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 strong language.

Violence: There is some violence, both emotional and physical in this fiction.

Hurt/Comfort: There is definitely some hurt/emotional discomfort in this one, with scenes of trauma to be dealt with by the characters.

Acknowledgement: I would like to thank all those individuals who kindly wrote to me about the previous story. Had they not done so, this sequel would certainly not have been released on the net. For without the essential feedback, be it good or bad, how does anyone know if his or her stories are being read, never mind enjoyed? Thanks again

This story takes up immediately after the previous story Define Destiny, possibly a little hard to follow if you have not read the original story.

Chapter One

Catherine was totally stunned with the events that had transpired in the last hour.

Jace had left her in the study to let Grace know that she would be staying the night and that dinner would be a pre-requisite of her staying, especially with another mouth to feed growing inside her. That had made Catherine laugh, without a doubt Jace would need to eat.

Catherine considered her options. She knew that going into the kitchen to see both Grace and Paul was something she would have to do sooner or later and she wasn't a coward. Was she? Maybe a little. 'I never ever thought you would come back into my life Jace, it is like a bloody wonderful, ecstatic miracle!' she looked around the study more as a reflex action, rather than in observation, her face glowing.

Walking slowly towards the door of the study, she opened it and Rio followed closely by her side as soon as she exited the room. The dog would often wait for his mistress outside the study and watch every door in the hallway for a movement; she didn't need him particularly in the house, unless there were strangers in it who might move something. Well, there were strangers here now, but hopefully that situation of being strange would turn to one of familiarity.

Grace watched the door in quiet excitement, Lisa and Jake had arrived minutes before Jace entered and they were all getting re-aquatinted. Paul had gone to his room; he needed to make some calls but would be back shortly. 'Now where was Catherine?'

As if on cue in walked Catherine Warriorson, her whole body seemed to have come alive, it was as if she had been a candle and someone had lit the wick, she was the Catherine of old, confident, aggressive and totally in control. 'How on earth had this small blonde done that in the space of an hour again! Talk about chemistry.' Grace smiled at Catherine and was the first to speak.

"So, we have another guest Catherine? You never mentioned it?" Grace teased Catherine and saw the colour rising on her cheeks.

"I...well I...It wasn't quite. Hell, didn't you know either?" Catherine finally managed to stutter out, her previous composure crumbling before their very eyes, or those that were watching carefully.

Grace walked nonchalantly over to Catherine and pushed her in the back playfully, and then taking her arm in a friendly gesture led Catherine to the table and her usual seat. "Sit down Catherine before you fall down. To answer your question, sure I did, great surprise don't you think?"

"A surprise, it was certainly that!" Catherine turned her almost sightless gaze around the room, making out the differing shapes of the people and the dog in the room. "Who's missing?"

"Ah, that would be Paul, he had some calls to make, and he should be here shortly." Jace supplied her tone surprised at Catherine's observations, maybe she sees more than Grace thinks.

"Good. What time is dinner Grace? I think the expression feeding the five thousand comes to mind, now Jace is back." Catherine's face was wreathed in a smile as she spoke the words flippantly.

Jace quickly came around the table from her position opposite and nudged Catherine on the right side gently. "Hey, who you calling the five thousand, I'm only eating for two here!" Although her tone was mildly aggressive it held the smile that Catherine could immediately picture. Her sight might be impaired but her memory certainly wasn't.

"Give me a break here people, I'm not everyone's favourite punch bag!" Catherine said with an indulgent inflection in her voice.

Grace watched the banter with fascination, 'This was exactly what was missing in her own life and until she could have this in a relationship, she wouldn't consider taking second best. Oh, Catherine what a fool you were to walk away and give it all up for a principle and you too Jace! Such a waste of time.'

Lisa took that moment to talk. "Is Jace going to stay and have her baby here Catherine?" All eyes turned to Catherine and then Jace, waiting.

"Well...Lisa it's too early to say yet. How about we let Jace settle in for a few days and see how she likes it here, okay?" Catherine put her head on one side and looked at the child, her body shape shifting in the chair to her right. Catherine suddenly felt a hand instinctively clutch hers and she gently squeezed it in reassurance.

"Jace liked it before, why does she need to stay a few days to see if she will like it again?" the child asked innocently.

"Lisa, drop it. Jace might have to go back to her husband." Jake said in a short tone to Lisa, and then noticed the odd expressions appearing on the faces of the adults in the room. 'Whoops! Might be a good idea to leave.' Jake thought reluctantly.

"Do you?" Lisa could at times be annoying.

Grace walked over to the child and handed her a cookie. "How about you go and tell Colin that dinner is going to be at six p.m. darling, and Jake here will help you deliver the message, won't you Jake?"

Looking around him perplexed, he shrugged his shoulders and snagged a cookie for himself with a big grin at Grace and walked out dragging an agitated Lisa with him. "But she didn't answer me Jake, we gotta know..." The small voice was muffled as they went out onto the porch.

Grace shot the two women a look and glanced at the hands that still clung together as if their lives depended on it. "How about some tea for you Catherine and coffee for you Jace?"

Jace gently disengaged her hand and pulled out the chair next to Catherine and sat close by her. " Yeah, great idea, thanks Grace, fortunately coffee isn't on my list of favourite things that I have had to give up because of this baby. Now anything sweet, well, would you know I throw up?" Jace surreptitiously looked at Catherine, who was staring at the wall in concentration.

Grace chuckled and turned and noticed the frown appear on Catherine's brow. 'Hell, she was thinking, that could be dangerous for them.' "Catherine did you have to give up any of your favourite things when you had Lucas?" Well, she's either going to answer or storm out thought Grace.

Catherine turned her gaze towards Grace and her frown became more pronounced. "I don't recall, it was a long time ago now." she said seriously.

"Oh, well I'm glad at least one of us has the experience of having had a child, at least you two have something in common."  Grace looked at Jace with an apologetic expression, kind of bad choice of words.

"You know something Grace, I'd almost forgotten how tactless you could be." Catherine responded quietly.

"Me tactless? Oh, come on Catherine, that's your prerogative, you are way superior to me. I'm a novice, but I am living with the best!" Jace laughed at them, It had always been the same, their conversations somewhat caustic but never malicious.

"Hey, Grace tells me that your kind of living a second childhood? What's that like?" Jace asked innocently.

Catherine raised both eyebrows at the question and her head turned suddenly towards Jace, who was only inches away. Her gaze was hypnotic, even if unfocused. 'Did this woman read her soul?' Jace shook her head in wonder.

"Second childhood? Now why on earth did she say that I wonder?" slowly getting up from her chair, she made her way across to Grace, who was pouring the tea and didn't know she was about to be pounced on.

Suddenly long arms reached around her and took the teapot from her hands. "I'm going to give you second childhood Grace."   With that she tickled the woman in the ribs for several seconds before Grace almost collapsed in a heap on the floor.

Catherine was busily tickling Grace with Jace laughing hard at them as Paul Strong walked into the room; taking one look at the room and the antics within he cleared his throat loudly. All three women looked up at the direction of the sound. "Is this a private party or can anyone join?" He smiled at the happy people in the room, 'thank god it was going to be all right.'

"You my friend are welcome to tickle Grace anytime you want," Catherine said with a chuckle.

"Does that go for Jace too?"

Jace looked at him and smiled, Grace saw the sudden shift in Catherine's demeanour.

"Up to her," she said off-handily, and walked back to her seat and the tea that was placed close to her right hand.

Paul quirked an eyebrow and settled himself opposite his boss, Jace smiled gently at him knowing he had touched a raw spot innocently.

"I think the baby would have something to say about it, if you started that particular exercise, it moves around enough as it is. " Jace broke the tense silence that descended the room. Some things hadn't changed and Catherine's withdrawal from a conversation she didn't particularly like was one of them.

"Okay, where have you put my things Grace, I need to rest a little if that's fine with everyone before dinner?"

Catherine broke out of her sullen mood, as suddenly as it had descended. "Are you okay? I know it was a long trip. If you're too tired to eat later, you can eat now? Grace will arrange it." Catherine rushed on in a concerned and apologetic manner.

Jace laughed and placed her hand on Catherine's, the woman was going to be a minefield to explore, but she was going to enjoy doing that, there was always a hard hat available if she needed it! "I'm fine Catherine, it was a long journey, but if I go and have a nap now I'll be fine."

"All right," although Catherine didn't sound convinced.

"You have the same room you had when you were last here, I had your luggage put in there when you arrived," Grace answered her original question.

Paul looked at Grace in surprise, he would have thought that Catherine would want Jace to share with her; maybe things weren't as cut and dried as he originally thought.

"Thanks Grace, I think I know the way. See you all later." Jace squeezed Catherine's hand one final time and released it and left the room.

"Well, is this a good reunion or a bad reunion or is the poll still out?" Paul asked quietly watching the differing expressions on the two women left in the room with him.

Catherine got up from her chair and walked over to the window position and looked out on what to her was cloudy images and not too many of those. Grace sat at the seat Jace vacated and looked at her pensive friend in understanding. "Time will tell I guess." Catherine finally responded in a very low voice, it was difficult to make out the words.

A heavy silence descended on the room.

Jace had been abruptly awakened by a loud thump from the wall on the adjoining bedroom. Knowing it had to be Lisa, she smiled. 'What was the child up to?' Getting out of bed and pulling on a large T-shirt with the image of 'Taz' on the front, and some shorts over her underwear, she opened the door to her room and went next door.

Peering into the room she saw Lisa, lift a foam yellow six-inch diameter ball at the wall, this time it hit a basket that was held precariously up on the wall by a makeshift tack. The ball went round the ring of the basket twice and finally dropped through the net and landed on the floor. Scooting over to collect it, Lisa finally noticed Jace lounging at the doorway.

"Oh, sorry Jace, forgot you were next door," Lisa said sheepishly, her smile very infectious.

Jace responded to the smile with one of her own that equally matched the little girls in brilliance. "No problem, but shouldn't you get that basket put up correctly?"

Lisa grinned and motioned her to come inside and shut the door, dutifully doing so, Jace went further into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "It's kind of a secret. Jake put it up for me and Grace doesn't say anything, but she pulls a face's at having the walls marked. She says so long as Catherine can't see anything it will be okay. I just have to remember not to play when Catherine is close by, do you know she's got the ears of a bat?" she said conspiratorially.

Jace laughed out loud at the thought that everyone in the house was still going softly, softly with Catherine. Bet she would have a chuckle if she knew. "Well, I guess if Grace doesn't mind, I won't mind either. But please don't do it to early in the morning okay, I like my sleep."

"Sure Jace, I can do that." Lisa giggled.

"No, the answer is you won't do that Lisa." Jace teased at the child.

"That's what I said!" the girl looked affronted. 'Wonder if Catherine's mood swings get taught around here too?' Jace mussed as she threw the ball at the crooked basket, failing in her first attempt.

Lisa sat closer to Jace and suddenly hugged her tight, it was unexpected and brought tears to Jace's eyes. It reminded her of when her Mom had comforted her when she had literally trampled Catherine's love into the ground. "You okay Lisa?"

Lisa looked at her and tears welled up in her small eyes also. "Now you're home it will be okay. Catherine won't go away again will she? Me and Jake don't want her to ever go away again, she nearly died!" The child looked at her with a serious expression.

Jace took a shaky breath as she digested the child's words. "I'm going to try really hard never to leave again Lisa, Catherine...well, she sometimes needs to go away, but we have to tell her to be extra careful if she does, okay?"

The child looked at her with a trusting countenance. "Yes, I'll tell Jake you said it was going to be okay." With that, she exited the room before Jace could pass another word from her lips.

Picking up the ball she threw it once again at the target basket and it wobbled precariously round until it finally spun off the side, back on the floor. "Hades, can't even get a simple basket at close quarters these days!" she said to the empty room, but it wasn't empty, a tall, dark figure was relaxing negligently at the doorway, pretty much as she had been earlier.

"I see we have another adult wanting to experience a second childhood?" Catherine spoke laconically from the doorway.

Blushing profusely, Jace stared at her and marvelled at how relaxed and well she looked. There was no doubting that Catherine Warriorson was a beautiful picture to gaze upon. "Ah, well I guess you got me, do you want to try...anyway, how did you know? They think it's a secret from you," trailing off as she realised what she had almost asked.

Catherine arched her eyebrow and smiled cynically. "It's my house Jace, you think something like this gets by me? Hell, I'm blind not deaf, the kid needs lessons, and she's always hitting the wall."

"Why do you let them think you don't know about it?" Jace asked fascinated.

"Ah, well, I guess it keeps them happy thinking I don't know. Some sort of secret for them to keep from me, who am I to disappoint them." Catherine responded with a shrug.

"You've done well, they have no idea, and so do you want to try?" Jace offered out the foam ball, forgetting that she couldn't see it.

Catherine smiled briefly but the emotion didn't reach the eyes, they no longer sparkled, they just remained neutral. "Better take a rain check on that particular pursuit. Are you quite rested after your nap?"

Jace watched the woman with interest, she looked at ease with herself and yet one of the most important senses a human being possessed was now lost to her. For many it would have left them feeling inadequate, not so this woman, she bristled with self-confidence. "Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

"Don't thank me. I will always be interested in how you are Jace, you're my best friend, that's what best friends are supposed to do, be there for their friends." The tone guarded, but Jace felt the emotional upheaval that Catherine was trying to keep at bay, they needed to talk and talk without others around to disturb them.

"Yes they should be and when that doesn't happen, you gotta wonder if they really are the best friend you have, right?" Jace decided honesty was the only approach. In the study earlier that day, they had both been so absorbed in the wonder of each others presence that words were irrelevant, but not so now.

Catherine quirked her left eyebrow and she could once again feel some of the skin tighten around her forehead. "Perhaps."

Silently Jace got up from her position on the bed and walked over to Catherine and stood inches from her. "How about you, me, and a bottle of...milk have a long talk after dinner?"

"I hardly think the milk will have much in the way of conversation!" Catherine chuckled at Jace's choice of beverage to accompany what would be a very stressful talk for them both.

"Catherine you know what I mean!" Jace laughed at the happiness she saw radiating from her friend.

Catherine un-consciously smirked at the words, it reminded her of another occasion, one that never did transpire. "Okay, I can do that, which flavour milk do you want?"

"How about lime?" Jace smiled, a kernel of hope that everything would be okay was blossoming as they gently bantered back and forth.

"Oh, well I don't know about that Jace, you know that's my favourite." Catherine gave a cute pout of her lips as she mulled over the question.

"Tell you what, we can share." Jace gave a small chuckle.

"I'll get Grace to find us some straws then, at least we won't be competing for the milk at the same time."

"Oh, I don't know, there's some merit in drinking milk together, without the straw." Jace responded with a cheeky grin, Catherine unfortunately unable to see it.

"Another time perhaps." Catherine managed to say finally, her emotions drifting towards something she vowed wouldn't happen again!

"Yes, another time sounds good to me. Well, I'd better get in the shower if I'm going to be ready for dinner on time." Jace said a little breathlessly, getting up close and personal with Catherine was definitely good for only one thing at the moment, a cold shower!

Catherine moved slowly away from the doorway and allowed Jace to leave the room, not getting away fast enough Jace walked past her and inadvertently brushed her whole body down Catherine's left side.

Catherine looked down at Jace who was now so close she could feel Jace's breath tickle her neck where her blouse was open.  It made Catherine shudder slightly and move back quickly and almost staggered into the easy chair at the top of the stairs.  Moving quickly Jace captured one of Catherine's hands and steadied her, noticing the trembling in the hands she held, Jace looked at the taunt features of her friend and smiled slowly. 'Guess she's not so immune to me after all.'

"You okay? I'm really sorry, it was my fault, I didn't give you time to move out of the way before I came out of the room." Jace tried to explain to Catherine, although it was more babbling than a coherent explanation.

"I'm fine, I have to remember that I'm blind sometimes," her voice held a hint of disapproval at her condition.

"You cope marvellously, and after such a short time too! I'm really very proud of you Catherine. You must tell me the full story about the accident, all I know is you're a heroine." Jace felt pain for the woman in front of her; she looked so alone suddenly at the top of the stairs.

"Heroine, who gave you that idea? Hell, anyone could have done what I did, just in the wrong place at the right time I guess," she said depreciatingly.

Walking back into Catherine's personal space, she reached up and kissed her left scarred cheek; the sensation was totally different than what Jace expected but not unpleasant. "You were in the right place at the right time and if you're a heroine to people, then so be it, I'm sure you'll live," she whispered into the ear closest to her.

"Thanks." Catherine choked out as she watched the shadow of her friend walk into her own room. A smile of embarrassment firmly etched in the stoic features.

Paul had commandeered the study after dinner, he needed to do some work and what better option but Catherine's portable office. It was almost an extension of Xianthos; thank god for the age of technology.

Grace had opted to bathe Lisa and then go for a stroll with Colin later in the evening. What ever it took, she had to try and get the man interested in her again.

The children had homework to do, so were despatched to their respective bedrooms; tomorrow they could have a double helping of a story.

Catherine was seated with her chair nearest to the door of the lounge, she had a view over the patio window area, not that she could see much, but it had been her idea. Catherine was positive that if the right eye was starting to clear, maybe in time both would clear and she would see again. The doctors didn't give much hope, but she had to hope, otherwise this existence she had wasn't worth the hassle!

Jace was happily ensconced in a two-seater sofa of electric blue soft leather; it was a treat to relax into its depths. "Are you going to tell me what happened to you?" The silence between them could be painful at times.

Catherine looked in her direction. "Nothing much. There was a fire, people in the building; I went in to help them. Got them out, end of story!"

Jace looked at her and noticed the red appearing on her cheeks. 'She really didn't think it was a big deal.' Shaking her head Jace tried again. "So how many did you save?"

"Two saved, one lost," she said un-emotionally.

"You sound as if you're giving the score of a soccer match." Jace noticed the shrug of the broad shoulders. Jace had free and easy view to all of Catherine's movements and expressions.

"Maybe it's the only way I know how to handle, losing one of them."

The bald statement left Jace with no doubt at all that Catherine was upset at not being in time to save the third party.

"Anyone you knew?" Jace asked her tentatively.

"No. It was a mother and her boy. The baby was already dead when I showed up. Too much smoke, just to late," was the quiet rejoinder.

"It wasn't your fault that the baby died, you did the best you could." Jace spoke in a gentle tone.

Catherine let out a heavy sigh, "Doesn't make me feel any better, but I guess I'll always have a memento of my experience at least," she smiled wryly her head turned towards Jace.

"You certainly have those my friend, do they still hurt?" Jace watched as Catherine placed a hand to her scarred cheek un-consciously.

"Some do, most don't. I have a good plastic surgeon, he's going to fix me up as good as new," she said lightly.

"Where do you hurt?" Jace had pulled herself up from out of the depths of the sofa and walked quietly towards Catherine, who was looking at her with a quizzical look on her face, seeing the shadow of her friend moving unexpectedly towards her.

"Does it matter?" Catherine said as she felt Jace kneeling in front of her and placing her hands on Catherine's denim clad thighs.

"To me, yes!" Jace saw the look of surprise cross Catherine's face.

"You look surprised, why?" Jace looked at her closely.

Catherine snorted softly. "We are going to be friends Jace, not lovers. What does it matter where I hurt?"

Jace was hurt and angry at the same time, but her anger had to be shelved, or they would never get out of this spiral they had descended into. "You say going to be friends? Aren't we already?"

"Sure we are, how could we not be, I never meant it quite in that context." Catherine started to flounder.

"In what context did you mean it Catherine?" Jace refused to let her off the hook.

"Okay Jace, so I find it difficult to believe you're here. I'm going to wake up tomorrow and find it was a dream, I've had enough of those nightmares to last me a lifetime!" Catherine was angry with herself for not having the right words to tell Jace exactly what she meant to her, realizing her words held a harsh reality to them.

"I didn't realise I gave you nightmares, maybe my coming here was a bad idea." Jace backed away from Catherine a little, her heart breaking.

"No! Jace you don't give me nightmares, quite the contrary. Don't you know that if I didn't have those good memories of you I would never have come this far?" Catherine said quietly but with conviction.

Jace held her breath and thought she wouldn't ever breathe again. "I know you're hurt Catherine, and I know it was my fault. But give me a chance to prove that what I feel for you isn't made on shifting sands, that it can weather the storm, please!" Jace asked her anxiously, hands instinctively clutching Catherine's thighs in desperation.

Catherine suddenly put her hands around the face of the younger woman, and she gently traced the hollows in the cheekbones and the full lips, that had known her passion. She gently touched the eyelids of her friend, remembering the vital green orbs held within, that had melted her heart. "You never hurt me Jace, I did that all on my own. Don't take the blame for something you had no knowledge of and couldn't prevent."

Jace felt the tears leak from her closed eyelids and felt them being gently stroked away, by warm fingers that caressed her face, "Will you help me understand?" Jace pleaded.

"How can I deny you anything Jace, don't you know by now that whatever secrets I have, you can share, no matter what you think of me after they're in the open. I trust you! I have never trusted anyone with my life so completely as I do you. So my friend, what do you want to know?" Catherine spoke her voice held the raw emotion of the moment.

Jace was completely over taken by the emotions this woman caused in her heart, 'Why do you trust me so Catherine? I've brought you only sorrow,' moving slightly so she came face to face with her sightless friend. "How about we have the conversation you wanted nine months ago and we can go from there. Is that alright with you?"

Catherine gave out a ragged breath and could smell the channel perfume that permeated from Jace, especially at such close proximity. "You are going to have to move away if you want me to talk coherently." Catherine gave her a shy smile.

Jace laughed heartily, "Oh, I don't know about that. What do you say we both share the sofa?"

"Yes...I can do that, good idea." Catherine was definitely flustered.

Moving towards the sofa that Jace had vacated, Catherine sat in the left corner to protect her injured left side. Jace without asking sat next to her but immediately pulled her feet up and put them on the arm of the sofa, and laid her head on Catherine's lap. She was happy and content with her reclining position. "You okay up there?"

Catherine laughed for the first time that evening. "Oh, yeah, I'm okay. I guess it's irrelevant to ask if you are?"

"I'm exactly where I want to be. Why drugs?" Jace asked her laconically as if it was a normal everyday conversation between them.

"You know we have forgotten one thing?" Catherine chuckled as she remembered.

"Oh, and I thought we would have everything here, just you and I. What have we forgotten?" Jace's laughter could be felt through Catherine's thighs, as she lay there completely relaxed.

"Lime milk and two straws," Catherine replied softly.

"Catherine...! Oh well, I guess we can forego that tonight but you have to remember tomorrow okay? Oh, and the two straws too." Jace was chuckling happily.

"Okay, but I think we will forego the two straws and settle for sharing between friends." Catherine smiled as she imagined that scenario.

Jace looked up at Catherine at that moment and wanted to show her feelings in a glance but the ice blue orbs above her although staring directly into her eyes, would never get that message. "Good idea, so on with the story, you're not wheedling out of it this time Catherine." Jace gave a contented sigh and waited for the story to begin.

Catherine smiled and thanked who ever were listening once again for bringing this woman back into her life. "I guess I was a spoilt brat..."

Grace had asked Colin to take a stroll after settling the children, on the pretext that Catherine needed sometime alone with Jace.  Well, it was partially true, Paul had business to attend to, and so he wasn't around to entertain. Colin had agreed, it had been the first personal approach that Grace had taken since she'd arrived back after her father had died. They walked companionably over to the paddock, which held the glow of the overhead lighting from the barn; it gave it an almost surreal feel about the place.

"You know I could never figure out why riding horses was such a thrill for everyone in this place?" Grace said to Colin, who
was leaning against the fence of the paddock.

"Ah, obviously you haven't a sense of adventure have you Grace?" Colin replied smugly, he had never seen her venture anywhere near the horses in the six years she had lived on the ranch.

"Oh, I have a sense of adventure Colin, but it is firmly in another avenue." Grace supplied mysteriously.

"Can I ask what that would be?" He turned his head and looked down at her leaning close to him on the fence.

"Maybe one day I might just let you know what it is, in the mean time you might have to guess." She laughed softly and her eyes took on a tender look as they snared his.

Looking away in embarrassment, he turned his attention back to the empty paddock. "Well, I have no idea Grace, but give me time and I might catch on to it given the chance."

"Chances come, and chances go Colin. Sometimes we just don't see them and let them slip through our fingers," Grace replied absently.

"Yeah, that's a fact. So, will Jace stay this time?" He changed the subject swiftly.

"I hope so, I surely do, but she's going to have to convince Catherine to take the chance again." Grace said quietly.

"Catherine appears to have accepted her back without a problem, but what about the baby?" Colin turned his eyes skyward to the darkness encrusted with stars.

Grace leaned closer to him and smirked. "It's not like you to ask personal questions Colin, I'm surprised at you!" Grace teased him.

"I...I wasn't being personal, well, not too much anyway! Catherine is family, it's important we know what's going on,' he replied indignantly. "I don't want to see her hurt Grace, after all she's been through it would be unfair."

"Yeah, it would be unfair, but sometimes you get that particular hand dealt to you and there's not much you can do about it; just hope the others have similar luck." Grace realised teasing the man on the subject of Catherine had been a mistake; he obviously had deep feelings for the woman, but how deep?

"Is Jace married?" Colin persisted.

"She's divorced, married the guy who collected her from the ranch when she left the last time. Not sure where he figures in the baby issue though, maybe he doesn't know or doesn't care, guess we will find out soon enough if she stays here." Grace finally answered his question.

"I don't understand this Grace, call me dense but if she loved Catherine, why did she marry someone else and that someone a man?" Colin asked puzzled.

Grace smiled at his innocence, but there again was he? Hadn't she thought exactly the same herself when Catherine had finally told her Jace had married Peter Adamson? Taking her time over the question, she finally shook her head at him. "I guess the only person who's going to answer that one is the lady herself, because I've asked the same question a number of times myself.  A real mystery that one."

"Well, it's certainly one to solve at some stage I suppose. Are the kids happy to see Jace?" He finally pulled the conversation round to a neutral topic, well, at least to a point anyway.

"Yeah, Lisa is bowled over with Jace, always was from day one. Jake is a little cautious but that's to be expected, he's like the lion cub that wants to protect its' mother from unknown harm and he does a great job of that!" Grace smiled at the thought of the boy coming to Catherine's aide.

"What do you mean?" Colin gave her a quizzical look.

"Ah Colin, our Jake is besotted by one Catherine Warriorson and if he sees anything that could remotely hurt her, he goes all quiet and reflective, ready to come to her aid if she needs it. Hopefully she won't with Jace, or we could have problems in that household." Grace told him and considered the problems that could well emerge if that happened. 'Would Catherine back up Jace or Jake? Interesting question and one she hoped never needed to be answered.'

"Got it, the kid is jealous. I often wondered. He does seem to follow her about a lot, when she lets him that is," Colin reflected.

"Yeah, when she lets him. I think he gets on her nerves at times, but she hasn't the heart to tell him." Grace smiled gently, it was amazing how Catherine had let those two children into her life and captured a portion of her heart.

"Well, I hope she hasn't the heart to let Jace go either then." Colin said finally on the subject.

"Yep, that goes for me too! Come on Colin let's go and walk over to the stables and you can introduce me to some of this horse flesh that you all kick up such a fuss about!" Linking her arm in his, she was given a blinding smile from the tall man and he happily walked her over to the stables. Grace wasn't entirely sure if it was her arm linked with his that brought on the smile or talk about the horses. 'Men!'

Catherine had a half smile on her face she was gently stroking the short blonde hair of the woman asleep on her lap. Almost as soon as she had begun talking Jace closed her eyes, and within a few minutes was peacefully sleeping, her contented sigh a sure sign to Catherine that the woman was comfortable. Now Catherine was becoming uncomfortable, her left side was aching and she needed to move from her enforced position to exercise the stiffening muscles. 'How? Without disturbing her sleeping friend?'

At a tap at the door to the lounge, it was opened slowly and Grace put her head round the door and looked in, her expression when she saw the two of them together gentled considerably. "You need a hand?" Grace had noticed the uncomfortable expression on her friend's face.

"Yes, seems I have been sort of captured in this position and I need to move." Catherine whispered back with a wry smile passing fleetingly across her lips.

"Yeah, and you haven't the heart to move her right?" Grace laughed softly, her eyes twinkling at the slight blush that came over Catherine's face.

"Got it in one Grace. So how do we manage it?" Catherine asked her sheepishly.

Moving closer to Catherine, she saw the pain in her friend's face, she must be stiff. "How about if we wake her up, it's getting late and she really could do with the rest, what with all the travelling and the baby. Not to mention you could do with the rest also, it's been an exciting day all round."

"She's so peaceful though Grace, hardly seems fair to move her." Catherine said quietly, a wistful note in her voice.

"I know, but you can't stay like that all night, Danni would be livid with you tomorrow, if she found out you let someone sleep on you all night!" Grace snorted at her.

"I suppose she will and I can't have that can I? That particular redhead would have my behind for sure!" Catherine smiled at the thought of her physiotherapist, who had a temper to match her hair colour, not that Catherine could see her hair colour.

"Well, I'm not sure what she will think of Jace coming back into your life but that's a question to be answered tomorrow." Grace answered.

"You think she will disapprove? What's there to disapprove of Jace?" Catherine wasn't going to let Grace slip that one in without an adequate reply.

Grace wasn't sure how to answer that one. It was obvious to her that Danni had a crush on Catherine, although she was always the competent professional in everything she did with Catherine. It was her expressions when Danni thought no one else was looking that Grace had picked up on a few weeks ago. "Oh, maybe she will think Jace a distraction to your recovery, who knows." Grace managed to answer the query.

"I see!"

"Are we going to wake sleeping beauty here, or you going to stay in that position all night?" Grace redirected the conversation.

Grace watched fascinated as Catherine bent her head down as close as she could to Jace's right ear and her hand gently shook the younger woman as she asked her to wake up. It was the concentrated look of tenderness on Catherine's face that made Grace almost shed tears at the sight. Her friend had fallen in love hard that was for sure. With several shakes to her shoulder,  Jace finally groggily opened her eyes and stared up into two piercing ice blue eyes, which gazed at her sightlessly.

"I'm awake, I'm awake, is there a fire?" Jace asked huskily, her head turning slightly seeing another figure in the room.

"I hope not. I've had my fill of that particular experience this lifetime. I just thought you would be more comfortable in bed that's all." Catherine said softly, her head lifting to allow Jace to move her head from her lap. Jace glanced over to the other person in the room.

"Hi Grace, did you have a good walk?" Jace not wanting to answer Catherine, the only bed she wanted to be comfortable in wasn't the one she had been allocated.

"Yeah, Colin gave me a detailed report on all the new horses, that have arrived on the ranch recently." Grace answered moving away from the sofa and making her way towards the door. "Anyone up for a drink before we all go and crash?"

Jace shook her head and then got up from the sofa and stretched her arms over her head to release the stiffness of the position she had been in, although it had been comfortable to lie close to Catherine.

"You okay Catherine?" Noticing that Catherine hadn't moved from her spot on the sofa.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I wouldn't mind some hot milk, want to go and talk to Grace for a few minutes, while I go and see Paul?" Catherine asked Jace quietly. Grace opened the door and gave Catherine a wry look; she knew why she wanted Jace out of the way. The woman was that stiff, she couldn't move without giving away the pain she was in. 'Pride!'

"Sure, see you in a few minutes," she gave Catherine a tender look as she followed Grace out of the room.

"Good. Be right with you." The door closed on her, leaving her to slowly crawl off of the sofa and wince at the pain that travelled down her left side; tears of frustration and pain slowly seeping out of tightly closed eyelids. "Damn." Catherine finally said to the empty room, she was going to have to walk around for a few minutes to get rid of the pain. Bed was definitely the answer for her, pity it had to be alone, 'I sure could use the company or a particular blonde persons company.' Well, she was up, she might as well go and see Paul and find out what was happening in the empire these days.

Walking stiffly over to the door, she left the room to catch up with her friend.

Danni O'Neil arrived at 'Destiny' at exactly nine a.m., her auburn hair hanging loosely around her shoulders; it was a very striking feature of the otherwise plain-featured young woman. She was twenty-six and had been assigned to Catherine Warriorson from the Christchurch hospital, where she had practised prior to her agreement to be the personal physiotherapist to the very wealthy patient. When she had been first approached to take on the long-term case, she hadn't been impressed; there were plenty of qualified physios around that freelanced. But after hearing the details behind the case and then reading the newspaper articles about the woman, it had made her curious and when she met the indomitable woman for the first time, it had been a fore gone conclusion that she would take the job. The hospital had agreed to the release, mainly because Catherine Warriorson had agreed to fund a new wing of the hospital; they wanted to keep her sweet. Now four months into the job, it was clear that Catherine wouldn't need the constant attention of the therapist for much longer, maybe only another couple of months. Then she would go back to her job at the hospital and be just a memory to Catherine, but Catherine meant much more than a memory to her!

Walking casually over to the front door of the ranch house she pressed the bell and walked confidently through the door and into the hallway, which had a distinctive well-used look about the place. A child's bike resting near to the coat stand and a leather soccer ball was tucked away in the corner next to muddy soccer boots. Coats of numerous descriptions hung from the heavy wooden coat stand. An umbrella stand in heavy gauge copper had several sizes of umbrella placed inside, the oak wooden hall table, held the phone and a couple of directories, along with a note pad and some pencils in a holder. The smell of bee's wax permeated the hall and the wooden floor was polished to a glossy finish, fortunately not the slippery type of floor polish. It always made Danni think of her grandparents cottage in Ireland, when she walked through the hall towards the kitchen.

Opening the kitchen door, "Good morning, anyone home?" Danni asked in a lilting voice.

"Hi." Answered a voice she definitely didn't identify. Jace looked at the stranger and smiled in friendly interest, noticing the startled look on the other woman's face. "If you're looking for Grace, she will be back shortly."

Danni looked over the pretty blonde woman. "No, actually I'm looking for Catherine, she's usually in the kitchen when I arrive." Danni spoke confidently, she noticed the arched eyebrow of the other woman, when she mentioned Catherine's name.

"I see. Well, she's around somewhere; I haven't seen her myself yet this morning. Would you mind if I asked who you are?"  Jace asked pointedly, something about the woman irked her.

"Sure, I'm Danni O'Neil, Catherine's physio, and you would be?" Danni asked equally pointedly. So, an American in town,  wonder where she fits into this household?

"Jace Bardley, a friend of Catherine's." Jace supplied shortly.

"You're American? Staying in town long?" Danni asked her impertinently.

"How could you tell?" Jace answered in a derisive tone, this woman irritated her.

Danni smiled briefly; for some reason they had antagonised each other and it surprised her, she wasn't usually this judgmental.  Must be the time of the month or something! "I guess I'd better look for her then, she likes to start her therapy on time."

Jace inclined her head and watched the woman slowly move towards the door that went to the basement that housed the gym and swimming pool.

Then in walked Catherine with Grace following closely behind her with a very active Lisa tagging along. Catherine noticed that two people were in the room and stopped immediately, Grace not seeing the others in the room cannoned into Catherine and Lisa walked into Grace. Catherine moved her head from one side to the other and a slow smile crept across her face. "Danni is that you?"

Danni smiled happily at Catherine and Jace noticed the animation on her face, so maybe she had a rival. "It certainly is lady, you're late!"

"Ah, but I had a problem to solve called 'Lisa', didn't I Lisa?" Catherine moved further into the room and Grace followed noticing the tension in the room and Jace's interested but guarded expression.

"Oh, it wasn't my fault Catherine was it Grace?" the child said plaintively.

"No darling, it's Catherine's way of getting out of a being told off by Danni; you know how Danni is Lisa, she doesn't let her get away with anything." Grace chuckled and watched as Lisa smiled too and ran over to Danni and hugged her.

"Hi Danni, got to go, the bus for school will be here soon and Jake will be mad if we are late. See you all later." She collected her lunch from Grace and a quick peck on the cheek and gave them all a smile and bolted out of the door, and as suddenly came back and wrapped her arms around Catherine who obediently bent down for a kiss. Giggling the child pecked her cheek and ran out of the door again.

Grace smiled at her friends bemused expression; she was always caught out by that display of affection. Jace also smiled at the stoic woman's embarrassment.

"Have you introduced yourself to Jace, Danni?" Catherine asked not noticing the tension in the room between the two of them.

"Yep, your American friend and I have introduced ourselves." Danni said politely. Now Catherine sensed the tension.  'Interesting.'

"So you've met the demon physio, who puts me through my paces everyday but Sunday, which is why you never met her yesterday Jace." Catherine wanted to see if it was a two-way animosity.

"Yes, Danni and I have met." Jace forced out a reply.

Grace watched the interaction with interest, she could see it, but she was certain that Catherine would feel it and she wouldn't keep quiet about it for long. "Anyone for tea?"

"No, not for me Grace." Catherine smiled briefly. "Better get moving Danni or we won't get anything done today. See you later Jace." She turned towards the door leading to the gym and Danni followed.

"See you later Grace, Mrs Bardley." Danni said off-handily.

"It's Ms Bardley." Jace pointed out as they both went down the stairs; Catherine was smirking as she went to her destination with a bristling Danni following behind.

Grace looked at Jace and pointed to the coffeepot, Jace nodded her head and walked over to the table deflated all of a sudden.

Walking over to Jace, she placed a mug of coffee next to the woman and then dropped in a seat opposite her. "You don't sound as if you like Danni?" Grace asked her tentatively.

Flopping down in a convenient chair she put her elbows on the table and leaned on them. "What makes you say that Grace?" Jace answered her in a cool manner.

Grace laughed out loud at the cool tones of her friend. Jace looked at her in surprise and raised her face to meet Grace's gaze. "Okay, I have my wires crossed and you get on great! Couldn't tell that by the stilted conversation between the two of you."

"I was surprised by her, that's all!" Jace explained.

"Surprised? Is that what it's called these days, could have fooled me." Grace chuckled.

"Yes! She walked into the house as if she owned it and had every right to be here!" Jace responded hotly.

"Have you thought that maybe she does have a right to be here? You've been away a long time Jace, things change." Grace asked her quietly.

Jace looked at her friend and then down into her coffee mug and the dark liquid held within the confines of the vessel. Her face clouded with anxiety and insecurity. "I know things change, but I was hoping that it hadn't gone so far that I couldn't get her back!"

Sitting opposite the younger woman and noticing the tension on her face as well as the slump of her shoulders in defeat, "You know Catherine would do anything for you don't you Jace?"

"No, no, I didn't know that! After all I've done to her, you still think I have a chance to get her back?" A sad expression crossed Jace's face.

Smiling Grace placed a hand over her friends clasped hands on the table. "I know you have a chance and as long as you don't let the chance pass you by as I told a friend of mine recently, prospects are always bright."

"I made a fool of myself with Danni I guess, do you think if I apologise it will help?" Jace looked embarrassed.

"No, leave our Irish spitfire to her own devices; she's sure to come round in the end and if she doesn't, well you have the most powerful weapon in the arsenal, you can always use that." Grace smiled at her friend and received an answering smile back.

"And that would be?" Jace was puzzled by the remark.

Well, your lots better looking than she is to start with..." Grace managed half the statement before Jace intervened.

"Gods that's a terrible thing to say, she has gorgeous hair!" Jace exclaimed.

"Yeah, she does, but you have the most vivid green eyes this side of the pacific and Catherine knows exactly what they look like and she's never seen Danni's hair colour!" Grace chuckled watching the concerned young woman with interest.

Jace was blushing as her friend complimented her. "Go on."

"Let's face it, Catherine is already besotted with you, Danni doesn't stand a chance." Grace said lightly watching Jace brighten up from her earlier sobriety.

"You said I had the most powerful weapon, is that it? Because Catherine can't see any of those things now can she?" Jace pointed out, sighing at the thought.

"Ah, but you forget! Your weapon is Catherine, she will do anything for you, I already told you that!" Grace teased her.

"So if I asked Catherine to change her therapist, would she, do you think?"

"Yes." Grace looked at Jace and saw the tiny frown appear on her forehead. "You're not convinced are you; why not try it when they come back?"

"Grace! You can't seriously expect me to ask Catherine to do that to Danni; that would make her think I'm jealous." Jace said indignantly.

"Aren't you?" Grace looked at her innocently.

"You know what Grace, there are times when I wonder just whose side you're on." Jace laughed at the grin on her friend's face.

"Oh! I'm on the side that wants miracles to happen and sometimes we get lucky. Come on, let's go and see what's happening in the town these days; Catherine won't be available until late afternoon so she won't miss us."

"Great idea, I need to buy some warmer clothes, forgot how cold it was here at this time of the year." The two women went towards their respective rooms to collect personal belongings before driving into town.

Catherine was exhausted, for some reason today Danni had wanted to extend their usual programme. It had been both exhilarating to know she could keep pace with the programme, but it was also very tiring. Having finally persuaded Danni to take a break, she leaned against the bench next to the punchbag and rested her head on the side of it, her exhaustion evident to the watching physio.

"You okay Catherine?" Danni asked, her moving to sit beside her on the bench.

"Never better, what you got in store for me next?" Catherine made herself deliberately buoyant.

"I was thinking that you've done great today, and we should maybe finish with a swim. You can then get back to your guest, you've done really well today." Danni repeated her observation and smiled ruefully at her.

"A swim to finish, sure I can do that. Thanks for your help Danni, it means a lot to me." Catherine replied honestly.

"You pay me to be here Catherine." Danni looked at the scarred but very beautiful face resting against the bag. It would be so easy to reach out and touch her face.

"Yes, I pay you, but I also know what you put up with too." Catherine turned her head in Danni's direction.

"You're worth it! Is your American friend staying in the area long?" Danni wanted to get closer to this woman, but knew that ethically it would be suicide for her career. She only asked personal questions she believed she could get away with.

A slow smile developed on the often-expressionless features, which Danni noted to her despair. " Jace? I hope she's going to stay awhile, time will tell." Catherine answered absently, her thoughts elsewhere.

"Have you known her long?" Danni asked interested in how Catherine viewed the American.

"Almost a year, in fact it will be a year next weekend. I have an annual get together with the local dignitaries on the same date every year, something Grace devised." Catherine laughed softly when she mentioned Grace's name, that woman had a lot to answer for. "Jace arrived in my life that very same day, last year."

"You sound as if it was a remarkable event?" Danni had seen Catherine lose herself in the memory.

"It was! Jace is a remarkable person, she made me re-evaluate my life in a big way." Catherine's voice took on an awed tone.

"If she's so important to you, why hasn't she been around before?" Danni asked the question without thought, her interest to fired up to realise she might be stepping on sensitive subject matter.

There was a deathly silence in the room and Catherine let out a breath, she hadn't realised she had sucked in at Danni's question. Not answering the question she got up from the bench and walked slowly over to the edge of the pool, a rail having been erected shortly after she had the accident to prevent any unforeseen accidents occurring.

"Time for that swim Danni." Catherine said to the woman still seated on the bench.

"Yeah, I guess it is." Danni resigned herself to not getting an answer to that particular question at this time.

Looking over to the tall woman, she watched her peel her clothes off without embarrassment and dive into the pool naked, clearly a confident swimmer knowing that Danni beforehand had checked the pool for obstacles. ''Hell, Catherine has a superb body, even if a little scarred by burns, it certainly doesn't detract from her beauty, not in my eyes anyway.' Danni thought as she went over to watch her patient.

It had been an interesting week.

Catherine had not only told Jace about her past that tied up with the newspaper reports, but had also filled in the missing blanks that the tabloids couldn't get hold of, the truth! Jace had taken all the information in her stride, she hadn't commented much at all, and that had left Catherine puzzled on some of the occasions, but it was all old news anyway. Nothing she had revealed had any bearing on their future together, she was sure of that!

Jace had listened intently to what Catherine had to say about her past and why certain things happened in her life, but at no time did Jace feel comfortable about challenging any aspect of the events. It became evident to Jace that Catherine would always have certain elements in her life that she couldn't totally leave behind. Her business ventures for one! Although she no longer ran Xianthos, it was certainly a major part of her life, one that she still had trouble relinquishing. The drugs she knew would no longer be a part of Catherine's life, that episode was clearly dead and the prison term long over and a distant memory. But what of her feelings for Maria? They still held some sway; she felt it when Catherine talked about the woman. Could the ghost of Maria haunt the future she was hoping she could now see with Catherine?

Looking over at the relaxed stance of her friend Jace smiled as the Reverend came over to talk to her. It was the dinner party for the locals, the one she remembered from her first and momentous visit to the ranch on that cold rainy evening.

"Ah, Ms Bardley or is it Mrs...?" The Reverend asked her with a smile.

"It's Ms Bardley Reverend, I'm divorced." Jace quietly answered his question.

He looked at her with compassion, "I'm sorry to hear that, but sometimes things like that happen for a reason," he responded in the direction of her glance.

"Yes, I hope you're right," was the soft retort.

"I didn't think Mrs Warriorson would indulge in this little party, after her terrible accident earlier in the year. Although, she is making a splendid recovery, she was a very brave woman." He watched her face take on a glow at the praise of her friend.

"I think Grace pushes her shamelessly into things Reverend, but she looks wonderful doesn't she?" Jace continued to look in Catherine's direction, but keeping her concentration on the Reverend.

"Are you staying long in New Zealand Ms Bardley?" The Reverend was amused at the younger woman's pre-occupation with their host.

"Call me Jace, and I hope so." Jace smiled directly at him this time.

"Thank you, and my name is Clarence. You do realise though that you have come just as winter is about to make its claim on us?" The Reverend informed her.

"Yes, guess I forgot about the weather over here and how cold it gets, in California we don't get the extremes you do here." Jace smiled at him.

"I would have thought you'd prefer to have stayed in the warmth, especially in you're present condition?" The Reverend glanced at her protruding pregnant stomach.

"Ah, well, I had a very good reason to come over here and it was an opportunity I wasn't going to let slip by, no matter the weather forecast." Jace replied happily.

Chuckling at the obvious happiness of the young blonde woman, he also noticed that Catherine Warriorson must have heard her laugh because her head turned in their direction immediately and a faint smile crossed her otherwise expressionless face. "I hope you find what you're looking for Jace." He finished as Dr Andrew Simpson walked towards them.

"Thanks Clarence, so do I." Her expression became tender as she looked at her tall friend, who now had her profile facing her.

Grace was talking animatedly with Danni and Colin; she had wanted to avoid Andrew Simpson and so far she had managed that perfectly well. But the night wasn't over, and he was getting closer to her at each passing minute.

"Where exactly in New Zealand are you from Danni?" Colin asked the therapist, he had liked her brisk humour and her obvious devotion to Catherine.

"I'm from Christchurch, my parents came over from Ireland in the seventies with my elder brother Shamus. We still have grandparents on the Emerald Isle. I went over there last year to see them, this house reminds me of their cottage, well the smell of the beeswax anyway."

Colin laughed and Grace watched the interaction between Colin and Danni, it appeared friendly. 'I'm damn sure Danni is interested in Catherine and not Colin, but who knew, hell, Jace had married after being Catherine's lover, so why not Danni getting her hooks in Colin if nothing happened with Catherine.' The thought made Grace feel sick.

"What about you Colin, where do you hail from?" Danni asked interested in this reserved man, who was really kind of cute in a rangy sort of way.

"I'm from the North Island, born and breed from several generations of farmers. My father lost the property when I was a teenager, so I've worked around in various places until I settled here six years ago." Colin more than answered her question, which irritated Grace, he had never been that forthcoming with her.

"What about you Grace?" Danni turned her attention to the somewhat distracted woman who was, if she wasn't' mistaken looking daggers at her for some inexplicable reason.

Recovering her composure swiftly Grace smiled at them both briefly. "I'm from Auckland, my Dad was a policeman, followed in his footsteps until I had the accident, now I'm here." Grace looked at her left leg and shrugged.

"I know I'm being nosy here but what happened to you?" Danni looked at her with a friendly glance, Colin looked at Grace with renewed interest, as he had never heard the story either.

Grace shuffled a little and took a sip from her glass of wine. "Oh, I was a bit wild in my younger years, even when I was training for the force. Decided to take my car for a spin, but I lost control at hundred miles an hour up a mountain track," she stated matter of factly.

Colin gave her a piercing look as something crossed his mind but he couldn't capture the thought.

Danni looked at her and smiled a wry smile. "Guess it cost you a career? Do you regret it?"

"Yeah, it cost me the police force, my Dad was livid. I'm still alive and it brought Catherine into my life, so no, I haven't any regrets." She looked across at the tall sober featured woman who managed to dominate the room, even if she could no longer scare the hell out of people with those famed ice cold looks she used to give.

"Catherine is important to you too?" Danni asked, just as Andrew Simpson sidled up to them.

"Catherine means everything to her, even at the expense of her own happiness!" Simpson said bitterly.

Grace looked at him in embarrassment; he had obviously been drinking far more than he usually did. Colin bristled at the comment on Grace's behalf. Danni looked amused at the exchange.

"I mean everything to whom Dr Simpson?" Catherine's low growl responded evidently angry, having heard the man and his bitter inference.

"Ah, the great Mrs Warriorson, a heroine and low life all rolled into one beautiful package! What do you do to people to make them so loyal I wonder?" He bitterly attacked her, the alcohol clearly in control.

Catherine sneered at the man and her body language became predatory in its reaction to the comments. "Dr Simpson what wonderful manners you have developed in the last year. Wonder who your coach is? Because sure as hell they love to fill you with bullshit!"

Jace had noticed that a small group was surrounding Catherine, Grace, Colin, Danni and Andrew Simpson. Getting closer she heard the last remark and had to hold back a snickering giggle.

"Well, Mrs high and mighty Warriorson, who are you letting into your bed this week or have you given that particular activity up for the moment? You're not exactly a pretty sight now, with those scars!" All eyes goggled at the last caustic remark. All of them knowing that Simpson was both over the top, out of order and definitely going to end up with a busted nose and for his audacious remarks.

Catherine silently moved closer to him and could smell the whisky on his breath; getting as close as she could, almost in his face she replied succinctly. "You know, if I didn't know better I would say you're jealous and believe me, I could wipe the floor with you, scars or no scars. Get your arse out of my house Simpson, and never let me see your face around here again! Oh, and if you think I can't see, you're wrong, I have more eyes looking out for me than you realise." She moved away from him just as he was about to punch her in the face. Colin noticed the action and immediately went into the line of fire and was punched on the nose for his gallantry. Not to be out done, he powered a right hook of his own against Simpson and decked him.

Grace ran over to check on Colin and lead him into the kitchen to stop the flow of blood from what could possibly be a broken nose. The Reverend picked up the dazed doctor and eased him into the hallway. Jace followed him out of the room, after glancing around and making sure that Catherine was okay; the other guest's had completely surrounded her.

"Is he okay?" Jace asked the Reverend, who was struggling to put a coat on the man.

"Yes, I think so, far too much drink and so very bitter," the Reverend gave a despondent reply.

"He'll regret the words in the morning I would think, maybe I can talk to Catherine and clear things up in advance." Jace offered.

"My dear young lady, now why would you do that?" He looked at her quizzically.

"Because I understand about losing someone you love, it makes you do strange things, things you regret the next day but can't go back and change anything." Jace patted his arm as he led the still dazed doctor out of the door.

As the reverend was about to shut the door behind him he turned and spoke softly to Jace. "You have a very compassionate heart Jace Bardley, I know things will work out for you." He shut the door and went out to his car, dragging the drunken dazed man with him.

Shaking her head, she went back into the dining room and the curious stares from Danni and an angry looking Catherine.  Walking over to her, she placed her hand on Catherine's arm. "You okay?"

Catherine turned her head in Jace's direction and bent her head a little and hissed into her ear. "What do you care? You went out and talked to that man! You didn't even think to come over and see me first?"

Jace winced as she heard the angry rejoinder from her friend and realised that her actions could have been interpreted as indifference on her part. Shaking her head slowly, she spoke in a low voice for only Catherine's hearing. "I know what you think it looks like, but Catherine I was talking to the Reverend, he's taken the doctor home. I thought you would be far too busy with other peoples platitudes over the event to miss me for a few minutes." Jace offered in her defence.

A tense silence hovered between them for several minutes finally Catherine answered. "I will never be to busy for you. Haven't you realised that by now? I miss you if you are out of my reach for seconds, never mind minutes." Catherine admitted and hung her head in embarrassment over the admission.

"We can't have this conversation here Catherine, but believe me when everyone is gone, it's going to happen!" Jace said huskily. Catherine's admission had unlocked another door for Jace and she was going to go through it no matter what.

Danni chose that moment to interrupt. "Looks like Colin has a busted nose, so I've volunteered to take him to the hospital on the way home; see you all Monday." She left the room and Jace glanced at the clock and noticed it was already ten-thirty p.m.soon she was going to have Catherine to herself.

Grace chose that moment to come back and sat down heavily on one of the chairs in the room, Jace saw her dejected expression and touched Catherine on the arm. "Do you mind if I go and give Grace a shoulder to cry on for a few minutes?"

Catherine gave her a gentle smile. "Go ahead, for Grace you get to take more than a few minutes if you need it," she squeezed the younger woman's hand in a show of both apology and understanding.

Jace stood on tiptoes and spoke directly into Catherine's ear. "I love you," and walked away to where Grace was seated.

Anyone looking at Catherine Warriorson at the moment saw the largest smile she had ever exhibited in public, it remained there for several minutes much to some of the watching publics amazement.

Colin had called one of the ranch hands to collect him from the hospital at around one a.m.; he had returned to his house, rather than disturb the household again.

Grace had retired around midnight and still looked shocked at the doctor's explosion against her friend and employer.  Catherine hadn't talked to Grace about it, but Jace had spent a good half-hour before the party finally ended trying to get her to see that it really hadn't been her fault. Grace had still looked ashamed at the outburst and couldn't be moved on the subject, Jace finally gave up and said they would discuss it in the morning.

Catherine had disappeared to her study to make a phone call to Paul in Sydney, he was arranging his first global VP meeting, she had looked calm about the whole episode but the often unknown depths the woman had could be deceiving.

Jace had finally made everything secure in the house, after making sure all the doors had been locked, she then made her way to the study and a showdown with Catherine.

Walking in the room without knocking, she saw the tall figure seated in her chair by the desk, or that's what Jace thought.  Silently walking closer to the desk, she could see that Catherine's breathing had levelled out and she was indeed asleep, her features looking surprisingly peaceful too!

Jace moved to her right side and gently stroked the short dark hair from her forehead, it was silky to the touch; she could just smell the scent of herbs from the shampoo the tall woman used. Finding the opportunity to scrutinise the woman who had briefly been her lover, and who was still her best friend, she considered this a miracle under the circumstances. Jace noticed the grey hair at the temples and when she touched the hair there, it was coarser than the rest on Catherine's head; the young blonde smiled at the difference. 'You look like you're getting older my friend, and yet in sleep you appear so young, almost as if the harsh realities of life haven't touched you!' Jace had noticed that the lines on her forehead however faint seemed to disappear as she slept. Tracing a finger from her left eye and over the slightly puckered scars on the side of her face to her neck, she suddenly had the urge to crush Catherine to her in a gesture of comfort so profound it made her heartbeat treble in her chest.  Her hand shook and she didn't want Catherine to see that if she woke suddenly she might take it the wrong way! Maybe thinking she was afraid of the scars.

Moving away from Catherine's slumbering form, she went over to the large patio window and watched the stars twinkle in the dark of the night. Her thoughts somewhat chaotic, 'I only ever wanted to love you Catherine and maybe you will give me the second chance I need, if not I don't think I can go on with this life without you in it. Makes me a weakling in comparison to what you have been through and what you have managed to achieve without me! Don't give your heart to anyone else Catherine, because I can keep it safe for you if you will let me?' Jace felt the tears sliding down her cheeks, as her thoughts became more and more melancholy. 'You know I never meant to hurt you and I know marrying Peter did that, it hurt him too; and if I'm honest with myself it hurt just about everyone I love in this life. Hades, I still haven't seen my parents since the wedding and they don't even know about the baby! Wonder what they will think of the situation now?' Jace knew her tears had become more pronounced as she sobbed at the last thought. "I love you Catherine." Jace said quietly her eyes captured by the starry stars.

"And I love you too Jace!" Catherine's voice echoed the sentiment softly to the woman who was only a shadowy image to her.

Jace turned swiftly at the words and her voice caught on a sob as she tried to hold it inside. Catherine was now facing her, she had swivelled the chair in the direction of the window. Walking closer to Catherine, Jace knelt down by the side of the chair and took Catherine's left hand in hers. "I thought you were asleep," she whispered.

Catherine slid her right palm over Jace's wet eyelids in a gentle caress. "Oh, well, a certain party who will remain nameless, seems to have a habit of crying in my house, it kind of woke me up," she chuckled and pulled Jace's head onto her shoulder.

"I guess you're too tired for that talk now?" Jace was content with the contact with Catherine.

"Yes, unfortunately a lengthy and meaningful conversation would be fruitless tonight for both of us I think, but there will always be tomorrow." Catherine stroked the blondes' hair gently.

"Do you really mean that?" Jace asked her tentatively, it was the door she had glimpsed when she had arrived a week ago and earlier this evening, now it was wide open for her to walk into.

"For you, there will always be a tomorrow in my life." Catherine said simply as she pressed her lips to Jace's head and kissed her tenderly.

"I...I don't know what to say to that?" Jace looked up at the face she adored.

"You don't need to say anything; you just need to be here, that is all I ask, that is all I want for now!" Catherine knew that Jace's face was turned to her in anticipation of a more fulfilling kiss.

"Will you let me know when you want more than that?" Jace asked breathlessly, her heart beating rapidly at the contact with her friend.

"You'll be the first to know, I guarantee it." Smiling, Catherine swiftly bent her head and captured Jace's lips in a soft and tantalising kiss that left them both breathing raggedly, but surprisingly satisfied for the moment.

Jace got up from her kneeling position and tugged Catherine out of the chair. "Are you sure you're not still growing Catherine?"  Jace said to lighten the mood, looking up at her tall companion.

Laughing Catherine grasped the hand that had tugged her from the chair as they went towards the study door hand in hand.  "No, I'm leaving that up to the kids."

Jace followed her out of the room and smiled all the way to her bedroom as Catherine gallantly escorted her to the bedroom door. "You could..." A long slim finger on her lips stopped Jace and it was replaced by a fleeting kiss.

"There will be a time and place, trust me?" Catherine said huskily.

Jace peered at her and smiled. 'Oh gods, how I love you!' opening her door she finally said. "I trust you. Good night Catherine."  She closed the door on the tall woman.

"Good night Jace." Catherine responded absently as she heard the door close quietly as she turned and headed for her own room.

Jace eventually climbed into bed after a session in the bathroom; her mind fixed on Catherine and the events unfolding for them.  'You said, there will always be a tomorrow for us Catherine and now I actually think I believe you,' a gentle smile creasing her lips as she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Clarissa Hudson watched the numerous people wander in and out of the various storefronts in the airport terminal; she was one flight and a cab ride away from her destination and
her access to revenge!

Her personal fortune had dwindled with the court case and the final payments she had made to Xianthos in an out of court settlement that made her relinquish control of Union City Productions back to a 100% holding to Xianthos. That had left a bitter taste in her mouth and she wanted compensation in a way that couldn't be dealt in a court of law. Her reward would be fashioned outside the law. Her associate had coincidentally come up with the ideal candidate to carry out her plans, someone who had an equal hatred of Devonshire and who would be willing, she was sure to participate in her little plans. 'Oh Catherine if you thought I had dealt all my aces ten months ago, you just didn't realise what kind of person you were dealing with! And you said you would bite me back, well, I'm still waiting and so far you haven't even sunk your gums into me yet.' She smiled as she scanned the screen for her flight to Munich it would be one of the few trips out of American, she was going to really enjoy.

Relaxing back in her chair, she waited for the call to the gate.

A month had passed since Jace arrived on the ranch and her presence brought a feeling of both laughter and contentment back into the family life in the house.

There had been the odd skirmish with Danni, who still had an antagonistic attitude to Jace, who in turn gave back as much as she got from the fiery therapist. Catherine deemed to either ignore the situation or smirked at it, but she never got involved.

Grace finally accepted that she wasn't to blame for Andrew Simpson's explosion at the Ranch three weeks previously, and attempted to gain some of her composure that had been lacking in recent weeks. Although her quiet attitude to everyone had severely wrecked any plans she had been formulating in her seduction of Colin. Seems he had taken it upon himself to start dating a local girl from the town; that had hurt Grace profoundly but she knew she only had herself to blame and she was certainly taking her fair share of that on her shoulders of late.

Lisa was her usually bubbly self, more so now that she had an adult who was totally in tune with her as she found Jace to be. The child just became more and more precocious and even Catherine had the odd worried look at her lack of discipline.

Jake had taken a back seat now that Jace had arrived back in Catherine's life and it was clear to anyone watching that it was something he wasn't happy with, but no one appeared to be watching.

Catherine had welcomed Jace back into her life to every extent except her bed; she was still very cautious about going that final hurdle with Jace only two months away from having her baby. It seemed prudent to her to wait until that event had occurred and then they could move on. It also, meant that Catherine would be free of the constant physio she needed and her final operation for the scar tissue on her face that was due in a week's time. Her only concern would be her sight and she wasn't going to let that become an obstacle in her renewal of love for Jace.

Jace had loved every minute of her stay at the ranch; it really had been like coming home, her days were full of light chores to help out Grace, who was heavily involved in matters with the trust fund that she administered with the Reverend. She had also signed on for prenatal exercise classes at the local town hall; she had even convinced Catherine that it would be a good idea for her to attend the classes with her as her second. Jace still had to have that particular conversation regarding whom she wanted at her bedside when the baby was born, and where would also be a contentious issue.

All in all, the entire situation was looking good, what could possibly go wrong?

Catherine watched in exasperation as Jace went to the bathroom for the third time in a short space of time, it was entirely frustrating when they were in a full-blown conversation about the future.

Striding purposefully around the room she walked into a chair and shouted out an expletive, as her attention had been on Jace, rather than the make-up of the room furniture. Passing a hand over her shin she scowled and was rewarded with a tinkling laugh from the doorway.

"Honestly it wasn't my fault I never moved a thing!" Jace said her voice filled with suppressed laughter.

Catherine turned her head in Jace's direction, she maintained her scowl and moved to sit down with a marked thump on the chair she had walked into. "Humph," was her only reply.

Walking with a heavy gait towards the chair that Catherine had taken she stopped in front of her friend. "You know a month ago I could kneel down and get close to you, but I'm afraid I will either have to sit on your lap or you will have to get up for me to kiss it better. Or I could go and sit about four feet away from you in the other chair if you're mad at me?"

Catherine looked up at the shadow she could see in front of her and a wry smile crossed her face briefly before she gave Jace another scowl but without any menace behind it. ""Come here." She held her hand out and felt a smaller one place itself within hers. Tugging her gently onto her lap, she felt her friend immediately snuggle into her shoulder.

"I'm not too heavy for you am I Catherine?" Jace asked not really caring deep down if she was, she loved to be this close to the woman who held her heart.

"No, you're a light weight, but that child of yours must be soaking up all the stuff you eat, are you sure you're not eating for more than one?" Catherine gruffly replied as she laid her chin on the top of Jace's head.

"The doctor says not, so I have to assume he knows what he's talking about. Although it is getting bigger and moving like crazy on a night, sometimes I get no sleep at all!" Jace said feeling a little sorry for herself.

Catherine heard the tone of her friend, smiled and placed a kiss on her blondes' head. "Doesn't Taz take care of the sleepless problem for you?" Catherine had been pleased at a comment by Lisa that Jace slept with a large stuffed toy that looked really funny with a wicked grin on its face. 'So she had kept that particular gift.'

"Oh no! He can't seem to manage to clear up that problem, but I get to hug him at least when I can't sleep."

"Not quite the same I imagine?"

"No, it's not, are you offering an alternative?" Jace could feel the smirk cross her lips at a wicked thought.

Catherine had considered offering her services as a human pillow again, but she wasn't sure if she could keep it platonic and she really wasn't sure if she was ready to go the final round with Jace, not yet anyway. "If you keep your hands to yourself, I might consider volunteering."

Jace masked a smirk as she thought of that idea and knew it would be impossible. "We could try?"

"Yes, we could." Catherine stroked the hair on top of Jace's head in an absent fashion.

"I wanted to ask..." "I wanted to know..." They both talked at the same time. Laughing together Catherine inclined her head for Jace to finish.

"I wanted to ask if you would be with me when the baby is born?" Her tentative voice asked.

Catherine drew in a deep breath and a smile slowly travelled over her face as she thought of the event. "And I wanted to know where you wanted the baby to be born?"

"Wherever you are Catherine, is where I want my baby to be born." Jace said seriously, as she felt Catherine tighten her hold on her bulging waist gently at the words.

"Do you want to go home?" Catherine asked quietly.

"Would you come with me if I said I wanted the baby to be born in America?" Jace waited with baited breath for her answer.

Catherine digested the information, and considered her own feelings, and simply said, "Yes."

Jace this time put her hands round Catherine's neck and placed her lips on Catherine's in a tender kiss that conveyed all she felt in one simple act. "I love you," she whispered after she released her from the kiss.

Catherine smiled happily, the happiness clearly etched on her features and to Jace it was like falling in love all over again but with much more meaning. "Okay, where are we going to have this birth?" Catherine finally managed to ask.

"Would it be a problem if I said right here?" Jace snuggled back into her shoulder.

"Well...no, no I think I would be honoured to see your child born here. But not right this minute okay?" Catherine chuckled softly.

"Okay, I think junior wants to keep mummy irritated for a little while longer." Jace looked deep into the ice blue eyes-only inches from her own and smiled sadly at the lost look they held.

"You're staring at me!" Catherine said with a slight frown.

"Yes, I am actually. Do you know you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in my life?" Jace whispered into her ear as she gently nipped it for good measure.

Catherine purred in sensual delight as Jace refused to stop her gentle assault on her left ear lobe.

"I think I get the message."

"Good, wouldn't want you to forget about them now, would we?" Jace continued to move her mouth from Catherine's ear down her cheek to the base of her neck. It was driving Catherine to distraction.

"If you carry on with this action on behalf of my eyes, then I can't guarantee the outcome." Catherine rasped.

"Who wants a guarantee? Damn!" Jace suddenly stopped her close inspection of Catherine's neck and moved off her lap and made for the door. "Sorry Catherine, I need the bathroom." She exited the room quickly.

Catherine gave out the biggest sigh she had ever done in her life at the frustration of the sudden withdrawal of Jace from her person. "Christ, has this woman got a death wish, she's driving me insane."

Getting up from the chair she walked over to the window and put her forehead on the cold glass and took several breaths to calm her nerves and her reactions to Jace's touch.

Jace walked back into the room a little embarrassed and noted Catherine's new position at the window and her head on the panel of glass, she felt ashamed too. Catherine heard her approach and moved self-consciously away from the glass.

"I'm really sorry Catherine, guess the baby could be construed as a nuisance in some situations huh?" Jace's tone was apologetic.

Catherine shrugged her shoulders and continued to look out of the window. Jace walked up to her and placed her smaller hand inside one of Catherine's larger ones and gripped it tight. "Will you sleep with me tonight?"

Catherine stiffened at the words and moistened her lips to reply, only Jace's lips followed up her question and she gently explored the full lips and the slowly opening mouth to engage in a fully passionate encounter. Gradually disengaging from this timeless pursuit Catherine managed to weakly answer the question posed. "Sleep with you tonight? That's a foregone conclusion Jace; you share my bed for as long as you live on my property from today! Anyway how else are we ever going to finish a conversation?" With that, she enfolded her in a long tender embrace that conveyed the message better than words ever could.

Jace laughed happily and considered her words. 'How else indeed!'

Lisa ran crying into the kitchen and was enfolded in a hug by Grace as the distraught child sobbed uncontrollably into her shoulder. Grace knelt at a level where she could see what was going on with the child.

"Hey. Come on now Lisa, nothing can be that bad now can it?" Grace soothed the child as best she could, drawing on her own mothers consolation techniques when she was a child and fallen out of a tree or off her bike or some other such calamity.

Lisa just sobbed even more and was inconsolable, giving Lisa a few more minutes to cry out whatever was wrong, Grace tilted up the girl's head and looked into her blue eyes awash with tears. "Lisa come on Princess, tell me what's wrong?" Grace pleaded.

Gulping back more sobs the child looked at her with a forlorn expression. "She's gone!"

Grace quirked an eyebrow in question as tried to work that little statement out. "Lisa who has gone?"

Tears streamed down the pale cheeks. "She never said goodbye." the child accused.

Grace was perplexed what was the child talking about? Taking Lisa's chin in a firm grip she managed to get the girl's total attention. "Okay, something has happened, I can understand that Lisa, but please tell me who she is? Maybe I can help you then," Grace requested patiently.

"Jace." Lisa gave her a woebegone face.

"Jace? But she's still here Lisa, a little late for breakfast I know but to the best of my knowledge she is definitely on the property and in the house." Grace told the child and gave her a smile.

"But she's not Grace, she's not!" Lisa became agitated and started to cry again.

"Right! Hold on Lisa, why do you think she's left?" Grace was slowly losing patience with the girl.

"She's not in her room and she hasn't slept in her bed, it's far too tidy for Jace," the child pointed out.

Grace smiled and had wondered when that particular event would take place, guess she should have known; they had been getting closer every day it had only been a matter of time. " How about you and I go to Jace's bedroom and check on her clothes?"

The child looked at her and gulped back her tears and gave a watery smile. "She really hasn't left us again Grace?" Lisa asked in a small voice.

"No baby, she really hasn't left us, when Catherine comes down for breakfast Jace will be with her I promise." Grace held the child's hand and they left the kitchen for the top floor.

Walking into Jace's bedroom, it was noticeable that the bed hadn't been slept in and it could be taken in a couple of ways from a child's point of view she supposed, the worse case scenario being one of them. Glancing around the room, Grace noticed the giant Taz and she chuckled softly as she recalled the day that arrived here. Grace then went over to the wardrobe and opened it and saw all of Jace's clothes neatly stored inside. "See Lisa, everything is okay, I don't think Jace would like to travel around naked now do you?" Giving the child a grin.

Lisa looked inside and then went over to the giant Taz and picked him up and hugged him; she turned a brilliant smile on Grace and it brought an answering smile from the older woman.

"Hi, is this a private party or can anyone join in?" Jace smiled brightly from the doorway, she was casually leaning against the doorjamb dress in a large T-shirt, which obviously belonged to Catherine.

"Jace!" Lisa shrieked and rushed headlong into the woman at the door, who looked at Grace, puzzled.

"She thought you had deserted us." Grace answered tongue in cheek and was tempted to giggle at the embarrassed face in front of her.

"Ah...well I can explain." Jace said in a weak voice, realising what Grace meant.

"I'm sure you can Jace, how about breakfast first and maybe you can enlighten us, it's not everyday I get a member of the family to make up their bed." Grace teased the younger woman.

Jace cheeks turned a flame red and she gave Grace a withering look at her teasing, "Come on Lisa, help me pick out something to wear and then we will go and make Grace's life a misery for a short while." Jace smiled sweetly at Grace as she headed out of the door.

Lisa walked back over to the wardrobe and started to look through the clothes. Grace patted Jace's cheek as she passed her
and gave her a warm smile. "You look great, does she?" Jace had no doubt at all to whom Grace referring.

Jace gave her a look of censure but it didn't reach her eyes, they sparkled with happiness. "Yes she does, and thanks."

"You're welcome, see you shortly." Grace went down the hall to the stairs.

Jace walked into her room and went towards Lisa, her mind on the problem of explaining this new situation to two children.

Seated around the rectangular table Jace, Lisa and Grace all waiting patiently for Catherine to arrive for breakfast.

It was a normal Sunday morning, Colin had taken Jake over for his soccer match at the town hall ground; the boy had a passion for the game and his youthful ambition was to go to England and see Manchester United play at Old Trafford their home ground. He was also a very talented player who's talent had been nurtured over the past six months now that he had settled down at 'Destiny'. Colin had been a great influence in the sporting part of Jake's life with Jake discussing his dreams with Colin on a few occasions.

Lisa looked at Grace and pulled a face, breakfast was really late today and all because Catherine had decided to make a couple of phone calls before she came into the room.

"Hey Lisa behave, Catherine wouldn't be happy about you pulling faces like that before breakfast." Grace teased the child and watched a grin appear on the child's countenance before she looked down again at her empty plate.

"Oh, but Grace, at this rate Jake will be home and it will be lunchtime!" Lisa said petulantly.

"Tell you what, I'll start the eggs and if she doesn't arrive when they're done, we will start without her, okay?" Grace finally took pity on the girl, she had been patient for over half an hour and it was unusual for Catherine to keep them waiting.

"Good idea Grace, I'm starving also, if she doesn't appear by then, I'm going to go look for her. How does that sound Lisa?"  Jace smiled at the child, her thoughts on trying to work out how to tell the children about the new situation in the household.

"Cool." The child replied and began reading one of her books she had taken from the library in the study. Grace looked at Jace and they both laughed, Lisa ignored them and carried on reading.

"You know something Grace, I feel as big as a house some days. Must be all this good home cooking I'm getting here." Jace said conversationally, although there was an element of irritation behind the statement.

Grace stopped, looked her over at the younger woman and smiled. "Well...Catherine did say when you arrived that we would be feeding the five thousand, maybe she was right?" Grace innocently replied.

"Grace...how can you say that!" Jace chuckled at the remembered expression.

"I was only quoting my boss." Grace lightly replied.

"Then you can unquote her please. It's kind of embarrassing now that I can't even bend over properly." Jace admitted ruefully.

"Oh, well I guess I wanted to know that," Grace said suggestively.

"Hades, Grace I didn't mean anything like that! I was referring to trying to tie shoelaces and stuff. God you can be so..." Jace felt herself turning red for the second time that day.

"So?" Grace asked with her head turned in interest to the flushing blonde.

"Oh, just watch the eggs Grace, I'm going to find Catherine." Jace said exasperated.

"Find me? Am I lost?" Catherine asked from the door, her tone happy and contented.

"How long have you been there? No, don't answer that, the way it's going this morning, I think I'll change my name to red with the two of you." Jace said in irrational anger and looked out of the window.

Catherine sauntered into the room as she quirked an eyebrow in question. 'What did she say now? More to the point why was Jace upset with her?'

Lisa took the opportunity to move towards Catherine and put her arms around the tall woman's legs in a hug. "Good morning princess, how are you today?" Catherine bent down and deposited a kiss on the child's head.

"I'm hungry, you have been ages," the girl accused her.

"Ah, sorry Lisa, bet you and Jace are ready to hang me for keeping you waiting? I know how you both like to eat." Catherine smiled at the idea and thought that maybe it could be the problem with Jace; they had kind of worked up an appetite last night.

"Yeah, maybe hanging would be to good for you!" Jace said in a cool voice. Grace looked at her and gave her a puzzled frown.

Sitting close to Jace, Catherine felt around for one of Jace's hands and gently captured it in one of her larger ones. "Are you mad at me for something, other than a late breakfast that is?" Catherine asked her in a voice only she could hear.

Jace heard the uncertainly in the low voice and realised she had been over reacting and didn't know why. Maybe her hormones were really hot-wired today, as if the baby didn't cause enough problems in her renewed relationship with Catherine. Looking into the concerned face of her friend, she brought her free hand up to touch Catherine's cheek in a gentle entreaty. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what's got into me today. Will you forgive me?"

Catherine was entranced by Jace's touch it didn't matter what she'd said, as soon as Jace touched her in any way the problem disappeared as if by magic. "Nothing to forgive." She turned her face into the gentle touch and her lips fleetingly caressed the fingers in a slow sensual promise.

Grace took that moment to clear her voice loudly. "Breakfast ladies, I'm sure you could do with something to eat?" Grace had seen the puzzled look on Lisa's face as she watched the two adults opposite her, who appeared oblivious to anyone else's presence.

They both looked in Grace's direction, one saw the nod of her head towards Lisa, the other in acknowledgement that indeed she was ready for breakfast.

"Lisa, what do you want to do today?" Jace asked the child and squeezed Catherine's hand in acknowledgement of her feelings.

"Can we go for a picnic?" Lisa looked at Jace and then towards Catherine.

"Yeah, sure, anything to do with food I'm up for it!" Jace chuckled happily, Catherine's fingers threaded through hers and she felt the happiness flowing through the woman at her side.

"Yes, we know you can eat Jace! Grace better get us a big picnic basket." Lisa said in all seriousness.

"I'm not that bad!" Jace replied in an affronted tone, although the laughter sparkled from her eyes. Grace and Catherine both gave out loud laughs in answer to that one.

"Think we have settled that particular topic, how about we eat and save the rest of the conversation for afterwards." Catherine said lightly.

"Yeah, because I want to know where Jace went." Lisa said as she tucked into her breakfast with gusto.

"What?" Catherine asked puzzled and turned in Jace's direction.

"I'll explain after we've eaten, okay?" Jace whispered to her and almost gave into the temptation to nip her ear lobe, but it wasn't fair on Lisa, at the moment anyway.

Catherine shrugged and started her morning meal. As far as she was concerned everything was great. No, it was better than great it was simply marvellous.

It had been a difficult decision as to the destination for the picnic, but finally they had all agreed that with warm clothes and the weather suitably behaving for the time of year, Cutters Ridge would be the ideal place. Anyway the kids had promised to cut the grass at the burial site and so they stored the mower inside Grace's jeep to enable the kids to accomplish the task.

Around mid-day, Jake ambled in looking like he'd been tossed in the mud on more than one occasion. He was looking pleased with himself, so, it probably looked like it had been worth it!

"Hey Jake, take a quick shower and get some warmer clothes on, were off for a picnic lunch." Grace told him as he snatched a cookie from the ever-present tray on the kitchen table.

"Great, have you cooked all my favourites Grace?" He asked cheekily as he snatched another cookie before heading off down the hall.

"Sure boy, and what isn't your favourite. Did you win by the way?" she asked him as an after thought.

"Yes, 2-1, I scored the winner." He said triumphantly from the top of the stairs.

"Way to go Jake." Grace said to the empty room.

"He's a good player." A voice spoke softly from the kitchen external door. Turning startled at the presence of someone else in the room, Grace saw Colin leaning against the wall, a speculative smile on his face.

"That's good news. Catherine will want an update you know? She misses not being able to see how he gets on in person."  Grace said quietly, her eyes drinking in the sight of the tall ranch foreman.

"I'll do that, where is she?" He smiled at her and moved further into the room.

"She's with Jace in the study, they wanted to be alone I think." Grace advised him with a tender smile.

"Guess it's not a good time to disturb them, I can see her later, it will wait," he finally said after taking a few minutes to decide on what action to take.

"Do you want to come on the picnic with us?" Grace asked him tentatively, her heart beating fast waiting for his answer.

He turned directly to her and sent her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry Grace, I've been asked over for lunch with Fiona's parents.  Another time perhaps?" he looked at her and almost reached out a hand to touch her cheek. Moving away swiftly he made for the external door. 'It was no use she certainly didn't want him, hadn't she made that abundantly clear in the last few months,' he left her without another glance.

Grace couldn't answer him, she knew that deep down she'd blown it and sometimes chances didn't come a second or was it a third time in her dalliances with Colin? Watching him walk away from her she felt as if there was nothing left for her at 'Destiny', 'Maybe I should go home? It's not as if Catherine needs me now! Hell, she had Jace and soon they would be a great family unit, they didn't want her around as a third wheel.' Turning back to her picnic preparations, she would ask Catherine to let her go home, for good this time!

"Well, I'm not sure what to say or how to explain our situation to twelve and eight year old children! It was hard enough explaining my feelings to my father!" Jace finally faced up to the fact she for once didn't have the words for this situation.

"Was that so difficult?" Catherine turned her head and she was almost touching Jace's forehead with hers.

"I guess not as hard as I anticipated, my father is a very astute man." Jace couldn't resist the temptation to kiss the lips so close to hers in a quick unsatisfactory peck, which left them both wanting more.

"Do you miss your parents?" Catherine sighed and leaned back against the tree truck, where the bench they were sitting at was situated.

Jace felt her heart rip a little at the question, however compassionately framed. She looked over at the children finishing off the mowing of the grass around the fenced off area, with Grace supervising. All three looked like they were enjoying the change from the ranch house. "They have almost finished." Jace said absently.

Catherine pursed her lips at the change of subject and decided to broach it further, there was no merit these days in keeping secrets, however painful. "You haven't answered me, are you going too?"

Jace turned her head and locked her green gaze on the sightless one in front of her and wished that Catherine could see what she was feeling without the need for words. "Yes!" a dual-purpose reply.

"Then call them and tell them your sorry and clear the air." Catherine said practically.

"It's not that easy, they didn't understand why I married Peter, you think they will understand what I'm doing now?" Jace said almost forlornly.

"Well, to be honest they're not the only ones who didn't understand that little episode." Catherine couldn't help the tinge of bitterness in her voice, however hard she tried to mask it. They had talked briefly about it but it had never been fully explained, if it ever could be to Catherine.

Jace got up from the bench they were seated at and she walked a few feet away from Catherine the words ringing almost like a death knell in her heart and the sting that it brought with it, almost bringing her to her knees. "I guess the acid test is making youunderstand, if I can do that I can sure convince my parents," finally accepting that it was a topic long overdue for the sensitive chat scenario.

"This might not be a good place for this conversation." Catherine shrugged and leaned forward, placing her hands limply between her denim clad thighs. Suddenly nervous at the thought of finally hearing what she still had nightmares about.

"I suspect Catherine that there will never be a good place for that conversation, even if we were on a desert island together, am I right?" She'd heard the hurt in the low voice of her friend and lover and it almost broke every emotional tract she had in her body.

"Did you love him?" Catherine's voice was clipped and unemotional, it defied all the bubbling emotions that threatened to erupt at any moment.

Jace re-seated herself next to Catherine and looked at the rest of their 'family' and a small smile crossed her lips. "He offered me a solution to my problems, I took it," she finally offered as a reply.

"Oh Jace, don't prevaricate with me for gods sake. Did you love him?" Catherine rasped out her voice trembling with emotion.

"Love? If you accept the fact that I loved him as a friend, then yes, the answer would be yes." Jace had tears welling up in the corner of her vivid green eyes; it would be only a matter of time before they cascaded down her face.

"Isn't that how it starts with everyone, friendship?" Catherine muttered quietly.

"No, no it isn't how it always starts," she replied in agitation.

"So where did it start? It wasn't exactly a platonic marriage, you have living proof of that!" Catherine could be like a dog with a bone at times.

Jace had seen the war waging in the older woman next to her, she wanted to battle, well if that was the fine line they had to cross she would do it, Catherine had to understand. "From the first moment I saw you, I loved you! I have never in my life felt so alive as I did when you vaulted off Tralargon and gave us the famous Catherine Warriorson lecture. Your eyes spoke volumes and I wanted nothing more than to see them again. When I did, well, you have held my heart from that moment on and no matter what happens from now on, there will never ever be anyone who can come close. Peter was my friend and I loved him but he never held my heart, as you do! You are my life, the reason I want to get up every morning and see a new day. The reason I want you to experience the birth of my child with me, the reason I will give up my country to be here with you, if that's not enough of an explanation, then I will just have to try harder to convince you." Jace continued to look towards the fenced area holding the other participants in their life.

Catherine was overcome with the impassioned plea Jace had just given her. 'She never answered my question but I don't give a damn, I don't deserve that kind of devotion, but I want it, I crave it and I'm not letting it go again.' "I see!" Her voice clipped, unable to tell Jace how she really felt.

Jace looked at the quietly controlled profile next to her and sighed heavily; it hadn't been enough.

Grace chose that moment to deposit her body on the grass next to them, she had noticed the radiated tension coming from the two of them even at a distance and thought it better to leave them for a while. "Have you decided what you're going to tell the kids?"

Jace looked at Catherine's profile and shook her head at Grace. "I think I'll go see how they're doing," she walked off in the direction of the fenced area without further comment.

Catherine remained silent she had picked up the negative vibrations from Jace, but hadn't managed to get her emotional upheaval cleared up in time to complete what she wanted to say. 'I'll do it later, when were in bed, at least we will be alone with no possible interruptions.' Then a smirk crossed her face as she thought of the baby and it's habit of waking Jace up on frequent occasions to go to the bathroom.

"Have you had a fight?" Grace finally asked the pensive woman.

"What makes you think that Grace?" Catherine's profile turned in the direction of the hillside, rather than directly at her friend.

"Well, body language for one, but you look sad and believe me that's a first today." Grace chuckled and leant her body against the denim-clad legs of her friend.

"I never realised how difficult it was to fall in love Grace, why is that? Every book you read, every poem that's written tells about the wonders of love, but it hurts too!" Catherine whispered the words and they almost got carried away with the wind.

"Yeah, I know, believe me Catherine, I know how much it hurts." Grace quietly agreed in a solemn tone.

"I'm sorry Grace, I forgot about Colin. Is he still seeing...?" Catherine had forgotten Grace's unrequited love.

"Yeah he is. I wanted to talk to you about something Catherine, not sure if this is place or the moment." Grace leaned further into Catherine's legs and felt Catherine place a gentle hand on her hair and ruffle it.

"Go for it, what the hell, the place is great for sensitive chats." Catherine chuckled, her mood becoming more upbeat.

"I'd like to leave soon and go back to Auckland." Grace stated flatly.

Catherine put a hand on Grace's shoulder, hearing a note of finality in the voice of her friend. "For good?"

Feeling rather than hearing the answer with the nodding of Grace's head, "No! I can't allow that Grace, this is your home! Go back for a visit but come back to me!" Catherine howled the words into the air, Jace and the children turned around in a look of surprise and uncertainty.

"You don't need me here Catherine, you have everything you could possibly want. I need to get away, find out if I can function away from here and away from him! You have to let me go." Grace concluded sadly.

Jace had walked over with the children cautiously bringing up the rear.

"Are you giving me any options here?" Catherine finally answered, her face streaked with tears this was way too much emotional crap for her to handle in a day.

Placing a hand on Catherine's knee Grace gently squeezed it and smiled with tears in her own eyes. "Not really, but I will wait until you get back after the surgery, you know I love you Catherine, it's for the best."

"The best for you maybe, but not for me!" Catherine gave one of her petulant looks that would have melted most other people's hearts.

"Hey Jace, come over here and tell the kids, how much you love Catherine and how you're all going to be a family together.  Hell, you can even plan for the new addition together too!" Grace motioned for the three of them to come over and sit by Catherine, who hadn't managed to stop the flow of tears, but was scrubbing a hand across her eyes to remove the evidence.  She hated showing weakness in front of the children and Jace too come to that!

Jace looked at her in surprise and gratitude in a short sentence Grace had bridged not only the gap between her and Catherine but also the means to tell the children. She would find out soon enough what the tears were about.

Grace stood up and limped towards the jeep and the picnic items, as the new family finally got around to discussing details. Her hands shook as she reached for the basket and she had to wait for the trembling to stop. 'Hell of a way to exit Thornton, wonder if it's a good day to drive fast through a mountain range.' She collected the basket and set up the mobile table and chairs. 'It really was a fine day for a picnic.'

Paul Strong had been given a tip-off that Hudson had dropped out of sight and she was up to no good, or at least no good for Xianthos or Catherine. He wasn't even sure if he was now a target he'd made it plain to Hudson that he instigated the court case that had cost her UCP and most of her personal fortune. Although knowing the devious nature of Hudson she would have hidden some of her accounts in other countries. Tapping his fingers on his desk in agitation he contemplated calling Catherine and warning her, but what was he to warn her about?

"Get me a private line to Constance Waverly in New York, Jenny." Paul asked his PA. She was turning out to be a rare find in this town, which was a compensation for him losing Celeste Johnson.

"Right Away," Jenny responded via the intercom.

Paul looked out over the smog building up in the town and wondered why he'd chosen such a place, when he could have literally lived anywhere else in the world. He smiled sheepishly at the thought 'Oh I know why I chose here, it was no contest really, wherever James lives will always be where I want to be, no contest, no contest at all.'

The phone rang and he answered, "Strong."

"Hi boss, what can I do for you?" Constance Waverly cheerfully asked.

"Hi Constance, how's it going in the big Apple?" He smiled as he thought of his New York VP and her permanently optimistic attitude.

"The big apple is doing just fine, all revenues are up and I'd say we are going to post a record year here." Suddenly realising that this was the man she had taken over from.

Paul laughed at the statement, nothing like putting the president in his place. "Excellent, always knew you were wasted in the old post. So have you received anymore information on the leak in the company?"

Paul heard some shuffling of papers and then Constance answered him. "Nothing concrete, but the closest we can get is that the leaks are coming from Europe." Constance's voice was very serious.

"So, is it Eduardo?"

"No, but I think it's someone who has access to the mainframe data network in a senior position or we have a hacker."

"Why don't you think its Eduardo?" Paul was interested in the woman's opinion.

"He asked me to check out a strange set of messages going through his European network, about three months ago. They appear to be from the same source that has retrieved confidential data from the corporate files. He wasn't sure who to trust, so he came to me."

"I see. The VP of America is taking on the mantle of second in command." Paul chuckled and paused in thought.

"You must have done a good job huh?" Constance smiled at her end of the line.

"Yeah, Catherine should be told, but she's got other things on her mind at the moment. We'd better keep a close eye out for the infiltrator and then see her with the information when we have something she can use." Paul considered the options available.

"Can I ask a personal question about our Chairwoman?" Constance tentatively asked Paul, who she knew, was also a close friend of Catherine Devonshire.

"Well, you can ask." Paul said cautiously, he wasn't worried about this woman in anyway but he knew Catherine wanted to keep what little private life she could relatively quiet these days.

"Is she involved with another woman?" There was silence at the other end that Constance couldn't decipher between surprise and annoyance.

"Is it any of your business, what she does with her personal life?" Paul finally said quietly.

"No, none at all. But when it comes to fighting dirty and I think someone is going to do that! Let's have at least some honesty up front." Constance replied.

"I don't think Catherine has much left to air in public do you?" Paul considered the question.

"Yeah, you could say that. Although it never implied she was batting for the same side now did it? Only that she didn't care much how she paid for her excesses." Constance pointed out.

"She has a girlfriend, if that's all you wanted to know." Paul finally decided that Catherine wouldn't care much if people knew anyway; she wasn't the type to be interested in how people speculated about her lifestyle.

"Thanks. Do we know her?" Constance knew that she was pushing it.

"No! Let's drop the subject, you might get to meet her if we have to report the situation to her directly." Paul considered the matter closed.

"Okay, but Catherine might want to know what's going on earlier, than wait until we have positive id on the person involved.  She possibly could beef up her security at the ranch." Constance said practically.

"I don't think she would thank us for worrying her unduly, anyway she added more security on the ranch when she went home six months ago." Paul reasonably validated her worries.

"If you think so, but..." Constance wasn't happy about this, and she was sure she would want to know if anything remotely threatening was going on. There again they didn't know that for sure, the only information taken had been the address of the ranch and all the personnel employed and details of the children that were being cared for there also!

"I'll take full responsibility Constance, so how's Gareth shaping up in Africa?" Paul smiled as he thought of the expression that would be on Constance's face about now, with the mention of the man who had taken over her VP status in Africa, there was definitely no love lost with those two.

"You really want me to answer that?" Constance said with a caustic laugh.

"Yeah, I'd like to hear it." Paul chuckled and they continued the conversation.

Hudson had all the information she needed to make the deal with the person who could take down Catherine Devonshire and her mistress Jace Bardley. It had been surprisingly easy to convince a powerful person in Xianthos to sell out their boss. Seems they had a hate of Catherine that was almost as devouring as her own. The information she had requested had flowed easily and with no apparent detection, or so her informant had indicated. Hudson had made sure that she wasn't directly involved in any of the information transfers as a precaution. She didn't want to have her hands dirtied at all by any of this. Her only contact had been two months ago, and that person was now so heavily involved in the situation that they wouldn't give her identity away unless they wanted a death sentence and she had threatened that, and been believed. Well, it was true, she would kill anyone who got in her way this time, anyone!

Jace looked over the paddock from the window of the bedroom she shared with Catherine, as the children had their usual Saturday morning practice session with Colin and the horses. Catherine had insisted that they practice though the winter too; it wasn't a pursuit for the fair weather minded it was an all season pastime. Catherine missed going for rides on Tralargon, although she went to talk to the mare twice a day and often spent an hour grooming her after Colin exercised her pride and joy. Jace placed her hands on her extended stomach that seemed to be enormous these days and with only three weeks left of the pregnancy she was becoming anxious too! 'What had Catherine implied that morning as she lay snuggled up on the tall woman's shoulder? Oh Yeah, she'd said that the sooner the baby was born the better, getting out of bed at three a.m. practically every morning to hunt out some delicacy that I craved, was really getting to her.' Jace chuckled as she recalled the expressions that ranged from tenderness, indulgence and annoyance, when the cravings became a normal occurrence in the last few weeks. 'But you're wonderful Catherine, because no matter what, you always manage to get what I need and god's knows how you do that!'

Jace gasped as the baby kicked her in the diaphragm 'this kid was a acrobat that's for sure.' Not hearing anyone come up close to her, Jace jumped slightly in surprise as large hands closed around her swollen belly gently.

"Hi beautiful." Catherine whispered into Jace's left ear and kissed her neck tenderly.

"Hi yourself, what have you been up to for the last hour?" Jace smiled happily as she felt the secure hold of her lover and positively glowed at the simple compliment she had been given. 'Catherine knew when to say the right words at the right time, especially now.'

"Ah, now wouldn't you like to know?" She answered mysteriously.

Turning in her arms she faced her taller companion, although her protruding belly didn't allow her to maintain the kind of contact she wanted. "Yes, I would," she replied softly.

"It's a surprise for the kids, a holiday of sorts." Catherine smiled her eyes never leaving Jace's face, even though it was only a shadow she saw in front of her.

"Where to?" Jace touched her hand to Catherine's left cheek that had only small scars crossing it, after her recent surgery. It still looked a little red but generally Catherine was fine and her recovery was even faster this time than on any of the other occasions.

"Well, I rang Grace, she's kind of homesick and I thought that the kids might like a change so I volunteered them to Auckland to stay with Grace and her family for a couple of weeks, when the baby is born. What do you think?" Catherine asked cautiously, wanting her lover's approval.

"You never mentioned that you were ringing Grace, I would have loved to have chatted with her, I miss her." Jace sounded disappointed.

Catherine looked down at Jace with a frown and a look of insecurity on her face. "I didn't mean to keep the call a secret, it was a spur of the moment thing. I never thought about you wanting to talk to her, I'm sorry."

Jace saw the insecurity in Catherine's features, she was so in control most of the time, Jace forgot that when it came to the emotional stuff, Catherine was a babe in the woods and could be hurt so easily. Grace leaving two weeks ago had proved that in a big way!

They had all been present when Grace had loaded her luggage into the jeep, it was the final event that made Catherine realise that Grace was leaving and for good!

Jake and Lisa had hugged Grace, tears had rolled down the girl's face and Jake had looked solemn and shuffled his feet constantly, a sure sign he was upset but wouldn't voice it.

Jace had cried with Grace the previous evening, Catherine had decided to go and talk to Colin and see Tralargon, thus leaving them alone with their tears. It had been a relief for both of them to let the pent up emotions go. Grace because she really was struggling to come to terms with leaving everything she had come to know and love in the past six years. Jace because Catherine was upset and refused to talk about it with either her or Grace, plus the fact Grace had been a good friend and had always been there for her no matter what. She could identify with Catherine's pain at seeing her friend leave and knowing that there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Now Grace had everything stored away and she smiled a watery smile at the children and Jace. Walking unsteadily over to Catherine who had planted herself on the bonnet of the jeep.

"I can't move the vehicle if you don't move Catherine." Grace flippantly said to her friend.

"Maybe that's why I'm here." Catherine said in a stilted voice.

Jace saw Grace look at Catherine in gentle understanding and nodded her head, knowing the woman couldn't see that. Taking the children by the hands, Jace walked over to the porch of the house and they sat down on the benches, giving the two women space to say goodbye.

"Are you happy with the replacement?" Grace said quietly.

"No!" Catherine replied petulantly.

"I see, Jace seems to like her and Doris will come over three times a week to help out too." Grace replied patiently.

"I don't want this Grace, I don't accept it either, and you know that! You're part of my family Grace, this is your home, come back to us." Catherine pleaded softly, a tear slipping from the corner of her right eye.

"I haven't gone yet Catherine! You know I love you right?" Grace finally managed to respond.

"Some love if you walk away from me!" Catherine huskily replied, a few more tears drifting down her cheeks.

"Okay, so we beg to differ on what's right for me about now, but in time you will see it differently, please accept my decision Catherine, I can't stand to see you so upset, it breaks my heart." Grace let out a sob and wiped an errant tear from her own eyes.

Suddenly Catherine moved to Grace's side and she pulled her into a tight hug and they both held each other as if for the last time. "Will you come back for holidays and to see the new baby?" Catherine finally managed to struggle the words out.

Grace moved away from the hug and smiled sadly at her friend, it had been an interesting six years, and she would never forget them ever! "Sure, you won't keep me away."

"Promise me, if ever you need anything you will call, and I mean anything got me?" Catherine was finally getting her composure together.

"Yeah, I promise, how can I deny you anything? From the day I met you, you've had such a profound effect on me I doubt anyone else will ever do so again in my life." Grace laughed softly and went towards her car door and opened it.

"Yeah, unfortunately people say that but they leave anyway!" Catherine responded.

"Well, some come back, Jace is a prime example of that." Grace offered as a parting gesture.

"In that case I'm going to hope you do the same." Catherine said positively.

Laughing softly Grace got into the driver's seat and started the engine. "Okay, I asked for that, take care Catherine."

"Take care yourself my friend and remember to drive carefully, I know how you like the speed and the thrill." Catherine said laconically.

"Hey, I've given that up remember." Grace laughed surprised at the final comment from Catherine.

"Tell that to people who don't know you like I do Grace, I know you're responsible for those tracks up the 'Crasidian' mountain. Behave my friend." Catherine turned away to the porch and her family; Grace was tooting her horn as she left them waving her departure.

Colin Montgomery was watching the departure from his lounge window, a lone tear tracked down his cheek as he saw her go, there really had been nothing left to say between them, not even goodbye in the end.

"Did Grace agree to having the kids for a couple of weeks?" Jace finally asked, her reminisces now in the background.

"Hell, she wanted me to send them today, never mind in a couple of weeks time. I told her to come home," Catherine said flatly.

"Oh Catherine, please love don't put on pressure this early. She needs to find her own way back you know that better than anyone." Jace compassionately replied.

"Yes I know you're right but..." Catherine trailed off, her face reflecting her pain.

"How about when the baby is born, we work on Grace to bring the kids back personally and maybe, just maybe we can persuade her to stay for a little while. How does that sound?" Jace put her hands to Catherine's face and brought it close to her own and kissed her gently.

"I think I love you Jace Bardley." Catherine smiled into the next kiss they shared and both laughed as the baby took that moment to kick Jace as they leaned together.

"Hey Jace, I think this child of yours is taking lessons from Jake and his soccer team." Catherine placed her hand on the belly and felt the movements of the baby.

"Oh no Catherine, I'm not taking all the blame, how about this child of ours?" Jace watched the flash of emotion on her lovers face and saw the silly smug look appear, it even reflected out of the near sightless eyes, which still managed to douse Jace in sensual overload, whenever they were sent in her direction.

"Whatever you say, whatever you say." Catherine said bemused.

"Now we have that point settled, what did you say about 'I think I love you' do you need convincing?" Jace whispered as she sought the full lips hovering close to hers.

"Convince me!" Catherine muttered her voice heavy with passion, she led Jace back towards the bed, cradling her gently as she lowered them both down onto the comfortable bedclothes.

"No problem, no problem at all," were the last words from Jace for some time.

Colin Montgomery had mixed feelings about Grace leaving. He hadn't been informed until the week before she left; that had only been because of the new housekeeper who arrived on the ranch to settle in prior to the hand over of responsibilities. He had been totally thrown at the news and when Catherine had casually informed him one evening when they were going over some details on the new horses; he couldn't answer her questions coherently for some minutes after this news finally sunk in. 'Grace-leaving'.

"Was it something I said?" Catherine turned to her foreman and inclined her head in question. 'It was hell when you couldn't see peoples expressions.'

"What?" Colin spluttered out, knowing he was being rude but couldn't help himself.

"Did I say something in our recent conversation to rattle you in some way?" Blunt to the point, why not.

"I wasn't aware that Grace was leaving, I guess it threw me," he finally managed.

"No you wouldn't, she wanted it kept low profile, and you know Grace." Catherine gave him an intent look. Not that she could see anything, but it always worked before.

"I thought I knew her, obviously not." Colin attempted to get his emotions in check his hands were shaking.

"Oh, I always thought you kind of liked her, in a big way too?" Catherine threw tact to the wind. She was fighting to keep her friend on the ranch and if it meant taking low pot shots at the man at the other side of her desk, she was the person to do it.

"I did," his voice barely audible.

"Did? I see, oh well fair weather love isn't good enough for Grace that's for sure." Catherine said sarcastically.

"How do you know what kind of love I have for Grace?" He snarled at her, fighting the urge to knock the smug look off her face.

"Ah, so it isn't did? It's still do? And you're too chicken to take a chance on finding out how she feels?" Catherine smiled briefly she could feel the negative vibes coming from the man close to her.

"Who you calling a coward in love, if it had been up to you, you would still be lonely without the woman you love at your side, how much of a chicken is that?" He caustically replied she might be his boss, but he was damned if this woman would give him lessons in love.

"Spot on actually, I had some good friends who decided they knew better, guess I listened for once." She replied calmly, although her heart rate had increased at the comments, she wasn't averse to slapping his face about now.

"Well, I can take care of my own love life thanks and if you hadn't noticed I'm seeing someone who does want to be with me!" Colin viciously attacked the statement from his boss.

"Oh, I'd noticed, hear she's a nice girl too. I hope you're happy, it takes a lot of guts to turn your back on the love of your life, I should know that, better than most." Catherine conceded the jibe at face value.

"Yeah, you should! I have to go, the horses need to be checked before I go to bed." He accepted the end of the pointless conversation.

"How's the nose by the way, still giving you any problems?" Catherine quickly tried to retrieve the situation with her foreman.

"No, it's okay. I can breath properly again and the doctor says the bone is back in line fine! Thanks for asking." He wasn't sure how sincere she was being, but he took it at face value.

"You're important to me Colin, just because we have differences of opinion doesn't mean it's the end of the world, quite the opposite usually." Catherine turned her back on him in dismissal. Sighing heavily she put her head on the pane of glass, her face a little heated over the discussion. 'Went too far again didn't you Catherine. One day I'm going to learn I guess, damage control was never my strong point, now creating the damage that is another thing altogether.' Lifting her head away from the window.

"I know, I'm glad Jace is staying and you found her again." He turned and left the room and the silently brooding woman.

Now sitting in his house looking at the retreating jeep, he realised just as everyone else did, that she was gone! 'It was a hell of a price to pay for pride.'

Judy Schmidt was trying to look the calm controlled housekeeper that everyone perceived her to be. Fortunately, the head of the household couldn't see anything so she wouldn't really be aware of any shortcomings. Her acceptance for the role had been a short interview with the previous housekeeper and a discussion with the 'friend' of the owner. Now she was here and it was the first morning breakfast she'd been involved with on her own. It was nerve wracking for her, she had not lied exactly over her qualifications for the job but did embroider it a little, well a lot really, but she needed the job.

The child Lisa sauntered in and was pulling a hand through her red hair, looking at the woman as she came close to her, she smiled at her and sat in her usual place. Everyone it seemed had a usual place at the long table.

The boy Jake came in closely following his sister, but no! Lisa wasn't his sister it was some sort of orphanage exchange programme, Grace had explained.

Colin Montgomery had declined breakfast this morning and said he would see Catherine later; there was some sort of breech on the fences where the new horses were exercising.

Jace Bradley walked with a heavy gait into the room, she looked tired, but she always had a cheerful air about her that endeared everyone to her; all that is, except the therapist who seemed to delight in sniping at the woman for some reason. Danni wasn't due for another hour or so; at least she couldn't give the young blonde indigestion, although the baby probably would.

Catherine Warriorson followed behind Jace; she had a confident air about her that defied the disability that had befallen her.  Everyone had read the stories about her from the tabloids almost a year ago, but little was known about the accident that had taken her sight and left her with facial and probably body scars. She'd been asked if she objected to working for Lesbians, and it was made clear that theirs was not a discreet relationship, in their own home at any rate. Although they never flaunted their sexuality, it was so comfortable in the house that it wasn't particularly noticeable once you lived there. She hadn't cared anyway she needed the job, who gave a damn who slept with who these days!

"Have you settled in Judy?" Jace asked her kindly, seeing the nervous look on the new recruit's face.

"Yes, thank you Ma'am. The room I have is very beautiful." Judy replied, giving Jace a small smile. Not noticing the way Jace cringed when she said the word Ma'am.

"Yeah, Grace loved to decorate all the rooms, Catherine gave her free reign, and didn't you love?" Jace teased her lover, who was patiently waiting for her mug of tea. 'I really must talk to Catherine about how people who work here address others, it's embarrassing.' She thought idly.

"Grace had free reign because she couldn't be controlled, just like someone else I know." Catherine turned her face towards Jace who was always seated to her right.

"Ah, now that's not entirely true Catherine, don't you go giving people ideas about me now." Jace chuckled and squeezed Catherine's hand.

"Me? How the bloody hell could I do that? You can manage it all on your own, you know that." Catherine chuckled happily.

Jace scowled at the expletive from Catherine. "Now Catherine, we've had the discussion about you swearing in front of thechildren. I think it's time you actually listened or I'm going to set both of them onto you in a big way." Jace said softly but with a serious ring to it.

"I'm sorry Jace, I forget sometimes. Lisa, Jake I'm sorry okay. Now don't go repeating me or I'm a dead woman?" Catherine spoke solemnly to the children who sat opposite her. 'God I wish she wouldn't undermine me when we're in a room with the kids and a stranger.' Catherine felt like a child herself when Jace did that; as it was, Jace was the only one who would ever be allowed to scold or correct her in that manor.

"Okay." They replied in unison, both laughing softly at Catherine's solemn expression.

Judy Schmidt watched the verbal banter across the table and visibly relaxed, maybe she wasn't going to fail after all, she had all the time in the world, no one would even notice her failings.

"Okay then Judy, let's get my children fed and watered so they can get to school." Catherine turned her head towards the new housekeeper and smiled briefly in her direction, a slight depression clouding her face.

Judy looked at the woman and realised that being blind didn't detract in anyway from the pure animal magnetism she exuded, wonder what she saw in the little blonde, however attractive; she certainly looked like she could do better. "No problem, it's all ready."

Constance Waverly asked her communications manager to join the discussion on the computer 'hacker'. She knew the woman who had been the PA to Paul Strong for over ten years could be trusted implicitly along with her PA Clare Fallon, who had proved to be a remarkable source of information in the short time she had been in charge of the New York operation.

Celeste Johnson walked into her old office and smiled at Clare. "How's it going?" She asked the young woman who was announcing her to her boss.

"Great! What about you?" Clare waited for the intercom to be switched on in the other office.

"Can't complain, are we in trouble in Comm?" Celeste knew that she wasn't, since she had taken over from the demoted previous manager, the profile of the role had increased in importance, primarily through her efforts.

"No! Whoever would take you on anyway, you were handpicked by the Chairwoman herself." Clare laughed as she recalled her first introduction to the owner of the company and it's unusual consequences.

"Ah, but didn't she recommend you also?" Celeste smiled and heard her name called from the connecting door.

"Hi, Ms Waverly, I got here as fast as I could." Celeste liked the new VP; she was straightforward and had the drive that reminded her of Catherine Warriorson before her family tragedy.

"Looks like it! Clare, I need you in here also. Ask someone to take all my calls and yours until we're finished." The VP replied as she headed back in her office with the Comm manager behind her.

"Sure thing." The young woman said breathlessly; this was a surprise.

Making the relevant calls she entered the office and noticed that Constance and Celeste had taken seats at the small conference table in the room, she seated herself at the left of Celeste opposite the Executive.

"Right, I'm not going to beat about the bush it's too important and I think you ladies can bring something to the table that others in the operation wouldn't." Constance said mysteriously.

"If you don't mind me asking why do you think that?" Celeste asked in surprise.

Clare watched as her boss took a few minutes to formulate a reply, something she did when it was important to get the correct message across immediately.

"You have both been handpicked by Catherine Warriorson to take over strategic roles in this company, obviously I had a say as did Mr Strong, but she felt that you would benefit from the challenge as she knew Xianthos would benefit from it also. She's a very astute woman, you came through for her, not only that, you have never commented except in the positive, when her personal life was dragged through the mud a while back. Unfortunately that cannot be said of everyone she employs, consequently we have a breach in the confidential computer information on Ms Devonshire, or more exactly the information regarding her current status in New Zealand." Constance watched the faces opposite her and saw the disbelief on her PA's face and quiet understanding on the face of her Comm's manager.

"How can we help?" Celeste answered for the both of them Clare nodded her agreement to the statement.

"We need to set a trap for the 'hacker', I'm sure he will try again, it becomes almost an obsession I'm told once they feel they haven't been detected." Constance explained.

"How many times has the information been breached?" Clare asked.

"Too many as far as I'm concerned, but for the record three times, the earliest about three months ago, the most recent was two days ago! Strong doesn't want to involve Ms Devonshire unless he has something more credible to go to her with, but I'm not so sure! Anyway, for now I will accept his decision, but ladies we need to nail this bastard and fast; it could be crucial to Ms Devonshire and her family." Constance earnestly replied.

"Catherine would want to know. She won't thank anyone if something happened to her family or the people working for her on the ranch." Celeste said matter of factly.

"Yeah I know, but its still Paul's call at the moment, can you come up with a trap to catch the guy?" Constance questioned grimly.

"You think it's a guy? Why?" Clare said almost absently.

"Just a gut feeling and unfortunately for me, that's usually ninety-five percent right." Constance looked over the room almost embarrassed at the confession, it wasn't exactly a practical reason, must be those African roots of hers.

"Hmmm, well, I guess she does appear to have more male enemies than female, as the biggest pain in her rear is now almost destitute, so she shouldn't give too much trouble now." Celeste said wryly.

"Well, I don't know about that Celeste, she is so revengeful, don't go casting her out of the equation just yet; Ms Hudson can never be discounted while she's still alive and it wouldn't surprise me if she could reach Ms Devonshire from the grave to, if she had a mind too!" Constance smiled at the thought, but it wasn't exactly funny was it. "So, any ideas how we are going to crack this?"

Danni O'Neil made her way to the kitchen and Catherine, who was rarely ever late these days. She knew that her time on 'Destiny' was almost over and suspected that Catherine was going to broach that very subject sometime this week. Walking into the warm room she could smell the coffee percolating, which had to be for the token American, now that Grace had left. It wasn't that she hated the American, more she hated that she had Catherine wrapped round her little finger and Danni had realised shortly after her arrival two months ago that her chance to dazzle Catherine had been ground into the dust. Danni recalled a conversation she had with Grace shortly after meeting the American.

" Grace how come our token American wasn't here when Catherine was first injured, if she's such a good friend?" It was the conversation she'd tried to have with Catherine a few days before but that had been like talking to a clam.

Grace had looked at her in speculation; she'd seen the look before. " Catherine and Jace had a few problems some time back, but they are working them out."

"What sort of problems?" Danni could be persistent just like the American.

"Are you asking from a professional point of view or...?" Grace gave her another veiled look from her brown eyes.

"I could say professional, but I guess you would see through that, how about from a concerned friend?" Danni smiled sweetly.

"Jace is a wonderful woman Danni, don't underestimate her! Catherine would toss you off the property physically herself if you attempted to come between her and Jace." Grace said seriously.

"Just a minute Grace,' holding up her hands in surrender, "I wouldn't do that honestly, well, only if I thought she was doing harm to Catherine, then I might be forgiven for involving myself. Come on now I could get terminated if there was any notion that I was involved with my patient other than professionally." Danni cautiously replied, as she knew Grace saw more than was good for her sometimes.

"You could end up that way, if you persist in getting involved in the why and wherefore of Catherine and Jace's relationship!"  Grace levelled her with a calm but steady stare.

"I'm lots of things Grace, but stupid isn't one of them, trust me on that one." Danni said knowing the futility of the situation.

"Pleased to hear it. But let me tell you, we are all stupid from time to time and usually we don't realise it until it's way beyond redemption." Grace offered one of her pearls of wisdom, or that's what Catherine called it when she teased Grace about her odd statements.

Looking at the new housekeeper, who was she judged to be around twenty-five and had the Arian look of her German ancestors, blonde hair and blue eyes, well Hitler wouldn't have booted her out of the country if he'd taken over the known world. Smiling at the seemingly relaxed stance of her patient, Catherine was leaning her elbows on the kitchen table and staring sightlessly into the depths of a large mug, which either held tea or the dregs of them. She appeared pre-occupied with something, it didn't look serious though, just speculative.

"Good morning folks, I see the snow has finally given us a wake up call this morning." Danni said cheerfully.

"Good morning Danni, it obviously isn't too bad, you're still on time." Catherine replied good-naturedly.

"Good morning." Judy said quietly and got back to cleaning away the morning's breakfast debris.

"Now Catherine behave, I can keep up with the weather here in the wilds, just you watch me." " Danni laughingly returned the ribbing.

"I will, before long you will have difficulty driving that piece of scrap you call a car out there." She drolly answered.

"I'm offended Catherine! If Max could hear what you called him he would be hurt." The therapist said with mock injury in her voice.

"You have a name for that piece of cr...! That car?" Catherine turned her attention to her therapist, who they all affectionately called the 'Irish Spitfire' because of her volatile nature.

"Sure do, and he's done good for years." Danni said lightly.

"Exactly my point, years or is it decades?" Catherine's voice harsh.

"Whose yanked your chain this morning Catherine, you're being mean now." Danni placed a friendly hand on her shoulder.

Catherine looked up at the woman and could make out little other than she was bulkier than the other woman in the room with them. "No one. Okay, maybe they have a little, but I deserved it!" She offered as an aside.

"Now, how is it I get the feeling our token American has ruffled your feathers more than you want to admit?" Danni rarely got the chance to tease Catherine about her lover; any opportunity should always be exploited in her book.

Catherine gave her a withering look at the phrase Danni used for her lover 'token American', she never got involved in the skirmishes between the two of them, but she wasn't having Jace spoken about as if she was insignificant. "No, Jace was correct I suppose. Well, hadn't we better get started, I want to finish early today, I have a visit to town with Jace to go and see the doctor." Catherine got up from her chair and made her way towards the basement door.

"Right behind you Catherine, couldn't you call the doctor out to you, she's only a couple of weeks away now isn't she?"

"Three, but we want to go and pick up some stuff for the kids, they're going to see Grace in a couple of weeks." Catherine went down the stairs with the therapist following closely behind her.

Judy Schmidt had been eavesdropping and smiled as she heard that the kids were due to leave the house soon.

Continued in Part Two