Sorry it's been so long since I published anything, I've been really busy lately and although I've been writing none of the stories I am working on have been ready to start publishing until now. I'm already missing the new series of Not Going Out, I wish there had been more episodes. Roll on the Christmas Special! I've been rewatching old series of Not Going Out and after a series 4 marathon I was inspired to write this. I hope you enjoy it, it's going to be several chapters long.

Lee and Lucy were sat on the sofa, talking. Lee had finally been alllowed home from hospital a couple of days ago, and he was at last feeling like himself again after the disorientation of waking up from a week long coma.

"When you were in a coma, did you dream?", Lucy asked.

Lee started to tap one foot nervously.

"A bit".

"What did you dream about?"

Lee had hoped Lucy wouldn't ask him this question, as he didn't really know how to answer it.

"Just my recurring one about being chased by a giant orangutan whilst he's strangling a cat. I'm going to have to stop watching those Simply Red videos".

Lee, unsure whether he should tell Lucy that he dreamt about little else other than her, had decided to try and brush her question off with a joke, just as he always did when things got intense between them.

"Come on, what did you dream about?"

Lucy wasn't going to leave it then.

"I dreamt about you actually".

"Did you?"

Lucy seemed surprised, and intrigued.

"You were married with kids".

"Who to?"

"Don't know who it was".

"Was he good looking?"

"I would, in fact I have".

Lucy wondered what on earth Lee was talking about. She'd noticed his body language change though, he seemed on edge now, and was trying to avoid eye contact with her.

"What was he like?"

"Oh, you know the type. Witty and erudite, with a fine line in sarcasm that always manages to stay on the right sue if endearing, and a nice light touch when it came to risqué banter that always managed to be cheeky and never blue".

"Hmmm...that sounds strangely like someone I know..Lee...was it you? Was I married to you in your dream?"

Lucy was pretty sure now that this was what Lee was getting at, but she was certain he would try to change the subject any second.

Lee hesitated. He had felt a new closeness between them since he had woken up, and he had been aware of Lucy's constant presence at his bedside when he was in hospital. He hadn't mentioned it to her but he knew she'd been there, nearly all of the time. He'd heard her talking to him, felt her holding his hand, unwilling to let it go, he'd heard her refuse to go home to sleep when Tim had told her to. So he felt more confident than before, and if recent events had taught him anything it was that life was too short. Too short to keep dancing around the truth. So he found himself compelled to be honest, despite his nerves,

"Erm...I...I...yes...we were married".

His voice had become really quiet now, and he was shifting where he sat, clearly nervous.

Lucy looked a little surprised at his confession. She hadn't really expected him to say that, she'd expected him to tell another joke and change the subject. Did this mean he had feelings for her? She hardly dared hope.

"Oh...how many kids did we have...and were we happy?"

She wasn't sure what else to say.

"We had loads of kids, I lost count, and we had our ups and downs, but in the end... yes we were happy".

He didn't tell her that he almost didn't wake up because he didn't want to leave her.

"Lee...what do you think it meant? They say all dreams have meanings right?"

"Err..l..."

Lee was scared now, but the way Lucy was looking at him, if seemed she might be receptive. He gave himself a talking to in his head, deciding he had to be brave and just tell her.

"It means...I may have feelings...for you".

Lucy gulped. Her pulse started to race, and she'd suddenly become very aware of her heartbeat.

"May have?"

"It means...l like you...that maybe I'd like to be more than just friends but I realise that will probably never happen so I don't really know why I'm telling you this..."

"Who said that?"

"No one but I assumed you don't look at me in that way".

Lucy couldn't believe what she was hearing. Lee never talked about his feelings, it was the thing that frustrated her about him the most. Maybe the doctor at the hospital had been right. Maybe Lee had woken up from his coma a more sensitive, emotionally mature person.

"Well, maybe you're wrong. The truth is, when you were in hospital, and we didn't know if you were going to pull through, or if you'd be the same person when you woke up...I...the way I felt...the way it...seeing you like that...affected me, it sort of surprised me. It made realise a few things".

"What things?"

"Sorry, I know I'm babbling and I'm probably not making any sense but even before your accident...recently, my feelings for you seem to be changing...or maybe they were always... What I mean is, they seem to be developing into...something new. I don't quite what that something is but I'd like to explore it further...".

"Really? You mean there's a possibility of something happening between us?"

"I'd say it was more than a possibility".

Lucy smiled, shyly. Lee inched closer to her and began to lean in, as though he was going to kiss her.

"Wait... if it's okay I'd like to take this slowly, see how things go before we dive into anything...you know, physical. Maybe we could start with a date".

Lee looked slightly disappointed as Lucy moved away from him, and she felt bad. She wanted to kiss Lee, she really did, but she had started to feel a little overwhelmed by the situation. He nodded, almost secretly relieved. As much as he wanted to kiss Lucy, more than kiss her, the thought of taking that step scared him to the point his hands had started to tremble. He felt himself start to breathe again,

"Actually, I've got two tickets to Wimbledon on Saturday. I was going to ask if you wanted to go".

"I'd love to. You can teach me all about dog racing, I'm sure it will be fun".

"I don't mean the greyhounds this time. I've got tickets to the tennis".

"No way!".

Lucy's face lit up, and she couldn't stop herself from grinning.

"Yep, though it's court one I'm afraid, my budget wouldn't quite stretch to Centre court tickets".

"I don't care which court it is, I've just always wanted to go. I can't wait".

"Great, neither can I. When I bought them I worried you'd say no when I asked. I thought you might have a better offer".

"No, the only thing had lined up on Saturday was with the hoover and ironing board. I was going to spend the day doing housework".

"So is it a date then?"

"It's a date"...