Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far. I've got more of an idea where I'm going with this now, and have just handed in a huge chunk of my dissertation, so might be able to update more often. :) Loving reading evryone else's fics too. Keep them all coming!
You'd know how the time flies.
Only yesterday was the time of our lives.
Harry was amazed he'd managed to coherently string his thoughts together during his hour-long presentation. In fact, he wasn't entirely sure he had.
He couldn't remember anything he'd discussed in detail, although he vaguely recalled answering a question, regarding the improvement of the turnaround time for histology and toxicology results, with a rather philosophical reply. Something to the effect of, "The best things in life are the ones you have to wait for. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of patience."
If Harry was the sort of person to use words like 'cringe' in his everyday vocabulary, this would have been an extremely appropriate time to use that very word. He hoped he hadn't just completely undermined his reputation in front of all his colleagues.
It had been, what, two years since he'd last seen Nikki? It was rare that a day would go by without him reliving her wedding day in his mind. The day that had changed his life. And now he'd changed. He wasn't the same Harry, and he suspected she wasn't the same Nikki either.
It wasn't until they were no longer in each other's company each day, that Harry had realised how much of who he was as a person had become defined by Nikki, and he suspected it worked both ways.
He also suspected however, that Nikki's husband of two years would now be the one defining factor in her life. He would comfort her when she was hurt, hold her close when she was exhausted, and be there for her when she needed him most; all the things Harry used to do...
...tell her how stunning she looks every single day, take her to bed when she's worked too hard, and wake up to her beautiful face each and every morning; all the things Harry had once wished he could do.
As Harry approached the front of the main building, he could see Nikki perched on a picnic bench, reading a book, and bathed in glorious sunshine. She looked angelic. Another mental flashback of her wedding day invaded his mind, but he shook it right out again. He didn't need to revert to the heartbroken shell of a man he had once been.
He was strong now. He had been for two years. He was married, and he loved Emma. He knew that much. A surprise visit from his best friend would never change that. He wondered why he felt a pang of guilt as he glanced in Nikki's direction.
"Harry!" Nikki beamed, looking up from her book. She seemed almost surprised to see him.
"Hello trouble." Harry replied, embracing her in a tight hug, before seating himself on the opposite side of the bench.
"How was it? The lecture?" Nikki asked.
"See, now why would you insist on calling it a lecture? Am I really that boring? I much prefer the term 'presentation' thank you very much!"
Nikki laughed. "I do apologise Doctor Cunningham. How was the presentation? And just for the record, I don't ever recall you being 'boring' as such..." she paused a moment, "except when you'd insist on reading me the latest news from Aviation Monthly. Or when you'd get a little too involved in a case and read me your entire PM report for the hundredth time. Or when you-"
"Alright, alright. Did you come here today just to throw insults at me?" Harry smiled.
"You wish." Nikki replied.
It was true. How he'd missed their games, their banter, and their teasing. He'd not had the same connection with anyone since.
"You know, if I'd have wanted someone to tell me how painfully boring and uninteresting I am on a daily basis, I'd have had children, Nix!"
"So no little Harry Cunninghams running around then?" Nikki asked, a smile spreading across her face.
"It's only been two years Nix, and I seem to remember that the last time we spoke, I was, apart from extremely bitter and petulant, very much single. On what planet do you expect I managed to woo a woman, get a ring on her finger, and somehow already have children running around by now? Even I'm not that good!"
"Oh I don't know Harry, you've always had a way with the young ladies. Young being the operative word. Anyway, rumour has it you have managed to woo a lady and get a ring on her finger. Oh god Harry, you didn't go and marry one of your adoring 25 year-olds did you? Tell me she's at least in her thirties!" Nikki teased.
Harry's mood had dipped slightly since the conversation had turned to Emma. He'd only just met Nikki again after such a long time, surely they didn't need to discuss the complicated entirety of his life right now.
"Yes, she is in her thirties thank you very much. And you'll be glad to know that I ditched my old 'handsome bachelor' ways long, long ago. Although I still kept a hold of the 'handsome' part of course." Harry joked, tossing his hair in a rather camp manner to emphasise his statement.
Nikki laughed. A beautiful laugh. How he'd missed her.
"Well, well, well! Frankly I'm amazed you could find someone to marry when you've already shagged everyone in London. Ah, did you travel out of town to find her?"
"I resent that. Firstly. I have not slept with everyone in London, as you well know" Harry shot Nikki a mischievous look, "and secondly, actually yes, I met her on a conference weekend in Oxford. She's a Forensic Physician."
Harry didn't know how the discussion had once again returned to his wife.
"Anyway, why all the sudden questions?" Harry continued. "I'm finished up for the day now, so we've got all afternoon to discuss the ins and outs of the last two-and-a-bit years. Let's go for a wander round campus, I'll show you the sights and maybe if you're nice to me, buy you a drink a bit later." He held out his hand.
Nikki sat for a moment. Hands in her lap, staring at the ground.
"I'm divorcing Matthew."
There it was. In one hour, and with just three words, Nikki had turned Harry's life upside down once more.
I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited,
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it,
I had hoped you'd see my face,
And that you'd be reminded that for me it isn't over.