sentry duty today, huh?" her voice echoing her silent laughter.

"Yes, so it would appear." Catherine tenderly stroked back a tendril of hair that had fallen over Elena's face in sleep; it was the only time the child was truly still.

"You know something Catherine, that child is more like yours than Jace's." Grace said and placed a gentle finger of her own over the baby's cheek.

"Don't talk rubbish Grace, I didn't give birth to her!" Catherine put a hand to Grace's forehead to check for a fever. Grace swatted the hand away and gave her a grin.

"I never said that! Although are you sure? No, don't answer that I don't want to know. She's like you Catherine, and don't ever give up on your children, no matter what happens, do you hear me?" Grace said her voice slurred, but adamant.

Catherine gave her a long look and shrugged her shoulders. "Yes, of course, when would I?" Her voice resigned where on earth did Grace come up with these gems?

"Circumstances Catherine have a way of interfering, so don't forget that please, or it will be the death of you." Grace tilted her head to one side and spoke directly to her ice blue eyes.

Catherine saw the serious expression behind what she thought was a drunken comment from her friend. 'Thanks a lot Grace!'

"Hey, you two how about we change partners and go for a dance." Jace said dragging Colin in her wake.

Catherine smiled and looked at her lover. "Yes, I'm game, but what about the baby."

"Oh, forgot about that Catherine, guess it's you and me Grace." With that Jace dragged Grace to the dance floor and left the other two in their wake.

"I guess that leaves us here to talk." Colin said quietly, although he'd had a few drinks, he wasn't about to be overly friendly with his boss.

"No! You and me here and now, guess we can find the room to dance Colin, give them something to talk about," which, they did.

~ ~ ~

Lucy was swaying with the music to the band. They seemed to have a wealth of romantic music in their repertoire. She had been ecstatic when she saw Jace and her parents take on Catherine shortly after she'd left. She could now indulge in one of her more enjoyable pastimes, flirting with the boys.

John Cruisal was astounded that Lucy had ignored the owner, but then again, she had an ally in Jace her sister, that would make it easy he thought. Then again, it gave him a closer contact to Catherine and that's all he wanted. This was going to be so cool, Lucy wasn't complaining, and she was at least reasonably attractive, where was the harm in the situation?

"Have you heard of this band before John?" Lucy asked him as she continued to look at the cute bass player of the band.

"Yeah, they are very popular and are going to America in the New Year to try and make it over there." John liked them, but hadn't ever bought one of their singles or CD's; it was way too smooth for his collection.

It was one of the last songs the band would play as it was now seven in the evening and they had actually stayed longer than Catherine had contracted for at their own request.

"Well, folks we know that a certain party, who shall remain nameless likes our work and we hope that others do also, and for her we have a special song that we've written because we couldn't help her out in the New Year. This is for you!" The lead singer of the band announced and Catherine looked down at her table embarrassed.

The guitar intro started and with it lyrics Catherine had never heard before.

I will hold you close, hear your heart beat with mine, and feel our breath mingle together as one, our body's tangle in love. You're mine foreve

When you look at me, I smile and wonder why. As your eyes lock with mine, there will always be time. Because you gave to me unconditionally your love, my soul sings songs for only you.

I will hold you close, hear your heart beat with mine, and feel our breath mingle together as one, our body's tangle in love. You're mine forever!

Never has a day gone by since that first sight of you, that my heart hasn't stopped pounding heavily in it's cage. Don't walk away, stay, and please stay! Where would my heart rest if you left, it needs you so?

I will hold you close, hear your heat beat next to mine, and feel our breath mingle together as one, our body's tangle in love. You're mine forever!

Let love surround you, let my kisses enthral you; let my heart meet with yours. When my eyes look into yours let it lock, never to move away. Let my body take you places you've never been before, be mine!

I will hold you close, hear your heart beat next to mine, and feel our breath mingle together as one, our body's tangle in love. You're mine forever!

Don't talk of love, feel it, experience it, voice it with touch, you're mine let if be forever you know it, I do! I breath you in don't expel me be mine until eternity ends! There is only our love and that belongs to you and I.

Catherine had Elena close to her asleep on her lap; the baby had woken and wanted comfort earlier. "I guess that's what I think of your mother little one, hope she thinks the same." Catherine said quietly only the baby privy to the conversation contents or so she thought.

"I think the same Catherine." Jace said quietly as she sat as close as possible to her partner and their youngest child.

"I thought you were dancing with someone." Catherine said, although she knew damn well the person Jace was with, as she had watched her change partners on numerous occasions. At one stage Catherine had nearly walked onto the dance floor to stop a particularly amorous situation that was developing as one of Grace's cousin's tried to kiss Jace. Fortunately, Jace had repelled the border and Catherine had settled back in her chair, her pensive eyes the only mirror to her jealousy of Jace's dancing partners.

"Yeah, I was, then this song came on that I was sure had a significance to someone close to me, and I found I wanted to be with that person, what you going to do about that?" Jace gave her a green-eyed glance that made Catherine take a deep breath.

"I missed you too!" Catherine finally said as she got her own breath back from the heady glance she had from Jace.

Jace put her arms around her partner and it encompassed the baby too, "Would you like for me to tell you a story Catherine?"

Catherine smiled and gave the small snub nose next to her lips a brief kiss. "Sure, anytime I love your voice."

"Good, because this is about a dark time and how the image of love transcended everything and brought something unique and wonderful into the world." Jace saw the puzzlement on her lover's face today was the day she was going to learn about how their daughter was conceived.

"A fairy story Jace? I'm all ears." Catherine responded and rested the blonde's head on her shoulder.

'No fairy story Catherine, just a belief in the strength of love.' Jace started her story, "There was once a young Californian who was in love with a beautiful English woman, but misunderstandings separated them......"

~ ~ ~

There are times in one's life that are simply impossible to understand; Jace's story as she called it was one of those times for Catherine.

'I always knew that you loved me and I never gave up hoping that the marriage was a sham, a hoax. Something I would wake up one day and find was a nightmare and yet! Here we are with a daughter and you tell me the most wonderful tale that makes me want so very much to believe. I love her Jace, as much as if she was mine, but she's more than mine, she's ours! In all my life, I could never want so very much to have that a fact, a certainty. The final piece that makes up the puzzle of this life of ours, if I could change anything in life, I wouldn't change a thing! How could I? There are so many things that have happened that have derived from a simple action, a word, a need that I want only to spend what I have of this world with you and our family.  This love I have for you encompasses all of our children, those that are born to us and those that have been given to us for safekeeping; nothing can come between that feeling for you and for them! Nothing, I swear on my life!'

Catherine looked over at Elena as she laid her gently to sleep in Lisa's bedroom, having spent the last half-hour story telling to their two eldest very tired children, although, neither of the youngsters would admit they were worn-out or exhausted in the least.

Jace was still partying and was happy; she had been whisked away by her father before Catherine had time to talk about Jace's story about Elena's conception, but it didn't matter there would always be another tomorrow, as Grace continually used the expression 'always', wasn't that the truth.

Catherine moved away from the crib and walked over to the open window it was a beautiful night and the stars shone brightly overhead. It was going to be Christmas tomorrow and she loved the day and what it meant to her. And what she was hoping to convey to her family.

Turning she walked silently out of the room along the corridor into her own bedroom and walked over to the view from her window. Smiling at the sight of the people enjoying themselves and the strains of music softly permeating the air. She heard the door open and turned to see who had walked into the room.

"Hey." Jace smiled, as she looked at the tall-relaxed stance of her partner.

"Hey, yourself Jace." Catherine responded, her smile lighting up the otherwise sombre features.

"I was kind of wondering if a certain friend of mine would like to take me for a dance, what do you think?" Jace pulled her tongue out a little, which caused Catherine to take a deep breath.

"Love to, but I have parent duty tonight remember?" Catherine smiled and went forward and pulled the small blonde into a tight hug.

"Yeah, I know, so I have a solution. Faith is willing to take over for the rest of the night subject to you making sure that her daughter goes to bed at a reasonable time." Jace smiled sweetly at her partner.

Catherine tipped her head in a gesture suggesting she was thinking about the problem. "I think I could manage that, especially as I saw Grace and Colin leaving the party for his house a good hour ago, absolutely no problem." Catherine smirked and dropped her head to kiss the inviting lips before her.

"I love you Catherine, god it hurts to think how much." Jace gave her an expression of such deep devotion.

"Don't think about it Jace just feel it." Catherine proceeded to kiss her partner to show her exactly what it meant. Their movements getting closer and closer to the bed as they finally reached the edge and sank down into the comfortable depths before them.

"I thought we were going to dance?" Jace mumbled between kisses.

"Yes, we are but my form of dancing isn't suitable for a public floor show, are you game?" The low sultry tones of her lover assailed Jace's hearing as her dress was unzipped and hands stroked her back in anticipation of the answer.

"Oh, try and stop me Catherine try and stop me! This is my dance darling, so, it's my turn first." With that, she embraced her partner, caressed her, the kisses were never-ending; having learned what pleasured her when she smiled and nuzzled her love, she nibbled every part of her dance partners body, which arched and moaned. With hands and tongue she brought her tall raven-haired lover to a precipice where she trembled, waiting for low sounds from her throat to subside, then continue to play her more slowly, extending the pleasure they found, each in the other.

"Mm-hmmm, ohhh Jace, yes, yo....ur dance....JJJace." Catherine moaned, gloriously happy.

With this, Jace pulled her lover deeper into the embrace and was lost for what could certainly be the rest of the evening and more!

~ ~ ~

Chapter Seventeen

Catherine sat in the large brown leather, high backed chair that was now well used and entirely too comfortable when seated in its depths. Her eyes alight from the twinkling of the small coloured threads of light from the Christmas tree lights that adorned the eight-foot beast that was central to the room for the festive period.

Elena was playing happily in her pen at the right side of Catherine's chair. It was five thirty on Christmas morning. No matter how she'd exerted herself over the previous day and evening nothing stopped her from getting up early on this special day. It was something that she felt her body clock knew with conviction. Only this year, she had a compatriot-her daughter. Elena was wide-awake when Catherine had quickly washed up and put on some casual sweats and a shirt. The baby was duly changed from her sodden diaper and put into a fresh set of clothes, with this child; they had to be strong and fairly dark in colour. Elena had a habit of staining just about everything she wore not to mention other people's garments as well, as Catherine had cause to remember this titbit from yesterday.

"How about we get you a present to open little one?" Catherine smiled it was different when you shared the day with others and this day they were sure going to share with more than just the immediate family. Although, she would miss the presence of Grace, they had after all shared the day for over six years together. Never ceasing to amaze Catherine that each year she had to go and wake Grace up at nine in the morning, because she'd become tired of waiting for her friend to share the day. Last year had been slightly different in that the children had shared the day. It had been a bonus to Catherine to see their faces as the gifts were presented to each child. Catherine herself hadn't been in a condition to quite enjoy it as she would have normally, but there was always going to be another year and today was the point in fact.

Catherine stood up from the depths of the chair and raised her arms above her head to release the cramp she had suddenly found in her left shoulder, it still caused her problems from time to time, maybe she need more therapy? Now she wondered who would take on that particular task if she decided to go ahead with that contentious thought making her chuckle as she imagined Jace's comments on the proposal. Walking over to the tree, she kneeled down on the floor and rifling through the numerous presents that were situated under its generous branches. She considered sorting the presents into people, but then decided against it. After all, that was the fun in part of the morning the finding of presents, or she had always felt that way. It had been years since she'd ever had the luxury of more than a couple of presents under the tree. She had often watched Grace with envy when she'd selected and opened her presents from her family at least, as she always had more to choose from.

Jace had wrapped all the children's presents, although they had selected them together and Catherine had only gift-wrapped Jace's and Susan's so, she had difficulty in locating one for her youngest daughter. Then she spied a gift tag that had Elena's name on and it was from Jake, she almost passed it over and then decided that Jake wouldn't mind if his sister unwrapped a parcel without the rest of them being present.

"Okay, little one, time to cause havoc, what do you say?" Catherine's smile lit up her expressionless features as she placed the brightly coloured paper package inside the pen and watched as her daughter grasped it and started to poke it in an energetic manner. The child continued to poke the parcel and small slits appeared as she pierced the packaging, but it still remained reasonably sound. Finally, Elena placed it up to her mouth and began to suck the bow that had been placed on top of the package.

"Hey! No Elena you can't eat it; it's not good for you!" Catherine laughed as she retrieved the package and checked that she had repossessed all the trimmings that went with it. Elena looked at her with her expressive green eyes and they teared up at her Catherine's intervention in her play.

Catherine saw the glistening of tears and shook her head. "Elena, you look like your mother do you know that? How can I resist that look? Mmm." Catherine picked up the child from her pen and Elena rested her head on the broad shoulder and stared up at her with round green eyes. Sitting down in the chair, she placed the child in a secure position on her lap and then the package was placed in front of the child minus the bow and the coloured ribbon that held the package in place. Catherine watched in fascination as the child tentatively this time prodded the parcel and looked up at Catherine, and then she grinned. Catherine couldn't resist the grin and returned one of her own on the child and placed her head close to the smaller one and kissed her on the cheek.

"Go for it little one."

Elena must have been waiting for those words. Although, she was actually too young to understand the content, the intonation was enough and the child simply torn the paper apart and out dropped a clown in all its glory of orange spiky hair, multi-coloured suit and black large extended boots. The face of the clown had a bright red exaggerated nose and round blue eyes, the lips of the clown were in white and red with a big smile plastered over it's face. A sound was heard as Elena hugged the toy to her. It was in a soft material and none of the soft toy had any parts that could harm the baby. Jake had been very careful in his selection, not only that he'd bought something that the child looked as if she loved immediately and the belly laugh that erupted if its tummy was pushed in amused not only the baby but Catherine as well! They both chuckled as Elena began the process of working out exactly how she'd managed to create the sound in the first place.

"Something to keep you occupied little one until everyone arrives." Catherine consulted her watch and noticed it was almost six and that she needed a hot mug of tea as she continued her vigilance over the Christmas presents. Checking that the baby was okay in her pen as she placed both the child and the new toy inside, she walked out of the room, but left the door ajar for any sound from her daughter.

The kitchen was immaculate which rather surprised Catherine. After all the activity of the previous day, but then again they were paid enough to see that everything was put back in its place. Walking over to the kettle, she filled it with fresh water, switched it on, then removing her favourite mug from the rack and placing a teabag inside. Judy would be upset that she wasn't using the teapot but...it was her house and she was entitled to be as slovenly as she chose. It made her smile anyway. Grace would have had a fit also, if she'd seen it.

"So, as soon as my backs turned you resort to unladylike behaviour, shame on you Catherine." Grace said from her position at the kitchen doorway.

Catherine almost jumped out of her skin; talk about sneaking up on someone and especially when you had been thinking of that person at that moment, Jesus! "Grace Merry Christmas to you too!" Catherine turned to her friend, and motioned for her to come inside.

Grace smiled at her and saw the obvious pleasure her presence brought to her friend; she had said to Colin that no way would she go without at least saying Merry Christmas to Catherine. Colin was sceptical that she would be up. Grace had laughed at that, and some hope the woman would stay in bed. "Merry Christmas Catherine, hope you have a great time."

"I thought you would have left by now. What time is the flight?" Catherine leaned on the breakfast table and looked keenly at her friend.

Grace gave her a suspicious look and answered. "The helicopter is waiting for us. We have a flight to this wonderful destination that was suddenly explained to me late last night, and we need to be there by nine. How on earth did you convince Frank to give up his Christmas day?"

Catherine looked down at the terracotta-tiled floor and then back up to her friend a bashful look on her face, her ice blue eyes giving her a shy appearance. "I asked that was all! Frank is very amenable and he likes you and Colin, guess that's his wedding gift to you both, his time."

"I don't believe it, Frank has kids who wouldn't want to be with them at this time of the year?" Grace gave her a shrewd look and saw the faint tinge of red appear.

"Can you ever take anything on face value Grace? Why do you always require the whole explanation even when you haven't the time? Go and join your husband and get away from here." Catherine smiled at her friend and saw the tilt of her head at the words.

Grace went over to Catherine and placed her arms around her in a hug and whispered into her ear. "Thank you Catherine, for the wonderful wedding present. I've always wanted to visit those places. Take care of yourself and everyone and have a great time, love you." Grace disengaged and heard a wail from the lounge. "You have a partner in crime Catherine.....in getting up so early?"

Catherine smiled at the choice of words, "Yes, it would appear so. Elena was awake, kind of thought she might like to keep me company, but I bet she's hungry now."

Grace laughed and turned towards the kitchen door, smiling as she saw Colin pacing up and down near the vehicle. "Well, today I'm going to leave you to that, and she likes the milk biscuits better than the chocolate ones, see you in a month." Grace left without another glance and walked swiftly toward her husband who enfolded her in a hug and they entered the vehicle, and then swiftly left the ranch.

Catherine watched them as she went over to the cupboard that held Jace's chocolate, and she hoped something to keep Elena happy. Peering inside, she chuckled as she saw the mountain of items, Jace really did have a sweet tooth. Fortunately, they exercised every morning to ward of the inevitable pounds that would appear if Catherine's whims over the chocolate cupboard were allowed to take over. She saw what she was looking for a packet of milk biscuits and pulled them out. Her own tea now diffused, adding the obligatory milk to the beverage, then sauntered back into the lounge to quiet the baby, which turned out to be easy with the milk biscuit. Grace was right; Elena loved the biscuits, which worked out very well. She settled back into her chair as she sipped her tea and waited for more arrivals.

~ ~ ~

Lisa was running around the room, her excitement displayed on her face and in her actions as she hugged first Jace and then Catherine and just about everyone she could get her hands on. Lisa had been given a dolls house. It was over five feet tall and was in the English Victorian period style; including the Victorian accessories and the miniature dolls that made up the family, who resided in the impressive looking house. Jace had mentioned to Catherine that Lisa had spent ages looking at the window of the largest toy store in New York at the old period style dolls house. Catherine had smiled at the child's choice; it wasn't that common a present these days, but if her little Princess wanted one, she could have one as Christmas was around the corner.

It had been fun to make that call and when it arrived at the apartment, Stephanie Merchant, their new housekeeper at the apartment was enthralled by the present.

"She's a very lucky girl for you to buy such an expensive and wonderful gift. Kids don't always appreciate this kind of present, certainly not one so young." Stephanie had stated as she'd checked over the items on the itinerary that had come with the enormous box. Catherine being blind had to trust that task to her new housekeeper and between them, they finally agreed that all the contents were there and that she would ship the present out when she went home on her private plane rather than trust it to the commercial traffic.

"I'm the lucky one Stephanie, that little girl has brought more happiness into my life than I can ever repay to her. If it's possible she can have the world and I would try and get it for her!" Catherine replied simply to Stephanie's earlier statement.

Catherine mulled that point over in her head. 'Yes, I'm the lucky one.' As she watched Lisa being swung around the room by a happy looking James Thompson, she was glad he was here too; at least he had things to keep his mind off the first Christmas he'd not shared with

Paul in many years.

"Penny for them?" Jace smiled deep into her partner's eyes her green orbs lighting up the room for Catherine.

Smiling at her partner she turned a hand over the cheek that was close to her and gave back a dazzling smile of her own. "I guess I was thinking about how happy I am and how wonderful it feels to share this with everyone."

Jace caught the flash of wonder cross Catherine's face at her own words. "Well, my darling, you certainly know how to share this day. I have to hand it to you, everyone is so happy with all the gifts and I've never seen Jake and Lisa look so happy and that baby of ours well, she's got so many presents, they are tumbling out of the pen."

Catherine smiled as she recalled Jake's eyes go round as saucers as a state of the art computer was unwrapped and numerous items of software both educational and enjoyment were unwrapped. He'd finally tugged her hand and cajoled her to install it in his room. She'd done as he requested, hell it was hard not to, the kid only had to look at her with those shy hazel eyes of his and she fell like a nine pin. Now Lucy and Alison were 'helping' him to play, they were merrily arguing about whose turn it was going to be after Jake had his turn at a game.

Faith and Alison, Jace's mother were taking it in turns to hold the now tired Elena, as Grandparents are apt to do. Both knew that their time with the child was going to come to an end shortly, one to go back to America, the other had to go back to her life in Auckland. Faith's return to her old home had never been discussed, but the woman felt that her presence was now a hindrance now that the wedding was over and Grace was 'only' the ranch foreman's wife.

Jason Bardley was happily sorting through his stack of presents and had been amazed at the gift from his elder daughter and her partner. It had been a life membership of the most prestigious golf club in LA, the cost alone was phenomenal but to actually be nominated and accepted well that was impossible for one of his standing in the community. "How?" He'd asked, his mouth he was sure had kept open in astonishment.

Jace had smiled and placed a hand on Catherine's back. "You will have to ask Ms. Do-it-all here, because she sure does some amazing things."

Catherine had blushed at the compliment and shrugged her shoulders, did it really make a difference how, all that mattered to her was that he enjoy the gift.

"So, Catherine how did you manage to ingratiate my name among the famous and wealthy?"

Catherine looked down at her feet her face definitely taking on an embarrassed hue. "I have a business friend who plays at the club regularly, he was more than happy to sponsor you and well that's all really."

"Catherine you have to prove that you're worth millions before they let you pass over the reception area, never mind set foot on a green!" Jason was still amazed at the gift.

Catherine thought about that for a few minutes. "Well Jason you are worth millions aren't you? Look at all the love around you with your family, that's worth millions in my book." She turned away as she saw an opportunity to talk to Lucy.

Jason watched her move away towards his younger daughter. "Did she just say what I thought she said Jace?"

Jace was equally surprised at Catherine's comment but she always knew the right words if pushed and what lovely words too and she meant every single one of them. "Yeah, she did Dad and let me tell you, if that's what she thinks, then you take that as explanation enough, because that's all you'll get from her but isn't it enough?"

"Enough? Jace the woman is so right. I find it hard to associate the comment and what you hear about her that's all." Jason said quietly.  "Then don't go by hearsay Dad, take the time and get to know her, you will benefit from it trust me." Jace gave him a sympathetic smile. Yes, well the hard nosed Catherine Devonshire and the tender hearted Catherine Warriorson were a little hard to work out, but it was the complexity of the woman that made it a satisfying challenge and one Jace more than welcomed in every waking minute.

"I will." Jason smiled as he saw Catherine attempt to charm his reluctant younger daughter, Lucy wouldn't last long he was sure of that, or he hoped anyway they could do without any further friction.

Lucy watched with annoyance as the hostess walk up to her and effectively dismissed with a look, Alison her mother. Just because Catherine had charmed her parents didn't mean that it would work on her; she was stronger than them and Catherine had been wrong.

"Lucy would you mind if we talked for a few minutes? I owe you an apology and possibly to Mr. Cruisal, but I'll deal with that at a later time." Catherine said quietly her eyes showing an apologetic stance, not something she particularly cared to emit, but Jace was important to her, so her family had to be appeased.

Lucy was taken by surprise at the admission and the woman before her looked sincere. There again she was probably well versed in being polite and charming. She'd read up on Jace's lover and it hadn't been pleasant. How her sister had managed to get entangled in this one's life amazed her but for some reason Jace had and it was obvious that for Jace at least it was a lifetime's commitment, her sister was like that. "Go ahead it's your house."

Catherine inclined her head at the comment. "Yes, and I hope you use it as yours whenever you come over to visit us!" Catherine decided to use the word 'us' rather than Jace, see what Lucy thought of that. Catherine wasn't fooled either, the young woman was astute enough to see that she was making polite inroads for her sisters sake.

"You'll hurt my sister if you carry on those outdated arrogant attitudes of yours." Lucy countered angrily.

Catherine pierced Lucy with an ice cool glance and watched the younger woman squirm at the stare she was receiving. "Your sister is safe with me."

"But no one else right?" Lucy persisted she wasn't going to be intimidated by the glacial look she was receiving.

"All in how people treat others, I can defend my family, friends and property, especially from unscrupulous people who might want to exploit them." Catherine stated in a cool voice, which matched her eyes.

Lucy gave a sarcastic laugh. "So, you think John is under that category? You never had the decency to check what was going on before you became the heavy-handed father figure. I have a father by the way, if you hadn't noticed, I don't need a substitute." Her tone matched the laugh she emitted.

Catherine considered the woman's words, well not everyone liked her and perhaps she was going to have concede that perhaps this part of Jace's family might be hostile; it was always a possibility and one Jace hadn't considered. Then again, why would she, Jace was far too good-natured to even think that someone could dislike her especially one of her family. "I take your point and that is duly noted Lucy, for that I will once again apologise. Trust me on one thing, because shortly you will become part of my family. There will be an element of risk attached to that, and I WILL ensure that you are not hurt unduly by that joining of our lives however distant. You might not enjoy this aspect, but its going to happen and with your help or without it you will get my protection and my dear you will have to hate me accordingly, if that's the course you decide to take."

Lucy had never heard Catherine say such a long speech in the couple of days she'd been on the ranch, not even to Jace, the woman was ridiculously silent in some conversations that had gone on around her. "When you do talk you are rather cryptic and to the point."

Catherine gave her a sardonic smile and lifted her left eyebrow to her forehead. "Maybe to people who can't accept an apology when they hear it."

"Perhaps that apology isn't genuine that's why!" Lucy was affronted by the remark and looked at her elder sister who had been shifting uncomfortable, as their voices had risen so the whole room was aware they weren't exactly having a friendly Christmas chat.

"So be it Lucy. I'm not apt to repeat myself, take it anyway you like. I have other guests who would like my brand of conversation however limited." Catherine turned on her heal and walked away towards Susan.

Jace chose that moment to talk to Lucy. "I saw her face, her voice went a pitch higher, come on Lucy give?"

"She's too old and set in her ways for you! Why ask me?" Lucy said annoyed that her sister was questioning her. Why didn't she go and ask the bitch she was living with for an answer to that.

Jace looked at her sister it hadn't gone well, that was certain. "Age has nothing to do with this Lucy. And I will ask her, believe me she's not going to get away with this kind of upset on Christmas morning."

Lucy looked ashamed at her sister's obvious anxiety over the situation. "She apologised, I thought she wasn't sincere. Lets' just say, we agreed to differ for now."

Jace shook her head and looked at her sister giving her a long look that made Lucy wish she were in another room. "I love her Lucy. Whatever you say, whatever you do can't and won't change that. If you can't accept her, that's your loss. Believe me, you will loose by it, but she's in my life for good, and I guess we wont see much of you if you both keep up this antagonistic attitude to each other." Jace's voice carrying the hurt she felt, which made her sister cringe, that she'd caused any pain for Jace didn't deserve it.

"Look Jace, Catherine and I might not agree on something's but we will be civil okay, I promise you." Lucy said meaning every word after all; she didn't have to talk to the woman, did she?

"Okay, I accept that for now, so did you like what you received as a present?" Jace linked her arm in her sister's and watched the animated face of her younger sister enthuse over the laptop computer that she'd received it was going to be a life saver in college, not to mention all the educational software that had been loaded on it. Jace didn't think it was the right time to tell Lucy that it had been Catherine's idea. That she had personally chosen the model, and checked with her college on the study programs her sister was taking to help her buy the most suitable software to have loaded. Oh, well, there was always another time; her partner did have that unique talent of being misunderstood!

Now sitting close to Catherine and watching the eyes light up with the sheer joy of the day, Jace had to admit there was never a time when Catherine look so relaxed and happy to her. "You haven't opened all of your presents Catherine?"

"Yes, I have, all the presents I'll ever need are here in this house, and everything is a gift Jace. Simply the feeling of being part of a family again, it is simply too precious to not keep looking at it and savouring the emotions it brings." Catherine turned her gaze to the laughing faces in the room and she was happy.

Jace looked at her partner and realised that was the truth of it, Catherine really didn't need material things; she had all of those and could buy whatever she needed. What she couldn't buy was the simple enjoyment that others had in the day, which was a gift that her partner never took for granted. She guarded it with quiet determination; it wasn't to be squandered in anyway. "Tell you what, how about you and I go to our room and share a moment to open our presents to each other, what do you say?"

Catherine gave her a bright smile and nodded her head. "Yes, plenty of people.....family to take care of the kids for an hour or so." Jace noticed the change of tack Catherine had taken in the comment and it made her smile even more.

"Let's go then!" Jace grasped Catherine's hand and hauled her out of her chair and they went out of the room, knowing glances followed them.

"Jace wants to kiss Catherine Merry Christmas you know. That's where they're going; why they don't do it here it's a mystery." Lisa piped up and a round of laughter greeted her words.

"One day Lisa, that mystery will become apparent to you, but for now well let them have a mystery." Susan chimed in and the child looked at her with bright blue eyes, her red head bobbing in acknowledgement of the words.

"Yeah, okay Susan, Catherine likes a mystery do you know that? She can tell smashing stories too, do you know she's telling us about a dragon called......" The child went over to sit at Susan's feet and related the exploits of Catherine's story telling.

~ ~ ~

Chapter Eighteen

Catherine immediately pulled Jace into her arms and gave her a resounding kiss that set Jace's heart hammering at a tremendous speed that threatened her composure.

"You certainly know how to kiss a girl to block out anything else, but you Catherine." Jace whispered hoarsely into her left ear as the embrace was loosened and Catherine looked down into her green eyes.

"I only know how to kiss one girl like that, and she's the only one who will ever receive that kind of attention from me ever!" Catherine responded her voice low, totally compelling Jace to continue where they left off.

Several minutes later they both gasped for breath and clothes were straightened from their disarray. "Can I ask you a question before we open our presents Catherine?" Jace wanted the sorry subject of her sister out of the way; having Catherine totally relaxed in her embrace seemed as good a time as any.

"Ask away, for you are the only present that I'd like to open this morning." Catherine responded huskily her eyes tracking to the bed and she pulled Jace towards the comfort of the mattress.

Jace gave into the insistent tugging of her partner towards the large comfortable bed. "You say the most seductive things, and I love them all!"

"Good! I have more where that came from, so what do you need to ask me?" Catherine slid onto the bed and Jace slowly sank onto her chest and they faced each other both smiling languidly at each other.

Jace placed a gentle kiss on Catherine's lips and then gave her a serious look. "Are you and Lucy going to be friends or enemies?"

Catherine sighed heavily at the comment. It was not exactly what she had expected, but she knew it was bound to be asked at some juncture, as they had not exactly had a quiet conversation. "How about we are going to exist uncomfortably, together, at the moment."

"Lucy has always been independent and she can look after herself Catherine, she doesn't need......" Catherine stopped the words.

"I know she doesn't need a father figure, she told me, guess you can be to protective huh?" Catherine smiled wryly and captured Jace's lips in a reassuring kiss that melted Jace's heart.

"Yeah, maybe if you back off a little, we can work things out and who knows, she might get to like you, I know I do." Jace said diplomatically.

Catherine quirked her eyebrow and gave her a sultry smile. "Oh! I'm hoping you more than like me Jace." Her chuckle close to Jace's lips was silenced as the blonde captured them in an exhilarating kiss of abandon.

Eventually, they surfaced again and both looked bemused at the emotion they were creating. "You want to open these presents now, or later?" Catherine asked their foreheads touching.

Jace moved a little, reached over to the nightstand drawer located on her side of the bed, opened it and retrieved a slim oblong package. Jace looked at it a couple of times and then handed it over to Catherine, who gave her a quizzical look and a smile that set the blood rushing through Jace's veins like a river flowing in a storm.

Catherine reached into her shirt pocket opening the button that kept it closed and removed an even smaller object and handed it to Jace. Green eyes smouldered into hers, she was hard pressed not to say to hell with packages and open the package that enticed her with its lithe, warm, living and breathing entity held within.

Both women moved up the bed and rested against the pillows as each carefully opened the package they had been given.

Catherine was the first inside hers well she'd given tips to everyone on how to open presents fast, years of practice she'd quipped when asked. The velvet box enclosed within the wrapping was opened to display a solid gold chain and hanging from the centre a locket in finely crafted solid gold the front had a 'C' in a gothic print and on the back an 'X' in the same style. Catherine carefully opened the clasped that held the locket together and it sprung open to reveal a picture on one side of the three children and the other a picture of the two of them laughing together. "It is enchanting Jace." Catherine barely audible her hands turning the locket over and over in her hands as fingers tracing the pictures held inside, it was her family!

"You like it?" Jace gave her lover a tentative smile. What did you give the woman who could buy anything?

Tears glistened on her eyelashes as Catherine confirmed her pleasure with a gentle kiss. "What's not to like, you have given me a family," her words soft and spoken with emotion.

"I didn't want to make you cry Catherine." Jace tenderly wiped away the tears that slid down her cheeks.

"These are happy tears Jace, you have made me happy. What more can you possibly give me than what I have today?"  Catherine's words were spoken with a quiet conviction, which had Jace spurting her own tears as well. "Open yours Jace."

Jace began to unwrap the small package she'd received, her hands folded around an even smaller velvet box than the one Jace had given Catherine. Opening the box Jace gave a startled gasp as the largest emerald ring encrusted with diamonds on the eaves sparkled at her. "Catherine this is......gorgeous, I saw it in Tiffany's in New York it......it cost a fortune!"

Catherine pulled the ring out of the box and tenderly placed it on Jace's ring finger. Taking the finger up to her lips she placed a gentle kiss on the finger and the ring, "perfect fit, just as you are in my life Jace."

Jace this time had tears streaming down her face, it was simply the most expensive and exquisite piece of jewellery she had ever seen outside of Tiffany's. "Who told you about this ring Catherine?" Jace knew that the only time she'd ever discussed it had been here at home with......yeah with Grace. Wait until she got back, that woman was going to get the warmest hug in history.

"Ah a little bird told me and obviously was right on the mark too." Catherine chuckled and held Jace close the blonde head finding a natural space on her shoulder.

"Well, maybe I might get the chance to thank the little bird huh?" Jace kissed the collarbone that was exposed with the shirt collar being open.

"Maybe and where did you manage to get my present custom made?" The craftsmanship was very professional and clearly handcrafted.

"Would you believe here or rather in Christchurch, it was hard to think of something you didn't have." Jace admitted ruefully and pulled a face into the exposed neck.

"I love you, and I love the locket it will be close to my heart from now on and if we are ever separated, then I will always have you near. It's a wonderful gift my love. One I will cherish the rest of my life." Catherine smiled and kissed the blonde head.

Jace looked up into the ice blue eyes that now flashed with banked down passion, her own eyes glazed with a fire that burned for the woman beneath her. "What did you say about another package you'd prefer to open?" Jace's voice was enticing and extremely seductive.

Catherine returned the gaze and held it for several seconds before she bent her head and began a passionate exploration of the whole face of her lover, moving in a sensual meandering over her throat and then progressively to her breastbone. "This package is going to take time to unwrap, but have patience Jace, you will love what the receiver has to offer in exchange." Catherine said in a low growl that plundered Jace's senses and she was consumed with a desire that only the woman who was holding her could extinguish and they would do that in time, she had patience just as Catherine said, oh did she have patience.

 
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