A month had passed. The nightmares had long since ceased, as if there was a block in her mind. Iain had spent nearly all of the month cooped up in hospital, waiting for test results and scan results and burns to heal and bandages to come off. Eventually though, the only thing to left to show was a few red patches of skin. He was healing, and she felt better.

'How'd you sleep?' Iain emerged from the bedroom, rubbing his face.

'Good morning.' She spun around, feather duster in hand. 'Well, thank you. And you?'

'So so. All the better for being beside you.' He smiled.

'Hmm.' She answered, but he caught a glimpse of her smile as she turned away from him again.

'So, plans for today? He made his way over to her. 'It's just, I wondered if you might be able to free up your schedule in favour of spending a little time...' He moved his lips to her neck, making her flinch slightly. 'Elsewhere.'

'I'm busy, though I might be able to afford you ten minutes.'

'It's a crying shame when you can't even afford your own boyfriend some quality time.' He raised an eyebrow, challenging.

She mirrored his expression with wry amusement. 'Ten minutes. Unless that's a no?'

'Ten minutes is better than no minutes.' He shrugged, lips on hers again. When she didn't reciprocate, he pulled away. 'If you've things on your mind-'

'I'm just- are you better? 100% up for it?' She asked, hands clasped behind his neck, anxious. 'If it's going to hurt, I-'

'I'm fine, really.' He said. 'Better than fine. Plus, you know all the pain-relieving benefits of those chemical things-' His hands slipped under her dressing gown.

'Hormones? Oxytocin, to be precise. I just want to be sure...'

'I'm surer than sure, so you should be too. But, again, if you're busy then I don't mind-'

She thought for a second, then her attention was dizzily brought back to the positioning of his hands. Her lips fluttered against his, once, then again. 'No, never too busy for you.' Then again, and again, and they lost count.

It felt weird, but they both wished it didn't.

Lying there on Lily's chest was a new experience for Iain, and as much as it was for him, it was alien for her too.

'D'you know...' He glanced up, meeting her eyes slightly too suddenly.

She giggled. 'I'm sorry, you just- go on.'

He smiled back. 'I was just thinking, equality and all that's good. Now, I am not a sexist man, but this does feel strange.'

She thought a moment. 'I'm glad you said that, I was thinking the same.'

'As soon as I can have you back, this is where you'll be.' He prodded his chest.

She just nodded. 'I don't mind, it's kind of... nice.'

'It feels too motherly, which is weird.'

'You think? I don't see it that way.' She fiddled with his hair.

'Well, I do.' He took her hand, clasping it. 'For starters, playing with my hair. Doctor or hairdresser?'

'It's nice. I didn't even realise, it's... it's involuntary. I just do it.'

'Hmm.'

'Anyway, you do it to me.' She pointed out.

'But do you like it?' He replied. She didn't answer, smiling slightly. 'See, you do. Calms you down as well.'

'You're more observant than I give you credit for being.'

'Yeah, well. What I was saying, it's just odd.'

'Get up then!' She laughed.

'It's not that odd.'

Lily gave a subtle eye roll. 'So much for ten minutes.'

'You weren't busy, were you?' He asked.

'I could've been.' She argued.

'Could've!' He spluttered. 'But weren't? God, you really are an ice queen, aren't you? What's all this being cold business?' He smirked.

It was her turn to pout then. 'I'm not being cold, I am a busy woman.'

'Thanks for affording me the time then.' He said

'Well, I have my uses.' She sighed slightly, deliberately quiet.

'Eh?! Now I do object. You got just as much out of that as me, in fact, more! Ever thought I'm being the considerate boyfriend here? You've gone weeks without.'

'I might think that...' She mused. 'But only if I didn't know you.'

He jabbed under her ribs, making her squeal. 'Stop! Stop. I need to get up now.' She laughed, gasping when she caught sight of her hair in the mirror.

'And look at what you've done!' She whined sulkily.

He turned, shaking his head. 'Aw, bless, little Lily's hair's all messy and she might need to give it a once over with the straighteners.'

'A five times-over at this rate. God, I'm going to be late.' She groaned, sliding out of bed and leaving him there whilst she rifled through the wardrobe.

'Which one?' She spoke aloud, suddenly statue-like once faced with the choices.

'The dress.' He called.

'Which dress, the black one?' She asked.

'No, purple. Complements your figure.'

She sighed, dithering, before wrenching it off its hanger and shaking the little crinkles out that were threatening to form into creases. 'Shoes, shoes...' She muttered.

'Flats!' Iain called again.

'Flats?' She answered.

'Yeah, plimsolls or pumps or whatever they are.'

Ignoring his advice, she dashed back into the bedroom in heels after ragging a brush through her hair.

'Drink plenty of fluids - water - and don't overdo it. Help yourself to anything you can find here, though I do need to go shopping.' She told him.

He nodded, but his attention was elsewhere. 'Good outfit choice.'

'All with the help of my stylist.' She gave a little shake of the head, letting him know she found him annoying but loved him anyway.

'Honestly, you look beautiful. Thank everyone for my card, and text me later on yeah?' He said warmly.

'Yeah.' She smiled. 'Of course.'

Just a short (and sweet) filler. Sorry, I've been super busy trying to choose A levels and colleges this week! Not an easy task. My energy and motivation to write (and do anything else, for that matter) has come in short bursts. Considering laying off my Lily and Iain stories just for now. I have plans for some seasonal one shots though!

As a final note, I have a confession and question for you all.

I am a massive fan of Christmas. I *may* have started writing a Christmas story for this pairing. It's been fun to do and I have lots of ideas for it that I could develop for it. So, my question is as follows:

When should I post it???

Conscious doing it too early may ruin festive feeling a bit, but I want to do it so there's enough time to write a few chapters. Please let me know what you think! I'm very giddy, haha.

PPS: Thank you so much to all of you lovelies who give me support and read my stuff. I know I say it a lot, but I feel like I don't enough! Your comments are really touching and often brighten my day.

Special thanks to Giatrix and TheBeautifulNerd for motivating me to write what I do. Also, the countless guest followers who've left nice messages. I am still updating however slowly. Stay tuned please please please xxx