Again, sorry it seems to be taking so long to get each chapter up - I thought this writing malarkey might get easier as I went on but that's turning out not to be the case! Thank you again for all your reviews, I really appreciate it. Hope you enjoy this next part.

Chapter 4

The day was getting warmer and with the amount of walking they were doing, Luc and Eddi decided to drop off their coats and Katchka at the campervan. As it had taken longer than expected to get to Blackpool, they also decided it was about time they had some lunch. After walking up and down for a while, they finally settled on having fish and chips. They chose a spot overlooking the sea and sat, newspaper-wrapped fish and chips in hand, eating their much needed food.

"I always used to have chips with Liam when we came here" Eddi said with a smile, "I love fish and chips out the newspaper" and she took another large handful of chips and munched them appreciatively.

"Nice look" Luc said with a grin, seeing Eddi's cheeks full of chips. She replied by scowling at him intently.

"Have you even had fish and chips before?" Eddi asked.

Luc pondered for a moment, "When I was in Legazpi City, the Philippines, I befriended a local who used to catch fish for me, nice chap actually, even with the eye patch...that's not quite what you meant is it?"

Eddi shook her head, wondering once more at Luc's ability to mix with the unusual locals of new cultures and countries and yet somehow remaining a mystery to almost everyone around him at Holby.

"Well, I suppose, fish and chips like this - no, I never have. Good though."

"Y'know, even though my mum didn't do much for me and Liam she did, just sometimes, have the good sense to allow us to see our grandparents, who did the best they could with us, despite their age. They were the ones who brought me and Liam here. Did your mum not do anything like that?"

Luc gave a hollow laugh, "Well, my mother was a junkie: selfish, a burden, better to have never met her. You know what it's like"

The words had spilled from Luc's mouth before he'd realised their full implication. Eddi's face had immediately turned stony,

"I know what it's like?" she said, her voice burning with anger.

"No, Eddi, that's not what I meant at all. I didn't mean you...I meant..."

"What did you mean, Luc, I'd really like to know." her fists were clenched and her gaze was resolutely fixed towards him with a defiant look, "It's nice to know that my drug addiction was such a burden to you, that you'd have been "better off" without me. Perhaps it would have been better if I had gone the same way as your mum" She had got to her feet now, arms tightly folded and ready to leave. Luc immediately stood up and tried to take hold of her, not wanting her to go. Eddi resisted his grip and pulled away, leaving Luc with an increasing sense of panic.

"Please Eddi," he insisted, stepping nearer as she tried to maintain distance between them, "Please, Eddi listen."

"Why should I Luc?! You've made your feelings quite clear."

"No, that's precisely the point! I've made a complete mess of explaining my feelings...again." he said dropping his head, hoping that Eddi would at least give him a chance. "Just listen, for a minute, that's all I ask. Just one minute. Please" he looked imploringly towards Eddi, at a loss of what more he could do.

Eddi stood wavering, torn between head and heart. Her head told her to turn and walk away, again inflicting the pain he dealt her when he'd left. His comments had stung, and he had no right to try and explain himself. Her heart told her to stay, to listen and to try and understand. Her feet remained rooted to the spot, her heart only just winning the battle - times had changed from before - now, she wanted to understand, she needed to understand.

"You've got one minute, Luc, that's all." Her head still reminding her of the hurt his words had caused, she wasn't going to allow him any easy route out.

"Eddi, my mother never accepted or wanted help, from me or from anyone, not even at her very lowest. She just ignored everything and everyone around her, destroying herself, and those who tried to care about her. That's where you are so different from her. You accepted help."

"Only because you didn't give me any choice" Eddi mumbled, bitterness in her tone, still unconvinced by Luc's words.

"No Eddi, you did have a choice. You always had a choice and you chose to live. It took me a while to realise I still had to make the same choice too. I wasn't ready then, to face my past, but you were. You were right to walk away, to fix yourself - I thought I could help you but I still had my own demons I needed to face." Luc paused and looked at Eddi, trying to gauge her reaction to his words. He couldn't quite read her, but she didn't speak so he felt able to continue.

"You were never a burden, if anything I was a burden to you, not being open with you...not letting you in. And I would never be better off without you...Eddi, I'm sorry, I really am."

They stood in silence, Eddi taking in everything Luc had said and Luc looking nervously at her. She took a cautious step towards him, still mulling over his words and remembering his actions when she'd been at rock bottom with her addiction. His continued assurance that he wouldn't leave, his persistence in trying to help her even though she pushed him away. The way he risked his job, his career, without expecting thanks in return. In fact, she often done the opposite and rebuked him for interfering. Yet he remained with her and looked out for her, he'd even watched her walk away and leave, allowing her the freedom she needed to fix herself.

Without consciously realising it, she had closed the gap between them, having taken the final step in his direction. Luc rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently on the lips. He took hold of her in his arms and held on tightly, still worried that she might change her mind and run off.

"Don't worry," she murmured into his chest, "I'm not going anywhere". They remained in each other's embrace for a while longer before Eddi broke contact. There was a brief flicker of a grin between them, indicating that all was forgiven, and the mood had lightened.

"You owe me for the fish and chips you know" Eddi said mischievously.

"Oh, do I now?" Luc replied, eyebrows raised, inwardly glad to see a smile return to Eddi's face, "Even after winning the duck and all those tickets?"

Eddi shrugged in a "it's only fair" fashion to which Luc rolled his eyes and dug around in his pockets, before handing the money over to Eddi. Eddi grinned, "It's been a pleasure doing business with you."