Chapter 6

Emily was surprised to be the first one up the next morning. She had set an alarm for herself but had expected that her Dad would have woken her up before that sounded.

She checked the living area then was even more surprised to find that her Dad wasn't in his room when she went to look for him. If it wasn't for the fact that the bed was still pristinely made, she could have assumed that he had gone out for something. If it wasn't for the fact that Gillian was sharing a room with William, she could have assumed that she would find him with her (not that she wanted to think about that!). As it was, though, she was rather confused.

Crossing the suite to Gillian's door, she knocked gently and pushed it open a little to see if Gillian was awake. She found the other woman fully clothed and asleep on William's bed, her son tucked against her. Opening the door further, she let out a quiet laugh upon seeing her Dad, also fully clothed, and fast asleep on the other bed.

She glanced at her watch and concluded that she could let them sleep while she took a shower.

… …

Gillian woke up next, frowning when she realised that she wasn't in her own bed, and further when she discovered she was still in yesterday's clothes. William was still asleep beside her, but the sound of breathing coming from behind her startled her. She quickly, but carefully, rolled onto her back and stifled a laugh when she saw Cal crashed out on her bed.

She slowly sat up and then stood up, mindful of not waking William. She crept across the space between the beds and crouched beside hers, gently nudging Cal as she whispered his name.

The first nudge did nothing. She tried again. This time his eyes fluttered open and he rolled onto his side, settling down to sleep again.

She waited, patiently, and sure enough, a moment later, his eyes opened and he smiled at her. "Mornin' darlin'."

"Morning, Cal… Who's been sleeping in my bed?" she teased.

His eyes opened wider and he took in his surroundings. "What -?"

"We obviously fell asleep after William called us in. I just woke up on his bed," she explained in hushed tones.

Cal's eyes slipped closed as he processed that. "I remember now…" They opened again with a start, fixing immediately on her. "I also remember what we were doing when he called us in."

Gillian felt her cheeks flush and couldn't help but smile. "Do you?"

Cal propped his head up on one hand and brought the other up to caress her cheek. "I do."

"So do I," she whispered back.

An exclamation of, "We're going on a plane today!" broke them apart this time.

… …

For the rest of the day, whenever they were alone, Emily teased Cal mercilessly about where he had slept. Cal longed to go back to that moment when he had been gazing at Gillian and nothing else had mattered. William, breakfast, hotel check-out, airport check-in and security, and an eight hour flight, however, gave him no time alone with Gillian. He and Emily switched seats on the plane so he could sit next to her, but that wasn't quite the same.

As they collected their bags at Dulles, a feeling of sadness started to creep in. Her words, "It'll be different once we're home…" echoed in his head, leaving out the part about them being at "the beginning" because that didn't fit with his melancholy mood. He knew he was going to struggle to adapt to not seeing her every day. It was crazy how much he already missed London.

…

By the time they reached Gillian's house, William had fallen asleep, the excitement of the day, and British time, catching up with him. Cal instructed Emily to wait with the cab and he carried Gillian's bags to the house while she carried her sleeping son.

He put the bags near the stairs and she settled William on the couch. And then the awkwardness set in. They stood in her living room, staring at each other as if they had no idea what should happen next.

"Well, I -" Cal tried, "… I should get going."

Gillian briefly looked disappointed, but she hid it behind an accommodating smile. "Right."

She moved towards the open front door but Cal stopped her before she reached it. He stepped in close to her, eyes locked on hers. "This is the beginning," he whispered, then he pressed his lips to hers, nudging closer when he felt her kiss him back.

It was a brief promise that everything they had said in London still applied, and they smiled widely at each other when the kiss ended.

"I'll call you later," Cal reminded her.

She nodded. "Or sooner if you're missing me."

Cal laughed and looked from her to William. "I'm already missing both of you." He moved towards the front door, adding, "I should not have changed the accommodation arrangements."

Gillian laughed behind him and they said their goodbyes at the door. He insisted that she close the door before he left, saying it would make it easier for him to go. He had made out to her that it was a joke, but it was actually the absolute truth. He didn't want to leave.

As he did walk away, he cursed himself for not kissing her again, or kissing her properly. He would only have memories to keep him going until he next saw her. He should have made more.

He stopped, five feet from the cab and turned back. He still could make more.

…

Gillian was smiling, knowingly, when she opened the door and she leant against the doorframe while she waited for his next move.

"Is William definitely still asleep?" he asked her, quietly.

She nodded.

"Good!" he exclaimed, stepping inside and pressing her against the wall. "Because I cannot survive the day on just that little kiss."

And his lips landed on hers with the force that she had always expected their first kiss would hold. His hands pressed into her waist, his fingertips caressing as he held her close. She wrapped her arms around his neck, responding to his fervour; assuring him that she felt the same way.

…

By the time Cal returned to the cab, minutes later, he wasn't actually certain if going back had made his situation better or worse. But they did have plans for dinner together later.

He opened the door and slipped inside, greeted by Emily's amused smirk.

"Not a word," he warned her.

She grinned at him widely and he knew she was happy for him, but she thankfully agreed, "Not a word."

THE END