New home

They moved the boxes from Thorpe's car first. Both cars were parked next to the archway leading into the court and each of them took a box. Stephen typed in the key code while he stood on one foot, balancing the box he held on his lifted knee. The door buzzed and opened and he pushed his way inside. He put the box down on the floor and held the door open for the others. They filed in, talking about how excited they were for Rory and Stephen and how great it was that they could have a decent office now. When they were all in, he shut the door, turned on the hall light and found the keys in his pocket. He opened the downstairs door and, picking up his box, walked with the others into their new office space.

The downstairs space wasn't furnished like the upstairs one but that hadn't worried Rory or Stephen. They were just thankful that their new home had the basics. The office could wait. They could furnish that in the next couple of days but they were moving in upstairs now so that was the priority. As Rory stood there considering that, it really hit her that she wasn't going to be leaving this flat again today. She was staying here. With Stephen. Everyone else would be leaving but they were staying. This was their home now. Just them. Just her and her best friend, her soul mate, her husband. She thought about the upcoming nights where they would cuddle up on the sofa watching tv. Just them. She thought about the upcoming dances they would share when a good song came on the radio. Just them. She even let herself imagine the family they might have and raise in this home. She couldn't help the grin that formed on her face and she couldn't help the blush that followed once she really considered that her and Stephen would be completely alone, able to celebrate in anyway they wanted. They should test the bed first. She stifled a laugh and hoped that the redness in her cheeks would be mistaken for the effort of carrying what was becoming an increasingly heavy box. She realised that everyone else had put theirs down and set it on the floor. When she looked up, she caught Stephens eye. He was looking at her with a smirk. He had clearly understood what the blush had meant and he looked like he was thinking the same thing.

Freddie put down her bag and produced a few flasks of tea. Then she pulled out some cups. When she had come to see the flat, she had noticed that the kitchen didn't have a kettle yet so she took it upon herself to provide the tea. She sat on the floor and poured some cups as Rory, Stephen, Boo and Callum made their way out to Stephens car for the suitcases. She heard them rolling along the cobblestones as she handed a cup to Thorpe who accepted it with a nod and a "thank you."

The front door opened again and they both heard the suitcases being pulled upstairs. She stood and opened the office door. "Anyone need a hand?"

Rory, Stephen and Boo all said no but Callum, who was last onto the stairs, nodded. "Yes please love. I have no idea what the hell Rory's got in here but it's heavy."

They all laughed as Freddie took the bottom of the suitcase and manhandled it upstairs with Callum. Thorpe was chuckling from the office doorway, cup in hand. When they reached the top, Stephen opened the door and put his case inside. Then he took each of Rory's case individually and placed them inside. Callum spoke. "Can I have another look inside? I miss our old place and can't remember what not being cramped is like."

Stephen chuckled and stepped aside to let him pass. "Of course. You're always welcome here. When it's all set up properly, we're going to be inviting you around for a meal."

Callum nodded. "Excellent."

Freddie went back downstairs as Callum and Boo stepped inside and Stephen blocked the entrance to the flat when Rory tried to walk in. She looked at him questioningly. He took her hands in his. "I have a special plan for when the others go so you can't go in just yet, my love."

She smiled at him. "Ok. Sounds interesting."

"I think you'll like it." He leant down to her and gave her a soft kiss. She smiled up at him before they walked back downstairs hand in hand. Boo and Callum followed a couple of seconds later. When they went back into the office, Freddie handed them each a cup of tea. They accepted them happily although Rory would've preferred hers iced. They all sat on the floor drinking their tea when Stephen stood up again, laying his cup on the floor. "I've just remembered, one of these boxes is the stuff I couldn't fit in my case. I marked it with an S."

"Yep," Freddie said. "I brought that in. It's over there. It was as light as a feather." She pointed over one of the corners and Stephen went over to it and picked it up. "Thanks Freddie. Yeah, it's just some papers. I'll take this upstairs. I'll be back in a minute."

He went off upstairs while the others continued chatting. Thorpe told them all about the worrying amount of cases they were getting from the Marble Arch area and they all agreed that, yes, they had noticed and it concerned them a bit. "I think," Thorpe said, "that if there are many more, the Oswulf stone may need checked." They all mumbled, none of them thrilled at the prospect of going back into the sewers. Rory, especially, shivered at the thought and hoped that the incidents in that area had all been coincidences and that there'd be no more. "But," Thorpe continued, "we shan't discuss it today. This is a happy day."

The office door opened and Stephen walked back in asking if he had missed anything. Thorpe quickly repeated what he had said and Stephen nodded solemnly. "If the Oswulf stone is moved again, I'll have to inform the Shadow Cabinet."

"That's why," Thorpe said, "you need to be an integral part of the operation should there be one."

Stephen nodded again and quickly sat down beside Rory who had gone pale. He put an arm around her shoulder and she nestled into him. Freddie poured another cup of tea. "So," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "When does the decorating start?"

They all smiled at her, Rory gratefully so, and they all started chatting about arranging a painting party. A couple of hours passed before Thorpe stood. "Well, I don't know about everyone else, but I have business to attend to elsewhere so I shall leave you two to get set up."

They all stood and agreed that they would leave the two of them to settle in. Freddie packed up her flasks and cups and Rory and Stephen walked them all to the door. Rory hugged each of them as did Stephen and they both waved them off as they walked to Thorpe's car. Stephen shut the front door gently before locking up the office. He turned to Rory who stood at the bottom of the stairs. She was grinning, tears sparkling in her eyes. "So," he said, equally happy, "here we are. Home sweet home."

Rory giggled as Stephen pulled her into a hug before they went upstairs. When they got to the top, Stephen spoke. "Ok. Close your eyes."

She chuckled. "What?"

He grinned. "Just close your eyes."

She smiled. "Ok."

She shut her eyes and heard Stephen open the door. Then he came up to her and she felt his hands on her waist. He whispered. "Put your arms around my neck."

She did so and he kissed her before scooping her up into his arms. She laughed.

"You can open your eyes again."

She opened her eyes and looked at him. "What are you doing?"

"I'm carrying you over the threshold. It's tradition."

She giggled as he carried her into the flat. Her breath caught when she saw it. Roses lined the corridor past the doors to the living room and kitchen and up the small set of stairs.

"Stephen...what-"

"That box of stuff I brought up? It was a box of roses. I told you I had something special planned."

She looked at him for a moment before looking back to the trail of roses and sighed. It was a sigh that was a mixture of a laugh and a sob. He walked down the corridor and up the small set of stairs, still carrying Rory in his arms. The roses led to the bedroom. The door was open and she saw that he had covered the bed in rose petals. She bit her lip to stop it from quivering as he laid her on the bed gently. He lay down next to her.

He spoke softly, his voice filled with love. "So, you told me in the car that you would miss the memories of our old room?"

She nodded as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Well then. Let's make some new memories."

He kissed her.