Molly's POV

For some reason, Kinders was being a complete dick. I was sure it was to do with his argument with Pippa but I didn't like to say anything. I was sat in Smurf's room with all the guys when he came storming back in and threw himself down. It was the first time I had noticed his wedding ring and I felt a pang of guilt as he twisted it around his finger and took it off his finger and then put it back on again and then off and then on. It was as if he was trying to decide whether to abandon his marriage or stay with it. I caught his glance as he looked.

"Never get fucking married!" He muttered. "It always ends in tears."

"That bad?" I sighed.

"She's fucking insufferable."

"She's just concerned."

"No, she's obsessed. He's gonna be fine they say but she still won't leave his bedside!"

"I can't imagine what it would be like if my brother was in that situation, you have to be patient with her!"

"Who made you the fucking marriage police, Dawes? Have you ever been married?"

"No."

"No, Corporal!"

"No, Corporal."

"Then what gives you the right to lecture me on marriage?"

"Sorry…Corporal." I stuttered. The rest of two section were staring at us in disbelief.

"We leave for Barracks, now!" Kinders said standing up and I grabbed his arm. "What the fuck is it now, Dawes?"

"Can I join you in a moment?" I asked. "I have to freshen up, if you know what I mean?!"

"You better be fucking quick! And if you see Philippa, tell her to go fuck herself, again." He spat and the boys shook their heads. I felt bad for Pippa, God knows how she'd have reacted when he said that the first time. I ran as fast as I could to the ICU and I was relieved that there was no one in there.

"Has Rebecca gone?" I asked as I walked in.

"She went whilst I was on my second tour." He sighed and beckoned me over.

"You know what I mean."

"I wasn't very good at the life she wanted."

"What life was that?"

He shrugged. "Settled, I guess. Not so good at that. Always preferred being on tour, living out of a bergan. The army is all I've ever known, it's... all I've ever wanted..."

"I'm sorry."

"…Until I met you." His words choked me. I wanted him to love me so badly but when he hinted at the fact that he did I felt uneasy. I stared into his beautiful brown eyes and stroked his soft dark chestnut hair. "Pip says I still have Afghan grime in my hair."

"I don't think I could've actually lived with myself if I'd managed to get you killed."

"It wasn't your fault. I was the Officer. I failed you, and the rest of the platoon."

"You didn't fail anybody."

He shook his head. "I'm resigning my commission. It happened on my watch."

"What're you gonna do?"

"I'm not sure. What I do know is there's nothing in our way anymore…we don't have to wait out!"

I looked at him and he put his hand on my face. I realised the time and as much as it pained me, I drew myself away.

"Tell Pippa I'm so sorry about her and Liam." I said as I reached the door.

"What's he said?" He looked annoyed.

"Tell her to go fuck herself again." I told him and he shook his head.

"He doesn't deserve her. Tell him from me that if he wants his marriage to survive he'd better have a think about what I said in my best man's speech at his wedding. He'll understand what I mean!" He sighed and blew me a kiss as I walked past the window. I ran to the bus and passed on the message to Kinders who nodded and swallowed before slamming the door and getting in the front. I guessed he was being reminded that Captain James would go to any lengths to protect his sister and stop her heart being broken.

Pippa's POV

I took my coffee and walked back to Charles' room. My parents had started talking about lawyers and I couldn't deal with it. He'd been through a divorce emotionally, he was the only person who could understand my feelings. I walked in and he was staring at the window.

"You ok?" I murmured.

"Yeah, Molly was here…and now she's not. I don't know when I'll see her again." He whispered and looked at me. "It's tough…love's a bitch."

"Love is worse than a bitch, a bitch is Rebecca, and love is like a million Rebecca's!" I joked and he laughed.

"You cut up about Liam?"

"No one gets it."

"I get it. I don't love Rebecca anymore because I've moved on but when we first got divorced I really did miss her, I wanted to cancel it and forgive her but I couldn't. I don't regret it now though."

"I don't miss him. I fucking hate him…but…"

"But you love him?" He asked and I nodded before breaking down. He opened his arms and as I moved closer he wrapped them around me pulling me to his chest. "I get it."

"I don't know what to do." I sobbed.

"You can't give up just yet. You have to try. If he's not willing then you have to accept its over but I don't think he's ready to give up. He knows he's lucky to have you."

"Lucky?"

"He told all the guys on tour that his wife was ridiculously hot and should probably be a model."

"I know he didn't because Molly didn't even know I existed."

"Molly doesn't socialise with them."

"You didn't tell her about me either."

"No but I didn't tell her about Rebecca and Sam either, she found out by accident."

"And she forgave you?"

"Somehow, yeah!"

"If Liam revealed he had a kid or a wife, I'd have those divorce papers signed faster than he could say go fuck yourself which seems to be his favourite phrase at the moment! I'd never forgive him."

"You've known Liam for years and years and you're married to him, if he was keeping a secret like that it would understandably by unforgivable. Molly and I weren't, aren't, even together."

"So what do I do?"

"You go to Barracks, take Mum and Dad, I need a fucking break. You apologise for neglecting him and wait for him to apologise for being a dick, if he does then do whatever's necessary to square it off."

"Ok. I better go home and shower and shit first! If I'm not going for me, do I have to wear my uniform?"

"Not for his presentation, I don't think, you'll be with the family and friends so it won't make a difference but you obviously have to for your presentation."

"I meant his. I might not go to mine. We'll see." I said and he laughed and kissed my cheek before I walked to the door. "Oh shit, my rings!" I gasped and retrieved them from the otherwise empty bin. I slid them onto my finger, it felt so strange. I walked back to the café and told my parents the plan. They were pleased that I was happier but I could sense that they didn't want me to get back with him.

We drove to Bath and I got ready in my childhood room. I found a dress from my eighteen birthday, it was over seven years old but it was smart enough for Barracks and it would show him what he was missing – not that that was what the purpose of going was. I looked in the mirror after doing my hair and applying some make-up, it had been months since I had done any of this. I moved my hand and caught sight of the three short straight lines tattooed on the side of my wrist, I needed to get a fourth one done. As soon as Charles was better, we'd go like we had done after every other tour and get our 'battle stripes' as Charles called them. My parents hated them but we got them anyway, it was our silent reminder of everything we had been through. Liam had his own 'battle stripes' he had three stars under the tattoo of the army crest that he had tattooed on his left arm, it was less subtle that what Charles and I had done but it served the purpose. I had the same number of medals as Charles because I had Military Cross from saving Geraint on my third tour and then three tours worth of medals. It didn't feel like I deserved it but I got it all the same. Charles had three tours worth of medals and also a Military Cross for what he did for Geraint but he refused to wear it, it said it made him look like a hero and he wasn't one because Geraint didn't live. I empathised with that but I was proud to wear all my medals, not just the ones I wanted to have. I sighed and picked up my coat before heading out to the car where my parents who were dressed up and Sam – who wore a suit like he had at my wedding – waited for me. We drove to Barracks and I began to panic.

When we arrived we followed all the people into the stands and watched as the medals were presented. Charles had had a nurse text me to ask me to video Molly's face as she was told about her Military Cross, I tried but she looked miserable. I didn't blame her. At the end, everybody mingled. Liam hadn't noticed we were there and was off in a corner – probably sulking – so I let him be and went to speak to Molly.

"You came?" She gasped as I walked over to her.

"Captain's orders…and I'm trying to salvage my marriage." I admitted.

"He's over there if you want to speak to him." Molly said pointing at him and I shook my head.

"I'll speak to him in a minute. How do you feel about that Military Cross?"

"Shit. How was what I done even heroic?"

"That's what both me and Charles said when we got ours. You just have to say thank you very much and take it. It's all you can do."

"Well I ain't looking forward to it!"

"I'll bet." I smiled. I caught Liam's eye and his jaw dropped. Molly noticed and shoved me in his direction. I walked over slowly and he smiled.

"You came!"

"I did." I said quietly. "Look, I'm sorry. I was so overwhelmed by the whole situation that I freaked, I panicked and I neglected you. I'm sorry."

He shuffled and I moved some hair out of my face. "You're wearing your rings…on your finger?" He beamed and I nodded. "I'm sorry too, I was a total dick. I was so frustrated that we didn't get to spend time together and I had been waiting so long to see you and then I suddenly thought that I wasn't gonna get any time on my own with you because you would be with him. I'm the one that should be sorry." He touched my hand and I looked down and saw that he too was wearing his ring.

"God, you're wearing your ring too. We're almost a normal married couple!" I joked and he shook his head playfully.

"Never!" He laughed and took me in his arms. Before I knew what was happening his lips crashed against mine and I found myself crushing his in return. Butterflies danced in my stomach and my heart sang with delight. I just felt right, natural even. We were disturbed by some loud cheers.

"The Corporal and his missus back on good terms, I see!" One of them with a Manchester accent laughed as he strolled towards us. I spun round and Liam put his arms around my waist.

"Jesus, Corp. You said she were hot but not like fucking on fire!" A young lad with ginger hair and a Derbyshire accent focussed his eyes on me – but not my head.

"You, Mrs Kinders, are the prettiest girl I've ever seen and I come from Liverpool, we have fucking Abbey Clancy!" A scouse guy said to me and I rolled my eyes.

"Boys, this is my wife, Pippa. She's also the Boss Man's sister if you were interested." Liam said proudly as I rested my hand on his. The guys looked among each other and muttered things in surprise about my relationship to Charles.

"I'm also a trained killer so keep staring at my tits and I'll render you speechless!" I warned one of them teasingly.

"You're army?" The man from Manchester asked and I nodded.

"Lieutenant. Just back off my fourth tour – six months in Kandahar." I explained.

"Nice!" The scouse guy smiled and then mouthed "You're actually married to her?" to Liam who nodded in reply. The boys found out as much as they could about me and then went away much to my delight.

"They seemed nice." I laughed and he shook his head and smiled.

"They're typical teenage lads." He told me and I nodded knowingly. "Do I get to take you home tonight?"

I drew out my thinking process with umm noises and he pouted impatiently. "I think for one night it would be allowable."

"Really?" he beamed and I grinned.

"If you bring me back here for my thing tomorrow and then we can go up to Birmingham to see Charles."

"If that's what you want to do." He said.

"More than anything."