A/N: Sorry that it took so long to write and upload! - Please enjoy! =)

I don't own the characters - they belong to Elizabeth George and the BBC.

"Can we repeat that kiss? It was really lovely" Thomas said realising his thoughts had jumped out of his mouth. So much for going slow huh pal.

He felt Barbara shift in her seat, before he knew it she was pacing around his living room.

How was he going to calm Barbara?

How could he make her see it wasn't just a game for him?

Had he heard right had she called him Tom?

"I'm sorry sir, eh.. I shouldn't have…" Havers finally stuttered as she stopped dead in her track in the middle of the living room.

"For what? Barbara, you haven't done anything wrong" Lynley asked questioningly as he slowly stepped towards her.

"I shouldn't have come to the Christmas party. This isn't right! Let's just forget this whole thing and go back to normal" Havers said as she grabbed her shoes and jacket.

Lynley was so shocked that he was frozen in his step, but was dragged out of his daze when he heard the front door slam as Havers left his house. Once he realised what had happened, he ran for the door and swung it open, looking in all directions, screaming "Barbara!" but she was nowhere to be be seen.

Baffled as he was he managed to drag himself back inside and close the door, with his back as he slammed against it in despair. He had never felt so heartbroken before. He hoped that his innermost dreams had finally been within reach, but had just as quickly lost it all again. He was lost without her. The pain gnawed in his chest. As the heartache filled his body with pity, he wanted to wallow in his sorrow and hit the bottle, like he always did in these situations. For some reason this time was different, he didn't quite understand why, but it was. Thomas Lynley sighed heavily and deliberately wiped the tears that had started to fall from his eyes as to clear his head. He pulled his phone, from his trouser pocket and tried to call Barbara but there was no reply, after his tenth try he decided to leave it, at least for tonight. She probably needed space. He decided he needed to sleep on his next move, but he knew he needed to be more of a do and less talk kind of person. He went straight to his bedroom and made his preparations for bed. His heart still felt heavy, but Thomas managed to smile to himself, when he remembered Barbara had called him "Tom". It put his mind at ease, so well that he let his eyes close and drifted off.

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Havers had been numb during the taxi drive from Lynley's place. She sunk down on her couch as tears started to roll down her cheeks. She was so angry with herself, why had it felt so easy for her to go with the flow tonight, that she had betrayed herself by breaking her own two rules. It had felt so right!

She punched her couch pillow as images of them sitting in this very room, that evening where he had showed up at her door, needing her and only her, emerged in her mind. Which coursed more tears to trail down her face. As that had been the night she had allowed herself to realise her true feelings for Thomas. She sad motionless for ten minutes still crying her eyes out. She sighed heavily as she stood, to make her way to her bedroom, but a picture in a frame caught her eyes. She grabbed the photo frame, which was placed at the corner table. Barbara smiled down at the cheeky school boy - her dear brother Terry. Not a day had gone by where she hadn't missed him. She suddenly remembered his last words to her:

"Promise me Barbie, you will follow your happiness wherever it takes you! You are deserving of love"

The tears continued to stream down her face, with that last word echoing in her head. Barbara had never felt that she was worthy of anybody's love, especially her inspector's. She looked down at Terry's photo once more as she put it back down at the table. In that instant she realised what she had to do, but at this moment she needed to sleep on her approach. With that thought she walked to her room, changed to her pyjamas and went straight to bed. As her head touched the pillow she was already in Lahlah land.

What will Lynley's next move be?

Will Barbara follow Terrys advice?

Does love conquer all?

Thank you for reading, please review!=)