Okay so this is the penultimate chapter guys... 52 will be the last. I have really enjoyed writing this fic... and LOVED each and every single one of my reviews so HUGGGGs to all

Chapter 51

Nikki and Harry's finger tips were stained pink just like their teeth, tongues and lips. They made their way back to pay for their punnet of strawberries, at least the ones that hadn't made it past their mouths into their bellies. As they approached the small on-site shop Nikki took Harry's hand and examined his stained finger tips along with hers,

"Harry I thought you said you had exceptional strawberry picking skills; your fingers are just as stained as mine." She kissed his fingertips.

"Well then, that just proves that I am a good mentor; all the best strawberry pickers have stained fingers." He kissed her smiling lips and they headed to the counter.

The man at the counter was in his late thirties and Nikki couldn't help but notice that his colouring and height resembled that of Hughes; she knew she was being over analytical but for some reason her heart was in her throat and she felt uneasy even in Harry's presence. Harry, oblivious to Nikki's reaction chatted away politely discussing the crop and GM modified products. Nikki felt the unwanted familiar rising panic and took a small step back to distance herself from the innocent man; she soon realised it wasn't anything that he had said or done, it wasn't anything that she had done, it was Hughes and that vile friend of his, they were those ones controlling this situation. Angry with her realisation, she took control. She stepped forward and smiled her sunniest smile directly at the man serving.

"You're strawberries are just delicious; we've had such a great day. Thank you." She spoke decisively and calmly.

"That's quite alright Miss." He smiled back as he handed Harry their purchases.

The flames of fear that had begun to rise inside Nikki were dampened by her ability to take control of the smallest of situation; she was pleased with herself, she had beaten them this time. Wrapped in her victory she was silent yet content all the way back to the car.

The smiles that had passed between Nikki and the shop owner hadn't gone un-noticed by Harry, he knew it was perfectly innocent yet something he hadn't felt before stirred within him,

"Is this what I have to contend with now?" He pulled her under his arm as they walked and kissed her hair,

"What?" Nikki was still lost in her small battle.

"You… eyeing up other men?" Harry teased but he didn't like the way the man had suddenly taken an interest in his beautiful love,

"I was simply smiling at him Harry." Nikki chuckled she was amused by his mock jealousy,

"Oh right, well in that case I don't want you flashing your amazing smile at other men it could get you into trouble" Harry knew if it would get anyone into trouble it could be him and the recipient of Nikki's radiant happiness.

Nikki heard the words and stood still. She was deep in thought and Harry knew. He knew she was reconsidering that night; if it was something that she had done, and then he knew what had passed between Nikki and the shop assistant was in fact for Nikki a small battle,

"I'm sorry Nik… I was being silly." He embraced her, resting his chin on her head, he felt bad.

"No don't be its okay; I'm sorry… it just still catches me." She tried hard to shake the images from her mind. The silence that followed told Harry she needed a little help to rid them and so he did his best to make her giggle.

"You know that wasn't the reason, because of your smile. Nik, you smile at whoever you like, I will protect you… you should however come with sign saying: beware over protective boyfriend prone to breaking noses…. We can get that fixed up for you as soon as we get back." It had worked, Nikki carried on walking towards the car giggling away at Harry's half serious gesture.

As the car pulled up outside the cottage the heavens opened and the rain bounced fiercely off the car. Harry turned the key to kill the engine and grinning he turned to Nikki,

"Mad dash from car to house it looks like; I think I can manage to help you out or your wet jeans again." He reached over and squeezed her knee suggestively.

"Well…" She turned in the car seat to face him, "Why would my jeans be wet? Who says we have to wait until we get in doors before the removal of them?" She was almost playful and Harry struggled to answer her, then he attempted,

"We don't-" He didn't even get chance to finish his witty one-liner, as Nikki accurately manoeuvred herself so that she was sat straddling him; with minimal space her knees pressed almost uncomfortably either side of Harry's hips, "Nikki- What-" She covered his mouth with hers and kissed him until she felt his arousal beneath her. She sat back a little and waited for him to speak; he never did, he simply looked at her, captivated by her. She wriggled out of her coat and Harry helped her pull her jumper over her head; he was mesmerised by the sight of her in her bra on his lap in his car; he couldn't speak and his mouth was dry, all he knew was that he needed her immediately.

He sat forward and began to follow the line of her collarbone with his kisses. It took all of Nikki's strength to remain focused but finally she pushed him back against his seat and with one hand reached for his belt the other for the keys in the ignition. As quickly as Nikki had moved herself into the ever so seduction position on Harry's lap she was gone; the car door opened letting the rain lash against Harry's face. He saw her dash, in only her bra and jeans, towards the door of the cottage,

"Grrrr… Nikki! You can't leave me like this. You're evil!" He called after her half amused half distracted,

"After the way you left me this morning, I most certainly can Harry Cunningham." And giggling hilariously she disappeared into the cottage.

Harry had to sit for a few seconds to regain his senses before getting out and taking their strawberries inside. Indoors, Nikki was nowhere to be seen but he could hear that she was upstairs. He went to the kitchen and began to sort their strawberries so that they could be left to soak in the sink. Not two minutes later there was a knock at the cottage door. Intrigued, as they were not expecting anyone, Harry hurried to answer it. He opened the door to the young woman who had served them in the tea shop the day before.

"Hello. Can I help you?" Harry asked politely and completely baffled,

"I was asked to drop these off, for a Harry Cunningham." She handed over a large box, like the one that their chocolates had come in.

"Oh I'm sorry I never-" He was still confused, and the rain blowing into the porch way wasn't helping,

"A Nikki Alexander called this morning and paid by card over the phone, asked me to drop them at dinner time." She made to go, clearly wanting to be in the dryness of her car.

"Okay well thank you, I won't keep you in this rain, thanks." He closed the door and opened the box. "Nikki?" He called out for her, there was a card placed on top of the dark chocolates: My Love, I'm sorry I ate all the dark ones. Always yours N xx Harry's heart thumped in his chest, he was touched, truly. He made his way upstairs to find Nikki and tell her how lovely she was.

"Nikki?" As he entered the bedroom his heart stopped; Nikki was laid on the bed seductively in only her underwear,

"I was waiting for you Harry, what took you so long?" She smiled sweetly but her eyes were full of desire,

"Chocolates, I have chocolates." His head full of her he couldn't find the words he needed; he wandered over to the bed and sat beside her, still holding the box of chocolates, "No-one has ever sent me chocolates Nik. I love them. Thank you." He didn't take his eyes from her, "We could…" He couldn't think as she'd reached her hand to his and pulled him to her, he tried again, "We could melt them, the strawberries, I mean for the strawberries. That would be nice Nik." She took the box from him and sat it on the bedside cabinet; slowly she wrapped herself around him,

"We could but I can't wait that long, I need something sweet now." She went to kiss him but Harry spoke before she could,

"Sweet hey?" He reached and took a chocolate from the box, "these will sate your appetite then Nik." He was desperate to tease her for as long as he could, a little revenge for her ploy in the car.

"No. That won't do, I need something much sweeter," She kissed him and pressed her hips into him, "and much much tastier…" she kissed his neck and feeling particularly in control and daring she whispered into his ear "and harder."

With that, Harry lost all sense of resistance and surrendered himself leaving his body in the capable hands of his lover. They enveloped kisses and sweet nothings all around one another. Before long they were breathless in the art that was their lovemaking and nothing else mattered, only desire, passion and their love for one another.

Harry watched Nikki's naked sleeping form. He watched her for an hour simply drinking in the sight of her. She was pretty and he considered what beautiful babies she would give him. It was a relief to watch her sleep uninterrupted knowing that her demons were far from her mind; he wanted them to stay away for good, but he wasn't naïve he knew she still had a way to go before she had exorcised them completely. It didn't matter, he would be there to dry every tear, to sooth each panic attack, to subdue after each uninvited nightmare. He pulled the sheets over her so that she wouldn't get cold.

It was starting to get dark out and dusk was almost replaced by stars; Harry knew they needed to eat. He remembered the chocolates and sat up to examine them. They were all dark ones except for one milk one right in the centre of the box. He smiled and turned to Nikki wanting to tell her how much he loved her silliness but she was so peaceful he couldn't bear to wake her from her snoozes. He decided that he would make some dinner and wake her then.

Harry stirred the green pesto into the pasta and threw in some Parma-ham before grating the parmesan over. He heard Nikki on the stairs and smiled at the thought of her.

"Harry you should have woken me." She enclosed her arms around his waist and rested her tired head on his back while he plated the pasta.

"You looked so pretty and peaceful, I was about to though. You need to eat." He left the plates and turned to hug her.

"Yes, I do, I am actually starving." She broke their embrace and picked at the pasta on the plate.

"Where do you want to eat, the table or by the fire… I made the fire for you." He lifted the plates and waited for his orders,

"The fire it is then Harry." Wrapped in the bed sheet that had become her dressing gown she followed him towards the warmth and glow of heat. They settled by the fire and ate in silence as they exchanged glances and grins remembering what had passed only hours before. Finally Harry spoke,

"Nik?" He made the one syllable of her name draw out into a childlike question.

"Yes Harry?" She copied his tone on his name.

"I've been thinking-"

"Oh God, does Leo know?" Nikki chuckled at her Harry like response,

"Now that you're my girlfriend I don't need to consult Leo on my thinking. Nikki, seriously though, I've been thinking about your place, your old place." Nikki stopped chewing her mouthful and waited anxiously, the thought of her place made her sick to her stomach. "Well, you still haven't moved everything across, like furniture, PC, curtains and whatnot and to be honest there is no room for both of our furnishings at my place, there's barely enough room for all your pairs of boots. What I'm saying is… how would you feel about us finding a new place… a new place together. Sell all our old stuff and buy new stuff together. There's no point in having double of everything and I don't want all your girly stuff and my stuff, although exceptional in taste, now screams bachelor. So what do you think? See the month through on both of our places and find somewhere together, bigger, to rent?" He took a breath and hoped he wasn't rushing her, in the back of his mind her heard Leo's warning tone.

Nikki swallowed her food, although it was hard as her heart was in her throat. Her eyes betrayed her and she could feel them water. She didn't hold them back though as they were happy tears, tears of attachment. She carefully sat her plate down and shuffled to Harry's side,

"Can I pick out the rugs, curtains, bedspreads and cushions?" She squeezed him tightly; she had never felt so secure and safe or wanted.

"As long as they're not too girly, my love."

Well let me know what you think please? xxxx