"But friendship can be an excuse, a cover when there's something more that you don't want to admit or you're too scared to explore.."

A/N: This is my first time ever attempting to write something like this, but I have seriously been a hardcore fan of Settleford since like 2011. This story is basically what I have envisioned happened between them prior to their public display at the Cannes Film Festival premiere. I'll continue this story to that night where they walked the red carpet and shared what looks like several kisses, based off the pictures. And depending on the reception to this story I may even continue with it further; their night out, and the next few days and if we receive more from them via twitter it may develop even further. We'll just have to see, anyways sorry I'm rambling…I'll get on with it! Any similarities to other Matt/Kelly stories is completely unintended and all rights and praise go to those writers. Also the lyrics and songs mentioned belong to their respective artists ect. Here goes nothing…happy reading, I hope you guys enjoy it!(:

Goodnight and Go- Imogen Heap

"You get me every time,

Oh why'd you have to be so cute?

It's impossible to ignore you

Must you make me laugh so much?

It's bad enough we get along so well

Say goodnight and go"

Chapter 1: Goodnight and Go

Sunday April 15th, 2012

Kelly could not help the smile that slid easily across her lips as she read Matthew's text. He was such a goofball and kind of a kid at heart. It was adorable, most of the time.

Hello my dear, I'm on my way over. I'm going to take you to get some ice cream no objections...so be ready(;

She wasted no time in responding. Anytime they spent together was fabulous, no matter what they did. Things between them seemed to be getting better and better. Kelly truly adored Matthew and he knew it, cause the adoration was returned. They were best friends, that did everything together. From charity events, to galas, getting dinner, or setting up playdates for their children. The press constantly bombarded them about the state of relationship always speculating that there was something more going on than what they disclosed.

But that's all it was at this point mere speculation, which they were no strangers to. Hell, right after they were both divorced there weres rumors spreading that they were together. Sure they comforted each other and supported one another but that was it. It wasn't romantic, it was a start to a fantastic friendship, and thinking about it now Kelly would never want to lose Matthew. And she knew in her heart that the feeling was mutual he cared for her just as much as she cared for him. They were very close friends who merely love and support one another completely. Kelly unlocked her iPhone and her fingers danced across the screen as she replied to Matthew.

Oh are you? Well I can't wait, my darling. See you soon (-:

Pushing herself off the couch Kelly walked into her bathroom brushing some of her stray blonde locks out of her face. Giving her reflection a slight smile before running her hand underneath her eye to wipe away some smudged makeup. What the hell was going on with her? Why did she care about her appearance, it was just Matthew after all. One of her best friends whose seen her in her worst state, with no trace of makeup on her face and tears of frustration rolling down her cheeks.

A knock on the door sprung Kelly from her thoughts causing her to press her lips together switching off the bathroom light and hurrying to answer the door. When she pulled open the door a smile took over her face seeing the smile he wore.

"Hello my darling!" She said as she stepped forward invading his space as she wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight embrace.

Matthew smiled widely at her wrapping his own arms around her slim waist returning her embrace. "Hello my dear," he whispered into her hair inhaling her scent becoming momentarily intoxicated by it.

Kelly gave a soft laugh as she pulled back letting her eyes take in his appearance a slight smirk falling to her lips as she padded his shoulders. "Looking good Matthew."

"Why thanks you! You look beautiful as always." He said relying a compliment of his own to her, taking note of the soft reddish tint that seemed to creep across her porcelain cheeks.

"Oh, shut up I am not!" She said rolling her eyes.

"Hmm I'd beg to differ my love." Matthew's eyes trailed down the length of her body before meeting her eyes. "Ready to go?"

Glancing down at her tight skinny jeans and her simple coral t-shirt assessing her outfit before shifting her eyes up to meet Matthew's. "Yup, just let me slip on some shoes and grab my purse." Kelly said before spinning around and sliding her pedicure toes into a pair of Louis Vuitton ballerina flats, and slinging her tan Birkin bag onto her right arm. "Ready!" She exclaimed linking her left arm with Matthew's and pulling her door closed behind them, pushing against it to ensure that it was locked.

Matthew led Kelly out of her apartment complex and began walking with her down the sidewalk. The two fell into a comfortable silence, both lost in their own thoughts. "I'm glad you didn't have a better offer tonight!" He shot playfully as he leaned over and bumped her shoulder with his own.

"A better offer than your sexy self? Not possible."

They both shared a laugh before his voice took on a more serious tone, his eyes shifting over to take in her side profile. "You're too sweet! So, how are you Kel?"

Kelly glanced down at her feet before moving her eyes to watch where she was walking. "I'm doing okay, even better now. Ice cream was a great idea. The real question though is, how are you doing?"

Matthew bit down on his lower lip as he glanced in both directions before leading Kelly across the street. "Well I'm with you, so I'm doing fantastic!"

Hearing Matt say this caused her to smile shaking her head a little bit. "The feelings mutual my love!" She said leaning over and pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. Kelly smiled brightly as they walked into the ice cream shop.

As soon as they entered the shop Kelly's eyes darted over all the possible choices that were in the display case. She unhooked her arm from Matthew's and leaned against the glass sucking on her lower lip slightly. "Hmm they all look so tasty" Kelly pointed out as she bumped her shoulder against his.

"They sure do."

"Do you know what you want?" She asked curiously shifting her eyes away from the display case as she turned so that she was facing Matthew.

He nodded a little and gave the glass case a quick scan before responding. "Yeah, I'm going to get rocky road in a cone."

"Sounds delicious! Hmm I think maybe I'll have…" Kelly turned back towards the display case eyeing up all her possible choices, before she reached her final decision. "I'll get cookie dough in a cone."

Once they had both decided on what kind of ice cream they wanted, they ordered and as the total was announced Kelly began to reach for her purse but was stopped short by Matthew's hand. "Kel, I got this!"

"Matthew!" She said sternly fixing him with a look that meant business. He just smirked and pulled out his wallet handing over a twenty dollar bill to the cashier.

"Kelly!" He shot in a playful tone as he retrieved their ice creams handing her cone to her and pocketing his change.

"You really didn't have to do that."

"I know, but I wanted to." Matt said taking a lick from his ice cream cone as he walked towards a table before turning to face her. "Would you like to eat here, or? "

"Let's go for a walk. It's such a nice night." Kelly commented a smile on her face as she headed towards the door, Matthew following close behind. He pulled the door open for her, and once she walked through the threshold Matthew followed suit his hand naturally resting on the small of her back.

The two began to walk down the sidewalk Kelly licking at her ice cream cone, glancing up at the sky and frowning slightly. Sometimes she missed seeing the stars, like honestly seeing them. In New York City the stars overhead always seemed dimmer and maybe less significant. Kelly missed that beauty sometimes. They continued on down the sidewalk walking in-sync with one another veering towards Central Park.

"How's your ice cream?" Matthew asked glancing over at her.

"Wanna try it?" She questioned her pools of brown twinkling up at him. Kelly held her ice cream cone up to his mouth and smirked to herself as he flicked his tongue out and tired her ice cream.

"Yum that is good!" He said smiling before extending his cone towards her lips, "your turn my dear."

Her eyes shifted between his and the cone in front of her lips. Smirking Kelly poked her tongue out from between her lips and swirled it expertly around Matthew's ice cream cone. "mm that is wonderful." She said beaming at him, a brief silence falling into the air between them. "So…thank you for this, I really needed it."

"Oh, of course! I know how you get when you don't have the kids."

"I can't help it," She said laughing a little as she shook her head finishing off her ice cream and wiping her mouth with a napkin. Kelly tossed her used napkin into the garbage can before turning around and facing Matthew.

"I wouldn't ask you to, it's one of the things I love about you." He said after finishing his ice cream and depositing his used napkin into the garbage invading Kelly's space.

Their bodies were so close which wasn't unusual for them, they were used to this kind of close proximity. However, this moment for some reason felt electric the little air between them felt thick, made it hard to breathe. Maybe it was because of the way he said that four letter word, or maybe it was the way he was looking at her. Kelly shook her head a little bit glancing to her feet averting her eyes from his and trying to ignore the flutter in her heart. "Come on," She said snagging his hand as she led them out of Central Park and back towards Kelly's apartment complex. Looping her arm in his once again Kelly leaned her head against Matthew's shoulder letting her eyes wander around the buildings around them, ones she'd seen a thousand times by now.

His silence was a little unnerving to Kelly considering the fact that he always seemed to be able to fill a silence between them. It was one of the things she loved about him, his ability to make her laugh, set her mind at ease. "Is everything okay?"

"Hmm?" Matthew muttered being taken out of his internal thoughts. Stealing a quick glance at Kelly before responding with a not so convincing, "yeah."

"You sure? You seem kind of quiet," she said softly shifting her eyes up to take in his profile.

"Yeah, I'm just thinking about some things."

"Like?"

"It's nothing Kel."

"Matthew, come on…its me you're talking to. I'm one of your closest friends, you should know by now that you can tell me anything." She said in a gentle tone her eyes trying to read the expression he was wearing.

By this time they had reached Kelly's apartment building and they were making their way into the elevator. Matthew avoided her eyes and pressed the button for her floor shifting his eyes around the small cubical Kelly shook her head waiting for him to say something, anything.

"I know I can, but this could change everything." He said finally glancing over her face quickly.

The elevator came to a halt and with a soft ding and the doors rolled open causing Kelly and Matthew to step out of the elevator. "Matthew, nothing you say is going to change this…us. I'll always be here for you, no matter what, would you please just talk me." She said smiling up at him her thin hand snatching his and giving it a gentle squeeze as they reached the door to her apartment.

Matthew's eyes moved from hers down to their hands that were clinging to one another's biting down on his lower lip slightly. Maybe it was finally their time. They were both recently single and after that kiss they shared on the runway during the "From Scotland With Love" event he wasn't sure he could deny these feelings he had for her any longer. "Kelly, you're amazing, breathtakingly beautiful, so extremely talented, and I love every moment we spend together. It always makes me wish that our time together would never end, I love making you laugh and seeing you smile…really smile not that fake smile you use for the paparazzi. I guess all I'm saying is that I want to be with you, because I love you, and more than just a friend."

Hearing his speech caused her cheeks to flush from the sweet words that flowed easily from his tongue. Having acted with him for the past five years Kelly knew when he was being genuine and when he was in his acting mode reciting lines. This couldn't be happening, could it? Kelly felt her heart thud quickly against her chest as she found it hard to breathe. The next thing she knew Matthew was leaning towards her closing the gap between them. His lips meshed against hers as he kissed her how he's never kissed her before. Reaching up she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and found herself responding to the kiss their lips moving together in a natural rhythm. This kiss was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. Matthew kissed her with such a tone and depth that it literally took her breath away and made her weak in the knees. Her hands moved up to cup his cheeks not willing their lips to part yet.

Maybe the kiss felt more magical because there weren't a hundred pairs of eyes on them analyzing their every move, or because it wasn't scripted. Slowly Kelly pulled away from him her hands sliding down from his face to rest on his chest. "I want to be with you too." She said not daring to drop that four letter word just yet, it wasn't that she didn't love him, she did but Kelly wanted to wait a little longer before dispelling that emotion.

Upon hearing her respond he couldn't help but smile and lean in to brush a light kiss to her lips. "Perfect! It's settled then"

"Yes, it is…but we should discuss a few things first." Kelly said letting her fingers lightly brush along the collar of his shirt as she pulled him closer to herself flashing him a radiant smile before placing a teasing kiss to his lips. A kiss that promised more to come as she spun around in his arms digging in her bag for her keys. Once she retrieved them she jammed the key into the hole and with the flick of her wrist she twisted the handle and pulled Matthew inside with her free hand.

Matthew on the other hand had thoughts of his own and spun her around to face him and his lips crashed against Kelly's. She clung to his shirt dropping her Birkin bag to the floor and releasing his shirt as she wrapped both her arms around his neck, keeping his face close to hers. Slowly Matthew walked them towards the couch Kelly stepping out of her flats in the process kicking them away. Not losing Matthew's lips his arms keeping her securely against himself as she fell backwards onto the couch, Matthew's arms helping cushion her fall.

As his lips slowly broke all contact with hers Kelly let her eyelids flutter open giggling softly as he brushed a light kiss to the tip of her nose. Untangling her arms from around his neck Kelly rested them on his cheeks her thumb lightly stroking over his jaw line before she brought his face closer to her own. Their lips made contact with one another's and they got lost in each other for a moment before Kelly remembered what she wanted to discuss pertaining this new development in their relationship. Her hands slowly descended from his cheeks and she pushed him away gently causing their lips to part. Matthew smirked slightly trying to move back to her lips being semi-successful as his lips brushed a soft teasing kiss to her lips.

"No, no…I want to talk about this." Kelly said giggles escaping her lips as she pushed him gently off of her. She moved to her side and smiled up at him letting her right hand curl over her his shoulder. Her thumb subconsciously stroking circles over the material of his shirt.

"Okay, lets talk about this." Matt said smirking down at her before attempting to plaster on a serious face which only made them both laugh.

Kelly swatted at him playfully before shaking her head. "Matthew!" She said eyeing him with a look that meant she was not joking, but with one look at him her resolve broke and a wide smile fell onto her lips.

"Sorry, I'm done love."

"Okay. Well, I just, I think that this…" she used hands to gesture between their bodies. "Should be something that we keep between us. At least for a little while," her eyes shifted down to the lack of space between their bodies. Kelly could hear her heat pounding in her ears, and took a deep breath to try and steady it before she trailed her eyes back up to meet his green eyes.

Matthew nodded to what she was saying, it made sense the paparazzi were terrible and constantly badgering them about their relationship. It wasn't any of their business really.

"It's just, I want to know that we are going to work. I mean we already have such a solid relationship but us dating…" Her eyes stayed trained on his before she moved her hand to fiddle with the collar of his shirt needing something to busy her fingers. "That's a little different and I don't want things that the press might say to cloud my judgment or my feelings for you. I want to know that what we're both feeling is honest and real. You know?" Kelly glanced at his collar letting her fingers mess with it before she moved her eyes to lock them with Matthew"s once again.

"Whatever you want my love. And by the way I completely agree, this has to be just about us, and the children before it becomes public knowledge."

Hearing that they were on the same page caused Kelly to smile widely. She leaned up along his body and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before pulling back to gaze into his eyes brushing her nose against his. "We can still attend events together, and tweet one another…we can still do everything we've been doing before today. But for now we have to resist doing all the coupley stuff in public, things like kissing, holding hands, you know that sort of thing."

"Right," he said nodding his head as he leaned forward their lips mere inches "so things like this.." Within seconds Matthew's lips were brushing slowly against Kelly's it was slow and gentle but caused her to lean into him and return the kiss. Her hand slid up to rest along his neck before it ascended to his hair holding his face to hers as she returned the kiss with a little more passion. Smirking against her lips Matthew slowly inched his lips away from hers in need of air, whispering to her. "would be off limits in public." He raised an eyebrow in a curious fashion his eyes twinkling mischievously as he awaited her response.

Leaning in close to Matthew she let her hips press firmly against his smirking as she left a kiss to the corner of his lips. "Yes, things like that would be considered off limits in public."

"Hmm, I see.." his eyes lowered slightly as he licked his lips and slid his hands lightly down her sides to grab a hold of her hips holding them in place.

As she felt his hands on her she bit down on her lower lip pushing back some of his brown hair so it was out of his eyes. Seeing his face caused her to lower her eyes to wear his hands were placed and gave him one of her real smiles that only he ever got to see. She leaned in, their lips on the verge of touching as she whispered, "yes…this part of our relationship if just between us." When their eyes locked she smiled softly at him before closing the minimal space between them. They stayed that way for a little while just passing slow loving kissing before Kelly removed her lips from his and rested her forehead against his.

Matthew gazed deep into her eyes and smiled before pulling back just enough to let his eyes run over her whole face. Brushing a stray piece of her blonde hair out of her eyes Matthew brought her face closer to his brushing a loving kiss to her forehead. As he did this Kelly clung onto him tightly enjoying this new found intimacy between them. She felt safe, comfortable, every kiss ignited the fire that had been slowly building since they met. He amazed her with his words and that first real kiss of theirs.

Things like laying on the couch and making out with her boyfriend, is probably more so a teenage activity. However, Kelly felt on top of the world while they were wrapped up in each other, even though they're adults it was nice to know she still had this effect on someone. It made her feel young, in this moment she didn't feel like the forty three year old mother of two that she was, it was refreshing. Resting her head on his chest Kelly snuggled into Matthew their legs twining themselves together as she listening intently to the steady beat of his heart. Her fingers daintily stroked up and down his arm as her body curled against the side of his. Matthew ran his fingers through her blonde hair just content to hold her in his arms not wanting this moment to end but knowing it had to for the sake of keeping this private.

"It's getting late."

"I know," he said equally as softly stoking down her blonde hair.

Kelly propped herself up on her elbows so she could get a better look at him. Her brown eyes took in every detail of his face the laughter lines that were etched into his soft skin. He was truly gorgeous, and even more so to her. "I don't want you to go." She whispered tightening her grip on him.

"I don't want to go either," he whispered back to her

They laid their wrapped in each others arms for several minutes longer before Kelly finally leaned up and kissed him softly before untangling herself from him. "Come on, you should get home."

Once she got up from the couch she held her hand out to help pull him from the couch. Matthew clasped her hand and lifted himself from her couch, their bodies were close and he couldn't resist the urge and planted a kiss to her lips. Kelly smiled against his lips leaning her entire body against his not wanting to separate from him. Matt clung to her and as they pulled away from the kiss he tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll talk to you tomorrow my darling."

"Okay." She nodded her head taking his hand and weaving her fingers between his as she led him to the door. Upon reaching the door she spun around to face him and reached for his other hand weaving her fingers between his giving them a squeeze as she leaned up and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight beautiful." He replied softly against her lips causing her lips to tug upwards, which only caused him to smile seeing that she was genuinely happy. That was all he wanted, all he cared about was her happiness. If she was happy that so was he, maybe it was cliché but he was in love with this woman and he couldn't help it.

Before he left he placed one final kiss to her lips which she responded to instantly her fingers clinging to his as his hips pressed firmly into hers. To ensure that he would really leave Kelly brushed his lips with her own whispering against them as her forehead resting against his. "Go, before I change my mind."

They both giggled and shared one last quick kiss before she reluctantly released his hands and watched him walk out of her apartment. Shaking her head at him as he blew her a kiss from the hallway Kelly returned the gesture, and waved goodbye to him before closing her door switching over the lock. Her back naturally rested against the heavy door for support, was this seriously happening? Closing her eyes briefly Kelly laughed shaking her head as that smile took its place on her lips. Needless to say she went to bed that night for the first time, in what seemed like forever with that stupid smile plastered across her face.

Monday April 16th, 2012

Kelly grabbed her iPhone and smiled seeing the text from Matthew, she quickly responded before opening twitter. Once it was loaded she bit down on her lower lip as her fingers bounced across the screen as she typed out a tweet.

"matt_settle so fun walking to getting ice cream last night! Kisses ;-) Xoxo"

TBC...

"We'd be good, we'd be great together...Go,"

A/N: So I literally wrote this in like two days…I hope it's okay . Like I previously stated this is my first time ever writing a Settleford piece, so please be kind. Reviews honestly make my life, so don't be shy hit that review button and tell me your thoughts!(: Until next time, mauhhh xoxo