He had just popped back in from the garden when there was a knock at the door. At 3pm on a Tuesday he wasn't sure who it could be, probably someone looking for charity donations. Like usual. He thought about ignoring it but thought better of it. He opened the large, heavy front door and there she stood. Not a word for a month, yet there she was. Molly Dawes.

'Missed me?' she enquired, looking up at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

'Yes' didn't seem to cover it so he said nothing, instead ushering her in to the hall. She laughed and he smiled as he closed that big, old door. It had been difficult since Smurf died, he loved her but he knew she needed her own time and space to deal with everything in her own way. He'd written while she was away but he never quite knew what to say or where they stood. Every time he had written he had remembered the image of her in this hall and now she was here in person. He wanted to reach out but he still wasn't sure whether that was what she wanted.

'Well?' she asked.

'Dawes,' he started, 'Dawes..,' he shook his head slightly, his voice trailing off as he said her name.

'What's wrong?',

He struggled to organise his thoughts, meeting her gaze. 'Come and sit down'.

He led her into the front room and pointed towards one of the settees. As she sat down, he pulled off his gardening gloves, sitting down with his legs angled slightly towards hers. Her eyes seemed to be seeking something, her face full of questions, he thought she looked a little sad.

'Boss man? Shouldn't I have come?'.

He tentatively reached out for her hand and as he took it she smiled slightly, still looking unsure.

'Dawes,' he began again, 'Dawes, I am so glad you are here, you have no idea how glad, it's just that, well...'.

'What? Sir?'.

He squeezed her hand tighter and laughed, 'will you just call me Charles, for fuck sake!'.

She laughed and as she did his chest filled with warmth. He loved her so much.

'What is it, Charles?'.

'Dawes..,'

'Molly!'

They both laughed and he took up her other hand and held them both tight.

'Molly..'

'Will you just spit it out, you massive cockwomble?!'

He was so happy, here she was again, back safe from Afghan, sitting next to him. She was all he wanted and all of a sudden, consumed by his emotions, silent tears began to fall.

She looked at him and her face fell. She looked away,

'I'm sorry Si...Charles, I shouldn't have come.'

She tried to get up but he tugged at her hands until she looked at him again. He smiled as the tears continued to fall. He loved her, he needed her to love him too.

'I don't want you to go anywhere Molly, I meant it when I said I loved you, but with everything with Smurf and you being away, I just thought... anyway, I love you, whatever else, I love you'.

She smiled, a huge warm smile and reached up to wipe a tear from his face, 'I love you too Sir, I'm so sad about Smurf but that doesn't change my feelings for you. I thought you might not want me any more, not now you're better and that'.

He felt like he was just brimming with emotion, laughing and crying all at once.

'Dawes, I have not thought of anything but you since the moment I last saw you. It's the thought of you that got me through rehab. All I want is to build a life with you, but I was afraid that you might have moved on from me... and my limp.'

'You're such a massive pranet, Sir. All I want is to build a life with you, so I'm not about to fuck off anywhere just yet, limp or no limp.'

He wiped his eyes as they both giggled nervously.

'You didn't answer my first question'

'No?'

'Missed me?'

This time he had no hesitation, he took her face in his hands and looked straight into her eyes,

'Dawes, I have missed you more than words can say, I need you to know that you'll always be the last thing I want to see'.

As their lips finally met, he heard her whisper 'Ditto' in response.