"Really?" John said stepping out of the shadows
I didn't know whether to be happy or annoyed so I settled for throwing myself at him.
"Go on you two go and use the flat, you have a lot of talking to do" Eilleen said as her and Kerry wandered off leaving us alone.
We stood and hugged for a while, I breathed in the scent of John's lynx, god how I had missed him.
I smiled as John planted a soft kiss in my hair
John took my hand and we made our way to the flat at the back of the house, he let us in with keys that Eilleen had obviously slipped him.
I gasped as I entered the flat, lying on the table was the biggest bunch of white roses I had ever seen.
"Claire, these are to say sorry for hitting you" John said picking up the roses and handing them to me
"Oh John, they're beautiful" There were twelve pure white roses with a single red one in the centre and five sprigs of delicately coloured purple babies breath
"It's going to take a lot to make things right between us John," I said quietly looking out of the window
"I know, but it's a start right?" John said uncertainly
I turned to face him and looked at him closely- he was a sorry state, although he was done up in a tuxedo, you could tell he hadn't slept for days or brushed his hair properly
"I don't know John, I really don't know. I need to be sure you're not going to turn violent and hit me again"
John's eyes watered before he said:
"I'll get my coat then if you don't trust me"
"John you hit me, how am I meant to trust you?" I sighed, John was not thinking rationally and I wasn't getting through to him
"John listen to me" I took his hand and together we sat on the sofa "I love you more than the world, and I hate fighting with you, if you listen to me and we talk this through, hopefully we can get back together"
"Look Claire, I love you and I didn't mean to hit you, I was just so angry with myself, with Kerry and with you. It was my fault the suspect got away, I was facing the other way talking to the owner of the club, Kerry yelled out that he was running towards me, yet I still let him escape, I could have brought him down in one quick rugby dive but I didn't, I failed. I blamed Kerry, maybe if she'd have been quicker on her feet she'd have caught him but none of it was Kerry's fault it was all mine" John paused and took hold of my other hand:
"I'm glad you stepped in between me and Kerry, I'm not glad I hit you of course"
"It's a bloody good job I stepped in, because if you'd have hit Kerry, not only would Mickey have gone for you, she'd have had your ass out of the force quicker than you could've said sorry" I interrupted
"I've really messed up haven't I? I may lose my job, I've lost my reputation and I've lost you. I've failed, I'm a failure" John sighed, letting go of my hands and turning away.
I watched him for a few minutes before I realised he was crying
"John?... John look at me" I put my hand on his shoulder and pulled him towards me. I moved closer to him and wrapped my arms him. John snuggled into my arms, head resting on my shoulder like a child.
Author Note: I know Babies Breath is white but for the purpose of this story I needed it to be purple.
I am now back from my holiday and hopefully I should have more regular internet access.