Dana – “Hey, there is no need to feel nervous around me”, she said holding Alices` eyes with hers.

Alice – “Yeah, I know that now. I have just built up so many defences, it’s hard to break them down, you know?”

Dana – “I understand.”

Alice thought while she was being honest, she might as well not hold back. – “I thought I may have missed my chance. Especially when that woman was there this morning.”

Dana was shocked at her openness – “Well, if you want to, we can rectify that if we go to the bar tonight?”

Alice – “Will you still dance with me then?” She smiled so sweetly.

Dana – “Are you marking my dance card in advance Miss Pieszecki?”

Alice laughed – “What are we going back to ye oldie days?”

Dana laughed too – “Of course I will dance with you, it will be a pleasure! I was so saddened last night when you turned me down.”

Alice – “It’s a deal!”

Alice and Dana went to get some lunch, now that Dana had finally recovered. They joined Bette, Tina and Shane at a table. Shane could tell that something had changed between the two of them, and Alice seemed a lot more at ease. Bette started by asking when she would be invited to read this amazing article Shane had raved about for the last half an hour. Dana said that after lunch they were more than welcome to read it, both her and Tina. They both said great and they would be over later. Alice told them how it reduced her to tears and the girls looked quizzical at her. Dana looked at Alice and said it wasn’t that bad surely! Alice lightly squeezed Danas` arm, looked into her eyes and beamed. Bette and Tina would be blind not to notice the implication of this new interaction between the two. They looked at Shane who grinned and winked. They were just so pleased that Alice was finally letting this woman get closer to her. It would take a while but it was obvious they were perfect for each other.

Julie walked into the restaurant and went over to Dana. She excused herself for butting in, but Dana immediately asked her to join them. Julie sat down and said she was sorry she hadn’t seen her before. Dana said that she knew Alice was working her into the ground with early morning meetings and that she shouldn’t take it. The two looked at each other and laughed, and Dana lightly punched Alices` arm, saying she was only joking. Dana looked round the table and said to Julie that they were all going out that night and would she like to join them. Julie jumped at the chance, making sure the group were ok with it. They all said yes.