Tommy rolled onto his side towards her. "Want to know a secret?"

"Mmm."

"I'm scared too."

"You? Why?"

"Because I don't want to get this wrong. I don't want to rush you but today's made me realise that we can't go on as we have been. We can't ignore what's happening between us."

Barbara held up their handcuffed wrists. "We certainly can't ignore these."

"We should be grateful to them. They've probably saved us a few years of skirting around the issue."

"We don't have an issue."

"We do, and we're both petrified of what it means aren't we?" Barbara sighed loudly but did not answer. "When you said everything scares you, I understand. I'm scared too - of the past, of the present and most of all of the future. People scare me because they're irrational. I scare myself because I'm not who I want to be. You're the only person in the world that doesn't scare me because I can count on you. No matter what happens you'll be there." Tommy reached out with his left hand and gently stroked her arm.

"You..."

"Shh. Let me finish. You might be giving me that disapproving, disappointed look, but you'll always be there, even when I pretend I don't want you. I only wish you understood it's mutual, Barbara. I'll always be here for you. When I'm with you, nothing frightens me because you inspire me to be the man I want to be. All your class differences and other excuses about not fitting into my world don't matter to me because you are my world. I wish you could feel the same way. I wish I didn't scare you."

Barbara closed her eyes and twisted to face him. They had sunk so that they were almost lying. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'm not scared of you...Tommy. I'm scared of myself; afraid of..." her voice trailed off leaving her fear hanging, unspoken.

His name on her lips sent shivers through him. He had waited so long, and it sounded like the wind on the cliffs above Howenstowe - strong, unbidden, eternal. He wriggled closer. Their handcuffed hands were pinned between them, and he tightened his grip on her hand. His left hand moved to rest on her cheek. "Barbara...what's holding up that last barrier?"

She pulled away. "We shouldn't be talking like this. It's just whatever was in that mist today, and these cuffs."

Tommy stretched his fingers across the back of her head. His touch was tender, but she was not going to escape until he had his answer. "No, it's not. Today has just made me realise what I want. You. I love you, Barbara."

Barbara made an odd wheezing noise. He thought for a moment she was going to choke. "Barbara?"

"Tommy..."

"What?" He watched her anxiously as she composed her thoughts.

Barbara took another deep breath. "You do inspire me. You're the only thing in life that keeps me sane. I'd have quit, or murdered someone without you. You set me free and yet you...tamed me."

Tommy laughed lightly. "Barbara, you are not tame!"

"Is that why you say you love me?"

"It's one of the reasons I do love you, but I need to know what you're feeling."

"Then stop interrupting me," she said. Tommy smiled and tried to look contrite. "I...I've been in love with you for years but...I can't let you into that last piece of my heart if you're going to break it. I don't want to be with you because you're lonely, or scared of the future, or you're settling for someone dependable. I don't want you to be with me because I'll always be here, I want you to be with me because you can't imagine ever being with anyone else."

Tommy's thumb brushed her cheek and felt her tears. He moved his face close to hers and whispered, "I can't."

"Me either."

Tommy had never been more nervous. They had been through weird and awkward moments today, but he did not want this to be one of them. He did not want to frighten her. "Barbara, may I kiss you?"

She nodded. In the flashing kaleidoscope of light from the television, he could see the apprehension in her eyes. He had to take this very slowly. He smiled and saw her begin to relax before he shifted his gaze to her lips. She licked them, but he knew it was an unconscious signal of her intentions. Tommy pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear and softly stroked her temple with his thumb as he leant towards her. Their lips met briefly before she pulled away. Tommy followed and pressed his lips against hers slowly and gently. A rush of warm air tickled his cheek as she exhaled sharply. Tommy broke contact then kissed her again. Twice he repeated it, each time feeling her lips soften from a rigid pucker. As he continued her mouth parted just enough for him to trap her top lip gently and caress it.

It had been nearly twenty years since anyone had kissed her and she could barely remember it. Barbara had expected Tommy to charge in, but he was slow and caring. She wanted to kiss him back, but she was not confident she would do it correctly. She had pursed her lips, but his mouth had been soft. She felt unskilled. She knew she would disappoint him.

When he paused, she sighed heavily, fearing that he was regretting every moment. She wanted to let him think she was enjoying it, so she ran her fingers up his neck and into the thick waves of his slightly too long hair. He groaned appreciatively, and the pressure of his mouth against hers increased. She began to imitate him. When he rubbed her bottom lip between his, she pushed down with her top lip and dragged it slowly across his slight stubble. Tommy's groan was louder this time, and it gave her confidence. They slowly repeated the kiss again and again. Now she did not have to pretend; her body was reacting as it should.

Kissing Barbara was beautiful. The connection and happiness he felt holding hands magnified a thousand times. Usually, Tommy would want to move faster. He enjoyed the taste and feel of a woman's mouth open to his own, but now he wanted to go more slowly. To him, their kisses were metaphors for their relationship which had started uncertainly but had slowly grown to be their reason for living. There had been moments of passion and stillness, fire and ice, but underneath it all they had never wanted to be apart. They had helped each other grow into better people. Together they would continue to grow, as partners, lovers, maybe even parents.

They continued to kiss until his lips began to feel sore and swollen. Tommy found the remote and switched off the television leaving them cuddling in the dark. The pace of their kissing slowed until they stopped. With only one free arm their embrace was limited but he loved the feel of her breath on his chest. "We should get some sleep," he said.

"Yeah. My arm's gone to sleep."

Reluctantly they rolled apart and lay facing the ceiling. After several minutes Tommy thought he heard her trying to stifle tears. Worried, he fumbled for some light and found the switch for the bedside lamp. "What's wrong Barbara?"

"Nothing."

"Such a dangerous word. When a woman says that, it usually means a lot is wrong."

"What if we wake up, and the drug has worn off and...you change your mind?"

"What do I have to do to prove myself? There was only a trace of the anger he felt in his voice. With his history, he could not blame her for being doubtful.

"You don't have to prove yourself. I just can't believe you...want me."

Tommy moved swiftly over her. He took his weight on his elbows and knees and placed his hands either side of her face. He smiled as her eyes went wide when he pressed his groin against hers. He bent down until his face was almost touching hers. "I want you desperately, in every sense of the word. I want to make love to you, to marry you, have children with you, grow old with you and eventually spend eternity roaming the heavens with you."

Her free hand pulled his head closer. Her tentative first kisses became bolder as the tension between them grew. Tommy responded but let Barbara lead. The first time their tongues met it was accidental. They paused uncertainly. Tommy waited, his mouth locked to hers. He decided to act just as she did and they met in a passionate tango.

"You two look exhausted." When Stuart arrived, they had brushed their hair, cleaned their teeth and had a cup of coffee. Neither had slept much.

"Have you ever trying sleeping with someone handcuffed to you?" Tommy quipped.

"Not handcuffed to me, no." Stuart winked at Barbara.

Barbara smiled at both of them. "It's very frustrating."

"Extremely," Tommy agreed, giving Barbara a cheeky grin.

Stuart watched them as they continued to exchange sly looks. The tension between them yesterday had been replaced by something else. He could not know that each glance was an echo of the night before where practicality had thwarted their passion. As he drove them to Oxford, Stuart struggled to label the electricity that filled his car. As he watched them in his mirror, he finally had a word - anticipation. So, you did work it out then! Stuart was genuinely happy for them. "Not long now, and you two will be free."

Six hours later the high-strength industrial laser was still struggling to make a suitable impression on the cuffs. The metal was heating too quickly and reflecting the laser leaving them hot, angry and hungry. Teams of boffins came and went away muttering about coefficients and tensile strength. Men and women in safety glasses and crisp white lab coats poked and prodded at them.

"Enough!" Barbara said, "I'm hungry."

Tommy laughed at the shock on the faces of the Oxford scientists. "Me too. I suggest we take a stroll down to somewhere I used to frequent as a student."

"Sounds like an excellent idea. Anything to get away from people staring at me."

The couple hastened along the road, gripping hands. Tommy steered her into a small narrow-fronted pub and ordered a pint and some chips. "Is the stable still here?" he asked the bartender, an older woman who had instantly recognised 'M'Lord Tommy'.

"Yes,' she replied knowingly, giving Barbara a wink. "Same password."

Tommy took the chips and Barbara grabbed the beers with her hands together. They trod carefully to avoid Tommy tripping with his arm awkwardly placed next to the beer. The stable was exactly that, a small stall for one horse situated across a narrow, cobbled courtyard. "Our sanctuary."

"Did you just hire us a room by the hour?"

"Yes, but it's not like that. Not with these damned things still welded to us. As I promised last night, there will be roses and soft music, silky sheets and all the time we need."

"And fireworks. You promised fireworks."

He stood in front of the door. "Open Sesame!"

Barbara started to laugh. The door swung open to reveal a small room, furnished simply with a small table and four wooden chairs. There was no bed, and no room to lie. Barbara's face flushed as she recalled her accusation. They started to enter but stopped and stared at their wrists. The handcuffs whirred and clicked before they loosened and with a final snap, fell to the ground. Barbara had to juggle the glasses to prevent spilling any beer. "Really?" she snarled, "it was that simple?"

Tommy bent and picked up the manacles and shoved them into his jacket pocket and with his hand in her back guided her into the room. He slammed the door as she put down the beers. He threw the plate of chips carelessly beside them and swept her into his arms and kissed her ravenously.

"What about the music and the soft sheets?"

Tommy pulled out his phone and made a quick call. He knew the best hotel in Oxford. "Do you still want your beer and chips? I've booked a room just across the road." He kissed her again. "Large bath." Kiss. "Huge soft bed." Kiss. "Two dozen roses scattered across the floor." Kiss.

"Fireworks?" Kiss.

"We have to supply our own."