"Chris?"

"Yeah babe?" he replied around a mouthful of toast. Stephanie sipped her coffee. "I'm gonna start looking for a job."

Chris swallowed his toast. "Why?"

"Well I need something to do during the day. Plus the extra money will come in handy. I know that the money you'll be getting with the UWA things will be easier, but there'll be expenses with that." Stephanie fiddled nervously with the edge of the new tablecloth. Chris looked at her. "Why so nervous? If that's what you want to do, then go for it. I'm not gonna stop you from ever doing anything you really want to do."

"I know." She said softly, glancing at the table. Chris put down his coffee mug. "No, I don't think you do. I know you had a constricting upbringing and you missed out on a lot - I'm not talking about material things - but if there's one thing you've definately got here, it's your freedom. To come and go as you please, to wear what you want, to do what you want. You don't have to ask me for permission. Got it?"

"Got it."

"You sure?"

"Yes." They looked at each other. Chris's eyes were concerned; Steph's were hiding a million bad memories. Stephanie broke eye contact first. "So what's on for today?"

"Well, I have to meet Lambit about something, so I rang the girls last night and Lydia has to work, but Integra's coming around and taking you shopping." Chris said with a grin. Stephanie sighed. "Chris, I can't afford anything."

"Don't worry, this is my treat. And Integra has specific instructions." He pouted. "You don't want to let me down do you?"

"Don't pout at me. Chris. Don't." Stephanie could feel her resolve crumbling. "Fine, I'll do it. But don't expect me to enjoy it."

"That's my girl. I better move it." He leaned over and kissed her goodbye. After a few minutes Chris pulled away reluctantly. "Wow. That's the kind of thing that makes a guy wish he never had to leave the house."

"So don't go." Stephanie pouted, trying not to grin. Chris sighed. "Believe me baby, if I didn't have to, I wouldn't."

"Fine. I give in." She mock sulked. He laughed. "I'll be back around 5. I love you."

"I love you too."

Chris thought about Steph as he made his way down the stairs. This wasn't unusual, but this morning he was worried about her. He didn't know what she'd faced in the past, but it must have been fairly tough if she thought she had to ask his permission to do something. He made a mental note to talk to her about it, see if he could get her to share.

About 90 minutes later there was a knock on the door. "Hey Steph! Ready to go?"

"It's open Integra!" Stephanie called back. Integra let herself in, calling "You really shouldn't leave the door unlocked in this area. God only knows what could happen."

"Don't start." Steph warned. "I just unlocked it so you could let yourself in if I was in the shower or had my hands full or something."

"Fair enough." Integra nodded. "Ready to go?"

"Just about. Am I allowed to know what I'm shopping for?"

"Hasn't he told you?" Integra asked in surprise. "I wrote down an itenery - I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on."

"Victoria's Secret?" Stephanie started laughing. "Is this part of the shopping list my subtle as a sledgehammer boyfriend gave you?"

"Actually no. Valentines Day is just under a month away and Lydia and I have decided that you are going to give Chris one hell of a present." Integra grinned. Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"I'll let Lydia explain. It was all her idea anyway." She grinned. "Come on! We got lotsa shopping to do."

~~~

"Hey bitches!"

Stephanie and Integra looked around and grinned. "Lydia you caffinated psychopath, where the hell have you been?"

"My bitch boss kept me back. God I hate her." Lydia grumbled, lighting a cigarette. She looked at it in slight disgust. "If it wasn't for her, I'd be able to give these things up."

"Sure you would." Stephanie rolled her eyes. Integra laughed. "As long as you believe it. We certainly don't."

"Oh well it was worth a shot. I'm only gonna quit for 2 reasons - pregnancy and death." She grinned. Integra rolled her eyes. "Got a half day?"

"I do now." Lydia grinned. She spoke in a weak and frail voice "Hello? Yes this is Lydia. I'm afraid I won't be coming back in this afternoon. I think I'm coming down with something. Yes, I'll supply a doctor’s certificate. Thank you very much Nola."

"You're gonna lose the job at this rate."

"Frankly my dear I don't give a damn." she grinned, pulling her hair out of it's ponytail. Stephanie looked at it in surprise. "Auburn?"

"Yeah, the red and black wasn't suitable for work." she sighed. Steph laughed. "Can I ask you something?"

"Go for it."

"What's your natural colour?"

Lydia thought for a minute. "I think it's a light brown colour. Like yours. I'm not sure though, I've been dying it since I was 14. So enough about me. How'd the shopping go?"

"Good. I got Steph some great looking clothes." Integra grinned. "But since you happen to be little miss I'll try anything once, usually twice to make sure I didn't like it the first time, we saved the best for last."

She pointed at the store across the road. Lydia smirked. "Great. It's my birthday soon. Maybe I can give that oaf boyfriend of mine some hints. Lingerie - The gift that just keeps giving."

"Can we just get this over with?" Stephanie pleaded as Lydia dragged her enthusiastically into the shop.

~~~

"Catch you tomorrow Sammy." called Chris stepping off the bus. Sammy grinned toothlessly at him. "Catch ya tomorrow sport."

Waving at Sammy as the bus pulled out, Chris leaned against the corner of the alleyway and rubbed his forehead. Lambit had just told him that he would get definite money with the UWA, but it meant a lot of travel. He had no car, not enough money to buy one, not enough money to pay for all that gas even if he did have a car and - worst of all as far as he was concerned - a lot of time away form Steph.

"Hey gorgeous what's up?" Sable sauntered over. Chris groaned. This was the last thing he wanted. He forced a smile. "How are you?"

"Great, now that you're here." She smiled at him coyly. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and run home to hide under the bed and sighed instead. "Oh, well I'm not here for long. Gotta earn an honest living. I'm sure you understand - or maybe not."

"Aw, don't be like that baby." She purred, placing a hand on his arm. Chris wrenched his arm away. "Don't call me that."

"What's the matter? Afraid the little woman might get jealous?"

"Don't call her that." Chris snapped, checking his watch. Sable raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter? Is the Princess too precious for her name to be soiled by crossing my lips?"

"Got it in a nutshell." He replied. She narrowed her eyes. "I'll give you a word of advice Lionheart. Don't cross me. I may be a street hooker, but I'm a high class one. I've got connections you'd only dream of. Don't cross me."

"Let me tell you something. First of all, there is no such thing as a high class street hooker. You're just a whore, but the main difference is that the rest of your workmates have some dregs of humanity left in them. Have you ever seen a lion and his pride Sable? There's one lion and heaps of lionesses. But what most people don't know, is that there's one lioness, who is the lion's mate and the rest of the pack are there to protect the main lioness. Don't fuck with me Sable and keep away from my Lioness."