The following Monday, Helen and I woke up to a winter wonderland of snow that covered the lawn, but the street was bare, meaning that we'd have school, oh well.

"Mads, we'd best wear our thermals under our blouses, today. Do you have any thick tights?"

"Yeah, I've got two pair of white ribbed tights that'll go with our white thermal leotard, but do you have a sports bra in white?"

Helen lifted her flannel night dress, "Yep, wearing it now," she smirked.

Maddy shook her head, "Hel, you have certainly come out of your shell. When we first met, I'd NEVER have thought about you doing what you just did," she sighed, remembering her outings with Drew.

"Maddy, before Mum and I moved here, I had a friend in Holland where we'd be doings things like you and the gang do. But after Daddy died, I had to be there for Mummy. But now that we are here, I can be myself, again."

"Well, I'm glad to see that you've come alive, Hel. But I hope that doesn't mean that you'll become like Bernie," she admitted.

Helen pulled up the tights that Maddy had passed to her and pulled on the leotard and snapped the crotch closed, then pulled up a pair of blue knickers, "Don't worry, I won't. What got into her anyway?"

Maddy shrugged, "I don't rightly know. All that I 'DO' know is that after Drew left, that she went wild. It's as if Drew was her safety valve, or something."

Helen pulled on her white blouse, blue skirt and tied the tie, "Is that why you and the gang have stopped seeing her?" Maddy sighed, "No, we stopped seeing her after she'd torched the school. We couldn't seem to connect, after that."

Helen pulled on her white knit socks and her brown buster browns, "Did you want to?"

"More than anything, but the night before, she was so totally different, that it was scary, like she was a new person, not the Bernie that we'd grown up with," she admitted.

Helen went to the vanity to do her makeup as Maddy finished dressing, "Did you EVER think that it was the drugs making her so different?"

Maddy paused, "No, quite frankly, we never thought about it, why?"

"Because, you are their leader, Maddy. Whatever you do, they do."

"And I have ostricised Bern from the group, but how do I bring her back in?"

"I don't know, Maddy. Why not wait until Drew visits? He seems to have a good head on his shoulders."

"I admit that he does when it comes to bikes, but about girls?"

"No, Maddy. about the gang."

"Oh. Well, you might be right. He does seem to be able to keep the peace, even if he does have the occasional accident and become Gaby," she giggled.

Helen, now ready for school, stood up, "Then why did you NEVER have any trousers for Drew?"

"Because he makes such a cute girl. Besides, if he'd MADE SURE to have a spare kit, he'd not need to borrow anything."

"True."

Then from down below, "Maddy, Helen, breakfast is ready!"

"OK, Mum, we'll be right down."

* * *

Meanwhile, at Warsop College, a meeting was taking place in Mister Woods office.

"Hello, I'm Mister Woods, Headmaster of Warsop College. How may I help you?" He asked as he held out his hand.

Richard took his hand in his, "I am Richard Barton. And I am here to offer a few students a chance of a lifetime."

"Are you the man who launched the only commercial reusable spaceship?"

"The very same, Sir."

"What is this chance of a lifetime that you're offering?"

"Ever since my first successful launch, I've been working to build a larger version that'll take at least twenty up. Now I'm ready."

"But why Warsop College?"

"Because I've become a Jenny Bond fan and I'd like to meet her and her daughter, Gaby. If she exists, that is."

Mister Woods sighed, "You must know the truth, then."

"Yes, why has Jenny created this daughter?"

"She didn't do it to hurt anybody, in fact, it began at a charity bike race," he smiled.

"Oh?"

"Yes, Jenny and Drew were in a charity bike race where the racers wore costume. Jenny went as Xena: The Warrior Princess, and Drew as Gabrielle: The Battling Bard. They won, too."

"OK, I can see where Drew got the name of Gaby from, but why the other times?"

"That, I'm afraid is my doing," he smiled. "This sounds interesting. What did you do, blackmail him into dressing as Gaby?"

"No, nothing like that. Warsop College wanted to produce a brochure for new students. So I asked for Drew to dress as a girl for a few days while we filmed her as she was in school."

"Where did Drew get the ability to look like a teen girl?"

"We got him breast forms and a gaffe to wear as Gaby. After the event, he must've kept his 'Gaby' stuff."

"OK, THAT explains all of her appearances, but not why."

"Well, for all of his prowess on the bike, Drew is accident prone, and NEVER has any spare clothing, but his friends do, all girls."

Richard looked at Mister Woods smirk, then began to laugh, "Oh my! That poor boy DOES need looking after! But you don't have to worry about me 'outing' Drew, nor his mother. I've known a few guys who've dressed as girls for Halloween who are now women."

"Mister Barton, I seriously doubt that Drew will go that route, he has had too many instances where he became Gaby to have me think otherwise."

"Oh?"

"Yes, Drew may be able to become Gaby, but he wants to be Drew."

"OK, as I said, before, I mean him no harm. In fact, I might be able to help him out."

"How?"

"One of the girls that work for me transitioned just after high school. Clara is now the pilot for the new shuttle."

"Drew and his friends and family will like to know that."

"That's good. Now how will you find those to ride with me?"

"Well, here at Warsop College, we hold our version of the Olympics every year. We can make riding with you the prize for the winners."

"Are there any set sports?"

"No, each student will sign up to compete in at least one sporting event. But unless there are enough for teams, no team sports."

"OK, so, that means golf, badminton, tennis, table tennis, track and field, and biking."

"Pretty much, we also allow for darts and archery."

"OK. When will you have this tournament?"

"Next week, that will give the students time to get ready for a very full weekend, and according to their records no student has a reason not to be there."

* * *

"Your Maddy is just like her cousin Drew, Sir," he said as he laid me on the cot.

"Josh, you don't know how much Maddy and Drew mean to each other. It's because of him that Maddy and Helen are riding."

"Oh? Sir, when did it start?"

"It all started when Maddy asked Drew to go to a cosplay with her. But as a girl."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. She also got their friends and Julie to attend as well."

"I can see that Drew with a bit of help will pass for Maddy, and a few times, I've heard about a Gaby Bond. I know that I've seen Drew looking like a girl at times, Is that when Drew is a girl?"

"Gaby is Drew when things happen and Drew forgets about being in Gaby mode before a race. That's when Gaby rides, not Drew," confessed Dave.

"Then why is he Gaby after a race?"

"Well, Drew has a very bad habit of having accidents where he needs to change clothes, and unfortunately, he's Jenny's and Julie's size, not mine. If he'd carry a spare kit or two, he'd not be Gaby."

"Too bad, because a lot of guys fancy Gaby."

"Well, they can fancy her all that they want, Drew's in Germany."

Then I moaned, "Did I win?"

"Yes, Maddy, you won, Helen came in second, then me."

"Princess, you need to pace yourself better."

The nurse came over and handed me a cup of tea and a choccy biscuit, "Miss, your iron levels are a bit low. That's why you passed out."

"Guess that I'm getting as bad as Drew, Daddy," I giggled.

"Oh, I don't know, Pet," he chided me.

"Why's that?"

"You hug better."

"Oh, Daddy!" I yelled as I smothered him in a kiss and hug.

Helen's Mum, Marge came in, "Maddy, Hel is waiting for you at the podium."

We went to the podium where Helen was by mum, smiling, "You OK, Mads?"

"Yeah, just low iron."

Mum held up a pill bottle, "Girl, don't keep forgetting."

* * *

We headed out to a museum after we gathered our prizes. I won Fifty pounds for the girls top spot, Helen twenty five and Josh fifty for boy's top spot with Hector from Bristol taking second.

Daddy was in his element as we toured the museum, letting him engross himself in vintage machines, he even liked to build scale models of things like catapults and other ancient machinery which made him a natural bike mechanic.

Helen and I were wearing a pullover blouse and a denim skort with our tights and strappy sandals because we had gotten Daddy to take us shopping after the museum. I've tricked Drew into wearing stuff le this because I like wearing a skirt and tights.

It got started when Dad, Mummy and I started going to the cosplays where I saw all of those girls wearing costumes that showed off their legs and when I saw how good mine were, I decided that I'd do as they did.

Helen used to only wear tights in winter when it got cold, but when we began to stick together, she also chose to wear tights like I did. I must admit that ever since Helen and I started to stick together, my preoccupation with Drew has stopped.

Now I know that I love Drew and Gaby. I have separated them in my mind because Drew is my best friend, but Gaby is my best girl friend. It has taken me awhile to sort out my feelings about them, but now that I have, I'm much happier.

Marge was looking at an old sewing machine when it spewed oil on her blouse, "YUCK! WHAT A MESS! CAROL, YOU HAVE A SPARE BLOUSE?"

"Sorry, Marge, I didn't think that we'd get messy. But there's the kid's spares."

Helen giggled, "Mummy Carol, I doubt that Mummy would want to wear my Girl's Guides shirt and shorts."

"She can wear my cheerleader sweats."

Mrs. Pearson, our Museum guide came over wearing a red blazer, white blouse, navy skirt, "Miss Joyce, we can let you borrow one of our uniforms minus the museum patches."

"Thanks, but I want to buy them, that way I won't have to remember to return them."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am quite forgetful about mailing things," she blushed.

"Come with me and get your new purchase, please."

As Mrs. Joyce left with Mrs. Pearson, Helen started to giggle.

"Helen, Dear. Why are you giggling?"

"It's Mummy, Mummy Carol. She is as bad about not posting letters as Drew is about not packing spares."

"She can't be THAT bad, can she?"

"She is, Daddy Bell. I have to make sure that our letters are posted."

"I bet it's caused a few ruffled feathers, too."

"Yes, the last time was just before Daddy died, Mads."

Mum hugged her, "Helen, if it'll cause you pain, you don't need to tell us," she looked right at me. "Right, Maddy?"

"Right, Mummy." She knew that I would have pestered Helen until she spoke if she didn't get my promise. I wanted to know, but I cared too much for Helen to hurt her like that.

Helen smiled tearfully, "It's alright, Auntie Carol. It's a good memory of Daddy and Mum."

Marge nodded, "Go ahead, Helen."

"We were getting ready to go on a holiday cruise for my summer hols and Mummy had forgotten to confirm our booking on the ship. But Dady had confirmed them thru the company's Personnel Manager, but hadn't told us. When we got to the ship, Mummy suddenly shouted, 'I forgot to book us."

"Then Daddy told her that he'd already had it done, but forgot to tell her. Mummy was red faced after that and tried to do better after that," she sighed.

We were at the camper now and got in. Daddy and Mummy were up front with me, Hel and Marge in the back. They talked about Mister Joyce while we listened. It was very easy to see how much they missed him and how both saw a lot of Daddy in him.

As they talked about him, they thanked us for being their friends which made me blush. When I first met Helen, I had treated her badly, seeing her as a rival for Drew's affection. Then with Drew moving away, Helen and I grew closer. How was I to know how much fun that we'd have?

* * *

We were in Assembly where Mister Woods made an announcement that restarted the competitive spirit, again, "It's time for our annual Sporting Day Event, This year, we have a special treat. Richard Barton, the man who developed the world's first reusable commercial spaceship has offered to take the students who win the competition this year on a trip to outer space. But due to the inherent dangers of space flight, this year's competition is voluntary."

* * *

Helen and I were in the kitchen, eating a brekkie of toast and porridge with our tea when Daddy come in and kissed Mummy, "EW! GROSS!" Helen giggled.

"Remember, there are children present," I tittered.

"Well, considering that one is my daughter who has snogged her cousin Drew, I see no problem," Daddy chuckled.

I teared up, "Yes, and now he's in Germany with Bernie!" I cried as I rushed to my room. I still loved Drew and wondered if he still loved me. Thanks to Doctor Who, I knew that we were destined to be together in one way or another, but what if in this reality, I lost Drew?

Mummy scolded Daddy, "JOHN! YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SHE LOVES DREW!"

Daddy hugged me, "Princess, I'm sorry for upsetting you. Can you forgive me?"

"Yes, Daddy. [sniff] I dreamed about Drew last night. [sniff] Guess I'm a bit silly to get mad at you, huh?"

"Not at all! In fact, Your Mum was doing the same thing before we got married."

I looked at Mum who was blushing, so I that he wasn't 'fibbing' as the Americans say, "Mummy?"

To Be Continued...