Explaining to Winston why they were both climbing out of the back seat was much easier than she had expected. They had both been asleep when he knocked on the window and there was no denying they had been together. To her surprise he nodded, seemingly finding the body heat story perfectly plausible. He did not even wink at her suggestively.

What Barbara did not know was that Winston had watched them for a few minutes before he disturbed them. He had parked his car closer to the track then followed the tyre tracks up the muddy lane to the car park. The windows were steamy but the car was silent. He moved quietly so as not to frighten them. When he peered in the back he had smiled. The DI was on his back with his legs scrunched up against the door. Barbara was lying partly across him with her head on his chest and her arm reaching up and touching his face. The DI had his arms around her with his cheek resting on her head and his hand holding her head to him. They were both smiling but clearly asleep. If they had been naked they would have looked as if they had just made love. He hoped they had. They both deserved to find happiness and everyone had felt the tension between them ramping up over recent months. He had knocked very gently.

Tommy had been grateful Winston had tracked them down. He felt no embarrassment at being discovered as they had done nothing wrong. They had simply kept warm on a cold night and even if they had been intimate, they were hurting no one. He despatched Nkata to find a mechanic while he and Barbara waited. She seemed much more concerned. "You okay?" he asked as he brushed some hair from her face.

She shook him away. "Yes Sir, fine. It was...well...for Winston to find us like that."

He ignored the implication that it was embarrassing. "Yes, thank goodness. It would have been a long walk in the mud."

"No, I meant...him finding us...like that."

"We explained it. I don't see an issue. Far better than freezing to death."

"I suppose so," she replied brusquely. There was no point in debating it. She could hardly tell him the reason she was embarrassed was because she had enjoyed the night and her anger now was from knowing they would never be that close again.

Tommy did not share her pessimism and by contrast was in a buoyant mood. Last night was something he very much intended to replicate once he worked out a way to tell Barbara he loved her. He sensed now was not that time but he gave her a quick, reassuring hug. "I'll have a quiet word to him if you like. Reinforce how cold it was out here. He won't say anything to sully your reputation."

"I don't care about my reputation. Nothing happened. Nothing at all."

Tommy detected a hint of regret. He wanted to tell her nothing had happened only because he did not want her to feel he was being opportunistic. He had fought hard not to step over that line. It would have been easy to kiss her or to let his hand begin to caress her as it had ached to do. He had been pleased with his self-control, made much easier by her muttered confession of love. They had time to let things happen naturally. "As if I'd take advantage Sergeant!"

The rest of the day had passed slowly. Tommy had waited for the mechanic while Barbara had returned to the station with Winston to interview the suspect who had been apprehended on the other side of the woods by an alert local constable. When Tommy reached the office Barbara had left for the crime scene. He filled in the reports and waited for her to return but after pacing his office practicing his speech he discovered Winston had dropped her at her flat.

It was after eight o'clock before a disgruntled Tommy arrived home. He poured himself a large whiskey then stood by the window sipping it as he looked out at the rain. The streetlight pooled in orange circles, mottled by the heavier drops of water that fell from the pole. He wondered if Barbara had a theorem for rain or if perhaps she believed rain was only a conspiracy theory. He knew he was brooding but he needed to know why Barbara had avoided him. It had hurt. Surely she knew last night meant more than just staying warm? He glanced up. There were no stars but the moon, which had been hidden, was just poking through the cloud. in his heart he knew Barbara was watching it and thinking of him. It made his decision easy.

Barbara was looking at the moon and thinking of her boss. She could still feel his arms around her and smell his woody aftershave. She had avoided going back to the office to see Tommy fearing it might be too awkward. Tomorrow after they had both slept in their own beds it would be fine but today she did not trust herself not to say something foolish. She heated her frozen meal and sat down to watch the news. She picked forlornly at the soggy mess they called Shepherd's Pie and wished she was at the pub with Tommy.

He straightened his coat before he rang the doorbell. He had showered and shaved and put on comfortable jeans and a blue shirt under his grey jacket. The cab had dropped him at the corner so she would not see him arrive and he had secreted his overnight bag behind the flowerpot on her porch. His broad plan was dinner first and then see what happened. To arrive bag in hand was presumptuous.

"Sir!" Even though she knew who would be at her door Barbara was surprised when she looked at Tommy. He looked refreshed and rather snappy as if he had dressed up just to see her. She instantly felt frowzy in her old tracksuit pants and over-sized tee-shirt. She could not see his car anywhere in the street.

"Hi," he said as he started the line he had rehearsed in his head, "I missed you at the station. I wondered if you wanted to go for dinner?"

Barbara held up the fork in her hand. "I've just finished."

"Oh." His plan was tumbling down around his ears.

"But if you'll wait while I change I'd love a pint." Internally Barbara was doing little leaps of joy to see him despite her misgivings. She told herself she just had to act normally and ignore what had happened in the car.

"Of course," he said following her inside.

"Did you catch a cab?"

"Yes. I'd started drinking, then thought we should be have dinner." It was the truth but not truthful. Barbara seemed to accept that without question and seemed pleased to see him. That was good but also confusing. "Why didn't you come back to the office?"

"Ah," she looked down. "Winston offered to drop me here and I thought maybe we needed time."

"For what?"

Barbara looked around the room nervously. "I dunno. Recover? I thought I was tired and wanted an early night but now I'm home I'm wide awake." She smiled at him. "And thirsty."

"Well you'd better get changed."

Barbara found herself pulling her best jeans and a black shirt from her wardrobe. They were not clothes she wore to work which might give Tommy a hint that she considered this more than a drink with a colleague. Then she hesitated. It might give him the wrong impression. She rummaged for a pair of work trousers.

"Are you okay?"

Barbara cursed under her breath. "Yeah fine, I'm...just looking for something clean." She heard him laugh knowingly. It sounded slovenly but gave her the chance to wear her first outfit.

Tommy was smiling but when she returned his eyes grew wide. Curves that usually were disguised under her clothes were handsomely displayed and quite captivating. He sensed she was nervous and as the Dutch courage of his whiskey was wearing off he was becoming increasingly apprehensive too. This could go horribly wrong. "Ready?"

"Yep."

Tommy hoped she did not notice his bag as they left. He felt silly. He had assumed they would have a few pints, somehow declare their feelings and he would spend the night. After last night he could not imagine sleeping without her in his arms but now he was here it seemed unlikely either of them would make the first move.

They chatted about the case as they walked to her local. It was a safe conversation and one that helped them both relax a little. Barbara told him about the interview and how the man had confessed to the attack on all three women. "Pussycat really. All mouth and trousers. He thought he was a ladies' man but he had no idea what women want from a man."

"And what do women want?"

Barbara blushed and looked away. "I don't know. I'm hardly an expert but certainly not someone who beats them up when they won't go out with him."

"Granted, but I think you know what you want Barbara. Don't you?"

They had arrived at the pub door and Barbara was glad of its sanctuary as she slipped past Tommy as he held the door open. "Yes, a pint but maybe something stronger."

He smirked as he suppressed a grin. "Allow me to make up your mind then."

Tommy walked to the bar and ordered while Barbara found a quiet table near the back away from the band that sounded more like a boy band than a rock group. He returned with two pints of a golden brew with a frothy white head. "Innis & Gunn Highland Ale, a rich Scotch ale matured over oak chips and infused with a fine highland scotch whisky. That should do the trick."

"Cheers!" she responded as they clinked glasses and tasted it. "Oh it's smooth. Sort of like buttery toffee, vanilla, and oak with a hint of whiskey."

"You make it sound like a wine."

"Just because wine snobs or whiskey swillers think their drink is fancy doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good beer for its taste."

"A point well made. I've been thinking about what you said about the universe. I think we can let it get too big and then it becomes frightening. We need to focus more on what we can understand. Like the moon and the stars we see."

Barbara frowned at him suspiciously. This was some sort of analogy but she was not quite sure where he was headed. "Hmm, I understand the moon, and the stars," she answered cautiously.

"Good."

Good? What does that mean? "Do you?"

"Of course. Would you like another one?"

"Yes."

Tommy returned with two more ales. He had been gone a while and when she had lost sight of him she had felt a surge of panic. He sat close to her and extended his arm around her chair. Barbara felt excited and scared in equal measure. She was having trouble disguising her desire. "How much alcohol in these?"

"About 8% I think."

"No wonder I feel a bit light-headed after only one."

"That's just the nearness of me."

"You wish!"

"Yes, I do." Barbara stopped and stared at him. "Shh, just stop and listen."

"To what?"

"Just listen."

The boy band returned from a set break and began to sing.

*I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky

And I swear like the shadow that's by your side

I see the questions in your eyes

I know what's weighing on your mind

You can be sure I know my part

'cause I stand beside you through the years

You'll only cry those happy tears

And though I make mistakes

I'll never break your heart

Barbara sat dumbfounded. Tommy's arm was now around her waist. She looked up at him and he was smiling at her - that big, soft grin that for the first time she recognized as being full of love.

And I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky I'll be there

I swear like the shadow that's by your side I'll be there

For better or worse till death do us part

I'll love you with every beat of my heart

And I swear

Tommy nodded and reached up with his hand to wipe away the tears that were rolling down her face.

And I swear (I swear) by the moon and the stars in the sky I'll be there (I'll be there)

"I will be Barbara."

I swear (and I swear) like the shadow that's by your side I'll be there (I'll be there)

"But…"

For better or worse

"No, no but. I love you." This time he kissed her. It was just a gentle gesture but they both groaned with the recognition that this was something they had both wanted for a long time.

Till death do us part

"I'll love you with every beat of my heart," Barbara sang softly into his ear.

Tommy's restraint from last night vanished. "Let's go somewhere more private."

"Yes," she whispered as he kissed her again, a little more urgently.

He held her hand as they walked silently back to her flat. When he stooped and picked up his bag as she opened the door she looked over and laughed. "I hope that contains everything you need."

As she closed the door behind them Tommy dropped his bag and grabbed Barbara. He pushed her against the door and began to kiss her passionately. "I only need you."

"Really?"

"I swear." They laughed with the relaxed affinity of lovers as she led him towards her bedroom.

*All 4 One , I Swear, 1994