It's been just over a year since Donna Windsor's death and Ross is slowly, but surely moving forward with his life, but is he ready for a potential new love interest?
Caitlin Kennedy who previously lived in the village and is the cousin of Laurel Dingle returns to the village with her 4 year old daughter, Milana Grace, who's father is Aaron Livesy. Caitlin and Milana temporarily move in with Laurel and her husband Marlon. Caitlin is a nurse and has secured a job at Hotten General, but she is looking to take on a possible other job as she needs extra money.
The Woolpack
Caitlin enters the pub with Milana to find Laurel. Laurel is sitting with Nicola and is surprised to see them come in and immediately gets up to embrace them
LAUREL: OH MY GOD, CAITLIN
Caitlin smiles as she hugs Laurel. Their embrace draws the attention of several regulars, including Ross.
CAITLIN: Hey, how you doing?
LAUREL: Fine, what are you doing here?
CAITLIN: Oh that's a nice welcome (laughs)
LAUREL: Oh, come and sit down
CAITLIN: Hi (to Nicola). I was getting fed up at home so I decided to come back here. Anyone would think you weren't pleased to see me
LAUREL: Oh of course not, just surprised, it's been a while. Does Aaron know you're here?
CAITLIN: Thought I'd surprise everyone. We speak online all the time obviously, this one (points to Milana) loves chatting away and telling her Daddy stories, don't ya?
MILANA: I want Daddy to play with my toys
All laugh
NICOLA: You got fed up in Australia, so you came back to a small Yorkshire village
Caitlin smiles
CAITLIN: Yeah, well I've been in London for a bit helping my brother and his wife with their new baby, it's their first, Mum and Dad couldn't really help so I decided to go stay with them for a while
Ross, looking over at them, finishes his pint and walks towards the door, throwing Caitlin a cheeky smile, catching her eye
CAITLIN: The eye candy's certainly gotten better round here since I left, who's that? (She watches Ross walk out the door)
NICOLA: Oh, that's the rubbish the bin men left behind (sipping her drink)
Caitlin looks at Nicola confused by her comment
LAUREL: Stay away from him, he's trouble, his name's Ross, he's the guy that carjacked me
Caitlin looks surprised
CATILIN: Oh, doesn't look much like a carjacker
LAUREL: Well he is
NICOLA: Yeah, he's also Moira's nephew and Adam's half-brother
Caitlin looks even more surprised
CAITLIN: Adam, oh yeah, I think I remember Aaron saying something about all that, wow, well he's nicer looking than Adam I'll give him that. Speaking of which, do you think he'll be at the garage?
The Garage
Ross walks up to the garage
ROSS: You never said you had a kid. I thought you were gay?
Aaron looks at Ross, confused
AARON: It's a long story, why would I tell you that and why are you asking?
Ross leans on the car bonnet of the car Aaron is working on
ROSS: Well, what I presume is your ex has just turned up in the pub with a kid, talking to Laurel, I just happened to accidently overhear the conversation
Aaron looks surprised
AARON: Caitlin's here?
ROSS: Well I don't know her name obviously, I didn't have a D & M with her or anything, but yeah I think that's what Laurel called her. She's well gorgeous though, obviously not enough to turn you though (laughs)
Caitlin walks up to the garage, Milana skuttles up in front holding a toy
MILANA: DADDY
Aaron turns, grinning he scoops Milana up
AARON: Hey princess, what are you doing here?
Caitlin approaches, smiling
MILANA: We came to see you Daddy
CAITLIN: Well, that amongst other things
Aaron puts Milana on the ground and he and Caitlin hug
AARON: Why didn't you tell me you were coming?
CAITLIN: Well it wouldn't have been a surprise then would it?
AARON: I don't like surprises
CAITLIN: Ah, but we're a good surprise right?
Aaron smiles reluctantly
Milana looks at Ross
MILANA: What's your name?
Ross looks down at Milana, and back up at Aaron and Caitlin
ROSS: Aren't you gonna introduce us all then?
Aaron looks at Ross
AARON: Ross, this is Caitlin and Milana
Milana puts her hand out
MILANA: Pleased to meet you Ross
Aaron and Caitlin both look at each other smiling
Ross moves down a little to shake Milana's hand
ROSS: Awww, pleased to meet you too princess
MILANA: That's what my Daddy calls me, you can't call me that, you have to call me Milana
ROSS: Oh ok, sorry, Milana
Caitlin looks at Ross intriguingly, trying to keep in mind what she was told
CAITLIN: Didn't I just see you in the pub?
ROSS: Yes you did, lunch break
Caitlin nods
CAITLIN: Liquid lunch was it?
ROSS: Hey, I resent that
Caitlin sticks her lip out
CAITLIN: Could always go and resent it back in the pub then
Ross looks at Caitlin, curiously
ROSS: You don't even know me
Caitlin smiles
CAITLIN: Judging by accounts I shouldn't want to know you
Ross shakes his head, sticking his tongue out
ROSS: Oh, let me guess, Laurel stuck the boot in right?
CAITLIN: Something about carjacking
ROSS: Oh yeah, it's all she knows
CAITLIN: Yeah, well I take it you're not best friends?
ROSS: Nah, she's a bit too ditzy housewife for me
CAITLIN: Oh, you mean she's too nice for you?
ROSS: If you like that kind of thing, sure she's good in women's mother's groups, I still say I'm the most terrible and exciting thing that ever happened to her
Caitlin looks at Ross, angrily
CAITLIN: Yeah, you've no idea the stuff she's been through
ROSS: Burning the odd cake for the mother's meetings you mean?
Aaron shakes his head in dismay
AARON: God, you two've only just met, what's that about?
CAITLIN: Yeah, well I was gonna say that I make up my own mind about people, but I think I've seen enough
Caitlin picks Milana up and looks at Aaron
CAITLIN: See you later
MILANA: Bye Daddy, bye Ross
Catlin walks away from the garage
ROSS: Bye princesses (laughs)
Caitlin glares back at him
Aaron shakes his head
AARON: Do you ever not rile anyone?
Ross looks at him
ROSS: She gave as good as she got, and what did she mean I don't know what Laurel's been through?
AARON: Her baby died about 6 years ago, well it turns out he wasn't hers, he was the couple's across the road, they gave birth in the same hospital suite and they didn't find out till about 3 months after Daniel died that he wasn't theirs and that Arthur, the boy she's got now was and they were both given the wrong babies. It was hell of a nightmare apparently
Ross looks shocked and a bit sad
ROSS: Oh, that is pretty rough, but does she still have to tell everyone I'm a carjacker?
Aaron looks at him
AARON: You are
ROSS: Yeah, but she makes it sound like I do it all the time
AARON: How does she know you don't?
Ross glares at Aaron
ROSS: So what does that Caitlin do then?
AARON: She's a nurse
Ross smiles and looks at her as she stands outside David's
ROSS: Oh yeah, well she can take my temperature anytime, wouldn't mind testing out her bedside manner
AARON: Eh, you just keep away from her
Ross looks back at Aaron
ROSS: Why, jealous much? She's hardly your type is she?
AARON: You're not hers either, trust me
Ross smiles at Aaron
ROSS: Why not? You were. Guess I'll see her in the pub later and we can find out can't we?
Ross smirks and walks inside the garage, Aaron glares after him shaking his head