The day's work passed by with no real issues – Dwayne and Camille returned from breaking the news and interviewing Elsa's mother, as much as they could without distressing her further.

Fidel and Richard quickly and efficiently processed what they could and sent the rest off to Guadeloupe and Richard didn't really stop to think when Camille said brightly, "OK it's still our weekend – let's call it a day and have a drink?"

Walking down to the bar he wondered if he should hold her hand, but he didn't want to make her jump or startle her by grabbing it, but how to do it surreptitiously… By the time he finished his latest internal monologue he realised she had taken his hand.

Without realising it, they had slowed a little – Fidel and Dwayne were deep in conversation and didn't notice as they moved through the bar to pick a table big enough for them all.

Richard paused to look at her again – marvelling at the last 24 hours of his life….

"CAMILLE…. VIEN ICI, MAINTENANT!"

Then again, that might just be his last 24 hours.

Even Camille looked a little startled at the holler from Catherine behind the bar – she shot a look at Richard who looked pretty panicked himself.

"Camille – you don't think she's … angry at us, well me.. for…"

"For WHAT? Leading me astray? Richard, please!"

"CAMILLE!"

She shot him a look, squared her shoulders and then marched into the kitchen with that sense of belligerence that made Richard crazy both in good and bad ways!

Camille figured she would just brazen whatever this was. Until she got into the kitchen where her mother faced her with a face of stone. Suddenly she felt like a little girl again.

"You want to tell me what happened last night?"

Camille opened her mouth, and then shut it again. She knew she used to tell her mother everything, but suddenly she didn't want to. For now she wanted this to develop at its own pace.

"Well?"

"Maman – you know I'm a big girl – there are things you don't need to know in my life."

Catherine regarded her daughter – and knew she couldn't keep a straight face any longer. She made sure she was well out of view of the main bar and roared with laughter. Camille just stared her in disbelief.

"You were kidding me, kidding us that you were mad?"

"Of course – my god do you think I didn't want you to FINALLY get together? For two years you have grown to love him, and he came back Camille. You think I didn't see you holding hands at the function, or know about your dates?"

Camille just shook her head. "Don't give him a hard time Maman. These are big steps for him, so let him find his way."

Catherine carried on chuckling as she shooed Camille out the door. Richard looked over anxiously. "All ok?"

Camille just took his hand and gave it a squeeze but didn't say anything as Catherine breezed out with the drinks. She smiled and chattered to Fidel and Dwayne and and kissed the top of Camille's head before halting in front of Richard.

The conversation dwindled as the two stared at each other, even Camille was not quite sure what would happen next.

"Richard, a word please – in the kitchen,"Catherine commanded.

He nodded, as if struck dumb, even though Camille started to protest, only to be silenced by a look from her mother. Now she was confused – surely just now she said everything was ok – why that look?

Richard trailed behind Catherine as she flounced into the kitchen, and he braced himself for a French assault.

"Tell me honestly, Richard – what are your intentions with my girl?"

His mouth gaped… "Ummm well, I … "

Where to start? What to say? Where's an internal monologue and trusty checklist when you damn well need one?

"Well?"

"I love her, Catherine," he blurted out. It was Catherine's turn for her jaw to drop. She never expected him to come out with that, certainly after only one sentence. She hadn't even had to resort to any French!

Feeling a little bolder, he continued: "I know I am off for 6 months, but I would very much like your blessing – I came back to be with her, and when I come back again… and I WILL be coming back again, it will be for good."

"My blessing, Richard? For what, exactly," she said secretly hoping she knew.

"For me to prove to Camille that she has made the right choice, and that I can be what she needs… "

"And….?" Catherine dared to push

"And that will do for now," he said firmly. He knew they had a long path ahead of them, but he knew what he wanted.

She looked at him, before nodding. She contemplated throwing her arms around him, but she figured he had suffered enough, so she sent him out of the kitchen while she prepared his tea.

Catherine bent close to Richard as she placed his tea on the table and whispered something. Richard flushed but nodded his head replying in a low whisper back. Catherine stood back smiling with a small nod of the head before she bustled away.

Camille looked at him quizzically? "Never mind," he said.

For the rest of the night Camille was desperate to find out what her mother said, and in a way Richard felt more emboldened now, knowing he knew something she didn't. But as always his smugness didn't last long as the shadow of the Commissioner came into view.

"Inspector, Sergeant – a word please?

They rose and followed the Commissioner to a table outside. "Sit, please" he said – gesturing at the table. Richard and Camille looked at each other and in an almost unconscious gesture, Richard held her chair out for her. Ordinarily she might have huffed at him but now she liked it! And the gesture did not go unnoticed by Patterson, who smiled indulgently at the pair.

"So – I am assuming that you have discussed Richard's impending move?" – the pair looked at each other, not really sure how to answer.

Taking advantage of the silence, Patterson ploughed on. "The replacement DI is ready to come out next week, and as such, we will need to put him up and as you will be leaving shortly thereafter, we need to give some thought to your living arrangements."

Richard felt a little panicked – he might moan about it but he liked his little shack, and with all this so new with Camille he loved the privacy that the beach shack would bring tonight, as opposed to some amused looks as he and Camille had driven from the apartment in the morning.

"Yes well completely understandable Sir, do you have any good suggestion for storage, or… err, a hotel," started Richard, aware that he could move in with Camille but it was hardly going to be a long term location.

"Well I have an idea. When I was first starting out as a police officer, my wife and I bought a house near the beach," Camille suddenly started in her seat, causing Richard to look up at her.

"Time has gone, we obviously moved to a bigger place, our kids have used the place from time to time and now we have had it completely renovated and it would make a suitable base for the new Detective Chief Inspector of the new Commonwealth Division – but of course you need to go take a look. And I have ensured that the stipend payment that will accompany your promotion and transfer will more than adequately cover the rent."

Richard didn't know what to say. He looked at Camille, who was smiling nostalgically. "When my mother and I returned from St Lucia, we lived there for a short time – it was split into two apartments and we lived downstairs."

"We have now converted it to one house – so it might seem a little large… at first…" Selwyn smiled. He was a lot younger when he and his wife had taken over the property with a young family and would dearly love to see it as a family home again – but one step at a time. He had to get Richard to agree,

"Take a look," he said, passing the keys over the table. "Let me know what you think over the next couple of days."

Richard and Camille strolled down to the beach-front together – he felt much more at ease holding her hand now – like it felt natural. It was about as much of a PDA as he could manage for now, but felt quietly confident that it was a good start. They rounded the corner to see a walled garden and two storey house, freshly painted on the outside. Camille stopped at the gate.

"I remember coming here when we came back to St Marie. The Patterson's kids were about my age, maybe a couple of years older and it's really maybe the first place I remember living. We had the place downstairs and every day I would come out and look at the sea. Best memories as a little girl…" she trailed off, imagining herself as a young child again.

Richard opened the gate and they let themselves in the house, both stopping dead in the front room in wonder. With brand new air conditioning, airy windows and smart new furniture Richard immediately fell in love with it.

Feeling for Camille's hand they went upstairs, where the Master bedroom and other smaller rooms were. There was room for an office downstairs and a light, large kitchen – It was a perfect home. Here, they would have almost the same privacy away from the main town and set apart from other houses in the vicinity.

Camille couldn't help herself – wondering what the house would be like a few years into the future… would she be chasing children out of the rooms to get ready for school, much as her mother had done many years before.

"I love it… but…"

Camille looked at him, confused – what could he possibly not like?

"I suppose I ought to ask you, would you want to give up the apartment and, you know.. maybe… well I suppose look after the place when I am in England and then, well…mmmph"

She kissed him, to stop him talking…

Stayed last night – check

She didn't seem repulsed by waking up next to me – check

Half asked her to live with me – mmmph

She was kissing him again, this time to get his attention!

"I take that as a yes to living together then" he said, when they finally broke for air. "I suppose I'd better grovel to the guys to help us move then" he grinned. "Is your mother going to freak out at the idea of her only child living in sin?"

She laughed – "Please. She'll be at the front of the queue to help us move in!"

She leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder as they took in where they would be living.

"Are you worried this is going too fast?" she murmured.

"No – I just wished I'd done this sooner… " He realised that in a matter of weeks he would be heading back to England again, and was already beginning to dread how that farewell would go. He took her hand and they locked up and strolled back to the bar. He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as they saw out the rest of the evening before they headed back to the shack.

Camille seemed perfectly at home despite it being the first time they were staying there together. He was still marvelling at the wonder of it all when he realised that she was beckoning him over to the bed. He didn't need a second invitation… or a checklist this time.