The air was full of the tinny clanking of boat masts, and the creak and groan of wooden walk ways that shifted and lurched against the river bank. They could smell the dankness of the water and the mud that sucked at the soles of their shoes. Connie staggered forwards, trying not to let the heels of her shoes be pulled into the earth. Eliot gripped her hand, walking with the other arm out stretched as though he were walking a tight rope.

Somehow, together they found themselves at the rivers edge, and by clutching desperately onto the rail they made their way across onto the boat. Pausing whilst Eliot fumbled with his keys and made a few stabbing attempts at the door before finding the key hole.

Inside the door, three steps down seemed a feat more tricky than either of them had expected, and Eliot slipped down the first two, catching himself on the bottom one and falling hard against the side board as the boat lurched on a wave.

Connie stood in the door way, on the top step, both hands holding onto the door frame until Eliot had regained enough balance to be able to offer out a hand to help her down.

She let out a breath as finally, finally she was down. Everything was quiet save the chink of the masts on the breeze and the sound of their breathing.

"Thank you."

She whispered. All of a sudden she could feel herself relaxing, she could feel every bit of her body fill with relief.

"Thank you."

She murmured again, and instinctively he knew that she was thanking him for helping her with more than just those three steps...

"Would you like a drink?"

He was looking for something to do with his hands.

"I've got tea..."

He began opening cupboards in the little galley kitchen.

"Actually I think that's about it."

He said sheepishly.

"I don't often have guests."

"Tea is fine."

She smiled at his nervousness. He was taller than she had thought he was, and strong despite his gentle manner.

"Milk? Sugar?"

"Just black."

She murmured, resting a hand on the work top as the boat gave another rolling lurch.

"Sorry! Let me take you through."

He exclaimed, noticing how she struggled to stand, and he flicked the kettle on to boil before opening the door to his right.

"It's not very big."

He added as he took her hand again.

She pursed her lips against a laugh that she couldn't quite hold in, and he looked back at her as they made their way into an even smaller living area with two arm chairs, a small stove and walls lined with books. He tilted his head to one side, his eyes twinkling with alarming beauty.

"I meant the boat."

He said quietly, and he helped her into one of the chairs.

"I'll just-"

He gestured with both hands to the kitchen and slipped back through the doorway.

She watched him for a moment, in her hazy dreamlike state where everything was forgotten except for that moment, right then. Finally she had succeeded, the only thing that she could feel was the here and now. She watched him search for a tea spoon, and pour the water into two mugs. Even drunk he seemed perfectly able to stand whilst the boat rolled beneath his feet. She admired his profile as he concentrated on pouring milk into his cup. High cheekbones that cast shadows across the clean shaven jaw, straight nose and lips that he touched his tongue to, to wet them.

He glanced at her whilst he stirred the tea, catching her looking at him. He smiled slightly, his lips down-turning at the corners as her own did, and then he turned his attention back to the tea.

-.-

Thank you for the reviews so far... lots of 'NO!'s and 'WHY's!?"

In the words of the brilliant Miranda Hart, 'bear with, bear with'. All will become clear... xxx