February 2018
It wasn't that she had gone to bed to avoid him, but after overhearing Smithy's chat with Callum, she just wasn't quite ready to look at him and decide if the feelings she had developed all those years ago, when they were undercover together, were still there or if she just saw him as a friend. She had pretended to be asleep when he had whispered her name from the bedroom door way. She had heard him on the phone chatting away to Jo and laughing away to Only Fools and Horses on the TV, some of it was very questionable but the series was hilarious all the same. She had heard him go to bed, he stopped in her door way once again, she could tell, before slipping into his own room a few hours ago, she could hear the slight sound of his gentle snore which let her know he was sleeping. Stevie on the other hand could not sleep. She needed a hot chocolate, that would help her sleep, creeping into the kitchen she flicked the kettle on and grabbed a cup. She turned and his figure startled her "You okay?" he had said, she had barely heard, the smashing of the cup as it slipped from her fingers frightening her.
"I'm so sorry" she spoke as quickly as she could fumble over the words. "I'll clean it up". She bent down and began to pick up the broken cup, as he moved towards her, she flinched away and sunk to the floor completely and attempted to hide her face from him "I'm so sorry"
"Hey, Stevie, it's fine, look at me" she moved her face up slowly "It's just a cup okay, I was just going to help you"
"I thought" she paused as tears streamed down her face "I'm sorry Smithy"
"Stevie, don't apologise, you are safe here, you are safe with me, I will never hurt you, I swear to you" she moved into his arms and he held her close as he kissed the top of her head "Stevie, no one will hurt you again, I promise you".
A few days had passed and Stevie hadn't found the time to talk to Smithy about his feelings for her. She knew she needed too, she cared for Smithy a great deal but at the moment she wasn't entirely sure she would ever want to be in another relationship. Smithy had been on another night shift and she hated to be at home on her own but she kept the place locked up like a prison and she cuddled Houdini and slept, more often than not in Smithy's bed. She had cooked breakfast and boiled the kettle, knowing Smithy would be home in the next few minutes. Hearing her phone beep she knew it would be a text from Smithy letting her know he was at the door, she moved to open the many locks and grinned at him, he looked tired but gave her a huge smile. "Morning darling" he beamed as he stepped inside.
"Morning Smithy, I have just finished cooking breakfast"
"You keep spoiling me like this, I'll never want you to leave". He rested down at the kitchen table and she placed a plate in front of him "You will make an amazing house wife one day, you just need a little maids outfit"
"Shut up you pervert" she giggled
"I have something for you actually" he pulled a small envelope out of his jacket pocket and passed it to her. "Your pay check, you got your own wages sweetheart, it's been paid in your new bank this morning"
"Oh my god" tears fell down her cheeks as she opened it "I actually have my own money" she spoke as she rested down in the chair next to him.
"What you going to spend it on?" Smithy asked before taking a bite of a sausage
"I owe you a small fortune, I should think about saving for a deposit to get a flat, I don't really know where to start"
"Stevie, you owe me nothing and unless you really want to, you can wait another month before looking for somewhere of your own to live, that room is yours for as long as you want it"
"Thanks Smithy"
"So, what do you really want to spend it on?"
"Clothes, everything I have is what Declan made me wear, other than the dress you got me, I just want some clothes that make me feel like me again"
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because you would of insisted on taking me shopping and you have done enough and besides it's something I want to do for myself"
"Okay, you best get yourself ready to go shopping then".
Although Smithy had reluctantly agreed to go shopping, she had decided it was something she wanted to do with a woman, as much as she adored Smithy his taste in clothes weren't the same as a female friend. Lexi had picked her up a few hours earlier and they had trailed round hundreds of shops, she had bought everything she had been dreaming of. They had sat down in a coffee shop and as she sipped her drink and picked at her cake, she smiled at Lexi, "Things have been so rubbish, I finally feel like I'm turning a corner"
"I'm really pleased for you Stevie, you have taken some huge steps and I know it really isn't easy"
"How long ago did you leave?"
"Five years" Lexi replaced the dummy to her young child's mouth before making her eyes meet Stevies across the table. "Chris, my ex, he was a real nasty piece if work, I was fifteen when I met him and he took everything away from me, my family, my friends, I had no one. He was always abusive and then one night, it just went too far, I was in intensive care for three months, I nearly died"
"I'm so sorry"
"I have known Andy since I was a kid, we grew up together and he was there to help me when I needed it most"
"I know that feeling" Stevie smiled
"I always went for a bad boy because I thought I only deserved to be treated like shit, I started dating Andy when I was nineteen. After Chris, I didn't feel safe around men, only Andy and now I couldn't be with anyone else".
Stevie had insisted on treating Smithy to a meal out and he had reluctantly agreed to letting her pay. They had dined at a small pub not far from the river. He had ordered a burger and she had a chicken salad. They had shared a bottle of wine and a lot of laughs. Smithy had complemented her tight jeans and small red top which hugged her figure perfectly. They walked slowly back to his flat, hand in hand, he looked good too, he had clearly made an effort in his black jeans and white shirt, his top few buttons open. "You really do look beautiful tonight" she noticed him glance down at her "I can see the old Stevie breaking through" he spoke as he let them into his home.
"I'm really trying Smithy and the clothes make me feel a little more like me again"
"I'm glad"
"And the self defence is amazing, I feel so much more confident already"
"That's great, Andy said Lex is really good at teaching women to use their size, especially if they're small and we both know you are a short arse"
"Eh, I'll have you know I could put you on the your arse right now"
"Mmm okay Stevie" he laughed as he rested on to the sofa
"On your feet Smith" she grinned. Smithy chucked his phone on the sofa and pushed back to his feet. "Okay, grab me"
"You sure?" he frowned
"Positive, grab me". Smithy grabbed hold of her arms and Stevie used all her strength and knowledge from Lexi to move her legs behind his and force him to the floor, breaking his contact with her arms in a swift movement, he went down with a thud and a groan but grinned all the same. "Point proven" she sunk down next to him on the floor.
"You caught me off guard" he laughed. He gently stroked her cheek "But seriously Stevie, that was amazing, I'm so proud of you". Stevie wasn't sure what thoughts were travelling through her mind as she leant down and into his inviting lips.
Hope you enjoyed x
