She rolled her eyes and got changed and out her nightgown so all she wore was his dress shirt.

Pauline spent a little bit more time in front of the washroom mirror to try to do something with her hair, as she entered his bedroom to notice him pulling his wet T-shirt up over his head.

She had been so quiet with bare feet that he hadn't heard her as she walked in.

Looking him over unobserved, she had to admire his broad, hairless chest - pale as the moonlight with his well-formed shoulders and strong arms. There was only a little hint of belly forming on him that Pauline decided she liked – his skin looked eminently touchable. Like some great big, grumpy teddy bear.

He finally removed the shirt from his head and that's when he realized he was being watched. Startled, he just stared at her in horror.

"Would you mind knocking before you simply walk into my room!"

He thanked God that he'd had enough sense to change his pajama bottoms earlier.

She tisked him lightly as she came up to him and tossed the shirt he still held in his hands over a nearby chair. Taking a dry shirt from his bureau, she helped him on with it. But, not before lightly tracing her fingers softly across his chest. She played with a nipple, sending a jolt through his system suddenly.

"Pauline, stop that!" He scolded and batted her hand away.

She looked disappointed as she drew aside and seemed to cower a bit as she stood off to the corner of his closet. It was unlike her, it was as if she was purposely trying to be on her best behavior.

There was a very brief glimmer of a smile in his eyes, with it he made a surprise announcement.

"Perhaps I can do without my shirt tonight – that is if you don't mind?"

Pauline gazed up at him, not believing he said what he did.

"No, umm…that would be nice actually."

She almost seemed bashful. Was this a different side of her?

"Are you alright?" He asked, as if she had some sort of illness.

"I'm great! How are you?" She said, sarcastically.

'Yes, she's fine', he thought.

Instead, she walked up and put her hand under his arm and led him back to bed. Throwing back the covers of the bed, she started to crawl up on his bed and knelt on top of it like an over eager child.

He just looked at her blankly, making no move to lay down himself.

"Aren't you going to join me? It's awfully cold up here by myself, why don't you come and warm me up a bit?" She asked, trying to seem demure but he wasn't buying it any longer.

"How is it that you immediately take over ownership of my bed the minute you're in it?" He snarled, still not making any motions towards it.

"I guess it's because I'm so cozy!"

He made a face. "That doesn't make any sense!"

"Doc!" She whined.

"Very well," he snarled and climbed into the bed next to her.

"You see, this isn't bad, is it?" She whispered as she wiggled in close to him.

Martin, on the other hand, was as prone as a corpse – both refusing to move or relax.

"This isn't going to work! I need my shirt!" He announced and tried to get up, before Pauline grabbed his shoulder.

"It's OK, shhh…" she whispered.

He groaned in exasperation as she looked over at him, his pillow next to hers.

Slowly, her hand crept down under the sheets that covered them to seek his hand clenched by his side. Timidly, she stroked the back of it and then she grew a bit bolder and tried to move it down his hip. It was clear that as soon as she did, he could sense her beginning to…

"You're shaking…" he replied softly as he glanced over at her.

"No, I'm not," she said, but the blush on her face and her reaction told him she was.

His brow knitted a bit as he rolled over to look at her a bit more closely, but he still did not touch her.

"Yes, you are…"

"Don't laugh at me!" she hissed and turned over to face the wall, with her back to him.

As she did, the blanket came away from her a bit and he could see her shirt off one shoulder again and the softness of her curls falling down upon her sheets, barely visible in the light from outside as the rain let up and it was suddenly quiet. He could feel his heart stop as he made out the curves of her body in silhouette against the starkness of his bedroom window. She looked like a painting.

He desperately wanted to pretend the emotions she evoked in him at that moment weren't taking over his reasoning, but he couldn't resist her any longer.

Then he knew, he had to relax and enjoy simply being with her, she'd given him the greatest gift he knew – her heart. And, he was lost to her as well, and it was a wonderful thing.

Crying a bit, but trying to disguise it as he knew he was the one to make the overtures, she didn't have to say anything as he at last moved in close to her and softly put his arm around her tiny waist. Pulling her a little up against him, he buried her nose in her hair so that he smelled her aroma, becoming familiar with it. She sighed as she felt his hand flat against her belly.

Gradually, he softly kissed her bared shoulder with the caress of his lips.

She closed her eyes as she felt his lips move up from her shoulder to her neck, to gently nuzzle behind her ear. She gripped his fingers a little tighter with her own, for fear almost that if she let go – he would too. But, this time he didn't.

He felt so solid, so warm as he licked at her skin, tasting her – as if he were wanting to imprint it on his memory. She curled her neck a bit so he had easier access and this time she groaned a bit, loving how that felt.

His hand firmly left hers and gradually he became adventurous as his fingers moved up her ribcage to paw lightly at one of her breasts hiding beneath that damning shirt of his. She undid a few buttons on her shirt as he touched her naked skin when she guided his hand to covet one of her breasts, gliding up its smooth curve to stroke her nipple tip until it hardened under his fingertips.

"Oh Doc!" She purred.

He almost smiled as he heard the old nickname on her lips. To know it was her he was kissing like this made it all the more enticing for him.

"Pauline," he answered, as he moaned heavily into her skin, breathing her in.

She craned her face around to him and met his lips with her own as they kissed one another hungrily.

Finally, she could no longer stand it, rolling over to face him while still managing to kiss him, she pressed her breasts flat against his bare chest. She buried herself in his arms and he looked down at her as they separated.

"I think maybe we should consider slowing down a bit," he whispered, being the voice of reason.

She was disappointed as she felt they were just getting started, but knew he was probably right in this instance.

"Yeah, I think so too," she commented.

He laid on his back and tenderly pulled her to lay across him as he embraced her shoulders. She put her cheek on his chest and kissed him there for a moment. Cuddling in close, he leaned over and kissed the top of her head, fondly. She brought the blankets up around them as she closed her eyes.

Finally – sleep beckoned.

"Goodnight, Pauline."

"Night, night – teddy bear…" she replied.

He looked down at her.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Teddy bear," she said, as she rested her chin on his stomach and glanced up at him. "It's a pet name."

"No!" He said, glaring hard at her. There was a look of disdain on his face again.

"But, it's cute!"

"No."

"Martin!" She objected.

"Much better!" He sighed and laid back in relief.

She shook her head and smiled.

Then, cuddling up to her stuffed pooh, she fell asleep only when she could hear him snoring away beneath her.

The next morning, it was Pauline who awoke first as she found herself on her stomach, her head turned towards the window. The sunlight's warm rays touched her cheek, causing her eyes to open.

For a moment, she forgot where she was, but as she looked around the room – she remembered exactly. Then, the moments – the lovely moments from the night before – which seemed like a dream to her now became a reality as she could hear the deep rumble of snoring coming from behind her in the toasty bed.

Rustling around a bit, she tried to be quiet and not make any sudden movements as she laid facing the other way to see Martin's face lying next to her's. His cheek was a bit mushed up to one side into the pillow he lay upon, his lip curled a bit as he let out another loud snore.

She just giggled a bit and crawled in a little closer to kiss his nose.

He didn't stir.

His arm was possessively around her, one hand managing to find the bare spot on her back, almost claiming one of her buttocks as he slept on blissfully unaware. She didn't move a muscle.

Pauline had no idea what time it was and thoughts of patients no doubt arriving to start the day was the last thing on her mind as she nestled in close to him, cradling his head against her shoulder a bit and going back to sleep.

Martin eventually woke sometime later. The first thing he saw was of Pauline's face curled up beside him, her hair was falling across her face. She was hugging his arm like a cat.

Grinning a bit, he reached over and brushed her hair aside as she slept. This time he didn't mind that she was in his bed. He actually hoped it would happen again.

Leaning forward on his elbow above her a bit, he kissed her lips for a moment, lingering on how lovely it all felt. As he did, he happened to glance over her a bit to notice the clock on his end table to see it read 8:14 AM.

"Shit!" He cursed as his eyes grew wide and that's when he could suddenly hear what sounded like knocking coming from downstairs and a faint voice beyond his window.

"Pauline! Get up!" He said in a loud whisper and tried to nudge her. She instead just turned over on her side with a disgruntled sound and went back to sleep.

Ignoring her, he got up and ran across the room to his closet to quickly fetch his clothes.

As he started to shed his pajama bottoms, he felt suddenly self aware that he was half naked and that she was still in his bed. He wondered if she was laying there watching him, but as he glanced up, he noticed that she was fast asleep under a huge pile of blankets – little chance of that.

Shedding his T-shirt, he stood naked and threw on some underwear at break neck speed, as he hopped over with one foot barely in his boxers to look for some dress pants and he nearly leaped into those as well. Soon, he threw on the rest of his outfit as he straightened his tie and jacket.

"For God sakes, Pauline – get out of bed!" He yelled.

Taking a pillow from the end of the bed, in fact several – he started to throw them at her.

She just mumbled something unintelligible and slept on.

"She sleeps like some sort of indigenous, tree stump! Pauline!"

Coming around to her side of the bed, he grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and began to shake her.

"Get up! Now!"

"Wha…what are you doin'?" She said, as she tried to push him off, struggling to open her eyes. She rubbed her face as she came to her senses. Then she saw his clock too. "Oh God – is that the time?"

"Yes! The surgery should have opened a half an hour ago! There's someone downstairs right now! This is just perfect! Why do I let you talk me into these situations?" He snarled, looking angry and indignant.

"Me? You were the one that took my hand last night and led me up to your room!"

He just sat there beside her, looking a little flustered. "Well – I – it's not important right now! The clinic is opening and now everyone in Portwenn will know! No doubt they will announce it at noon on Caroline's radio show!"

"Whatevah!" She snarled and sat up, her shirt wide open and revealing her breasts to his eyes again.

He looked away in embarrassment.

"What is wrong with you? Gawd! You were squeezing them last night and I never heard you complainin'!" She snarled. "They're just breasts!"

"Right – it – it doesn't matter – there are patients downstairs and I have a job to do even if you don't!" He snapped and rose a little too quickly to his feet.

For a moment, the blood that had been rushing somewhere else came back to his head and he nearly stumbled on the end of the bed, before walking on in his usual self-righteous manner for the door.

"Hold on – I'm comin' too!" She replied and groaned as she lifted herself finally out of bed.

Eventually, after Pauline got dressed in her nightgown from the night before, she followed Martin down the steps. He was lecturing her on how to conduct themselves so no one would know what had happened when he saw her walk around him down the steps and go for the door to answer it.

He rushed down and jumped forward to grab her by the back collar of the nightgown, yanking her back a bit.

"No! You can't answer the door dressed like that!" He yelled, feeling panicked.

"Well, I don't have anything else to wear, what would you suggest?"

For a long time he stood there contemplating it as he she stood looking at him expectantly.

"You'll have to go around the side door and go up the hill, take the long way around to Bert's and try not to be seen. I'll tell the patients nothing, if they ask you're sick and possibly coming in late."

She stared at him in disbelief.

"You want me to go out dressed like this?" She asked.

"Do you have a better suggestion!" He hissed.

She pushed her way past him. "Fine!"

As she was getting set to hike the long way around, she came ran up and shoved him back a little.

"What are you doing?" He demanded.

She pulled him forward by yanking up on his tie to bring his face down for a quick kiss. He kissed her a little longer than he should as she separated from him with a smile and ran out the back entrance near the kitchen with a wave.

He stood there for a moment and watched her, a definite blush rising to her cheeks – despite the near miss, he'd have to ask her to stay another night sometime in the future.

Outside the clinic, there was a small bevy of teenage girls that often liked to hover around the clinic, idly walking around and chattering to one another. They were the bane of the doctor's existence ever since coming to Portwenn, often knowing everything he was doing and often teasing him about things to the point of feeling like he was in grade school all over again.

But, this time, as they ambled up the hill – they caught probably their juiciest tidbit yet. That of receptionist, Pauline Lamb, dressed in a white, billowing nightgown leaving the side entrance of the doc's clinic early in the morning and sneaking around to the back of the alleyway – thinking no one had noticed her exit.

"Oh my God, do you see what I see?" Chirped one of the adolescent girls. "Is that Pauline? Does that mean?"

The other girls began to laugh at the mere thought.

"Looks like our doc's been a naughty boy!" Another giggled.

(Later that afternoon, close to noon):

Pauline met up with Sarah who was arriving her appointment with the doctor, still coughing quite a bit. She smiled beneath her mask as she saw her friend.

"You're getting in late!" She commented.

Suddenly, Pauline could feel someone watching her and looked up to the window on the second floor landing of the cottage to see Martin staring down at her as he drank either his tea or coffee. His face was dour and unemotional, but she still made out a glimmer of something in his eyes.

"I think we're being watched," Sarah replied as she looked up at him herself. "So how are things going between you two?"

"Can I confess something to you?" Pauline whispered. "I stayed here last night, that's why I just got here, I had to go home and change."

Sarah looked excited. "Did you…?"

"No, nothing like that, not that I wouldn't have minded it – but we decided not to rush things. But, I came to him last night in my pjs – so I had to go home and get changed. He's probably skulking now wondering if half the village knows."

Sarah laughed a bit and patted her on the back as she glared up at Martin still watching them from above. She gave him a wave and a smile, he gave her a look of disgust and walked away. Probably well aware they were discussing him.

As they came inside at last, they were met up by Martin coming down the steps.

"Goodmorning, Dr. Ellingham!" Sarah said, trying to keep a straight face. He gave her a snarly look as she walked past.

Pauline, on the other hand, simply ignored him as she grinned and went over to her desk in the corner. But, she couldn't help but add as he walked through to his offices.

"I saw you watching me from the upstairs' window as I came in – you're like Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre or Dracula eyeing his next victim!"

"Shut up, Pauline!" Martin snarls and returns to his office, slamming the door.

Sarah and Pauline begin to snicker.

As she settles in, turning on her computer and slinging her purse over a nearby hook, she glanced around her in bewilderment. Sarah sits nearby on the window seat. It's then that Pauline notices something odd about her desk.

"What the…?"

"What's the matter?" Her friend asks her.

"My kleenex box and hand lotion – they were practically empty. They're full. These are a different box – and this looks newly bought. And, there's chocolates on my desk – I rarely get these because they are hard to find in town. How?"

She looks up at the doc's office and suddenly realizes they are a gift. She smiles a bit and her cheeks turn rosy.

"Mmm…wonder if it's your admirer from upstairs," Sarah replies. "That's really sweet of him."

"Yeah!" Pauline says and sits down, with a permanent smile on her face. Nothing would bring her down today.

Eventually Martin called Sarah into his office.

Coughing again, despite herself, she sat down in the chair across from his desk. He was ignoring her and digging in his filing cabinet when he turned to face her at last.

"What is that?" He asked, pointedly.

"What do you mean?" She asked him.

"On your face."

She touched her mask. "Oh this? I bought it from the pharmacist, thought it might help keep folks from getting my germs. This is a small village, don't want to start a pandemic."

"Wise choice," he said, and then looked away to his desk as if complimenting someone seemed awkward for him.

"Thank you. Can I ask – have you heard anything from the labs yet on what I have?"

"No, and I should have by now, considering it's been a week!" He snarled.

Suddenly, he reached across his desk and hit the intercom button on his phone.

"Pauline, do you have the test results for Ms. Marshall?" He barked into the machine.

"Sarah?" Came her voice over the line. "No, they've never been this slow before."

"Can you get them on the horn and try to see what they are doing?"

"Alright. I'm on it!"

Sarah sat there, with a bit of a grin on her face, but she knew the doctor wouldn't be able to see it.

"She's good, isn't she?" She quipped. "You know, it can't be easy dating someone you work with 24/7…"

He glared at her as if he knew she was hinting on some sort of heart to heart, but he knew she was treading into unknown territory here and he didn't like it.

Grumbling a bit, he went back over her file instead. Standing up, he circled around the desk and sat in front of her on the edge.

"Need to check me again? Sure," she answered, rather compliant. "I haven't been getting very much sleep – I feel like I can't breathe at night. I lie down and my throat closes up."

He felt around her throat and the underside of her chin.

"You're very swollen, have you been taking the antibiotics I prescribed for you?"

"Yes, in fact I finished the bottle yesterday – I feel like I'm getting worse rather than better – not that that's your fault."

"Of course not!" He confirmed, as if there was no doubt in his mind.

Sarah smiled a bit, and he still took no notice.

"Should I take something stronger?"

He sat back down in his chair. "No, it won't be necessary. Do you have a family history of any sort of respiratory illness?"

"No, not that I know of."

For once he seemed a bit dumbfounded.

"I think I will run some tests myself, rather than relying solely on the lab and see what I can come back with!" He announced, unexpectantly.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He looked at her strangely.

"I appreciate the fact you're going out of your way on this."

"It's my job!" He snarls.

"Yeah, I know it is. I can still appreciate it, if you don't mind."

He again looked at her oddly.

"It's no wonder you two have become friends…"

As she glanced up, surprised at his words, she smiled at him again. This time he noticed the glint in her eye and knew that she was.

"I'll take that as a compliment," she whispered. "So what's your opinion on what I have?"

"At this stage I can't tell without further testing," he snarled, and began rifling through his things again.

"Bull!" She announced suddenly.

Martin turned to glare at her. "I'm sorry, but would you prefer I just treat you with any drug I prescribe until you're laid up in a semi coma?"

"No, what I mean is – I know you're not the kind of doctor that sugar coats things. That's why I like you. You can tell me plainly. I've been through the medical system for years. Doctors always feel like dancing around something potentially serious. You don't take me as that kind of a man. So why are you starting now?"

He seemed frankly impressed by her honesty and figured he owed it to her. "Because I simply don't know – is that honest enough for you? All I can do is speculate and I don't want to put you through more unless I'm certain. I can give you some sort of relaxant to help with your throat closing up, but at the moment – that's all I can do."

Going across to his medical cabinet in the corner of the room, he compiled some basic plastic cups and equipment to run a simple lab test of his own making. A few minutes later, after asking her to spit into a cup and take a sample of her blood (which she observed him looking away quite blanched, which to her was interesting) and then he was done.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied, begrudgingly.

"Are you hemophobic?" She asked out of the blue.

Martin stared at her in shock, he wondered how she knew.

"I take that as a yes – it's alright if you are, you know, I'll keep it under my hat. Good thing you're not diabetic though or the daily testing would get to you. I hate it myself, but I guess I've gotten used to it, used to make me queasy."

He was quiet for a few moments before he added.

"Where are you staying?"

It sounded like small talk, she wasn't expecting it.

"Umm…The Crow's Nest."

"It's drafty."

She grinned again. "A bit. Do you think it's effecting my pneumonia?"

"I don't think it's pneumonia, but yes."

"I'll have to change accommodations."

For the longest time there was a painful silence between them.

"Pauline has mentioned you."

He didn't answer her this time.

"Don't you want to know what she had to say?"

Still he ignored her.

"No. See her on your way out."

With that she could see the session was over, as she was standing she added.

"When we went out for dinner at Bert's recently – all she talked about was you. So she had plenty to say," Sarah replied as she reached for the door. "It wasn't anything in particular."

She looked at him softly and then bowed out the door as he glanced up in surprise.

As Sarah exited the clinic, she was met up by the strange little police officer she'd seen a few days ago – PC Penhale, she recalled.

"Hello, nice to see you again," he chirped, trying to sound a bit more amiable this time. "I assume you've been following proper medical instructions given to you by our 'doc' here!"

He had a little bit of an upswing in his tone with the word 'doc' as if trying to sound boastful.

"Yes, thank you. Good to see you again. Thanks for coming to my rescue."

"Just doing my job, ma'am. You were a damsel in distress and I was…nevermind."

He seemed to blush slightly.

"You can call me Sarah if you like."

He looked up in surprise. "Sarah…pretty name. I mean…"

She smiled.

"Would you like a police escort back to your living quarters?"

"Sure, that would be nice. You can tell me more about Portwenn."

"Ah yes, the crime mecca of Cornwall."

She tried to keep a straight face. "You don't say…"

"Let me bend your ear a bit, if I will. I have some stories to tell…"

She grinned as they walked together down the hill.

(After hours, Martin is getting ready for bed):

Though he realized he'd rather have Pauline beside him, he knew that they needed some time apart from one another. Of late it seemed like every waking moment he was around her. And, for some unknown reason what would have bothered him otherwise – this time he wasn't complaining.

Finding his favorite book on the 'Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism', he settled into bed with a plate of biscuits and a nice glass of milk to settle his nerves.

Yet, as he was reading, his mind naturally started to drift. He actually eyed his cell phone sitting on his table next to him, almost wanting to pick it up and invite her over. Then he scoffed at the idea – what was he doing? He wasn't in grade school anymore for heaven sakes! Besides, most girls laughed at him in school. Though he had to admit – now he was an adult. But, still the notion was ridiculous.

Grumbling a bit to himself, he dug back into his book.

When he did, he found his eyes starting to grow heavy and he was drifting off to sleep when he hears a loud beep coming from downstairs, and the sound of the phone ringing. Lifting his head only slightly he hears her voice, he can't help but turn as he listens to the message and the lovely sounds of Pauline.

'Hello, this is the Portwenn Surgery, there is no one here to take your call at the moment, but please leave a message and I'll call you back.'

He laid back to feel a nice, little fuzzy feeling in his stomach as the phone rang again and once more Pauline's voice came over the speaker.

He realized he could listen to her all night.

But, then he heard her voice replying back to her message and knew it was Pauline on the line herself.

"Doc?" She called out. "You there?"

Immediately he reached over for his cell, and hitting the extension for the main line's phone he answered.

"Umm..yes."

"Can you sleep?"

"No."

"Neither can I."

He knew she wanted him to invite her over again, he hesitated as he knew that it was still quite improper even though he was dying to ask, he still couldn't bring himself to do it. There was a very long pause as he held the phone to his chest for a moment to think about it.

"Doc!" He heard her yell into the phone.

Picking it up, he lifted it to his ear again.

"Yes?"

"Can I come over for the night?"

"I – I don't think…" he fumbled for the words.

"I'll be there in a few minutes," she said softly and hung up on her end.

"Pauline!" He shouted into the phone. There was no response. "Pauline!"

Turning it off, he looked up at the ceiling. There she did it again – inviting herself into his bed.

A smile crept up to his lips as he awaited her arrival.

(A week passes and Pauline becomes a regular overnighter at Martin's cottage. She was actually surprised that Bert didn't send out a notice around town looking for her):

Gradually Pauline's stuff had mysteriously moved from her place above Large's Restaurant to his bathroom and bedroom. At first he didn't object, but one morning while shaving, he found her depilatory in place of his shaving cream.

Walking out of the bathroom into the bedroom where she was sitting reading a book in her Malibu Beach T-shirt and tights that she sometimes wore to bed. He held out the offending thing in insult.

"I just about shaved myself with – with this! Why don't you tell me when you leave all your sundries lying about like that!"

She rolled her eyes. "Didn't you realize it wasn't your stuff when you saw the wording on the side that says 'Smooth as silk in lovely lavender scent'?"

Getting up, she walked over to him and urged him to follow – for a moment he stood his ground until she took his hand and led him back to the bathroom.

"And, what is this?" He snarled as he held up her small hair trimmer.

"That is for my eyebrows, Martin – do you want me to explain what everything does or do you just want to think my stuff has some evil purpose?"

"I also couldn't help but notice you had well over a half dozen non-descript medications in my cabinet – most of which are highly dangerous and which I didn't prescribe."

"I don't come to you for everything!" She snarled. "Alright, one is for a foot fungus - I don't have any more…"

His eyes grew big at the revolting thought when she calmed his fears with her words.

"Another is contraceptive cream, I thought I'd keep that – you never know, well – I can dream anyhow…"

"Excuse me, but who do you plan to use that with?"

She looked at him incredulously. "You, you idiot! Though at this point I'm having my doubts."

"Which means?"

"Nevermind."

"Right, I can see this conversation is quickly degenerating as all our conversations do to one of sex."

"That would be the day," she hissed, and looked through the cabinet at what else she could find. "I'm beginning to think you're like the 40 Year Old Virgin!"

"I'm 48 and I have had intimate relations, not that it's any of your business!" He said, and turned away from her in humiliation. He began digging in the cabinet again.

"You're 48? Wow!"

He shot her a dirty look.

"And, it's my business if you're going to share a bed with me!" She said, feeling her dander go up again. She immediately grabbed some tiny tablets from his hand. "Those are diet pills!"

"Correction, my bed and why do you need so much medication?"

"I like to have things on hand if I need it in case of an emergency!" She objected.

He pulled something else from the cabinet before she could intercept it.

"Fluconazole? You need this for emergencies?"

"That's for yeast infection – I don't have it anymore!"

"I know what it's for! You're like a walking contagion! You're supposed to discard unused medication, you don't keep it past an expiration date – it's dangerous!"

"You know what would solve this – you stay at my place, then you can spread your annoying junk everywhere!" She quipped and grabbed back her cream.

"What would solve this is throwing it away!" He commented and threw the cream into a nearby waste bucket.

"Hey! Whatever! You didn't answer my question."

"You didn't ask one," he snapped.

She stood with her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"Well, you didn't!" He repeated.

"Tomorrow night, would you like to stay at my place? How's that?"

"No!" He answered firmly.

"And why not?"

"Because I don't intend everyone in town to know of our -"

"Our 'what'? They already know!"

"Did you tell them?" He demanded. He ignored her now and tried to go back to his routine of shaving. She grabbed the razor from his hand, nearly nicking him. "Watch it! You're going to cut me with that!"

"Lift your chin, I'll do it!"

He sighed heavily and then did as she asked and she began to shave him clean. She double checked that she was no longer using her depilatory cream. "I didn't tell anyone, if you must know – well, except for Sarah."

"Wonderful, a perfect stranger!"

"She's my friend!"

"I know, she was trying to corner me about it a week ago – well, something along those lines."

"So come over to my place late at night when no one is around, it could be – illicit!"

She started to giggle at the thought but he didn't look amused.

Finally, she finished up his face and smoothed it a bit with a hand towel. Then, she came up and stroked his cheek sweetly.

"I love you still, you know," she whispered and tried to lean up to kiss him, but he wasn't as easily persuaded. She pulled down a bit on his light blue T-shirt to get him down to her level.

"You're just trying to deflect the matters at hand!"

"Yeah, yeah – you just like to argue, it's in your blood. I know."

At last he relented and bent over to share her kiss for a moment, and an all too brief hug.

"Illicit?" He asked her, looking rather uncertain.

"How about 11:00PM tonight?"

"We both have to work in the morning," he warned her.

"I know, I know –"

"We'll see," he whispered.

She grinned and got ready for her day as well.

(Later that morning, at Bert's restaurant, Joan pops around with some crops she'd just picked in crates to sell before his customers arrived. She seemed in a less than charitable mood):

"Goodmorning, Joanie!" Bert called out as he met her by her van as she was unloading near the front entrance. "Fine day today."

"Yes, I suppose it is," she retorted, in a rather frosty tone.

"Oh come on now, you're not still mad at me?"

"Don't be conciliatory with me, Bert Large – I'm just here to sell my vegetables and then I'll be on my way!"

She brushed past him before he had a chance to stop her as she walked rather painfully down the steps. She had hoped to make a graceful exit – but damned her osteoporosis!

"Here, let me help you with that!"

She turned and glared at him, "I am not 85, I can do it myself, thank you very much."

"Yep, stubborn like the doc!"

"Well, if you think I am – that's fine with me. Just pay me and I'll go."

He came down the steps after her as she set down her wares on one of the outside tables, he started to fish out his wallet when he stopped for a moment.

"Why don't you stay for breakfast, I'll fix you something. I can call off the help for awhile and we can have some scrambled, bacon rations and tea."

"Fine, I'll just take my stuff elsewhere today!" She snarled and was ready to gather up her crate when Bert laid a hand on her arm.

"Stop for a minute, will ya, I can't keep up! All I'm asking is one little breakfast with yours truly and then if you want, you never have to see me again – well, at least until next week when you come by with more fruits and veggies."

She gave him a look of defeat.

"Alright Bert, I'll give you one more chance."

"That a girl!" He sang and kissed her hand. "It'll be the best breakfast you've ever ate!"

What he failed to notice as he charged back to the restaurant front doors was the faint smile on Joan's lips.

(That night, around 11:00. Martin had asked Pauline to keep an eye out for him so she could let him in. What she didn't expect was the way he was to arrive):

The road down to Bert's restaurant was quiet with only the odd skunk or cat ambling across the laneway.

So it looked as slightly bizarre to see a man in the mid August night walking down along the bushes, a large coat over his shoulders, a suitcase tucked under his arm and a big-brimmed fedora low over his eyes skulking down street.

Pauline was gazing out the back window when she spotted him. For a moment, she had to look twice as she saw him silhouetted in the moonlight. She had seen some strange things in her life, but this took the cake.

"Martin!" She whispered loudly, trying to get his attention.

He looked up over the hedge as he heard her voice. "Shh! Be quiet! I don't want anyone to spot me!"

"Oh for the love of God! What are you doin'? You'd think I was your mistress the way you're acting. Will you just get up here!" She finally said, her voice loud and clear.

But, he refused to come easily as he still sought the safety of several nearby bushes.

Until, he felt someone grabbing his arm.

Gasping in surprise, he glanced down to see it was Pauline.

"Don't do that!" He hissed.

"Will you relax! It's just me, come on, let's go inside – I'll make you some tea to calm your nerves."

"Won't Bert see us?" He asked, looking nervous.

"Were you this way when you were dating Louisa?"

"I'm trying to keep this discreet."

"By looking like you're in an episode of The X-Files?" She cried. "You're just stayin' over for the night, if I see little green men – I'll have you pretend you're Mulder and you can sic them for me."

"Very funny!"

She led him inside.

After a few moments of a calm tea and plate of day old biscuits, Martin relaxed considerably. But, he still seemed unsure as he mounted the steps up to Pauline's bedroom. It had been a long time since he'd entered a woman's place. It felt reminiscent a bit, but he tried hard to keep focused and the here and now.

He looked cautiously across the hall at the top of the stairs and stopped to stare at the closed door at the end of it.

"Bert doesn't sleep up here, he has a bedroom off the main floor. We're quite safe, Mulder."

"Will you stop calling me that!"

She just grinned and put her arm around him as she took his bag from him. Opening her door, she let him inside and closed it behind her.

"Well, here it is."

He glanced around and was amazed, it was a lot bigger than he was expecting. The light blue paint on the walls were starting to peel showing its age, but there was a deep rosewood armoire on one side of the room next to a large bay window with an overstuffed armchair, and an iron-cast bed covered in pastel quilts in the middle of the room. Along one side of the room were large closets and a bureau in the corner with a small LCD TV on top of it next to her iPod dock. There were clothes lining the floor and other stuff he couldn't distinguish. She looked like she had the startings of what appeared like a sewing project draped over a rocking chair in the corner near the door. The room actually smelled like her with perfumes on the dresser tucked behind the TV, he also noticed a few lotto cards. He was impressed, it was actually a lovely, warm and inviting room. Cozy.

"I thought you had given those up?" He said, making comment about her gambling obsession of a year or so ago.

"Those are to remind me not to start up again, sort of like your jeans."

"Uh huh," he answered, not entirely convinced.

She placed his suitcase behind the rocking chair and helped him off with his coat.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Do I get a kiss for that?" She asked, grinning up at him.

"I'll think about it…" he muttered and started to walk away.

She gave him the bird and stalked off, before he grabbed her arm and bent down to kiss her, lightly.

"I'll just get changed in your lavatory, where is it?"

"Oh…"

"What? You don't have it indoors?" He quipped.

She leaned over the end of her bed's railing and gave him a snarky laugh.

"I thought maybe tonight you could – you know, go without."

"Using the lavatory?" He asked, appalled.

"No – going without pajamas."

Ignoring her, he opened the door while muttering. "Fine, I'll find it myself."

As soon as he did, he heard someone humming in the hallway and he quickly came back in.

"What's wrong?" Pauline asked.

"Bert's out there!"

She shrugged and played with her quilt. "Oh well, you're snookered then, he spends hours in there!"

"What?" He asked, appalled. "Something he no doubt will come to me for."

"Just get undressed and get into bed, stop being silly!"

"I am not getting undressed in front of you!"

"Alright, I'll crawl in under the covers and hide my eyes."

"I don't trust you!"

"Oh come on, Martin, it's approaching midnight, I want to get some sleep!" Pauline moaned as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Very well, but turn around and face the wall."

"God, such a baby!" She whined, her voice cracking a bit.

"Pauline!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Turning around, she stared blankly at the wall. He kept his eyes trained on her as he began to undo his jacket and throw it over the rocking chair. Then he began to undo his tie and shirt. He stopped every once in awhile to see if Pauline was watching him, but she wasn't and felt safe to continue.

What he didn't realize was that on the bureau next to her bed there was a large mirror on top with her large, colorful beaded jewelry. She glanced occasionally into it to watch him unseen.

She smiled a bit, and felt the blush rise in her cheeks as he began to undo the belt in his pants. One leg at a time, he got out of them and then laid them with his garments over the chair again. Then, he wiggled out of his undershirt and finally reached down for his grey boxers, they looked finely made.

'Figures!' She thought.

As he rolled the boxers down his legs, he turned briefly to place them on the chair.

Pauline's smile got bigger as she observed his pale buttocks when he mooned her slightly, there was a line where his skin changed color – he needed to lay in the sun in the nude to tan that area, she mused. The idea caused her to chuckle.

"Nice bum!" She said at last.

He turned around in shock, and it was then she got quite the eyeful before he placed his large hand modestly over his privates.

"Pauline! You little liar! You – how…?"

Then he noticed the mirror.

"Close your eyes!" He shouted.

"No!' She said, simply.

"Bert is in the lavatory – I demand you shut your eyes!"

"No, I like seeing your little tushy all pale and shining in the light. It's kind of cute!"

"Pauline!"

"It's my room now, if I want to look at your bum, I will! Let's see the rest of you, eh! Flash us the big one again!"

"No! Stop it! You saw – I – you conniving, little…!"

She giggled and it was then they heard the door to the washroom in the hall open, the sound of humming and Bert disappear.

Martin gave Pauline a dirty look and then he backed along the wall, still covering himself as he fumbled for the door, never turning until he managed to get outside after grabbing his pajamas from his suitcase. It was quite a feat and he had to bend over a bit as he did, flashing his backside momentarily to Pauline who turned to see him fully and whistle.

"Shut up!' He roared and vanished.

About a half an hour later, he came back in the room – sour and not even sure what to do anymore. He wanted to grab his things and leave entirely, but it was too late for that now and so he resolved to stay.

When he did, he didn't expect to see Pauline starting to wiggle out of her skirt so that she was topless and standing by the bed.

"Ahh…what are you doing?" He asked, covering his eyes.

She looked up and rolled her eyes.

"Now what's the problem? I'm getting dressed, you were in the loo – so I got changed in here. You didn't bother to knock you know! I always get changed in my room! Besides of which – you've already seen my breasts – I don't know what the big deal is?"

He complains "I haven't seen what is – below – those!"

She groans.

"You're a doc!"

"Yes and?"

"Grow some!"

"I beg your pardon, Pauline – put on your clothes!"

"No, it's my room – deal with it!"

She continues to take off her skirt in front of him, so he tries to steady his shaking as he slowly turns to face the wall. But, then he realizes he's being foolish. He was a man of 48 as she pointedly laughed about earlier and he was willingly sharing her room, why shouldn't he watch her undress.

Slowly he turned and then looked at her, his face turning bright red as he swallowed his fear and sat down in the rocking chair.

It made a squeak. She looked up, and smiled as he saw her take note of him casually as she reached up to undo her hair so that it fell down around her shoulders. She didn't seem the least bit embarrassed of her body.

"You OK with the nude thing now?" She asked.

"Ahh…I'm working on it," he said, stuffily as he gulped a bit.

He tried crossing his legs to hide something obvious in his lap, but Pauline smirked as she noticed.

She was radiant as the light cast shadows across her ivory skin, it fairly glowed. Her small, high breasts raised a bit as she brushed her hair, freckles danced across her impeccable skin. Her tummy had a slight roundness that he liked as she was curvaceous and not ashamed of being so. Her full, shapely buttocks with the dimples above each cheek led down to her lovely legs that he had to admit he admired at times when walking through the clinic in her little, calf-skin boots. As she turned, he caught sight of the wealth of dark hair nestled between her thighs that in the lamplight looked slightly amber in tint.

But, as he continued to watch her, he lifted his chin a bit as his shameful stares were replaced by quiet awe and it was then he noticed it – she was quite beautiful.

He wanted to get up at that moment, walk over to her and take her into his arms, but the idea was suddenly dashed as she dawned a nightgown and crawled into bed.

"Ready!' She sang and hunkered down.

He got up and crossed the room to join her, turning off the light.