After all this time...A FLAC story

Chapter 13

It felt like minutes had passed since she asked the question, his eyes still hadn't left hers. Neither one of them wanted to look away. Each waiting for the other to say something.

After taking a deep breath, he answered her.

'You Jac' he said in a hushed whisper.

Jac felt her stomach flip. She knew that this was her chance , this was her chance to make herself happy.  Jac stood up from her seat at the kitchen table, she could feel her heart racing in her chest. Now or never she thought to herself. As she made her way round to where Fletch was, he too stood up. Slowly reaching out her hand she took his in hers, for a minute not saying anything she just stood there looking into his eyes. It hurt her to see how much those eyes had changed over the last year. The cheeky glint had gone, he looked tired, worn out. She hated how much the last few months had taken there toll on him. She wanted more than anything to take away all the hurt and worry that had come his way. She wished she could erase all the time she had wasted without him, she wished she could have been there to fight his battles with him, to  support him and look after him just as he had for her so many times. She was really aware that she should say something, but Jac being Jac couldn't find the words. Still clasping his hand with one hand, she took her other hand and used her fingers to gently trace the fine lines that had begun to appear around his eyes. She trailed her fingers down his cheek, feeling the sharpness of his days old stubble. She couldn't wait any longer to show him. She needed him to know it was always him for her. Gently, she leaned into him, placing her lips on his. Just a chaste, swift kiss. She felt his free hand reach for her waist. She had to say it, she knew she did.

'Then let's both be happy.'

As soon as she had said those words, she felt Fletch pull her into him again. This time their lips met in a hurried passion filled kiss, both Jac and Fletch trying to show the other exactly how they were feeling. It was everything they had both wanted for so long. Neither of them wanted to pull away from that kiss, but eventually they naturally parted. Fletch pulled Jac into the tightest hug he had ever given her. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

'This is it Jac, us, we are everything, whatever happens, it's us together. Whatever issues, we can make it work. I promise with all my heart Jac I will do anything to make this work.'

She could almost hear the pleas in his voice. She knew he would be thinking about all the reasons she gave him all that time ago about why they couldn't make it work. She knew she had to put his mind at rest.

'Every reason I gave you before about why we couldn't be together...well some of them still stand Fletch. I'm scared I will never be the partner you deserve. I'm scared that you'll want me to be a mother to your kids, and I still cant be that. But what I want to do Fletch, is try. I want to spend everyday trying to be the person you deserve. I will try and help and support you and your kids. All I can promise is that with all my heart I will try.'

Jac could hear her own voice starting to tremble with emotion. She knew she had to be honest, she just hoped that it would be enough for him. After she had spoken she released herself from Fletchs' embrace. Taking a small step away from him she looked at the man she so desperately wanted to make it work with. She could see his eyes pooling with emotion. It's not enough, she thought to herself, its not enough.

Fletch lifted his hand to wipe away a tear that had started falling from his eye. His heart could burst he thought. He had just heard Jac promise to try, for him, for them. It was all he had ever wanted to hear.

'That's all I've ever wanted to hear, Jac you and me, we will try together. Together we can do this.'

He couldn't help but let another tear fall from his eye. Swiftly Jac moved back closer to him and used her fingers to gently wipe it away, keeping her hand on his cheek once the tear had gone. She knew how she felt about him, and she wished so badly that she could tell him.

Jac leant in to kiss him again. She knew she could never get bored of kissing him. Feeling him close to her. She knew she could never regret this.

Fletch held on to Jac as if he would never let her go. He couldn't believe that after all this time she was willing to try. He knew he could not be happier than he was in this moment. With all the sadness and chaos that had been in his life the last few months, he knew that this was his chance to grab happiness. He knew the timing wasn't the best as he had only just ended things with Ange, but he was not going to miss his chance.