Hello! This is the second part of the Firmament series – Galaxies! To understand some of the stuff here, I encourage you to read the first part. They're somehow related. In this story I will cover how in my AU Isobel and Richard met and married, so it won't have a logical order of happenings. Read the notes and you shall find your way to Mordor- I mean to enjoy this story! Reviews are welcome!

- March 2007

"By heavens, would you get out of that damned bathroom, Elsie Hughes?" I yelled at her, quite nervous already.

My name is Isobel Crawley. I haven't always lived in London. I was born and raised in Manchester and I also married there, but I moved here to work. I'm a nurse, you see. A quite good one. But my life wasn't easy. I'm a widow. My husband died not long after my only son, Matthew, was born. It was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I was alone, with bills to pay, a child to raise, and shifts to take. My life was a living hell.

And then Elsie happened. She was so young when I first met her – thirty years ago. She wanted to be something else. To study. She didn't want to stay in her old house. She wanted to see the world. And she came to me searching for a room to stay, and then boom. I've been living with her for 30 years. Some people call us mad, but it's true. We even got a bigger flat for us both. We've been more than friends, we've been sisters. And I love that Scottish, strange girl. She took care of my son while he was still a baby and even though I couldn't pay her she didn't mind nor she had ever charged me. It was like I already knew her since I was born.

But right now we're to go to a party the man she works to is throwing. Charles Carson is the owner of one of the best law companies in the whole country and sometimes he throws parties for his co-workers. I was invited because my son, Matthew, also works there. And even when he was still studying I attended the parties. Elsie helped me with that.

"I don't know why you sound so hasty, Is. I mean, it's polite to arrive ten minutes late, is it not?" Elsie said, getting out of the bathroom, one earing in hand, and looking completely beautiful. Simple dark blue dress, heels with the same color, and her make-up was quite simple. "Do I look good? Because you do." She asked me.

I smiled at her, still a bit annoyed. "Yes, you do look good. You always do. Come, unless you want to arrive half an hour late."

I smoothed my white dress and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I sighed and picked up my purse, ready to get out of the house to get seriously drunk.

- Half and hour later –

Oh, we weren't late ten minutes. We were late exactly half an hour. I hated to be late to things. I wasn't even late for my first wedding. I was there, on time, going down the aisle. But no. Elsie always took an amazing amount of time giving the "finishing touches" on her make-up. Not that she needed to but she loved to. But I was the one choosing the things she should wear. She had still a terrible taste in things to wear to such occasions. Can't blame the girl, she never cared to learn while she was at Scotland.

"See? All is good." She said, clinging on my arm.

"I feel like slapping you, Elsie. You know how I am towards these things." I rolled my eyes and walked inside the room the party was.

I was completely astonished by the decorations around me. The shades of gold of the walls with the black tile on the ground made everything seem so… rich. So glamorous. Charles was a wealthy man and he could afford things like these. By this time Elsie was almost dragging me around as I was completely distracted. I was so distracted that I could bump into someone and not even noticing it.

…And I did. How good of you, Isobel. Really lady-like.

"I'm quite sorry, I should look at where I was going." I blushed nervously, completely ashamed. Thank heavens I wasn't even looking at the person I bumped into.

"Oh, don't be. I should be the one apologizing." A manly voice said, quite melodious to my hears.

I saw Elsie greeting the man. "Dr. Clarkson." She said.

Dr. Clarkson? Richard Clarkson? I looked up to see if I wasn't mistaken. No. I wasn't. I could barely forget a man like him. You know when you always have that unreachable man at work that you actually quite fancy because of his inner and outer beauty? Richard Clarkson was the man. I never worked with him directly but I did know him. He was a very good and cherished doctor. I don't know how Elsie would know him, though. He wasn't even her doctor. But those eyes… and that accent of his. His hair. His voice. His so old-fashioned moustache. God help me, that man was everything I ever asked in a man.

"Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Crawley. I take you've just arrived." He smiled at us.

"Hm-Yes, yes, late, but yes." I said nervously. Elsie looked at me and smiled in a way I've only seen her smile once or twice.

"I've always heard that it was polite to arrive ten minutes late." He said, being followed by an amazingly intense but quiet and polite laugh, joined by Elsie.

"I've been telling her that for years. But she never listens to me. Perhaps you should tell her more about that?" Elsie glanced at both of us, leaving my arm. "I shall leave you two alone."

No! Elsie! No! Damn it. I'm no good in this situations. Elsie was always better around men than me. I always act so closed and introverted that only the most persistent men managed to do something with me. Although that hasn't happened in quite a few years.

"Well, to apologize of my misbehavior tonight… Let me get you a drink, Mrs. Crawley." He gave me his arm. So gentlemanly of his. But I was surprised at how he knew my name. That wasn't usual. "We're not on duty. We can drink as much as we want."

The tone of humour on his voice was very appealing as well. Damn, that man was seducing me so easily.

"We're always on duty, Dr. Clarkson." I answered him, gladly taking his arm.

He laughed. "Please, don't call me by that… I don't have my habit, and you most certainly don't have yours… By all means, call me Richard."

So soon and he was already giving me allowance to use his first name. "Well then, call me Isobel as well. I mean, it's not like we've never met."

He looked at me quite warmly with his deep eyes. I smiled at him as he carefully drove me to the nearest counter. He ordered us two gin and tonics and we waited for the barman to give us our cups.

"So. What are you doing here, Richard?" I asked, breaking the ice, grabbing my cup.

He took a sip of the liquid and looked at me, leaning on the counter. "I'm Carson's doctor. He invited me and I had time to come here. I take you're here because of your son?"

I nodded yes, taking a sip of my drink.

- One Hour Later –

We couldn't stop talking. Seriously. I was listening so carefully to him I could write down everything he said. I asked him about his life, about Scotland, all those cliché questions we all get to see on the movies. He went along with it and asked me quite a few questions as well. I got to know him better and more and more I knew that I wouldn't lose sight of him. He wasn't married and apparently he wasn't taken. He couldn't take his eyes off me and I couldn't do it either. Oh heavens, the man was beautiful.

He took me to the balcony of the first floor of the building we were and there was no one there but us. The sudden chilly wind made me lean on him, something I regretted half a second after but since he did not retaliate.

"The sky tonight is quite beautiful, isn't it?" He asked, carefully putting an arm around me.

I shivered at his touch on my skin, even though through the fabric of my dress. I was on his arms and I only got to know him that day. Wasn't it going too fast? What if I would have feelings for him that he wouldn't have for me back?

"Indeed." I sighed, staring at the sky. "It is indeed beautiful."

As soon as I took time to breathe deeply again, I had already turned to him, and he already engulfed me in his embrace. I was breathless, speechless, as his head was dangerously close to mine. I closed my eyes and let the flow of the night and the alcohol in me drive my lips against his, kissing him so gently but at the same time so boldly I could taste every bit of his mouth. It was too soon, it was too soon.

But whatever. I'm not seventeen anymore. If this is to be a one night stand, let it be.