The evening air was crisp and thin, and as they walked the short distance from the hospital entrance to Connie's car, it filled their lungs and made them shiver within their coats.

They climbed into the car, with only the briefest flicker of a thought between them about who might see, who might question their sudden friendship. But there was nobody else there but the odd porter leaning against the wall, his back to them, thin ribbons of blue smoke curling up from a cigarette he held at his side.

Once in the drivers seat, Connie rubbed her hands together, blowing on them to warm them and Rita wrapped her arms about herself. Winter had finally arrived, they could feel it on the wind, in the air and deep within their bones.

"So, do I get to know what this treat might be?"

Rita asked, clipping her seat belt into place whilst Connie started the engine and checked her mirrors. She smiled as she reversed out of the parking space.

"Don't get your hopes up too high. It's just something a little bit different."

She glanced to Rita as she pulled out of the car park and onto the main road, tailing behind a red Peugeot.

"I didn't have much time to think of something..."

She added, smiling as she spoke, and Rita pulled her arms tighter about herself.

They drove in silence for several minutes, listening to the hum of the engine and the gentle whirr of the heater that blew warm air into their faces, making Rita yawn into the back of her hand. She watched the cars flash by, and the moon as it hung so steady and still, high above them in the cloudless sky, surrounded by stars.

She squinted against another yawn and bought her attention back to the car, back to Connie

She adored this woman, she thought, letting her eyes linger on the profile of Connie's face. It was dark as night outside and the street lamps cast flashes of brilliant gold across her face, making her eyes sparkle and her skin glow. She watched her concentrate on the road before her, how every so often she would press her lips together just that little bit tighter, or a frown would flicker across her forehead.

"Any particular reason as to why you're staring at me?"

Connie asked, without a glance, turning off of the main road and down onto the less well lit road towards the cliffs.

Rita exhaled a silent laugh. She hadn't realised she had been staring.

"That's one of the perks isn't it? Am I not allowed to stare at my..."

She paused, suddenly very aware that she didn't know what the end of that sentence should be. Instead she cleared her throat and adjusted her seat belt against her chest, feeling it catch and pull against one of the wooden toggles of her coat.

"You."

She concluded quietly.

Connie leant forwards slightly to see the road ahead.

"At your me?"

A smile twitched the corners of Connie's lips, and she turned left onto the cliff tops and came to a stop just outside the little row of three buildings, a house, a small news agents and a fish and chip shop.

Rita peered out of the window to where the sign for the chip shop squealed on it's hinges and buffeted back and forth in the wind.

"Fish and chips?"

She asked, deciding it might be better just to ignore the fact that she had stumbled so embarrassingly over her own words.

"Don't tell me you don't like them?"

Connie asked, unbuckling her seat belt.

Rita looked away from the window and again towards Connie.

"Of course I do. It was more the surprise that you do!"

"I don't survive entirely on a diet of caviar and champagne..."

She reached out to touch her fingers to Rita's.

"I thought we could sit in the car and eat them looking out over the cliffs."

She added slowly, gauging Rita's reaction.

"Very romantic!"

She murmured, feeling the other woman's eyes upon her, and she glanced at her out of the corner of her eye.

Connie was watching her, a frown furrowing between her eyes.

"I am yours you know."

She whispered.

Rita turned to look at her properly, her eyebrows raising.

"You are?"

She found herself saying, and Connie pressed her lips together and gave a slight nod of her head.

"Mmm."

She murmured, and then looked back out through the wind screen.

"Come on."

She said simply.

They opened the doors against the wind and climbed out of the car. Connie immediately regretted not changing her shoes as her heels began to sink into the soft earth. She bowed her head against the weather and reached out to Rita, slipping her hand within hers as they crossed the small road to the shops.

Rita glanced down between them to their hands, her eyes blinking rapidly against the drizzle of rain. Connie had a way of taking your hand which made it clear that she would have to be the one to let go, and as they came to the door of the fish and chip shop, Connie squeezed her fingers.

"Come and tell me what you want."

She raised her voice against the wind, and with her free hand she pushed open the door.

Good morning everyone! More later :) Thank you in advance for the reviews!

Oh, and I forgot to mention, a few days ago I received an email from a guest saying that 'the noise they made (whilst reading what I'd written), made their ears fall off', thank you for making me laugh, and I hope you located your ears.. xxx