All Frieda/Michael centred and in no way relevant to reach other.
Can include spoilers for Boy Valentine, Girl Valentine.. Rebound & Tunnel Vision.
I do not own the characters of Holby City, that pleasure remains with the BBC.
- Anny, x.
1.
Post Tunnel Vision.
He'd seen a different side to her today; a funny little side. Yes, he'll admit that she has been a bit quiet since Penny Valentine died – but surely that had to be expected. But today was different: it was basically silence. It was worrying and it was what prompted him to do what he dad done next.
"Hey." He approached the newly made-up Frieda Petrenko now looking every bit herself.
"Oh, hi." The Ukrainian doctor glanced up from the file she was flicking aimlessly through.
"Listen do you fancy a drink?"
"Why?" He couldn't help but smile as he saw her eye him suspiciously.
"Hey, there's nothing sinister in it – I just thought you might feel like a drink?" She nodded silently, until Sunil walked by smirking in Michael's direction.
"He won't be there?" Her voice was suddenly was suddenly filled with the same lack of confidence from earlier.
Though he was quick to reassure her: "No. Just me and you tonight. Sorry about him earlier."
"Is okay." She smiled at his words before turning back to her file.
"So I can buy you a drink then?" He glanced at the doctor who was thoroughly absorbed in whatever she was reading.
"I suppose." Yet, she never looked up.
2.
Post Rebound.
Penny Valentine's death had caused a strange bond between them, somehow. She'd been there when he had got the news: they'd found her body amongst the rubble. He has known that she knew from the moment he looked at her when the phone call ended, even before he told her. When he finally forced himself to say the words – he'd watched the look on her face, in her eyes, as her entire world seemed to collapse on top of itself. He really didn't know what to do when the bag that only moments ago was over her shoulder slipped to the ground. He can't even remember what he did.
It was the same look that was in her eyes now, as she tried to understand how it was possible to celebrate Penny's life, when she had only just died.
"To Penny." Despite the barely concealed emotion he was relieved when she spoke, finally.
Then he realised that it was moments like those that meant he was not surprised when, less than two minutes later, he found himself cradling her in her arms, rocking her softly; as she finally accepted Penny's death and let the first, of many, tears slip down her cheeks.
Whispering soothing words into her hair, he gently took the glass from her and placed it back on the bar.
3.
Post Boy Valentine, Girl Valentine.
He walked out the of the morgue and headed in the one direction that seemed right: AAU.
Opening the office, he and realised that he was not the only one to seek refuge there.
"Okay to come in?" His voice was horse and choked with emotion. The huddled figure, however, simply nodded, before going back to staring at nothing.
However before he could move any further into the office Mary-Claire touched his arms softly and spoke: "She won't speak." It was all the tearful Irish nurse had to say. Michael just nodded in understanding as he entered the office, he sat next to the junior doctor and gently pulled her into his arms; an act he never imagined he would ever do. He felt her head fall against his shoulder as she spoke for the first time since she knew of Penny's death: "How was she?"
"Peaceful." While he wasn't sure what made him chose that particular description; he could not deny its truth.
If anyone was watching them, they would have, undoubtedly, noticed his relief when Frieda finally relaxed into his arms; them both lost in thought about a certain optimistic red-head.
4.
"Is this a Penny Valentine thing?" He spoke as walked away from her; she was being odd today.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
He turned in time to see the confusion etch across her face and replied: "The cheeriness?"
She arched an eyebrow in reply as she shot back her own retort: "Aren't I allowed to be cheery?" She barely managed to restrain the smile that threatened to dance across her purple lips.
"Not unless there is a very, very good reason – though those are your rules and not mine." He prodded her arm playfully as he said the last word.
Giving into temptation she smiled up at him, as he placed a hand on the wall at either side of her; essentially trapping her, before pressing his lips to her cheek. Again, she raised an eyebrow, though this time without words.
"You're a little strange, you know that?"
Ignoring his question, she shot back with one of her own: "Why would this be a Penny thing? What does that even mean?" She lifted her green eyes up at meet his; yet she still remained trapped between his arms.
"She mentioned something about a Good Mood Frieda once, do I ever get to meet her?" He shifted himself closer to her as he watched her settle on her answer.
"Only if you are very, very good…"
"Really..?" He breathed the word out as he closed the gap between them capturing her lips with his.
"What about now?" He smirked down at her.
"We'll see, now I believe we are to treat patients." She whispered softly, as she pushed past him taking the file from a clearly confused Mary-Claire – who was having difficulty forming words yet looked like she spontaneously combust at any moment.
5.
"Flowers?" She stood hand on hip in the doorway of the AAU office.
"You got them then?"
"You can't leave flowers on ward." She stated simply and he could no longer contain the smile which graced his face.
"Should've known you'd be awkward!" With that he moved from behind the desk and approached her.
"They're pink!" She stated accusingly as he laughed at her.
"Don't you like pink, angry Barbie?"
She smiled at the long forgotten nickname before hitting back with her own playful retort: "Well, it doesn't really go with image, American."
"Oh right, so if I took them home you'd put them in a vase?" He spoke as those the realisation had suddenly hit him, taking one of her hands.
"Perhaps!" Her eyes flashed with a playful glint of mischief as he pulled her into the office closing the door behind them and she reached across him to close the blinds.
###
"Domestic?" The questioning voice of Mary-Claire reached Chrissie's ears.
"Not sure." The blonde spoke as she reached over the desk to take the card which was placed in the flowers which sat on the nurse's station. She smirked as she showed to the Irish nurse with a roll of her eyes: 'Sorry, I think. Michael x.'
"Ah, Malick, do you know what's going on then?" Chrissie smiled sweetly at the doctor who simply tapped his nose before walking away.
###
"So if I've not done anything wrong then what is it?"
"I'm pregnant."
"Yeah?" He breathed deeply before turning to face her and gently placing a hand across her, still flat, stomach.
Then all very suddenly events of that morning made sense: "Does Malick know?"
"He guessed."
"Well I never."
"I am aware, anyway, do you mind?" Her eyes remained trained to the floor as she spoke.
"How long have you know?"
"A while. You said you had, had your children and this wasn't really planned and - " He cut her off quickly, cupping her cheek as he began to speak softly.
"If I told you, Mrs Spence, that I wanted to leave this office and go out there and tell the whole ward, how would you feel?"
"Shall we go then?" She smiled and offered him her hand as he gently pulled through the office door, only stopping once to sweetly kiss her lips, leading her onto the ward.
6.
"A balloon?" She raised a sceptical eyebrow at the proffered gift.
"I just thought it was something she'd do…" He shrugged his response, unsure if he was saying the right thing.
"Penny?"
"Yeah."
"Probably. So why?" She turned her attention back to the purple item in his hand.
"Thought you might miss it in a strange sort of way."
"Perhaps, a bit. Thank-you." She moved towards him, slightly, in order to take the purple balloon from his hand, and pressed a gently kiss to his cheek.
As the balloon transferred hands, his now free hand shot to her waist preventing to from moving pulling her closer. Their eyes locked for the few seconds that it took for his other hand to reach the back of her neck and somehow press their lips together.
The balloon floated upwards towards the ceiling; forgotten, when her hands found his hair and she responded to the kiss. He had her pushed back against the lockers when hey heard the door squeak – indicating that the already closed door had been closed, provoking them to finally part.
Gently resting his forehead against hers, he whispered softly in her ear: "Happy Birthday, Frieda!"
I have more I'll find the time to write them up if people are interested.