Hi :) I'm back, this time with a mammoth multi-chapter. This idea has been bugging me for weeks now, and I've planned it all out to make sure it made logistical sense, finally managing to get the first chapter written up over the last few days. I hope you all enjoy. (PS: shout out to the lovely Beth with the help with the title and the gentle coaxing which has helped me write over the last couple of days!)
Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he looked across the room, fiddling self-consciously with his tie. It was nearing midnight and he could safely say he was feeling pretty done-in, by now hyperaware of the warmth of the stuffed hall and the ridiculous volume of a piece of music he didn't recognise but everybody else seemed to enjoy. He hated parties, he always had, but the moment the invitation to Zoe and Max's wedding was stuffed through his letterbox he knew there was no way he was wriggling out of this one. Though he had enjoyed the day – the ceremony between his former boss and the chirpy porter had been touching and the reception quite beautiful, the party was just as he had expected, loud and definitely not his cup of tea. As for the wedding in general, he was surprised he was even considered as despite having a good relationship with his two colleagues he wouldn't exactly class them as friends. He suspected it had an awful lot to do with his brother – yes they were polar opposites but the Hardy-Knight brothers had been clubbed together as one entity by the staff of Holby ED and so it was a given; where there was Cal, Ethan had to be invited along too. He also suspected Zoe had a large part to play in the invitation – as soon as the date had been announced she'd been pestering a reluctant Ethan as to whether he was bringing a newly-returned Honey as his plus one; forever the matchmaker even at her own wedding. He'd not even considered the idea, more tempted to be one of the lonely souls who volunteered to be staff cover in the ED that day but after persistent nagging from his brother and also from Lily, who very clearly approved of the relationship between himself and Honey, he finally found the bottle…just about. Cal had teased him for weeks after he finally managed it, but for a painfully shy Ethan it was up there on his list of "life-achievements".
The brother in question was sat opposite Ethan at their table, a slightly tipsy Lily nestled in beside him. He'd steadily gotten her drunk as the party wore on and most out of character the young doctor had allowed the older man to place an arm around her as she giggled girlishly at whatever he was saying. Ethan kept trying to catch his brother's eye to give him a warning glare, knowing that tomorrow morning a sober Lily would not appreciate being taken advantage of, especially not by Caleb Knight. Wincing slightly as the crowded environment was starting to make his head hurt, he was starting to regret offering to be designated driver for his brother, best-friend and girlfriend – for once in his life he really needed a beer.
"Are you alright?" a voice from beside him made him jump, bringing him out of his slightly dazed state. He'd been so tired he'd almost forgotten about Honey's presence beside him.
"Oh yes, sorry Honey," he smiled warmly at the woman. "Just thinking."
Honey nodded, amused by the fatigue evident in her dates eyes. "You look knackered Ethan, do you want to start heading off?"
She knew when she began dating Ethan there would be very little late-night partying going on. The man could work a nightshift effortlessly but otherwise getting him to stay awake past 11pm was a struggle. She didn't mind, her wild days were long behind her and she relished the opportunity to relax a little. Being with Ethan had broadened her horizons – he'd taught her so much and she'd developed many new interests. To say she was smitten would be an understatement – the man had been the reason why (along with her father of course) she'd jumped at the chance to move back to Holby from Manchester once her grandmother had recovered. Of course, with the doctor being painfully shy it had taken a lot of patience once she had returned for the relationship to return to what it was before she left. But then once day, trembling and stuttering, he asked her to be his date to Zoe and Max's wedding. She said yes almost over-enthusiastically, though not conscious of playing hard to get anyway as it would break poor Ethan's heart. Between that day and the current occasion they'd spent more and more time together, both alone and with Cal and Lily whom had both had become firm friends of the barista. Honey could honestly say she was happier than she'd been in a long time.
"No! Don't be silly," the man replied. "The party is just getting started as Zoe would say," Ethan chuckled awkwardly, relaxing when Honey laughed in agreement.
"Well in that case Doctor," Honey smiled, moving closer to the man and lowering her voice. "Ask me to dance."
"Dance?!" Ethan choked, the panic rising in his eyes. "You should know I absolutely have two left feet Honey." Dancing was a bad idea – he'd surely show himself up in front of his girlfriend and never live it down from Caleb.
"Don't be silly," Honey grinned in response before getting to her feet and trying to balance precariously in her heels. "Look, everybody is dancing, your brother is far too busy flirting with your best-friend to notice anything else…ask me to dance?"
Ethan chuckled, glancing over at his brother momentarily to see he was indeed engrossed in trying to win Lily's affections. Biting the bullet, he sighed in defeat before clambering to his feet and approaching the barista before taking both of her hands in his own and pulling her closer to him.
"I can't promise you won't end up with fractured metatarsals," he laughed as he noticed the confused expression upon the girls face. "Foot bones," he clarified amusedly. "But Honey Wright, would you do me the honour of dancing with me on this fine evening?"
"You're such an idiot," Honey replied, trying to hide her blushes at the man's endearing chivalry. "Come on then," she smiled, almost dragging the man with her onto the dance floor. He looked somewhat lost amongst the other drunken partiers at first but soon got into the swing of it – Honey would even dare say he was enjoying it.
As a slower song started playing, Honey enjoyed the feeling of Ethan pulling her further into his arms. Fatigue finally catching up with her (she definitely needed another drink) she found herself resting her head against the man's shoulder.
"I don't ever want this to end," she admitted, whispering into Ethan's ear.
"What exactly?" he whispered confusedly in reply, but Honey could feel him grinning against her cheek.
"Hmm…this song, tonight, us being together…" she listed, before pulling away to look into the man's eyes. "I love you Ethan Hardy." She hadn't intended on saying it, getting caught up in the moment but it was the wholehearted truth. Looking deep into his gaze, she could have sworn she heard his breath catch slightly. As he said nothing, Honey could read the initial panic in his expression but it began to relax rather quickly. Pulling her in for a hug, Ethan pressed a kiss to the younger woman's forehead.
"Ditto," was all he could manage in reply. Truth be told he was completely flummoxed, definitely not anticipating such a statement from the girl currently in his arms. He loved her, he loved her immensely but never did he think she was that invested in their relationship. Nobody ever had been with him before now, he'd never heard those words uttered in his direction in his life before but it was almost as if he'd had an adrenaline rush, his heart beating ten to the dozen.
"What, you love yourself?" Honey joked, bringing the man out of his happy daze. She grinned as he laughed, looking happier than she'd ever seen him. It meant so much to her that she was able to be that person for him, the one who could bring him happiness. The man had been through a huge amount in his life, she knew that. Even in the past two years alone he'd lost his mother and almost died himself. She expected from fleeting conversations with his older brother that his childhood and adolescence hadn't been much better. She was grateful that because of her, his life was on the up - because he really deserved it.
"You think you're the comedian in this relationship don't you?" Ethan winked, before reaching to remove his glasses. He pulled the girl further towards him before pressing his lips to hers, bolder from her recent declaration of love. As they broke apart reluctantly, Honey reached to take the glasses from the man's grasp.
"You know you really don't have to take your glasses off Ethan," she giggled. "You're not going to knock me out with them."
Glancing around for just a second, she noticed the room had suddenly become a lot stuffier and a strange smell became apparent. Recognising it almost immediately from the time her boiler broke down, she turned back to Ethan who seemed oblivious.
"Can you smell gas?" she questioned. The question caught Ethan's attention and he looked straight at his girlfriend. Inhaling slightly, he did notice something didn't seem quite right. The panic kicked in almost immediately but before he could even answer bright lights assaulted his vision and he heard a whooshing sound as his ears started ringing. He felt himself falling as vibrations rippled around his body and he landed hard on what he assumed was the ground. Smoke billowed into the air around him and it filled his nostrils and mouth, but his body felt numb and didn't react. The lights faded but his vision didn't return – all he could see and taste was thick black smoke. He could hear what sounded like ripples of thunder as the roof caved in and debris falling around him like rain. As a piece landed on his head, the earlier numbness eased and an intense pain began to surface at the base of his skull, so sharp that he could only murmur weakly before he fell into unconsciousness.
So there's that! I wholeheartedly apologise for the cliffhanger but it is important. The next chapter will be up in the next few days - I hope you enjoyed, please do leave me a review if you have the time.