Charles had fully intended to get her number and maybe even take her to lunch if she wasn't too busy. That was until Rebecca dropped her latest bombshell that she was cancelling his coming weekend with Sam in favour of taking him on a weekend break, courtesy of her new boyfriend. He'd been waiting weeks to see Sam and she was being a spiteful cow, purposely stopping him from seeing his son. She asked, no, actually she told him that today would be the only day he could see Sam before he went off to rehab at Headley Court, which he'd already delayed to spend the weekend with Sam.

"Elvis I've got to go; Rebecca is doing her usual and trying to run my life. If I don't see Sam today then I won't see him until after Headley" Elvis pulled his sunglasses over his very hungover eyes which he rolled to Heaven at the mention of Rebecca "I'll take you to the station mate, I swear if she weren't a bird I'd knock her out" As much as Charles was excited to see his son he was equally disappointed at the thought of not seeing Molly before he went to Headley. He was cringing at the thought of asking Elvis to get her number but then thought of the Facebook option, an idea which he favoured even though he didn't really use it, but he'd rather keep things private. Elvis tended to run away with things.

-OG-

Molly was knackered by the time she'd got back from town but she was finally ready for uni. She showered and threw on her best jeans, taking extra care with her hair and a little bit of makeup. Her stomach was full of butterflies in anticipation of seeing him again. She could hear Elvis talking over the tv and thought how much he loved the sound of his own voice. "Morning guys" her eyes searched but he wasn't there.

"Morning Molly. You alright?" Georgie sat in a hungover heap on the sofa.

"This is a normal Sunday for Georgie" Elvis mocked as she sat in her dressing gown, still in last night's dress wearing sunglasses and an ice pack on her thumping head. Molly laughed at the thought of many more Sundays to come. She wanted to ask where Charles was but didn't want to give the game away, although she was pretty sure after last night that the chemistry between was fairly obvious.

"So, what did Rebecca say?" Molly's ears pricked up at the mention of Rebecca "She summoned him home the nasty cow, obviously he's had to go running to appease her" Molly was confused, she thought they were divorced. After listening in to a conversation that was clearly none of her business, she decided to cut her losses, hurt that he'd given her so much attention and then went back to his supposed ex-wife. Hopefully she'd never have to see him again.

As Charles stepped off the train in Bath, he couldn't shift the feeling in the pit of his stomach. Scared he'd missed the chance with the only girl who's made him feel alive since Rebecca left. His legs were weary from travelling but with his parents working away he had no choice but to walk the 20 minutes (10 minutes if you didn't have his legs) back to Royal Crescent. He had no chance of finding a taxi and this time of day in Tourist season. He'd texted Rebecca to see if she'd take pity on his situation, she'd ignored him which was probably for the best he decided. He wondered what he'd ever done so wrong for her to be so cruel. She's left him while he was on his deathbed and has made his life difficult ever since. He didn't consider himself a bad husband, obviously he was absent a lot due to the army, but she knew the score when she'd met him. When he was present, he was just that, present. He considered himself a good father to Sam, loving and attentive and as much as she had pushed him away, he tried to be the same with her. The truth is he'd felt unloved for a long time before she finally left, although it still blindsided him. He'd used his time on the train to move his rehab at Headley Court forward; he'd start tomorrow and hopefully be another week closer to being fit again. He'd also added Molly on Facebook after some careful investigation of Georgie's page. She hadn't yet accepted, leaving him worried that he'd have to wait out until his next trip to Stockport to see her and finally get her number. He wanted to spend every second talking to her.

-OG-

2 months later

She was finding uni a lot harder than she expected. It's not that she didn't have the brains for it, but a few too many fresher's nights on top of hers and Georgie's weekend sessions were starting to take their toll. She'd decided to finally start applying for jobs to fill her time with something other than drinking. She's been lucky that the way her lectures had been scheduled it allowed her plenty of free time which she now planned to fill working, before the savings ran out. Dave had already tapped her up twice for money since she'd left, telling her the family were starving and it was all her fault for fucking off to uni, although Bella tells a different story and told Molly exactly what she knew about the money she'd given going straight behind some grotty bar somewhere. She decided that once she had a regular wage she would send Belinda money directly, for her to do as she liked with. She liked the idea of her mum having a bit of money to herself. It had taken her much longer than she thought to stop thinking about Charles. Once he stopped being a twat he'd made a big impression on her, with his chocolate brown eyes and cheeky smirk. She hadn't asked Elvis or Georgie, but she had hoped he'd be back sooner rather than later. She'd been on a few dates with lads from uni but there just wasn't that same spark as she'd felt with Charles. She felt a connection she couldn't explain with him.

He was making slow progress at Headley. They were pleased that his range of movement was improving, and he was relying less on crutches. He was still suffering from agonising pains which some days would set him back and prevent him from doing his rehab but overall, they were pleased with how he was going. He'd checked Facebook almost daily to see if she'd accepted his request, he took the fact that she hadn't as the sign that he'd ballsed it up. He wanted to ask Elvis of her but thought that was a little obvious and desperate. Part of him was jealous that Elvis could see her so freely. Rebecca was doing her usual and making his life hell. All she seemed to care about was getting money from him, he was half tempted to cut down his child maintenance and tell her to pay her own rent, but he was too much of a gent to do that. He'd asked if Sam could visit him for a day at Headley, he was feeling low and lonely and his little boy was just what he needed, his request met with a less than polite no.

Elvis: Charlie boy, how you getting on? When are you coming back to me man?

A text from Elvis always lifted his spirits, although he'd never let Elvis actually know that. He'd been a damn good friend to him over the years, especially since his divorce and during his recovery. Charles had been the one to introduce Georgie and Elvis, although sometimes when they were rocky and volatile, he'd wished he hadn't. Despite the fact that sometimes they absolutely kill one another, he felt they were made for each other, and he wanted that too. Someone to rely on when things got tough, someone he could love and care for. He was old school romance and liked to make a lady feel special. There hadn't been anyone since Rebecca. He felt he had so much to give but who would want him now? He'd always been quietly confident; he was well aware that he seemed to be easy on the eye to most women but now he was some washed up army captain with a very obvious limp.

Charles: Elvis how are you? I've got some business in London when I leave Headley, after that I'm all yours! If you'll have me?

Elvis: Ever the gent eh Charles! Good luck with the rest of your rehab, there's beer in my fridge with your name all over it. You know you're welcome anytime! Think about my offer mate, move in! Uncle Elvis will look after you ;)

-OG-

Since starting uni a few months ago, Molly had been itching to get back to London and the little bleeders. She was bored shitless on the train from Stockport to London, she was finally going home. She was meeting Bella in Oxford St, both girls desperate to try out the massive Primark and spend up on loads of stuff they probably didn't need. Obviously, Bella was bloody late. She stood on the corner of Regent Street waiting in the freezing cold for her little sister to appear.

Molly: You better hurry up or I'll piss off to Primark without you.

She decided to take a slow stroll to keep the blood flowing, it was taters standing there in the wind. A tall, dark mop of curly hair caught her eye, she watched for a minute as the tall, dark and handsome bloke limped passed her. She reached out her hand to grab hold of him in the crowd, but she couldn't catch him. The advantage of him being so tall is that she could easily follow him. He was going bloody fast for someone with a limp. "Charles!" She shouted across all the heads that stood between them. He stopped for a minute at the call of his name, but she was so bloody small he didn't see her in the crowd. Her heart raced as she followed him, leading them to some poncy coffee shop. "Is this whole shop for coffee?" He'd recognised that cockney accent anywhere and was smiling before he'd even turned around.

"Molly?"

"Charles" They stood smirking at each other, the snobby cow behind the counter cleared her throat, waiting for him to acknowledge her. Neither of them could wipe the smile from their faces.

"So, Molly. How's Stockport treating you?"

She wanted to tell him it had been shit since he left "Can't complains really, keeping my head down and all that."

"Glad to hear it! What brings you to London?" she couldn't wipe the smile from her face, she couldn't believe her was there in front of her after all this time.

"Well, I'm home for the weekend and was meant to be meeting my sister for a bit of shopping but looks like she's stood me up. What brings to here? Don't tell me you came all this way for bleedin' coffee?" She thought it was cute how his cheeks flushed pink.

"You've caught me red handed, I have indeed come all this way for coffee" she threw her head back, howling with laughter.

"That's dedication mate I tell ya. How have you been? Have you finished your rehab?" He paid for the coffee and ushered her outside.

"I've finished my inpatient rehab as of yesterday. I'll still be having outpatient sessions though. I'm actually just on my way up to Stockport now, I know Elvis has been missing me" They we're both gutted at the thought of missing each other, he was hoping to take her for a drink.

Bella: Sorry bitch face, I've been held up at work. Go Primark without me, don't forget to buy me something nice! See you at home xx

Molly rolled her eyes at her phone "Everything okay?" he looked so cute when he's concerned.

"Yeah. Well, I've definitely been stood up. Little cow is stuck at work" she noticed him leaning now, most probably to relieve the weight off his legs.

"I've still got awhile until my train leaves. Would you like to go for a coffee with me? Or a drink? Your choice" her heart started doing flips.

"A coffee would be lovely, thanks" He led the way to the nearest coffee shop. After some careful consideration he went for the strongest coffee on the menu "Molly what would you like?"

"I'll just have a tea please, not into fancy coffees like you mate" He'd actually already missed his train but he decided he couldn't pass off the opportunity to spend some time with her "So Molly, I had a really good time with you that night" they were giggling like school kids and he wanted to tell himself to pack it in and behave like the 29 year old soldier that he was.

"Ditto" she replied coyly "I was hoping to see you the next day, but I heard you got summoned home by your wife"

"Ex-wife" he corrected. She was resisting the urge to stroke the back of his hand as he gazed at her across the table. He decided that before anything went any further, he'd get her bloody number, before she disappeared into a puff of smoke and he'd regret not asking her again. He handed her his phone.

"Cheers but I've already got one" she spat her tongue out at him.

"If you don't mind, I'd love to take your number. I wanted to on that night but never got around to it" she keyed her number into his phone and couldn't quite believe her luck, this handsome bloke who she couldn't stop thinking about wanted her number; he wanted to talk to her.

"Don't have any ex-husbands kicking about that I should know about?"

They laughed "Nah I haven't got that kind of baggage. Plenty of other baggage though."

He'd wondered if now was the right time to mention he had a son. He presumed she'd already know from Georgie or Elvis, but he wanted to tell her himself just in case, with all the talk of baggage he decided against it for now. The chemistry between them was once again undeniable. He couldn't believe he was finally getting his chance to get to know her. He'd felt so low and so hopeless over the past few weeks during a long and lonely rehab, she felt like the light at the end of the tunnel.

"As much as I really don't want too, I'd better get off" Molly checked her phone to find curious texts from her sisters, she'd been hours "I'm buzzing after all these teas and coffees."

He laughed "When we're both in Stockport at the same time, I'd love to take you for a drink. Just the two of us? That's only if you want too?"

She thought the slight shyness in his question was cute "I'd love that! How long are you staying for?

I'll be back heading back to Bath tomorrow evening" He had planned on it being just a flying visit, but she was like a magnetising force, he wanted to be wherever she was "It was meant to be just the one night, Elvis has missed me apparently. But who knows, I could be easily persuaded" the smirk across his face made her melt.

"Well maybe I'll see you tomorrow then. Enjoy your train ride! And thanks for the caffeine."

She kissed him on the cheek, always leaving him wanting more. She took one last look at him over her shoulder as he watched her go, still smiling.

-OG-

She's regretted even bothering to go back home. She's been home no more than a couple of hours and Bella had already pissed off somewhere and Dave was treating her like shit. She made herself busy cleaning the kitchen while she waited for her mum to get back from wherever she was with Shazza. "Don't s'pose you could spot us a score could ya? For your old dad?"

"What me old Dad that was calling me a traitor and a selfish cow five minutes ago? Piss off! I'm not even working properly. Why don't you try getting off your arse for once and earn some money for yourself instead of sponging off your kids all the time! You make me bloody sick do you know that" She had her coat on and was on her way out the door before he had the chance to retort. That selfish prat had spent enough years putting her down, she was better than him and always would be.

Molly: I'm sorry mum but I've had to head back to Stockport, I forgot about an important essay. I'm sorry and I love you xx

She could hear laughter as she let herself into the flat "Dawsey. we weren't expecting you back til tomorrow! Everything alright?"

"Yeah fine. Long story" They could tell she wasn't in the mood to talk about her short trip to London

"We're heading out in a bit, karaoke, Charlie boy's favourite! You never know he might even sing you a song" Elvis winked as she felt the heat rising in her cheeks.

"I'll get changed then; you know I can't say no to you lot"

Elvis clocked the smile that had appeared on Charles' face since she arrived back "Get in there mate" he whispered, punching the air.

Charles rolled his eyes "shut it will you" he spat, necking the last of his beer. This was set to be a great night after all. She settled on some dark blue jeans and a white blouse with just a hint of cleavage on show. Pairing her outfit with some killer high heeled boots, the pair she had conveniently forgotten to give back to Bella. He couldn't take his eyes off her as she poured herself a glass of wine "drink?" She offered, feeling his eyes on her.

Georgie and Elvis disappeared to the bedroom for a fumble before they headed out, Tell-tale giggles giving the game away. He joined her in the kitchen and wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her "Was everything okay at home Molly?" she looked up to meet his concerned eyes.

"Yeah, was fine. How was your journey?" The last thing she wanted to do was talk about her dad with him of all people. She imagined herself planting warm kisses on his lips, the more time she spent looking at him the more she realised just how handsome he was.

"Perv" he dragged her awkwardly from her daydream.

"What? Piss off don't be so up yourself" she giggled, playfully pushing at his arm. His handsome smirk ignited a tingle within her "I really enjoyed today"

"Me too. Like I said I'd love to do it again, and sooner rather than later" He stepped forward closing the space between them and picked up a single dark curl, she looked up, and silently their eyes communicated their want for each other. She was waiting for him to kiss her, but their eyes seemed to be having a conversation all of their own. He leaned forward before having to steady himself, shooting pains in his worst leg nearly knocking him off his feet "Sorry I'm so sorry" She wrapped her arm around his waist to help steady him.

"It's ok. Sit down"

"Perfect fucking timing as always" he grumbled to himself as he limped to the sofa.

"What exactly is wrong with your legs? If you don't mind me asking" She sat down beside him, the warmth of her body had him yearning to touch her. "They were more or less blow to pieces. I'm lucky I still have them to be honest, they were in a really bad way. The right one took the brunt of the shots, hence the pains that always time themselves so perfectly" His hand automatically massages his injuries.

"Have you thought of trying professional massage? It improves the circulation; some say it improves healing."

"I haven't actually no. The army have to okay any outside treatment I receive. "She kneeled in front of him, rolling up his jeans "Molly my scars are horrific" his hand meets her to stop her, his eyes full of fear of her seeing.

"I'm not scared of your scars Charles " He believes her, as self-conscious as he is about the scars, he's never shown anyone that didn't need to see them, he believes she won't run away from the monster he thinks he is. Her dainty finger trace over the lines of puckered skin and angry red lines. Their eyes burn into each other as her fingers stroke away his pain.

"They ain't that bad, they'll fade in time" he shifts uncomfortably as her fingers make him tingle. She rolls his jeans down and pulled herself to her feet, necking her wine to compose herself after a moment which felt so intimate.

"Sorry guys. Was just trying to find a dress for tonight" Georgie and her fresh bed head make their way to the bathroom to finally get ready for the night.