Not for All of the Unicorns in Scotland
Prologue
Six-year-old Ellie gasped as the glass unicorn slipped through her fingers and shattered against the tile floor of her Grandparent's living room.
"Ellie is everything all right?" Her grandmother called from the kitchen.
Tears filled the young girl's eyes as she silently looked at the shattered remains laying at her feet. She could not answer her grandmother as she felt her stomach tighten.
"Ellie?" He Grandmother called again her voice coming closer. Her grandmother entered the room and spotted the broken figure. "On no, Love did you drop it?" She asked.
Ellie began to cry, "I'm sorry Grandma I just wanted to see it closer. It was my favorite one." She said glancing briefly at the cabinet that held her grandmother's collection of unicorns.
"Shhh, it was an accident." The older woman said as she gathered Ellie in her arms.
"I know how much you love your unicorns," Ellie said resting her head against her grandmother's shoulder.
"I do, but it's not the first one to be broken, My Love." She explained as she stroked Ellie's hair.
"Really?" Ellie answered in surprise.
"Really. In fact, I broke the first one Granddad ever gave me." Her grandmother explained.
Ellie studied her face, "Were you very sad that you broke it?"
A chuckle came from the door followed by a thick Scottish accent. "At the moment she was angrier than sad darlin'." Her granddad answered joining them in the living room. He took Ellie in one arm and wrapped the other around his wife as he settled them on the couch.
"Angry because you broke it?" Ellie asked her grandmother.
Her granddad chuckled again, "No, angry with me for giving it to her."
Ellie looked between her grandparents in complete confusion. Her grandmother smiled as she leaned across her to kiss her grandfather.
"Why were you angry over about a gift Grandma. Did you want something else?" Her grandmother smiled looking between her grandfather and her.
"I did Love, and I thought it was too late to have what I wanted." Her grandmother answered.
"But that was actually the second unicorn. You have to start with the first unicorn." Her Grandad told her.
MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH
The First Unicorn
Ellie glanced down at her watch. It was almost five on Friday afternoon. The bullpen area was empty, everyone had slowly crept out knowing that the boss was lost in paperwork and not likely to notice their absence. Ellis shut off her computer and pushed was from her desk. She looked into his office and shook her head with a laugh. His lunch still sat half-eaten on the edge of his desk. He had put off his quarterly reports for too long and now had no choice but to finish them. She walked to his office and knocked lightly but pushed the door open before waiting for his response.
"Close to being finished?" She asked.
He looked up from his paperwork, tossed his glasses on his desk, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tell me, Miller, how can one tiny little town produce so much paperwork?"
Ellie smiled at him, "I've got to go I promised Beth and the girls I would go shopping with them for tomorrow night."
Hardy thought for a minute, "Yes, yes for that town social thing."
"Yes, the May Day dance." She answered.
"Who is watching the boys while you shop?" He asked her.
"Tom said he would be all right for awhile watching Fred." She answered. "But I should probably go before that offer expires."
She turned to leave when she heard him call her. "If you want Miller I could wait with the boys at your place. I could pick up some takeaway and make sure they eat."
She studied him suspiciously then spied the pile of files still on his desk and rolled her eyes. "You want me to help you with the reports." She laughed.
Hardy ran his hands through his hair, "There's just so much of it Miller. It could take me all weekend, and I promised Daisy I would go to that thing tomorrow night. Please?"
Ellie sighed, "Fine, I will go shopping with Beth and the girls and then help you with the reports. You are going to owe me though Hardy."
Hardy stood from the desk and smiled. "Anything. Now hurry on and get your shopping done. How long do you think it will take, thirty minutes, an hour?"
"Goodbye Hardy. I will see you when we are done." She answered him shaking her head as she turned to gather her things from her desk.
Twenty minutes later she was entering a dress shop where Beth, Chloe, and Daisy were waiting for her.
"We were beginning to think you stood us up." Bethe greeted her.
Ellie shook her head, "Sorry, had a little trouble getting away."
"Is my dad being difficult Ellie?" Daisy asked with a laugh.
"No more than usual, Love, but we reached an agreement, so now let's shop," Ellie told her.
The teenagers happily turned their attention to finding the perfect outfits for the next evening. They tried on several until finally settling on what they felt were exactly right. Daisy glanced at Ellie who had watched their fashion parade.
"Are you getting anything new for tomorrow Ellie?" She asked.
Ellie shook her head and moved to tidy up some of the discarded clothes. "No, I don't think I am going tomorrow night."
"What?" The three other shoppers asked in unison.
Ellie shrugged, "I didn't go last year either."
"Well, you are going this year. It's my first Broadchurch May Day Dance and I want you there. My dad even said he would go." Daisy insisted.
"I don't know Daisy…" Ellie began but Beth cut her off.
"Daisy is right El, you should go. This is your town still and you can't hide from all of the special times." She told her friend.
"Fine, I will go, but just for a little while." Ellie conceded.
"Terrific now let's find you a dress," Daisy said turning to the racks.
"I am sure I have something at home I can wear." Ellie protested.
"Rubbish, you need to treat yourself to something new." The teenager insisted as she pulled dresses off the racks and studying them. She discarded several until finally holding up a spring blue one and nodding with approval. "Go try this one on." She instructed pushing it into Ellie's arms.
Ellie rolled her eyes but complied walking into the dressing room. She could not remember the last time she had bought a new dress. She studied herself in the mirror and was about to take it off when she heard Daisy from outside the fitting room.
"Don't you dare take it off before we get to see it on you!" She yelled.
Ellie sighed, sometimes that girl was every bit as exasperating as her father. She pushed her way through the fitting room doors to where everyone was waiting. Silence fell over her companions as Ellie walked out.
"Is it that bad?" She asked nervously.
"It's perfect El." Beth was the first to speak and Chloe nodded in agreement.
"Well, Daisy? Will it do?" Ellie asked the uncharacteristically quiet teenager.
A smile lit up the girl's face, "It will definitely do."
Ellie shuffled nervously, "All right then, I best get going, I promised your father I would help him finish some paperwork."
MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH
"My God Hardy, when was the last time you did any of your reports?" Ellie asked as she picked another from the seemingly endless stack.
Hardy shrugged, "I never said that paperwork was my strength." They fell back into a comfortable silence as they continued their work.
"So, did everyone get what they needed?" Hardy asked after some time had passed.
"What?" Ellie asked looking up from the report she was working on.
"For the thing tomorrow night? Did everyone get what they needed?" He asked
Ellie thought back to the dress and instantly found herself wondering what he would think of it. She shook her head wondering where that thought had come from. He probably had never noticed what she wore, and tomorrow night would be no different. Stop, why was she thinking about this?
"Miller?" His voice broke through her thoughts.
Ellie shook her head trying to clear her thoughts. "Yes, yes everyone got what they needed."
Hardy studied her for a minute. "We should probably call it a night. I can finish the rest tomorrow before the thing."
"Yes, maybe I should get some sleep," Ellie said.
"All right then. I will see you, tomorrow Miller." He said as he gathered up the paperwork.
"Leave that stack. I can do it in the morning." Ellie said pointing to the stack she had been working on.
"Are you sure? What about the boys?" He hesitated.
"Tom has football and Fred will happily watch a movie while I work." She explained.
"Ok, well then, thanks, Miller." He said walking to the door. He stopped and turned back to her. "Why don't you let me take you to dinner tomorrow night before the thing? You know as a thank you." He asked awkwardly.
Ellie stared at him blankly, "You don't have to do that Hardy."
He straightened himself up a bit, "No, I don't have to, but I would like to."
Ellie continued to stare, "Just the two of us?"
"Well yes, it's not like we've never shared a meal in a restaurant before. Never mind though. I should not have asked." He said crossing his arms over his chest.
Ellie reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "Yes, you should have. Thank you, yes, I would like to have dinner with you before the dance tomorrow night.
Hardy nodded, "See you at six then?"
"That sounds nice." She answered still wondering what exactly was happening.
"Good night Miller." He said as he opened the door to leave.
"Good night Hardy, see you tomorrow." She answered before she closed the door behind him.
She was halfway up the stairs when the realization hit her like a truck. By agreeing to go to dinner with him before the dance she had also agreed to go with him to the dance. An event that a few hours ago she had not planned to attend she would now be attending with Alec Hardy, the man half the town already believed she was or had been shagging. Now she was going to show up at the biggest social event of the year in Broadchurch with him. She felt herself begin to panic as she dialed Beth's number on her mobile.
"El, is everything all right? It's almost midnight." Beth answered sleepily.
"No Beth, I have a crisis," Ellie said her voice quivering.
"What's wrong El?" Her friend asked suddenly awake.
"I just agreed to go to dinner with Hardy tomorrow night before the dance. Which means that I will be going to the dance with Hardy." Ellie explained talking rapidly. She was met with silence on the other end of the phone. "Beth, say something."
"You're going on a date with Alec Hardy." Her friend said with a hint of laughter.
"It is not a date Beth." Ellie insisted.
"It's dinner and the May Day Dance. It is definitely a date El." Beth told her now giggling.
"Oh God Beth, what am I going to do?" She asked.
"You're going to go to bed, do whatever you need to tomorrow during the day. Then Chloe and I will come over around 4:00 to help you get ready." Beth explained calmly.
"I do not need help getting ready," Ellie said defiantly.
"When was the last time you went on a date El? 16,17 years ago? Go to bed we'll see you at 4:00." Beth said before hanging up the phone.
MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH
Ellie glanced in the mirror one last time as heard the doorbell ring. She had to admit that Chloe and Beth had done a good job with her hair and makeup. Beth managed to get her curls under control. Chloe has done her makeup. She wore the blue dress that Daisy had selected for her and a pair of high-heeled sandals.
"Mum, Alec is here," Tom called from downstairs.
Ellie spotted him standing in her foyer. She immediately realized he was not in a suit. In fact, his clothes matched perfectly with what she was wearing. Daisy's doing undoubtedly. He was also holding a bouquet of flowers. She was glad that she had a moment to study him before he saw her because she could take that moment to appreciate how good he looked standing there.
"Hi." She finally said interrupting the conversation he was having with her dad and Tom. All three men stopped and stared at her, nobody speaking.
"Mom, wow!" Tom spoke first.
"You look, beautiful Sweetheart." Her Dad said kissing her on the cheek.
Hardy notably stood there saying nothing. He simply stared as if she were a complete stranger. "Alec, did you want to give Ellie the flowers you brought?" Her dad finally said with a chuckle.
"Yes, yes flowers," Alec said half shoving the bouquet in her hands.
"They are lovely, thank you." She said. "I'll just put them in some water." She said turning to the kitchen.
She returned a few moments later Hardy still standing in the same place. "Should we go?" She finally asked.
"Yes, we should go." He said numbly. Ellie stared at him in confusion wondering if he was regretting asking her to go. Once they were in his car and he was still not speaking she finally said something.
"We don't have to do this Hardy. I don't mind helping you with your reports you don't have to take me to dinner or the dance." She said.
"What? No, I want to." He said starting to pull himself out of his stupor.
"Then what is wrong with you?" She asked.
Hardy turned a deep shade of red, "You just look amazing." He admitted.
It was Ellie's turn to blush. "Thank you, Hardy."
"I'm sorry for acting like an idiot, especially in front of your dad and Tom." He said sheepishly. "I wasn't expecting…"
"Me to look like a woman?" She laughed had it been anyone but Hardy she might have been insulted.
"Oh, you always look like a woman." He assured her. "This is just a different level."
"Well, you look pretty decent too." She told him and without thinking, she leaned over a kissed him on the cheek. "Now, are you going to feed me dinner or should I go get one of Fred's Goody Bars?"
Hardy took another long look at her before starting the car, "Dinner, no bloody Goody Bars tonight." He answered with a hint of a smile.
MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH
"There's an actual May Pole?" Hardy stared in disbelief when they arrived at the dance after dinner.
Ellie rolled her eyes at him. "What did you expect? It is May Day." She reminded him.
"Yes, but I didn't realize anyone actually did that anymore." He explained.
"Hardy, it's your third May Day in Broadchurch. How did you not notice it the last two years?" She asked with a laugh.
Hardy shrugged, "I was busy. It wasn't my job to notice May Poles and the like."
Ellie shook her head. "The primary school children decorate it each year. I can still remember doing it as a child. Tom has done it, in another couple of years Fred will. It is a tradition.
"This town and all its traditions." Hardy scoffed.
"Stop, you aren't allowed to make fun of my town tonight, just try and enjoy it for a change." She admonished him.
"Fine, lead the way." He said holding out his arm for her to take. She hesitated for a second before looping her arm through his.
The May Day dance was part dance, part carnival, it mainly served as a fundraiser for the primary school. They walked the perimeter of the event so that Hardy could take it all in.
"Well, this is certainly not what I was expecting," Hardy commented as he took it all in.
Ellie shrugged, "I know it's cheesy, but it's a tradition, and it is a lot of fun. If you let yourself have fun."
Hardy felt bad for his teasing when he noticed the hint of disappointment in her voice. He really did want her to have a good time tonight. He owed her that. He reached out and took her hand in his.
"Well then let's go have some fun." He said with a smile as he walked her to where the games were. They stopped in front of one where you toss rings over bottles. "This one, we're going to play this one." He told her.
Ellie looked at stuffed animals hanging above the game for prizes., "Fancy yourself a lion or maybe a unicorn?" She teased.
Hardy feigned an offended expression, "Do not disparage the unicorn, Miller! She is the official animal of Scotland."
Ellie looked at him in disbelief, "Your official animal is mythical? No wonder you've yet to gain independence." She teased. "Now a lion, that's a real animal. The king of all animals."
Hardy raised an eyebrow at her. "Care for a contest Miller?"
"A contest?" She asked.
"Unicorns vs Lions, the loser has to take the winner's animal home." He proposed.
Ellie smiled, "Oh you are on Hardy she said." She quickly set money down on the counter in front of the man running the game. "Best two out of three." She said. She glanced back at Hardy who was rolling up his shirt sleeves. "Be thinking of a name for your lion."
"Oh no, the winner gets to name the animal." He countered as he handed her a set of rings.
"Deal." She said as she tossed the first one reaching the furthest bottle. Her next ring landed beside it. Then her final one a row closer. She turned back and offered him a satisfied smile. "Good luck." She said handing him his rings.
He moved over to the second set of bottles. His first two rings landed in the same spots hers' had. He turned and grinned at her and she rolled her eyes. He tossed the third ring and it bounced off the bottle landing on the ground.
"Round one to the lady." The man operating the game said with a smile.
On her second round, two of Ellie's made it to the second row and one to the last. "You're starting to slip." Hardy teased her. "At least all of mine are on bottles." She replied waiting for his next turn. All three of his landed easily on the last row.
"Round two goes to the gentleman." The man said with a wider smile. Ellie became aware a small crowd was forming around them. Ellie spotted Daisy, Chloe, and Tom in the crowd.
"Come on Ellie, you can beat him!" Daisy shouted.
"No way, my money is on Hardy all the way." Tom chimed in.
"Looks like it's boys versus girls." The man smiled handing Ellie her final set of rings.
She tossed the first one easily hitting the back row, same with the second. "Be thinking of a good lion name Daisy." She said over her shoulder where the kids were standing. She tossed her final ring and it hit the bottle and fell to the ground as Hardy's had on his first round.
"Oh, looks like it will be a unicorn name." Hardy grinned.
"You haven't tossed anything yet." Ellie reminded him.
Hardy raised an eyebrow at her and turned back to the game. His first ring hit slid easily down the neck of a bottle on the back row, followed by the second one right next to it. Ellie took a deep breath, if this ring made it, she would never hear the end of it. He turned and grinned at her as he lazily tossed the last ring. It slipped around the neck of a bottle on the first row. The wanker he could have hit the last row, but he purposely hit the first one just to make a point.
"Show off." She muttered as the crowd around them began to cheer.
"We'll take a unicorn," Hardy said with the biggest smile Ellie had ever seen on his face.
The man handed Hady a small unicorn. "For a 15-pound donation to the school, you can have the large one." He told him.
Hardy eagerly reached for his wallet and handed the man the money. "Keep the change." He smiled taking the largest, most sparkly unicorn the man had.
Ellie rolled her eyes as he handed it to her, "What's his name?"
Hardy glanced over where Daisy and Tom were whispering. "Tom, a name for your mother's unicorn please."
Tom looked at Daisy and nodded, "Well he must be named after the one who caught him, so I guess his name is Alec."
Hardy suddenly looked stricken, and Ellie grinned holding her new giant pink and purple unicorn. She fluffed its rainbow main bits of glitter falling loose. "Yes, yes, I definitely think it looks like an Alec."
"Even when I win, I lose," Hardy grumbled.
"Come on Hardy, there's plenty Alec here needs to see still." Ellis laughed shuffling the unicorn to one arm as she slid her other into Hardy's.
There were booths set up where people were selling handmade items and various gifts. They stopped at one where someone was selling wooden train sets.
"Fred would love these," Hardy said inspecting one.
Ellie smiled, truly touched that he saw something, and thought of her son. "He would." She agreed. "But they are too expensive." She added in a whisper.
Hardy didn't say anything but slipped one of the business cards in his pocket when Ellie wasn't looking. The next thing he knew Ellie was pulling on his hand.
"Come one Hardy, a photo booth." She said with delight. "We must get our picture made with Alec."
"You have to be bloody crackers if you think I am getting in a photobooth with you and that." He said motioning to his unicorn namesake.
"What, the proud Scot doesn't want to take his picture with his national animal?" She goated him.
"Fine." He said rolling his eyes.
They squeezed into the booth. "I don't think we are going to both fit on the bench," Ellie said once they were inside. They spent the next few minutes trying to squat in front of the tiny window camera.
"Oh bloody hell, this is ridiculous." Hardy finally swore as he sat down on the bench and pulled Ellie onto his lap. He pressed the button before she had a chance to protest.
"Hardy!" snap went the first picture.
"You better smile Miller." Snap went the second.
"You are impossible." Snap went the third.
"This was your bloody idea." Snap went the fourth.
"Fine, smile" Snap went the fifth.
Ellie shifted slightly so she could see his face and before the camera could snap again, she quickly pressed her lips against his pulling away just as quickly. He looked at her stunned. Snap went the sixth.
They stumbled wordlessly from the booth, studying each other in silence as they waited for their pictures.
"I'm sorry." She offered feebly as he reached for their pictures.
He studied the pictures silently, then carefully separating them to give her half. He stepped closer to her holding her half of the pictures out. When she reached for them, he gently caught her wrist and pulled her closer still. He studied her face and brushed her hair back with his other hand.
"I'm not." He said softly with a look in his eyes that Ellie hadn't seen before. Then he softly brushed his lips against hers. "Now let's go dance." He said taking her hand in his and leading her to the dancefloor.
MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH
"Do you want to come in for a drink?" Ellie asked him as they stood on her front steps late that night holding the unicorn.
"I would but Daisy has Chloe spending the night so I should probably not be too much later." He said with a hint of regret in his voice.
"I understand, maybe next time." She said.
An unusual full smile spread across his face, "Does that mean there is going to be a next time?
Ellie shuffled uncomfortably, "I just meant, you know…sometime…" she stammered.
Hardy took her hand back in his, "I would really like there to be a next time."
Ellie swallowed, "Me too."
"Next time, then." He said before moving his free hand under her chin and drawing her face to his. He slowly pressed his lips to hers allowing them to linger just a little longer than he had earlier. "Goodnight Ellie." He said softly.
"Goodnight Alec." She answered a smile on her face as she watched him walk back down the walk.
TBC
A/N- Thank you so much for reading! I had the idea for this story back in the fall when my daughter had a reading assignment about how the unicorn was the official animal of Scotland but it took me until now to figure out exactly what that story was. More to come soon. I am so happy to be writing for these two again!