Huge thank yous to Lizziginne, Dinabar, Cariad1987, DEfy'GRavitY95, Freya82, Lotte, Hi-world, Izzy, Baibe, HNfan1992, scarletpoppy and my anonymous reviewer...(and anyone I missed - sorry!) you're a lovely bunch, you're all so positive and encouraging it gave me confidence to keep going. This has been the hardest to write by far because there's less of this sort of content to give me guidance in the series. Any departing comments would make my day :)
It was already dark by the time Nikki got to Leo's. She noticed that her boss' car was still not in its usual spot and concluded that Leo must be having difficulty escaping from his talkative in-laws and decided that he really could do with some help sorting out the house.
Nikki found the front door was open so let herself into the hallway and called to see where Harry was. On receiving no reply she took off her jacket and went towards the lounge where she found an empty beer bottle standing prominently in the doorway. Nikki picked up the bottle and stepped into the lounge where she was immediately struck by the immaculately clean surroundings until her eye was drawn to an obtrusive empty wine glass in the middle of the floor. Picking up the glass she looked up and spotted another empty glass stood just in front of what she then noticed were slightly open french doors. Feeling bemused Nikki stepped closer to the french doors and could make out tiny points of light in the garden. With a furrowed brow she bent her head around the door as she opened it.
"Harry?" Nikki questioned as her eyes strained to search the dimly lit garden.
Harry didn't reply but Nikki could see he was sat in the shadows on the garden bench. She glanced around and realised that the points of light were tealights that had been dotted along the raised bed. She walked towards the candles, her mind beginning to process what might be happening.
"Am I late? The place is spotless ...with the exception of these" Nikki lifted the glasses and bottle looking in Harry's direction but being unable to see his face.
"I didn't want you to think you'd had a wasted trip" came the response from the darkness.
"What's with the candles, I thought you'd be sick of them after your cake." Nikki was becoming aware of a tension that wouldn't lift by her usual tactic of making jokes. She found herself trying to find some alternative explanation for the evident effort that Harry had put into creating what was undeniably a romantic atmosphere but she failed.
"Nikki." Harry's hand appeared from the shadow, without making a concious decision to do so she found herself moving towards it.
Nikii stretched out to take Harry's hand and as their finger tips touched every thought evaporated, her questions instantly answered without a word from Harry whose hand was pulling her gently down to sit on the bench beside him. Nikki sensed that the de ja vous she felt was intentional. Harry was trying to recreate the atmosphere of the previous night and the realisation sent a burst of adrenaline throught Nikki and she felt her pulse quicken. Was she nervous? Nikki couldn't understand why she should be but this was out of character for Harry, she put her anxiety down to not knowing what he was up to.
"Are you cold?" Harry asked.
Nikki was too distracted to have noticed that without her jacket the evening was cool and she was shivering slightly.
"No, I'm fine" she responded but Harry's arm had already reached behind her to move her towards him. He rubbed her arm softly to keep her warm and Nikki breathed out feeling some of her nerves lifting as she leant her head lightly on Harry's shoulder.
"I never answered you last night." Harry eventually said.
"What did I ask you?"
"What I'd used my birthday wish for. You got called away just as you'd bullied the truth from me."
" Harry, I..." Nikki began but Harry interrupted, determined to speak his mind before he lost the courage.
"You" he said simply.
Nikki kept her eyes fixed on the ground. She was desperate to look at Harry to get some confirmation that she was understanding his meaning but she found herself completely incapacitated, frozen, in case movement broke whatever spell it was that had caused everything to stop, her heart seemed to pause, she held her breath...
"I wished for you." Harry said in a whisper.
Nikki still couldn't meet his eyes but an irresistable smile was forming, betraying the feelings that were bubbling to the surface.
Harry had been holding his breath subconciously, all his attention was focussed on Nikki's face searching for the faintest glimmer of response. Seeing the beginnings of a smile was enough to relieve Harry of all his uncertainty. He moved his free arm to softly place his palm against her jawline and force her to look at him.
Nikki couldn't resist Harry's coaxing and looked as deeply into his eyes as the twilight would allow. Depite the subdued light Nikki felt she could read Harry's every thought and felt a thrill of anticipation rush through her as the hand that was still resting against her face gently tilted her head to the side and moved to stoke her cheek softly. Nikki's eyes closed and she felt Harry's warm breath as he moved closer to her. The side of her nose brushed against Harry's as his lips found their way to hers and she was lost, swept away in overwhelming joy.
Harry moved his hand slowly through Nikki's hair as he kissed her. His unacknowledged fears were released to be instantly replaced by hopes and what he could only describe as a sense of deep contentment. All the mistakes he had made, all the opportunities he'd missed didn't matter. As he moved away from Nikki he saw it, his love was reflected in her expression just as the candlelight was in her eyes. Encapsulated in her were all his dreams, the happiness he thought he could never find. She was everything he had ever wanted, he knew his future would be secure in her hands.
