Lewis pulled the car into the drive and switched the engine off. He was unsure where he wanted the evening to go, and for a moment he was a little nervous. When he looked across at her, though, she was watching him.

"Would you like to come in?"

He nodded, and held her gaze, letting the pause stretch out between them.

"I'd just like some company, I'm not…" she hesitated, "..not suggesting anything…"

He smiled, pleased that they seemed to be reading from the same page, and he reached over to take her hand, curling it towards his lips.

"Company sounds grand."

He knew Laura's cottage quite well, but walking into her home he felt like he was crossing a boundary. In the hallway, she took his jacket, and as she hung it over the banister, he lazily wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close. She relaxed against him, and he felt her arms snake around his waist, her forehead burrowing into his chest. They stood there a long time, saying nothing, just holding each other. He hadn't meant their evening to take such a morbid turn, but he was pleased now that she realised how serious he was about them being together. He remembered Innocent's words on the riverbank and smiled to himself.

Laura pressed her hand to his chest, and looked up at him,

"Tea?"

He smiled and nodded, pleased that she clearly had no plans to rush him, them, towards something they both wanted, but equally they both wanted to savour.

As Laura busied herself in the kitchen, Lewis took a moment to look around. Her kitchen was familiar, the pastel dressers, the clean lines blending with a cottagey homeliness. He loved her garden room, the plants everywhere, the way the light poured in in the morning. The last time he'd been here he'd questioned her honesty and nearly lost her. He sighed quietly. Never again.

"The kitchen looks a bit different - you've moved things around"

She fumbled with some tea bags, dropping them into the pot, her hand hovering over the just boiled kettle,

"Mmm…"

"The table was against the other wall, and that bookcase was in the other room…"

"Mm…yes.."

"And you used to have a big plant in the corner, by the door?"

She halted in her movements, her voice quiet,

"After the break in, I wanted a change"

He closed his eyes, how bloody stupid was he?

"It just didn't feel like home anymore"

As his arms wrapped around her, taking the steaming kettle from her hands, he realised that they were shaking slightly. He took her delicate fingers in his own, warming them with his touch, and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her head.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here quicker that night; that I didn't realise how much danger you were in…."

She relaxed against him, her head leaning into his shoulder,

"I'm just glad you came when you did."

"Let me be mother?"

She smiled and nodded, her eyes twinkling again, and he reached around her and poured the hot water into the pot.

She slipped out of his embrace to open the fridge and extract some milk. He watched her closely as she put some biscuits on a plate. She grinned and shook her head with amusement,

"I'm not made of glass, Robbie, you know…you've just caught me at the end of a rather intense week"

He nodded, taking the plate from her hand, and collecting the mugs from the counter.

"Sofa?"

She nodded back, kicking off her shoes.

"Actually, would you mind if I changed? I feel a bit overdressed for curling up on the sofa."

"Shall I put the telly on?"

"Of course, I'll only be five minutes, make yourself at home."

He placed the mugs carefully on the table, making sure to use the coasters provided. Yes, Laura Hobson was definitely a coaster girl. He slumped down into the sofa, his muscles aching from the day's exertions. He really wasn't getting any younger. Picking up the remote, he flicked the set on, and settled on the news. He knew full well that there was a Europa Cup game on ITV4, but it was perhaps early days to subject Laura to the football. He smiled to himself at the thought of it. One day he'd definitely get her to a Magpies game…and she'd bloody love it. If she was really lucky, he might even buy her some chips with curry sauce.

He loosened his tie and then undoing his top button, elected to take it off altogether. The carpet was cream-coloured, and very inviting, and as a precaution he slipped off his shoes and put them to one side of the sofa. The room was a little dark, so he clicked on one of the small side lamps. His eyes fell upon the fireplace…there was a full scuttle of coal, and, by the looks of it, some decent kindling.

Laura slipped the pale grey cashmere sweater over her head, and brushed her hair back from her face. She surveyed the room quickly, and straightened the bedspread. Would she be inviting him up here? The thought was exciting, but she was conscious that she didn't want to rush him. They were both in the middle of a case, tomorrow would surely bring another busy day, it didn't feel like the time to do this, not yet.

As she walked back into the living room, she found him on his knees, putting the final touches to the fire. She winced a little as he heaped the coal up, fearing for her carpet, but then smiled, as he carefully lit the kindling, and replaced the fireguard. Adjusting the flue, he sat back on his heels, to admire his handiwork.

"You've done that before"

He grinned, taking in her new casual attire,

"Maybe"

The flames caught well, and he stood up gingerly, holding his dirty hands out like a schoolboy,

"Kitchen…soap dispenser on the counter, towel on the rail…"

She smiled to herself, shaking her head a little as he departed, and settled herself down on the sofa. When he returned, she was curled up with a blanket around her shoulders, the mug of tea steaming in her hands.

"Is there room for a little one?"

A/N Many thanks for all the lovely reviews - they are so motivating! :) I had an insane idea the other day that I could continue this through several more episodes...but that would be some serious work! We will see... I also have a Waking the Dead fiction planned, so it might be something for the future. Oooh...crossover. ;)