Serena eyed Bernie as Bernie stood and took a swig from her beer bottle and then started to move and caught Serena's hand, "Come on you, living room."

Serena was still in shock, firstly the extent of her packing was a bloody rucksack and it took all of 5 minutes to unpack. If it was the other way around she would take that long getting her bags into the living room.

"Have you gone to my most listened to list?" Bernie said knowing that Serena seemed to be thinking about something.

"Yea, yes, most played, thought I could learn a thing or too. But seriously, unpacking, I thought you wanted help?"

Bernie laughed as they sat on the sofa, Bernie automatically putting her arm around Serena.

As if from nowhere Serena added a thought, "Where the bloody hell is the music coming from anyway."

"Blue tooth speakers" Bernie chuckled, "Is it a bit too 21st century for you Ms Campbell."

They sat for a minute just appreciating each other's proximity.

"So, if I'm not here to help with unpacking, what am I here to help with?" Serena mused with a little flirtation in her voice

"Well, um… do I need an excuse?" Bernie asked as she wound her fingers around Serena's fingers.

"No, no course not but you kind of said you needed help and I assumed with the unpacking but help with something all the same."

Bernie smiled and they kissed before Bernie could actually respond.

They were interrupted by Serena's phone going off, it was Jason. They both knew before she had even put her hands to her phone. Jason had his own ring tone, the Dr Who theme tune. Jason's choice of course, Serena had agreed as it did help because she knew she had to answer if that stupid sequence of notes started to chime because a) it was Jason and b) crikey, it needs to be stopped. Serena found her phone "Do you mind?"

Bernie shook her head and signalled to the kitchen as she rose from the sofa. She went in and ran the water into the sink and added washing up liquid. Not her usual style but she figured the opportunity was there as she could hear Serena trying to reason with Jason over something, she wasn't sure what but more than likely it was a trivial matter that Jason had taken far too seriously. Bless him, Bernie did have a soft spot for him as he viewed the world in a one dimensional kind of way and he deduced that 'Bernie and Auntie Serena' wasn't a bad thing, so he was alright in her book.

By the time she had processed these thoughts the dishes, few what they were, were done, dried and put away. She opened the back door as she could still hear Serena talking to Jason, she wanted to feel the crisp winter air to give her some clarity. Serena was here… willingly. Had you asked 48 hours ago when she was collecting her bag from arrivals she would not have imagined this. She was half expecting the frostiest of cold shoulders from Serena and evils from those around her for hurting, damaging, someone as wonderful as her. This took her back to her mantra, the one that played on a loop, willing her not to fuck it up again. Don't screw it up, don't rush her. This one is a keeper, don't scare her away. As she stood in the doorway she hadn't realised but she had sparked up a cigarette and was taking long thoughtful draws as she contemplated her current situation. It had become a habit again, outside of work there was not much to do in the Ukraine other than think of Serena. Drinking wasn't brilliant because Trauma surgery and hangovers were not great bedfellows, so smoking filled a void. A quick fix, a plaster on a stab wound.

Bernie's thoughts were interrupted by gentle hands winding around her waist, "Busted Major!" Serena said in a lovingly stern manner, she wasn't really cross, just pretending. She knows that if the last few months were as shitty for Bernie as they were for her then actually lighting the cigarettes would have helped.

"Oh, sor, sorry Serena, Ukraine was kinda…"

"It's OK, I, I don't mind."

"I do though." Bernie mused. Serena isn't going to want to kiss me now. How could she be so stupid. She flicked the stub into the distance "Last one, promise." She pulled Serena to her chest, "Jason, um, is he OK?"

Serena marvelled at how Bernie always put others before herself, she loved that Bernie did seem to genuinely care for Jason, not just because there was an implied obligation.

"Jason, well, Jason! No actual drama, as per…. Nothing to worry about. Just Jason stuff. Sorry but I have to keep my phone on, ignoring it simply doesn't work." Bernie waved her hand as if to dismiss Serena's defence of her situation.

"Serena, you don't have to …. With regards Jason. As long as he is OK… Let's go inside."

Bernie locked the door, "Be right back, get yourself another and I'll meet you on the sofa." Bernie dashed off to the bathroom squeezing Serena's hand as she left.

Serena poured another, she knew she wouldn't be going back to hers tonight, not least because she had too many wines to drive, but it felt right to stay here. Jason had called, as usual to discuss something menial, but to Jason it wasn't. She had, when she heard Bernie go outside, taken the opportunity to talk to Jason candidly and explain that if he decided to come home tonight she would not be there like he would expect. They discussed it and he was going to stay where he was, she had managed to sooth his anxieties over the phone, a bit of a first, progress…

Serena had topped off her own glass and opened another beer for Bernie, she sat on the sofa and listened to the music coming from nowhere and decided that she hadn't disliked any song that had appeared on the playlist from Bernie's I Pod. She didn't know any of the artists and the only songs she knew were covers done by these artists of songs she did know. She decided the song that was on now she really liked, she lost herself in the lyrics as Bernie reappeared and planted a kiss on her lips as she was sitting back with her eyes closed.

"Mmmmm" Serena hummed as Bernie continued to kiss as she sat down, she had sprayed deodorant and obviously brushed her teeth and used mouthwash. Whatever the mouthwash was it was breath taking. If every time she smokes I get a kiss like that I could handle that.

"OK?" Bernie queried

"Yes, you?"

Bernie nodded as she wrapped her arms around Serena and exhaled as if in relief.

Serena stole herself, thinking she might know the answer before she asks, "So, 'the help' you needed, not unpacking?"

"No, um, ah, not exactly."

"So?"

"Come on Serena, do I have to say it?"

"Yes." Serena was quite clearly amused at this.

Bernie sighed, "Please tell me that you haven't found today…"

Serena looked quizzically knowing exactly.

"It has taken me all of my strength not to sweep you up and do naughty things to you today. The air has been so thick with sexual tension, I can only compare it to the weather prior to a big storm. Serena I need a thunderstorm, otherwise I might just explode." She said it so matter of factly but inside she was a wreck of nerves hoping that this rare display of honesty with no stutters or bumbling hadn't been too much.

Serena had to admit she had compared it to trying to walk in treacle. This couldn't go on. She so wanted to give herself to Bernie, the nerves were there but she decided to channel them as she stated "Chances of thunder and lightning 100%" as she leaned in to kiss a slightly relieved looking Bernie.