Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, 2 weeks later
Molly is packing up the last of her things into her Bergen, eagerly waiting for Charles to arrive. She looks down at her forearm and smiles at Charles' love message, which she has been careful to not rub off.
He was true to his word and came back to her as soon as his leave started. He's been visiting her daily ever since. They've spent long hours happily chatting and bantering, carrying on where they left off at the FOB before everything turned to shit.
They've also been planning their next steps. He was insistent she come and stay with him at his parents' house in Bath. She was initially resistant to this idea, thinking it would be awkward for all except Charles. However, once he explained that his parents would be away for a few weeks at their house on Lake Garda and that he effectively has a private apartment on one floor of the house complete with kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom, she couldn't really find a reason to object.
She couldn't honestly imagine recuperating in the cramp and chaos of her parent's house and she wasn't really well enough to return to barracks.
There is the added advantage to his plan, as a trained medic, Charles is actually very good at caring for her; practically in terms of changing dressings and managing her pain medication, but also instinctively knowing when she needs to rest and also gently encouraging her with her exercises and pushing her forward with her recovery. Together with her resolute determination to get better, they make a great team and her doctors are delighted with her progress so far.
-OG-
Bath
Charles pulls up outside his parent's house and looks across at Molly. He can't quite believe that she is here and with him. He wasn't totally sure if she would accept his plan of coming the stay with him, but in the end, she didn't take too much persuading.
After his first visit to Molly in hospital, he told his parents everything and they were surprisingly unsurprised. In fact, they were the ones who suggested that he should bring Molly home to recuperate and who hastily arranged a trip to Italy to coincide with her discharge.
If he thought she looked beautiful in army combats and a hospital gown, she is completely stunning in her casual civilian clothes. The anticipation of finally being alone with her, with no interruptions, has almost been too much for him. He's been uncharacteristically quiet on the journey because he has been trying to concentrate on driving them safely, pushing away his thoughts about what might happen when they get to the house. Months and months of waiting out and he's more than a little bit concerned about physically hurting her and whether he can live up to the occasion.
He steps out of the car and rushes round to open her door. He grabs her Bergen from the boot and leads her up to the house, holding her arm as she walks slowly, her recovering leg now in an aircast boot.
They are barely inside the door before she is pulling him towards her, kissing him hungrily and passionately. He returns her kisses, groaning internally as he feels his erection growing as she pushes herself against him.
He pauses, "Are you sure you're ready for this Molly?"
She sniggers, "Yes Charles, you numpty, I am most definitely ready for this. No more waitin' out." She gives him one of her killer smiles, placing a soft kiss on his lips, "Just be a little bit gentle with me." Not needing any more invitation, he effortlessly lifts her into his arms and carries her upstairs to his bedroom.
-OG-
Just a short epilogue to go...