Disclaimer: Helen Fielding owns Bridget Jones, but this story is mine.

Continuation of the last installment, took me a while but holidays proving actually busy for once. This chapter's a little longer than the last few, but I was on a roll! Hope this one's not too sappy.

Little note: The Mark that I write about is very self reflective. As he is quite an introvert and often when we read Bridget Jones, we have know idea what he could be thinking, so this is a way in which his character's inner feelings can be expressed.

Big Apple or Bridget?

November 12th

Think I have just made the biggest mistake of my life.

Last night started off very well, a nice dinner, talking, a few very good shags...yes a very successful evening...until I had to bloody open my big mouth.

I told her about the position I've been offered in New York and straight out asked her to come with me, to which she replied.

"You're going away? What?" She said looking first excited, then alarmed...and then a little annoyed.

"I've been offered a position as a senior partner over in New York."

"And you want me to go with you? Well...it's a very nice thought but I don't know..." She started to say.

"If I accept this new position, would you come with me?" I asked again caressing her face with my hand.

"Well I don't know, it's a bit of a shock." She said.

"I know it's soon, but I would love it if you would come with me." I said looking deeply into her eyes.

"You're right, it is very soon...so what I just...drop everything and go with you? Leave my family, my friends, my work...leave...my home?" She said starting to sound angry.

"Darling, I didn't think that it..." I began.

"So you are even if I decide not to come with you, you would still take the job anyway? I mean you did say "If I accept" didn't you?" she said getting a little more annoyed.

"I'm sorry it was just a thought I didn't mean..." I began again.

"So if I did go with you what would I do? Just sit around all day and wait for you to finish work?" She continued looking flustered and upset. "I mean I may not have the most promising career but I can't just..."

"Listen..." I said lightly holding her shoulders to keep her still. "I only got the news today at work, I have been contemplating on whether to tell you or not, I don't know what I was thinking just now...I shouldn't have just sprung that on you." I said looking straight into her eyes.

Bloody hell, why did I bring it up?

"It's just, we've been going out for only a day now and you already want to leave? I mean you say that you have liked me for several months now...but if you like me that much aren't I, aren't we more important than a job in New York?"

"Of course we are, you are so important to me...but you must remember, that this is the opportunity of a lifetime and my work is also important to me."

"You obviously don't care for me as much as you say you do!" She said angrily, shifting in the bed pulling the duvet up around her shoulders.

"Now Bridge you're being unfair, I care about you much more than you kn-" I started to reply.

"Unfair? Unfair? I'll tell you what's unfair..." She said turning to me. "...Unfair is having someone you really care about choose their career over you and fly out of your life forever. This is serious Mark, it's not something that you can just casually bring up in a conversation! I thought this was the start of something really beautiful, and special but you want to end it already?" She asked still angry.

"Now look, I wouldn't have asked you to come with me if I wanted to end it would I? This is a big step, and I now realize that it's too soon to take that step...I'm sorry I got carried away." I said a little annoyed myself.

"Well I'm sorry too Mark, you can't have both Me and America." She said looking down, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"I think I should go." I said trying not to look at her. "I've got a few things to do for tomorrow." I said trying to sound nonchalant, when the truth was my heart was breaking seeing her cry.

She said nothing but continued to look down.

I put my clothes on and got my suitcase.

"Bye." I said taking a last look at her, hoping she would ask me to come back.

"Bye." She muttered softly.

I left her flat and the cold night air stung my face and hands. I began to walk slowly down the damp street. What just happened?

We had a lovely evening and then I go and spoil it.

This must be some kind of a record, having a big argument after just one day.

But wait a minute, she was completely unsupportive of me. I had just gotten the chance of a lifetime, I dreamt of this kind of job at university.

It's an honour to be chosen, and I'm at the peak of my career.

She should be congratulating me.

Yes.

No. I am a stupid arse.

What have I done?

Oh, I love her for Christ's sake. Why couldn't I just have told her how I felt?

I don't even know why I asked her about New York, I had been dreaming all day about the idea of her by my side in New York, me taking my dream job.

It was selfish of me to ask her. I hate to say it but I think Daniel Cleaver was right once when he called me socially retarded, I can't say what I want to say, especially when it comes to relationships, maybe I am emotionally retarded too.

She must think I'm a complete nutcase! It's her. She did it to me.

Being with her is like being on some sort of happy drug. I was completely lost in the moment when I asked her, I didn't think what she would have to say goodbye to if she came with me.

Oh God, how embarrassing, one day of being together and I ask her to move to America with me, I haven't even told her I love her yet and I'm asking her to move in with me, in another country. It's kind of humorous in a sense. But I have loved her for so long that it seems like longer. I suppose if we have an argument so early in the relationship, it is a sign that things can only get worse. Maybe I'm wrong. But is it wrong to be torn between two things you love? A woman and the law? But do I love my job that much? Oh Jesus I'm so confused.

Got to my house. I put the keys down on the bench and looked around at the stark environment. This house was a lot like my life. Colourless, boring...until I found Bridget I was like this. I don't want to be that person anymore.

Glanced over at answer phone and saw the light flashing.

Two messages, one from Natasha.

Can't she just leave me alone? Congratulating me on the position in the states, telling me she had gotten one too. Also telling me that she had rang my parents and informed them of my news, saying that they were very proud to hear it. Shit.

The other message from, I don't know who. Just silence, then it clicked off.

So miserable, went straight to bed. Tried to sleep but couldn't forget her face, crying...I wanted so much to wrap my arms around her and make everything alright. But something stopped me. Suddenly started laughing and couldn't stop, this whole mess was completely pointless and unnecessary...and completely my fault.

9:00AM

Woke up in my own bed remembering what happened. Wonder if I should ring Bridget and apologize?

Rang Bridget's phone. "Hello?" She answered.

"Bridget...it's Mark...I-" I started to say.

Heard voices in the background. Then the phone clicked off. She hung up on me? Tried phone again but it was engaged.

Well I guess she is really angry then. I suddenly felt angry myself. How could she be so childish and not even let me speak? Maybe she isn't as fantastic as I thought she was. Maybe this is a warning sign, maybe I should take the fucking job!

9:30AM

Arrived at work still angry about the phone incident.

"Mr Darcy, you have a call on line 2." Said my secretary over the intercom.

"Thank you Sonya." I said picking up the phone. Was the Boss, wanted to see me in his office about the New York position.

Walked into his office and sat down on a chair. Talked for a bit, then got straight down to business.

"So Mark, have you decided if you're going to accept this position?"

I seemed to forget where I was, but then everything became clear.

"No..." I said vaguely.

"No?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry..." I stuttered on.

"It's a wonderful opportunity but...there is something much more important to me here, and I'm afraid...to tell you the truth, if I did take this position...I fear that my heart...would not be...completely in it." I said truthfully.

"Well I'm sorry that's the way you feel son, but I suppose you have to be true to what you want, whatever you're staying for must be important indeed." He said.

"Yes, she is...much more important."

9:50AM

After that I left work straight away canceling all of my appointments and everything on my schedule.

I took a cab straight to Bridget's flat.

Rang the entry buzzer. "Hello, who is it?" asked Bridget through the intercom.

"It's Mark." I said a little breathless from the excitement of it all.

I heard whispering through the speaker. I stood there getting a little impatient when she said finally. "Come on up then...shhh."

I got up to her front door. She opened it looking down at me from the step.

I could see the eyes of Shazzer and Jude peeking through from the kitchen room, but I didn't care.

"Wh-what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at work?" She asked.

"Bridget, I came here to tell you that I'm so sorry about everything...I acted like a complete idiot and I want you to forgive me..." I said pleading with her.

"But what about your job?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"I realized that there was no way that I could take that job, there are so many reasons to go, but one very important reason to stay..." I continued.

"And that is?" She said still not convinced.

"I love you Bridget."

To Be Continued

Thanks to all of the lovely people who reviewed my last few chapters, that was very nice of you.