Ok. I have not written a short story for about 10 years due to different circumstances. But due to some encouragment from some of my family/friends and some encouragement from some of my internet friends I have plucked up the courage to post this story. I hope you all enjoy it. All comments would be greatly appreciated. But please remember be gentle. Its my first fan fiction.



PART 1

"We will take it slowly"
"Yeah dead slow"
Helen pulled me into the alcove of the building next to my club. We kissed for what seemed forever.
"Lets go inside and have that drink." I said to her.
"No Nikki" Helen said "I want to be alone with you. I want you all to myself tonight."
We kissed again, more passionately than before.
I went back inside the bar to tell Trish I would see her tomorrow. I could see the dissapointment in her eyes but I knew she was happy for me at the same time. After all we had been lovers for 9 years, and had known each others every thought.
I hurriedly left the bar to find Helen still waiting for me outside. We quickly left in Helens car.
"I can't beleive I have been set free Helen. And I have you. My hope. Everything is now possible."
"I know Nikki, we don't have to hide US anymore, as I am nolonger your jailer."
No more words were said on the trip back to Helens we just sat there in silence. Me with this stupid grin on my face and Helen on a mission it seemed, as she was driving a little to fast for my liking. But as I was in such a good mood, I remained silent about it.
While Helen parked the car in her driveway I was thinking I couldnt wait to get her inside. I wanted Helen so much, but I had said we would take it slow. But how slow did Helen want to take it? I decided I would leave it up to her.
Before I relised it Helen was standing outside my car door. I had been in dreamland. I'm glad Fenner wasn't there, he would have offered me a penny for my thoughts. Though somehow, I think the thought I was having was worth a lot more than a penny.
Helen opened my car door and offered me her hand, to help me out of the car. I took it. I must have still had a stupid grin on my face, as Helen was also grinning at me.
"Look at us Nikki, we look like a pair of cheshire cats, who have just swollowed a canary."
We both started laughing. Hand in hand we walked up Helens front stairs. I had to stop at the top of the stairs though, and stare at Helens front door. I took a deap breath.
"What's wrong Nikki?" Helen asked with concern in her voice.
"Sorry Helen, the last time I was here, I just thought after what has happened to us in the last 6 months I would never be back here."
Helen smiled at me then kissed me so gently on the lips.
"Well you are here Nikki, and so am I."
"I know, I just can't beleive it." I said
"Well lets see if I can make you beleive it." Helen said as she opened the front door. She walked thru infront of me. I followed her inside. Her flat looked exactly as I had remembered it. I turned and closed the door behind me. Helens hand was reaching around my left shoulder putting the security chain on the front door, but her other hand was turning my body around to face hers. I think I am about to find out how slow Helen wants to take our relationship. Helen kissed me with a great hunger I had not felt from her before. It was different, we were different. We were free. I was free from prison, Helen was free from her job, free from breaking the law. Helen stopped kissing me and looked at me for the longest time.
I started crying.
I couldn't help it. Today had just been too much. I felt so many things running thru my mind, and my heart. My love for Helen, my disbelief at being free, being here at Helens flat with her. Everything had happened all at once. Helen must have known what I was thinking. As she went to get some alcohol from her kitchen.

PART 2


"Have you eaten tonight yet Nikki" Helen asked.
"No." I hadn't and all of a sudden I realised I was hungry.
"What do you want for dinner? You choose Nikki. What would you like?"
"Anything that the two Julies havn't made." I said laughing. Helen laughed also.
"No seriously Nikki, you choose. You want chinese, or a good curry? I will ring and get it delivered." We settled on a curry.
Helen rang the local indian shop.
"Its going to be about 20 minutes Nikki, do you want another drink?"
"Yes please Helen, but I would kill for a shower. Is that ok?"
"Yeh of course it is. Can you remember where it is?"

It was good being in Helens shower. I could have the water temperature the way I liked it 'hot', not the way the fickle plumbing worked at prison. Hot, cold, hot, cold. And I knew for the first time in 5 years I didnt have to listen out for someone entering the bathroom to do a drugs deal or to attack another prisioner. I must have been in dreamland again. Helen was standing outside the shower curtain, telling me something.
"Nikki, are you listening to me?" She asked half laughing. "Or are you going down the drain with all that water?"
"Sorry Helen, I was enjoying the fact that I can do this in your flat and not have to worry about lock-up, or about having to be back in my cell by morning."
Helen just smiled. Her mischievous smile. The one I liked so much.
"Sweetheart, the curry's here. I brought you some cloths to wear, I didnt think you would want to be in your suit all night."
Thanks Helen, I will be out in a minute." I quickly finished washing my hair with Helens shampoo. It was strange having her smells on me, but having not made love to her yet.

We began eating dinner in silence, until the telephone began ringing. Helen answered it. It was Claire. I heard Helen say yes, I was at her flat, and that we were having dinner together. Claire said sheneeded to see me the following day. So Helen handed me the telephone. I asked her how she knew I would be with Helen. Claire told me Helen had phoned her earlier in the afternoon to ask her what the name of my club was. I now knew who Helens informant was. I organised to see Claire at 2 o'clock at her office. She said Helen knew how to get there.

"Is everything ok" asked Helen.
"Yeah fine, I told Claire we would meet her at her office tomorrow at 2 to sign some more court documents."
"Oh sweetheart, I cant be there at 2, I have another appoinment at that time. I can drop you of though. I will come back for you and we can go out to celebrate, with Claire if you want, we can make a real fist of it." Helen said
"Yeah that sounds great" I told her. "In the morning though I have to go to the club to get some cloths, I cant live in this T-shirt forever."
"To the club?"
"When Trish and I broke up, I asked her to pack all my things up and put them in my office at the club."

We quietly finished the curry dinner, and cleaned up our dinner plates. Helen opened another bottle of wine, and we moved back into her lounge room. I sat quietly on her lounge. Helen excused herself to go and get changed. I hadnt noticed she was still wearing the same cloths she had on earlier in the evening, minus her red leather jacket. I seemed not quite with it tonight. You would think it would be the opposite. Helen was sitting on the lounge next to me in her dressing gown. I hadn't noticed her re-enter the room.
"Nikki are you ok?"
"Yeh, yeh, im ok. Just a bit overwhelmed, everything that has happened today. I just dont know. I just dont know."
"Know about what Nikki? You aren't having second thoughts about us are you?"
"No, God no, babes, I love you, you know that, its just so much. Im exhausted. Im emotionally exhausted. I dont think the wine is helping either. I havent exactly drunk much alcohol for the past 5 years you know that."
Helen laughed softly at my joke. It was nice to hear her laugh at something I had said.
"Well then, thats enough wine for you tonight, I dont want you to pass out on me. I dont think I could carry you to my bed."
It started to sink in, what Helen had just said. My heart jumped a beat.
"So what now?" I asked
She took my hand and I followed her to her bedroom. It started slowly, slow passionate kisses, finding our way. I took Helens dressing gown from her shoulders. She was naked underneath, from that moment on it was anything but slow.

We woke about 6.30 to Helens neighbours leaving for work. But we didnt get out of bed till 9.

We showered together. Soaping each others bodies was something I had dreamt about doing, when I was alone in my cell at night. It was better than I had hoped for.

We quickly grabed some cereal, toast and coffee for breakfast. Wow coffee. I could tell it was going to be hard to get use to. Being able to do things I wanted, when I wanted. But then I had Helen. That was going to be the biggest thing I had to get use to. Helen seemed overdressed for going to the club. Then I remembered she said she had to go out today. I wondered where she was going? Oh well, she would tell me when she was ready. I didnt want anything to go wrong with us. I had told myself I would leave it up to Helen as to how slow we would take things. And she obviously wasnt ready to tell me what she was doing today.

But after last night and this morning, I wouldnt call were we are at, as slow

Great start.

Excellent :D
i just love the follow on from series three stories!
Please feel free to update frequently :rolleyes:

:clap

i also love stories that continue from 3x16.

great start liza, looking forward to reading more! :D

Thanks for the comments. Hope you like my next installment.



PART 3

We arrived at the club just before lunch. The front doors were locked, so we decided to go around the back. One of the bar girls and a cleaner were in the lane having a cigarette. Being in this laneway gave me the chills even now. This had been were DC Gossard had attacked Trish. And where my life became a living hell. Were I had been sent to prison for protecting the women I loved. The women I loved. HELEN. God, Helen. If something ever happened to Helen I could see myself doing the same thing all over again. FENNER.
Helen grabbed my hand. We walked towards the girls. They looked up at me, and both smiled. I introduced Helen and we both went straight upstairs to the offices. Trish was coming in at 12 according to the cleaner, we were ten minutes early. I showed Helen around the upstairs offices and offered to make her a cuppa. Trish arrived just as the kettle boiled, so I made her one also.
"Trish are all my things still packed in my office?"
"Yeh, bar a few things still at our place. I mean my place." She replied glancing at Helen.
Oh no. I thought please dont make this hard.
Trish past me a key, from the top draw in her desk.
"Great I need a few things, like some cloths. As you can see by the fact I have still got my suit on."
I glanced at Helen. She looked back at me in a way that I knew she would be ok to be left alone with Trish.
"I wont be long Helen, I will just get a few things to see me through for the next few days. We can come back again if I need to."
I was still hesitant in leaving the two of them alone together in a room. But it had to happen sooner or later. It may as well be sooner. And from the look I got from Helen as I was leaving the room, I knew see felt the same way.
I quickly found a suitcase and some cloths. I decided I had to go to the grocers and the hairdresses and get some toiletries of my own. Having Helens perfumes on me was becoming too much. Having these thoughts about Helen brought a smile to my face. All my dreams of being with Helen as a free women were coming true. I hoped Helen and Trish were behaving themselves, while I was getting re-equanted with my belongings. I was begining to worry, as both the women in my life had a fiery temper. Funny that. I better hurry and get back.
As soon as Nikki had left the room you could hear a pin drop in Trish's office. Trish broke the silence first. And boy did she break it.
"Helen you hurt her and you friend Claire will have to form an appeal to get me released from prison. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"Yeh I think so Trish. You feel for Nikki, what I feel for Nikki. Don't worry I won't hurt her. I love her."
"Well you better not hurt her, because she is so in love with you. Helen I don't think she could cope if you did. We were together for 9 years, and just from seeing you two together last night and today, I can see she feels more for you than she ever did for me." Trish took her eyes away from Helen, for only a second. "She killed for me. But I know she would do more for you."
Helen was shocked at this last statement. And Trish could tell. She was pleased with herself. She wanted Helen to realise the importance of Nikki's love.
I hurriedly gathered a few more cloths together, as I started to fear for Helens safety. I walked back into Trish's office. expecting to see Trish and Helen at each other's throats. But to my suprise Trish had a bottle of vodka opened on her desk. Both her and Helen were having a drink. I just looked from one of them to the other, and decided to appreciate this moment. Two women I loved in completely different ways, having a drink together.
"Trish I need some money? My release money won't buy me much at the grocers."
"Your bank account is still open. I had the accountant put your share of this palce into it each month. Here." trish handed me an envelope from her desk, which had my name written on it.
"Your ATM card and pin number are in there also."
I turned to Helen and asked if she minded stopping at a grocers shop just down the road, as I need to grab a few things.
"Yeah that's ok, Nice to meet you Trish. I'm sure we will talk again." Helen said. I was worried about what Helen had just said. What had Helen and Trish talked about while I was out of the room?
As soon as we got in Helens car she told me what Trish had said to her. I'm sure she left some bits out though. I felt bad for Helen. Trish had no right saying what she did. Helen just laughed it off. Saying she was now surer than ever, she wants to be with me.

I had forgotten what it was like to go shopping. Helen had to hurry me along. I was remembering the fun of all the mundane thing in life I had missed for the last 5 years. Like shopping. Cloths shopping. Next week I decided.

PART 4


Helen stopped the car otside a city office block. Telling me Claire's office was on the 8th floor and that she would meet me back here as soon as she could.
"Wait here for me at the coffee shop on the ground floor. And don't forget to ask Claire out for dinner and drinks."
I gave her a quick kiss on the lips and jumped out of the car, as she was illegally parked. I made my way up to Claires office.

Claire was happy to see me, but I could tell she was disapointed to see Helen wasn't with me.
"Helen had another appointment to go to." I said, "I don't know what for though."
"That's ok, I will catch up with her later."
"Well, actually, Helen asked if you wanted to go out tonight for dinner and drinks? You know, to celebrate my release."
"I thought you and Helen would have done all your celebrating last night." She answered, with a smirk on her face.
I was taken aback.
I didn't realise Helen had told anyone bar Domonique McCalister about us. Claire must have seen this reaction and proceded to tell me she had known Helen since university, which I already knew. And that she was bi-sexual. Claire then went on to tell me how when Helen first started to have feelings for me she had confided these feelings to her. Especially when she had called off the wedding to Sean. And more so when she was trying to get my appeal, up and running. She was so excited at he prospect of getting me released. That's all she could talk about. Claire said it drove her nuts. She said she could see why Helen had fallen for me, the moment she met me in that interview room. I now recalled that interview with Claire. When she told me it was nice when after a break up we could still remain friends. I hadn't even picked up on this statement till now.
"Nikki, I'm telling you she is in love with you. Don't you hurt her? I've never seen Helen like this, not in all the years I have known her."
Suddenly I realised why Trish had said what she had to Helen, and why Claire had just said what she had to me. They both cared for us and they both wanted to see us happy.
I finally signed all the legal papers Claire had given me. I said goodbye, and told her Helen and I would meet her at 7.30. Claire said to tell Helen to drive to her house; we could get a cab from there.
I hadn't realised it was now 4 o'clock. I quickly made my way downstaires to the coffee shop to meet Helen. But to my suprise she wasnt there. Whatever her appointment was it was taking her a long time. I decided to order a cup of tea and a piece of cake. It took me nearly 10 minutes to decide on which cake I wanted. After 5 years it's hard to choose. I finally settled on the tried and true, mud cake. Mud cake never fails, unless you are allergic to chocolate, which I wasn't. Helen arrived just as I was finishing my cake. I told her about everything Claire had said. I told her I was glad she had a girlfriend she could talk to, as long as that's all Claire was?
"Oh Nikki, I told you before, I was never into women. Claire will always be just a friend." I smiled at Helen. We left the coffee shop to go back to Helens and get ready for tonights celebrations with Claire.
When we got back to Helens, there was a message on the answering machine. It was from Claire. I hadn't said where we were going for dinner or drinks so Claire didn't know how dressed up to get. Helen and I decided to just go to a local restaurant and to my club for drinks. As I had left my party last night, early. So Helen rang Claire, and I rang Trish.
Claire only lived 10 minutes from Helen's. I hadn't realised they lived so close to each other. She had a nice two-bedroom house. She gladly pointed out Helen and I could use the spare bedroom tonight to sleep off tonights drinking or for anything else we wanted to do tonight. Helen and I both blushed. Helen, because it acknowledge the acceptance of our relationship by one of her friends, and me, because Helen had blushed.

"So we are going to your club tonight Nikki? Will Trish be there?" Asked Claire.
"She better be, she runs the club." I said, as I started laughing out loud. I then had to explain to Helen and Claire I was about to say 'while i'm on the inside'. It still hadn't properly sunk in. Thinking of the club made me realise I would soon have to talk to Trish about the everyday running of the club and the operating of it at night. I didn't really want to work at night. I wanted to spend my time with Helen. I needed time to think this thru. It wasn't a decision I could make quickly. I would have to talk to Helen about it tomorrow when we were alone.

Two fab updates

Great sory. Can we have some more please. :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

I love this story.

Please continue. You're really good!!!!

I've done some writing on PPC but I feel that I need to "challenge" myself more.

I want to know what's going to happen next.

:wub: I never fail to get excited about a new story. I am constantly amazed how every writer can put their own spin on the Nikki and Helen story. More, soon, please. :hug

:clap :clap :clap Great story keep them coming!

Great story!!! :clap More,please!

Thank you for your wonderful words of encouragement. Keep them coming we all know a girl likes to have her ego stroked every now and then. :lol1



PART 5

The dinner was great. The food was brilliant. You don't know what a good steak tastes like till you don't have one in 5 years. I never want to have bangers and mash again in my life. And the company was perfect. The love of my life, and her best friend. I could see why Helen and Claire were friends. Claire was not the typical lawyer type. Real down to earth, really funny and extremely easy to talk to. Claire excused herself to go to the ladies.

"I can see why you and Claire are such good friends Helen." I told her.
"Yeh sweetheart, as long as you remember friends, that's all Claire and I are and ever will be, I love you Nikky." Helen said.
"Yeh I know Helen, you know I'm the jealous type, you will just have to show me how much you love me later won't you?" I said while giving Helen the most mischievous grin I could muster.
"Nikki Wade, we haven't even gone to the club yet, you need to keep those hormones of yours under control." We both broke into fits of laughter, as Helen had said the same thing to me once before when I was in prison. I think this is going to be one of our running jokes with each other.

Claire returned to our table. So we all decided it was time to go to the club. I was really nervous about taking Helen there. Not because it is a gay club, and it would be her first time at one. It was because it was my club. It was full of Trish's friends and mine. I hoped there would be no scenes between anybody. I just wanted to take Helen out and show her a good time as I had promised her all those months ago.

The club was packed.
Trish had rung everyone she could to tell them I would be there, it was amazing. After awhile though it was all getting a bit to much. Maybe if I sliped upstairs to look thru some more of my old stuff, I had the key to my office in my pocket. I had only been in my office for 2 minutes when I heard someone walk into the room. I spun around to see it was Helen.

"Sorry sweetheart, did I scare you? She said.
"Yeh, I just had a moment, I thought you were one of the screws coming to lock my cell door."
"Hah Hah Hah, so which one am I Fenner or Body bag?"
"Neither, imagine making love to either one of those two, no thanks."
We both laughed again but this time uncontrollably. Helen was the first to pull herself together to speak.
"Sorry Nikki, Its just I noticed you come up here, are you ok? Do you want to go home? Its all a bit much, isn't it?"
I started laughing again.
"Sorry Helen, to hear you refer to your flat as HOME. It makes me laugh. I am so used to my cell being my home. I'm so happy." I walked over to Helen and promptly pulled her towards me and kissed her as passionately as I could.
"As long as I have you darling everything in my life is ok." I told her.
"You will always have me Nikki, I told you that."
"Then lets go away Helen, Ive got 5 years worth of income from this place, and I was going to ask Trish to buy me out of the club. Just you and me, for as long as we like."
"I can't Nikki, thats where I went today, I wanted to talk to you about it Nikki. I'm going back to work. Back with the Home Office. They didn't accept my resignation Nikki, they still want me to work for them. Nikki are you going to say something?"
"No Helen, I dont want you working in the prison system anymore. I dont want you ever in the positions you have been in. You might be faced with another Fenner."
"Nikki I can look after myself."
"Helen I wont be there to help you."
"No, you wont Nikki"
Helen turned and walked out of my office just like she would when I was on the inside. Nothing changes does it? Oh yes it does I can give chase now...we don't have to hide our feelings anymore.
"Helen." I yelled after her.
I stoped her in the hallway.
"Im sorry Helen, just the thought of you back in a prison is doing my head in."
"Yeh but you know I love to work in the prison system Nikki, can we talk about this tomorrow? I think we have more important things to talk about at the moment."
"Yeh, like what?"
"Like Claire and Trish."
"Like what?"
"Nikki I'm not joking, come back downstairs and look for yourself."
To my surprise there they were, across the other side of the club, against the back wall, kissing.
"Well Helen, at least I dont have to worry about you and Claire anymore."
We stayed at the club for a few more hours, long enough for Helen to get really pissed anyway. I called us a cab, and we went back to her flat. We would collect the car tomorrow.

Helen was asleep in the back of the cab before we were half way back to the flat. My mind was awash with what had happened tonight. I could't believe Helen was going back to the prison service, after all that had happened. I was going to keep her to her word though, we were going to talk about it tomorrow.

We arrived at Helens flat and I paid the cab driver. I helped her into the flat and into her bed. She tried to kiss me, but she was so drunk it was like a teenager attempting to be intimate for the first time. I undressed her and put her in a nightshirt. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow. I couldn't sleep, my mind was clouded with thoughts of tonights events. I went to the lounge room and turned on the television. Trish and Claire, Helens revelations about returning to the prison service, our first argument on the outside, her not wanting to talk about it there and then, typical Helen, always running away from everything. And to top it all of, her getting that pissed I had to carry her to bed. Had she done that on purpose so we couldn't talk about it tonight? So many things were going thru my mind.

Great story,so different told from Nikki's point of view. more more :clap :clap :clap

Great update!

PART 6

I awoke to the smell of freshly brewing coffee and to the noise of Helen in the kitchen. Why hadn't she woken me up? I must have fallen asleep on the lounge. Oh my neck. Oh shit! How could I have done that? She is going to be so mad at me. I was mad at myself, my second night out of prison and I'm sleeping on the lounge.

I went into the kitchen to find Helen dressed in one of her suits, She looked gorgeous, bar from the obvious hangover she had. I tried in my most pleasant voice possible, to speak to Helen.
"Good morning sweetheart." I was just given a quick death stare over the top of her coffee cup. I didn't know if it was because I had slept on the lounge or because she had a hangover, or both. I decided to continue to talk as nicely as possible to her as she still hadn't spoken a word to me.
"And where are you going dressed like that?" I stopped making my coffee and turned to face her. Somehow I knew what her answer was going to be before she had even said the words. My Heart broke.
"To work Nikki, I told you last night or have you forgotten already?"
"No Helen, I hadn't forgotten, but you said we would talk about it today, you didn't say you were going to start today."
"Yeah Nikki, you know how much this work means to me."
"But the prison service, you could have any job you want Helen."
Helen started leaving as we continued to arguing. She grabbed her keys and walked out the front door, turning to me she said. "Don't worry Nikki, I'm a big girl. I can look after myself." She then left in her car leaving me standing in her doorway.

What just happened?

I had to talk to someone. To Trish. Oh, Trish and Claire. Was Claire with Trish, had they taken it further than just kissing last night? I had to take the risk and go over to her palce to talk this thru. I couldn't talk to Helen. She had walked away from me yet again, no run away. I don't think I can keep doing this. What am I thinking, I love her so much. I quickly took a shower and grabbed a cab to Trish's. It was strange knocking on the door to our flat, Trish's and mine.
"Well, well, well." I said to the sandy blonde women who answered the door. "So you and Trish did hook up last night. Helen was right."
"Speaking of Helen." Claire said. "Where is she?"
I walked into Trish's flat to find her in the kitchen eating bacon and eggs. They must have had a long night. Breakfast at 11.30.
"Well, where's Helen?" Claire asked again.
This time I had to answer her.
"She's gone back to work Claire. I thought she would have told you". I must have been glairing at Claire because of the look of panic she was giving me, and at how quickly she was answering me.
"No Nikki, I swear, she hasn't told me anything about work." Claire quickly looked from me to Trish and back again at me. "I swear she hasn't said a thing." Trish continued to eat her breakfast.
"Where is she working Nikki?" Claire asked, then realising she shouldn't have but she couldn't take it back.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." I said.
"No, she didn't go back to the prison?" Trish said. Finally putting her fork and knife down for the first time since I arrived. She always had a big appetite after an all night love session.
"Yeh she did, of all the places." I then broke down and cried. I couldn't hold it together. The thought of her in the prison service made my stomach turn. We talked for what seemed like only minutes, but it in fact it was several hours. Trish on my side, and Claire there arguing on Helen's behalf.

All of a sudden I knew what I had to do. I had told Helen once before it was all in or not at all.

PART 7

Helen had tried ringing Nikki several times that day, but with no luck She decided she would buy her a mobile phone, so she could speak to her whenever she had the opportunity. She hadn't even had the chance to tell Nikki what her new job was and where she was working. So if Nikki had wanted to ring her that day she couldnt have. Helen decided she must have gone to visit Monica. She had mentioned how she wanted to go see her. Helen had thought about what happened this morning before work, all day. She disliked the feelings she was experiencing.
Helen drove home after work on remote control. The whole way she was thinking about how she had stuffed up again. She was so stupid. She knew Nikki would be pissed off at her. As soon as Helen pulled into her driveway she knew something was wrong. Her flat was in total darkness. Nikki wasn't home. Helen ran inside calling Nikki's name, but she knew there would be no answer. Monica Lindsay, I will ring her.
"Hi Monica it's Helen Stewart from Larkhall Prison."
"Hello Miss Stewart." Came a tentative answer from the other end of the telephone.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?"
"I was just wondering if you had spoken to Nikki Wade since her release?"
"No Miss Stewart, sorry I haven't. I wish I had though."
Helen made some small talk with Monica, and then made an excuse to cut short the conversation. Panic began to set in.
"Oh No." Helen said in a soft voice. She will have to ring Trish and ask her if she had seen Nikki. What if she asked why doesn't she know where Nikki is? The memory of Trish's threat came flooding into Helen's mind. The telephone rang, once, twice, three times. Then Trish's voice came over the other end of the receiver.
"Hello, Trish speaking."
"Hi Trish, it's Helen." There was silence on the other end. Helen's stomach sunk. She knew. She had spoken to Nikki today.
"I told you Helen what would happen to you if you hurt Nikki, don't you come anywhere near me." Then the phone went dead.
Helen was sure she could hear Claire in the background asking Trish to hand her the phone. So she decided to ring Claire's mobile.
"Helen." The phone didn't even ring once.
"Claire, where's Nikki?"
"Sorry Helen, I don't know. She was here today telling us about the argument you had or should I say you didn't have. About you going back to work. Helen why didn't you tell her?"
"I don't know Claire." An awkward silence occurred.
"Yes you do Helen."
"Claire you know I can't handle conflict. I knew it was going to upset her. I didn't even get chance to explain everything. I need to talk to her."
"Helen come over."
"No Claire I can't. Trish is so mad at me. I promised her I wouldn't hurt Nikki. And in less than 48 hours I've done exactly that."
"I will be here Helen. We will find out where Nikki has gone. I'm sure she has told Trish."
Helen left quickly to go to Trish's so she wouldn't have the chance to chicken out.

Helen was shaking as she walked up to Trish's front door. Just as she was about to ring the doorbell, the front door flung open. Claire was standing there. She had obviously been arguing with Trish.
"I'm sorry Claire. This is no way for you and Trish to be starting a relationship."
"It's ok Helen. We will work it out. She cares for Nikki and I care for you. We will sort it. Come in."
"Now Trish you promised me you would behave." Claire pointed a finger at Trish while giving her a stern look of warning."
"I told you Helen. I asked you to do one thing. Not to hurt her and you couldn't do it."
"Trish where is she? I need to talk to her. I made a huge mistake."
"Sorry Helen. I'm not going to tell you. I promised Nikki I wouldn't."
"I need to see her Trish. I need to explain to her why I went back to work, why I have done the things the way I have done them."
"Well you can't see her, she has gone a long way away, where you will never be able to find her." Trish stormed out of the room. All the while yelling it was time for Helen to leave her house and if Claire knew what was good for her she would make sure Helen had left. Helen just stood there staring at Claire in disbelief.
"I'm sorry Claire." Helen said on the verge of crying.
"I told you Helen. It's ok. She is just really upset at the moment."
Helen was getting ready to leave, remembering what Trish had said just before she had stormed out of the room."
"Claire, I know where she has gone." Helen ran up the stairs in the direction that Trish had stormed of in. She found her lying on a bed in what she assumed was her bedroom.
"Trish, she's gone to San Francisco, hasn't she?"
Trish sat upright. By the look on her face Helen knew she was right.
"Get out of my house Helen, I have warned you."
Helen left the room and met Claire on the stairs.
"She's gone to San Francisco Claire."
"Are you sure Helen?"
"As sure as I will ever be."
"But where in San Francisco?"
"I don't know. I'm leaving on the first flight I can get."
"But Helen. San Francisco is a big place. She could be anywhere."
"I don't care. I have to find her Claire. When Trish calms down see if she will tell you anything."
"Ok. I will try. But I can't promise you anything."
"I will ring you as soon as I get there." Helen left Trish's flat and went back to hers to get her passport and some cloths. She didn't even ring the airline to see what time the next flight was.

GEE THIS IS SO GOODKEEP IT UP LOVE IT. MORE PLEASE. :popcorn :popcorn :popcorn

Two updates in one day? Well done!

thanks for the feedback. Its been fun writting this story. Ive finished writing the draft copy so the updates should come a bit more regular now. I will try for one a day, if your lucky you might even get two again.

PART 8

I was finally in San Francisco. Somewhere I had always dreamt of going to. I just wished Helen were here to share it with me. But my decision was the right one. I had to leave her and the life I wanted with her behind. I cared too much for Helen and she seemed not to really care about me. If she had she would not have continually walked away from me.

I arrived at the Hotel, which I had booked from the airport. All I wanted to do was sleep. But first I had to ring Trish, as I had promised her. She was out, so I left a message on her answering machine. I finally got to lay down on the bed, and fell asleep fully clothed bar for my shoes. I awoke the next morning about 9 am to a knocking on my hotel room door.
"Room service."
"Yeh, come in." I said as I sat up onto the edge of the bed.
"Oh sorry, just here to make the bed."
"Yeh no problems."
"No I can come back."
"No that's ok. You can come in. I'm just going for a shower. If you want to start out here that's fine by me."
"Thanks."
I left the housemaid to make the bed, whilst I had a shower. When I returned I found her making herself look busy.
"Sorry, is it ok if I do your bathroom as well?"
"Yeh whatever."
I hurriedly got dressed while she was cleaning the bathroom. When she came out she found me sitting on the end of my bed crying.
"Hey, are you ok?" Boyfriend problems? Sorry, I'm not allowed to talk to the guests. I'll leave you to it."
"No stay." Why had I said that? "It would be nice to talk to someone who doesn't have a stake in what I have to say."
I think she could tell it wasn't going to be a one-minute conversation.
"Well give me 30 minutes. I'll meet you downstairs in the lobby."
I looked up at her and I noticed she had hazel eyes, oh God, the same color as Helen.
"Yeh ok."

30 minutes later I was sitting in the lobby, waiting for the housemaid. I relised I didn't even know her name.
"Hi." I turned to see a totally different person to the one I had seen only 30 minutes earlier. She was wearing a pair of faded blue denim jeans, runners and a pale yellow t-shirt. Her light auburn hair was no-longer tied back, but was loose, falling down below her shoulders. I guessed she was about 30 years old.
"Wow, you look different."
"Everyone says that to me." I could tell she was both slightly annoyed and embarrassed by this. "Come on then before my boss sees me using the front entrance."
"Ok, where we going?"
"Well, your a tourist aren't you? From the UK, by that accent."
"London."
"I thought we could grab a tram and go down to the wharf. I'll buy you lunch."
"That would be great, sorry I don't even know your name."
"It's Sophie." But before I could answer her by telling her my name. "And your name is Nicola Wade."
"Yeh, well actually its Nikki."
"Oh ok, Nikki it is."
"How did you know my name?"
"I'm a part time detective." She said jokingly.
Oh God, this woman is so much like Helen. I think that's why I liked her straight away. I will have to watch myself around this one. I don't want a rebound relationship.

Ooh, good update. Rebound is not good.

:clap :clap :clap Great update!!! keep them coming

:hug2 :hug2 :hug2 :hug2 Moooorre please

PART 9

We walked to the closest tram stop, all the way making small talk about London and about the things I wanted to see in San Francisco. Finally the tram we wanted had arrived. It was only a short trip down to the waterfront. It was so beautiful; I wished Helen were here with me though.

I followed Sophie into a seafood restaurant, which had an ocean frontage. She must have known the owners as all the workers and customers alike said hello to her as we entered. Plus she just walked straight in, past everybody and sat at a table in the rear of the restaurant, that was clearly marked with a reserve sign.
“What do you know the owners or something?”
“Yeh, my parent-in–laws and my husband.”
“Your married?”
“Yep, 5 years, he’s out the back cooking. I’m sure he will be out soon, someone will tell him I’m here.” She said as she glanced in the direction of what I assumed was the kitchens. “What about you Nikki, you married?”
“No, no I’m not.” I said looking down at the table, away from her smiling face.
“Yeh, it’s ok Nikki.” She said sensing my discomfort to the question she had just posed.
“Would you like a cup of coffee? I will order some lunch for us. I think I know the menu.” She said with a large smile directed at me. “Debbie can you get us a cuppa each please?” she asked one of the waitresses. “I’ll be back in a minute Nikki I will just go and see Tim and order us lunch.”
“Ok, thanks”
What was I doing here? I missed Helen so much. I so wished she was here with me. I really liked this women, she was easy to talk to. But I don’t know if I am really ready to talk. Helen didn’t talk to me, but I think I need to talk. Oh, the thought’s going thru my head. If only I could stop them just for a minute even.
Sophie returned just as the coffee arrived.
“Perfect timing. Lunch won’t be long.” She took a mouthful of her coffee. “Now where were we Nikki? Ok you have told me you are from London, your not married, but you are having boyfriend trouble. Have I got that right so far?”
“Well, actually no.” I looked directly at her to gauge her reaction to my next statement.
“Not a boyfriend, it’s a girlfriend.”
“Oh, I see.” She gave me another of those wide smiles that I had seen several times already from her today.
“I was wondering if that was the case. I thought I heard you say her name in the hotel room this morning. It’s ok, Nikki, I’m not going to hold it against you. You can’t help who you fall in love with.”
I smiled back at her with great relief.
“No, you can’t”
“Was it a long term relationship?”
“I don’t know?”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“I suppose I should start at the beginning.”
I told her everything from Trish, the murder I committed, being in prison, falling in love with Helen, Sean, us fighting, me escaping and sleeping with Helen, sneaking back into prison, us fighting again, Caroline, Doctor Waugh, me winning my appeal, Helen telling me she wanted a women, her going back to work with the home office, us fighting and lastly me coming to San Francisco.
The whole time I was talking to her, Debbie was refilling our coffee cups, and Sophie had sat across the table from me not commenting once. Bar maybe a ‘really’, or a ‘go on, it’s ok Nikki.’ There was what seemed a long and difficult silence once I had finish the story of Nikki and Helen.
Sophie finally spoke. “Well, you’ve had an interesting life Nikki. You should write a book about it.”
I instantly had memories of Barbara. “No, that’s been taken care of by a good friend of mine still in prison. She’s the writer not me. I’m a reader.”
“Would you like some dinner?”
I hadn’t noticed it was now 7 o’clock at night. I had been there all afternoon. This poor women, here I was unloading myself on a complete stranger. But somehow it felt right. “Yeh, I think so. That’s if you still want me to stay.”
“Of course I do Nikki. I like you, we seemed to have clicked straight away.”
“Yeh, we did, didn’t we, and thanks for listening to me rant.”
“That’s ok, what are friends for.”
“Well if we are going to be friends, I would really like to know what you think.”
“Well Nikki, I think I have had enough coffee for one day, we should try something a little bit stronger.”
“Ok.”
“I’ll go get a bottle of white wine. Be back in a minute.” Sophie got up and left me sitting at the table. I looked around the restaurant, which was nearly full. They also had now placed tables and chairs outside on the footpath, which had not been there during the lunchtime crowd. They seemed do be doing very well business wise. I wondered why Sophie worked at the Hotel? She came back to the table with a bottle of white wine and two glasses.
“Dinner won’t be long. Hubby’s going to join us later is that ok?”
“Yeh whatever, I don’t mind.” I was starting to get impatient as to Sophie’s thoughts on what I had told her.
“Nikki, I’m sorry about what has happened to you in your past. But whatever has happened to you and Helen recently, well. You and Helen are both to blame.”
“What.” I couldn’t believe what she had just said.
“No Nikki, listen to me please. This is what I am talking about. You and Helen both sound like two headstrong women. And both of you sound like you don’t know how to be in a relationship.”
“What, you don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Now Nikki, come on. I sat here and listened to you, you owe it to me to do the same thing.”
“Yeh, ok.” I didn’t want to, but I knew she was right.
“Nikki, you have been inside for 5 years. I know you where with Trish for a long time, but you yourself admitted it was a bad relationship towards the end.”
“Yeh, it was.”
“And Helen, lets see, sounds like one bad relationship after another, then along you come, she falls in love with you, but can’t be with you, because of being in prison. So she takes an easy option, Dr Waugh, because by the sounds of it she doesn’t like relationship conflicts. Whether it is romantic relationship or platonic freindship. You get released. And bang, YOU expect a perfect relationship? I don't think that could ever happen.”
Sophie stopped talking and took a sip of her white wine.
“But I do agree with you Nikki, Helen should have discussed going back to the Prison Service with you. But it sounds to me like she had that interview organized before you got out. Like she was making plans just incase.”
“I didn’t think of that, Yeh, she must have, because she went to it the very next day.”
“And Nikki, do you even know what she is doing for the home office? She might not even be in a prison, she might be working an administrative job.”
“No I don't think so, not Helen. She would be in a prison.”
“And how do you know that Nikki?” I had to admit to myself I didn’t, but I wasn’t about to say it out loud. “You seem to be jumping to conclusions Nikki, and they could be all wrong.”
”Nikki, Helen sounds like a lovely women, especially the way you have described her accent.” We both smiled at each other. “I would love to hear it someday.”
“I don’t think that will ever happen.”
Dinner arrived along with Sophie’s husband. The conversation changed all thru our meal. It was pleasant enough, thou my thoughts were of Helen and of what Sophie had said.
After her husband had left us, I had to ask. “Sophie, why do you work at the Hotel? You are obviously doing well here at the restaurant.”
“Well Nikki, It’s got to do with the fact I like it. Same as Helen I suppose.”
“Hey,”
“I think Helen and myself are alike when it comes to our work life.” As far as I was concerned, they where more alike than she actually knew. ”I was working there before I got married. And I gave it up when we first got married, to work here. But I missed it too much. Tim could tell my heart wasn’t in the restaurant trade. So I went back to the morning shift. Plus I go to university in the afternoons.”
“Oh.”
“You see Nikki, sometimes you find a job you really like, it could be a lowly hotel maid or a prison governor, it becomes part of you and you become part of it. You can not see yourself doing anything else.”
“Yeh, I understand that, just I don’t want Helen doing that type of work.”
“Well, It’s about compromise Nikki. Plus, all I can keep telling you is you can’t help who you fall in love with; you need to talk to her. You need to tell her you will always be there for her, whether she thinks you are going to get upset with her when she has something to tell you. Just stop jumping to conclusions Nikki, please.”
“I can’t talk to her not yet, anyway.”
“That’s ok Nikki, but you need to do it, soon, ok?” I didn’t answer her.
We continued talking much on the same vain for the next hour or so. I finally got to the point where I couldn’t take much more in, so I said my goodbyes till tomorrow. Sophie said she would take me sight seeing the next day after her morning shift had finished.

I grabbed a taxi back to the Hotel. I think I had a bit of jet lag, which I was grateful of as I could have a good nights sleep. Because without it I don’t think I would have got any. I would have a shower in the morning.

Nice update. Great to see someone talking some sense into our Miss Wade!

Great story. Thanks for the update, can't wait for the next part!!!

Good update-looking forward to more!

:clap :clap :clap very very nice! please keep them coming.

Great! More please. :clap :clap :clap

another great update thanks x x x

Just a short update. Will add another one later tonight. (Aussie time)



PART 10

I awoke before daybreak.

My head and stomach ached with all the thoughts and feeling I had evoked from the previous day. I lay in my bed thinking of Helen and our predicament. I decided I would go to the swimming pool to try and clear my mind. I remember times before going to prison, of doing some of my best thinking whilst doing laps in a pool.

Meanwhile during the same night, on the opposite side of the world.

Helen had arrived at the airport just at the right time, a flight for America was leaving in 2 hours. She just had enough time to check in. Helen catnapped on the airplane; there was no way she could sleep. All she could think about was Nikki, and what she wanted to say to her.
She finally arrived; it was 4 in the morning. By the time she got thru customs it was 5.15am. She had to ring Claire.
“Claire, its Helen.”
“Helen, you arrived ok?”
“Yeh, did she tell you anything?”
“No, but I know where she is. Nikki rang and left a message on Trish’s answering machine. She’s staying at the Chancellor Hotel, Helen. It’s at a place called Union Square? I hope that helps.”
“Thanks Claire, I owe you big time. I’ll ring you later.”
“Ok, good luck.”
Helen hung up the phone and went looking for a cab.
She arrived at the hotel, it was right in the heart of San Francisco. There were tramlines running just outside to main doors. It was now 6.15am. Helen made her way to the service desk and asked for Nikki Wade’s room number. She still didn’t know what she was going to say to Nikki when she opened her room door. She just hoped Nikki would talk to her and not slam the door in her face. All she knew was she had to see her. She needed to touch her; and be touched by her.
Helen left the lift quickly but quietly looking for Nikki’s room number. But as she approached the door she noticed herself nearly running. Knocking on the door she found no answer. She couldn’t understand it. It was so early in the morning. Maybe in her haste to find Nikki’s room she had heard the man at the reception desk incorrectly, she had better go back downstairs and confirm the room number again.
Helen was patiently waiting outside the lift. ‘Ding’, the lift doors didn’t open. They weren’t the doors to the lift Helen wanted. They belonged to the service elevator doors only meters away. Out of the lift steps a young cleaner pushing her trolley full of goodies.
“Good morning.” She said as she approached.
“Good morning.” Helen replied.
The women stopped and took in the appearance of Helen and the sound of what she believed was a beautiful foreign accent.
Cautiously she asked “Helen?”
Helen was shocked to say the least. How did this women, know her name?
“Yes.” Said Helen. Turning to look directly at her.
“Sorry.” Sophie said, “You are exactly as Nikki described you.” This woman had spoken to Nikki? Helen couldn’t control the excitement, within her mind.
“Nikki, do you know which is her room?”
“Yes this one.” The women pointed at the door that Helen had been knocking on only minutes earlier. Her excitement was short lived.
“There’s no answer.” Helen said.
“Come on I will let you in. I’m not suppose to, but I don’t think Nikki will complain to the management.”
She let Helen into the room. It was Nikki’s room all right. As soon as Helen stepped into it she could smell Nikki’s perfume.
“Sorry, I don’t know your name?“ Helen realized the young woman was still in the room with her.
“Sophie.” The women said pointing to her nametag. “And don’t tell me, I already know about the significance of that name, Nikki told me.” Both women looked at each other with a smile of understanding. Helen wondered what else this woman knew about her and Nikki. Sophie walked around Helen to quickly make Nikki’s bed. Force of habit, Helen thought.
“Where ever she has gone she won’t be far away. Just wait here, she’ll be back.”
“Yeh, you’re right. Thanks for letting me in.”
“That’s ok. I’m happy to have met you. Hopefully we will meet again.” Just as she was leaving the room she turned towards Helen, “And Nikki said I would never meet you. Hopefully that’s the start of a few things she has got wrong.”

Wonderful update. Really looking forward to the look on Nikki's face....

:popcorn :popcorn Glad to see another update. Nikki is in for a surprise, keep it coming.

great update please keep them coming

another lovely update thanks x x x

Sorry about the delay in posting. I’m sure you all know how life gets sometimes.


PART 11

I swam lap, after lap, after lap. I knew only one thing. I loved Helen with my whole heart and soul. Helen was my soul mate. Just as I had thought she was all those months ago when Barbara had asked me ‘Did I believe in soul mates?’ But how was I going to satisfy my dreams and hopes for Helen and myself? I knew I couldn’t speak to her not just yet, I would have to let her calm down. Everyone knew the tornado of Helen Stewart, once she hit she had to have a few days to calm down. I would ring Claire. I’m sure Helen would have spoken to her or Trish even. Well, I hoped she had. Since I now had made up my mind what to do, I decided it was time to go back to my room, shower, have something to eat, then go down to the foyer and wait for Sophie.

Stepping out of the lift on my floor I could see Sophie’s cart a few doors down from my room. I placed my room key into the lock, heard the lock click, and I started to enter my room.

“Nikki, I’m sorry, I had to let her in.”
I stopped, my heart jumped. They’re lying on the bed; across the other side of the room was the women I loved. Sophie was now standing next to me just inside my doorway.
“She arrived about an hour ago.”
“That’s ok, you couldn’t leave her in the hallway.”
“Nikki, remember what I said to you?” Sophie was whispering so not to wake Helen up. “Communicate, and please whatever you do stop jumping to conclusions.”
“Yeh, thanks”
“That’s ok, you know where to reach me Nikki.”
I couldn’t bring myself to wake her. So I just pulled up a chair that was in the room and sat by the bed watching her sleep. I had been there for about an hour, when Helen started moaning words. I couldn’t make out what the words where though. But I could tell the dream she was having wasn’t a pleasant one. I placed my hand on her upper arm and rubbed it gently.
“It’s ok Helen, I’m here now.”
Helen awoke with a startle.
“Oh Nikki, I’m so sorry. I’ve been such an idiot. I love you Nikki.”
“I love you to Helen, but is that enough? You once said to me that what we wanted what we felt was to strong.” I couldn’t look at her. “I think you were right.
“No Nikki, we can work thru this. I love you with my whole heart, and I know you love me the same.”
“Helen, I love you more than anything.”
“Well then, we can work this out, I know we can.” She was looking at me with those beautiful hazel eyes of hers. “Please Nikki.”
“Helen I just don’t know if I could handle us going wrong again.”
“Nikki, we need to try. I need to try. It was my fault Nikki. If I wasn’t so scared.”
“Scared?”
“Yeh scared Nikki. Scared of us.”
“What?”
“I don’t know how to do relationships Nikki. They always start so good and then I manage to stuff them up.” Helen ran the back of her hand against my face. I was about to give in to my heart. “No let me finish Nikki, every time I have found someone to love, I try and rationalize in my mind the pending relationship. But they have all had bad endings; I somehow make those endings come true. I do everything in my power to make sure of it. Look what I did to you.” By now I was sitting on the bed next to Helen, or thighs touching, holding her hands in my lap. “I walked away from you so many times. I don’t know how you managed to stay in love with me. Nikki I promise I will never walk away from you again. Whatever happens, I will stay with you and we will fix any problems we have. I will always answer anything you ask me, and I will tell you everything that is going on in my life. It’s what I would expect from you. So it’s what I should give you.” Helen finally took in a breath of air.
“Ok Helen, if you mean what you have just said.” I finally looked up from the floor at those irresistible hazel eyes that always seemed to get to me every time I looked into them. “Lets start with your work.” Helen pulled her hands away from mine and out of my lap. Oh god I thought, do I want to do this?
“What about it?”
“Where are you working? I know it’s for the Home Office, but what position have you got?”
“It’s at Larkhall, and I’m the Governing Governor.” Helen said with some trepidation.
“At Larkhall. How could you Helen? How could you go back there?”
“No Nikki. Would you let me finish? You are jumping to conclusions again. And as usual they’re the wrong conclusions.” I instantly thought of Sophie.
“Yeh, sorry Helen, I tend to do that a lot don’t I?”
“You think?” We both giggled, till Helen started to explain her new job.
“It’s at Larkhall Nikki, but it in the Youth Detention Center. Nikki I look after 15 year olds.”
“At the youth center, 15 year olds? Oh Helen.” A smile came over my face and heart.
“Nikki, I’m helping them get their life sorted. Get an education like I help you. Some of them can’t even read.” I had grabbed Helens hands again, and again they where in my lap. “I want so much to have them able to read and write before they turn 18, and the ones that have longer sentences I would like to see them go on as you did Nikki. To go further with their studies.”
I could see Helen was doing the job she wanted to do. Again I thought of Sophie, and how she worked here at the hotel.
“That’s great Helen.”
“I won’t work there anymore though Nikki. I realize now, how much it is upsetting you. I will ring them and tell them I won’t be coming back.”
“No Helen. It’s the type of work you need to be doing. I will just have to trust that you will be ok, and that nothing will happen to you.”
“Nikki, are you sure you don’t mind me working there?”
“No, but if its what you want to do, if it’s the type of work you need to do. I’m just going to have to let you do it. And I’m just going to have to pray a lot.”
“Nikki, does that mean WE are going to try?”
“Yeh, I love you Helen. I can’t ignore that.”
“Oh Nikki, I love you to.” Our bodies came together and we kissed with a renewed passion. I pulled away from Helen first, looking at her made my body melt.
“But Helen, this time we really do need to take things slowly. We need to get to know each other away from Larkhall.”
“Well we have three weeks. I don’t have to be back at work till then. That’s when the current Governor leaves.”
“Perfect, let’s do some sight seeing today. And tonight I will take you out to dinner. I’ve got some new friends I want you to meet.”



To Be Continued.

(Unlike shed I will keep this promise, I have a few more chapters left in me yet).

Keep letting those chapters out!!
Lets hope Nikki and Helen can have a smoother relationship from now on!

Yay, I find two updates here and they get better and better! Well done.

Love the update x x x
Thanks x