AAU was quiet James was asleep with Ava, Amelia had gone to check out the hospital curious if what it looked like, Harry was in the staff room with Mary-Claire, Gemma and Sacha, Chrissie had decided to take a sleep as she was feeling drained. Edward walked up behind Serena at the nurses station desk and shocked her by grabbing her sides, "Ahh!" she screamed in shock.
"Shh," Edward said with his finger on his lip, "You'll wake patients and James."
"Yeah well you're the one scared me," she hit him on the chest, "Don't do that again."
"Aww why you scareded they might find out?" Edward asked putting on a mock baby voice, Serena glared, "Have you updated Ellie?"
"She wants to come in but I've told her not to due to being ill," Serena handed him her phone.
"Blimey asking for updates every hour," Edward laughed and handed the phone back, "What you doing?" Edward asked he leant over her shoulder, "Tut, tut looking up latest iPods."
"Shh," Serena said quietly but when Edward tickled her sides she couldn't control stay quiet, "Stop…" she lost her balance and fell down, "Idiot," she whispered but laughed all the same.
"What is going on?" Michael asked angrily, "Geez it's night time have some respect."
Serena hid under the desk and Edward quickly closed the iPod window, "Sorry… I accidently knocked some files over."
Why Serena felt so childish was beyond her maybe it was a coping mechanism, she placed a finger to her lips.
"Well keep it down there's patients here," Michael stormed back into his office to continue a heated phone call with Annalise.
Edward laughed as Serena stood up, "Oh dear," Serena whispered, "Yankee isn't very happy."
"Keep it down," James grumbled as he was woken up, "The way you two are acting…it's asif you're back together," James's eyes winded, "Oh my god you're back together."
"Shout it to the whole ward why don't you?" Serena snapped going red at how he had found out again.
James got off the bed and walked over, "Saucy details please," he wriggled his eyebrows.
"Oh god," Serena rested her head on the desk, "Why you again?" she moaned making James and Edward laugh.
"Least I didn't find you in your office this time," James winked, "So saucy details?"
"What we do in our private life is nothing to do with you James," Serena raised an eyebrow at him, "Now if you excuse me."
"A, a, ahhh," James stopped her, "Not so fast…Serena and Edward sitting in a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G.-"
"First comes fear, then comes pain, then there's your testicles in a castrating machine," Serena finished with a sweet smile.
"Do not come near Bill and Ben again," James protected his privates, "I think Bill is still recovering from last time."
"Well that's what you get for insulting me when pregnant," Serena patted James on the arm as she walked away, "Oh and James keep it to yourself."
"Will do," James then turned to Edward, "Details, details, details."
"Not here," Edward signalled for James to walk round, "But I have a question…why didn't you tell us… about Jenna?"
James clammed up he knew this question would come, "I…I wanted too but…I thought that…I don't know…I just felt so numb and I didn't think you'd want to know."
"Not want to know?" Edward looked shocked, "James you should've told us… I hate to think you've been going through this alone."
"It's not been so bad," James shrugged.
"So you drinking loads and turning up to work drunk is you coping?" Edward looked at James sternly.
"I've had Amelia and George helping," James said, "So I haven't been alone… please don't be mad at me."
"I'm not mad… I'm upset to think you've dealt with this alone, what happened to our brotherhood? I would've been down to see you like a shot," Edward scolded his best friend lightly, "You know I would've."
"I've messed up Ed… I've made Ava's life hell… what am I going to do?" James asked then Serena walked back over.
"You're going to start by pulling yourself together," Serena ordered James, "Because… the last thing you want to do is lose your job, your daughter and colleagues."
"It's been a month Serena give him a break," Edward looked at Serena.
"Yes but it's all about getting back in the saddle," Serena said to James, "You're going to start by stopping the drinking and being there for your daughter."
"I can't do this alone," James said close to tears, "It's only been a month and I feel so tired and…"
"James Charles Vincent you listen to me right now," Serena knelt down, "This is not the man I know… the James I know is funny, charming, sweet, heart of gold… I know it's going to be hard but if you don't get back up now… you never will."
"What if I can't?" James asked, "What if I'm too far gone?"
"Then you'll not only be letting yourself down, you'll be letting down Ava and Jenna," Serena needed to use tough love, it was the only way, "Get back up on that horse James."
"If not for yourself for that lovely young woman over there," Edward pointed to Ava, "She's should be the reason you have to pull yourself together."
James thought of the words Edward and Serena had just used, some were tough some were true, "Thank you," James said to Serena and then turned his head to Edward, "I can't do this alone."
"You won't have too," Edward said, "We're just a video chat or a phone call away… Amelia's there, George not sure about John but… you're not alone James you never have been and never will be."
"This is usually the cliché moment where we all hug in a circle," Serena joked, "But you know me I don't do cliché."
"Of course," James and Edward said together, "It's been good seeing you…I just wish it was under better circumstances."
"As do I," Serena sat down on Edward's lap seeing it being acceptable since James found out, "Anyway…tell me James how is St George's running without me?"
"Like clockwork as always," James looked over at Ava she looked so peaceful, "Now if you don't mind I'm going to catch a few more hours."
"Night," Edward and Serena both said once James was back in bed Serena whispered, "Well so much for keeping it quiet."
"He won't tell anyone… he knows what's good for him," Edward grinned, "Anyway we've still got the whole of Holby City Hospital guessing."
"True," Serena got off Edward's lap, "I'll be glad when this shift is over… I just want to go to bed."
"Is that with me or on your own?" Edward asked he then tickled her side again causing her to squirm, "Hold still."
"I… can't," Serena whispered whilst giggling, "You're tickling me."
"No I'm not this is just me being affectionate… this would be me tickling you," he grabbed both her sides and caused her fall to her knees, she was holding back laughter as she didn't want to wake any patients up.
"Stop," Serena said but her voice box couldn't connect with her brain, as it was busy trying to find to wiggle away, "Stop," she squeaked out.
Michael Spence was walking down AAU looking very stressed, "Fucking ex's," Michael slammed his hand on the nurses station desk, "What the?" He looked down at what was happening, "I knew it…"
"Shit," Serena said, "It's not what it looks like."
"Oh it's exactly what it looks like," Michael's frown was replaced with a gigantic Cheshire cat grin, "Damn and I was hoping I would win."
"Don't you dare say a word," Serena stood up and straightened herself out, "Michael… come back."
Too late Michael ran into the staff room, "You'll never guess what?" Michael was still grinning."
"What?" Mary-Claire asked.
"Sedward are back on," Michael raised an eyebrow Mary-Claire had a biscuit hovering in her mouth, Harry and Gemma's mouths were wide open, Sacha didn't know how to look.
"Are you being serious?" Mary-Claire asked, "This is brilliant!"
"It was bound to happen," Gemma finally spoke, "Come on don't tell me you haven't seen the looks they give each other? And the chemistry… it was going to happen."
"I trust Mary-Claire will send a memo?" Harry asked, "Hey maybe I can get away with calling her Mrs Campbell now."
"I doubt it," Gemma said to Harry.
…
"Well this is going to be interesting," Serena said rubbing her temples, "Why now?" Serena leant her head on Edward's chest in frustration, "It's too early."
"I did say yesterday the truth always comes out in the end," Edward reminded Serena, "Come on…it's going to be fine."
"This is Holby City remember?" Serena took her head away, "We're going to get the crap ripped out of us."
"Oh you're worrying over nothing," Edward looked at the computer, "Why you wanting a new iPod?"
"I like to keep up with the latest gadgets," Serena shrugged, "Ah," Serena felt another cramp, "Fuck's sake…"
"Breathe through it," Edward advised her.
"Sure you still love me? Even when I'm like this?" Serena asked wanting an honest answer.
"Like I said I love you even when your…oven has technical problems," Edward didn't want to risk anyone hearing, "What?" he asked as he heard Serena laugh.
"Nice way of explaining," Serena laughed again, "My oven has technical issues…" she shook her head, "You always knew how to make me smile."
"Of course," Edward stepped towards her, "I'm Paul Chuckle remember?"
"And that makes James Barry right?" Serena asked.
"Of course," James answered, "Can't have Paul without Barry."
"More like can't have Edward without James," Serena corrected him, "I must say James lost all those years you weren't there."
"I'll wind you up with Barney The Dinosaur," Edward threatened playfully, "I remember you sat and watched it for hours with Ava when she was two…and you hated it."
"Only because he was the most annoying dinosaur on the T.V.," Serena defended, "Eleanor loved it… so I endured hours of Barney."
"Well congratulations are in order," Michael said coming out of the staffroom, "So when did you two get back together?"
"A few weeks ago," Serena answered and she walked away smiling.
"Does that mean you've kept it secret all this time?" Harry asked.
"Pretty much," Edward answered, "Why? Wanted to figure it out yourself?"
"I knew it anyway," Michael said quite smug, "There's been chemistry coming off you two like there's no tomorrow."
"Bet there's been more than that too," James said they talking had woke him up, "Honestly can't a guy get some sleep around here?"
"Sorry," Michael said to James, "What do you mean?"
"I'm sorry but those two back at SG's acted like they were permanently on heat," James noticed Edward's cheeks go bright red, "And that's a fact."
"Lovely," Gemma said trying to get the image of Serena and Edward out of her mind.
"No joke it was a bloody nightmare on conferences," James winked Serena tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around she pinched his nuts, "Ouch," James said really pitched, "You've gone and hurt Ben." Michael felt sympathy he had been hurt in the nuts like that before.
"Payback," Serena glared at James, "And for the record it was not that bad."
"Oh believe me it was Serena," James said bravely, "Oh my god… your conference in Scotland… I should've worked it out then."
"Oh god," Serena turned her face away, "Mr Vincent quit whilst you're ahead."
"Oh you got called Mr Vincent," Edward raised his eyebrows, "You're in trouble."
"I suggest if you ever go on a conference with them take earplugs," James strongly advised he was feeling a little better for now, "We used to tease her with the song Uptown Girl."
"Oh yeah," Edward remembered, "I remember… Serena was a posh girl from Surrey you see."
"Never would've thought she was half Scottish," James added, "Only when we met her father… we realised she had Scottish blood."
"Well you met Duncan after me… he didn't hate you," Edward reminded James he then walked over to the social circle, one arm around Serena's neck the other around James's, "And I agree with Serena we weren't that bad."
"You weren't the one trying to sleep," James defended himself.
"Oh this is brilliant," Michael said grinning, "Wait until your relationship spreads around the hospital."
"Trust me it really won't bother us," Serena argued, "We worked at St George's and their grapevine is worse than here."
"Defiantly," Edward agreed, "So haven't you all got work to be doing?"
There were numerous 'ums', 'urrs' and 'oh my god's' as everyone got back to work. Edward now had his way he could torment her with tickles and much more whenever he wanted to now, "Now I've got you," Edward said tickling her, "Nothing stopping me now… it's out."
"Stop," Serena ordered but it was a poor attempt as she tried to break free, "Edward… I… can't… breathe," Serena said through laughter, "Stoooop."
"No," Edward carried on tickling her, "Nothing stopping me now."
"Stoop," Serena fell to her knees again, "This is not the place…"
"I know," Edward said grinning, "Which means when we're done here… we continue tickling back at your place."
"Oh really?" Serena asked an eyebrow raised, "As long as we make sure he's OK," Serena pointed to James, "I want him going home knowing he's going to be supported."
"Of course," Edward said he rested his forehead on hers, "Doubt they'll be sending us on conferences again."
"I didn't realise we were that bad," Serena laughed, "No wonder James always looked so tired… we kept him up."
"How cruel are we?" Edward asked whilst grinning his arms wrapped around Serena's neck, "But who cares it's out now…and no doubt we are going to be like you said ripped to shreds by this."
"Get a room," James said from Ava's bed, "Where's Amelia?"
"Touring the hospital she's been ages," Serena suddenly realised, "Oh she's probably found Jac or someone."
…
"What are you doing?" Harry asked Mary-Claire.
"Sending out a memo," Mary-Claire answered, "This is going to be great… can you believe it though?"
"I always thought she'd go for Ric or Hanssen," Sacha said to Michael.
"I knew there was something going on… I just had a feeling," Michael grinned again, "Oh I can't wait to rip them to shreds... shot gun no conferences with them."
"Shot gun not sharing a hotel," Sacha called it, "Or conferences."
"Hey I called it first," Michael said childishly.
…
A/N: Secrets out on AAU how long until everyone else finds out? Would be great if you could drop me some ideas for what to carry on doing to this story anything would be helpful! Also don't forget to let me know what you think (:
xx