Freddie let a smile start t creep across his face. Like a child that got exactly what he'd wanted for Christmas. Bel was his equivalent to an Official Red Ryder Carbine- Action 200 shot range model air rifle. "I love you too Bel Rowley... and I think with you I could get better." He said. He walked over and kissed Bel on the forehead.
"Oh get that grin off your face." She said swatting at him, " You don't have to be so smug about it."
"On he contrary I do. I think this is absolutely news worth as a matter of fact I think we ought go back to the office and tell everyone that we're an item now." Freddie said.
"They're already gone for the evening Freddie. Who says we're an item anyways. I never agreed to that." Bel protested.
"Oh, c'mon Bel. You admit that you love me, what more is there to it with us. It was already relatively assumed as common knowledge!" Bel couldn't help but smile.
"I think, My dear that his may require to toast." She said getting up and refilling their glasses with whiskey. "To the future whatever it may hold."
" I think you're just not drunk enough yet to deal with me." Freddie said. He drank his cup in a single gulp and then started looking around the apartment. He walked out into the hallway after fumbling a bit with the door handle.
"What on earth are you doing?" Bel asked, walking towards the door.
"I'm trying to remember if Dad had sealed off the roof access for the building or not." Freddie said staring up at the ceiling.
" The roof, Freddie I don't think that's such a-"
"NONSENSE!" He cut her off. " It's a perfectly good idea." He walked to the opposite end of the hallway and pulled down a hatch from the ceiling. Behind it there was a ladder "Trust me, it's a good idea." He repeated.
Bel followed, climbing the ladder up to the roof with Freddie. Luckily he didn't seem to have to much trouble with the climb. The building wasn't exceptionally tall, but there was still a nice view from the top. The air was cool outside, feeling almost as if it were about to snow. Bel wished that she had brought her coat up to the rood with her. Freddie remedied her chills rather quickly though, wrapping his arms around her as best he could with the way that they would shake.
"This is lovely Freddie." Bel said, looking around at all the lights of London, most of them towering above them in the distance. "Why have we never been up here before."
"I'm drunk and it seemed like a good idea." Freddie said, stifling a small laugh by kissing Bel's neck. "also since I couldn't go tell everyone at the office I though I do this instead. "I LOVE THIS GIRL!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. Bel blushed a deeps shade of red, almost falling down from laughter. Freddie was beaming.
"There are people sleeping!" Bel reminded him.
"I'm aware. I needed to do that. I'm done now." He said.
"You are ridicules Freddie Lyons." Bel said. Freddie smiled at her and sat against the wall of the roof, his legs were getting a bit tired. Bel sat next to him.
"This is the best I've felt since the incident. I miss being happy." Freddie said, looking momentarily down at his feet. His usual ego and confidence were nowhere to be found recently.
"What are you so upset about. your doctor says that moving around will get easier, you've been improving constantly. You can't be so hard on yourself Freddie." Bel encouraged.
"That's not it. Well, that's not all of it anyway. That story was the biggest thing I'll ever get the chance at in my career it's over and I'm 27. What now? Where am I going to find that next big story." Freddie said.
"Oh you'll track something down you always do." Bel assured him.
"Yes but nothing will ever be as big as uncovering a nuclear scandal! Also, I was supposed to be the one interviewing , not Hector." Freddie said. " I didn't get to deliver the story that I-"
"We." Bel interjected.
"We worked so hard to pursue. My career is over so what's left for me? I'll loose my mind if I don't have something to chase. Not to mention the fact that I CAN'T physically chase a story right now." Freddie said. " My life is over."
"Oh stop it. Just stop it Freddie." Bel Insisted. " You got hurt following a story that you loved and if you hadn't then it never would have been told by you, Hector, or anyone else for that matter. There will always be another story and you have years still to chase it down. Stop being so melodramatic." Bel said.
"Oh you think I'm being melodramatic now? Why don't you go get your face smashed in and see if you feel melodramatic afterwards... I'm sorry no don't do that actually." Freddie said.
"I think you're just drunk. As lovely as this is I think it might be time for us to get down off this roof and go to sleep." Bel said.
"I think you're right, we've got work in the morning." Freddie said. Bel sighed.
"Freddie, I don't think-"
"I'm going and you will not convince me otherwise." Freddie said, getting to his feet and offering Bel a hand up even though he knew he wouldn't be able to pull her up.
That night was the first that Freddie slept through the night without waking from flashes of the beating he'd taken haunting his dreams. He woke up feeling a refreshed. The day luckily was off to a good start, not to mention the fact that for the first time he got to wake up with Bel. He slipped out of bed, trying his best not to wake her. He walked out into the kitchen to try and make some coffee but, yet again he was running into problems,dumping coffee all over the counter before finally getting enough into the coffee pot.
"Need a hand?" Bel asked appearing from the bed room.
"No I've got it already thank you." Freddie said.
"Oh you got it all right, you got it everywhere." Freddie shrugged and began trying to clean up the coffee off the counter.
"If I'm ever going to be normal again I've just got to do things myself…"