A/N - So very sorry for how long this has taken. Fingers crossed you are all still with us!
-OG-
Molly woke a sweat covered mess, the Afghan heat making sleep uncomfortable and sticky. Another night of blurred dreams had left her unsure what was playing on her mind. She wanted nothing more than to run to Charles. To steal five minutes of his time so that everything would feel okay again. He did that for her. He was her safe place in Afghanistan. He reassured her, helped her remember why she had chosen this path. Reminded her that she was brilliant. She lived for the moments that felt romantic, where they would sneak into his cabin for alone time even if it really was just scraps. They were both happy to take whatever they could get. He was strictly professional, making sure neither of them would be compromised professionally. That no eyebrows could be raised. That was until he moved to his own Forward Operating Base and he'd been taken away from her.
It had been six long weeks since she had seen him. Six weeks since he'd given her a cheeky wink or did that thing where he bit his lip at the sight of her. Six weeks since she'd smelt him.
Molly gave up on the idea of sleep. A 5:30amwakeup call was fast approaching and already she was sticky from the humidity and rising heat. She pulled her towel and wash bag into her lap, sighing. It was going to be a long day.
Silently she made her way to the showers, deciding to get it out of the way before the masses descended in the morning rush. Her mind just kept going back to him. Was he okay? She guessed he was or he'd have ended up in her care by now in the hospital. Was he taking care of himself? Drinking enough in this heat? She laughed, reminding herself that he had been doing this a long time before she came along. But still he filled her mind. And she supposed he would continue to do so for the foreseeable.
She filled her flask with sweet tea and headed to the roof of the toilets in preparation to watch the sunrise. Her sister's letter from home, her most prized possession right now, clutched tightly in her hand in preparation to read yet again. To give her the strength she needed for this day.
She was counting down until her R&R. Relieved she had been given the requested leave to attend Georgie's wedding. She was more than excited. She just wished Charles could be with her and they didn't have to wait out any longer. It was killing her.
The sunset was doing its job of calming her nerves, helping her forget another rough sleep only to be disturbed by the MERTs that approached. Fuck!
She was off the roof quicker than she had ever moved before, multiple choppers meant multiple casualties. She would be needed.
Molly stood in the middle of the chaos, not sure where to turn first. Who needed her the most?
"Come on Mol's, you've got this!" Jackie encouraged, giving her a not so gentle push in the right direction.
She started recognises them, one by one. The ANA soldiers who had accompanied 2 section to the forward operating base a few miles away.
She did what she could, as quickly as she could for those who were in front of her whilst all the while hoping on one hand Charles wouldn't be next and on the other that he would be so she knew if he was alright or not. Hours passed in what was most definitely a war zone.
"Well done Private." She was praised. Her ability to work under pressure not going unnoticed.
She pushed her way through the double door, in desperate need to change out of her blood stained uniform when she saw him. He looked as weary as she felt but he was in one piece.
"Charles!" She almost wept, running towards him, their resolve to wait out under pressure. Relief swept over his face when he saw her. His safe place in an uncertain time right where she needed to be at exactly the right moment.
"I was scared Charles, I thought you'd been hurt"
He pulled her into a near by cubicle, closing the curtains around them. His long legs closing the gap between them immediately whilst his hand cups either side of her cheeks, desperately pulling her into him. Holding her tight. He needed this.
He'd accepted what they felt was intense, and something out of the ordinary. At least for him anyway. The emotion reliance on this girl he barely knew was shocking but he couldn't and wouldn't change it. He accepted that he needed her as she seemed to need him.
"I'm so fucking glad to see you." She felt the weight of his troubles leave his body as he held her tightly. His lips pressed heavily on the top of her head. She felt guilty that her first thought had been her own anxiety about his safety. "I'm here." She breathed into his chest. "It's okay, I'm here." The world carried moving around them. The fear of being caught in each other's arms on neither of their minds.
"Meet me at my cabin?" His eyes were so dark she couldn't work out which emotion it was that was almost pouring from them. But she knew he needed her and she'd be there.
-OG-
She breathed a sigh of relief to finally finish her shift. A day from hell but it would only get better now that he was back. She stopped by the mess picking up as much as she could sneak away so they could eat together in the privacy of his cabin. Her short legs carried her at lightning speed, her heart pounding with excitement and anticipation of finally being back with him.
She check around her, ensuring she entered unseen, or at least she hoped, finding him peacefully sleeping. A little battered and bruised from his battle. She gave him a once over, noticing he needed a little bit of patching up. She lifted what looked like a swollen ankle, resting it on top of whatever she could find, trying her best not to disturb his peaceful and well deserved sleep.
She laid out their food, his first aid kit in preparation and waited. Crawling into the crook of his arm, taking him in the way she had longed to for all these weeks. She couldn't help herself, his handsome face was just begging to be touched.
Her fingers gently traced the outline of his perfect lips, so kissable. Her thumbs gently brushed away traces of the battle. Sand and dried blood. He had obviously been too tired to even shower. His dark brown eyes flickered open, he was pleased to see her.
"Molly!" His voice was gruff and tired.
"Hey you!" She whispered, unsure if he'd drift off back to sleep or not. But sleep wasn't on his mind now she was here. He cupped her cheek, pulling her as close as possible until their bodies were one.
"Fuck I've missed you." He kissed her greedily and she didn't complain. The salty taste of his skin, his smell, everything about him turning her on.
"Are you sure this is okay? What if we get caught?"
"Lock the door. I need you."
She did as instructed, excited that this might finally be happening for them. And it was. It was everything she'd hoped and imagined. All those months of cat and mouse had built up to this moment of pure passion. Maybe even love, she wasn't sure, but Molly knew that she had never felt this was about anyone before. She cared for him in such a way that she felt it deep inside her. When she was with him, the feelings she felt radiated through her entire body. Like every fibre of her being was completely and utterly in love with this man.
He kissed her forehead, as long as he was holding her. He didn't need to worry about what they had just done. Not yet anyway.
"I think we should get you fed and watered."
She reluctantly removed herself from his embrace, enjoying his protest as he grabbed at her to pull her back into his tiny single bed. Already craving her touch.
She handed him water and something to eat. Watching him scoff every mouthful with a shy smile on her face. He was bloody perfect.
"How's that foot?"
He didn't speak, too busy enjoying every mouthful of food that wasn't rations, instead giving her a thumbs up. "I'll live." He finally said, once again pulling playfully at her.
"I'll bandage it anyway." He let her do what she needed to do. Watching her. Enjoying her hands on his skin. It had been a long time since anyone had touched him this way. Since anyone had cared enough.
"You are so beautiful." He smirked.
She blushed at the compliment. "Alright gobshite. You've had your fill so you can cut the bullshit now."
"Absolutely no bullshit here Dawesy. You are the most beautiful woman I have even met."
He pulled her close to him. His long, strong arms enveloping her entire body. Drinking her in.
"I've been looking forward to holding you." He breathed into her hair, not ready to let her go anytime soon.
She enjoyed the moment, staying exactly where she was until they physically couldn't stay like that any longer. Now to deliver the bad news. Or at least she feared it would be bad news for him.
"I'm heading home tomorrow. 2 weeks R&R. Georgie's wedding and all that."
His eyes widened as the thought of her not being around sunk in.
"Wow Dawsey, I'd be on that plane with you given half the chance." He smiled sadly. Wishing he could be the lucky one who could be on her arm for what he was sure was going to be a grand affair.
He laced his fingers through hers, enjoying the touch from her tiny hands whilst he still could.
"Come back to me." Was all he said before once again pulling her into him. "Always." She promised.
She crumbled once more. Crashing her lips into his. Pushing her tongue greedily into his mouth.
"I want you." She panted and he didn't refuse. Both of them felt lucky and greedy but it didn't stop them. He had never broken the rules like this before, Molly was going to be the undoing of him. Something about her was worth the risk. So many times she had slipped through his fingers and now here they were, making love, spending time and they were both utterly infatuated. He would risk it all for this.
She collapses into his arms, safe and warm and back together.
"I have a request for you."
She nuzzles into his neck, desperately trying to cling onto this moment.
"I've had my Nespresso machine sent from a England at great expense..."
"To the taxpayer" she giggled.
"Maybe but completely justified because I'm not a fully functioning soldiers until I've had my first shot of coffee in the morning."
"Tea bag does me." She says dryly. He kisses away her smile, mesmerised by her.
He pulls her arm towards him, gently stroking her inner arm before writing his request on her skin. His touch is like electricity running through her skin, like nothing she has ever felt before.
"Rosabaya." She whispers, reading it to herself as he entwines his fingers through hers.
"I'll adore you for always."
Molly smiles, still not quite believing that this was happening and how far they had come since she arrived in Afghanistan.
-OG-
The feeling of dread that filled her stomach has replaced the one of excitement as she packed her belongings. The niggling in the back of her mind telling her to stay was growing with every passing minute as she prepped to leave.
Georgie's wedding, seeing her sisters. She was meant to be looking forward to going home. And now she wasn't. She wanted to be here, with him. To see him every day. To know that he was okay.
She searched high and low, needing desperately to say their goodbyes.
Molly held back tears that burned her eyes as she slung her Bergen over her shoulder. She really wasn't going to get her goodbye.
She took a last look at her quarters, glad to see the back of it for two whole weeks when she felt his presence.
"I thought you'd sodded off." She couldn't hide the upset in her voice.
"I'm so sorry. I had a medical examination. I couldn't get out of it but I'm here now."
He picked up her hand, checking there were no eyes on them before kissing it and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"All okay? Anything you want to talk about?"
"Nothing for you to worry about. All good."
She had no time to question him further. It really was time to leave him.
"I'll miss you." She said, almost crying.
"Ditto."
He took his chances, tilting her chin upwards, planting his lips greedily on hers.
"That will have to keep you going. Now get yourself out of here. And give Georgie my best."
She tip toed to steal one last kiss before walking away.
"Dawes." He called after her. She sprinted back, still unable to tear herself away from him.
"Yeah?"
He dropped his head so only she could hear him.
"I love you."