** For authors notes, disclaimer etc. see chapter 1

Cross Country 4/? – Vive-la-France

"Are we there yet? Sandra grumbled pouting sulkily at Gerry as he drove through the French countryside. She knew she was being a pain, she knew they couldn't be more than half an hour from the vineyard they were staying in for the night but she was extremely impatient to get there.

"You know we're not, but it isn't much further." Gerry laughed reaching over and squeezing her thigh gently. He was as anxious to reach their destination as she was but the way the long car journey seemed to have made her revert to being a five year old again was hilarious.

"Tell me about the giete again remind me why we've been driving through France for a whole day instead of stopping somewhere half way to the Spanish boarder like we were supposed to be. Entertain me Gerry." She continued batting her eyelashes playfully at him as he rolled his eyes. He was the one who had been so determined that they shouldn't stop somewhere further north for a night as they'd planned but rather drive to only 20 miles from the Spanish boarder and say at the vineyard for two nights instead. He's assured her that it would be worth it and now she wanted him to remind her why.

"It's a conversion of an 18th century barn in the grounds of the vineyard…"

"18th century sounds old and dusty and cold are there going to be spiders everywhere? You know I hate spiders!"

"No there isn't going to be dust nor spiders." Gerry laughed enjoying her continued descent into childishness. When people saw Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman professional and ever in control they'd never believe she could be vulnerable or teasing or loving in the way that she was when they were together and he loved that he was the only person who saw it. "It's a modern conversion on the inside it's only the shell that's 18th Century. I showed you the pictures it's beautifully decorated and there's a huge four poster king sized bed for us to enjoy too. Not only that but the onsite chef who cooks three Michelin star food which is brought to you in the giete along with as much of their own wine as you can drink while you're there."

"Unlimited wine? You did warn them we are very fond of good wine didn't you? I'm not sure their version of unlimited and ours would be the same." Sandra laughed as she saw the first road sign for the small town near the vineyard and knew they were getting close.

"There's a case of 12 bottles in the giete on arrival even we can't make it through 6 bottles a night." Gerry smiled getting into the swing of selling the place to her as it started to remind him of all the reasons why he's fallen for it to begin with when he'd seen it online. "Besides it also means if the wine is good we can buy a couple of cases to take to the villa with us. Nice and all as Spain is they make wine that bears a striking resemblance to cats piss."

"I don't mind the odd glass of Spanish Rose."

"Yeah well we'll not get into how terrible your pallet is."

"Hey you said I was getting better since you started educating me on food and wine." Sandra replied shaking her head as he shrugged. For years before they became a couple he'd tried to convince her that food was not something you pierced the film on and stuck in the microwave. He'd started her culinary education in earnest though since they'd been together and that had included trying to get her out of the mind-set that wine was wine and the bottles that sold for £5.99 that she used to buy where exactly the same as the good vintage bottles at four times the price.

"It is getting better but you still have a long way to go especially if you think Spain make any drinkable wines." He continued trying to decide if he should turn left or right at the junction with a very vague road sign stating that "La Franco Blanca" was only 3km away.

"A couple of night being snack band in the middle of a French vineyard should do it. I can see vines!"

"Me too and there's the main house up on the hill, do you see, I can see two barns, they have two conversions I wonder which one will be ours." Gerry replied pulling into the driveway and driving slowly through the wines lining each side.

"I don't know I just want to get there and get these shoes off."

"Well as soon as I talk to the owner and get out keys we will be in and you can take your shoes, and anything else you want to, off."

"You have a one track mind Gerry Standing you realise that don't you?"

"Only when you're around. Sit tight while I check us in then we'll head down,"

Nodding then watching as he walked away she looked around at their home for the next couple of nights. He had been right, from the outside anyway, she could see that all the buildings looked well maintained and the vines seemed to stretch for as far as the eye could see. If their giete was even half as nice it would be fantastic.

"Sorted, I've for our key and a copy of the menu so we can decide what we want for dinner. There's a direct line from the giete to the reception desk if we've any problems.

"Oh god Gerry is that it?" Sandra asked as a beautifully painted and maintained converted barn came into view. The small windows were decorated with red and white gingham curtains, there were vases of flowers in the upstairs ones and the entire feeling that she got from the building was perfect.

"You like it?"

"I love it, let's go and see what else there is apart from the king sized bed you seem to have picked out from the photos,"

"Sounds good to me, though really the bed is huge," Gerry smiled getting out of the car and following her to the door breathing a sigh of relief that once again he'd got it right and the perfectness of their trip was continuing.