The door to Bernie's flat swung open and she held the door open for Serena and followed in once Serena was in the hallway. Serena smiled as she found that Bernie was quite chivalrous in a way, people always associated chivalry with men given its history, but here was Bernie fitted this bracket perfectly. Maybe it was because of the army, she would call it 'having your back', she had in the past when she was sent to AAU when Serena returned from her suspension; she used it as her justification for accepting the post; better her than someone who wasn't going to have her back. Serena liked, no, loved this; feeling protected and special.

Bernie's flat was much like her trauma unit, cold and a little clinical… well less clinical, more practical Serena pondered. It was a new style flat, laminate flooring, smooth surfaces, minimalistic. This was the kind of place that served a purpose. Base camp. Serena did notice the lack of photographs, ornaments, just stuff. Maybe again it was the army, you don't take 2 suitcases and push your luck on hand luggage when going on tour, so maybe that is how she was. No bad thing in Serena's eyes, just different, opposite to her really. But opposites is good. They had a lot in common but then the differences is what made them click, both in the hospital and outside of it.

Bernie had moved through to the kitchen as she was holding a bag full of food they had picked up en route. Her flat was freezing given that it had stood empty while she was away. She clicked on the heating, "Sorry the flat is a bit cold, I pretty much got back and came to work so….." She said apologetically. Serena followed her through to the kitchen, she was slightly surprised this was also tidy. Bernie must have read her thoughts as she said, "I know what you are thinking, why can't I be this tidy in our office? Well to be honest you caught me on a good day. I, through frustration at fucking up," throwing her hands up and indicating to her and Serena, "I took out my frustration on the flat and cleaned it before I went away also thinking I did not want to come back to a shit hole as well as all the other crap."

Serena laughed as Bernie plated up the food "I may have no food in the house but there is always drink, what do you want?" as if she didn't know the answer! "Help yourself" and she pointed to where the wine and glasses were kept. Serena headed for the Shiraz, "What are you having darling?" Serena asked, Bernie pointed at the fridge, "there are some beers in the fridge, I'l have one of those, if I go on the red I am afraid I might be asleep within 15 minutes." Serena fixed the drinks and saw that the fridge had a couple of photos attached with magnets. Charlotte and Cam, one from the army as it was a big group photo of 20 or so people in fatigues and one of her and Bernie in Albies, It was a photo she didn't know was taken, it wasn't posed it was a caught moment and they both looked so happy as the photo showed they were laughing heavily with glasses in hand. She thought she must ask about the picture as Bernie bought the plates to the table.

They sat eating Italian takeaway, Serena had never heard of this Italian takeaway before and was surprised she didn't know about it. She was actually impressed, not as good as home cooked food but what food that came in a foil tray was? But to be fair it was pretty damn good, she thought it was definitely a takeaway ran by Italians, not some guy from Dagenham called Lou calling himself Luigi. "Bern this is lovely, how did you come across it?"

Bernie looked up from her food and said, "I don't really do domestic, I live off M&S meal deals and takeaways, but I have standards."

They both cleared their plates and Bernie swept them off the table into the sink.

Bernie sat down again and moved her chair close to Serena's. "Hi"

Serena laughed "Hello you."

They looked at each other and moved in for a deep longing kiss, now that the tedium of work and eating had been dealt with the most important thing was this now.

After several minutes of kissing they both came up for air. Bernie smiled, she had never been so happy as she was now in this flat, the flat that to her was just a place to lay her head and store her belongings suddenly had life breathed into it. Their foreheads connected as Serena stated, "We should start the unpacking Major!"

"Um yes, yes unpacking, next task."

"How can I help?"

"Ok, um, top ups," She signalled at drinks, "…and" She pulled something from the rear pocket of her trousers, "You can be in charge of entertainment, pick us some music."

Bernie did a few swipes and presses on the I Pod and passed it to Serena. Serena took the I Pod and scrolled through the artists and playlists, there was a lot there.

"Wow, you have eclectic tastes, there is a lot here."

"Yeah, not really a TV person, love music, always a song to fit an occasion." Bernie said casually as she had gathered her Army rucksack from the hall and was unceremoniously throwing items into the washing machine occasionally chucking the odd white shirt to the other side. Serena watched in horror at this casual method of sorting the washing. It seems there was 2 washes… whites and everything else! Serena had a light wash, dark wash, colours, whites, delicates, towels and bedding; as well as the ad hoc washes that went on in between.

She was still scrolling through the I Pod at loss because she had not heard of half of the artists or songs, she decided to swipe to 'most played' and put that on. This way Bernie would be happy with the music selection and she would be able to learn something about the woman she was almost certain she loved.

By the time Serena had selected a playlist the washing was sorted, the white was pushed to the corner by the washer ready to replace the 'everything else' wash when it finished. Bernie had moved on and pulled a toiletries bag from the rucksack and just placed it in the windowsill of the bathroom. She then pulled a tin from the bag. To Serena it looked like a Christmas biscuit tin that had seen better days. Bernie opened the tin and tipped the contents, which seemed like coins, pens, chargers, paperwork and other miscellany into the top draw in the kitchen. Serena imagined that this was something that Bernie would call the 'Shit drawer', it was an expression she had heard but she herself didn't have one, not least because Jason simply would not allow that amount of disorder. She then pulled a couple of pairs of trainers from the bag and placed these, along with the bag in a cupboard in the hallway.

"Well that's the unpacking done, what music did you decide on?"