Disclaimer: I do not have any contact with The Bill, Pearson, ITV or
anything else Bill related.
Thanks to: Russ for being such a gorgeous man, Jayne for all of her help and giving me loads of great ideas, and my mate Jess, who not having ever seen an episode of The Bill in her life and had no idea who John and Claire were, was still able to inspire me and help create this story during boring Math classes
*******************************************************************
Chapter 1 - Picture Perfect
John and Don sat in the car, coffees in hand, staring out at an old, disused brick yard, waiting for an apparent meeting with two of Sun Hill's biggest drug barons.
"So how's Claire?" Don broke the silence
"She's good, really good." he replied, not giving much away. Ever since they had gone public with their relationship, they had been on cloud nine, above that even. Although the team at Sun Hill had been shocked that they were together, no one hesitated to say that they made the perfect couple. They congratulated Claire on making John the happiest man he'd been in a VERY long time.
"So you guys are really serious, yeah"
"Yeah we are. I love her, and every day I thank god that she came into my life"
"Wow - John Boulton embracing religion and god, she must have a real effect on you mate"
"I guess she does. listen, we're supposed to finish this up in about half and hour. Would you be able to help me out with something?"
*~*~*
"D'you want a beer?" John asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Yeah sure" Don replied. "So what's this big thing you want the Don's help with?"
John placed a small ring box on the table in front of him.
"That's not what I think it is, is it?" asked Don, shocked that THE John Boulton was considering marriage.
"Open it up, and tell me what you think" Don opened the box slowly. "Oh mate" he said, astounded at its beauty. "She's gonna love it, I promise you"
"I hope so" he replied. For more than five minutes, they just sat there, looking at the ring. It was an antique, belonged to John's great grandmother. The white gold shone in light of the sun, illuminating the princess cut sapphires and the perfect round diamond that sat in the middle.
"It's our first anniversary on Friday. I just have no idea how to do it, that's all"
*~*~*
John looked around the CID office. Mickey was asleep after a heavy night, and Kerry sat at her desk, going through witness statements on a burglary case. John walked up to her.
"Kerry, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Sure sarge, what can I do for you?"
"Not here, come out into the yard with me"
"So what's up? What do you need me for?" she asked. The yard was empty, and so there was no chance of them being over heard. John didn't want his little surprise reaching Claire through the station's gossip network.
"Well, you know me and Claire right" he began "it's our one year anniversary tomorrow, and I want to propose to her but."
"You mean you're going to ask her to marry you?" she exclaimed
A smile spread across his face. "Yeah. I have a ring and all, but I just don't know when's the right time, how to do it and all that. You're Claire's best friend, how do you think she'd like it done?"
"Um. do you have the ring with you? Can I see it?"
"Yeah sure" He took the box out of his pocket, and opened it up. Kerry gasped at what she saw. "It belonged to my great grandmother, and I think it says Claire all over it. Look on the inside". On the inside of the ring, John had inscribed, "Claire, I love thee".
"Oh, John. it's beautiful. She'll says yes, I just know it"
"I hope so. So, what ideas do you have?"
"Well, it's spring now, it's the best time of year for a romantic picnic in the setting sun. Is there a park or something you go to together, or anywhere else that's special?"
John's eyes lit up. "Kerry, you're a star, thank you," he said, pecking her on the cheek.
*~*~*
The next day, John was worried. He was in the middle of Sainsbury's and had no idea what food would constitute a romantic picnic. He dialed Kerry's number.
"Kerry, I need you help," he said, as soon as she picked up the phone.
"What's up?" she sighed, expecting this phone called all day.
"I'm in Sainsbury's. I have no idea what to buy"
"Don't worry, I'll be down in five"
She found him standing in front of the deli counter looking at all the different types of cheeses.
"You going Ok?" she asked, smiling at him.
"Oh Kerry, thank god you're here. It's nearly six I've been here for an hour and I still have no idea what to buy. I mean, look at all this. What the hell is bocconcini?"
"Here" she said, taking the basket from him. "You go home, get yourself sorted out, I'll buy the food and have it set up for you at the rooftop. I'll be gone by seven, every thing will be perfect, and you'll have nothing to worry about"
"Thanks Kerry" he said, giving her a hug "I owe you"
"Don't worry about it, you just worry about Claire ok. Good luck!" she called, as he strode out the door.
*~*~*
That night, John was sitting in the living room when Claire got in. He was so excited, he could barely contain himself, but he knew that he had to keep his little surprise a secret.
"Hi John" she called out, dumping her stuff on the bed. After being in court all day, she couldn't wait to just collapse into his arms for the night
"Hi" he replied, "How was it?"
"Good, should be all done by the end of the week" she said, kissing him.
"Well, you are to forget about that for the rest of the night. I have a little surprise for you?"
"Oh really? What would that be then?" she asked curiously.
"Well, if I told you now it wouldn't be a surprise would it? Come on, let's go," he said, taking her by the hand.
"Where are we going?" she asked
"To the stars" he replied.
*~*~*
They walked up the metal stairway to their rooftop. He saw the picnic that Kerry had set out; the film screen all set up, and turned around to face Claire.
"Now, shut your eyes" he said
"Why? What have you got up there?" she giggled
"No, come on, you have to" she shut her eyes, allowing herself to be guided to the spot where there was a picnic blanket set out, champagne, cheeses, strawberries. John couldn't help but giggle to himself, it reminded him of their last night of strawberries and champagne. She stopped and he placed his arms around her shoulders.
"Happy Anniversary" he said, as she opened her eyes.
"Oh John, look at this! Oh thank you" she exclaimed turning around to face him.
"You know how you couldn't see the stars from our balcony, I thought I'd bring the stars to you"
*~*~*
She sat in his arms, sipping champagne, delighting in the beautiful chocolate-coated strawberries that even Mr. Oliver himself couldn't beat.
"John, what's that screen over there?" she asked, pointing to the wall, where a projection screen hung.
"Well, I don't know about that, we'll have to see"
Suddenly, a picture appeared on the screen. A little girl, aged about 2, sitting in the bath, bubbles all over her, a cheeky grin on face
"JOHN!" she cried, "Where the hell did you get that?" she collapsed in laughter. "I can't believe. where did you get that?" She stopped suddenly when she saw a photo of another child, this time a little boy with bright red hair, his foot sitting on top of a football. She couldn't help but laugh
"I thought you hated football," she said
"I did. my dad made me play, thought I'd be the next striker for Liverpool United"
The photos continued. Claire was so touched by the effort he had made to make the night as perfect as possible. The last graphic came up.
"John? Is that the wrong slide?" she asked, turning around. He held the little box in his hand, the sparkle of the diamond illuminated by the light of the moon.
"Claire." he began "I love you, I loved you the moment I set eyes on you. I want to shout out to the world that I love Claire Stanton, and that I'll never let her go. Will you marry me?"
Claire couldn't stop the tears flowing down her face. She flung her arms around his neck. "Of course I will," she sobbed. He took the ring out of its box, and placed it on her finger.
"It fits. it's perfect" she whispered, as he kissed her softly.
The sound of the single clarinet playing caught Claire's attention, as John got to his feet.
"May I have this dance?" he asked
They moved slowly to the familiar strains of Benny Goodman's Memories of You. "John, this is so perfect. Thank you" she whispered.
"I'm just lucky to have someone like you in my life. My life literally can't get any better than this"
Thanks to: Russ for being such a gorgeous man, Jayne for all of her help and giving me loads of great ideas, and my mate Jess, who not having ever seen an episode of The Bill in her life and had no idea who John and Claire were, was still able to inspire me and help create this story during boring Math classes
*******************************************************************
Chapter 1 - Picture Perfect
John and Don sat in the car, coffees in hand, staring out at an old, disused brick yard, waiting for an apparent meeting with two of Sun Hill's biggest drug barons.
"So how's Claire?" Don broke the silence
"She's good, really good." he replied, not giving much away. Ever since they had gone public with their relationship, they had been on cloud nine, above that even. Although the team at Sun Hill had been shocked that they were together, no one hesitated to say that they made the perfect couple. They congratulated Claire on making John the happiest man he'd been in a VERY long time.
"So you guys are really serious, yeah"
"Yeah we are. I love her, and every day I thank god that she came into my life"
"Wow - John Boulton embracing religion and god, she must have a real effect on you mate"
"I guess she does. listen, we're supposed to finish this up in about half and hour. Would you be able to help me out with something?"
*~*~*
"D'you want a beer?" John asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Yeah sure" Don replied. "So what's this big thing you want the Don's help with?"
John placed a small ring box on the table in front of him.
"That's not what I think it is, is it?" asked Don, shocked that THE John Boulton was considering marriage.
"Open it up, and tell me what you think" Don opened the box slowly. "Oh mate" he said, astounded at its beauty. "She's gonna love it, I promise you"
"I hope so" he replied. For more than five minutes, they just sat there, looking at the ring. It was an antique, belonged to John's great grandmother. The white gold shone in light of the sun, illuminating the princess cut sapphires and the perfect round diamond that sat in the middle.
"It's our first anniversary on Friday. I just have no idea how to do it, that's all"
*~*~*
John looked around the CID office. Mickey was asleep after a heavy night, and Kerry sat at her desk, going through witness statements on a burglary case. John walked up to her.
"Kerry, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Sure sarge, what can I do for you?"
"Not here, come out into the yard with me"
"So what's up? What do you need me for?" she asked. The yard was empty, and so there was no chance of them being over heard. John didn't want his little surprise reaching Claire through the station's gossip network.
"Well, you know me and Claire right" he began "it's our one year anniversary tomorrow, and I want to propose to her but."
"You mean you're going to ask her to marry you?" she exclaimed
A smile spread across his face. "Yeah. I have a ring and all, but I just don't know when's the right time, how to do it and all that. You're Claire's best friend, how do you think she'd like it done?"
"Um. do you have the ring with you? Can I see it?"
"Yeah sure" He took the box out of his pocket, and opened it up. Kerry gasped at what she saw. "It belonged to my great grandmother, and I think it says Claire all over it. Look on the inside". On the inside of the ring, John had inscribed, "Claire, I love thee".
"Oh, John. it's beautiful. She'll says yes, I just know it"
"I hope so. So, what ideas do you have?"
"Well, it's spring now, it's the best time of year for a romantic picnic in the setting sun. Is there a park or something you go to together, or anywhere else that's special?"
John's eyes lit up. "Kerry, you're a star, thank you," he said, pecking her on the cheek.
*~*~*
The next day, John was worried. He was in the middle of Sainsbury's and had no idea what food would constitute a romantic picnic. He dialed Kerry's number.
"Kerry, I need you help," he said, as soon as she picked up the phone.
"What's up?" she sighed, expecting this phone called all day.
"I'm in Sainsbury's. I have no idea what to buy"
"Don't worry, I'll be down in five"
She found him standing in front of the deli counter looking at all the different types of cheeses.
"You going Ok?" she asked, smiling at him.
"Oh Kerry, thank god you're here. It's nearly six I've been here for an hour and I still have no idea what to buy. I mean, look at all this. What the hell is bocconcini?"
"Here" she said, taking the basket from him. "You go home, get yourself sorted out, I'll buy the food and have it set up for you at the rooftop. I'll be gone by seven, every thing will be perfect, and you'll have nothing to worry about"
"Thanks Kerry" he said, giving her a hug "I owe you"
"Don't worry about it, you just worry about Claire ok. Good luck!" she called, as he strode out the door.
*~*~*
That night, John was sitting in the living room when Claire got in. He was so excited, he could barely contain himself, but he knew that he had to keep his little surprise a secret.
"Hi John" she called out, dumping her stuff on the bed. After being in court all day, she couldn't wait to just collapse into his arms for the night
"Hi" he replied, "How was it?"
"Good, should be all done by the end of the week" she said, kissing him.
"Well, you are to forget about that for the rest of the night. I have a little surprise for you?"
"Oh really? What would that be then?" she asked curiously.
"Well, if I told you now it wouldn't be a surprise would it? Come on, let's go," he said, taking her by the hand.
"Where are we going?" she asked
"To the stars" he replied.
*~*~*
They walked up the metal stairway to their rooftop. He saw the picnic that Kerry had set out; the film screen all set up, and turned around to face Claire.
"Now, shut your eyes" he said
"Why? What have you got up there?" she giggled
"No, come on, you have to" she shut her eyes, allowing herself to be guided to the spot where there was a picnic blanket set out, champagne, cheeses, strawberries. John couldn't help but giggle to himself, it reminded him of their last night of strawberries and champagne. She stopped and he placed his arms around her shoulders.
"Happy Anniversary" he said, as she opened her eyes.
"Oh John, look at this! Oh thank you" she exclaimed turning around to face him.
"You know how you couldn't see the stars from our balcony, I thought I'd bring the stars to you"
*~*~*
She sat in his arms, sipping champagne, delighting in the beautiful chocolate-coated strawberries that even Mr. Oliver himself couldn't beat.
"John, what's that screen over there?" she asked, pointing to the wall, where a projection screen hung.
"Well, I don't know about that, we'll have to see"
Suddenly, a picture appeared on the screen. A little girl, aged about 2, sitting in the bath, bubbles all over her, a cheeky grin on face
"JOHN!" she cried, "Where the hell did you get that?" she collapsed in laughter. "I can't believe. where did you get that?" She stopped suddenly when she saw a photo of another child, this time a little boy with bright red hair, his foot sitting on top of a football. She couldn't help but laugh
"I thought you hated football," she said
"I did. my dad made me play, thought I'd be the next striker for Liverpool United"
The photos continued. Claire was so touched by the effort he had made to make the night as perfect as possible. The last graphic came up.
"John? Is that the wrong slide?" she asked, turning around. He held the little box in his hand, the sparkle of the diamond illuminated by the light of the moon.
"Claire." he began "I love you, I loved you the moment I set eyes on you. I want to shout out to the world that I love Claire Stanton, and that I'll never let her go. Will you marry me?"
Claire couldn't stop the tears flowing down her face. She flung her arms around his neck. "Of course I will," she sobbed. He took the ring out of its box, and placed it on her finger.
"It fits. it's perfect" she whispered, as he kissed her softly.
The sound of the single clarinet playing caught Claire's attention, as John got to his feet.
"May I have this dance?" he asked
They moved slowly to the familiar strains of Benny Goodman's Memories of You. "John, this is so perfect. Thank you" she whispered.
"I'm just lucky to have someone like you in my life. My life literally can't get any better than this"