Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Casualty, only the clothes on my back, and the thoughts that run through my mind. I was smart enough to write them down, and share them with you, and ask for feedback :)

A/N: Last time: Kirsty thinks that Nita won't accept her and Adam getting married, but Adam says that he doesn't mind... total cuteness! :)

See you soon, DDM x... :)

AdamPOV

"What were you thinking about? Come on, you can talk to me," I said, following Kirsty and taking hold of her hand.

"Just that... Nita thinks that you're gonna replace Warren, but I said you'd be a better dad then he ever was, but she just said that she wouldn't let that happen," Kirsty said.

"I know she probably won't accept me straight away, and I know that she'll always think of Warren as her dad, but I'll protect her and you, I'll keep you both safe, and if she wants to think of me as just 'Adam', then I'll have to deal with it... it's no problem," I said, running my finger over the bones in her hand.

"Are you sure? I mean, won't our friends at work think we've rushed into this?" she asked.

"If they were our friends, then they wouldn't care, would they?" I asked, and she nodded, and turned around to pick up her bag.

"Come on, if we're walking, we better get a move on..." she said, taking my hand and leading me through the hall.

I picked up my coat up off the stairs, turned round and hugged Kirsty, meeting her lips with mine, and I silently closed the door on Nita as we set off to work, as an engaged couple.

KirstyPOV

The journey to work only took us about five minutes, considering we walked it, and when we turned the corner onto the site, the car park was almost deserted.

I looked at Adam, but I thought that it was a quiet day, so we shrugged it off and walked into the ED.

All the staff's eyes turned to me and Adam as we walked in, hand-in-hand, and Tess approached.

"Kirsty, the police have just been on the phone, and they say that Warren's ill again, his ME has struck again, and when they took him to St. James', he was in cardiovascular arrest, and..." she paused, but I knew what she was going to say.

"He died?" I offered, and she nodded.

"I'm so sorry," she said, trying to comfort me, but I shrugged it off and ran into the staffroom.

"Kirsty, I..." Adam said, following me and closing the door.

"Shut up," I snapped, collapsing onto the sofa.

"Kirsty, come here," he said, sitting next to me and hugging me.

"I'm sorry; I just didn't think I'd react like this..." I told him, and he nodded.

"I know, but now he's gone, don't you think that that's good now?" he asked, but I was confused.

"What? That my ex-husband's dead?" I shouted, pulling away from Adam.

"Well, yeah, slightly... you're safe now..." he said.

"Yeah, and now Nita's gonna hate me even more." I sobbed. "She loved her dad, and you know what she thinks of you and me getting married," I said, putting my head in my hands, and letting the tears fall.

"Shush, shush... hey, come here," he said, wrapping his arms around me. "You're safe now, Kirsty," he said, and I liked the way his arms moulded around me, making me feel complete.

I remembered how Warren used to hold me like this, before the abuse. But thinking about him made the memories come crashing back.

I took several deep breaths, calming myself. I looked at my arms, the skin looking normal; no bruises, cuts or broken bones...

I thought that when he was still alive, Warren, that things would get better; but I knew that I was kidding myself. I remembered the time that Adam diagnosed him with Muscular Dystrophy, but that never stopped the abuse.

All my emotions were confusing; I was almost distraught that he was gone, but happy also. I was angry that I wasn't there when he did die, but calm; knowing that he wouldn't hurt me again.

I looked up at Adam; my fiancé, the person I could rely on, the man who would never let anyone hurt me... the man who kept promises...

"I don't know how you do it," I said.

"Do what?" Adam asked.

"How you can be so... kind and loving and..." I said, trying to find the right words. "So you," I laughed, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Must be the Trueman charm," he laughed.

There was a knock on the door.

"Kirsty, are you alright?" Tess asked as she quietly opened it.

"Yeah," I sniffed, pulling my arms away from Adam and wiping my eyes; I really didn't want any extra attention right now.

"I'm sorry... you've been through so much lately, do you want me to arrange compassionate leave for a few weeks?" she asked, giving me a comforting smile.

"No, really, there's no need..." I said, declining her offer.

"Kirsty," she sighed, "if you need to talk, my office door is always open..." she said.

"Thanks, Tess."

She smiled again, and left myself and Adam alone again.

"Why didn't you tell her?" he asked me.

"Tell her what?" I asked, yawning; God it was early...

"Tell her that you divorced Warren and that we're getting married?" he asked, his smile fading slightly.

"Adam, I really don't want to rush into things, you know? I need to get used to this before we spread the news," I told him. He nodded.

"Yeah, sure..." he said, looking a little hurt.

"Adam, I didn't mean it like that... I just want to get over the fact that Warren's not here anymore, and get used to everything, before we make changes..." I said, and I put my arms around him, pulling him close.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, and buried my face into his chest.

"Stop apologising," he said pulling me away from him. "You have nothing to be sorry for," and he kissed me. I liked this, the way his lips felt on mine. And I sort of liked not having the feeling of guilt deep down in my stomach.

I looked up at him, breaking the kiss. "Come on, people to save, lots to do," I said, walking over to my locker to get my scrubs.

"Yeah, Kirsty, I still think what Warren did to you is affecting you, and I think that you need to tell someone... like Tess, or Charlie. Come on, they have worked with you for over a year, nothing's gonna change what they think about you," he said, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Sure, but let's get through today, just one normal day... that's all I want..." I said, placing my jacket into the locker and pulling my scrubs top over my head.

"Tell someone, and we can be normal..." he said, opening his locker and retrieving his top and trousers.

"Yeah, see you in a bit," I said, shutting my locker and walking out.

"Tess," I said, stepping up to the reception desk and waiting for an answer. "Can I have a word?"

A/N: I know cheesy ending, but Casualty on telly is bumming me out... and I have a great idea for the wedding chapter, coming in about three chapters :) I like to keep you all on the hook, it's my entertainment :)

Review?

DDM x