Through Sickness And In Health - Flac

Part Four

Fletch unclasped Jac from their embrace and watched with a massive dopey grin on his face as she walked away towards the toilets on the other side of the room.
"Oh my, Adrian is that you?" He heard a familiar voice say from behind him. The Nurse span around on his heel to face the source of the voice. Isla, his youngest cousin was stood looking beautiful in a crisp white fitted lace wedding dress. It clung to her curves, emphasising her hips and spilled out onto the floor around her feet.
"Hey Isla! You're looking beautiful as always cousin dearest." He smiled. "So you've left the Fletcher name behind then eh?"
"Yep sorry about that." She pulled a mock awkward face and Fletch chuckled. "How are you and the kids these days then?"
"Good yeah really good thanks. You haven't met Jac yet have you?" He replied.
"I heard my name?" Jac said over Fletch's shoulder, coming to a stop just behind him.
"Ah speak of the devil. Jac this is Isla, my baby cousin."
"Hi." Jac said visibly uncomfortable.
"Hey it's nice to meet you but sorry guys I've got to dash, ya know lots of guests to mingle with."
"Of course, no rest for a bride." Jac joked but Fletch knew it was forced. They watched as the woman walked away, balancing in her heels and then turned to face each other.

Fletch tucked a stray piece of Jac's straightened hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek.
"You look stunning tonight sweetheart." He spoke softly, making the moment feel immensely intimate in the crowded room. Jac pulled on his tie, yanking him forward towards her and captured his lips once again.
"And so do you Mr Fletcher." She whispered in his ear when they pulled apart.
"Wanna get out of here Naylor?" He whispered back.
"That would be delightful please kind sir." She said in a mocking posh voice. He linked his arm through hers and they weaved their way through the crowds of people enjoying the party.

Fletch led her back up to their room as she uncharacteristically giggled and stumbled in her heels. They burst through the door after a prolonged struggle to get it open. Jac hadn't entirely helped the situation by clutching onto one of his hands when the door required two hands. As soon as they stepped over the threshold his hands were tangled in her hair, her body pressed against his and they kissed passionately. Fletch kicked the door shut behind them and let one hand drop from her hair and down to rest on her lower back. She flinched as his thumb rubbed across her healing scar and she stepped backwards out of his grasp.
"Jac...I'm sorry." He said so quietly it was almost a whisper.
"It's fine." She dismissed it but didn't return to him. Instead she walked over to the mini fridge and pulled out a bottle of champagne. Jac held it up in silent question and watched as he nodded.

The room was filled with a tense silence as Jac filled up two glasses with the complimentary champagne and Fletch went to sit on the end of the bed. He'd never felt like such an idiot in his life and he'd potentially lost the love of his life. He hadn't realised until tonight how much she meant to him and now he'd ruined it. Jac finished pouring their drinks and bought both glasses over to him, handing him one as she sat beside him on the bed.

After a few moments of complete silence other than their breathing, Jac surprised Fletch by placing her head gently on his shoulder whilst clutching her glass. He turned his head carefully and pressed a kiss into her hair.
"I'm sorry Jac. I didn't mean to hurt you." He whispered.
"You didn't." She croaked out, her voice sounding broken. He tilted his head down to see a few tears roll their way down her smooth skin.
"Hey hey, what's the matter?" He asked and stroked her hair back out of her face.
"Just, when you touched my scar," She paused and took a breath. "It reminded me of what we've been through to get here. And these tears aren't all bad ones. But the ones that are, they're because I despise myself."
"Why? Why do you despise yourself?" He pulled her up to face him. It broke his heart to see her cry because he felt so helpless.
"You should despise me too Fletch. It was my fault that Raf died in that lift." She sobbed.
"What? How?" He asked relatively calmly.
"I asked him to take my resignation letter up to HR for me before the end of his shift. That's why he was in the lift."
"What no Jac! You can't blame yourself for this. He could have been going anywhere in that lift. Even if he was going to do that for you at that moment in time, the only person to blame is Fredrick. He was the one who killed him, not you. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Please Jac, don't blame yourself." Fletch also now had tears rolling down his cheeks silently. "Come here." He pulled her into his chest, taking her glass from her to put on the ground with his and clung onto her tightly as she shook with sobs. He could feel his shirt getting soaked with her tears but he couldn't care less. He was sat holding the beautiful woman he loved to pieces and that was all he cared about. Making sure she was going to be okay.