It had been an awful day ever since she woke up. Not even Miranda's fruit friends or vegtepals could make her brighten her mood. Rain poured all day, the wind blew and thunder rolled through the neighbourhood. Miranda had watched the shop from open to close after Stevie called in sick:

Flashback:

It was 8am, an hour before opening. Miranda's phone rung demandingly and became more irritating the longer she left it ringing. She swung her arm around lazily, feeling around her unusually empty bed for her phone. The more she swung, the closer her body crept to the edge of the bed. Closer and closer. Miranda swung for the last time in a final effort to find her phone only to backfire and send her tumbling off the edge of the bed. Dizzy from the fall, she found her phone and answered it.

"Hello?" Miranda slurred.

"Miranda is that you? Hello?... Miranda? Are you there?" Stevie groaned, equally tired and hoarse.

"Yes, yes it's me! Why are you ringing so early? It should be against the law to wake-up before eight in the morning let alone call someone!"

"Sorry! I've got a terrible headache and I don't think I'll be able to make it in today" Stevie whined. "D'you think you could look after the shop today? It shouldn't be too busy…"

"Ugh… I guess… What time do we open again?" Miranda asked, slightly disorientated from the fall.

"At nine. So best you get up and sort yourself out" The normal sounding Stevie rang clear.

"UGH! Fine… Get better soon little one. Love-oo"

"Love-oo too"

End of flashback.

It was now 12 o'clock and Miranda sat behind the counter in her joke/gift shop, looking at the rain running down the windows. It had been quiet in the shop today just as Stevie had said (no doubt having made a chart of the average number of customers per day), so it had been a very long morning. Right then, Miranda wanted nothing more than to see Gary. He was away at a two-week cooking course in Cardiff and wasn't due back for another week. She missed her boyfriend more than she thought she would and she desperately wanted him and the comfort he brought. The night before he left would stay with Miranda forever:

Flashback:

Gary had planned a lovely and cosy night to spend with Miranda before heading to the train station early the next morning. Lasagna, pavlova, hot cups of tea and a Midsomer Murders marathon. As he puttered around his and Miranda's flat putting the finishing touches on his cooking, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs followed by a loud clunk and tumble:

"It's ok! I'm fine! Don't help me, seriously! I am a perfectly capable and in-control adult!" Miranda yelled up the stairs. Gary laughed to himself as he patted on some aftershave. She was such a funny, caring and loyal dweeb, which is why he loved her as much as she loved him. The door swung open and there she was. Hair astray under her beanie from the wind, cheeks flushed and looking more like an eskimo than anything else. An adorable eskimo. All bundled up in layers of jackets and strangled by scarves, Gary couldn't help but laugh again at the cute but ridiculously funny ways of his girlfriend.

Gary couldn't help but giggle as he spoke "Miranda! What are you wearing?"

" I think you'll find that I am wearing three jackets, two scarves, two pairs of gloves and a beanie thank you very much please -" Her voice, muffled through her scarf, suddenly stopped. The smell of tomatoes, oregano, basil and garlic filled her nose and made her mouth water. "Did you make lasagna Gary?! Oh that smells amazing!" She said, kissing him on the cheek as she began unwrapping herself.

"Thanks. Now come here, I need a proper kiss" He grabbed her hand that still had gloves on and pulled her towards him. Their lips met and they could feel each other smiling. Her arms wrapped around his neck as his wrapped around her waist. Fourteen years was definitely worth the wait and the thrill of finally being able to kiss so freely and comfortably excited them both.

"So… umm. Did you want some lasagne? I made pavlova as well and bought Midsomer Murders so we could…" Miranda interrupted him with quick kisses, making Gary lose his train of thoughts.

"Sorry, it's just you're leaving tomorrow morning for two weeks which quite frankly is ridiculous. I need to make the most of it while you're still here" She said, kissing him again, lingering. Gary pulled her closer and tighter. Her fingers ran up and down his back.

"I agree… I can reheat the lasagna and put the pavlova… in the fridge…" Gary was cut off once again by Miranda's eager and passionate lips. They started edging towards the bedroom.

"Exactly…" She mumbled underneath his lips.

"I love you, Miranda. I really don't want to leave..." He managed to get out before Miranda cut him off once again with another quick kiss. She broke off and pulled him closer to her.

"You talk too much you nut, but I love you too. Now l think this is better to be continued in the bedroom, don't you think?" She smiled suggestively. Gary kissed her enthusiastically and walked them into the bedroom before unwrapping his roaming hands from her to lock the door. He would never tire of her boldness. Even though Gary's lips were busy, she already knew his answer.

End of flashback.