A/N: Sorry for the crazy long delay – hand still recovering so taking lots of painkillers! Thank you as always for the lovely feedback, I really have fallen in love with this one. So here's what the next instalment brings…

Warning - references to loss of life.

Chapter 14

Feeling fingers running up and down her spine caused her to shiver and rouse slightly, while trying to cling to the last remnants of slumber. Sleep had been broken repeatedly by bouts of making love, talking and kissing and cuddling. Her body was feeling it now but it was an enjoyable ache, the kind she'd felt very few times before and one that let her know the previous night had been an enjoyable one.

A soft moan escaped her lips as Olivia's fingers grazed over the top of her ass.

"Uh, no, don't go there detective"
Olivia laughed out loud but moved her fingers back up to play with blonde hair, slightly wavy now. Olivia loved the way the smaller woman's hair looked naturally. She'd told her so and Amanda had promised to wear it like that at least once a week just so Olivia could be distracted all day.

Amanda revelled in the feeling of Olivia's fingers on her. She'd never tire of these first few minutes of the day when it was just the two of them, no real world intrusions.

She mumbled something into the pillow that Olivia couldn't hear.

"What baby?"
Amanda turned over onto her back and watched as Olivia ran her gaze over her body. She felt so desired, so loved when Olivia looked at her. It was a totally new feeling and she loved it.

"Mand?"
"Lost my train of thought"

The brunette leaned in and kissed her slowly lips and tongues playing lazily as they said good morning.

A small moan escaped Amanda's lips as she moved closer but Olivia pulled away.

"Uhuh, no we have to get up"
Amanda groaned resting her head on Olivia's shoulder.

"David is going to be here in…" she turned to look at the clock "oh hell 10 minutes, Amanda get up!"
Both women jumped out of bed, practically running into each other at the end of it. Falling back on the bed in a heap laughing it took them another five minutes to get up and dressed.

They heard the knock on the door as they emerged from the bedroom.

Olivia made for the kitchen to put some coffee on as Amanda answered the door.

"Morning sunshine"

"Davy"

David looked past her into the house. Well I don't see anything broken but then I haven't had a proper look round – can I? He gestured past Amanda into the house?"
"Of course, come in"
"Coffee is nearly ready" Olivia's voice called from the kitchen

"Be there in a minute ba…" Amanda bit her tongue the word dying in her mouth.

David smiled. "You are awful at pretending Mandy, always were. Remember that time when we snuck out to see that band, you me Gabe and Kim? It was nearly midnight by the time we got home. You didn't have to lie to your parents they weren't home, but you couldn't even lie to mine. Got me and Gabe grounded for a month!"

Amanda scuffed the toe of her trainers on the rug "Yeah, sorry about that"
"You said that at the time. I didn't believe you then and I don't believe you now"

David laughed as he rested a hand on Amanda's shoulder.

"Gabe told me about you and Olivia"

Amanda tensed slightly until she felt a hug envelop her. "I'm so happy you're happy"
Amanda smiled into the hug "Thanks Davy."

Releasing her he took the tray with the mugs of coffee from Olivia who had come from the kitchen and they moved into the living room.

"You better treat her right Olivia, there's a few people around here will be broken hearted to here she's taken and a bit bemused it's you, no offence"

Olivia looked from Amanda to David and back trying to figure out what she'd missed while she was in the kitchen but she just got smiles in return

"None taken and I will, I promise"

David stepped on some glass as he sat down. Sweeping it into his hand he threw it into the grate of the fire. He picked up the photos that Amanda had left on the mantelpiece the first day they'd gotten there.

Going through them he stalled on the one of the family wedding.

Olivia and Amanda were discussing a text from Fin that had just come in. He had warned them if they got married without him being best man he'd never forgive them. They were laughing as David sat down across from them, photos in hand.

"It's been a while since I've seen some of these; photos not people"

"Yeah sometimes it's nicer to just see the pictures and not the people"

Olivia reached out and gave Amanda's hand a quick squeeze.

David put the photos down and excused himself saying something about the bench in the yard.

Amanda followed him after a few minutes sensing something was wrong.

David was sitting on the bench staring at a photo

"So your brothers carpentry skills measure up then?" she said, gesturing to the bench.
David wiped a tear from his eye as he turned to look at the girl he considered to be like another little sister.

"Davy?" Amanda sat on the bench beside him and rested her hand on his knee. She looked at the photo in his hand.

It was the group photo at the family wedding

David's hand was shaking and she steadied it with hers

"What is it?"
"I…" David turned to look into concerned blue eyes.

"I need to tell you something"
"Shoot, it cant be that bad?" Amanda was worried. Men from her town didn't cry; it was like a lesson they were taught as kids in school. Crying was weak. So seeing Davy like this scared her.

"Mandy, I was young, Lord we were young. But seeing you with Olivia and then seeing the photo… it just brought it back"

Amanda looked at the photo and then at Davy.

"Listen Davy, I know I do this for a living. But I've been away for a bit so I'm kinda rusty. Can you do the detective work for me?"
David smiled slightly and looked back at the photo running his thumb over Jay's figure.

"We were young, after Kim, I realised I just didn't… you know"

Realisation was dawning on Amanda but she tried to hold still and let him talk.

"It was the next year. It was the summer before he… before he died. Jesus Mand, I just, I loved him" David began to cry as the tables turned and Amanda embraced him tightly.

Allowing the tears to flow they sat there for a few minutes grieving for love lost.

When Amanda released him they relaxed back against the bench and began to talk.

"It was only 8 months. But god he was…" David took a deep breath

"He was a great guy" Amanda smiled reaching for David's hand.

"He was"

"Was that why he…?" Amanda couldn't finish the sentence because it pained her to know the answer, but she had to.

"It was some of it yeah. He couldn't deal with it. He knew they'd disown him I was out of town when it happened. I stayed away for two months, just couldn't cope"

"Oh God, Davy"
"I know Mand, I'm sorry"

"Don't be sorry, don't ever be sorry Davy"

She wrapped him in another hug this time he returned it.

They heard Olivia clear her throat as they pulled apart, both wiping away tears.

"Should I be worried, this is the second time I've found you like this?"

David held his hands up in surrender "I wouldn't dare, you're probably far better with a gun than me". He winked and Olivia smiled, looking at Amanda. She nodded and smiled at the concerned look on the brunette's face mouthing a silent "it's ok"

"David there's a hinge on the front door that's a bit loose. Have you got a toolbox I could borrow?"
"I've got it Detective. That's what I came here for, just got a bit side-tracked"

Olivia nodded and watched David walk towards his truck.

Walking towards her other half she saw the sadness in those usually bright blue eyes.

"What happened?"
Amanda's eyes remained trained on David until he reached the porch. She walked forward and wrapped her arms around Olivia's hips feeling the brunettes arms wrap around her shoulders.

She felt a kiss on her temple as the brunette held her tight.

Amanda whispered quietly "Davy and Jay… they were lovers"

Olivia nodded sadly looking towards the house

"He really loved him Liv. But that's what this place does to you. It messes with you"

"It didn't mess with you"

"I keep telling you, you don't know me well enough yet"

Pulling her close Olivia whispered "I know you well enough to know I love you with all my heart. And that is all that matters"

Amanda held tighter as the brunette leaned in and kissed her, quick but reassuring.

"We can talk on the ride home if you like?"
"Mmm, I think it might be good"
Reaching to take the blonde's hand they began to walk back towards the house.

Davy was drilling something into the lower part of the door.

Giving it a firm shove he confirmed that what he'd done had held as he saw the women approach.

"That'll hold a bit better than Al's plywood"
They all laughed

"Anything else needs doing around Mandy?" Amanda looked to Olivia who shook her head

"No I think we're good thanks Davy"
"Ok, I'm gona go, think I need a beer"
Amanda gave him a cautious glare but he smiled "One drink Mom, and I'm gona leave the truck home just in case"
Amanda laughed as she pulled him into a hug "Come see us in the big bad city some time?"
"I might just do that. Stay safe Mandy"
"You too"

David stuck out a hand but Olivia too pulled him in for a hug. She could see this man really cared for Amanda "I'll look after her, I promise," she said quietly.
Davy smiled and nodded at Olivia as he turned and walked to the truck.

Standing on the porch watching him leave Amanda felt Olivia's arms coming around her waist from behind, resting her chin on the blonde's shoulder.

"I hope he finds someone"

"He will"
"Kinda helps makes more sense of what happened with Jay too. I think Jean knew. He used to spend some time up here too. It was kind of like a refuge for waifs and strays"
"Well she was obviously a very kind lady. Bit like her gran-niece"

Amanda turned into Olivia's embraced and kissed her gently.

"You keep saying nice things to me I might just start to believe them"
"That's what I'm hoping"

Amanda smiled as they kissed again.

Pulling away she looked at her watch "we better hit the road soon if we ever want to get home"
"Do we really have to?"
Amanda looked around the yard and smiled. "We can come back"
"I'd like that"

Olivia placed three quick kisses on soft lips before they went inside to pack for the long trip back to New York.

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