-Julia's POV-

It had been a little over a month since I had returned to Toronto.

I was staying in a small bedsit just outside the city. I had been returning the hospital every few days to keep William company and check on his recovery. So far he was doing considerably well, his ankle and ribs had healed well and in the last 2 weeks had been spending more time out of his bed, with the use of crutches. He had finally let me give him a shave after the beard he was sporting was making him unrecognisable.

Today I had suggested we take him to the barber shop, but he had said quietly that he wasn't ready to go into the city just yet. Though his body was healing his life was still in tatters. So instead I had decided that I would bring the barber to him. The hospital had allowed special permission for him to be a visitor, and I knew it would make William happy to finally get rid of the shaggy mop that was quickly hindering his sight.

Mr. Winston- the barber, and I arrived at the hospital around noon. We made our way to the room where William had been staying for the last month or so. As we walked in William looked up from the chair he was sat in reading one of the books I had bought him from my temporary home. He smiled as we entered the cuts and bruises on his face had all but faded completely, except the largest cut cross his bottom lip still remained however but was healing well. I was yet to fully kiss those lips. Cheeks and forehead, but not quite the lips. Not since I had first returned. I wanted him well again I thought it unfair to push my romantic advances onto him while he was recovering.

My gaze quickly dropped to my left hand. Even if we were technically engaged. Engaged. That was the first time I had said it to myself. The word seemed to hold a whole new meaning now. I gave myself a mental shake, and walked into the room behind Mr. Winston.

'William, this is Mr. Winston, he has come to give you a much needed haircut I said with slight humour in my voice.

William returned the smile and gave a light chuckle,

'Yes, very much needed.' he replied.

I went and took a seat a little way from where William was sat and decided to write up some of my current medical reports to pass the time while Mr. Winston made William back to how I remembered him. Smiling to myself I pulled out my medical journal and began writing up my notes.

After a little while I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up instantly, surprised a little as I was concentrating heavily. William was stood above me, hand on my shoulder, looking exactly as I remembered him. Minus the cuts and grazes, he was perfect and he was here, with me, and I couldnt help but gasp in slight awe. 'Has Mr. Winston left?' I asked shaking myself mentally, looking around.

'Yes, he left a little while ago, I thought I would let you finish your work, seeing as you were so engrossed' he replied with a slight smile.

I put down my pen, closed the lid back on my ink well and put that along with my reports into my medical bag.

I stood up so that I was eye height with William. I realised that this was the first time we had been in close contact, and not bedridden since, well, I left, over a year ago. It was certainly not a face I was expecting to see this close to mine ever again-especially after I made the decision to leave. I couldn't help but watch the candlelight bounce off the caramel in his eyes. I felt William take my hand. I looked down at our hands gently knotted together.

'...Julia...I want to thank you for everything you have done for me in the past month...I truly would be lost by now if it weren't for you...I would have given into the darkness a long time ago, if you had not come home and turned back on the light in my life...' I could hear the emotion in his voice, so much so that it nearly cracked when he finished.

I felt the tears spring to my eyes. I held them back, but I knew that he could see them, he gently moved his hand up my arm and to my ribs, running slowly round to my back, I could feel the warmth of it through my shirt, and he used this leverage to pull me carefully into his embrace. I felt my hands reach up his back to reside just below his shoulder blades. He tucked his head into my shoulder and I could feel his breath gently on my neck. Then the gentlest fleeting touch of his lips there. If I had second guessed it I would have missed it. Nevertheless shivers instantly covered me in goosebumps.

My breath caught in my throat. He pulled away slightly to see the look on my face, and I blushed. Knowing I had been caught enjoying that more than was ladylike. But to my surprise colour rose to his cheeks a little too and he looked at the floor as we moved a little away from each other.

I looked around the room trying to concentrate on anything other than him not meeting his eyes. When I slipped him a glance I saw he was doing the same. I walked over to the bedside table and picked up my medical bag. I turned to catch William wince slightly and press his hand gently to one of the last remaining wounds on his ribs. He quickly composed his face as he saw me watching. I cocked my head a little in an unamused glare and he smiled a little and quickly dropped his gaze to the floor. Then I suddenly remembered something,

'William..?' I said carefully as I walked towards him, 'Where have you been living..since I left...? I went to Mrs. Kitchens board but she said you had left there a little after I did...?' He looked up at me a little rattled by my question.

'I cant take you there Julia..that place is...unkempt...I was a mess...it..it looks terrible.' he replied looking very ashamed for himself.

'I will just have to look for somewhere else to live-I cant go back there.' He was refusing to bring his eyes to meet mine.

I walked to him and stood close enough so I could take his hand, and look into his eyes, I wanted to make him see that he was not alone. Not any more. I carefully reached for his hand.

'William..I..I want you to stay with me..I have enough room...more than I need if I'm honest...after all I am a doctor and you are still recovering, you have wounds that need dressing and you most certainly cant do that on your own.' I tried to look as heartfelt as I possibly could, I heard him say in a rather quiet voice.

'I would appreciate that greatly...' and he looked up and quickly leant to my lips murmuring 'thank-you' moments before our lips briefly touched.

We both quickly pulled away as his doctor came through the doorway.

A little later after being discharged by the doctor and the short carriage ride back to my old home that I had lived in when I was last in Toronto, we arrived outside of said house.
I carefully looked for the key in my bag and pushed into the heavy lock on the large off-white door. Pushing it open and standing back a little and letting William enter first I removed the key and put it back in my bag which I promptly put on the end table which was just inside the doorway in the large hall, along with my coat. I quickly walked passed William who was carefully studying a picture in the hallway, and went to the kitchen to make some tea.

When I walked into the sitting room William was sat awkwardly on the edge of an armchair I suspected that his ribs were causing him pain. I placed one of the cups in front of him, and took mine and sat on the sofa which was next to him, directly in front of the fireplace. I carefully watched him over the rim of my cup not wanting to draw his attention. He was intently watching the flames in the fire that I had asked the housekeeper Maria to light earlier this morning, before we arrived home. His eyes were a little glazed over as If he was deep in thought, I continued to finish my tea, leaving him to his thoughts. A little while after I had finished my tea and placed the cup on the table he did the same, I stood to take his as well as mine into the kitchen to wash them up. After I had washed the cups and saucers and put them back in their right places, and returned to the living room.

I found William snoring gently in the armchair next to the fire. A small smile escaped my lips and I pulled one of the heavy throws off the other sofa and wrapped it round him. I unbuttoned the top of his shirt and removed his tie so he was a little more comfortable. I laid a gentle kiss on his forehead and then made my way up to my bedroom. I undressed quickly but not before I asked the housekeeper to keep and eye for William in-case he awoke during the night.

I felt like I had only been sleeping for a few minutes before I heard someone knocking on my door, although when I looked at the clock, it had been 3 hours since I had finally fallen asleep, and was around 2 in the morning. I pulled the covers up a little more to shield my dignity even if I was only Maria.

'Come in..' I said gently but loud enough for them to hear me.

I couldn't see who It was until they were nearly at the foot of my bed, I gasped a little and instantly pulled the covers right up under my chin, when I caught the chocolate eyes that were staring gently at me from the bottom of my bed.

'William..?...is something wrong..?'

He shook his head gently- 'no..no..I just woke up..and it was dark and you were gone..I..I was worried...' he averted his gaze from me, but not before he quickly glanced my bare shoulders just above the duvet...

A/N: Ooooh what happens next? ;)

Please R&R! :)