"Richard, where are we going?" Thomas asked as he walked with Richard through the woods above the river later that day. After the end of the match Thomas couldn't find Izzie, Lucy or Chris anywhere. He assumed they had gone home, but thought it was a bit strange that they had left without saying goodbye. On top of that, Richard had announced that he fancied a walk after they finished the cricket match. "I thought you only wanted to go for a stroll, not a long walk?"

"I thought it would be nice to take in the evening air," Richard said.

"We've been doing that all afternoon and I was looking forward to a bit of a rest before getting back to Downton," Thomas complained.

"You're not expected at Downton for the evening Thomas, and neither am I," Richard said.

"What? Why?" Thomas was now even more confused.

"Can't say but you won't be missed so don't worry and just relax," Richard said as he walked slightly ahead of Thomas. He had made sure that they were walking in a slightly different direction to the roads in case they bumped into any of the other's or Larry in his car. Richard stopped suddenly though as he noticed Thomas was not just behind him anymore.

Thomas stopped, this was all too strange and he needed answers. "What is going on Richard? You have been acting strange for days and lately so has everyone else. Your distraction this morning took my mind off it, and I think that was your intention of that spontaneous kiss, but I've not forgotten everything you know?" he said, standing his ground and folding his arms.

Richard walked back towards him, the pine needles, dried by the heat of summer, crunching underneath his shoes. "I really can't tell you, I'm sorry."

"Are you seeing someone else? And do they all know about it? Is that who was hiding in the office because I am sure someone was? Was it Larry? Are you seeing him behind my back?" Thomas accused Richard as he reeled off a line of questions that had been in his mind.

"What! No! Of course not, I thought you'd know that I only have eyes for you. I haven't seen Larry since he first showed up here months ago!" Richard said.

"You've been in contact with him though," Thomas said.

"Well yes, but he's my friend, and your's too now I hope and for goodness sake Thomas you have read the letters I have got from him too!" Richard said, exasperated.

"Not all of them though, I didn't see the latest one," Thomas said.

"No, but-," Richard sighed in frustration. "Look I will show you the letter later okay, but for now please trust me? My heart and all of me will belong to you for always and forever," he said in a softer tone with his hands on Thomas's shoulders.

Thomas hung his head and shut his eyes for a moment. I've done it again, I'm so stupid. He wouldn't ever hurt me. "I'm sorry for accusing you of that," he said finally. "I've said I'm not good with things being hidden from me."

"I know, it's alright and I'm sorry for shouting. You will know everything soon, okay?" Richard reassured him.

"Okay, let's go. You seem to know where we are heading," Thomas said.

…

They left the woods behind them and found themselves on a familiar narrow lane lined both sides by hedges. Richard knew they were close now, but Thomas had no idea still. "This surprise then," Thomas began, "Are we going to be back in time for dinner because I'm getting hungry?"

"You won't be in any need for a meal later Thomas that's all I'll say," Richard said, a cheeky grin on his face as he was bursting to tell Thomas what was planned.

"You haven't hidden a picnic basket in a tree again have you?" Thomas asked.

"Not exactly," Richard mysteriously said. Not so much a picnic, more like a feast.

"You're not going to tell me anything are you?" Thomas asked. He was feeling more comfortable with the secrets now, he sensed Richard's excitement and it was making him get the same feeling. He hadn't had this feeling since...well he wasn't sure if he ever had before.

Richard stopped by a gate to one of Mr Tomlinson's fields and pulled something out of his pocket. "You can't go any further unless you put this on," he said.

"What? A blindfold? You're serious?" Thomas asked.

"Absolutely! You're fine with them from what I recall?" Richard asked with a suggestive flick of his eyebrows.

"Yeah," Thomas said, nibbling his lower lip as he recalled certain things they had done in the bedroom before. Richard placed it over Thomas's eyes from behind and tied it. "But I will not thank you for this if I trip and fall. Downton has had enough injuries of late. The ground is uneven."

"I've got you," Richard said, demonstrating as he held Thomas from behind and guided him forward. "Mirror my steps okay?" It took them a lot longer than normal to cross the top field to reach the lower one where Thomas's surprise was waiting. Thomas was filled with a rush of excitement that made him feel giddy. There was a slight worry that people might wonder what they were doing, but Richard seemed to have thought everything through so he allowed himself the luxury of not overthinking things and considering possible dangers. Richard made sure that he left the gate by the road slightly ajar so that when Larry arrived, he'd know where to go. They reached the field where Richard saw everyone else waiting for them. He was impressed by how the others had arranged the picnic. He took one hand off Thomas so that he could put his finger to his lips to motion for them all to be quiet.

"Why have we stopped?" Thomas asked.

"We're here," Richard said into Thomas's ear before he untied the blindfold.

"Surprise!" Izzie, Lucy, Chris and Jimmy called out as Thomas blinked in the sunlight.

"What!" Thomas said in shock. "What? Is this for me?" Richard saw the smile on Thomas's face grow as it all sunk in that it was for him. "Richard?" he asked, turning to Richard who was standing ever so slightly behind him.

"Happy birthday, again, Thomas. I know it's a few weeks late but I promised I had something else planned," he said to Thomas who was still in shock.

"I know but I thought you had forgotten about it. With everything that has been going on lately I wouldn't have blamed you, you've been very busy," Thomas said.

"I never forgot for a second, and anyway, I had some help," Richard said.

"You were in on this too?" he asked everyone else. "Chris, how long have you known?"

"A while, you like it?" he asked.

"I do, I love it, I'm not sure what to say really," Thomas said. "And you two were never really just here on holiday were you?" he asked Izzie and Lucy.

"Well we are, but only because Richard invited us for this, it was the perfect cover story," Izzie said.

There was one person though who hadn't spoken yet. "Jimmy," Thomas said.

"Hello Thomas," he said, getting up. "Happy birthday." Jimmy extended his hand in greeting, but Thomas had chosen to opt for a hug instead.

"Jimmy! How long have you been here? I didn't know you were coming?" Thomas said joyfully after embracing his friend.

"I got here yesterday, and Richard invited me," Jimmy said.

"I never saw you at the cricket match," Thomas said.

"That's because I wasn't there. Someone had to keep an eye on all of this," Jimmy said, gesturing to the banquet that had been laid out on several picnic rugs.

"Did you make some of this?" Thomas said, referring to the huge amount of food laid out before them as he sat down next to Richard and opposite Chris and Jimmy, with Izzie and Lucy to the side of Richard, the food in the centre of them all.

"Oh no, not me, that was down to everyone else!" Jimmy said.

"No, Jimmy brought the drinks," Chris said. "His new girlfriend owns a club apparently."

"You've got a girlfriend?" Thomas asked, with a mix of emotions.

"I'm not sure she's that yet," Jimmy said. "But I like her."

A thought just occurred to Thomas, something that, despite Richard's reassurance, he was still bothered by. "Wait! It was you wasn't it?"

Jimmy looked confused. "It was me what?"

"You were in the office earlier this morning, hiding weren't you? I knew there was someone else there, I felt it," Thomas realised.

"Well I suppose I can admit it now," Jimmy said. "Yeah that was me. Not my choice of hiding places but Chris pushed me in there before I had a chance to blink." They all laughed.

"You pushed my best friend into what can only be described as a cupboard Chris?" Thomas asked.

"Um, yeah. I did. It was all I could think of at the time, you weren't supposed to just turn up unexpectedly," Chris said, looking pleased at his earlier quick thinking. "The surprise would have been ruined otherwise."

"So you were there all the time Jimmy? You were there when Richard..." Thomas trailed off as he felt himself go a bit red.

"Yeah I saw him kiss you," Jimmy said.

"You did that on purpose then?" Thomas asked Richard. "You were trying to distract me?"

"Did it work?" Richard asked, not regretting his earlier move in the slightest.

"Yes, I thought of nothing else for ages!" Thomas said. "You are all quite a team aren't you?" he said to everyone.

"Were you fooled though?" Lucy asked.

"Well I knew something was up. Richard acting strange is one thing, but all of you standing awkwardly in silence in the kitchen when I showed up confirmed it," Thomas said. "But I had no idea it was this! I don't know how to thank you all!"

"Just sit back, relax and enjoy yourself in the company of your friends Thomas," Richard said softly, that's all.

"You did all this then? For me?" Thomas asked Richard.

"I did," Richard said. Thomas leaned in to kiss him but hesitated as he remembered who else was here. Having an audience was unusual, but since he was amongst friends that was not what concerned him. What concerned him was Chris. He had already hurt him today by doing this and he didn't want to again, as much as he wanted to thank Richard. He looked at Chris, conflicted.

Thomas didn't say anything, but Chris seemed to understand what was holding him back. "It's okay," he said.

So, Thomas leaned in once more and gave Richard a gentle kiss on his lips. "Thank you," Thomas said after they parted.

They proceeded to pour drinks, Thomas was impressed that they had not only brought all this food up here but plates, glasses and cutlery too. They passed food around, and no one hesitated to tuck in. As Thomas finished off a sandwich, he had another question. "So Richard, what was so secret in the linen cupboard that you wouldn't let me fetch my own towels?" he asked. "He banned me from the linen cupboard and various other places recently," he explained to Jimmy.

"I had hidden some cake in there, I was a little concerned any little insects might get on the cake but I needed somewhere cool, out of the sun, and not in the kitchen where you would expect to find cake," Richard said after finishing a glass of cherry lemonade.

"We had to hide all the food quickly when you showed up this morning," Izzie said. "I think we got it all here but it is possible that you may find something later that we missed, we just pushed things in any space we could find!"

"I didn't think about that," Richard said. "We'll have to have a look later Thomas, I don't want to discover anything in several days time!" Richard was very pleased with how this celebration had turned out. There was however, something, or to be more accurate, someone, who was missing. And that got Richard thinking, What has happened to Larry?

...

Earlier that afternoon...

Larry carefully emptied the can of water into the car's radiator. He had hoped to reach Downton without any issues but she had been overheating and he had underestimated how warm it actually was. Cars were like animals, they needed care, love and also water on a hot day. Therefore he had pulled over at the side of the road on a green grassy bank several miles outside Downton, green fields stretching out far in either direction. He had passed a river earlier so walked back to fill up the can. If anyone had seen him, they must have thought it strange that a man of his station was doing something as menial as filling up a can with water and carrying it about half a mile along an empty rural country lane. It didn't bother him having to do such things. Others would see it as beneath them, but if he did not sort the problem he would be going nowhere soon. His car, this one in particular, was special to him and rarely suffered any mechanical issues. She was a piece of engineering genius in his view. This little break down was not her fault, but his.

He pulled down the shiny bonnet, his reflection still visible in the green paintwork despite several hours on dusty roads, with a satisfying bang and climbed back into the driver's seat. He leaned over into the backseat to check on the parcel in the back. He would be late, more than fashionably late too unfortunately, but needs must. He also had to make a detour to Richard and Thomas's shop and flat to drop off Thomas's gift as previously arranged with Richard. He started up the car and patted the steering wheel affectionately. "Right then girl, let's get going," he said to the car before pulling out into the road once more before putting his foot down as he drove off in the direction of Downton...

...

Richard smiled to himself as he watched Thomas and Jimmy each take another piece of cake, finishing it in no time at all, and then both licking the jam off their fingers afterwards. There were like children at a birthday party and Richard was pleased. Thomas needed moments like this, where he could just act like a kid and ignore the worries and fears that came with life. There was still plenty of food left, but he didn't want them to eat most of it quite yet, as he wanted Larry to have enough too when he finally got here that is. "We need to save some of this," he said.

"Why?" Thomas asked, pouring another drink.

"We're expecting someone else," Richard admitted.

"Oh, who?" Thomas was wondering who else could be invited to this gathering. Someone from Downton maybe? Richard was about to tell him, he thought he may as well, but just at that moment he heard the unmistakable sound of an engine, followed shortly after by the metallic noise made by a car door slamming shut. Thomas saw Richard grin. "What Richard?" The other's said nothing, obviously they knew who else was coming.

"You'll see, though I hope you don't mind," Richard said.

"Why would I-" Thomas began before he saw who Richard had meant. Of course.

"Good afternoon everyone, so sorry I am late, my car needed some much needed attention to stop her from overheating in this weather," Larry Ferroland said as he came striding down across the grass towards them, removing his wide brimmed hat as he walked, tucking it under his arm just as he did when he was in Richard's shop the last time he was in Downton.

That is so you Larry, you could simply say the radiator on your car needed filling up, but instead you describe it as you did, Richard thought fondly. Everything done just so, with a flair to grab attention because that's how you do things. Richard stood up to greet him, "Glad you got here finally then, I should have known it was something car related to keep you from here."

"Well I would never have made it with an overheating engine," Larry said. "I had to stop by your place in Downton too of course." Larry turned his attention to Thomas, who had just got up as well. "Hello Thomas happy birthday,, it has been far too long since I have seen you in person. Just as dashing as you were a few months ago, no maybe more so. I like this casual look on you very much."

"Larry, stop flirting," Richard said.

"Didn't think Thomas minded much," Larry said.

"No I don't but Richard gets jealous," Thomas said with a smile inviting Larry to sit down. Larry did take a bit of getting used to but he liked him a lot now.

"Rightly so, I would if I was in his place absolutely," Larry said with a wink in Thomas's direction.

Across the other side of the picnic rugs and food, Jimmy leaned over to Chris and whispered, "Is he always like this?"

Chris nodded. "Seems so, he will flirt with anything that moves I am sure, I think he is particularly keen on Thomas though," Chris said.

Larry saw the younger blonde haired man next to Chris whisper something to him. He hadn't seen him before, but he assumed this was the Jimmy that Richard had told him about. "I don't believe we've met," Larry said.

"Sorry I should have introduced you," Richard said. "This is our friend Jimmy Kent and Jimmy, this is Larry Ferroland, well Lord Ferroland actually."

Jimmy leaned over to shake Larry's hand. "Pleased to meet you m'lord," he said.

"Oh we can leave the 'Lord' out of it I reckon Jimmy, call me Larry if you like," Larry said with a wave of his hand. "I wonder sometimes if the title is more trouble than it's worth, though it seemed a good idea at the time. I'm very pleased to meet you Jimmy Kent. I hear you are a pianist in London now. I reckon our paths will probably cross again in that case. I hope they do."

"Larry," Izzie said sternly as she recognised the flirtatious tone in his voice even if the words he spoke were innocent.

"What? I was only saying hello," Larry said innocently.

"Hmm, well you won't get anywhere with your flirting with him," Izzie said. "He won't be interested."

"Oh I'm sorry, you only have eyes for him then?" Larry asked looking at Chris, who's eyes widened as it dawned on him what Larry was wrongly assuming. The others realised it too as Thomas took a sip of his drink just at the same as he tried not to burst out laughing, causing him to cough and Richard then having to pat him on the back until he had recovered. "What have I said?" Larry asked, seeming genuinely confused.

Jimmy, who had gone bright red, explained. "We're not a couple Larry, I'm not, um, that is, I'm not into men. I have a girlfriend," Jimmy said.

"Oh I see! Sorry Jimmy, my mistake. Sorry Chris," he said.

"Hey don't worry about it, it was worth the embarrassment to see the look on Thomas's face," Chris said.

"I did assume that this gathering was a homosexuals only gathering, but obviously I was mistaken," Larry said. "I hope you don't mind my attention earlier Jimmy. I apologise if I caused any offence."

"It's fine, it's not the first time," Jimmy said. Thomas gave him a look and Jimmy knew Thomas assumed he was referring to him and their past, but actually Jimmy was thinking not only of Thomas, but some other encounters that have happened since he left service too. He knew quite a few men like Thomas now.

"He's our friend and you can trust him," Thomas said.

"I assumed that, but that's good to know," Larry said. "Besides, whilst I tease you, I cannot give my affections to anyone else now anyway, not anymore."

Chris had not seen the look on Larry's face that he was seeing now, before. He looked a bit nervous, shy even. "Are you spoken for? if you don't mind me asking?" Chris asked.

"Would you mind if I was?" Larry asked.

Chris rolled his eyes at Larry's attempts to hide behind his flirting. "I wouldn't too much, I like you but we're a bit too different I think. But don't change the subject," Chris said.

"The man I went to America to see on Richard's recommendation this past spring," Larry began. "Turned out I was not the only one who wanted to give things another go. He came back with me, technically he's here on business. But the little business trip turned into a holiday, and the holiday has become an extended stay. He doesn't seem to want to leave!"

"Larry! I knew it! Congratulations!" Richard said to his friend.

"Richard I've confirmed nothing yet," Larry said.

"I'd say you have, by how you spoke Larry," Lucy answered. "We could see your smile, your real one. We're happy for you, aren't we Izzie?" She prompted her partner with a nudge. Izzie was not that fond of Larry, Lucy reckoned she didn't completely trust him.

"Yes, if you've found someone who will put up with you then yes I am happy for you," Izzie said.

"Izzie!" Lucy exclaimed.

Larry didn't seem offended though, laughing off the hidden insult. "No, it's fine. He seems very willing to 'put up with my company', very willing," Larry answered.

"Do we get to know his name?" Chris asked.

"Sebastian, Sebastian McDonald," Larry answered. "His latter name perhaps does not match his first but that is due to his Scottish ancestry I believe," Larry said.

"He's Scottish?" Richard asked.

"No, he's a born and bred American, doesn't sound Scottish at all, which is a slight disappointment as I knew a Scotsman once, and he had a lovely accent, among other things," Larry said with another cheeky grin. "But other than that, he is perfect."

"You sound well and truly smitten Larry," Thomas said.

"I reckon I am, but I will always have some room to pay you some attention Thomas," Larry said.

"Is that why you were down in Cornwall then?" Richard asked.

"We were staying down at the cottage yes, visited a few places you and Thomas told us about too. He's staying in London while I'm here," Larry said.

"Next time you are up this way, I hope you bring him, I'd like to meet him," Richard said.

"I think that would be grand Richard, yes. I think Seb will like to visit Downton too. He has an interest in British country estates, and I know he'll love Downton," Larry said. Richard was pleased at how happy his friend was looking and how relaxed. Larry had always insisted he was not the type to get attached but here he was, looking as in love as ever and it suited him. It was difficult to make things work for people like them, but not impossible, he thought as he smiled at Thomas.

...

"You know, I was in Cornwall for another reason too," Larry said later on after they had stopped eating, and were only picking at the occasional piece of food. "I had to fetch something myself and bring it with me to you here."

"You didn't pay someone to do that for you?" Izzie asked.

"No, this had to be brought up here by myself, I wouldn't trust her to anyone else, well not many people anyway," Larry said as he gave Richard and Thomas a look. Richard didn't seem to get the hint, but Thomas reckoned he did. "I had two things to fetch. Firstly, your birthday present Thomas, it is in your back garden at home wrapped up securely but you should not leave it to get wet with the dew so fetch it in tonight."

Thomas nodded, "Thank you Larry, in advance."

"No problem Thomas. I think you and Richard will like it. But secondly I did say I had a surprise for you as well Richard and now that we have finished eating, I hope you will all join me up on the road?"

...

Not long later, they all walked up through the fields to the road and through the open gate, where just a few yards along the road Larry had parked his car. Richard shut the gate behind them, being the last to leave the field. "Larry, you sure we all need to be up here?" He asked as he shut the gate. "Someone should really keep an eye on-" Richard stopped talking as he saw the car parked at the side of the road. "You didn't tell me you brought her! You never mentioned the car, that is very unlike you," Richard said in amazement.

"How else was I supposed to keep it a surprise?" Larry said, looking pleased with himself as they walked up to the car.

"Is this the car you and Richard drove on your holiday? The one that Richard wouldn't stop going on about for ages after you two returned?" Chris asked Thomas. Richard technically should have heard Chris's question, but he was too taken in by the sight in front of him.

"Yep that's the one. Sorry I'm supposed to address it as 'she'. Richard was very insistent about that," Thomas said.

"When you said that you drove a nice car on holiday I didn't think it would be this nice," Jimmy said to Thomas. "I need one of these."

"Can you drive?" Thomas asked Jimmy.

"Nope," Jimmy said. "But I'd like one all the same."

"This surprise you have for Richard must be very small," Lucy said as she looked over into the back seat, where she saw nothing but Larry's luggage. She smiled across at Izzie who seemed to be sharing Lucy's real thoughts- that the car was at least part of a surprise.

Larry admitted nothing, opting instead to let Richard figure it out. He enjoyed the look of realisation when Richard finally discovered the nature of his surprise. "The Aston?"

"Are you surprised?" Larry asked.

"Delighted! Definitely! You drove her from Cornwall?" Richard asked.

"I did. I would only trust myself to do so. I knew you wanted to see her again," Larry said as he fetched the keys from his waistcoat pocket. "Now before you get too excited, I am not giving you my Aston Martin. She is my favourite and would make it rather hard for you and Thomas to blend in owning a car like her. However, she is yours for the rest of the day," he said as he handed Richard the keys.

"You're serious?" Richard asked in amazement.

"Of course I am. This is the least I could do. Consider it a thank you for giving me the push I have needed for ages to get back with Sebastian. We owe our relationship to you," Larry said sincerely.

Richard took the keys and felt the warm metal in his fingers as he looked at the car in front of him. Memories of Thomas and him driving around narrow Cornish lanes and at speed along the few long open roads across moorland came into his mind. The smell of the leather seats, the feel of the metal steering wheel under his hands, the thrill of the power of the machine as he changed gear and notched up the speed just a little more. It all came back to him as he looked at the elegant curves of the car, the sophisticated deep green paint work, shiny and perfect, the chrome glinting in the sunlight. "Larry I-"

"Go Richard, just promise me that you don't drive off with her and not return and that you bring her back in one piece!" Larry joked. "Oh and take Thomas with you."

"Thomas?" Richard asked.

Thomas smiled and didn't hesitate as he got into the front passenger seat next to Richard. The car was always Richard's thing, but he wouldn't say no to this. "Where are we going to go then?" he asked Richard.

"No idea! Brilliant isn't it?" Richard said, beaming like a kid.

"You'll be alright here for a while then?" Thomas asked the others.

"Go and have fun," Izzie said.

"We'll be fine, will have a few more drinks until you return," Jimmy said.

Richard started up the engine and grinned even more at the sound. "One more thing Richard," Larry said loudly over the engine. "Look in the glove box, you can borrow my driving gloves if you prefer."

Richard found the gloves, "Thanks, how about we get back in an hour?" Richard asked him.

"That will be fine but take longer if you fancy, now go," Larry said. Richard turned the car neatly out of the layby that Larry had parked the Aston in and drove off with Thomas down the lane. Not too fast at this point as the road was narrow but when he could, he would put his foot down.

...

"Where are we going?" Thomas asked. "We do need some idea."

"Ever practical aren't you Mr Barrow," Richard said as they drove away. "I don't know, maybe we go out of the village and around the lanes, find a larger road and drive down that. We could even stop by Downton. Imagine people's faces if we drove up the main drive in this beauty!"

"Yeah, people would think we stole her. Can we steer clear of the village please?" Thomas asked.

"Fine, you have a point, annoying as it may be," Richard said as he turned onto a wooded lane where the green leaves of the trees above them created a canopy like a tunnel over the road.

"Did you have any idea that Larry would offer you this?" Thomas asked.

"No, if I had I would have brought some driving gloves with me to our picnic. This is supposed to be your celebration but you know how Larry is."

"He likes to spoil his friends, I know," Thomas said, finishing Richard's sentence. They drove out of the main vicinity of Downton village and into the countryside, they joined a main road that would link Downton with the surrounding villages and towns eventually. Richard stopped talking as he drove now, faster and in his element. Thomas knew better than to interrupt his moment now. The day was growing old now, the evening beginning to draw in, although they still had a few hours of daylight left, so there was no real rush. But as they began their drive back, the roads and surrounding scenery becoming more familiar once again, they stopped at a junction where three narrow lanes all met. A triangle of grass was in the centre, acting as a roundabout, a signpost in the centre of it. They had an option of two routes, one through Downton village and one that would take them around it.

"It's tempting," Richard said, he couldn't help it. He felt like a king in this car and wanted people to see him driving her.

"But a bad idea," Thomas said. "People will talk." As they were sitting there though, Thomas sighed inwardly as he saw Mr Bates walking towards them.

"Mr Ellis? Mr Barrow?" Mr Bates asked, amused and slightly shocked at seeing them in such a fine car.

"Good evening Mr Bates," Richard said smoothly.

"Good evening. You're not into stealing cars as well now are you Thomas?" Mr Bates teased.

"No, of course not. We've borrowed her," Thomas said.

"With permission?"

"Yes! The owner is a friend of ours," Thomas said, wishing Mr Bates would just go away.

"Wealthy friends you must have," Mr Bates said.

"Not that it's any of your business Mr Bates," Thomas said back at him. "But he is."

"We'd appreciate it if you could keep this quiet. Thomas doesn't want to attract too much attention," Richard said. The look Mr Bates gave him made him realise how daft that remark sounded with them sitting in a shiny Aston Martin.

"I won't tell a soul Mr Ellis, have a nice evening," he said.

"You too Mr Bates," Richard said, before driving down the lane that avoided the village.

After they had driven off Mr Bates laughed to himself. "Never would have expected that," he said.

...

"I owe you an apology Larry," Izzie said as they walked back into the road after Jimmy said he had heard the car in the distance.

"You do?"

"Well, I've made no secret of the fact that I haven't always trusted you. When you first met Richard I told him time and time again to stay clear of you."

"He didn't listen," Larry said.

"No he did not. I told him that men like you with too much money to know what to do with are trouble and he would only end up hurt. I will admit I have found it hard to trust you since you've come back into his life. Even after the gift you gave him and Thomas for their anniversary this year. Some part of me still thought you had an ulterior motive. And the way you flirt with any man, hasn't helped me trust you, but I think I should say that I was wrong to make such generalised assumptions. I usually try to be more open minded and not so judgemental. I'm sorry," Izzie said.

"You were only looking out for your friend and I understand that. I'm not sure I would trust me either sometimes, but I am who I am Izzie. I can't change that but I liked Richard for who he is from the moment we met. I never once wanted to take advantage of him just because he was of a different class to me. I can't stand people who do such things," Larry said.

The car pulled up and Richard switched off the engine, before Thomas and him got out. "Wow, that was amazing. Larry, thank you," Richard said, handing back the keys.

"Pleasure," Larry said.

"You look positively windswept Thomas," Chris said to Thomas as he walked over to them.

"You said that better than me Chris. I was about to say Thomas looked like he'd just been caught out in a gale or something. You have a leaf in your hair Thomas," Jimmy said.

"Oh thanks," Thomas said, as he brushed his hand over his head.

"Well I have a bit more time to kill before I should be off," Larry said. "Izzie, you can drive right?"

"I can," Izzie said surprised.

"Fancy a go?" Larry offered.

"Really?"

"Sure, in fact why don't we all go? Thomas and Richard could do with some time alone," Larry said.

"If you're happy with that?" Chris asked.

"Hey don't let him change his mind Chris, I'm in!" Jimmy said enthusiastically.

"It will be a bit of a tight squeeze but we can get three on the backseat. Not the first time I've had three on the backseat," Larry said, the latter part being mainly to himself. "Then again it was a bigger car and a bigger seat."

Jimmy looked embarrassed again and Chris laughed. Izzie just sighed as Lucy bit her lip as she smiled. "Oh just get in Larry!" she said.

"We'll stick around until you get back okay?" Richard said as he stood next to Thomas. "So we can say goodbye properly."

"Very well," Larry said. "I'll see you later. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

As Izzie drove the Aston down the road, full of passengers, Thomas asked Richard, "Did you teach Izzie to drive?"

"No! Of course not! It was more like the other way around. She taught me," Richard said.

"Oh, I should have known," Thomas said as he took Richard's offered hand as they walked back down to the picnic through the field.

...

Later that evening...

"Did you tell Larry that I loved the bed at the cottage we stayed in?" Thomas asked Richard as they lay in bed that evening.

"I may have mentioned it and how you loved the duvet," Richard said.

"I guess that explains the present then," Thomas said. It was too hot to have it on the bed now but folded neatly at the bottom of the bed was the beautiful and luxurious red duvet that had been on the bed they slept in at Larry's cottage in Cornwall, or at least a copy of it. When they had got home that evening after saying their goodbyes to Larry, they had returned to find the present in the garden where Larry said it would be.

"It was either that or a refrigerator but Larry couldn't get that in the car, I told him you were amazed by that too."

Thomas turned over on his side to face Richard. Wilde was sleeping on his pillow again, the tip of his black fluffy tail gently twitching happily, so Thomas didn't have much headroom. "Thank you," he said gently, kissing Richard in the same manner.

"This was down to Larry really," Richard said.

"Not for this, I will telephone Larry when he's back in London and thank him. Thank you for doing all of this for me, it couldn't have been a better surprise and I love you," Thomas said.

"I enjoyed how much you enjoyed it," Richard said. He put his arm around Thomas's bare waist as they snuggled close, "I love you too. I always will."

And just like that, all was perfect.

Note: There we go! Another story finished. I hope you all enjoyed it. It was a bit complicated to write at times but thoroughly enjoyable! I have a one shot planned next (title yet undecided). It will focus on an OC of mine, Michael, who I have written a few times before in past stories and of course Thomas, Richard and Chris. After that, I have another complicated and long fanfic to write called 'Dark Clouds and Silver Linings'. If you are interested, look out for it xx.