*Author's note: This is my first ever fanfiction, so I would be glad for any tips and reviews! :) (And since I am not a native English speaker please feel free to point out any mistakes if you see one :) ) I have a whole storyline planned out that would make a kind of Season 3 of the Paradise and I try my best to see it through! *

Chapter 1

Reunited at last, they walked back into the Paradise, smiling and whispering to each other in utter delight. Denise felt like her head was spinning from all the joyful thoughts and future plans racing through her mind. She talked excitedly, while trying to keep a low voice, holding on to Moray, enjoying the feel of him beside her, as they were promenading leisurely through the store. Moray felt the warmth of love flood through him, as he watched her try to recount all the things, she would have to do, to reopen her uncle's shop as a beauty store.

"You see, the storefront is acceptable enough, for now, but I'll have to redo the insides of course, to…"

"Khm."

They stopped abruptly upon hearing the little, but resounding cough, looked up, and found themselves almost face to face with Dudley. "Oh, sorry, didn't see you there, Dudley." - said Moray somewhat apologetically, but with a grin spreading wide on his face.

"Yes, I can see that, quite clearly." - Dudley answered, trying hard to conceal his amusement. "And you have absolutely nothing to apologise for, my friend, as I am delighted to see that you two could finally worked things out. Because that is what had happened, I believe?" - he nodded towards them with a questioning look on his face.

Moray chuckled as he looked again at Denise and hugged her close. "Yes, Dudley. Your observation is quite correct." - he said.

"Well, then, I am glad for both of you. Truly." Dudley placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "And forgive me, for I wouldn't want to ruin your good mood, but you've got a message from…Tom Weston. It has arrived just moments ago." He passed a note to Moray.

Moray took the little envelope and opened the letter. His brows furrowed, as his eyes quickly scanned the little piece of paper through. "What is it, sweetheart?" - asked Denise with a tone of concern in her voice, placing a hand on his forearm. "Well…it seems like he wants to have a talk. He writes I am to meet with him at Belville Hall tonight at eight. Quite enigmatic." With a heavy sigh he passed the note to Denise so she could read it for herself. "Wonder what he wants this time!" - exclaimed Moray sarcastically.

"Well, you will find out soon enough, whether you want it or not. It could be important." – shrugged Dudley. "I'll leave you to it, then." – he said with a courteous nod and smiled at them as he left.

Katherine stood quietly by the window, and stared outside. The countryside looked so peaceful in the morning, and for the first time in weeks, she felt completely at ease with the world. She placed a loving hand on her stomach, rubbed it gently and smiled to herself. Soon she would have another child to love, who could love her, without conditions. The prospect excited her greatly. She was secretly hoping for another girl, but, she felt sure, that her husband would prefer a boy. There was absolute silence in the room aside from the occasional rustling of papers, as Tom Weston turned a page in the newspaper he was reading. Katherine slowly turned around and looked thoughtfully at her husband. Their relationship did seem to improve a bit, since their talk last night, but Katherine knew they still had a long way to go. But she was hopeful and really wanted to make the effort. If not for their sakes, then at least for their children's.

"Tom?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you send the message to Moray?"

"Mmhh."

Weston didn't look up from his paper and Katherine could tell that he was agitated, to say the least. "Darling, believe me, I don't want this any more than you do" - she said, as she moved towards him "But we talked it over and over last night and it does seem like a reasonable step." She knelt beside the chair.

Weston finally looked at her and neatly folded the newspaper in half, as he set it down on the table. "I understand why it is reasonable. I understand, that we need to do this, if we want a chance to renew what was once between us, Katherine, but that doesn't mean I am content with this idea at all…I couldn't help but feel…humiliated and…defeated." - he murmured this last word through gritted teeth. Katherine cast a nervous glance at him. "Why should Moray benefit from our situation? Why should he get all he ever wanted?" Weston clenched his fist and gave Katherine a sharp look. She didn't avert her eyes, but held his gaze. Now, that she's got a chance to turn on a new leaf she wouldn't allow him to back out. Not at any price.

"Tom, darling, you mustn't think like that, this is not about Moray, this is about us, our family. And there is absolutely no shame in it, nor it is a defeat, this is much more like a…a reconciliation, a chance to create a new dream for us. Like we've promised each other." She placed her hand on his and leaned in to kiss him.

Moray led Denise into his office and closed the door behind them. Denise was still clutching Weston's letter in her hands, clearly lost in thought. "Denise?" Moray lightly touched her cheek, and then grazed his fingers down her neck and arm. "Is something bothering you, my love?"

At his words Denise slowly turned her chin up to look at him, the haziness not yet completely lifted from her eyes. "No, it's probably nothing…" - she said, staring ahead of herself as her voice trailed off.

"I can see that something's on your mind. You know you can tell me anything. Please, sweetheart, tell me what's troubling you so I may put you at your ease."

Moray stood so close to her and spoke so softly that she felt a little dizzy in the head. Pushing any other thoughts from her mind, she placed her hands on his neck and looked deep into his eyes. "It's just that..John…after the events of last night…please, just be careful what you agree to. Tom Weston is an unpredictable and a quick-tempered man. You can never be quite sure what he might say..or do in the next minute."

Moray could see deep concern reflecting in her eyes and also something else, which he could not quite place. He took her in his arms and stroked her cheek affectionately as he spoke. "Sweetheart, you don't have to worry about any of this. I am just going to go and have a civilized conversation with him, see what he wants. I promise you, it won't come to anything like that silly dice game. I know it was foolish of me, an unnecessary gamble." he placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Now that we are together again, I wouldn't risk losing this position I have here, even if I am just his employee. I wouldn't risk losing you again. Ever." He squeezed her arm reassuringly. "I can feel that things will improve for us. I can feel it now, more than ever, Denise." he cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her cheek and then moved onto her neck. Denise closed her eyes as she savoured the feel of his lips on her skin for a few moments.

Reluctantly, she pulled slowly away and brought Moray in eye-level with her. "I hope that you are right, John. I desperately want to believe that from now on, things will get easier for us. But, please, when you talk to him, please, remember what kind of a man he is…even when I went to speak with him last night, he turned so..aggressive, I feared he might even…" the words had caught up in her throat as she saw the bewildered look on Moray's face.

"You've never told me about this." - he spoke quietly, his words barely more than a whisper, but they cut through the air nonetheless. His face bore a stern expression she rarely saw on him. "What you feared he might do?" With a nervous glance, Denise turned away from him. "Now you've really got me worried, Denise. Did he hurt you in any way?" Moray reached for her hand but she pulled away.

She was standing with her back to him as she started to speak. "No, it's…it was my fault, really, I said some things to him that I've probably shouldn't have…and he…" Denise turned to face Moray at last, and this time he could definitely distinguish the emotion in her eyes. It was fear. "His mood had changed so quickly, I..I couldn't…I saw something in him…something so terrifying and violent, like he lost control over himself completely." She shuddered at the memory.

"What could you possibly say to him to get a reaction like that?"

"It..it had to do with India, his time in the army..." She closed her eyes for a minute. Moray could see she felt quite uneasy. "But…you really ought to ask Jonas about it." - she pleaded.

Moray stiffened at the mention of Jonas. "Wait a minute. Did you mean to tell me, that Jonas talked to you about what Weston did in India? Did he tell you to use that against him in some way?" After waiting for a moment, Denise hesitantly nodded under his stern glance. "I can't believe this! I have asked Jonas not to meddle with my personal affairs a hundred times! And still he dares to interfere!" He felt anger rise within him as he spoke every word a little louder than before. "And to send you, of all people, to him with this information! How could he put you into this kind of danger, when he knows what that man is capable of!" He shivered with fury. "If anything would have happened to you because of him, I would have strangled him with my bare hands!"

Only his heavy breathing broke the sudden silence that set upon the room. With fierce determination Moray turned towards the door with his fist clenched. Before he could storm out Denise caught up with him and got hold of his wrist. "Let go of me." – he snapped at her. Denise winced at the sharp edge of his voice. "I must put a stop to this. He had his second and third and God knows how many chances already!"

He wrenched his wrist free and reached for the doorknob. "Wait!" Denise rushed between him and the door. "I won't let you do something that you'll regret later."

"Why on earth would I regret this?"

"John, listen to me. You're not thinking straight." - she reached out and placed a hand on his chest. At her touch she felt the pace of his breathing slow down a bit. "It was my idea, to go and meet with Weston. I just simply couldn't sit by and let him do that to Clemence. Surely you can understand that."

Moray nodded slightly and looked at her. "But you could've asked for help. You could've come to me." – he said quietly. Beneath the still inflaming rage there was a lingering sadness to his voice.

Denise placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I know, and maybe I should've. But I had no time to think twice about it. Maybe I was reckless. But I do know want thing for sure." She put her arms around Moray and looked into his eyes. "Jonas meant me no harm. He just wanted me to have something to hold over Tom Weston if the need would arise. You cannot make him leave for offering his help."

Moray stared at her for several moments, then stroked her cheek and placed a kiss on her forehead. "All right." - he whispered. "But I'll still have a talk with him. If he wants to stay he'll need to learn about boundaries." He paused and drew a deep breath. "I'm…I'm just terrified of the mere thought of losing you, you know." - he spoke softly while caressing her cheek. "I came so close to it before, not having you in my life. It was torture. I would do anything for you, Denise." The concern and devotion in his eyes was so strong and deep, that it pierced her heart. "Believe me, my love, I would do just the same for you." - she whispered in his ear and hugged him tight.