Hello readers! This is my first Doc Martin story! I'm a big fan of the series here in the U.S. and have been picking up some of the English terminology from the show and other Fanfiction writers to keep with the style and format. I've read many Doc Martin stories and they are all so wonderful that I wanted to be apart of it too. I noticed that there are some post-series 7 stories up, and I hope that I haven't written something similar to anyone else's. Anyway, I wrote this to be either a stand-alone short story or one that can be drawn out. Let me know if you think I should continue on or keep it as is. Enjoy!

Back On Track

They arrived back at the surgery just as the sun was beginning to set below the horizon. Martin removed the key from the ignition and turned to face his wife. "Louisa, I'm sorry about missing our dinner plans," he said.

Louisa shook her head and looked over at him in understanding. "It's alright, Martin. I'm just glad you're okay." She reached over and took hold of one of his hands.

"Mm. No, I mean . . . I never explained myself back at the moor. I wanted to be there, with you . . . and James, but . . ." Martin paused and looked down at their entwined fingers. "I just don't think I'm cut out for marriage. Everything I do, or say, just seems to make it worse. And I don't know how to make it better between us, Louisa. I need your help, to change, to be the husband you want."

Louisa shook her head vehemently, her ponytail swishing back and forth. "I don't want you to change completely, Martin. I mean, well, there are things you can work on - improve, myself included, but I love the way you are. Remember the night where I got you drunk and you spontaneously declared your love for me?" He nodded and she continued, "And I told you that you were gruff, rude, and monosyllabic? Well, it doesn't matter to me because now I know that underneath that gruff exterior there's a warm, caring, and sensitive man. The way you are with James Henry and me, that's the man that I love."

Martin inhaled a long breath of air before averting his eyes from Louisa's. "So you don't find my rudeness off putting?"

"Well, maybe sometimes, but I know you're just being honest. I know how much you care about the health of the villagers and that's why you get irritated with them."

"If only they'd listen to me and follow my instructions I wouldn't have to be so rude!"

They fell silent until Louisa let out a long yawn. "Um, I should be going. You're probably tired," Martin said.

"Yes, I didn't really sleep at all last night. I was too worried about you."

"Mm, me too. I mean, the situation, being held hostage. I kept thinking of you and James."

"Really?" Louisa was always touched and astonished by the tender words and thoughts her husband so rarely shared with her. It was one of the things she hoped he could improve on. But he couldn't read her mind. And communication seemed to be the biggest struggle between them. Maybe helping him understand her wants and needs was what she needed to work on?

"Yes. I thought that you'd be angry that I didn't show up as planned, and that I'd lose you because of it." Martin turned to fully face Louisa and gripped her hand more tightly. "I feared that I wouldn't see you or James again. The two of you mean everything to me." Martin paused to clear his throat as he struggled to voice his next thoughts. "That day at the hospital, when I came to take you home after your accident, and you said you were going to Spain with James, it broke my heart, Louisa. I couldn't . . ." Martin finally had enough as he could feel his eyes begin to water. Feeling embarrassed he looked away from her and stared out the window of the Lexus.

Louisa had tears in her eyes as well. Never had she witnessed Martin open up with her so emotionally. She began to feel guilty at his declaration. Was she responsible for her husband's recent bout of sadness? "Martin, I'm so sorry. I just thought at the time it was the right thing for me to do. I wasn't happy, neither of us seemed to be happy. It was the only thing I could think of to keep us from driving each other bodmin."

Martin continued to stare out the car window until he felt a warm hand caress the back of his neck. "Um, can I come in and say goodnight to James?" he asked hoarsely, changing the subject.

"Of course." They both felt some relief as they exited the car. It was an exhausting conversation but one that needed to happen in order for them to move forward.

Janice was occupying James with a stuffed animal as he sat in his playpen when Martin and Louisa walked in. Louisa thanked her for looking after him longer than usual. "Were you a good boy for Janice today, James?" Louisa happily asked her son while she picked him up off the floor. The boy gave his mother a giggle as he settled into her arms.

Martin was standing off to the side watching. Louisa turned and faced him. "Maybe you could stay and give James his bath? Keep up the usual nighttime routine?"

"Mm, yes." Martin stepped forward and took James from Louisa. He stood still for a minute just holding his son, in awe that he had a part in creating him. Never did he imagine that he would leave his passion for surgery to become a GP in a quaint Cornish village and later, a husband and father. He looked over at Louisa, who gave him a smile, before heading upstairs.

After dressing a bathed and sanitary James in his pyjamas, Martin carefully laid the boy down onto his cot. He brushed the backs of two fingers over his son's cheek and briefly counted out the pulse he felt at his neck. Leaning over the rail of the cot, Martin watched as James gave him a toothy smile and flung out a fist. Martin took hold of the boy's small hand and realised how fast he'd been growing. Soon, he thought, James will be walking and talking. He couldn't believe that twelve months ago, on the day he was scheduled to move back to London, this beautiful boy of his came into the world. And he had Louisa to thank for that.

He loved Louisa with everything he had in him, but found it difficult to express it. What came so naturally to her, felt alien to him. He knew being more emotional was something he needed to work on, he just didn't know how. He grew up without the love and affection he deserved, and when Louisa finally gave it to him, he had no idea how to cope with it.

"Is he asleep?"

Martin jumped at the sound of her voice and put a hand to his chest. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts he didn't hear her come up behind him. He looked down at James and realised he was fast asleep. "Yes. Mm," he grunted.

"Martin . . ." Louisa looked down at her hands as they nervously played with the hem of her cardigan. "Did you mean it when you said you didn't want to continue living in that flat?"

"Yes, I did."

"Um, I've been thinking . . . Well, I was going to bring it up over dinner yesterday, but . . ." She trailed off then looked up into his eyes. "I want you to move back in . . . into the surgery - here, with me and James."

Martin's eyes grew wide at her proposition."Are you sure? I mean, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable or, um, I don't want to make things worse."

"Yes, Martin, I'm sure. I think it's time we really start committing ourselves to our marriage - to each other. And we can't do that if we're living separately."

Martin ducked his head. "I see."

Louisa rolled her eyes at her husband's way with words. "So . . .? Will you move back in?"

"Yes, uhm, yes, I will move back in."

Louisa smiled at him then stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her head against his shoulder. "Good."

Hesitating briefly, Martin reciprocated her gesture, wrapping his arms around her slender waist and leaning his head down to rest against her's. He closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of her. His wife - the woman he loved more than anything - was giving him - them - another chance to get their relationship back on track.