It had been a few weeks since molly had told her parents about her relationship with Charles and that she was staying in bath for a bit longer. She hadn't spoken to her parents since that day and that suited molly fine if they didn't want to know then she couldn't be bothered ether.

Molly and Charles were stuck in bad traffic on the M4 they were heading to Birmingham for the weekend to see the famous Frankfurt Christmas market in the city. But there had been a bad accident on the M5 at Avonmouth. There were bad tail backs and they still had over 5 miles to go before they could even get off at the next junction.

"I think it will be Christmas before we get to Birmingham at this rate" molly laughed

Just then the traffic started to move on slowly and only for about 500 yards. Thankfully it meant that they were by a service station. Charles decided to pull in so that they could get a drink and something to eat.

Charles had been keeping his eyes on the traffic through a app on his phone as they sat in the overpriced café he decided to avoid the motorway as he found out there were lots of road works further up. He instead decided to take one of the A-Roads that went straight in to Birmingham, it would take much longer however it would beat sitting in loads of traffic for who knows how long.

it still took a while to reach the junction that they needed for the A38 as the traffic seamed to have got more busier in the few short hours that they had been in the services. Once they were off the motorway the traffic seamed to be moving quicker. It was still busy as lots of people had obviously had the same idea

it took them over three hours to arrive in the outskirts of the city and it was getting quite late. Charles had booked a room at a small hotel located just outside of Birmingham as he didn't fancy driving right in to the city as he didn't know it that well and he knew parking would be a expensive nightmare

They checked in to their room and went down for dinner in the restaurant that was attached. By the time they had finished eating it was getting too late for them to head in to the city and look around the markets so they spent the rest of the night in their hotel room.

Molly awoke to the winter sun creeping in through the gaps in the curtains. She looked over to where Charles was lay and smiled. She felt so lucky. Not so long ago she was in a crappy job with a even crappier boyfriend.

Charles opened his eyes to see molly propped up on her pillow watching him. He didn't let on that he could see her and pretended to be asleep. Then he pulled molly close and started to pull her under the covers.

Molly tried to escape from Charles

"'ear bossman if we don't get goin' soon we aint never going to get to this market.

They go the train in to the city as molly wanted to also have a look around the newly opened grand Central Birmingham. This was also easier as the train station was reasonably close to the hotel and it was a relatively quick journey.

When they arrived they found that the market was packed and rather crowded. Some how they managed to find the start of the market and walked up passed all the different stalls and taking in all the smells of the candied nuts and the Smokey Frankfurt hotdogs as well as the sweet smell of the abundant sweet delights on offer and the mulled cider.

They stopped at a little stall selling some amazing gorgeous looking cakes and the markets famous hot chocolate. There was space in the back for people to sit and enjoy the delights. Charles brought them both a hot chocolate and a big slice of cake to share. They sat in the back watching the hustle and bustle of Birmingham pass them by

As part of the markets there was a ice rink and a big wheel. Molly dragged Charles on to the ice she had always loved skating and the freedom and grace it gave her and it was one of the only things she could do. Charles on the other hand looked more like Bambi on ice .

Molly laughed as Charles tried to find his balance on the thin blades and the ice.

"need a hand bossman" she said flirtatiously

Charles was about to reply with a sarcastic remark when he totally lost his balance and landed on his backside with a bump. Which made molly laugh so much that she almost did the same.

"are you alright" molly said after she managed to compose her self as Charles still hadn't got up.

Charles smiled through gritted teeth. He wasn't annoyed with molly it was more himself he was excellent at planning stealth raids against the enemy yet on skates he looked like a fairy elephant. It was more his pride and ego that was hurt than anything. Molly skated right up to him as he managed to get up and almost fell back down, and kissed him. And took his hand

" come on lets go around together" she smiled and they managed to do a few laps of the ice with out falling before it was time for them to get off the ice.

They stayed another night in the hotel as it was quite late when they had finished at the markets and they hadn't got anything to get back for Sam was with his mother and wasn't due to stay with Charles again till his parents returned from their break

They drove back to Bath the following morning and thankfully it was a lot less manic as it was on their trip up and it didn't take too long to arrive back home.

Molly felt so happy in the place she was in right at this point. She had a boyfriend she loved and who adored her and she had just spent a magical few days in Birmingham. Everything was looking like it was going perfect in her life for once. Nothing could burst her bubble. Or could it?...