"Martin, Martin," she whispered to him. With no response, she leaned over and kissed his neck, calling to him again.

"Hmm," he said, sleepily, as his eyes flew open when she kissed him. He turned his head, trying to wake up slightly and found her smiling warmly at him.

"Morning," she whispered and smiled again. She was leaning over him, her hair draped down and pooling on his chest. She kissed him again.

"Yes, ahh, good morning," he said, now much more awake. He returned her kiss and raised his hand to brush back some of her hair.

"Sorry, I had to wake you," she still whispered. "I really need to," she nodded toward the lavatory, making a face and a shrug. "Sorry, but the baby is on my bladder."

"Yes, right," he said and shifted in the tiny bed, sitting up so that Louisa could somehow climb around him. He detested this flat and would not shed a tear today when she closed the door on it forever. He had held back a lot the last evening from saying anything negative about the flat, his staying there, or it's ridiculously small size. Martin had learned from both his studies on relationships as well as the rows he'd had with Louisa regarding the flat that it was better if he said nothing, at least regarding his matter. Thankfully, the day had come for her to move. Boxes were stack, and quite honestly, it was insane they were even staying in the place overnight as they had. There was barely room to move, and the bed, which was already up against the wall on one side, had a very narrow path from the open side to the rest of the flat. It was already next to the kitchen table. Louisa kept her alarm clock on the window ledge behind the bed, but she used the kitchen table as a nightstand as well. There were boxes stacked at the end of the bed, so really, there was little room for one person to move, let alone a very tall man and a heavily pregnant woman.

Louisa shifted to get up out of the bed. Martin now was fully standing and had to move toward the cooker to let Louisa pass. He had offered to allow her to sleep on the outside of the bed, rolling his eyes as he thought about sleeping both against the wall and on the "wrong" side of the bed. He did appreciate that Louisa gave a little on that; she knew he preferred the right side of the bed and let him have it. Now, though, he was seeing the result of their compromise. Louisa had to wake him to get out of bed, but it was fine; it was time to get the day started.

Martin turned toward the cooker and started to make tea. He would have preferred his usual espresso, but Louisa did not have such a machine. It was fine; he did like tea, and he might need an espresso later in the day. In fact, he knew he would need one and would seek out a coffee shop as the day progressed. He turned toward the door of the lavatory as he heard the door open.

"Oh, you're up," Louisa frowned, smoothing down her gown. She had changed to almost all nightgowns with the pregnancy, her size making it hard to find anything comfortable to wear. The few times he'd been with Louisa prior to her pregnancy, she'd worn much more revealing nightclothes, things with a lot of lace and a lot less fabric. Earlier in her pregnancy when he had been around, she had worn a lot of fleece bottoms with a simple t-shirt. He didn't dare comment just how large she looked in her current bed clothing, but he gave her a simple nod.

"Err, yes, I started tea. Would you like me to fix breakfast? It is important to get optimal nutritional value on a big day such as today. No need to be less than prepared."

"Ahh, yes, suppose it's fine," she sighed, crossing her arms. "Sorry, Martin," she gestured to the bed, "for getting you up. I've been awake for a half hour trying to not disturb you. What time is it?"

Martin glanced at his watch, "It's just half six," he informed her.

Louisa walked toward him and snaked her arm around his middle, settling her head on his chest. Her eyes looked up at him, "I was sort of hoping we could go back to bed, just for a little while."

"Err, well, now that I'm up, it would be impossible for me to get back to sleep," he informed her. He looked down toward her stomach and raised his eyebrow at her. "Did it just kick at you? I felt that with your stomach pressed up against me."

"Yes," she grinned, "it," Louisa enunciated, rolling her eyes, "as in the baby, a person, did just kick at me. I suppose I don't notice it hardly as much when the baby does that all day. Now, about that, back to bed, Martin, I wasn't talking about getting more sleep."

"Louisa!" Martin exclaimed quietly, as the two were still almost whispering alone in the flat. His face reddened, and he shook his head, "I'm still recovering and tired from last night. As I recall, you kept me up well into the night."

"Yes," Louisa chuckled, patting Martin's chest, "sorry about that, Martin, but it was rather enjoyable, hmm?"

"Yes," Martin said crisply as he pulled the kettle off the stove. He cleared his throat and then narrowed his gaze as he looked down at her, still there, her arm wrapped around him, "Just rather enjoyable?"

"Oh, Martin, that isn't what I mean," she laughed. Louisa stood on her toes to lean up and kiss him. "It was very enjoyable. I suppose I was just making sure you felt the same."

"Yes," he said again, nodding. "Err, ahh, very, as I was about to say satisfactory, but I didn't think that would convey things properly."

Louisa started to laugh and patted his chest again, "You're rather funny this morning, Martin. I think we both were able to relax and enjoy ourselves last night. It was a long wait for both of us, but yes," she squeezed his side, getting him to look to her again. "I'm very glad we had such a night. Thank you. Thank you for all of it, for agreeing to stay here, for well," she blushed slightly, grinned, and patted her side, "for also taking care of me and all of my needs."

"Yes," he said quickly again with a nod. "The tea is ready."

"Right, yes, I could use a cuppa," she moved to the table. Before sitting down, she walked to the door and pulled her dressing gown off the door. She put it on and smiled at Martin, "Bit of a chill this morning."

"Hmm," he grunted. He sipped at the tea, now as he was seated at the table, and he nodded to her, "the insulation in this building is probably not sufficient. I'm sure there is a draft from the widows that you must have noticed over the winter."

"Yes," she sighed, shaking her head. "I've liked this little flat, as horrid as it might seem to you, Martin. As I did say, though, it will be time to move."

"The two of us can barely fit in here with you in your condition now," Martin stated before he sipped his tea again. Louisa narrowed her gaze, and he noticed it. "What?"

"I know I'm fat, Martin. I'm well aware we have to squeeze around one another," she frowned at him.

He looked to her, cleared his throat, and he told her, "Just pointing out that putting a child in here would have been impossible. I mean, Louisa, my case is there over almost on the sink. There is simply nowhere to put it." He gestured to the sink area where indeed, his luggage was balanced almost over the sink.

"Yes, well, it was a good idea you suggested to drop off the rest of your things at the flat when we left the station last night. It would have been a tight squeeze to get your large bag in here last night. Thank you for just bringing that small bag."

"Yes, well, we have a busy day ahead. Let me get breakfast started for you so you will have some energy. You are eating for two," he informed her. He stood, and Louisa, without him seeing, rolled her eyes.

"Really?" She huffed. "It's felt like I'm eating for all of England these last few days." I'll just go ahead and get dressed," she nodded to him, "while you work out here. As someone pointed out," she nodded to him and waited until he met her gaze, "it's a bit tight in here for two."

Later, as they were finishing their breakfast, Martin looked to his watch, "We have another two hours before the movers arrive and load up your boxes. It shouldn't take more than a couple hours to get everything completely moved. Is the furniture delivery still set for this afternoon?"

Louisa nodded as she sipped her tea, "Yes, it is. They called yesterday to confirm. Oh," she frowned, "I just realized that the bedding I have won't fit that larger bed."

Martin waved at her in gesture, "Why don't you go and pick out whatever you would like while I supervise the movers? It will be difficult for both of us to be here with them."

"Yes, yes," she sighed with an eye roll, "flat is small. I know."

"I was simply making a suggestion that would allow you to do what you need with the bedding. The alternative is for me to pick it out, and I dare say that you would like anything as bland as I might find."

"I'm sorry, Martin," Louisa said, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. "I do appreciate all you have done for me, for us," she said, patting her stomach. "I know I often get a bit short with you. Yes, I suppose that is a logical plan for me to get the bedding. I apologize for not thinking about it before now. This baby has just made me so scatterbrained," she shook her head.

Martin lifted his eyebrows at her and gave her a look. She saw it, and she started to chuckle. "Okay, Martin, maybe it's not just the baby doing that to my brain."

"I suppose being pregnant with twins would diminish your brain even further," he added, his lips holding back a smile. Louisa's eyes widened.

"Martin, that was a joke! Very funny," she started to laugh. She squeezed his hand, "I've missed you."

"Yes," he added, his eyes locked on hers still. "Louisa," he finally said, quietly, squeezing her hand back, "I, well, I despise this."

Louisa, taken aback, sat back, not sure what to say. She started to speak, opened her mouth, but then she closed it. Martin sighed and pulled back to sit upright in the chair.

"Martin-" Louisa started, but he shook his head.

"This, this," he gestured and scowled before he continued, "whatever are we doing, Louisa?"

Louisa gave him an encouraging smile, and she stood, her massive stomach making it hard to do just that. She reached out for Martin's hands and tugged on them, wanting him to stand. There, in the tiny space that was not occupied by boxes, she clasped his hands in hers while he just eyed her wondering what she was doing.

"Martin," she said, looking down to their joined hands, while her stomach almost reached Martin. She glanced up to make eye contact with him, "I am sorry for everything, for the wedding mess, for leaving, for not speaking to you before the wedding because we should have talked more," she stated and shifted her eyes to the floor again. He looked at her and waited for her to finish. He could tell she had more to say. She squeezed his hand and looked up to him with a small shrug, "I do love you. I never did stop. I told you that I loved you even when I, ahh, when we called off the wedding. When I look back, it seems we rushed the process, obviously," she nodded to her stomach, "put some of the events out of order. I think that we've finally started talking more these last few months than we had the last few years we've known each other. I'd like to blame the village for some of that. Each time we tried to talk or to be together, some blasted villager had any number of emergencies. That is the main reason that staying in London is so important to me. I've told you I can't face people, but I also think it is healthier for us. Now, I know you are doing everything to get back to London, to be here, and I do want to make it clear that I would like you to be here, with me, in London."

"Louisa-" Martin started to speak, but she gripped his hands and nodded to him.

"I'm sorry, Martin, but may I finish? I would like to get this all out," she asked, waiting for him to look at her. He did and nodded back at her. She smiled broadly at him and took a deep breath.

"I realize I have not been fair to you, or I suppose that I haven't given equal treatment to your feelings through all of this. I've been doing a lot of thinking. Something you said when I was in the hospital after that fall really has stuck with me. When I was growing up, I never understood a happy marriage, a couple committed to one another. Mom ran, and I don't think I understood it until now, but I believe I do now. Here I am 37 years old, single, and about to be a mum," she said with a slight frown. "I had always thought I would finish at university, get a job, find a husband, get married, and have a family. I didn't think about the work that was involved with that, and I mean work on my part. I just assumed it would happen. When it didn't, well," she shrugged, "I blamed men-anyone, but I didn't see it was me, my inability to settle down and fully commit to something. It's not as if I think any man was the right one, not until now," she said, raising her eyebrows at him.

He narrowed his gaze and remained quiet, their hands still in each other's. "What I'm trying to say is that I am in love with you, Martin, and I think I have been for years, probably since the first time I told you off," she chuckled. She gripped his hands tighter, "I know it hurt you when we called off the wedding, and believe me, it hurt me as well. I was confused and should have spoken to you sooner. I was a mess, having listened to Pauline, Roger, and well," she sighed, "too many of the villagers. I believe I got cold feet and convinced myself you wouldn't make me happy. I think I was wrong." She stopped talking, bit her lip, and she looked to him. Martin, who had been quiet all this time, cleared his throat because he needed to say something and now.

"I was not honest about that, Louisa," he told her. "At the time, I said it, and I believe I thought I did feel the same way. As soon as you walked away, I knew that I was wrong; you do make me happy, if I am capable of being happy. I still think all of this happiness is rubbish, but I am a better man when I am around you. If that is happiness, then, yes," he said with a quick nod.

Louisa's smile widened, and she looked up to him, squeezing his hands again, "Martin, that was a very lovely thing to say, and yes, I would definitely say that you have found happiness if you believe that, that I make you a better man. I do love you, and I feel I need to keep saying that. I know you have had a rough childhood and need to know that you are loved; I do love you. The thing is," she said, taking a deep breath, "you do make me happy. I mean, sure, we have our rows, and I believe we are trying to work through them. My idea of marriage was one that was perfect, and if it wasn't, one just left. When you told me that you were studying relationships, I decided to read about them too, and I am starting to understand that relationships are never perfect. We will never be perfect, but," she paused, looking up at him. Martin was staring at her, almost mesmerized by the lovely things she was saying.

"But?" Martin asked, almost unable to get the words out.

"But," she paused again, "at the end of the day, I want to work on a relationship with you more, much more, than I want to be alone. Sorry," she shook her head and chuckled, "that didn't come out exactly as I'd planned. It sounds like I don't care, but I do, Martin. The thing is," she paused and took a deep breath, "the thing is, Martin, well, maybe you should ask me again."

Martin gave her a perplexed glance and shook his head, "Ask you?"

Louisa, now almost impatient, sighed and looked to the floor. "Martin," she nodded to him and gestured with her head, "you know, ask me. I am much more confident in my answer and the outcome."

Martin narrowed his gaze and shook his head, "Louisa, I have been keeping up with this conversation, but now, I'm not sure I am following what you are suggesting. I don't want to assume-"

"Martin," Louisa cut him off with a nod, "assume-"

"Are you?" Martin asked and took his hand out of hers, raising it in the air, his face turning to a question.

"Yes, Martin" Louisa said, biting her lip. She gave him a hopeful shrug.

"Err, right," Martin said with a nod. His face was now flushed, and he pulled both hands away and stepped away from her. Louisa turned toward him as he stepped away, her mouth dropping open.

"Martin!" Louisa exclaimed. Martin turned to her, put his finger up to wait, and he stepped toward the sink. "Martin, are you going to be sick?" She reached out for him, and he stepped out of her reach.

"No, err, just, just" he said, now almost in a panic. Louisa stood there, trying to figure out the problem whether he was sick or something else. With his back to her, she couldn't see what he was doing. He finally turned back around, a kitchen towel in his hand, and he wiped his face. He was a nervous mess it seemed.

"Louisa," he said, his voice almost wavering, but it had dropped to the octave meant only for her. He held his hands at his side, and Louisa looked down at them when she saw him fidgeting. He looked down and fumbled with his hands too, finally producing a box. Louisa, now, realizing what it was, put her hand to her mouth. He'd been in his bag where it appeared he had a ring.

"Martin?" Louisa looked to him with shock.

"I should have done this right the first time," he said quietly, still fumbling with the box lid as he opened it. "My inability to do this right the first time should have been a warning sign as to the state of us back then," he explained. "I do not regret asking you before because the feelings still ring true. I do love you Louisa, and I cannot bear to be without you. This, this," he gestured "back and forth to London, I cannot stand it, but I am working to get back to surgery, to get back here to London, most importantly, back to you. I do not know how long it will take, but I am sure that wherever you are is where I want to be. I will more than likely be a crap father, but I will have you there to show me the way."

"Martin," she sighed quietly, "you will most certainly not be a crap father. You are a kind, loving man, and you will make a most wonderful father."

"Louisa," Martin fidgeted in his spot, his face even redder, as he opened the box, "I mucked this up before, and I want to do this right now. I have been carrying this with me for weeks. I am aware you got the ring back to Joan, and as I thought about this over the last months, I decided a new start required a new ring. Let's face it-the Ellingham name has not been one of success in marriage. I do want to marry you and bought you a ring that would be our fresh start. I hope what you have been suggesting is that you would consider marriage again, ahh, to me," he clarified.

Louisa smiled brightly and brought her hand to her face as she chuckled at his last comment. She stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, leaning up to kiss him, "Yes, Martin, I have thought about it quite a bit, and yes, I am most certainly ready to marry you. I know we were both hurt last time, and I can promise that I will be there to marry you, whenever we decide."

At that, they kissed, both clutching to each other, almost afraid the other would walk away again. Martin gripped her shoulders, and he looked at her, his lips turned up in an almost smile. They stayed like that for several seconds, and Martin finally cleared his throat.

"Does this mean you might like to have the ring?" Martin finally asked her.

Louisa chuckled into his chest, turned sideways because of the baby, "Yes, Martin," she said, wiping the tear from her eyes, "I would love to have the ring. In fact," she smiled up to him, 'I don't want to take it off."

"This time, I won't muck it up and toss it in your vegetables," he rolled his eyes as he mumbled. Louisa smiled and then laughed, nodding her head.

"Both a bit nervous then, yes? I suspect some of it was that we were really just finally spending time alone together. It had never been just the two of us without interruption."

He grunted as his fingers pulled at the ring and showed it to her. She smiled and reached to squeeze his hand. "It's beautiful, Martin, and I do hope you know I did like the other ring too, but yes, I think that a new ring for a new start is a lovely idea."

Martin held it up to her, his eyes warm as he looked at her, "It's a 1.5 carat ring, brilliants cut, round, and I hope it is satisfactory." Louisa shook her head head, and Martin frowned, thinking she didn't agree.

"No, no, Martin," she reached for his hand. "Don't misunderstand. I was in awe. It's perfect, beautiful, and it's much more than I deserve or need. You outdid yourself, you wonderful man." Martin paused, staring at her eyes to make sure he believed her. Satisfied with her answer, he nodded to her hand, and she gave it to him.

"Much better than throwing it at you," he grumbled. He tried to put the ring on her finger, but her fingers were swollen, and while it fit, it was tight. "Ahh," he pointed to the finger, "best to watch that finger. As your pregnancy progresses, you will continue to retain water weight, which will cause you to swell. Your hands will get to the point they are too swollen for that ring or anything else. You will need to watch for that and remove the ring before it has to be cut off."

Louisa both her lip, and she nodded, a small chuckle coming out, "Thank you, Martin, for all of it-the beautiful proposal you will never admit you just said, the ring, and for the ahh, medical advice."

"Just so I am aware, Louisa," he said while they were still in an embrace, "if you take off your ring-"

Louisa chuckled again into his chest and looked up to answer, "Yes, Martin, it only means my hands are swollen, not that I will ever now change my mind."