So I have recently boarded this fandom, and after seeing the finale i had to write a little something with these two. Especially when there are disappointingly and heartbreakingly so little fics with these two! Anyway first dumardle fic, so please review and tell me what you think, and i may make it into a long series. Depending on how it goes. Enjoy! :)

Summary: Josie had never stopped him that night but let the man she loved leave. Yet it seems that they are destined to keep on meeting; and with buried feelings and aching hearts, can they reconcile their love again? Josie x Florian

Disclaimer: I do not own Mr. Selfridge

~ Regret ~

"Where are you going?"

The question fell from her lips softly, her eyes falling on the suitcase clutched in his fingers before they met his eyes.

"That is not your concern. I-I cannot stay here any longer".

Josie lowered her eyes, the truth slowly sinking in. She had chased him away. "If I ask you to say," she began softly, her eyes meeting his. "Will you stay?"

Florian blinked, surprise briefly stunning his eyes. "Ask me?"

And it took all the strength he had not to let his voice shake. To break. To not hold onto those very words and dare believe them to be true. After all how could they be, when she had made her intentions and the nature of their relationship clear?

"I have been fighting my feelings for you for all the wrong reasons. For other people's reasons," she responded softly, her head tilting to the side. "I don't want you to go," her eyes searched his, her smile faltering slightly. "Please stay. Please".

He didn't even realise his fingers slowly releasing the suitcase as he walked towards her, as if in a trance, his eyes lost in hers. Their lips soon crashed together, her arms entangled around his neck as his hands went to her waist. He let himself lose himself to the sensations that attacked his senses; her smell…lavender with a hint of rose water…her hair… sweet as the summer apples from his home and soft like satin when he weaved his fingers through her curls.

"Florian," she whispered into his lips, briefly breaking the kiss. "Please don't ever leave".

He met her eyes, his lips curling into a smile. "Never Josie." His lips brushed against hers with his final whisper. "Never".

His eyes flung open. He saw darkness, as if in an enclosure of black walls, except for the few rays of silvery moonlight that slipped through the gaps of his curtains and slithered up his blankets. The dream still lingered in his mind.

Florian closed his eyes, regret wrapping around his heart. It was his third night staying in this room in the manor with the rest of the orchestra members in Manchester, having recently been accepted into their little family. They treated him like family and although the former refugee was grateful for their hospitality and kindness, his heart still ached for the woman who he had fallen in love with all those weeks ago.

"I don't want you to go. Please stay. Please".

The words continued to circle his mind, almost bringing him a sense of peace.

Josie. If he closed his eyes hard enough he could still recall her smile, the way they lit up her eyes and his heart alive. How he yearned to see it one more time. And although it was just a dream, Florian couldn't help but shut his eyes, willing to replay it again and again, willing to re-live in it for just one more night.

They say the dream reflects the heart's deepest desires…the subconsciouses buried yearnings. Never had those words been truer. How many times had he wondered what would have happened if she had stopped him? If she had asked him to stay, revealed what he knew had been trapped in her heart for so long. That she still held feelings for him.

Florian repressed a small sigh, her smile slowly fading from his mind as he brought himself back to reality. But she had let him go. She had remained firm with her decision, and he had to respect hers. He would let her be. But only in his deepest slumber could he relive their precious moments again, and relive what should have happened and what could have been.

He closed his eyes once more.

"I don't want you to go. Please stay…please".

The words escaped her lips, as if they had been trapped in her throat the entire time, yearning to be freed from its strangled confines.

His chocolate brown eyes fell on hers, making her heart melt like a dying candle. How he managed to have this effect on her she'd never know. She didn't give it another thought though, without waiting for him to arrive she raced over, surrendering herself to his arms as he captured her lips in a passionate kiss.

It was slow and sensual at first as it had always been, then as she felt his hands wrap around her waist she slowly deepened the kiss. Her eyes fluttered close as she succumbed to the sensations that slowly consumed her. Her heart galloped against his chest as his lips tore through hers, sending waves of shivers up her spine.

"Florian," she finally whispered when they broke apart for air, breathless. Her eyes searched his, her hand tracing the side of his face lovingly. "Please don't ever leave".

"Never Josie." Her heart soared at his words, his accent almost heavenly in her ears. "Never".

Josie's eyes flung open, her hand resting on the counter as the memories came flooding back like a tumbling wave, crashing against the shore. These moments were becoming more frequent these past few weeks ever since Florian left. She'd be casually rearranging a set of pearls on the mantelpiece or retrieving the new supplies when she'd catch a gentleman's smile from the corner of her eye, never quite as stunning as his but still so similar, or an inch of oak wood, the same wood that made his violin; and the memories would come flooding back. The dreaded day he left her.

Yet these days it was different. Instead she found her mind straying towards her nightly dreams of what could have been. It was almost like fate wanted to tease her for the mistakes she wished she hadn't made.

No…no…She whispered the words sternly to herself. She didn't mean that. He had followed her decisions and moved on. She was too old for him. She could never give him what he truly wanted. Josie closed her eyes, the pain clutching onto her heart and shattering it like ice. She had made the hardest decision of her life, but the right one. She had let him go. But when would the pain end?

She felt the tears bite behind her eyes, threatening to spill. The head of accessories took a steady breath, resting both hands on the counter. She had to get a hold of herself.

"Miss Mardle?"

Josie startled, raising her head.

Kitty Hawkien's gave her a peculiar look. "Are you alright?"

Miss Mardle cleared her throat, her lips stretching into a forced smile. "Yes, I'm quite alright, thank you Miss Hawkiens. I'm afraid I just have a bit of a headache, but I'll be fine".

The young girl nodded, before resuming back to her post, her lips pursing with disappointment at the lack of gossip.

Miss Mardle bobbed down to rummage through the mountain of boxed jewels within the boxed cart. It was only when she was certain that no one was watching her did she let the tears fall, rolling down her cheeks and onto her dress as she silently sobbed.

And when she closed her eyes she saw him once more. Slowly she lost herself to her reoccurring dreams.

"Where are you going?"

"That is not your concern. I-I cannot stay here any longer".

Josie nodded silently, her heart shattering. His words stung. She met his eyes, cold as ice and burning deep into her.

"Did you respond to their offer then?"

He gave her a curt nod, averting his eyes from hers as he went to retrieve his papers from his jack. "Yes, I auditioned this morning and was accepted. I leave for Manchester tonight".

"Well…well then that's wonderful news isn't it?" Josie felt her words falter, her voice shattering in her throat. She took a steady breath and forced back the small smile, trying again. "Did you want me to call a taxi?"

"I already have one," he replied curtly. "It is waiting outside for me so I will say my goodbyes now. Thank you for your hospitality".

Josie watched him walk by her, her lips parting, desperately wanting to stop him but the words were frozen on her tongue. Isn't this what she had wanted all along? She had to let him go…because Josie Mardle knew that if she said another word, if she tried to stop him before he left that door or dared to hesitate, than she'd never have it in her heart to push him away again. No…she had to let him go.

So she stood there almost helplessly, watching him open the door. He stopped, hesitating. Turning around he met her eyes once more, his penetrating gaze freezing her to the core.

"We could have been happy," his eyes softened slightly. "We could have made each other happy. Now…"

He didn't finish his words. Turning around he stepped outside and into the streets of London, slipping inside his taxi.

Josie watched him leave with batted breath. And it wasn't until the yellow car had faded from her view did she close the door and fall back against the wall, surrendering to her tears. They tracked down her cheeks and fell down in splashes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

God she had to get a hold of herself. He was gone and she had to just get used to it. Steadying her breath she stood up, straightening down the ends of her dress. Agnes would be back soon and she couldn't let the young girl see her in this state.

She had made the right decision, she was certain of it. He would reach Manchester and begin his new career in the orchestra. He would have a proper start in this new life, and perhaps one day a family…something she could never give him. Josie took in a sharp breath at the painful truth. Yes…she had done the right thing.

But if she had made the right decision then why did it hurt so much? Her heart ached with a burning pain like no other she had felt before. Heartbreak and regret: slowly eating away at her heart. And Josie wondered if it would ever end.

I admit it was a little heartbreaking to write this, but I have high hopes for their happiness in future chapters. So I do have ideas as to what I'm gonna do with this and the coming chapters, but I'll see how well this first chapter went. Please do review, they are my fuel for writing and I am so nervous to know how it went. Thanks for reading! :)