** For authors notes, disclaimer etc. see chapter 1

Puppy Love 21/?

"Laura can I ask you something?" Jean said quietly as they tried to dodge a hyperactive Archie to move the furniture around in James's new study ready for the boys coming back with the stuff from his flat.

"Course you can, where does he want this table for the printer did he say?" Laura smiled holding up a small chrome table as Jean pointed to the corner beside the large computer desk.

"Set it beside the desk he'll set it all up the way he likes it when he gets here. You know we were talking about you and Robbie? Could you really give up after all this time? Do you still love him?" Jean asked sitting on the reclining chair in the corner of the room picking up Archie and cuddling him gently as Laura slipped onto the desk her legs swinging absentmindedly as she stared at the floor clearly thinking carefully about her decision and the answer to Jean's questions.

"Yes I still love him Jean I don't think I'd ever stop loving him but can I keep waiting? No I don't think I can. There comes a point, one I'm not far off, where you have to face facts. I'm not getting any younger and if I want to have what you and James have I need to get a move on." She replied finally laughing at the way Archie had sat up on Jean's knee and was staring at her his head tilting with each statement as if he was really listening and taking in everything she said. "Isn't that right Archie? Eventually a girl has to start thinking about herself."

"You know he loves you too don't you? Maybe if you told him you've got to the stage where you need things to change it would make a difference." Jean sighed the sad shake of Laura's head making her wish that she hadn't waited so long to suggest to James that they step in and hopewith all her head that he was having some luck talking to Robbie.

"Robbie will you lift your end I can't get this out and into the van on my own!" James shouted after a few minutes of frustration as they tried to get the fridge out of the kitchen and he realised Robbie wasn't actually paying attention to what they were doing and was instead standing staring into space. "Stand it back up again and tell me what you're thinking or we're goung to get damn all done today."

"What are we doing heart to hearts now James? We're not a couple of middle aged women man." Robbie sighed helping James to straighten the fridge up again.

"No but you are no use if all you can do is stand around like a love sick teenager." James jibed back keeping the teasing atmosphere going in the hope Robbie would be comfortable enough to tell him what he was thinking about the situation with Laura so they could get on with the move and might actually be finished before nightfall. "Why don't you just tell her how you feel and see how things go? I mean if you get together and it doesn't work out would that not be better than never having tried in the first place? If she really is ready to give up you have nothing to lose."

"If she's ready to walk maybe it's already too late. If I walk back into yours and Jean's place tonight and say "Let's go for it" she might still say "No you're too late"." Robbie replied moving around the kitchen opening and cupboards they're already checked in an action James knew was to avoid looking at him while they talked.

"And if she doesn't? If she says ok let's give it a go you've got what you want, if she really doesn't want to try then at least you'd know where you stand and crap as it would be you'd just have to accept it and move on."

"Yeah maybe. Let's get this moved and get back there and I'll decide before we do. I mean you're probably right but I've had enough of the whole mother's union meeting thing." Robbie sighed turning his attention back to the fridge as James smiled. He was pretty sure he'd got through to his friend this time and that mean it was even more important that they get finished and get home so he could see Laura again. He was sure once Robbie saw her again and was faced with the idea of her moving on with someone else he'd do whatever he had to in order to prevent that happening.