Molly is exhausted

Molly misses the train

Molly crawls back into bed and groans. She's exhausted and could have really done with an uninterrupted lie-in today. She's had a restless night's sleep after the epic launch party, which had gone on for friends and staff into the early hours. Then when it felt like she had only just dropped off she'd been awoken by the doorbell and Elvis' bleedin' handsome friend Charles. He is possibly the most good-looking man she has ever laid eyes on and if she didn't know better, she would have sworn there was a moment between them just now on the doorstep. Bleedin' hell, she really is sleep deprived and delusional; someone like him would never be interested in her, particularly not looking like she did when she answered the door. Nevertheless, she'd really enjoyed chatting with him and he had definitely stirred something in her this morning. She lets her mind start wandering ….

She's distracted from her thoughts by Dylan, cuddling her from behind, his erection pressing into her. She involuntarily feels her body stiffen at his touch and she definitely doesn't feel like having sex with him at this particular moment. He's still blowing hot and cold in their relationship and she's fed up of sex always being on his terms, which seems largely dependent on how his soddin' book is going.

She still has an uneasy feeling that he's up to something; but apart from his distracted behaviour she hasn't got any real proof and, given her current state of exhaustion, it is probably all in her mind. One day last week, in a fit of proper madness, she had even followed him. She had felt like a prize tit when he had ended up at the library, which is exactly where he had said he was going. Then there was this research trip to Dorset next weekend that he'd begged her to go on. If he was playing away, why would he be asking her to go away for a weekend? He'd been genuinely disappointed when she'd said she couldn't go because of her new job at the restaurant. They'd even argued about it. Besides, she's hardly being fair to him either, she's the one who has just been lusting after a complete stranger.

He senses her tension, "Molls?"

"Sorry, I'm just really tired."

He cuddles her and strokes her tummy, "Time of the month?"

"Erm, yeah. Time of the month." Shit, shittity, shit. Time of the month. When was the last bleedin' time of the month? Shit. She'd put her perpetual exhaustion down to working two jobs, particularly with the additional hours she's been putting in over the last week getting the restaurant ready for launch. Shit. She can't be pregnant. Can she?

Molly catches the train

Molly is lying in bed, long having given up on getting any sleep. Her nut is a complete mess. Everything had been going so well until Dylan turned up at the party and begged to speak to her. She bitterly regretted agreeing to go outside with him, but had wanted to avoid a scene in the restaurant.

As soon as they got outside he had started laying it on thick; telling her how important she was to him, how he wanted to fight for her, pleading with her to forgive him, telling her that he couldn't write his sodding book, couldn't do anything without her, telling her it was over between him and Marie. She'd heard him out for a while, but had quickly realised that she had absolutely no interest in what he was saying to her. She'd looked into the restaurant and had seen Charles watching her. She could tell from his body language that he was getting agitated. She knew in that instant that all she wanted was to get back inside and be with him. She felt unfaithful just by being outside with Dylan.

Then, suddenly without warning, Dylan had grabbed her and kissed her. She'd been taken totally by surprise and it was a few seconds before she had pulled away, looked into the restaurant and found out that Charles was no longer watching. She'd shouted at Dylan and told him to stop, told him that he had no right to touch her, no right to even speak to her anymore.

He had grabbed her again and started begging, telling her he'd made a mistake and that he was truly sorry. She'd known that she had to get back inside, but was struggling to escape his vice like grip. It was at this point that Elvis had appeared and told Dylan very clearly that he should sling his hook and leave her alone, or else he might not live to regret it. This might have sounded funny coming from someone else, but Elvis delivered it in a way that made Dylan slink away with no further argument. Knowing Elvis' Special Forces background, she had a feeling that he had meant it.

She'd gone back inside and found Charles at the bar. She'd tried to explain what had happened but he'd shot her down before she'd even had a chance to get started. He'd looked at her with such complete disgust, accused her of kissing Dylan and had left.

She'd burst into tears almost immediately and had rushed to the toilets where she'd been violently sick, her body physically reacting to the pain in her heart. Afterwards she'd felt numb and in shock at what had just happened, at how quickly things had gone wrong between her and Charles. Jac had found her slumped on the floor and with Elvis's help, they'd managed to guide her through the restaurant and into a cab without anyone else noticing the state she was in.

When they'd got home she'd gone straight to her room, unable to even talk to Jac about what had happened. She'd cried and cried. The stress of the last couple of months all came out in her tears; losing her job, Dylan's betrayal and now Charles' rejection of her.

At some point her tears had stopped and she'd started to feel anger; initially at Dylan for turning up and ruining everything and then, she started to feel anger at Charles. She was angry at how he had treated her. Angry that he hadn't trusted her with Dylan. Angry that he had looked at her with such contempt. Angry that he had pulled away and left, rather than talk to her.

She now feels just an overwhelming sense of sadness and loss. The last six weeks have been incredible and she's never felt happier or more in love with someone than she feels with Charles. She is ridiculously attracted to him physically and finds it difficult to keep her hands off him, which has been unequivocally reciprocated until now. He has been hugely supportive of her starting her own business and as a result she has felt her confidence in her abilities starting to return. But, last night has highlighted just how emotionally attached she has become to him, and consequently also how much he can hurt her. In the cold light of day, she is not sure how she feels about this and whether she can cope with this level of intensity in a relationship.

She needs to clear her head and knows that the only thing which really does that is running. She's sat on the stairs, lacing up her trainers when there is a light knock on the door. She opens the door and is met by Charles. She is taken aback by his dishevelled and tired looking appearance; he looks like she feels.

He steps inside the house, moving towards her, "Molly."

She steps back, keeping some distance between them, "Charles."

He moves forward again, hesitantly, "Molly, I am so sorry. I don't know what got into me last night… Actually, that's not true. I do. I was jealous of you and Dylan. I know I acted appallingly. You didn't deserve that. Please, can you forgive me?'

She looks him squarely in the eye, "You really 'urt me."

He reaches towards her, holding his hands out, inviting her to come to him, "I'm so sorry. Molly, all I want is to make you happy."

She folds her arms protectively around herself, "Well you fucked up big time."

He tentatively reaches towards her again, and gently cups her face in his hands, staring deeply into her eyes, "I know. When you were outside with Dylan… In that moment, a lot of things flashed through my mind. I thought it was the end of us."

She's returning his gaze, tears starting to fall down her cheeks, "So did I."

He gently kisses away her tears, "Molly, you're all that I want. I want you to be the last thing I see."

She reaches up, puts her hands behind his head and pulls his face towards her lips, 'Ditto".

-x-

Later, they're lying in bed, Charles spooning her, having made love in the most gentle and intense way. Although she doesn't want to ruin their moment, there is something she needs to say, "Charles."

He's idly stroking her hair, "Hmm."

She's trying to figure out the right words, "I need to say somethin'…"

She can tell that he's not really listening because he's placing small kisses along her shoulders blades, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her closer toward him.

She holds onto his hands, to stop them wandering, "Charles, stop. This is important to me."

He pauses and lets out a frustrated groan, "Well, spit it out Dawesy."

She wriggles round and turns to face him, "I need you to be 'onest with me in the future. Tell me how you are feelin'. Don't bottle things up. No more secrets."

She thinks she detects a slight flicker of tension pass over his beautiful face, but this is quickly forgotten as he answers her by kissing her deeply, his strong arms drawing her close and she willingly succumbs to him.

Hope you're still enjoying the story... I'm sorry it has all got a bit angsty but the journey to happiness never runs smoothly for these two does it?