On the TV, a gay sex scene was taking place. I cringed, recognising it immediately. It was the one on the film. Pausing the DVD, Harry turned to me with raised eyebrows. I shifted on my feet.

“You weren’t meant to find out…”

He nodded, “I know. I’m assuming that’s why it took me half an hour to find the remote?”

“You left me in bed just so you could prove I sabotaged you?” I asked incredulously, casting an eye down his clothed form. “For fuck’s sake, you’re just too determined sometimes…”

“Why did you even use this?” he asked, jerking the remote at the still image. “Did you really think I would encouragement to sleep with you?”

I shrugged, “Well, I got it for you. I thought you should see it…”

He ignored the innocent tone of my voice, “You got it for me?”

I moved forward, taking the remote off him and stopping the DVD before turning off the TV, “Yeah. Back when. I thought it would be funny.” My grin was crafty as I looked over my shoulder at him, “And it was.”

“That does it.” I yelped in surprise as he grabbed me around the waist suddenly and pulled me back onto the sofa. I struggled against him as he flipped me onto my back, but he had me pinned faster than I could react. He grinned down at me, and I rose up so my mouth met his.

He kissed me sweetly, making sure his arms didn’t buckle and he winded me by landing on top of me. Once the kiss had played out, he smiled at me hopefully, “Does this mean you’re giving us another chance? Or was I just a needed screw?”

I played with a strand of his hair contentedly, then I pushed him back off me and stood up. “I’m giving us another chance,” I told him.

His face lit up and he jumped to his feet, his mouth crushing to mine yet again as he forced me back into the wall. I ran my hands down the curve of his back and onto his arse, forcing him into me. Then I shoved him back again, “Off. I’m hungry.”

He laughed, and backed off, giving me room to escape. We walked through to the kitchen. “What happened to you, Danny?” he asked softly. I turned to face him. “You’re covered in bruises,” he whispered, laying a hand on the side of my face. “Who gave them to you? Where were you?”

I sighed, moving away from his touch and leaning against the counter, “Do you really want to know?” He nodded earnestly. “Polydon.”

His jaw bounced off the floor spectacularly, before ricocheting back up and smacking him the face. “What?” he spluttered. “You were taken by Polydon?! And then you fucking seduce me like nothing’s happened?! Danny, do you know how irresponsible that is?!”

I laughed dryly, “Maybe I wasn’t ready to tell anyone yet. Maybe I was shaken, and needed comfort instead of badgering. And maybe, for once in my life, I put my needs first.” I slammed my hand down on the counter with a smack, “Well, I’m sorry if that displeases you, your majesty.”

“Danny…” his voice was pleading as he caught my arm as I tried to walk out past him. “Don’t get upset. I only just got you back… I don’t want to lose you again.” He spun me to face him, staring straight into my eyes, “You have no idea how worried I was when you didn’t show on that first day. Then nine days passed, and still nothing. I was out of my head!”

I felt a grin coming to my face, “Eight messages on the machine, and five were from you.”

“I called more times than that…” he admitted with a blush. “Who else left messages?”

“Tom left one after a week, and I had two off Neilson.”

“You call each other?” he asked in shock.

“Yeah. It’s not just an office thing,” I said with a laugh, deciding not to tell Harry what Neilson had said about him. “That reminds me: I have to call Tom and tell him I need to make a report. I also have to buy a new watch, mobile, wallet and cancel all my credit cards.” I let out a breath, “Fun day…”

“They took everything?” he asked.

I picked up my gun from the counter, “This was all I got away with. And it’s empty.” I set it down with a sigh, “We should get ready.”

He stopped me again by putting a hand on my cheek. Wow. He was not letting me out of my own kitchen this morning… “If you need me today, you come above everything, okay?”

I touched my lips to his gently, “Thanks for the offer, but I should be fine. I’ll bear it in mind.”

*****

“Welcome back, T-2,” the computer chirruped as I was let into my office. “T-1 wishes to see you as soon as possible.”

I smiled to myself, wondering how long ago that message had been set up. I had a meeting with him later. Then the smile faded off my face as I saw the briefcase sitting on my desk. The very briefcase I had been carrying when they had taken me, and the one now adorned with a pretty pink bow.

I moved towards it cautiously, and eased it onto it’s side and open. I didn’t think it would be an explosive, but I knew there was a chance it might be something of the kind. However, it opened easily and safely- without me being harmed or blown across the room.

Inside lay all of my possessions. All the ones that had been on me when Polydon had taken me. My mobile, my watch- both seemingly still working, though I’d ask Aaron to take a look at them in case they’d been tampered with. My keys, my wallet- which I was amazed to discover still held all my cash and cards.

And my gun cartridges and holster. Even my tie, which had been taken from me on my way into the building- presumably to prevent suicide attempts. And all the documents that had been in the case were still there as well. They hadn’t taken anything…

Then something caught my eye as it glinted. It wasn’t in the case, but rather hanging from the top, dangling between the connecting halves. My heart stopped as I realised what it was.

It was a delicate golden chain; with a Celtic letter D on the end.

I gently detached it from the briefcase, and laid it across my palm. I couldn’t believe Dougie had parted from it. This briefcase must have only been put here last night.

I slammed the case closed in frustration, still holding the chain. Even when he wasn’t here, Dougie seemed to be haunting me.

There was a buzz on the intercom, and I hit ignore. It buzzed again, and I did the same thing. This happened approximately six more times before I made a sound of resignation and hit a different button before reaching up to put Dougie’s chain around my neck.

“T-2 is not available to see you now. Please leave a message after the tone.”

“Hey, Stalker? I know you’re in there. I saw you. Let me in. It’s the least you can do after you stood me up last Wednesday night.”

I grinned despite myself, and hit the entry button. I shoved the chain down under my shirt as the door opened, so Neilson couldn’t see it. Leaning against my desk, I watched him walk in casually. “I’m sorry if me being captured by Polydon put a strain on your social life.”

“I should think so!” he said prissily, throwing in a snort for good measure. I laughed before I could stop myself. “I looked like a total prat standing there by myself… After an hour, and no contact on your part, I went home to get comfort sex to make up for it.”

It was my turn to snort, this one in distain, “What is it with straight guys that they think sex solves everything? I would never use sex as a comfort-” I broke off with a groan, “Oh, God. I’m lying. Guess what I did last night…?”

“Recovered from the fact you’d been held and brutally beaten by Polydon?” he suggested. “Nine days. Barely worth taking you in the first place, really. That would’ve been a shiner and a half a couple of days ago…”

I touched my hand to my eye gently, then steered myself back to topic, “I did that. But guess how?”

“You ate chocolate ice-cream and watched Pretty Woman?” he lisped with faux innocence. “How the hell am I meant to know?! What do single gays do when they’re depressed…?” He paused, drumming his fingers off the back of the chair he was stood by, “Wait. It has something to do with sex… You had sex? But who wi-?” His jaw dropped, “You didn’t! You fucking didn’t!”

I bit my lip guiltily, nodding my head. He just stared at me with wide eyes. “Oh, come on. He hasn’t done anything wrong since he got back. Maybe he has changed.”

“And maybe pigs can fucking fly!” he exclaimed. He stopped himself, and took a breath, “Danny, he cheated on you.”

“I know,” I said softly. “But he was worried about me. He was there when I called.”

“I was worried about you!” he cried, throwing his hands up. “I would’ve been there! I mean, sure, you wouldn’t have got the sex, but I would’ve been there to talk to. Fuck, Dan… I thought you were going to fight him…”

“I’m sick of having to fight for what I want,” I snapped at him. He stared at me for a moment, then collapsed into the chair, his face into his hands.

“I can’t keep up with what you want, Danny.”

I sighed, and moved over to him. Crouching in front of him, I slid a hand smoothly up his leg and up to his hands, where I peeled them away from his face. I smiled at him slowly, “You were worried about me?”

He shrugged, “I was down one stalker.”

The intercom on my desk buzzed once more, and I stood to press the button. “T-3. Judd comma Harry. Requesting admittance.”

“Granted.”

“I was worried.” I looked round as Neilson’s voice sounded right behind me.

I smiled, “I know. Come here.” I pulled him into a hug, pleased when he wrapped his arms around me. The door slid open, and Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably:

“Am I interrupting something?”

“You would be if I wasn’t taken,” I remarked, releasing Neilson. I leaned over to peck Harry on the lips. “I love hugging straight guys. They never know where to put their hands…”

“It’s a dilemma!” Neilson said hotly. “Put your hands too low, you’re nearing ass-area, and some people take that the wrong way. But too high and it seems like you just want the hug to end- which people seem to take offence at as well.” He rolled his eyes playfully, “Besides, I think I coped pretty well.”

I laughed, “You did fine.” I moved behind my desk and sat down, “Oh! Are you remembering we have that concert on Thursday?”

“You mean tomorrow?” he asked wryly. “I’m remembering.”

I could sense the frown on Harry’s face even where I was sitting by the computer. “What concert?”

Neilson offered him a sweet smile, “I am taking your boyfriend to his first metal concert.”

“Why?”

“Well, the term ‘first metal concert’ implies he’s never been to one before. And he likes the music, so why shouldn’t he?”

I snapped my fingers suddenly, “Oh!”

“Remembered something else?” he asked with a grin. “My, we are on a roll right now, aren’t we? Maybe Polydon managed to knock some thought into you…”

I laughed, but Harry didn’t look impressed. “That’s hardly considerate, is it?” he asked in disgust. “It was a traumatic event for him. He-”

“Save it, Adonis,” Neilson snapped irritably. “I know Danny well enough to know a comment like that wouldn’t hurt him. And, if it did, he would tell me so himself, because he doesn’t need you fighting his corners, okay?”

The simple tone of his voice had Harry spluttering, “Who d’you think-?”

“I said save it,” Neilson said casually, but firmly. He moved towards me, representing that he was done with talking to Harry. Harry looked at a loss for words. Me, I was fighting not to piss myself laughing.

No lower rank had ever dared to speak to him like that before. “What were you going to say, Danny?” Neilson asked, the corners of his lips quirking as he fought the same fight.

“Look what I got,” I said smoothly, reaching into my drawer and pulling forth a CD. “Limited edition. Last one in stock. I didn’t see you to tell you before.”

“Well, you did, but you looked like you were just about to burst into tears,” he commented, his eyes darting to where Harry was. He let it slide, and took the CD off me, “Very nice… Mind if I quickly burn it on my computer?”

“Sure. Go ahead,” I told him. “I want it back as soon as, though. I haven’t listened to it, yet.”

“Haven’t had the chance, I’d assume… I’ll do it now. Before T-9 materialises and accuses me of being unproductive.” He rolled his eyes again, “A subject he knows a lot about. Later.” He offered Harry a smile that was dripping with poisoned syrup before leaving.

“I don’t like him.”

“Well, that’s a shame, ‘cause I think he’s infatuated with you…” I murmured, looking through the papers on my desk.

“Danny…”

I sighed, “I’m not asking you to like him. Harry. I’m asking you to accept that I do.”

“Why? You barely know each other.”

“Well, some people just click,” I said impatiently. “Steve and I just clicked. Tom and I- once I was sure he wasn’t messing around with me- just clicked.” Me and Dougie, I added silently to myself. Clicked so fast that neither of us noticed.

“But you and me, Harry. We didn’t. I didn’t even like you at first. Hell, for three years, I despised you. I used to beg Tom to pair me with Steve instead.” I saw his lips curl, and ploughed on: “I was determined that I was never going to be sucked in by you. Upper-class, posh boy who’s never had to work for anything in his life. I envied you.”

I moved round the desk to him and slid a hand up his chest, “What you had. How happy you were. I hated you for it. And then we were on that mission. We were making an exchange. We were supposed to be sly, but the cops saw and pegged us. We ran into the nearest building we could find, and it was a fucking gay bar…”

I laughed lightly before continuing, “It was just our luck. But we didn’t have time to run off again, so you pulled me down into a booth so quickly that I ended up straddling you, and you kissed me. The cops ran in, and paused at the door, trying to find us. And when they couldn’t, they left.”

“But we didn’t break away,” he whispered.

I shook my head, “During that kiss, I wasn’t acting. It wasn’t the stuck-up, posh, jerk I was with anymore, but you. And that was it for me…”

“Still took me three more months to get you into bed,” he teased.

“Well, you can’t shake off opinions that quickly…”

Harry grinned, “When I first met you, I wondered what Tom was doing wasting his time with you. A filthy street urchin who probably had no manners at all, and was just leeching off his wealth. I fell for you straight away.”

“That’s because you trust easier.” I stared into his eyes for a moment, then shook myself out of it. “I have to go see Tom. And you have work to do,” I reminded him, jabbing a finger into his chest.

He sighed, “Don’t I know it… Go away for seven months, and your replacement managed to successfully destroy everything…”

I laughed as we left my office, “I better leave you to it, then.” As we passed Neilson’s cubicle, he held up the CD without removing his gaze from the computer screen, and I took it out of his hand and tucked it into my inside jacket pocket. I could sense Harry frowning at the efficiency of the transaction, though he didn’t say anything.

Harry took my hands as we came to a stop outside the door to Tom’s office, which was directly in view of everyone in the main office at their cubicles- most of whom were watching us. “I meant what I said, though. If you need me at any point today, come to me.”

“I will,” I promised. He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. My hand snaked up to grip the back of his neck to pull him in deeper as cheers erupted from the main office. I broke away with a laugh.

“I think they missed us.”

“They weren’t the only ones,” Harry told me softly. He smiled at me, before walking off. I turned to face the door, and composed myself before pressing down on the button.

“Please identify yourself.”

Why was I suddenly so nervous? “T-2. Jones comma Danny.” Tom was my best friend, but my stomach was churning like a washing machine set to spin-cycle.

“T-2, you are cleared to enter. Please step into the office.”

The door slid open, and I walked through it, and down the small white corridor I knew so well. The second door slid open to greet me. I walked up to it, and stood in the doorway.

Tom was sitting at his desk, furiously scribbling something onto a sheet of paper, frowning through the thick framed glasses he wore on occasion. This was a sign that he had been worried about me. He was hiding behind his desk, behind work. He was normally on his feet to greet me when I entered.

I tapped on the metal doorframe lightly, “Knock, knock.”

He glanced up momentarily, “Oh, there you are. Just give me a minute. I have to get this done.” He looked back down at the paperwork with a sigh. I moved from the doorway and moved over to him, finally allowing the door to slide shut behind me.

I walked round Tom casually, and put my hands on his shoulders firmly, massaging them slowly, kneading the tense muscle. He tried to shift me off, but I leaned forward, draping my arms over his shoulders and squeezing. “I’m sorry, Tom,” I whispered into his ear. “I’m sorry for making you worry. I didn’t think there would be this much of an uproar.”

He leaned back into my embrace in resignation. “You still can’t accept that people care about you, can you? The time’s over when you can vanish for days on end and no-one’s going to notice,” he remarked. “You don’t have to apologise. I’m the one who should be sorry. I should have anticipated it, and taken precautions to ensure Polydon couldn’t pull this kind of stunt.”

“Oh, yeah. I forgot about your physic abilities… Besides, I’m the one who was distracted enough to be taken,” I reminded him, resting my chin on his shoulder.

“So we blame Harry. Agreed?”

I laughed, “Definitely. I want to give you a report while it’s still fresh in my mind.”

“Of course,” he agreed, knowing it would be best to get it over and done with. “Go and take a seat on the sofa. I’ll set up the recorder.” I squeezed him once more around the shoulders, before taking off his glasses for him and letting him go, walking across the office to the sofa. I shifted all the extra cushions out of the way, before getting ready to sit down. “Danny?”

I turned round, “What?” It was at his point in time that I found myself in one of the tightest hugs I had ever received.

“I was so worried,” Tom admitted into my ear. “Just the thought that anything could happen to you…”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I told him, leaning my head against his. “I didn’t spend six years on the street to give up a proper life this easily.”

“I love you, Danny,” he whispered.

“Because I’m so damn lovable… Y’know, people seem to keep saying that to me now I’m back,” I remarked, hugging him tightly. “I love you too, Fletch,” I told him honestly, reverting back to the nickname I used back when we first met. “Though, it might be best if you don’t tell the wife that…”

He let out a small chuckle, “She knows. And she’s jealous.”

“But she’s too scared to say anything ‘cause you’d choose me over her every time?” I ventured hopefully.

Tom finally released me with a grin, “Uh-huh. You’re like the brother I always wanted as a kid. I’m not giving you up.” He sighed, and looked down at his feet, “So, you wanna get this over with?”

“Yeah. Please.”

*****

“So I was basically assaulting this guy, and the new Poly1 walks in,” I relayed.

“Are you okay?” Tom asked gently. “We can pause if you want?”

“No.” I shook my head, “The sooner I get this out, the better. And you have to hear this.”

He frowned, knowing I wasn’t just talking about my experience, “Hear what?”

“Who the new Poly1 is,” I said smoothly. “It’s none other than our favourite captive…”

His jaw dropped, “Poynter?! What? How is that even possible? Polydon have always elected leaders over the age of thirty. It’s, like, an unspoken rule. It was part of the reason they hated me so much.”

I shrugged, “Rashman must’ve seen something in him.”

His head jerked up, “You never told me that’s what Rashman wanted from you.”

“It was offered,” I admitted. “But so was joining Polydon. You didn’t mind that. Is this a problem?”

“Why did you turn it down?”

I frowned. I didn’t actually know why. I just knew I’d done so without hesitation and never looked back. I hadn’t stopped and thought about it, but I’d never regretted my decision. “I had the same offer here, and I turned it down.”

“I know. But this is different. You founded Terrka. But Polydon… Back then, they were so much more known, respected.”

I took his hand in one of mine, “Since when did that even matter to me? What’s done is done. I chose Terrka.”

His eyes were wide, like he was fighting the urge not to cry as they gleamed in the light of his office, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For choosing Terrka.”

I smiled at him, “There was no proper choice.” I motioned to the still recording tape, “Should I go on?”

*****

I left Tom’s office with him an hour and a half later. “I can’t believe we had Poly1 as a hostage,” he muttered bitterly. “That’s so infuriating.”

I laughed, “You’re annoyed? I was his interrogator, and I didn’t have a clue.”

“And you kissed him,” Tom commented. I jolted in panic, then I realised what he was referring to. I had told him about the first kiss back when it had happened- a fact I had totally forgotten. “What happened with that, by the way? Nothing came of it, right?”

“It’s been taken care of,” I told him honestly.

“Right.” Tom smiled at me, “I’m all for you finding your true love, Danny. But please- for the love of God- tell me if it turns out to be Poynter so I can help to protect you when you tell Harry he lost out to a Polydon.”

“You wouldn’t be mad?” I asked.

“Well, as long as he wasn’t a hostage at the time and it was proper, and it didn’t get in the way of Terrka or Polydon, I guess I’d have to put up with it,” he admitted, scratching his nose thoughtfully. “And besides, it’s not like you would end it if I told you to.”

I grinned, “Nope. I’m annoying like that. I just can’t believe we didn’t know who he really was. He must have doctored the files you found on him.”

“He’s good.”

“Definitely… Detour!” I suddenly announced, veering off towards the vending machine. “I’m only noticing it now, but my throat is so dry. I think I spoke too much in there.”

“You did great,” Tom said with a light laugh, feeding coins into the machine before I could react. He did this all the time. If I didn’t shove the money in fast, he paid for me. I think he’d just gotten used to it over the years. He functioned on autopilot and forgot that I had my own money now. There were some loose coins in my pocket to make up for my lack of wallet. “You can try to forget it now.”

“I don’t think I can.” I pointed to the button I wanted, getting Tom to push it. He did so and the bottle of flavoured water rattled out. That damn vending machine hated me. I bent down to pick it up with a crow of triumph, “Ah-hah! I finally win! Not so high and mighty now, are you?”

“You are aware you’re taunting a vending machine, right?”

“Yes, thank you,” I responded sweetly.

“Okay. Just checking.”

I led him away, sipping on my water. “That machine and I have a mutual hatred for one another.”

“It’s an electrical appliance, Dan. They aren’t programmed to hate.”

“Then why does it never work when I try to use it?”

“Probably because you punch the buttons instead of press them?” he suggested.

“I’m firm!”

“You’re violent, is what you are,” he retorted with a laugh. “Back me up here, Harry.”

I gave my boyfriend a death glare as he came to a stop in front of us. He smiled charmingly in response, “Hang on a minute, Tom.” Then he swooped down and indulged himself in a deep kiss before pulling back and looking at Tom. “Yeah. He’s violent.”

“And there’s why you kissed me first…” I muttered. They both sniggered. “Thank you, baby. You can bugger off now.”

“Always glad to help. You know I think it’s sexy…” He caught my pouting lower lip between his teeth and kissed me again quickly before I could jerk away, then walked off.

“You didn’t tell me you and Harry were back together.”

“There was never the right time. We had to get that report done.” As he nodded, I stared into my water bottle, “It was only decided this morning.”

We began to move again. “Did you sleep with him?”

I shrugged, “Yep. He couldn’t believe my gumption when I told him where I’d been.”

“Which was this morning,” he commented knowingly.

“Well, it’s not something you bring up during sex, is it?” I said with a laugh. “Perfect pillow talk.” He gave a snort of amusement.

“You’re unbelievable, you know that?” He smiled at me, “I’m glad you did it, though. You put your needs first for once. You needed to.” He frowned as I stopped walking again and stared at him, “What?”

“If you were gay…”

He burst out laughing. This was a relatively rare occurrence at all, but considering we were halfway through the main office by this point, it was definitely weird. A lot of the lower ranks had never seen him smile before, let alone laugh. They were staring at him in pure astonishment, as if they couldn’t believe he had the emotions to convey such a thing. “Behave yourself,” he warned me. “You have a boyfriend and I have a wife.”

“Sorry,” I said with a grin. “It’s just that that’s exactly what I told Harry when he called me irresponsible this morning.”

“If you were irresponsible, you wouldn’t have told him,” Tom remarked.

“Careful. I’m falling more in love with you with every passing second.” We only had to look at each other before both of us burst out laughing again, but now we were in the safe confines of the corridor leading to the private offices. “That would be weird.”

“Agreed.”

“But, yeah. Totally. I wasn’t been irresponsible, right? Maybe a little- T-2. Jones comma Danny.- selfish, but I never do that, so it’s a one off.”

“Uh-huh. You needed the comfort.” He walked into my office and straight over to my desk, where he opened the briefcase, “So is everything here?”

“Everything,” I confirmed, biting my lip. “That’s what’s worrying me so much. Not so much as one document or a tenner from my wallet. My phone and watch are working. The bow’s a taunt, but why give it back at all?”

“Get Aaron to take a look before you use anything,” he told me firmly.

I nodded, “Right.”

“And have lunch today, Danny. You need it.”

*****

“Hey, Aaron,” I greeted, stepping into his fortress later on. He glanced up at me questionably. “I’m going to head on home for the day, and I was wondering if any items were clear to go with me.”

He grinned, “There are.” He pointed to a table behind me, “Keys, wallet, tie, holster, cartridges- no bombs, no bugs.” I gave him a bright smile, “The communicator and phone are going to take longer. You may have to get a plain watch in the meantime. And the briefcase should be cleared by tomorrow.”

“That’s expected,” I told him. “I was just hoping for the wallet and keys, but you’ve outdone yourself.” I smiled at him again, “Thank you so much for putting this on priority. I know you have a lot to do.”

He shrugged, “So do you. You need your stuff.” A glint came into his eye, “Just be sure to bring me something nice as thanks.”

“You deserve it,” I commended. “I’m gonna go. Don’t forget to sleep tonight.”

“Yes, Mum,” he said obediently. I laughed and left.

*****

I walked out of the supermarket to be faced with a bunch of ugly automobiles, but it was a fairly nice day. The sun was out, however weak the rays were proving to be, and there didn’t appear to be any sign of rain. Probably a good thing, as I now had to walk home from here, which was further away from the headquarters. I needed to get a car…

As I walked out of the car-park, one of those very inventions pulled up beside me. This one, however, wasn’t ugly. Far from it. In fact, it was a sleek blue convertible, with a retractable roof. Cars weren’t my forte- I could hardly tell any of them apart- but the man sitting in the driver’s seat had always loved them.

“Hello, gorgeous,” I purred, leaning on the side of the car. “What can I do you for?”

He moved his sunglasses down so I could see his eyes surveying me over the top of them, “That depends. What’s your going rate?”

“Oh, I’m very expensive…but worth every penny.”

“What? All two of them?”

“Oi!” For lack of a more suitable object, and room to find something better, I threw a carrot at him. “Don’t give me cheek, arsehole. If I was a hooker, you would totally hire me!”

Harry let out an easy laugh, leaning back against his seat, “I don’t have to- I already have you. Well, I can’t sit here clogging up the exit all day. Want a lift?”

I considered for all of five seconds, “Yeah. Sure. Why not?” I swung my six carrier bags into the spacious backseat without even opening the door, and got in next to him, “You been shopping as well?”

“No. I just like hanging around here to pick up hot guys,” he remarked. I grinned at him. “Yeah- guy’s gotta eat. My personal shopper’s on holiday.” I leaned my head back, enjoying the wind that whipped through my hair. I could sense him glancing at me as he drove.

“You’re thinking something,” I commented. I shifted in my seat, still not opening my eyes, “Well, I should hope so, anyway- or that mass in your skull is a bit pointless.”

He laughed softly, “I’m thinking that you and I go to yours, drop off your shopping, pick up a few things, and then you come over to mine for dinner.”

I opened my eyes, “Made by your chef?” He nodded. “Man, I will never be used to that. Definitely.”

*****

“Tell me this:” I said as Harry pulled up in the grounds of his massive mansion. “If you still had this place, why did you move into my pokey flat?”

He smiled, getting out of the car, “I was planning to slowly coax you into living here. You could never handle the fact that I pay people very generous wages to pay for me, though.”

I nodded, “Yeah. I never could grasp the concept of servants. Plus, when I was eleven, I went through this phase of actually trying to make something of myself, and this old bloke took pity on me and hired me as a servant.” I shuddered as I reached into the backseat for my overnight bag, having gotten out of the car as well. “Hardest fucking job I’ve ever had to do. He had me working non-stop. Whatever you pay them, it isn’t enough.”

“I didn’t know you did a stint as a servant.”

I laughed, “I was eleven. It hardly counts. It was like how most kids mow their neighbour’s grass for some extra cash- except mine was to buy food to live and the lawnmower was never switched off.”

“I can’t imagine that…” he remarked.

“Course you can’t, you posh twat.”

He pointed a finger at me sternly, “Oi! Watch it, you!” He frowned into his car suddenly, and bent over the door to pick something up from the floor beneath the driver’s seat. With a laugh, he held it up so I could see it. I grinned sheepishly at the carrot I had lobbed at him.

“I forgot about that.”

*****

“Marie?” Harry called, leading the way into his massive kitchen. If he wasn’t with me, I could easily get lost in the labyrinth that was his house. Harry set his bags down on the counter, “I’m home. And Danny brought you a present.”

“Oh, did he, now?” a Scottish accented voice asked, and Marie Munroe- Harry’s chef- stepped into the kitchen. She was young- about early thirties, and she and I had always gotten along really well. “Well, let’s see it, then.”

I frowned at Harry as he reached into his bag. He held the carrot out to her proudly, “He spent ages picking it out.”

She laughed, taking hold of it, “That’s lovely, Danny.”

“They were out of flowers,” I said with a grin.

She made a dismissive noise, “Ach, flowers are for wee lassies who don’t have meals to plan.” I’d forgotten how broadly Scottish Marie was, and I loved it. She eyed me over the carrot, “Have you been attacking my employer with vegetation again, Jones?”

I faked a pout, “Only because he called me a slut, and you know I gave that up the second I came off the streets!”

“I know you did,” she sympathised, moving forward to run a hand through my hair fondly.

“Do you want help with the cooking?”

“No!” she claimed with a bright laugh. “Go and play!” She ushered me out of the kitchen. “Harry! Shame on you!” I heard her chide once the door was closed.

“Actually, what I said was he would make two pence if he was a whore.”

“Not about that, you plank,” she shot back. “I mean, bringing him here. You know it makes him uncomfortable.”

Harry groaned, “He belongs here, Mar.”

“But he doesn’t think he does,” she corrected. Kudos to the pretty Scottish lady. “He sees himself as one of the servants. Our level. Maybe even below us. He doesn’t like being served.”

“I know, but I didn’t want him to think that I wasn’t serious,” Harry replied. “If we always went back to his, it wouldn’t be a proper, completely open relationship. This is who I am.”

A sigh sounded from within the room, “But it’s not who he is. He knows who you are. He likes you for who you are. It doesn’t mean you have to rub what you have in his face.”

“He wouldn’t have agreed to come if he didn’t want to.” Kudos to Harry.

Having heard enough, I turned and walked away from the door. I entered the lounge, and smiled at the maid who was polishing the coffee table before moving out the open patio doors and into the gorgeous garden. I loved Harry’s garden. I’d never had one- even back in Bolton with my parents- but this was incredible.

I strolled leisurely down the length of the lawn, admiring the full bloom of the plant life around me. Reaching the bench situated about halfway down the grass, I shrugged out of my jacket and loosened my tie, before sitting down. The sun was still shining, and it warmed my skin nicely now as the chill faded from the air and spring shone through.

Was I getting into this too fast with Harry? He was in love with me. And I… Well, there was still someone else fighting for my attention and affection.

Even when Dougie wasn’t here- even when I may never see him again, and almost certainly won’t be resuming our relationship- I still couldn’t seem to get him off my mind.

I loved being with him, it would be foolish to deny that. And when I was with him everything felt so easy, so straight forward.

Bur it wasn’t. We were breaking the rules, we were being frivolous. It was ridiculous, but we could never seem to help ourselves. It all felt so natural, but wasn’t that what love was meant to be?

Maybe so. But, Harry was… Harry. My Harry. We had a history, if a rather bumpy one, and we had a future. No-one stood to be hurt by us being together, and…maybe I could love him again…

Because- one thing was for certain- Dougie and I could never be together properly. Maybe it was best if we both just… moved on.

“I should’ve known I’d find you here…” Harry greeted, coming up behind me.

“I could get lost in these gardens…” I murmured, staring down the lawn.

He took a seat next to me. “No, you couldn’t,” he scolded lightly.

“Harry, I’m me. Stand me in a playground, draw a chalk square round me, tell me I can’t leave it, and I’ll get lost.”

He laughed, and held out a bottle of beer to me, “You’re too harsh on yourself…”

“No, I’m not,” I corrected. “I just know what my strengths are, and orienteering isn’t one of them. It was hell to get home last night.”

He took a sip from his own bottle, his eyes on me, “Are you okay with being here?”

I nodded, “Yes. If I was uncomfortable, I’d let you know. Plus, Marie can cook. Beats what I can make any day.” I smiled at him, “Stop worrying about me. I’m fine.”

“You were taken hostage by Polydon.”

“So were you,” I pointed out. “For a great deal longer. If anything, I should still be mollycoddling you.”

“You wouldn’t mollycoddle me if I was dying,” he commented wryly. “You’d tell me to stop moping and live what life I had left.”

“Yeah? Well, I’m a smart man.”

A laugh escaped his lips, so he snorted into his beer bottle. I burst out laughing as well now, partly at the look of embarrassment on his face, “That was very becoming!”

“Oh, shut up! You’re not meant to have manners at all! You have no grounds to judge mine!” he retorted childishly, causing me to laugh even harder. He swatted at me, and I parried, grabbing his arm mid-flight. His gaze locked onto mine for a moment, before his mouth came crushing down on mine. I almost dropped my beer bottle in shock, but managed to save it.

Someone cleared their throat firmly, breaking through the hazy little bubble of passion that was our kiss, “Excuse me, sir? You have a visitor.”

Harry pulled away from me, immediately leaving me craving his touch, “Right. I’ll just go and see. Sorry, Dan.” I shrugged, and he stood up and moved down the garden.

“Danny! I didn’t know you were back!” Demi, one of Harry’s servants, exclaimed excitedly.

I stood up and embraced her before grabbing my jacket and leading the walk back to the house, “I never left.” I caught the look she sent me out of the corner of her eye, “It’s a fairly new development. Today, in fact.”

“Should I say congratulations? Or is it just because you’re pregnant again?” she asked wryly.