And so we come to the end! Thank you for reading, and sticking with our favourite couple. Thanks to Debbie too for her Beta skills.
Lizard.
Epilogue.
She stood in the room all alone. It's was after all what she had wanted. The silence, and the time to reflect.
She knew he'd be worried about her. Even still this is what he'd agreed to, and so this is now what she had.
Time away from Charles.
Time to think.
He loved her. She knew that. He wanted them to have what they had had before, and so much more. He believed in them. She knew that too. But all those months ago when she had found the ring she just couldn't say yes.
It wasn't what she had wanted. She believed in them too. There was no doubting that. She too wanted everything and more…just like before. But she'd been too scared to admit it, and there were too many changes she needed to make in her life, to even think about considering one more.
Yet now she had considered. She'd been given the space, and things were so very different. She'd had her time, and now she knew what it was she wanted with the utmost certainty. She knew her heart and what it needed.
Now all she had to do was find a way to break it to him.
Find a way to let him know that this was what she wanted. Finally.
She knew, of course he'd be upset. His emotions would be played out. His male pride wounded, dented, but she also know that it couldn't be helped, and that was just the way it was. She was the one making the choice this time, not him.
She turned and looked at herself in the mirror. She considered herself, and found she recognised the stranger who now stood in front of her. Still the Molly Dawes of old. Still the girl he had fallen in love with all those years ago, but now there was something more. Something that she could identified as utter confidence in herself and her abilities. He'd given her that.
She now had faith in those she loved, and who loved her. She trusted them. Knew she deserved their love, their praise, and so took it and accepted it willingly.
It had been a long hard journey. One she had started with him all those years ago in a dusty, hot country, and had continued on it ever since. So much harder than she had expected, but sometimes, he had reminded her, the best ones always were.
And this last stage had been one of the hardest, as she had expected. So, standing there looking at herself all dressed up and nervous, she felt proud. The three years of studying training, doubting, depending, all accumulated in today. Today marked an end and a beginning.
Today was her graduation day. Today was the day that she had wondered about so many times. Had questioned if she would ever get there, if she would ever achieve what she had set out to do.
Yet she had, and she had done it with her own determination and brilliance, but she'd also done it with all of Charles' love and support. That meant the world to her.
So, as she stood and looked at herself. Her pretty smart summer dress hidden by her hired black gown and the mortar board cap in her hand, the sight made her smile. Who would have thought?
A gentle knock on the cloakroom door stirred her.
"Molly. It's time to go." He softly said through the closed door. "The rest of your course are moving out."
She opened the door and greeted him with a wide happy toothy grin. She'd caught the slight worry on his face, which vanished as she beamed at him. She knew he was worried about her. He always would be. She knew, he knew, today meant so much to her. She knew without him she wouldn't have made it though, and she had told him that so many times.
"Ready." She stroked his arm gently as she turned to walk off. "See you out there." She smiled back.
As she walked backwards for a few yards to look at him one last time she appreciated him. Dressed in a smart crisp navy-blue suit with a perfectly ironed shirt, and the old regimental tie, he looked perfect. She blew him a kiss as she finally turned and saw a slight blush spread across his face as he realised how public a place they were in. Still she heard him chuckle and it made her almost skip back into his arms. Yet she didn't. She moved forward. Towards her classmates of the past three years. Towards the glory of the graduation ceremony.
There were no nerves as she stood at the side of the stage waiting for her name to be called out. She couldn't see them but knew they'd be there. Charles, her Mum and Margaret. All out there in the audience of the grand building supporting her. Just like they had done all along.
Relationships had eventually improved between Molly and her parents, and ultimately with Charles too. Both parents realising that Molly had made her choice. They knew of her stubborn streak and knew once her choice was made there was no going back. So slowly they accepted Charles back into their family. Slowly forgiving him for past indiscretions.
He became an honorary Dawes again. Except it wasn't like before. It was different. This time around Dave didn't ask him for a drink down at his local when they visited, and Belinda didn't hang onto his every word as she used to, but it was better than expected. Molly and Charles knew that, and were happy with the civil relationships they now had. Time had changed and hurt them all to a degree.
Molly's relationship with Margaret had changed too. She remained her friend, but also became a part time carer for her too. Margaret, who was growing older and frailer, each day, now depended on Molly and Charles more than she ever had. Frequently staying with them, frequently asking them to visit her, to share their lives again with her. And so, they did. Neither Charles, nor Molly, minded. They saw how happy she was with her son's new life; with the woman he always did, and always would love, and it made them happy too.
So, to have both Mums and Charles here today, to see her accept her degree, to see her qualify as a Paramedic, meant the world to Molly. It was truly a day to remember.
The weeks of preparation, stress, excitement, all led to this, and too soon it was over. The celebration of three years hard work quickly finished, as the four of them soon poured out of the hall, on their way to toast Molly and her success.
They ate a celebratory meal together. Molly the happy centre of attention for once They told stories and they laughed. A happy day, but the sands of time still ran as quickly as they always did. While Belinda and Margaret each returned to their own homes that late afternoon, Charles had booked him and Molly into a hotel in the country for a few days of pampering. Once the goodbyes were made they set off, excited and ready, for their relaxing alone time.
As Charles drove Molly sat in silence. Her mind running through all events that lead them to here.
"Penny for them." He asked as he stroked her hand, while the other one rested on the wheel.
She smiled slowly. Wondering how all her thoughts could only be worth a penny.
It was just over three years since that day in the hotel room. The day she had found the ring and effectively shut down Charles' plans, to propose.
Since then it had never been mentioned again. Of course, there were times when she could see him thinking about asking, thinking about risking it all. Yet he never did. She knew he saw in her that she had things to do. That timings were wrong and so he held his counsel.
That had pleased her. Showed they had changed as a couple. Now equal, now both respected, now both listened too. The three years had brought other changes too. Fingers and Bella had finally moved out. Into married quarters, now officially a couple and their relationship was loud, demanding and precarious, but it was removed from Charles and Molly's life. Removed enough to allow them to be them again, without any sibling drama. The house they had once shared was now yet again quiet and peaceful.
Yet somehow along the way both Molly and Charles had realised that they had outgrown the house, and too needed to move on. That was their next step. Their next big plan together. A house that they both owned. They were excited, but for now even that plan was put on hold. He once again was waiting for her. Waiting until Molly found out exactly which station she'd be working from, and then they'd look. Look for something bigger, more space, more rooms. Even more suitable for a growing family. This too has been touched on, but once again he didn't rush her, he knew like with everything to do with Molly he'd wait out until she was ready.
"You never asked me again did you?" She replied to his question.
"Asked you what?" He looked at her briefly as he drove. Confused by her question.
"To marry you." She turned and smiled at him gently. Watching his reaction closely.
"Afraid you'd say no I guess". He shook his head and shrugged. She saw how vulnerable he was about that subject, and he did what he often did when he felt scared. He went silent. He said no more, instead he fixed his eyes on the road.
"Probably would've." She admitted still watching him. Her words made him start, but he still didn't look at her.
"Right." Was all he said nodding his head slowly in understanding. Allowing one hand to stray from hers and run through his curls.
Neither continued the conversation. The miles went by and the silence remained. They both sat watching the countryside pass them by and pretended all was fine.
Eventually he spoke. He'd been stealing glances at her for the last half an hour. She had given little away, apart from occasional biting of her nails and looking as though she was about to speak again.
"And now?" He said a bit too abruptly. Desperation started the conversation again. Knowing she would understand what he was saying. "I mean now, if I were to ask you again would you say no?" He licked his lips; his mouth dry because of his nerves.
"No." She replied turning to look at him. Realising they had arrived too suddenly at the destination.
"No?" He shook his head and caught a glimpse of a smile on her face. He was beginning to understand, so pressed on. "No... as in 'no I don't want to marry you Charles'? Or no...as in 'I wouldn't say no if you asked me to marry you'?" He stopped the car as he pulled into the hotel car park. He turned the engine off and looked directly at her.
"No." She giggled as she looked at his eyes rolling, and how exasperated he appeared by her ambiguous answer. She pitied him and finally gave him his answer. "I meant...No as in... 'I wouldn't say no if you asked me again'." She smiled, as she caught the beginning of a huge grin on his face, and then jumped out the car to grab her bag. His happy chuckle playing in her ears as she left warming her.
"Right, good to know." Was all he said as he followed her out of the car. But his movements were relaxed, pleased, buoyant even, as he happily slung his arm around her as they walked towards the hotel. Pulling her in for the occasional kiss, to show her his love. For now, they both knew, that conversation was halted. But just for now. Their minds quietly turning over new possibilities that had suddenly arose.
They moved around each other in a practiced way. Not touching each other, but happy. Large smiles were fixed to their faces. Both happy with their tasks, both had things to do that morning. Important things. They each had somewhere to be and couldn't be late.
It had been many weeks after her graduation, after that car journey when she had given him hope, that he had eventually got round to asking her to marry him.
Weeks in which she had wondered, she had hoped, but had never worried. She knew he loved her and wanted to be with her... always.
Eventually though he did the deed. More perfect than anything she could have imagined possible. She'd walked downstairs one morning with an arm full of washing to find him sitting outside on the patio, just staring. She recognised his look, chewing on his bottom lip, he was deep in thought. Briefly she was concerned. Briefly she worried; but saw as she watched him more closely, a small smile often played on his lips. She dropped her load and went out to see him.
As she got closer she saw more. More than she had seen when standing in the kitchen, saw something that took her breath away. He sat with his hands placed either side on the garden table, and the ring box sat in the middle.
As she approached he started to talk. Watching her closely as she pulled up near and sat opposite him.
"I had a hundred and one ways in which to do this." He confessed. "They ranged from the grand to the embarrassing". He grinned at her through his last words.
She nodded her head and smiled encouragingly at him. Though she remained still. Afraid to say or add anything that might put it off again.
"In the end I guessed I just thought I'd ask you. Talk to you about it. See if it's still what you want? If I'm still what you want?" His voice broke on the last of his words, as he realised there might still be a chance she'd say no.
Her time for being silent was over. She had to speak.
"Always." She said and a teasing smile followed. "I'll always want you."
"Good." And he slowly pushed the ring box towards her. "So?" He raised his head to look at her.
She took the box and opened it. The ring, she hadn't seen for over three years, sitting there. Still as beautiful as she had imagined it. She picked it up and felt its weight. The weight of it actually, and the weight of it emotionally too.
"You don't have to. We don't have to. I mean if you'd rather wait. Until you're..."
"Think we've waited long enough! Don't you?" She spoke although she didn't know how as her mouth was dry and she felt nervous.
Her palm was flat in the table and the ring was nestled in between the soft flesh. Slowly he moved his hand over and picked up the ring in one hand and held her left hand in the other. Only once did he dip his head in a final silent request, and seeing her softly nod, he turned her hand over and slipped the beautiful ring onto her deserving finger.
Instantly she drew her hand away. She allowed it to flutter a few times in the sunshine and sparkle, and then moved towards him. Un-lady like plonking herself on his knee. He pulled her in for a kiss.
"That's a 'yes' by the way." She rested her head onto his forehead. "I still want you to be the last thing I see."
He sighed in remembrance of that phrase. "I love you Molly Dawes."
"I love you too." Were the words she was just able to say before his lips crashed onto hers. His kiss was definite, and releasing all the loves, fears, anxieties and hopes he'd carried around with him for years.
So today was the day. The day they would set off on a journey to become Mr
and Mrs James again. A special day, nothing like before.
This time there was going to be no sharing of the day, no grand declarations, no family gathering. Just them, a hot country, and an anonymous celebrant making them man and wife once again; a thousand miles or more away from where they did it last time.
It was fitting, they both felt, in doing it this way. This was about them, only them and no matter how much help and love their families had given them over the years, it was Molly and Charles who had made it work.
They'd both been on the journey. They had both gone their own way for a while. Yet they had both come back to each other as they had once promised to long ago.
They were in all sense of the words a thousand miles away from where they had started all those years ago. But right back where they belonged.
As he closed the door behind him. Reassuring her for the third time he'd turned the heating off, and the back door was locked. He walked towards her waiting by the car that was to take them off to the airport.
Both dressed casually for the long journey they had ahead, both with last minute ideas in their head, both so excited for their next chapter.
"You ready for this?" He asked as they slipped into the back seat of the cab.
"Yep, can't wait." Truthfully she replied. Leaning over and kissing him. He immediately settled her hand in his as the driver pulled away. "Can't bleeding wait." She smiled again as she placed her head on his shoulder.
Who knew what their future now held, but whatever it held, they were once again going to face it as man and wife.