2022 Tropes & Fandoms event - Trope: Holiday/Vacation
The Things We Do For Love
Upon their arrival in England, Camille grimaced as soon as they stepped out onto the busy London street while Richard was focused on trying to flag down a cab. Therefore, he could not see her less-than-impressed expression when the London weather turned out to be exactly as she had feared. Everything was cold, damp, and gray.
I voluntarily left the beautiful Caribbean for this? she asked herself wonderingly before she sighed and drew her collar up to help keep the wet chill at bay as much as possible. When she glanced over to see how Richard was reacting to the same scene, however, she was not at all surprised to see that he was he was in his element. After all, he really loved London!
"Isn't this great? he asked cheerfully and proved her correct as he gestured gleefully towards their surroundings. Even though the cabbies seemed to be ignoring him with their typical big city indifference, and he was getting drenched in the process of trying to catch their attention, he still wore one of the biggest smiles on his face that she had ever seen on him. After all, at work he was usually much too buttoned-up...literally...to allow himself to relax to such a degree.
Despite the miserable conditions, his obvious happiness warmed her soul...and she quickly closed the distance between them in order to give him a kiss.
Since he was the stereotypical straight-laced Englishman, Richard was not usually comfortable with public displays of affection. However, in the short time they had been together, he had come to expect...and even welcome...such behavior from the French woman whose fiery spirit had driven him to distraction almost from the moment they had met. As a result, the man's eyes lit up with a quiet passion at her silent declaration and the hard-won affection she saw there brought a smile to her own face.
In fact, their obvious happiness in being together caused them to shine so bright that not even the gloomy English weather could diminish the effect.
Neverthless, it had taken a near-death experience to get them to that point.
Camille had been completely devastated when Richard had almost died in a brutal murder attempt with an ice pick* that only barely missed his heart and other vitals. Consequently, after he had made it through emergency surgery, she unashamedly abused her position of authority by using her police credentials in order to get in to see him so she could bypass the hospital's strict "immediate family only" rule.
Once she was by his side, though, Richard had looked so still and pale lying there...even more so than normal...that her tears had spilled again for probably the hundredth time that day as she gave the unconscious man a heartsick scolding.
"No matter how stubbornly English you are...you had better make it through this alive, Richard Poole. I'm warning you...don't leave me...or you'll never get Maman's roast beef again...and...I'll...I'll never...get the chance...to tell you," here she paused as a sob rose up in her throat before she swallowed hard and tried again. "That I love you," she finished desperately.
She knew that the heavily medicated man could not really hear her...but she still felt that it finally needed to be said. She only hoped that she had not waited too late to tell him how she felt about him.
...
Yet again, however, she had underestimated the man...just like she had when their paths...and tempers...had crossed for the very first time when she was on Saint Marie for an undercover mission during his investigation of the connected murder of DI Hulme. **
She had obviously been wrong about him then...just as she also was on this occasion.
...
When Camille returned to the hospital on the next day, she was thrilled to see a slightly less pale Richard sitting upright in bed as he spoke to the Commissioner, as their formidable...but ultimately kindhearted...boss sat in a nearby chair.
"Ah...Camille," Richard murmured as soon as she appeared in the doorway...almost as if he had been watching and waiting for her arrival...despite the fact that he already had such important company.
The woman stopped in her tracks at the sound of his voice – especially since she had been so afraid that she would never hear it again.
"Sir...You're back. You're here." Emotion filled her voice as she sagged against the doorframe in relief.
"Well, I couldn't take the risk of never having Catherine's delicious roast beef again, now c...could I?" He stated in what was meant to be his usual matter-of-fact tone. It probably would have even sounded completely normal to someone who did not know him as well as she did, but Camille could heard the unusual waver at the end.
That small uncharacteristic hitch, the very specific food reference, and the expression in his eyes when they met hers all convinced Camille that Richard had heard her declaration on the previous day...all of it. She still did not know exactly how he felt about her, but she could not be sorry that he now knew her heart. In fact, she did not care about anything else...just as long as he was out of danger. His life was the only thing that was important at the moment.
With that in mind, she consequently surprised them all as she interrupted whatever else the Englishman was going to say in order to throw herself into his arms as joyfully as she could, instead...with careful consideration for his chest wound, of course.
"Yes...well..." His usual firm hold on his emotions obviously floundered a bit at her unexpected...but certainly not unwelcome...affection. After all, the woman had captivated him from the beginning...in a way that nobody else ever had...even though...or perhaps even because...she simultaneously infuriated him, as well. He had never quite figured out how to tell her what he felt, though.
"I know you French are the emotional sorts, but..." here he paused for just a moment as he tightened his arms around her, too. "I have to admit that this is quite pleasant and...well...you must know by now..." He cleared his throat nervously before he also made his decision to wait no longer to speak as he looked down at the woman whom he finally held in his arms, "that I feel the same."
Camille just stared at him in astonishment for a moment before she reacted to his confession with a kiss that matched her fiery French spirit...and that one led to several more. Therefore, neither of them even remembered that the Commissioner was still in the room with them...nor did they notice when he left quietly just a moment later with a small knowing smirk on his face.
After all, he was not a bit surprised at the scene that he had just witnessed. He was an observant man and had foreseen that exact situation coming for quite some time...perhaps even from their admittedly difficult beginning. The two detectives had made a damn fine team, though, and he had taken great pleasure and had gone to some lengths to insure that they continued to work together...despite their initial reluctance to do so.
He and Catherine had even often discussed the possibility of the partners becoming more - especially during slow times at her bar. After all, Catherine just wanted her stubborn daughter to settle down with a good man. Richard...despite his obvious reluctance to accept the Caribbean mindset and way of life...was a very good man. Consequently, Selwyn decided to make his way over to her place as soon as possible and share the good news in person while his two favorite detectives finally figured things out for themselves.
Once Richard had left the hospital and had healed sufficiently to be cleared to travel, he asked Camille to accompany him on a short holiday back to his home in the UK. Their new understanding...one that found her at the beach shack most nights...to the delight of them both...encouraged her agreement for the scheme.
That was true even though England was not on her list of favorite places to visit. Nevertheless, Richard obviously loved it...and she loved him. Plus, the fact that she found that she could deny him nothing since she had almost lost him...was the reason she currently stood in the perpetually drizzly city far from the sun and surf of the place she preferred to call home. It was a small sacrifice, though. After all, Richard had already agreed to stay on the island...with her...once his medical leave was over. If he was willing to do that for her sake, even though he hated the heat and the sand, then this small holiday was the least she could do for him.
After all, love is all about give and take...right? she told herself.
"I thought we'd stop by my old local first...for a pint and a bite to eat in the snug," Richard, not knowing the direction of her musing, continued with enthusiasm. He had finally succeeded in the procurement of a taxi and had given the driver the necessary directions as they settled in the back. "Then we'll head to Mum and Father's."
Camille nodded. She would be happy to see Jennifer and Graham again. After all, she had not seen them since they had briefly visited the island during the Polly Carter case,*** even though Richard dutifully called them every Sunday and they were apparently thrilled with the idea of their son's new relationship. Like Catherine with Camille, they also had despaired of Richard ever finding someone to love.
She almost changed her mind, however...about everything... when he told her about the big surprise he had planned for them. In light of the conversation they had shared during the night they were stranded together during Hurricane Irma,**** he had made very particular travel arrangements for them.
"In the morning, we'll head out in the caravan," he proclaimed proudly," and I will introduce you to some of the real England."
Camille kept her opinion about that to herself. After all, the normally brilliant man was still recovering from his near-death experience and allowances had to be made for his current extremely misguided decision-making abilities.
Nevertheless, she made a firm decision right then and there. For their next holiday together...after he was completely healed so he had no excuses...they would definitely visit Paris.
After all, it was her favorite city in the world...and she just knew that Richard would love it as much as she loved London.
The things we do for love, she thought with a slightly devious smile as she rested her head contentedly against Richard's shoulder for the rest of the ride and listened to him happily ramble on about the sights and scenes they passed along the way.
Notes: Death in Paradise
*Death of a Detective (S3:E1)
**Arriving in Paradise (S1:E1)
***The Killing of Polly Carter by Robert Thorogood (DiP Mystery novel #2)
****A Deadly Storm (S2:E7)