Chapter 3, guys!
I had so much fun writing this as Fireworks is one of my favourite episodes, especially the ending. It's more than a tiny bit cheesy at the end though, so if you don't like that sort of thing I apologise! I also realised while writing this that because of the height difference between Lee and Lucy, Lucy would have to stand on her tiptoes to kiss Lee which I think is absolutely adorable! :3 Also, I thought it would make a nice change for Lucy to be the one to say the 'L' word first.
P.S What did everyone think of Alcohol? And how are you all enjoying the series so far?
Enjoy this chapter!
#3 – Fireworks (Series 4, Episode 5)
It could have happened like this…
The view from the roof was spectacular, the whole of London lit up under the autumn night sky for as far as the eye could see. In the distance the odd firework would fizzle every now and again but the proper displays, the fancy ones, were yet to start.
In was in that moment Lee realised how lucky he actually was. He lived in this amazing place, while most of the people he used to hang around with were still in council flats back up North. His friends were the best he'd ever had. He smiled as he looked over at Tim and Daisy who were currently entertaining Betty with the last sparkler. Just looking at the old woman's face lit up with joy made him glad he'd invited her. However, the thing he felt most lucky about was, of course, meeting Lucy.
Even though he wasn't with her (yet, he added subconsciously) he felt like the luckiest man alive to even have her as a friend, let alone live with her. She was his best friend, as he was hers and he hoped that would never change. Well, he hoped some aspects of their relationship would soon change.
He sighed contentedly as he poured himself a drink, too lost in his thoughts to hear Lucy come up beside him.
"Tim told me what you did." Lucy said softly.
He turns toward her, a confused look on his face. What had Tim being telling her now?
"About Betty." She clarified, coming to stand next to him at the drinks table.
"Oh." He nodded as he handed her a drink. He doesn't expand further on what happened, not quite sure how much of the story she actually knows about.
Once again, Lee's eyes stray toward Tim, Daisy and Betty. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves and for once it was because of him. He'd organised this night and even though it hadn't gone exactly as planned, everyone seemed to be having a good time.
"Sorry it's been such a let-down." Lee said, referring to his earlier attempt at a firework display.
"Well Betty doesn't seem to think so." Lucy replied, smiling as she watched the scene taking place in front of her.
"She's having the time of her life." Lucy added, turning to face Lee. She stared at him for a couple of seconds, unable to help herself before blinking herself out of a daze. "Well done."
He meets her eyes then, and she doesn't know if it's because of the glass of wine she'd had with dinner or the magical feeling of being up here on the roof in the dark, but her stomach flips. And that's the moment she knows; tonight will be the night. Tonight will be the night they stop dancing around each other.
"You did really well." Lucy said, still not looking away because to be honest, she didn't want to look away any more.
Lucy reaches up on her tiptoes, placing a hand on Lee's chest to steady herself and kisses his cheek. It's impulsive and unexpected but neither of them minds much at all. When she moves away their smiles are replaced by something else entirely.
Fireworks began to explode in the sky above them, hundreds and hundreds of them making the city sky come alive but to Lee and Lucy it was all just background noise. At that moment, with their friends distracted by what was taking place, it was just the two of them.
Lee picked his next words wisely; aware of how important they were and leaned in closer to Lucy so that she could hear him over the racket of the fireworks.
"If we're going to do this," He said, bringing his mouth to her ear so he could whisper the next part. They were so close he could hear her sharp intake of breath and he smiled to himself. "Tonight is the perfect opportunity."
His lips brush softly against the skin below her ear and when he straightens up to look at her again she's blushing, her gaze heavy with something he knows all too well because he's feeling it himself.
"Do what?" She asks, and even though he can tell she's as nervous as he is, there's a playful smile on her face and he knows exactly what she wants him to do next.
Gently, he frames her face with his hands as her arms wind eagerly around his neck. She knows what's coming and she feels like a teenager again.
He's leaning in and her eyes are just beginning to close when he says "You sure about this? Because once this happens there's no going back."
"I'm sure." She nods, looking at him intently.
He nods back and her eyes are closed again and their lips almost, almost touch. "I mean, only if you're one hundred percent positive, Lucy." He says.
Her eyes snap open to glare at him but he's smiling and she realises he's being teasing her the whole time and judging by the look in his eyes he's just as eager about this as she is. She tries to look annoyed but when his thumb traces lightly over her cheek she can't help but smile. Lucy winds her arms tighter around his neck and stretches up on her tiptoes.
"Lee, can you stop acting the clown now and just-"
So he does. It's slow and tentative at first, both of them getting to know the other in a whole new way but it doesn't take long before they're kissing like their lives have only been building up to this one moment. Neither of them knows how long it lasts; seconds, minutes? But when the fireworks start to slow down so do they, remembering that they aren't alone up here on the rooftop. They tear themselves apart right before the last bang, but they still can't bear to let go completely. Which is why it's a little awkward when Daisy wanders over to them.
"Well finally!" Daisy beams. "Tim and I are going to take Betty home now. Don't worry, he didn't see the two of you canoodling by the way." She winks.
"Bye Daisy." Lucy says, disentangling herself from Lee as Tim has begun to head over, albeit slowly as his arm is linked with Betty's. "Bye Tim, Betty."
Lee only nods his goodbyes, not trusting himself to speak after the events of the past five minutes.
After what seems like an eternity, the roof door closes.
"Alone at last." Lucy smiles, lacing her fingers with Lee's as they walk toward the edge of the roof and lean against the railings so they can look out over the city.
"Yep." Lee replies as he removes his hand from hers so he can wrap his arm around her shoulders. He looks at the twinkling lights of a skyscraper, wondering if she's looking at the same one.
"You're quiet. Has our kiss broken your brain?" She laughs, nudging him with her hip.
"Just enjoying the moment, gobby." He bumps back. "I don't think you realise how long I've wanted to do that."
"I don't think you realise how long I've wanted to do that." She replies, turning to face him as a sudden gust of wind whips her hair around her face. "You know what, Lee, we might have only been together for five minutes but I've been in love with you for a lot longer."
"I love you, Lucy." Is his only reply, because up here in the dark with her in his arms he feels braver than he ever has before.
Once again they find themselves on the brink of kissing and neither of them think they're ever going to get used to this feeling.
"Whoa, Lee." Lucy puts a hand over his mouth before their lips can touch. "Only if you're a hundred percent sure." She winks, getting him back for his earlier teasing.
She laughed when his hands that had previously been resting on her waist started to tickle.
"Stop, I'm sorry!" She spluttered, pushing at his chest but grabbing his coat and pulling him closer again in the same second.
"You know we're going to end up strangling each other within a week." Lee says, arms encircling her waist.
She nods as his lips meet hers and this time there's nothing slow and tentative about it. They make it down from the roof in a blur, leaving a trail of winter clothes leading to Lucy's bedroom door.
It could have happened like that. But it didn't.
