Title: Scarlets
Characters: Izzy and Steph

Steph wasn't looking forward to work at Scarlets today. She was beginning to feel her pregnancy, getting tired easily and feeling constantly on edge and grumpy. To make matters worse she was roistered on with Izzy. Things had improved between the pair but Max's short sightedness when his sister was involved and Izzy's constant mistakes had driven a wedge between them.

Meanwhile Izzy had similar worries about the day ahead. She really did like Steph, after all Steph had Max the happiest he had been in a long while, but she always felt self conscious around the woman. Of course her natural instinct would be to shrug Steph away, Izzy was Izzy, strong vibrant and afriad of nothing. She couldn't lie to herself though. Izzy really did like Steph and longed for a solid friendship with her, the kind she'd never possessed in her life.

Arriving at the bar Steph let out a sigh of relief, no sign of Izzy. Perhaps she won't turn up! Steph sets about preparing the bar for the daily customers. The late night staff hadn't cleaned that tables properly and there were unwashed glasses everywhere. Steph made a note to bring this up with Max and began the tiresome task of washing and cleaning. By the time this was done and the chairs positioned tactfully around the bar it was opening time. Ten minutes later and the first customers arrive. They were polite and only wanted a coffee, not some complicated cocktail, perhaps this day would turn out okay after all? Then Izzy arrive. She breezed in catching the eye of all the male customers as she did so. Totally ignoring Steph she makes herself a coffee and settles down at the bar.

Izzy was fully aware of her lateness, she'd spent ages deciding what to where and how she would attempt to converse with Steph during the day. She had drawn a blank on both counts and so had thrown the first thing on and rushed to Scarlets with no idea how to deal with Steph. Entering the bar and her naturally defenses took over. She walk coolly past Steph and settled down with a cup of coffee.

About halfway through the day, Steph had had enough. She really wasn't feeling well and Izzy had done nothing to help preferring to sit at the bar and flirt with anyone who walk past. After some minutes fuming about the situation Steph decides that she needs to pull Izzy up about her behavior. She approaches Izzy and asks her for a hand cleaning table 6. Izzy glances over to the table in question:

"It's only a few glasses, you can manage them".

"In case you haven't noticed I'm pregnant!"

"So...It's only a few glasses I'm sure you can manage it".

"IZZY! Look I've just about had enough of your antics. I don't know why but Max puts up with you so I try to be nice. I have my limits though, go to table six and CLEAR IT".

Izzy was taken aback. Steph rarely raised her voice at anyone and to do so at her meant she really was struggling. Izzy had wanted to help of couse, but felt so out of place she just stuck to the bar. Looking at Steph she did look pretty run down. Izzy realising she'd been daydreaming jumped up to clear the table as she'd been asked. An hour later and the work rush began. Izzy was back by the bar fretting about Steph when the "Suits" came in. Steph was rushed off her feet and Izzy attempted to help out but found herself getting in the way. A particularly boisterous group of workers entered laughing and joking about some executive stuff. One of them failed to notice Steph, who was balancing a tray full of dirty plates and glasses, and hit her square in the back. Steph went flying face first and landed on the shattered items that had fallen from the tray. Izzy let out an involuntary cry of concern. Steph wasn't moving and Izzy knew all to well how vulnerable pregnant women and their unborn child were when they fell. She rushed over to help Steph. Steph was in a really bad way. She was unconscious and there was blood everywhere. A crowd had gathered around the pair but most of them were just starring in horror at the scene. Izzy had to take action. She whipped out her mobile phone and called and ambulance. Next she enlisted one of the gathered crowd to watch Steph whilst she went to get a blanket and pillow to keep her comfortable and warm, politely asking the rest of the customers to leave the bar. Once Steph had been made comfortable, the final customer had left and the closed sign placed outside the bar Izzy settled down with Steph’s had between two of hers and waited for the ambulance.

Steph awoke with a throbbing head. Slowly the last events came back to her. She gasped. "The baby's fine" said a voice next to her. Steph jump a little before realising it was Izzy. "You in Erinsborough hospital". Steph looked curiously at the woman sitting next to her. Izzy looked tired and her face was tear stained. Izzy informed her that she'd been unconscious for several hours and whilst the baby was fine, if she had arrived at the hospital any later. She also said that Max was on his way but had been miles away at the time of Steph’s fall and was struggling to get back. Steph began to thank the woman, who had clearly help her more than Steph would ever have imagine but Izzy rushed to the door and began to leave. At the door she froze. She rested her head against the doorframe and began sobbing quietly. Steph really was baffled at this:

"Iz...."

"I'm...really glad you're o.k. You know I do care about you...and Max and the Kids"

"I know...it's just difficult, you don't let people in..."

"I better get going..."

"Max isn't here yet, as I hate being alone in hospitals...Could you sit with me for a while?"

With that concession and the time the pair spent together in the hospital a stronger bond of friendship was formed between the pair. Steph was again reminded that Izzy's flippant nature and hard exterior were accompanied by a softer, kinder interior which was deperate for friendship. Izzy too was content with the new friendship between the two. She really didn't have any real female friends and in Steph she had found one of the best. They really did have a lot in common and Steph welcomed the friendship of someone closer to her own age, though Lyn, Susan and Janelle were fine in smaller doses.

When Max finally arrived he found the pair talking earnestly and laughing together. He was shocked but covered it quickly. Izzy let Max have here seat and left with the promise that she'd be back in the morning to see Steph and for once, Steph was looking forward to it.