I found love in this world and my heartstrings just unfurled

I found love in the spring and I did not lose a thing

I found love in the fall and it did not hurt at all

I Found Love – The Free Design

Anthony was slow to wake; there was something quite different about his bed that morning. It was noticeably warmer, cozier, he wanted nothing more than to turn over and continue to sleep. The weather was perfect for a lie in; grey clouds filled the sky, a light rain drizzling down. It was still quite early so the streets were empty. And yet, he was vaguely aware of his phone ringing downstairs. With a groan he freed himself of the source of warmth and sat up.

"Where are you going?" Edith mumbled, not quite awake yet.

"Phone's ringing."

"Let it ring. Stay here with me." She pleaded, her arms wrapping around his waist as she tried to pull him back down.

"We ignored it all night." He reminded as she managed to get him back against the pillows while her head pressed against his shoulder. Anthony rather happily snaked his arms around her, pulling her close again.

"Clearly someone's willing to call back."

"Which leads me to believe that it's something important." He smiled as she shrugged at his logic.

"Fine. Leave me to freeze." She sighed melodramatically, letting go of him.

"I'll be right back." He chuckled, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her temple.

The floor was cold under his feet, but he didn't want to waste time finding his slippers. The faster he answered the phone the faster he could get back into bed with Edith. It felt so unusual to wake up with someone else in his bed, but it was certainly a welcomed change. Were they to continue with this relationship he would never have to fill a hot water bottle again. There was a spring in his step as he moved across the floor of the den, bypassing the trail of clothes they had left in their wake the night before.

"Hello?"

"Dr. Strallan?"

"Yes?"

"Oh…" the voice laughed for a moment before clearing his throat and continuing. "This is Thomas."

"Thomas? What can I do for you?"

"I've been trying to get in touch with Edith since last night."

"She's uh… she can't…"

"She's currently indisposed, yes I gathered as much. I went round last night to change her flat locks like she asked."

"Well I'll let her know…"

"No. There was no flat left to change the locks on."

"What?"

"Burned to the ground. Apparently Michael was entertaining a pair of young ladies last night and a candle was knocked over."

"What's taking so long?" Edith whispered, suddenly appearing behind Anthony, wrapping her arms around his middle as her head rested against his back.

"It's for you actually." Anthony managed, passing the phone back to her. They would have to get dressed and head out to what remained of the apartment.

"The bastard!" Edith exclaimed a few moments after she put the phone to her ear. It would appear they would then have to track down Michael for Edith to kill him.

It was rather sad to see the remnants of her new home reduced to ash. She had been so excited when she first found it, keen to turn it into something that would be entirely her own. The only thing that remained in place was the small flight of stairs that once led to the front door, which where they found Michael sitting, waiting for her.

"Edith, I am so sorry." He began. He barely got the words out before she flew towards him, slapping him hard across the face. Anthony barely had time to react; he quickly moved an arm around her waist to pull her back.

"You're sorry? What were you doing here in the first place, Michael? I told you to leave! That doesn't mean you can use my home for some sort of hotel to bring a one night stand to!"

"Actually there were two…"

Anthony had to pull back on her again as she tried to reach for Michael again.

"I don't care if you managed to convince five girls to come home with you, you take them somewhere else. Which should be rather obvious now that there's nothing left."

"Well it isn't as if you lost all your earthly possessions. I noticed your case was gone, sitting in his bedroom no doubt."

"That makes no difference. You and I broke up."

"I'm trying to be civil here, Edie. I don't need to remind you what I'm capable of."

"Are you threatening me?" She moved towards him but Anthony's grasp was tight.

"Edith, why don't you flag down a taxi?" Anthony suggested, turning her towards the street and urging her away. She glared at Michael a moment longer before nodding and continuing in the direction he was pointing.

"Goodness, you got her trained rather quickly. I never could."

"I haven't trained her, if you treat her like an equal she's quite agreeable. But you would have no concept of this because you are in no way her equal nor are you worthy of her." Anthony took a step closer, towering over Michael, appearing imposing. "Stay away from her. Do not threaten her or you will have me to deal with."

"What are you going to do? Lecture me to death?" Michael laughed.

"No." Anthony laughed mirthlessly, looking towards where Edith stood next to a waiting car. "I'll simply take this moment to remind you that your wife and my sister was well acquainted, I would hate for some information to slip out while they were attending one of those social luncheons. You understand, right?"

"Yes." Michael managed through a clenched jaw.

"Good. Enjoy the rest of your weekend."

"What did you say to him?" Edith asked as Anthony approached the taxi.

"Just reminding him that he is in no position to threaten anyone."

For the time being they agreed that Edith would stay with Anthony, if only temporarily. Though he would be pleased if she stayed with him forever, she insisted that she have her own space, incase he got tired of her hanging around his flat. As if that would happen, Anthony would reassure her with a kiss. It seemed that Anthony's warning work, until Monday morning came around and Edith found herself summoned to the dean's office.

"Lady Edith, we have some issues to address." Dean Clark's stern tone left little to be discussed. He ushered her into the office, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

An hour later she found Anthony in his office, grading the last of the final examinations for his classes. He smiled brightly as she appeared in his doorway, missing for a moment that Annabelle was standing next to her, trying to tell her that he isn't to be disturbed.

"It's all right, Annabelle." Anthony nodded, standing up to welcome Edith in and close the door behind them. He led her to the leather sofa where, instead of sitting next to him, she began to pace. "What's wrong?"

"How do you know anything's wrong?"

"Your expression for one."

"I've just finished a meeting with the Dean. Apparently he received a number of tips that I have been making my way through the staff of the law department. And as such he will allow me to receive my degree as the term has already finished but any future studies I may pursue will have to done elsewhere."

"That doesn't make sense, there's no conflict of interest…"

"There is. I had arranged a deal with him earlier in the year to allow me to study law next year, if I could get a majority of the staff in the program to sign off. It doesn't matter if I'm sleeping with one law professor or all of them, he considers it a conflict of interest."

"Did you tell him about us?"

"Not by name, I simply said that, yes I am involved with ONE member of the faculty and he said that that's one too many."

"I'm sorry, Edith. What do you want to do?" He stopped her pacing, taking both hands in his.

"I want to get away from this city." Though her features didn't betray her emotions, her tone of voice certainly did. Anthony could hear her anguish; the past weeks had taken a toll on her. Although things were going well between them, the actions of Michael were clearly wearing on her.

"We could go to Locksley?" He suggested.

"That runs the risk of seeing my parents."

"Edith…" He began, unsure how to continue. On a whim he pulled her into his lap, letting her rest against him for a moment before continuing. "Even if you have to see them, at the end of the day you are always welcome to come home with me."

"Do you think they'll let me?"

"When have you let someone else dictate what you do?"

"You'll be with me the whole time? If they start to pull me back in…?"

"I'll pull you back out." He nodded.

"Is it too soon for me to love you?" She asked quietly, not looking up at him. His index finger slipped beneath her chin, coaxing her to meet his gaze.

"So long as it's not too soon for me to love you." Was his reply before leaning down to kiss her.

When Friday morning came around and Anthony's office locked up for the holiday break the pair was ready to leave the city. Edith stood on the curb outside of his flat, waiting with the luggage while he came around with the car.

"Oh, Anthony." She murmured as he climbed out of the vehicle and took the luggage to the boot.

"What is it?" He asked, concerned that she might have forgotten something.

"It's beautiful." Her eyes not moving from the Rolls Royce.

"Oh. Thank you."

"1957 Silver Cloud I." He watched as she gently brushed her fingers across the hood of the car.

"Edith." Her head snapped up at his voice, blushing slightly at her infatuation with the piece of machinery in front of her.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to drive?" He asked, holding up the keys.

"Really?"

"Really." She smiled brightly, pressing a kiss to his lips before taking the keys. "You're certain?"

"You do know how to drive, right?"

"Of course."

"Reasonably well?"

"Quite well."

"Then I'm certain."

With that the pair climbed into the blue Rolls and started for the country, pleased to be leaving the city, even without knowing what awaited them in Yorkshire. It was an adventure they would have together.

We gotta get out of this place

If it's the last thing we ever do

We gotta get out of this place

Girl, there's a better life for me and you

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place – The Animals