Peter walked down the corridor, greeting nurses as he passed. He knocked on the door and pushed it open. Assumpta was fully dressed and standing next to the window.

"Why aren't you in bed?" he asked suspiciously.

"Hello to you too," she replied sarkily.

He raised his eyebrows.

She sighed, "I'm sick of everyone seeing me in my pyjamas. Anyway, I have to test the leg out." She gestured.

"How is it?" He moved round the bed to stand behind her and wrapped his arms round her waist.

"Healing nicely apparently. Itching is driving me mad." She leaned into him and he kissed her cheek. She sighed contentedly and turned to face him, reaching up to kiss him properly. He pulled away much sooner than she would have liked. Sensing her disappointment he smiled, brushed some hair away from her face and said, "Hospital remember? Lots of comings and goings."

As if to illustrate his point Michael walked into the room. Seeing the couple together he started to retreat apologising.

"Michael wait, it's fine," Assumpta called and broke away from Peter with a resigned smile.

"Sorry I didn't mean to intrude but I've just spoken to your doctor here and they're happy to discharge you tomorrow," said Michael.

"Oh that's great," Assumpta said with relief. "I'm sick of this place."

"Do you have somewhere to stay? I hear the pub's not very habitable at the moment."

"Siobhan's offered me her spare room."

Michael nodded. "Well I've got another patient down the hall. I just wanted to tell you the good news. Make sure you take it easy when you get out and make an appointment to come and see me."

"I will, I promise. Thanks Michael."

"No problem, you take care now. Peter you should come and see me for a check up too."

Peter nodded. "Will do. Thanks."

Michael left, leaving the couple alone.

"I'll be so glad to get out of here," she said, then paused, her face falling slightly.

"Assumpta what's wrong?" Peter's voice was full of concern.

"Nothing, I can't wait to get out of here and back home but I'm not going home, am I? I'm staying at Siobhan's because the pub burnt to the ground and my best friend isn't talking to me."

Peter felt his heart breaking; he wasn't use to hearing Assumpta sounding so defeated. "This is all my fault," he muttered despondently.

"How is my dodgy wiring your fault?" she snapped.

"But Niamh..." he began.

"Peter we both knew what we were getting into. The circumstances right now aren't ideal but I don't regret this decision."

He nodded and tried to smile. He was tired of feeling like the happiest man in the world one minute and then remembering reality and their uncertain future the next, it was exhausting.

Assumpta mistook his expression and asked in a worried voice, "You don't regret anything, do you?"

Peter opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by the arrival of a doctor. He smiled saying, "I'm just going to get a coffee, back soon."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Peter arrived back to find Assumpta had another visitor.

"Ah, Mr Clifford." Brian Quigley turned to greet him.

Peter frowned at the derogatory emphasis Brian had put on the Mr.

"How are you Brian?" He forced himself to be pleasant.

"I'm well. I've come with a proposition about the pub."

"What sort of proposition?" he asked, looking quickly at Assumpta.

She sighed and Peter thought she looked tired. He had to keep reminding himself that for all her spirit she'd been through quite an ordeal in the last few days.

Assumpta pushed some hair out of her eyes and said to Brian wearily, "I've told you I'll think about it."

Brian nodded. "I won't keep my offer on the table for long."

Peter looked quizzically at Assumpta. She met his eyes then looked away saying, "Brian's made me an offer for the pub."

"It's not for sale," said Peter, aghast.

"This is my pub, my decision," said Assumpta. The tiredness abruptly left her face and her eyes flashed with anger.

Peter kicked himself for his outburst, knowing how much Assumpta valued her independence, and immediately raised his arms in a conciliatory gesture, saying, "I know just don't rush into anything yet."

Assumpta's look softened and she turned to Brian saying, "I'll be in touch, OK?"

It was a clear dismissal and Brain took the hint, nodded and made to leave. He paused at the door, studied both of them and said, "I hope you two know what you're doing. You should seriously consider my offer." Then he turned on his heel and walked out.

Peter leaned back against the wall and glanced at Assumpta. "I feel like that's all people ever say to us now."

"What, that they'd like to take the pub off my hands?" she muttered darkly.

"That they hope we know what we're doing," he said, ignoring her deliberate misunderstanding.

"Do we know what we're doing?" she gazed at him from across the room. Even with the bruises, cuts and dressing on her face she was still the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen and when she looked at him like that it took his breath away.

He swallowed, "Don't sell the pub, it's your family business."

"I might not have a choice."

"Then just sell him the leasehold for a period of time. He gets to run the business for a year or two but you still own the building."

"You think that even if we have to leave now we could come back?"

"Could you honestly say you could walk away and never set foot in Ballyk again?"

"No," she admitted grudgingly. It's my home, always will be. But people round here have long memories."

He crossed the room and took her hands. "I have absolutely no idea what we're doing but, to answer your earlier question, I don't regret anything. I don't want you to regret anything in the future either. If we do have to leave then we will come back and you won't give up the pub because of this."

She locked eyes with him and as his gaze travelled down to her lips he felt himself being hopelessly pulled towards her. She wound her arms round his neck and he was lost in her scent, in the feel of her hands caressing the back of his neck and in her lips nearing his.

"If I have to give up anything then it's worth it," she said breathily before closing the gap between their lips.

Peter wasn't sure how long they stood there for. Time seemed to slow when he was kissing Assumpta. He felt her shift her weight slightly and pulled away suddenly, remembering her leg.

"You should be resting."

"That's all I've been doing," she complained, her hands gently tugging him back to her.

He grinned and with practiced willpower extricated himself, steered her gently towards the bed and sat down facing her.

"Every time we start to have a serious conversation about what we're going to do we seem to get interrupted," his eyes drifted again to her lips, "one way or another," he finished huskily and mentally shook himself.

It was her turn to grin. She was holding his hand tracing lazy circles on his palm. Even that light touch made him want to pull her back into his arms.

"Well every time we start to get some time alone we get interrupted by medical staff, friends or the need to have a serious conversation," she said with a smile.

"Just don't make any rash decisions about the pub," he said making a last valiant attempt to get the conversation back on track and ignore her teasing smile. "People might surprise you and be supportive once they get use to the idea. And, if we decide to leave then it may only have to be for a while."

"I'll look into the possibility of a leasehold," she promised.

He leaned forward to kiss her but was interrupted by a knock on the door and a nurse announcing that visiting hours were over. They both groaned and Peter gave her one last kiss and stood up smiling. "I'll be back tomorrow to pick you up and get you out of here."

She nodded. "We'd better get some uninterrupted time together soon."

"We will, I promise."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Will this take much longer?" The woman asked impatiently.

Padraig looked up from the engine, "It's your alternator. I'll need to get a new one from Kildargin."

She tutted and sighed asking huffily, "Well is there at least a pub or restaurant round here that I can get some lunch in?"

"Pub's temporarily closed. The Chinese should be able to do you something."

"Why's the pub closed?"

"There was a fire a few nights ago."

"Goodness, I hope no one was hurt."

"The publican got out eventually but she's still recovering in hospital." Padraig closed his eyes briefly, reliving the worry of the other night.

"I'm sorry to hear that, I hope your friend's ok."

"Thanks," said Padraig gruffly. "Try the Chinese down the road for lunch." He didn't like this woman and just wanted her to leave him to it. She took the hint, arranged a time to call back about the car and set off down the road.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Brendan stood in Kathleen's shop examining the shelves and pondering what to cook for himself and Peter that evening.

There was one other customer in the shop, a well dressed woman who was examining the postcards.

"So sad," she said to Kathleen.

"Pardon me?" Kathleen replied.

"The pub fire. I hear the publican only just got out."

"Yes, that's right," said Kathleen primly.

"Well liked I'd say."

"By the priest anyway," retorted the shop keeper.

Brendan's head snapped up and he looked at the two women, the stranger had a triumphant look about her that he didn't like.

"Kathleen, do you have any risotto rice?" he asked, attempting to distract her and prevent her from saying anything more to the woman.

It worked, as Kathleen busiest herself looking amongst her stock the woman left. But Brendan was left with faintly uneasy feeling.