With another day finished, Ethel paused as she saw her reflection in the slightly dusty window to her right. Her hair was coming loose, her cheeks were flushed from running everywhere, and her eyes were gleaming still from Millais' touch. She had never seen him so... passionate before, or at least, she had never seen him so passionate about anything other than his work. She knew how much it meant to him, and she admired him for having such conviction and emotion for his career. Being a doctor was a part of him, and it made him who he was – in the way he washed his hands, or in the way he talked or stood. Millais was a doctor. But in that reflection, all Ethel could see was a nurse: a good nurse, a kind nurse, but a nurse all the same. And she felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of pride which both startled and comforted her.

As she reached the front of the hospital waiting area, and found there to be very few patients left to be seen, her mind grew still, and she drank in The London properly for the first time since she had arrived. To be part of such an institution was an honour, she knew, but she had never had any time to fully take it in. Through all the horror, the bloodshed, and the pain, The London would stay standing as strong as ever, and it gave her such a feeling of reassurance as she had ever known before.

'Nurse Bennett.'

The voice, icy and blunt, cut through Ethel like a blade, and as she turned, she was met by the steely gaze of Sister Luckes, looking her usual stern self.

'Yes, Sister Luckes,' Ethel replied, trying to appear as though she was supposed to be standing uselessly, but to no avail.

'May I speak with you frankly?' she asked, and Ethel was unsure how to answer. Since Dr. Culpin had stood up for her, Sister Luckes had taken a disliking to Ethel which she was certain she would be unable to shake off, and Ethel knew that whatever Sister Luckes was about to say would definitely be about her 'illegal' training.

'You may,' came her polite response, and hoped it would count in her favour in some small way.

Sister Luckes nodded graciously, and then pulled the nurse to one side so they would not be disturbed. 'I understand that you and Dr. Culpin have grown very close of late.'

Ethel hid her face so the older woman might not see the heat which rose like a fire in her cheeks.

'Yes, I see. I must warn you now, Nurse Bennett, that if your... friendship were to grow any further, it simply could not be tolerated. I have tried to keep you both apart, but it seems not even my powers can stop you two. I understand what young love can be like, how it can take hold, but you must see that you could have no profession within this hospital if you carried on, especially not a profession which I have recently become aware that you are aspiring towards. Please believe me when I say, Nurse Bennett, that I do not wish to interfere, but I may have to if you give me no other choice. Do you understand?'

Ethel nodded silently, unable to speak. Her heart had fallen a thousand feet in just one second, and she was unsure if she could even walk. In her mind, she saw Millais fading from her thoughts, and it pained her to even imagine it. How could she give him up when he had become an everyday fixture in her life – as natural as breathing? But to stop nursing, to never enter The London again... it seemed equally as impossible, and equally as painful as the first option.

'Thank you, Sister Luckes, for explaining the situation. You have been most kind,' Ethel finally said, trying to keep hold of the strands inside her which were fraying and snapping rapidly.

Sister Luckes smiled sympathetically and then left, and as soon as she was out of sight, Ethel found herself sprinting down the corridor, tears welling like pockets of water, towards Millais' office. She prayed he was there so that she could fall into his arms, feel his warm chest against her cheek, and his lips against her hair. If it came to choosing, she knew she could never leave him. Never.

As she flung the door open, she found him sitting at his desk, spectacles perched halfway down his straight, angular nose, and concentrating fiercely on a document. As soon as she entered, he stood up, jumping at the unexpected commotion.

'Ethel?' he said, right before she wrapped her arms around his waist. For one moment, he did not return her embrace, so shocked was he at this sudden display of affection, but when he heard her breaking sobs, he quickly pulled her closer, sitting down and pulling her with him so that she was sitting on his lap. Her head rested on his shoulder, and fat, salty tears dripping onto his shirt, he stroked her hair and rocked her gently in his arms, cradling her to him.

'What's wrong?' he whispered gently into her ear, his lips so close to her skin that she shivered at the tender contact.

'She knows... Us... She knows...' Ethel managed to blurt out, her chest heaving as fear, exhaustion and pain consumed her. All she wanted was to be with him, always, and now that could be taken away from her.

Millais, aware about the questions Sister Luckes had been asking about them both, knew who Ethel meant immediately, and knew also what this meant for them. Instinctively he gripped her tighter, as though someone was about to burst through the door and take her now.

'I'm so sorry, Ethel. I should never have let this happen.'

'What do you mean?' she asked shakily, looking up at him with wide, puzzled eyes.

He shook his head. 'I should never have got involved... I've endangered us both, and that was unfair of me.'

Ethel couldn't move. What was he saying? 'You mean... you regret it? You regret us?' Fury tainted by fear made her voice shake uncontrollably, and she could hardly believe that he was giving up so easily, almost as though he hadn't even considered that there was any other option.

Millais, realising how it had sounded and knowing he was losing his grip on her, pulled her back towards him and cupped her cheek in his hand, pulling her face towards him.

'Never. I would never regret us. But your career-'

She silenced him with a kiss, so loving and passionate that all he could do was respond with just as much emotion as she. He crushed his lips to hers, his fingers threading through her hair as his other hand moved to the small of her back, pressing her forwards. She could feel he needed her, and she longed for him as well. Being with him, next to him, made the decision all the more easier – suddenly, losing her career did not seem such a high price to pay to stay with him.

Her hands hungrily found the collar of his shirt, and as she began to unbutton it agiley, he took her wrists and kissed each finger softly, his eyes sincere, loving, as he gazed at her.

'I love you,' she whispered, her heart fluttering at having said it.

He smiled, as though that was all he needed in the world to keep him alive, and then gently leant away from her so he could reach the document on his desk.

'Is this really the time for paperwork, Millais?' she teased, trying to kiss him again but he pulled away at the very last moment, and she knew he had something important to say. A knot former in her stomach as he unfolded the parchment, and she was terrified he was about to tell her of another reason why they couldn't be together.

'This is a letter from a friend of mine, a doctor... in Shanghai.' He paused to gauge her reaction, but she was still blissfully unaware of what he was about to hit her with. 'I wasn't going to accept the position, considering you would still be in London, and I could never leave you behind. But considering Sister Luckes is intent on forcing one of us out, I'm beginning to wonder whether this new position is rather more of a blessing than a curse.'

She stayed silent, speechless that he was still going to leave her, even after she had declared his love for him. How could he...

Realising she was upset, Millais knew Ethel hadn't understood, and smiled reassuringly at her.

'If I left, and if you came with me, then we could still carry on in the medical profession, but we could also be married. We could get married, Ethel, and I could still train you.'

She gasped, her heart filling with paralysing shock and then infinite joy. It was exactly what she had always dreamed of, and now that Freddy was dead, she had no family left in London. There would be nothing to be lost by leaving, but so much to gain.

'Yes,' she breathed, and he hugged her, trailing kisses down the length of her neck. He had never been happier than he was in that moment.

'I love you, Ethel Bennett.'

'I love you, Millais Culpin.'

He kissed her gently on the forehead before getting up to close the door, making sure to switch the lights off as he went.

*This is not the last chapter, though you would be forgiven for thinking it was. However, there is still one more twist, so don't stop reading just yet!*