Here's it is as promised, hopefully you will like it. Once again thanks for your patience with me.

Also thanks special thanks goes to my last two reviewers after such a long time between updates I really appreciated the reviews!

Chapter 7

Falling Hurts

Luc stood outside his camper van waiting for Eddi to show up, he had finished his shift half an hour ago but there was still no sign of her. It was September now the heat of summer had abated a little in the last few weeks. The country was feeling upbeat it seemed after such a glorious sporting summer where the nation had come together in an enormous patriotic wave of optimism. Yet Luc was feeling flat, he'd had a hellish day at work. He felt exhausted. He scanned the car park people where coming and going but a hospital never sleeps. They were all small cogs in a vital machine that had to keep moving day and night. He glanced at his watch, maybe she wasn't going to turn up. Why would she? Eddi was still angry with him he knew that, even when Luc had told her the truth. But he couldn't walk away from her, not like the other people that flitted in and out of his life ever since childhood. Luc had never had this sense of responsibility before, to look after someone. To care about someone. He had tried to conjure some emotional depth in his life but it was always forced and never true so it ended in failure. The difference this time was simple and obvious he loved Eddi. No point hiding it anymore, he had admitted it to her. Luc turned to go inside.

He made a pasta salad for himself anything to stop thinking. He switched on the TV and flicked through the channels before finally settling on a programme about brown bears in Canada. He finished his salad. Took a swig of orange juice. Luc turned down the volume and just left the pictures on the screen. There was a soft tap on the door. He rose slowly to answer it – was it Eddi? Please let it be you. He opened the door there's was a moment of slight awkward tension between them. Luc cleared his throat somewhat nervously.

"I didn't think you were going to come?" He said moving aside to allow her in.

"Neither did I, being stuck in a cramped space with you doesn't exactly fill me with excitement right now but then neither does my social life." He was going to have to let any caustic remarks she made slide for tonight.

"Tea or coffee?" Luc had decided he wasn't going to be drawn into another verbal tennis match as it was the last thing either of them needed.

"Tea, please." She replied curtly. Eddi was sitting at the table pulling bits of fluff of her jumper. Trying to ignore the urge to get up and run out of here as fast as she could. Luc was making the tea. Eddi could tell by his facial expression that he was as uncomfortable as she was.

"I had it all planned out what I was going to say to you, how I was going to say it. I couldn't sleep last night for thinking about it. Then you realise you can't plan everything you just have to run with it." Luc sets the mugs down on the table. Running away is something I'm an expert at, my default setting." Luc stops and smiles as Eddi nods in agreement.

"You're not the only one I've done it too, Liam my Mum. To name a few."

"You were young, and it got too much – where as I bail out without any justification whatsoever. You were right when you called me a coward. I know even when I want to get close to someone I freeze sometimes. My mother she's the same, especially when my father up and left she didn't trust anyone after that. He was a womaniser a charmer she told me until he got drunk and started throwing his weight around. I remember my first memory was seeing her standing hunched over the kitchen sink." He leaned forward and stopped. Eddi reached and held his hand gently.

"You don't have to explain Luc."

"I do, it's just I've never spoken about this before. I walked over and there was blood everywhere. She turned to look at me holding a tissue to her nose. She had a black eye. She bent down and gave me a hug, shaking like a leaf. I knew something was wrong but she told me everything would be OK." Luc takes a long drink of tea.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Eddi knows by the far away look in his eyes these recollections are very painful for him.

"Because this is partly what I keep trying escape from. My mother was a very proud and traditional woman she wanted to keep us together she thought a break up would leave her homeless, she had a cleaning job but it paid a pittance. When my father was sober enough he was a car mechanic." As I got older my mother and I spoke less and less. I used to try and ask questions but it was like talking to a brick wall." They both smiled ironically across the table at each other. Luc stood up and drew the curtains. "I know from what little she has said to me that I resemble my father a great deal, so every time she looked at me all she saw was him we never got past that."

"Hence your strong dislike of alcohol. I get it. My mother used to drink as well so I understand where you're coming from." I didn't think I'd end up like her." Eddi feels her resolve to remain detached and unemotional melt away as she looks at Luc. She doesn't want to scream at him anymore, She feels the tears come down her face. "I'm a mess Luc and it's not you're fault it's not anyone's fault but mine." He cups his hands around her face.

"Let me help you please Eddi, I realise what I did was wrong – but you are the sole reason why I came back to Holby. For all the mistakes I've made leaving you was the worst." He's being searingly honest for once. I want to stop running from the ghosts of my past because I need you in my life. I love you so much." He gets up to hug her and can feel her body tremble as she leans against him.

"I love you too." Eddi can only whisper, her mind and her body tired out by the stresses and strains of the recent months. She still doesn't know what the future with Luc will be – but Eddi is glad that he feels comfortable sharing some of his life with her. For the first time in a long time she feels at ease and contented to be held in the arms of a person who needs her as much as she needs him.

This may seem like an ending but there's more to come.