I was asked by Ifrost to write a RPF/ NGO hybrid fiction, which features the 'real' Lee Mack and the fictional Lucy Adams. I've never written a RPF before and haven't particularly wanted to but I said I'd give it a go. It's taken me a while to start writing as I wasn't sure how where to start or where to go with it, and I've had other requests I've been working on, but it's now finally taking shape. The story is in the form of Lucy reminiscing with her friend and flashbacks of different points in her and Lee's relationship.

In this story the age gap between Lee and Lucy is less than in real life and I will be playing with timelines a bit. The story will probably span quite a few years and the progression of Lee's career (as requested) but please forgive me as there will inevitably be inaccuracies in terms of the order events (call it poetic licence if you will) - these may or may not be intentional. I think I've got the years Lee was at university slightly wrong but it fitted better in the story. I have tried to stick to the general timeline of events in Lee's career though. I have decided that in this story there is no Tara, as I don't want to portray Lee as some sort of love rat who cheats on her. Since this is so different from anything I've written before I'd particularly appreciate any reviews or PMs.

One more disclaimer: Apart from the events in his career (researched through reading his book and interviews), my depiction of Lee in this story is fictional. I don't know him and have never met him (sadly) so my portrayal of his personality and behaviour is largely the product of my imagination. I doubt I've done him justice but I tried.

January 2015. The McKillop house, near Hampton Court, Surrey.

Lucy McKillop was enjoying an evening with Ellie, who had recently moved in a couple of houses down the street. Ellie's children went to the same school as Lucy's, and she'd proved to be a godsend when at the start of December, with her husband still away on tour, Lucy had come down with sickness and couldn't do the school run.

Ellie was fast becoming a best friend, and since Lee had been home, they'd met up as couples once or twice, along with Ellie's husband Steve. Tonight was the first time Lucy and Ellie had shared a proper girly night in, as for the first time since Lee had finished his tour, he was out filming an episode of a panel show.

As much as Ellie was great company, Lucy would rather have spent this evening with Lee, as there'd been too many evenings without him recently. Of course she had friends and the children for company, but she always missed Lee desperately when he was away. Still, she was used to evenings alone by now. That's what happened when you married a comedian, being a comedy widow for several months at a time every few years was part of the territory. It was a small price to pay though, for being married to such a funny and kind and talented man.

Lucy's phone beeped suddenly, grabbing her attention. It was a text message, from Lee.

'Happy Anniversary, Love. I'll be home soon, wait up xxx'.

The message made Lucy smile widely, and she quickly typed her reply. She always looked forward to Lee coming home, but tonight his return couldn't come soon enough, as she had some important news for him.

She hadn't really expected him to remember the anniversary. He was so busy at the moment, in the middle of talks with the BBC and the powers that be about a possible Christmas special of his sitcom. Then there was some charity stuff he was involved in, and of course the writing. Lee was almost always writing new scripts and jokes, constantly on the look out for inspiration, everything a potential subject for material. He'd said he would take a break after the tour, but after only a couple of weeks he was grafting again. Lucy wasn't surprised, Lee had a strong work ethic and he loved his job. He didn't even regard it as a job a lot of the time. Making people laugh was just what he did, it was in his nature, and the fact he got paid for was just a bonus.

"Message from Lee?

"Yeah, wishing me happy anniversary"

"You got married in January?

"No, it's not our wedding anniversary, it's actually the anniversary of the day we first met. Twenty years today"

"Wow, you both remember that? Steve even forgot my birthday this year. Did you say twenty years? Were you together for ten years then, before you got married?"

"Well, for the first seven years it was sort of on/off. It was a bit complicated".

"How did you and Lee meet? Was he already famous by then?"

Lucy chuckled a little then. She and Lee always struggled with the idea he was 'famous'. Of course, Lee in his working life resided in a world of 'celebrity', and this world did cross over into his family life at times. He got recognised, approached by fans. He didn't mind this, he always made a point of stopping for a quick chat, signing autographs, posing for a selfie. He'd met the queen, and hundreds of famous people, and he had friends from that world, Tim, Sean, Rob, David and others. But he liked to separate his work and home life as much as he could, that's partly why he didn't use his real surname in his comedy career.

"No, when we met he was just starting out in comedy..."