A.U Posted this tonight as I am busy tomorrow so likely wouldn't be able to put up this chapter. Enjoy. And keep please reviewing if you can, it keeps my muse going, thank you!

Chapter Nine

He had not planned to kiss her. He had not planned to take such a step. But when she had opened the door and looked at him, it seemed as though the last two years had not happened. The front tendrils of her hair were pinned back loosely, the rest floating in chestnut waves down her neck. And her eyes had drawn him into their jade pools. He hadn't forgotten the feel of her sleight waist in his hands or how naturally her body seemed to fit against him. The moment two thirds of his mouth pressed against hers he could have burst, the longing to do it had been overwhelming and at last here he was.

But Eleanor, his Nell stood limply in his arms, her body went a little rigid with surprise and she did not return his kiss. Suddenly he couldn't bear to pull away because that would mean having to look her in the eye. He'd made a huge mistake, forgotten for a moment how she did not seem to like being touched. Perhaps she really didn't care about him anymore. Richard used his will power to wrench himself away and turned from her, ashamed and hurt. He cursed himself for being so stupid.

"How can. I. Hmm. Help her?"

"She trusts you."

"She. Trusts you. Too."

"I don't believe she does. Not with certain things, I don't think she trusts my control."

"What are. You. Suggesting?"

"Do you care about her?"

Hmm. Yes."

"Then I want you to go to Chicago and meet her, spend some time with her. Help her."

Richard had been sent here to meet her by Alec for a purpose yet his motive for kissing her had been completely his own. It seemed despite all Alec's kindness and care towards Eleanor, after such a long time his desire was making him run low on self control and he felt Eleanor needed 'help'. Richard was not sure why he had agreed, they had not been specific on what exactly he was meant to do, but the meaning was clear. Alec had sent her here for five days, a place she had never been and had no bad memories in. Did she know that Richard was coming to meet her? All Richard knew was that he had probably ruined everything before he began, now he was here Alec and his wants could go to hell, he just wanted to spend time with her. But now she would probably revert to her shell that she had begun to soften in recent days.

"Hmm. I'm sorry I… I'm sorry." He murmured, his voice barely able to form the words though his mind raced and berated him.

"Did he send you here to seduce me?" She asked, her voice not betraying any emotion which was some comfort as she did not sound distant or cold.

"Hmm. I. Don't know. What he. Expects. I just. Wanted…" He stopped again.

"What did you want?"

Eleanor closed the distance between them and moved so she was in his sightline, refusing to let him look away from her.

"Hmm I. Don't want. Anything. Except." He rubbed his face with his hand, his mask seeming to itch and irritate him unbearably. "I like being. With you. It's been. A long time. But. Nothing has changed. For me."

Richard looked at her properly now, he needed to see how she dealt with his words. At first her face looked a little hard, but gradually that melted into something almost sad.

"I could not be anything you would deserve, Richard." She said quietly. "I did not imagine he would send you. I'm sorry. I thought, I feared it would be him."

"Hmm. I don't want. To go back. To how. I was. Nell. I want. You. I don't care. How you say. You've changed."

"What would you propose then? We live together as I do with Alec? He has Harriet to occupy him in areas I lack, but you're a man in the prime of his life, it's a part of love Richard and you will want it, however much you try to resist doing so." She said and then her voice broke a little. "I don't seem to know how to really touch someone's hand anymore let alone…"

He could see tears form in her eyes but she turned away as though angry with herself. Her body rested against the wall and she pressed her forehead and palms against its cool surface and Richard watched her breathe deeply. Eleanor chewed her lip and screwed her eyes shut, trying to retain her control.

"It's not that I don't want to touch you Richard. You don't know how I've felt since I've seen you again." She said at last, her eyes still closed. "Some memories are what kept me going these past few years."

"Hmm. Would you. Like me to. Go?" He said at last, horrified that his presence seem to upset her so much but inside he was glad she seemed to still care about him.

"No. Please stay with me. I'm sorry. I just don't know how to be."

Eleanor turned now and she looked calmer, her eyes only a little bloodshot from the strain of tears. Her face spoke more of resolution and composure, but her eyes seemed to call out from somewhere deep within and it drew him in further.

"What. Hmm. Can I do?" He asked, helpless in his ever growing desire to protect her and all the more determined to love her.

"Wait for me. If you can. I will try." She said. "It has been a long time and… well… you know me and I think you love me. Am I right?"

Richard nodded his head and that beckoned Nell to him. Her hands came up and she took off his mask, holding it carefully in one of her hands. The other came up to stroke down the damaged side of his face.

"I've missed you." She whispered, reaching up on her tiptoes and pressing her forehead against his, her free hand resting on his shoulder. He wanted to hold her waist again but he resisted until she said. "It's alright."

He took a chance and wrapped his arms around the middle of her body, drawing her in a little closer with extreme gentleness so as not to frighten her. He saw her eyes were closed and his own, relishing in the chance to be close to her. Deep down he knew how much he wanted to undress her slowly and try and kiss and caress the pain and longing of two years of separation and he knew how hard it would be to resist that for her sake. There would be nothing on earth worth frightening her away again however much he wanted it. The truth was, he loved her and he would take every care of her and be what she needed.

The last few weeks had been a bittersweet heaven, just to talk to her again and see the face that brought meaning to his day was enough to banish some of his sorrows. The rest could wait, it wouldn't be easy, but he would wait.

"Hmm. What now?" Richard said, a touch of amusement in his voice. The barrier she had raised when he kissed her was slowly coming down and their bodies felt more relaxed.

"Will you spend five days with me?" She asked.

"Yes. Would you. Hmm. Like me to. Get another. Room?"

"No." She said shaking her head and her lips pressed lightly on his for a few seconds. "I want you to stay here with me. If you are alright with that?"

He nodded in return and she dropped back down onto her feet and they seemed comfortable together again as they had that day in the woods. Eleanor took his bag from him and handed him his mask, Richard watched how she unpacked his things and put them alongside her own as though they had been married some years and it was part of their routine. Richard looked around and took in the large room they were in. Aside from the elegant bed there were two chairs and a table by the large draped window and a door leading off to the bathroom in which he could see a bath. It was the kind of luxury and comfort he wasn't in a position to give her and the parallel was painful until he realised that there were other things he was offering her that Alec could not.

There was something else to, he needed to talk to her about the child they might have had. For days on end he had thought about it and struggled not to ask her about it. He felt here in this room was a time for the past and present to meet and for them to leave more bound to each other than before. But did he not have to 'help her' as Alec put it and then send her back to his arms and eventually his bed? Richard decided not to think about that now, he wanted only to live in the present.

"You lived here didn't you?" She asked at last breaking the silence, she was quite near to him now and was scanning his face. "Penny for them?"

"Hmm. What would. You like to. Do?"

"I would like a drink but I don't think that is likely."

"You never used to drink."

"I never used to feel much pain, Richard." She said.

"Before. Hmm. You helped me. With some. Of my. Demons from the war. Let me. Try and help. You. You don't need. A drink."

"Then perhaps we could go for a walk before dinner. We can eat in here."

Richard nodded and he walked to where her coat was hung and she slipped into it as he held it. It was another brief opportunity to touch her and do little things for her which he revelled in. As he fixed his mask into place she watched him and when he was ready to set off he saw she was smiling. It was brilliant sight and it rooted him to the spot momentarily.

"Thank you." She said and she came forward and slipped her arm through his as she had done before and they stepped out of their room together, united like the world could not touch them. Neither considered what might come in an hour, a day or when they had to return to Atlantic City. They were just a man and a woman happy to be together in that very moment and nothing would spoil that. Nothing.