Chapter 1 - Euphoria

Jac Naylor was sat in the anaesthetist suite, practising the elephant graft procedure she had helped Lord Byrne perfect many years previous. She sat there deep in thought, wondering if she did the right thing by leaving Joseph to do the procedure with Mr Douglas. It wouldn't have been right, doing the procedure with Joseph, after everything, she still felt shameful and remorseful about what she had done.

Joseph hadn't slept all night, he had handed his resignation to Hanssen and he now had to tell Jac he was moving away, the woman he had fought so long to call his own he was now leaving of his own accord. It was the best thing for Harry though, that was why he was doing it, ultimately to give Harry a life he never had, with a Father who always put him first, regardless. He had to tell her, he just had too.

Joseph walked into the room, looked upon the woman he loved and smiled as he saw what she was working on. "Busy? I came to apologise."

Jac smiled as she saw the blue sweater which Joseph had 'carefully' picked out. "Red one covered in sick, yes?"

"This is my 'sweep you of your feet' sweater. More like Sooty and Sweep, I know. Come away with me. There's a GP practise in Penrith looking for someone to take over. We could run it, live in the hills, go for walks, take high tea, and have log fires."

Jac acted in the only way she knew how when she wasn't in a position she comfortable in, she retaliated and to her surprise Joseph fought back. The walls she had built up in her life were still there, but they were crumbling, and in this moment in time, they failed her, they crumbled around her and she burst into tears. "I want to be with you, Joseph, but… I give up my life… my career… my whole identity, for a man who will always put me second. You said it. Harry comes first… I can't do that."

"Jac, I have to do this, but I don't want to do it without you." Joseph walked beside Jac and help her face in his hands.

"I don't wanna lose you." Jac sobbed. "I love you."

Hearing those words for the first time made Joseph's heart sink and melt both at the same time. "I love you too." Those words sounded so foreign but yet so right. He bent down and kissed her, slow and deep. His tongue slipping easily past her teeth and exploring every detail of her mouth which even though he knew where he was, her mouth felt as foreign as the words they had muttered a few seconds earlier.

Jac loved the taste of Joseph's tongue, she felt needed and wanted and loved to play with it while it was rubbing along her teeth. She instantly took his waist in her hands and held him close. She loved him, with every inch of her body and needed him to stay. A dark thought crossed her mind, she could get her way if she used her body, she had done it before, so she could do it again, only she couldn't. She loved Joseph, she would never do anything to hurt him again, the thought hurt her mind and she sobbed. Joseph held her close and whispered soothing words to her. "You can't leave me, not now. I need you."

"Jac, you have to believe me when I say I need to do this. It would be perfect if you came too." Joseph stared deep into her eyes, her deep, mysterious green eyes. He hated feeling as though he had hurt her, he had hurt her, by putting Harry first, but he had too. He was a father, unconditional love, and Jac needed more than that. "I need you, just as much as you need me."

Jac felt a tidal wave of love cascade through her body, nobody had ever needed her before, and now there was a man stood in front of her, staring deep into her soul telling her that she was needed, and that was all she needed to hear. "I'll come with you, Joseph."

Joseph's shocked expression made Jac chuckle, "You'll come, with me, to Penrith?"

"Yes. Yes, Joseph, I am coming with you." She held his hands in hers. "We'll rule the empire!"

Euphoria spread though Joseph just as love had through Jac and he lifted her up and spun her around. "Jac! You are incredible! I love you, so, so much!" He kissed her again, only this time with more passion and depth. This time the kiss was longer and hotter, Jac wrapped her legs around Joseph's waist and her arms gripped tightly too his back. She allowed herself to melt into him, their bodies fitting perfectly together as if they were made to fit like a harmonious jigsaw puzzle, now however; all of the pieces were there this time, and nothing was going to pull them apart.

Joseph looked behind Jac's shoulder, still holding her tight as she was sending hot, pulsating kisses down his neck, the supplies cupboard, big enough for the two of them with room to spare. He carried her over to the cupboard and opened the door while trying not to drop Jac, although the pleasure that was pulsing through his veins was making him shudder, he held on as tight as was humanly possible, never wanting to let go of the woman he loved, and now he was going to prove that.