Ive ive decided that I'm not going to apologise for how long it's been and then promise that the next part will come quicker and that I'll try to write this weekend, because each time I do, I fail.

However, I truly am sorry for how long this has taken me and truth be told it would have been a longer wait if it wasn't for my promise to Apollo888 that I'd have finished this part by today. More was supposed to happen. It it got long because Anna wouldn't shut up!

I can't actually believe that I started writing this al most a year ago, it's ridiculous how bad I've become at updating when I started off so well! I'll try to be better, but like I said up there ^^^ promises seem to work against me *sigh*.

ok, so thanks to all those who have reviewed and special thanks to all those who are still reading and not given up on me...

-...-...-

Anna shivered a little as she stepped out of her apartment building and the chill hit her bare legs. She was running 10 minutes late and was surprised that she'd not yet had a call to ask where she was. Anna briskly walked passed her car parked on the side of the road. She was lucky enough to live in such a lovely area of London; just a few minutes walk away from Mary. Of course, she didn't live in a lavish townhouse like her, but she lived in one that had been converted into apartments a few years earlier. She had Mary to thank for alerting her before they went on the market and Mary to thank for the pay rise she received to ensure she could afford the mortgage.

As she turned a corner, Anna took her phone from the strap on her arm and checked the display. She frowned at the lack of messages. Mary always messaged her when she was running late. She quickly searched for Mary in her contacts, bringing the phone to her ear. She could see Mary's house now a little further up the street, but continued to let the phone ring. It went to voicemail. Again, Anna frowned. She checked the display on her phone again, wondering if she'd got the day wrong- Thursday. No, it was definitely Thursday and it was definitely 6:15am; 15 minutes later than their usual and pre-agreed time.

Anna almost jogged up the steps to Mary's front door, prepared for the friendly moan she'd receive for being late. She knocked first and then when the door didn't open, she rang the doorbell. She waited for a few moments and then rang the doorbell again.

-...-

Mary woke slowly and groggily from her comfortable slumber. With her bedroom still in complete darkness, Mary's brow furrowed. She wasn't aware what had woken her yet, but knew she hadn't woken naturally and wasn't ready to do so. She felt the gentle rise and fall of Matthew's chest under her cheek and hooked a leg over one of his. Mary smiled sleepily when Matthew's arms tightened around her frame; neither of them ready to start the day. That's when she finally registered the noise that had woken her when it repeated.

"Is that your doorbell?" Matthew asked, his voice rough and laced with sleep.

Mary groaned, nuzzling her face into his chest "I hope not."

Matthew craned his neck to look at the clock on her bedside table "6 o'clock is far too early for visitors."

It rang again and Mary suddenly registered the time Matthew had read from her clock. She pressed her palm to his chest, her eyes snapping open, "what day is it?"

"Thursday"

Mary sighed, pushing herself up from him. "It's Anna" she detangled herself from the blanket and climbed off of the bed. Matthew watched as she turned on the light and walked towards the door, grabbing her robe and pushing her arms into it. He was a little surprised that she hadn't wrapped herself in the blanket or waited to turn the light on until she'd covered herself in the robe. She turned to face him before wrapping the silk around her form and knotting it at the waist. "Tuesday and Thursday mornings we go for a run. I'm sorry. I didn't even think to cancel... Or" she sighed "I must have left my phone downstairs, so I didn't hear the alarm."

Matthew sat up a little, shaking his head "there's no need to apologise."

Mary smiled softly, "I'll..." She gestured behind herself at the door. Matthew nodded and she pointed a finger at him quickly "don't move". Matthew chuckled slightly and she rushed from her bedroom and down the two flights stairs.

As Mary reached the ground floor, she heard knocking and her phone ringing. She rushed to open the door, her expression completely apologetic. "Anna, I'm so sorry" she ushered her inside. "I just need to get ready. I won't be long."

"Is everything ok?" Anna checked, following her through from the foyer to the kitchen, observing how Mary was uncharacteristically flustered.

Mary pushed her hair back from her face, "yes, fine. I just left my phone downstairs and missed my alarm." She quickly searched for her phone and found it on the counter, noticing the missed calls from Anna. "Aren't you cold?" She asked, gesturing to her bare legs in Lycra shorts.

Anna shrugged "I'll soon warm up."

Mary nodded, rushing towards the stairs "I'll just be 10 minutes and then we can go."

When Mary returned, Matthew greeted her with an unnoticed smile. She rushed straight through her closet into the bathroom and he immediately heard running water. He cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter and considered calling out to her, asking if he should leave. Only moments later though, she returned with a toothbrush in her mouth, dressed in tight leggings and a sports bra. He watched as she opened a drawer and sprayed a little deodorant under each arm before turning to face him with an apologetic look on her face.

"I'm so-"

Matthew shook his head, immediately cutting her off "I told you not to apologise."

She smiled in return, taking the tooth brush from her mouth and walking towards the side of her bed. "I won't be too long" she told him "half an hour maybe?" He nodded and she leaned down to place a chaste kiss on his lips. "I'll pick up some breakfast."

Before she could return to the bathroom, Matthew grabbed hold of her bare waist, pulling her down for a longer kiss. Mary lost her balance and let out a small shriek before smiling into his kiss. His hands moved across her torso and down to caress her bottom playfully. Mary pushed at his shoulders, detaching her lips from his with a small laugh. "I need to finish brushing my teeth" she protested "and Anna's waiting for me downstairs."

Matthew quickly rolled over so that she was pinned under him on the bed, his hands on either side of her head. His gaze roamed over her briefly, settling on her eyes before moving in for another kiss. His slow and tender kiss caused Mary's stomach to dip, almost considering sending Anna away and hibernating with him for the rest of the day. When he pulled away her eyes were still closed, her hands now clutching at his shoulders and he placed a single kiss on her jaw before sitting back up and releasing her.

"Go" she heard his playful command and got up from the bed with a wide smile gracing her features.

She looked down at him in the bed; his hair messy, a blanket barely covering his mid-section, his eyes so completely blue and she sighed loudly. "Don't leave." It sounded like a command, but her soft voice and small smile showed her vulnerability and Matthew shook his head, as though answering it as a question. She sighed again before turning and retreating back into the bathroom.

Minutes later she reappeared wearing an oversized jumper and trainers with her leggings. She offered him wave before leaving, again pausing at the door as she had before and telling him not to move. He laughed at her command and pointed finger, his smile lingering even as the sound of her rushed footsteps on the stairs faded and disappeared.

-...-...-

It hadn't taken more than a few seconds for Anna to realise the reason for Mary's flustered appearance. Only moments after she disappeared upstairs, Anna noticed discarded clothing in her kitchen... Trousers belonging to a man; Matthew's she assumed, a green dress, a bowl of forgotten dessert... When Mary had returned downstairs, Anna apologised profusely, offering to go- they could miss one morning run. Mary had waved off her offer quickly, breezing past her through the kitchen and into her foyer; leaving Anna to follow her out of the front door and out onto the street; apparently the topic wasn't up for discussion... Either that or Mary was embarrassed. Anna couldn't decide which.

They'd been running for at least 10 minutes by now and Anna was itching to find out how Mary's evening had gone. She glanced to her left at Mary briefly- she'd barely spoken two words, other than her observation that it seemed to be 'brightening up' outside. Anna hoped that Mary was merely keeping quiet due to her private nature and not because she was annoyed that she found Matthew's clothes in her kitchen. She took a deep breath as the pair turned a corner into a nearby park (their usual route) and finally spoke up "Mary, I'm sorry about earlier, I-"

Mary shook her head, keeping the pace of her run, "honestly, don't worry about it. I'll admit the doorbell has got to be one of the worst wake-up calls ever, but if I'd remembered to take my phone upstairs last night, the alarm would have woke me and I'd have been ready." Naturally the pair of then slowed a little as Mary spoke. "I completely forgot what day it was."

Anna smirked at her friend's last sentence, knowing the reason for her confusion. "So how is Matthew?" She slowed even more and Mary ended up a few paces in front of her. Realising that Mary wasn't slowing down with her, she quickly caught up, glancing sideways at the brunette beside her.

Mary glanced back at her and the pair shared a smile. "Matthew is... Great."

"Oh come on Mary!" Anna protested, now slowing down again, "you have to give me more than that."

Mary stopped and turned to Anna, raising her brow, "I take it we aren't running this morning then." She gestured a little for Anna to continue on their route, this time the pair of them walking briskly.

"So?" Anna probed.

Mary sighed, "I told you."

"Come on! I tell you things about my love life".

Mary scoffed loudly "what love life?"

"Hey!"

"Sorry."

"I do. I told you about that guy last month..."

"The one you took back to your flat after a night out and he failed to make you-"

"Ok" Anna held up her palm to stop Mary from continuing.

Mary grinned mischievously. "Fine, you do. But I'm not like you Anna, it's not easy for me to discuss these things... With anybody." She gave her friend an apologetic smile and Anna nodded.

"But things are good... I mean things are good, right?"

Mary laughed a little, nodding to confirm as they continued walking "things are good."

They continued in silence, yet neither of them attempted to pick up their pace from quick walking to running. Mary's thoughts were now, of course, with Matthew and the previous night. She remembered his smell and how strong his arms were around her. She remembered his lips against her skin and how nice it was to fall asleep with him. She sighed audibly and glanced back towards Anna "I woke up on top of him this morning".

At first, Anna wasn't sure she'd heard her correctly. She thought that topic of conversation was over. Her eyes widened at the bold statement and she suddenly came to a stop. Mary stopped too and turned to face Anna who wore a shocked expression. "Wow. You go from one extreme to another. First no information and then-" her eyes widened further and Mary suddenly laughed.

"Not like that!" She began walking again and Anna joined her. Mary frowned "is that even possible?"

Anna shrugged, "I guess you'd have to be dreaming about it first or... The guy would have to-" she shook her head, deciding that enough had been said. "So, in an embrace you mean?"

The word embrace, to Mary, sounded romantic and she smiled a little at the thought. "Kind of. You know, my head on his chest, hand on his shoulder." She paused for a moment, knowing she was blushing and trying to sound indifferent, "I usually like my own space when I'm sleeping."

Anna smiled at her friend "but with Matthew it's different?"

Mary nodded, her voice quiet and almost far-away sounding, "with him, no matter how close he is, I want him closer." She shook her head, mentally kicking herself for thinking out loud. She wasn't ready to openly deal with these feelings and she wondered what on earth possessed her to share such an intimate thought; a thought she hadn't quite gotten her head round herself yet.

Anna smiled dreamily "it's a great feeling isn't it?"

"Hmm?"

"Falling" Anna replied simply, to which Mary looked confused. "My mum once told me that love is fantastic; it makes you feel safe and it's comfortable, but the most thrilling and exciting part is actually getting there... The falling."

Mary practically stopped breathing for a few moments. Had Anna just accused her of falling for Matthew? Openly? She quickly shook her head, mentally shaking the accusation away with her action. "You know Anna, sometimes you really do speak a load of rubbish."

...-...

When Mary returned home she wasn't prepared to find Matthew sat on the small sofa in her kitchen; expecting him to have stayed in bed. "Oh. Hey." She smiled as he turned to look up at her. "I'm surprised you're up" she confessed as she approached the back of the sofa.

Matthew shrugged "I got bored."

Mary placed her palms on his shoulders, looking over his head and onto his lap where he held an open sketchbook. "Matthew" she sighed, reaching over him to retrieve it.

"I didn't go snooping" he informed her, "it was in your magazine pile" he nodded towards the small selection of magazines by the sofa. "For someone who doesn't sketch a lot, you have an awful lot of sketches."

Mary looked down at the sketchbook in her hand and sighed "the one upstairs is practically full."

"And this one is more recent?" She nodded and he turned, reaching for it. "Please" he said softly when she pulled her arm away, "I just want to show you my favourite." Mary relented; after all, he'd already seen them. She watched from her position behind the sofa as he leafed through the book carefully before settling on a page. Mary smiled briefly at his choice. "They're all wonderful Mary." He turned a few more pages, but stopped when Mary grabbed his face with both hands, gently tilting his neck back to look up at her.

She leant down, placing her lips tenderly on his for a few moments before breathing "thank you" into his mouth. Matthew smiled and she released his face; her hands moving down his neck before coming to rest on his shoulders again.

Matthew closed the book and placed it on the seat beside him. "How was your run?"

"Hmm" Mary hummed, leaning forward, circling her arms around him and pushing her fingers through the dusting of hair on his chest. "We didn't actually do much running. Anna spent too much time quizzing me about you." Matthew chuckled a little, capturing one of Mary's hands. "And I didn't pick up breakfast because I forgot to take any money with me."

Matthew raised her hand to his lips, kissing her palm "never mind".

"Would you like a shower?"

"It's probably more practical for me to do that at home. After all, you're not going to find anything in your wardrobe that'll fit me so that I have something clean to put on."

Mary laughed a little at his logic, "it would have been far more practical for you to have bought a change of clothes with you." Her voice lowered simultaneously with her hands, which now rested upon his stomach

"I didn't want to presume."

"Well, you should have"

Matthew laughed "next time." He was rewarded with a small kiss before she stood straight, breaking all contact with him.

Mary inhaled deeply before speaking again, "So, shall we take a shower?"

Matthew sighed, "Mary, I-" he paused, picking up on what she'd said. "We?" He turned more fully on the sofa to look up at her.

"We" she nodded her confirmation and laughed loudly when he quickly stood up.

"You should have just said that the first time."

-...-

Matthew gripped Mary's hips as she lathered shower gel across his chest. "Have you not got anything that smells less... Fruity?" He asked her. Mary shook her head slowly, concentrating on the task in hand and admiring the way his wet skin felt beneath her fingers.

Matthew looked down at her, pushing the thought that he'd be walking around the remainder of the day smelling more feminine than he'd like to the back of his mind and instead admired the way droplets of water clung to her lashes and the peeks of her breasts. His hands began to wander, but Mary quickly halted his movements. He dipped his head to kiss her neck, but she stepped away. Matthew frowned, but Mary only smirked, her lathered hands now moving to his hips. The feather-like touch of her fingers down his thighs caused him to grown and it was only then that Mary allowed him to kiss her.

He nibbled and sucked on her lips before moving across her jaw and down her neck. His hands moved to cup her bottom, pulling her closer, but again Mary stepped back. He groaned in protest. Mary lowered herself slowly onto the small ledge against the wall of the shower that served as a seat, but it wasn't until she reached to pull him closer that Matthew realised what was about to happen. Her lips travelled across his stomach,slowly and teasingly. "God, Mary" Matthew groaned.

"Shh." She blinked up at him, her hand grasping him lightly. "I'm simply repaying the favour." Matthew watched in awe as she lowered her head and his eyes fell shut as soon as he felt her warm mouth around him.