Mmmm.
Mingled heavy breathing.
Arms holding, fingers stroking and lips touching.
Ringing. Ringing. Ringing.
Why won't the phone stop ringing?
Louder, and louder, and louder.
Lips stopping. Hands retreating. Arms leaving.
No Mark. Don't go.
Sunlight!
Arrrrgh! Stupid daylight. Stupid alarm. V. lovely dream of one V. sexy Marc Darcy.
Bridget rolled over, turned off her alarm and buried her head beneath her pillow.
Too early. She thought to herself.
The next time Bridget opened her eyes it was 45 minutes later and she was INCREDIBLY late for work.
All thoughts and dreams of sex with Marc were forgotten as she ran around her apartment like an escaped prisoner, trying to find anything to wear that did not have last night's dinner spilled down the front or the smell of a dead racoon.
Still pulling on her shoe as she ran out the door 10 minutes later, she hailed a cab and jumped in.
"Could you please go a little faster?" She asked the cab driver in an urgent voice.
Oh shit, shit, shit. Late for work again! Am surely going to cop an earful this time.
Bridget had been dreading going to work and facing Daniel again after what happened the night of the book launch.
What if he fires me? What if he DOESN'T fire me but keeps me around and makes my life a living hell just to get revenge? What if he tries to make a move? I need to prepare myself. I will not show him any weakness. I'm with Marc now. He is my boyfriend…
Bridget paused at that thought.
Is he my boyfriend? I think he is, but maybe that's not what Marc thinks. Will have to remember to clarify. She thought to herself.
As she sat in the back of the speeding cab, Bridget glanced at her phone to check the time and saw that there was five messages and one missed phone call from Marc. All thoughts of Daniel were immediately forgotten.
Bridget started to read the texts.
08:07am: "Good morning Bridget "
08:13am: "Wakey, wakey sleepyhead"
08:29am: "Bridget? Are you awake yet? You're going to be late for work!"
08:42am: "Bridget Jones! If you aren't awake yet, so help me God."
08:51am: MISSED CALL: Marc Darcy
08:56am: "Are we still ok…?"
Bridget registered the evident concern and worry in his last message.
He thinks I'm not responding because I've changed my mind about him. Oh God Marc. No!
Bridget hastily sent a response while being thrown around in the back of the cab with every corner it turned as it raced her towards her office.
09:07am: "Marc. So sorry I haven't responded. My alarm didn't go off…"
Lying to him already Bridget Jones. Tut tut.
"I'm rushing madly to the office as I type. I'll message you again when I can. Bridget."
Bridget so wanted to write "Love Bridget" but she knew it was too soon.
As the cab rounded the last corner to her office she thought to send one more message.
09:18am: "Still looking forward to Friday night " she wrote to reassure him that she hadn't indeed chucked him.
Marc was restless as his first morning meeting dragged on. He hadn't heard from Bridget this morning.
All he wanted to do was walk back to his office, call her and apologise and make whatever he had done to upset her better.
But unfortunately the current Parliament officials who he was meeting with probably wouldn't appreciate being rescheduled because his girlfriend wasn't texting him back and he needed to go find out why.
Girlfriend. He tried out the word again. Yes that's exactly what she is…or so I think. Maybe I have moved too quickly. Maybe she realised that she couldn't be with a stuck up, pompous arse like me. And OH GOD, she has seen me naked…maybe that's the reason she hasn't replied!
Marc couldn't stop running all manner of possible scenarios through his head.
It wasn't until Giles cleared his throat and bumped him with his elbow to get his attention that he realised the Secretary of State had asked him a direct question.
Shaking his head, he put thoughts of Bridget aside and concentrated on making it through the meeting.
Bridget will have to wait.
"BRIDGET JONES! GET YOUR FUCKING ARSE IN MY OFFICE NOW!"
Oh fuck. Oh fuck. OH FUCK! He's mad. Bridget thought to herself when she saw Daniel standing in the doorway of his office yelling out her name and glaring in her direction.
As Bridget walked towards his office, every single one of her colleagues were pretending not to stare but were so obviously doing so with pricked up ears and eager interest. She tried to think of a good excuse for being late…again.
'My alarm didn't go off' sounded pathetic when she thought about actually saying it out loud to someone other than Marc.
'My kitchen caught on fire' sounded even more pathetic, especially when everyone knows I don't cook. I guess the truth will have to do.
Bridget walked into Daniel's office and was about to open her mouth to apologise, when Daniel cut her off.
"So Bridget. You think this is the kind of job that you can just walk in whenever you see fit to show up." He didn't give her time to respond.
"And come into the office in your short skirts and see-through tops, seduce your boss and get away with doing the bare minimum?" Daniel said with a serious expression on his face.
Bridget felt her mouth physically drop open with shock at what he was saying.
"It may work with someone like Marc Wanker Darcy" he almost spat his name "but it certainly won't fly here. I'm sorry Bridget you're fired." Daniel said matter of fact.
Bridget wanted to yell and scream at him.
How dare you assume that that's how I got Marc. And how dare you assume that I was trying to seduce you! But she couldn't form a coherent sentence.
Tears began to spring to her eyes, more out of fury than hurt. But she held them back. Daniel Cleaver didn't deserve the pleasure of seeing her cry.
Bridget was about to turn on her heel and walk out of the office for good, when Daniel suddenly smiled up at her with a menacing look on his face.
"Unless of course Bridget you wold like to make up for your indiscretions...say over dinner…and then maybe some serious shagging? Then I might reconsider your employment status." Daniel chuckled under his breath and wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.
That was the last straw. Bridget saw red after this. She was about to unleash a tirade of abuse upon him, but then reminded herself Bridget Jones you are a sophisticated woman with a sophisticated new boyfriend. Do not stoop to his level of unintelligence.
"Daniel, I don't know what kind of a person you take me for, but from what you are suggesting it is obviously a good thing I chucked you when I did. You firing me on the merits of what you are suggesting are completely unfair and unfounded….except maybe…the…showing up late part." She said shyly, blushing slightly. But then she remembered why she was angry and continued with her rant. "And if you think for one second I would lower myself enough to sleep with someone just to keep my job, then you are even worse than what you think I am."
Bridget said this as she walked out of his office and towards her desk, Daniel close behind her. She made sure to keep her tone even, but spoke loud enough that her colleagues who were pretending not to listen, had no choice but to stop and hear what was going on.
Some of the ladies gasped and whispered behind raised hands to each other, while the men looked at each other with a 'hate to be him right now' expression.
Bridget began to pick up a few of her belongings off her desk. Taking only what was necessary…and small enough to fit into her handbag, while Daniel tried to back track on what he had said, obviously having seen the expressions on the faces of every single person in the office.
"Bridget please. You can't possibly think I was being serious." He stammered out, trying to sound sincere but failing miserably.
"Come back into my office so we can continue our discussion in private." He said
Bridget thought carefully about what she was going to say next.
"You know what Daniel, I used to think that you were God's gift to all women, and I just happened to be the lucky one to attract your attention. But now I've come to realise that being within any close proximity to you is the same as wading chest deep in a pond full of bullshit" she said without a single pause of thought.
There was a resounding gasp around the office, and an encouraging 'Bravo!' vibe from everyone.
Daniel stood there with a smug look on his face, trying to look as though her words had had no effect on him. But she knew better.
"Goodbye Daniel." Bridget said, and turned on her heel and strode away with her shoulders squared and her head held high. A slow round of applause followed her and ended in a rising crescendo before she had walked out the front door and got into the lift.
Bridget felt on top of the world. She had never been so spontaneous in her whole life!
Freedom. She said to herself as she took in a deep breath as she stepped out of the lift on the ground floor.
She began to wander down the street, with no particular destination in mind, just thinking about all the possibilities she now had of doing something that she truly wanted. Of finding that dream job.
Something that doesn't involve getting up at the crack of dawn every morning.
Something that it doesn't matter if I show up late or not.
Something that doesn't involve answering to a sleazy, seductive, pompous boss. Bridget screwed up her nose at this last thought.
Maybe something freelance!
Bridget had settled on this idea by the time she had made it 3 blocks. She had calmed down considerably by this time and her mind started to wander to other things.
I need to tell my friends.
I need to tell Marc.
Oh, MARC!
Thinking about Marc made her stop in her tracks.
She hadn't even thought about how Marc might react to the news that she had just lost her job, with no prospects lined up, and in front of an audience of her colleagues.
Oh God, he's probably going to chuck me! He's probably going to think that I am an irresponsible, stupid, impulsive loon, with nothing to offer to him now…or in the future.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Bridget had started walking again by this point, and was now headed towards her apartment, trying to come up with the best way to break the news to Marc.
By the time she reached home she had decided she was just not going to tell him.
I will find a new job before it's necessary.
Marc stood at the open door of the conference room shaking hands and farewelling all of the dignitaries as they left after the meeting was over.
As the last Senator walked out the door Marc turned to Giles to thank him and leave himself, but Giles began a conversation that Marc was only half participating in. He gave short quick answers in the hopes it would move the discussion along a bit faster, but Giles had a habit of liking the sound of his own voice.
Dear God how can I get him to stop? Fake an illness…no not enough lead up of symptoms. Fake a meeting…no Giles knows I have no other business today. Now I know why women fake cramps to get out of things…it's so simple. Marc smirked at this thought.
Giles was still telling him about some case he had been landed with, between a Native Indian tribe and a head dress company of some sorts. Marc knew the senior partners had dumped this case on him because they thought he was incompetent to take on anything more difficult.
Poor Giles. He is such a simple, carefree, caring person. I can see him and Bridget getting along like a house on fire. Must remember to invite him over for dinner one night when Bridget is there.
Thinking of Bridget again brought him back to reality and his real need to get back to his office and try and call her again.
"So the tribe believes the manufacturer is using their designs for their…"
"Giles I would really love to stay and chat to you about the progress on your case, but I just remembered it's my mother's birthday, and I haven't called her yet to wish her a happy birthday. And I just know that if I don't call her now she will tell me that I may as well have waited another 2 days before calling her." He said the last part in a sarcastic tone and rolled his eyes.
Giles nodded with a smirk on his face in a 'tell me about it' manner.
Marc turned and walked as calmly but as briskly as he could down the many corridors of chambers until he reached his.
Closing the door behind him, he was already reaching for his phone in his pocket ready to dial Bridget's number. As he did though he saw the 2 text messages Bridget had sent earlier in the morning.
He had just gone into his meeting and had turned his phone on silent when they had come through.
He read the first text and smiled, imagining her being tossed around in the back of the cab while trying to write frantically to him. He also knew she was lying about her alarm not going off.
I know she isn't a morning person.
He was feeling much better even after reading just the first message, reassured that she hadn't changed her mind about him. When he read the second message his heart sored even more.
She's looking forward to Friday night! God it can't come quick enough.
Marc was about to reply when he made an impulsive decision. He looked at the clock, then grabbed his coat and headed out the door.
I can't wait until Friday!
And with that Marc was in a cab on his way to Bridget's office to surprise her and take her out for lunch.
Bridget sat in her bathtub, bubbles surrounding her, contemplating her future.
Maybe Marc won't care that I'm unemployed for a while. He may enjoy the extra time we can spend together. Her inner goddess decided at that moment to stick her head up, shaking it in a sad pathetic way. Stupid Bridget. No man wants to spend that much time with you. Do you want to scare him away even faster than normal?
Maybe Marc could use his contacts to get me a job! But probably too soon to embarrass him and scare off all his friends with stupid manners and big bottom…
What have I done!
Bridget groaned a sigh of defeat and sank further into the water, the bubbles reaching over her head.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid Bridget. Is all she could think as she rested her head back against the edge of the bath and closed her eyes.
Marc arrived at the building Bridget's office was located. As he climbed out of the cab and looked up at the building he smiled, thinking about seeing Bridget's surprise.
He had been thinking about her the entire ride from his office, and how far they had come in just a few short days.
He already knew he was in love with her.
But too soon to tell her.
He took the lift to the 6th floor where her reporting company was located and went to the reception desk. He asked them if they could call Bridget to the front desk urgently, but not to tell her that he was waiting for her.
The receptionist looked at him with a confused expression.
"Bridget left the office this morning." The young blonde haired receptionist said.
She didn't tell me she was doing any field reporting today. Marc thought to himself.
He was about to ask the receptionist where she was working from when she said to him almost apologetically "She got…fired."
"WHAT!" He said rather too loudly, causing a few of the office workers to look in his direction.
"What do you mean she got fired. By who? And Why?" he asked, concern in his voice.
She was about to answer when a familiar voice from his right caused him to tense and clench his jaw.
"I did." The male voice said matter of fact.
Daniel Fucking Cleaver! Marc swore under his breathe.
Marc turned slowly towards him, anger already evident across his face…and in his clenched fist.
Marc hadn't even considered the possibility of running into his worst enemy.
You idiot. Of course there was a chance. He fucking works here.
"Cleaver" Marc said through clenched teeth. "I can't imagine any response from you could explain why Bridget deserved to be fired, but let's hear it anyway."
"Well, aside from the fact that she constantly showed up late for work, and missed every deadline assigned to her" Daniel said with the wave of a hand, as though these reasons didn't actually really matter to him. "She never showed any interest in 'advancing her career' if you know what I mean." He added with a smug smile on his face.
Marc couldn't stand it anymore. He wouldn't stand by while Daniel Fuck Wit Cleaver spoke about Bridget like that.
"I swear to God Daniel, if you even come near Bridget again I'll fucking bollocks you" He yelled at him. But it seemed to have little effect on him.
"Oh come on Darcy. We both know you wouldn't last one hit in a fight" Daniel said, picking invisible lint off his shirt, unfazed by Marc's threat.
Marc was about to accept his thinly veiled challenge when he thought about what Bridget would think of him if she heard about him showing up unannounced to her ex-workplace, and throwing punches at her ex-boss, who just also happens to be her ex-love interest.
It was this sobering thought that made Marc take a step back, unclenching his white knuckled fists.
Daniel looked at him with an expression of pure victory.
"Good choice old boy. I knew you didn't have it I you" Daniel said, the smuggest of smiles across his face.
Marc turned to walk away and get back in the lift when he heard Daniel say under his breathe "Another week and she would have slept with me."
And then it happened. Marc swung before he even thought about it.
Marc's fist landed square across his jaw before he could even registered what Marc was about to do.
Daniel fell against the wall before slumping in an awkward heap, obviously knocked out. A small trickle of blood ran from his lip as his head lolled forwards slightly.
This all seemed to happen in slow motion. By the time Marc had caught his balance and straightened up, Daniel was already on the ground and there was a small crowd gathered at the glass doors leading into the open floor plan of the office. The onlookers had mixed expressions ranging from Yes! Someone finally bollocks the fucker, to Holy shit. Is he still alive?
Marc looked from the crowd to Daniel before he made a move.
What the fuck have I done?!
I can't believe I just punched him.
He had it coming though.
But fuck Marc! In front of everyone…who all know Bridget.
OH FUCK! This is going to get back to Bridget!
All of these thoughts ran through Marc's head in a nanosecond before he decided he needed to move.
He could either do what was right and check on the bastard, or he could simply get in the lift and leave it for someone else to clean up the mess.
Think about Bridget. His conscience told him. He already knew he had made a complete mess of things, because once she found out about this she would surely want to chuck him then.
May as well try and show some redeeming grace.
Marc took a few steps forward and bent down in front of a still unconscious Daniel. Marc checked his breathing and his pulse. Satisfied he was still fully alive he began to shake his shoulder.
"Right oh mate, time to wake up" Marc said as gently as he could in his current 'couldn't give a fuck' mood.
Daniel opened his eyes groggily within a few seconds of Marc shaking him.
As Marc came into focus Daniel instantly reacted and pushed Marc in the chest trying to get him as far away from himself as possible.
"Piss off." Daniel said forcefully and tried to make a move to fight back, but his head and eyes rolled back slightly, an obvious wave of dizziness overcoming him. Daniels hands fell back to his sides as he tried to focus once again, shaking his head trying to dispel the dizziness.
Marc stood up and moved away from him slightly, getting ready to defend himself if need be. He had seen Daniel angry time enough before to know when to get out of the firing line.
Daniel tried to push himself up awkwardly off the ground but his legs gave out before he could find something to support himself against.
Marc rolled his eyes and held his hand out to him, waiting for him to take it so he could help him to stand up.
Daniel looked at Marc's hand, then up at his face, and back down at his hand again before slapping it away and saying "Fuck off Darcy. Don't try and make yourself look good now. You're still a fucking arsehole."
Marc was getting irritated again, but he took a deep breath and swallowed his pride as he bent back down in front of Daniel and said "I may look like an arsehole for punching you in the face to all your colleagues right now, but after I walk out of here I will just be that guy who punched you in the face that one time. No one knows me beyond the front foyer of this office. But you Cleaver…you will always be the arsehole who they have to work with."
Daniel went to argue with him at this point, but Marc kept talking.
"But you could be less of an arsehole if you change the story. Add in a few extra details over time about how I was drunk, or how I came in waving a knife around and you tried hustling me out of the office to protect everyone. Eventually that will become the only known version. So stop being a complete wanker and accept my help and try and redeem some short lived sympathy from them" Marc said with a small nod of his head in the direction of the ever growing crowed of people.
Daniel looked at his colleagues and could see their expectant faces, waiting to see whether he got up swinging or not.
I'm tired of being the arsehole. He thought to himself as he looked back at Marc, who was now standing in front of him again with his hand stretched out waiting.
Daniel let out an irritated groan and accepted his hand.
Grasping it tightly Marc pulled Daniel to his feet.
Marc then pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Daniel, indicating the blood that was now running down his chin and onto his shirt.
They nodded to each other with a mutual understanding. They would never be friends, but this was Marc's way of getting back at him: for his wife, for Bridget and for himself.
It was over. He would never forgive Daniel for anything he had done, but he was done holding a grudge and letting him rule how he was going to live his life.
And with that Marc turned and walked away.
As he rode the lift back down to the street all he could think about and feel in his heart was Bridget.
Marc arrived at Bridget's apartment about 30 minutes later. He rang her buzzer, but there was no answer after 5 minutes. He rang it again, and was still met with no answer.
Marc wanted to send her a text message, but he had left his phone back at his office.
He looked up at what he knew to be her apartment window on the third floor and could see a light on inside.
She must be home…although knowing Bridget she probably left that light on when she left in her rush for work this morning.
Marc was considering scaling the side of the building, or using the fire escape when the snow that had been steadily falling was now suddenly was coming down in torrents. He pulled his coat more tightly around himself, deciding what to do next.
Maybe she isn't answering because she was with her singleton friends debriefing the catastrophe that was her day.
Or maybe she had already heard about his altercation at her office and now never wanted to see him again!
All he knew was that he needed to find her so he could talk to her.
Looking up and down the street a few times, Marc was deciding which way to go. He finally decided that she would be most likely to call her friends and organise to meet them urgently so she didn't have to be alone.
He couldn't remember a time when he had ever seen her on her own. She was always surrounded by a crowed.
She just has a way of drawing people in with her caring personality. He smiled to himself as he walked down the street.
He walked towards the bar that he knew her and her friends usually frequented when they were having one of their 'judge and jury' meetings.
By the time he reached the bar it was just after 4pm. Still relatively empty due to knock off time being another hour away for most people, there was still enough people inside that Marc had to make his way around groups of people, looking for any sign that Bridget might have been there.
He walked all the way to the back of the pub, passing every table, and still did not find her. He was just about to turn around to leave when he heard his name shouted rather loudly from across the room.
"Marc!"
As he turned around to see who it was, he could see Tom making his way over to him, and the heads of Shazzer and Jude bobbing above the crowed from a table over in the corner.
Marc made his way towards them, meeting Tom halfway.
"Marc, what the fuck are you doing in a place like this?!" Tom asked, surprised as hell. "Is Bridget with you?" He asked looking over Marc's shoulder, expecting to see Bridget close behind.
"No. I was going to ask you the same thing." Marc said, a mixture of confusion and worry on his face.
They had made their way over to the table where the girls were sitting while they had been conversing.
"Why would you not know where she is? What have you done to her?!" Tom said overdramatically, causing the girls to stop their own conversation.
"He's done something to Bridget?" Jude asked, looking from Tom to Marc with an accusatory look in her eye.
"What the fuck have you fucking done Marc?" Shazzer said, in her usual expletive tone.
"Whoh, whoh, whoh. I haven't done anything…well not exactly...I don't think" Marc said, replaying the whole Daniel scenario in his mind.
"What the fuck do you fucking mean, not really?" Shazzer piped up again.
"Well…" And Marc recounted the whole story to Bridget's group of friends. The whole texting this morning, Bridget running late, wanting to surprise her for lunch, Bridget getting fired, and finally the punching Daniel Cleaver in the face part.
"I went to her apartment but she wasn't there. But I really want to see her, to talk to her. I just want to make sure she's ok. Which is why I'm surprised she isn't here with you all. You're usually the first ones she consults when she has a problem like this."
They all nodded, just as shocked as he was that she hadn't come to find them, or at least called in a blubbering mess.
"Tell you what! She would never venture anywhere for too long without returning to her apartment…she doesn't have the stamina to brood too long outdoors. Girl needs to lay down when she cries" Tom said, trying to lighten the mood. "I say we all head back to her place and hunker down til she gets back and then pin her down til she talks." Tom nodded his head around the circle at everyone, trying to get them to agree.
"Sounds fucking brilliant to me. I've got a fucking key anyway, so we can just let ourselves the fuck in." Shazzer agreed as she put out her cigarette, getting ready to leave whether everyone was on board or not.
"Besides, Bridget has better wine than this place." Jude finally chimed in, standing up as Shazzer did.
"Alright let's go!" Tom said as finality to their plan.
Marc wanted to argue and disagree. He wasn't so sure Bridget would appreciate coming home to find 4 people sitting in her living room, drinking her wine and smoking cigarettes, all waiting just to pounce on her and drill her for information. And he wasn't so sure that her friends were even tht sober to understand the gravity of the situation.
But then again Marc was desperate to find her and he didn't see any other way.
The group left the bar in a hurry. The other three chattering excitedly to each other while Marc trailed slightly behind them, more anxious than excited really.
When they reached her building Shazzer pulled out a bunch of keys, and inserted one into the lock. The door opened without a problem and Jude and Tom gave out a small cheer of victory.
They all scrambled inside, getting out of the still heavily falling snow, and made their way noisily up the internal stairs.
Shazzer then opened the front door of Bridget's apartment without even considering knocking and checking if Bridget had made it home already.
The three friends piled in through the door, all taking off coats and beginning to make themselves comfortable like they had so obviously done on multiple other occasions.
Marc on the other hand made his way in a little more apprehensively. He had never been inside Bridget's apartment, and he wasn't sure if she would be ok with him being here. He stood by the kitchen doorway awkwardly, while the other three sat around talking, one of them already having uncorked a bottle of wine and poured them all a glass each.
Marc spent his time looking around the living room, taking in all of the quirky ornaments and decor that was so Bridget. Her apartment was a lot older than his was, but it looked lived in rather than old. Whereas when he thought about his own apartment, it now looked so sterile and unwelcoming.
Will have to hire an interior decorator to make it homier for her. He thought to himself, as he imagined Bridget sitting stiffly on his sofa amongst his barely laid on cushions, and his barely watched television.
The hours seemed to tick by slowly as they waited for Bridget. Marc had eventually loosened up and made his way onto one of the single armchairs in the corner, joining in the conversation every so often with the others.
It was 11:30pm and 6 bottles of wine latter that Tom decided it was time to call it a night.
"Well all it looks like our little Bridget has gone MIA for tonight." He said almost too calmly for Marc's liking.
All three of them started to get up off the sofa and gather there coats and belongings. Marc didn't know what to say or do. He was still really concerned about Bridget's whereabouts, but he didn't know how to express this without looking desperate.
He was about to voice this when Tom obviously read the look on his face and said "Don't worry Marc. She's done this before. She usually shows up the next day with some far out story about where she has been and who she met, when all along she has just been hold up at her parent's place walking around in her pyjamas and eating ice cream straight from the tub." Tom laughed and looked at the other 2 who also had amused expressions on their faces.
Marc felt a little more reassured by this, but still felt unsure about leaving her apartment.
Shazzer could see Marc's uncertainty and so said "Why don't you just stay here tonight Marc. You know… just in case she does decide to come home. She fucking needs someone to be here."
Marc could tell that she knew what he was thinking, but she was trying to let him off the hook from having to actually say so and make it out like it was her idea.
"Sure! I mean…sure. You're right. She will need someone to talk to if she comes home." Marc tried to sound nonchalant about the suggestion, but on the inside his heart was doing backflips. He was praying that she would come home to him tonight.
"Right then, we're off. Night Marc." Jude said over her shoulder as they left, all wearing the same knowing smirks on their faces.
Marc heard the front door close behind them, and he let out an audible breath, finally feeling completely relaxed being alone in Bridget's apartment.
He shed himself of his suit jacket that he was still wearing and placed his keys on the coffee table. As he pulled out his phone to put it beside his keys he realised he had several messages from Giles and one from Horatio.
13:00pm: Marc. Just wondering if you might be free after lunch to further discuss my current case on the Native Indians vs Headdress? Giles.
13:30pm: Let me know when you are back in your chambers and I'll swing by.
14:25pm: I just went by your chambers and you weren't there. Drop by mine if you make your way down this way.
15:09pm: Marc. Is everything alright? Giles has called me 3 times asking your whereabouts. Please contact him at your earliest convenience…sooner rather than later please. Horatio.
Marc chuckled at the message from Horatio. He knew how much Giles liked to think of Horatio as a mentor and harass him whenever he had a chance, but he also knew how much Horatio disliked the man.
Poor Giles is just so socially awkward. Perhaps I should take him under my wing and take some of the pressure off Horatio. Marc thought to himself. After all I have never minded the fellow.
16:00pm: Marc is everything alright?! Brenda just told me that you had left the office just before lunchtime and you hadn't returned or let anyone know your whereabouts. Call me when you can! Giles.
Marc was touched by Giles' obvious concern. He had never had a genuine friend like him before.
Marc was about to call him, but decided he was too exhausted to be caught up in Giles' longwinded chatter tonight, so he sent him a quick text message to reassure him and that he would call him on his way into the office tomorrow morning.
Giles sent a reply almost instantly, obviously having still been waiting for Marc to contact him.
23:42pm: Sure no worries mate. See you at the office in the morning.
Marc knew that he had tried to make his response as cool as possible so as not to show his true feelings of relief.
Marc put his phone on silent before sitting it on the coffee table.
He stood in the middle of the living room deciding what to do. He knew sleep would evade him tonight wondering and worrying about Bridget. He decided he would settle himself on the sofa and watch some television, with the hopes that he would eventually just fall asleep.
Before he sat down however, he decided he need to go to the toilet.
He walked slowly and quietly down the hallway, careful not to bump or disturb anything.
I feel like I am 6 years old again in my Grandmother's house, avoiding being yelled at for getting too close to the china cabinet. He thought to himself.
He peered through an open door looking for the bathroom. Once he found it he pushed open the door and turned on the light.
He was about to unzip his pants when something in the bathtub caught his eye.
Bridget!
She was still sitting in the bathtub, the bubbles long gone and the water now ice cold. Her head was resting back against the side of the tub, and she was snoring softly.
Marc froze for a minute, unsure if he was really seeing her in front of him and what he should do.
He quickly took the couple of steps closer to her and bent down. He gently but urgently stroked her face and held her head so it didn't fall into the water when she woke up.
Bridget startled awake at the contact and splashed water over the edge of the bath, into her face and onto Marc in her fright. She calmed quickly when she realised that it was Marc who was in front of her, but then became just as quickly embarrassed at realising that she was still very much lying in the bathtub…NAKED!
Marc was too concerned about making sure that she didn't drown herself in her frightened state to even think about the fact that she was fully exposed in the water.
Once she had completely come to her post sleeping senses he did too and registered the freezing temperature of the water.
"Darling we need to get you out of this freezing water and dry before you get sick." Concern was clearly evident in his voice as he helped her stand up and step out of the tub safely.
Marc pulled a towel off the towel rack beside the bathtub and wrapped her in it, pulling her against his chest and rubbing her back and shoulders trying to heat her up.
"What were you doing in there?" He asked, a little too roughly.
She knew it was just from concern rather than annoyance though.
"Must have…fallen…asleep." Bridget shivered out through chattering teeth.
Marc continued to help her get dry and warm.
Bridget began to feel so much better once she was a little warmer, and then as though only just realising that he was there, she looked up at Marc and said "Marc what are you doing here? And how did you get in?!" Surprise and confusion evident in her voice.
Marc chuckled silently at the delay in her surprise.
"I scaled the building" he said, matter of fact.
"WHAT?!" Bridget blurted out unbelievably.
"Yep. My web shooter and spidey senses helped me navigate how to break into your apartment" he said with a sarcastic tone and a mocking smile on his face.
She knew that he was teasing her, and she should have been offended, but she loved when he was like this. A carefree, playful, loving man.
She smirked back at him, pretending to be annoyed but failing miserably.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny." She slapped him playfully on the chest as he continued to hold her.
He still didn't answer her question so she asked again.
"So why and how are you really here?"
Marc realised that she obviously hadn't heard anything about what had gone on between him and Daniel this afternoon, and so would have to recall the entire encounter.
"What, a guy can't break into his girlfriend's house to surprise her?" He asked with a smirk and slight apprehension in his voice.
This was the first time he had broached the subject of the nature of their relationship. And he was nervous that he was rushing things.
Bridget couldn't believe he had said it.
And before ME!
She wanted to do backflips across the room. But she held her composure and acted as casually as she could.
"Girlfriend hey?" She asked, smiling up at him. Her heart wanted to burst from her chest with how much she loved him right now.
Marc let out the breath he didn't realise he had been holding and smiled just as wide at her response.
"Well yes." He said a little shyly, but reassuringly. "Is that ok?"
Bridget wanted answer but could only manage a shy nod, as her throat had closed over with emotion.
They stood for a few minutes just smiling and holding one another before Marc cleared his throat.
"Now, how about we get you dressed and into a nice warm bed and I'll explain everything else?"
Bridget realised that she was still standing in the bathroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around her. Her earlier embarrassment about being found naked by Marc returned tenfold. She tried to subtly pull the towel around herself more securely, but Marc noticed and smiled.
He released her from his arms and headed back towards the bathroom door. Just as he was about the leave to give Bridget the privacy to get dressed, he looked over his shoulder with a knowing look on his face and said "I guess we're even now." He looked her up and down before closing the door behind him.
Bridget couldn't have blushed any more than she did in that moment. She knew he was referring to the fact that she had seen him naked the night he had collapsed on his bathroom floor the night of the book launch, and now he had evened the score by seeing her sleeping naked in her bathtub tonight.
Dear God. Please have not let him seen all of my wobbly bits!
Bridget finished drying and pulled on the nicest warmest clothes she could find that were clean…or clean enough. She hastily brushed her hair and teeth before appearing out of the bathroom.
She was expecting to find Marc sitting on the sofa waiting for her, but when she peered into the living room he was nowhere to be seen. She turned to walk into the kitchen when she realised the light was on in her bedroom.
Horrid pigsty. Please don't let sexy God like human be in there. Was all she could think as she walked to the back of her apartment towards her bedroom.
As she opened the door, she was shocked. There was Marc lounging on one side of her bed, legs stretched out in front of him and his back propped up against the headboard, his head was resting back and he was staring up at the ceiling. But this is not what surprised her.
What surprised her was that he had tidied up while she was in the bathroom getting dressed. The sheets and doona had been pulled back straight on her bed, her throw blanket was neatly folded on the foot of the bed, and her clothes were no longer strewn across the floor but were now stacked in the clothes hamper in the corner.
Beautiful, lovely man cleaning up after a pig like me. She thought to herself, blushing slightly at what he must think of her.
She was about to apologise when Marc looked in her direction, and instead of the disgust that she was expecting to see on his face she just saw a caring smile.
Marc then pulled the sheets and doona back on her side of the bed and nodded his head sideways, indicating she should climb in under the covers.
She walked around the bed and sat next to him, unsure of whether to stay sitting or to lie down.
But Marc answered her unspoken question instantly when he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side, resting her head against his shoulder. He then pulled the covers up high enough the cover most of her body, trying to keep her warm.
Marc stayed above the covers, thinking it best not to seem too presumptuous.
Bridget snuggled into his side a little more securely and then draped her left arm around his middle, resting her hand just above his stomach.
Hmmmm this is perfect. She purred to herself.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, when Bridget remembered that Marc was yet to explain his being in her apartment.
"So are you going to explain your break and enter to me now? Or do I need to torture it out of you?" She joked, poking him lightly in the chest.
Marc chuckled at her words.
"Alright. Alright. I surrender" he put his hands up jokingly.
Marc then started his story from earlier in the morning when he was worried when he hadn't heard from her after last night and assumed that she had changed her mind.
Bridget smiled, knowing that she knew that's what he had thought.
Then he proceeded to tell her about his impulsive need to see her and that he went to her office to surprise her for lunch, but he was told that she wasn't there. He was about to explain that he had been told that she had been fired and the whole Daniel scenario when Bridget cut him off.
At hearing that Marc had gone to her office she began to panic that he knew that she had been fired. So she quickly jumped in with an excuse for her absence.
"Oh yes, well when I got to the office they told me I was needed out in Kensington Park to film some squirrels who were stealing peoples handbags…and it ran overtime…and then the traffic on the way back to the office was horrendous…and so"
Marc cut Bridget off by cupping her cheek, looking her in the eyes and saying "Darling I already know…" He said with a knowing but sympathetic look in his eye.
He knows I got fired?! Bridget started to panic but then realised something else.
He knows and yet he is still here with me.
Tears began to well up in hers eyes. She couldn't appreciate or love him anymore than she did in that moment.
Oh how I want to tell you how much I love you Marc.
She looked away ashamedly, but Marc caught her face and made her look back at him, showing her all of the love and understanding that he could in that one look.
"Oh my darling, I'm so sorry. Everything will be alright." He said softly.
Bridget couldn't help the tears escaping down her cheeks as he said those words.
"I'm here for you. I promise." He reinforced.
Bridget cried into his shoulder as Marc held her tighter. She felt so safe and loved in his arms.
A few minutes later she pulled herself together and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry I lied to you. I just didn't want to burden you or embarrass you. I was just hoping I would find another job before I would have to tell you about it. It's all my fault." Bridget chastised herself.
Marc became angry at what she was saying. He wasn't angry at her. He was angry that someone like Daniel Cleaver could make her feel this way.
Marc sat straight up in bed when she said this and held her face in his hands gently.
"Bridget Jones" He said forcefully, but not angrily "There is no way that you could ever embarrass or burden me. And do not for one second think that any of this is your fault! Do you understand me?"
Bridget nodded the best she could with Marc holding her face and with tears in her eyes again.
"The only person to blame here is that fucking wanker Daniel Cleaver." He said, vehemence in his tone.
Bridget chuckled tearfully at his description of Daniel. She had never heard him swear before.
There is some chav in him yet. She thought to herself jokingly.
Marc looked down into Bridget's eyes again and didn't hesitate to place a soft kiss upon her lips.
Bridget was caught by surprise for just a second when he did this, but she soon relaxed into him and returned the kiss in full.
Marc pulled back slowly and brushed away her remaining tears.
He then leant back against the headboard again and cuddled Bridget securely back in his arms.
Bridget was beginning to be lolled by the sound of his steady heart beat and his even breathing when he said in a reluctant tone.
"I should probably finish telling you the story that led me to being here tonight."
Bridget had entirely forgotten that that's what they had been talking about before he kissed her, and she was a little surprised that there was more to the story.
When she didn't respond Marc took it as an indication that she was listening and he should go on.
"After they told me that you had been fired, Daniel appeared."
Bridget felt him physically tense when he said Daniels name. She hugged him a little harder.
"He told me that he had fired you because you wouldn't sleep with him. I was so angry and wanted to deck the sodding bastard, but I started to walk away. Then he said something about it only would have taken another week and you would have, and I lost it." He said apologetically. "I'm sorry Bridget, I couldn't stand by and let him talk about you like that…so I punched him." He said ashamedly. "I only hit him once, but it was enough to knock him on his arse." He tried not to sound proud of himself when he said this, but she could tell that he was. And she didn't care, because she was too.
"I'm sorry." He said again, hugging her tighter against him.
"I'm not." Bridget said matter of fact.
Marc pulled back from her slightly to look at her with a shocked expression and a raised eyebrow.
She smiled up at him unapologetically.
"Well I'm not." She said again. "He fucking deserved it after everything he said about me, and everything he has done to you in the past. A punch to the face isn't even half of what he deserves."
Marc smiled and placed gentle kisses against her hair, grateful that things had turned out the way they had, and she hadn't gotten mad at him for what he had done.
He decided that now was the right time, whether she was ready or not.
"I love you Bridget." He said softly against her ear.
He held his breath waiting for her response. He didn't care if she was ready to say it back or not, he just didn't want her to reject him completely.
But as she looked up at him with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face he realised he needn't have worried.
"I love you too Marc. I've been wanting to tell you that since the night of the book launch." She said with elation in her voice.
He let out the breath that he had been holding and smiled down at her.
Bridget reached her hand up and held his cheek in her hand. She gently brushed her lips against his in a soft kiss. Marc responded eagerly and kissed her back, increasingly strengthening the kiss.
Soon they were kissing and touching one another with a new found fever.
Marc wanted her more than ever in that moment but knew he wanted to take things slow, for both of their sakes. But Bridget was doing some very enticing things to his body right at that moment and he couldn't find the will power to stop.
Marc began to kiss his way down her neck and ran his hand up her thigh. This elicited a soft moan to escape Bridget's mouth, which only fuelled him on even more.
You need to stop Marc. He tried telling himself, but the feeling of Bridget's hands running up and down his back did nothing for his common sense.
It wasn't until Marc felt Bridget's hands unbuttoning his trousers that he suddenly stop.
Bridget felt him pull away suddenly and looked up at him, worried that she had done something wrong.
Marc gently pushed her away slightly and rolled onto his back, throwing his arm over his face and sighed.
You're a complete prick Marc Darcy. He thought to himself as he hid behind his arm, unable to look Bridget in the eye right now.
Bridget sat up, waiting expectantly for Marc to explain his actions, but he didn't say anything. She started to feel annoyed, and then rejected, and then pathetic.
Oh God he doesn't want me. He doesn't find me attractive and so he can't perform. I'm so stupid to think that he would want to have sex with me. Stupid, pudgy, unemployed, ugly Bridget.
She couldn't stand the silence, but she also didn't want to hear what she thought Marc was going to say at the same time. So she made to move off the bed and leave the bedroom.
I need to get out of here. I need some space. I don't want to see his face when he looks at me to tell me he doesn't want me anymore. She thought to herself.
Marc felt her weight shifting on the bed and realised that she was moving away from him. He moved his arm away from his face to see what she was doing when he saw her getting off the bed. He quickly moved to stop her and gently grabbed her left arm.
"No Bridget, don't go!" He said urgently.
Bridget stopped on the side of the bed and looked back at him over her shoulder, tears in her eyes.
"It's ok Marc. You don't need to tell me that you don't want to have sex with me. I get it. You're not the first guy who hasn't wanted to…" Bridget trailed off and looked away from him at this point, realising how pathetic her life sounded in that moment.
"Bridget." Marc said calmly but firmly, causing her to look up at him, a little shocked at his tone.
"Don't you EVER think that I don't want you! I haven't wanted anyone this much in…" He paused to think for a moment before continuing. "Well…ever really. And it's not that I don't want you now, because God knows I want nothing more than to ravage you senseless right now, but I don't want our first time together to be this rushed, sleepless driven, 'I just got fired' emotionally peaked 10 minute tryst."
Bridget had looked back at him by this point and her tears had disappeared. She was beginning to understand why he had pulled away, and she couldn't love him more for being the sensible one in that moment.
Marc continued to explain to make sure she understood completely that he desired her, and that he didn't just desire her for tonight. He wanted to desire her every night from now on if he could. Marc held her hand in his and looked her in the eyes as he spoke.
"I want our first time to be slow, so we can take our time to explore one another and enjoy our time together. I want to make love to you Bridget." Marc said, blushing a little.
Bridget felt so loved in that moment and found it so endearing that Marc would describe having sex with her in such a way. She wanted him more now than she did earlier, but she agreed with Marc. Tonight wasn't the right time for them to give into their need for one another.
Especially when it is after midnight.
Bridget smiled up at him and moved back onto the bed so she was sitting cross legged facing him. She reached out and stroked his cheek.
"I'm so sorry Marc, I overreacted. I should have realised you had a good reason for pulling away. You always think about me over yourself, and I love you for that. And you are right. Our first time should be special. We both deserve that." She ran her hand through his hair.
Marc closed his eyes and took in a shuddering relaxed breath when she did this.
"Mmmmm that feels nice." He said. His eyes remained closed as Bridget started to massage the back of his head.
Bridget stopped for a moment so she could get more comfortable on the bed. She turned around so her back was partially propped up against the headboard and partially laying on the pillows, and indicated for Marc to rest his head down on her stomach.
Marc complied eagerly and pulled the covers back up over the both of them this time.
Bridget continued to play with Marc's hair and massage his head, lolling both of them into a drowsy silence. Both of them content to just be holding one another for tonight.
Just before Marc was about to fall asleep in Bridget's lap he said sleepily.
"Bridget, I love you."
Bridget smiled in the darkness as her eyes began to droop as well. Then she heard him say "But if you mention other men in the context of having sex with you ever again, I'm going to have to spank you."
She could feel him smiling as he said this and knew instantly that he was teasing her. She would never get tired of his playful side.
She heard him begin to snore and knew that he was asleep.
I look forward to it. She said to herself just as she nodded off too.
To be continued.