Thank you for all so much for your lovely reviews. I really appreciate all the comments. All things must come to an end and this is the last chapter of 'Perhaps'. It ends at the point that I feel is the right place for this story. It's been a pleasure to write this and I've really enjoyed the process. Thank you for reading and also really big thanks to Tony Grounds for creating the two great characters we all love.
Charles had been standing by the fountain for twenty minutes looking around him from time to time. He had been looking forward to this for five long weeks but now that the moment had arrived he was nervous and took a few deep breaths to steady himself whilst trying to relax his shoulders. He couldn't quite believe that he was here. The last time he had seen Molly had been at the airstrip and the memory was still etched in his mind. She had been so ill and he'd genuinely been afraid for her. Watching the little plane fly away had brought back memories of Molly leaving for R&R but then in spite of feeling bereft without her company he had known she would return. When the plane had flown away this last time he had no idea when or even if he would see her again although he had tried to suppress the latter thought with every ounce of mental strength he possessed.
Charles scanned around him again. He had no idea from which direction Molly would arrive and so regularly turned to his left and right to check the area near the fountain. It was only as he carried out another sweeping search and stopped to look directly ahead of him that he saw the lovely young woman standing opposite him on the other side of the fountain. She was wearing an attractive, summer dress; her long dark hair was hanging loosely around her shoulders. Their eyes locked and he saw a smile slowly spread across her face; his smile. He was overjoyed and couldn't help grinning broadly. Both of them moved at the same moment making their way around the fountain to meet half-way.
For a few seconds they both seemed to be rooted to the spot, staring at each other as if bewitched until Molly broke the spell and impulsively threw her arms around Charles' neck and he instinctively responded by encircling her in his arms and lifting her off her feet into a joyous embrace. He swung her around and held her close, breathing in her scent and enjoying the wonderful sensation of being close to her again before setting her back on her feet. She gazed up at him and he leaned towards her. Oblivious to everyone around them, they sought to dispel five weeks of separation and longing in a kiss.
Releasing her at long last but still keeping hold of her hands, Charles took a step back and regarded her with an appreciative eye.
"I hardly recognised you. You look so different!"
Molly could tell from the expression on his face that it was a change he liked but she teased him.
"Well, I did wonder how long it would take you to notice me?"
He looked sheepish and said earnestly,
"What I meant to say is that you look wonderful!"
It was Molly's turn to feel embarrassed so looking away for a moment to recover her composure she asked,
"Are you home on leave?"
"Sort of!" Came back the vague reply and when Molly looked back at him she thought he looked as if he was being evasive.
"Well, what's the plan, then?" she asked curiously.
"Now or later?"
Something in the tone of Charles' voice convinced her he was hiding something.
"Either?" she ventured unsure where this conversation was going.
Charles looked as if he was giving this some thought before he answered
"Well, I thought we could go out for dinner, if you like?"
Molly glanced at her watch and seeing the time frowned back at Charles,
"It's a bit early for dinner at quarter to four, isn't it?
Charles tried to look innocent as he said,
"I thought you might like to do something else first."
Molly's eyes widened in surprise and she stared at Charles unsure if he she had misinterpreted what he was saying.
Seeing the look on her face and realising her thoughts, he laughed and said at once,
"Not, that! I thought I might take you to visit someone."
Molly was completely taken aback and couldn't help saying in an alarmed voice,
"It's not your ancient Nan or something is it?"
Charles laughed at the look on her face and said, "That might be a bit much on a first date."
"Is that what this is?" Molly asked in all seriousness.
Charles looked down at her and reaching to gently touch her face said, "I suppose it is."
They walked hand in hand through the gardens in silent companionship. At each junction of the paths Charles gently directed her which way to turn. Molly was conscious of the way they fell in step with each other as they strolled together, Charles naturally slowing his pace to match hers. As they exited the gardens onto the main square, Molly asked,
"Where are we going? It's just that I didn't wear the right shoes for route marches."
Charles glanced down at her feet,
"Mmh, very nice, Dawesy and certainly not stilettos!" He caught her eye and she could tell he was suppressing a laugh as he continued, "Anyway, as I recall, you're 'the nuts' with blisters!"
She rolled her eyes at him,
"Yeah, other people's blisters!"
Fortunately for Molly she did not have far to walk. When they stopped a short time later she frowned at the name plate on the building in front of her and gave Charles a questioning look.
"Why have we stopped here?"
He smiled mysteriously and refused to be drawn on the reason. He merely nodded his head in the direction of the entrance and said,
"Come with me!"
As they entered Great Ormond Street Hospital and made their way to the third floor, realisation finally began to dawn on Molly. Charles said nothing, but it was with an increasing sense of wonder that Molly followed him along the corridors and finally as they were admitted to one of the wards, he said,
"There's someone you know here."
At the end of the corridor, Charles opened a door on the left into a small room. Lying in a cot, Molly saw Baby Joshua and sitting alongside him his mother. Seeing Charles and recognising Molly, Joshua's mother rose and came over to her, embracing her. Molly stared at Joshua in wonder. The realisation came to her that Charles had organised this.
"How did you manage this?" she asked in astonishment, "You said it couldn't be done!"
Charles looked her directly in the eye,
"I also told you, although you might not remember, that I wasn't right. I realised that where's there a will there's usually a Molly Dawes."
As they sat with Joshua and his mother, Charles explained that whilst he'd been away in the capital he'd spoken to a number of people about Joshua's case and had been given some contacts.
"I was on my way back to tell you that we might be able to do something, but I didn't get the chance."
After Molly had been evacuated Charles and Dr Garcia had put out feelers and found a charity willing to fund treatment for Joshua provided the money could be found to bring him to the UK. When Molly asked Charles how they had found the money he replied modestly,
"Called in a few favours, tapped a few sources and let's just say, you aren't the only one with deployment money to burn!"
Molly was genuinely shocked.
"What about Sam? I never wanted you to give away money that he might need."
Charles shook his head,
"Sam is well provided for. It was because of what you said. I knew I needed to do something to make this better for Joshua."
He stopped speaking and simply looked at her, knowing she would understand. She did. She knew that he had also done this to make everything better for her.
Much later in the evening, sitting at a quiet table in a small, intimate restaurant, Charles and Molly were finally able to talk honestly and openly about their future. Charles had told her that he was under contract to the charity for at least another six months and that they hoped he would renew his contract with them.
"What are we gonna do?" Molly asked.
"What do you want to do, Molly?" he replied.
She sighed. She didn't know anymore. When she had been in Afghanistan there was nowhere else that she wanted to be and when she had been in the Camp she had felt the same. She knew she was a good medic and the army had given her so much and helped her to become the person she was, the type of person loved by a man like Charles. However, she didn't want it to divide her from those she loved. She made a decision.
She reached across the table to grasp Charles' hands. He was watching her intently.
"I love what I do but I don't need to be in the army to do it. I want to be with you, wherever that might be. I've decided that I'm going to leave the army and use my skills some other way or retrain so that I can carry on working with you." She saw the concern in his face.
"I can't let you throw away your career for me." He said with feeling.
"I'm not throwing anything away, "she replied. "The army gave me the opportunity to find out who I really was. It's always been there I just didn't know it. But the times I've been happiest and the times I've done my best work and felt that everything was possible, was when I was with you."
She could see he still had some reservations. She squeezed his hands to reassure him,
"Don't you see? I could stay in the army and be a good soldier and get promoted and we could spend our lives apart if all I wanted was a career. But it's being with you that makes me the best I'm capable of being." A tear ran silently down her face. He knew she had spoken from the heart and that this was what she wanted.
He nodded in understanding and leaned across the table to wipe the tear away.
"Shall we go home?" He said gently.
"Home?" she queried.
His cheeky smirk reappeared,
"Well, my parents have a small flat in town. I stay there sometimes. It's a kind of home."
Molly regarded him seriously as if weighing this up.
"Do you need to call anyone?" Charles ventured, thinking of her family.
A smile started to hover on her lips, gradually breaking into a wide grin, swiftly accompanied by a giggle.
"No, I already told them I wouldn't be back tonight!"
The small one-bedroom flat was centrally located. Charles' parents liked to weekend in London and catch a show whenever possible and the key was always available to family and close friends. When he and Molly closed the front door behind them it was all Charles could do not to sweep her up in his arms in an instant but he knew they had waited a very long time for this moment and willed himself to be patient; he wanted this night to be unhurried and special. He walked slowly behind Molly along the hallway. As they reached the lounge he placed his hands lightly on her waist and leaned towards her to place a soft kiss on her neck and she turned her head to smile at him. He moved past her into the room and switched on a table lamp which emitted a soft glow.
"Would you like some coffee?" Charles asked politely although it was the last thing on his mind.
Molly stifled a laugh.
"Do you have any Rosabaya?"
Charles pulled a face at this suggestion.
"Don't you like Rosabaya?" She asked.
"Well…" he began, "It's alright, I suppose!"
"D'you mean to say that you sent me all the way to Regent Street to buy you bloody coffee capsules and you don't like them?" Molly exclaimed.
"I cannot tell a lie." Charles said, feigning innocence, " It's not my favourite but I just didn't want you to forget about me."
Molly started laughing and shaking her head,
"You prannet!"
"Let me guess, that's one of your Nan's sayings of which I've heard so many!" Charles retorted.
She looked at him. He wasn't mocking her, he was laughing with her.
He held out his hand to her and she took it as he led her towards the bedroom.
When Molly awoke the next morning she was momentarily confused by her surroundings, the unfamiliar bed and the strange light creeping through the heavy curtains. It was the distant rumble of London traffic which brought her back to her senses. She rolled over towards the centre of the bed to see Charles lying there awake beside her, his gentle brown eyes watching her intently and she fancied a smile of wonder on his face.
"If you only knew how many times I've dreamt of this." He whispered.
Molly reached out to him and he pulled her close. Lying face to face, there was nothing to divide them anymore, nothing to hold them back. He kissed her and gently ran his hand over her body appreciating every delightful contour.
Molly smiled back at him.
"You know, my Nan would say, be careful what you wish for."
Charles laughed softly and looking deep into her eyes replied,
"She's wrong this time. Everything's perfect!"