And I'm back writing DuMardle stories instead of revising for my first year exams- typical!

So this story is going to be different to the other stories which have focused on DuMardle after the kiss. This story is going to be about all those moments in the show and also about the moments in between, basically I'm using my imagination to fill in the gaps in DuMardle moments.

Please review and let me know what you think. Also if you have anything you would like to see in this story or have ideas for any future stories but you don't want to write them or you want me to give it a go send to me via review or PM and I will try and give it a go!

I've got a long summer ahead of me in 2 weeks time and I'm going to need something to do and we have got to get the DuMardle stories up!

It may seem slow to begin with but that's because they've only just met but let me know your opinions and whether you want more or whether I should give up now.

Anyway, I shall shut up now and let you read the chapter…

She still couldn't believe that there was a man living in her house.

An unmarried man living in her house with two single women.

She knew that this would become gossip the moment people found out. People would talk around the shop, her mind immediately going to Kitty Hawkins and her ability to spread even the smallest rumour around the store in a matter of minutes and if Roger found out…

She didn't even want to think about what Roger would say when he found out she had an unmarried young man living in the house with her.

An unmarried, rather handsome young man.

"Are you okay Josie?" Agnes asked as Josie glanced up at the younger woman who was sat in the living room with her. "You are blushing," she stated, Josie's head shaking as she glanced down at her lap, embarrassed. Why did her mind do this? She had agreed to let him stay only a couple of hours ago, she had failed to tell him to leave and now her mind was betraying her. It was allowing her to think such ridiculous things. Why had she just thought that he was handsome? She barely knew him. She had barely spent any time with him, even though he was now occupying one of the numerous spare bedrooms in her house. Why had she decided to think about that, especially when Agnes was sat in the same room as her?

"I'm fine, it is just hot in here," Josie lied as Agnes nodded slowly.

"I invited Victor to call around tomorrow evening, if that is alright with you?" Agnes asked quietly as Josie smiled across at her.

"Agnes this is your home too, you are quite welcome to invite whoever you want around," Josie responded before standing. "I should probably tell Mr Dupont that dinner will be served soon," Josie explained, aware of how nervous her voice suddenly sounded as Agnes nodded, watching her with concern.

"Would you like me to tell him Josie?" Agnes offered as Josie smiled and shook her head, aware that she was not covering up her worry as well as she wanted too.

"No Agnes, I must try and talk to him. He should at least feel comfortable in the house," she responded as Agnes nodded slowly, watching as Josie slowly moved across the living room before leaving. Approaching the stairs, Josie breathed out before she walked up them, trying to act strong as she moved towards the bedroom she had moved Florian into. "Mr Dupont?" Josie asked as she knocked her fist against his door, her hand moving to rest on her stomach as she waited for him to respond.

"Oui," Florian called out, Josie forcing a smile onto her face before she opened the door and stepped inside to see him sat on the bed, his fingers running across the violin that was resting on the bed. He clearly already treasured the instrument she had given him only hours ago. "It is truly a beautiful instrument Miss Mardle," he commented as her genuine smile grew on her face.

"I am glad that you like it," she admitted as Florian began to place the violin into the case. If someone had told her only months ago she would have an unmarried Belgian man living in the house with her, she would have laughed. This was not something that she did. She did not invite young unmarried men to live in her house with her, it was not something that she did.

"I love it," he almost corrected as she nodded slowly, continuing to watch him. His suitcase was resting on a nearby chair, unopened like he was not yet prepared to move into the room. It was almost like no one was occupying the bedroom. It was just the way she had left it that morning. Although from the size of the small suitcase, she guessed that he did not have many possessions on him. He had come from Paris, touring with his orchestra and he had to have left quickly. He had just the few items that he had taken to France with him to his name. "I can not thank you enough for allowing me to stay in your house with you and Miss Towler," he said quietly, breaking the silence that had begun to fill the room.

"It is your house now Mr Dupont and you are welcome to stay as long as you would like," she responded, continuing to smile at him as he nodded. "I came to tell you that dinner will be served soon, if you would like to join us," Josie immediately stated, remembering why she had left the safety of her living room.

"Of course," the Belgian responded before he stood up and moved towards the door, Josie glancing up at him as he continued to watch her. Standing nervously by the door as he stood beside her, Josie bit into her lip as he smiled weakly. "You really are kind Miss Mardle, allowing me to live in your house," he whispered as she smiled at him again before opening the door and walking out, her smile disappearing as she moved towards the stairs. What was she doing? Allowing this man to live in her house when she knew that people would talk. Victor Colleano would visit tomorrow evening, he would tell someone that she had a young man living in her house and before she could even respond it would be all around the shop and then Roger would find out. Roger who had stood in the lift with her and commented on the violin she had purchased, who had made her feel uncomfortable by his comments towards her, who had almost made her feel unwell by being so close to her.

"Josie?" Agnes asked, her voice causing Josie to glance up from where she had been standing silently on the last step. "Are you sure you are okay?" she questioned, Josie smiling weakly as she nodded slowly before glancing behind her to see Florian beginning to walk down the stairs.

"I'm fine," Josie whispered, moving past the younger woman towards her dining room while Agnes continued to wait for Florian.

"Good evening Miss Towler," Florian greeted as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Agnes please, we're going to be living together now, there is no need to be so formal. Miss Towler makes me feel like I am at work," the brunette smiled as they moved towards the dining room together.

"Where do you work?" Florian asked, trying to continue a conversation as they entered the room to see Josie already seated and dinner served.

"Selfridges, the shop, we both do actually," Agnes smiled as she looked across at Josie who nodded slowly, smiling weakly up at them as they sat down at the places that had been set out. "I design windows and displays. That was why I was in Paris. I was sent there to learn more about the displays they create," Agnes explained as Florian continued to listen, taking in everything she was saying as a large smile decorated his face.

"And you Miss Mardle?" Florian questioned, looking across at the older woman as she looked at him in silence.

"I am head of accessories," Josie admitted quietly, concern covering Agnes' face as she watched Josie. She had not seen her behave like this in a while. She seemed overly worried about something, something that was making her shy away. "Agnes creates some beautiful windows, you should come and see them one day. She has a real talent," Josie commented as Florian nodded.

"I would like that," Florian admitted as Agnes smiled across at him, aware of how awkward it was beginning to feel around the room as they fell into an uncomfortable silence and began to eat the meals in front of them. It was going to be a very awkward time if this was how it was going to be like between the three of them while Florian was living in the house.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

She couldn't sleep.

Again.

It was becoming more frequent, her inability to sleep. Ever since her relationship with Roger had ended five years ago, she had found it even more difficult to sleep. She knew she was lonely. That was part of the reason why she had asked Agnes to come and live with her, so she wouldn't be alone in such a large and silent house as well as giving Agnes someone else to live with while George was away. She had needed someone to fill some of the space. However, when she was alone in her room she found it almost impossible to get comfortable and sleep. Sighing, Josie quickly sat up before she brushed her fingers through her hair and glanced across at the door.

"Tea," she whispered to herself, her voice almost like a shout compared to the silence. She needed to distract herself. She needed to do something, kill some of the time ahead of her and hope she would find sleep after a while. Climbing out of the bed, Josie quickly found her dressing gown before pulling it around her body, tightening it around her figure before she moved towards the door. A cup of tea and then she would try again, she would try and sleep. Moving down the corridor in silence, Josie suddenly stopped at the sound of the someone groaning, almost like they were in pain. Looking across at the nearest bedroom, Josie bit into her lip as the groaning increased. Approaching Florian's bedroom door, Josie remained still as the noise from inside got louder, her fist gently knocking against the door before she moved her hand to the handle. Was she really about to enter a man's room in the middle of the night while dressed only in her nightclothes? But she was concerned about him. She wanted to make sure that he was okay. Breathing out, Josie slowly opened the door before stepping into the darkness. "Florian," she called out, moving in the direction of his bed before reaching out and turning on the nearby lamp. As the room filled with a dim light, Josie glanced across to see the Belgian turning in the bed, moaning in his sleep while sweat ran down his face. He looked awful and terrified. Moving closer, Josie quickly moved her hand to his shoulder before shaking him gently, her concern continuing to grow. "Florian," she said again, shaking him more forcibly as she moved to sit down on the edge of his bed. "Florian you need to wake up," she insisted, shaking him once more before his eyes suddenly opened and he began to breathe quickly. "Florian," she whispered as he sat up, still continuing to breathe quickly while she sat beside him. "You're in London, you're safe," she declared, trying to comfort him as he looked at her, suddenly embarrassed.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as she shook her head. "Did I disturb you?" he asked quietly as she smiled weakly.

"I was already awake, you didn't wake me," she admitted as he nodded, resting back against the pillows while she glanced down at her outfit. As the room filled with silence, she became more aware of how underdressed she was and began to feel more uncomfortable. If anyone ever found out that she was sat in his room, in her nightclothes during the hours of the morning, she didn't want to think of the gossip that would be spread about her. "Would you like to talk about it?" she asked quietly, glancing up at him again as he remained silent. "You have no reason to be embarrassed," Josie whispered. "No one else needs to know, I won't tell anyone. It can just stay between the two of us," she admitted as he nodded before reaching into the bedside drawer, Josie remaining silent as he took out something.

"I dreamt about them," he admitted, passing her the photograph he had removed before she glanced down at the figures in the image.

"Your family?" she asked quietly as he nodded, looking down at the image she was holding as she focused on it.

"That's me," Florian admitted, pointing to the youngest child in the image. "My two brothers," he explained, his finger moving to the other boys in the photo. "And my sister," he whispered, determined to sound reasonably strong, while Josie remained silent, taking in the image of the four beaming children. "I was the youngest child," he admitted as she nodded, glancing up at him as he smiled weakly.

"I was the youngest too," Josie responded when he fell silent. "My brother locked me in a cupboard once when we were children," she laughed, remembering being stuck in the small space until her parents had arrived and unlocked the door, livid with her brother for locking her in.

"You have a brother," Florian commented.

"Had," Josie corrected. "He died a few months ago," she said quietly.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as she shook her head.

"We weren't very close, we hadn't talked in years," Josie responded before looking at him again. "Were you the only musician in the family Florian?" she asked quietly as he shook his head.

"My father, he taught me the violin. We used to listen to him play in the evenings when we were children," Florian admitted quietly as Josie continued to watch him, trying desperately to work out how to comfort him. She didn't know whether discussing his family was the best way to comfort him after his nightmares but he wanted to discuss his family and she was happy to listen, to comfort him as he came to terms with what he had lost.

"He did a wonderful job," Josie smiled as he stared at her, taking in her unpinned hair and how tired she looked. "You play beautifully, Agnes and I heard you practicing earlier. You're very talented," she complimented as he smiled weakly.

"Thank you," Florian responded before they fell silent for a moment. "I dreamt of them, I dreamt of the attack," he said nervously as she continued to sit beside him in silence. "Ever since I learnt of the attack, that the village was attacked, I've dreamt of them. I've dreamt of their deaths," he admitted, his eyes shutting in shame at his own weakness. He was supposed to be strong and yet he was being weak. He was crying in front of a woman he had known for less than twenty four hours.

"Florian," Josie whispered, noticing the look of embarrassment that continued to grow on his face. "You are allowed to be upset," she responded. "You have gone through worse than any of us could possibly imagine," Josie declared as he remained completely still in front of her. "You are allowed to have nightmares, no one will ever judge you for that but I promise, no one will find out from me."

"I should have been there," Florian whispered as she bit into her lip, hating how broken he was. She hated how upset this young man sounded. She hated how he had lost everything because of one attack. His home, his possessions, his family were all gone because of the war. "They needed me," he said quietly. "My family needed me and now, I do not even know whether…" he began before falling silent.

"I hate to say this but there is nothing you could have done Florian," Josie whispered as he continued to watch her, taking in how sad she looked. "You have not heard anything from them Florian, there is still a chance," she said quietly as he shook his head. He knew they were dead, deep down. He had heard nothing from his village and the reports he had received back had told him how terrible the violence had been. "Would you like me to get you anything?" Josie suddenly asked him, feeling useless as she watched the sadness grow on the young man's face. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know how to make him feel any better.

"I am fine, thank you," he responded, smiling weakly. "You have done so much for me already," he admitted quietly. "You have given me somewhere to live, you have bought me a beautiful violin and all I have done is disturb you in the middle of the night and tell you all my problems."

"I want you to feel like you can tell me your problems, I want you to have someone to talk too. You shouldn't have to keep them to yourself," Josie responded as he smiled weakly at her. "Do you feel like you could possibly sleep now?" she asked quietly as he nodded slowly, watching her as she stood up and wrapped her arms around her body.

"Good night Miss Mardle," Florian whispered when she moved towards the door.

"Josie," she said quickly as he looked across at her in confusion when she reached the doorway. "My name is Josie," she admitted as he smiled at her.

"Good night Josie," Florian responded as she bit into her lip for a moment.

"Good night Florian," she said quietly before leaving the room, shutting the door behind her before she breathed out.

What was she doing?

So what do you think?

Love it? Hate it? Please review, let me know!