5 Minutes

Everything belongs to Holby City

'So…was it as you remember?'

'Mmm…Lovely.'

Jac smiled and snuggled into him, she kissed his chest. 'God I've missed you!'

Joseph kissed her head. 'And whose fault is that?'

'I know! I know!'

'I mean I asked you to come with me!'

'Yeah well…I didn't expect you to reunite with the anti-christ.'

'It wasn't planned it just happened.'

'Where does she think you are?'

Joseph ran a hand lazily through her hair. 'Doing locum work and we're on a break.'

'Smooth!' Jac looked at him and kissed him deeply. 'I've missed you so, so much! No-one matches up to you, why do you think none of my relationships last? I keep comparing them to you!'

He felt his cheeks getting hot. 'Right! No pressure then!'

'Seriously though…you always seem to get me.'

'I don't know why you say that, I've never understood a thing about you.'

'I don't know why you say that. 'She looked at him. 'You get me better than anyone. You always manage to remain calm.'

He laughed. 'I've had my moments.'

'I know…It really hurt you know.'

'What?'

'You getting back with her.' He just sighed and didn't reply. 'I mean…why didn't you come home to me? I mean we talked about it remember? We were all set for a new life…'

'Yes…and then you refused to come with me which was your prerogative…'

'That still doesn't explain why you didn't come home why you had to back to that-' She drew short.

Joseph lay there in silence, thinking, then he said. '…Because I didn't think it was a good idea.'

'What do you mean?'

'Every time we get together something happens…either it's cheating or violence.'

'I deserved it!'

'NO woman deserves to be hit Jac! I just…I mean I don't want us to be like that…I don't want to hate you.' He stroked her hair.

'I thought you said you hadn't settled…'

'Well…depends how you look at it… But I could never love ANYONE as much as I love you.'

She snuggled further into him. 'You know, when I was in the nuthouse…'

'Don't call it that Jac! You had a breakdown and that could happen to anyone of us.'

'Anyway – Elliott came to visit me and we discussed you – and I said I now understand – having become a parent to that just because you had to put your son first doesn't mean you couldn't have loved me too.'

Joseph raised his arms and put his hands over his face, 'Hallelujah! She finally gets it!'

'Yeah I know…finally!'

'You're so silly Jac! If you learn to relax and take it easy, soften your approach, then you could end up with the family you've always wanted!'

'Yeah I know... It-it's just so hard...'

'I know, Darling! I know, and no-one wants to get hurt but, trust me, once you've experienced it through give and take then it's so worth it. people will want to fight for you, because people want to love you, you know.'

'Why?'

'Why?'

'Yes.'

'Because you are a beautiful, intelligent woman. And I have no doubt that you can do this - you've proven that you can from what I've heard, you just have to believe in yourself a bit more.

'Why does everybody else tend to get what they want while I have to settle?'

'Because you constantly contradict yourself - and it's maddening!'

'How do you mean?'

'It's something I've realised; you say you want a family but you push people away, you want to be loved but you give up any chance of that for your career and in the end the person doesn't know whether they're coming or going; it's very annoying!'

'I never thought...I mean I don't mean to...'

'I know my love, I know.'

She, lay there, thinking, then looked up at him and kissed him deeply. 'You ARE staying aren't you?'

Joseph kissed her deeply. 'That's the plan.'

She smiled and snuggled back into his chest and they both slowly drifted off to sleep, fully aware of the trials and tribulations ahead but just grateful that, for now, they could only focus on each other.