Return
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Part of my Mary/Bert series, written for the 10_quotes community at LiveJournal. Inspired by the quote "You've been a long way away. – Yes. – Thank you for coming back to me," from "Brief Encounter".
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Finally, after nearly five years, he returned. She had been so lonely without him and he had been so lonely without her. Unlike many of his companions, he was not granted much leave, and when he was, he did not have enough time to return to London, to his bride. It had been five lonely, heartbreakingly empty years, and now he was on his way back.
She was waiting at the train station for him, looking the same as she had when he had left her five years earlier, though he barely had time to take in her appearance. Her practically-perfect exterior crumpled as she ran towards him, flinging her arms around him.
"Bert, Bert!" she sobbed happily. "Oh, my darling, you're home!"
"Mary," he whispered, holding her close to him. "Oh, Mary."
She looked up at him, tears of happiness in her eyes, and he bent her back in a passionate kiss. When they finally broke apart she reached up to caress his cheek lightly.
"Let's go home, darling," she whispered, and he nodded. He gathered his things together and hailed a cab, which took them back to their home. It was just as he remembered, the shutters painted a cheerful blue, the curtains inside obscuring their rooms from view. They got out of the cab and paid the driver before stepping into their house. They brought his things upstairs. After putting his things down they stared at each other somewhat awkwardly. It had been years – they didn't know what to say first.
"You've been a long way away," Mary whispered softly, breaking the silence.
"Yes," he replied simply. He didn't' know what else to say.
"Thank you for coming back to me."
He smiled down at her, placing a gentle hand on her cheek. She returned his smile, stepping closer to him.
"Oh, Mary mine," he whispered, capturing her lips with his. "Oh, my Mary..." She wrapped her arms around her neck and pressed up against him. It had been so many years...
He began to unbutton her dress as she pulled off his uniform and they tumbled onto the bed. He caressed her body softly, his lips tracing the curve of her neck. She moaned beneath his touch, feeling her desire for her husband grow to unbearable proportions. Finally, finally, he stopped caressing her and made them one.
"Bert!" she cried as her passion spilled over, bathing her in a feeling of absolute joy and ecstasy – a feeling that had been absent for the past five years.
"Mary!" he groaned, his voice deep, rumbling in his chest, the vibrations spreading into her body. They collapsed in each other's arms, their limbs tangled together, her hair falling over her shoulders.
"Oh, Bert," she whispered softly, "Oh, how I love you!"
"And I love you, Mary mine," he said. "My dearest, darling wife."
She moved closer to him, resting her head against his chest as he kissed her hair. She could feel the steady beat of his heart.
"I've missed this," she said, sighing happily as he slipped one arm around her waist.
"As have I," he replied. "When things got – difficult – the thought of you was all that kept me alive and sane."
"Oh, Bert," she sighed, looking up at him. "It was awful, wasn't it?"
He nodded. "But I don't want to talk about it – I just want to enjoy being here with you."
She smiled up at him and pulled him down for a kiss. As he rolled her onto her back, both of them knew that the night wasn't over yet...