Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Lessons Learnt

Chapter 17

She threw her happy self at him. This gorgeous man had come all this way to see her. She didn't care who was watching she just had to be held by him. Held by her patch wearing pirate boyfriend.

"Christ Molly. Watch it. I'm still a delicate boy you know?" He grinned into her face, delighted with his welcome, then lifted her up off the floor and swung her round. Kissing her beaming face.

"It's been the longest bleeding week of my life. Thank you for coming to see me".

Charles still was unfit to drive, so he had caught the train up so see her. And here he was standing in Darlington station looking like everything Molly had dreamed about for the past seven nights.

It had been only two weeks since they had come back from their amazing holiday. They had had two glorious weeks at her parent's villa in Spain. It was just the two of them. No one else. No visitors. No hospital appointment. No therapy sessions. So they had spent every hour of every day in each other's company. Going from that to nothing, two weeks of enforced absence was painful to them both. A wound that would only settle with each other's salve.

Molly broke away slightly from Charles' hug. He still had his deep golden tan and when he smiled the whiteness of his perfect teeth became more exaggerated. And right now he was doing a lot of smiling. The eye patch remained, and the burn dressing was tiny, almost not there at all. The sunshine had toned his skin and the nasty angry puckered flesh to the right side of his face seemed calmer and no so noticeable. That and Charles had started to allow his curly locks to flop over the right side of his face as a further disguise. The whole visage she gazed upon was one beautiful sight, always was, and no matter how many scars he had, it always would be.

"God I've missed you. How have you been? You look tired." Charles said concerned for his love. He'd notice more bruises on her arms and knew there'd be more across her body. A small cut to her forehead. He still found it hard to reconcile his Molly as a tough member of the British forces. It was times like this that he truly appreciated the effort she put into her role on a day to day basis. Battering and pushing her body physically. He then shivered with the memories of her body on holiday. Few clothes were worn for almost the whole of the two weeks, both finding them pointless distractions that just got in the way of each other's caresses. She had been attentive to his physio regime, his wound, and his total and utter lust for him. In every single way she had delivered. He could ask for no more from her. The holiday had proved the correct therapy for them both.

"I'm not too tired. Don't worry." She winked at him, her mind too mindful of their holiday antics, and the need for a repeat performance. Then she bent down, to save his muscles, to prove a point, and went to grab his bags.

"God Molly I can carry my own bags you know." He said slightly embarrassed.

"Sorry. Habit." She looked over worried he'd be upset with her. He didn't like depending on her to be the strong one, even though she most definitely was at the moment. He wasn't, he leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her nose.

"So where are you luring me away to then Miss Dawes? He playfully asked.

"Only the best for you Charles." She skipped in front of him. Then turned back. "We're going halves on a Travel Lodge!"

Almost 48 hours in each other's company was not enough. Soon, way to soon Molly was standing with Charles on the platform waiting to wave him off. Molly wondered how she was going to be able to sleep without him tonight. Her body these days seemed to need her Charles shaped comforter. The course was hard, and had several months to go. So she knew these scenes would continue to be part of their lives for a while yet. Maybe forever if she stayed in the Army. Especially if she stayed with SF.

"So you'll definitely be there on Saturday?" He mumbled into her hair. He couldn't let her go, breathing everything in that was Molly. Hugging her, holding her for as long as possible.

"Of course. I will I promise. Bright and early at your Mum's. Can't miss the Birthday Boy's birthday tea now can I?"

"Can't believe I won't see you for a week though." He laughed.

"Well it will make you appreciate me more, when you do see me again." She laughed still facing him but cocooning herself in his jumper and hard body, his warmth, his body was too good to pull away from. "Besides I have to come. I've got to give you your present don't I?"

"Ha. Think I'll definitely appreciate you when I see you. Mind you we might just have to be a bit quieter with our mutual appreciated. I'm sure Mum heard us last time you stayed and well…ermmm…..appreciated me!" He hugged her tighter. The memory trying to elicit a physical response from him.

"Oh don't say that. I'm going to be embarrassed enough all weekend, with my parents meeting yours." She hit him gently on the arm. Molly, though looking forward to next weekend was fearful as to how Dave would behave in front of George and Mary. It was the first time they were meeting and was a really big deal for both Charles and Molly. They really hoped their parents would get on with one another.

"Your dad will be fine. Beside Elvis will be there. Bringing his new lady friend too. He'll deflect any problems."

"Yeah. Who is she?" Molly hadn't heard any rumours about a new woman in Elvis life. Being away from the team the gossip hadn't obviously reached her. She was curious.

"He won't say." Charles sighed. "Says we have to wait and see. This is my train." He kissed her in as many different ways as he could in those last few seconds of their time together. He only broke away to say;

"I love you."

Molly suddenly became anything but brave. Each good bye was getting harder to say, her eyes filled up, her throat choked. She couldn't speak. All she could manage to say was;

"Ditto."

As it happened it wasn't Dave they needed to worry about when both sets of parents met. It was their Mums. Within minutes of meeting one another Mary and Belinda knew that they would get on. Their caring hearts and sense of humour exactly matched. That and the love for the two young people that had brought their meeting about. Mary had true love and regard for Molly, grateful for all she had done for Charles. While Belinda, only knowing Charles for a short period of time trusted her daughter's judgement. Belinda could see that she loved Charles very much, and he loved her. She was his "good 'un", and that was enough for Belinda.

So these two mothers created a united front in teasing Molly and Charles about their futures. They were plenty of questions about when they were going to get married? What about grandchildren? Charles wasn't getting any younger. Molly needed to think about getting proper job. One that wouldn't take her away so much. They were relentless and only accepted a cease fire once Elvis arrived. And even then it was a temporary one.

Both Molly and Charles tried to take their abuse in the humorous way it was delivered, but it became wearing and embarrassing to them both. Each looking at each other with apologetic looks as they each felt responsible for their own mother egging the other one on!

When Elvis knocked on the door Molly nearly killed herself running from the kitchen to open the door. Charles got there first, much to her annoyance. His body mass blocking her view of who was standing on his door step.

"Happy Birthday Charlie Boy." He bellowed pulling him into a man hug.

"Elvis. Good to see you…and….?"

Molly had had enough at this stage and she forcibly moved Charles out of the way, much to everyone's amusement.

"You." Was all she could say when she saw who Elvis' girlfriend was. Shocked beyond words. "I don't bloody believe it. When did this happen?" Pointing her finger at the pair of them.

"At your party Mols. Reckoned he felt sorry for me. Truth is I felt sorry for him, so I kept him thing I guess lead to another." She said embarrassment oozing out of her.

Molly screamed. "You of all people. You sly fox. You never said."

Then she looked at Charles.

"Did you know. Did you know that Elvis was going gout with Jacki? My mate Jacki?"

Molly's reaction was priceless, but she was genuinely happy, as did Elvis seem to be. Jacki was someone she had never ever imagined Elvis being with. She was very low maintenance. Very down to earth. A sporty lady who like to get down and dirty with the rest of the team. Never expecting her role as a nurse or the fact she was a female soldier ever to get in the way. In fact truth be told, she was very much like Molly. The exact opposite to Georgie, and that was just what Elvis found so captivating. As did everyone that day.

A lovely day was had by all. The Birthday Boy had been spoilt. His parents feeling very emotional about his birthday this year after all the trauma Charles had been through. Once Elvis and Jacki left, and Dave and Belinda drove away Molly and Charles said their good nights and headed straight up to bed, to a bit of solitude.

Mindful of the noise traveling in the house, after last time they just lay in each other's arms for now.

"It went well didn't it?" Charles said, cradling her into his chest.

"Yeah. Bleeding surprise about Elvis and Jacki though." She smiled, and then let out a huge sigh.

"You ok?" He raised his head to catch a glimpse of hers.

"Yes. Just thinking about our Mums and what they were saying. Sorry about that."

"What you sorry for. It wasn't your fault." He said.

"I know. It's just a bit awkward. Didn't want you to think I'd put them up to it, or anything. Cause I didn't you know?"

"I know that Molly." He answered, and then said. "Why is that what you want?"

"Want what?"

"To get married, and that…?" It was such a loaded question. He was so unsure how she would answer it. He knew how he hoped she would. She took her time to answer. Carefully considering her answer.

"No. I don't think I would. Not now any way. Too early. Too soon. Is that Ok?" She pulled herself upward leaning on his chest now so they could face each other.

"No that's fine. Kind of how I feel too. I guess maybe one day, if ever. I don't know. Just happy with where we are. Just not so far apart thought. Is that Ok for you.?"

"Oh yes Charles. I'm happy where we are, but kids, marriage, and all that….. I don't know…. It's possible that's out there for me, and hopefully with you, but it just not for me now." She kissed him, hoping her feelings were truly the same as his, and both of them had been honest.

"Ok then, so I guess what we're saying is maybe one day, eventually. Just not for a long while yet?"

"I think that's exactly what we're saying."

"It's hard though being away from you." He continued.

"Yeah but even if we were married or had ten kids that would still happen. As long as I'm in the Army, and I'm not ready to leave."

"I know and I won't ask you too. I worry about you in the army, but I know you love it and you're brilliant at what you do. It's just there could be a solution you know?"

"What's that? My course goes on for another two months. Until then I'm afraid it trains up and down the country for us. I can't quit the course Charles. I won't."

"Whoa… Molly. I'm not asking you that. And by the way ten kids…no bloody way. Not too sure about even one if I'm honest."

"What then Charles? What's your solution?"

"Well once your course is finish, and you're back on camp permanently. You could...we ….if you wanted to…..move in together. Kind of make us all official and that. It would shut our Mums up at least."

Molly scrambled to her knees and sat back.

"Are you serious?" she stared at him. He was having trouble judging her mood.

"Yes. I meant….I thought it was a good idea. Look forget it. If you don't want to. We can just go on as it was."

"You really want to live with me?" No one had ever really chosen to live with Molly before. "I'm obsessively tidy. I'll do your box in. I love slobbing out and watching soaps. I play my music way too loud, and I can't really cook more than three basic meals. And….this one will kill you… I don't listen to Radio Four in the mornings. Are you sure?" She was finding it hard, hoping her bad points, and she thought she had many, wouldn't really put him off.

"God of course I'm sure. I love you, and all your bad bits. I want you to be the last thing I see on a night and the first I see each morning. So what do you think? Good idea? Are you going to move in with me Molly Dawes?"

"I think it's a bloody brilliant idea Charles. Of course I'll move in with you."