Kitty woke to a gentle touch on her cheek, opening her eyes to Tom sitting on the bed beside her, his thumb stroking her cheek as he smiled down at her. Kitty stretched out her legs and looked up at him, blinking blearily.

"Good morning." She yawned thickly, pushing herself into a sitting position.

"Good morning, darling." He said smiling at her, as she pushed her hair out of her eyes. "Breakfast?" He held up a paper bag from a bakery.

"Yes please!" She smiled at him.

Tom took her hand and pulled her to her feet, pausing as she wrapped a sheet around herself and lead her over to the table, pulling out her chair and sitting across from her, pulling the pastries out of the bag next to two tall cups of tea. Kitty chewed thoughtfully on a croissant, tucking her feet up under her as she watched him tear apart and devour the food. She finished one and started sipping the tea, the late night call coming back to her, causing her to frown slightly.

She peered at him over her tea, he was looking out of the window, a distant look on his serious face. She bit her lip as she replayed the call from the following night, hearing that demanding voice play through her mind once more.

He turned back to look at her, frowning slightly as he caught the concerned expression on her face.

"I'm sorry we have to cut this short, there is so much more I wanted to show you." He murmured quietly.

"Never mind." She replied, guarding her face. "I will definitely be coming back at some point. There are so many more things I want to see here."

He smiled and picked up his tea as she started on another croissant. She finished it quickly and stood, pulling the sheet around herself as she turned and headed for the bathroom. She stood under the hot water, trying to wash away her doubts about him. She dried herself and dressed in the royal blue capri pants and a button up blouse that she had grabbed on her way in.

Outside she could hear Tom packing and she came out to find he had already packed her things into the bags she had collected from their shopping trip. She slipped her toiletries into one of the bags as he kissed her forehead and gathered up the last of his things.

"All set?" He asked, suit bag draped over his arm, bags dangling from his long fingers.

"Yes." She said, smiling up at him wistfully.

They left the hotel, walking out to Tom's dark sedan that had been pulled around, Tom loaded the bags into the boot before escorting her around to the passenger side, holding her hand as she slid into the seat.

They drove away from the hotel, Kitty taking in her last views of Paris as the sun rose, painting the city rosy hues. She sighed sadly, her fingers resting on the glass as she watched the city slip away. Tom reached out, squeezing her knee. She turned to look over at him and gave him a small smile, covering his hand with hers. She turned back to look at the passing scenery, wrapping her hand around his.

After a short while, Tom slowed the car, pulling up alongside a park full of tall trees. Kitty turned to look at him, her head tilted at him questioningly.

"One last stop, just for you." He said, drawing her hand to his lips, causing her to smile broadly at his gallant gesture.

She stepped out of the car, and walked with him up the street towards a large gothic building. He wrapped her hand around his arm as they crossed the street.

"The Cathedral of Saint Denis." She breathed, looking up at him. "Thank you."

He smiled down at her and kissed the top of her head and pulled her forwards.

They walked into the church and Kitty looked around at the building, examining its features and snapping a few photos. She turned from taking a picture of the stained glass window, phone still in hand, to see him watching her with that broad, charming smile, feet planted wide, hands in his pockets. She clicked her phone, taking a picture of him before he could object.

"Fair's fair." She said with a cheeky grin, making him chuckle.

He held out a hand to her and they left the cathedral, returning to the car to continue their return journey.

They headed back to Calais, chatting along the way. They reached the ferry and left the car to get a cup of tea. They sat on a bench beside one another, watching the water as they moved away from the French coast. Kitty rested her chin on her hand, looking at the shrinking hills longingly, sighing as she wished this week didn't have to end.

"I'm sorry." Tom said with feeling, his hands dangling between his knees, regret written across his aquiline features.

Kitty looked over at him, shooting him a small smile.

"It's fine, I was just thinking that this has been the best week, I got to see so much, the British Museum, The Louvre, the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame...and you."

Tom coloured slightly and beamed, his smile breaking through the gloomy moment like the sun through the clouds, brightening the mood between them.

"It has been my pleasure." He said, his long fingers brushing her curls back from her eyes.

"Well, mine too." She shot back at him, raising an eyebrow at him with a wicked smile.

He laughed and leant in to kiss her and she tasted the tea on his lips. He wrapped an arm around her waist and they passed the rest of the trip talking.

It was mid morning when they disembarked in England, Tom driving steadily through the grey drizzle, Kitty asking him about his friend Benedict Cumberbatch, laughing at the stories Tom told about him.

Far too soon for her liking, they arrived at Kitty's hotel, Tom pulling into a park and sighing as he turned to her, flashing a quick, small regretful smile. He walked her up to her room, carrying her collection of bags. Kitty opened the door and let him in, closing the door behind him as he deposited the bags on the bed carefully.

He turned around, one hand casually slipping into his pocket, to see Kitty watching him from across the room.

"Would you care to have dinner with me tomorrow night, as a farewell before you head home? Also as an apology for having to drag you back so soon, of course."

Kitty bit her lip and looked away from his penetrating gaze, unsure if she should accept the invitation, her mind flicking back to the woman who called in the middle of the night.

"I promise I will explain everything over dinner." He said, trying to catch her eye. "My house, tomorrow night?"

Kitty looked into his hopeful face, a little surprised at the offer of dinner in his home. She saw the sincerity in his eyes and made up her mind to ask him about the woman who called and find out why she had such a draw over him.

"I would love to." She said, smiling up at him.

"Excellent, I will come and pick you up at 5pm tomorrow evening."

He stepped closer to her, slipping his arms around her and lowering his lips to hers, pressing her close to him. She gripped his shirt collar, kissing him passionately, as she slid her other hand down his back, squeezing his firm buttocks.

"Hold that thought." He murmured into her ear, kissing the point just below her ear, making her sigh.

Kitty pouted at him, still holding him close.

"You're no fun."

He raised an eyebrow at her, giving her a predatory grin. He stepped forwards, pushing her back by his grip on her waist, pressing her back until she hit the wall. He slid one hand up her body, brushing his fingers across her breast as he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue past her teeth. She held onto him desperately, loosing herself in her desire for this wonderful man.

He drew back slightly, his piercing blue grey eyes staring into hers, the length of his firm body pressing into hers, making her heart race.

"I have to go." He said in an undertone. "Until tomorrow evening, Miss Kitty."

She reached up to plant one last lingering kiss on his thin lips.

"I look forward to it."

She walked him to the door, leaning against the frame as he walked down the hall to the elevator, gifting her that broad charismatic smile before he disappeared.

Kitty turned back into her room, still unsure about whether or not he truly was unattached, but refusing to believe the worst of him. He had promised to tell her the reason behind their unexpected departure. And he had invited her to his home. She shivered with anticipation, her body still tingling from his touch moments before.

Kitty wandered around the room for half an hour, stacking her books and research notes into neat piles, packing them into a bag. She finished and left the bag on the floor, looking out the window at London. She turned on her heel and shook her head, trying to shake off a sense of melancholy. She picked up her coat and her bag and left the hotel, determined to do her souvenir shopping before she left the city. She picked up some bits and pieces for her family and got herself a quiet dinner, sipping her wine as she looked up at the Tower Bridge, playing over the last few days in her mind. She finished and walked back to her hotel, packing her purchases alongside her books. She sat in bed for a few hours, alternating between reading and looking out over the sparkling skyline, listening to the rhythm of the city. She gave up trying to read and stared out of the window, her arms wrapped around her knees, her mind bouncing from her pleasant memories with Tom, Paris, The Louvre, dancing and back to the late night phone call.

"No." She said aloud to herself, refusing to believe that he was cheating on another woman with her. She was sure he wasn't like that. She had been hurt before, but she didn't think he had it in him to do that. He was far too good of a person to do that.

Kitty turned out the lamp and settled down to sleep, feeling Tom's absence from her side keenly when she reached out a hand to touch the other side of the bed, cool and empty. She drifted off to sleep as her thoughts turned to the proposed dinner the next night, wondering what his house would be like, if it would be as surprising as the man himself had been.

(Several hours later)

The phone rang, drawing Kitty out of her sleep.

"Hello?" She said groggily, trying to blink the sleep from her eyes. "What is it?"

"Tash, oh thank god. I need you!" Came a shrill voice out of the phone.

"Mum." She sighed. "What's the matter?"

"Oh Tash, it's your brother Lachlan, he went off on some camp and they were supposed to be back yesterday and they haven't been seen and no one has heard from them. Something has gone really wrong, I know it!"

"What?!" Kitty said, sitting up, suddenly wide awake. "How long has he been out on that camp?"

"A few days, it was just supposed to be a few days, but they are overdue by more than a day!" She sobbed loudly, unable to choke out any more words.

Kitty tried to think, it was a scout camp, she was sure, and Lachlan was a junior leader, so he wasn't alone and he wasn't unprepared. He had the training to find his way back without the use of GPS or compass, so if he wasn't back very soon, something was very wrong. The fact that he hadn't called when he had a phone with him was also a worry.

"Ok, ok." She said, trying to call her hysterical mother down. "I'm sure he is fine, he is very resourceful, he will be ok."

Her mother continued to cry, her words unintelligible and thick with emotion. Kitty looked at the clock. It was 3am, no wonder she had been dead to the world.

"I need you here, I can't handle this!" Her mother blubbered. "What if he is hurt, what if he doesn't come home?"

"Mum, calm down, it will be fine, Lachlan will be fine, he's a clever bloke. Of course I will come home, but you need to calm down."

"I will try!" She sniffed, breathing shakily.

"I have to go, I need to pack my things and book a ticket and get to the airport. I will call you as soon as I land. You will be ok, Mum. He will be ok. You need to stay calm."

"Hurry Tash, I need you home!"

"I will, I promise, call me if they find him, ok? I will call you just before I get on the plane too, alright?" Kitty said, flinging the sheets off as she swung out of bed.

"I will." Her mother said sniffling.

Kitty hung up and set about packing her things, throwing her clothes into her bag, calling the front desk to call her a cab. She threw on some clothes hurriedly, dressing warmly in whatever was clean.

She paused as she picked up her clothes from Paris. Tom. Dinner. Damn. It was far too early to call. She would have to call him later. The room phone rang, it was Ben on the front desk, telling her that her cab had arrived. She thanked him and swept her eyes over the room, making sure she had not left anything behind. Her eyes lingered on the blue orchids, starting to wilt on the low table. The card that had accompanied them was tucked in her purse, his intimate message staying close to her. She picked up her bags and left the room, heading downstairs and out to the cab, giving the driver instructions to head to the airport.

She arrived at the international airport and paid the cabbie, rushing inside. She found a flight that left in a few hours, managing to get through customs relatively quickly as there were few people travelling at this hour. She called her mother briefly, telling her she had arranged a flight that left shortly. She sat at the gate, staring numbly out into the flickering lights, panic for her brother starting to seep in. It was just after 6am, her flight was due to leave soon. Kitty shook herself out of her state, deciding that it was likely that Tom would be up soon, if he wasn't already. If she didn't call now, she might not have a chance before they were supposed to have dinner tonight.

She pulled out her phone and found his number, and pressed the call button. She took a deep breath, and tried to gather herself as it rang. It rang a few times, before his voicemail picked up. She listened to his melodious voice and waited for the message to end.

"Tom, it's Kitty. I'm sorry to call you so early. It's...um...I." Her voice shook as tears slipped down her face. She sniffed and shook herself. "Sorry. It's my brother, he's missing in a forest and my mother is hysterical. I have to leave immediately, I'm at the airport now." She paused, steadying her voice as it had become ragged as she spoke. "I'm sorry I won't get to say goodbye properly. Thank you. For everything. It was truly wonderful. I'll... I'll miss you." She breathed quietly. "Goodbye, Tom."

She hung up and looked up at the monitors, realising she had forgotten to give him her Australian number. She typed a message into her phone.

Tom, here is my Australian phone number, give me a call if you're ever in my part of the world and would like to catch up. Take care. Kitty. XO

Kitty stood and picked up her carryon bag, as a voice called her flight to begin boarding. She dashed away tears as she moved to the gate, her sadness was a mix of fear for her brother and sadness at not being able to see Tom once more before she left for good.

'Ah well,' she smiled sadly to herself as she walked down to the plane. 'At least we'll always have Paris.'