Happy birthday, Libby! x

Gill sat in the corner of her sofa. Her legs tucked up under her, mug of tea in one hand, The Mysterious Affair at Styles in the other and her glasses perched a little too far down her nose. She had pinched one of Julie's big pullovers – big on Julie and much too big for Gill. It nearly reached down to her knees and the sleeves covered her fragile hands. But Gill liked it. She liked wearing Julie's clothes. It made her feel safe, surrounded by the smell of Julie.

As she brought the mug up to her mouth, her glasses steamed up. She grumbled something about being long-sighted and set the mug and book down on the coffee table so she could wipe her glasses.

'What's that, love?' Julie appeared in her work clothes, carrying a mug of her own, and sat down in the other corner of the sofa.

'I tried to drink some tea and my glasses steamed up so I couldn't see what I was reading,' Gill said through gritted teeth, which made Julie laugh.

'Calm down, love! What was it you were reading that was so important, anyway?' Gill showed her the book. 'Agatha Christie? You've been retired for nine days and you're already back to murder mysteries?'

'Can a girl not read a whodunit without people assuming things?' said Gill playfully.

'I'm not assuming anything,' said Julie. 'Apart from the fact you're delusional to call yourself a girl.'

'Bitch.'

'I love you, too!' said Julie sarcastically.

'I know you do, that's why you let me steal your clothes,' Gill smirked. 'How was work? Caught any serial killers recently?'

'Luckily, there hasn't been any serial killer activity in Manchester this week, but our current investigation has ground to a halt.'

'Why's that?' Gill made herself more comfortable, which involved shuffling up the sofa and snuggling into Julie's side.

'None of the suspects are talking, there's no new evidence and we still haven't got forensic results back on the evidence we do have. I mean, do they actually realise that we're dealing with murder?'

Gill hummed quietly in support of Julie's annoyance. She had often got rather frustrated at forensics taking too long.

'So, anyway,' said Julie as she wriggled down the sofa so that they were lying side by side, causing her shirt to ride up and reveal a strip of bare skin. 'Besides trying to use your little grey cells, what have you been up to today, my lovely little lady of leisure?'

Gill smiled and gently pecked Julie on the lips.

'I've been thinking,' she said quietly, 'about how much I miss you when you're not around.'

'Well I never! Gill Murray's gone soft,' Julie teased. Gill hit her softly.

'What do you miss about me most, then?' asked Julie. 'Is it my excellent repartee or my beautiful face?'

'You're so modest!' Gill laughed, then she looked at Julie with pure adoration. 'I miss your eyes. I miss your laugh. I miss your lips... on mine.'

Julie took the hint and pressed her lips against Gill's.

'What do you want for dinner, love?' Julie pulled away slightly and chuckled at her.

'Way to spoil the mood!' She sat up, pulling Gill up with her. 'I'll have a microwave meal. They're quick and I don't know how long I can restrain myself while you're sitting there being perfect.'

Gill looked at her incredulously. 'I thought I threw all of the microwave meals away!'

'You did. I bought some more, you fool.' Gill began to speak, but Julie cut her off quickly. 'Just for occasions like this.'

'You're unbelievable.' The disdain was accompanied by a barely suppressed grin. Julie kissed her before getting up.

'Yeah, but I can tell you're gasping for a shag, too, so you'd better appreciate my forward thinking.' Gill laughed. 'Go back to Poirot, I won't be long.'

Julie picked up their empty mugs, winked at Gill and headed for the kitchen to find some nourishment. Gill picked up her book, balanced her glasses precariously back on her nose and tried rather unsuccessfully to focus on the denouement of the story.