Heather was waiting in the reception area of Gleneagles Hotel. It was a country house with several golf courses set in the grand and spectacular Perthshire countryside. Heather was looking forward to seeing Bill. She hadn't seen him for a fortnight and that was way too long.

She had it bad. Very bad. Until Bill she had liked men. Heather had a few relationships but nothing to compare to this. Heather found the waiting to see him unbearable. For more than one reason too.

She knew both Fiona and Bill were travelling up together in a hire car and that they had experienced a typical day of road hell in the UK. She had received several calls from them on the journey, mostly Bill swearing about road works and shite drivers. They had set off at 9 30 am and had expected to be in Perthshire at 4 pm, however, it was now 6 pm.

The plan for the wedding guests was, to arrive late afternoon, have tea, then either play a round of golf or go to the spa. Afterwards, there was an evening meal with the bridal party before early to bed, ahead of the big day on Saturday.

Heather spent the afternoon in the spa, she knew that Fiona was really looking forward to the relaxation ahead of the trauma of seeing both David and Paul. 

Heather's heart leapt as she saw a car arrive. It dropped when she saw David get out. He smiled at her broadly and jogged up the path with his luggage. He dropped his bags and gave her a bear hug. 

Despite her better judgement, she cuddled him back, inwardly chastising herself for not giving him sheer hell for treating Fiona so badly. He was a total idiot, however, he was Bill's best friend. Bill had told Heather that David had called him and confessed that he was beside himself for hurting Fiona. However, Heather had to make sure that she administered some kind of punishment on him. David was not getting back in her good books for at least a decade.

David released her from the hug. "Heather, wow, you look totally amazing! So long since I saw you? Man, let's go get a drink and you can bust my balls. I can plead for your forgiveness and then we can have a good time." David grinned at Heather. Bill was smitten with this girl and he understood why. "Is Fiona here yet?"

"Wanker."Heather punched him hard in the arm and smiled broadly. "Fiona is stuck in traffic with Bill, I have been here on my own all afternoon. Now buy me a drink." Heather grimaced, "Mind you, I am worried about those two, it is two hours since they crossed the border and I would have expected them now."

"Friday night traffic, I flew into Edinburgh and it was a nightmare, Heather." David sighed, he turned to reception and booked himself in and pocketed his key with his luggage going up to his room.

"Oh, I forgot about the rush hour on Fridays." Heather mused. "Ok, you can take me to the bar, but don't think for one minute that I have forgiven you or have come anywhere near liking you." Heather laughed. For a complete idiot he was quite likeable, however, Heather was not cracking. There was no doubt why he had most of London chasing him for more. Fiona would have to be careful if she was going to keep her resolution to not boff him this weekend.

Heather and David walked into the large bar area and found Paul with Gillian sat facing the entrance. Heather spoke loudly to David. "So, I suppose you are desperate to see her then?" she gazed at Paul and Gillian and back to David. Giving him the queue to act the part that Fiona had given him.

"Oh God, yeah, I haven't seen her for nearly six months, it is going to be magical! I am just gutted she is not here at the moment." David sighed dramatically for effect. "Anyway, I have been a very bad lad and done something she might kill me for!" he turned to the barman and ordered beers for them both.

"A lemonade for me David, I am too nervous about them not making it, neither of them are good drivers. What the hell have you done now? Shagged the bride?" Heather said through gritted teeth keeping up the facade for Paul and Gillian.

"No, I tried to get into the hotel, it was too late. So I took Fiona's booking and I upgraded us to a suite." he lied. He booked them into the best suite as soon as Fiona gave him the details.

"Are there two beds?" Heather raised her eyebrow. David was a really bad liar. A horny, devious, bad liar.

"Yes! There are two beds and a whole lounge area, I am not that presumptuous!" he lied.

"Lying bastard, you are too! Anyway, Fiona told me that you are here to give a good show to her family and that pair of twats behind us. I confess I am all for it. It will get her family off of her back and it will give that smug prick something to chew over!" Heather knew the other plans Fiona had discussed and the fact that she was sworn to secrecy over.

"You know Fiona never mentions her family, not ever if I ever ask she just changes the subject." The thought crossed David's mind that he had better get his story straight before meeting so many new people.

"With good reason David, look if I let you in, please don't tell her I told you. You will find out anyway because her family will tell you, and it is best you are not too blindsided by it." Heather knew how private Fiona was about her personal life and that only a select few knew everything.

"Wow, that sounds full on." David looked at Heather curiously. He sipped on his beer and nodded for Heather to continue.

Heather turned to face him, "When I am finished telling you this, you need to know she does not want you to feel sorry for her ok? Don't tell her I told you. In fact, give an Oscar-winning performance if she ever does."

"Ok, I swear on all things Bill related." he swallowed his beer and urged her to continue. This sounded quite serious. What had she been hiding?

Heather took a deep breath and began, "Fiona's mother is...strange. It started with the fact that Fiona, well no one knows who her father is. There are lots of theories but none are supported. Fiona's mother was wild when she was younger, went on a hippy commune in Balquidder and came back knocked up. It was the 60's and her mum refused to give her up for adoption, so her mum moved in with her brother Robert and his wife Helen, who are Karen's mum and dad." David nodded to signal that he was keeping up. "Well one morning when Fiona was five she woke up and her mum had disappeared, she left a note that she couldn't cope and left her behind. She even indicated that Robert and Helen could place her in a Children's Home or something, just terrible."

"I had no idea." David said softly. He had never heard her talk about her mother or father. He had heard her mention her Uncle and Aunt. He never pried. He now wished he had. His beautiful, stubborn, feisty girl. No wonder she was so independent. She never had anyone that should care for her do it. 

"No it's not something anyone would boast about, Robert and Helen are great people and of course never treated her any different to Karen. They were gutted when Paul and Fiona broke up and do you know what.."

"Fiona didn't tell them why they broke up did she?" David's heart could not get any larger for Fiona if he tried. There was a lot to admire this woman for.

"No, she only told me and now you lot in London" Heather sighed, "Paul is a friend of Gordon's and she didn't want to cause trouble at their wedding."

David looked at his beer, the crushing feeling of guilt rose in his chest, he looked at Heather, "I need to find her and tell her how I feel, I really do."

"I think you will find that she is behind you mate." Paul laughed pointing at a bedraggled looking Fiona and a sweating and exhausted looking Bill behind her.

"Heather!" Bill almost shouted across the bar as he ran and picked her up. "I have had the worst possible journey known to man, me and Ninj nearly died twice, once when a lorry just pulled out in front of us in Birmingham and the other was some bloody eejit that tried to run me off the road in Glasgow, I am shattered." Bill nearly collapsed in Heather's arms.

"Oh, poor darling." Heather kissed Bill gently, "Have a wee beer and then I will take your mind off it." She would soothe him with everything she had. 

"Will that include Olympic style intercourse?" Bill grinned beginning to feel revived in parts of his body.

"Gold medal winning." she said in a low voice. She meant it.

"Babe," David said quietly and lowly as he hugged Fiona to him, he pushed her hair away from her ear and whispered, "do you want me to lay this on with a trowel?" Fiona nodded as she took in his warmth and smell of his chest, her head swam and her knees gave slightly as his scent worked its usual potent magic on her. She hated herself at that very moment.

David took Fiona's hand, "Put their drinks on my room please and could you send up a bottle of Veuve Clicquot to my room as soon as you can." David smiled at the barman and gave over the room number.

 "Is the concierge bringing your bags to the room?"David asked Fiona.

Fiona nodded, she felt so exhausted that she temporarily lost the ability to speak. That and the fact that if she opened her mouth she would not be able to stifle the sob that was rising in her chest.

"Come on then, let's see what six months without each other has done to my memory." David led Fiona to the lift, he placed his arm around her and she leaned into him.

The lift doors opened and as they entered they heard a loud call behind them to hold the lift. Fiona automatically held the lift and watched as Paul and Gillian jumped into the lift.

"Second Floor please mate." Paul asked David to punch the button.

"Sure," David said stiffly, "same as us."

"The whole party is on the second floor with the bridal party, what room are you in?" Paul asked Fiona.

"203" David replied flatly. He hated this guy. He was smug and a total asshole. David resolved that when Fiona was out of sight he would take this prick and give him a good punch.

"We are next door in 205." Paul smiled at Fiona. Fiona looked ahead not trusting herself with a response.

"Hi, Fiona." Gillian stared at David eyeing him up and down.

"Gillian." Fiona nodded, "Looking forward to dinner tonight?" She hoped that Gillian choked and she would be there to watch.

"To be honest, I am just looking forward to spending time with Paul, seems like we haven't spent as much alone time as we could together."

Gillian grinned at Paul, Paul looked apologetically at Fiona, she responded with a tight smile back. They exited the lift simultaneously and walked to their respective rooms. 

"Keep the noise down, cos we won't." Gillian shouted as she entered room 205

David quickly dragged Fiona into the room before she could respond. She looked like she was going to tear down the hall and perform a drop kick that Hulk Hogan would have been proud of.

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So what do you think is going on in Fiona's head?

Would you smack Gillian one?

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