Post ep S2e8.

Usual disclaimers still apply - characters, show, etc, does not belong to moi. This is for entertainment only. It has been years since I wrote a fanfic and this is my first attempt at Death in Paradise.

Picks up where the season/series 2 finale left off.

Home

Richard hadn't stopped complaining about his lost luggage nor the heat since he returned but that didn't bother Camille in the least. He had come back. That was all that was important. As the night wore on, Fidel had excused himself to go home to his family and Dwayne had found some new girl to talk to at the other end of the bar. Camille sat and listened as Richard relayed the details of his return to London. His eyes sparkled a bit talking about the cold, the drizzling rain, the lack of green.

Camille nursed her beer, the earlier grin still across her lips. She was so afraid he wouldn't return. She didn't want to admit to the nights she had found herself quietly crying at the thought of never seeing him again. The ache in her heart when she allowed herself to think that. She had fallen and fallen hard. When and how, she wasn't quite sure. As she watched him stifle a yawn, she said, "You should go home and get some sleep."

His tired eyes met hers and, for a brief moment, he genuinely smiled at her. "I guess this is home now."

Her breath caught. Did he really just admit the island he claimed to hate so much was now home to him? Was there more to his statement? Refusing to let her mind wander down that road, she simply smiled at him.

"Camille?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Confused, she titled her head at him. "For what?"

Richard shrugged. "Just thank you." With that he got up and walked towards his home.

Camille sat and watched him leave. Her mom quietly sat in the chair recently vacated by Richard.

"You know you're the reason he came back," Catherine told her daughter.

"He was only escorting a prisoner. He was always coming back."

Catherine looked at her daughter. "You weren't so sure of that yourself. Not until he walked through the door tonight."

Looking back at her mom, Camille realized she could deny many things to many people but not this time and not to this person. "I doubt I am the reason he came back."

"What else does he have back here? A job? He could easily be hired anywhere in England. Family? Friends?" She patted Camille's hand. "The heart always draws people back to where they need to be."

Camille finished her beer contemplating her mom's words. Was she right? Even if she was now was not the time to push him. She had made it very clear where she stood now she needed to give him the time and space to make the next move if and when he was ready. She jumped slightly when her phone buzzed to life. She grinned when she read the message.

Home. Goodnight, Camille

It took a lot for Richard to text. It took even more to make it personal. Perhaps this was now home to both of them. Not Paris, not London but Saint-Marie.