Any hopes Robbie had for ignoring whatever it was that had gotten into him over the course of the night went out the window each time James made a joke or held back a grin. Robbie spent more time paying attention to James than he did to the other participants they met.

After an hour of awkward meet and greets, Robbie was praying for a call out, and his prayers were once again granted, only not in the way he intended, when a loud horrified scream ripped through the hall. He and James took off towards it and found Gregory in one of the offices standing over the bloody corpse of Kirkwood.

_March: I'm Gonna March You Down The Aisle_

All hopes of keeping their marriage a secret died with Kirkwood. Being too close to the victim and the suspects meant Robbie was forced to call in another DI to investigate, which lead to the obvious questions and the unavoidable revelations.

"You know Innocent's going to demand answers in the morning?" James said as they stepped back into the flat, shrugging out of his jacket.

Robbie had already stripped out of his before climbing in the cab and tossed it over the back of the armchair on his way to the fridge. The deserved a beer after the humiliation they'd just gone through. It wasn't that Hooper had said anything directly but you could see the mixture of amusement and discomfort in his eyes. "Aye, and I know what she'll say too."

"Yeah." James sighed, head rolling back tiredly against the couch.

Robbie held out at bottle to him as he stepped over James's long legs and took a seat next to the younger man.

"Regulations." James muttered, lifting the bottle to his lips.

"Aye. We're in for a bollocking."

They slumped on the sofa and stared at the blank TV screen, drinking silently for a few minutes before James broke the silence with a question. "So who do you think killed Kirkwood?"

It was only when he shrugged that Robbie became aware of just how close he was sitting to James, but he didn't much care right then. "The man was a wanker, it could be anyone who'd ever met him."

James laughed. "Gregory?" He asked, instantly sobering.

Robbie sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I hope not."

Silence settled between them once more. A much more comfortable silence than they'd shared over the past few weeks. The kind of silence they used to be able to sit in happily.

When Robbie finished his beer he leant forward, setting the empty bottle on the coffee table. "Well, I'll let you get some sleep." he turned his head, smiling at James. The look that met him was one of restraint and confusion. James's gaze flickered from Robbie's face to his hand, which he'd unconsciously set on the younger man's thigh. Robbie swallowed but was unable to retrieve his hand, it was practically glued in place. He lifted his gaze to find James staring into his eyes once more, a silent question, or perhaps it was a plea.

"She's going to split us up, you know that?" James whispered finally, his voice strained.

He wanted to deny it, wanted to reassure James that their partnership was solid, but he knew he couldn't. As much as Innocent allowed them to get away with a lot, the fact that their 'marriage' would be around the station by morning would undoubtedly force her hand. Regulations were more important to their Chief Super than anything.

"So I'll be leaving the force." James added, his eyes fixed on Robbie's hand.

Robbie's eyes widened and his hand was finally able to move, he leant back in surprise, as if James's words were a slap in the face. "What?"

James slumped back exhaling a long breath, eyes moving to fixate on his own half full beer bottle. "I told you before, I don't want to still be doing this at fifty."

Robbie shook his head. "I thought you were just mad about..."

"I was considering leaving when we met."

"What?" Robbie frowned.

"I don't fit in, you know I don't. You're the only person that understands me, and even you struggle at times." James huffed a brittle laugh. "Why do you think I asked to be your sergeant? Even when I drive you up the wall, you at least respected my opinions."

"I'm not the only DI that'll see you're smartass-ness as an asset." Robbie argued.

"Maybe, but..." James sighed, leaning forward. "I'm tired of hiding."

Robbie stared at him confused. "Hiding?" his heart pounding in his chest.

James set his bottle down and rubbed at his eyes before turning to meet Robbie's. "You think it's just a coincidence that I chose two professions that allowed me to ignore who I was. - After leaving the church I could have gone back to Cambridge or continued my education here in Oxford, but instead I joined the police force, have you ever wondered why? Because I have, endlessly."

"Because you want to help people." Robbie insisted, his hand instantly going to James's shoulder. "That's why you wanted to be a priest and when that didn't work out, you turned to the force. That's not hiding."

James gave him a long tired look.

"James?"

"I went from one homophobic environment to another so I wouldn't have to deal with my...sexuality, - because I was afraid of what it meant!" he shoved himself off the sofa and putting as much space between them as possible. "The only time I've been happy in the last ten years is with you."

Robbie's heart clenched tightly and he dragged his tongue over his suddenly too dry lips. "You don't have to be afraid, James. The force isn't as bad as it was. We've got three openly gay officers at the station. Chambers, Palace and Radawski? They don't get a hard time."

James looked at him unimpressed. "You don't think so, sir?" Robbie winced at the title. "You don't hear what's said behind their backs, and neither do they." James scoffed. He paused, staring at the bookshelf and the last family picture Robbie had. "I was just coming to terms with it all when this happened!" James muttered finally, dragging a finger across the woods frame. "I thought if I found someone, anyone, I'd be able to..." he dragged a hand through his hair.

"Able to what?" Robbie pressed cautiously.

James fell silent, his shoulders slumping. He shook his head. "Nothing, just forget I... I'm just tired and I've drank too much."

"You've had one beer all night." Robbie argued.

"Actually I made use of the free bar after we called in DI Russell." James confessed. "I'm just going to grab a quick shower and then turn in, if that's okay with you?" he turned, marching determinedly from the room.

Robbie got to his feet, moments away from stopping him, wanting to finish the conversation, but didn't. "Okay." he nodded.

Alone in the living room, Robbie lowered himself back to the sofa and stared thoughtfully down at his shoes. He tried to imagine not having James as his sergeant and couldn't. He couldn't imagine not having James in his life full stop. The lad had become such an important part of it over the past three years.

More important than Robbie had even realised.

_March: I'm Gonna March You Down The Aisle_

Robbie barely slept, the worry of never seeing the young man who'd been by his side these three years like a terrifying spectre haunting the darkness.

It was hard to imagine a future without the man who'd stayed with him till near dawn, sorting through endless papers in hopes of finding a clue to Val's killer. Despite knowing fully well it was a wild goose chase. The man who'd eventually brought that killer to justice and then supported him through the trial and verdict. James had been practically the centre of his world since the day they'd met, closer than he and Morse had ever been. In ways he couldn't even imagine sharing with his old boss.

To Robbie, Morse was an uncle, he cared about him, loved him and mourned his death with the same pain he'd felt at he lost of any family member.

James on the other hand, - James defied definition.

The idea of losing that, losing him, was unthinkable and left a hole in him he hadn't felt since losing his wife. Sure they could remain friends, hopefully. They could meet up for drinks and dinner, spend Saturdays watching the football, but that didn't quite seem...enough now.

He doubted he'd be able to change James's mind about quitting. Robbie had seen it coming in all honesty, the Zelinksy case had really shaken and disturbed him, and while Robbie had brushed off Laura's concern he'd known it had effected James deeply, even before their blow up. So it had really just been a matter of time, he'd just hoped James would hold on until his retirement.

By the time his alarm went off he'd had a little over an hour's sleep. He dragged himself out of bed reluctantly and padded over to the bathroom. It wasn't until he was on his way back to his room to dress that he realised there was no sign of James. No scent of cooking bacon or toast, or coffee hanging in the air. He paused and poked his head into the living and found the bed folded away and James's shoes missing from their place beside the telly. Robbie frowned, James couldn't have been gone more than an hour or he'd have heard the door.

Heading back to his room, Robbie snagged his mobile off the bedside cabinet and called, listening as it rang and rang. He half expected James not to answer by the fifth ring but finally there was the familiar low rumble of James voice and Robbie released the breath he'd been holding.

"Robbie?" James greeted tightly.

"Where are you?" Robbie demanded, harsher than he intended.

James was silent for a moment. "I'm just coming along the road."

Robbie exhaled. "Alright." With that he hung up and began to dress. A minute or two later he heard the familiar sound of the front door and went out of meet James, who was stood in his suit holding two paper cups and a small bag.

"I went to grab breakfast..." James informed flatly, "...and get some air. I really wasn't in the mood for Corn Flakes or to cook."

Robbie left his tie hanging about his neck and took one off the cups. "Thanks."

James nodded, stepping past him into the living room where he deposited both his cup and the bag on the counter then reached into the back pocket of his trousers. "I think our hopes of Innocent being understanding about the whole thing just flew out the window." He held up the newspaper and Robbie's stomach dropped.

Crimes and Matrimony. Oxford's finest embroiled in gay marriage scandal.

Robbie groaned, taking the paper and sitting on the arm of the couch. A quick scan of the actual article proved a lot less scandalous than the headline would suggest. However it was certainly enough to have Innocent pulling her hair out.

"I don't know how they found out." James muttered apologetically.

"Could have been anyone from the do last night." Robbie shrugged. "Or one of the uniforms."

James played aimlessly with his cup, turning it in circles while he thoughtfully stared at it. "Looks like I'll be taking that job at the university."

Robbie looked up instantly, the paper forgotten. "What?"

James met his gaze. "I've been talking to a Professor Pinnock, at St Gerard's Hall. I met her through Professor Rutherford. She mentioned a junior research fellowship."

"When?" Robbie frowned.

"A few weeks ago." James shrugged.

"So you've been planning to quit for weeks?" Robbie accused.

James straightened. "I wasn't planning anything." He defended. "I was just...considering my options."

"Where you ever going to mention it or was I going to walk into work one morning and find you gone?"

James relaxed once more. "Of course not, you'd have found out when you woke up to find me lazing in bed." He laughed.

Robbie sighed, smiling regretfully. "St Gerard's Hall? That's where all those monks live, right?"

"Friars, not monks." James corrected.

Robbie shook his head with a laugh. "Okay, enlighten me."

"Monks stay in and chant a lot, and Friars get out and about."

"I..." Robbie met his gaze. "I thought you were done running?" He asked cautiously.

James silent watch him for a few seconds before answering. "I'm not going to be a friar, I'll be a research assistant. I'm not going back to the church." He said reassuringly. "I'll simply be using what I already know, without the ties binding me."

"So they're not going to have a problem with this." He held up his left hand, waving the ring.

James sobered. "Probably." He murmured, "But I meant what I said last night. I'm not taking this job, assuming I get it, as an escape but rather because I miss that part of my life. - And there's every possibility that the study will be closed down, so we can get that annulment, so it won't even be an issue." he smiled tightly.

They sat gazing at each other in silence until it began to feel awkward for them both. Robbie cleared his throat and got to his feet, tossing the paper on the sofa and fixing his tie. "Well I guess we should go face the music."

James nodded. "Once more onto the breech and all that." He drained his cup and carried it to the rubbish bin. "What you fancy for dinner tonight?"

"I think we'll deserve a curry, what you say?"

"Absolutely."

_March: I'm Gonna March You Down The Aisle_

Robbie didn't know what was worse, arriving at the station and finding their office decorated with a just married sign and confetti covering their desks or the ten minute bollocking Innocent gave them over not informing her of their situation. Robbie had tried to defend their decision, told her about the contract that according to Hathaway's barrister friend was unbreakable, but nothing they said was sufficient.

Innocent didn't fall silent until James straightened his back and announces that he was resigning. Then it was only for a couple of stunned minuets. "James, you can't be serious?" she eventually demanded. "I know you two make an excellent team and under other circumstances I wouldn't dream of separating you, but..."

"I am serious ma'am. I've been considering it for a while now, as Robbie... Inspector Lewis, can attest. I've been struggling since before I was assigned to him but we made such a good team that I decided to soldier on, ma'am, but I can't do it anymore, especially not under another superior officer."

Innocent stared at him bewildered. "If you're trying to get me to..."

"I'm not ma'am, I swear." James insisted strongly.

"He's not ma'am." Robbie confirmed, "He's already been looking at a college position."

"This whole thing ma'am has simply...forced my hand sooner than I expected."

Innocent leant back on the table and sighed, shaking her head. "Well I'll be sorry to lose you James, I really will."

"I'll be sorry to go ma'am." James inclined his head regretfully.

"Are you leaving too?" She asked, turning expectant and accusing eyes on Robbie.

Robbie looked between the Chief Super and James. "Not quite yet, ma'am. I've still got another year and a half before I can take early retirement."

"Well that's a small mercy I suppose." Pushing herself off the desk's edge, innocent walked around to take her seat. "I'll expect a letter of notice on my..."

James interrupted her by pulling a letter from the inside pocket of his jacket, laying it on top of a pile of files.

Innocent looked at the envelope sadly. "In that case," she looked up at them. "I'll let you serve out your notice together."

The pair looked at one another, surprised. "Uh, thank you ma'am." They said in unison.

"Alright, get out."

_March: I'm Gonna March You Down The Aisle_

Innocent's decision should have been a relief, but it seemed to weigh down on them both. The rest of their morning was spent practically suffocating, not only from the knowledge that it was their last two weeks as partners, but also being under their colleagues' watchful gaze. Robbie had considered closing the blinds at least three times, desperate to escape the looks coming their way every few minutes. Only that wouldn't help, it would just make matters worse. He could just imagine what they'd been saying and think.

He glanced over to James, as the thought of their assumptions took hold. They would probably be pressing an ear up against the glass trying to hear one or another's passionate moans. As if either of them were stupid enough to have sex in the office.

Robbie swallowed and watched James work diligently, his head bowed over a stake of papers, only looking up to check something on his computer. He found himself taking note of the way the light shaded his cheekbones, the fullness of the younger man's lower lips and the length of his fingers as he scratched at his collar, which brought the smooth long neck to Robbie's attention.

Out of nowhere, Robbie's mind was back in that damn changing room at the local sports centre, sweat slicking both their bodies after a rigorous squash game that had left Robbie's back screaming in pain. He'd been in too much agony to really pay any close attention to James at the time, or himself for that matter. He'd put up only the midlist of fights when the younger officer insisted on helping him change.

As James's long fingers had wrapped around the hem of his sweat dampened polo shirt, dragging it up his body. The younger man towering over him, a bead of sweat rolling down his perfectly chiselled cheek, the strong scent of musk that Robbie had grown so used to over the years.

Robbie had insisted he could do the rest himself when James had reached for his shorts, slapping his hands away and turning his back on him. James had muttered an apology, turned bright red and then rushed off to the showers. It was only in hindsight now, with a clear head, that Robbie could remember the warmth, no...heat, in James's eyes during that whole encounter. The way the younger man's hands trembled slightly when they accidentally brushed his skin.

He only now remembered the spark of electricity that shot through him at that brief touch. The way his heart had raced and his body warmed, as it was now. He'd brushed it all off, put it down to the excise. Perhaps it was. Perhaps he was simply losing his mind and putting significance to things that were perfectly innocent.

Or perhaps...

He'd never felt like this with any of his other sergeants, or even any of his superiors. He'd never felt the excitement of seeing anyone, the way he did with James every day, nor had he been so angry at being excluded from anyone's life.

When he'd seen Laura out with men, he'd felt jealous, whereas when he'd discovered James had been seeing Fiona, he'd been...hurt, angry and dare he say heartbroken.

When he seen Zoe's flat on fire, and rushed into her bedroom to find James barely conscious on her bed, he been so filled with panic, and fear. The only time he'd felt that way before was when there'd been complications with Lynn's birth and he'd thought he'd not only lose his daughter but his wife too.

In fact the only time he'd felt anything close to his feelings surrounding James, was when he'd met Val. - And that was terrifying.

Surely fifty-eight was too damn old to be having some kind of surreal identity crisis. Robbie rubbed at his eyes, what he was feeling couldn't be real. It was just stress, a weird side effect of being around James more than he was used to.

"Sir?"

Robbie's head snapped around to find James staring at him, a look of concern on his face. "What?"

"Do you have the file on the Fernley case?" James asked respectfully, but Robbie could hear the irritation in his tone.

Searching the pile on his desk, he moved to get to his feet and paused, looking down at his lap. Shit. He thought as the indiscrete swell in his pants. Clearing his throat, he looked up to see James watching him expectantly. Robbie waved the file at the sergeant.

James got to his feet and padded over to him, his features blank which meant he was even more annoyed now than he'd been five seconds ago. Robbie clenched his jaw and waited for the sergeant to take the file before twisting his chair and pulling himself further under his desk. He kept an eye on James, as the younger man retook his seat and went back to focusing on his work.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, and with his back to the large window, Robbie slid his hand under the desk and adjusted himself. A wave of embarrassment flooded his system. He hadn't gotten hard at work since he was a sergeant himself. What the hell was wrong with him?

He glanced over at James briefly, then to the door. There was no way he'd be able to get up and leave without drawing the attention of his sergeant/husband, not to mention every officer currently hovering around the outer office watching them like they were bloody Coronation Street. He could maybe send James for coffee and then close the office door, relieve the pressure maybe.

What? Was he seriously considering wanking off in the office? During the day? Robbie dragged his fingers through his hair and leant heavily on the desk, closing his eyes and cursing his life.

"Robbie?"

He looked up, mouth open to scold James for using his name at work, only to find James's gaze flickering from him to the office door. Robbie turned his head to find, Laura stood, her blue eyes filled with concern. "Oh, hi."

"Are you alright? You don't look well."

He wasn't. He wasn't well at all. "Uh..." his eyes flickered to James for a brief moment, then back to Laura. "...fine. Just...tired." he smiled tightly. "Long night."

Laura looked between them and nodded. "I heard." she had that disappointed tone again, and Robbie hated himself a little more. "I dropped by to see if you wanted to grab lunch." she asked eventually. "If James can spare you?"

Oh god she was a life saver. "Sounds lovely." he grinned, only to frown when he realised he wasn't any better off. He still had to get out of the office without anyone noticing, only now he had the extra stress of Laura.

That thought did the job. He looked down at his lap as he turned the chair to get up and sighed a relieved breath when he found the swell in his pants had died. Perhaps it really was just a one off. He thought. Grabbing his jacket, he headed over to Laura with a slight spring in his step. When he looked over at James, he found the young man watching them. The look in his eyes was familiar and yet new to James's features. Robbie's heart skipped a breath and his breath caught for a moment. "I'll be back in an hour, okay?"

James nodded, his lips curving into his familiar smirk, what Robbie down realise wasn't actually one of amusement but irritation, and... No, it couldn't be, jealousy.

"See you later, James." Laura smiled, wrapping her arm around Robbie's and leading him away from the office.

Robbie could just imagine what the gossips were going to say.

_March: I'm Gonna March You Down The Aisle_

They made themselves comfortable at a table by the river. The walk over had been conducted with small talk, Laura telling Robbie all about the upcoming concert she'd be performing in, he'd smiled and nodded, but hadn't really been listening. All his mind could focus on was James and the look on the younger man's face when Laura had dragged him out of the office. On how many times he'd seen that tight smile and thought it was James teasing him. Joking with him. Lord he was a blithering idiot.

"How's it going at the station?" Laura asked eventually, when there was no other subject to distract them.

Robbie lifted his pint and took a long gulp before replying. "I feel like a bloody zoo animal." he sighed, setting the glass back down.

Laura looked at her place. "Not unsurprising considering the circumstances. How's James taking it?"

"Not a clue." Robbie shrugged, folding his arms. "He's barely said two words to me all morning. - He's handed in his resignation."

Laura's head shot up, eyes widening with surprise. "Why?"

"Say he doesn't want to work with another DI. - But I think it's more than that." he confessed. "He's been struggling for a while now. As good as he is at this job," Robbie sighed warily, shaking his head. "There's a part of him that's just not cut out for it."

"How do you feel about him leaving?" Laura asked softly.

Robbie met her gaze. "He's the best sergeant I've had, and together we make a half decent copper," as he'd said to James not three weeks ago. "But I don't want to see this job destroy him. He said he didn't want to end up old and alone."

"Like Morse."

"Like Morse." Robbie confirmed, turning to stare at the water, watching a couple of students on the other side.

"Is that why he signed up for the experiment?" Laura asked.

Robbie shrugged. "I guess. He hadn't really told me why he did it. Said something about hoping it would..." he paused, trailing off as the pieces slotted into place. Some bloody detective he was. He let out a groan and shook his head.

"Robbie?"

"God I'm a bloody idiot." he muttered.

Laura remained silent for a long while, watching him closely.

Robbie frowned over at his old friend. "What?"

"Nothing." she shook her head.

"I know that look, Laura." Robbie insisted, frustrated with the whole bloody mess.

She pushed her plate away, leaving it mostly untouched, and leant back in her chair. One hand playing with her glass. "I know that look too." she said with a half-smile. "It's the look you get when you've cracked the case, and considering you aren't working anything right now, I'm going to make a guess that it's more of a personal revelation."

Robbie inhaled sharply, eyes widening. "I..."

Laura silenced him. "I'm actually surprised it's taken you this long."

"What's taken me this long?" he asked cautiously.

"James," Laura exhaled. "He's in love with you."

Robbie froze.

They sat silently watching one another.

"How long have you...known?" Robbie whispered.

Laura shrugged, dropping her gaze to stare at her wine glass. "I've suspected for a while. A girl picks up on these things." she smiled. "We have a kind of radar when it comes to snarky jealousy."

Robbie swallowed, dropping his own gaze to his lap. "I had no idea."

Laura huffed a laugh. "Men usually don't. - I thought he'd gotten over it when I realised what was going on with Fiona."

Robbie shifted awkwardly in his seat at the name.

"Then you two..." she tilted her glass at his folded arms.

"It wasn't planned." Robbie insisted. "Neither of us knew..."

"I know." Laura quickly reassured.

"I didn't sign up for any of this."

"Didn't you?" Laura challenged.

"I just said, we didn't know we'd get matched to one another."

"No." Laura acknowledged. "But you knew there was a possibility you'd be matched to another man," she pointed out. "And you agreed to that, despite having another viable opinion." she meet his gaze meaningfully. "You made that choice, Robbie, for a reason."

"I'm not gay."

"Neither is James, you're point?" she huffed, lifting her wine and taking a long sip. "The fact is, Robbie, we come from a generation that separated people into two groups. You were either normal, or gay."

Robbie nodded.

"None of us really understood there was a middle ground."

"What makes you think I'm...?" Robbie frowned.

"Because James wasn't the only one giving off those jealous vibes." she smiled. "When I pointed out his relationship with Fiona..." she shook her head, looking at her glass once more.

"I'm the one that got him to sort things out with her before she left." he reminded.

"And James has spent the last three years trying to get us together. What do they say, if you love them, set them free? You've both wanted the other to be happy, even if it was at the detriment of your own happiness. The difference is, James did it knowingly." she smirked.

Robbie stared at the water, his mind reeling.

"I'm not usually one to buy into all that destiny rubbish, Robbie, but this whole situation with you and James is really making me question my belief system."

Robbie huffed out a laugh. "It wasn't destiny." he rolled his eyes.

"You don't think so?" she smiled.

"No. It was just a coincidence."

Laura smiled, laughing to herself. "The universe is rarely that lazy."

Robbie frowned. "What?"

"Nothing." Laura chuckled, waving it off. She leant forward, meeting Robbie's gaze. "Destiny or coincidence, it doesn't matter. What does matter, is what you're going to do about it now."

Robbie stared at her. "I..." he shook his head. "I have no bloody idea."

_March: I'm Gonna March You Down The Aisle_

He arrived back at the office to find James gone. Someone said he'd gone home sick not long after Robbie had left with Laura, and the way the DC said it made it absolutely clear she thought they were having a lovers tiff.

While he'd considered leaving too, Robbie decided to finish out the day, and get his head on straight. His conversation with Laura had left him almost as confused as he'd been before unloading on her, but she hadn't given him one piece of important advice, he needed to sort himself out before James got hurt.

So that's what he did. In between case reports and witness statements, he asked himself over and again, what he really wanted, and whether he was ready and willing to take it.

When 5 o'clock finally rolled around, with no case to keep him in the office longer than needs be, he headed out. He stopped off at the Indian on the way, grabbing the dinner they'd agreed on that morning. Half an hour after leaving the station, he walked into the flat to the welcomed sound of the TV. He breathed a sigh of relief, half expecting James to have vanished off to parts unknown.

Rounding the doorway, Robbie paused to find James stretched out on the couch, fast asleep. His arms were folded comfortably over his chest and his legs were crossed at the ankles. He'd stripped out of his work suit and was lazing in a part of dark jeans and his Run DMC t-shirt. Robbie smiled at him, laying there looking perfectly at home.

Robbie watched him sleep, and acknowledged his desire to walk around the coffee table and press a kiss to his forehead, as he'd done so many time with Val. He couldn't though, not yet. Not until they sorted everything out. Soon though, with any luck, he though. A vision of them two months from now, James sleeping on the couch after a long day at the college and him strolling in after another gruelling case.

Shaking off the fantasy, Robbie stepped around the end of the couch and set the large paper bag on the table. He tapped James's thigh, waking him, before heading to the kitchen for plates, forks and beer. He heard James moan behind him, and felt his heart skip, his blood rushing south. When he turned back, James was sat up straight, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep." James said, voice rough and thick.

"It's fine. How are you feeling? DC Wells said you'd come home sick."

James flushed, looking up only briefly. "Better, thanks."

"You sure?" Robbie asked, taking the seat close to James. He set the plates on the table and handed the younger man a beer.

"Yeah."

"Probably just a hangover." Robbie smirked.

James huffed. "I don't get hangovers." he insisted.

"I know that's a lie." Robbie argued. "You might not get them often, but I know you get them."

James narrowed his eyes at him. "I thought we agreed never to mention that."

Robbie laughed. They dished up their dinner and sat back. "What is this?"

"I don't know, I was watching a documentary on the Fall of Rome before I fell asleep."

"So we can turn this off?"

"Not up to expand your horizons?" James teased.

"I think you've expanded my horizons enough for one year, thanks." He felt James's eyes on him but didn't turn to meet the gaze, instead leaning forward to grab the control.

"The Weakest Link?" James frowned.

"Better than nothing." Robbie shrugged, gathering a forkful of madras and rice.

Robbie wasn't surprised that James answered practically all the questions correctly. He joked about James signing up and making his fortune being the smartarse he was. In reply James had grunted and grumbled about not liking the attention, which of course Robbie already knew.

When their meal was finished and the credits rolled, Robbie got up to carry their plates to the kitchen, James close behind with the rubbish. While Robbie began the washing up, James hovered behind him, like an uncertain spectre.

"You okay?" Robbie asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Fine." James replied coolly, grabbing the tea towel and beginning to dry. "How was lunch with Dr Hobson?" he asked after a few minutes of silent work.

Robbie looked up at him, taking in the tightening of his jaw as he waited for an answer. "We had lunch, talked. She was telling me about a concert coming up."

"Oh." James hummed. "I didn't know she played an instrument."

"Clarinet, apparently."

"What is she performing?"

"Holst's the Planets." Robbie replied, handing James the last plate. "I think she wants us to buy tickets."

"When is it?"

"Not until next month." Robbie clarified, switching off the water and reaching for the tea towel James was holding.

"I doubt I'll be able to afford it, I won't be starting the new job for a while yet, so I'll have to stretch out my savings."

Robbie looked up at him. "If you don't mind going, I'll pay."

"That won't be necessary." James shook his head.

"So you're just going to make me go on my own?" Robbie grumbled. "Now I know how Jean." he chuckled.

"Pardon?" James frowned.

"When her husband keeps making her go to these knob dos alone." Robbie grinned.

James stared down at him, and Robbie felt the back of his neck warming up. "Not exactly the same thing." James insisted quietly.

"I guess not." Robbie muttered, not breaking eye contact. "Her husband doesn't want to go, mine is just stubbornly refusing to due to pride. - It comes before a fall you know."

They were silent for a few long seconds, neither looking away. Robbie could feel his heart picking up pace in his head and his stomach beginning to tie itself in knots. James's chest was rising and falling in quick succession, and his face was reddening by the second.

"I...uh...I need to..." James began to stammer, stepping back. He collided with the kitchen counter and hissed.

Robbie had never seen this side of him before, he'd always been so confident. "James?" he reached out.

"Um, I've got to..." he twisted away from Robbie, walking quickly out of the kitchen.

Robbie closed his eyes for a second, rubbing at them before straightening. "Stop hiding." he said, just as James turned the corner. The sound of feet stopped and he exhaled. Robbie strolled out of the kitchen and into the small hall. He found James stood frozen to the spot, his back to him. "You said you wanted to stop hiding, so stop."

James was silent, shaking his head at the beige carpet.

Robbie leant his shoulder on the wall, folding his arms as he watched James's back. "Me and Laura didn't just talk about her concert." he said softly. "We talking about...us."

James inhaled sharply, his back straightening. "Us?" he scoffed.

Robbie ignored his tone and continued. "The thing is, I could have pulled out of this damn experiment the second Gregory mentioned the possibility of me being matched with another man. I could have walked away when I found out I had been, but I didn't. I stayed."

"You wanted to find someone, you didn't think you'd seriously be matched with a man."

"Perhaps." Robbie shrugged. "But I was, and it didn't change my mind."

"You stuck in there to help out. Gregory told you what it would mean if they had to start over."

"Hmmm. Does that really sound like me? If I'd really been against this, nothing anyone said would have changed my mind."

"What are you saying?" James groaned, rubbing at the back of his neck.

Robbie tugged awkwardly on his ear lobe. "That maybe I continued on with this because subconsciously I wanted to be matched with a man."

James shook his head. "You're not gay."

"Neither are you." Robbie pointed out. "I grew up knowing l liked girls, I fell in love with a woman. If I had looked at another guy I never acknowledged it to myself, let alone anyone else."

"And now you are?" James asked sceptically.

Robbie's gaze travelled down the length of James's slim frame, reliving all those times he'd seen James half clothed. Sweat sleeked or soaking wet, shirt clinging to his chest. His breathing hitched and his cock stirred for the second time that day. "Yes."

James turned suddenly, fixing Robbie with narrow unimpressed blue eyes. "You're just lonely. You want someone to fill the gap your dead wife left! It's not real!"

Robbie straightened, hands going to his hips defensively. "Firstly, no one could ever fill the gap Val's death left, ever!" he fumed. "Secondly, if this was only about not being alone, I could have married Laura, or gotten myself some mail order bride!" he stepped angrily forward. "It certainly would have been less stressful, and wouldn't have resulted in losing you as my sergeant and probably the best friend I've had in years!"

"You didn't chose me, four strangers and a computer did. You could have ended up with some complete stranger, and then what?" James insisted, talking over Robbie's defence.

"I don't know, I can't answer that." Robbie dragged his hands through his hair. "It would have most likely been a disaster, because apparently I've had a crush on you for a while according to Laura."

James froze again, staring at him in shock. "W-what?"

Robbie shifted awkwardly on his feet, shrugging. "The fact is James, the last month has really made me think and question myself. I've spent the last couple of week going over the past three years. You said that I'm the reason you stayed."

James nodded cautiously.

"Well..." he took a step forward. "You know I don't believe in him anymore, but...I'm beginning to think, maybe someone up there wanted us to meet." Robbie smiled.

"How do you know this isn't all in your head? If you get told something enough..."

Robbie took another couple of steps forward. "How about we test that theory." he reached up, gently cradling the back of James's neck.

"Robbie." James whispered as he lowered his head.

"Shhh, Lad."

It wasn't anything like what Robbie was expecting. He'd thought it would feel weird, especially with James being taller than him. He'd been prepared for the scrap of James's 5 o'clock shadow to be off putting and send him reeling, but in the end it had simply been a kiss between two people who cared for one another. It had left Robbie feeling breathless, dizzy and amazed.