Hi all, new story. I decided to delete Don't Let Go because I wasn't really sure where I was going with it, and I struggled trying to use four main characters and make it good at the same time. Had this idea only recently, but have been wanting to write about Lily and Iain for a while - they're one of my favourite ships! My updates are likely going to be frequent but short for this story. I don't know how far I'm going to take this, it depends on what people want and how many ideas come to me! Suggestions are always always always welcome :-)

The room spun. Lily bolted upright, breath coming in gasps. She squeezed her eyes closed, just a dream. No car anywhere. Just a bed. Her bed. Familiar, yet weirdly unnerving all the same. Her mouth felt uncomfortably dry. Water. She reached for her phone on the bedside table to check the time. Not even 2 in the morning. She sighed, as the illuminated screen faded to black. Deciding the drink couldn't wait any longer, she made her way through to the poky kitchen. It was relatively modern, but all the same, Lily struggled to operate the tap in the dark. She'd only recently had building and plumbing work - two days before her accident, in fact. She'd been working solid for the days since and hadn't really had time to get used to the amendments, especially not in the dark. The tap seemed to be on a sensor, but it was dark, and she had no way of knowing what was hot or cold. She couldn't help but feel annoyed - a tap, for God's sake. The most easy thing, and she couldn't do it. Too weak, too tired. She was so busy trying to work it out that she had no idea a figure was behind her.

She saw the shadow on the material of the blind and jumped, water flying everywhere. 'Lily?'

'Shit! Iain!' Lily hissed.

'Don't swear,' He replied, but couldn't help chuckling. Bad language just didn't sound right coming out of Lily's mouth. Iain had agreed to stay a couple of nights, pitched up on the sofa, just so Lily had help should she need it. She tried to turn it down, but he was insistent. She'd eventually given in, it was no use fighting a losing battle.

'I'll swear as much as I wish. I have spilt the water everywhere, including down myself! What were you even doing, anyway?' She snapped.

'Getting a drink, just like you.' Iain replied, his calm attitude contrasting with hers. There was an inflection in his voice that led Lily to believe he was amused. This just made her even more mad.

'Well, don't let me stop you.' She spat, moving out the way with a glare that she wasn't sure he'd even see. The reflection of the moonlight that filtered through the blinds wasn't providing much light. She didn't know, truthfully, if she'd wanted him to see or not.

'Ladies first.'

There was a brief pause.

'I don't know that I can make the tap work again.' Lily finally admitted.

'Should've said.' Iain leaned and twisted the base of the tap. Sure enough, water started to flow.

'Is it cold?' She asked.

'Nah, hot. The way most people drink their tap water.' Iain replied. She rolled her eyes and gave him a scathing look. 'Ooh, if looks could kill.' He passed her a glass, full to the brim.

'Grown men who prat about in the night would be dead.' She shook her head, hair bobbing against her shoulders. She flounced off without a backward glance. Iain couldn't help but smirk. Even when ill, she could, without fail, sass him down to the ground.

After being settled a few minutes, Iain couldn't help but think of Lily. He kicked himself for not checking how she was. He stared at the ceiling, sick of the same boring patterns he'd watched for the past three hours. He'd stared that long, that they seemed to have faces. Either the insomnia or the events of the past few days had finally pushed him over the edge into delirious mode. Without a further thought, he rose from the sofa and went to knock on the door of her room lightly.

'Sorry, did I wake you?' Iain asked, as he stood in the doorway.

'No...' Lily lied, not managing to suppress a yawn.

'Look, I just wanted to check you're okay, and that you're settled, you know.' Iain nodded.

'I'm fine. Honestly.'

'Good. If you need anything...'

'Actually..' Lily sighed, voice a whisper.

'Yeah?' Iain replied quickly, all too ready to accommodate whatever request she had.

'Stay.'

Iain hesitated, dithering in the doorway. 'I don't want you to think I'm coming on to you, I'm more than happy on the sofa. I just couldn't settle knowing I hadn't asked you how you were.'

'I... I had a dream about the car again.' She whispered faintly. 'Before I came for water.'

'Oh, Lily, I-' Iain was interrupted again by Lily.

'Don't talk. I'm tired. Just, please stay.'

Neither of them knew if it was the helpless plea in Lily's voice, or the fatigue in them both, or even Iain's own feelings that swung the decision.

And he stayed.