A Treasure Once Lost, Now Found.
Chapter One
They landed hard on the cold stone ledge, side by side. Patrick felt the soft flesh on her hand next to his. He lifted himself to turn and look at her. He searched deep into the green eyes of the woman he had fallen in love with and smiled. Only two days ago he had been standing in his living room arguing with his son about coming no where near her. He blinked, unsure of why he'd decided he never wanted to see her again. Of course he knew why, she drove him insane, she was neurotic, she could find fault in everything and everyone, AND she was the one who was supposed to have packed the toothbrushes! She never stopped talking, everything had to be tidy and in order, she couldn't just let anything be – no wonder her students hated her. But he loved her, he knew that then and there, he loved her, all her faults included. They'd both nearly died because of his inabilities with a rope swing and he hadn't told her.
Emily lifted her self up a little to look into his face. Before her was a man she had once been madly in love with, a man she was still madly in love with if she was truly honest with herself. She could feel the dull ache in her heart, the one she felt every morning when she woke to the realisation that he wasn't beside her. All rational thought evaporated from her, and her heart took control. She could suddenly feel her self leaning towards him, her lips gently met his. The tingle of passion spreading through her body, entangling itself with the dull throb of desire in the pit of her stomach, the one only he could satisfy.
The cool air of the cave touched her damp lips as they broke apart.
"Em…" He began.
"We should keep going and find the others." She interrupted.
"Yeah" he said, scrambling to his feet and offering her his hand. She ignored it, lifting herself from the dusty floor and brushing the dust from her clothes. He pulled his hand away and reached for the torch.
Patrick led the way down the dark tunnel, stretching the lantern in front of him to illuminate their passage. Clod drips of water trickled from the ceiling, echoing through the gloom. Emily gasped as an icy droplet tumbled down the back of her neck.
"Pat?" She murmured, interrupting the silence. He turned, moving the lantern to cast its' light across her face. "I'm sorry. I don't think I ever got round to saying that before. I'm sorry for hurting you, for giving up on our family, for everything." With his free hand he cupped her cheek.
"You don't need to apologise, Emmy." Her heart skipped as she heard him call her 'Emmy', something only he had ever done. "We both made mistakes, there are things we both could have done to save us, but we didn't. There's nothing either of us can do to change that now. It's all in the past, the best we can do is learn from it and move on."Emily nodded and smiled. Patrick took her hand and continued down the passage way.
"If we get out of here alive, can we talk," she asked softly. Patrick looked across at her, brushing a stray silvery curl behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek a little longer than needed. "About us." She finished. He squeezed her hand in his.
"We will." He said simply. "I'll take you to dinner tonight and we can discuss it then." He ended 'matter of fact'ly. Then, noting the slightly pained expression on her face, continued, "And if you are to tired, we'll order room service and we can eat and discuss it in bed!" Emily wrapped her free arm through his, still keeping hold of his hand with the other.
"And what makes you think Patrick Gates," She scoffed, "That I will be anywhere near your bed tonight!"
"Experience."