Considering she'd never left the country before; Molly took the long haul flight in her stride. "I could get use to this baby; do they serve Champagne the whole flight?"

He threw his head back and laughed "No, thank Christ. I can only imagine what state you'd be in by the time we touched down."

She flicked through the in flight entertainment like an excited child "There's more on here than there is on the bloody telly Charles. How much did all this cost?" He looked up from his book, grinning at her excitement.

"You don't even want to know, but you Mrs James are worth every single penny" he leaned over the divide between their first class seats to plant a gentle kiss on her lips. He wanted to change the fact that she'd never been on holiday. This was the start of a new life for his wife, after a seemingly deprived childhood full of sacrifice, he wanted this time after the wedding and before they had children to be completely about her.

"I'm sorry about your parents Molly" it had played heavily on his mind since she'd ask them to leave the wedding. He knew how difficult it had been for her to make the decision to cut ties but he was glad that Dave would no longer bring her down.

She sighed "Don't be, they had their chance to put things right and they didn't, so it's their loss. I've got everything I need sitting next to me, you're my family now" he picked up her dainty hand to place a kiss on each of her knuckles.

"Why don't you go freshen up? We can watch a film or should I say I'll watch a film and no doubt you'll fall asleep."

She wanted nothing more than to straddle him and bury her face into his neck. He had been so relaxed and even more handsome since the wedding. His stubble and his curls a little longer, the worried expression he often wore slowly diminishing more each day. He was doing so well with his rehab now his injuries only really bothered him if he didn't rest enough. "You tryna say I stink James?"

He chuckled "piss off and freshen up Dawes" he bit his tongue ready for her "well that's not even my name anymore so ..." she flipped him the middle fingers before making her way to the bathroom.

He pulled the velvet jewellery box from his bag, placing it on her seat. He was on a one man mission to give her all the beautiful things she'd never had.

She pulled the box from under her after she'd sat on it "What's this?" Her face lit up with excitement, the gift had done its job already.

"Something special for my wife" she opened the box to reveal the most beautiful and delicate diamond studs "Oh Charles you shouldn't have. They must have cost a fortune. Thank you" she showered him with long lingering kisses, how she would last the flight without making love to him she didn't know but she intended to get him straight to bed when they got there.

"I know you wanted to wear your wedding earrings but they are way too expensive for everyday wear, so I thought I'd get you some you could wear all the time" the smile that lit up her face was priceless, he'd do anything to see it again and again.

"Well if your gonna make a habit of this then you'd better get back to work sooner rather than later James. That desk job still going?"

He was confused "I said I'd come out Molly, I meant it if that's what you want?" His eyes darkened on the subject.

"I've had time to think and what kind of wife would I be if I made you give up something you love. I'd be no better than Rebecca so I want support whatever decision you make, but I have conditions."

He chuckled "Of course you do, what are they?" She turned her body to face him, she meant business "well you don't go back a minute too soon. I want written proof your fit to return, you start small with the desk job and take it easy, I can't let you risk everything you've worked so hard for. And if you eventually do decide that you want to go back to active duty, you never volunteer. You only go if you're called up."

He smiled at her "Thank you Molly. You don't know how much this means to me" he pulled her into his chest "I do Charles, that's why against my better judgement I changed my mind. Couldn't have you sad and moping round the house could I. Would be too much de-ja-vu of Dave Dawes" She shuddered in mock horror.

The crystal clear waters washed over her sandy toes. Molly never imagined that places like this were actually real; surely, they were just photo shopped to look better for the postcards? They had their own piece of paradise. The warmth of his arms around her waist sent shivers down her spine. He planted soft kisses down the back of her neck, settling his lips on her sun kissed shoulders. "Hey, you, how you feeling?"

The travelling and the heat had taken their toll on him "I'm good, I feel good. And the sight of you in that bikini James, well I certainly can't complain" he nuzzled his nose into her hair. The sun suited her he thought. The freckles that had appeared across her nose and the way the sun had lightened her hair added to the natural beauty that he loved so much about her. "I need to take you to bed" he whispered, his primal need for her overtaking him as he led her back to their bungalow on the beach. He worshipped her body, running his hands across every curve "You are magnificent Molly James" he panted as he kissed her neck "So. Beautiful"

She reciprocated his affection, weaving her fingers into his curls, her legs wrapping themselves around his torso "I love you Charles. I can't even begin to describe how much; you don't know how much" her voice was full of emotion.

"I do baby, that's why I married you."

Molly couldn't quite believe her luck these days. She never dreamed of the kind of life she had now was possible for a girl like her, she never thought she deserved it but Charles had shown her what had been missing. It was him; he'd been missing all along.

-OG-

His limp had made reappearance in the last few days, they'd kept themselves busy with trips and excursions, love making, swimming and diving which she had shit her pants at the thought of but turns out it had been fun. "Rest day today Mr, you are going to sit with your feet up all day! Pool or beach?"

He pulled her closer to him "Most definitely the beach" he leaned on her as they strolled the short distance to the beach.

"Sit" she ordered, throwing herself down next to him. She enjoyed rubbing sun cream into his body, in fact she enjoyed it so much that just the heat of his skin on her palms was enough to arouse her. She bit her bottom lip as she rubbed cream into every inch of him.

"Pervert" he smirked as she moved closer to him, she knew today was a bad day. Her hand found its way to caress his cheek and he leaned into her touch.

"It's okay baby. I'm here" he closed his eyes, allowing her touch to engulf him like a protective bubble. She was his protective bubble, always had been since all those years ago and it didn't matter that they were halfway across the world or that it was their honeymoon or that he felt guilty for bringing this emotional baggage with them, all that mattered in that moment was that he needed her to be his anchor and she was. She was beautiful, she was his, she wasn't going anywhere, ever and with that he was back.

"I'm okay, really I'm okay" she gave him a sympathetic smile, her hand not leaving his body, she needed to keep the contact as much as he needed her touch.

She wriggled behind him, his body leaning against hers. They'd spent hours like this, her arms his safe place, wrapped around his lean body, the warmth of her body against his back and her face nuzzled into his hair a constant reminder that everything would be okay in the end.

He climbed to his feet, annoyed at the limp "Come on" he pulled her by the hand.

"Where we going? You need to rest today peg leg. Can't be seen with you whilst walking like that."

He chuckled "We're going in there" he flicked his head towards the ocean "We're going in there to wash it all away, and when we come back it again, I'll have put it all in a little box at the back of my brain and that's where it will stay. That's where it has to stay" she didn't understand his reasoning for it but went with it anyway, whatever he needed was okay with her. He'd made such good progress lately that she'd wondered if days like today were a thing of the past but would they ever truly be a thing of the past for him?

He launched himself into the crystal clear waters, relief washing over him as the water carried away the pain and weight from his aching body. Molly followed, shrieking in delight as he splashed her, the young, carefree man that had enjoyed every second of this honeymoon so far was back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, taking a handful of the wet curls at the back of his neck, kissing him as if her life depended on it. It did depend on it; she couldn't breathe without him.

"Tonight's the night" he whispered as she nibbled his earlobe "The night for what?" She eyed him with equal amounts of suspicion and excitement "Tonight is the night that we start on turning 2 into 3."

Epilogue

The drive to Brize Norton has never been this painful. In fact, he had enjoyed it as the calm before the storm on previous tours, a quiet moment to himself before he'd have bantering squaddies littering his ear drums but this time it was different as he looked over his puffy eyed wife.

He held her as she cried all night but they both knew he was doing what he needed to do. One more tour, for closure he promised. "Will you be okay?" He said in almost a whisper, she smiled back at him.

"I'll be fine, you just concentrate on staying safe and getting yourself home to me."

He nodded "I promise"

"Can I stay with you until the last second?" He nodded "The very last second. And remember it's a humanitarian mission, no contact, not a war zone, no worries" it didn't make her feel any better but he'd worked so hard for this. It had taken him a long time but he got there, with Molly by his side every step of the way.

She pulled the collar of his uniform to get a close as possible, take in his smell, feel the warmth of him against her. "Let me know, won't you? You know when it's time to test, let me know straight away. Email, text, call, whatever I'll be waiting."

She nodded, praying this time would be the time she'd give him the results they both desperately longed for. "I've got a good feeling this time."

She giggled "Ditto"

He kissed her deeply "Always remember how much I love you. And if we haven't done it this time, then it's not our time yet."

Silent tears fell as she watched him cross the tarmac, Georgie finding her place at his side. He'd be safe with her she consoled herself. He stole a last glance of the woman who was his everything "I love you" he mouthed hoping she'd see "Ditto."

AN- Thank you for enjoying this story with me once again x