It's Been A Long Time... [Desperate Measures Sequel]

SixtyFive.

Milton rang me the very next day, he had news regarding the case. I went to meet him in person in a local coffee shop where he had ordered me a drink ready before I even arrived. Sitting opposite him I could almost read his expression as he looked at me. 

"He got off didn't he?" I asked as I leaned forward. 

Milton ran a hand through his hair before pushing his glasses up his nose, "It's not that simple."

I nodded as I bit my bottom lip sucking it in. 

"There wasn't enough evidence-"

I shook my head, "I knew the rehab thing would give him an edge." I cupped my hands around the mug as I let the warmth skin into my skin. "I put my heart and soul into this, I didn't even want to tell my story. I didn't need everyone to know what happened to me."

"You must feel better for sharing? You must feel better for not having to harbour that secret anymore?"

Raising my eyebrows I shook my head, "There are some things that are meant to stay hidden." I lifted the mug to my lips and took a sip before speaking again. "I am aware of how it makes me look, it makes me look reckless, it makes me look like I'm not a credible witness. He got off because I have made many mistakes."

"I can refer you for counselling, for both the court case and everything that has happened to you."

I shook my head, "Funnily enough someone else offered me counselling yesterday. I think I am going to be okay."

"You've been through some horrible stuff, Tasha," Milton spoke softly as he put his hand over mine on the table. "You should think very carefully about going to see someone, it might help with what's going on inside your head."

Taking my hand away from his I laughed as I crossed my arms over my chest, "In here," I tapped on my right temple, "No one can help that." I sighed as I leaned back on the chair, "I've been home quite a while now. Forgetting what happened to me in rehab was the easy part, that was easy because I was part of that. Him," I referred to Smythe-Jones, he did this to me and he knew what he was doing." I uncrossed my arms as I leaned forward on the table. "I can barely let my partner touch me let alone talk to me. He's the only man I've ever wanted like really wanted and I'm slowly pushing him away."

"I thought you two had a heart to heart?"

I nodded as I bit my bottom lip, "Then he returned to work. I've barely spoken to him, he's barely spoken to me."

"Maybe he needs time to process everything?"

Shrugging my shoulders I got to my feet, "I have to go."

"Let me drop you home," Milton offered. 

Looking outside I shook my head, "It's a lovely day out there. The fresh air and walking will do me good."

Returning home there was Dean's car on the driveway, I raised an eyebrow before I entered the home. He was sitting in the kitchen backwards on a chair with a cigarette in his mouth. 

"What are you doing?" I asked him as I stared at him. 

He removed the cig from his mouth and looked at me, "I needed to see you."

I watched him as he got up and strutted over to me, he dropped the lit cig in the sink as he crossed the kitchen and got to me. He put his hands on my shoulders before he kissed my lips, the smoke taste filling my mouth as he did so. 

"I've missed you," he told me as his hands stroked down my arms. 

Looking up at him I nodded, "I've missed you too. Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"Can't a man surprise the one he loves?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Of course."

He took my hands before he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips again, "I need you to know," he said. 

"Know what?" I asked him confused as he seemed to stop talking. 

His hands squeezed mine, "That I love you. That nothing is ever going to come between us. You are the only one I want in my life."

"Have you been drinking?" I asked him as I raised an eyebrow. 

"Just a little bit," he told me as he smiled. "Whaetver, we're getting off track." He let go of my hands and felt around in his pocket before he pulled out his mobile phone, "We're going to England."

"What?" I questioned as I looked at him as he stared at his phone. "When?"

"Stephanie wants us all to leave in a couple of weeks," he told me. "I want you to come with me."

I shook my head, "I can't go to England."

"I want you there with me," he told me. 

Thinking abut returning home was hard, everything I returned to England I seemed to have a disagreement with my family. Although if I returned home I would get to see that cute little niece of mine. "Okay," I agreed as I thought about the baby and how amazing it would be to see all my family. 

He touched my face making me look up at him, "One more thing."

"Yes?"

He dropped down on one knee pulling out a box and opening it for me to see. My mouth fell open as I realised what was happening here, he had a smile on his face as he looked up at me. The diamond on the ring was beautiful and he looked amazing and nervous at the same time. "Marry me, Natasha."

My hand flew to my mouth covering it in shock before I nodded at him, tears in my eyes. "Of course I will," I dropped down to his level and he dropped his other knee before pulling me close to him and kissing me. 

He put his arms around me as we kneeled on the floor opposite each other before he slid the ring onto my finger before kissing the back of my hand. "You are everything I have ever needed in my life."