Martin opened his eyes and looked out the window, realizing the train was slowing to a stop. He glanced across him to Joan and found her watching him. He frowned slightly as he shifted to stretch and wake up.

"You were tired, still look tired," Joan told him, a small smile on her face. "Of course, I shouldn't be surprised. You've been busy this week-quite the eventful week."

"Err, yes," he said with a nod as he shifted in his seat. He was about to ask where they were exactly, but Joan must have read his mind.

"We are still about an hour and a half out from our stop. Oh, Marty," she smiled again, "I'm happy for you, and I am glad I came to London this trip. I would have been sad to have missed it."

Martin just grunted, and when he eyed Joan, he saw she was waiting for more. He nodded to her and replied, "Yes, I, ahh, am glad you were there. You have always been important to both Louisa and me. It was only right you be at our wedding too. Err, I'm glad you were there."

Joan smiled brightly at Martin's admission, and she leaned her head back where smiled as she sighed. "You really did surprise Ruth and me, Marty, getting married yesterday like you did, but I suppose it wasn't really a surprise since it was something you had planned to do months ago. It did help that you two had already filled out your marriage paperwork months ago."

Martin looked down to his hand, and without looking at Joan, he pulled his ring off his left hand and moved it back to his right hand. As he secured it, he raised his eyes slowly to Joan and found her staring back at him.

"Grandfather's ring," he said, clearing his voice. "You know it's always been special to me."

"Yes," Joan smiled. "I've always said you are very sentimental and a big softy under that tough exterior, Marty. I guess I didn't realize you'd decided to use his ring."

"Yes," Martin nodded. "I wear it anyway, have for years as you know, and right now, Louisa and I are not letting this get out, that we got married," he explained to her. "You know the village is unaware I have even been in contact with Louisa. This is our private life. The bloody villagers have already meddled in it too much. Louisa is very much set on keeping this to ourselves. I had to come back to Portwenn now, as you know. I have a duty of care to my patients and have already been away over a week. Yes, there was a locum here for the week, but Chris phoned me and told me the man was not interested in coming back anytime soon. If I'm away much longer, the villagers are going to talk. A conference is one thing, but you and I both know people like Pauline have been sniffing around at my absences. I need to go ahead and finally tackle this phobia so I can leave Portwenn and rejoin Louisa in London."

Joan frowned, "Marty, the village would be very happy to hear that you and Louisa have reconciled. I don't think you are giving them enough credit. I'm part of that village you seem to hate, as is your, well, wife," she smiled.

He grunted and rolled his eyes, "Louisa has made it clear she does not want to return to Portwenn. With everything and now her pregnancy, she feels that she will not be looked upon favorably."

"I think she's wrong, that you are both wrong," Joan said firmly with a nod. "However, I will respect your wishes. I'm just so very happy for you, Marty, you both, and I'm glad to see things working out. I know you have put in a lot of hard work to reconcile with Louisa, and now, your son will be here soon. I cannot wait. I am worried, though, about the baby's arrival. You will be here and Louisa there. When do you think you will be ready to move?"

Martin frowned and looked to the ground, now eyeing his ring he'd put back on his right hand. He'd switch it back and forth as he traveled. Thankfully, the ring fit both hands. It was a loose on his left, but he didn't mind; he had worn his grandfather's ring on his right hand since his death. It had been something Joan had given him to remember his grandfather, as the two shared a special bond. When the topic of marriage had first arisen back in Portwenn, he'd told Louisa that he would prefer to wear that ring, his grandfather's ring, and at the time, it seemed fitting she would wear his grandmother's ring. This past week, as Louisa had brought up marriage, the two had discussed it once again.

"Err, I have one request," he had told her one evening, Tuesday evening, as they were seated on the new sofa. Martin had lecture information in front of him on his computer, lectures he was going back over from the conference, and Louisa had been watching the telly, a show she enjoyed. Martin, who didn't watch much television, had found it easy to focus on his lecture with her watching a show he didn't care to watch. The show had just ended, and Louisa had shifted, complaining her feet hurt. Martin had moved his computer and started to rub them in an effort to help her swollen ankles. Louisa had asked him about getting married again.

"Oh?" Louisa asked. "What is your request? Do you have a date you want to marry?"

"No," he frowned. "I really do not have a preference about most of it Louisa. I do hate to keep bringing up the ahh, last time, but as you remember, I just am not one who is into the details of planning a wedding. I would only like to wear my grandfather's ring again. I know you have that new one, and if you feel it is best, I suppose I can get a new wedding band, but-"

"No, Martin, that's perfectly fine," Louisa reached her hand to clasp his hand on her foot. She met his gaze, "I think it is very lovely that you want to wear the same band as your grandfather, and you know I would have been happy with your grandmother's ring-"

"We've discussed that. I wanted you to have something new, a fresh start, and that is why I'm letting you know if you want me to do the same, I will," he nodded.

"Martin," Louisa squeezed his hand and smiled, "I just want to marry you, finally. I'm done with all of this rubbish, and if that ring is important to you, it's important to me."

"Yes," he simply nodded and turned back to rubbing her feet. "As far as your feet, wearing proper adequate shoes-"

"Martin," Louisa reached over and squeezed his hand again as her other hand draped over her stomach. When he looked at her, she gave him a glare, "Let's not discuss my feet, hmm? I'm doing my best. Your SON," she enunciated and smiled at him, "is making me fat and swollen. I'd much rather discuss our wedding."

"Yes," he nodded again and looked to her feet. "I say it will be important for you to find proper shoes for that with err, your dress."

Louisa chuckled and looked to the ceiling, "Oh, my poor man. You cannot turn off that brilliant brain, can you, hmm?"

He gave her a puzzled look and shook his head, "Louisa, one's brain is always working. That is what keeps us going."

"Back to the wedding," she sighed. "I am glad we can discuss this because I spoke to my friend, Meg. She's a teacher at my school here, and her husband is a vicar. I've been able to discuss things," she said slowly, eyeing Martin, "all along. She's aware of the path you and I have traveled, and well, I believe her husband will marry us. Oh," she grinned, "he's a vicar here in London."

Martin titled his head at her and pursed his lips to speak. He was quite a moment, and it looked like he might have an issue with that. When he did speak, he quickly said, "As long as he has nothing to do with Danny's church or Danny or anything of that sort, I am fine with whomever you choose."

"Really, Martin?" Louisa said, eyeing him. "You are really okay with all of this. I mean, we just got engaged, well," she tilted her head, "again a few days ago."

"Louisa, I purchased a new ring for you weeks ago, and I've asked you to marry me again. I've made countless trips to London to see you, and you are carrying our child. Yes, I am fine to marry, and I don't care who does it, except for Danny."

Louisa chuckled, "Yes, Martin, and as far as Danny, I haven't seen or spoken to him in months. He doesn't know about the baby. I mean," she gestured to her stomach, "he's from the village too. Last I saw him, I told him I felt we needed to have some space. That was shortly after you found me here in London. He was starting to get too comfortable with me, and I was a bit worried he wanted more, a relationship, and I'd already turned him down once."

Martin frowned and eyed her, "You've turned me down too."

Louisa bit her lip and grimaced, "Yes, I suppose I did, but," she said and smiled at him, "I've also realized what I want, who I want," she corrected. "If there is any question, it's you," she smiled.

Martin looked back at her and gave her a small smile, but quickly, he looked back to her feet. Louisa prodded with more wedding questions.

"Martin, since I'm on school holiday right now, and you are here, would you possibly be interested in marrying me now, this week, before you go back to Portwenn?"

Martin paused, resting his hand on her foot and looked to her. He tilted his head, "This week? I have my conference, and you don't have any plans set for the wedding. You said there was a lot to planning a wedding. What about a dress?"

"Martin," she reached over and squeezed his hand again. She chuckled, "I'm the one suggesting it. I can pull things together. I think after the mess we had in Portwenn, small, very small, is best. Your aunts are already here-"

"My parents will never been included in our lives or invited to our wedding," he stated firmly, eyeing her. She nodded in agreement.

"Yes," she sighed. "I understand, and I agree. They are horrible people, sorry to say, Martin."

He nodded in agreement, and the two were quiet. Finally, he glanced to her and spoke softly, "Louisa, watching you walk away in Portwenn was the biggest mistake I've ever made. If you are ready to get married this week, then, yes, that would be ahh, good," he said with a single nod. "I just ask it not be during my conference."

She smiled brightly and shifted to sit up. It wasn't easy with her stomach in the way, but she did and threw her arms around Martin, kissing his cheek. "I will check about Saturday. Actually, I'll let Meg know Saturday should work. I may have already inquired about it with her."

Martin looked to her with a little bit of surprise, and he just nodded.

"Of course, with Joan and Ruth here, they can help this week. I'll find a dress, and honestly," she smiled to him, looping her arm through his, "we don't need much else. Maybe we can have the wedding and then just enjoy a nice meal with your aunts, hmm?"

"Yes," he nodded, "ahh, just nowhere we might see my wretched parents again." Martin made a face, and Louisa laughed. When he glanced at her, she leaned up and kissed him. "Then, it's settled. We shall get married on Saturday before you have to return to Portwenn, and soon," she kissed him again, "hopefully you shall join me here for good in London."

"Marty?" Martin snapped his head up and saw his aunt was looking at him. She titled her head, wondering if he was okay. "Seems I lost you there," she chuckled. "No doubt thinking about your bride, but I was asking when you thought you would be able to take a new job in London?"

He frowned but answered, "It's difficult to say."

"I would expect you would want to get back to Louisa as soon as possible, yes? She's your wife, carrying your child-your soon to be born child-and you have that lovely new flat," Joan pointed out.

Martin blushed and nodded as he did, "Yes, perhaps, though, things aren't that simple. I still have to deal with my phobia."

"How is that coming? We haven't spoken much about your conference, not with your lovely wedding yesterday," she smiled. "Oh, Louisa did look beautiful in that dress she and I found. It was lovely, that empire waist fitting her perfectly with everything and all. I'm happy for you, and I do admit I've always rooted for you but knew the two of you were worlds apart. I'm very proud of the work you have both put into your relationship. Now, your conference? How is your phobia?"

Martin fidgeted in his seat, but he felt his aunt staring at him. When he glanced at her, she was waiting for him to speak. He let out a long sigh and gave a slight eye roll.

"I'm not sure it's any better," he admitted, but when he glanced at Joan, he modified. "Actually, I think it's worse. My stomach has been in knots all week, and that had nothing to do with marrying Louisa."

"Oh dear," she frowned. "I was afraid of that. Did you get sick?"

"Each day, multiple times," he admitted sheepishly. "The conference did nothing, except to confirm my phobia is still a problem."

"Martin, if it's not something you can fix, just take a job in London! You are an excellent GP. You've told me your reasons, but do you realize you are choosing to stay apart from Louisa? Even better, have Louisa move back home where you do have a job. The school will welcome her back, that is if she wants to work after the baby. I'm here and would love to help with the baby. Of course, either option, but just pick something where you are together! This apart business isn't easy."

"I'm not choosing it, Auntie Joan!" Martin exclaimed. "I'm trying to fix a problem I have. I simply will not return to London as a GP. That is not negotiable."

"So, you are okay just having your wife life there and you here, hmm? None of this makes sense, Martin! You are both just too stubborn. Do not let this start to put a crack in your new marriage. A marriage is not meant to live apart for long. She's going to have that baby soon, and then what? You're going to leave her to raise him alone? I know I haven't been a mother, but I know those nights are long, and having a baby around is exhausting. She's going to need you there."

He nodded vigorously, "I know, Auntie Joan. I'm trying. I'm stressing myself out more trying to fix it now. I just, just, just need more time," he finally stated, his face red as he looked to her. "Things are good with Louisa, and I can now focus on my blood phobia. Hopefully, it's sorted soon."

"If it's not?" Joan asked, raising her eyebrow.

He fidgeted and looked to his hands. He didn't look to her, "It will be. I will sort it and join Louisa when it is."

"And, just what are you going to do about the birth of the child? You're not exactly close to London to be rushing off. You think the village won't notice that house call is taking a bit longer than normal, hmm?" She gave him a smug smile, and he just rolled his eyes as he glanced to her.

"There is still time," he said quietly after he swallowed. He looked to Joan, "Much can happen in a few months. Louisa is now 29 weeks. The baby isn't due until almost mid-July. First babies are often late, so it could even be later in July."

"Oh," Joan smirked, "just what Louisa would love, extremely pregnant in the summer London heat. Let's hope for her sake your son isn't that stubborn and is born on time, hmm?"

"Yes," he said with a nod and looked down. "I still have time, and I will look at my schedule as the time is closer. I will speak to Chris and come up with a way to get to London for a few days. Pauline will suspect something if I suggest another conference, and she will dig like a bloodhound. She's the last person I need digging in things, but I will sort it."

Joan raised her eyebrows, "I certainly hope you will not leave Louisa there alone to have her child, your child and pop up weeks later when it is convenient, hmm?"

"NO!" Martin exclaimed, turning red. "I told you I'll sort it, and I will," he said with a firm nod. "I've been sorting things, yes? She is now my wife, and at least that covers things medically speaking," he said with an eye roll. "Now, at least, I have the legal reason to find out about her medically, so if something does happen, I will be able to speak to the doctor. We will discuss this as it gets closer, and yes, I promise you that I will figure out a way to get to London in July if I haven't already moved."

Joan shook her head and sighed, "Oh, my dear nephew. You are assuming a lot over just a few weeks. I do hope you can sort things and be there for Louisa. You two are intent on making things difficult. You realize that if you'd just tell the village and either settle on living here or there, this could all be fixed quickly, yes?"

Martin raised an eyebrow, "Auntie Joan, I have heard your concerns, but understand that I'm a grown man. I will live my life-we," he corrected, "will live our lives as we see fit. Right now, I'm doing as Louisa asked. She wants the village out of it and wants to remain in London. I want privacy as well and want to join her in London as a surgeon. Until that is the case, I suggest you just enjoy having me around a little longer. Can you do that?"

Joan rolled her eyes and frowned. She finally nodded, "Of course, Marty. I do love you; I love you both. I just hope you know what you are doing."