A/N So sorry for the delay in coming back to you all. I've been backwards and forwards between houses at opposite ends of the country, job hunting and dealing with nieces and nephews with chicken pox so I've been glad to get back to the writing distraction. Apologies it's a bit short but I've nearly finished the next chapter which is much more to my usual standard!

Molly awoke with a start as the train guard announced their approach to the final stop.

She'd shed a quiet tear staring out of the window after opening the gift and reading the note from Charles that he had hidden in her bag. Molly had put on the necklace immediately, vowing to herself not to take it off again unless it was absolutely necessary. She'd sent him a short but loving reply and had popped in her earphones before settling back into her seat clutching onto the cool, smooth heart in her hand.

She stretched out her fingers which were now totally cramped as she'd fallen asleep pretty much straight away for the entire one hour and 45 minutes journey. After leaving Bath the train had sped through commuter territory-Swindon, Reading and finally now arriving in Paddington.

Back in the hustle and bustle of the capital, Molly now craved the calm of Bath and Charles' soothing presence as they pulled into the station. Unfolding herself from her seated position, she grabbed her bag from the rack and joined the throng of passengers getting off. She hunted around for her Oyster card to make the bumpy underground journey back home. Home mused Molly, as she made her way to the Hammersmith and City line, I don't know where home is anymore.

"Rush hour, why did I come back in rush hour?" she muttered to herself as she shoe-horned herself into the carriage resembling a cattle truck that had arrived at the platform.

Luckily the crowds thinned out the further east and north she went, doubly glad when she reached her destination that the TV schedules hadn't moved a Hammers game to the Monday night. She trundled her bag up the street and was greeted with the usual sight of her dad in his pants smoking out on the balcony.

"Perfect timing Molls", he shouted down at her "you can help your mother give the kids their tea"

Great I'm not even through the front door and I'm already his skivvy she though as she trudged up the stairs to the flat and through the front door where the usual scene of destruction greeted her.

"Oh Molls love give us a hand" cried her mum from the kitchen.

After leaving the station following their emotional goodbye, the journey back home seemed bleak as Charles drove back in silence. No chatter, no music and no laughter. It was the same when he turned the key in the lock and the house now at dusk seemed vast and empty. He even wished his parents had been home just to make some background noise. At least Molly had obviously liked her present when he finally read her text.

He made himself a cup of coffee and wondered what she was doing on the train. Reading the poetry book she'd borrowed maybe, more likely a game of Candy Crush or chatting to her fellow passengers as she always seemed so at ease talking to anyone. He knew the approximate journey time but no idea how long it would take her to get home.

He soon found himself waking up with a start in darkness. He'd fallen asleep on the sofa and immediately began to worry that he hadn't heard from Molly. He fumbled for his phone, groggily pressing random buttons all at once just to check that he had no missed calls. Nothing-though he did get to stare at her beautiful face once more. He sat toying with it, willing it to ring just so he knew she was safe and he could hear her voice again.

For Molly the time passed by in a flash as chips, beans and sausages were shovelled into grubby faces. It wasn't until the young ones were in bed and asleep that she remembered she hadn't let Charles know that she'd arrived home safely. Her dad had luckily already taken himself off to the pub, her mum was sat on the sofa glued to the latest instalment of her favourite soap and Bella was in their room painting her nails.

She busied herself tidying up the mess left behind in the kitchen before fishing her phone out of her bag. She smiled as she unlocked it and gazed at the two of them together snuggled up on his pillow. She dialled his number, feeling those slight butterflies in her stomach as she anticipated hearing him speak.

"Hey, it's me. Yeah sorry 'bout that I got roped into helping with the kids tea, then bedtime before I knew what time it was. I miss you too-don't know how I'll get to sleep without you tonight to keep me warm. No idea what I'll do tomorrow-go for a run maybe. I might ring Jackie-you? Oh an airport run-don't envy you that. Look sorry Charles, I've got to run-I'll speak to you tomorrow. I love you bye bye" she hurriedly hung up the phone as she heard her mum approaching.

"Who you talking to love?"

"Just telling the mate I was staying with that I get back home ok" (Another little white lie to add to the collection).

"Oh that's nice-did you want a cuppa?"

"Cheers mum, that'd be great"

She joined her mum back on the sofa in the living room, though before long rather than watching the TV was soon staring out of the window at the orange glow of the street lights outside.

Her tea now only half drunk, she realised that she'd been clasping the mug of cold liquid for a while oblivious to anything else going on around her.

"You alright Molls, you're away with the fairies"

"Yeah I'm fine" she lied, "I'm just tired I might go to bed"

"Ok well nice to have you back love-night"

She went upstairs finally bringing up her bags and realised she had totally forgotten to give them their presents from Cheddar. The cider now warm and the cheese probably sweaty, she crept back down and put them in the fridge-she'd give them out tomorrow.

The estate seemed pretty quiet this evening and her return home hadn't been too awful she thought as she lay back in her bottom bunk staring at the slats of the bed on top. The kids had been pleased to see her at least and her mum. Her dad was being a twat as per usual but that would probably never change. Sighing to herself, she turned off the small bedside lamp and took one last glimpse at her phone wallpaper before turning over to try and get some sleep.

After sitting in a stupor for fifteen minutes, Charles was mightily relieved when his phone suddenly burst into life and Molly's number appeared on screen.

"Oh Molly, thank god I've been waiting for you to ring. Oh the brats was it-yeah I understand everything tends to go out of the window at teatime! Me neither my love, my bed is going to feel huge and empty without you by my side. What's your plan for tomorrow? Exercise-well done soldier. I've got to pick Mum and Dad up from Bristol airport-they'll be telling me all their stories of their latest adventures. Oh ok ring me tomorrow then. I love you. Bye"

He hung up despondently. Someone had obviously interrupted her and he silently cursed them, wishing they could have talked for the rest of the night. He imagined her lying on her bed, playing with her hair, chattering away until her eyes became heavier the longer the conversation went on. He would have preferred it in person but they'd see each other again face to face soon enough he'd make sure of it. With little else to do and with no interest for Monday night TV, he locked up and made his way upstairs for a quick shower.

Later as he towel dried his hair, he didn't feel tired in the slightest and mulled over the idea of finding a book to read. He laughed to himself at the memory of Molly curled up in one of the chairs upstairs. He made his way up that next flight of stairs, turned on the light and stared at the rows of books on the walls. Although there were hundreds to choose from, his fingers instinctively took him to his Dylan Thomas.

He'd noticed when he was extolling its virtues to Molly at how tatty it was around the edges and somewhat battered and broken-not too dissimilar to himself in some ways, but then he remembered about his idea for his change of career. It was obvious to him now-yes it would take some training and he'd have to gain a new qualification but it was doable. He made a mental note to himself to check out the details in the morning before he had to leave for the airport.

Clasping the book close to his chest, he made his way to bed to lull himself to sleep with the comforting familiar words happy in the knowledge that he had a new direction planned ahead for himself all thanks to his amazing girlfriend.