Disclaimer: Doc Martin is the property of Buffalo Pictures. I own nothing except my overactive imagination

The Gravel Road

Chapter 5

After Martin left, Louisa had a shower and then sat on the bed and tried to work out how things stood between them. He'd left before she could make him understand that she did still love him, that she really wanted to try to work things out between them, but that she simply wasn't prepared to make a hasty decision again. But of course he'd acted like a teenager, going off in a huff, not prepared to sit down and talk things through with her, clamming up instead because he was so scared of rejection.

Until then, things had been going pretty well. Martin had reacted to the news of her pregnancy in a far more positive manner than she'd ever anticipated, although he'd undoubtedly been very shocked and taken aback. Also, they'd actually managed to talk about their reasons for calling off the wedding, and now at least she had a clearer picture of why he'd acted as he had. And she could hardly let herself believe that he wanted her back, that he regretted calling off their wedding. He wanted her to come back home to the village, he'd even hinted about the possibility of her getting her old job back – and he wanted them to get married. And part of her longed to have this fairy tale ending, longed to accept his offer straight away, to just slot back into her old life, become the Head Mistress married to the local doctor, bringing up their baby together.

But this was real life, not a fairy tale. Martin was certainly no Prince Charming with a stethoscope, as Pauline had once described him. Last time she'd been literally swept off her feet by his proposal, and had let her heart rule her head – and look where that had got them. No, she was going to stick to her guns and not rush into anything this time round, whatever Martin said. It was in his best interests too.

Louisa sat and thought back to a couple of months ago, to the first time that Martin had proposed to her. It had come out of the blue, after she'd given up on him, convinced that they were never going to progress in their relationship. But then after Holly's accident, Martin had been so amazing in the way that he'd saved her life, he'd been so commanding and skilful. Suddenly, it had seemed very shallow of her to have broken things off with him just because he hadn't been very romantic with her after the concert. It was just his way, he was so brilliant and clever that his mind was on a higher plane. He was truly an extraordinary man, and when he'd blurted out that he couldn't bear to be without her and had begged her to marry him, she'd just melted and accepted his proposal without a moment's hesitation. He'd swept up her in his arms when she'd run over to him, and held her as if he never wanted to let her go. But eventually he'd put her down, and they'd come back down to earth.

"I… err... ought… to umm.. take this back to the surgery…" Martin had stuttered out. He'd just dropped everything and run out of the surgery when Louisa had called him out to Holly's accident. He had to go back to sort things out, and put defibrillator back on charge to ensure that it would be ready for the next emergency.

Louisa had reached up to kiss him, running her hands under his jacket to explore his back and his chest.

"But you are coming back aren't you?" she'd whispered, as she'd nuzzled his neck and kissed him again.

"Yes, yes, of course I'll return just as soon as I can," Martin had replied breathlessly as he'd returned her kiss.

"And err… bring back some… you know… protection," Louisa had whispered to him. Finally they could take things to the next level, after all this time, after all the countless lonely nights spent imagining how she would seduce him, she was finally going to be able to act out her fantasies.

Martin had blushed bright red at her suggestion, hardly able to believe his change of fortune.

"Right, yes, of course, I mean if you're sure Louisa…" he'd stammered.

"Oh I'm sure Martin, very sure… unless that is, you don't want to…?" Louisa had replied, as she'd pressed herself up against him. She'd smiled to herself as she'd felt the very obvious evidence that clearly he did want to.

"Right well, I'll be back as quickly as I'm able, with the … umm… necessary supplies," Martin had promised, as he'd then torn himself away, picked up his medical equipment and rushed out.

Louisa had hugged herself excitedly as she'd watched him leave, and then hurriedly started her preparations.

She'd quickly finished clearing the kitchen floor, changed the sheets and tidied her bedroom after Holly's enforced stay, and taken a quick shower, then brushed her teeth very thoroughly and swished some mouth wash around. She'd already binned the perfume that he'd made unwelcome comments about on their date to the concert, and she didn't bother to put any other perfume on now either, for fear that it would provoke yet another unfavourable response from Martin.

At least the gorgeous new set of 'sexy yet tasteful' undies she'd bought in case things had progressed to that stage after their doomed date would not go to waste now. She'd just put them on when she'd heard Martin knocking at the door, so she'd slipped her silky dressing gown on and gone downstairs to let him in….

These memories now served to remind her only too painfully that this time after Martin had proposed, she'd been left on her own for the night. So it was back to Plan A – an evening of marking the homework that she'd brought with her and then an early night. She couldn't even phone him because of the lack of a decent signal at this remote place, and she certainly wasn't going to try to talk to him from a public phone. No, she would just have wait until he returned tomorrow to take her to the station, but if he was still in the same non communicative mood as the one he'd been in when he'd left, then they wouldn't be able to sort anything out.

But at least she would then have her answer about where they stood.

xXx

Louisa went down to breakfast the following morning and sat down at the same corner table that she and Martin had sat at the previous day. The Landlord came over to take her order.

"What can I get you? Full English breakfast with all the trimmings?" he suggested with a friendly smile.

"That'd be great, thanks," Louisa replied.

"Full English coming right up then. And don't you worry my dear, you're better off without the likes of that man you was here with yesterday. You should be finding yourself a decent man to settle down with, not messing about with a married …."

Louisa was looking puzzled at what on earth the man was wittering on about when he stopped mid flow, halted by the sight of Martin walking in, carrying his medical bag in one hand, and a bunch of flowers in the other. He looked around for a few seconds before spotting her and then made his way over. The Landlord gave him a filthy look before walking off to get Louisa's breakfast, but Martin didn't even notice, because he had eyes only for Louisa.

"Gosh Martin, you're early. My train isn't until much later, so I'm only just having my breakfast," Louisa told him in surprise.

"Yes I am aware of that, but I've come early because I'd like to check you over before you go back to London," Martin explained. This was true, but he also really wanted to have some time with her again before she left. He'd not slept well at all last night, as he'd thought over everything Louisa had said to him, as well as his conversations with Joan.

"Oh, and err… these are for you." Martin shoved the flowers at her, and then sat down opposite, tucking his medical bag under the table.

"Patient gave them to you did they?" Louisa asked, remembering the only other time that Martin had given her flowers.

"What? No, I… err… bought them… for you. Sorry it's only a small bunch, not many places open at this time on a Sunday morning," he explained, somewhat embarrassed.

Joan had received a very early call this morning demanding to know where on earth he was supposed to buy some ruddy flowers from to take with him. The only place she could suggest was the petrol station, and the choice there had been extremely limited. But he had bought her flowers.

"Oh right, well they're lovely, thank you Martin," Louisa lied, as she held them up to smell them. They were a pretty pathetic excuse for a bunch of flowers, but that didn't matter, not if he'd actually made the effort and bought them for her himself. They were certainly better than yams anyway.

The Landlord returned at that moment with a laden tray. As he served Louisa's breakfast, he raised his eyebrows as he looked at the measly flowers, and then looked at Martin with disdain.

"Would you like some of this food Martin?" Louisa offered.

"No thanks, I've already eaten," he replied, watching fascinated as Louisa tucked into her breakfast with relish. "You seem to have a good appetite. Not suffering from morning sickness at all?" he queried.

"I get a bit queasy if I don't eat regularly, but otherwise I'm fine. And I told you that I've already had a check up, so you really don't need to worry," she informed him.

"All the same, I'd be happier if you would et me carry out my own checks. I'm concerned for your welfare," Martin told her. He couldn't help feeling guilty that Louisa was the one having to carry the burden of their contraceptive failure, but he was determined that the least he could do was ensure that she didn't have any medical issues – if she would let him.

Once Louisa had finished her breakfast, when she made a move to get up from the table, the Landlord came over to clear the plates, having been watching them closely.

"Well I have to go and finish packing. I suppose if you really feel the need to give me check up you might as well come with me," Louisa told him, thinking to herself that he hadn't mentioned anything more about their conversation yesterday. Perhaps now he'd had time to think, he'd realised that he had spoken hastily and regretted his proposal.

"Yes, I think that would be a good idea," Martin agreed. Maybe then they could talk properly in private. The way the Landlord kept glaring at him and hovering around made it difficult to talk to her about anything personal.

Louisa headed for the stairs, carefully taking her precious bunch of flowers with her, while Martin bent down to retrieve his medical bag.

"What is your problem?" he demanded, when he caught the Landlord glaring at him again.

"It's not right, the way you're behaving with that lovely young woman." The man clearly couldn't hold his tongue any longer.

"What are you babbling about?" Martin asked him, puzzled.

"Coming back here again this morning, thinking that a cheap bunch of flowers is going to get you back in her favours. Going up to her room, no doubt thinking you're going to have your wicked way with her."

"I'm a doctor. I've come to carry out a medical check up on her. Not that it's any of your business," Martin growled at the man.

"A doctor eh? Well, it's not one rule for you and one for everyone else. You should still treat a woman with respect."

"Shut up, you inbred, moronic windbag! You have no idea what you're talking about." Martin strode off to catch Louisa up, who was looking over at the pair of them with a puzzled look.

"Everything alright?" she enquired.

"Fine," he assured her, as he ushered her up the stairs.

Inside her bedroom once more, they stood and looked at each other for a minute, until Louisa broke the silence.

"I'd best put these in some water for now." She went towards the bathroom to put her bunch of flowers in the sink.

"Fine. Then come and lie down on the bed here, so that I can carry out my examination," Martin ordered, now in full doctor mode.

"Yes Doctor Ellingham," Louisa replied sarcastically, but did as he suggested.

He ran through all the usual checks, not talking, just concentrating on the matter in hand. Louisa took the opportunity to study him, noting that his face was wearing its serious concentrating expression, the usual one for when he was working. She loved that face so much, she realised, and she could feel tears welling up at the thought of losing him all over again when she left today.

"Are you done?" she asked eventually, as he put his stethoscope and other pieces of equipment away in his bag.

"Yes, all seems fine, but maybe I should take a blood sample too…" he pondered as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"That's enough, doctor! They took some blood at my last check up. Stop fussing." Louisa insisted as she sat up.

"I'm simply trying to ensure that nothing is missed Louisa, that's all. I wish you were staying here, where I could look after you. Look, I'm sorry about how I acted yesterday, but it's just that I wish I could somehow convince you that coming back would be the best thing for everyone, for you, for me and for the baby," Martin told her, no longer hiding behind his doctor persona.

"I'm not saying I won't Martin. All I'm saying is that I want to be sure it is the right decision. I don't want anyone to be hurt again, by rushing into something we may regret. 'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread' after all," she quoted at him.

"Carpe diem," Martin instantly quoted back at her.

"Act in haste, repent in leisure." Louisa retorted.

"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today'. Oh look this is just silly Louisa, we could go on all day quoting proverbs and sayings to each other."

"Just be patient Martin. After all, it took us a few years to get to this point, so why the big rush now?"

"Yes, and I regret all that wasted time, Louisa. So I'll change, I'll try to be more like the kind of man…"

"Stop right there Martin! That's the whole point, you shouldn't feel that you have to change to make me happy. Going into a marriage thinking that you can change someone into what you want is just a recipe for disaster. And you know, I do love you just the way you are, all I wish sometimes is that you'd show more of the kind, loving and sensitive man that I know lurks somewhere underneath that gruff exterior."

"Perhaps that's what you're meant to help me with - have you ever thought of it like that? Bringing out the best of each other - isn't that what marriage should be about? I would be good for you, because you know that you will always be able to trust me, that I would never cheat or lie to you, unlike some other men in your past. And you would be good for me because you're so loving and caring, qualities that I admit don't come very naturally to me. Therefore a partnership between us would make logical sense, as we would each bring different qualities to it, balancing each other out."

"Martin, that's actually very perceptive of you. You have been thinking haven't you?" Louisa was very touched by his words, and impressed by the fact that he'd been able to work things out in his own logical way to make sense of it all in a way that she hadn't.

"Yes I have. And I've been thinking about this baby. I would like to help you raise our son or daughter. That is if you would guide me, I think I'd be up to it."

"I'm sure you would Martin," Louisa agreed, delighted that he was being positive about this too.

"But I appreciate that you have expressed a wish for more time to think things through, and that I must simply be patient. Therefore I propose that you take this week to think things over, and that I'll come and visit you in London next weekend, when you can give me your thoughts. Would that be acceptable?" With great self restraint, Martin tried to keep cool and calm.

"You'd come and visit me in London? But what about your job, the practice? You're always so busy." Louisa asked, taken by surprise.

"The village can manage without me for a day or two. I'm not the only doctor on the planet," Martin quoted Joan's words back at Louisa, although of course she didn't know that.

"In that case I'd love you to visit me in London." Louisa leaned over to kiss him tenderly on the lips.

It dawned on her that Martin had hardly ever initiated any kind of date with her. The only time she could think of was when he'd cooked supper for her at his place just after they'd got engaged, and that was hardly pushing the boat out was it? But other than that, throughout their rocky relationship, she'd always been the one inviting him to dinner, or suggesting a date. It had always been her chasing after him, so she rather liked the idea of Martin pursuing her, of him proving that he was serious about wanting to be with her by pushing himself to initiate some dates and outings. It was about time, and was what he had just told her she should do – help him to come out of his shell a bit more.

Very happy that she had agreed to his visit, Martin now deepened their kiss, and then pushed her backwards onto the bed where they were sitting, pulling her on top of him, as he fondled her gorgeous curvy bottom through her jeans - but then he felt her pull away from him.

"Martin, I'm sorry, but I do have a train to catch, so we need to leave soon," she told him reluctantly.

"Sod the train, miss it and stay here with me," he whispered breathlessly, as he pulled her back to him and started kissing her neck, while slipping his hand under her jumper to explore her breasts through her lacy bra.

"No, Martin, I have to catch it," she replied firmly, as she managed to tear herself away, but not before she wickedly ran her hand over his trousers to feel his very evident desire. "Just hold that thought until next weekend, hmm?"

Martin looked at her incredulously as she headed off to the bathroom to collect up her things to pack.

'I'm just going to have to wait and see how far he'll push himself out of his comfort zone to judge how serious he really is about us', she thought to herself. She felt quite hopeful as she looked at her tatty bunch of flowers – it was a start anyhow.

Martin lay there for a moment in his frustration.

"Bloody hell Louisa, it's going to be a very long week," he muttered as he reluctantly accepted that their romantic moment had definitely passed for now.