She could feel a treacherous tide of colour creeping up her neck and flooding her face, all she could hope was that the picture was a bit fuzzy at his end.

"Lovely, o I love it when you blush …"

Fuck it, seemed like it wasn't, or not fuzzy enough anyway.

"I'm not blushing … I don't … it's just … l was wondering … what you just said, did you mean it?"

"I always mean what I say, you should know that"

"Do you? Always?" Molly pulled a face "Nah you bloody don't"

"Well alright, you might have a point, not always but I meant every word of that … and now can we talk about something else?"

"Nah … well … yeah … in a minute … you do know I quite like you 'n all, don't you?"

"Only quite like? I was hoping for a bit more than that"

He had this huge smirk on his face and she wanted to yell "Ditto, DITTO, DITTO" and then ask if that meant he wanted to marry her, or maybe to offer to have his babies or something, well not really any of that, but she had a hard job shutting her thoughts off long enough to say something sensible. Letting her imagination get carried away with her wasn't the best plan she'd ever had.

"Were you?"

Then she couldn't help it, simply couldn't stop the giggle and the toothy grin spreading across her face, which probably wasn't as lovely and romantic as it could have been. But it wasn't like she'd expected to hear him say anything like that, and she'd had no time to think what to say back, had she? Well, nothing that didn't make her sound like a total muppet anyway.

It was hard to be all calm, she was unbelievably, deliriously, tummy churningly, happy, even happier than when she'd spent the night with him in Bath. In his bed. Although that might possibly have been a bit of a close-run thing.

"98 days" There was still the hint of a giggle in her voice.

"What is?"

"98 days … that's how long … till I get back … worked it out, didn't I?"

"Did you? Lovely … well no not lovely because that's 98 days before I can take you out to lunch again or take you somewhere nice for dinner … that's a long time to wait to have a proper chat … does that 98 days include today?"

"Nah, 'n you don't need to take me anywhere nice …I'm cheap" He roared with laughter which effectively broke the spell as Molly realised what she'd said and rushed to clarify what she'd actually meant to say, which wasn't that "Well, nah … that come out all wrong" She had another fit of the giggles as he shook his head "Didn't mean it like that … it didn't sound bad as that in me 'ead … anyhow, you know what I mean …"

"Yup, I know exactly what you mean"

Charles also knew that she had no idea what she'd actually just told him when she said she'd worked out how many days before her deployment was over, how many days until she was back. That she was counting the days until she'd see him again.

"And don't forget your promise … you're going to do everything you're told and keep yourself safe for me … okay? You're not going to do anything that would scare me fucking shitless if I was there with you"

"Alright, already promised, didn't I? … But you gotta promise me 'n all, promise you'll look after that leg, that you'll rest if it hurts and not keep on doing ... stuff … that you'll do everything you're told …" Molly mimicked the way he'd said the same thing to her "'n you gotta promise me you won't sack the army or anything dumb like that before I get back … that's only fair, innit?… Deal?"

"Yup … deal" He smiled "And you might need to remember that not every CO you're going to serve with is as kind and patient and lovely as I am … "

"Patient? … you?" Molly was doing her best to control her urge to giggle and failing "Mardy arse more like …"

"A what? What did you call me?"

"You 'eard … bleeding Rupert … you called me a Doris … and that's someone who's about 80 innit?"

"Not always … and I know I did … still I was right about you, wasn't? Bloody knew it right from the start, knew you were going to be trouble"

"Go on admit it though, you liked it me being trouble …"

"Did I? Okay, well maybe" He smirked "Yes, alright …"

He could have talked and laughed and flirted with her all night, neither of them wanting to be the one to end the call and every small silence filled with simply gazing at one another with longing until Charles told himself he had to be sensible. He wasn't a bit tired but could see her eyes getting more and more shadowed and heavy and knew what a long and emotionally tiring few days it had been for her, culminating in the one from hell and that it was probably time he should let her get some sleep. He was also uncomfortably aware that the next few days were likely to be equally long and arduous and exhausting for her, but every time he even hinted she should get her head down, she just kept saying 'in a minute'. And his head and heart weren't up to dragging himself away.

"Charles … ask you some'ing?"

"Am I going to like it?" He bit his lip and smiled "Go on then .."

"What you said earlier on …?"

"Which bit? … I said a lot of things …"

"'bout … being lonely sometimes … I been thinking"

"Excellent …" He grinned "Or maybe not …"

"Shut up … look, we both of us know I'm not always the best at sayin' stuff… 'n I'm not trying to sound like a medic but I do know you don't need anyone if you do get a bit fed up or lonely … cos you're still okay …"

"What are you trying to say Molly? … Come on spit it out you're worrying me now … "

"Stop it … look I'm not best at being all smooth and saying the right things and that, I'm a bit gobby sometimes …"

"Only sometimes?"

"Yeah … I know I'm a bit … well that I wear a West Ham shirt for starters" Molly gnawed her lip, she didn't want to say she was common but had a mental picture of his ex in that hospital room, she wouldn't be seen dead in a football shirt "Dunno best way to say this, so just gonna say… I don't like thinking of you feeling like that … I 'ate it … wanna try and make it better …"

"You already do … "

-OG-

"You look a lot better this morning … sleep well?"

"Yup …" Charles took a sip of coffee and carried on half-watching Flora as she bustled about the kitchen, before the ingrained habit of years made him remember to thank her politely as she stood still and looked at him with her eyebrows raised "Thanks"

Flora didn't need anyone to remind her that her gorgeous lanky son with the mop of curls and mesmerising smile was a grown man, one who'd lived independently from her for more years than she cared to remember. He'd had a very full life without being tied to her apron strings, something his father pointed it out to her on a regular basis, but Charles had been through the mill in the past year and had survived everything life had thrown at him. More than survived, he'd coped with it all and seemed to have got over it, although she didn't know how much of that was genuine. None of it stopped her fretting about him. She worried that his appetite had been poor and even though she knew how much the fussing got on his nerves, she couldn't help it, in her eyes he couldn't afford to lose any more weight. It didn't suit him being skinny. But saying anything was just asking for him to roll his eyes in a show of intense irritation and for him to invariably walk out which effectively put an end to any further discussion.

"Funeral go alright, did it? As much as these things can, I mean, they're always difficult, aren't they? But then it's often so much better once everything is all over and done with … when you can start moving on"

"Yup"

Flora gritted her teeth at the monosyllabic reply but was still determined not to give in and give up, she could be equally stubborn when she chose to.

"Did you see Molly? I'm presuming she was there … was she okay? Did you manage to have a word with her?" Charles got up to put another pod in the machine as Flora watched him, aware of the total lack of expression on his face. Even showing irritation at her persistence would be something. A small victory. Although her heart was sinking at the implication behind the implacably rigid expression on his face.

"Yup"

"Charles … please" Flora took a deep breath and tried not to shout, it would do nothing to help.

"Please what?"

"Stop … doling …" She waved a hand in his general direction "That"

"Doing what?"

"THAT"

"Okay … what can I tell you? I'm okay, everything's okay, Molly's okay, we're all okay" He paused "Is that okay? And now can we give it a rest?"

He knew he was being an arse, that he was not only being woundingly sarcastic but was talking to her as if she was a squaddie who'd got out of line. He knew he was annoying the actual fuck out of her for no good reason and suddenly felt a massive pang of guilt. Annoying as she could be, she was his mother and she worried about him, loved him and put up with his moods and he was way out of line, it was just his natural instinct to hug his feelings to himself. To shut down, shut everything and everybody out, and anyway he wasn't even sure what those feelings were, but had no intention of sharing the doubts with anyone or telling them anything. He definitely wasn't about to test the doubts by discussing them aloud. Not even with his mother, or maybe especially not with his mother. He wasn't tired despite having had virtually no sleep, if anything it was the exact opposite, he was elated but determined to keep a lid on it. It was private.

"Might go out for a run in a bit"

"What?" Flora stopped in her tracks, and looked at him askance "Don't be ridiculous, Charles … what are you trying to do to yourself? You didn't see how you looked when you got back yesterday, you were limping so badly and your face was grey … I could see how much pain you were in" Flora lifted her shoulders in exasperation "Sometimes I despair of you, I really do … what exactly is it you 're trying to prove … and more to the point … who to? You don't need to do this … and I'm really very sorry things didn't go well with Molly yesterday … I had hoped …. but that's still no reason for you to prove what an idiot you can be"

"Thanks for that … and look … everything was fine with Molly…" He bent his head and smiled down at the table, the sudden urge to go for a run had been about being on his own in his comfort zone. to take another long look at how he felt when he allowed the feelings to surface "I'm sorry Mum, I know I was being a bloody grouch … what Molly calls me being a mardy arse" He laughed as he saw his mother chuckle and shake her head "And she's absolutely fine, Molly is … fine" The word fine felt totally inadequate but he had no idea how much his voice softened as he said it, or when he said her name, how much he was telling Flora without using any words "Molly and I … are fine… we had a chat and sorted things out"

"Well you'd excuse me for not guessing by the way you … okay none of my business I know, I'll shut up, but I can't tell you how pleased I am" Flora was doing everything she could to control her impulse to gush or show how intensely relieved she was, she'd loathed seeing him unhappy and hard as he'd worked at keeping it to himself she'd known he was hurting "So, when am I going to see her then?"

"98 days … well, that's what she tells me …"

"What?"

"She's deployed, off back to Afghan so it won't be until she gets back … and that's 98 days apparently"

"Oh bugger"

"Indeed"

-OG-

Despite only having what felt like half an hour's sleep, Molly still had the biggest smile on her face when she got up. She found herself grinning like a loony at total strangers on the way to her mum's, which obviously worried them to death because everyone knows that people who smile at you on trains are some kind of nutters, don't they? No-one does that, well, only nutjobs. And the visit home was nowhere near the length of the overnighter she'd planned, but at least she managed to get to see Belinda, even though she was the only one home. The hug she'd given her was the longest one ever, she'd hung on so long that Belinda got worried and started asking what it was all about, Molly just shook her head, Belinda knew she was off to Afghan but she had no intention of telling her it might be dangerous. She'd minimised the risks and had emphasised about going to help train other medics and had told Belinda she'd be going nowhere near where there was still a bloody war going on. Her mum had just accepted it, as far as she was concerned the troops had come home so that meant it was all over. Molly thought not.

Nearly a week of standing in front of the rest of her section running sessions and doing what they called observed practice, which meant some bugger was recording them which was something she found incredibly embarrassing. She absolutely hated seeing herself on the screen. She didn't look a bit like the Molly she saw in her head, or even the one in the mirror, she was too small and too young looking and, even in her combats, to her eyes was too bloody scruffy looking and not a bit like some of the others. And what was even worse, sometimes when she forgot about being recorded and got carried away with what she was saying, her voice sounded like a little girl, it didn't sound anything like the one she could hear in her head. And then after the sessions finished it got worse, if that was even possible, because there were all these bloody god-awful de-briefings to get through where they'd pick the performances to bits. Make you watch and listen to yourself while they pointed out all the places you fell short. It made her bloody toes turn up with cringing at her shortcomings, but then sometimes it filled her with this incredible feeling of pride in herself. And she loved it, even the bad bits. Well mostly. Hating every minute of school the way she had, she'd never have believed that one day she'd find herself loving being one of the breed she'd hated with a passion for years.

She'd talked to Charles most nights, not for long because she had homework, had to prepare the next day's talk and had to keep her eyes open long enough to finish it and he was bloody knackered from Headley. The regime he'd begun wasn't a picnic. Apparently. She had to read between the lines because he didn't tell her much and never moaned once which she was sure she would have done in his shoes.

She'd been dreading Brize, when they'd line up for photos and then get on that bleeding noisy rattling uncomfortable transport plane for the endless bloody journey to Afghan. On her own. Or at least without the safety net of the lads. It didn't matter her telling herself she hadn't known any of them the last time either, well except for a random drunken shag with Smurf, the memory of which could still make her cringe, it still worried her that she would be on her own. But then, despite the noise and having to sit upright on a hard bleeding bench she'd fallen asleep and had slept almost all the way. But arriving with a whole bunch of strangers and without Charles had been more than a bit shit, she'd have given anything to hear him barking out orders at them, but then got swept up in the whole settling in and there was a letter waiting for her in his distinctive script. Not that he had much to say, she'd only spoken to him the night before, but it still made her feel better, like he was there in her head.

Running the sessions in Afghan was definitely a whole different ball bag, she found teaching, mentoring, or whatever the fuck someone wanted to call it, even better than the practising sessions. She bloody loved every single minute, the way they hung on her every word and how they looked at her, and how much of a buzz she got from telling other people about all the things she'd learned when she was out there first time. But she couldn't say she didn't miss him, there was this great big hollow feeling of a permanent ache of something not being there, but there was also a big bit of her that knew she was standing on her own two feet for the first time in her life. Still it was a good job she was usually so tired when she hit her pit that she didn't stop awake for hours thinking how much she missed him because nothing had changed, she still felt exactly the same way about him as she had before she'd left him behind. It was just that for once she felt like a real grown up. His letters were sometimes really lovely and long and full of what he'd been doing and about people she knew or had heard of and about Headley and all the things he knew she'd find funny. And sometimes they were dead short and sweet, just a few lines telling her he was thinking about her. The best bit was they came every few days, regular as clockwork and she replied to every single one telling him, well telling him not very much at all, but then it was same old, same old and she didn't try to match him for anything other than just ordinary stuff. It wasn't only his writing that was tons better than hers, but still he always said he'd got them and how much he loved hearing from her. They only managed the odd phone call, the wi-fi was shit and on the very few days when there was a signal, it was like they were Skyping from the far side of the moon with long delays full of crackling and zigzag interference as the picture kept freezing and breaking up.

It was lovely to see him, to see his familiar face watching her and smiling at her, especially when he told her he'd found Bashira. It was then everything went a bit shit-shaped and she broke the solemn promise she'd made to Charles about not doing anything dodgy. And things didn't come much dodgier. She couldn't pretend she didn't know that, or that she was breaking her word, not even that poor old Quaseem had only told her to reassure her that the little girl was doing okay, something he more than likely regretted big time after he told her. She threatened to go to see her without him and he was far too much of a lovely bloke to let her do anything like that, which, if she was being honest, she'd sort of known, but she'd given the poor bugger no bloody choice, had dragged him into it with her although without swearing him to keeping his gob shut. It would have felt a bit of a shit thing to do, so all she could do was bloody hope he wouldn't say anything. She knew Charles would be dead disappointed in her, that he'd feel betrayed, was bound to because that was what she'd done, wasn't it? Although she had every intention of telling him about it. One day. Just not any day soon. It was no good kidding herself, it wasn't only Charles wouldn't get it, she was pretty sure no-one else would either, but she was responsible for Bashira, needed to see for herself that she was being looked after, make sure she was as happy and healthy as anyone could be in a violent bloody shit-hole like Kabul. For her own peace of mind. She needed to make sure the death of her dad wasn't going end up ruining her whole bleeding life, that she wasn't going to be forced into marrying some disgusting old pervert three times her age, but had the chance of a better life and then maybe she could stop feeling so guilty. The relief was incredible, Molly couldn't stop smiling as for the first time since it all kicked off she could relax and tell herself she'd done everything she could, that Bashira's life was going to be good, well, as good as it could be living where she did. Still there wasn't much she could do about that.

-OG-

"Come on … have a bit of patience, not much longer … only another few days and it'll fly by"

"No it won't … I don't wanna go to fucking Cyprus and sit around on a sodding beach getting sand in me bits for a week … it was a waste of time last time and this will be 'n all .. I wanna come home" Molly huffed "What the fuck do I wanna go to Cyprus for anyway?" She wailed, knowing she didn't sound like the adult she was, that she sounded about 6 years old but that was how she felt "Don't need whatchamacallit … decompressing and I'm already normal so don't need normalising thanks …just want to see you"

"Just a few days of sitting on the beach in the sun … wearing your bikini … most people would enjoy it, a little holiday … you can go for a swim and…."

"Seen enough bloody sand for now thanks and I don't swim … well only with one foot on the floor, it's safer like that"

"Lovely and that is not swimming … not sure how you managed to be in the army without being able to swim"

"Bit of a long story …"

"Bloody sure of it …" He laughed "Never mind I'll teach you … we'll go somewhere lovely and warm with a nice pool … hey the quack says I'm okay to drive so I'll be there to meet you at Brize"

"Oh that's good innit? The driving I mean" She wasn't 100% sure she believed him, she knew how impatient he'd been at the enforced ban on driving when he felt perfectly recovered "I'd love that … but you sure? I mean, might be people there you know … they might look"

"Let them … as long as you don't start ripping my clothes off …"

"Oh bugger … you sayin' I can't?" Molly giggled "Do I 'ave to salute you then?"

"Indeed …"

"One finger or two?"

He was laughing but quickly changed to cursing as the picture fragmented, with the image breaking up and freezing as lines of digital interference zig zagged across it. His shout was more in hope than expectation that she might still be able to hear him "Text me soon as … day and time …"

-OG-

The only other time she'd walked down this same street she'd been hanging off his arm convinced it was a row of stately homes, she'd been totally overawed by just how posh it was. Well, she still was a bit, but back then it had been an eye-opener, she hadn't known that ordinary people live in houses like these ones, well only if they were blocks of flats or bedsits or something. Not whole houses for just a couple of people. Her dad would kick off something rotten if he found out, would start calling them bastards who were spoilt rotten and that they should learn to share like everyone else, that it was enough to make you go commie, still she'd worry about that if she had to. Right now, she was more worried about whether she'd done the right thing.

She should maybe have told him there was a chance she could blag an early flight home, and then when she'd managed it, although he might have looked down his nose at the amount of lies she'd told to get herself on it. Still, it'd felt like a good idea at the time. Just not so much now when it had occurred to her that he might not even be there. He could be anywhere for fuck sake, she'd got so bleeding excited and carried away at the idea of surprising him that she hadn't thought it through and now all she hoped was that if he was out, that everyone else was as well. She didn't exactly fancy explaining to his mum what she was doing pitching up on their doorstep without any warning, or even worse having to explain to his dad. Her stomach was churning like no-one would believe, it wouldn't have taken a lot for her to throw up the coco-pops she'd misguidedly eaten for breakfast onto the bloody doorstep. Shit, how to make an entrance.

"Okay"

She took a deep breath and tried to get her shoulders to relax from where they were glued up round her ears. She didn't even look to see if there was a bell, just saw the posh door knocker and gave it a bit of a rattle, then immediately wondered if she'd hit it too hard like she was a bailiff or someone or not hard enough so she'd have to do it again.

And then there he was. Opening the door looking as hot as hell with a lot of stubble and wearing a heavy shirt and thick gloves, so he looked like he cut down trees or something for a living. But when he saw who was standing there, the look on his face told her everything she wanted to know, everything she could have wished for, everything she'd dreamed about.

"Missed me?"

-OG-

He'd held his arm up and jerked his head for her to duck under it then shut the front door with his foot, and threw his gloves on the floor not taking his eyes off her as she stood at the bottom of the stairs trying to control the huge grin on her face and waiting for him to say something.

"Hello Soldier …I mean, you are still a soldier, yeah?"

"Yup … are you? Please tell me you haven't gone AWOL?" She grinned and shook her head "Okay … so would you mind telling me what the fuck you're doing here when you're supposed to be sitting on a beach in Cyprus?"

"Bit of a long story …" She couldn't help the happy giggle that bubbled up and begged to be allowed to escape, same as she couldn't help noticing just how hard it was for him trying not to join in laughing

"It's always a long story with you …"

"I know … but told you I missed you didn't I? … I wanted to come home …"

Molly was almost at the point of holding her breath, for once in her life she was going to wait and was not going to be previous and jump his bones, it didn't matter how hot he was.

His eyes were filled with heat as he reached her and lifted her up so she was looking down into his face, pretty sure his emotions were mirrored on her own as he let her slide down his body till her feet were on the floor . Then bent his head to gently slide his lips over hers, Molly could feel he was also holding his breath like her as she stood on tiptoes and wound her arms round his neck to twine her fingers in his hair. His arms scooped down and he lifted her up again and she wrapped her legs round his waist.

"Who was that at the door Charles?" Flora popped her head round the kitchen door as they both totally ignored her, in fact she had the distinct feeling they hadn't even heard her. She beat a hasty retreat round the kitchen door, her face wreathed in smiles.

Charles caught his breath and deepened the kiss, before suddenly breaking away and setting her down, grabbing her hand and pulling her with him up the stairs.

-OG-

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who supported, reviewed and made such lovely comments on this nod to S1, from the original one shot, and afterwards when I carried it on (why was I incapable of sticking to a one-shot, other people managed it all the time) and when I picked it up again recently … I have done my best to fill in the gaps and not to concentrate on what was in the original but to try and link them together, but it is what is in my head so I hope it isn't so different to the way you imagined things that you are left screaming noooo. Thanks as always to Flossy for her invaluable support and love of "extras"… the short epilogue is one of those extras … but as far as I am concerned this story came to an end with them happy and together and without any unnecessary unpleasantness … I hope you enjoy this final chapter as the epilogue

-OG-

Epilogue

He was holding her curled tightly against his side with a smile on his face that said everything about how he felt, his bedroom was military neat and she couldn't help noticing how fragrant he was for a bloke who'd been doing something heavy duty like cutting down trees or something an hour or so before. And for someone who hadn't been expecting a visitor. He probably needed a shave, alright he definitely needed a shave, she was going to have stubble rash all over but that was her fault, she'd kept telling him it didn't matter and not to stop, and he hadn't. Still, he wasn't a bit sweaty, well, alright he was a tiny bit but that was because he'd spent the last hour showing he was back to being fighting fit, it was obvious how much he'd been working out, he was all toned with those muscles as impressive as they always were, he was back to being what he'd once told her was a fully functioning soldier.

"Where's your stuff?"

"At mum's … weren't gonna turn up all bloody mingin' … 'n with me stuff like some waif and stray … I'd of looked a bit bloody stupid if you'd told me to do one, wouldn't I?"

"As if that was going to happen" He shook his head.

"Well you 'aven't said if you missed me"

"You have to ask? I had this speech all planned for when you got back which by the way was supposed to be next week, because that's 98 days, this was 92 … "

"Don't nit-pick … told you …they was going my way so I hitched a lift …"

"God, I dread to think …"

"That's not nice, but probably best … what was this speech about then?"

"Oh, this and that, I think you know that I'm going to want you to stay with me and that I want to hear you say you feel the same way, but I know it would be asking you to make a hell of a lot of changes in your life …. I don't even live here, but I'm not going to ask you to come with me when I go, even if it's what I want more than anything, because it would be asking you to tear up your life by its roots and that's not fair … I don't know how we can make this work, but one thing I do know is that it's what we're going to do …"

"'ave you finished?"

"Yup … your turn"

"Ditto?"

And she hadn't been wrong, it did mean he wanted to ask her to marry him, although she didn't have to offer to have his babies, well not for a little while anyway. She never did quite get round to telling him about Bashira, about pulling that stroke with Quaseem in Kabul, and by their wedding day she'd managed to lock it away In the box under the stairs. She'd also managed to muzzle Dave, well with a bit of help from Nan, and then Charles and her set out together on the "happy ever after" she used to dream about when she'd been sat on the ground listening to him in the dusty heat of a compound in Afghan.