A/N: Decided to re-write this fic with my original idea. This is basically the same first chapter, but I've edited parts of it. The general idea of this is that Rita and Connie are more or less a couple from the end of this chapter onwards. Hope you enjoy, please leave a review.

Rita was exhausted. Her whole day had been a whirlwind of emotions; anxiousness, anger, regret, misery - and then finally, numbness. Being numb was the worst part. She was still upset – deeply, deeply upset – but had long since reached the point of crying.

The blonde was perched on the steps of the park pavilion . It was freezing out here, and her suit jacket was doing a crap job of keeping the cold out, but she didn't care. Rita drew her legs into her chest, and propped her chin on her knees. She gazed down at the gravel, tapping her toes rhythmically a bid to keep warm, until the sound of heels clicking approached her.

'Rita?'

The short blonde looked up, and sighed.

'What do you want? Come here to fire me, have you?' She laughed humourlessly.

'No.' Connie shook her head, dark curls untameable in the bitter breeze. She took a step forward and sat down beside Rita. 'I came here to apologise.'

'Yeah, well. I don't want to hear it.'

Unfazed, Connie edged closer. 'I'm sorry, but you're going to have to hear it. It wasn't my place to reprimand you back at the hospital, and I know that humiliated and upset you. I want to clear the air, but first...I'm more worried about your emotional wellbeing. Are you okay, Rita? Really?'

At the words 'emotional wellbeing,' Rita's jaw set, and she sprang up as Connie finished her question.

'I'm a big girl, I can look after myself.' The younger woman's voice was stoic and emotionless as she stumbled down the steps and along the path.

'Rita!'

Connie bounded after her. The brunette was far more accustomed to high heels than the blonde, and she caught up with her colleague in a matter of seconds. She clamped a hand around Rita's arm, catching her before she fell.

Rita struggled, trying to pull away. Her fingers loosened on her bag and it fell to the floor. 'Let go of me!' Her protests fell on deaf ears as Connie snatched up the handbag, and plunged her hand inside. She drew out a bottle of vodka. It was nearly completely empty.

'Drinking? Well, at least this explains why you've seemed to lost the ability to walk in a straight line.' The brunette's voice was laced with disappointment.

'I'm not underage, so it's legal.' Rita snarled, stretching a half-hopeful hand toward the glass bottle, which miraculously hadn't broken.

'Ah-ah!' Connie held it behind her back. 'Were you going to drive home?' She frowned when Rita nodded sullenly.

'Well, that's illegal, isn't it? You're way over the limit already. Not happening.'

Rita turned, gazing in the direction of the car park. 'But my car….'

'…..will be fine for one night. Come on. You've won a night in with me, Freeman.' Tucking an arm gently round the blonde's waist, Connie guided her in the opposite direction.'

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The slight blonde tensed visibly as Connie pulled her in close. Her arm was burning hot against her back, and as the brunette's equally warm fingers splayed out on her hip, Rita shuddered.

Connie glanced down, feeling Rita tremble. 'Are you cold?' She frowned as Rita shook her head stubbornly, wriggling free from her grasp.

'No. I just want to go home.' She took a few steps back, crossing her arms the way she'd done just an hour earlier in Connie's office.

'Rita. You need to start letting people in. Running from your problems is never the answer. Today proved that. Come back to my house, have a hot drink, and talk to me.' Connie unzipped her coat as she spoke, slipping it off and holding it out to Rita. 'To start, you can put this on and warm up a bit.'

When Rita didn't move, she stepped forwards, placing the heavy jacket on the younger woman's shoulders. 'Put your arms in the sleeves.'

The blonde nurse remained uncooperative, arms firmly folded. 'Why are you doing this?' She hissed the words in annoyance, protective barriers refusing to come down.

'Because if you catch a cold and die, Tess'll have yet another nurse down from her team, and that won't be good for the ED.' Connie's face remained deadly serious, but her eyes sparkled madly, in a way that finally coaxed a smile from Rita.

'You know what I mean.' Rita unconsciously unfolded her arms and slipped them into the coat. 'Why do you care?'

Connie's eyes flicked downwards for a second, her face flushing. 'Because I judged you unfairly based on the actions you took earlier. I didn't know the full story.' Connie looked up. 'After you left, Zoë and Tess enlightened me enough to know I was wrong to say what I did. I really am sorry.'

'Oh.' Rita nodded, chewing nervously on her bottom lip. Her hands travelled to the bottom of the coat, frozen fingers fumbling with the zip.

'Here, let me.' Connie reached down, zipping the duffel coat with ease.

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'Do you want a drink?' Connie called over her shoulder as she and Rita walked into the kitchen.

'Uhm, yeah, okay. Go on then.' Rita took off Connie's coat as she spoke.

'What do you want to have?' The brunette glanced round, noticing Rita standing somewhat awkwardly in the middle of the room. 'You can sit down if you want.' She pointed over at the tall stools arranged around the kitchen island.

Rita nodded, obeying Connie's command for what must have been the first time all day. 'Got any hot chocolate?' She discreetly slipped off her heels as she spoke, abandoning them on the floor. They'd made her feet ache so much– though that was probably due to her drunken staggering.

After a few minutes of companionable silence Connie sat down too. 'Here you go.' She placed the large mug on the desk, and Rita took it gratefully, cupping it in her still chilly hands.

'Thank you.' She raised the mug to her lips, sipping the hot liquid.

Connie smiled, mirroring her actions. 'I've not made hot chocolate in years. I hope it's up to your standards.'

Rita swallowed, her eyebrows raised. 'Really? This is one of the best hot chocolates I've ever had!' Her usually pink lips were covered in chocolate.

'I doubt that!'

'No, really! It's lovely! You've managed to get that amazing creamy, rustic flavour. Honestly!'

Connie rolled her eyes. 'Don't believe you.'

'Why not?' Rita moved her chair closer – so close their legs were nearly touching.

'Because I don't like hot chocolate.'

'Whaaat?' Rita stared at her, mouth agape. 'How can you not like chocolate?!'

'I like chocolate – I love chocolate. Hot chocolate just isn't my thing. Chocolate should be solid, not liquid. And cold, not hot.' Connie almost wanted to laugh at how ridiculous she sounded.

'Hm. Okay.' Rita shrugged, staring into her mug. There was a few seconds silence as she thought to herself. 'Connie?'

The brunette nodded. 'Yeah?' She hadn't even noticed the informal use of address – something she'd normally not tolerate.

Rita looked up, a slight smirk gracing her lips. 'You're really weird.'

Connie narrowed her eyes. She hadn't been expecting that. 'What?' A small giggle escaped her lips as she spoke.

Rita leaned closer, propping her face in her hands. 'Chocolate is chocolate, no matter what form it manifests itself in, and it always tastes amazing.'

Connie laughed again, reclining in her seat. 'And you're calling me weird?' She paused, making eye contact and leaning forward, just as Rita was doing. She glanced down, looking at Rita's plump, chocolate coloured lips—

-and then suddenly, Rita was crashing her chocolaty lips against Connie's pale pink ones. She reached up, running her small hands through the older woman's dark hair, fingers tangling in her curls and tugging gently.

Connie groaned ever so quietly, eyes fluttering shut as Rita moved to kiss down her neck. She stood up, and pulled Rita back to her feet as well.

'What are…'

'Sssh.' Connie's whispered, tugging the younger woman even closer. One hand coming to stroke the back of Rita's neck, she laid the other on the blonde's face. Their lips brushed again, but this time it was Rita who broke the kiss.

'Wait.' Her voice was quiet and serious. She looked down, and Connie's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach.

'I-I'm sorry. Rita, I just overstepped a boundary, I've been unprofessional… I'm sorry.'

'Don't apologise.' To Connie's surprise, Rita trailed her fingers down the length of her forearm, and then grabbed her hand. 'I just need to ask you a question.'

'What's that?' Palms sweating, Connie felt her guts constrict.

'Am I right?'

'Right? About what?'

'That "chocolate is chocolate, no matter what form it manifests itself in, and it always tastes amazing."

'I don't-' Connie paused, her eyes drawn to Rita's mouth as the blonde licked her lips slowly. The chocolate had been smeared onto her cheek and her chin, and there was a smudge of it on her nose. Realization dawned upon her. 'Oh, you're ridiculous!'

Rita pouted, leaned forwards. Rested her forehead on Connie's and stared into her eyes. 'Wrong answer. You're meant to say I'm right.'

'Fine.' Connie squeezed Rita's hand and smiled. 'I'm right.'