A/N: Hello everyone! This is my new chapter. I'd like to thank all of you for your kindness :)

thanks to those who are following my fanfic, thanks to those who left a review and thanks to those who are just reading it: your support means a lot to me


The trip to Philip and Rachel's estate passed in an uncomfortable silence. Robert was lost in his thoughts, and Cora didn't dare to ask what was on his mind. He was suffering because of his friend's sudden death, of that she was sure, but she knew there was something else.

She also knew that there was no point in asking him; he wouldn't have admitted it. She only hoped they were alright, that all this sadness and sorrow wouldn't affect their marriage.

When the car stopped in front of the big house and they stepped outside, they were immediately greeted by Rachel who acted like the perfect hostess despite her red- rimmed eyes.

The funeral ceremony was really heartbreaking and Cora thought, looking at her husband who was trying so hard not to lose his composure, of how strange and silly everything seemed. Why can't a wife, a mother or a friend show any emotions? What was the point in all this? Were they not allowed to suffer? Looking once again at her husband and seeing how broken he was, she took his hand squeezing it tightly "I'm here, Robert; don't worry, I'm here" she thought, hoping he was feeling that she was there for him.

Robert kept looking at the coffin, replaying the nightmares of the previous night: there was blood again. He could almost smell the metallic taste in his mouth and he couldn't see Cora, he was dying….he was sure, but she wasn't there. He tried to scream her name, but nothing came out from his mouth and he was alone. If this was it, he wanted to die in her arms, but she wasn't there for him and he tried to call her name again and again and then suddenly everything went black. He was dead and didn't have the chance to tell her that he loved her. That he wanted to be forgiven for Jane and for the early months of their marriage. He was so ashamed and had caused her so much pain that he couldn't believe she was still so good to him.

The only thing that woke him from his reverie was again the familiar touch of her hand, a hand that he had held for 36 years and for the first time in the last two days, he felt better. He felt comforted because she was there. It was not like what happened in his dream. His Cora was there, and was trying to reassure him. Because he knew that despite all his mistakes she was still in love with him, and was worried for him.

When they went back to the house Rachel patiently waited until Cora excused herself and went to her room to freshen up and get changed. She wanted to speak with Robert alone, because even if her heart was broken and was grieving for her husband, she had noticed Robert and Cora's behaviour since their arrival.

So with an excuse, she took Robert into the sitting room, pouring them both something to drink. He was staring blankly at the fireplace when she held him a half glass of scotch "Don't worry, Robert. Cora told me about your accident. You don't have to drink it all if you don't want to." He welcomed her with a sad smile "Maybe just one or two sips to soothe my heart". But after having sipped the amber liquid she found him staring again at the fireplace.

"Robert are you alright?"

"I'm fine, thank you. Just a bit shaken by the news."

"That is not what I meant. Don't try to pretend you didn't understand. I saw you, the two of you, since your arrival."

" Hmm…" He couldn't talk about his private life. He wasn't comfortable and, above all, he couldn't do it with his dead friend's wife.

"Robert, if there's something to learn from Philip's death it is that you can't waste your time. You have a wonderful marriage; a marriage based upon love which is as solid as a rock, a marriage everyone dreams of….do you know we didn't even have to chance to say goodbye? We weren't madly in love as you and Cora are, but I would have liked to have had the chance to tell him he had been a good husband, and that I was thankful for that, but I couldn't…it was too late."

"Oh, Rachel, I'm so sorry. But I'm certain he knew that." He moved towards her, gently squeezing her shoulder.

"Yes, perhaps he knew, but I will blame myself forever for it. Please, Robert. I'm speaking to you as a friend, now; tell me the reason for your behavior. For all this silence from your side because, as far as I can see, Cora is very worried about you and is trying to comfort you in every imaginable way."

" The thing is….I wanted to sorted it out by myself. Because after having received your telegram about Philip's passing, I… I keep wondering if I'm cherishing her enough. If I'm showing her how much I care for her. And should something bad happen to me, I'm afraid she will only remember how horrible the beginning of our marriage was, and how much I made her suffer." He didn't know how, but the words were out of his mouth before he knew it.

"And so what are you planning to do? Ignore her?" She lifted a brow in disbelief. Her husband Philip had been right: Robert could be very strange when it came to his feelings.

Robert, for his part, couldn't believe his ears. He was ignoring her again; too worried about his thoughts, too lost in his own nightmare to remember her. Rachel was right, and he hadn't realised it until she opened his eyes.

"Take your time to grieve your old friend, Robert. But after that, don't dwell on the past. Tell her. Tell her that you are sorry for your mistakes. Tell her every day that you love her."

That night, holding Cora in his arms and watching her as she slept, the hues of her skin shining more vividly in the moonlight, he knew he was completely and irrevocably in love with his wife, and was determined to show her that she was his entire world. Kissing her softly on her forehead his gaze wondered to her bedside table where a small calendar was sitting next to her clock. The date written on it reminded him of something. He smiled at the thought. A month from that day.

"I love you, Cora" he whispered almost inaudibly in her ear as he gently stroked her hair. He added- more to himself than to her- "six months, three weeks and four days".