Disclaimer: Not mine…… but in my mind they are the Lynley & Havers of the TV series…

Azhar often thought about his neighbour. Barbara intrigued him, she was so different from most people. He took another deep gulp of his darjeeling tea, and sighed.

They'd had a big fight the same evening, and actually he had to admit to himself that Barbara had been mostly right. They'd been discussing Hadiyyah, who according to Barbara was very disturbed by her mother's absence, and not at all fooled by the "holiday in Canada routine". Azhar was ashamed to admit that he'd gone ballistic on Barbara, telling her to mind her own business and not to meddle.

He'd seen to hurt in her eyes, breaking eye contact and slumping her shoulders, pulling them down and towards her chest, like she did when she retreated into her shell. He'd wanted to appologise right away, but his blasted pride had stopped him. He knew she was right, and that he really needed to adress the issue of Angela's disappearance, but he still felt so completely humiliated by the fact that she'd left him, and so angry that she'd also left Hadiyyah, that he just felt it impossible to deal with.

Barbara had mumbled something that sounded like a "sorry" and had gone back to her little appartment, firmly closing the door behind her.

Azhar cursed silenty. He'd watched her going back to her door, and as always, he'd been reminded of how much he appreciated her body type. Petite, but with well rounded hips. He also had a weakness for small feet and hands, and Barbara's were just perfect.

He knew she was pathologically shy, and that she probably had some intimacy issues, but he still really enjoyed her company.

Lately he'd been getting used to the idea of divorcing Angela, and thinking more and more about Barbara. She was so good with Haddiyya, and he hoped she would be able to overcome her issues. Actually he thought he was just the right man to help her.

Before they started arguing, he'd been planning on asking her up for dinner that night, since Hadiyya was on a sleepover at her friend's house. But now, instead, he was sitting alone having tea. And, he thought with sadness, Barbara was sitting alone in her appartment, probably eating something from a jar instead of his home made curry. He caught himself imagining how he'd take some of the curry directly out the pot and feeding her a spoonful. In his daydream, Barbara made little appreciative noises...

That decided it. He put his teacup down with a bang, grabbed the keys and headed for the door. He rushed down to Barbara's place, and knocked at the door.

"Coming!" Barbara called from inside the flat. He heard her bustle around, and then she opened the door. She was wearing her pj's with a morning gown on top, her long redish blond hair open, falling down her shoulders and smelling like vanilla.

"I'm so sorry I was rude to you earlier, Barbara. I know you're right, it's just all so difficult...", Azhar said it all at once, before his stupid pride could stop him.

Barbara gave him a shy smile and stepped aside, letting him in.

"Right. I know it's difficult. Most things are, right? But Haddiyya is a great kid. And besides, she's pretty much figured things out already. And also, I think she merits the truth."

As always, Barbara had summed things up perfectly in just a sentence. He smiled sadly at her. He didn't know how to go about things, he didn't want to make her nervous, but suddenly he could hear himself saying:

"Barbara, why are you alone? You understand more about people than anyone else I know, you're very pretty and fun to be around, but in the time you've lived here, I've never seen you date? "

He could see Barbara starting to withdraw immediately, but he wasn't going to let that happen.

He put his hand under her chin and gently forced her head upwards, until she was looking straight at him. To his horror, he could see tears in her eyes.

"No, Barbara, don't cry! I didn't want to upset you, please!" He cupped her face in both his hands, and lightly put his lips to her forehead. He could feel her tremble, and drew her closer to him until he was embracing her. They stood in her small living room holding each other, and he could feel her slowly relax in his arms.

Then she mumbled into his shirt:

"I'm not good with people. I always fight, and I'm not good with people. I've never had what you call a relationship in my life, other than with my family and with work."

He rested his head against hers, not knowing if he'd completely understood what she just had said.

She really smelled good. He kissed Barbara's forehead, and then looked into her green eyes, still glittering with tears.

He kissed the tip of her nose, and she started to lean into him.

"Please, Azhar, please, only if you really mean it. I'm not going to change into some perfect wife over night, and I don't know how to live with someone, and..."

And he kissed her. At first she wasn't kissing him back, and Azhar worried he might have gone to far, but then she answered his kiss. He wondered how far he should go, and decided that it would be best to let her set the pace for now.

They stood there, kissing, for what seemed like an eternity, until she broke off and looked up at him, breathlessly. He smiled at her, and to his joy, she smiled back. He put his arm around her slim shoulders, and said:

"I really mean it, Barbara. We're great friends, we uderstand each other, I'm miserable when you're not around. I think we should take things slowly, and I'm not going to rush you into doing something you're not ready for."

Her morning gown had fallen open, and he was seriously distracted by the sight of Barbara in her pjs. It had a low cut v neck, and he could sort of see her soft breasts under the fabric.

He realised she was starting to feel uncomfortable under his stare, and took the sides of her morning gown, closing it around her. She smiled at the floor and shyly opened it again, taking it off and putting it on the kitchen chair.

"We don't have to take things all THAT slowly. I really liked what we did before, you know. Maybe we could do some more of that?"

Azhar was happy she felt she could trust him, but he was in no hurry. He'd realised she was quite inexperienced, and didn't want to mess thing up by scaring her. The he thought of something:

"Barbara, are you on any form of protection?" He asked her softly, and when she shook her head silently, he added:

"There is no hurry. We can just enjoy each others company for now, there are many things we can try while you get orgnaized." He was very glad to avoid the matter this way, and pulled her down with him, sitting down in the kitchen with her on his lap. He let her take the lead, and she started to kiss him again. He held her face with one hand, supporting her back with the other. When he felt she was completely at ease, he put the tip of his tongue into her mouth and started to explore her. First he felt Barbara stiffening a bit, but then she realxed.

Suddenly he could hear her stomach growl. She freed herself from his kiss, giggling, a bit embarrased to have ruined the moment.

He laughed with her.

"C'mon, Barbara, I've made some curry! You'll love it, what do you say?"

Barbara was kind of relieved they could put things off until she'd gotten used to the new situation. And she really could need some food.

She threw a coat on, and slipped into some shoes, and together they headed for Azhars appartment and some wonderful homemade curry...