Hey guys, I'm so sorry for not posting in a while (a really long while). I have been dealing with a lot and I've just found it hard to find time to open my laptop. First, I've been fighting off a viral infection and I haven't been in the right head space to write any chapters. But I'm back and feeling better than ever. Second, I had my prom two weeks ago and I had a crazy week with last-minute checks and planning. And lastly, I am currently in the process of moving bedrooms and I have the great privilege of moving all the old furniture ready for redecorating and then building the new furniture, yay me! (And if you couldn't tell, that was sarcasm). Before jumping straight into the chapter, I feel like I need to vent a bit and rant about the few latest episodes of Our Girl. Feel free to skip if you are not interested in Molly and Charles, which would make no sense since you're reading a fanfic about them but oh well ;)

Now I have to be honest, I fell in love with Our Girl because of season one and especially Lacey Turner who played Molly Dawes and because of that I have never really warmed to Georgie Lane, yet I have nothing against Michelle Keegan as an actress. After watching season one and finding out Lacey Turner was not returning, I kinda swore off Our Girl for a while because I felt like I couldn't really enjoy a whole new season with a new medic. Yet, I decided to give season two and three (Nepal tour) a chance, and I found them good but still not enough to bring myself to watch the rest of season three (Nigeria, Belize and Bangladesh tour). I do, however, read about the latest episodes of season three to keep myself up to date with what's going on and to say I'm heartbroken is an understatement. Firstly we find out in season two that Charles and Molly are married without showing us a wedding which we all deserve and then we find out in season three that things between them are falling apart. I'm sorry but if Tony Grounds thinks that this is acceptable then he has another thing coming. He is making it seem that people who are in the army can never be truly happy, first with Georgie and Elvis and now with Charles and Molly; yet they can be. In my opinion, the way they have written Captain James in season three is totally out of character from the way he was in season one. And I find it disrespectful to all the fans who support Charles and Molly like myself and for those who support Georgie and the late Elvis. I feel like the way they have approached the topic of Charles and Molly's marriage possible breaking is so wrong that I don't think there is a way back. Also, as if Molly would actually write that email to Charles, her original character from season one has obviously been thrown out the window, since we saw who much her character matured over the first season so I find it hard to believe she would leave Charles in an email. And now in the finale, CHARLES AND GEORGIE SLEEP TOGETHER! DO THEY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR MOLLY WHATSOEVER? I mean, was Molly some sort of experiment to Charles at breaking the rules and then with Georgie, the rules are just thrown out the window? I've just given up with Tony Grounds and with BBC, I think I'm just gonna stick with reading FanFic and keeping Molly and Charles' spark alive. Please share your opinion on the situation and tell me if you think I'm being too harsh or you completely agree with me or if you feel something different. I would love to know that I'm not the only one out there outraged by the latest developments in the show. Now on the to story...

Chapter 4

Molly couldn't stop staring at her ring, her smile getting bigger by the second. She never thought she'd be this happy before because of her track record of guys. First, there was Artan, holding her back, and then her fling with Smurf, confusing her nut while on tour and now her once-forbidden love with her former Captain, giving her a reason to wake herself every day. But the more she thought about her impending future with the love of her life, the more she thought about Sam, since he would become her stepson and was he must be going through right now. He's only 8 years old and his mum has gone and somewhat abandoned him and now as far as he is concerned, his dad and his dad's girlfriend were upstairs arguing, but they were far from it. Molly knew someone had to break the silence and when she moved her gaze to Charles she knew that he was still processing everything. "What we gonna do Charles? What we gonna tell Sam?" She asked, curiosity getting the best of her. He sighed deeply breaking from his train of thought and turned his attention to his fiancée. "We are going to go downstairs, tell everyone the good news and then afterwards, I'm going to have a very long talk with Rebecca." He stated, forcing a trying smile which didn't quite meet his eyes. "How could she do somethin' like this? How could she do this to such an amazing an' innocent kid? You know I never really warmed to Rebecca but this is just bloody crazy!" She sighed, blowing her head slowly trying to cover up the tears forming in her eyes. Charles moved closer to Molly and raised his hand to lift her chin up so he could look into her deep brown eyes. "Look, I don't know. But, we will figure things out, together." He declared while wiping away her tears with his thumbs; then grabbing ahold of Molly's hand and leading her out of the bedroom. Leading down the stairs, Charles could hear the laughter coming from the family room to which he assumed his parents took it upon themselves to distract Sam from the tension and argument. Before walking through the door, Charles turned to Molly and handed her back the documents that held such impact to their lives and with a knowing gaze, she knew what he was asking and she tucked the papers into the first drawer she could find and mimed herself zipping her lips and throwing away the key.

"Okay, where is the party? And why wasn't I invited?" Charles playfully asked, trying to get involved in whatever the conversation between his son and parents was about. "Grandma was telling me about how a swan jumped up out of the lake and chased Grandpa down the riverbank. It wouldn't leave him alone, I would have loved to have seen that." Sam explained hinting his upset about not being able to join his Grandparents in their home in Lake Garda. His parents, turning their gazes to their son and lifting their eyebrows in an 'I told you so' way. "Don't look at me like that. I was all for it, we all know who said no." He retaliated trying to defend his honour while at the same time attack the honour of a certain ice witch, probably not his best moment. "Mum never lets me do anything fun, not like the things you and I do Molly." He paused before speaking again, thinking carefully about he was about to say. "I wish you were my mum." The whole room stood at a standstill, trying to understand the words that confidently came out of the 8-year-old's lips. Molly took the responsibility to answer his statement after realising this was a special moment between them, and it should be her to work through it with him. Bending down to reach his eye level, she took a hold of his hands and began fidgeting with his fingers, trying to find the right words as this was a big moment and she could not afford to mess it up. Before committing to such an act, she turned to Charles and gave him a look asking for permission to which she received a gentle nod. She turned back to Sam and looked deep into his eyes, "Well scamp, as it's not quite that simple, would you settle for step mum? Would you be okay with that, if yer dad and I got married?" Her voice breaking as her nerves were getting the best of her. She noticed Sam was taking his time in answering and she took that as a bad sign and started questioning herself. What if he was just joking? Or that he regretted saying something like that? What if he didn't want her at all anymore? She detached herself from Sam and slowly began to stand up straight when Sam grabbed both of her arms to lower her back down. He waited until she willingly bent back down to his level and jumped up to wrap his arms and bury his head in her neck. "I would love that! Now can we eat, I'm starved?" After witnessing such a heartwarming moment between Molly and Sam, Charles felt something he hadn't felt in a long time; home. And he found that in Molly. Before he knew it, he was being dragged by his son to the dining room where Sam had laid the table, while Molly ran to the kitchen to check on the pasta carbonara which she just remembered but would probably be burnt by now and therefore would have to put up with a takeaway; less sentimental but nonetheless food. Thankfully, it survived and so did Molly's appetite.

The next few days would be spent preparing for Molly's trip up to the Whittington barracks which definitely didn't sit well with Charles. He swears she repacked her Bergen at least ten times in the course of three days. She is definitely worried. It wasn't that he disapproved, it was that he had just got her back after three months apart and now she was going away for two weeks, even if she was only two hours away. He would miss the memories that they shared from the past week and would have a Molly size hole in his heart...and his bed. Molly along with his family was the only person who made him excited about the future. Charles was always a stickler for control and would lose his mind when he felt like things were falling down around him but with Molly; he felt carefree and young, curious to wait and see what was around the corner and not plan or control it. He just wanted to live in the moment with the girl he absolutely loves and build a life with her; he would just have to wait two weeks. He just had to find a way to deal with Sam's behaviour in school and the whole situation with Rebecca, and with Molly going away gave him the chance to speak with Sam, father to son. "Dawes! If you don't get you beautiful cockney ass down these stairs, so help me God!" He called after his fiancée, waiting patiently for their saddening goodbye. "Okay! Okay! Keep your hair on!" She tumbled down the stairs wearing full kit and carrying her newly packed Bergen. "I didn't think I would be living out of a Bergen again so soon." She revealed. "You can still change your mind Dawes and stay here with me?" He asked while letting his hands wander over her body to which she playfully swatted away. "You said I should take this opportunity, have you changed your mind?" She asked back, her smile fading fast. "No, no, it's not that." His words spilling from his lips faster than his dignity could keep up. "I'm just gonna miss you, a whole two weeks without you Dawes. I just got you back." All she could do was chuckle at his small declaration of love and began playing with the collar on his shirt. "I'm going away for two weeks, not two months or two years, okay? And I'm only a few hours away, I'm not leaving the country. You will be fine, and anyway, I'll be coming back for the weekend so you'll at least get to see me halfway through. Is that good enough for you, sir?" She asked, emphasizing the word 'sir' hoping to ignite some old sparks inside him. "I guess it will have to do Dawes. At least I will be here at home in my wonderfully comfy bed while you're up north teaching, and camping out in the bunks." He teased back. "Charming! And that won't be my surname for long. I'm the future Mrs James I'll have you know." She joked before changing her tone to sound more serious. "I know you still have to talk to Sam about the whole thing at school and everything going on with Rebecca, just... don't be too hard on him. He probably just acted out because he didn't know what was going on that morning. I left those documents in the top drawer in the kitchen behind the door, okay? You need me, call me." For once, it was like their roles were switched and now she was the overprotective captain and he was the small squaddie.

Only after an overdramatic and tearful goodbye with Charles and Sam, was Molly ready to take a train back home to London to gather her things and wait for her lift up to Lichfield. To say she was nervous was an understatement. She was completely out of her element; talking to a class of potential CMT when she was still just a Private. Yet again, she was up from a promotion to Lance Corporal and she was a recipient of the Military Cross, that has to hold some brownie points. Now that Molly was seeing the upside, she was feeling more excited than nervous. Her train ride to London was surprisingly calm and she actually found the time to close her eyes and rest preparing for the hell that was the Barracks. However, that feeling didn't last long as a pure devastating and lasting blow was waiting for her back home.

"You've been back a week Molly and only now you've come home. Where have you been? Wait, let me guess, with that bloke you met from the Army. What was his name again, Chuck, Charlie-" Belinda shouted with the ever so slight hint of sarcasm. "His name is Charles, mum and yes I have been with him, and his family." Molly explained. "Oh, so you could make time for him and his family but not your own? And now your all dressed up and packed. Don't tell me you're going away on tour again Molly, you just got back home, literally." The bitterness in her mother's voice was very noticeable but didn't phase Molly the slightest as she had grown accustomed to her family's bitterness. "No, mum, I not going away again, I'm travelling up north to teach some classes for two weeks and then I'm coming home." Molly explained hoping to calm the situation down, which backfired. "Home? Which home? This home, where you have lived for 22 years or your other home in...whatever city that Charles bloke lives?" Her mother asked growing ever so frustrated. "I will be coming back here after to gather my things but then I'm going back to Charles mum, back to the home where my fiancé lives if you must know." She explained surrendering to the everlasting fight that was her mother. "Fiancé?" Her voice no louder than a whisper but loud enough for Molly to hear. "Yes mum, fiancé. Charles asked me to marry him and I said yes." She told her mum, her smile reappearing just by the thought of marrying Charles and the fact that she has said it out loud. "So you're just gonna leave me here struggling while you go and play happy family's with some posh bloke that happened to look your way?" She pleaded angrily. Disgusted at her mother's reaction, she grabbed her Bergen from the floor and swung it on her shoulders. "I'm gonna just pretend I didn't hear that. I would have thought you would have been happy for me, supported me in whatever I decided to do with my life. And not make it about yourself. But don't worry mum, you know what don't worry about it or me ever again." Those were the last words she spoke to her mother before rushing to the door and slamming it behind her. She was rooted to the spot outside the door, trying to take in what had just happened. She couldn't believe her mum would act in such a way, a way she had never seen before in the 22 years she had known her mother. She regained her composure and walked slowly down to the ground floor to meet her lift to Lichfield. She stuck out like a sour thumb in her kit, so it didn't take them long to track her down. She climbed into the car of a certain Captain Geddings and as he slowly pulled out of her estate she took a long look at her home, correction her old home. Other than collecting her belongings, she was saying goodbye to her old life in London but more specifically to her parents. She would find some way to see her siblings, she wouldn't be able to stay away. But from this moment on, everything and everyone in Molly's life would be about rebuilding and starting over, starting with a certain handsome captain and adorable little scamp in Royal Cresent. And she was determined to make it last.

Am I forgiven?

R&R xx