Lee sat for a good while mulling over the conversation he'd just had with Kate. He repeated her words in his head like a mantra, 'you know you what you need to do Lee, make it happen'. It was thinking of the right words though, just knowing where to start.

Deciding he couldn't wait any longer, he approached Lucy's bedroom once more, his feelings a mixture of trepidation and determination. He knocked on the door.

"Lucy come out please. I need to talk to you...Lucy? Luce?".

There was silence, and he expected another rebuttal, but after a few seconds Lucy opened the door. Instead of coming out of her room she sat back down on her bed.

Her eyes were red, giving away that she'd been crying.

Lee stood awkwardly in the bedroom doorway, not wanting to assume she would be okay with him joining her.

"It's okay, come in. You can sit here. Shoes off first though".

She patted the duvet next to her.

Lee perched on the end of Lucy's bed and removed his shoes. He shuffled backwards towards the head of the bed where Lucy was sitting. He broke the silence,

"Luce, are you wearing different make up to earlier?"

"I...I've just being trying out the new stuff I bought today".

"You mean the new make-up that's still in its packaging on your bedside table?"

"Okay Poirot, I'm wearing different makeup because I didn't want you to know I'd been crying".

"Lucy, I could see you were upset when you ran off. Why are you so upset?"

"I don't know, I'm not...well I am but..."

"So...it turns out I jumped to conclusions, I put two and two together and made five".

"I bet you wish you'd listened in class now. Maths comes in handy sometimes..."

"He's not my son".

"He's not?"

Lucy could not have felt more relieved.

"No, I've just spoken to Kate, the father is some married guy she slept with not long after she moved back to California. I can't tell you how relieved I am Luce, I know that sounds heartless and it's not because I don't want kids it's just I don't want one like this".

"I get it, I completely get it. So, why did Kate leave England...because you had sex?"

"No, she was leaving anyway. I'm sorry Lucy, that I never told you the truth about me and her. Maybe I was a bit ashamed of it, her being Tim's ex and all".

"You didn't have to, what happened between you was your business. I didn't know you then".

"So, are you going to tell me why you were so upset, is it because you want a baby?"

"No...perhaps".

Lucy wasn't quite ready to tell him the full truth, though she wondered if he had his suspicions.

"So, are you going to keep in touch with her?".

"I don't know, maybe".

"You're not tempted to pick up where you left off, reignite the old flame? After all you were in love with her, I know how much you missed her when she went back to America, you used to talk about her all the time when I first moved in".

"Used to, that's the point. I don't have any feelings for her any more, not those kind of feelings anyway. I'm not sure now if it was ever really love. I don't think I knew what being in love felt like then".

"But you do now?"

"Yes".

"Tell me about it".

"Luce...I...the thing about Kate is, she represents a version of me that doesn't exist anymore".

"What version is that?"

"The one before I met you".

"How were you different?"

"I wasn't as happy then as I am now. I have a better life now".

"You think you're life's been better since you met me?"

"Only in every conceivable way. Kate said something important to me last night".

"What? Apart from will you have sex with me?"

"Yes, apart from that. She said if I'm going to be completely happy in life I have to identify my goals and do whatever I can to achieve them".

"She's right".

"I know but what if no matter what I do I can't achieve them, because they depend on someone else feeling the same as me and I don't have control over that?".

"What are your goals?"

"Well, there's just one really".

"What is it?"

"It's...god...I don't know how to say this. I'm useless at this".

"Just say it, whatever it is".

Lucy inched closer to Lee, so close their legs were now touching. He felt his body react to the contact, a spark of electricity run through him.

"I will, it's just that lack of confidence thing. I've got this voice in my head telling not to be so ridiculous, that being honest about my feelings is the worst thing I could do right now. That my goal is unrealistic".

"Would it help your confidence if you knew that someone you mentioned a few seconds ago did feel the same?"

"It would but I don't know, not for certain".

"I'm certain. Lee...I admit I was jealous of Kate last night when you went to that restaurant with her, and it upsets me that you once had sex with her even though I have no right to be because you hadn't even met me then. I know that doesn't make me seem like a rational person but..."

"I love you Lucy".

Just like that, he blurted them out. The words that had always eluded him in the past, even when he was desperate to shout them from the rooftops.

Lucy sat open mouthed, clearly in shock. To have waited so long to hear those words, having wondered so many times if she'd ever hear them, she couldn't quite believe it now she had.

Unable to speak at that moment, she reached out for Lee's hand and he took it, allowing their fingers to entwine. He was trembling, so she squeezed his hand, wanting to reassure him she wasn't going anywhere any time soon. He needed this, not just to reassure him she was here to stay, but to confirm this wasn't just a dream. It was what she needed too, to keep her anchored, now she felt like she was floating on air. They instinctively turned to face each other.

Now Lee had said the hardest words, more came tumbling out of his mouth,

"My goal...is to be with you. Not like we are now as friends...as your lover, your husband, the father of your children. I never thought I'd find anyone like you, who I'd fall for so hard, who would make me want all those things, but I did, and I feel so lucky. The thing is, most of all I want to make you happy, and I just hope you'll give me the chance to try. Will you marry me?"

Lee exhaled audibly, his shoulders dropping as the tension left his body. He'd worked himself up to this for so long that the relief in finally saying how he felt was immense. Then he realised Lucy hadn't said anything in response yet, and he felt on edge again.