Like he promised he went back up to Darwin at exactly seven o'clock, "Everything OK?" Edward asked tapping her arm, "Hey…" he shook her.

"What?" Serena asked stirring from her short lived power nap.

"How's your mum?" Edward asked sitting down in the other chair one leg resting on thigh.

"Still full of Pneumonia but her breathing is much better and the antibiotics are working," Serena answered she then looked at Edward, "Do you think that man will come back?"

"Well the police have spoken to Harry and Mary-Claire… they say there's enough evidence without needing to talk to you," Edward sat forward, "Well September really does bring surprises."

"Good and bad," Serena noticed the sky was getting darker, "I need to get home… I'll come see you tomorrow mum."

"Bye darling," Adrienne said then Elliot walked over to her to keep her company.

…

Like she had asked Edward came back with her he couldn't blame her for company of another adult, it had been a long day and if he was right she needed a warm bath and soppy movie with her duvet. Eleanor was at a concert with her friends so the house was completely empty apart from Serena of course.

"I'm going to take a shower so you can sit down and put on the T.V. if you want," Serena offered Edward walked into the lounge and sat on the sofa observing the inside of the beautiful house.

Edward grabbed the television remote and scrolled down to the All Channels of the SKY television guide he found the comedy Fawlty Towers which he vaguely remembered watching over and over with Serena.

…

Nearly an hour later Serena was out with her pink pyjamas and pink snuggle top on and slipper boots she had forgot Edward was there so without a care in the world she walked into the living room, "Oh I forgot you were there… I'll get changed."

"You are joking?" Edward questioned, "Serena… you are forgetting we used to live together? I've seen you in pyjamas before…"

"You're a guest it's not appropriate," Serena went to leave but Edward stood up and guided her down to her sofa, "What are you doing?" she asked whilst he sat down next to her.

"Like I said I've seen you in pyjamas many times…plus I couldn't care less if you were in pyjamas or not," Edward shrugged Serena glared, "What?" he asked grinning, "Our bodies are nothing we haven't seen before."

"OK, OK I get it," Serena raised her hands in defeat, "You don't care about me being in pyjamas."

"I found Fawlty Towers," Edward pointed to the television, "Remember we watched it over and over?"

"Yeah I seem to remember you doing a good impression of Manwell," Serena remembered Edward sat back Serena mirrored him, "Thank you for coming back."

"Anytime," Edward looked at Serena his blue eyes fixated on her brown ones, "How about," he tucked some stray hair behind her ears and stroked her cheek, "We just curl up and watch a movie? You can choose."

Serena raised an eyebrow at his offer, "And what's in it for you?" she asked wondering if there was any strings attached.

"I get to have a cuddle with you," Edward answered, "So?"

"One thing," Serena said.

"And what's that?" Edward asked.

"You can make me a hot chocolate," Serena answered in an orderly tone, Edward nodded and walked into the kitchen. Why Serena felt so very relaxed around Edward beyond her, last time she had been like this around him was before their marriage went tits up.

"Squirty cream and marshmallows?" Edward asked poking his head from behind the door, Serena nodded Edward walked back into the kitchen. Serena got comfy on the sofa she laid down with her legs arched up then laid her head on the sofa arm, "Here," he placed the drink on the side table, "Now are we watching a film or not?"

Serena picked up the remote and went onto the movies page most of the films had already started so she turned on BBC One, "There's nothing on," Serena sighed why was it that when you wanted to watch something nothing was on?!

"And on local news sadly after eighteen years of being a hero the Labrador that saved a young boy from being swept away from the current has now passed away," the female newsreader red.

"Yes the Labrador was very well loved by the family and will be sadly missed," the male newsreader added, "Rest in peace Borace."

"I remember that dog," Edward exclaimed making Serena jump, "It's the one you cried over because you said it was amazing how dogs have the same instincts as us."

"Oh yeah," Serena remembered and slightly laughed, "How do you remember all these things?" Serena asked quite astonished.

"I remember all the small things about you," Edward answered and twirled with Serena's hair, "Now are we having this cuddle or not?" Edward asked.

Serena moved into him head resting on his chest she felt him run his fingers through her hair, so much had happened during the month of September it was no wonder her body was feeling run down she felt exhausted, fed up and just wanted her mum's health to be stable.

"You're feeling hot," Edward said feeling her forehead, "You've been ill more times than I can remember you being ill."

"I probably just need to take some layers off," Serena took off the pink snuggle hoddie, "Though I think I might be a bit run down."

"No wonder it's been hard," Edward took his hand away from her forehead and carried on twirling with her hair, "You should have some chicken soup."

"No," Serena said stubbornly, "Not after you poisoned me."

"Heinz?" Edward compromised.

"Haven't touched chicken soup since that day," Serena admitted Edward laughed, "It's not funny."

"You should face the fear," Edward joked earning him a glare, "And it wasn't my fault in the first place."

"You still cooked it," Serena accused, "And nearly killed me."

"I still make good chicken soup though," Edward said proudly Serena rolled her eyes, "I'll check the date on the chicken."

Serena knew Edward would go on and on until he got his own way so she sat up, "Fine just don't make a mess in the kitchen."

"And if I do it'll be cleaned up straight away," Edward lowed himself down, "I know the rules," he touched her cheek with his hand and kissed her on the lips. Serena smiled lightly and sat back hoping he wouldn't poison her once again.

"Too right," Serena said whilst he walked out she then observed the television not really taking in what was on as now she was developing symptoms of either the common cold or flu, "Oh great," Serena whispered to herself she did not have time to be ill. So she looked around for the thermometer that she kept handy bending down sent a rush of heavy pain surging through every squiggle of her brain, she leant her against the wall placing her head on the cold wall her muscles were aching and she felt a massive headache approaching.

"Judging by how fast your symptoms have developed I'm taking a guess on flu," Edward diagnosed he had heard her making pained noises from the kitchen, "Would you like a hand up?" Edward asked holding out his hand, "Looks like I made the soup just on time," Serena took his hand and he helped her up.

"Yeah," Serena said sounding drained, "I haven't got time for this."

"None of us have time to be ill Serena," Edward reminded her he helped her back over to the sofa, "Sit and don't move."

"I don't think I'm going anywhere quickly," Serena sat back placing one hand on her forehead, "Haven't you got soup to be making?" Serena asked.

"It's cooking," Edward sat down, "Why is it you always seem to get an extremely high temperature when ill?" Edward asked confused it had always happened even when she was little she would always have a temperature past forty when ill, "Have you got a thermometer?"

"Over by the desk," Serena knew she didn't need a thermometer to tell her she had a temperature past forty, "I don't need my temperature checked I know it's above normal."

Edward placed the thermometer head in her ear anyway, "Forty one."

"I always get high temperatures I'm fine," Serena tried to get Edward not to fuss, "Seriously I'm fine."

"When someone is sick what do we do?" Edward asked.

"We make them strong and healthy again… well we try," Serena answered knowing exactly where he was going with this.

"So what do we do when we're sick?" Edward asked Serena wasn't in the mood to play games.

"We make ourselves better by eating abnormal amounts of soup and wrapping up and all that crap," Serena answered whispering as her head pounded against her skull.

"Well yes but also others need to look after us," Edward knelt down, "I also make a good honey and lemon drink," Edward smiled Serena sighed heavily, "And," Edward leant forward, "I also know a good trick to stop aching muscles."

"You're forgetting about the soup," Serena reminded him Edward stood up, "What's the aching muscle trick?" Serena asked curious.

"It involves a combination of a massage and hugs," Edward leant his head against the door frame, Serena turned her head away blocking out the light, "Have you even touched that hot chocolate?" Edward asked walking back in, "Obviously not."

"I can't have chocolate when ill it makes me feel worse," Serena moved up so Edward could sit down, "Are you sure this won't poison me?" Serena asked eyeing the bowl.

"I checked the dates," Edward answered he then handed her the bowl, "Let me know what you think."

Serena bravely picked up the spoon and eyed the soup in front of her, "If I'm dying tomorrow I'll make sure you're the first to know."

"Wasn't I last time? I seem to remember you waking me up and vomited all over me," Edward reminded her, "Then again that wasn't the first time."

"Shut up," Serena placed the spoon to her mouth, "And I did not mean to vomit all over you… I didn't have enough to leave."

"I know," Edward smiled to himself, "And like I said wasn't the first time."

"I know," Serena had to agree he made a good soup, "And I hate to admit…this is good."

"Told you," Edward nudged her, "I don't always fuck things up… but I have in the past."

"Past is past Edward," Serena said being ill once again was making her more emotional and open, "But you did hurt me," she put the spoon in the bowl and looked at Edward, "You really did."

Edward didn't know what to say hearing her admit she was hurt badly was almost like another barrier being thrown down, "Serena I-"

"No… you really hurt me I know I pushed you away, I know I wasn't much 'fun' and I know all of this but you really hurt me," Serena finally let that off her chest, "I just wish you would've had the guts to tell me yourself."

Edward took the bowl away and placed it on the other table, he sat forward took her hands in his and leant his forehead on hers, "I'm sorry," he whispered that's all he could say there was no reasonable explanation for what he did, "I'm so sorry," he held her face in his hands, "There is no explanation I was weak… you've always been the strong one."

Serena looked down her eyes watering up, "I've had to be," Serena said Edward kept his grip on her hands.

"I'm sorry," he repeated not taking his forehead away he looked into her eyes which were now shining, "For everything," he used his thumbs to rub up and down her hands, "I can't explain."

"This is going to sound cliché but mum was right… I never stopped loving you," Serena admitted sighing as she did, "As much as you hurt me…I don't know," she whispered, "You must've stopped loving me because you got remarried."

"I never stopped loving you," Edward said, "I was weak Serena."

"You were right to get out when you did," Serena always doubted if she was loveable, "Because even now I'm a heartless cow."

Hearing her say such things about herself made Edward flinch how could she think that? Never had he seen her as heartless cow, "Don't ever say that."

"It's true… mum was right I drive people away and when I said that you, you had that look in your eye the one that proves the fact right," Serena pulled away trying to control the emotions inside her, "Is that why you went off with Milly, Molly, Mandy?"

Edward didn't know what to say instead he stood up and walked out but he didn't go to the door, he sat on the stairs thinking; Serena waited for the door to open and close but she didn't hear it instead she heard a creek of a step. Edward sat twirling his glasses around and around he couldn't help but sigh heavily.

Serena got off the sofa and walked to the hallway where she found Edward looking sorry for himself, she walked over and put her hands on the staircase barrister and rested her chin on it, "You haven't gone?" Serena asked shocked at Edward's non disappearance, "Why?"

Edward looked up at Serena, "Because if I run I'll regret it."

"Regret what?" Serena asked curiously an eyebrow raised.

"I'll regret not manning up and telling you," Edward answered Serena leaned away from the stair case barrister and she sat down both sat in silence for a while, "I never meant to hurt you," Edward looked at Serena, "I never wanted to hurt you."

"So you didn't think going off with another woman and leaving your child wouldn't hurt me?" Serena asked she looked forward at the ceiling.

"I can't explain why I done it Serena," Edward admitted ashamed, "There is no plausible explanation why I done what I did, and I want you to know… I regret it."

"Can't have that much you married her," Serena looked down at her hands which were shaking, she suddenly felt Edward cupping her face in his hands.

"Listen to me," he said with desperation in his voice, "I don't why I done it Serena… but I know what I left behind and I missed so much of Eleanor growing up, I missed everything and I can't even give a decent explanation for why I done it."

Serena was beginning to think Edward genuinely sorry for his 'mistake' she didn't know what to say or what to do; instead she linked arms with Edward's and rested her head on his arm, "I don't know what to say."

"Makes a change," Edward said laughing he felt Serena laugh, "Usually you don't let anyone have a say."

"Another thing mum said," Serena sighed heavily, "Well I don't know what just happened there."

"It's a little something called 'opening up'," Edward told her Serena leant her head up and kept her gaze on Edward he moved his hand up to Serena's face stroking her cheek, "And you need a little thing called rest."

"Help me up then," Serena ordered Edward stood up and held out his hand, which Serena took and he pulled her up, "I must warn what usually follows me with the flu is Otitis Media."

"I remember," Edward said helping Serena back on the sofa, "Apart from sunburn and labour I never heard you complain so much."

"Have you ever had an ear infection?" Serena asked Edward he nodded, "Well they hurt."

"I know they do," Edward said understanding, "I just find it funny how something as small as an ear infection can you turn you into a moaning Minnie."

"Next you'll be saying you found it funny how something as big as labour turned into a swearing trooper," Serena joked.

"I've never heard you swear so much… it had to have been the epidural," Edward concluded, "Because before you were just whining."

"I have funny reactions to anaesthetic," Serena sat back legs up on the leg rest, "And the amount they put into that massive tube is crazy."

Edward then remembered she hadn't finished the soup, "You forgot this it's about luke warm now."

Serena took the bowl and decided it was safe enough to eat without being poisoned, "Thanks," Serena placed the bowl onto the table.

"Muscles still aching?" Edward asked Serena nodded, "Turn around," Edward ordered.

"What?" Serena asked.

"Just turn that way," he pointed to the wall Serena obeyed silently and stared to the wall, she then felt Edward place his hands on her shoulders and began to gently apply pressure then he gradually moved his hands down to her forearms and pulled her back, "Like I said cuddles come after," he had pulled Serena back so she was leant on his front, "Do you remember when you were pregnant? and you were on one of your funny days and we had a cuddle like this?"

"If that's a hint piss right off," Serena said angrily she looked up at Edward who was grinning hysterically.

"Oh god no… I don't think I could escape cracked ribs again without landing myself a Pneumophorax and I don't think you could take it either," Edward joked.

"Good because I swear that was a hint," Serena finalised.

"No jelly baby is enough," Edward said, "God can you imagine the grief our colleagues would get?"

"And they wouldn't take it as jokingly as James or Amelia," Serena answered Edward had to laugh, "It's true they have no sense of humour."

"I think the juniors do," Edward defended the young ones who actually kept his sane through the day, "Don't you?"

Serena rolled her eyes and closed them breathing out heavily, "No," Serena sat up she couldn't get comfy when ill she made a pained noise, "I can never get comfy."

"How do you usually rest when ill?"

"In my bed with lots of water and complete darkness," Serena answered.

"Want me to tuck you in? I can go after that but I just want to make sure you rest properly," Edward quickly defended his suggestion in case Serena took it as a step too far.

"Why?" Serena asked.

"Because you're unwell and can't get comfy and no one likes to be un-comfy when ill, "So?"

Serena frowned at his offer she didn't know whether he was being genuine or if he was wanting something else, but in her mind right now Edward was a good source of support and she nodded, "No way are you making your way into my bed."

"Bed," Edward ordered her, "Doctors orders."

…

Once upstairs it suddenly dawned on Serena that Edward would be entering her bedroom, not their but her bedroom. Edward stood in the doorway awkwardly waiting for his cue to enter Serena switched on the light and closed her curtains, "Well you said you wanted "tuck" me in."

Edward took that as his cue to enter he stood by her bedside table, "You still on the left then?" Edward observed as Serena crawled into bed.

"As always," Serena answered she grabbed her tissues by her bed and cleared her nose which was now red and sore, "Ughh."

Edward walked over to her and sat down on the edge, "Close your eyes," he ordered and touched her face his cold hand cooled her burning cheeks, "And think pleasant dreams."

"Don't patronise me," Serena ordered but Edward was right her temperature was going to cause her to get, funny dreams, "I'm fine."

Edward got off the bed and walked round, "Edward what are you doing?" she asked whilst he laid down on the right side, "We have boundaries!" Serena argued but she didn't have the strength to stress out, "Edward."

"You think I'm going to allow you to be sick on your own?" Edward asked turning to her right, "Then the flu must be going to your head."

"Why are you so infuriating?" Serena asked.

"It's a trait good to have being infuriating," Edward joked Serena glared, "Got me this far."

"Broken marriages and a daughter that's how far infuriating has got you," Serena turned her head to him.

"Lie on me," Edward said moving his arm up, "Go on it's not that hard Serena."

Serena thought about it for a minute she frowned a few times, then succumbed she leant over Edward moved his arm down so it was resting on her upper arm, Serena leant her head on his chest.

"How's that?" Edward asked whilst he rubbed her arm.

"It's alright," Serena replied and she smiled a bit, "It feels nice," Serena admitted Edward carried on rubbing her arm.

"Now close your eyes and rest," Edward ordered now stroking her hair Serena obeyed and soon she slipped into a deep slumber. Edward clicked off the light and kissed her head hoping she would sleep for ages.

A/N: So this is what happens when I listen to love songs all day and have a lazy Saturday. I bet this is a complete rubbish chapter haha but it came to me and I just couldn't resist it let me know what you think xx