To make up for being away so long I'm posting three chapters in one go. Please take note to read them in the right order. This chapter, chapter 25, is the final one of the three. It's on Vic ILY day, from Syed's POV.

~s~c~

Mum is drilling out orders like we're in the army. Apparently, we're too slow and doing everything wrong. Jane's been enlisted to help out and I think she's about ready to explode. Can't blame her really. Mum is being impossible, even for her. Christian however, has decided to be amused by it all. Whatever she says to him, whatever order she barks out, he just says "Yes Zainab" and scurries off to do whatever it is she wants doing now. He throws us mock terrified looks which makes both Jane and I burst out in childish giggles. Which of course causes Mum to glare at us disapprovingly.

'Who's doing the chicken?' she suddenly shrieks.

No one answers.

'Tell me now!' Zainab threatens. 'This chicken is ruined! Who was responsible for it, ha?'

Jane and I both look at Christian. I think he's the only one of us brave enough to handle this.

'Er…' he starts. See? Even he has trouble with this. 'I think that was yours Zainab'.

'What? No it was not. I remember divvying out the orders. Syed on the beef, Jane on the veggies, Christian on cleaning duty and… Oh' she says. 'Right. Well. We'll need to start over, won't we. If you want something done right, you're best off doing it yourself I suppose. I'll pop out and get some more chicken'.

No apology of course. As if.

Seeing an opportunity, Jane says: 'Is it alright if I go now? The veggies are all cut and ready and I've been on my feet all day'.

'Fine', Mum answers. 'I guess we're about done here anyways. Except for the chicken, but I'll handle that'. And she's out the door, quickly followed by Jane.

So that just leaves me and Christian. Fine by me. Very fine indeed. I smile at him wickedly.

'You have a dirty mind mister. I'm looking after the beef here' Christian says sternly.

'And you're doing such a good job too' I say admiringly.

'I am, aren't I? Look, only one hand' he brags, as he stirs the meat with a wooden spoon.

I laugh.

'Show off'

'I'm just very talented, that's all' he huffs.

'Oh I know…' I admit willingly, letting my eyes rake all over his body.

'See! You do have a dirty mind!' Christian accuses me, pointing the wooden spoon in my direction.

'Guilty as charged. Only when I'm around you though' I say as I slide my hand down his back to cup his arse and give it an appreciative little squeeze.

'Well that's alright then' he decides happily. He pulls me into him and steels a quick kiss. I squeeze his arse a bit harder, making him yelp.

'Not while we're at work' I say primly.

'Oh no, of course not. Wouldn't dream of it' he insists, as he lets go of the spoon to capture me in his arms fully and snog the breath out of me. Excellent.

~s~c~

'Fancy meeting you here' I say nonchalantly.

'Yeah fancy that…I mean, it's Denise and Lucas' wedding, pretty much the whole square is here, but why would you expect to run into little old me?' he answers, the twinkle in his eye matching mine.

God I'm happy. I've been so miserable what with that 'bad boy' business, that being happy now feels like the best feeling in the world. And it really is, isn't it? No more looking over my shoulder, no more worrying, no more blackmail…

'Why weren't you at the ceremony?' I ask.

'Arrant for Lucy' he says. 'Don't ask'.

I won't. I know he loves the girl, and I'm grateful and all that she hasn't gone blabbing to anyone, but still… She did try and blackmail me didn't she. I step in a bit closer.

'I've missed you you know…' I say softly.

His eyes light up which causes butterflies to flutter around in my stomach.

'Yeah? You only saw me yesterday' he says.

'That was different' I insist. 'Mum was there for one. And Jane. And I was wearing that stupid blue hat'.

'So was I' he points out. I smile.

'I know. But that hat looks good on you' I insist. 'Most things do'.

I finger the jacket of his suit appreciatively. He looks beautiful. I'm going to have a lot of trouble keeping my hands to myself tonight.

We're at a wedding party in the Vic. Half the square is here, but I hardly notice. Cause he's here, and that's all I care about. Christian's been drinking champagne all evening and so have I. Well, the non alcoholic kind for me of course. But the bubbles have gone to my head I think, I feel positively giddy. And I'm not even embarrassed about it. I just enjoy it. Amira's all caught up in the whole wedding thing and pretty much ignores me which suits me fine. I love that Christian and I can talk all night long and no one will bat an eye. We're just friends having a laugh as far as they're concerned.

'I knew there was something that I had to tell you' he says.

'What?' I ask, looking at his suddenly serious face. And then he says it.

'I love you'.

Immediately my reaction is to look around, check if anyone heard, if Amira heard. No, I don't think so.

'You're drunk' I accuse him.

'And you love me' he continues, as if he hasn't even heard me.

'Amira's watching, pack it in' I warn him. And she is. She's talking with Patrick and looking in our direction. She winks at me and I smile back at her.

'And all the self-deception in the world is never gonna change that' he finishes quietly.

I've tried to distract him, but it's no use. I heard the words and I can feel their truth. He loves me. He just said it. And now he's looking at me and it's like his eyes are repeating the sentiment over and over again. He loves me. Words can be extremely powerful, I know that. Words spoken in anger can cut you like a knife. I know. I've felt it. But these words have a whole other kind of power. The power to take my breathe away. The power to take my head away. His lips feel like magnets to me right now, pulling me in with excessive force. God I want to kiss him… But I don't think that can be explained away as "two friends having a good time". Later, I promise him with my eyes.

I'm having such a lovely time. We're talking, flirting, even touching. Discreetly of course. At one point, I take his hand in mine and entwine our fingers. He looks at me and I… melt. No other way to describe it. I'm holding hands with Christian. We're like a couple of teenagers in love. Well, the love part's right anyway. And you love me. And all the self-deception in the world is never gonna change that. He's right. He knows it and I know it. But I don't say it. If I did… No, I don't want to think about that now…

~s~c

I feel like my head is spinning. I remember letting myself into his flat and into his bed. I remember getting rid of my clothes and snuggling up to him. I remember searching and finding his lips in the dark. The moment our lips touched, we started a kiss and haven't ended it yet. It feels like we've been kissing for hours. My lips are swollen and bruised, but no way do they want to be separated from his. Our tongues draw lazy circles around each other, sometimes in my mouth, sometimes in his. Bottom lips are sucked and nipped at. Tongues trace and caress lips and teeth. Moves are repeated over and over again. I feel like I'm sinking, sinking in a big white cloud of fluffy happiness.

My arms are wrapped around his waist. My toes trace a line up and down his leg. His hands are on my arse, pulling me close. I can feel his erection pressed against mine, but we don't move. I like the feel of it though. It's like a promise for later. When he'll be inside me. But for now, we just kiss…

'I'm glad you're here' he whispers.

'So am I' I admit.

His lips has left mine now, tracing a path down my neck, his teeth nibbling at the base. I moan appreciatively.

'Can you stay?' he asks me. I hear him hold his breath as he waits for my answer.

'Yes' I assure him. 'Everyone was asleep already when I came home. I grabbed some stuff and came right over'.

'Good' he answers and continues his path of kisses further down. When he reaches my nipple he flicks at it teasingly, making me squirm. He covers my chest, not forgetting my other nipple, and travels down to my bellybutton. He takes the soft skin beneath it carefully between his front teeth and bites down softly, eliciting a quivering sigh. Further down he goes, only nudging my cock gently before travelling on to place kisses all the way down to my toes. I should never have told him I could stay. It made him think he could take his time. I hate when he does that. Except that I love it of course. I sigh happily as he grabs my ankles and makes me flip over so he can trace his way back up. By the time he reaches the back of my knees, I'm shivering pleasantly. Life is good, I decide gleefully.

~s~c~

Phew, I think I need a break now! Three new chapters, I know I'm impressed. I think I deserve a review now, right?