What are your birthday plans? Rx

Laura considered her phone, and she curled her knees up underneath her on the sofa. She leant her head on her hand as she considered her response. She'd had her psychological evaluation the day before, blagged her way through it and had her clearance to return to work. In a funny sort of way she was relieved to be going back to the lab. She knew where she was with it, and she was genuinely passionate about her work, and maintaining the high standards she knew she was renowned for. And she wanted to get back to that. Her birthday was three days away now, and Christmas just over a week. Laura had insisted on taking the Christmas on-call roster. She sincerely hoped that it would be a quiet one. Her godmother's family had invited her to spend it with them, and she knew she had an open invitation to spend time with Ellen too, but Laura had decided it was time to get back to normal. On call over the festive period was Laura's normal, and it came just at the time she needed it most. Laura picked up her phone, and her finger hovered over the keys before she replied.

None. Lx

There was silence for a few moments, before a response came back.

None in place? Or none wanted? Rx

Laura chewed her thumb slightly, considering the message, and then she set the phone down. She picked up her tea and sipped from it slowly before she sent her answer.

I don't want a fuss. x

Robbie considered her reply and he tapped the phone against his mouth as he decided how to react.

Curry. Bottle of wine. My place? x

Laura smiled at the message. He could be incredibly sweet when he wanted to be and she loved him for trying to make the effort.

Make it my place and you're on. x

Robbie grinned to himself, and set his phone down on the arm of the sofa. He'd missed Laura this week. It was ridiculous really. They'd been back from Dorset for ten days and in that time he'd only seen her three or four times. Once for the promised quiet evening in. Once to give her a second opinion on a house she'd found. He'd liked the house, and more importantly, Laura liked it too. He suspected she was going to make an offer on it, and he was relieved that she'd be safe again. He wondered how she was sleeping, given their experiences in Dorset. Typical Laura, giving the impression that all was well on the surface and haunted by terrible nightmares and crippling insomnia in reality. He sighed, remembering how good it had felt to hold her in his arms.

You doing anything tonight? x

On call. No plans. For obvious reasons. You? x

Nothing much. Sat here, thinking about you. x

Laura laughed at the message, and picked up her tea, taking another sip.

You angling for a bed for the night? x

Robbie considered her message. Was he? Hell, why not? If she was offering.

You know I'll get called out… x

True. Worth the risk though? x

Laura smiled to herself. The idea of having someone to curl up with tonight was very tempting. She hadn't slept as well the last few nights as she had in Dorset, though to her relief her nightmares were fewer and fewer.

By my reckoning? Definitely worth the risk. x

Fifteen minutes later, she heard a car pull up on the road, shortly followed by the latch on the front gate squeak. There was a sharp rap on the door, and Laura went to answer it. She glanced at the preview hole, and smiled to herself when she saw it was Robbie. She thought it probably was, but she was still a little twitchy about opening the door late at night. She opened the front door, and smiled at him. Robbie leant on the doorframe and grinned back. "Hi," she said softly. "Hello yourself," he replied, before stepping through the front door and closing it behind him. Dropping his briefcase in the hall, he followed Laura into the snug."Cuppa?" she enquired and he nodded. "Aye, please," he replied. As she turned to come past him, he considered her for a moment and then held out his hands to her. Laura sighed, before allowing him to take her hands and pull her into his arms. "How are you?" he asked and she smiled at him warmly. "I'm alright," she replied, and he ducked his head to kiss her cheek affectionately. "It's nice to see you, love," he murmured and Laura smiled. She looked up at him, and he smiled at her. "It's nice to see you too," she replied, brushing her lips against his. "Mmmhmm," he said, kissing her again and Laura sighed against his kiss. As they continued to kiss, Laura wound her wrists around Robbie's neck, and he slid his hands around her waist, drawing her close against him. Laura couldn't have said how long they stood there, for the novelty of being drawn into Robbie's arms and kissed slowly and sensuously had far from worn off. Her cheeks were faintly flushed when they eventually drew apart and they smiled at each other happily.

"Still want that cuppa?" she enquired softly, and Robbie nodded. "Go sit on the sofa, I'll bring it through," Laura offered, and he kissed her cheek again, before releasing her from his arms. When she returned, she had a sizeable mug of tea in each hand, and a sizeable packet of biscuits tucked under her arm. She handed a mug to Robbie, neglecting to mention it was decaff, then set her own mug down on the coffee table before passing him the biscuits and settling down on the sofa next to him and stretching her legs out. Robbie slung his arm around her shoulder, tugging her back so that her shoulder rested against his chest, and then pressed his lips against the side of her head. Laura smiled to herself, before picking up her tea and sipping from it. "So how was your day?" Robbie enquired, and Laura sipped some more tea. "Quiet. Sorted the mortgage out. Accepted an offer on this place. Instructed the solicitor. That sort of thing." Laura replied, settling back against him, "How was yours?" Robbie considered for a moment before he replied. "Catching up with paperwork," he replied "and humouring Hathaway's mutterings about the aforementioned paperwork. He's due in court next week, but he needs to get his house in order on our last case before he can go back to that case. Honestly, you'd think he hadn't done this tens of times before." Laura smirked slightly and Robbie sighed. An hour of easy chatter later and still cuddled up on the sofa, Laura stifled a yawn. "I should probably turn in," she mused and Robbie pressed a kiss into her hair. "Mind if I join you?" he enquired and Laura smiled. "Well, I'd rather hoped you would," she replied and he grinned. "Let me clear up this," Laura said but Robbie stopped her. "Let me," he insisted and she shrugged her shoulders easily.

Laura began to lock up the house, as Robbie washed up their mugs, and they met back in the hallway a few minutes later. "Bed?" Robbie enquired and Laura nodded. She slid the bolt on the front door, and turned off the light before heading up the stairs after Robbie. "Bathroom's all yours," Laura said, as she switched her bedside light on and Robbie considered the room around him. It was so very Laura. Neat, with a large pile of books next to the bed, and a large bed, dressed with an expensive looking throw. He retrieved his toothbrush and wash bag, and took himself off into the en suite. Laura sat down on the edge of her bed and tried to decide what to wear to bed. She considered the options, and plumped for a pair of soft cotton pyjamas, changing quickly. She wrapped her dressing gown around her, and looked up as Robbie came back into the room. "Alright?" he enquired and she nodded. He laid his suit trousers out over the armchair in the corner, and hung his suit jacket over the wing of it. Laura grinned at him, and he considered her for a moment. "What are you smirking about?" he enquired, as she made her way towards him and began to undo his shirt, allowing her fingers to smooth over his chest. "Just enjoying my proximity to a very handsome man," Laura replied happily and Robbie chuckled. She eased the shirt away from his shoulders and he enveloped her in his arms. "I need to do my teeth," Laura reminded him as he cupped her cheek and he sighed. "Go and get into bed," Laura told him, "I won't be long."

Laura did her teeth quickly, and then washed her face before heading back into her bedroom. Robbie was tucked up under the duvet, reading and she smiled at the sight. As she got into bed, he put down the book on the bedside table and she smiled at him. Laura discarded her dressing gown at the end of the bed and settled down on the pillows. "How have you been sleeping?" Robbie enquired, as she slipped her hand into his and they lay, watching each other for a few moments. "Not too bad," Laura replied. "And the nightmares?" Robbie enquired, caressing her fingers. Laura grimaced. "Not so frequent," she said, and Robbie sensed that it wasn't worth pushing it. "Good," he replied. Laura turned, and switched the lamp out before turning back to Robbie. She settled back against the pillows, so that she was facing him and he shifted himself slightly so that their foreheads were touching, and their hands still intertwined. In the near darkness, they smiled at each other, enjoying the nearness of each other. After a few more moments had passed, Laura tilted her face so that their noses were touching and Robbie felt her smile. He brought his hand up, tilting her chin up so that he could kiss her and she hummed her appreciation as their lips met. Kissing Laura was something Robbie thought might never get old. These soft, gentle explorations of each other were tantalising and he was thoroughly enjoying getting to know her better. As they continued to kiss, Robbie drew Laura against him and she slipped her hand over his waist and around his back, her palm resting in the small of his back. Slowly they undressed each other, and Laura sighed in satisfaction as they continued to kiss, skin against skin. Robbie trailed his fingertips down from her shoulder, over her ribs and down to her hip, sliding his hand around her bottom and cupping it. "Oh love," he murmured and Laura sighed happily. He kissed his way down her body, and Laura arched her back as he nuzzled against one breast and then the other. He feathered kisses across her stomach, but Laura touched his face, bringing him back level with her. "Let me touch you," he murmured and Laura kissed him deeply.

A trilling from the bedside table startled them out of their revelry and Laura swore viciously. She picked up her phone, and sat up in bed, pulling the covers around her and Robbie sank back against the pillows, wondering if his phone would ring next. Laura spoke quickly and decisively to Dispatch, before hanging up the phone and shaking her head. She sighed heavily, and switched on the bedside lamp before leaning over to kiss Robbie. "Sorry," she murmured and he kissed her back. "It's fine," he replied and she swung her legs out of bed, dressing quickly. "Stay?" she said as she reached the bedroom door and he nodded. "I shouldn't be too long. Fatal RTC, out beyond the A40," she explained and Robbie grimaced. "See you later, love," he said and Laura blew him a kiss. She made her way down the stairs, grabbing her decent winter coat, and a scarf, shoving her feet into her boots and picking up her case. She unlocked the front door, and stepped out into the night.