'I'm gonna retire.'

Gill played with the legs that were slung across her own and took a large sip from her glass of red wine before she whispered her thought into the dim room. She felt the legs shift a little and, when she heard a deep breath, she looked up and prepared herself for a good talking-to. Gill felt a hand find hers and their fingers intertwining, making her smile.

'Well, I can't say I'm surprised, love,' croaked Julie from the other end of the sofa.

'Huh, is that it? Aren't you gonna try and stop me?'

'Do you want me to?'

'Yeah.' Gill put down her wine glass on the coffee table and nudged Julie's legs off her own so that she could turn to face her. Julie responded by sitting up and putting her glass down too, before taking Gill's hands in her own.

'Ok, don't retire,' Julie sighed.

'Julie, come on. That's not helpful.' It was obvious that Gill wanted a proper conversation, not just a chat.

'Sorry ma'am!' Julie joked. 'No, serious face.' She did her supposedly 'serious face', making Gill giggle and prompting her to steal a quick kiss.

'You've a funny serious face.'

'Gillian Murray!'

'Oh, don't call me Gillian.' Gill shook her head as if to erase a memory. 'My mother always called me Gillian when I was in trouble.'

'You are in trouble! You wanted me to be helpful and you're not letting me!' said Julie, gently hitting Gill on the arm as if to tell her off. 'Now- hey! Look at me when I'm talking to you.' Gill did as she was told, albeit slightly reluctantly, but with a smile at the Morecambe & Wise reference. They liked watching that show together. 'Now what you have to realise is that you have gone through a very traumatic experience. You'll obviously want to stop there and I don't blame you. But you also have to realise that it's not the only option. You can carry on. You're brilliant at the job. You're strong. You're Gill Murray, for Christ's sake! Are you really gonna let this ruin your life?'

'I'll be 50 soon. It was always the plan to retire at 50,' Gill protested.

'So retire, then,' moaned Julie, pretending to be annoyed at Gill, but smirking at her so that it wasn't taken the wrong way.

'I don't want to,' said Gill quietly, looking into her lap and suddenly appearing to Julie like a little girl of no more than 10 years.

'Good God, woman, you're impossible!' Julie laughed as she invited Gill to snuggle into her and enveloped her in a hug.

'I try to be.'

Julie stroked Gill's arm and hummed against her temple for a few moments before she spoke.

'So what are you gonna do?' she whispered tentatively.

'I suppose I have to keep going,' Gill sighed. 'I can't give up before you, now, can I?'

Julie chuckled and kissed the top of Gill's head.

'That's my girl.'