As they handed around the steaming plates of food Marie decided to lead off with the first of the questions. "So you really had no idea Elvis was doing all this Georgie?"
Georgie smiled over at Elvis before looking back at Marie. "No...not a clue. Not even when I saw my clothes laid out on the bed. I just figured he'd asked Mum for a care package for me. Looking back I can see that Mum wouldn't have sent all the things you brought." She gave Marie a knowing look regarding the lingerie. Marie stifled a giggle. "So when did you all get here? How did you all get here?"
Spanner answered "We all came together this morning." A shadow passed over Georgie's face as she remembered where and what she had been doing that morning. A shadow that only Elvis and Marie really noticed. "We flew domestic, thanks to Clare."
Clare smiled at Spanner, a trifle embarrassed, while the others all clapped. Fingers, of course, gave a loud shrill whistle. "I don't understand." Georgie said.
"I work for an airline Georgie, that's all." Clare said modestly.
"You work miracles!" Charles called. "Clare managed to get us all on the same flight this morning with very little notice. And I for one appreciate it." He raised his glass in her direction and Clare's cheeks coloured at the attention she was receiving.
"So how did Elvis get you here?" Clare asked.
Elvis and Georgie looked at each other, it full of meaning for both of them. "I'm not really sure to be honest," Georgie ventured "it's all a bit of a blur." Elvis could see that Georgie was trying to process the way the day had panned out for them but for him the journey to today had started out a many months before. He knew she wouldn't want to go into the details of the events during the day that had lead them here tonight.
"Let's just say my dashing good looks and devilish charm brought the lady here. Now let's eat before everything gets cold." Elvis covered for Georgie. The entire table erupted into laughter at Elvis statement and diverted the conversation away from Georgie.
Over the course of the meal Georgie managed to find out all the news about home from Marie. With a few questions she managed to learn that her Mum and Dad had come round to the idea of Elvis being back on the scene, especially after they had learned the full story of what had happened on tour and afterwards back home. And that they didn't even mind Fingers, really, even though he was training for Special Ops, just like Elvis and Spanner, who had become a rather regular visitor to the Lane house as well.
Georgie could see that Marie and Fingers seemed to be making a good go of things together. They seemed relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. They appeared to be more settled now they were together. They could both still be loud and brash at times but they seemed to fit. Georgie was happy for them both. She loved Marie, naturally, and knowing Fingers from tour and Molly's assessment of the "wanker" Georgie hoped that it would work out for them.
Georgie heard from Charles when she asked how Molly was doing while she was away. "I hope," said Charles shooting a glance in her direction "that we might all be back home at Christmas time?"
"Are you asking if I'm coming back to work Boss?"
Charles gave Georgie one of his half smiles as he fiddled with his wedding ring. "No...me, Charles is asking if my friend, Georgie, might be home at Christmas time so that together with my wife and anyone else you may care to invite" his eyes darted in Elvis' direction "may have a meal and a drink to celebrate the festive season." Georgie's eyes were still focussed on Elvis and Spanner, who were having a quiet and rather intense discussion, although she was still listening to Charles.
Georgie turned back to Charles and laughed "And now you want to know if Elvis has been forgiven?" She looked again at the man who had given her the most grief in her life and had given her more adventure and surprises in the time she'd known him. And the man who had saved her life, twice.
As she rubbed her hand along her jaw line Elvis glanced her way and smiled. She sighed and then said to Charles "Yeah, he's been forgiven but he doesn't know it. I'll tell him, just not yet. And we'd love to come for a Christmas catch up with you and Molly." She hadn't told Charles that she loved Elvis but she didn't need too, he knew, he could see it.
Spanner and Elvis' deep discussion was still going on. It was looking rather intense; the expressions on their faces told her it was serious. Georgie excused herself from Charles' company and made her way over to them. "Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?" she said as she dragged a chair over and joined them. Elvis and Spanner both looked disconcerted by Georgie's sudden appearance so engrossed they had been in their conversation.
"Sure you can join in." said Elvis with an easy smile. Spanner dropped back against the chair, clearly not finished saying what he needed to but he shut his mouth after a look of warning from Elvis.
Georgie managed to place herself close enough to Elvis to feel the heat radiating off his body. Clare came over to join them, sitting herself on Spanner's lap. Elvis very casually dropped his arm around Georgie's shoulders. "So I want details you two." Georgie said looking at Clare and Spanner.
"Details? That's on a need to know basis Georgie!" Spanner's eyes glittered with fun as Clare giggled, enjoying being part of the company. It wasn't often that she was included in gatherings like this. With her job and Spanner's they were often not able to coordinate social events with friends and they preferred to spend what time they could get, alone together.
"It's no secret really." Clare answered "I just happen to be the younger sister of his best friend from primary school."
"Actually, you're the girl next door." Spanner added his smile lighting up his face as he looked at Clare. "The Sparrow's have lived next door to my family for as long as I can remember. And we all grew up together. Finally I realised that Clare was a gorgeous woman rather than an annoying little girl so...here we are."
The pair of them looked so happy Georgie couldn't help smiling at them. Elvis was watching Georgie, wondering if they would ever be like Clare and Spanner again. Elvis hoped they would be, he loved her beyond all reason, he'd already proved that by putting himself at risk and getting shot. She had loved him once, passionately, enough to marry him and then he'd fucked it up by not telling her about Laura and running away from her rather than to her.
Georgie, Spanner and Clare continued an easy conversation as Elvis sat and watched on. He could see Georgie liked Clare. God he could look at Georgie forever and he would if she gave him another chance. He wasn't going to let her slip through his fingers again. Definitely no fucks ups this time!
Although Spanner was presenting a small problem. Special Ops Command was waiting on him, wanting to know when he was coming back. And they weren't the only ones according to Spanner. The boys had been hammering Spanner because Elvis wasn't responding to their calls or texts. Even his family had taken to calling or texting Spanner because Elvis was so focussed on winning Georgie back. He'd deal with his parents, he'd call them later. Hoping he had good news about him and Georgie in the morning or at least to get them off Spanner's back. And the boys as well.
But his boss was a different story. He'd want specifics about when Elvis would be back. He'd want a doctor's report, a physical and a psych assessment before he'd let Elvis out in the field. And he'd want to know when they were all happening.
Elvis blanked the conversation happening around him as he sorted through what he was going to do about his boss. He wanted to get back to work ASAP. He missed the boys the camaraderie, the action and adventure. He even missed being in charge. But he'd learnt that if he didn't prioritise his relationship with Georgie he was going to regret it. It had happened once and he'd paid for it. Never again.
"Elvis! Elvis!" Elvis came back from his memory of the day he'd left Georgie standing at the altar and he'd met his Laura. It was such a bitter sweet memory. "Where were you?" Georgie looked at him closely.
"Here, right here."
"Sure you were." Georgie responded, her voice heavy with sarcasm. She tapped him lightly on his arm. "We are heading to the bar for a night cap...you coming?" She tilted her head still searching for a hint of where he'd been in his head.
Elvis smiled at her "Of course I'm coming. Someone needs to keep an eye on you..otherwise you'll be in trouble before we know it."
Spanner and Clare laughed as they stood up to join them in the bar. Marie and Fingers had already gone in to grab a table or two for the group. But Charles was nowhere to be seen.
