Jessica's Story - Part 31/Michelle's Story - Part 28 free porn video

Liz was the first to arrive at the register office, and it appeared that Sally's guests were already there. There were just the 3: Margaret, Beth and Ian. The latter had managed to dress straight for the occasion. They were all gathered to one side and talking. When they noticed the car pull up, they turned to see who it was. Liz parked the car outside and quickly helped the others out. Anne carefully climbed out, and joined Carol to one side. Liz took Andrew's cot for a few minutes so that Helen could get out. The three girls were then helped out. Those from the store did not recognise anyone, except Carol. Margaret went over to speak with them. "I take it you're from Sally's group?" she asked. "Yes," said Carol. "I'm her wife to be, remember?" "Carol, of course. I forgot," said Margaret. "Sally is coming with the other party, I presume?" "Her brother is bringing her, and the other bride and bridesmaids," said Carol. Carol quickly made the introductions, with Anne and Liz introducing the children. As they did so, Liz got back in the car and took it over to the carpark. Almost as soon as she had gone to do so, John and the others arrived. Helen went over, just to see how they were. Sally's work colleagues were also walking over too, just to see their assistant manager in all her bridal glory. Soon, Sally and Julia were out of the car, followed shortly after by Emma and Kelly. James and Edward joined them. "You'll have to park the car round the back," said Helen. "Liz has just gone to park the other." "Ok, I will do," said John. He did just that, while Helen made more introductions. Emma and Kelly were quickly looking for their fellow bridesmaids, and soon found them. They were soon admiring each other, since all had had their hair styled in someway. They were also wearing their floral hairbands too. Emma was making a fuss over Michelle as expected, and pleased to see that her wig had been styled, if only simply. James did venture over to see them, and was once again reminded of how much he still couldn't get over seeing his old brother enjoying life on the other side. Liz was soon back, and found Emma talking about her hair. Liz returned the compliments, as they awaited John to come back from parking the other car. With the time to the ceremony getting really close, Liz decided to go inside and inform the registrar that everyone had arrived. John was now introducing himself to Sally's work colleagues. ?Okay girls, get in formation,? said Anne. The girls lined up in their designated order and stood behind Anne and Sally. Anne had Helen by her side, while Sally had John. Julia and Carol were going in first, and would wait for their partners. Liz was now holding Andrew, and along with James, Edward, and Sally's work colleagues, were shown to the room where the ceremony would take place. With so few guests, the majority of seats were going to go unused. The front row were reserved for the family members, so Sally's work colleagues were sat in the row behind. The registrar stood by a table and told Julia and Carol to stand either side of it. He held a clipboard which had the service order on it. With everyone in place, another register office employee gave the clear for the remaining brides to enter. ?Here we go girls,? smiled Sally. ?Now, just enjoy it.? They entered the building and were pointed to the room. When they entered the room, the traditional wedding march was played over speakers. Soon, Anne and Sally were stood by their partners, and the ceremony could begin. The girls sat down on chairs on the front row. John and Helen sat beside them. The registrar began the ceremony, with all 4 brides lifting their veils. It was clear on their faces that they were hoping to milk the moment. The ceremony saw the registrar move from one couple to the next with each step. The banns were read, and with no objections being sounded, the ceremony continued. It was when the vows were being made, that the brides truly expressed any emotion. Sally was already shedding the odd tear when she gave her vows to Carol. Even Anne was finding it hard to keep her eyes dry. Helen and John then played their next part, by giving the rings to the registrar. Sally and Carol exchanged rings first, with Anne and Julia afterwards. The ceremony ended with the registrar pronouncing the couples as civil partners, and telling them that they could do the traditional kiss. The spectators were now on their feet and applauding. For the newlyweds, their euphoria couldn't be more clear, and they were now being congratulated in person by the others. But the couples were called to one side so that they could sign the register. John, Helen and Liz acted as witnesses for both. ?Thank you very much,? said the registrar. ?I'll have your certificates done for you now.? ?Ok, can we go and get ready for the photographs,? said Carol. ?I left my camera in the car!? groaned John. ?I'll have to go and fetch it!? ?We'll wait,? said Sally. ?Well, while we wait, what about letting him take a few,? said Carol. Over by the entrance to the room, stood a man with a large camera. John passed him as he went to get his own. ?Afternoon ladies. I'm here for some wedding photos?? he said. ?That's us,? said Carol. ?You hired a photographer?? asked Julia. ?I did indeed,? said Carol. ?Surprised?? The table was moved out of the way so that the wedding group could pose for photographs. A number of different groups were done, with both couples and the bridesmaids in one, and another featuring just the couples. When John returned with his camera, he was invited to pose by his sister for one photo, and another which included Helen and Carol. John didn't put his camera to waste though, and took a few of his own. After a while, the group was satisfied with the number of photos taken, and they prepared to leave the register office and head for the hotel where the reception was being held. They picked up the certificates and left the building, and headed for the carpark. This time, the couples stayed together, with Sally and Carol sitting in John's car, and Anne and Julia in Anne's car, driven by Liz. The bridesmaids were once again divided, with Emma and Michelle going with their dad, and Kelly, Jessica and Sandra going along with their moms. Kelly was now happy that Jessica and Sandra were officially her step-sisters now, though she had been told to forget the ?step? part. Helen again took babysitting duties and stayed on the backseat with Andrew's carry cot. Anne again sat in the passenger seat. Sandra, Jessica and Kelly were all seated in the backmost seats. ?So kids, you can now call both of us mom now,? said Anne. ?That's right,? smiled Julia. ?I really glad to be your mom too.? ?I'm pleased for you too,? said Helen. ?Though I'm really happy for Sally. I feel that her journey is now complete.? ?She'll probably disagree,? said Anne. ?She'll likely tell you that its merely the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. ?So, where are we going now?? asked Sandra. ?We're going to a hotel, to have a small party,? said Anne. ?Yippee!? said Kelly. ?Is there a cake?? ?I hope there is,? said Julia. * * * ?You look really nice with your hair up,? said Carol, as John headed towards the hotel. ?I never have had it like this,? admitted Sally. ?Though I've put it up with barrettes from time to time.? ?Mrs Sally Brook,? smiled Carol. ?It sounds so much better.? ?How about Mrs Carol Brook?? replied Sally. ?I prefer it,? said Carol. ?I'm part of a family again.? The two cars arrived at the hotel within minutes of each other. John wasn't sure of which way to go, and was thankful that Carol did. Sally's work colleagues were attending too, and they arrived not long after. The hotel was expecting them, and the party were glad that they didn't have to wait to go in. They were led to the room and found it as they had hoped. There were not many tables, due to the people attending (10 adults, 7 children, and a baby). There was a main table designated for the two couples, plus John and Helen. The other adults and the children were sat around two more tables. A table on the far side was laid with the buffet. The wedding cake was at the centre of the main table. The couples went over to look at the cake, as did everyone else. ?I hope they made it with two types of cake,? said Anne. ?That's what I asked for.? The cake was 2 tiered, and rather than have 4 figurines on top, it had their names written on it. John called for them to have their photo taken with it, and they happily obliged. There was a small stage too, and it was set up for a DJ to play some music later. The DJ hadn't arrived yet, and perhaps it was a good thing. Sally's colleagues had decided to visit the drinks table where two bottles of wine and three bottles of cola were waiting. The catering had not only been focused on the size of the party, but also the fact that there were children included, hence the soft drinks. This would also play a factor later on with the choice of music that the DJ would play. Soon, everyone was heading over to get drinks. Most of the adults had a glass of wine, while the children all had cola. Soon, they were sat at the tables. Liz was having to keep an eye on the children, since the other parents were sat at the main table. ?Shall we start on the food first, or do you want me to say a few words?? asked John to the others. ?Perhaps it would be best if we started on the food,? said Julia. ?I imagine the children are hungry.? There was general agreement. ?Ok, its been decided. We'll have something to eat first,? said John. There were no complaints as everyone went over to the food table and picked up plates. James had to be careful, since he couldn't be sure if any of the food contained nuts. John was on hand if he wasn't sure. Liz was waiting by her table with Andrew. She just wanted someone to come over and look after him while she collected some food. ?Well, did you enjoy it?? asked Anne. Jessica and Michelle were collecting food beside her. ?Yes aunty,? said Michelle. ?Can we dress like this every day?? ?I wish we could,? smiled Anne. ?But there are times when we can't. There's my job for instance, and school for you.? ?School is going to be better now, because I can wear skirts now,? smiled Michelle. ?Skirts are so much nicer,? agreed Jessica. ?So is being a girl,? added Michelle. Helen was pondering whether to join one of the other tables, since Liz was the only adult sitting with the children, and the children were sat at two tables. She decided to, and no one minded. Once everyone was seated at their tables and eating, John proposed a toast to the two couples. The adults (except for the newlyweds), stood and raised their glasses. The children were wondering what to do. ?Just do as we do, but just lift your cup of pop,? said Liz. It resulted in some of the girls holding their cups above their heads. It brought a few smiles to the adult faces. Once the toast had been done, and the children were wondering if they had done something wrong, John stood up again. ?I'd like to thank you all for coming. I'm not one for speeches, so I'll keep it short,? he said. ?My wonderful sister started out on a journey about 12 years ago (he turned to Sally for confirmation), which my parents, brother and I had no idea about, until she came back to us almost 2 years later. What happened then, in the days that followed, I cannot forgive myself. However, those events have been put behind us, and my mother and I vowed to help Sally complete her journey. Now, after all these years, my sister has taken another step towards the life she has wanted, and somewhat belatedly, she has finally married her true love. Well done sis. I'm proud of you.? While everyone clapped, John and Sally hugged. ?Thanks bro,? she replied. John sat down and looked to Anne and Julia. Anne quickly exchanged words with Julia, and eventually stood herself. ?Well, unlike Sally and Carol, Julia and myself are no strangers to getting married. Our first marriages ended up in divorce, for reasons I won't go in to, but for me, this is my first relationship with another woman. We met up while I was still with my ex-husband, and that was thanks to my daughter Jessica. I never thought at that time, that over a year later, I would be calling Julia my wife. I have no regrets either, and I look forward to raising our children together.? Anne sat down, and it appeared that there were no more speeches forthcoming. Everyone continued eating their food. ?If you feel the need to refill your plates, please do,? said Carol. ?There's plenty left.? The DJ had just arrived, and was looking for the all clear to begin. After a brief discussion with the others, Julia, who was nearest the stage, got up and went over. ?We've still got to cut the cake, but play some easy listening,? she told him. ?Sure,? he replied. The party became more relaxed now, as those sat at the main table decided to mingle with the others. It suited the children more, as they had felt a little left out. ?Ok kids, the DJ is here now. We'll be having some dance music shortly, but you can have some wedding cake before then,? said Sally. James and Edward were expectedly not keen on dancing, though they were to find that escaping was not going to be an option. Sally's work colleagues were finally getting to talk with John and Liz. They had felt isolated too, since they were the only ones who were not family. Everyone was also going for more food and drink too. However, the time to cut the cake had arrived. There were two knives, one for each couple. They stood behind the cake, but slightly to the side. They held the knives and prepared to cut the bottom tier, but paused, just to allow John to capture the moment with a photograph. When he gave the all clear, they proceeded to cut the cake on near opposite sides. The larger lower tier turned out to be the jam sponge, while the smaller upper tier was the rich fruit cake. As the cake was served, the adults were getting a choice of either. The children were being given the sponge cake, but for some, they were tasting the fruit cake. They merely asked one of the adults (their parents mainly) and they were given some to try. All the while, there was music playing. And once everyone had eaten their slice of cake, they had some more, or decided to have a dance. Eventually, everyone was dancing. James was reluctant, but found himself being helped along by Sally. Sally seemed more keen to be involved with the children than Carol, but her wife didn't mind, and actually joined them. It was more like a childrens party than one for the adults, which is probably why Ian, Sally's gay colleague, left early. ?Ian decided he had had enough,? said Beth. ?I think he wants something more adult.? ?A night out with the boys?? asked Sally, knowing she was right any how. Beth and Margaret stayed put for the duration of the party, which lasted till 6pm. What remained of the food was offered to anyone who wanted it. More slices of cake were offered too, and what remained afterwards was divided between the two couples. Soon, the time came for the party to end, and everyone prepared to go home. John went and gave the DJ a tip as a thank you gesture, and the hotel staff were thanked too. For the couples, they were ready to change into something more comfortable. As wonderful as the dresses were, they were slightly heavy. Heading back to the cars, they stuck to the same seating arrangements. Sally and Carol said good bye to those who were going off in Anne's car, for they were going home for the evening. Julia and Anne were not going to begrudge them either, for after letting the children have some fun, they wanted some private fun too. * * * Liz arrived back at Anne and Julia's house and helped everyone out. ?We've just got to wait for John to drop Sally and Carol off, and he'll be back here,? said Liz. ?That's fine,? said Anne. ?Now girls, its time for you to get those dresses off.? They all headed upstairs, except for Helen and Liz, who stayed in the living room with Andrew. It was soon discovered that they had a problem. ?My clothes are at Aunt Sally's house,? sighed Kelly. ?They have more than that,? said Julia. ?My clothes are there too.? ?We can sort it out,? said Anne. ?No problems. Besides, we have Carol's belongings here.? For now, Kelly was able to wear some of her other clothes, as was Julia. The wedding and bridesmaid dresses were put to one side, and those that could, were put carefully back into their bags. When they were finished, they came back downstairs. ?Just need to get something sorted,? said Anne to Liz and Helen. ?A few mixed belongings.? She was just going to get on the phone when the doorbell rang. She answered the door and found John, Emma, Michelle, James and Edward standing there. ?I was just going to call you,? she said. ?We've got Carol and Michelle's things here.? ?I know. Sally has some of your stuff too. She said she'll bring them round once she's changed.? Michelle was still wearing her bridesmaid outfit, and was therefore taken upstairs so that she could change. Emma had already changed, but had left her bridesmaid dress at Sally's house. Anne still decided to call Sally any way, just to remind of something else. ?Sally, sorry to bother you, but.,? she began. ?Yes, you have Carol's clothes, and we have Julia's and Kelly's. Didn't John tell you?? replied Sally. ?Yes, but can you bring Emma's bridesmaid dress over too. The girls are having their friends round tomorrow, and they want to see the entire bridesmaid group.? ?Okay, I'll do that. I'm just looking forward to spending my first night as a married woman,? said Sally. ?I understand. I want to do the same, though it won't be my first,? replied Anne. Having been helped by Liz, Michelle came downstairs and joined her brothers, sister and cousins in the living room. Helen had put the kettle on and was preparing to make drinks. Sally arrived half a hour later, along with Kelly and Julia's belongings. Anne had already gathered up Carol's belongings, and gave them to her. ?So, have you anything planned for next week or the week after?? asked Julia. ?Carol is thinking of something, though she hasn't said just yet,? said Sally. ?Just be nice to go somewhere where its just her and I.? ?Won't you stop for a drink, Sal?? asked Helen. ?No thanks, mom. There's someone waiting for me, back home,? smiled Sally. ?And I don't want to disappoint her.? ?I don't think you ever will,? said Anne. Sally just smiled. She was soon heading back to her car and heading home. ?Might see her tomorrow,? said Anne. ?So, everyone got their right clothes?? ?I think so,? said Liz. ?Well, on behalf of John and my family, I want to congratulate you on your marriage.? ?Thank you. I'm pretty sure that this marriage will last,? said Anne. She looked at her left hand and admired the two rings that adorned her ring finger. Thanks to John, James was able to play on his DS console, after his dad had been holding on to it for the day. Edward and the girls decided to head upstairs and play in their rooms. ?Don't spend too long up there, as we'll be going back to the motel in a short while,? said John. A short while turned out to be a hour or so. It was too soon for them whatever, and they showed it when they all came down again. ?No need to get all upset. You've still got tomorrow,? said Liz. ?Ok, shall we go then?? ?Come on James,? said John. ?I'd try and find something else to do rather than play on that all the time.? ?So, are we coming back here tomorrow?? he asked. ?Yes, and there'll be a few more girls here too.? ?More girls?!!!? exclaimed James. ?Rachel has a brother, but he's the same age as Edward,? added Jessica. ?Pity its a Sunday,? said Helen. ?Unless there is anywhere you can go tomorrow.? ?Might be good thing if so,? said Anne. ?Be easier with fewer in the house.? ?Very well then. Lets go,? said John. ?Bye all. See you tomorrow.? So, John, Liz and their children all headed back to their car for the journey back to the motel. Julia had decided to take a look at the certificate that confirmed her marriage to Anne. It was a copy of the entry made at the register office, but with an added signature at the bottom. All copies were signed by a registrar to show that they were genuine copies of official records. ?So, is there anything to show that my name is now Smith?? she asked Anne. ?Unless we need to do that by deed poll,? suggested Anne. ?You'll need to tell the DWP about this though.? ?Perhaps Monday,? said Julia. ?I suppose they'll want to see this.? The other thing was Kelly. She was now regarded as one of the family, but records would still show her as Kelly Brier. It seemed likely that Kelly would need to have her name changed too. Carol was glad to see Sally return. She was still finding hard to believe that she was now a married woman, but just seeing her ring told her that it wasn't a dream. Unlike Anne and Julia, they were in no mood to waste time. Sally walked over to Carol, took her hand and helped her to her feet (she was sitting on the sofa). She then pulled her close and put her lips to hers. ?I'm in the mood for love, Mrs Brook,? purred Sally. ?And I want it now.? ?I'm all yours,? smiled Carol. They kissed again, more passionately, and for several minutes, before making the trip upstairs to the bedroom. Anne and Julia were also keen to make love that night, but they had the added work of putting 4 children to bed first. They did so, and made for their room, standing and looking into each others eyes. ?I wonder if I may have been gay all along,? said Anne. ?I don't know. More like bisexual, I believe, but with a meter that swings gay,? replied Julia. ?I've known for most of my life that I'm gay, even if I have had a daughter naturally. I'm just happy to have found a woman who cares for me, and for Kelly. I truly love you Anne, and today, you have made me extremely happy.? ?Prepare to be made happier,? smiled Anne. She placed a gentle kiss on Julia's lips, and soon their tongues met. They were soon getting under the sheets. * * * The next morning saw all parties having extra time in bed. The big day was now consigned to memory, and a new day had begun. The first day of a new chapter for 4 women. Despite awaking, Anne and Julia were reluctant to leave their bed. They had enjoyed their first night as each others wife, and were basking in each others arms. But they had to get up, for 3 girls were expecting their friends around for the day, and they needed their bridesmaid dresses again. ?Morning everyone,? said Anne, as she and Julia entered the kitchen. Helen had got the children up, since she hadn't got a reason not to get out of bed. ?Enjoy your night?? asked Helen. After the euphoria of yesterday, last night was all the better for it,? said Anne. ?So, life is back to normal, or as close to.? ?Just got to hope that John and his family arrive first,? said Helen. Edward was actually looking forward to later, too, for he was meeting his best friend Charlie again. Anne and Julia were hoping that they ended up in the same class in September, and they were sure that Edward would want that too. Sure enough, John and his family did enjoy more time in bed. Still, they got up just before 8am and made a quick trip to the cafeteria for breakfast. They were soon on their way back to Anne's house. ?So, what can we do to keep you occupied?? asked John to his oldest son James. ?It is Sunday after all.? ?We can probably decide that when we get to Anne's,? said Liz. When they arrived, the girls were soon greeting each other warmly, before heading upstairs to play. John was soon discussing the possibilities of finding somewhere to take James. ?There's a park down the road, but I doubt James would like swings and roundabouts,? said Anne. ?Only if there were goalposts,? said John. ?But he hasn't brought his football along.? ?I think there is a football goal,? said Julia. ?I suppose I could get him another football,? said John. James' attention was caught. ?I suppose there are shops open on a Sunday,? said John. ?But they'll be opening late, I guess.? ?They do, I think,? said Anne. ?You might as well hang around here for a short while.? ?I wonder if Edward would like to go with them?? asked Helen. It was awkward, as Edward was aware that he would be seeing Charlie later in the day, and going out would see him miss him. It seemed as though Edward would be staying at home, until it was suggested that perhaps Charlie would want to go to the park too. It did mean that John would have to wait for Rachel to arrive first, but he was in no hurry. The girls were wondering when they would be putting on their dresses for Rachel and Lisa to see. Lisa and Rachel didn't arrive until 10, and when the latter arrived with her brother, they were accompanied by their father, Dennis. ?No Pam today?? asked Anne. ?She's not very well. Honest,? said Dennis. ?I'm Dennis by the way.? ?Anne,? said Anne. ?Oh, I hope you don't mind, but my son Edward is going out with his uncle and nephew. Just down to the park, to play football. Charlie can go with them if he likes.? Charlie was still standing next to his father and overheard. He seemed keen, just as long as Edward was going. ?Actually, they've got to go and get a football, so a quick trip to the shops first,? added Anne. ?No, I don't mind at all,? said Dennis. ?I'll go along with them if you like?? So, it was arranged for Dennis and Charlie to go with John, James and Edward. First, to Walsall, in search of a football, and then to the park. Meanwhile, Lisa's arrival shortly after Rachel's, signalled the cue for 5 girls to get changed into their bridesmaid dresses once more. Rachel and Lisa were still keen to say hello to Emma and Michelle first though. Anne and Julia gave the girls help putting on their dresses, while Lisa and Rachel were made to wait in the living room, along with Liz, Helen and Andrew. They hadn't met Liz and Andrew before, and found the latter, an interesting distraction. Upstairs, the girls were finding it easier to get into their dresses, perhaps due to the fact that they were in no desperate hurry this time. But with the knowledge that their friends were eager to see them, they didn't hang about. After putting on the dresses, Julia and Anne tidied up their hair (and 1 wig) and led them downstairs. They entered the living room and lined up for Lisa and Rachel to see. They were even carrying their posies again. Lisa and Rachel were delighted, and jealous. Even Liz was happy to see an encore presentation of the bridesmaids. Dennis and John were making a quick trip into Walsall, just to get a football for the boys to play with down at the park. Charlie was talking away with Edward, and had ignored James mostly, down to the fact that he didn't know who he was. ?So, you come from Newcastle?? asked Dennis. ?Though you don't sound it?? ?I'm from here, originally,? said John. ?My wife is from Birmingham. My children were born in Newcastle though, and thus, they all have the accent.? ?That explains it. So, you're Anne's brother-in-law?? ?Yes, though she divorced my younger brother. I don't blame her either, for he's a conceited bigot.? Dennis pondered. He was aware of the term well, and knew that his wife Pam may be regarded as one too. He was reminded of how unwelcome homophobia was in this family, so opted to say nothing. He was unaware that transphobia was also unwelcome. So, he opted to stay away from such talk, and decided to talk business instead. Once in Walsall, they headed for a major sports store, and found getting a new football no problem. With the ball obtained, they headed off for the park. Dennis was required to give John directions, though it was not far from Anne's house (she would have told him so). Having parked the car, they got out, and James was soon running around, kicking the ball. ?Come on James. Let the others have a kick around too,? said John. Edward and Charlie were watching James show off a bit, and were keen to kick the ball too. James passed the ball to John, however. ?Spread out, you two,? said John to Edward and Charlie. Dennis went and helped show the two younger boys what John meant. John then passed the ball to Edward. Edward looked down at the ball and went to kick it, succeeding in kicking it a few inches. His shorter legs and inexperience were obvious. John went over and showed him how to kick the ball a bit harder. He had had to teach James the very same lesson, when his oldest son was around 5. So, despite the presence of a goal frame nearby, they opted to pass the ball round a bit first, just to give Edward and Charlie some practice. They were still unable to kick the ball a great distance, but that was not important. Eventually, they decided to score some goals. Dennis opted to stand between the posts and be goalkeeper, while John and the boys took it in turns to score past him. For James and John, Dennis was making an effort to save their shots, but for Edward and Charlie, whose shots were weak, he was willing to be beaten easily. Just to help further, John especially, was giving the ball to either Edward or Charlie in places where they were close to the goal, and the two boys would ?goal hang? as a result. It was just fun, and about keeping the boys entertained. They spent longer than they thought, in the park, and the boys were glad to be having something to eat when they arrived back at Anne's house. * * * The bridesmaids were sorry to do so, but after about 30 minutes or so of letting Rachel and Lisa admire their outfits, they had to head upstairs and change back into their other clothes. ?Don't worry. There might be another time for you to be bridesmaids,? said Julia. ?Hopefully, you'll be a bride one day too.? ?And marry a woman?? asked Sandra. ?You marry who you want to marry,? said Julia. ?And this goes to all of you. If you find you want to marry a woman, then so be it. But if you want to marry a man, then that is fine too. The choice is yours.? ?Agreed,? said Anne. ?We will not force you to marry anyone. But there is a long time to go yet. Do not worry about it for now.? It was hoped of course, that Jessica and Michelle would have had their surgeries by then. With their dresses removed and put back into their storage bags, the girls headed to their bedroom, and set about spending some time playing with teddies and dolls. When Anne and Julia returned downstairs, they told Lisa and Rachel to join them. Emma and Michelle were naturally were the main attraction for Lisa and Rachel, though their Geordie accents were confusing at times. But accents aside, their interests were pure girly, and that was a language they could all understand. Emma was still disappointed that her one teddy was still a mommy in waiting, having failed so far, to have found a small enough teddy to be the baby. But there were plenty of teddies to play with, and confusion to be had too, with Michelle and Jessica having bears named after each other. Anne and Julia brought them some sandwiches, cakes and drinks, and so they ended up having a teddy bear picnic. With the girls busy playing upstairs, it meant that Helen, Anne, Julia and Liz, were having a peaceful time downstairs in the living room. The dinner was already being prepared, with the meat in the oven. The vegetables were in saucepans of water, and just waiting on the stove for now. ?Well, I wonder how long the boys will be gone?? asked Helen. ?They've been gone a few hours already.? ?Give them some time,? said Anne. ?It's a nice day, so let them enjoy it.? It was just after midday when John, Dennis and the boys returned. Seeing that Rachel had been given some sandwiches and cake, it was only fair that Charlie was given likewise. After finishing his sandwiches and cake, Charlie prepared to say goodbye. Rachel was rather sad to go too, but knew that there would be more days like this to come. ?Come on then. Lets see how your mom is coping,? said Dennis to the two of them. Rachel wouldn't leave without hugging the other girls, especially Emma and Michelle. Once she had though, she followed her dad and brother, back to their car. Yvonne arrived not long afterwards, and it was time for Lisa to hug everyone. Just like Rachel, she had no idea when she would ever see Emma and Michelle again, and made her goodbyes to them count. So, with the guests now departed, Anne returned to the kitchen to continue on the dinner, which was for early that evening. James had resumed his attempts to rescue Hyrule on his DS console, while Edward was upstairs playing with with his Thomas train set. The girls were also back upstairs, playing with their teddies and dolls once more, and reading them stories. ?So, we hope to get back home as quickly as possible,? said John. ?Traffic heading into Newcastle can be bad.? ?All this week will be spent preparing for Scarborough,? said Liz. ?That day will be here before we know it.? ?Tell us,? said Anne. ?I suppose the M1 is the best route?? ?Only one, if you're going north-east,? said John. ?Take the turn off for Thirsk. We'll be taking the same one.? ?Turn off for Thirsk,? said Anne, making a note. ?I'll get the atlas out of the car,? said John. ?I'll show you.? He went outside and was back a few minutes later with a road atlas. He found the page and pointed to the required junction on the A1(M). ?Turn off here, and follow the A61 to Thirsk. Then, from Thirsk, pick up the A170. That road leads to Scarborough.? ?Well, as long as there are not too many turn offs,? said Anne. ?Oh, I'd better check the meat.? Julia went to have a look at the map while Anne was tending to the dinner. ?So, you're taking the same route as us? Wouldn't coming down the A19 be better?? ?Newcastle can be a pain to get through. We usually pick the motorway up, just north of the city, and travel south that way. It's better than the A19, as that can be busy. It also takes you through the Tyne tunnel, and thats a toll road.? Looking at the map, they could look for other places to visit while they were up there. ?Whitby is a nice place. Famous for jet and Dracula,? said John. ?York has the Minster and the National Railway Museum. James would love that place. A bit pricey though.? ?Railway museum? Of course I'd like that!? said James, overhearing. ?Edward would love the railway museum too,? said Julia. ?But pricey?? ?York is pricey in general. The museum is free entry, but the minster isn't.? ?Unless you attend a service there,? said Liz. ?From what we've heard, all major churches have put admission charges up.? ?Not enough donations?? asked Helen. ?Most likely. Not good for those who wish to use the place for prayer,? said John. ?So, how much is it to go in then?? ?About ?9 each,? said Liz. ?You're joking?!? asked Julia. ?No,? said Liz. ?We went two years ago, and it cost us nearly ?40 to get in.? ?Okay, the meats almost done. I've just the vegetables on,? said Anne. ?You were talking about York?? ?Yes,? said Julia. ?And how major churches are making donations compulsary.? ?More like extortion,? said Helen. ?Unless you're a fat cat, where such money is peanuts,? said John. ?But you said the railway museum is free?? asked Julia. ?Yes, that's free. The kids would like that more, to be fair.? When the other children came down to dinner, the places were mentioned again, and the railway museum got more votes. It was a definite yes for that place. But for now, there was one week before then, and the girls were getting used to having each other for company. Emma and Michelle were leaving tomorrow, but their goodbyes were tonight. For the remainder of the evening, the children remained downstairs. It was one final chance before the parting of the ways, to talk about what had transpired over the past few days. Emma was making sure that James remembered the teddy that she had been bought from Walsall FC, much to his discomfort. ?You had that bear just to annoy me, didn't you?? he said. She said nothing, but the smile on her face confimed his suspicions. ?What's wrong with him? He looks nice, just like all teddies,? asked Kelly. ?He supports the wrong team,? said James. ?We all support the wrong team, as far as the media is concerned,? said John. ?I thought the media was supposed to be unbiased?? asked Helen. ?Not with the money involved now. They favour teams from London and the north-west,? replied John. ?Not surprising. London always gets favour, since its the capital,? said Julia. ?Ok, enough of that,? said Anne. ?Lets get back to what we were talking about: Scarborough. So, hopefully, we'll be spending some time on the beach, exploring the shops, visiting the railway museum in York, possibly going to Whitby.? ?Riding on a steam train?? asked John. ?I forgot that there is a steam railway up there too. The one station is famous, as it appeared in the Harry Potter films and tv series Heartbeat.? ?We've already seen the Harry Potter locomotive,? said Julia. ?The station in Heartbeat too?? Authors Note: Heartbeat was a 1960's period police drama, set in the fictional village of Aidensfield. Most of it was filmed in the village of Goathland. Goathland station featured in the series too, and was also used as Hogsmeade station in the first Harry Potter film. ?Yes, it was. Just unusual to see locomotives such as Sir Nigel Gresley operating on a country line. Thats a main line locomotive, used for pulling express trains,? said John. ?Ok, so that might be worth a visit,? said Helen. ?I liked watching that show.? ?I think we'll have plenty to do next week,? said Anne. ?I'm looking forward to it.? ?It will be a nice honeymoon for you,? said Liz. ?You could call it that, but this is a holiday for the children. They come first,? said Anne. ?I'm not arguing there,? said John. After late drinks and snacks, John and Liz decided it was time to go. It was that time that the girls especially, didn't like. ?Well, we'll see you on Saturday,? said John. ?Bye then.? There were hugs all round, and Andrew got a bit more attention. It took several minutes for them to leave as a result. When they did, Emma and Michelle continued to wave from the back of the car. Jessica, Sandra and Kelly stood at the front door and waved back. ?Well, I suppose we can make a quick stop off at Sally's on the way,? said John. ?It would be rude, not to say goodbye to her.? The children didn't object. The trip to Sally's house was short, and they all got out and headed to the front door. With time pressing, they stopped outside rather than accept Sally's invite to come inside. ?Well sis, it's goodbye for now,? said John. ?You enjoy yourself now.? ?With Carol, I intend to,? smiled Sally. Carol just smiled and put an arm around her. ?Well, enjoy your holiday in Scarborough,? added Sally. ?No idea when we'll meet again, but I'll keep in touch as always.? ?We know you will,? said Liz. ?Ready to go kids?? ?Not yet,? said Carol, as she received hugs from them. Sally got extra hugs, before they were ready to leave. ?We'll see you Christmas, if not sooner,? said John. ?Bye then.? So, he and his family got back in the car and set off once more. Sally and Carol waved them goodbye, as the car headed off into the distance.