"Honestly, I told you that I didn't need-" Martin looked up, his eyes changing to that expression, the one he only used with one person, and finally as the door opened, his eyes made contact with hers. Louisa, in mid—sentence, stopped talking and her eyes widened.

"Martin!" Louisa exclaimed in a breathless state. Martin stood there, rooted himself there actually, and didn't move at all. His eyes met hers, and then he took in her appearance. Louisa must have noticed, for she clutched her dressing gown closed at the neck as she tried to find the words to ask what was going on. "What are you doing here?"

Martin continued to stare, all of the things he'd planned to say now completely slipping from his memory. He stood there, mouth open, and finally, he found his words.

Emm, Louisa, good evening, ahh, I was in the area, in town," he clarified, "and wanted to check on you. I was worried about you, your health, I mean," he stammered.

Louisa, who had composed herself slightly, still clutching her dressing gown, frowned at him, "You were in the area, Martin? I'm sorry, but this seems to be a long way for a house call." She shook her head and looked to him, confused at his appearance at her door.

"No," he sighed and closed his eyes, "I mean, I was in London, ahh, for work. Conference," he offered, his head nodding toward her. He'd rehearsed this in his head, and it wasn't going as easily as planned. "How are you? I mean," he let out a sigh, "how is your health?"

Louisa narrowed her gaze at him, and he couldn't help but stare at her. She was breathtakingly beautiful, hair down around her shoulders, her face just as he remembered. Simply beautiful, yet she must not be feeling well for it to be only 7:00 and in her dressing gown. As he thought about that, his mind briefly wandered. He'd missed dinner, eating at his optimum time, but it was no surprise with the state he'd been in.

"So," Louisa pondered what he was saying and started to gesture with her free hand, "you were in town for a medical conference and just had the random thought to pop by my flat on a Saturday night to check on my health? Martin, how did you ever find me?"

"Ahh, yes," he blurted out. "I mean, Pauline, I mean," he let out a loud groan. "I mean, yes, I'm in town for work. Your address, that came from Pauline, who brought it to me from Bert. I did not ask for it, but she saw you had sent him a card, add well, as all of the bloody villagers do, she invited herself into my personal life and gave it to me. I'd thrown it away, at least, until I thought about checking on you, your health," he clarified, "because I was worried about your anemia."

"Oh," she said quietly and looked to the floor. "I see. You were worried about my health and wanted to check on my while in London." Louisa looked up, her eyes searching his. "You came all this way for that?"

"Yes," Martin said quickly and nodded. He gestured with his hand, nervous and trying not to muck this up too. "Your anemia," he added again. "You left the village in such a hurry-" he paused, both knowing why she'd left, even if he wasn't sure why it had been in such a hurry. He thought the two could remain there, but she'd obviously felt differently. "I mean, to answer your question, I wanted to check on you, ahh, while in London."

"Right," Louisa nodded again, a small frown on her face. Martin looked beyond her to where her door was open. He could see inside the tiny bedsit; it was worse than he thought. To start, he honestly didn't realize flats this small could exist. It looked like she had a one-room bedsit with the rumpled bed, tiny too, in view. He could see a small table directly next to the bed, and what he couldn't see, the very little he couldn't see, he expected was a small kitchen area and bathroom. Louisa's place was disheveled, much as he'd remembered her room being at her cottage. He made a face looking at the small, messy space and looked back to her.

Louisa, who must have realized Martin was taking in her flat, pulled the door slightly closed as she stepped toward him in the hall and nodded toward him, justifying her place, "It's quite cozy. London is expensive, after all. I'm sure it's quite different than anywhere you've lived."

"Right," he nodded, his eyes trying to lock with hers. He wanted to study her face, her beautiful face, but he also knew staring was the worst thing he could do. While he was socially awkward, he had figured that out with her, that staring wasn't always appropriate. So, with that, he looked down at his shoes and spoke again.

"So, your health-are you feeling ill? I have my bag," he gestured to his medical bag he'd put on the floor, "if you need anything, anything at all."

Louisa bit her lip and looked at him. Their eyes met, and she sighed, "No, Martin, I don't need anything. Thank you. I'm just a bit shocked to see you here, especially with the concern about my health. That's why you came?"

"Yes, it is," he said, giving her a quizzical look. "Why else?"

"Nothing," she waved. "I'm just very surprised to see you."

"You left," he stated. "I had to hear from the villagers."

"Yes," she said, drawing out her words as she looked away and down at the floor. "I did, Martin. I thought it best. We did go our own ways; we both wanted that, right?"

They both heard steps on the stairs and turned. Louisa clutched her dressing gown again, not that she'd let it open, but almost as an internal security measure to not be vulnerable, they turned to see who was interrupting their discussion.

"Danny!" Louisa exclaimed, her eyes widening as she looked at him coming down the hall and then over to Martin, "Really, when you called, I told you I didn't need you coming by."

Martin's face dropped, devastated to see Danny, the man he'd come to loathe, walking toward him, carrying shopping. Danny, realizing what he'd interrupted, or who he had now interrupted, paused and looked between the two.

"Martin," he called to him, a small, questioning smile on his face. "Fancy seeing you here. Lou didn't mention you were in town."

"That's because I didn't know and only spoke to you a few minutes," she sighed, rubbing her hand on the side of her face. She looked at both men and turned toward Martin.

"I, I," he stuttered, his face turning red as he looked to Louisa while he reached down to get his bag, "I'll be going," he finally blurted out. "Ahh, take care, Louisa and stay on your anemia."

"Martin," Louisa called and tried to touch his arm but not before he had stepped away. With the very narrow hallway, Danny stood to the side to let him pass. Danny held up his shopping toward Louisa as he did.

"Brought you some soup, Lou. Thought I could check on you since you're not feeling well," Danny said. Martin turned, his eyes widening again.

Louisa covered her face with her hand and looked up to see Martin staring at her. She waved that hand, "Really, both of you, I'm fine, just tired."

"Right," Martin said, not convinced as he wanted to look at her. His gaze was distracted as Danny stepped right in front of Louisa with what Martin could only label as a stupid grin, holding the bag.

"Come on, Lou," he smiled at her, and Martin grimaced. "I only came to help."

"I'll be off," Martin said quickly and started to the stairs. Before he disappeared from sight, he turned again, "Louisa," he nodded to her and looked to the floor. He didn't stay to hear more of any discussion between Louisa and Danny.