A/N It's been *counts fingers and toes* a long time since I last updated and I am truly, deeply sorry! I make no excuse other than being rather rubbish!

This latest instalment has been beta'd by the wonderful NorthmanMaille - any mistakes are hers! ;o) (Just kidding! Don't hit me! OUCH!)

I strongly suggest anyone who's come back to read this catches up on what happened in previous chapters - I had to before I started writing again.

Disclaimer - these are not my sheep, just making sure they get fed and watered.

The Souvenir

Chapter 20

"Do you have your ticket?"

"I bought it two hours ago. Yes. I have my ticket." I replied.

"And the books I gave you?"

"Yes! Not that I need them; it'll take 10 minutes, if that." was my exasperated response.

"Have you decided how you're going to explain your coincidental appearance?"

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you doubt my performance skills? You know ad-lib is my forte!" I said with aplomb and a dramatic flourish of the hand.

"Do you need any food?"

"Will you quit fussing, woman! What is it with you? Do you want to spit on a tissue and clean my left-over-lunch off my face too?" I asked her; amused and bemused all in one breath.

Pam smiled at me, not a normal reaction from her, but everyone is allowed to be utterly out of character from time to time. I put her fussing down to a combination of hormones, satisfaction and anticipation. The "quest" to find a woman who sparked my interest for anything more a quick fumble between the sheets (or on the desk, or behind the cinema, or in the back of a car, or anywhere really) had been going on for almost as long as Pam and I had known one another. My father had hoped she might be the one. He had strongly approved of Pam, and in turn she'd been very fond of him, but no matter how long my hair was, I had the wrong equipment as far as she was concerned and that was that. Pam had long given up on the idea of there ever being a Mrs Northman, and the very fact that I was willing to put some effort into this little charade was causing her more than a little excitement.

Not that she would ever admit it mind you.

"Fine! But if you fuck up again, do NOT coming running to me to solve it for you. If you lose sight of your prize once more, do us all a favour and accept fate is telling you to give up."

There's my Pam! I thought as the corner of my mouth curled upwards. "Never." I winked and pulled her into a bear hug.

She reciprocated at first and then pushed me away. "Oh just get on the damn train!"

"Amelia meeting you in Derby?" I asked her.

She nodded and shooed me away. I stepped onto the train and found a seat. Settling down into the well-worn upholstery I started to consider exactly what I would say to Sookie.

"Hi there, I'm sorry my staff scared you off, but I think you're suitably fuck-able to chase around the country. By the way, if we hit it off, you'll find out I'm loaded and you'll want for nothing for the rest of your life," didn't seem to be quite the right thing to say… yet.

I forced out the furrows in my brow when I caught Pam's anxious glances from the platform, smiled enthusiastically, and gave her the thumbs-up as the train pulled out the station.

.-oOSOo-.

Amelia and I packed our bags, loaded them into the trunk and set off to Anne Hathaway's Cottage early the next morning. I continued to enjoy what I was beginning to see as the "true tourist" parts of my vacation: travelling to new places, meeting new people, seeing new things. Not that Pam wasn't new, but the shine was really wearing off. We set off for Derbyshire the moment we left the cottage, and I didn't look back.

Sorry Pam, I thought. Time to look after me and get my butt far away from you and yours.

We arrived at the hostel late; Amelia kept apologizing for the length of the drive, which really wasn't all that long, but despite Amelia's fun company, the time did drag a little.

I tried not to let my thoughts turn to Eric, but from time to time they did and an angry little monster of regret would thump me in the stomach. My big girl panties were firmly in place though, and the occasional readjustment of them reminded me that I had done the right thing.

Survival first.

Tall, blond and gorgeous, a very distant second. Unfortunately.

After visiting a museum about rocks (I wasn't sure I ever thought rocks worthy of their own museum, but someone in Derbyshire clearly thinks they are) we headed up to Matlock Bath.

I have nothing to compare Matlock Bath to; I haven't seen enough of England to know if there are other places like it, but to me it was such a pretty and unusual place. The houses were built on roads that swept up tight hills, so they looked like they were built one on top of another. There were cafés, restaurants and little tourist/curio shops at the bottom of this pile of buildings. I could just picture ladies and gentlemen in their fancy clothes, walking up and down the street, long ago. It made me think of picture postcards I'd seen in Gran's picture books of people promenading at the sea front.

Yes. That was how to describe what was in front of me. It was like a picture postcard of the English seaside, but in the middle of the countryside, and I was reminded how much I wanted to see a seaside town. I had forgotten all about that in my little adventure.

Amelia and I stopped at one of the cafés for a sandwich and coffee; it was the best coffee I'd tasted since leaving Lafayette's kitchen. She had to catch the train just after our lunch, so that she could make her connection and head home. I was sorry to have to say goodbye to her, she had been light relief.

"Well, this is me." Amelia said as the train appeared in the distance.

We hugged our good-byes. Cell numbers had already been exchanged in case I found myself back in London, where Amelia lived with her Gran.

"You'll be okay?" she asked.

I put on my best reassuring smile. "I'll be great. I'm going to go up in that cable car, then I think I'll head further north. I'll keep moving now, and finish exploring. Thank you for giving me a bit of a push; it seems as though it was just what I needed."

The train pulled into the station; Amelia picked up her bag and pulled me into a quick hug once more.

"Sookie?" The voice made me freeze; it had the texture of Oreo cookies dipped in milk.

My heart attempted to crack my ribs, my eyes felt like they were stuck out on stalks, and it was all the muscles in my jaw could do to stop my chin from hitting the floor.

Why was he here? Of all the places…

Amelia looked over my shoulder as she whispered in my ear. "You need me to stay?"

"No." I shook my head. "I'll be fine, you go." My voice was uncertain, but Amelia took me at my word and jumped onto the train. The alarm beeped and the doors closed.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, put on my best Sookie smile, and turned around.

"Hey." I said. Two conflicting urges overwhelmed me – the first was to throw myself into his arms and squeeze the life out of him, the other was to turn on my heel and run. Pulled in two directions at once, I remained rooted to the spot.

"Hey." he smiled back.

The train pulled out of the station and everyone else who had gotten off and carried on with their journeys, wherever they would lead. We just stood there, staring at each other, as mute as a couple of dumb old house cats. In my mind I kept daring him to speak first, but he was looking as shocked as I was.

"So," He said, breaking the silence. "Come here often?" The confusion and disbelief on his face was pushed aside by a self-satisfied smirk.

A nervous laugh escaped me.

.-oOEOo-.

Despite all my confident assurances to Pam, looking on Sookie's shocked expression, I found myself completely unable to lie to her. The truth was not something she would cope with hearing either, and I found myself lost for words. I did what I do best; I skirted the issue.

Sookie looked around anxiously, noting that we were alone on the platform. "I was just about to go up in the cable car," she said, jabbing a thumb behind her. "You can join me, if you like…"

I nodded, and felt a smile curl my lips as I took the hand she held out to me.

.-oOSOo-.

We were the only people in the cable car; I supposed the weather was not helping, but Amelia had told me that places were often this quiet during the week. I hadn't sat down by the time it started moving, and the sudden jerk made me lose my footing. Catching the windowed walls before Eric could assist me, my bottom found a metallic perch and I looked on one of the prettiest views I could think of. The weather was grey, and I couldn't see far outside the carriage, but the face looking back at me was more than enough for me.

"You're quite a way from Wales." I said, not knowing what else to say.

Eric nodded. "The air was less than relaxed."

It was my turn to nod; I wondered if someone outside had been watching, whether they'd have thought we were impersonating those nodding dogs you see in the back of people's cars, and I tried not to giggle. "Why here?"

"I have friends, they have a cottage, and we have an understanding."

Wow! Talk about details! He seemed so different, so stilted, just as he was when I first got to Wales, but I figured he was a little shocked at our chance meeting, so I tried not to be annoyed by it.

"So, are you here for long?" He asked as the carriage bounced along its cable.

I shook my head. "I was planning on moving on after this."

Eric nodded. "That's a shame. You still haven't tasted my beans." He smirked, and it looked, for a second, as though he was relaxing back into the Eric I had seen just before I left.

When the carriage reached the top, we both stood. He held his hand out, and I took it; a silent understanding seemed to pass between us, and I smiled a secret smile that the world did not see.

.-oOSOo-.

My head hit the pillow with a satisfied thud, my teeth holding my bottom lip down in case the smile I couldn't contain should crack my face. I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling and released a contented sigh, as my heart rate tried its best to return to a little slower than the hell-cat speed it was racing at.

A large, warm hand reached out across my stomach and lazily grabbed my waist. "Where've you gone?" Eric asked, his eyelids heavy over his icy-blue eyes. He pulled himself up onto his other arm and kissed me deeply.

"Ready for round three?" He asked.

Boy, was I ever!

A/N - Okay! Matlock Bath - the cable car leads to the Heights of Abraham. I've not been up the top since I was a VERY small child, but I do love MB - there's a great pub not far from there that does the most AMAZING lamb!

I currently have an entry for the Home Sweet Home contest - London Calling. Please read and support the entrants http: / www . fanfiction . net / u / 2623209 / HomeSweetHome