AN: Sorry for the delay in updating. I've been so busy with work as we are coming up to a massive annual event this weekend so working most days. Roll on summer break, spending more time with my daughter and writing more frequently! Can't wait!

The property stuff in this chapter might be rubbish. I literally just made it up to fit the story!

Chapter 8

Molly and Charles continued to discuss the relative merits of various desserts, but five minutes later had given up hope of attracting the waiter's attention long enough to get a menu.

Molly sighed,

"Listen, why don't we just get out of here?"

"I thought you wanted pudding." Charles sounded dismayed.

"I do! I just know somewhere else we can go where we won't have to resort to a megaphone to get served."

"Ok, but we've still got the problem of getting his attention for the bill." Charles' gaze flickered to the waiter again.

"Hang on." Molly stood up, straightened her dress and walked straight over to the cash desk where the waiter was trying to look busy, but obviously just ignoring them. Molly noticed him trying to slip his phone in his pocket.

"May we have the bill please?"

"Yes Madam, one moment please."

"Thanks so much." Molly smiled her best kilowatt smile and sashayed back to her seat.

"If I'd gone up there I'd still be waiting." grumbled Charles.

"What can I say? I'm persuasive."

The bill appeared on their table within a few minutes and both Charles and Molly reached for it.

"What are you doing?" Charles asked reaching it first.

"Checking the bill?"

"Why?"

"To see how much my half is."

"I invited you."

"And?"

"And I'd like to pay."

"And that's very kind, but this has not turned out to be the date you were expecting so I think it's best we just split it."

"Molly please, I want to."

"Why?" Molly suddenly felt a flicker of rage in her stomach. "Do you think just because you live in a posh flat with your posh job you should pay? I have my own money you know..." Suddenly she ran out of steam. The sheer disbelief on his face made her realise she'd read the situation completely wrong.

She looked down mortified,

"I'm really sorry." she said quietly.

Charles could see how upset she was, but he had no idea why,

"Where did that come from?" he asked gently.

She shrugged and continued to look at the tablecloth.

"Molly?"

She realised he was very well practiced at getting information out of people.

"It's vestiges of my old life. I forget sometimes and I turn into this scrappy little girl again fighting for everything I've got and trying to prove to everybody that I'm worth just as much as they are..." she trailed off.

"Is this to do with your family?"

She nodded.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Maybe once I've had a few more drinks and some cake, but let's just go, please." She finally looked at him and he nodded.

As she gathered her stuff he walked quickly to the cash desk, bill and credit card in hand before she could change her mind about him paying.

Outside, they hailed a taxi.

"Where are we going?" Charles asked.

"You'll see." She smiled knowingly, "Grassmarket please." She told the driver and off they went.

-OG-

"It looks like an Italian coffee shop to me." Charles sounded doubtful as they stood outside a small restaurant in the Grassmarket.

"Well it is an Italian coffee shop, but it's a restaurant too and it's open until 2am and serves the best cheesecake ever. What's not to love?!"

"Regular are you?" Charles laughed.

"Something like that, come on."

She pushed through the door to the little eatery and Charles was hit by the warmth and tantalising smells of coffee, herbs and wine.

"Ah Mollee! You come! How are you darlink?" A dark haired woman bustled over to Molly kissing her on both cheeks. "And who is zees?" Her deep voice was heavily accented, but filled with warmth as she looked Charles up and down.

"This is my friend Charles. Charles this is Mimi, this is her place."

"Very pleased to meet you Mimi." Charles shook her hand.

"Ahh an Englishman no? Very nice Mollee. Come come I find you a table. Cosy, in the corner, perfect for rrromance." She rolled her "r" to make it sound more suggestive and Molly ducked her head embarrassed.

When they were settled and had ordered, Molly took a deep breath.

"I really am so sorry Charles, I shouldn't have said what I said especially about your posh flat and job." She took a large drink of water, "It was so unkind."

Charles touched her hand across the table and she didn't pull away.

"It's ok, I can see it was a heat of the moment thing. And for the record my posh flat is rented and there's nothing posh about crawling around a desert with 15 guys who haven't showered for 3 days!"

"Thank you." Her voice sounded small.

He nodded.

"You must never think you're not as worthy as anyone else Molly. It's luck, all of it, where you're born, who you're born to, it's what you do with your life that matters. And you've obviously made a success of yours."

"I'm not sure about that. 35 and single."

"Ditto."

"Yeah, but you've got Sam."

"Doesn't mean I'm not lonely."

She was shocked to hear such an emotional admission from him and he was shocked to have said it. Something about Molly just had him opening up pockets inside himself he thought were tightly closed.

"It's a bit shit isn't it?"

"Yeah it is." He agreed.

Their order arrived and Molly smiled as he took a bite of cheesecake.

"See?" she teased.

"Wow, good choice!"

She laughed and started on hers. They ate silently for a few moments.

"My Mum and Dad never had much money. Well that's not true, they had enough, but my Dad just spent it down the pub. My Mum's got a better hold of it now, she works and she guards her wages well, but when I was younger it wasn't like that. It made me very careful, I used to save and save and save just in case. I never quite got over the threat that we might be evicted. Apart from my graduation, the best day of my life was when I bought my first flat. I'll never forget that feeling of security." Molly beamed.

Charles smiled, her joy was infectious.

"How did you end up in the cottage then?"

"Well when I'd been working for a few years, I decided I'd like somewhere bigger and nearer the beach so I sold my first flat and moved."

"To the cottage?"

"No, to a new flat near the beach, I was there for a few years."

"And the cottage? Did you buy that with Daniel?"

"No! In hindsight, I suppose I always suspected something might not work so I didn't get a joint mortgage or anything. I'd always loved our street and I used to walk along on my way home to the flat and wish that one day I could live in one of the cottages. Anyway one day it was up for sale. I went to see my lawyer and he told me if I could rent my flat out I could buy the cottage. Daniel wanted to buy it with me, but I said no. Eventually he did move in with me and rented his flat out. Luckily we'd drawn up an agreement so when he moved out, the lawyers sorted it and he got a return on what he'd been paying me and I wasn't stuck trying to buy him out completely."

"Wow you've really got your head screwed on with this stuff. And I believe you're something of a property magnate as well."

"Not really, I see it as a pension fund. My Dad sees it as me crawling further up my own backside and it's one of the reasons he doesn't speak to me."

"So where is your flat? You said it was near the beach? Is it far from our street?"

Molly blushed and laughed,

"Um well you know the block you live in?"

"Yes." Charles wondered where she was going with this.

"Well it's two floors above yours." She waited for his reaction, unsure what he'd say.

"You own a property in my building?"

"Yes."

"You used to live in my building?"

"Yes."

"And you said I lived in a posh flat! And you have one of those posh flats!"

"I know I know, I'm sorry." Molly shook her head, but smiled.

"I'll forgive you I guess. For a minute I thought you were going to say you own my flat!"

"No I know the person in mine and it's definitely not some handsome posh boy, but there's an inordinate amount of you these days. I think you're taking over!" Molly smiled.

"Would have been interesting...you...being my landlady..." Charles looked coy.

Molly could tell he was flirting, she had to head him off,

"Should we get another drink?"

"Uh sure yeah."

Once their second round had arrived, Molly was definitely starting to feel the effects. She knew she would have to drink plenty of water to avoid a hangover and to keep her head a little clearer. Charles flirting with her was not helping her resolve. Picturing him heading off into the sunset to goodness knows what was the only thing keeping her on her side of the table.

"So we've covered my living arrangements, what about you? Where did you live before you ventured over the wall?"

"Was that a test to see if I'm a Game of Thrones fan?"

Molly melted a little more,

"Maybe...glad to see you got the reference."

There was that smile again and the look, she squeezed her knees together tighter, Charles holding her gaze. Then he shook his head a little.

"My parents have a house in Bath."

"Where Sam lives?"

"Not exactly. Sam lives with his Mum in a house with her new bloke. They previously lived in the family home and I moved back to my parents when we split up, but obviously I kept paying for the house cos it was Sam's home. Eventually though, Rebecca decided it was too small, found a guy with a healthy bank balance and moved in with him." Charles grimaced, "It's all very cliche."

"Have you been living with your parents since you split up? Wasn't that a long time ago?"

"No I only stay there when I'm in bath and when I have Sam. The rest of the time I stay in my house, which I own," he said with a smirk, "it's near work."

"That's a lot of moving around."

"You get used to it. Like I said I've never been very good at being settled. Hoping that might change now I've moved here. New start, new outlook." He sounded wistful. Molly wondered if it was his injuries that had prompted this new outlook.

"How bad was it, when you were shot I mean?"

"Well...it's never good when you get shot." Charles attempted to deflect with his gallows humour.

"You know what I mean," Molly's face was serious.

"It was touch and go. I had to have a few ops, internal bleeding and all that. But like I said, Georgie worked wonders and I'm here today, that's all that matters."

Molly felt that pang again,

"So...Georgie, have you known her long?"

"You mean is there anything between us?"

Molly's eyebrows shot up,

"Well um no no...that's um...well." She gave up covering up her question. "Nothing like saving someone's life to get a relationship off to a good start..."

"The answer is no. She's a colleague, a good mate and is strictly off limits as she is Elvis's ex."

"Elvis? Up his own arse, thinks he's God's gift to women Elvis?"

"I'm afraid so."

"So how did that come about then?"

"They met while they were on tour."

"And broke up when his constant flirting drove her mad by any chance?"

Charles looked awkward,

"Well, they were engaged-"

"Were?"

"- and he left her at the altar-"

"Oh my God that's awful!"

"- and he sent me to tell her on the day, at the venue when she was already there in her dress."

Molly sat gobsmacked.

"Lost for words Molly?! Is this a first?!"

"He sent you to tell that poor girl when she was already in her dress?! I like him even less now! How can you still be mates with him after that?"

"He's a good bloke, I know him better than everybody else, he had his reasons. I'm not defending him, I'm just saying I wouldn't write him off."

"Sounds like he's bloody lucky to have you."

Charles shrugged. Molly continued,

"And Georgie will still work with you even after you were the one to tell her?"

"Luckily yes, she's an excellent medic."

"And their paths don't cross at work? Did she have to transfer as well as put her life back together after he dumped her?"

Charles shifted nervously,

"Their paths don't cross much no, Elvis is um...he's special forces."

Molly stopped her glass halfway to her mouth,

"Special Forces? Elvis who can't watch where he's running is Special Forces?"

Charles laughed,

"You really hold a grudge don't you?! And yes he is Special Forces and he's the one you want when you're in trouble. No doubt about it. He has a great team, they're an elite squad."

"I'm sure they are unless you happen to stand in their way on the pavement." Molly grinned cheekily. "Sorry couldn't resist."

She sat back,

"Wow, that's a lot of information to process. My friend's lives seem so tame compared to all that."

She shook her head and sipped more of her drink. She knew she was pushing the subject, but she asked anyway.

"So if she wasn't off limits would you be interested?"

"Molly I do believe you're jealous." Charles leaned forward.

"I'm just interested." Molly feigned innocence.

"No she's not my type. Although come to think of it I'm not sure I have a type, but no, Georgie and I are just mates and that's how I like it."

"Mates. Like us then." Molly looked serious now.

"No Molly not like us." Charles downed his drink. "Another?"

"I think I better switch to coffee." Molly was glad of a distraction. They kept veering towards the proverbial elephant. They were trying to be mates, but wanting more and it was her who was stopping them having it.

"Are you a coffee fan then?" Charles asked.

"Didn't used to be, I was always 'a teabag will do me', but then Daniel got me into it. My Dad used to say 'what are you drinking that shit for, you don't even like coffee?'. He saw it as yet another betrayal of my working class roots."

"Ah I see. Well I suppose I'm allowed to be a coffee connoisseur what with being so posh." He winked.

"I guess you are Captain James." Molly emphasised his rank and Charles eyes darkened with lust.

"Molly..."

She realised what she'd said so she tried to deflect yet again,

"So Nespresso?"

Charles was thrown, still recovering from the effect her addressing him as 'Captain' had had on him and certain regions of his body.

"Um yes, Nespresso, is there any other?" he laughed.

"I wonder if I can guess your poison."

Charles laughed as she reeled off various flavours in the range. Eventually she threw her hands up,

"I give up!"

Charles smirked,

"If you must know it's Rosabaya. I have my coffee machine flown out to wherever I am-"

"At great cost to the British Tax payer." Molly said pointedly.

"- but I need it because I'm not a fully functioning soldier until I have my first cup."

"You must have to take a lot of pods in that kit bag." Molly mused.

"Every time I'm in London I go to the Oxford Street store and stock up so I've got plenty with me. Don't know what I'll do this time, I won't have a chance to go before I leave."

"Good job we have a shop here then isn't it?" Molly smiled.

"Really? You don't! How did I not know this?" Charles was genuinely surprised and his excitement made her laugh.

"I don't know I would have thought you'd have done your Nespresso research."

"Well I'll just need to make a visit there soon. Maybe you could come with me and we could take advantage of their free samples?"

"I'd like that." Molly was sincere. "And of course there's all the other touristy stuff we'll have to do."

"I'm not a tourist! I'm a native!"

"Steady on mate, I don't think you can call yourself that just yet!"

They laughed and then lapsed into a comfortable silence.

"So Molly are you going to give me your number then so we can arrange these activities?" Charles asked slightly warily, unsure if their arrangement meant she wouldn't give him her number.

Molly nodded,

"Give me your phone." she held out her hand.

Charles handed it over, never taking his eyes off her face. He watched as she opened his contacts, programmed in her number and gave him it back with an inviting smile. They both knew they were playing with fire. After a few seconds her phone buzzed on the table.

"And now you have mine." Charles held up his phone.

She held his gaze a little longer before looking away. She had to fight the urge to go to him, but she'd made her case, she couldn't back down. She wouldn't.

They stayed at their little table drinking, talking, getting to know each other more and more until Mimi came to tell them she was closing up soon.

"I thought you said this place was open until 2 a.m.?" Charles sounded confused.

Molly squinted at her phone and laughed,

"It's 1.55 a.m.!"

"How can it be? Have we really been sitting here all that time?"

"Looks like it. I'll just go and settle the bill." She looked pointedly at Charles.

He held his hands up in mock surrender,

"Fair enough, I got dinner, you get dessert."

Once they were finished and outside, waving Mimi goodbye, the chill of the night air hit Molly and she swayed a little. Charles placed his arm round her waist to steady her and she leaned into him.

"Come on let's find a taxi," he said.

They got one easily and Molly was grateful they'd be home soon. She felt exhausted as well as drunk and she thought the longer she was with Charles, the more likely she was to kiss him again. She leaned into him in the taxi and closed her eyes, the rhythm of the engine lulling her into a light sleep.

"Hey sleepy head, wake up."

She lifted her head suddenly to find they were outside her house.

"That was quick." she said disorientated.

"That's cos you slept all the way home." Charles smiled as he helped her out onto the pavement.

They stood awkwardly at her gate.

"Will you be alright getting in?" Charles asked shyly.

"Yes I'll be fine thanks." Molly looked at the ground. "Thank you for a good night, it was...interesting."

"Indeed, it wasn't exactly how I hoped it would be, but I enjoyed it anyway."

"Yeah sorry about that." She bit her lip nervously. "So...I'll text you and we can do our tourist bucket list."

"Yes, that sounds good."

They were both stalling.

"I better go-"

"Molly-"

Charles put his arm out to stop her. She jumped at the contact, his hand on her arm, bare apart from the wrap. He rubbed her arm before moving his hand to her chin, tipping her face up to him. He slid his hand onto her cheek and she leaned into his touch closing her eyes.

"-I really want to kiss you Molly."

"I know." She took his hand in hers and kissed it. "We can't keep going over this, it'll spoil the time we have together before you go."

"I'll go, but I'll come back, what then?"

"What if you don't come back?"

"I will."

"I hope so." Her voice was barely a whisper now. She hugged him around his waist, resting her head on his chest, committing the feel of him to memory, inhaling his scent. She wished desperately that things were different.

He squeezed her back tightly, holding her to him. He kissed the top of her head.

"Goodnight Charles."

"Goodnight Molly."

With that she pulled away, walked up the path to her front door and went inside.

AN: I know you're all probably shouting at the page, but remember they won't be like this forever! Thank you for keeping reading this! I'm truly touched by your lovely comments.