Road to Tears
Chapter 9
It didn't matter that they had had a long day yesterday and a very late night before they actually fell asleep he was awake at his usual time. Turning his head, he could see his new wife was still sound asleep laying on her front, her hair spayed out on the pillow behind her and her arm draped over his chest. He rolled onto his side, kissing her forehead "Come on sleepy head, time to get up" he didn't think she had moved at all night as he grinned watching her slowly stretch out
"What time is it?" she asked sleepily.
"6.30" he answered kissing her nose, grinning and waiting for the fall out.
She opened her eyes looking at him, his head on the pillow next to her "You're as mad as a box of frogs you are, go back to sleep" and turned over pulling the covers over herself.
"Come on Molls, get up we only have a couple of days for our honeymoon and we've got to get there first."
"It's too early no one else will be up" pulling the cover over her head "we have to say goodbye to everyone first."
He laughed pulling the covers down and kissing her back stroking her hair away from her face "No one is expecting to see us today or for the next few days" kissing her on the cheek "move your perfect little arse and get up"
"I hope you ain't gonna get all bossy now we're married" making him snigger "You didn't do what I said when I was your Captain, spent most of your time scaring the shit out of me, I'm sure now I am your husband nothing much will change" kissing her very briefly on the lips "Come on chop chop" as he rolled away from her and swung his legs over the bed and got up, walking to the bathroom.
"You sure you don't wanna stay here for a bit?" she grinned at him.
"Stop tempting me, No" he laughed "I have somewhere I want to take you and the sooner we get there the sooner we can carry on from where we left off" he grinned and waggled his eyebrows before continuing his journey to the bathroom.
She knew they only had a few days before he left for Kenya and she knew that he had booked them a couple of days in Dorset, kept telling her it would be magical. She sighed and threw off the covers grinning, well there was no reason why she shouldn't join him in the shower was there?
They packed up all their belongings, had a quick breakfast in the hotel before they checked out and left for Dorset. He was right they didn't see any of the guests before they set off, which was hardly surprising Molly thought, who in their right mind gets up this early after a wedding, well apart from Charles that is.
-OG-
Halfway down the motorway Molly started getting texts
'Had a smashing time, enjoy your few days. Ask Charlie to bring his mate with him next time he comes to London – Nan' "Looks like you have moved off the top slot for Nans favour, she wants you to bring Elvis with you next time" laughing "I'll warn him" he laughed.
'Have a lovely time and see you when you get back to fill me in' – Jen
'See you when you get back and don't do anything I wouldn't' – Jacs
"Jacs says don't do anything she wouldn't so that gives us a lot of lea way" she laughed.
They finally arrived at the destination Charles had been keeping secret, the Haven Hotel in Sandbanks. Her mouth dropped open it looked lovely from the outside, could be shit inside though she thought, though somehow she didn't think that Charles would have picked somewhere shitty.
He carried their luggage in and checked them in as Mr and Mrs James and her heart beat faster felt like it was going to burst at her new name, she couldn't contain her beaming smile at the receptionist, who grinned back at her.
As soon as he opened the door she was in awe. They had their own small balcony that looked out across the pool and sea front. As she turned to look round the room her mouth opening, her grin returned as she looked at him
"That has to be the biggest bed I have ever seen" as she ran across the room and threw herself spread eagled in the middle "I could get lost in 'ere" she laughed.
"Don't think so" as he moved across to her and lay next to her. His hand against his head as he leaned on his elbow looking down at her smiling up at him, her eyes shining with excitement. He pushed her hair away and ran his thumb across her cheek "We so got to get one this big."
"Why" he snorted a laugh "We will only be using the middle."
"Give it a few months Charles, when we have a row, there will be plenty of room."
He started twiddling her hair before looking back into her eyes "We won't have rows."
"If you say so" she giggled bringing her hand up to his face and pulling him down to her. She thought she would always remember this day, she didn't think she could ever be this happy. She didn't think she would ever have been able to love someone quite like she loved him, he made her feel special.
"You without a doubt are the love of my life Molly James" he grinned lowering his head to kiss her, mesmerised by her eyes and her smile "Say it Molly" he whispered close to her mouth
She wrapped her arms around his neck her fingers in his hair as she beamed up at him "I'll always love you Charles James"
-OG-
It was a glorious couple of days even the weather stayed good for them, that balmy late summer sun and a warm breeze from the sea. They sat on the beach, he got her to come in with him, still trying to get her confidence up in water, promising when he got back from tour he would teach her properly. They walked along the promenade, looked at some of the houses, that even in their wildest dreams would never be able to afford.
"I think Harry lives here" she suddenly blurted out. Charles still holding her hand as they were walking past grinned down at her
"Harry, Harry who?" he snorted a laugh "the Harry and Megan one, don't think he does sweetheart, although they are probably the only ones who can afford it" then looking around "Where are the protection team?"
"You muppet" she laughed "I don't mean the ginger ninja, I mean the proper Harry played for West Ham, so me Dad says and went on to manage them."
"Right, we're talking football are we" he laughed.
"Well yeah, what other sport is there?" she giggled knowing he preferred Rugby "Not that I remember him playing for West Ham, I hadn't been born, me Dad told me though"
"I'll have to introduce you to Rugby one day."
"Stupid game, they cheat, they pick the ball up."
He threw his head back laughing "Now I know you are trying to wind me up, with a remark like that, even you know the rudimental of how to play Rugby."
"So, what shall we do now then Charles?" putting her hand back in his "Where do you fancy going?"
He couldn't stop the smirk as it spread across his face, his eyebrows rising and his eyes shining with just how happy he felt "Well we could go back to our room, maybe have a cup of tea and look at the view from our balcony?"
She burst out laughing and wrapped her arms around his waist "Really have a cuppa on the balcony?"
Kissing the top of her head "Well yes" he laughed "but maybe not straight away."
-OG-
All too soon their time there was over and both of them wished he didn't have to leave so soon. Charles for his own part when the tour was moved forward, thought it a good idea because he would be home with Molly and Sam for Christmas, what he hadn't accounted for was just how hard it was to leave her, he never felt like this leaving Rebecca to go on tour, or how much he would miss her. The thought of leaving her behind physically hurt. The wedding those few days away together had made his priorities change again. A part of him wanting to prove he was back to full fitness and could do this tour but the most part wishing he had resigned his commission and wasn't leaving her so soon.
She clung to him that night knowing tomorrow he would be gone. Charles in turn felt a few tears on his shoulder as she tried to cover up her feelings about him going, she didn't want it to be any more difficult for him, he realised that. Always tried to pretend she was hard as nails.
Molly couldn't drive so they agreed that she wouldn't come to Brize as she would struggle to get back to Aldershot again. They would say their goodbyes here in their home.
She had him pinned against the front door, trying her level best to delay his departure to the very last. "Say hello to the lads for me won't you?" and he nodded "You will keep your head down won't you?"
He snorted a laugh "It's a humanitarian mission Molly, that's all" kissing her on her forehead "I won't have a medic intent on scaring the shit out of me this time, it will be a doddle" he grinned down at her.
"Say hello to Georgie for me and tell her to go easy on the lads."
He smiled, his eyes showing just how sad he was at leaving her "Gonna miss you Mrs James" kissing her again "See you before Christmas" with that he turned opened the door and walked to his car. Molly bit down on her lip, opened her eyes as wide as they would go absolutely determined she wasn't going to cry. She was going to wave him off with a smile.
-OG-
Charles had been gone two weeks when she was called in to see her CO.
"Dawes" he said motioning her into his office "How are the studies coming along?"
"All good Sir, on track for my exams next May" she replied smiling.
"Good, excellent news" he responded sitting in his chair while she remained at attention "Will you be able to continue with those studies if we sent you to Kabul?"
"Yes Sir, it's all remote, mostly reading stuff" she said with some trepidation.
"The medic in Kabul is being sent home with an appendicitis and we need a replacement out there tomorrow" he started "Can you collect what you need, pack and be in Brize at 06.00 tomorrow morning?"
Well Charles wasn't here and it was sporadic they could keep in touch with his internet connection, she'd let him know of course but it was better than sitting about on her own.
"Yes Sir."
"Good, its only 6 weeks before the end of the tour so not a long trip and you should be able to catch up on anything you missed in your studies." He smiled "You'll be home before Christmas"
After she was dismissed she went on the search round Keogh for Jackie. She knew Dangles was away with 2 section in Kenya but she was hoping that she might be able to drop her at Brize tomorrow and save her having to figure out how to get there.
-OG-
She tried to phone Charles that evening when she got back to tell him she was off on tour back to Afghan and for a change she heard the ring tone and got through.
"Hello. Sweetheart am I glad to hear from you" he laughed.
"Why what's happened?"
"Nothing, just miss your voice that's all."
"you don't half say some nice things sometimes."
He snorted a laugh "I hope I say nice things to you all the time Molly" sighing "So to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I'm leaving for Kabul tomorrow."
"Shit"
"It's alright Charles, they need a replacement medic and its only six weeks so will still be home before you."
"Promise me" he gulped "You will keep your head down and not go wandering off this time?"
Molly couldn't help but giggle "Course not I leant me lesson last time when you and your fuckwit mate bollocked me."
"Good, just do the job you are good at and get your beautiful little arse back home by the time I get back."
"Love it when you get all bossy" she cackled "Say hello to the lads and Georgie for me won't you?"
"I… shit, he had obviously lost his signal and the line had gone dead.
-OG-
Molly had been back in Afghan a month now. Different barracks and stationed in Kabul rather than Bastion, not that much was left of the place, they were already packing it up when she had done her last tour.
"Private Dawes" she heard her name being called as she was walking across to the mess. She turned looking for the voice and spotted a face she hadn't seen in a long time. Captain Azizi. He walked across to her smiling "It's been a long time, how are you?" he asked
"All good Sir" she replied.
"How is Captain James did he recover?" and she couldn't help but break out into a wide smile "He's well, he's in Kenya at the moment."
"Good"
"Are you based here now Captain?" and Azizi nodded "Have been for a while now."
"Do you ever here from our old translator Qassem?" started Molly "I think he was going to go back to being a university lecturer again, here in Kabul."
"He did" and the Captain lowered his head "but he upset the Taliban, he included women in his lectures. He was shot and killed 3 months ago."
Molly staggered back a few steps at the news, he was such a gentle man, so kind had been such a help when on her first tour, teaching her Pashto, listening to her worries about her place out here.
"The Taliban killed him?" and Captain Azizi shrugged "No one knows but probably. He rests now with his wife and child."
Molly blinked rapidly "Do you know where?" Azizi didn't know exactly where but he did know the ground where he was most likely to be, where he remembered Qassem telling him his wife and child were buried.
"Do you know what happened to Bashira?" she asked and again Azizi shook his head
"I am sorry I have brought you such sadness" said Azizi "If you see Captain James again, tell him I am glad he is well" all Molly could do was nod as Captain Azizi walked away.
-OG-
"Is that Molly?" said Spanner looking across to a small dark haired woman sitting on an oil drum crying. Elvis turned his head to look in the direction of Spanner.
"Looks like it" as he started to walk towards the woman, she hadn't heard or seen him approaching "Hello half pint" he grinned as Spanner, Jackson and Dyno followed behind. As soon as she raised her head Elvis could see that she was crying, her eyes swollen and red raw.
"Elvis" she stuttered and jumped off the barrel throwing her arms round his waist her sobs even worse now. His arms were outstretched not sure if he should hold her or not, he was never good at this sort of thing but this was his best mate's wife so he patted her on the back. He looked across to Spanner with a shrug of his shoulders and Spanner rolled his eyes, shaking his head before putting his hand on her shoulder and asking the obvious question "What's the matter Moll?"
"Spanner" she sobbed letting go of Elvis and turning to face him "Qassem is dead" Elvis lifted her back onto the barrel again and sat on the barrel next to her. "Is that the bloke that took you to see that girl?" and Molly nodded and started the tale that Captain Azizi had just told her.
"Elvis will you take me to see him? I wanna put some flowers on his grave" she sobbed.
"We're due out of here in less than 2 hours" he started looking at his watch before rubbing the back of his neck with his hand "Where the fuck are we gonna get flowers in Kabul" he huffed "Not to mention he was shot by the Taliban, and you wanna go and visit him, with us" shaking his head, had she learnt nothing.
"We can dress up" she pleaded with him her eyes glistening with tears "No one need know."
"You can get flowers Boss" started Jackson "Lots of them in this area" and Molly gave him the stink eye "If you think we are putting bleedin Opium Poppies on his grave you can fuck off right now." She retorted vehemently.
"What about a tree Molly" said Spanner gently "I saw that one of the ANA soldiers has been planting olive trees on the perimeter."
"A tree" beamed Molly "That's perfect, can we go and we dig one up?"
"Dawesy" huffed Elvis wiping his hand across his eyes, it had been a long mission and he was tired, and now wondering how the hell he was going to get out of this "Are you suggesting that we, the British Army's finest steal a tree?"
"Noooo" her tears a mixture of laughter and sadness as she nudged his shoulder "We can ask him if I can have one or buy it off him" she laughed again "I've got some American dollars if he wants them."
"and how have you acquired those?"
"I taught them how to play Spoof, they're not very good" her eyes wide and trying to look innocent and Elvis couldn't help but laugh "So will you help me?" she pleaded to Elvis.
Elvis sighed "Dyno go and see the Major, tell him that there has been a complication and we have to stay another day" turning to Spanner "Go and see the ANA bloke see if he will either give or sell us a SMALL tree and see if he will lend us his fucking spade as well, Jackson go with him, Dawes give him your Dollars."
"Thanks Elvis" she said as the men moved away to carry out their orders.
"You know we will both be in the doghouse for this don't you?" he chuckled.
"Elvis" she sighed and wiped some new tears from her eyes "Do you think Bashira is still safe?" and he shrugged "Do you think we can find out?" she asked.
"Don't push it half pint" he sighed "He's already gonna be pretty pissed at me for doing this" sighing again as he looked at her crestfallen face "I'll see what I can find out for you" and watched as her face lit up. "I can see why he has turned into such a sap since he met you."
"He loves me" she grinned.
"Yeah and that's not gonna stop him tearing me a new one when he finds out about this" laughed Elvis shaking his head.
-OG-
Very early the following morning, they were all dressed as locals and got in a truck to the local graveyard, heavily armed just in case, there was no way Elvis was having to explain to Charles if anything went wrong. They eventually found Qassem's grave and Jackson started digging the hole to plant the tree.
"Are you OK Moll?" asked Spanner putting his arm across her shoulder and she nodded tears streaming down her face "Yeah he was a really good bloke, helped me loads on my first tour" wiping her hand across her eyes "told me his daughter would have been my age if the Taliban hadn't blown up his flat killing her and her mum" looking at the much older graves next to his. "Said I reminded him of her, don't know why though"
Without incident they got back to the barracks in Kabul. A sergeant came running up to them and told Elvis he was needed in the ops room.
"Thanks for this Molly" he sighed when he came back from his meeting "We've been deployed again, off to Kenya, if we hadn't helped you we could have been home by now."
"Where you going?" she grinned "Will you see Charles?"
He raised his eyebrows "Huge country half pint, unlikely but if I do I'll send your love."
"Thanks Elvis, and tell him I miss him," she grinned "you will stay safe won't you?"
-OG-
It was a long flight and with the operation they had been on and very little rest they were all tired as they landed in Kenya. The dust swirling round them Elvis couldn't clearly see who was meeting them.
"Shit" thought Charles it's only bloody Elvis as the group of men walked towards him.
"What are you doing here Elvis" he huffed "You can't be here you were meant to be in Syria."
"We were, then the target ended up in Afghan" he grinned "We got delayed out there so were sent here" he sighed, Charlie could be a right pain at times "So what's the operation?"
Charles introduced Elvis and his team to the Kenyan Captain before shoving the file into Elvis' hands "You really can't be on this op mate" he sighed "I'll have to get in touch with London, get them to send another team."
To say that Elvis was worried about Charles reaction to his appearance in Kenya was an understatement as he opened the file to see a photo of Georgie leaping out at him.
"The primary is Georgie?" he said quietly lifting his eyes up to meet Charles who nodded "You can't do this mate, you're too close, and too involved."
"Yeah and it will take days to get another team out here, I can do this, my team can do this" drawing in a deep breath "The delay could compromise the primary and be too late."
Charles looked at him, could see how shocked he was at Georgie having been taken hostage. Sighing Elvis was probably right, speed was of the essence and it would delay things if he sent word to London to send another team. Raising an eyebrow at him "I expect you to be professional about this Elvis."
"Always, I'm not about to let anything happen to her."
Charles nodded "OK, let me show you your quarters and the shower block."
"Not exactly luxury is it" said Elvis as he stepped behind the canvas to start his shower, he was hot and tired from the journey to Kenya from Afghan not to mention stressed at finding out who the primary was. "To think that Molly moaned about the bathroom in the Yurt" he laughed.
"She's in Afghan by the way, thanks for asking Elvis" grinned Charles.
"I know, I saw her" replied Elvis pulling the draw string that released the water to get some of the soap off him "She's the reason we were still out there and got sent here."
"What? is she alright?" struggling to comprehend how Elvis could have been delayed because of Molly, running his hand through his hair "What happened?"
"Don't get your knickers in a twist" laughed Elvis "she was given some bad news and was a bit upset, your old interpreter I think, he was killed."
"Yes she would've been, he once said to me that Molly reminded him of how he hoped his daughter would be if she hadn't been killed in a bomb blast" he sighed and snorted a laugh "Had the patience of a saint, taught her Pashto, answered all her questions, guided her, tried to make her understand the culture of Afghan. She taught him a few cockney rhyming slangs in return." Laughing at the memory.
"Well, that must be why then" pulling the cord releasing more water "She wanted to visit the grave, plant a tree and pay her respects."
"Please tell me you aren't going to tell me what I think you are?"
"She asked if I would help, so we sourced a tree" and he couldn't help but grin "and we took her."
"You took her into Kabul" shaking his head and glaring, Elvis nodded "Well at least she asked this time Charlie" he laughed as he pulled the cord again for more water, this time nothing happened and he was still covered in soap.
"Un fucking believable" said Charles sternly "and you think you can handle this mission" picking up a bucket of cold water and throwing it over his friend before stomping off leaving Elvis breathless and laughing.
-OG-
Spanner couldn't help but worry about this mission, Elvis was a man possessed, trying to track Georgie down, going against what they had decided as a plan, going into a suspect compound and planting trackers. It was heart stopping when the truck moved off, he could have been totalled.
Finally, they got to the right place, it was Georgie who guided them there, sending a signal. He knew how much his Boss cared about her but that was a hell of a risk going into the compound like that with no back up. But he retrieved her winching her up to their helicopter as 2 section mopped up on the ground.
It didn't take a brain surgeon to know that Georgie was traumatised, she was covered in blood but it didn't appear to be hers. Mind you he and Jackson couldn't help but laugh when she walloped Elvis.
They were going to be flown directly to Mombasa and the hospital there, the rest of 2 section would follow as their tour would now finish early as a result of this. Charles was striding through the hospital corridor to Georgie's room.
"Lance Corporal Lane how are you?" he smiled looking at all the cuts and bruises on her face.
"OK Boss" but her eyes filled with tears "They shot Kiki, she bled out there was nothing I could do."
"When we get home, you must see the psychologist, properly unload this, what you went through" he said sympathetically "Hope you don't mind, thought you would need it" he smiled taking her phone from his pocket "I collected this from your quarters, you can let your family and Jamie know you are OK."
"Thanks Boss" giving him a small smile "One favour though get rid of him" nodding her head towards the corridor where Elvis was standing.
"OK Lane, I can do that but it might be worth talking with him at some point" getting up to leave.
He joined Elvis in the corridor "She's dehydrated mate, needs rest for a couple of days" patting him on the shoulder "leave it for now" Elvis looked across at the woman he had never got over, bitterly regretted losing but nodding in agreement and turning away to leave with Charles.
-OG-
It wasn't the end of the tour like they first thought, Georgie told them that a British convert had been part of the group who had kidnapped her and Kiki. He wasn't identified in the casualties from the compound. They were sent more Intel from the MOD in London and 2 section along with Special Forces were sent to another location, where they believed they were holed up. They were able to retrieve documents, USB sticks a whole raft of information that would be sent back to London for analysis, unfortunately the convert Abu was not among the insurgent captures.
They all trailed back to Mombasa. There was a delay in shipping them out but Captain James gave them all passes so they could have a beer, their tour finished and just waiting to get home. Molly should have been flying home yesterday so by the time he got there she would be waiting for him and he couldn't wait to get back. This had been a hell of a tour, Mansfield shot in the shoulder and already back in the UK. Georgie at least recovered physically but emotionally he wasn't convinced she had after what had happened and the re-appearance of Elvis in her life.
Mombasa had a good signal and Molly was home, he would go to his room before the activities started this evening, a barbeque and drinks in the grounds of the hotel. He would phone, make sure she was OK. She picked up on the second ring of facetime.
"You alright Charles?" she asked
"Of course, I am" he snorted a laugh shaking his head that she asked after him when it was her that was upset "I'm so sorry Molly, about Qassem."
"Yeah me too, he was a good bloke" and he heard her sniff down the line and saw her eyes fill with tears "I wanna know what happened to Bashira". She drew in a sharp breath "But how is Georgie, is she OK? How did she react when the fuckwit turned up?" he couldn't help but chuckle at the questions she fired off not giving him a chance to answer any of them.
"Charles" she sighed "What's it like out there, do you like it?"
He walked to the window of his room and went out on the balcony "Let me show you" and panned his phone round so she could see the beach, the sunset, the grounds to the hotel."
"It's beautiful Charlie" she gushed "better than Kabul" she giggled "We'll have to go there on holiday" then sadly "can't believe what happened to Georgie, she must be devastated her mate was killed, tell her to phone me if she needs me."
"I will" he sighed himself "There is always a price for paradise."
"Bit deep, are you sure you are alright Charles?" and he could see her frown of concern so he nodded "Yes, I'm fine, just want to get home to you."
"Put your thermals on won't you mate, its bleedin taters here" and he threw his head back in laughter "I hope those bloody PJ's of yours aren't making a re-appearance."
"Only when you are away" she giggled "Or you make me sleep in a bloody tent."
"It was a Yurt Molly."
"Whatever"
"I'd better go, the lads are waiting to start their R&R" he grinned.
"OK, I'm gonna go and see Mansfield tomorrow check he is alright but I'll be home by the time you get back" grinning and blowing him a kiss "See you tomorrow handsome."
"Tell him I will pay him a visit in a few days" taking a deep breath remembering how Mansfield had pleaded with him not to let him die "See you tomorrow" grinning "you haven't made any plans for us for the next few days have you?"
Matching his grin "No mate, but I did sort of promise Sam we would take him to London before Christmas. Oh, and Charles make sure you sleep on the plane home, you'll need the energy", she beamed at him before winking at the screen and disconnecting the call. He couldn't help but grin back, he couldn't wait to get home.
-OG-
Charles went down to the gardens and pool area, joining his men. Spanner had got out his guitar and taking requests. Georgie had sat down next to him on a sun lounger "Boss think I might go up, bit tired" she said as Spanner was singing she moves in her own way.
"OK" he nodded looking at her "I've spoken with Molly, she's a bit worried about you, if after you have spoken with Jamie and your family you want to give her a ring I'm sure she will be pleased to hear from you."
"Yes Boss" she grinned "She back from Afghan then?" and laughed at his quizzical look "Facebook?"
"She didn't let the world know she was out there did she?"
"No Boss" she laughed "private group messaging" she put her hand on his arm "you really should get used to modern technology Boss."
"I think I will leave that to Molly, Lane" he grinned.
From his chair on the other side Elvis watched her leave. He left it a while before following her up. He had spoken with reception and had the room next to her. He sat on his balcony waiting, watching the light in her room, but it didn't go out. She was as restless as him. He watched in the shadows as she came out onto her balcony staring into the distance at the night sky.
"Georgie" and she swung round to stare at him. He could see she was close to tears. He could hear the half pint that was Molly in his ear "Grow a pair, tell her". He sucked in a huge breath and started to explain why he never turned up to their wedding over two years ago. All the time she just looked out across the gardens to the sea, not once looking at him. Finally, she turned when he finished his explanation and looked at him with tears in her eyes
"I've loved you from the first time I saw you and I'll love you till my last breath" his own eyes filling with tears, much to his surprise at his declaration of how much he loved her. She hadn't said a word just looked at him, stared, nodded and walked back into her room leaving him there standing on his own.
He went back into his room, devastated, she would never forgive him. He was just sat there on his bed staring into space, still trying to figure out how he could make this right, get her to forgive him, make her believe that for him nothing had changed other than the fact he found out he had a daughter he hadn't known he had.
He saw the curtain move out the corner of his eye and Georgie came into his room "You could've told me, let me make the choice" she said as she sat down on the side of his bed "But to let me think you didn't want me, didn't want to be married to me, it was just cruel."
"I can't begin to explain the regrets I have over that" he sighed and a tear trickled from his eye "I thought I was doing the right thing, letting you go" he huffed a sigh "our wedding day and I find out I'm a father, I just didn't know how to tell you."
Georgie watched as another tear fell from his eye, she had never seen Elvis cry before. He had caused her unbelievable pain when he didn't turn up for their wedding. In truth she wasn't sure how she felt about finding out that Debbie had had a daughter, after all he had dumped Debbie for her.
She put out her hand to wipe the tear away and she felt that electricity as soon as she touched him, that familiar feel of his skin on her hand. Elvis leaned into her touch. She moved forward to kiss him both of them crying now for what they had lost. His arms wrapped around her as she held his cheeks, the memories flooding back. How Elvis had always made her feel. "I still love you and I never stopped" he whispered to her.
-OG-
At last, a flight back to Brize, all of them safe and going home to their families. Fingers saying, he would make sure that Georgie got home OK as he also lived in Manchester.
"Don't forget to keep up with the counselling Lane" Charles said as he watched her pick up her Bergen "Make sure you tell them everything."
"I'm fine Boss" she smiled up at him "Get home, give my love to Molly and tell her I'll see her soon"
A bit of him wished Molly could drive and she would be here at Brize to meet him, but then again when he got home he could hold her and kiss her like he wanted. At least it was the middle of the day and hopefully traffic wouldn't be that bad and he would get back to Aldershot in record time.
He picked up his Bergen from the boot, locked the car and opened his front door. It felt hot in here and looked across at the thermostat grinning as he turned it down. He poked his head round the living room door, she wasn't there "Molly" he called out "Up here" came the reply. His face splitting into a wide smile, perfect, just where he wanted her as he raced up the stairs two at a time, desperate to see her after 4 long months away.
His smile hadn't left his face as he entered their room to see her coming out of their bathroom in her dressing gown, her smile equally as big as his. He dropped his Bergen at his feet as Molly flew across the room and threw herself into his arms, her arms around his neck as she kissed him and he staggered back against the bedroom door.
As he released his hold letting her feet touch the ground again "Quick shower I think" he grinned "Oh no Charles, I've run a bath, you need to unwind."
"Come on Molls, I thought a quick shower, something to eat and an early night" he grinned waggling his eyebrows.
Shaking her head but smirking herself "No mate, long bath, dinner won't take long it will be really quick."
"What is it, and how quick" kissing her forehead the idea of a bath was starting to become appealing, as she started peeling off his uniform and especially if she was joining him. She shrugged "M&S recommended it" he threw his head back laughing "That quick" as she grabbed his hand and led him into the bathroom, which was lit with tea lights. He would always want to come home to this.
He wasn't a 100% sure when she said get in and she got in behind, his height and weight making him worry he was crushing her. The way she massaged his shoulders and neck, all the tension from the tour, Georgie's kidnapping and Mansfield's shooting, the worry of it being his first tour since his shooting all ebbing away. Her touch, the feel of her behind him, the way she whispered in his ear how much she had missed him, he felt like a horny teenager and would explode any minute. As he closed his eyes leaning back against her in the warm water, the scented candles flickering, his heart swelled as he sighed. She may not say the words he wanted to hear that often but he knew, could tell by the way she wrapped herself around him, and gave all of herself to him that she loved him. He would do all he could to make sure she was happy. He thought he had been in love before, but he hadn't, not like this, never like this. How could he ever go on tour again and leave her behind or her him. If it was him at home while she was away, he would do the same, make sure she knew just how important she was to him because that was what she had done, showed him she loved him and missed him.