The café was full to burst; Adam Carter looked around the bustling room trying to find a seat. Looking to the far corner just out of the view of the window he found a table, one seat was occupied by a woman; her long blonde hair hiding her face. The other seat was vacant. Adam clutched his coffee and made his way over to the table; "Excuse me, May I take this seat?"

The woman who had been engrossed in her copy of 'Hey' stopped at the sound of the familiar voice. "Adam…" Her voice was almost a whisper.

Adam stayed standing and looked at the woman; "Pardon me? Do I know you?"

The woman swiftly tied her hair back and looked up at Adam; her striking blue eyes met with his shining blue orbs. She smiled to him "I would like to bloody well hope so Adam Carter"

Adam was shocked; he smiled back and embraced the woman as she stood. "Jo! Joanna Portman what are you doing here? How are you? What have you been doing with yourself?"

Jo gestured for Adam to sit. She took a drink of her coffee; "Well, I'm back working for the press; under a pseudonym –Aimee Parker- not as interesting or fun as my previous job but it pays the bills quite well. I'm doing good thanks. What about you, what are you doing with yourself?"

Adam shook his head "You're Aimee Parker! My-My who would have thought the News Breaker was in fact…a spook! Me; well I have been busy with Wes, he's getting big. I work in an office now; it's a bit rubbish really...just taking calls and filing, but its great hours for Wes and school."

Jo adjusted her hair again, pulling it from a loose ponytail into a messy up-do, Adam noticed her fidgeting; "Are you nervous, Miss Portman!" he chuckled.

Jo caught her-self toying with her hair; "Of course not! Why would I be nervous? So about Wes; it's been…oh…almost six years since Fiona was…."

Adam ran his hand along the back of his neck; he was thinking of the day Fiona was shot, and he knew that Jo had blamed herself. "Yeah…Wes is almost ten now. He's a typical little boy; into sports, gaming, board games. Things like that."

Jo gave Adam a sympathetic smile and reached over, placing her hand on top of Adam's; "I meant how has he coped; not having his mother around for so long. I'm so sorry… It must be hard for you."

Adam smiled as Jo took his hand; he went to reply when she looked at her phone. "I have to go; I'm late for a meeting." She got up from her seat and threw her oversized blue handbag over her shoulder. "Adam…oh seven four three eight six six five three one four" Jo rattled out the numbers then left, looking behind her and giving Adam a wave.

The rain poured down in sheets, hitting against the living room window. Adam sat on his sofa, flicking through the stations. He had just finished putting his son to bed, the space beside him on the sofa felt strangely empty. He picked up his phone and dialled a number from memory, a number he had dialled every day for the past six weeks. There was no answer. Just then an advert came on the television; a man and woman sat in Trafalgar square, the man was on crutches; "Another injury claims advert." Adam thought, before his mind drifted again to Trafalgar, this time it was only two days ago. The day had been a dull one, Adam had left Wes with a friend and made the short drive to the square; he bought two take-out coffees from a nearby café then looked around the square. He spotted Jo perched on the edge of one of the fountains, the two had sat and talked for a long time, about this and that. Adam had felt oblivious to all that was going on around him for the first in a long time and he sensed that Jo had felt the same.

The sound his phone bleeping brought Adam back to the present; he picked It up and read the message 'Sorry; am out min. Work related stuff. Will call u tmrw. Jo xxx' he smiled to himself then replied- 'Ok, don get too bored. Xxx' he checked the message had sent then turned off the TV and went to bed.

The following evening was just as miserable; the rain bounced off the windows and thunder roared in the distance; the air smelt electric. The doorbell rang; Adam answered it and smiled, Jo had obviously made an effort. "Hi, you must be freezing, come in." Adam closed the door behind them and took Jo's coat. "Thank you." Jo gave Adam a playful smile then reached into her bag and brought out a bottle of white zinfandel; "You sorted dinner, so I thought…" Adam returned her smile and took the bottle; "Thank you; that will go well with the food…I think."

All of a sudden Adam and Jo heard the heavy footsteps run across the landing and down the stairs. Wes ran straight past his father and stood in front of Jo; he extended his hand "Hello; I'm Wes- Wes Carter!" Jo took in his features; he had Adam's blonde hair and blue eyes and Fiona's nose and mouth, freckles dotted his nose and cheeks. She gave the boy a friendly smile and accepted his handshake; "Joanna Portman- but I get Jo- nice to meet you Wes." Wes thought for a second; "Are you daddy's girlfriend?" Jo looked at Adam then back to Wes; "No sweetie, your daddy and I are just friends, we used to work together." Wes looked to his dad and shook his head; "You're in the friend zone, better luck next time." Adam laughed and put his hand on Wes' shoulder; "come on you; dinners ready."

Adam, Wes and Jo sat in the living room; Wes had a football game on his play station and Adam had the other controller. "C'mon c'mon! NO!" Adam set the controller down in defeat; "One more game and then bed, ok?" Wes lifted the controller from his father and handed it to Jo; "Would you like to play the winner?" Jo took the controller; "Yeah that would be fun!" Wes started up a new quick-game and breezed through it, laughing as Jo desperately button-bashed her way to defeat. "That wasn't fair; you had an unfair advantage!" Wes gave a wide smile "Goodnight!" Adam ruffled his sons hair and kissed his head; "Night Wes."

Once Wes had gone upstairs Adam glanced into the kitchen. He and Jo had cleared the dishes after they had eaten and now only the un-opened bottle of wine Jo had brought remained on the counter. Adam went in and lifted the bottle; taking two wine-glasses out of the cupboard while he was there. He went back into the living room at sat down again, handing one of the glasses to Jo. He reached across to the coffee table then rolled his eyes; "Ugh; I forgot the cork-screw." He got up and went back into the kitchen, emerging once again cork-screw in hand. He filled both glasses with the sparkling pink liquid and sat the bottle down on the table.

Adam raised his glass a little and gently tapped it against Jo's; "Cheers" they were almost in sync with the word. Adam took a sip of his wine; "He seems to like you; he's never been that quick to warm to someone before, well…not an adult anyhow." Jo took a drink then swished her glass, almost subconsciously, "He's a credit to you Adam, to you and Fiona. It can't have been easy for you, raising him alone."

Adam set his glass down; he knew what Jo was thinking; "It wasn't easy. The only mother-figure he had was Fiona, then his Grandmother after Fiona…I feel that in some ways he missed out but in others he has benefitted. Him and me, we wouldn't be as close if it wasn't just the two of us. He missed her terribly at first, but he didn't fully understand. Now she's a memory to him, he still asks questions about her, about what she was like when he was small. But he's happy enough."

Jo pursed her lips then exhaled; "I'm sorry Adam. If I'd have went with her that day, as I was meant to. You still would have Fiona. And Wes…Wes would still have his mum."

Adam lifted Jo's glass from her hand and set it down. "Don't Jo. It was never your fault. Fiona knew what was going to happen in that room and she chose to go in alone. Don't blame yourself…I don't blame you, Wes wouldn't blame you. All responsibility falls on Farook."

Jo reclaimed her glass from the table. "Thank you." An awkward silence threatened, the beep of a text on Adams phone broke the atmosphere. He stood up and lifted his phone. He began to pace while reading the message then sighed exasperatedly. "If I've said no once I've said it six times." he muttered.

Jo lowered her eyebrows in confusion; "What's that all about? Are you ok?"

Adam smiled then gave a small laugh; "It's a woman I went on a blind date with; she was a bit ugly and had the personality of a limp teabag."

Jo almost choked on her wine, she swallowed then laughed; "Oh God! And now she keeps texting you wanting to meet up?"

Adam sat back down, lifting his glass of the table and taking a large drink; "Exactly, and short of changing my number I can't get rid of her. I've had interest from women, yes, but this is taking it!"

Jo finished her wine, yet still cradled the glass in her hand; "So…how many women have you dated then?"

Adam finished the contents of his glass, immediately refilling both his and Jo's; "A few, three or four. Nothing worth mentioning, I suppose I've never found anyone that I've liked enough to introduce to Wes. I have to put him first. What about you, how many men have you dated?"

Jo looked away from Adam. "None."

Adam was confused; he lowered his eyebrows and pulled his lips tight; "None? But you said about comparing boyfriends…your flat mate?"

Jo took a long drink from her glass, half emptying it in one gulp. "None, not after, you know…I couldn't trust again, not after what happened with the Red backs."

Adams mind raced back in time. He was in a bare, dirty room. Both he and Jo had been on a mission to infiltrate the Red backs, a terrorist cell. It had gone badly and they had both been taken captive. Jo had been taken out of the room, she had been gone hours. Adam had begun to give up hope when the door to the room opened and a man in a balaclava shoved Jo back into the room. She could barely stand; the devastation in her eyes told Adam everything he had to know. Their torture continued, Adam couldn't recall how long for though they had both held strong and said nothing to their kidnappers. The man came again and removed Jo from the room and again he brought her back in a worse state than before. Adam remembered holding her as she begged for him to take her away from it all, to take her life there and then. He recalled the pain and fear in her eyes as she gave her request, her words echoed in his head, "Don't let them take me Adam." He had held her and promised her he wouldn't let them hurt her, "Too late" he had thought. "Take me away from it" she had begged, he had apologised for everything, that he had brought this on her. "No need, No need" she was trying to hurry him. He had placed his hand just under her chin, he knew how to do it quick, no pain. "You've always been a good person; just do this for me now." She had been desperate. The door opened again and the man entered, Adam held Jo on his lap then released her-her limp body slumping to the ground, He had told her captor he couldn't hurt her anymore. The building was suddenly surrounded by MI-5. As they entered the building Jo had disarmed her captor as he went for Adam. The Troops entered the doorway of the room where they were held and Adam had shut the door. Next thing he was pulling Jo to her feet, holding her again as a mixture of emotions came over her.

Adam pulled himself back to the now, he looked to Jo, she was shaking. She had been thinking; remembering. Adam reached over and took her hand; "It's all about trust, in time you will find someone you can trust that will be willing to be patient and understanding." Jo interlaced her fingers with his; "Yeah." She shifted over and rested her head on his shoulder.

The pair sat in silence for a while, seemingly in thought. "I trust you." Adam looked round, not quite sure if he understood what Jo meant. "What? Oh, right. I trust you too, I always have." Jo sat a little straighter, keeping her hand in his. She looked deep into his eyes "No Adam. I trust you, to be that right person." Adam then realised exactly what she meant. He kept her gaze and placed his other hand on her back; pulling them slightly closer to each other, he lent in and lightly kissed Jo, she returned his kiss with no hesitation. Adam gently pulled away; "Jo…I…" Jo placed her finger over his lips; "Shhh" She slowly dropped her hand and brought her mouth back to his, kissing him fully.

Adam pulled back again and placed his hands either side of Jo's face; "If this is what you want…if I'm who you want then I'll wait until you're ready again." Jo lifted Adam's hands from her cheeks and again entwined her fingers with his. "It is." She let go of his hands then stood; "If you do to." Adam stood and led Jo upstairs, as they entered the bedroom Adam turned to face Jo; "Are you sure it's what you want?" Jo looked up at Adam, she took a step forwards a little farther into the room and placed her hand on the door, closing it slowly; "Yes."

Adam leant on his forearms and smiled down; Jo's cheeks, neck and chest had taken on a pinkish tinge; as had his. He stoked her cheek with his fingertips; "Are you ok? Was it..." Jo returned Adams smile then cut him off; "Good? Yes. It was…amazing." She leant up and kissed him gently. Adam turned and lay on his back; slipping his arm under Jo. Jo laid her head on Adams chest, draping her arm over his stomach.

The day was warm; Adam held Wes' hand as they made their way through the automatic doors of University Hospital. Adam followed the same red line he had followed that morning. Wes held tight to his father's hand, feeling unsure. He read the signs on the wall 'A&E, Oncology, Mortuary' and one he couldn't make out. The pair entered the ward and Adam scanned the room. The bed was empty, it had been re-made and the name wiped from the whiteboard above it. A young nurse left her station and approached him. "Mr Carter? If you'd like to follow me."

The nurse led Adam and Wes down the long narrow corridor; they stopped at the entrance to a smaller six-bed ward. Adam glanced in then ushered Wes in front of him. Jo was sitting up, holding a tiny bundle wrapped in a white blanket. She seemed exhausted yet blissfully happy.

Wes ran to the bedside and sat on the bed; "Does he have a name yet?" Jo smiled at Wes' interest in the new arrival; "I think he does you know." Adam smiled to himself as he watched Jo with Wes and the baby. He went to the bedside and kissed her lightly; "What's his name then?"

Jo looked down at her son; a fine layer of blonde hair covered his head. His eyes were the same as his fathers, though he was sleeping. "I was thinking of…" She was interrupted by a student nurse standing at the foot of her bed; the young woman looked confused; "Sorry to interrupt but It seems as if the girl before me forgot to put your details on the board, can I get them from you? I just need the babies name if it has one and your name."

Jo looked at Adam and then back to her son; "Adam Joseph Carter." Adam placed his hand over Jo's and nodded his approval.

The student gave them a small smile; "And yours?"

Jo ran her thumb over the base of the silver band on her finger and felt as if she would burst with happiness; "Mrs Joanna Carter."