It�s early August, and Gabriel and Abi are sitting in June�s living room playing with her cat. �Abi leave that cat alone, you�ll only get hairs all over that pretty dress of yours. We�ll be ready to go in a moment. I can hear your Grandma coming down the stairs now.� Just then Polly entered the room, with June following behind her. She was dressed in a white suit, with a pink carnation on the left hand side of her jacket. �Doesn�t she look lovely!� Polly exclaimed.
�Yes wow! You look stunning Mum!�
�And you scrub up so well Gabriel. June then turned to Abi. Oh Abi, you look absolutely gorgeous in that dress!� Abi smiled, and twirled around to show off her pink dress.
�Thanks for letting her be a bridesmaid, I know that you only wanted a small affair.�
�No problem, I know that it is a dream of hers.�
�The taxi�s here, and we don�t want to keep Jim waiting do we Mum?�
�Come on Abi, have you got your flowers?� Polly enquired. �Let�s get into the taxi.� Polly took Abi by the hand, and they left. �How are you feeling?�
�Oh a little nervous. I have dreamt of this day all of my life. But when I hit 50, I started to believe that this day would never come. I am so excited though, and having you by my side, well that just makes everything perfect.�
�It does seem a little strange giving your own mother away, but I am pleased for you. You deserve so much happiness. Come on, Jim will be starting to think that you aren�t coming.�
�Well we wouldn�t want that!�
�Do you remember when I first met you; you said that your name was Mrs Carver? Well it�s time for that to become a reality!�
�Yes, and I cannot wait!�
�That was a lovely speech Jim, thank you!�
Well everything I said was true Mrs Carver!� Jim leant over to kiss his new wife. Just then Tony approached the couple. �Congratulations! I am pleased for the both of you. It couldn�t have happened to a nicer couple. Though I must say you�re a dark horse aren�t you June? How come you never told us that you had a son? He seems like a really nice young man.�
�Yes he is, I�m lucky. I�m sorry that I never told you Tony, but I have only recently got to know him again.�
�That�s ok, any way I must go, I promised your mother a dance Jim!�
�I suppose that I am going to have to get used to that reaction, now that people know about my son. I think that Gina and Smithy look a bit confused though, I think that I had better explain the full story to them.�
�June, Jim have you seen Abi and Jake? I�m a bit worried, I think that they have wandered off somewhere,� Sarah said breathlessly as she approached them.
�No I�m sorry, have they been gone long?� June asked.
�Well it has only been about ten minutes, but they are good kids, they know not to wander off.� Then Gabriel approached them. �Any news?� Sarah asked.
�Well I have been asking around, and one of your colleagues saw them talking to David.�
�But he wasn�t even invited?� June said quietly.
�You don�t think that he would do anything to them do you?� Sarah cried.
�I hope not, but we have to face the fact that he is very angry with Mum and myself,� Gabriel said angrily. �I know that it�s easy for me to say, but try not to worry. He�s probably just doing this to scare us.� Jim said softly. �Where is Louise?�
�She�s with her Gran.� Sarah replied.
�Then you and Gabriel go back to her, and I�ll get a search party started. Have you got a recent photo of them?� Gabriel nodded. �You go back to your hotel suit, I will be along in a moment.� Gabriel left holding his wife�s hand. Jim then turned to June. �Are you ok my love? Do you want to go back with them?�
�No I want to help with the search. It�s the least I can do, after all this is all my fault!�
�How can you say that?�
�I shouldn�t have let David manipulate me the way he did, and I should have left Gabriel alone. He was doing fine before I turned up. Anyway let�s just find them. What if he has done something dreadful to them? I didn�t want to worry Gabriel and Sarah, but I�ve seen what a real nasty piece of work he can be.� Jim embraced his wife in a hug, and he tensed as he saw how much she was shaking. He then pulled away, in order to get the search underway.
�Thanks Jack, I really appreciate you leading the search for me.�
�No problem June, and try not to worry. It�s very unlikely that he would do anything to them.�
�It�s hard not to. Have you any leads?�
�Not at the moment, but I promise that as soon as I do I will let you know.� Just then Sam Nixon walked in the room, and tried to usher the DCI to one side. June however realised what she was doing, and asked �Sam what is it?�
�Erm well, we have managed to track them down.�
�But?� June sensed the unease in her voice.
�I�m afraid that he is holding them at gunpoint.�
�What! Oh my God!� June cried in shock. Jim overhead, and rushed over to his wife.
�What�s wrong? What�s happened?�
�David�s holding them hostage at gun point,� June cried.
�Have you got S019 on the scene yet?� Jim asked.
�Yes, but I�m afraid that he says that he will only let the children go, in return for you June.�
�Then what are we waiting for?� June asked.
�No June, I won�t let you!� Jim cried.
�June, are you sure?� Jack asked. June nodded her head. �Sam, let�s give them a minute.�
�I�m sorry Jim but I have to do this. Those are frightened little children in there. I am an experienced police officer, I can talk him round.�
�But June he�s unstable, not right in the head. He could do anything to you, please let me go instead.�
�But he wants me not you. Look I�m sorry, but you are not going to change my mind. I would never forgive myself if something happened to them. Look try not to worry, I have faced up to worse than David Kent in my time.�
�Then let me come with you?�
�No, if he sees you he might get angry. You stay with Gabriel, and let him know that his kids will be back with him soon.�
�Ok but please be careful, and make sure that you wear a vest. I love you June with all my heart, I don�t know what I would do if something happened to you.�
�Don�t worry I�ll be fine. Before you know it I�ll be back, and we will be able to jet off on honeymoon. Come here.� They both held each other in a warm embrace. Neither of them could believe what was happening to them on their wedding day. �I�d better get going Jim, I�ll be back before you know it.� June then walked away in order to get prepared, fighting back her emotions so that Jim could not see how scared she was.
�Yes thanks Sir, I understand. I�ll let them know. Please phone as soon as you have any more news.� Jim then put his phone back in his pocket.
�Well?� Gabriel asked nervously.
�Well he�s released the kids, like he said he would. An officer is bringing them here now, they don�t appear to be have be hurt.�
�Oh thank god!� Sarah cried, as she hugged her husband in relief.
�That�s great news, but what about Mum?�
�I�m afraid that he is still holding her. Try not to worry though, she knows what she�s doing.� Jim smiled, trying to stay in police officer mode. �I will never be able to thank her enough for this; I just hope that I will get the chance to tell her in person. My mother sure is one special lady. How are you feeling Jim?� Suddenly Jim�s brave face cracked, and he started to sob.
�Oh Gabriel I�m sorry, I�m supposed to be comforting you! But I don�t think that I have ever been so scared in all my life. If he lays on finger on her, I swear that I will kill him. I�m sorry, I know that he�s your brother and all that.�
�He�s no brother of mine! I�ll never forgive him for this.�
�Why are you doing this David?� June asked, trying to stay calm, as she lay on a cold warehouse floor. Her hands and feet were bound together. �Well it�s the only way I knew that I could get your attention. You wouldn�t answer my calls.�
�Your surprised?� June snapped.
�Look I�m sorry June, if there was any other way. But you have to listen to me.�
�Go on then, tell me again how much you hate me. How I ruined your life. Get on with it.� June sighed. �I hate Gabriel, that�s why I took Jake and Abigail, to teach him a lesson. He doesn�t deserve those kids. He spends so much time working; he hasn�t got any time for them. But I don�t hate you, I love you!�
�You don�t love me! If you did then you wouldn�t have put me through this. And your wrong about Gabriel, he is a great father.�
�How would you know? You hardly qualify for mother of the year do you? You dumped your son because you couldn�t be bothered, and in doing so you ruined my life.�
�Then how can you love me then, if I ruined your life?�
�Because you were the first girlfriend I had that treated right. You made me feel like I was special.�
�But you still made me think that I had slept with my own son.�
�Because I was angry, I knew that I had lost you. Oh why did that bitch Gold have to interfere?�
�Come on, we can�t stay here forever. Hand yourself in, it�s for the best in the long run.�
�For the best? Rotting in jail for years, you must think that I am daft in the head. No all I want is you! And if I can�t leave with you, then neither of us are leaving.� Gabriel waved his gun at her head, and pretended to shoot her. This made June lose her calm, and she started to cry. �Oh Gabriel please, if you really love me then you will let me go! Please this is supposed to be my wedding night, Jim will be worried.�
�Why do you always have to bring him in to it? All you ever do is mention his bloody name!�
�That�s because I love him!� June cried.
�Why, he broke your heart? Why can�t you love me?�
�Maybe I could have, if you had just been honest with me. But you�ve blown any chance we had of being together.�
�Then I�ll just have to kill the both of us. Then we can be together forever.�
�Please, no!� June cried.
�But before I do, I want you for one last time.�
�Oh, do what you want, I don�t care anymore,� June shouted, realising that this was her only chance of escape. Gabriel dropped the gun a few feet away from June, and he began to undo his trousers. June lay still, waiting for her moment to attack. He leant down and pulled her skirt down over her legs. Then as he was laying the skirt down on the floor, she kicked him hard in the groin with both her feet, using all the strength she had in her. He bent down in agony, and she quickly rolled on the floor to where the gun was. She then grabbed it; her two hands still bound together. As she did so the armed police came rushing in, and held him at gunpoint while they searched him. �Great timing lads, just when the show was nearly over!� June mocked in relief.
Jim and Gabriel were waiting at Sun Hill Police station for June to return. Jack Meadows had broken the good news to them, and the relief on their faces was evident. Just then June entered the interview room, where they had been waiting. She ran straight into Jim�s arms and burst into tears. �Oh Jim, I thought that I would never see you again. I am so sorry that I put you through this.�
�It�s ok your safe now, that�s the main thing.� They pulled apart, and Gabriel stepped towards his mother. �Mum, I don�t know how I will ever be able to repay you! I can�t thank you enough! You�ve done something so special for me, anything you ever want Mum, you only have to ask.�
�How are the kids? Are they ok?�
�They're fine, thanks to you. They�re a tired, and a little shaken, but ok. Sarah is with them now, she sends her thanks. Anyway I will leave you two in peace, it is meant to be your wedding night! I love you Mum. Jim you take care of her, I hope that you have a wonderful honeymoon!�
�Thanks Gabriel, and I hope that you�ll come and visit us soon.�
�I promise, in fact we are actually thinking of moving back here.�
�Really, that�s brilliant news!� June beamed.
�Well Sarah misses her mother, and I want to get to know you both properly. We�ve missed out on so much already, and the kids adore you! I will give you a ring when you get back. You have a great time, but don�t do anything that I wouldn�t do.� Gabriel laughed, before kissing June on the cheek. �Thanks for coming, and give my love to Sarah and the kids.�
�I will, see you soon!� Gabriel then left the pair, and finally alone, they collapsed into each other�s arms. �This has been both the best, and the worst day of my life! I don�t know what I would have done if I had lost you.�
�But you didn�t.�
�I know, I love you so much June Carver!�
�And I love you with all my heart!�
�Come on let�s get back to the hotel, we have to make up for lost time!�
�Ok lead on James!� June laughed, as Jim tried unsuccessfully to pick her up. �I think that I had better walk, your not much use to me if you do your back in!�
THE END!
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