Sorry I've not been on this for a while and also sorry to all my readers who I have kept waiting for the end of this story. Life just got in the way again. But I am back now and plan to write and post most days now I have graduated. Hope you enjoy this next chapter. As always please read and review. Thank you for your continued support.

Amber French Chambers

Yvonne

The sensation was as if I had been swept away by a massive gust of wind, I was carried along with its momentum for a while. It didn't even hurt when I reached my destination. It felt as if I was placed at the bottom of those stairs, at first. I thought about what a mess I was sure I'd made of things with Nick. I was cold and put up barriers that no man could break through. Until Nick that was. He saw though the cold front, to the person I was underneath and I loved him for that. I knew that if I had lost him, it was my own stupid fault.

The next thing I became aware of was the flashing of multicoloured lights that reminded me of when, in her more sober moments my mum used to take me to the funfair as a child. I closed my eyes for the shortest amount of time. With all the noise that surrounded me it was easy to forget the horrors of destruction happening outside. I was pulled from my imagination all of a sudden when a familiar voice spoke to me, filled me.

'Well well Superintendent Rippon fancy seeing you here'

At the sound of him, my mind took me back to the argument. It was sort of a milestone really, so stupid. I overreacted as I was prone to doing and as usual had refused to give in. That was until the thought of losing him terrified me so much I had to do something, anything. I hadn't fully realised how much I loved him until then. So I texted him; which he didn't reply to.

Lying on that cold, hard, unforgiving floor, feeling the reassuring warmth of Nick's hand, it dawned on me, with a clarity that alarmed me given the situation that something was missing. I couldn't feel my legs.

'Nick I'm so sorry about everything'

I felt tears dripping down my face at his soft tone. He still loved me. That was all I needed to know. It was all the comfort I needed in my somewhat hazed state.

'Shh don't worry about that now, so am I now let's have a look.'

I could feel Nick's hands softly touching me, almost like a caress. It made me smile and my mind wandered...

I was being carried out of the wreckage of the shop toward the funfair lights... actually the ambulance lights. Nick's hand was in mine. He was telling me they were taking me to hospital...

Nick takes me into his office, where the sight of his plush leather sofa, makes me want to sink into it and never move again. I shake my head trying to clear it, trying to understand what Nick is trying to tell me. I can't quite believe it myself. Nick wants to have kids with me; in fact he wants to file to adopt Chloe. But he looks so excited I dare not say anything. The last thing I want to do is upset him. He's done so much for me already and I love him too much anyway.

'So what do you think? '

'Nick are you sure you've thought this through? I mean you've got me to look after as well now. How are we going to cope with a two year old running around the house?'

'We'll be fine. Come on Yvonne, I've wanted kids with you for a while now, since I first saw you in fact. We talked about it before... well you know.'

'Same here as well but that was before Nick; a lot of things have changed now. I want kids with you, of course I do but I'm scared that I will end up like my mother; bitter and twisted, needing alcohol or some other substance to make me happy, especially now'.

Nick walks over to me and cups my face in between his hands forcing me to look up at him from where I am sat.

'Trust me Yvonne you'll be a great mum. I was watching you with Chloe yesterday. Over the last few days you have managed to get her to communicate with us. You discovered the bruises from where she was mistreated. Both of you seem really taken with each other. Even if you can't see it within yourself yet I can see something different about you. You seem happier than you have done in weeks. You are the only one Chloe will speak to, the only person she trusts enough to get close to her.'

'If I do it's all because of you. I don't think I would have coped without you. Come here.'

When Nick comes closer I put my arms around his middle and rest my head against his chest, I stay like that for several minutes listening to his heartbeat rhythmically. It soothes and calms me, so much so I find myself speaking in a soft whisper. My naughty side is coming back and I like it.

'Take me over to the sofa'

'What for?'

'Now that would be telling, wouldn't it?' I let out a childish giggle. In a flash Nick carries me over to the plush leather seat, whirling me round as he goes, which makes me laugh louder, harder. Next thing I know Nick is on top of me trailing feather light kisses down to my collarbone and back up again.

Suddenly a knock at Nick's door pulls me out of my state of absolute happiness and Zoe opens the door, and then quickly retreats when she sees what we are doing. Her voice is muffled though the now closed door.

'Nick, Yvonne there are people here to see you. They say they are from the adoption agency?'

I look at Nick, a feeling of shock and disgust in my stomach. My little piece of heaven shatters.

'You already organised to meet them without discussing it with me first? Are you mad?'

'It's only a preliminary meeting and we don't need to agree to anything yet, I just wanted to see what our options were. Please Yvonne every time I look at that cute little girl she tugs at my heart strings. I just want to do something to help her and I think we could be the answer.'

I look into Nick's eyes which glitter with untold emotion. I can see how much he wants this. In fact he needs this. Chloe needs this. I can see I'm not going to win this argument. I exhale deeply before smiling at him.

'Oh go on then, it's just a meeting. Like you said we don't have to decide on anything now do we?'

'Thank you. I love you so much'

'That's okay Mr Jordan, now where were we? Oh yes I think I remember'

I tug the collar of his shirt ever so slightly to bring him forward even more, so he is almost lying on top of me and kiss him so deeply that when we pull apart it takes me a few seconds to remember that we are in the hospital and this isn't quite appropriate behaviour even though we are behind a closed, locked office door, particularly for an ex police officer...