I was talking to my wonderful friend and I ended up wanting to write a DuMardle story because there are not enough of them out there. It's not the best piece of writing I've ever done but it should improve as it goes along and the plot develops, along with my understanding of the characters.

So please review, if you want, and I will try and update with another chapter soon.

Holding her hand to her mouth as she stared out of her window, Josie Mardle felt her breathing slowly calm as she watched life carry on outside. Slowly moving the hand from her face, she moved to open the window before feeling the cold breeze on her face, her eyes shutting for a moment as she tried not to think about what had happened moments ago. He was probably still standing there, unaware of what to do or how to act. He was her lodger, someone she was supposed to live with until the war was over and he was able to return to his family and she had just allowed that to happen. She hadn't stopped him even though she'd been aware of what was happening because for a couple of seconds, she could just enjoy the feeling of being hold by another person who wanted to be with her intimately without the demands of an invalided wife at home.

"What have I done?" she whispered to herself, glancing out at the street before shaking her head and moving towards her bed. Sitting on the very edge, she slowly reached up to unpin her hair, the dark curls falling over her shoulders as she glanced towards the door. She needed to relax, she needed to breathe, she needed to think about what to do before she found herself in a room alone with Florian again. She couldn't allow herself to let what had just happened again, it wasn't fair on Florian. He was so young, he had mistaken her hospitality for something else and he would one day regret her if she allowed this to go any further. Glancing up at the mirror that rested on her dressing table, she sighed before running her fingers through her hair and shutting her eyes. She was too old for young men to fall in love with her. He was just mistaken and it would soon disappear. Hearing a knock at the front door, Josie quickly stood before moving towards her window to see a bike resting against the railing and a figure standing on the steps to the front door. Moving towards the door as she stepped to pin her hair back, Josie breathed out as she heard Florian move downstairs and the sound of the front door open, low voices filling the air as she slowly moved down the stairs to see the interaction between the two young men. "Who was that?" Josie inquired as Florian shut the door and turned to face her, holding an envelope in his hands.

"It is a telegram for Miss Towler," Florian admitted quietly, not looking her in the eyes as he held the envelope towards her. Slowly, she reached out to take it from him before their fingers brushed together at the exchange, their eyes locking for a brief moment as his hand moved to clasp hers. "Miss Mardle," he whispered as their fingers entwined and he stared at her.

"I can't," she reiterated as his free hand moved towards her face. "What are you doing?" she immediately questioned, the panic obvious in her voice as he smiled weakly and brushed a stray piece of hair back behind her ear, her eyes shutting for a brief second. "I am sorry," Miss Mardle whispered once more before stepping away and walking down the corridor towards another room, anything to escape the temptation that kept being placed in her way.

XOXOXOXOXOX

She could still hear Agnes sobbing in the room next door and the low voice of Victor Colleano trying to soothe her as she sat silently in the chair with a cup of tea in her shaking hands. She didn't know the news yet, Agnes had disappeared with the unopened telegram and Mr Colleano moments after Josie had passed it to her and Miss Mardle did not want to force the younger woman into telling her anything until she had processed what had happened herself. Hearing a small tap at the door, Josie snapped out of her thoughts and turned her head before the door opened slightly and Florian appeared nervously.

"Come in Florian," Josie smiled, trying to pretend that nothing had happened between them and also that their mutual friend was not sobbing over news about her brother in the other room. If she could act normal, then they would be alright. They could get over their mistakes and act like nothing had changed between them.

"Is George..?" he asked quietly as Miss Mardle glanced down at her tea, not knowing how to respond.

"I do not know," she said simply before he nodded, standing nervously in the doorway. "Would you like to sit down?" she asked quietly, the foreigner nodding before he moved to sit in the chair opposite her, unable to take his eyes off her for a brief second. She was nervous around him now, it was obvious and it hurt to see her so scared to be around him when they'd been so comfortable around each other hours earlier. "This war…" she began before shaking her head, not knowing what she had actually planned on saying.

"I know," he said simply, watching her again as she placed her cup onto the table and sighed before glancing across at him. "Miss Mardle," Florian began before she shook her head and stood up, moving towards the window in silence. "If you would like me to leave, I will. I can try and find another room. I appreciate everything you have done for me but if you would like me..." he began, shocking her as she turned to face him in amazement. He would leave to make things easier?

"No Florian, this is your home," she stated, forcing a smile onto her face as she looked at him. "I see no reason for you to leave. This is your home now too," she smiled as he nodded slowly, still observing her reactions. She couldn't bare to be in the same room with him, she wanted to leave and yet she was asking him to stay? He didn't understand. "I should see whether Agnes needs anything, excuse me," Miss Mardle said quietly before approaching the door and stepping out of the room in silence. She needed to calm down and adapt to living with him because a large part of her, desperately wanted him to stay in the house with her and to never leave. "He will forget about this," she whispered to herself as she stood alone in the corridor. He would soon forget about what had happened between them, she predicted. Florian was ultimately a silly young man who had mistaken gratification for love and he would soon learn the difference and meet someone young and beautiful who could give him everything he deserved, and she was unable to provide.

So opinions?