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Note: Okay it can't be that easy can it? Thanks for all the fantastic reviews. Big hugs RAVENī
He'd watched her sleep for what seemed like hours, wanting to be there when she woke, wanted to be the first thing she saw, Reassurance that he was hopelessly in love with her. His eyes becoming heavy he rested beside her one arm gently snaking around her tiny waist possessively, She was here with him, she was his and he wasn't going to let her go as easily this time.
She woke in his arms something she had dreamt of many times before, to the point were waking beside Tony some mornings she'd had to remind herself Ray had only been in her dreams and that Tony was the man in her bed. However this time it was Ray, and despite the guilt that twisted in her stomach at betraying Tony she knew her heart had always been Rays.
She glanced at the clock on the nightstand, she really should be leaving but she longed to stay tucked besides Ray listening to his gentle rhythmic breathing.
God why did this have to be so complicated in her head had pictured this being easier but slipping out from under his arm with great care not to wake him, she found herself hoping he would wake and make her stay. Tell her things she longed to hear, make her promises he'd be able to keep but she knew it wouldn't work out; she'd never be enough for him.
He woke sometime after nine reaching out to draw Neela back towards him, when he realised she'd gotten up he was a little disappointed but ecstatic that they had finally let each other know how they felt.
He smiled sleepily feeling happier than he remembered feeling since she'd moved out. She was his now and he would do everything in his power to keep her.
He headed to the kitchen expecting to find her trying to piece something together for breakfast, she'd be lucky as far as he could remember there were two beers and some leftover Chinese take out that was well past its best. He stopped dead at the sight of the empty kitchen; maybe she was in the bathroom. He brightened considerable at the thought of joining her under a cascade of hot water. Smirking from ear to ear at the images he was conjuring he quickly strode towards the bathroom, stopping short when he found that empty too. Okay so she'd left the apartment, she must have had a shift early this morning. He wasn't due in until twelve but suddenly the idea of bumping into Neela at work was appealing. He was a little saddened that she hadn't woken him or at least left him a message but maybe she had been running late.
She glanced around 'the apartment' (never her apartment) it looked so cold and soulless, but then it had never really been a home. She hadn't had a home since the first time she had left Ray and their apartment. Abby's place had been comfortable and convenient a place to stay but never home.
She had thought she could be detached about being with him last night that she could have what she had wanted from him and leave, trouble was it had never just been about sex for her. She was in love with him and even though last night had been better than she had ever imagined it could be it would never be enough, instead of a pleasant memory to take with her, she now just had a bitter reminder of what she would be missing out on.
'Hey Abby how's tricks?" Ray grinned broadly as she gave him a perplexed look. He didn't care who knew it he was happy.
"Great now, I'm off in twenty minutes" she sighed, Abby and Luka had been working opposite shifts since she'd returned from maternity leave and the strain showed some days. "Hey Ray you're not on until twelve are you?" Abby added raising an eyebrow in his direction.
"No but I thought I'd come in early, hey you seen Neela?" He couldn't play all calm and collected it was impossible, he felt like a kid. He had mocked some of his friends when they had gone stupid over some girl, missing practices and nights out trying to spend every waking moment with said girls but all he could think about now was every minute they had been apart and how unbearable it was.
Abby looked shocked by his question, he gave her a goofy grin. She would know straight away that they were together now and he didn't care he wanted people to know. She didn't look happy though. It was his turn to be confused he figured if anyone would be happy for them it would be Lockhart.
"She didn't tell you?" Her voice raised in disbelief making his stomach flip manically, his shit-eating grin forgotten.
"What Abby? What didn't she tell me?" He felt sick he'd thought everything between Neela and him had been sorted out. He thought she was his. Sudden pressure in his chest made it hard to breath and looking at Abby was starting to hurt. She grabbed his arm and was pulling him towards the doctors lounge muttering things like 'typical Neela' and 'can't believe her', nothing that was easing his confusion and sense of foreboding.
In the lounge her eyes found his pityingly.
"Ray, Neelas gone" And just like that, his whole world crashed to the ground in flames.