Chapter 5: Running for PM

"David, even if I really enjoy our kissing, we have to stop, please. This is becoming a real torture not being able to get the release we both want"

"I know Julia, I desire you so much, this is hurting not to be able to make you come hard and to hear you scream my name"

Julia laughs: "You are going to regret these words Sergeant Budd. Remember: payback is a bitch".

David laughs too. "How I know that Ma'am". They both smirk devilishly.

"Maybe, we could eat the nice lunch you brought and finish our conversation, there is something else we need to discuss"

"Do you want to discuss your candidature to be the new UK Prime Minister?"

"Indeed. You did not say "potential candidature"?"

"No, because I know this is what you have always wanted to be"

"This is indeed my dream since as long as I can remember, but as we are together as a couple now, I want to have your view on it. How would you feel about me running for PM, as my boyfriend?

"And what if I am not comfortable with it?"

"Well, David, as I said, we are a couple. I want to know how you feel about it because your opinion counts, if you have some objections or doubts, I want us to talk about it and reach an agreement together. Me running for PM will affect our future as a couple obviously. We will have to move together to 10 Downing Street, we will get a lot of attention from the media and from the public. We will also need to protect your kids as much as possible from all the chaos created by a female Prime Minster having a relationship with her still-married father-of-2 ex-PPO. The press will have a field day for weeks or months even. There will be endless jokes about the "Bodyguard" movie, about the fact that you are 9 years younger than me – no doubt I will be called "Cougar" at least 100 times- I will be labeled "homewrecker" even if you & Vicky were separated, that will not make any difference". She pauses.

"So what do you honestly think, David?"

David looks at her lovingly and simply answers: "I think you are the best Prime Minister our country can get, even if you are a Tory".

Julia smiles. David continues: "And also, for the records, I wanted it to be a surprise but it's time for you to know that Vicky & I have started the divorce procedure on the 1st of November and as we have been separated for more than 2 years, the divorce will be quickly granted normally and we should be divorced by the 1st of March".

Julia smiles broadly: "I am glad" and she looks at him lovingly.

Julia goes on: "I appreciate your full support David, I really do. But I am also a realistic person and I think we need to work together with my legal team, my PR team & Vicky to protect your kids as much as possible. My career and our decisions do not have to impact them negatively. When we will be ready, we will go public with our relationship and we will have our plan ready to mitigate the side effects as much as possible".

Julia is getting better and better each day. Her stump is completely healed. Her ribs, collarbone & right ulna are healed as well, so she is working with the hospital physiotherapist to walk with crutches to avoid to be in a wheelchair as much as possible and rebuild the strength in her arms and left leg. With the daily breathing exercises, her collapsed lungs are totally recovered as well. The burns are still recovering but most of them are healed. The scars will be the next thing to deal with, but Julia is surprisingly not too bothered.

David asks her one day: "Julia, may I ask how you feel about your scars, love?"

"I am obviously not happy about them but I am not too bothered neither, to be honest. I can see them fading already and I have discussed with the plastic surgeon to do some laser treatment soon. I also know you are not going to be put off by them and except on my hands, the other ones will be easy to hide. I am lucky not to have any on my face." David nods, leans in & kisses her.

The doctors enter her room and break the good news she will be able to go back home soon. "Miss Montague, you will need to do some final exams, including another full MRI body scan, before being discarded and you will go to "The London prosthetic Centre" each day for some time but you will be able to come home each evening, whilst learning to put your prosthesis on, walk, swim,.. "

David asks tentatively: "Doctor, can you, please, tell me if as part of these exams, gynecological examination & tests are scheduled?"

Julia is looking at him, totally stunned by his question. WTF..

David looks at her shyly and says: "Love, I simply want to know if everything is OK on that side as well and if we will potentially be able to have kids together one day, if this is what we both want". Julia asks the doctors to carry on the gynecological tests & examination too, without saying anything else but looking lovingly at David.

All results & tests are OK (including the gynecological ones, which brought both lots of joy & hope, even if none of them mention it) and Julia is allowed to come home. Just before they set off, David asked the doctor if there are any last recommendation, especially regarding their intimacy and the doctor smiled gently at both of them and said there isn't any recommendation nor interdiction. David nods and thank him for all he has done for Julia.

David kisses softly Julia and wishes her luck for her press conference before heading to his car. As they do not want announce their relationship to the world yet - they agreed that they want more time to prepare themselves & enjoy their time together privately first. On top, the main message of today's press conference is that Julia is running for PM, not that she is in a relationship with him - he will go to her flat by himself and enter discretely by the backdoor.

Julia is heading proudly to the small scene in front of the press with the crutches and she manages to stand with only one crutch. And then out of the blue, all journalists stand up and applause. Julia is very moved by that nice gesture and she warmly thank them with a lot of emotion in her voice.

One of the journalist shouts: "how are you feeling, Home Secretary?"

"Much better, thank you very much for asking" then she starts to speak: "First of all, I want to deeply thank all the doctors, nurses, medical assistants and all hospital staff for their good work, kindness and empathy. I have been through very difficult times and I am very grateful to be able to stand here, in front of all of you today. I have to work hard on my rehabilitation for the next few weeks, but I am confident I will recover at 100%.

I would like to thank the Metropolitan Police Forces for all their good work to identify the people behind the several attempts on my life, especially the SO15 branch and Commander Anne Sampson in particular.

Finally, Mike Travis has done an outstanding job as acting Home Secretary and I am stepping down as Home Secretary today, knowing that he will continue our mission to protect the British Citizens". There is a lot of noise coming from the journalist's crowd and Julia raises her hand to silence them.

"I am stepping down as Home Secretary because I am running up as Prime Minister Candidate during the elections scheduled in January. As we speak, my website " .uk" is being open and you will find a detailed Press Release with my program if I am elected as the next UK Prime Minister and what I plan to do for our fabulous country. Thank you". And she leaves the stage with a broad smile, walking towards her ministerial car confidently with her 2 crutches.

David who watched her speech in her flat on her flat screen huge television is smiling broadly, feeling very proud that this wonderful woman he loves more than anybody is actually in love with him and wants him right beside her. He knows it's going to be complicated and that they will have to face a massive shit storm when they will go public, but he knows it will definitely be worth it.