Baby it's Cold Outside
A/N A little Christmas cheer for you. Thanks for everyone who continues to leave reviews and ideas for this story. It is greatly appreciated.
Molly is dragged from her sleep by the persistent buzzing coming from the bedside table. She groans into her pillow and imagines all of the creative ways she can kill whoever it is on the other end for daring to interrupt her first decent night sleep since she deployed to Afgan the first time. She cracks open an eye- lid as her uncoordinated fingers fumble to swipe at the illuminated screen. "What fucking time do you call this you fuckmuppet?" Molly's voice, still thick with sleep grumbles when she spots the caller I.D.
"Oh shit! Sorry darlin' you still on Afgan time?" Came the apologetic voice of Mansfield Mike.
"Yeh, You Muppet, I only back yesterday," softening her voice slightly to ease the blow. Although she didn't want to admit it, she had missed her boys. It felt strange returning to Afgan to train medics without the rest of 2 Section to have her back. She felt a bit like a child riding a bike without stabilisers for the first time. She hadn't realised how much she had come to rely on their banter and support until it was taken away. "So what's the reason for you callin' me at…. 2.00 AM?" Mansfield Mike chuckled. Molly felt the bed shift next to her and she turned to meet a pair of questioning eyes. Molly placed her hand over the receiver. "It's Mansfield, go back to sleep Boss."
Mansfield continued on the other end of the line "Well considering it's the season of good will an all that I thought it was time to round up the troops for a catch up over a few Christmas bevvies. We're heading to London to brave the shops an' thought we could all meet up. You in?" Molly grinned excitedly at the thought of seeing the boys again. "You're on! Text me the time and place and I'll be there."
"Will do Dawsey. I'll leave you to your beauty sleep, you sound like you need it," he sniggered and disconnected the call without giving Molly a chance to reply. Shaking her head she snuggled back under the covers in an attempt to snatch back the dream Mansfield had so rudely interrupted. Molly lay there quietly for a few minutes before sighing and turning over to meet a pair of amused warm brown eyes. "What you starin' at?" she asks as she watches a smirk start to form on the corner of his mouth. "You. I still can't quite believe you're here. You surprised me Dawse." He answered softly.
"Good surprise?" She asked with a hint of uncertainty. Still not quite believing how lucky she was to have someone like him in her life.
"Most definitely," he answered as he drew her against him. Just as they were drifting off to sleep the room was filled with the sound of ringing from Charles' side of the bed. Molly cracked open an eye and glared. "Sorry! I'm going to fucking kill Mansfield." Charles declared as he tapped the screen and pressed the phone to his ear. "Mansfield do you know what the time is? Or are you Cockwombles incapable of reading a clock?" Charles barked down the phone.
"Cheers mate!" Molly rapped her knuckles against the door of the taxi as she stood on the threshold of the Karaoke Box pausing to adjust the hem of her skirt. For some reason she was nervous about seeing the lads again. The last time they had all been together was at Smurfs funeral. So much had changed since then. She and Charles had agreed they would arrive separately. They were planning on using tonight to tell the boys that they were now officially together as a couple. She could only hope the rest of the section understood. Walking through the door she headed immediately to the bar where 2 Section were milling about joking and laughing. Kinders looked up and caught her eye. "Here she is," he beamed as he lifted her up and swung her around. "Oi, steady on. How many have you had mate?" she laughed as he safely lowered her to the ground. Almost immediately she was attacked from all angles and swept up into a group hug from the rest of the section. "Molly Sandwich!" Baz Vegas yelled as Molly got lost in the huddle. "Alright Molls?" Fingers asked as she untangled herself laughing at their childish antics. Mansfield Mike was next to offer his greeting. "How ya doin' darlin?' he grinned cheekily as he kissed her cheek.
"Alright you bunch of soppy numpties give a girl some room to breathe would ya!" The group laughed and guided her towards a private booth at the back of the bar. "ear Molls I don't know how you manage to get around London without getting lost. This tube business is proper confusing. I nearly ended up in bloody Stockwell." Nude Nut muttered shaking his head.
"Are you telling me that you bunch of massive Cockwombles managed to get into the British Army without being able to read a bloody tube map, Nude Nut?" An exasperated voice spoke from behind them. The lads spun around with a chorus of "Bossman!" There Charles stood in a familiar pose; as confident and cocksure as ever. Arms crossed over the chest and a mock frown on his face, Charles stood with his feet slightly apart, his weight tending to favour his left side due to his injury. Captain Stern Face was back in all his glory. Charles raised an eyebrow and smirked as his eyes met Molly's. "Alright Dawse? Miss me?" he asked cheekily as he moved to kiss her cheek. "Yeah like a hole in me head Boss." 2 Section sniggered. "ohhhh proper rinsed Sir," Fingers called out.
"Aww Dawse you wound me. Your words are like knives you know that?" Charles responded clasping his hand to his heart. Molly just rolled her eyes. "Right then whose buying the first round?"
The drinks flowed freely and the rabble were definitely in the Christmas spirit as they descended upon the Karaoke machine. Following a few rounds of a drinking game everyone was a few sheets to the wind. The song requests were becoming more ridiculous with each round. It was a good job they had booked a private room. Although the alcohol had loosened everyone up, it did nothing to improve their singing voices. Kinders and the Bossman were sat in stitches watching Mansfield Mike, Fingers and Baz Vegas butcher the words and moves to Pharell William's Happy and watched in amusement at Dangles' attempts to fling Molly around the dance floor. In the end they just ended up shaking their hips and clapping their hands in time to the music. When the song ended Charles moved over to the machine and selected a song. "I am going to be singing a duet and I need one female volunteer," he spoke into the mic and winked at Molly's murderous expression. "Dawse lovely! Up you get then." As Molly began to protest Mansfield wrapped his arms around her waist and hoisted her up onto the stage to resounding cheers from the rest of the boys. Oh Bossman was definitely in trouble now. Molly took a deep breath as the familiar notes started and she began to sing…
"I really can't stay…" Molly began to sing her voice shaking ever so slightly as a cheer went up from the lads.
(But baby, it's cold outside) Charles sang back looking deep into her eyes
I've got to go away….
(But baby, it's cold outside) Charles looked at Molly and winked at her as she smiled back.
This evening has been….
(Been hoping that you'd drop in)
So very nice….
(I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice)
2 Section cheered as they continued yelling encouragement as the song continued.
My mother will start to worry….
(Beautiful, what's your hurry?)
My father will be pacing the floor….
(Listen to the fireplace roar)
"You know what's coming next boys," Charles yelled at the cheering crowd and pointed the mic at the boys as they joined in.
I ought to say no, no, no, sir
(Mind if I move in closer?)
At least I'm gonna say that I tried
(What's the sense in hurting my pride?)
I really can't stay
(Baby, don't hold out)
Oh, but it's cold outside….
The boys held the note and broke off laughing and joking as they ended the song in a flourish. Molly shook her head as she watched the boys interact from her spot on the stage. Despite all they had been through they were still able to slip back into normal civilian life. To anybody else they looked like a ground of young 20 something's enjoying a works Christmas party. Not a hint of the horrors and experiences they had shared together in Afghanistan.
Charles moved to stand next to her. "What do you say Dawse, shall we finally let the cat out of the bag?" Molly looked at him in confusion. Charles simply smiled and pointed a finger to the ceiling. Molly looked up to see a sprig of mistletoe hanging over both their heads. Molly groaned. "Did you plan this?" Charles merely kept smiling. "Oh go one then you posh twat!" Molly relented with a smile, casting an uneasy glance at the crowd of lads currently watching them. Charles gave a wolfish grin and lend down and kissed her gently. Molly stood up on tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in closer as he deepened the kiss. As they broke apart Charles lent his forehead against hers. "I've been dying to do that all day Dawse." Molly chuckled.
"Ditto Boss!" When they finally broke apart they were met with cheers and wolf whistles from the lads. Kinders, who stood slightly apart from the rest, smiled knowingly at them and sent Molly a reassuring wink when their eyes met. "ay ay Molls" Fingers yelled. Molly looked at the lads uncertainly. Kinders smirked and took pity on her. "It's alright Molls we know."
"How?" the lads sniggered and pointed at Mansfield who looked rather sheepish.
"Well I may have heard you talking on the phone the other night. There ain't many reasons why you would be talking to the boss in person at 2.30 am." Molly and Charles looked at each other both speechless. "Yeh, it's all good Molls. Besides if he does anything to you he'll have all of us to deal with, Bossman or not." Although Dangles' comment was made in jest, they could all detect the seriousness of his threat. "Nah you're alright boys Charles wouldn't hurt me, besides I think I can take him," Molly admitted with a wink in his direction before her words sunk in and she gasped sending a frantic look at Charles, eyes wide. Charles groaned as the boys burst into laughter. Fingers, who had taken a swig of beer, choked and had to be hit on the back by a giggling Kinders. "Charles?" Nude Nut asked.
"What's so fucking hilarious about Charles?" He asked defensively as the lads failed to hide their delight.
"Nothing Boss," sniggered Baz Vegas. "Nothing at all."
A/N: Song is Baby it's Cold Outside. Molly sings the lines without brackets. Charles sings the lines inside the brackets.