A/N: Hehehe - I have a sequel ;-) Enjoy...

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What happened while she brushed her teeth?

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The door behind him closed without a sound. It was not too late but still Barbara had tried to be as silent as she could. Tommy paused for a moment at her doormat before he turned and left. Something felt wrong. He had not wanted to leave. In fact he had wanted to stay for the night but there was his appointment for lunch the next day so he had said good bye to her. And she had made no real advances to hold him back. It had been a wonderful evening with pizza and beer and some telly but that obviously had been enough for Barbara. She surely would not want him to stay for the night.

Tommy opened the door of his classic car and climbed in. He fastened the seat-belt and plugged the key in its lock but he did not start the engine yet. His mind had started to wander to his manor in Cornwall and it was with her. Short images of them walking the coast flickered through his mind, and them in the stables, and them skinny dipping. At that point he felt something inappropriate tickling his stomach. It made him blush a bit and drive away from the kerb where he had parked his car. He had to get away from here or he would get out of the car and return to Barbara to say or do something that would test her patience with him. Maybe it even would shock her so much she would send him away immediately and probably forever.

No, he decided driving down the small lane, their friendship was too precious and she would not do that but in fact Tommy would not risk it. Also there still were some things to pack for his stay in Cornwall and the new contract for one of his tenants still needed a quick glance-over. Apart from that there was not much to do for the estate this time. He would have too much time to think and brood, walk alone and miss her.

His car turned into the road that would bring him to his cold and lonely home. He already missed her now.

It still felt bold that he had bent down to her and kissed her goodbye, even if it only was on the cheek, but Barbara's scent still lingered in his nose. Tomorrow it would be gone but for now it soothed and agitated him all at once. He should not go to bed tonight, Tommy thought, so he could enjoy this feeling as long as possible. Only he would be horribly tired when he would get on the road to Cornwall. When he would return to Barbara now he would be able to enjoy it the entire night and still get some sleep.

"That's impossible, stupid bloke!" Tommy murmured watching a streetlight shining red. Even if Barbara would let him into her flat, and he knew she would not let him stand outside her door, she never would let him into her bedroom. By the way, these thoughts were too straightforward anyway. They had not even kissed yet. And knowing his spiky little Sergeant that would never happen. He was her boss, he was not at all her type of men. Above all she disliked his lot a lot. Not all of them of course, she was getting along with his family quite well, but her usual words describing the upper class people were nothing he would repeat aloud.

If these differences would not exist they maybe would have a chance. As much as he racked his brain, Tommy was not even aware that these differences still were there. They had come so close they did not matter anymore, or so he thought. What had she said when he had tried to tell her that the social differences were not important anymore? 'They are.' she had said, and: 'More than they should.'

A horn honked him onward. He had been so distracted by thoughts that he had not recognised another red light turning green. At the next opportunity he turned into a smaller street and stopped his car at the kerb. As long as his mind was preoccupied by the memories of Barbara Tommy was a danger for London's traffic. He turned off the engine and stared down the dimly lit row of houses.

Barbara had sounded sad and defeated somehow when she had told him that the differences still were there more than they should. More than they should. Did that mean she would want the differences between them to disappear?

Quite a while ago Tommy had given up hope to ever get closer to Barbara, to ever find the right moment to tell her that he actually had fallen in love with her. He was a coward concerning this. What he felt for Barbara felt so different to what he ever had felt for another woman. Not that he had not loved before. He had. Only this time it felt deeper and somehow steadier, stronger and so very different. And after years of being friends he had not the guts to make the next step that would definitely change their lifes. She probably would not want that. Barbara probably would not want to be a part of his upper class lot. She definitely would not want to become his countess.

If she felt for him what he felt for her at all, that is. The words she had said still echoed in his mind.

"More than they should." Tommy whispered. But despite all differences they had spent a wonderful, easy evening. Comfortably enjoying each other's presence and a silly show on TV. Sipping a beer together and having fun. For a brief moment they even had cuddled on her sofa. He had put his arm around Barbara's shoulder while they had laughed and she had placed her hand onto his belly. He had wanted to pull her closer in that moment and kiss her. When their laughs had died they had stayed like that for a few more silent seconds. For him they could have stayed like that for the rest of the night. It was just that eventually Barbara had gone to get another beer. She had not looked at him when she had asked if he also wanted one more but if he remembered her face now he remembered a nervous smile and a light rosy touch. And when she had handed him his bottle her hand had trembled. When their fingers had brushed she had harrumphed and sitting down next to him she had kept her eyes forcibly focussed on the TV screen.

Tommy still could kick his ass for not pulling her back against his chest. He had not dared to in case she would disapprove but he would never find out if she really would have disapproved.

He never would find out at all if he would not do something.

Yes, he had to change something. This was not their 'The DI and I' where they never would get together. He wanted a happy ending for them. They had come so close, it actually was obvious that there is more than friendship, even to him it was obvious, wasn't it?

Someone just had to make that final step. What would they lose? They were grown-ups. If he was wrong they could talk about it but at least he would have told her.

Tommy started the engine and turned his car in the next driveway. He would drive back to her flat. He would drive back to Barbara. He ignored - at least a bit - the speed limit on the main road. He had to get to her as soon as possible. He would change the end of their film. They were going to have a happy ending.

In his enthusiasm he stopped the car a second too late so the left front tyre jolted onto the kerbstone before he jumped out of the driver side door with a grin.

"Mh-hm-hmmm..." he happily hummed, his elated feet taking the three small steps in the middle of the way through the green in the front garden with one giant leap, before he started to hesitate again. Then he shook his head. "No, Tommy. You'll follow through with this."

In that moment he reached her door and raised his hand to knock. He stopped again, his hand hovering above the wood. Blood rushed loud through his ears. His heart was beating heavy against his rib cage. Tommy absolutely had no idea what he should say.

Tommy's eyes fell onto his wrist watch. He quietly whistled through his teeth. It was late, he probably woke her up but that did not really matter. Another broad smile appeared on his face when he finally knocked at her door. He had to tell her and he had to tell her now.

He knew it was not too late for their happy ending. Although Tommy still did not know what exactly he would tell Barbara he knew very well that he would re-write the ending of this evening with her.

The door opened. Surprised eyes welcomed him.

"Did you forget something, Sir?"

"Indeed I have."

Tommy deeply breathed before he stepped over Barbara's threshold.

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