Author's note: I was fascinated to see the reactions to the last chapter and how 'it's time' signified to some that Barbara was forcing the issue and/or putting pressure on them rather than it being organic. Sorry for the delay again. Back home again. I was too ambitious thinking I could travel and write.

Barbara sat nervously as she waited for her assessment. The doctor's offices overlooked Hyde Park, and she sat watching a woman on a horse trotting around in circles. The rooms seemed purpose built, and she had learned that it was used to test all the services from ambulance officers and firemen. There were fourteen people to be tested, and she was the last one to see the doctor for her physical. She texted Tommy for the third time. Still waiting. Worse than a dentist.

He replied straight away. Relax. You'll be fine. Wish I was with you.

She was about to reply when her phone rang. "I can't talk here, Tommy."

"Miss Havers? It's Dan Miles."

"Oh."

"From the real estate agency. It's about your tenant."

Barbara sighed. "Now is not the best time, Dan. Is there a problem?"

"No. The tenant wants to make an offer to buy your flat. It's an offer above market rate. I would consider it very seriously."

"How much?" Dan told her the figure. "Wow. That's 30,000 pounds above the valuation."

"Please consider it, and let me know."

"I will. Thank you. I need to discuss it with my... partner."

Barbara sat back and thought about everything. She and Tommy were inseparable. They were happier than either of them had ever been, and she was sure their relationship was stable. Her concerns about making love had been completely misplaced, and her abdomen knotted in anticipation as she remembered that first night when she had gone to his room. Tommy had been tender, patient and loving. He had kissed and explored every inch of her body and encouraged her to do the same. She had melted under his lips and moulded to his body. The final act had felt so natural that she had not even realised it was happening until they were screaming each other's names.

Since then they had been almost insatiable. Sometimes she wondered if poor Denton might have a heart attack hearing them, especially when they were in the sauna or the gym, but Tommy had assured her that his valet's rooms were soundproofed. Barbara had not yet asked why. There were some things she did not need to know.

She had no intention of ever returning to Chalk Farm, and she knew Tommy would hate it if she did. He had been so much happier that even his mother had commented. Dorothy had been very accepting of her as Tommy's partner, perhaps too much so. She had insisted that Barbara's name was included next to Tommy's on the annual invitation to the Howenstowe Spring Ball next month. Dorothy was even coming down in two weeks to take her shopping for a suitable dress. Against all her instincts, Barbara had agreed, but only because she knew showing an interest would delight Tommy. She had been right. The look he had given her had been worth the future humiliation.

"Sergeant Havers." The doctor stood at the door to the consulting room. The thin young woman wore designer everything. From her ultra-fashionable Scandinavian glasses to her Jimmy Choo shoes, she looked as if she had stepped out of the latest Vogue.

"Yes. Here."

"Doctor Benson. Come through." The doctor smiled revealing perfect white teeth.

Benson smiled as she took Barbara's blood pressure then measured her height and weight. "You are a couple of kilos above what you should be my dear. You borderline overweight, but if you pass your test, it will just be a recommendation to lose them, but nothing more serious."

"Good." In three months, Barbara had already lost over ten kilos thanks to Tommy's exercise and diet regime. He had also lost weight and was back to looking as good as he had in their first years together. While she loved what it did to his body, she resented that he could lose it without effort, and had told him so on more than one occasion.

Benson gestured for her to take a seat. "Are you on any medication?"

"No."

"Oral contraceptive?"

"No."

Dr Benson peered over her glasses. "Not sexually active?"

Barbara blushed. Tommy regularly joked that she was very active and told her how much he enjoyed it. "Er, well, yes, I am."

"Barrier protection?"

Barbara frowned. "Sorry?"

"Your contraception. Are you using a diaphragm or condoms?"

Barbara gasped. "Er, condoms... mostly." She did not add that she and Tommy had been rather haphazard with them, preferring a more natural feel.

"So you might be pregnant?"

"No. I don't think so."

"We should check. Are you in a relationship? Or are you a hookup Charlie?"

"A what?"

"It's a term for those who find partners on social media sites."

Barbara raised her eyebrows. "What does this have to do with my fitness test?"

"I need to assess your total health risk."

"I'm in a relationship."

"Good. No previous pregnancies?"

"No."

"Are you planning to start a family? At your age, I wouldn't leave it much longer. There are risks."

"My focus has been on getting ready for this test."

The doctor frowned as if trying to work out how Barbara's statement was related to hers. "Do you have your urine sample?"

Barbara handed over the yellow-lidded jar. Benson pulled on a pair of blue latex gloves with a snap. She took the sample to the sink, dipped in three sticks and waited. Barbara held her breath. Although she had said she was not pregnant, there was some doubt in her mind. She and Tommy had only been careful when she thought it might be dangerous. It was a very ad hoc method, and she knew they had avoided talking about the future because they were so focused on the test.

"All clear. You're not pregnant, and there's no blood or protein."

Barbara slowly released her breath and felt a pang of regret. "Good."

"Up on the bench." Benson examined Barbara, poking and prodding in places Barbara preferred no one but Tommy to see. "No issues that I can see. Take this paperwork and head out to see Officer O'Mara. Good luck."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"And think about what I said about better contraception. Don't rely on being too old."

Barbara smiled tightly. Too old! She had to concede that was an issue. She needed to have a conversation with Tommy, but first, she had to do her assessment.

Officer O'Mara was built like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime. Mountainous muscles rippled above a base of taut curves that stretched his ambulance service shirt tight across his chest. He looked down at Barbara and snarled, "Sergeant Havers?"

"Yes."

He pointed to the corner of the room. "There's your deadlift. Five please."

Barbara walked cautiously to the bar. The weights at each end were both two kilograms lighter than the one Tommy had taught her to lift. She spread her feet evenly to shoulder width, took a deep breath then bent down and wrapped her fingers around the bar. She made as all adjustment, wriggled her fingers then exhaled slowly as she lifted the bar to her waist.

"One," O'Mara called out. "Two... Three... Four... Five. Well done Havers. Now, fifty sit-ups please."

This was the part Barbara hated most. She lay on the bench, hooked her feet under the bar, put her hands on the side of her head, and closed her eyes. Tommy had shared his theory that is hurt less if you could not see it, and she had found it helped. She began.

"Forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty. Okay, Havers. Five-minute break, then report to Officer Goodburn at the gate to the park for your run."

Tommy waited impatiently in his office for news. He knew that it would look far too suspicious if he went over to Hyde Park, and Barbara might resent it. What he considered support, she might see as spying. He had been extra cautious the last few days because he had lied to her. He hoped she understood and accepted it as a surprise, but Barbara was still Barbara.

It had been almost two hours since her last text, and he was beginning to become concerned. He sat and watched his phone, waiting for it to spring to life.

"Are you trying to train it in telepathy?"

"Barbara! I thought you'd call me."

She came into his office and collapsed into the chair near the window. Her running pants were sweat-soaked, and her tee-shirt was wet. "Thirty-seven minutes and twenty-three seconds."

Tommy walked over and kicked his door shut. He pulled her from the chair and into his arms. "That's fantastic news."

"No kiss?"

"If I do, I will have trouble stopping there."

"Yes, well we know you like me all hot and sweaty. You'll have to think of new ways to do that to me."

"I know several. Come on. Get your things. You have a few days leave."

"Leave? I never applied for leave."

"I processed your application and Hillier processed mine. They just happened to align."

Barbara grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards her. "Oh, did they indeed? What a coincidence. So where are you taking me?"

"Home to get changed then somewhere I hope you will like."

"I'm sure I will. Should we tell Hillier I passed?"

"No, not yet. I don't want any questions about when you are going to move out of my house."

"Ah, yes, that reminds me. About my place..."

Tommy's stomach lurched. "You don't..."

"No! Not unless..."

"No! Definitely not."

"Good because I've had an offer on my flat. A very good one."

Tommy frowned. "I didn't know you'd listed it."

"I didn't. The current tenant wants to buy it. Thirty thousands pounds above that valuation I had done."

"You should take it. See if you can get another couple of thousand, but take it. We can invest the money for you. I can make an appointment with my financial advisor."

"Thanks. So if I'm staying on in Belgravia, what do we tell Hillier?"

"Let's not even think about it just yet. We have four days to ourselves." He glanced at his watch. "And somewhere we have to be."

"Lead on."

Tommy knew that they had a lot to discuss. He wanted to have those conversations away from the Met, and away from London.

Two hours later they were at St Pancras waiting for the Eurostar. "I still can't believe you tricked me."

"I hated lying to you Barbara, but I wanted it to be a surprise."

"And you used your position as my boss to do it."

He looked at her and tried to gauge if she was angry or just making a point. "Yes, I did. I'm sorry."

Barbara rubbed his jacket sleeve. "It's okay. It seemed entirely credible that the Met needed to check our passport details. I will have to be more suspicious of you in future."

"Not too suspicious. I'm an honourable man I'll have you know."

"Hmm, the aristocracy have always had funny ideas about honour."

"Barbara, I thought we were over that."

"It was a joke, M'lord."

The loudspeaker crackled. "The four thirty-one Eurostar to Paris is now ready to board on Platform 3. All aboard please."

Tommy smiled. "That's us. Come on."