Chapter 5

A/N: Short little conclusion. Changed my mind about how to end this. Will perhaps write the original ending as a standalone post script one day!

Basking in the afterglow of lovemaking is a little difficult when the wooden floor you are laying on is both cold (a miracle given the climate) and uncomfortable. Richard quickly felt guilty, because he was uncomfortable after only a few moments but Camille had just spent significantly longer on her back than him…

"God, Sorry," he apologised, reaching to pull her so she lay half on top of him. "The hard floor of the music room isn't exactly romantic is it?"

"I was suitably distracted at the time," she said, but he noted she did not object to using him as a pillow now.

"We can't exactly lay here for long anyway. I think Father Charles will arrive in half an hour and I'd rather not get caught…"

This statement triggered a burst of hysterical giggles from Camille which did not subside for some time. When they eventually he took the opportunity to kiss her again and then dragged himself to his feet, offering her a hand as well. She looked a little reluctant but accepted it. He went around collecting items of clothing from the various places they had been discarded in the room.

"I'm a little surprised we had the patience to take all our clothes off," he commented, as he stared at his tie thoughtfully.

When he looked up, Camille was looking particularly amused, "What?"

"Well it was you who was rather insistent that we did!"

"Was it?" He said, surprised. Thinking back he could remember Camille protesting he was taking too much time. An unusual complaint given the activity. Camille was glaring at him now, and he was trying to figure out what he had said wrong. Unable to put his finger on it, he was reduced to just saying, "What?" again.

"It was barely minutes ago and you've forgotten!" She snapped. Well, he could see how he might have given that impression – and why it would anger her so much.

"No, no, no!" He cried quickly. "It's not like that, it's just that, um, it's very all-encompassing. I don't really think that much…I do remember now!"

For a few moment, Richard held his breath whilst Camille seemed to decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Eventually she gave a small smile and said, "Well, you do need to switch off sometimes. Glad I can be of assistance…"

He grinned back, relieved she was no longer angry. In fact she was looking a little sly now, sidling across the room and standing in front of him, playing the tie he was trying to put on. Her proximity caused his fingers to fumble, and he found himself unable to do the damn thing up properly. This seemed to amuse Camille greatly.

"So, you going to take me back to your place?"

This question led his fingers to still entirely, "You mean, um, to…"

"Yes," she said, confirming his suspicions. "You've made me wait far too long to share your bed, and there won't be anybody way out there to disturb us either!"

It sounded like the best idea ever to Richard, but the practical part of his brain was functioning again now and he felt it necessary to point out, "But we're due back at work!"

"Oh," she looked disappointed. "I assumed you had gotten us the morning off. Oh well, I'll just call Dwayne and make up some excuse! I mean personally I am not sure I'd get any work done this morning anyway…"

Richard was inclined to agree. If there was no murder or other urgent case than one morning off wasn't going to do any harm, was it? Oh God, she was probably the only person on the planet who could get him to actually skive. He was glad she had volunteered to do the lying because he would never have gotten away with it.

Camille could hear the smirk in Dwayne's voice, and was glad she had decided to make the call. Richard would probably falter under the insinuations Dwayne made as he accepted her excuse for why they wouldn't be in until lunchtime.

"You know there is nothing going on here, so there is really no need to come in. You feel free to enjoy whatever presents you might be offered. If there is a murder, we'll call."

"Thanks, Dwayne," she said, with only the tiniest hint of a warning in her tone.

"You have fun now!" She had almost expected him to say 'if you can't be good, be careful'.

After she hung up Richard shot her a sideways glance, clearly suspicious. "They said they would call if there was a murder," was the only response she gave, hoping he wouldn't push for further details. He didn't, but then he also didn't lose the slight look of concern.

Perfectly aware she was acting like a loved up teenager, Camille practically jumped out of the car when they reached his bungalow and half danced up the steps – waiting for him at the door with her most seductive smile on. She couldn't help but notice he was a little more reluctant in following her, which turned her smile into a frown. Richard unlocked the door and she followed him in closely and though tempted to just jump him immediately she could sense the shift in his mood so refrained.

When he tried to put some distance between them, Camille felt a sudden spike of anxiety that he may have changed his mind again, "What is it?"

"It's just, well…" He wasn't looking at her, that couldn't be a good sign either. "I never really had a chance of staying away from you, did I?" She nearly laughed in relief, so he wasn't trying to break up with her after all.

"Nope!" Camille told him cheerfully. He still seemed hesitant though, and her instincts told her that Richard might be trying to tell her something else but didn't quite have the courage to do so. She decided to try prompting him, "You know why that is right?"

He almost instantly blushed, and Camille had to resist the urge to throw herself at him again because damn it, she found his shyness really quite endearing. Instead she smiled gently and stepped close to him, saying, "Honestly, you are so confident when you're in bed with me and then you just go all shy again…"

"Well then it's dark…" he explained.

"It wasn't this morning," she was quick to point out.

"And I'm also drunk on you."

She smiled, took another step towards him and pressed her forehead to his, "Do you want me to say it?"

"Well, you know, then I would be sure we were on the same page…"

Camille was really hoping he could have been confident enough to say it, but she had to except that with him being the sort of man he was that he was always going to be unwilling to take emotional risks without some serious encouragement. She didn't mind taking the leap again, "I love you."

She half expected him to sigh in relief, was a little surprised when his response was to immediately kiss her thoroughly. Not bad surprised, but she had been hoping for something else as well. Camille didn't feel like interrupting his attentions straight away, but after a few minutes she did pull back and ask, "Have you not going anything to tell me?"

This time he did give a little sigh. "I'm trying to," he said, sincerity evident in his tone, before he went back to kissing her. She was sorely tempted to let him get away with it, but knew that it was his insecurities that were holding him back and the sooner the two of them knocked those on the head the better.

"Come on, I've just told you that I love you, I'm hardly going to reject you!"

He looked almost bashful, "You might realise just what you're getting yourself into and change your mind when you hear it, though…"

"I know what I'm getting myself into," she told him firmly. "So spit it out!"

"Oh, you're so romantic," he joked weakly, but she fixed him with a look that made it clear she wanted not further delays. "Fine. Camille Genevieve Bordey, I love you."

Her initial reaction was to cringe at the use of her middle name, something he must have read in her file because she never admitted to it. This was obviously not the reaction Richard had been hoping for, and he cautiously asked, "Is that ok?"

The phrasing of the question caused her to laugh, "It is far more than ok. Though I'd rather you never called me Genevieve again!"

"But I like it! It's pretty!" He protested as he placed a hand on the side of her face.

She leaned into his touch, "Yes, but you will find your life much pleasanter if you pretend I have no middle name!" Before he could argue further, she grabbed him by the tie and pulled him in for a kiss. She pushed him backwards towards the bed, and he offered no resistance. They both ended up laughing between kisses as they tumbled on to it and Camille knew one thing for certain – they were going to be in trouble with her Mother for being late to lunch.