Charles drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he turned onto Barking road. Although they had left Aldershot in good time after Molly's therapy session, he had hit the inevitable rush hour traffic and had got lost, despite having a Sat Nav. Charles found himself, not for the first time, wishing they had caught the train back to London as he felt his blood pressure slowly increasing. Molly, as if sensing his rising agitation, placed her hand on his knee, giving it a quick squeeze.
"You nervous Boss?" Molly asked with a smirk.
Charles caught her look with a glare. "You're smirking. What's so fucking hilarious? By the way I'm not nervous!" Molly laughed as they pulled up alongside a familiar block of flats. "Course you're not Boss!" she grinned as she got out the car and stretched, eying the familiar balcony above her. "The mission is simple Boss. You gotta stay focused. Stay alert. Stay alive."
"Mum? Dad? We're here!" Molly yelled as she entered the house. The sound of pounding feet could be heard from above as Molly's sibling came charging down the stairs making various shooting and helicopter noises as they engaged in a game of war. Charles, who entered behind Molly, had just enough time to dodge the stampede as they rushed through the hall. Molly shook her head "Oi, you lot no guns!" The kids all stopped and finally noticing Molly, crowded around her excitedly, desperate to fill her in on all she had missed since she'd been away. Molly laughed and drew them into a group hug, "Hiya, Alright you lot?" Charles stood off to the side quietly observing, not wishing to intrude on the family reunion.
Belinda, hearing all the commotion, came out of the kitchen. Molly had to do a double take. With her hair styled nicely and her face made up, Belinda was a far cry from the downtrodden, exhausted figure Molly was so used to seeing.
"Thanks for doin' this love." Belinda smiled as she greeted Molly and Charles in turn. Charles, ever the gentleman kissed her cheek in greeting. The children continued to bicker and shout excitedly at one another pushing and shoving in the cramped hallway. "Oi, you lot pack it in would ya." Belinda commanded. The kids rushed past and headed upstairs, pushing and shoving as they went.
"Cor, you look crackin' Mum." Belinda gave an embarrassed laugh and looked down at herself.
"Ya think so?"
"Most definitely Mrs Dawes," Charles cut in, flashing a quick wink.
"Oh stop it! You old charmer you. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Belinda?" Charles laughed as Dave came down the stairs.
"At least once more Mrs Dawes, as always."
"Ear we best be off Belinda if we wanna get a table before the pictures." Dave commented as he nodded at Charles in greeting before heading out to wait on the balcony.
"Right kids be good please, in bed by 9. Ohhh an' Molls your dad gave them cake earlier so they might be a little…" Belinda trailed off, as Molly raised a sceptical eyebrow "Uh so anyway good luck, bye!" Molly and Charles stood listening to the bickering going on above their heads. At the sound of a loud crash Charles looked a Molly in alarm wondering what he'd let himself in for. Molly simply laughed and tugged him into the living room. "Looks like it's our turn to organise the entertainment ay boss?"
Not fifteen minutes later, Molly was sat on the sofa with Martin on her lap laughing at the kids attempt to teach Charles the rules of Just Dance on the Wii. Whilst he had the singing part down, his dancing skills left something to be desired. Who knew Captain James had two left feet and very little rhythm? The kids were trying to teach him the moves to happy by Pharrel Williams. So far he'd managed to get the arm waving and clapping in time but the kids were over taking him in the rankings with ease.
"Come on boss have some human decency and put some bloody effort in!" Molly called over the music.
"You taking the piss Dawes? Right this means war! I'd like to see you do better."
"That a challenge Boss?" Molly grinned as she stood handing Martin over as she took her position in front of the tv. "Watch a master at work Boss." Molly bragged as the opening cords of Call Me Maybe started. Molly and Jessie (Molly's youngest sister) started singing as they danced moving their arms at their sides. Molly placed one foot over the other in a box step with ease, all in perfect time with the music. Charles pretended to pout at how good she was. In the end Jessie pulled him up by his hands and he and the boys reluctantly joined in singing along as they tried to keep up with the girls.
Later, Charles found himself on all fours on the living room floor. He was encircled by a tower made from Lego and Duplo blocks, with Martin sat in the middle, happily bashing two bricks together. Jessie was currently hanging from Charles, her arms wrapped securely round his neck, almost choking him. Molly's younger brothers were clambering around trying to climb onto his back, desperate to take down the evil dragon and rescue the little prince, trapped in the tower. Without warning the boys both rugby tackled Charles, catching him off guard, causing his knees to give out as he crashed to the floor in a shower of brightly coloured bricks.
"Ahh Help!" he groaned out, his voice muffled by the carpeted floor where he lay in a heap unmoving, next to a giggling Jessie. Molly glanced at him in worry, keenly aware that not so long ago he had been shot twice. "You ok Boss?" Charles groaned as he rolled onto his back causing his t-shirt to ride up. "Think I might gunna need a medic."
"Cor look at that scar?" Jessie cried in awe, noticing Charles' movement. The boys all clambered over to see, their eyes widening in wonder.
"WOW! How'd ya get that Captain?" Molly's brother asked. Molly glanced at Charles with a raised eyebrow. He smiled softly and gave a slight nod. Clearing his throat, he replied "well, when I was in Afghan I got shot twice during a mission. Luckily for me, your sister was there and she saved my life. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her." The boys' gaze swung to Molly in amazement. They knew she was in the Army but weren't clear what she did. "Molls what did you do?"
"I'm a medic mate. I give injured soldiers emergency treatment on the ground before they go to hospital." Jessie looked quizzically at Charles' scar. "Did it hurt? Did ya have to be brave? Mum tells me I have to be brave when I fall over." she asked softly. Charles' grinned.
"Nah I wasn't very brave I'm afraid. Yes it hurt an awful lot. But sometimes when something like that happens, it's ok to be afraid when you don't know what's going to happen. Luckily your sister was far braver and treated two of us at the same time. She's excellent at her job you know." He winked in her direction noticing her begin to blush at the compliment.
"Really what did she do? Can you show us Molls?" the rest of her siblings shouted their agreement.
"Please?" Molly chuckled.
"Alright ya monsters. Upstairs in the bathroom cupboard is the red first aid kit, go get it." The kids all cheered in excitement as they rushed to the bathroom.
Molly spent the next hour showing her siblings basic first aid. She showed them how to treat and dress cut fingers, burns and how to correctly apply bandages and slings. She also showed them how to check the ABC's and place someone in the recovery position. The kids had a field day with that one, none of them were able to lie still long enough before someone burst into giggles. Poor Charles ended up being the test dummy of choice and was forced to endure being wrapped, poked and prodded as the kids attempted to pull him into the recovery position numerous times. As time wore on the kids began to argue about whose turn it was as their patience ran out and boredom set in.
"Ok, ok hay you lot, new game. Hide and Seek. You guys go hide an we'll count first. 10, 9….." As the kids rushed through the door Molly slammed it shut behind them cutting off her counting as she collapsed beside Charles on the floor laying her head on his chest.
"You ok Bossman?"
Charles attempted to remove the bandage wrapped around his head as he shifted his position, his back cracked in protest at being on the hard floor too long. "What time is it anyway 9, 10?"
Molly's mouth twitched. "Ha not even close Bossman… 8.30." Charles groaned again.
"I guess I got lucky with Sam. He's quite happy with Dinosaurs, Lego and Rugby." Molly chuckled.
"He sounds great."
"He is, you'll have to meet him sometime, he's dying to meet you." Molly met Charles' gaze for a while without replying.
"I'd like that. Now be a gent and go grab some ice cream from the freezer please."
"You want to feed those little monster ice cream?" Charles asked in horror.
"Nah, it's for me, think I need the energy. Besides I haven't had any in ages, suddenly had a craving for it." Charles looked down at Molly with a raised eye brow in question.
"Not like that you twat." Molly shot back rolling her eyes. Before Charles could reply they were interrupted by the sound of smashing glass. Molly groaned and muttered as she moved to the door. "I'm gunna kill dad. Stupid wanker feedin' kids sugar before bedtime. Who does that?" Louder she shouted "Alright you little bleeders here I come you all better have reallllly good hiding spots."
Belinda laughed at Dave as she unlocked the door. As Dave put his coat over the banister Belinda frowned as she glanced upstairs listening for any sound. "It's so quiet," she whispered. Dave raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah too quiet, makes a change." As he finished his sentence the living room door creaked open and 4 heads popped round the door each wearing identical guilty grins.
Belinda stood with her hands on her hips and asked sternly, "Oi what are you lot still doin up? It's nearly midnight. Where are Charles and Molls?" Molly's eldest brother broke into giggles and jerked his head in the direction of the living room. "Shhhh. We put them down like an hour ago. They haven't stirred since. I think Jessie broke Captain Bossman though."
Both Dave and Belinda looked at each other in alarm as they walked quietly into the room. There entwined on the sofa, sound asleep, lay Molly and Charles with Martin led between them clutching his bear. Dave shook his head with a chuckle as he placed a throw over both of them and picked Martin up, turning to usher the kids out the room. "Right you lot, off to bed now! Quick March!" The kids all trooped to bed excitedly telling Dave of their adventures with the ex- Captain. "Molls saved him Dad. She showed us what she done with bandages. It was sooo cool." Belinda paused in the doorway listening to their praise as she watching her daughter sleep for a moment. Molly looked so peaceful and unguarded in Charles' arms. She knew Molly had been having trouble sleeping since she got back from Afghan but the stubborn mare refused to talk about it. She was glad she had found someone like Charles, even if he was a rugby fan. With a soft smile she closed the door behind her. "Sleep well you two."
A/N: Thanks for all the continuing support. The songs in this chapter can be found on Just Dance along with some of the dance moves described. Hope you enjoy. Please R&R.