A/N: This chapter was co-written by ThePennyTealeaf.

...

Joe loved running. It was the freedom of it. No ties, no boundaries, just the stretch of track leading anywhere and everywhere.

It was something he had really taken to in those early days of counselling. The counsellor at school had quietly suggested that Joe found an outlet for his anger that didn't involve other people and so Graham had encouraged the sports coach to give Joe some guidance on running.

By the end of the term he was one of the best in the class, sprinting his way to victory at Sports Day and other events.

Then he had left school and the anger had built up again. He knew how to channel it, eating healthily and taking up his preferred sport again in addition to normal exercise.

He blinked, finding himself at the very edge of Church Lane. David's shop was barely a metre away and he admitted to himself that he needed a drink and maybe... something sweet?

As he approached the shop, he nearly collided with Priya, who was on her way out. "Oh, hi."

"Don't 'hi' me," she snapped. "I haven't forgotten that you pretended to offer me a job just so you could try and get me into bed."

"That was wrong of me." He tried to look repentant. "I really do think we could work together..."

"Save it. I've known men like you before. Players." She pushed past him. "Leave me out of your stupid games!"

He watched her go, then entered the shop and grabbed a bottle of water, jogging up to the counter.

"Blimey, putting in some hours today, aren't yer?" David remarked.

"Gotta keep fit, haven't you?" Joe replied, still jogging on the spot.

"If you say so, mate. Couldn't do it meself!"

"Keep the change, yeah?" Joe suggested, wandering over to the chocolate counter.

"Caught you!" A friendly voice startled him. Joe's face lit up on seeing Rebecca standing there, a smug smile on her face.

"You saw nothing," he teased.

"So you weren't going to buy a chocolate bar?" She raised her fair eyebrows.

"What's your excuse, then?" Joe returned flirtatiously.

"Girls night tomorrow. Me, Victoria and Bridget Jones."

"Ooh, sounds fun."

"Well, you can join us if you like?"

"Are you saying I'm a girl?"

"No no, you're definitely..." Rebecca ran her eyes over him. "All man, but..."

"But the idea of watching Hugh Grant and Colin Firth scrapping in the street really isn't my thing," Joe finished.

"You've seen it though," Rebecca pointed out, her mouth twisting into a cute smile.

"Under duress with my aunt and my cousin, yes."

"Oh come on, you loved it." Rebecca nudged him. "Bet Colin Firth reminds you of Graham."

"Er... yeah, actually," Joe nodded with a grin. "So, what's your... chocolate bar of choice?"

"Guess." Rebecca swung her body.

"Well, can't see you as a Cadbury kinda girl. You're definitely more luxury than that."

"Oh, so you think you can read a girl by her favourite chocolate bar?" Rebecca folded her arms. "So, what am I?"

"You're Galaxy. Classy, smooth, with a hint of luxury," Joe recited. "Wow, that was a bad pick up line."

Rebecca laughed, taking a bar.

"You're right."

Joe simply stared.

"So, what am I?"

Rebecca smiled, sweeping away.

"Ferrero Rocher. Hard and brittle on the outside, soft on the inside."

"And you get second prize for that pick up line!"

"Yay me!" Rebecca crowed, placing the bar down on the counter. He had moved closer, they were inches apart.

"Just that, is it?" David asked.

"Yeah, yeah," Rebecca checked in her bag, "damn!"

"What is it?" Joe asked.

"I don't have my purse." Rebecca began to panic. "Must have left it somewhere!"

"Hey, hey, hey, calm down. I'll get that," Joe told her, handing over the money.

"Thanks. I'll... see you... around, perhaps?"

"Or, in the Woolpack, seven? Tonight?" Joe suggested.

"With Debbie?"

"No. I'm actually not seeing Debbie any more."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"So will you come for a drink? Just as friends?"

"I'll try and remember." She fiddled with her fingers. "Thanks."

"Hey, no problem." He picked up a mini box of Ferrero Rocher as Rebecca left the shop. "I'll take these, too."

He left the shop with the box of chocolates still in his hands and crossed the road to join Graham, who was coming out of the cafe.

"I've just seen Debbie," Graham informed him. "I've given her the keys to Jacob's Fold. She says she'll pay for the furniture."

"Whatever," said Joe dismissively.

"So that's it then. It's all over, unless Ross finds out who was behind the attack."

"Which he won't." Joe looked around to check no one was listening. "Hopefully Simon can still be brought to justice."

"And you're really going to let this feud with the Dingles go?"

"I said I would, didn't I?"

"It's a reasonable arrangement, I suppose." Graham shrugged. "You keep Debbie's secret and she doesn't report you for trying to blackmail her back into bed."

"I told you, it wasn't about sex," Joe said impatiently. "Anyway listen, I'm going out for a drink with Rebecca tonight."

"Rebecca White?" Graham asked. Joe nodded. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Robert Sugden, would it?"

"It's just a friendly drink, that's all."

"Good, because I'm sure even you wouldn't stoop so low as to drag a woman with amnesia into your latest crusade."

"I'm jogging back to Home Farm," Joe said abruptly. He turned on his heel, still holding the chocolates, and ran.

...

Rebecca was surprised to find the parcel on Victoria's doorstep when she returned home at lunchtime. It seemed that Joe had got there before her.

A note was attached with her name at the top.

"Don't want to be left sitting 'All By Myself' at the pub. See you there, seven o clock! Joe x"

"Wow, someone left you a present?" Victoria remarked as they stepped through the gate.

"Looks like it." Rebecca grinned, picking up the parcel.

"Open it, then."

"I know what it is," Rebecca confessed, tracing the distinctive shape of the box beneath her fingers. She gave Victoria a whimsical smile.

"Ross? Aww. What a sweetheart."

"No, not Ross." Rebecca shook her head. "Would you believe me if I said Joe?"

Victoria gaped at her.

"Yer not serious?"

"I am, Vic. I met him in the shop earlier and he invited me for a drink tonight." Rebecca grinned at her.

"You do remember that he called the cops on you, right?" Victoria winced. "Maybe you don't."

"No, I do. But then he dropped the charges."

"So now you're going on a date with him?"

"It's not a date," she exclaimed. "Just a friendly drink."

"Right. Well... er... yeah. Good luck! Be careful, yeah?"

"Of course I will." Rebecca broke the seal on the parcel, lifting out the little box of Ferrero Rocher with a warm smile.