Doc Martin, and these characters, are owned by Buffalo Pictures. I own nothing, except my limited imagination. As I watch certain episodes of the show, I find myself wondering why they didn't take different paths when opportunities presented themselves. This little story comes from Season Three, as I'm sure will be apparent to any interested readers. Biscuit

Taking Charge

"Louise … we were wondering if you could do us a huge favor?" The three of them, a man, woman and boy stood at her door way, the man holding a bottle of wine.

"It's Louisa and you are?" asked Louisa as she stood in the open doorway, neither inviting them in nor closing the door just yet.

"I'm Antony and this is my wife, Terri … We're your new neighbors next door," said Antony.

"And you're Sam and you start in my school next week," Louisa completed the introductions.

Terri said, "Our kitchen is filled with boxes and we're desperate to open this bottle. We were wondering if we could borrow a corkscrew?"

Ever accommodating, Louisa moved back as she said, "Sure, come in. Martin, this is Terri, Antony and Sam. They've just moved into old Mrs. Averil's place next door. This is Martin, Dr. Ellingham, our local GP."

When after another 15 minutes of chatting, Terri suggested that they invite themselves for dinner since their kitchen was in such a disarray from the move, Louisa had had enough. Very politely she said, "Well, actually, you've interrupted an important meeting between Dr. Ellingham and myself. I'd be happy to lend you plates, silverware, glasses … whatever you like. We can have a proper get together when you're more settled. Thanks for understanding."

With that, she collected plates, silverware, a roll of paper towels, and ushered them to the door.

Martin was impressed with the way she commanded the situation. "Thank you for doing that. I was at a loss, and frankly, they were getting on my nerves."

"Well, Martin, you are my guest in my home. I didn't invite them, I invited you. And the person I wanted to have dinner and a talk with this evening is you, not them," explained Louisa as she set about getting their food ready to grill. "I'm sorry that we got delayed, but I'm hoping that we won't eat too late for your personal schedule."

"Since you were so masterful in showing them the door, I can hardly be so ungracious as to bolt owing to a personal dining schedule. That would rude in the extreme. I'm not exactly known for being gracious or flexible, but I will agree that I'd like to stay and have dinner, even if it's a bit later than I normally prefer," said Martin. "What can I do to help?"

"Why don't you grill the fish? The fire has been ready, and I don't think it will actually take very long," said Louisa as she handed him the bowl where the fish had been marinating. "I'll finish up the vegetables and dress the salad. And I think I'll have another small glass of wine."

As they companionably prepared dinner, each focusing on something they were reasonably good at, it occurred to both that just being in each other's presence made them feel happy. They liked having something to do. It took the pressure off awkward conversation and misunderstanding. They had decided to move their dinner and conversation indoors. The wind had kicked up a little bit, and they really didn't want to be under the visual scrutiny of Louisa's new neighbors.

Being inside and sitting at Louisa's table over dinner was both comforting and intimate. The food was delicious, and they enjoyed sharing a meal.

As they were finishing their meal, Louisa asked Martin a question: "Martin, can I ask you a question? Why did you accept my dinner invitation? What were you hoping to accomplish?"

Martin turned a bit red and he stammered a response. "Well, you invited me and I do have to eat and eating together can be a pleasurable experience … I don't think I thought beyond that, except that we've tried repeatedly to get together for something simple like a meal, and we're always interrupted. I suppose, if I thought about it, that I had hoped that in the privacy of your home, we would be spared that annoyance. For that matter, why did you invite me?"

"Don't be coy, and don't answer a question with a question, please," she responded. "But since you asked, I'll admit that I too want to spend some uninterrupted time with you. I keep thinking that you and I have some kind of … connection. But we'll never know what it is because we spend so little time together, the 'whatever it is' hasn't had time to take root, or develop or anything. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, it does," Martin admitted. "And let me say … thank you for inviting me. I agree, it's been bloody impossible for us to have 10 minutes' quiet time together, without being interrupted by my practice, or a villager or malingerer or one of your students or friends. This village is unbelievably intrusive. One of the things that has always struck me is how different you are from everyone else here. Although you grew up here, you seem to aspire to more things than just being from Portwenn, if you know what I mean. I'm not trying to be offensive, just saying you're more ambitious in a good way, than the average person here."

"I'm not so very different, Martin," said Louisa. "In fact, it's one of the things that has made me doubt whether you could really be attracted to me. I can't hide the fact that Cornwall lacks the sophistication of town … and perhaps in your exile here, you would not want to be permanently tied to the place by getting involved with a local, like me." She looked away as she said this, for it was somewhat of an embarrassing thought to her.

Martin was surprised by this admission for several reasons. First, although he thought of her as having some prickliness and insecurities, he always focused more on his insecurities than hers. She seemed to fit in so well in this village. Second, despite his "exile" here from London, he loved the beauty of Portwenn. True, he missed being a celebrated surgeon, but he didn't miss the milieu, the competitiveness of it. When he thought about it, he was glad to have resurrected his career by changing direction and he had chosen a beautiful place in which to do it. So the villagers were annoying, so the intrusions into his space and time were daily. But there were benefits too … being closer to Joan, his only real family, opening the door onto the harbor, and wonderful sea air, to name a few. And of course, being near Louisa, who kept trying to spend time with him, despite his attempts to avoid getting involved.

"Louisa, you asked me what I was hoping to accomplish by coming to dinner. I suppose I was hoping that by spending a little private time together, we might just get a little more comfortable around each other. Also, what we are to each other might become more apparent," Martin said. "One thing that concerns me is that, on the surface, we have so little in common … other than living near each other in this remote village and, I suppose, being single."

"I was thinking along the same lines," confessed Louisa. "As much as I've resisted it, I'm undeniably attracted to you. I've told you that, and I've invited you a couple of times to events or dinner … Martin, I don't know how I can be clearer. Are you interested in me or us at all?"

"Well, I am here. I think it's obvious that I like you and am attracted to you … but really, who wouldn't be attracted to you. You are … so very beautiful," Martin said, his voice dropping, as if he was suddenly shy and unable to state a simple fact, although he kept his eyes trained on hers as he said it.

"Martin, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me … sober," said Louisa as she closed the distance between them, moving well into Martin's personal space, also without breaking her gaze at him.

As their lips met, tentatively and so gently at first, then hungrily as their kiss deepened and their bodies pressed against each other, they each felt the thrill of doing something they'd fantasized about for quite some time. The intensity of their kisses increased, and they felt a bit breathless when they finally pulled apart, although they were still holding each other.

Neither wanted to break the spell of the moment by talking or moving or anything. Finally Louisa suggested that they sit together on the couch. Once he sat down, she found a suitable place on his lap. "Martin, that was great. I knew we had it in us to be really good together. Didn't you?" she asked.

He replied, "If you must know, it's even better than I imagined it would be. I know you said before that we kissed the night we shared that wine, but Louisa, I honestly remember very little of that night. This time I'm sober, as you have already pointed out, and kissing you is a thousand times better than anything I could imagine. In fact, I like having you sitting on my lap, where I can wrap my arms around you and enjoy just being this close."

Louisa melted at hearing him say these things. She was dangerously close to … well, to doing something he might not approve of. She didn't want to spook him, however thrilled she was with the giant leap forward their relationship had just taken.

"Let's take things at a pace we're comfortable with. We've taken this long to get this far, let's savor the moments together and let's plan for at least a few more of them," she said, laughing and hugging him, as she kissed his face, and neck, and nuzzled his ear.

"That tickles," Martin said as he grabbed her closer. "Stop. Don't stop … well, don't stop completely." Neither had ever felt like this before. They enjoyed the closeness they felt, they enjoyed the privacy which, up until now had eluded them. Each felt a pang of regret that they hadn't gotten to this point a little sooner.

"I'd better go. I require a full eight hours of sleep and it's getting to be that time," he said as he stood up. He didn't want her to think that he was like every other man she might have known, only focused on one thing. Nor did he want to take advantage of her, however much they both might want him to. No, what he wanted was to treat her with respect and take things slow.

"You don't have to go so soon on my account," said Louisa. "But if you insist on it, let me say this. I'm so glad you came for dinner tonight. And I am even gladder that we didn't let my new neighbors derail our plans, and that you were flexible in your dining conventions. Martin, I think we've crossed a line and I think this is a good development. Don't you think it's a good thing?"

"Of course I do. Louisa, I'm going to leave now. Thank you for a lovely evening. Next time, perhaps I can persuade you to come to my house for dinner. I'm actually a decent cook, and I would enjoy preparing a meal for us," Martin said as he led her to the door. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. You were right, this was fun." And with a kiss on her cheek, and then her lips, he turned and went out into the night.

He walked confidently down the hill in the dark, thinking about what had just transpired. Louisa clearly wanted to be with him. Kissing her was exquisite. The thought of her made him warm all over as he walked back up the hill, past the restaurant, and let himself into Fern Cottage.

As she closed the door, Louisa had a smile on her face that wouldn't go away. Martin was a perfect gentleman, but the passion that lurked beneath the surface when they kissed was absolutely palpable. She could sense how turned on he was by kissing her. It was thrilling to know they had crossed a line tonight. What would tomorrow bring?