It had been the most wonderful few days, Katie had loved every minute. Dan was endearing, but also romantic, finding ways to surprise her, appreciate her. But they were also comfortable in each other’s company. They spent a large amount of time sitting, or lounging together in silence, and whereas Xavier had been demanding, constantly needing entertaining, Dan was happy to just relax, read, listen to music, or watch the world go by. Occasionally he’d reach out a hand to touch her, but otherwise he was equally as content in his own company, a quality that endeared him even more to Katie.

Neither wanted to leave, to come back to the reality that was life. When they could no longer stay away, with heavy hearts, they returned to London completely besotted and in the throes of a new romance. Katie had kept the hotel room stored with her things when they'd been away, and they headed there en route to see their parents. Despite the strength and depth of their feelings, they'd decided to play things down somewhat, at the end of the day she was heading back to Mexico in a week or two, there was no point involving their parents in this, or thinking of the future, though they both knew it was a weight on their shoulders. There were many bridges to cross in the future, and this was just one more of those challenges that relationships had to encounter.

They spent another evening at the hotel together, doing nothing more than being together not wanting to shatter the perfect bubble that had somehow become erected around them, dreading the real world invading their own. That final evening Dan had headed out to get a take away when she called Pablo to confirm that he had received her emails. He was gushing about her assessments and started to plan their next stages. He encouraged her to have another week or more to relax. She'd more than earned a holiday, and suddenly she had something to look forward to, someone she wanted to spend time with.

Reluctantly the next day they got up early and Dan drove them to their parents' house. They were giggling like silly teenagers as they walked up the path to the house, he’d nudged her in the ribs, she’d tripped him up in retaliation, real childish stuff. Dan opened the door to be met by his gushing mother, "Oh Daniel! Thank God you're home! Bill's not well......what are YOU doing here?" Her voice suddenly changed as she saw Katie behind him.

Ignoring her snarl, Katie asked urgently, "where is he?"

"Are you trying to worm your way back into this family via my son?"

Katie raised her eyebrows, "my father? Where is he?"

"You leave Daniel alone. He's innocent and doesn't need contaminating by someone like you!" There was so much uncontained venom in her words, but nothing hurt Katie anymore.

"Mum!" Dan tried unconvincingly and unsuccessfully to calm Carmel down, he was instantly thrown into the middle of this, and Katie could see how much it hurt him.

Katie faced up to the older woman, "I'm going to ask you a final time Carmel, what is the matter with my father? And where is he?"

When there was no answer, she barged past her stepmother and up the stairs to search the bedrooms. She found him in his bed, deathly pale, but awake, just.

"Katie!” he groaned. “Thank God you're here! I'm about to have death by smothering from Carmel. It's just a bit of summer flu, honestly."

She squatted beside him, placing a hand on his forehead, "are you sure? Is there anything I can get you?"

"Just seeing you here is good enough, I promise! I’ve missed you so much. Spain sounded great!”

Squeezing his hand, she smiled, "well that's good to hear! And it was wonderful." She was about to add more when the door burst open. Carmel stood there aggressively hands on hips, her eyebrows drawn together in a manic frown.

"She's interfering again Bill, trying to corrupt Dan! This has got to stop. Things were better without her messing everything up!" She stormed across the room and stood between her and her father.

"Carmel! Please we're trying to rekindle this delicate relationship! I love Katie and I WANT her in my life, in this family. Hell she’s my daughter!" It was the first time he’d stood up for her, and it was music to her ears. Katie fought to keep the cocky smile off her face.

“Huh! She will never be part of my family!”

Katie flipped, "it's a waste of time Dad, she can't see past Mr Innocent downstairs. She's deluded, thinking he's some innocent teenager that I could even begin to corrupt! He's anything but that! He's a man Carmel! And I can no more manipulate him than I can my father, so please let it go." She knew she’d offered the hint of suggestion as to what had happened between them if Carmel cared to look, that was a sign of her anger.

"You grubby little bitch! Who do you think you are walking in here...." Carmel squared up to her, but Katie silenced her.

"Ironically I was here well before you! This was my home and my father long before you arrived and pushed me out into the World on my own. I was naive then, but I'm not that child now Carmel, you had better get used to me being around. I'm going nowhere!"

Carmel was becoming redder by the second, "you little cow, you came in here verbally abusing me, upsetting your father. No one wants you Katie!"

"That's what kills you isn't it? My father loves me and you can do nothing about that, you’re threatened by me!" Suddenly fifteen years of confusion dropped into place like a master revelation. She was almost smiling, as Carmel responded.

"You're wrong, it's been wonderful without the stresses you bring to this family. If you never darken this door again it'll be too soon!"

Her father turned to Carmel and raised a hand, "STOP, both of you. Carmel, we're not pushing her away again, you have to get used to this."

"But...." she floundered.

"But nothing!" he snapped, " she's welcome here every day, She's my daughter for godsake!"

"And Dan's your son!" she screeched at the top of her voice before immediately clamping a hand over her mouth.

Katie felt the room, no, the whole world start to swim.

"What?" She looked at her father, he looked embarrassed, sheepish but not shocked, Carmel was faking remorse. "Dad?" As his tears started to fall she shook her head slowly, "all those years I said it was too quick, that she shouldn't be here, that it was all wrong. You were with her BEFORE my mother died...” Katie was rambling, but this really had floored her for SO many reasons. “All the sympathy people felt as you nursed my dying mother, and all the time you were screwing this whore? No wonder she always acted as though she was better than me, better than the trash that I knew she was."

"Katie, please...I can explain!" Her father sounded distraught, but she really couldn’t cope with this deception, her world was crashing in around her.

She shook her head, "I don't really think there's anything I can say, is there? And more importantly father, there's nothing that you can say. I really can't believe this." She turned to leave, but Carmel stood in her way, and she saw red.

"Get out of my way you are scum Carmel, you've hated me from the day you met me, and I've hated you right back. I hope you rot in hell for the evils you brought on me and my mother...."

"KATIE!" an unexpected voice shouted from the doorway. All three turned to see Daniel, frozen in time, his mouth open, his eyes wide. Shaking his head he directed his words at Katie, "don't speak to my mother like that." His voice was quiet and the controlled tone meant it hurt all the more.

"Dan, I can explain!" Carmel offered rushing over to him.

Shaking her head, Katie watched him as he lowered his head and refused to meet her eyes, "this had better be good Ma."

He stepped back to allow his ‘sister’ to leave the room, she paused a moment looking up to him, but he still averted his eyes, and even as she descended the stairs, he was heading into the bedroom to his mother, oh no....to his father too. As Katie opened the front door with shaking hands, she fought tears that threatened to fall, pain, hurt, anger flooded through her, but the worst was the repulsion at what they’d done. No wonder Dan hadn't been able to look at her, it was sick, she was sick. Her life was over.