Hello all. Thanks very much for the reviews. Apologies for not updating sooner, I can only say that I seem to have lost some motivation and hit another wall. Hopefully you enjoy the update.

He couldn't remember ever being so happy. It wasn't all clear sailing from here; there were some details they had to work through. He'd all but abandoned his post in the last week and the family had begun to notice his absence. It brought him a certain amount of surprise to realize he didn't care, not one bit. Finally, finally he was focussing on the important things.

He took in the beauty that was his fiancée, soon to be his wife. Her smile was small, but she was glowing. Her eyes were locked on the passing countryside, her side pressed firmly against him as they sat next to each other.

Their position at the back of the bus afforded them some amount of privacy as they were steadily carried towards Ripon. To the place they would be wed. Mere minutes ago when he had purchased their tickets he was thrumming with excitement, but now a calm had settled over him, a distinct feeling of happiness in the knowledge that his future would always include the incredible woman beside him.

While she watched the scenery, he watched her. His gaze caressed her ivory skin, her wonderfully high cheekbones. Her hair was looser than when they left the Abbey this morning – the only indication of their earlier activities- a stray curl rest against her delicate neck. She shifted slightly and his attention turned to the lines that travelled out from the corner of her eye. Acquired from a life of hard work no doubt, but also from the act of caring deeply for others, having strength in convictions and a great passion for defending what she believed to be right. Goodness knows he'd encountered her fire many times over the years.

The lines deepened as her smile widened. He wanted to know how each one got there. Which experiences had deepened them, which worries had the greatest effect, which joys had made her smile - every story of her life that contributed to the woman she was today, to the woman she was when they first met.

He pictured a warm bed and all the time in the world, pressing kisses to every blessed inch of her, caressing her gently as she told her stories, laughing with her, crying with her.

He felt warmth and softness against his fingers. Without realizing, he had reached out to touch her. His fingers moved over the lines he was examining so intently, across her cheek brushing a stray curl behind her ear. She leaned into his touch as he pressed a kiss softly to her temple.

"Ahem."

Another kiss to her cheek, leaning in close, breathing in her scent as he nuzzled her neck –

"Ahem, really. I never!"

Charles snapped back as the old woman in the seat across the aisle and one row in front threw a disapproving look in his direction. His cheeks began to burn as some of the passengers turned to see what the trouble was.

He stared at his shoes, red with embarrassment, what must Elsie think of him? Not being able to control himself like that.

He was about to apologize until he heard a giggle escape from the woman beside him. A hand touched his face before she placed a kiss to his cheek and sent a challenging look in the old woman's direction.

The woman, who could only be described as a cantankerous old bat, huffed and turned forward in disgust. Other passengers who caught the interaction chuckled good-naturedly. Someone threw out the words "lucky bloke!" before they all settled back to their previous activities.

Elsie patted his knee and clasped his hand tightly in hers. He felt like the luckiest man alive.

Thanks for reading. I hope you're still enjoying the story. If you have the time - let me know what you think.