Audrey woke first the next morning and she smiled as she felt the warmth radiating from the body lying next to her. She hadn't woken wrapped in his arms like in the movies but his arm was resting heavily on her just above her hip, a sign that he was still fast asleep.

She lifted her head slightly to peer over at him. He had always been a handsome man, that hadn't changed over the last ten years. Sure, he had aged a little, but hadn't they all. Now there was one important difference. Now she got to stare at that face for as long as she wanted and it made her happy.

He was sprawled out in his back and looked so relaxed while he slept. During shifts at the hospital, he always looked focused often with his brow a little furrowed as he gave his full attention to his patients. Now he lay there, his face smooth and a little smile resting on his lips.

She couldn't help herself. She shuffled towards him gently and kissed him on the lips, stirring him from his peaceful sleep.

He stretched out further like a cat and then immediately curled up but not before wrapping his strong arms around her, pulling her close so he could hide his face in her hair, dropping a kiss just by her ear.

She gave a little squeal as she found herself trapped against him and heard his low laugh rumble through his chest.

"What on earth was that? I never thought I'd hear Audrey Lim squeal" he teased, tightening his hold a little.

"That wasn't a squeal" she said, trying to defend herself. "That was just some spare air" she laughed.

"I call bull..." he started but was quickly cut off by her lips capturing his.

"Shush" she mumbled. "Less talking."

"I thought...last night..."

"That was last night" she said pulling back and looking at him. "Now stop thinking" she said as she wriggled free of his hold and gave his shoulder a shove. He was on his back again and did not object as she moved to sit astride him.

"I've got a bit more energy this morning" she said leaning down to kiss him.

X

When they woke for the second time that morning, it was to Neil's alarm. This time they were wrapped so closely together that you couldn't tell where one finished and the other began and they both groaned as the incessant beeping disturbed them.

Stretching out and over her prone form, Neil tapped the snooze button on the screen of his phone and lay back heavily into the pillows.

"Why did you set an alarm" Audrey mumbled, covering here eyes with her arm.

"Some of us still have work you know" he smiled, amused at her reaction to the wakeup call. "You know that in between Christmas and New Year are some of the busiest times. People can't always get in to see their usual practitioners so they head on down to the ER for everything."

"I know, I know" she replied. "But honestly, you couldn't take a day? Like today..."

"Ha, no!" he laughed. "That wouldn't exactly be keeping this quiet would it? But once I've finished, I'll get dinner and come over if you want?"

"I want" she replied with a smile and letting out another groan when his alarm sounded a second time. He moved over her again and tapped the screen on his offline before kissing the tip of her nose and getting up.

"Really? You can't wait five more minutes?" she grumbled.

"You want coffee?" he asked, pulling on his trousers.

"Point" she replied lifting her head a little to look at him. "You're dismissed."

After setting a pot of coffee to go and producing a very makeshift breakfast for her from the sparse supplies he found, he took a five minute shower and got dressed to go.

"You going to go out today?" he asked her, smiling down at her sprawled back across her bed after she had devoured

"Wasn't planning on it. Why's that?"

"Because I'm 99% certain i just used every bit of edible food left in your house on that breakfast. You need groceries. You'll starve if you don't."

"I'll be fine" she argued. "There'll be something in the freezer, don't worry."

He just shook his head, he wasn't going to win this debate so he sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss her.

"Give me a call if you need anything okay?" he reminded her. "You know the deal with the cell phones but just leave a message and I'll pick it up when I can."

"Yes Boss" she replied with a mock salute.

"And don't you forget it" he chuckled. "Now rest up and I'll see you later" he said kissing her once more before heading out to the hospital.

X

Checking his cell sporadically throughout his shift, he was both happy and disappointed not to hear from Audrey. He was scheduled to do another four hours before he could even think of leaving and just hoped that nothing would come in to prevent him leaving on time.

Unbeknownst to him, Audrey had actually taken a stroll down to the nearest grocery store that afternoon after discovering that he wasn't exaggerating and she really didn't have anything for lunch.

It was only a five minute walk from her apartment even at a slow stroll. She didn't want to put any stresses on her recently abused respiratory system, but the fresh air was too much to resist.

Walking up and down the aisles, she smiled to her self as she put a few things into her basket. She had fondly remembered Neil's offer from a few years ago to make her breakfast and quickly Googled the ingredients she would need for him to offer again.

Passing by the alcohol on her way to the checkout, she grinned as she passed the bottles of bourbon lined up so nearly. She needed to replace his after they'd drained the end of the bottle after they went out 'that night' but not today. She picked up a four-pack of beer for them which would do for now.

Her walk home was a little slower and by the time she made it, she was actually thinking she might take a nap. She stored her supplies away and stretched out on her sofa, putting on Netflix and choosing a series that she had wanted to watch for a while.

When Neil arrived at Audreys a few hours later, he gave a knock and waited. There was no reply even though he could hear the muffled sound of her television through the door. Luckily, he had snagged her spare key from the kitchen draw that morning so he took the liberty of letting himself in.

He stood a few moments, smiling at the sight that greeted him. She was stretched out on the sofa with her arms curled up around her head as a cushion. Whatever she had chosen to watch had not held her attention and she had quite simply, fallen asleep where she lay.

He watched a few moments longer, thinking to himself how cute she looked when she was sleeping. Something he doubted he'd ever voice out loud for fear of retribution. He turned into her kitchen and started to put away the groceries he had stopped for on the way.

Opening the fridge, he smiled. She had obviously been out and stocked up on a few bits and pieces. He saw enough there he could work with for the next couple of days unless she kicked him out.

Next job was to wake her. He looked at the other bag he'd brought with him... that was it. He moved towards her and crouched down next to her, opening the bag quietly. He waited a few seconds and grinned as she started to stir.

"They smell amazing" she mumbled, letting her eyes closed. "This had better not be a dream!"

"Nope" he replied. "Come on, before they get cold."

She stretched out cat-like, just as he had that morning and sat up. "I guess I relaxed a bit" she smiled rubbing her eyes.

"Just a bit" he replied with a chuckle. "You'll be late tonight though" he said looking over at the clock.

"That's okay" she replied. "I've got another week with nowhere to be. You gonna keep me company?"

"Like stay, stay" he smirked.

"Yes" she said incredulously. "Are you going to need an official invitation every time?" she teased.

"Nah" he said nodding to the small overnight bag by the door. "I think I get it!"

X

"So you stopped by my truck?" she said with a smile as she screwed the wrapper up into a ball, tossing it onto the table in front of them.

"Maybe" he replied cryptically, smiling while dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. He wasn't the biggest fan of takeout but he would admit that those were some fine tacos they'd been eating over the years.

"Don't maybe me! I can tell the best tacos in the city every time" she exclaimed.

"Then yes" he nodded. "I stopped by your truck. Figured that you'd eat that even if you didn't actually feel like eating anything else."

"You figured right" she smiled, leaning over to kiss him. "Thank you."

"So, how you feeling after your walk to the store? Any issues to report?"

"Apart from by the time I got back I felt about one hundred years old" she laughed. "Nothing to report."

"That's good" he replied. "Maybe tomorrow we could go out and get some lunch before I go in?"

"Erm, no" she replied flatly earning herself a surprised look from Neil. "We can't be going out, having dinner and looking like a couple if we're keeping this quiet" she explained, gesturing between them.

"But we used to go out all the time" Neil countered, frowning.

"But that was BP" Audrey argued, not letting this one go.

"BP?" he asked looking confused.

"Before Preston" she said cringing. "Sorry. It's how Jo describes it" she smiled sheepishly.

He shook his head and let out a sigh.

"Are we literally going to hide then?" Neil asked. He hadn't realised that when they'd agreed on these secret liaisons, that it meant sneaking around quite that much. "Just getting takeout and watching movies at home?"

"What else can we do?" she asked. "We haven't been out together for a long time. Wouldn't it look weird if we just started up again now?"

"Not necessarily. We'd just be old friends going out?" he argued.

"You're so naive!" she said raising her voice to his surprise. "Remember the whispers and the gossip that went around with it? I'm too old for that crap."

He didn't respond.

"Maybe this isn't such a good idea" she mumbled, sounding disappointed. "Maybe we should... "

"No" he interrupted. "Not a chance" he smiled shifting in his seat, resting his arm along the back of the couch.

She turned to look at him and saw a look in her eyes that made her shiver. Pure determination.

"Let's go away. Let's go out of town for a couple of days" he said as he moved closer to her, resting his hand on her thigh. "Let's act like a normal couple and make sure we do actually like each other" he smiled as he lowered his head to drop kisses along her collarbone.

She closed her eyes and let her head fall back, allowing him more access which he took full advantage of.

"We've only been doing this a couple of weeks" she mumbled referring to them. "Don't you think it's a bit soon to take a trip?"

He lifted his head and she groaned at the loss of contact. He sat and waited for her to open her eyes and she saw the look of disbelief on his face.

"You honestly think we've only been doing this a couple of weeks?" he started. "Maybe we've only been doing this..." he said before he kissed her, "recently. But the rest of it, we've been doing almost a decade. I think we'll survive a couple of days together."

"Okay" she smiled. "Let's do it."

"Any preferences?" Neil asked, moving to get his phone from there nearby table when she grabbed his hand.

"Yes, I'd prefer if you finished what you started" she smiled, raising her eyebrows before pulling him back towards her.

X

"So once I finish on the 1st January I'm free as a bird until the 5th. Where do you want to go?" Neil asked as they lay entwined on the couch with the throw blanket pulled over them haphazardly.

"I'm still on leave until 7th so you choose" she said propping herself up to look at him.

"East or West?"

"East" she said quickly. "To snowy West. Don't want to get stuck if I'm not well."

"Okay. Santa Barbara?"

"Too far" she replied, shaking her head. "Well spend most of our time in the car."

"Monterey?"

She didn't reply straight away.

"It'd be busy this time of year, won't it?" she asked.

"It's that code for yes?" he replied with a chuckle.

"Yeah it is" she smiled. "Book it!"