Through it all

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"Where is he?" She asked, she had just finished unpacking her stuff and had been looking forward to settling down with a glass of wine.

"Oncall room," Charlie told her, handing her a bottle of wine and two glasses, "he won't speak to any of us,"

"Any you think he'll speak to me?"

Charlie shrugged, "you're his friend, he needs a friend."

She nodded, knocking once on the door before holding up the wine as she smiled gently at her.

"Move over and sit up," she told him and he did as she asked.

"Here," she nodded, handing him a glass and pouring him a large glass and herself a small one.

"I can't promise I'll stop at one..."

"You don't have to promise anything," she told him kindly and as she knelt up beside him, she took his glass away and wrapped her arms around his neck. He gripped onto her and cried against her neck,

"Connie," he uttered and she kissed his forehead before holding him tightly,

"It's okay, you cry... A wise man told me it good for you," she smiled.

"He was my best friend," he uttered and she nodded, "I know sweetheart,"

"I didn't even recognise him until I saw the chain around his neck,"

She moved so she leaned against him, the feel of his strong arms around her made her cuddle further into his chest as he held her tightly.

"Come home with me," she told him, "you can make the fire and we can talk in the warmth."

"You don't have to do this,"she looked at him and placed her hand on his cheek, resisting the urge to kiss him, she smiled,

"I know, but I want too, and who knows where you'll end up if I leave you here."

They ate pizza whilst he told her stories of him and his friend as they grew up. She stood up, "come on, let's get some sleep, you can be the first man in this new bed."

He laughed and cuddled her gently, "thank you,"

"What for?"

"Being a friend," he told her, even though he knew he wanted far more than that.

He fell asleep quickly. She lay in front of him on her side, dressed only in her underwear and he wrapped his arm around her waist.

She took his hand in her own and wondered what it would be like to really feel this man who lay so close behind her. She woke as she felt his weight leave the bed, she turned and watched him as he got up and sat on the bay window, silent tears falling down his cheeks. She decided that she couldn't just lay and watch, so got up and moved over to where he sat. She placed her right hand over his and her left brushed against his cheek. He looked up at her and she pressed her lips firmly against his own, feeling him respond to her slowly. They kissed for a while, and she pulled away gently, "only a week left," she smiled and he kissed her,

"I don't like seeing you sad," she told him, "I'm so very sorry about your friend."

He pulled her gently so she lay between his legs, his hands running up and down her stomach, "me too... But you're making me feel better," he smiled and she took his hand and kissed it softly.