"Why's it your fault," Maddy asked as she peeled off her riding kit.

Drew, who would normally be getting all excited didn't respond. He just kept mumbling to himself.

"I caused her to be stabbed," he said.

"You hired a killer?" Maddy asked incredulously.

"No," quietly confirmed Drew.

Maddy, who had been unconsciously holding her breath, breathed out the nasty thoughts that were going through her mind.

"So why do you think it's your fault?"

"Because I wished she was dead and now she nearly is."

"Wishes don't come true like that," reassured Maddy who went to cuddle her distraught boyfriend.

"You sure?" he replied, his voice sounding so much younger than he was.

"Very much. If they did then everyone who knew our past would have accepted the fact that we love each other and want to get married. Why don't we get changed and tell the press that we hope that Britney gets better soon. They must have done quite some digging to link the two of you."

Drew looked up and saw how Maddy was dressed and a big smile came across his face. "I don't think the press would worry if it took us a bit longer to get changed, do you?"

"Great thinking," she smiled back in return.

Even in 2012, with all the improvements in water heaters it was still possible to run out of hot water if the shower lasted long enough. By the time they went out to see the press, they were both very clean.

"Sorry about that," said Drew to the press as he walked out of the house holding Maddy's hand. "We didn't think it was fair for you to be polluted by the pong of our training. You had some questions?"

Drew and Maddy, once the shy people in cycling, had learnt over the last four years how to handle the press. He had needed to learn quickly when the front page of Le Cannard Enchainé had a front cover referring to him as 'Sissy Boy' and had basically degraded all UK cyclists. Drew basically put that story to bed by doing what he did best, be the first to cross the finishing line and stay human. The supporters loved him as he always made time for anyone; just like his mother had done.

"You had rather a harrowing time with Britney when you were younger, how do you feel now she has been stabbed."

"You certainly do your research," Drew said laughing, "but I wouldn't have called it harrowing. She certainly made my first visit to America a memorable occasion. I hope that she gets better soon; she has an invite to our wedding in July. We wouldn't have invited her if we had issues with her would we?"

"So you didn't try to kill her?" asked a snotty nosed tabloid reporter, still not getting the message and hoping that someone would be stupid enough to admit to such a thing.

"How could he have," Maddy replied before Drew could say it all was his fault. "None of us have left the country. Drew has The Tour de France title to defend."

"Drew," shouted another reporter, elbowing one of the other reporters out of the way, "It was a scandal that you weren't chosen for the Beijing Olympics. Do you think you will be chosen to be on the Olympic team this time?"

"I hope so," Drew replied. "The team list will be announced tomorrow so we shall see."

"You've both been seen training hard. Maddy, do you think you will make the team?"

"That would be so nice," she said sighing. "I doubt I'll ever reach the dizzy heights reached by Drew's mother but it would be nice to try and get another female international rider in the family."

Drew and Maddy spent a bit longer with the press until all their questions had been answered. When the questions started getting silly, neither of the two riders lost their temper but just answered.

"Thank goodness that's over with," sighed Drew as they shut their front door. "I think the quality of the journalists is sinking by the day."

"There'll be more tomorrow after the announcement."

"Oh don't," groaned Drew. "Perhaps we could do an all day cycle ride."

"Oh no you don't!" scalded Maddy. "By keeping friendly with the press you have kept them sweet. Sure they have investigated us both but they haven't ripped you apart which they would have done if it wasn't for our parent's deceit. Tomorrow they will want to speak with you."

"They will want to speak with you too. Don't forget you are in the Olympic team."

"Oh crap," griped Maddy, her heart sinking. "I don't think I can do it."

"You'll do okay," reassured Drew. "You have always supported me when I've had to face the press. Take a few minutes ago, we were outside as a couple. If some press turn up tomorrow then we shall face them together."

At nine the following morning, the details of the Olympic team were faxed to the press. The intrepid duo was out on their standard morning ride and as they thought, when they got home there were journalists waiting.

"Oh my G-," said Maddy, her mouth slightly open as she saw the circus camped outside their house. "This is mad. I don't think I can do it."

"Of course you can Maddy," said Drew. "There looks to be at least half a dozen television crews as well."

"Television?" she squealed. "They can't film me like this; I'm all sweaty and my hair's a mess."

Drew would have burst out laughing if he wasn't so knackered from the ride. "I don't think you'll have the option of going inside to get cleaned up."

"Drat and double drat!"

Drew then did his best Mutley impression.

As they got closer to their house they were met by a barrage of questions. Some of the reporters were not sports correspondence but real journalists.

"We didn't get a good view of you," some complained. "Can you ride up the road and back so we can get some good shots?"

Drew looked at Maddy who just shrugged and they set back off, both tempted to cycle into the distance but neither of them having the guts to do it.

"How was that?" Drew asked as they stopped outside their house.

"That was excellent," they responded.

The little ride had enabled Maddy and Drew to get their breaths back, so were physically capable of answering questions.

"Drew," said Peter Hiscox, one of the non-sports journalists, as he shoved a microphone into Maddy's face, "Are you pleased to have been chosen after the disappointment of four years ago?"

Maddy tried her best to keep a straight face but she was having difficulties. Some of the sports journalists sniggered and one who was standing close by whispered into his ear, "That's Maddy."

Peter put the microphone down in embarrassment as some burst out laughing. "I'm so sorry," he apologised.

"Was anyone carrying that live?" asked Drew. When nobody replied to the positive Drew continued, "I'd appreciate it if that wasn't shown and I'm sure that Peter would appreciate it as well. I'm starting to get a slight chill just standing here in my cycle kit, so why don't you excuse us for twenty minutes while we shower and get changed."

"It took you a lot longer than that yesterday," complained one of the reporters.

"Sorry about that, it was a shock about Britney and took us both a bit longer to get presentable. I promise we will be quicker today."

After they'd showered, Maddy put on a bit of makeup. "Do you want some," asked Maddy with a giggle.

Drew stuck out his tongue, "NO! Though if Jules saw, it would give her a laugh."

Drew knew that Maddy had become a lot more understanding and that she was only joking. Well he hoped she was only joking. He understood that people sometimes mistook him for a girl and nowadays he was generally accepting of that. However, he would never dress in girls clothes; that was all in the past.

"Why don't we wear these?" asked Drew as he rummaged through their wardrobe, pulling out two British Cycling jackets. "They should stop the confusion for them."

When Maddy saw, she gave a slight giggle. On the left breast, just below the logo were their names. "Poor Peter, he won't think it's rubbing it in a bit?"

"Probably but his cameraman was doing enough of that. He tried to warn him but he was too arrogant."

Drew and Maddy emerged from their house to a blaze of camera flashes. "Wow, you managed to change in fifteen minutes. Five minutes ahead of schedule," teased Pauline, one of the sports journalists for the BBC.

"We can go back in for five minutes?" offered Drew.

"Only kidding," she quickly replied. "Ooh, nice jackets. At least Peter will know who you are."

Peter turned a mottled shade of red. Drew felt sorry for him and said, "I think Peter's reputation has been tarnished enough for today. I'll tell you what Peter, why don't you ask your question first?"

"Thanks Drew," he replied looking relieved. "Are you relieved to have been chosen after your disappointment four years ago?"

Over the next thirty minutes the questions flowed and Drew took turns with Maddy in answering them. Drew was the more senior cyclist but he made sure that Maddy got as much limelight as he had. Maddy was grateful for that but also was upset as she hated speaking with the press.

"Tomorrow is four years since the death of your parents," started one of the tabloid hacks. He didn't get any further as the sports journalists, who knew how sensitive Drew was on this subject turned on him.

"Thank you both for giving so much of your time," said Pauline out loud.

The sound of agreement rippled through the crowd.

"Thank you," whispered Drew to Pauline as he walked past her.

Once they were inside the house and the door safely shut, Maddy and Drew crumpled. They both knew that tomorrow was the anniversary of their parent's death but it was something they didn't discuss. Something they didn't want to discuss. Something they didn't want to be discussed and something that they had never discussed; especially with each other.

After a period of personal gloom Drew asked, "So what do you think of someone thinking you're a boy?"

"What?"

"Well, people are always thinking that I'm a girl and I just wondered what you thought of thinking you're a boy."

Maddy looked at Drew like he'd totally lost the plot. If someone had told her that aliens had landed she would probably have a less disbelieving face.

"Perhaps they thought, due to your breasts being larger than mine, that you were the girl," Maddy surmised nastily.

Drew looked at her with shock, her rather punctuated mode of speech cutting through his teasing. "Perhaps I should have had a mastectomy," he muttered to himself, tears flooding through his eyes. The stress of his parent's death only added to his still questions about what he had done and not done to his body. He really missed his parent's wisdom when he had to make those important decisions. He'd found it hard to discuss with Gran the issues that he was going through and didn't want to put more pressure on her when she was still grieving the loss of her daughter.

"I'm sorry," Maddy said rushing up to Drew and surrounding him with her arms. "I love you the way you are."

"I know you do," he said, "but would you still love me if I got them cut off?"

"Yes," said Maddy calmly, though internally she was shaking in fear. She didn't want Drew to have unnecessary operations and she really did prefer Drew exactly as he was. "Do you want to have them removed?"

Drew thought about it for a few moments. "No, I am who I am. I went through the other operations as there was a risk to my life. It might have been easier if I'd had them removed but hindsight is a wonderful thing."

"I wish I didn't have to go back to work tomorrow," moaned Maddy.

"I've enjoyed you being home the last week," said Drew, "but tomorrow I'm going to be training very heavily for The Tour and wouldn't be able to cycle with you much. It's team training."

"I know and I've got to speak with my boss about having time of for the Olympics. That's not going to be fun."

"Nah, having an Olympic cyclist on their payroll will be good publicity for them, especially if you do well and the government will compensate them for three weeks. Sort of like maternity pay."

"I'm going to try and ring Jules tomorrow night," Drew said later that night as they snuggled watching a little television. "If we don't discuss things I doubt she'll come to our wedding. I know she isn't happy but I don't understand why."

"I think I understand," softly replied Maddy. "However, the reasons aren't valid in our case. Nothing harmful can come out of it."

"Well if we persuade one to come then perhaps the other will."

Karen Page 14.09.05 © 2005
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