Chapter 11

It was not that full at "The Unicorn" when Barbara and Sam arrived but Cordia and her harp were there and also some other fellow musicians. After getting their drinks the music started. Barbara felt a bit nervous hoping Tommy would come. She had practised her song with Sam at his shop before they went to the pub and Sam had encouraged her: "You know, little one, it´s not that difficult to say this words when it´s the right person, so just act on your feelings when it´s time."

Tommy was sitting at the kitchen table trying to figure out where Barbara was. They had never spoken about the location. His first thought had been to trace her mobile but then thinking about it he had to tell a reason why he needed to do it. And then it hit him and he grabbed his mobile searching a number to call at once.

"Lafferty!"

"Hi Stuart, here is Tommy Lynley."

"Oh, hi. Don´t tell me there is a new case. I am just on my way to collect my wife."

"No new case, but a personal case. Barbara and I have a bet that if I find her tonight she would reward me with a surprise." Tommy answered to avoid any noisy questions from Lafferty.

Stuart smiled as he had spoken to Sam and knew more than Tommy knew he did: "Oh, okay. She is in a pub called "The Unicorn" at the borders of Chalk Farm. That´s where I am heading too as my wife is there too."

Tommy winced a bit but knew that it was inevitable to meet Stuart there: "Okay, I will find it, so I guess see you there."

"Yep, why don´t we meet in front of the pub in 20 minutes?" Stuart answered on his way to his motorbike now.

"Okay, see you there," Tommy ended the call, took his jacket and went to his car.

They were playing and singing for nearly an hour already and Barbara got more and more nervous. No sight of Tommy until now but then she didn´t know when he had come home and found her note.

To cheer her up a bit Sam had just started to sing Bob Dylan´s "Forever young" knowing it had been one of her favourite songs and Barbara had just joined in when the door opened and Tommy and Stuart came in. Sam noticed them at once but Barbara was sitting with her back to the door and didn´t see them coming in.

As she still didn´t turn around when the song had ended Sam took the lead and started with her song. The moment he played the first notes Barbara knew that Tommy was there. Looking at Sam who gave her an encouraging smile she took a deep breath and started in her wonderful clear voice: "You fill up my senses…"

Tommy was just at the bar to get a drink for Stuart and himself when he heard her first words. Mesmerized he turned and just looked at Barbara who had also turned now searching for him. She found him and her green eyes started to sparkle as they only did for Tommy when she came to the second verse of John Denver´s song: "Come let me love you. Let me give my life to you…."

They looked each other in the eyes and everyone else in the pub seemed to disappear in the background, it was only the two of them. Singing on Barbara got up and went to Tommy ending the verse in front of him: "…..come let me love you. Come love me again."

In the bridge Sam was playing now she whispered so that only Tommy could hear her "I love you" and kissed him not worrying about all the people around, they didn´t matter in that moment. It was as Sam had said, when it was the right one, it wasn´t difficult to say at all and for once in her life she just acted on her feelings.

Tommy couldn´t believe what he heard and what she did but taking her in his arms and kissing her back made him so incredibly happy like he had never felt before in his life. Knowing that she was singing this song just for him filled him with the wonderful feeling of love, of loving someone and of being loved by this someone. In the back of his head there was the thought about the people around them but only for a really small moment then it was again only Barbara and him.

But being a good singer Barbara made her way out of his embrace to go on with the song just in time and also a little breathless: "You fill up my senses…" Smiling at her Tommy let her finish but she had just finished the last line "´…Come fill me again!" when he took her back in his arms and kissed her again. When Sam finished the last note of the song the whole pub started cheering and applauding.

Stuart stood besides them smiling and when they finally parted he just said: "About time you two!"

Feeling only a little bit embarrassed both Tommy and Barbara smiled back at him and Tommy said: "We would appreciate it if it isn´t the talk of the MET tomorrow." "Sure, will let it slip only the day after tomorrow," Stuart joked but then got serious: "Don´t worry, there will be no word from me until you say it yourself. Be happy that it is me here and not Winston, he cannot keep a secret."

Sam had started to play a reel to get the focus away from Tommy and Barbara and back to the music but he smiled over to them as did Cordia who was playing her harp now.

Getting the drinks now Tommy handed one over to Lafferty and then slipped his arm around Barbara again listening to the music and enjoying the feeling of Barbara leaning into his embrace.

During the next break Sam and Cordia came over to them and after a little talk where Tommy was acquainted with Lafferty´s wife and also properly with Sam, Barbara and he left the pub.

When they reached the car Tommy took her in his arms again: "You don´t know how happy you have made me, Kara! That was the loveliest thing someone ever did for me, singing me a love song".

Barbara smiled at him returning the embrace: "Glad you liked it. I wasn´t sure how to say it at all and so singing seemed the easiest option for me. But Sam was right, when it is the right person it´s not that difficult to say at all: I really love you Tommy!"

"I love you too, Barbara! Come let us drive home."

A/N: I have only used a few lines of the song as I don´t know how it is handled with the rights here using song lyrics, but as some of you would have recognised, the song is John Denver´s "Annie´s song" and now you can also see where my story title comes from :o).

Normally this would be the end of my story but for those who like it a bit kitschy, there will be an epilog which came to my mind long before I had the last chapters ready.

Thanks again for reading and reviewing it really means a lot to me.