^ gif by areyoumarriedriver.tumblr.com The first Mattex Fanfiction Exchange.
Round 2: Alex's Birthday
(Read our rules for further info.)
CURRENT SCHEDULE
Sign up Deadline: Sat 9th of Feb Assignments sent out by: Mon 11th of Feb Stories due: Fri 8th of March 8pm UK time.
Stories posted: Soon after that :P
Participants :
Thank you so much Rach. What a great days reading. Just a reminder that I'd like to reserve the Sport au fic from amie33. We're about 4 chapters in. Myself and another writer! Very excited but it will take a while as we are both working on other things atm. Brilliant fun to write for the exchanges! You are wonderful for organising them!
Fantastic and you’re welcome. I posted the last fic at 3am my time lol. Technically some of them were in mattex Tuesday ;).
By: Sassa-Who (amazing angel writer!)
For: Waittillmyhusbandgetshome
Prompt/ Summary: Matt is supposed to be helping set up Alex’s birthday party but no one can find him. And when they try finding Alex, they can’t find her either.
Notes: The request was for ‘something that isn’t like a typical mattex.’ Once I’d had the idea I couldn’t get it beyond a rather fluffy tone, so I hope its ok, honey.
RATED: T
WORDS: 3500 approx
“Where the hell is he?”
There is nothing more terrifying than Karen Gillan in full Scottish flight. Her red hair flares impossibly redder, her brogue becomes thicker and her pale face takes on an edge of almost Gothic horror proportions.
“I don’t know,” Arthur, ever the voice of reason replies, “Perhaps he’s stuck in traffic,” he adds.
Karen looks about anxiously, “He was meant to be here hours ago- the guests are starting to arrive. Alex’ll be here in half an hour.”
“Well, he’s hardly likely to miss an opportunity to be around her, now is he?” reminds Arthur.
“Lazy so and so missed all the set up,” She pouts.
Karen, Arthur and Jenna have spent the entire day at a trendy London art gallery, transforming it into a suitable party venue for Alex’s birthday celebration. They have decorated the venue with Alliums, Alex’s favourite flowers. They have lit the room with ornate candelabras and have set up a chocolate fountain in one corner and a lounge area in another. They have long tables set up for all to sit at once they help themselves from the sumptuous buffet dinner on offer. Canapés are just starting to come out, along with champagne, served by hot male waiters, who are shirtless yet wearing cute multi-coloured bowties- an inside joke not lost on any of the Who crowd.
Jenna wanders over to Karen and Arthur saying, “You know, I’m starting to worry a bit. Matt is usually meticulous about organisation and isn’t usually late, especially where Alex is concerned. I hate to say it, but do you think he might have had an accident?”
Karen and Arthur look at each other worriedly- they’d both been thinking it already. Karen feels rather ashamed for her earlier comments. What if Matt had met with an accident? He’s a clumsy oaf at the best of times and is rendered virtually incapable of co-ordinated movement by Alex’s mere presence in the same room. Being responsible for this event might have proven too much for him. He would have been rushing around today, especially if he’d been running a bit late. Oh, if was hurt she was going to kill him.
Steven arrives at this moment with his wife Sue, exclaiming in a booming Scottish brogue, “We’re not so late we’ve missed the arrival of our guest of honour, have we?”
“No,” bites back Karen, giving him a tight hug, “nor the bloke whose bright idea this was in the first place.
“Matt not here then?” Steven quirks, “That’s very unlike him. Especially where Alex is concerned.”
“We know,” replies Arthur, dryly but adds, “We’re actually starting to worry a bit.”
Jenna thinks she sees a look pass between Sue and Steven but she’s unsure what if anything it means and so she says, “I’m going to make some calls.”
“Matt’s not answering his phone,” says Karen, “I know. I’ve tried, like sixty times already today.”
“I thought I might try his family next and then,” she pauses, “A and E.”
Everyone falls silent as they allow the implications of her words to slide over them.
“He really could be in trouble, couldn’t he?” Karen shakes her head, making a huffing sound but her face is lined with anxiety. Arthur winds a comforting arm around her waist and he too pulls out his phone to begin making calls to some of his and Matt’s shared friends.
Over an hour later, the party is in full swing. Guests are milling around, snacking on delicious canapés. All Alex’s favourites are there-smoked salmon, brie cheese, platters of strawberries and oysters Rockefeller.
The gift table is by now, overflowing with presents and a string quartet plays soft, elegant, classical music. It is perfect.
There is only one thing missing from this perfect evening- well two things really. Alex herself has not shown up for her party and Matt is still nowhere to be found.
The guests are staring to speak in hushed tones. They know Alex is fiercely punctual, never or rarely more than a few minutes late for anything. Steven tells them he’s tried calling her but her phone appears to be switched off, calls going straight to her voicemail.
Jenna catches Steven and Sue giving one another an odd look once again and sees Sue wink and smile at her husband before saying, “I’m sure they’ll make an appearance. They promised.”
Jenna finds Sue’s choice of words very odd and her feelings of uncertainty bubble to the surface again. She starts to think that perhaps the Moffat’s know far more about this turn of events than they’re letting on.
She tries Matt’s number one more time and waits as the call goes to voicemail, “Matty, we’re worried. You’ve not been here all day. And now Alex isn’t here either. We’re really worried. About you both.”
She finishes the call and pursues Steven across the room saying, “You know something don’t you?”
Steven smiles that infuriatingly benign smile and replies cryptically, “I know a lot of things. Yes.”
“Steven,” Jenna warns, “I mean. You know something about Matt and Alex. What are you not telling us? Are they together somewhere?”
Karen is now beside Jenna, listening intently, “Oh. My God,” she says, “Don’t tell me that all this time I’ve been teasing him mercilessly about something going on between him and Alex, there’s actually been something going on between him and Alex?”
“Karen,” Steven says, “do you honestly think Matt could keep that kind of secret to himself for, what-more than a year?”
Karen seems to relax slightly, saying, “You’re right. He couldn’t possibly. He’s hopeless with secrets. Constantly oversharing. I’d know for sure.”
“That may well be true. Although Alex is like Fort Knox…” Steven adds, winking and then walking away to begin an animated conversation with Caro Skinner who has just arrived.
Karen and Jenna stare at one another for a moment then both shake their heads.
“Nah,” they say simultaneously.
Another hour passes and Karen and Arthur begin to encourage the guests to partake of the buffet. They make light of the missing Alex and try to downplay the missing Matt. The last thing they need is for people to start jumping to the supposedly wrong conclusions where Matt and Alex are concerned. But are they wrong?
Karen knows her friends are fond of one another but she’s certain they are not together at this moment, despite the whispering of the guests. Matt would have let something slip by now if the two of them were together, although Karen can remember one occasion where she’d felt certain something was going on.
It had been a rare, warm day in Cardiff and Alex had been over for filming. That evening, Karen had spotted Alex leaving Matt’s trailer and for an instant she thought that they had been holding hands. When she looked again, she had decided it was just a trick of the light. The sun had been in her eyes.
A day later, a suitably bleak and raining, Karen had finally forced herself to read the ending to ‘The Angels Take Manhattan’ and she had been desperate to talk it over with Matt. She had gone to his Cardiff flat and knocked on the door. She swore she had heard sounds from inside but he Matt had not answered, despite her knocking three times.
She had asked Matt about it the next day at filming and he’d sworn he had been out. Karen had never been completely convinced. However; she had watched his interactions with Alex more closely for a while afterwards and nothing further passed between them to indicate anything other than their usual warm friendship.
Back in the gallery, Karen feels a bump at her shoulder. It’s Arthur, “You were a long way away,” he says, “You’re still worrying aren’t you?”
“Well of course I am. They’re our friends. They could be hurt or in trouble-”
“-or together,” says Arthur.
“You’ve thought so for a while haven’t you?” Karen asks.
“Yeah,” Arthur replies, “Only because he’s been around less- for drinking and bloke’s nights and stuff.”
“But Arthur, even if they were seeing each other,” reasons Karen, “Matt wouldn’t let Alex miss her own birthday party, would he?”
“True enough Kaz,” Arthur responds, “regardless of whether or not they’re ‘together’”- he air quotes, “Matt would walk over hot coals before he’d let her miss her big night.”
Just then, Steven Moffat taps on the edge of his wine glass and the room falls silent, Karen and Arthur glancing over at Jenna who looks both worried and intrigued.
Sue slips quietly from the room at this moment too and Jenna sees her go, ‘What are these two up to?’ she thinks.
Steven takes a position in the room where he’s pretty certain most people can hear and see him and begins a speech, which Jenna considers is pretty redundant right now, considering the guest of honour is a no show.
“Ladies and gentlemen, for those of you who might not know me, I’m Steven Moffat, showrunner, producer, writer and sometime keeper of secrets on Doctor Who.”
The crowd laughs. Steven’s secrets are world renowned and all of the guests are perfectly well aware who he is.
“So, you’ll all probably be wondering why you’re here but the guest of honour is not.”
The crowd shuffles a bit, becoming very interested. Karen, Arthur and Jenna exchange puzzled glances but it appears their troll overlord has much more to impart.
“You may also have noticed, by way of the fact that all the decorations, furnishings and platters of food and drink are still upright and intact, that a certain star of a time travelling TV show is also missing in action this evening.”
Again there is laughter amongst the guests but there are also a few gasps as people start to ponder the thought that Matt and Alex are missing. And apparently together.
“So,” Steven continues, “I have something to show you. Something that will most certainly change everything. Something that will hopefully, explain everything too. Are we ready Sue?” he calls out and a voice from the next room responds, “Yes darling, we’re good to go.”
“Alright then, ladies and gentlemen, let the show begin.” He grins that wicked all-knowing grin that they are all too familiar with on Who.
A screen flickers to life at the far end of the room. It is a screen that normally displays a vivid ‘light as art’ installation, but tonight, apparently it is running a video. A video, it soon becomes apparent, of Matt Smith whose ridiculously grinning face appears on the screen and begins a tale so surprising and amazing, that guests will be speaking of it for decades after.
“Hello everyone!” Matt begins and a few guests respond, “Hello Matt,” in classic British pantomime call and response.
Matt on the screen continues, “I hope you’re all having a lovely time and that it’s a great party. A party to celebrate the birthday of a beautiful lady, who I know we all love. And I suppose you’re wondering why you’re all there, when clearly the guest of honour is not. Well, with thanks to Sue and Steven, I have a bit of a confession to make.”
The guests have fallen completely silent. Where on earth is he going with this?
Matt on the screen says, “Karen. I apologise.”
Karen looks completely bewildered.
Matt continues, “I know you are probably standing there looking completely bewildered but I need to apologise for not helping you set up the party today. You see, I’ve been rather distracted lately. Well for quite some time actually. Karen, you might recall a certain evening about six months ago. You’d just read the script for your last episode and you were upset and you came around. You knocked on my door but I didn’t answer. You thought I was at home, I know you did, because you asked me about it the next day on set and I told you I was out. Truth is Karen I was home.”
“I knew it!” Karen exclaims loudly at the screen, “You utter bastard. I stood out in the rain waiting for you to answer!”
Matt on the screen goes on, “You probably just called me a bastard or other such profanity in that angry Scottish voice I know and love so well.”
The guests laugh, Karen loudest of all.
“The truth is Karen, I was home but I was not alone. I’d just started seeing someone. And I was really seeing, her that night,” he winks, “so the apocalypse itself would not have got me to leave my flat or open my door.”
Karen looks to Arthur and says, “I had no idea all this time.”
Arthur looks sheepish and replies, “I suspect I was right.”
Matt carries on, “Arthur, me old mate. I think you might have suspected there was someone special in my life. I suddenly became less available for pub nights and darts competitions and you never asked, so I think you knew. Am I right?”
Arthur nods at the face on the screen, “Well done mate,” he says raising his beer bottle in salute, “well done.”
“Jenna, my fabulous J-Lo. You poor thing walked into my life right in the midst of utter chaos. I was so in love by the time I met you, that I think I was a bit rude at the start. A bit neglectful of you really, because I was so wrapped up in her and us- and I’m sorry. We were so good at hiding it by then that you really have no idea even now who or what I’m talking about- so close your mouth love.”
Jenna realises her mouth is indeed gaping wide and she closes it, turning to Karen and whispering, “Is he talking about Alex?”
Karen, equally shocked, nods and says, “I think so. Yes.”
They suddenly both grin widely at each other.
“Lastly there is Steven, who saw through us in about thirty seconds. Alex and I were late for a table read- do you remember? For ‘The Wedding of River Song’. I arrived ten minutes late- and I’m never late and Alex about five minutes later, trying to pretend we didn’t’ arrive together and snog each other senseless in the broom closet on the way through. Steven told me later it was Alex’s hair that gave the game away, although how he could make out that it was more dishevelled than normal, I’ll never know!”
“Oi, you can bloody stop that right now.” A hand appears over Matt’s shoulder and Matt pulls back allowing him and Alex to be in the frame together. The crowd cheers. The lady they’ve been waiting for is finally on the screen, her hair in delicate curls and an intricate style, small crystals woven into her ‘do.’
“So, hello everyone,” Alex says a bit bashfully.
“I guess its confession time. I’m really sorry Matt and I are not with you tonight but- well, the truth is- we’re currently in LA.” She pauses to allow the guests to absorb that fact and adds simply, “We eloped you see.”
The room erupts into gasps and intermittent screams and cheers of joy.
Alex goes on, “I wish I could see the looks on your faces but Sue said she’d take video and post it to us. Matt and I got married earlier today,” Matt presses a kiss to her neck and her hand on his shoulder clearly now displays a sparkling diamond and gold band.
Photos of the wedding pop up on the screen, Alex in a stunning ivory cocktail dress and Matt in a three piece suit in navy, with an ivory tie. Alex’s voice continues over the photographs which display a couple so in love and blissed out that the crowd start to get a bit teary, Karen hugging Arthur and Jenna close. Salome is there wearing a lavender coloured gown, her hair styled like her mother’s, with crystals sparkling throughout.
Another photo pops up. This one of her being hugged close by Matt and Alex. The perfect family unit.
“Salome was my bridesmaid and we got married in a beautiful garden with a friend of mine as celebrant. We kept it pretty small, just mine and Matt’s immediate family.” She looks a bit insecure and continues, “I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive us. We’d just left it so long. It became easier to not say anything, really. Truth is, in the end I didn’t know how to tell you all, so Steven and Sue helped us. You know how he just loves a good reveal!”
The crowd laughs again then lets out a collective “Awww,” as Matt turns his head and kisses Alex, long and slow before turning to the camera and saying, “I thought at the very least you deserved a re-enactment of the ‘first kiss.’ Well in actual fact we’re quite happy to re-enact it for anyone, anytime, anywhere! I’ve loved Alex for a long time and it’s not always been an easy road but she is worth every obstacle we’ve ever had to overcome.”
Alex continues, “And I’ve loved Matt for a very long time too. It just took me a bit longer to let him convince me. Now all of you don’t fret. My husband and I will be back with you soon.”
Matt interjects with, “Yes. My wife and I are going to Florida for a bit of a honeymoon but I’ll be back at work in a fortnight and Steven tells me Alex will be back soon too, so that’s nice.”
“Spoilers!” she exclaims slapping his shoulder and they both laugh, the crowd in the gallery joining in.
Alex is playing with the hair at the nape of his neck the entire time and she looks at him with such open adoration that everyone in the room is beyond delighted for them and can’t quite believe they hadn’t worked it out before.
Alex speaks at last saying, “So apologies everyone once again for missing my birthday party. I really hope you’re all enjoying it. But I’m afraid Matt gave me the best present in the world today and well”…she laughs wickedly, “He’s a gift that just keeps giving.”
“Alex!” he exclaims, “We don’t need to tell them everything.”
“Oh, darling, up until now we didn’t tell them anything.”
She laughs wickedly and he kisses her quickly, turning to the camera and saying, “Say goodnight Alex.”
She turns to the camera too, winking and saying, “Goodnight Alex,” then laughs, adding, “See? Just keeps giving.”
Matt winds his fingers into her hair pulling her close and he begins to kiss her once more before reaching around her for the switch on the camera and the screen fades to black.
In the gallery, the room has fallen completely silent.
The guests look at one another.
Then the room erupts in conversation, excitement, shrieks of laughter and words of praise for Steven and Sue for keeping such an amazing secret for so long.
The crowd are all wearing wide grins as they talk and laugh and dance for the remainder of the night.
Karen sidles up to Arthur, saying, “You worked it all out and you never said. Not even to me. Why?”
Arthur studies her face intently and sighs, before he replies softy, “Because you’ve a habit of missing what’s right under your nose.” And he gently kisses her nose to make his point, before walking away.
Karen stands still for all of three seconds before racing after him. They’ve clearly got some talking to do.
Jenna smiles cheekily at Steven and Sue, “Just when I think you can’t surprise me anymore, you go and do that. You’re a genius Steven Moffat.”
“They’ve always been adorably ridiculous together you know. I couldn’t have done a better job of their story if I’d written it myself. Although, as soon as I saw them connect on that beach in Cardiff four years ago, I kept throwing them together- repeatedly- until they realised - the idiots!”
He laughs a wicked laugh and Jenna has no doubt that Steven has given Cupid more than a helping hand with this relationship.
She smiles as she mingles with guests and co-stars, all excited beyond words at the events of the evening. She can’t wait to see both Matt and Alex again and hug them in person.
At midnight Steven calls for the guests to raise their glasses and drink a toast to the bride and groom. Steven being the cheeky so and so that he is says, “A toast to Matt and Alex Smith, who I’m pretty certain are currently enjoying their honeymoon and giving the best performances of their entire lives.”
Jenna glances around the room noting that Karen and Arthur are conspicuously absent.
By: Amie33
For: Tisziny
rating : M
words : 16k
Beta: Rach (I'm sorry :/)
Prompt 1: Matt hurts his back during a Who stunt and triggers his old injury, he’s fine but to make sure he heals properly and doesn’t make it any worse he is on strict orders of bed rest. Alex visits to make him meals, keep him company and make sure he does as he doctors said and doesn’t get out of bed.
summary : It was not his fault.
Everybody on set knew how he could be clumsy. He had stopped counting the number of things he had damaged or broken and the number of people he had hit or knocked while he wasn’t paying attention. They had never been anything important; anything that couldn’t be fixed or cured; a new camera, piece of sellotape or a plaster on Karen’s hand. Usually it would be enough. Right now though he listened to the pain coming from his back - radiating up his spine to his fingertips and down his legs. He would need more than just a simple kiss to make him feel better. And it wasn’t even his fault.
It was not his fault.
Everybody on set knew how he could be clumsy. He had stopped counting the number of things he had damaged or broken and the number of people he had hit or knocked while he wasn’t paying attention. They had never been anything important; anything that couldn’t be fixed or cured; a new camera, piece of sellotape or a plaster on Karen’s hand. Usually it would be enough. Right now though he listened to the pain coming from his back - radiating up his spine to his fingertips and down his legs. He would need more than just a simple kiss to make him feel better. And it wasn’t even his fault.
The day had started like every other day. He had woken up in the early morning, taken a quick shower and had a coffee before running onto set. They were to shoot only one scene that day, but it needed a lot of preparation and complicated work. The Doctor was supposed to jump off a building and grab a rope that almost magically appeared in front of him. He had to stay hung up on this rope for a few minutes, flying across London. The scene involved both the technical shooting of the Doctor in the air and monologue; in this case, his saviour who was currently out of shot.
It was not the first time that Matt had to shoot something like that. As the Doctor, he often found himself in impossible situations. This one was just another one. He had already seen how it worked when they shot a character that seemed to fly or fall. He was no longer fearful of the idea. There was a lot of security. He would be held by a solid harness and other cables. The equipment was scrupulously checked before each take. There wasn’t any danger. Theoretically.
“Hello, darling,”
He smiled as he heard Alex’s voice - of course, the Doctor’s mysterious help was River. And even if she didn’t directly appear in that scene and only hear voice was heard, she had come to support Matt and help with his lines. He was only sure of one thing, he was happy to see her. It was always a pleasure to have her by his side. She had been a great mentor when they’d met; giving him some tips and believing in him even when he doubted he would be a good Doctor. As the years had passed by she had become a bit more than a brillant actress he had been a fan of, more than a simple colleague - a great friend.
She kissed his cheek and he had to remember that, yes, she was a friend. And he was hers. And as his friend, he shouldn’t wish that the kiss had lingered more than it had. Just so he could feel her lips on his skin a bit longer or smell her perfume again. He shouldn’t and he barely did. He was so used to pushing away that all of his thoughts about Alex that he barely realised them when they appeared. He had given up on the idea of being more than her friend to her a long time ago without really trying to fight for her. He’d had no chance. It was better to pretend that there was nothing than risking what they had. And if he was lucky, he could pretend long enough to convince even himself.
“Alex dear, you look beautiful,” he teased her and she giggled, punching his arm playfully. She didn’t realised that he wasn’t joking. Even without River’s clothing and makeup, she was beautiful. He doubted she was really aware of that.
“You’re not bad yourself,” she replied, looking down at him and grinning. He had been on set for a while now and had been prepared for shooting the scene. He was already wearing the harness and a few cables were dangling from his hips.
“Yeah well, you know one day I’m gonna complain to the director. When you had to do this you looked like Marilyn. I only look like...” He paused, helding a few wires with a desperate look on his face “a fly caught up in a giant spider web.”
Alex laughed again and he thought it was too much of a reward for such a bad joke. “I’m sure you’re going to do perfectly well.” She took his hand and briefly squeezed it with support. He hoped she couldn’t feel the tremble of his skin as she did. He smiled at her while his brain silently shouted at his body. He shouldn’t be surprised when she touched him and he shouldn’t react that way each time her skin comes in contact with his. It was annoying. A sort of enjoyable painful kind of annoying but still, it wasn’t appropriate.
He was thinking of something to reply with when he was called by the crew. He regretfully left Alex, climbing the little platform they have installed for the shooting. They would start with the Doctor jumping. Alex wasn’t needed for this scene but he realised she hadn’t gone very far, looking at him from the corner of the set and waving at him. He waved back at her and smiled.
One of the assistants checked all of his equipment for a last time; tugging at the cables and asking him if he was ready. He glanced around at the green screen covering the wall, trying to imagine that it was actually an urban scenery. They hadn’t shot the previous scene yet but Matt had read the script and knew it by heart. Even if there were a few changes to detail at the last moment, he knew enough to enter the Doctor’s mind.
He looked down, his feet a few inches from the edge of the platform. There were only a few meters between him and the ground; secured by a huge crash pad. But it wasn’t difficult to imagine it was actually a rooftop, and he was about to leap into the void. He knew there were crew and cameras all around him - as well as a lot of security procedures, yet he couldn’t help but feel a bit of apprehension. He quickly shook his head and tried to forget it. Everything would be okay.
Of course it wasn’t.
The director shouted “Action”, and Matt jumped for a first time. It only lasted a few seconds; while his body seemed to hesitate - like it was surprised of the lack of solid ground under its feet and wondered what it had to do. Then gravity took the hint and Matt felt himself falling, falling... before the harness finally stopped him with a jolt.
Matt blinked a few times while he was brought back down on earth. His heartbeat was a little faster than usual, but everything went fine for that take. The first time was always the hardest, they’d said.
Reassured by this first take, Matt climbed for the second time. He jumped when he was asked to. When he was back on the ground, his heart was beating a bit more calmly. Then it was a third take, and a fourth; by the time they reached the fifth all his apprehension was gone. He even laughed the next time. Between the moment the harness stopped him and he was back on his feet, the cable that kept him in the air making him turn and he felt like a neglected puppet.
The director wanted him to try different things - backwards, forwards, his arms in a position or in another. Then they were shooting from another angle... Matt knew they wouldn’t stop before they had the perfect sequence, so he repeated the same scene over and over again. He lost the count of his jumps, the number of times he climbed the platform and fell - again and again. He didn’t fear anything anymore and he even began to wonder why he had ever felt that something could have gone wrong in the first place.
He didn’t have the time to be surprised when suddenly, during one of their last take, things didn’t happen how they were supposed to. He reached the end of the platform and fell. There there was a click. Instead of finding himself hung in the air, he kept falling. Before he could realise what was happening, he was already hitting the ground.
He could hear someone crying and people rushing around him. For a few seconds he couldn’t move or say anything. He was lying on the crash pad and all his muscles seemed to cry in pain. It had been a violent shock. He couldn’t help but wonder what could have happened if there hadn’t been anything to cushion his fall, or if he had been falling from a higher point. At least he seemed to still be alive, in pain but alive.
“Matt! Matt, are you okay? Please say something!”
He opened his eyes to face golden curls that he immediately recognized as Alex’s. Even after what had happened there was no way he could make that mistake.
“Thank God, he’s conscious!”
He could feel her tiny hand squeezing his and even though he was in so much pain, it still felt good. She ran her fingers through his hair; her digits warm against his scalp. He blinked a few times before he could actually see her face - full of concern as a crowd of people surrounded him.
“What happened?” he managed to articulate after a while.
Some people shouted around him and he winced. It was like every sound entered his flesh and hurt him a bit more. He vaguely understood something about the harness breaking, or was it some cables that didn’t resist? He wasn’t sure. The only thing he seemed to be able to focus on was Alex’s fingers stroking his skin, and the pain. It seemed clearer now and he managed to take consciousness of his different body parts. He could move his toes and his fingertips (which certainly was good news), but his legs and back hurt like hell. He tried to lift his head but he stopped in the middle of his movement - the whole reality seemed to spin around him and he had to lie back down.
“Don’t move, the doctor’s coming,” Alex said to him and he smiled at her gracefully - or tried to at least. He was afraid the result looked more like a wince than an actual smile.
He waited a few minutes before the medical staff arrived. All the while Alex kept her hand in his. It felt good to have her presence as realisation slowly made it’s way through his mind - he had just fallen from a few meters high. How bad was he injured? What could he risk? His first attempt had been a complete failure, would he ever be able to stand up alone again, and walk? Oh god, what would he do if he was badly hurt? Would he ever be able to act again? Would he be forced to change his career, his whole life, again? With all those questions, fear began to creep in and Alex must have felt it because she held his hand tightly as she repeated that everything would be okay. Maybe it was just to reassure herself? Which wasn’t very reassuring either.
Finally a doctor arrived and Matt reluctantly let go of Alex’s hand as he was examined. The doctor pressed his cold and rough fingers onto him, testing different place of his body; bones and muscles. He paid great attention to his neck while he kept asking questions - what parts were painful, could he feel his legs and arms, could he move?
After a few minutes, he seemed to be reassured and asked Matt to sit up. This time he succeeded. He was still a bit dizzy but it was better than earlier. The doctor checked his back, and Matt realised that was where the remaining pain was concentrated. He must have fallen on it and now it hurt like hell. When the doctor pressed his fingers against his lower back he grit his teeth in pain. At the same time another wave of fear filled him. He recognized the place; it was where he had been hurt years ago; the injury that had revealed the bad condition of his back and made him stop football.
When the doctor pulled his hands away, Matt was incapable of reading his face. He rummaged through his wallet and handed him two boxes of pills.
“These are painkillers” he explained as he showed the first box, “Take one now and then every couple of hours. You can take two at a time if it really hurts a lot. Those,” he showed the other one, “will help your muscles to relax. No more shooting for now. For the next few days you’ve got to stay at home, in a lying position, move only when necessary.”
“How bad it it?”
It was Alex who asked the question and Matt was glad she did. He wanted to know but somehow was afraid of the answer.
“You’re gonna be okay,” the doctor said and Matt let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “But be careful. If it had been anyone else I would have only recommended a good night and no stunts for a while. Your back has other issues though. You have to understand that you really have to stay in bed for at least a week, if you don’t want it to be more damaged than it already is.”
Matt nodded, reassured by the doctor’s words. He wasn’t really happy to spend the next days at home, lying in bed doing nothing. They had a strict schedule and they were already a bit late. He had no idea how they were going to wrap the whole episode in time. The idea of him jumping from a rooftop seemed to be seriously compromised. He was alive though,and not too badly hurt. He should feel happy about that and thought about the rest later.
“Okay, now we’re gonna try to stand you up.”
The doctor held his hand out and Matt grabbed it strongly. He didn’t have to ask to know that it hurt like hell.
Standing up was easier than he had imagined - but once he was standing on his feet, the pain was worst than he remembered feeling when he had been hurt years ago. He winced and groaned. There was no way he could stand completely upright. He must of looked like an old man - all crooked with only the cane missing. He wondered what it would be like if he had to stay like this for the rest of his life. He snorted at the idea that. Maybe the Doctor would finally have to show himself as a thousand and something year old.
“You should find someone to bring you home...”
“I’ll do it,” Alex replied before anyone else could react. She grabbed him by the elbow to support him and began to lead him to the changing rooms. “I wasn’t needed there anyway. I’ll be more useful with you.”And with those words, Matt fully understood that he had no choice but to accept her offer.
He whispered a thank you, trying to hide how each step was painful for him as they walked.
Lots of people came to him while he exited the building, including the director of the episode, who apologized profusely for what had happened. He promised him they would try to understand what had happened and why he had fallen, when everything should have been checked and completely secured. If anyone from the staff was in fault they surely would be found and punished. Of course, he shouldn’t worry about the schedule. His health was more important. He would call Steven and tell him what had happened and they would see together if some changes could be made.
Matt thanked him and everyone else came to apologize or wish him to get better quickly. He barely saw their faces, thanking everyone without really hearing what they were saying. When they finally reached Alex’s car she helped him sit on the passengers seat. He let out a long sigh. Taking the boxes the doctor had given him, he swallowed a couple of pills to try to numb the pain. It would be a long week.
Alex and Matt were both silent the whole way back to his home. He kept his eyes closed and gritted his teeth the whole time. She knew he was probably in pain and didn’t want to talk right now. Seeing him fall had been one of the most terrifying thing she had ever witnessed. She couldn’t express the sensation that she had felt during the few seconds between the moment he hit the ground and when he finally opened his eyes and spoke to her. Her mind had been filled up with dramatic thoughts - what if he was hurt, what if it was worse, what if he was dead? What would she do?
The incident had made her realise something; she cared about Matt, more than she had ever realised. Of course she had always liked him as a younger co-star. He was kind, funny and flirty.They had a great time together. Filming with him was always a pleasure and she believed that they had become more than simply colleagues, friends. At least she had always told herself that. She had never wanted to hear that inner voice that sometimes whispered to her that being friends was just a bad excuse not to try to be more. The moment the harness broke and he fell, that inner voice she had succeeded to shush until then began to scream, scream until she couldn’t deny it anymore. She realised all the things she could have tried and all the things they could have done together. Suddenly it felt stupid not to of said anything because... because of what? Because he was so young, so brilliant, they were too exposed to what the press would say? It had felt stupid and irrational. He could have lost his life and that had felt very real.
He didn’t lose his life though. He was safe. Hurt but safe. She had let the doctor examine him and had heard his advice. She would make sure he did as he was told. She wouldn’t let him risk ruining his life.
The thing was, now that she was sure she only had to keep him in his bed (and, oh, that sentence didn’t sound as it should!), all her previous fears about his life in danger had disappeared and she didn’t know what to do anymore. Telling him about her feelings didn’t seem to be such a good plan. He was in pain and surely didn’t want a woman old enough to be his mother to bother him with her stupid feelings while he was so bad. She could wait for him to be better but then, what would she say? “I know what you think Matt, but I’m completely in love with you and your accident made me realise that I want to spend the rest of my life with you”? It really sounded ridiculous.
She sighed as she arrived in front of his flat. She parked her car and stopped the engine but he didn’t seem to realize they had arrived, his eyes still closed. She took a few seconds to look at him. He seemed really bad. She didn’t want to make things worse by scaring him with her feelings. She should focus on taking care of him first.
She tapped his knee gently. He jumped and looked at her with surprise, like she had interrupted his thoughts.
“Here we are,” she said. “Are you ready to get out or do you want us to wait a bit?”
“No, it’s okay.”
She nodded and got out. He took off his belt and waited in the car as she made her way to his side. She knew that climbing the stairs to reach his front door would be hard for him. She would put him in bed and maybe make him some tea. He needed to rest and she would make sure that he did.
She was glad he didn’t reject her help. She had decided that she would not only take care of him for the day, but would wait until he was feeling better. She wasn’t sure she would be able to resist him if he asked her to leave him alone.
He let out a moan of pain as he stood up, and she did her best to support him. She felt a bit helpless for that part and her simple arm around his waist didn’t seem to be very useful. But it seemed to be enough for him, because he clung to her like like he’d never done before. She kicked the door closed and carried him into his flat.
As Alex had imagined, climbing the steps between the car and the door of his apartment was the most difficult. They had to stop at each step for him to gather his strength and fight the pain. He was resting almost all his weight against her and she was afraid for a moment she wouldn’t be able to support him all of the way. They reached the doorstep, both breathless and covered with sweat. She couldn’t believe they had only climbed a couple of steps.
The remaining walk was easier. Matt was resting on the last floor but the building had a lift they both welcomed. In front of his flat she took the keys
Matt held her and opened the door.
“Sorry for the mess,” Matt apologized as they finally stepped inside, “I didn’t expect your visit, or I would have cleaned up a bit.”
Alex looked around her. It was a bit messy actually; dirty plates in the sink, empty bottles on the countertop. There were a few magazines here and there, and even a shirt lying in a corner. The place wasn’t that messy, and those words he had been the first he’d said that had no link with his accident. They were almost the only words they exchanged since then, in fact.
“It’s okay Matt. I have seen worse. Now, let me take you to bed.”
“Cheeky,” he replied and she smiled. Even if he was still in pain he could flirt, she knew it was a good thing.
The walk to his room was easier; there were no steps and he could use the walls for support. Soon they reached his bed and Alex helped him to lie down. He sighed in relief and she did the same at she sat next to him.
“Thank you,” he said after a few seconds of silence.
“You’ll thank me later. You didn’t think I was done with you, did you?” He looked up at her in surprise but she didn’t let him the time to reply. “Stay here, I’m gonna make you tea. It’ll help you feel better.”
“Will it?”
“It will.”
She winked at him and patted his knee before exiting the room. She heard him sighing again as she walked away and her heart tightened in her chest. He might have flirted with her but she shouldn’t forget how badly injured he was.
She headed back to the main room, stopping after a few steps. She looked around her at what he had called “a mess” and wondered where she should start. Then she focused on her first goal : tea. While the water boiled she could begin to clean. So she put the kettle on, washed a couple of mugs, added the tea-bags, took sugar from the cupboard and opened the fridge to take some milk. It was only when she saw the food that she realised that her stomach was growling and thought that Matt must be hungry too.
Glancing at the clock, she realised it was already past lunch time. So she let the water boiled a little longer while she cooked some pastas - it would be quick and he didn’t have many things by the way. She took a mental note to buy some food for him.
Half an hour after she’d left she was back in Matt’s room, a tray in her hands with two plates and steaming mugs. She noticed Matt hadn’t moved and she couldn’t help but feel relieved. She didn’t know how much time he would resist the urge to stand up and move. It would be easy today and the following day when the pain would still be there, but she guessed it would be more difficult to make him stay still once he started to feel a bit better.
For now, he turned his head and his smile could barely hide the pain he must of still been feeling.
“I thought you promised me tea?”
“There is tea. But I thought you may eat something too.”
“I’m starving.” She couldn’t tell if he was really hungry or if he only said so to please her.
She placed the tray on the bedside table and helped him to sit up, fluffing his pillow until he was in a good position. He said something about the fact that he could have done it alone, but she also heard his moan and saw him wincing in pain. She knew she wasn’t so useless. Once she was sure he was okay, she handed him the tray and sat down next to him.
“Thank you Kingston,” he said and she smiled.
“I told you to thank me later.”
“Technically it is later.”
“When you feel better,” she specified.
“You’re too good to me.”
“I know.”
They both stayed silent after that, both eating and lost in their thoughts.
Alex wondered if he had understood what she’d meant - that she intended to look after him until he was fine again. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t, she wasn’t sure if it was the right moment to talk about it. She would come everyday and see if he got tired of her. For now she was there and if he didn’t ask her to go, she wouldn’t.
“How are you feeling?” she asked after he took a couple of pills while sipping his tea. He winced at her before answering half jokingly, half bitterly.
“Like I’ve fallen from a rooftop.”
“Matt..”
“I don’t know. For now it hurts like hell. But I suppose I must feel lucky that I’m still feeling something.” He stopped, staring at his plate while wrapping the same spaghetti again and again around his folk. She waited, knowing he was thinking about what to say. “It could have been worse you know. When I got hurt, years ago it was painful and it changed my life. But it could have been worse. I could have been paralysed, or in constant pain. It didn’t happen that way and I can live almost normally. I know, I’m used to it. I just hope it won’t stop me from doing what I like. Again.”
“It won’t, darling. You’ll be better soon.”
She covered Matt’s hand with hers and he smiled weakly at her. “I hope you’re right.”
They didn’t talk much after that, finishing their plates in silence. It was suddenly broken by the ringing of his phone and he glanced at the screen before mouthing a “sorry, have to take this.”
Alex nodded as he picked up. She gathered their empty plates and exited the room as he spoke. She washed the dishes and as she could still hear him as she tidied up a bit; putting the empty bottles in the bin and gathering magazines, picking up the clothes and sweeping the floor. An hour later she finally looked up at the now cleaned place with the feeling that something good had be done. She headed back to Matt’s bedroom. He was still on the phone but spotted her and waved at her to come in.
“Yes mum... No, don’t worry. I’ll be fine... Yes. Alright... I’ll call you back. I love you too.”
He hung up and sighed as she sat on the bed.
“It’s your mum. She’ll never stop worrying for you.”
“I don’t know. Do you feel the same about your daughter? ”
She laughed. “You should see Salome when she rolls her eyes at me and puffs that she’s a big girl now and can manage on her own.”
“I’m sure you’re a great mum.”
“I’m sure your mum is too.”
He smiled at her and held his hand out, changing the subject and turning the telly on. “Want to keep me company a bit longer?”
Alex nodded and settled next to him against the pillows. They spent the rest of the afternoon watching crap on telly while picking up some sweets (she didn’t even know where they came from, he had seemed to take them out from nowhere, and she suspected him to have a secret hiding place under his bed). When the sun set Alex tore her eyes off of the telly and stretched out. She found Matt fully asleep next to her, snoring soundly. She turned the telly off, and covered him with a blanket. He didn’t even stir in his sleep, and she was glad to see he seemed calmer.
She made him a few slices of toast and left him a note, turned off all the lights and left after a last glance at his sleeping form.
Matt was woken up by another wave of pain. He groaned and held his hand out, looking for his box of pills blindly. His fingers ran over the surface of the bedside table and came into contact with something that wasn’t his pills. Finally with a few more motions he could grab the boxes and he take the medicine without any water. He tried to focus on his breathing while the pills moved down into his stomach, waiting for them to work.
He drifted back into a sleep without realising it. When he opened his eyes the next time, he was feeling a bit better. The pain was still there but it didn’t feel as bad as it had been before. He didn’t move for a long time, doing nothing but contemplating the ceiling. He didn’t feel sleepy anymore but couldn’t really move or do anything. The doctor had been very clear. He should move as little as possible if he didn’t want his back injury to get worse - ending up paralysed or limping for the rest of his life. The recommended treatment - staying in bed for the next week, wasn’t really exciting.
Matt had no idea when he had fallen asleep. He remembered eating with Alex and then the different phone calls - Steven had told him how sorry he was and that of course they were rearranging the schedule until he fell better, and then the other call had been his Mom. He had no idea how she could have known about the incident so quickly. He had also replied to a few texts from Jenna and even Arthur had known and sent him his good wishes. Then Alex had been back and they’d talked and watched telly... He guessed his pills had finally taken an effect and made him relax and sleep.
The last thing he remembered was watching a documentary about threatened species and Alex’s shoulder against his own.
He had no idea why she had decided to do all those things for him that afternoon, but it had been great to have her with him. Since Karen and Arthur had left a few months ago, she had been his closest friend on set and he needed her presence now more than ever. She was the only one on set that he would have allowed to take him back home like that. He knew he would have rejected everybody else’s offer. He usually didn’t like people to see him while he didn’t feel good. With Alex it was different. He didn’t need to hide who he was and pretend everything was right all the time. He also knew that if he asked her to leave, she would without asking him anything. if he asked her to come back, she would surely do so. He wanted her to but he wasn’t sure it was a good idea to ask her. She surely would have more important things to do than spending another day with him. He wasn’t even good company, stuck in bed as he was.
He wasn't sure his bladder would wait any longer. He thought about the distance between his bed and the loo and he knew it would hurt - just lying like that after taking his pills the pain hadn’t completely disappeared. Standing up and walking would be a hard task, moreover now that he was alone and didn’t have Alex’s arms to lean on.
He waited a few more minutes before making a first attempt. He sat up first and that motion seemed surprisingly easy. Then he turned around, taking his feet off the bed to put them on the ground. He took a deep breath, knowing this was the moment when things got complicated. His hands wrapped tightly at the edge of the bed and he pushed on his feet to lift himself - one inch, two, three... He groaned and sat back down. Okay then, a vertical position wasn’t the best option. Maybe if he tried to stay a bit bent?
After a few more attempts, he finally managed to stand up, or at least to remain in a position that could make him walk. Not bothering with turning the lights on, a hand upon his back for support and with the other one seeking for walls and furniture for support, he somehow headed to the bathroom. After what seems to be hours, he reached his goal. Then he was back for another walk. He was starting to wonder if he could do the whole way back to his bed, the few steps he had already made having taken the only strength he seemed to have. He thought that maybe he could spend the rest of the night lying on the floor; there between the bathroom and the carpet, when his attention was caught.
There was a plate on his bedside table. Now that it was in front of his eyes, he remembered what he had felt earlier when he had woken up and had been looking for his pills. Apparently, that was that - a plate, with what looked like a sandwich in it, and a note. He smiled, knowing it was from Alex (unless someone else had come into his flat and made him food before disappearing). Suddenly, he felt very hungry again. He hoped he wouldn’t spend the whole week in his bed doing nothing but eating and watching telly, or he wouldn’t fit the Doctor’s suit anymore. The pain in his back was still there and he was still weak from his previous expedition to the loo, but it didn’t feel so bad now. The sight of what Alex had left him - the proof of her taking care of him, gave him the strength he needed to come back to his bed. The idea of staying on the ground seemed ridiculous when there was a sandwich waiting for him and, more importantly, a note from Alex.
He reached his bed and quickly laid down. Taking the sandwich in one hand and Alex’s note in the other, he read while eating.
“I’m sorry to leave you without saying goodbye,” it said, “but I didn’t want to wake you. I’ll come back for breakfast. If you need anything, call me, even in the middle of the night. Sleep well. xx Alex.”
And besides, she had added “Don’t forget: don’t get up”.
He couldn’t help but smile, wondering what she would have said if she had seen him walking to the bathroom like he just had. But there was no way he couldn’t move at all for a week. Even if it hurt and even if it took him all his strengths, he wouldn’t stay in his bed all the time. Today it had been the bathroom. Tomorrow or more likely, later today, he would try to walk to the main room. Watching Alex make breakfast was one thing he wanted to see with his own eyes. Or maybe he would let her bring it to him like she had yesterday with his lunch? He had to admit, he and Alex and food in a bed, that was a wonderful combination he was eager to find again.
He finished his sandwich and brushed off the crumbs that had fallen on his shirt, before lifting his hips as best as he could to take off his jeans and socks for the rest of the night. He closed his eyes then, trying to sleep. The image of Alex was in his mind, cooking for him and wearing nothing but an apron.
Instead of making him sleep, the fantasy kept him more awake than he’d wanted. He didn’t know if it was only the thought of an almost naked Alex, or the fact that his little walk had helped his body react this way. He couldn't’ sleep. Pain had come back stronger too and he knew he couldn’t take more pills; he had probably swallowed more than he should have already and he didn’t want to risk being ill. He wanted to move to ease the pain, but he couldn’t find any position that made him feel better. As a matter of fact, the only position he was allowed was lying on his back and it wasn’t the one he was used to sleep in. When he closed his eyes and tried to think about something else, images of Alex flooded his mind, causing him another pain which was both physical and emotional.
At around 4am he grabbed his phone and wondered if he wouldn’t call or text her. But what would he say? “Can’t sleep” and interrupt her own dreams? “I miss you”? She would find him annoying, think he was joking or worse - believe that he meant it as a friend, when he wanted to have today’s intimacy every day, with bonus kisses and touches. But there was no way he would be able to have that, she would simply laugh at him. So he stared at his phone for a long time, even opened up a new text a few times, before putting the mobile back on his bedside table without sending anything.
The sun was already creeping inside his room when he finally drifted back into sleep, trying to ignore the ache in his back and the hole in his chest.
As she had promised Alex came back the next morning. Her arms were full of grocery bags. She had stopped by the closest Tesco to bring some food and everything she thought Matt would need for the next week. She called for him while entering the flat but he didn’t reply and she didn’t try again. He must have heard her and if he hadn’t reacted yet she assumed he was still asleep.
She put her bags on the countertop and headed to his bedroom. She wanted to be sure he was okay. She couldn’t pretend that she wasn’t still worrying. She couldn’t help but wonder how he had managed, all alone for the whole night. What if he wanted to stand up, what if he had missed something? She wasn’t sure he would have called as she had asked him to.
But he was fine. She found him in his bed with his arms under the cover, nose hidden against his pillow. He was sleeping, but looked exhausted. His face was pale and there were dark rings under his eyes. His features seemed tensed, almost in a wince. He was okay, but it looked like his night must have been difficult. Alex had to admit she didn’t sleep very well either.
She had gone back to her flat after leaving Matt, willing to go straight to bed or perhaps have a hot bath first. Instead, she had made herself some tea and had sat on her couch, turning the telly on and not paying attention to what had been on the screen. She had been knackered, yet every she had tried to close her eyes she had seen the same thing again and again - Matt, falling and lying still on the ground. She knew she shouldn’t think about it anymore. He was safe. It wouldn’t help him to keep worrying. But she couldn’t exactly control her fear, could she?
She hadn’t realised she was falling asleep until she had suddenly woken up, her thoughts in a blur. According to her shaking hands and her heart beating madly against her chest, she must have had a nightmare. Matt had been involved, she had been sure. She’d been glad she hadn’t remembered the details. Reality had been scary enough.
She had calmed herself before picking up her now empty and cold mug, putting it in the sink to wash later. Some things could wait. She should get into bed and try to sleep a bit if she wanted to take care of Matt tomorrow. Walking into her bedroom, she had needed another couple of hours to find a dark and tormented sleep. The early sunlight awoke her, her sheets damp and she didn’t know if it was with tears or sweat.
In his room now, she approached the bed and tried to be as quiet as she could. She noticed the empty plate still on the bedside table and picked it up. At least he had eaten something since yesterday’s lunch. She smiled at the crumbs that were covering his sheets. If it wasn’t for his frowning face, he would have looked like a child - but somehow today it made him seemed older than she had ever seen him. It had always amazed her, how he could be the Doctor and truly act like a thousand year old person. Despite his own feature, he could be old inside - in a good way. Experienced, skilled, confident. Maybe it was what had made her fall for him; this mixing of youth and age. Or was it the fact that he always seemed to care about her? Smiled at her, whatever the day had brought to him, joy or sadness? Or what it his constant flirtiness, that made her see signs where there probably weren’t any? Was it his long fingers, the way they always made her shiver when they touched her skin? Or maybe it was his fringe, always coming in front of his eyes and sometimes she couldn’t resist, brushing it off his face to see it falling back in place the moment after.
The phone ringing made her jump and she realised that somehow she had sat on the bed and her hand was just a few inches from his face. She pulled back hastily. The noise was waking Matt and he blinked at her while she rummaged in her pockets to pick the call up.
“Hello?”
She exited the room while Steven began to speak and she waved at Matt, mouthing “sorry” and “I’ll be back.” She spent almost twenty minutes on the phone with her her boss before she could actually come back in Matt’s room.
“Hi!” she greeted him. He was really looking bad, obviously lacking of sleep and she briefly wondered if he could see the same of her own face. She had made sure before she left to put the right amount of make-up to cover her tired face without it to being too much. She didn’t want to make it obviously that she really cared about him. For now though he didn’t see anything; instead he grumbled what looked like a “Hi,” mimicking hers, but she couldn’t be sure. His voice was muffled by his hands rubbing at his face.
“Bad night?”
“Yeah.” He moved his hand a bit lower to look at her. “You don’t look better,”
“Oi!” She smacked his arm playfully, eluding the fact that he actually had seen she was tired too. For a brief moment his face lighted up, and she could almost see the shape of a smile under his fingers; but then it was gone as quickly as it had appeared while he moaned. “It still hurts?” she asked, while the answer was obvious.
“Yes,” he breathed out, as if even speaking was painful, “it’s worse actually.”
“Did you take your painkillers?”
“I swallowed the whole box.”
She frowned, glancing at his bedside table in search of his pills. He didn’t take them all of course, but she could see that there were a lot gone already.
“Maybe we should call the doctor. If they don’t have any effect we could -”
“No,” he snapped at her with a groan, “I already had stronger meds. It didn’t change anything.”
“Oh.” She pursed her lips. He shifted uncomfortably next to her and huffed.
He was actually visibly suffering and she wished she could do something for him. “I know what you can do,” she finally said after thinking for a few seconds. He opened his eyes and looked at her with a mix of hope and disbelief. “A bath.”
“Really?” He didn’t seem to be convinced but she wouldn’t give up without a fight.
“It works for me. Of course i’ve never felt the way you do and I can’t tell you the pain will magically disappear, but it will help you to relax. You’ll feel better. Trust me.”
Her last words seemed to work and he finally agreed. “Okay. I guess I can try and see if it works.”
She smiled at him and got up, heading to the bathroom. “I’ll be back. Don’t move.”
“I don't plan to.” She could feel all his exhaustion in his voice. It really hurt her to see him like that; he was usually so happy, never complaining about anything. She believed him when he said that it was worse than yesterday, when he still could joke and flirt with her. She couldn’t imagine the pain he must feel to be in such a bad mood now. She really hoped the bath would help him.
Ten minutes later she was back in the room. Matt hadn’t move and for a second she thought that maybe he had fallen back to sleep, still, eyes closed. But he snapped them open as she approached.
He managed to sit up on his own, his feet solid on the ground.
“Okay, ready?”
“You don’t have to...” he tried to protest but it was useless. She bent over, wrapping her arms around him to help him to stand up.
“Come on. I count to three.” She ignored his statement and he didn’t even try anything else. Instead they focused on the effort they would have to make. “One... Two... Three.”
Matt rested his weight on her while she pulled him up, and somehow they managed to lift him up from the bed. But he stopped her in the middle of the movement, groaning in pain.
Alex gave him time to accommodate the new position, but she wasn’t sure she could hold him long. She was half-bent, half-standing, Matt pressed against her and his breath hot against her neck. He was only wearing a t-shirt and his boxers and she could feel everything. She shivered; she wasn’t sure if it was because of the effort or the proximity of their bodies.
After what felt like an eternity, he eventually allowed them to move again. The second part seemed easier and he was almost completely standing when there was a crack, and Alex recognized the horrible sound of bone.
Matt yelled and for a second she froze. What had they done?
“Matt,” she finally breathed out tentatively. She was sure her voice was trembling with fear.
“It’s okay,” he replied. “Actually, I think I feel better.”
She stared at him incredulously as he pulled away from her. He ran a hand down his back, the other still holding her. “It still hurts, but it feels better.”
Alex sighed in relief. “Oh god, you scared the hell out of me. I thought you had something broken.”
“Sorry. It happens sometimes. But it’s okay.” He smiled at her, what looked like an actual smile this time and not a rictus of pain. “I think I would still appreciate help to walk though.” She smiled back, arm around his waist and together they reached the bathroom without any more incidents.
Once they were inside, Alex let go of Matt and he leant on the sink for support. “Okay. If you don’t need my help anymore, I’m gonna leave you alone...”
“Actually...”
She looked at him, wondering what he was going to ask her. Her mind wasn’t racing at all. They were in his bathroom, there was already steam in the whole room and he was wearing nothing but a slick layer of cotton that he was about to take off very soon. She didn’t know if she was feeling hot because of the bath warming the room up or because of the thought of what he was about to do.
Then she realised he was staring at the bath and it hit her. He would have to enter the tub, which meant lifting his leg up and then his other, without losing his balance. Knowing him and his clumsiness it was a miracle he hadn’t killed himself yet while trying to take a bath, so now that he was injured...
She gulped.
“I could manage alone, but I’m not sure...”
“No, no, this is silly. I don’t want you to die because you knock yourself on the tiles,” she hastily cut him off. “I’ll help you.”
“Okay. You sure?”
“Yes.”
He nodded and he began to undress, a bit unsure at first. She cleared her throat and turned her back to him. She tried not to pay attention, looking at his towels and his different bottles of shower gel and shampoo. She could hear him groan and she glanced away. “If you need some help...” she began, and trailed off. She wasn’t sure if she could tell Matt that she would happily take his clothes off. Even if he probably wouldn’t understand the double entendre of her sentence.
“It’s okay.” A few seconds later his shirt and underwear fell on the ground, and she knew he was now naked behind her.
Alex took a deep breath before turning back. Matt was there, completely bare, his skin a light red as he blushed. She pretended to ignore how embarrassing the situation was for them both and offered him her arm instead. He took it with trembling hands, but she didn’t know if it was from his previous effort or because she was in the same room as him while he was naked. She tried to hide the fact that her own body was shaking too and she knew exactly why.
Alex tried to keep her eyes off of him as they manoeuvred towards and into the tub, but realised it was nearly impossible. He was so close to her, his skin under her fingers and his hips pressing against hers. His weight was leaning on her as he stepped inside and so naked, she couldn’t resist glancing. As he clearly avoided her gaze, focusing on his motions, she could even see everything she wanted to see.
She couldn’t deny that she was amazed by his body. First he was young, so much younger than her or anyone she had seen naked recently. Second he was in good shape. She couldn’t deny it was enjoyable to look at him. His muscles seemed firm but not too much, just as she liked. She dreamt for a second that she could run her fingers down his stomach just to see him quivering under her touch. She would die to tickle his ribs too, cover his chest with hot kisses. If she looked lower - ah, she wasn’t disappointed.
Everything looked good, maybe even more than good. She would be glad to help him to warm up, if the bath wasn’t enough.
“Wanna climb in the bath with me?”
Matt’s voice startled her and she blinked in surprise, blushing furiously.
“Wh- what?”
It took her a moment to realise that he was now inside the tub and she could let him go. She cursed herself for having stared at him so long and so intensely that she hadn’t realised it. She also understood now that he hadn’t really asked her to take a bath with him; it was just a way to lighten the atmosphere. It was, wasn’t it?
She let go of his arm, mumbling something about getting out and gathering some clothes for him. He didn’t seem to pay attention, laying in the water and moaning in delight as he started to relax. She couldn’t bare it any longer. She left the room, telling him to call her if he needed something.
Closing the door, she leant against it for a moment and tried to calm her breathing and gather her thoughts. She needed to stop it, right now. It was Matt, he was her friend. She was just helping him. Nothing more. She shouldn't have those inappropriate thoughts about him while he was so fragile. She shouldn’t, and she couldn’t because if she kept on this way, she wouldn’t survive the day.
As soon as Alex was out of the bathroom, Matt closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. It was caused both by the hot water enveloping him and slowly relaxing his bruised muscles, and the tension melting away after Alex had left. He didn’t know what had happened to him when he asked her to help him to get into the tub. What had he been expected? What had he been aiming for? The only thing he had managed was to get both of them embarrassed.
Was it the only thing bothering him? He knew she had looked at him - bless, of course she had. He had been completely naked in front of her, she would have have to be blind not to look at anything. She had looked at him. She had blushed and had quickly ran away out of the bathroom when he had been settled in the tub. It didn’t mean anything - he was sure he would have done the same if it had been her naked.
Except that was the point, wasn’t it? If she had been naked in front of him, he would have done exactly the same things she had just done. He’d stare at her while she pretended not to look at him, kept his hands to himself while imagining what it would feel like to touch her body, and finally rush out of the room to hide his embarrassment - and other things. It would have been far from innocent.
No. He had to stop it. It wasn’t what had happened to her - at least not the part where she was supposed to dream about his fingers on her skin. He was just trying to project his own thoughts of her. Her attitude had only been the one of a friend trying to respect him. Nothing more.
Matt sighed again. He should stop thinking about what had just happened and focus on relaxing more. The pain of his back and his fatigue made him see things that didn’t exist, things that could never exist.
He laid further down in the water, until his head was resting just at the surface. He let his mind wander, keeping thoughts about Alex away. He could slowly feel his body relaxing, the pain being eased by the warm water he was in as his mind calmed down.
“Matt?”
He jumped. He had no idea how much time he’d spent in the tub but according to his skin shivering, it had been a while.
“Are you okay?” Alex was staring at him, the door opened just enough to let her poke her head inside.
“Yes, yes,” he replied, running a hand on his face and into his hair, “I think I slept. How long have I been in here?”
“Half an hour.”
Oh. Yes, he had fallen asleep, and longer than he had imagined.
“Do you want to get out?” Alex asked after a silence.
“Yes. Just give me five minutes.”
She nodded and stepped out. He closed his eyes back, briefly this time; he didn’t want to sleep again. He just needed a moment. It was always difficult for him to come back to reality when he woke up after a nap like that.
Especially when it was still the morning and he had spent an awful night trying to sleep.
He finally gathered the strength to take the soap and try to clean himself.
He realised his motions were easier. Even if the pain was still present, longing in his back, he didn’t feel it too much now. He had doubted that a bath would really do something but obviously he had been wrong. He should thank Alex.
The bath getting colder every second made him shiver. He should step out. But first, he needed a towel; he didn’t want to repeat the same scene as earlier with Alex. He scanned the room and realised fresh towels were actually within easy reach. There were also clean clothes properly folded in the cabinet. Other attentions from Alex, he assumed. It made him think about that morning. He had been awoken by her phone ringing and despite everything being a bit in a blur he could have sworn that she had been as surprised at him. She had been close to him, very close, her hand almost touching his face. What had she been about to do?
He shook his head, trying to get rid of those thoughts once more. She wasn’t acting like she cared about him more than she should - unlike him. He tried to repeat what seemed to be the key word in their relationship that he shouldn’t forget. Friends. They were friends.
He wasn’t sure he could remember it if she kept acting like...
x.
A few minutes later they were both in the main room, Matt lying on the couch while Alex was preparing breakfast in the kitchen - a whole breakfast it seemed, not just a few slices of toast and jam. From where he was, he could smell the bacon roasting while the eggs were turning into an omelette and the water was boiling in the kettle for the tea. Matt hadn’t realised he was so hungry before smelling all those good things. It was just a shame Alex wasn’t wearing only an apron, like in his dream.
She had helped him get out of the tub earlier and he had studied her closely. He had come to the conclusion that there was nothing strange in the way she acted. She had seemed relieved that he had put a towel around himself this time and she clearly avoided looking at him. Maybe had he completely imagined what he had seen earlier? Or maybe he had just taken her by surprise and she hadn’t realised what she had been doing? Because there was nothing unusual in the way she was with him this time. Unless she acted very well... which, as he thought about it, was true. She was a very good actress. But she didn’t need to play a role when she was with him, at least he hoped so. He didn’t feel the need to act when she was around...
She had let him dry himself, waiting for him at the door. When he had finally been dressed and ready to go, he had told her that he didn’t want to go back to the bed (the bed that, he had realised, she had completely cleaned and tucked in while he was in the bathroom). She had seemed surprised and reminded him of what the doctor had said - stay in bed. He had corrected her by telling her that he was supposed to lie down, not specifically in his bed. He couldn’t spend a whole week in his room. It would kill him. Alex had seemed to understand that, so she’d helped him walk through his corridor and to where they were now.
He looked at her while she cooked and brought the plates to him. He could get accustomed to that. Alex, in his flat. Alex, in his kitchen. Alex, sitting next to him on the sofa. She looked like she was made for his world, completely at ease with everything around. She suited the place. She suited him.
“They have settled a new schedule.” She broke his thoughts and he realised he must have been staring at her for the past few minutes. He had no idea what she was talking about.
“What?”
She raised a brow at him. “The shooting. They had to change it since you are...” she seemed to hesitate, pursing her lip for a second, “unavailable for a moment.”
“Is it why Steven called you for?”
“Yes,” she agreed, and he was glad he could make the right connections again. “We’re shooting all my remaining scenes tomorrow. Then we’re shooting all of Jenna’s and beginning her scenes for other episodes, to try not to be too late. They also changed the scenes you were shooting when...” She cleared her throat, and he was sure she was doing all she could to avoid talking about his accident. “... when you fell. River appears directly in front of the Doctor so you just have to step next to her. They also changed minor details here and then, so you won’t have to run and jump too much. Steven will send you the changes, and he told me to remind you that you could call him whenever you want.”
He nodded, and tried to remember he had to call Steven later, to thank him and study the new scripts with him. He wanted to come back at work as soon as he could. Firstly because the more he waited, the more they would be late and the more difficult it would be to catch up. And also because he wouldn't be able to bear to stay here doing nothing while he could be there and doing his job. He loved his job. In his opinion it was the best job of the world, the Doctor was really the best role of his life. It made him meet Alex. Wasn’t it the best thing that could have happened to him?
“Wait,” he suddenly realised what she had said, “you shoot tomorrow?”
“Yes. That’s what I told you.”
“Oh.”
If she was shooting, she wouldn’t be able to be there with him.
“I will cook a few things and bring you everything you need. And I’ll try to come tomorrow evening, to check everything is okay. And of course you can call me whenever you want if you need something.”
He looked at her with surprise, putting his fork back at the rim of his plate. She was looking at her own eggs, like she had said the most casual thing. He wanted to ask her, why would she be doing all this for him? But maybe she had the right attitude. It wasn’t a weird thing and he shouldn’t make such a deal about it.
They ate and didn’t talk about the shooting anymore. After lunch Matt lay back down on the couch and Alex sat at the other end, putting his feet on her lap. They talked about nothing and many things at the same time and he could feel her hands stroking his skin absentmindedly while they did. He tried not to focus too much on her touch. When they were tired of talking they turned on telly and Matt fell asleep again.
When he woke up, Alex wasn’t next to him anymore, but she wasn’t far away. She was sitting on the sofa in front of him, legs tucked beneath her as she read a book. She didn’t realise immediately that he was awake and he took the opportunity to look at her carefully. Her eyes were scanning the book with interest, moving in rhythm with her reading. Sometimes they stilled and she frowned or smiled at the book. Regularly, her hand came to her nose, as if she wasn’t accustomed to her glasses. Her lips were pursed slightly, sometimes mouthing a word she was reading. She was the cutest sight ever.
He stared at her for a few minutes, before finally clearing his throat. She smiled, closed her book and took her glasses off. The magic was gone.
They spent the rest of the day doing nothing particular. After dinner Alex declared it was time for her to go home. They were shooting early and she didn’t want to be late. She helped Matt to go back onto his bed before she left.
“Have a good night. And call me if you need anything.”
“I will,” he promised, even if he was sure he wouldn’t.
“Take care.”
She kissed his cheek and smiled at him. And then she was gone.
Matt’s night went better than the previous one. He slept really well in fact, falling asleep without any difficulty and waking up only in the morning. He yawned and stretched out, keeping his eyes closed just a little more. Nothing was waiting for him today, he could take his time. He wanted to stay in this state. He always felt after a good night, when he didn’t really know if he was sleeping or awake. He tried to remember what he had dreamt about, but nothing came back to him. He was feeling good, better than he had for days. It could only had have been of good things.
When he felt completely awake, he allowed himself to open his eyes. He stretched out again, glanced at his alarm clock and saw with surprise that it was already nearly 10am. He had really had a good night’s sleep. He couldn’t remember when he had slept for so long.
It was only when he got out of bed and stood up that it suddenly struck him. The pain was gone. Not completely gone, he still felt a bit tense in his lower back, but he could actually stand up and even walk without almost any difficulty. He was limping a bit, that was all.
He was about to jump in joy but he stopped himself at the last second. The doctor would surely not approve. Neither would his back. It wasn’t the time to do stupid things. He knew the risk when the pain started to disappear was to think that he could do whatever he wanted, and that was how he could make a wrong move and hurt himself more seriously. So instead of jumping he grabbed his phone to spread the good news.
No pain this morning :D
He knew Alex was working and couldn’t reply for a while, so he put his phone back on the bedside table, and went to take a shower - alone and without any help this time. Well, he wouldn’t have complained if Alex had been there with him. He groaned at the thought and turned the hot water into something colder to stop himself from thinking about it.
When he got out of the bathroom, his hair still damp from the shower, he found his phone already beeping. He had two new messages, both coming from Alex.
Good!
But don’t forget to take your pills. And stay in bed :)
A grin was spread across his face. He quickly typed a reply.
My bed is empty without you.
You’re a big boy, I’m sure you can manage without me.
He could almost see her smirking at her phone while she had written this last text.
It doesn’t feel the same when I’m on my own.
He waited for her to reply, but it never came. He thought she must have been called back on set, it was time for him to really begin his day.
Nothing really important happened. He had his breakfast, allowing himself to sit at his table this time and it felt good to do something so normal. He’d had to lay down for only two days and had already forgotten how enjoyable it would be to just sit on a chair to eat.
The rest of the morning he checked his emails and read the new scripts Steven had sent him. He focused on learning his new lines and tried to imagine what the new scenes would look like.
In the afternoon he ate from one of the plates Alex had prepared him, then was interrupted by Karen phoning him. He spent the first minutes listening to her yelling at him; he had nearly died and nobody had told her - why hadn’t he called her. And was he okay, should she ask for a few days break and come to see him? How did he manage alone? He had to calm her down and it took him twenty minutes to reassure her, telling that he was sorry that he hadn’t called her, but that he was feeling better today and Alex was taking care of him, and no she didn’t need to fly back from L.A. just to check he was alright. They ended up talking about her current shooting and when she eventually hung up, he realised they had been on the phone for an hour.
He wondered what he could do next, finally giving up the idea of watching more telly again, and instead taking a book and trying to read. When he looked up, only ten minutes had passed and he sighed. One day alone feeling better and everything seemed to be boring already. He wished Alex could be there with him. He was sure she would think of something to do. Even if it was just talking about each other it would be better than staying here on his own.
The rest of the day passed slowly, Matt doing nothing interesting and counting every minute. When the sun set he began to hope, checking his phone every second and jumping at each sound he could hear. Alex had promised she would come to see him and she shouldn’t have been long by now. At least he hoped too.
When he started to lose hope, thinking that maybe she had forgotten him and maybe he should send her a text to check that everything was okay, his phone beeped. He opened the new text faster than he should have.
Sorry, we’re still filming. Don’t wait for me.
He couldn’t stop the sigh of regret that escaped him. He sent her a text to tell her he was okay and that he was sorry she was still stuck on set. He even added that she should go straight back to her flat after she would be done. She would certainly be tired and she shouldn’t lose her time with him when she could be sleeping.
So instead he ate alone, and when at 10 he hadn’t had any news from her, he decided that he should go to sleep. He hoped he would see her later, he wouldn't survive another boring day like this one.
x.
If Matt’s day had been boring, for Alex it was the contrary. She hadn’t stopped for a second. She was out of bed at five, arrived on set a bit more after 6. The first hours were dedicated to do her hair, apply make up and put her outfit on. Then she was dragged on set and the shooting began. There were only doing the scenes when she was alone today, so it meant she would have to change several times and would have to stay focused all day long.
She managed to have a break in the morning, when they needed to calibrate one of the cameras She then noticed Matt had sent her a text and she was pleased to see that he was feeling better. It was also another source of worry because she wasn’t able to check if he really stayed in bed as he was supposed to. So she sent a first reply to tell him she was happy, and then couldn’t help to add another one to warn him, without being too mothering (at least she hoped to).
A few minutes later he was answering and teasing her. She replied with the same tone, grinning. If he was back to the usual flirting, he was really feeling better. She couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to be in his bed and her cheeks blushed. It was a bad idea. She shouldn’t really think about things like that.
She jumped when her name was called and she had to leave her phone and get back on set again. She couldn’t find another moment to text him again, and as a matter of fact she barely had the time to think about him. When she finally took another break, it was already late in the evening and they had a last scene to wrap. She knew she would never be able to go and visit him like she had promised. She sent him a single text to warn him she would be late.
It was almost midnight when she was finally released. She sighed, wondering if it wasn’t too late to go and check if he was okay. He had told her not to come and she was tempted to follow his advice. She was tired, but she also felt that she wouldn’t be able to sleep if she didn’t see him tonight. Plus, there was a chance that he wouldn’t be asleep; he was used to go to sleep far later than that after all.
So she didn’t listen to her swollen feet and drove directly to his place. She hesitated a second when she arrived and realised all his lights were off, but she hadn’t driven the whole way here to turn back now, had she?
The apartment was dark when she entered. She turned just one light on and tried to stay as silent as possible as she took her coat off. Looking around her, she realised the room was in the same state she had found it a few days ago; new plates in the sink, a book abandoned on the sofa, crumbs on the carpet... And she had only been gone for a day. She smiled fondly;
how could he even manage when she wasn’t there?
She decided she would clean up later and walked to his bedroom. He was there, deeply asleep and snoring soundly. She felt a weight on her chest disappeared at the sight of him. His face seemed relaxed and he really looked better than he had been.
She approached and climbed on the bed, propping herself on her elbow to stare at him. He stirred in his sleep and turned on his side, facing her. A smile was spread across his face, and she wondered what he was dreaming about. She couldn’t resist running her fingers in his hair, and this time she wasn’t interrupted. She sighed, pulling her hand back and resting her head against the pillow. He looked so peaceful, she quickly lost herself in staring at him and she didn’t even realise she was falling asleep.
In the blurry state between dream and consciousness; his sheets soft and warm around him, Matt felt good. He snuggled further against his pillow and gripped the duvet tighter against him. This one resisted, so he tugged stronger. After a few attempts, it was still not moving. Groaning in frustration, Matt gave up and just moved deeper under the cover. He came in contact with more warmth and softness, and it felt even better.
He had no idea how much time had passed before he started to feel something tickling his nose. He rubbed his head against the pillow and for a few seconds the feeling disappeared, before coming back again. He did the same motion again, unwilling to move or open his eyes, only wanting to go back to his dream as fast as possible. But the tickling refused to leave. Eventually he brought his hand to his face. This was how he knew that something was wrong.
His hand hit something. For a second, his blurry mind tried to guess what it could be, looking for what Matt could have let on his bed. The remote of the telly maybe? A cushion that had moved? A bunch of the covers that had formed during his sleep? Except it couldn’t be the first one, the thing was bigger. And warmer. And it was harder than a cushion or a piece of sheets. No, it felt like... It felt like a human body. There was someone in his bed.
Matt snapped his eyes open in surprise, panicking for a brief second. Who was there? What had happened? He couldn’t remember falling asleep with someone else yesterday. He had spent the day alone and the evening alone, going to bed after waiting for Alex but she had never come.
The first thing he could see was curly and light and in the dark of his room it took him a moment to recognize it was hair. It also explained the tickling on his nose - he was sleeping with his face buried in the curls. He pulled away, brushing the hair off; trying to reveal who they belonged to.
Alex.
Of course it was Alex. He should have recognized her the moment he saw the amount of curls. Nobody had the same hair as her. She was also the only person that could have entered his flat at that hour of the night. She had promised she would see him yesterday, and she did it after all. Of course she hadn’t listened to him when he had told her to go directly back to her house. Not Alex, who had seemed so worried about him since his accident and who kept doing everything to help him, thinking about his comfort before hers. No, Alex had worked all day long on set and she had been so exhausted when she’d finally come to him that she had fallen asleep on his bed.
Matt sighed. He should speak to her. He hadn’t realised before now how tired she was and how difficult it must be for her to take care of him as she did. He had only listened to his heart, to the delicious feeling of having her next to him, without thinking that maybe she should be somewhere else - well, he had thought about it, but it hadn’t seemed important until now. He couldn’t keep taking advantage of her kindness any longer. He was hurting her and he was hurting himself at the same time, living in a dream of the intimacy they would never have.
His decision to speak to her in the morning, he shifted away from her. Somehow his legs had taken place between hers and it didn’t feel appropriate. He tried to be as delicate as possible, but Alex stirred and the next second she opened her eyes to him.
“Hi!” he greeted her, and it took her a moment to realise where she was and whom she was with. She propped herself on her elbows, her eyes opening wider as she began to apologize profusely.
“Oh, Matt, I’m sorry, I didn’t realise...” Was she blushing? He regretted he couldn’t see well in the dark, she must look absolutely ravishing with her hair wild around her head, the mark of the sheets on her cheek and her clothes in disarray. “I must have fallen asleep, I didn’t mean to... I’m sorry, i’ll go.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” He stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, and she fell back on the bed without much resistance. “It’s the middle of the night, I won’t let you go outside and drive alone now.”
It was true. No matter what decision he had just taken, it would be mad to let her go out now.
“But, I...” she began and he cut her off.
“Kingston. Don’t force me to tie you up.”
It made her laugh. She opened her mouth, as if to reply something as cheeky as his words, but then she changed her mind and bit her cheek. Instead, she nodded. “Okay.”
He loosened his grip on her shoulder as he felt her relax. For a moment they said nothing, just looking at each other in the dark.
“I’m sorry,” she finally whispered, apologizing again but this time calmer. “I came to check you were fine, but you were already sleeping. I hadn’t planned to stay, I just... I didn’t realise I was drifting off.”
“I know, it’s okay.” Something passed in her eyes and he couldn’t say if she was pleased or disappointed by his answer. She avoided looking at him, her fingers tracing again and again the same folds of the sheets. There was something odd in her attitude that he had never felt before. He didn’t know if it was caused by their sudden proximity, the perspective of sleeping together for the rest of the night or something else he couldn’t define. Or was he simply overthinking, like he had done a lot recently? There had been all those little details, and that bigger question...
“Matt, I...”
“Why are you doing all this?” He was so absorbed he didn’t realise she was speaking and that he interrupted her. “I’m sorry,” he apologized, “I didn’t want to cut you off.”
“No, it’s okay. You’re right. I wanted to talk about it anyway.”
There was silence between them, and Matt felt confused. What did she want to talk about exactly?
“I’m sorry,” she started after taking a deep breath, “I know I’ve been here a lot, staying all day long it must be too much. But you didn’t say anything. I would have left if you asked me to. But you didn’t, and I couldn’t simply go and leave you alone. Even when I came back home at night, I knew you were alone and I couldn’t sleep. I tried not to be too invading, but I realise now I must have been. I had to come tonight because I couldn’t stop myself but it can’t last.”
“I don’t understand.” It was true. He didn’t understand what she was trying to say. Or, to be more precise, he didn’t know if he understood what she wanted to mean or he simply projected his own hopes in her words - again.
Alex took a deep breath and looked straight into his eyes, her voice barely trembling. “I care about you Matt. I care about you more than I should, more than I could tell. When I saw you falling and lying still after your harness broke, and for a few seconds I thought that you were gone, that I had lost you, forever... I realised I had to do something. Since then I had tried to talk to you, but it was never the right moment, you weren’t ready or well enough to hear it, and I thought that maybe you would understand. And if you didn’t understand, maybe I could just go on and act like it wasn’t important. I thought I could live, without you knowing. Without you... But I can’t. I’m sorry, I know you don’t feel the same and I shouldn’t tell you that, but...”
Matt cut her off. He had heard enough. He had to prove that she was wrong about lots of things and the first one was to think that he didn’t care about her and that he wouldn’t have understood, or even wished the same as her. But she was talking and she seemed so lost in her rambling that she hadn’t realised his own reaction, or misinterpreted it. So he spoke to her the only way he knew would work. He cupped her face and kissed her.
She gasped in surprise and for a brief second Matt was afraid he hadn’t understood anything about what she had just said because it was like she was about to pull away. But then she relaxed and kissed him back, moaning. Her hands moved to the back of his neck, moving him closer.
The kiss was gentle at first, just the brushing of lips against lips. Of course they had kissed before; but it had been different, they were in characters. Now it was them, for real. It was a bit intimidating, and at the same time it was much more thrilling. After all those years, he was finally kissing Alex and she was kissing him. It was better than everything he had imagined. He never wanted to stop.
Eventually, soft touches didn’t feel enough. Matt didn’t know who deepened the kiss first, but it didn’t really matter. His tongue stroked Alex’s, eliciting little noises from her he instantly loved. When she sucked his lower lip and it was his time to moan. Her hands roamed over his body, down his chest and dipped under his t-shirt. Her hands were cold against his skin and he could feel her smile when his muscles quivered at the touch.
He understood it as permission and so he did the same, his fingers exploring her body. She trembled when he stroked the bit of skin between her jeans and her shirt, and she squirmed against him when he moved higher and squeezed her breasts gently through her bra.
“Matt,” she gasped, gasping for air. They were both panting, and he wondered if his face was as red as hers - because there was no doubt now, she was blushing.
“Alex,” he replied, his tone innocent. She smiled before kissing him again, this time without any hesitation. Their touches got more confident after that and soon they got rid of their clothes that blocked most of their movements. Once they were both naked, it was easier to explore each other. Matt couldn't resist, his mouth descending to her breasts; licking, sucking, nipping while she writhed and moaned delightfully. When he was satisfied, he moved his hand lower, caressing her stomach before reaching between her legs.
She moved her mouth off of him, her nails digging into his skin as he stroked her. Her thighs opened easily for him, pushing against his hands but he took his time, discovering her, trying to map her. She was soft and already so wet, the skin there like velvet and he couldn’t get enough of just caressing her.
“Please,” she groaned in frustration, her fingers going down between their bodies to try to catch his wrists. He smacked her away gently, before finally complying, pushing two fingers inside of her. Her muscles spasmed around him, and he thought he would wait but she was already moving and trying to get what she could.
After a moment they found a rhythm, him stroking her while she kept undulating around his fingers, and he could feel her coming closer and closer, before she suddenly grabbed his arm and tried to push him away.
“Stop, Matt, stop,” she begged him, panting heavily. He did as he was asked, smiling smugly while she tugged him by his hair and back to her.
They kissed with passion, their legs tangling and it didn’t feel inappropriate at all this time. She pressed closer, rolling her hips against his with need.
“Want you,” she breathed out and he couldn’t but agree.
“Want you too.”
He nudged her lightly to push her down, but she stopped him. “On your back,” she pushed him and he looked at her. He didn’t know if he should be confused or extremely aroused by her taking charge. “The doctor said you must lie down,” she explained, and he pouted.
“Oi, this is just a bad excuse for you to be on top.”
“Maybe,” she admitted, straddling his waist and bending so her breasts were brushing against him and her lips stood a few inches from his. “But don’t say you don’t like it.”
With that she rolled her hips against him and his reply was lost in a groan. She kissed him again with more passion, and he felt like he would burst if they waited longer. Still holding and stroking her with one hand, he managed to rummaged in his bedside table’s draw to find what he needed. Once he found it, Alex tore it out of his hand, pulling away from him and rolling the condom around his aching member. Before he could even breathe she lined herself up and sand down onto him and they both stilled, gasping.
It felt like an eternity before she finally moved. It took him all his strength not to come instantly. It was years of secret desire and frustration that finally found a release and he wouldn’t be able to wait a long time.
Fortunately she seemed to be as close as he was. They moved together for a moment, before she sped up the pace. In a short time, she screamed and trembled above him. A few thrusts and he followed her, holding her tightly.
They didn’t move for a moment, catching their breath and enjoying being close to each other. Finally she rolled onto his side and he disposed of the condom, before reaching for her. She pressed against him, her head resting on his chest and her arm wrapped around his stomach. He stroked her hair lazily, and she could feel her slowly relax.
“Why you didn’t say anything before?” he finally whispered.
“Why didn’t you?” she replied with a sleepy voice.
“I don’t know,” he admitted softly and she nodded.
“Right. Now hush, I’m trying to sleep.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead as she snuggled closer against him. Soon she was asleep and it wasn’t long before he was as well.
It was a light touch that awoke Alex the next morning. A soft caress on her skin as she stretched and sighed in contentment. She smiled as the stroke continued on her stomach, and a kiss was placed gently upon her breast.
“Hello,” she said, still a bit sleepy.
“Hello.” She could feel Matt’s nose brushing against her neck before he placed another kiss there. She tugged on his hair, dragging him up until she could reach for his lips and kiss him properly. They were both breathless when they parted. Alex allowed herself to open her eyes then, only to find Matt staring at her, a smile lighting his face. She stroked his cheek, his growing beard scratching her palm. She couldn't believe it was real.
“You didn’t change your mind?” Matt frowned at her question, his hand on her stomach stopping its stroking for a second.
“Change my mind? Why do you want me to change my mind?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, looking down, “it happened so fast. You were tired, so was I. You could have had a second thought about it.”
“I have been thinking about it for a long time, I won’t change my mind now. Will you?”
He looked anxious for a moment, but she smiled. “I won’t.” He relaxed instantly, kissing her again and she sighed against his mouth. “But...” he pulled back, but not too much, just so he could look into her eyes as she spoke, “it won’t be easy.”
“I know,”
“There are lots of reasons why we shouldn’t...”
“I know,” he repeated, and there was no doubt; he had already thought about it. But he didn’t want to think about it, and she didn’t want to insist.
They would have plenty of time later to talk. Or maybe they wouldn't. They could just wait, and see what the future brought them.
“Okay.”
He smiled before kissing her forehead and sitting up.
“Want something to eat? I know we’ve passed breakfast but I’m starving.”
He was about to stand up, his feet already on the ground, but she stopped him. “Matt, stop. You can’t.”
“Why?” He frowned at her. She tried to stay serious, but couldn’t help grinning.
“You know why. The doctor said you have to stay in bed.” He got the hint directly. His eyes darkened and he turned back completely.
“Make me.”
“Maybe I will.”
She grabbed his arm and pushed him back onto the bed. He didn’t even try to fight, kissing her hungrily. Soon, the idea of standing up seemed to be forgotten, and she wondered how he could even have thought about it in the first place.
In the end, Matt realised that being ill and force to lie in bed for the rest of the week didn’t feel such a deal, now that Alex was with him. As a fact, they spent all their time between the sheets, and she didn’t really have to force him.
When the doctor visited him a week after his accident, and told him that he thought Matt could walk now and didn’t have to lie down anymore, he almost regretted it.
END
By: Clare009
For: lifeinaperceptionfilter
Rating: Teen (bad language and a bit of wink wink nudge nudge)
Words: 8200
Summary: It's the morning after, it's Las Vegas, what's the worst that could have happened?
Prompt: Matt and Alex are in Vegas, and Matt starts losing big but is unwilling to stop gambling. Alex has to find something that will tempt him away from the casino games,
A/N: Okay, so I chose this prompt, and then pretty much wrote something totally different. Sort of. But, it is set in Vegas. Also, I'm heavy on the Vegas tropes here. So.... Enjoy
Warning: Mattex fluff with a slight dash of dubious consent. Yeah I said it.
When the first sensation upon waking feels like a road crew have set up residence inside your skull, you know it's not going to be a good day. Alex twitched her eyes open for just a second, then slammed them shut as even the dim light was enough to send pain lancing across her eyeballs. Dear god, just how much had she imbibed the night before?
She groaned aloud. Thank god all was quiet in her hotel room, she didn't think she could handle even the smallest amount of noise right about now. She lay still for a few moments, willing blessed sleep to claim her once again, but unfortunately, her bladder had other ideas. With another groan, she shifted her weight, covered her eyes with her hand, and sat up as gingerly as possible. Every bone in her body ached, and the pounding in her skull became a cacophony.
The silence around her was punctured by a soft snore. Alex whipped her head around, wincing at the stab of pain in her head, to see the blanket enclosed shape of someone lying in the bed. Somebody lying curled up right next to where she had been only a second ago.
A slow and horrible comprehension began to brew in the pit of her stomach. Oh god. She knew she'd been drinking. She squeezed her eyes shut to try to bring to the forefront of her mind her activities from the night before, but, damn, it was all a jumble of flashing neon lights, and the ching ching of slot machines. There had been tequila shots, of course. And there was Karen and Arthur and Steven. And Matt, dear sweet Matt--although he'd been a bit of a twat right at the start--but it had been like the good old days. They'd been having fun, all of them, together. And then... Nothing.
Her mind was a blank.
She looked down at herself and her worst fears were confirmed. Of course she was naked. A scan of the room confirmed the verdict: clothes strewn randomly about the floor, male and female garments alike, in a way that was all too damning. That was when she realised she wasn't even in her own hotel room. No, this was a much larger suite, all glam and gold and extremely expensive looking, certainly not in the budget of the Convention organizers. In fact, this room was in a far more lavish and typically Vegas style than the quiet off strip hotel they'd been put up in for the duration of the Convention.
The soft snore came once more from under the covers. Alex flinched. A sob of mortification rose in her throat. As much as she loved to flirt and play the innuendo game, she was not the sort of woman to wake up in a strange room with a strange man in her bed after drinking far too much the night before. She dropped her head into her hands and shook. What the bloody hell had she been thinking? Obviously she'd not been thinking at all, by the looks of things.
And what would her friends think of her? God. What would... What would Matt think?
Alex wanted to cry. Her stupid, oblivious ex-co-star, whom she'd been trying to hint at for years, had been far more interested in throwing away money at the roulette tables this weekend than he had been in her. She hadn't even been able to get a rise out Matt with a bit of light-hearted flirting, something he'd normally be totally up for. His behaviour had made her so moody that by last night, she was more than eager to throw back the drinks with the best of them.
But then he had joined them, and even flashed her a grin, and, well, she'd lightened up and thought it was going to be all right--at least as all right as it could be when you were in head over heels in love with a man twenty years younger than you who saw you as a sort of fun aunt.
And now she'd screwed up any chance she may have had, literally.
She peeked between her fingers at the faintly snoring form hidden beneath the covers . Her mind churned sluggishly through her options. Could she sneak out in last night's clothes with her dignity still intact? Would it be very rude to not even stay to find out who she had shagged? Possibly, but she was willing to take that risk.
As she turned her head away, stomach lurching, she felt a scratch against her cheek. Alex gasped and pulled her hands from her face to examine what had caused the injury.
She stared at the ring on the third finger of her left hand. Something wasn't right with the picture. It was a gold ring, simple enough, but the rock that was set into the band was almost offensively large. It couldn't possibly be a diamond, could it? Alex turned her hand and watched the stone glint in the light. Cubic zirconia--it had to be. She snorted. She wished she owned a diamond that large. And then some part of the puzzle in her head slotted into place. She was wearing the band on her ring finger. On her left hand
Oh fuck.
Alex felt a wave of dizzyness pass over her. Oh god. What had she done? She launched out of bed, pulling the sheet with her, and ran to the other side of the room, putting as much space between her and the mystery man as possible. Her fingers shook as she held up her hand again. She never wore a ring there, not since her marriage to Florian had dissolved. She couldn't possibly have... No. It was insane. Even drunk. Why would she? How could she? And with a bloody stranger?
Something in the back of her mind whispered--they were in Vegas after all. There was one of those cheesy wedding chapels on every single bloody corner.
She had to get out of there. Fast.
Alex rushed around trying to pick up her clothes. She found her bra, but her knickers were completely ruined--ripped right in half for fuck's sake--and her dress from the previous night reeked of booze and grime. Thank god she found the clutch purse she'd had with her. She tripped over the crumpled black trousers as she stepped towards the en suite bathroom. The bed creaked and her eyes grew wide. A groan sounded from that direction. Without stopping to look, she raced into the bathroom and slammed the door.
Her knees buckled just as she reached the loo, and she sank down on the covered seat. Passing a shaking hand over her eyes, Alex felt the tears well up in her eyes. She blinked them back furiously. No, she wouldn't give in to them. She'd landed herself in this mess, she'd find a way out. She needed to put a brave face on it, find out who exactly was on the other side of that door, and explain that they needed to annul the... the... She shook her head. She couldn't even think the word. They needed to do whatever they had to do to untangle this knot, if there was a knot, and she was almost certain there was, and then she could be on her merry way.
Letting out a shaky breath, Alex took herself to the sink and washed her face as best as she could. She looked awful, her makeup faded and smudged, her hair a wild mess. Her lips were swollen, and, oh god, was that a hickey on her neck?
Slowly she dressed. She clipped her bra back on, pulled her dress over her head and consigned her knickers to the rubbish. She'd loved that pair. She found an elastic in her purse and pulled her curls back into a knot. Then she spritzed herself with a little perfume to try and hide the distillery smell. There. That was better.
What time was it, anyway? Alex pulled her phone from her purse, but the screen was dark. The battery was dead. No matter. She was only supposed to fly out at two, surely she had plenty of time. She sucked in a few deep breaths and smoothed out the skirt of her dress. It was time to face reality.
Alex unlocked the door and stepped out into the bedroom. She turned and locked eyes with the wide-eyed and confused looking man sitting on the edge of the bed. The floor seemed to give way beneath her feet as his mouth twisted into a lopsided smile.
""Lo Alex," Matt said.
She clutched onto the door behind her for support. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Um." He scratched at his head. "I was hoping you could help me with that one."
She stared at him. She was completely and utterly frozen to the spot. Not one limb would move. She couldn't even open her mouth to speak.
Matt cleared his throat and looked around. "Nice room." He turned back to Alex and his eyes narrowed. "Ah, look, I don't want to, I don't know, sound like a great big idiot or anything, but I just woke up and, for the life of me, I can't remember a thing about last night. Christ, I must have really over indulged... I don't normally. Were we doing tequila shots at some point?"
Her voice came out hoarsely. "Yes."
"Yeah..." Uncertainty showed on his face. He seemed to be looking to her for the answers but there was no way in hell she was going to give him any. Nope. No chance.
Alex edged towards the hotel door, found her shoes, and with a bit of a wobble, slipped her feet back into them. "Well. It's been nice catching up."
"Alex--" Matt said. There was a note of warning in his voice. He rubbed some of the sleep from his eyes and frowned. "What happened last night?"
"Oh. Well, you know, you kids party hard. Ooh, would you look at the time. Gotta dash. Have to pack, you know. Thanks for everything. See you around. Bye bye."
The bastard was quick, she'd give him that. He reached her before she made it to the door and spun her around by her arm. Her eyes widened as she faced him. She could only look directly at him for a fraction of a second before her eyes dropped. Oh. He really wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing.
"Alex, did we...?" He left the question open ended.
"Um," she bit her lip, "if you're asked if we had sex--then I'd have to say I honestly couldn't tell you. I remember about as much of last night as you do. But, um, all evidence might point towards the, ah, affirmative."
"Evidence?"
She winced. "Such as waking up in bed together, naked."
Matt looked down and she watched as it finally dawned on him that he was standing in front of her completely starkers. "Oh." He slowly brought his hands together in front of him to conceal his privates.
"Tsk, tsk. Really now. It's not like I haven't been looking right at it for the last minute and a half."
He had the decency to blush. "That doesn't mean that we... you know... I mean I always sleep naked. We could have just crawled into bed together and passed out."
"My knickers were ripped to shreds. I don't usually destroy them that way before I take them off."
He winced. "Still, I... How can you be sure?"
Alex let out a puff of air. Could the boy be any more dense? God. And he didn't even know the worst part yet. She wasn't sure she should tell him, either. "Look, honestly, if it bothers you that much, just pretend to yourself that nothing happened, and you can be sure I'll never mention it again. Okay?"
"No, it's not... it's just that... Well, I'm pretty sure that if we had done something, I would have remembered it." His blush deepened.
Alex turned her head and sighed. "Maybe you should find your things and get dressed. I'm not even sure what time it is, and I have a plane to catch. My flight's at two."
He nodded. "Could you... I mean, would you mind staying while I... We could go back to our rooms together."
"If that's what you want, darling." Alex moved over to the lounge area and found a chair to curl her legs up on. She kept her face pointed away from Matt, but couldn't block out his quiet shufflings as he gathered his stuff.
After a moment, he said, "Alex, I don't think my clothes are here, or my phone or my wallet. Was I wearing this god awful tuxedo at some point?"
She turned to see him holding up a pink jacket and a shirt with hideous ruffles. At least he was wearing his boxers now, ghastly yellow spongebob ones with the cartoon character's nose in a really inappropriate spot. Alex forced her eyes up. "I don't remember. God, that is hideous, though."
Matt sighed and pulled on the black trousers with a pink pinstripe down the side. He slipped into the ruffled shirt, which made Alex stifle a giggle, and slid his arms into the jacket. "Seems to fit," he said.
"Like a glove."
Matt pulled a tongue at her and she grinned. She could almost pretend nothing awful had happened, but then the sick feeling in her stomach got the better of her, and it wasn't just the hangover. She couldn't show him the ring she hadn't yet taken off her finger. Her smile slid off her face.
Matt patted down his jacket and stopped with his hand over his right pocket. "What's this?" Alex blanched as he slid his hand into the pocket to pull out his discovery. It was only a key. "It's got a number on it. Three-two-eight-five. What does that mean?"
Alex leaned forward as he held it out to show her. "Not sure. Looks like it's for a safety deposit box."
"Oh, there's something else, too." He pulled out a casino chip. His eyes grew wide as he examined it. "Christ!"
Matt handed it to Alex who read the denomination of the chip: Twenty-five thousand dollars. "Oh my god. Where did you get that?" She turned it over and saw the name of the hotel. "Bellagio..." Alex leaped from her chair and pulled the curtains wide. She winced and shielded her eyes from the bright Nevada sun, but sure enough, they had a fantastic view of the strip beyond the iconic fountains in front of the hotel. She could only imagine how impressive the scene was at night with everything lit up in true Vegas style. "Matt... How in god's name did we end up here?"
He sauntered over to her and grinned. "We have twenty-five grand and a safety deposit box key. I say we go down to the front desk and find out." His hand rested on the small of her back for a bare moment, and Alex shivered. "Besides, the old tummy is telling me it's time for breakfast. Or late lunch, as the case may be."
"What?"
Matt turned and pointed to the clock on the bedside table. The red numbers glowed at her like a grinning cheshire cat. Alex gasped. "It's half past two. Half past two. Matt! My flight left at two. I'm supposed to be on my way to London."
"Calm down. I'm sure the others took care of it when we didn't show up this morning."
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down." Her heart was pounding double-time. She grabbed her clutch and stalked towards the door. "I'm going to find a way back to our hotel and figure out how to get my flight changed. Shit. I have a dress rehearsal tomorrow. This can't be hapenning."
"Alex, come on." Matt trailed after her, slipping his feet into his shoes sans socks. "Telling you to calm down was poor choice of words, I admit. But getting into a panic is not going to sort things out. Look, there'll be taxis outside that can take us back to our hotel, but let me check the lock box here first. I'm hoping my wallet is there."
She crossed her arms in front of her. "Fine. Check it first, then back to the hotel."
---
They left the hotel room and found their way down to the private reception desk. Obviously they were in the really swanky part of the hotel that had its own reception desk and access to private areas regular guests weren't admitted to. High roller stuff. Matt was already shaking off the headache from the previous night's over indulgence, but he had a severe case of cotton mouth and he desperately needed a Bloody Mary. He'd settle for caffeine. He was also trying very hard not to think about having had a naked Alex in bed with him and not remembering one effing minute of it. That's right, mate--you finally convince the woman of your dreams to drop her knickers for you and you're blasted out of your mind at the time. He shook his head. He always had the worst luck when it came to women. Including falling in love with your unattainable, drop dead sexy ex-co-star.
Matt ran a hand through his hair as he approached the smiling woman at the reception.
"A pleasure to see you Mr. Smith. I hope your stay has been enjoyable. Are you planning to spend another day or will you be checking out?"
"Um. Checking out I guess."
"We are very sad to hear that you are leaving. The Bellagio would like to invite you to stay at any time, on the house, of course."
He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Of course."
"We'll take care of everything else, then, Sir. Hope you have some time to spend in the casino before you leave."
"Could you tell me if this is from here?" Matt presented the key he'd found in his pocket to her.
The woman nodded. "That is to your personal safety deposit box here at the hotel. Would you like to access the contents now? Come this way, Sir."
Matt shot a glance to Alex who had found a seat near one of the windows. "It'll be just a moment," he said. She nodded in response and shooed him away with her hand.
He followed the woman down a passage and into a stark room covered wall to wall with locked metallic cubbyholes, each with their own unique number. The woman showed him the number of the box corresponding to his key and smiled once more as she left him alone in the room. Matt fumbled with the key, dropping it once, before inserting it into the lock and hearing a satisfying click as the mechanism released. He slid the box open and whooped under his breath as he saw both his wallet and his i-phone. He grabbed them both with a grin, then found a plastic bag stuffed into the back. He pulled it out, and his stomach dropped as he saw the contents.
"Holy bloody hell."
Matt sifted his hands through the casino chips. They matched the one he'd found in his pocket, each one worth twenty-five thousand dollars.
He began to shake. There must have been at least twenty chips in the bag, at rough count. That would be... half a million dollars.
Matt wasn't exactly destitute--several years of getting paid for playing the Doctor had seen to it that he was pretty comfortable, and some clever investments had stretched his money even further, but he'd never in his life held this much money in his hands at one time.
He laughed. No wonder the Bellagio was sad to see him go. He must have had one giant stroke of good luck or the god of drunks had been smiling on him. Pocketing his wallet and phone, and stuffing the chips inside his jacket, Matt was about to close the box when a glint caught his eye. There was something else in there. He frowned as he reached his hand further in until his fingers touched on a piece of folded paper.
As he dragged the paper out, it was of the heavier card-stock variety, something scraped along with it on the bottom of the metal drawer. It was a ring. Nothing special--just a plain gold band. He held it up to examine it, but there wasn't even an elvish inscription on the inside.
"Not the One Ring, I suppose," he said. "What's this then."
He folded open the paper and scanned the contents:
Marriage Certificate
This is to certify that the undersigned, Rev. John Noma, did on the 14th day of June, 2014
at the Little White Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas, Nevada
join in lawful wedlock Matthew Smith of London, United Kingdom
and Alex Kingston of Los Angeles, California
with their natural consent in the presence of Janice Terzecki.
The ring fell to the floor with a metallic clink.
All the blood drained from his head, leaving him feeling woozy. Married. Married. Married to Alex Kingston.
His brain, sluggish as it was, couldn't wrap itself around the concept.
He folded the paper up and quickly stuffed it in his pocket, then he bent to retrieve the ring. He considered it for a moment, seeing if it would fit his finger, but he shook his head at his stupidity and confined it to his pocket with the rest of the incriminating evidence. Christ. Alex was going to be furious with him.
Before he left the room, he steadied himself with a few gulps of air. Maybe he could just not tell her. Or at least tell her when she was back in London for her play, and he had taken the shorter route to L.A. to work on his new movie. He rubbed his eyes until they felt raw. Yes. He'd let it slip later, much later. Oh, by the way Kingston. Funny thing happened when we were in Vegas. You'd never believe... Christ. He was a dead man.
They took a taxi back to the small hotel they'd been staying at for the convention, and Alex insisted they figure out her missed flight and stuff before looking for food, which had been Matt's vote.
They'd both been pretty quiet on the ride over, but as they climbed into the lift and Matt pushed the button for the ninth floor, Alex said, "So, all you found in that lock box was your phone and your wallet?"
Matt felt the blood drain from his face, but he tried to aim for nonchalant. "Yeah. That, and... well there was something else, but I didn't want to bring it up in public."
He felt her small hand enclose his wrist. "I... I know."
Turning to look down at her, he saw she was biting her lip. Despite everything, he felt an overwhelming urge to lift her up and pin her to the wall of the elevator, then take that lip into his own mouth and gently suck on it like a plum. He hadn't seen the woman in months, he was sure he'd put aside his silly infatuation with her, but two days ago she'd come sauntering through the lobby of this very hotel looking as warm and sexy and ripe as ever, and he'd been lost once again.
It had been so hard to talk to her. He couldn't fall back into old habits--it hurt too much to just pretend it was a game, and that's all it was for her, the flirting and touching and invasion of personal space. He couldn't do it any more. But something had happened last night. God, why couldn't he remember? How had they gone from being acquaintances who used to be friends to... to... married for Christ sake! He shook his head.
"You know? You remember." What did she know?
Alex turned her eyes to his, they were guarded. "No. Not so much. But I... I put the pieces together, so to speak."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the bag of casino chips. "You mean these."
Her eyes widened a fraction. "Yes. That's exactly what I meant. I..." She stopped for a moment, then gave a bit of a laugh. "Of course. That explains the room, doesn't it."
So she didn't know all of it. Matt gave her a tight smile and shook the bag, making a rattling sound that echoed in the lift. "Do you even know how much is in here? I didn't count it, but at a rough estimate, there's at least half a million. Half a bloody million."
"No. It can't be. Dollars? Matt, that's impossible."
"You can count it if you like." He tossed the bag to her and she caught it. "I figure we'll split it."
"What? No, you can't." Alex was peering into the bag, sorting through the chips with her fingers.
"I can do what I like. Besides, who's to say you didn't win them? Hmm? No, you're not arguing with me on this one, love. We split 'em, or I give them back to the casino they came from."
She peered at him. "You wouldn't."
Matt shrugged. "I don't really need the money. Do you?"
"Well, no... but..."
The lift doors slid open, and Matt laughed as he stepped through. "Yeah, I thought so. Come on, Kingston, go get your stuff together. We'll figure out how to switch your flight around, and then we'll grab a bite, okay? Might as well make the most of the little bit of extra time we have together. Look on the bright side and all."
He heard the sigh she let out as she followed him. "Well, I suppose if I can get my flight sorted, then I don't see why not." They halted outside her door first. "Could you at least give me twenty minutes to hop in the shower. You might want to do the same."
Matt raised his eyebrows. "Oi! Are you suggesting that I smell?"
Her nose wrinkled up in a way that made him grin. "Only that we are both rather more fragrant today than usual, darling. Goes with the territory of drinking copious amounts of alcohol."
"Fine." He rolled his eyes. "Meet you back here in twenty, Kingston. That'll give me time to charge my phone up enough to check my messages."
She was right, of course. Several minutes under the hot spray of water, a vigorous brushing of teeth, and a couple of paracetamol later, and Matt felt almost human again. The grumble from his empty stomach reminded him he needed food.
He pulled on a pair of jeans and a comfortable t-shirt, then picked up his phone and scrolled through his messages. There were a couple from Steven and Arthur asking if he'd seen Alex as she was supposed to fly out with them. A few more later were asking if he'd abducted her. Then there was one from Kaz telling him she was off to the spa and not to disturb her until later. They'd both planned to stay an extra night in Sin City before driving back to L.A. together.
He quickly texted Arthur and Steven saying Alex was fine, but had overslept. Don't worry boys, he'd added with a winky smiley, I'll take good care of her. A few moments later Arthur responded saying he'd just heard from Alex herself, but thanks anyway. Moffat replied that Matt needed to leave the poor woman alone. She doesn't like you, elbowhead.
Ha. What did Moffat know, anyway? She'd married him. What better proof was there that she liked him?
But she'd been drunk.
Still. She could have said no.
By the time Matt returned to collect her, Alex had showered, washed her hair, shaved, packed and was halfway to booking a new flight to London. She waved him into her room as she completed the last of the details, then turned to him with a grin. "Catastrophe avoided. They have me on the 11:30 direct to London. I'll get there at about 7 o'clock in the evening, UK time. That leaves me an hour before the dress rehearsal. I think it's doable."
"You'll be knackered."
"Oh, don't worry about me, I'm a professional flier. I sleep very well on planes."
Matt watched as she gathered up her belongings and wheeled her suitcase to the door. He took it from her, despite her protest. "But I do worry about you, Kingston. Always have."
"I'm a grown up, I can take care of myself. Always have, always will."
"Oh, I know that. 'Cept I know you, you're pretty awful at taking care of yourself. You take care of everyone else. Don't think I don't see that. Wouldn't it be nice, for once, if someone could take care of you?"
She raised an eyebrow at him. "I certainly don't see anyone jumping up to offer, do you?" Matt only smiled in return. "Come on, we'll get a bite from the cafe downstairs, then I can figure out what to do with myself for the next few hours."
They stored her luggage in his room for the time being, and Alex went down to check out. A bit later they crouched over a small table of the little hotel cafe with sandwiches they'd picked out of the cold case, and steaming paper cups of Starbucks coffee. Matt had paid with one of the hundred dollar bills that was stuffed into his wallet--another remnant of the missing hours from the night before--much to the chagrin of the girl at the till. He attacked his turkey pastrami with relish, devouring the thing in three bites, while Alex only picked at her hummus and sprouts. Swallowing his last bite, Matt said, "What would you do?"
"Beg pardon?" She looked up from her sandwich; he knew she'd been miles away.
"What would you do, you know, if there was someone... someone who wanted to take care of you?"
"There is no one, darling, so why even speculate, hmm?"
"But what if there was?" He held her eyes for a moment, but she looked away.
"I've had two failed marriages. Who says I want a third? At my age? That would be rather stupid of me, don't you think?"
"Who said anything about marriage. Are the two mutually exclusive?"
She gave him a sharp look. "No. You're right, they're not. I... I don't know. I suppose if someone cared about me and I.. I cared about them... Well, I suppose that would be different. It wouldn't have to be a marriage. Not in the traditional sense."
"More like a partnership."
Her mouth twitched at the corners, the promise of a smile. "Yes. A partnership. Two individuals, uniting against the world, yet retaining that which makes them individual."
"So, for example," Matt grabbed the pepper pot and moved it across the table, "if one person was here, and the other," he shifted the salt to the opposite side, "was here, well, it wouldn't be a big deal. They could still do their own thing until such time as they could be here." He shifted the condiments together in the middle of the table.
Alex nodded. "And there wouldn't be the pressure for the salt to have to be wherever the pepper was or vice versa. Because they would both know they cared about each other, it wouldn't matter. And if the salt felt like she needed to be with the pepper, why, she could move across the table whenever she wanted."
"It could be so easy." Matt reached forward to still her hand with his. He heard her indrawn breath. He ran his fingers over hers as he sought her eyes. "If the pepper had reason to believe the salt had... had feelings for him..."
His thumb found the ring she was wearing on her left hand. Alex drew her hands back from him with a gasp. "Matt, I..."
He grabbed her hand and brought it towards him so he could examine the ring. "Wow."
"I know. It's--"
"Enormous?"
"I was going to say obnoxious."
"Maybe a little."
She shook her head, her curls flying. "Look, Matt, I'm sorry, I was going to tell you, I really was. I was just waiting for the right moment, you see--"
"Tell me about what?" He knew he was playing obtuse, but he couldn't help it.
"About the ring. It's a wedding ring."
"Oh. Right. Of course. Congratulations, I suppose?"
She flushed. "No, darling, you don't understand. It's a wedding ring that I somehow acquired last night. This is Vegas. How the hell do you think I got it?"
He couldn't ignore the tremble in her voice, and then he wanted to kick himself for making light of the matter. "No, Alex, I'm sorry, I didn't mean... Look--" he dug into his back pocket and pulled out the folded up marriage certificate. He slid it across the table to her with his eyes downcast. She'd surely hate him now.
Alex opened up the paper and read the inscription. "Well. I guess that confirms my suspicions. When were you going to share this with me?"
"Um," he squeaked, "I was going to get around to it eventually."
"Matthew. This is not a joke. This is a legally binding document. In the eyes of the law, we are... we are... we..." She squeezed her eyes shut and he watched, feeling more helpless than ever, as she dashed a hand over her face.
"We're married," he said.
"Yes."
"Look, it's no big deal. We'll fix this. We'll get it annulled, there should be no problem. It's not as if either of us were in our right minds. I'm sure they see this sort of thing all the time. We'll fix it, Alex, I promise." He dragged her hands from her face to look her in the eye. "Nobody ever needs to know we got married in a fit of... of... god knows what." He gave a little laugh.
"Right." She sucked in a shaky breath. "Okay. We have time."
Matt pulled out his phone and typed Vegas Annulment into the search bar. "See here, this place will do it in three days. All we have to do is go there and fill out the paperwork, pay the fee, and they'll take care of the whole thing."
"Sounds easy enough."
"It'll be a piece of cake. Then we can do whatever you like afterwards. Go shopping, or come back here and relax by the pool. Then I can take you out for an early dinner before your flight leaves. How about that?"
Alex looked down to where he was still gripping her hand. "I'd like that," she said in a small voice.
Matt found himself grinning. He'd tried to put aside his feelings for so long, and he knew deep down, that if he just walked away from her now, he'd never have another chance. Their lives had already diverged after they'd left Who, and he knew they'd only drift further and further apart until they only saw each other at the odd fan convention. Thinking about her like that, turning into nothing more than a cipher in his life, made his chest ache. He had to take this last opportunity, to make this last one ditch effort to show her how he felt.
---
After the tedious time spent filling out paperwork in order to have their annulment processed, Alex was glad that Matt offered up his hotel room for her to take a nap in. He'd disappeared to find the pool, ostensibly to give her privacy, but Alex suspected that after everything that had happened, he was looking for some time away from her. Still, he'd promised her dinner, so that was something, she supposed.
She sighed as she stretched out on the bed. As tired as she was, she couldn't sleep. She had that paper thin sort of feeling, dry and brittle and apt to tear at a moment's notice. God, what the hell was wrong with her? She should be happy that her matrimonial problem had been resolved so easily, that she had a small windfall that was being wired to her bank account since Matt had cashed in the chips, and that she was still going to get home on time to make her dress rehearsal.
But her stomach was in knots, and all she could think about was that in a few hours she'd be flying back to London and she didn't know when she would see him again.
Alex gave up on the pretense of sleep and pulled up her suitcase to find something to wear. By the time she had dressed in comfortable slacks and loose blouse, and was working on her make up in front of the bathroom mirror, Matt returned from the pool.
He was dripping wet and grinning and he made as if to wrap his arms around her from behind. Alex caught sight of him in the mirror and yelped. She darted out of his reach.
"Don't you dare get me all wet, Matthew!"
"Sorry," he said, "hard to resist."
"How was your pool time?" She moved back in front of the mirror and began to apply her mascara.
Matt toweled some of the moisture off his hair. "Fantastic. I don't think I'll ever get sick of the weather on this side of the world. All this lovely sun is too good for me."
She threw a glance at his lightly muscled torso. He was slightly tanned from his time in L.A. and flushed pink from the sun this afternoon. Alex cleared her throat. "Well, you've never looked better, darling."
One of his eyebrows shot up. "Oh really?" He sidled up next to her with a smirk on his face.
"You know you do, so don't give me that." Alex pulled out her lipstick container and painted the deep red onto her mouth. The color was a little daring, maybe it would give her courage.
Matt laughed. "Fine. Well, since you're all dolled up and looking fine, I should probably hit the shower and pull on some clothes if we're going out."
"Yes you should. And don't forget I need to be at the airport no later than nine thirty." Alex collected her things and scooted from the bathroom just as Matt was sliding his swim trunks off. She managed to catch a view of arse in the mirror before the door swung closed behind her and she bit her lip hard. Now she had a bowl full of lust to go with the butterflies in her stomach, thank you very much, Mr. Smith.
For dinner, Matt had done his homework. He'd found them a lovely Mexican place away from the Las Vegas strip. It was quiet, and the lighting was soft, and they had a lovely table out on the patio under the brilliant stars. As they munched on chips and salsa, sopes with beans and queso and plump slices of avo, and the best tamales Alex had ever had, she marvelled at how easy it was to just be with him.
They sipped at their margaritas and chatted about work and family and life. The things that were important to them.
But time was running out.
"Oh, by the way, I ran into Kaz at the pool earlier," Matt said when their dinner plates had been cleared away. He seemed was leaning back in his chair and his words were light and casual, but Alex sensed a bit of strain about him.
"God, you didn't tell her anything, did you?"
He winced. "I may have mentioned a very abridged version of what happened. But I swear, Alex, I didn't tell her about the marriage certificate or... or that we sorta woke up together. And I may have told her that you were already on your way to London. But..."
"But what?"
He shifted in his seat. "I finally managed to get it out of her, but... she was the one who spiked our drinks with a little something extra. I'm not sure what, exactly, I don't think she even knows. Just a little something a friend of a friend had given her, Christ. I was so mad at her, Alex, because you don't do that to friends, you know," he ran his hand through his hair, "and she begged me not to tell you, but I couldn't, I just couldn't. You deserve to know. That's why we were so out of it, basically, we were drugged."
Alex stared at him. "But why? I don't get it."
He fidgeted with a leftover spoon on the table. "I guess she thought it would help us to lighten up. At least that's what she said. We were too uptight."
His eyes remained focused on the spoon as Alex tried to process everything. A wave of nausea rolled through her. She felt... violated. She hated to use the word, but it was the only way she could describe it. "Lighten up? For god's sake, is everything just a joke to her?"
"I know, I know. For what its worth, I don't think she understood how much we were affected by it. And... I'm sorry. We weren't in our right minds, and under normal circumstances, we would never have, you know..."
"Got married?" Alex said with a snort. "No, I suppose not."
"Well that, but, actually, what I was really referring to was what happened after. I... I would never take advantage of you, I swear."
She drew in a breath to steady herself. "No, of course not."
"And I told Kaz she needs to do whatever it takes to beg your forgiveness. Bow and scrape if she has to. You'll probably get a call from her in a few days. I did tell her to give you a bit of time at least."
"Thank you."
Matt let out a long breath. "I suppose we'd better get going. Wouldn't want you to miss your second flight in one day, would we?"
"No, of course not, darling."
The cheque was paid with some of the left over winnings, and they took a taxi back to the hotel to collect Alex's belongings. As the driver packed her bags into the boot of the car, she turned to Matt. He was dancing his fingers along the top of the car in a nervous gesture, but apart from that, she couldn't read him at all.
"So, I think it would be best if I go on alone, yeah?"
He turned sharply to look at her. "You don't want me to come with you to the airport."
"The night's still young. I'm sure you could find Kaz and go to the clubs with her or whatever it is you like to do. Don't let me keep you from having fun for your last night in Vegas."
"Right. I suppose."
She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Alex closed her eyes for a fraction as she hovered near him after. She stepped away and forced a smile. "Good luck with your film."
"And your play." He ran a hand through his hair, and for a moment it looked as if he was going to say something else, but all he said was, "cheers, Alex, have a safe trip."
She ducked into the taxi and he shut the door behind her, and then she was off. It was tempting to turn back to see if he had remained to watch her leave, or if he'd already vanished back inside the hotel. Instead she kept her eyes facing front. She'd been silly to even think... No, she was not going to give herself the chance to regret something that had never been a possibility, no matter how much she wanted it to be.
At the airport, she checked her luggage and went through security. She felt a peace settle over her. She was going back to London, to do a job she loved--performing on the stage. Also, her daughter would be joining her in a couple of weeks for the rest of the summer. Alex had a lot to look forward to. She had a life full of family, friends and work. She would get through this just fine.
Settling back into one of the open seats at her terminal, she pulled out her phone to read through her messages and send out a few texts of her own. As she read down the list, her phone beeped with an incoming message. It was from Matt. Alex hovered over the view button for a second before pressing it.
The image the message contained took a moment to load, but when it finally did, Alex stared. It was her and Matt in front of an arch displaying the words 'Little White Wedding Chapel'. They were looking at each other, their eyes bright, their faces flushed and their smiles wide.
Alex checked the time-stamp on the message. He'd sent it to her last night. It had taken all that time to reach her. The caption he'd typed beneath said: 'I love you, Mrs. Smith'.
Her heart leaped into her throat.
---
Matt had not stayed to watch Alex's departure in the taxi. Instead, he'd slunk back up to his room, mentally kicking himself every step of the way for being a bloody coward. He'd had it all planned out--take Alex to dinner, tell Alex he was in love with her. It was that simple. Then why, when he'd had the opportunity, had words failed him?
For fuck's sakes, he was a bleeding Actor. His whole career was based on bringing words to life. Someone else's words, the voice in the back of his mind whispered, not his own.
He'd kicked his shoes off and flopped down onto the bed, rubbing away the wetness from his eyes. He'd never have another chance to tell her. Already the tangled lines of their life paths were diverging. He could feel her slipping further away from him.
He didn't know how long he lay there, simply staring at the ceiling fan that whirled overhead. but when the knock on the door came, it actually woke him up.
"Go away, Kaz. I'm not in the mood," he called out.
"It's not Kaz."
Matt sat up straight. "Alex?" He scrambled off the bed and was over to the door in two bounds. He pulled it open, and she stood there, wringing her hands in front of her, and her mascara smeared around her eyes.
"Have you been crying?"
"Yes," she said, biting her lip.
"Me, too."
"You have?" He nodded. "Matt, I--"
"No, Alex, let me go first. The thing is, I love you."
Her lips twitched. "I know."
"Wait--what?"
"I know, you silly man. You told me last night. I just didn't get it until twenty minutes ago." Her hands reached up to cup his face and Matt felt as if the whole world fell away. "And here's a little secret," she leaned up to his ear and whispered, "I love you, too."
And then her mouth was sliding over his before he could even catch his breath. Everything inside him caught alight as he spread his hands around her tiny waist and he pulled her in close. He returned her kiss, moving his mouth slowly, surely over hers, describing the full intensity of what he felt for her. She answered with the soft push of her tongue against the seam of his lips, and he let her in with a moan at the back of this throat.
They broke free for a moment. He couldn't keep the grin from his face as he looked down at her.
"What about your flight? Your rehearsal?"
Alex hummed. "I suppose my understudy will have to fill in until I get there. I delayed my flight again until tomorrow night."
Matt bounced with excitement. "We have one whole day together?"
"One whole day, darling. Unfortunately, my bags went on ahead of me, so I'm not sure I'll be able to do a whole lot outside of this room..."
He laughed. "Don't worry, Kingston. I have no plans to leave this room whatsoever, and this time I'm making sure you don't forget about me in the morning."
"Now that's something I'll be glad to bet on."
By: Tisziny
For: Sassa-who
Summary: Matt didn’t let go of her hand. It was silly because of course she was fine. There was nothing here to worry about. No need to hold hands and seek comfort from someone familiar and warm and safe. It was just a silly little ghost tour, just some trees and a bit of darkness, nothing else. But, a small voice in her head reminded her, there’s nothing irrational about a fear of the dark.
Rating: M
Wordcount: 8099 words
Betas: areyoumarriedriver and lifeinaperceptionfilter
Prompt: Matt has planned a birthday surprise for Alex. He has whisked her away and they are staying (separate rooms) at a lovely old castle. Matt didn't know, when he booked that the place is haunted.
Alex blinked. She turned to look at Matt next to her, then looked ahead and blinked again.
This was not what she’d been expecting when Matt had told her to pack for a weekend away, but it was oddly fitting. The land was far reaching, the grass a luscious green. She could see a neatly grown and well cared for garden in front of the large building within the wide circling road they’d just driven along, and behind her a deep thick forest of trees. But the plant life wasn’t what took Alex by surprise. The big shock was that the building, the very large and beautiful stone building, was actually a castle. A castle they would apparently be staying in for the next two nights.
At least now she understood why he told her not to bother packing her laptop or phone.
“What do you think?” Matt asked eagerly from his place next to her in his car.
“I…” Alex gaped, “It’s lovely darling, but-”
His face fell, “You don’t like it.”
She shook her head wildly, her heart clenching in her chest at the sadness in his voice, “No it’s not that.” she told him, “It’s just… Well it’s March, Matt.”
“And?”
“And this is Wales; a castle in Wales, in March.” She turned to face him, “It’ll be freezing. And I don’t think I packed for it.”
He grinned cheekily, “We can always huddle up together for body warmth if you like.”
“I thought you said we had separate bedrooms.”
“We do.” He confirmed, “But I never said we had to use both of them.”
She laughed, rolling her eyes and finally unbuckled her seatbelt before stepping out of the car. With a flirtatious grin she lent down to speak through the open car window, “Tucked away from the world and curled up in a castle with a fit young thing like you, dear? What a promising birthday this is looking to be, indeed.”
Matt flushed and hid his face from view, unbuckling his own seat belt and opening his door. Dull clouds littered the sky, blocking the sun from view. Matt felt a shiver run down his spine as he stepped from the car and into the sudden chill of the country air.
He moved to the back of his car and unlocked the boot, grabbing his bags with Alex before the two of them walked together along the old road to the large and rather daunting doors of Pritchard Castle. They stepped inside, and Matt moved toward the reception desk leaving Alex to have a look around.
The entrance hall of the castle was large and lined with old torches that Alex thought were probably actually electric lights stylised to add an authentic feel to the building. In any case it was effective, and she felt a small thrill at the idea of staying in such place. A cool draught drifted through the open doors, and Alex pulled her cardigan a little tighter around her as she walked along the walls, admiring an old painting behind velvet rope of the nobleman that had once lived here.
“Right then,” she turned and saw Matt had finished at reception. He had his backpack slung over one shoulder and a shoulder bag over the other. In his hands he held a small stack of brochures and two ordinary Yale lock keys hanging from large blocks of wood with the words Pritchard Castle carved and blackened into them followed by room numbers.
“This is the key to your room,” He handed her the top key, “Let’s drop our things and look around. I thought we might go down to the dungeons first; there’s a gift shop and a museum. Tomorrow though, Kingston, they’re having a ball. An actual proper ball, I booked us into that, I hope you brought a dress with you. It’ll be brilliant." He kept talking all the way up the stone stairs and along the corridor until they reached his room.
“Oh, these are for you!” he said, remembering the brochures in his hands and thrusting them to her. “And I suppose your room is in the next corridor over.” He looked down the corridor and saw a small open door, “I’ll meet you in a few minutes, after I grab a pullover and go to the loo.”
Alex nodded and watched Matt disappear into his room before she continued on down the corridor and through the small door leading to another staircase, which she passed. Her room was the first she saw along the next corridor and she slipped the key in the lock and turned.
“Oh he cannot be serious.”
She stepped slowly into the room, taking it all in. A large four-poster bed took up most of the wall space directly next to the door, leaving just enough space for two people to comfortably get in and out on either side. By the foot of the bed was a rug so large is seemed to take up the rest of the room. Sat atop it were three low and sinful looking armchairs circled around a stout coffee table, and just beyond that a fire crackled gently in the stone fireplace that appeared to be almost as tall as she was.
Alex couldn’t believe Matt had done this for her. Staying in this beautiful place must have cost him a small fortune. But she happily dropped the brochures on the mattress and placed her bags at the foot of the large bed, briefly admiring the medieval chandelier that hung from the wooden beam ceiling before she moved across the room to a small door.
It led to a thankfully modern bathroom, with bright lighting and automatic exhaust fan. Fresh towels hung on a railing between the glass shower and flushing toilet, and a small sign by the sink asked guests to be conscious of their water usage.
“Alex?” She jumped and left the little bathroom to see Matt by the door, smiling apologetically, “Museum?” He asked, stepping inside slightly.
She nodded, collected her key and hand bag, and then left with Matt locking the door behind her. “You really didn’t have to do all this you know Matthew.” She told him as he linked their arms and led her back through the castle.
“But I wanted to.”
“It must have cost-”
“It’s your birthday, Alex.”
“Not until Monday, it isn’t darling.”
Matt rolled his eyes, “Regardless, this is my gift to you, I’ll spend as much or as little as I like on it.” Alex opened her mouth to argue with him, but knew somehow it was a lost cause. She sighed, and resigned herself to coming up with something equally as wonderful for his own birthday later that year.
“Well then, you’re letting me pay for this museum.”
He laughed, “Already payed for, Kingston. It’s included as a part of our stay.”
“Of course it is.” She muttered under her breath.
Matt smiled, dropping their linked arms in favour of wrapping his around her shoulders, “If it makes you feel better, you could pay for dinner tonight.”
“I thought a gentleman paid for the first date.” She teased.
“Oh this is a date is it?”
Alex laughed, her head falling back so her curls danced across Matt’s arm. Suddenly he wished he’d forgone the pullover. He swallowed thickly, pushing that thought away. “If I’d have known this was going to be a date, I wouldn’t have bothered booking a second room.”
“Are you that confident in your wooing abilities?”
He gasped dramatically, “I am a perfect gentleman I’ll have you know, Alex. Never one to pressure a lady into something she wouldn’t want to do. However,” He smiled, “I am remarkably confident in your wooing abilities, and of course, how utterly irresistible you find me.”
“Not to mention my amazing appetite for a good shag.”
Matt smirked, “Oh trust me Kingston; it would be so much more than ‘good’.”
She raised her eyebrow at him, and he winked, coming to the bottom of the stone steps and back to the entrance hall. They followed the signs out into a large courtyard and over a section of the castle to their right, where the museum started.
The museum was lovely. Informative and interesting, displaying books talking of the noble man that had lived in the castle, and various bits and pieces of its involvement in history. Alex walked through slowly, Matt following her, trying very hard not to fidget too much, or pester her to hurry along. This was after all, for her enjoyment.
Eventually they got to the end of the museum and entered a small gift shop. Alex bought a postcard to send to her daughter and Matt bought a shot glass, for his collection at home.
It was getting colder now that the sun was going down, and after eating dinner in the dining hall –Alex paid– Matt lead her back to the entrance hall with a grin. She frowned at him when he made no move to continue to the stairs, and then noticed they weren’t the only ones staying back.
“Are we waiting for something, dear?” She asked,
“What?” He looked at her, “Didn’t I tell you, Kingston?”
She shrugged, “Not that I recall.”
“We’re waiting for the ghost tour to start, we’ve still got a few minutes.” He seemed very excited, bouncing on the balls of his feet, but Matt almost always seemed excited. And he definitely liked to bounce on his toes; why else would he fall so often, tripping over both everything and nothing?
A staff member arrived and greeted the various guests, introducing them to the tour. She was small, and told a fanciful tale of the ghost sightings in the area, and old wives tales passed down the generations of the Pritchard family. A little girl in front of them gasped her eyes wide as she soaked in the tour guides words as truth. She curled into her mother’s side, holding the woman’s hand in a tight grasp.
Alex’s heart went out to her. Poor thing, a castle as large and dark as this must be terrifying on its own without adding ghost stories and a long night time walk through the towering trees. But as the girl hid her face against her mother she opened her eyes and peeked through the gap of her mother’s arm. Her eyes found Matt, then Alex, and she stared obviously recognising them.
Alex smiled at her, giving a little wave then raising a finger to her lips. Hopefully that would convince the little girl that any ghosts would be taken care of by River and the Doctor. A few moments later the tour guide must have finished her story telling as the group began to move to the reception desk, taking a lantern to share in pairs or groups of three. Matt turned when Alex didn’t follow, holding their lantern in his hand.
“Coming?” he asked,
Alex jumped and nodded, brushing passed the little girl and her family, hearing her whisper to her mother, “I’m not scared mummy; the Doctor will look after me.”
She caught up to Matt and walked with him to join the small group of people outside in the cold night air. “Perhaps I should take that.” She said, holding a hand out for the lantern, “I doubt they’d be too pleased with you if you broke one of their lanterns.”
Matt laughed, handing it over, “Probably not.” He agreed easily.
The tour guide began talking again, and a moment later the castle doors were closed behind them and the group was left in the near pitch darkness; left only in the dull glow of the lanterns and the eerie light of the moon through the clouds. Alex shivered and the tour began.
They were lead away from the building; off into the dark depths of… they couldn’t tell. Alex could barely see three feet in front of her, their lanterns flickering softly as a cool breeze stung at her cheeks. The stone path beneath their feet ended, replaced by soft grass, and then dirt. Trees began to appear around them, tall and thick, the darkness now even denser with the moonlight lost in the canopy above them.
The trees thinned out, leaving a clearing big enough for the group to spread out a little around the tour guide. The people with lamps held them up, allowing the distorted view of faces to flicker before them.
Alex barely heard the tour guide as she began to talk of some fanciful beast of medieval times, and all the brave men that dared not even try and slay it. She was far too keenly aware of the darkness, and the thick forest trees all around them. She was struck with the thought that if something went wrong she’d have no way of knowing how to get back to the castle, even with the lantern to light her way. She had barely been able to see her own feet, or the back of whichever stranger had walked in front of her, she’d no way of knowing what specific trees she’d walked passed, what signs there might have been to guide her.
A chill ran down her spine and Matt slipped his hand in hers, squeezing it slightly as he leant in and whispered, “You all right?” She nodded, flashing him a smile. She was being quite ridiculous. Of course she was.
Wasn’t she?
The group began to move again, but Matt didn’t let go of her hand. It was silly because of course she was fine. There was nothing here to worry about. No need to hold hands and seek comfort from someone familiar and warm and safe. It was just a silly little ghost tour, just some trees and a bit of darkness, nothing else.
But, a small voice in her head reminded her, there’s nothing irrational about a fear of the dark.
Or even a fear of forests; and Alex couldn’t even bring herself to roll her eyes at the connection to her first episodes as River. She just held onto Matt’s hand a little tighter, and didn’t let go.
Something was watching her through the trees, waiting just beyond the stretch of her lantern’s light. She could feel it, feel eyes on her, an extra presence in the air. Alex looked firmly ahead, trying to ignore the twist of her stomach, and the hairs that stood on end along her arms and the back of her neck. It wasn’t until the group stopped once more and the guide stood before them, lantern raised high in the air that Alex saw Matt’s face and realised just how tightly she’d been gripping his hand. She let go suddenly, and Matt flexed his fingers, listening as the guide spoke of the moat that had once surrounded the castle.
A sharp cold breeze washed through the trees, and above them the leaves rustled and whispered together. Alex drew in a quick breath as the wind stung her face and closed her eyes, her heart hammering faster. There was something there. Something she couldn’t see, couldn’t explain. She could feel it, like a burning inside herself.
She bit her lip firmly, trying to pull herself together. Trying not to listen as the guide told them of the woman that haunted this bridge and the path that was the old moat, waiting to avenge the death of the baby she’d died trying to save. Next to her Matt stared, a frown pulling at his brow.
Alex was usually so pulled together and yet here... He could practically taste the fear radiating from her. He could read it in her stance, her grip tight on the lantern in her hand, her lip pulled between her teeth, her eyes shut. He could see goose bumps across her arm, and her hand now free from his was fisted at her side. He saw her wince as the wind blew at the tree tops, a shiver pulled at her frame.
He instinctively stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her. “You’re okay.” He whispered, hoping he was doing the right thing. He left his arm around her for the rest of the tour, occasionally squeezing her shoulder when she tensed, and not stopping when she finally relaxed and became her usual smirking self.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” He asked once they returned to the castle and reached the door to his room.
“Yes, darling; I don’t know what came over me, just the cold and the atmosphere probably. I’ve never really been one for darkness.”
“You should have-”
“It’s fine, Matt. I promise you. It was a lovely idea, and I did enjoy it after I got over myself.” She smiled at him, reaching out to rest her hand on his chest, “I appreciate your concern. And I’m very glad you were so understanding, thank you. Now be a good boy and go off to bed like the gentleman you say you are.”
He laughed, “Well, as long as you’re sure you’re okay.”
“I am.”
“Then all right then. I’ll go. Goodnight, Kingston.”
She smiled and moved in to press a kiss to his cheek, “Goodnight, Matt.” She moved to step back, but Matt wrapped his arms around her in a firm hug, dropping a kiss into her curls. He just wanted to make sure she was alright. Protect her from whatever had plagued her out in the forest. But he would have to settle for sending her off to bed with well wishes, and the knowledge that he was here should she need him in the night.
He kissed her hair again, breathing her in as he murmured, “Sleep well,” And untangled his arms from around her, allowing her to step back and walk down the corridor to her own room with a smile.
Matt didn’t sleep well that night.
He tossed and turned and must have dozed off at some point because he was woken far too early the next morning to the sounds of pouring rain and Alex knocking on his door. With a groan Matt forced himself out of bed and stumbled over to open the door for her.
“Good morning!” She beamed, extraordinarily too cheerful for someone who hadn’t even had tea yet. That was one down side to this stay, no kettle in the rooms.
He sighed, looking out the window at the sheet of water falling from the sky. “Doesn’t look like it.” Matt pushed the door closed behind her and locked it. He ran a hand through his hair and stifled a yawn, “I was planning on treating you to a garden picnic today.”
“I did tell you.” Alex teased, “Honestly Matt, I would have thought you’ve been in Wales long enough.”
“I was hoping the weather would cooperate with me for once.” He said, suddenly cold now he was out of bed and could see the horrid day outside.
He shivered, “Blimey it’s cold.”
“Perhaps you should put some clothes on then.”
Matt whipped around and saw Alex sitting on the end of his bed, her legs cross at the knee as she leant back on her hands, her eyebrows raised. Oh right, he remembered, he’d gone to bed in just his pants. He hurried over to his bag and scrambled through it.
“Christ, Kingston. You could have said.”
“I did say.” she laughed.
“Yeah, eventually.”
“I was enjoying the view.” Matt rolled his eyes, still bent double over his bag. “Though I must say, darling, it has rather improved.”
He felt his face go red. “Are you staring at my arse?”
“Hard not to, given that it’s directly in my line of sight.”
Matt straightened up immediately, his hands full of clean pants, yesterday’s trousers and a shirt. “Right.” He said, face still red, “I’m going to shower.”
“I’ll just wait for you here then, shall I?”
He opened his mouth, closed it again then nodded and scarpered off into the bathroom to shower, resolutely not thinking of Alex on his bed in the next room. She was still there when he stepped out, hair wet and dripping, but dressed. He rubbed a towel over his head and slung it over his shoulder as he found some ghastly socks to pull on.
“What’s the plan then, dear?” Alex asked from the bed as she watched him tie up his boots. “Because, I rather doubt this weather will let up.”
Matt shrugged, taking the towel back into the bathroom before pulling on a striped jumper. “Breakfast,” He said, “and then… I’m not sure.”
Alex smiled and stood up, “I have those brochures in my bag; we can look over them as we eat.” She picked up his key and turned towards the door, leaving Matt no choice but to follow after her.
They spent the day in the library, a remarkable place that offered short tours of the older sections and had a wide array of books. After walking through the towering bookcases for what seemed like hours, Alex eventually settled on reading Macbeth, while Matt found a copy of Oliver Twist. It was nice, to sit together in soft armchairs, the only sounds that of the crackling fire, the flick of pages and occasionally, the librarian shuffling through with other guests.
By late afternoon the rain had stopped, and Alex put down her book to sit straight and stretch her back and neck. She glanced down at her watch, licked her dry lips, and turned to Matt.
“What time does the ball start?” she asked him,
“Huh?” Matt looked up, “Oh, uh, half six I think.”
Alex stood, “I suppose I should start getting ready then.”
“What time is it?”
“Just gone five o’clock, darling.”
Matt raised his eyebrows, “Really? Blimey. I suppose you’re right.” He stood too, wobbling on his legs slightly as they adjusted to being used so suddenly after sitting all day.
Books set away, the two made their way through the castle and back to their separate rooms. Matt shaved and Alex showered, and both of them dressed. Matt wore the same socks he’d worn all day, but changed into some black slacks, a nice purple dress shirt and a waistcoat. He combed his hair and debated about whether or not to wear the simple black tie he’d brought.
Down the corridor in her own room Alex stood by the fire dressed in only her towel. She hadn’t expected to be going to a ball of all things. Of course she had packed something a bit nicer in case of being taken to some respectable restaurant, but now she wasn’t sure it would be enough. She didn’t own a lot of formal dresses; she never really had anywhere to wear them.
With a sigh she dropped the towel by the foot of the bed and pulled on her underthings. At least wearing her expensive knickers would make her feel better, she just hoped her bra wouldn’t be too visible under the dress. She added stockings, pulled the black dress over her head, and then headed to the bathroom to assess her situation.
The deep V-neck in the dress showed quite a lot of cleavage, but luckily her dark bra camouflaged itself. She smiled, and added the finishing touches; makeup, jewellery, shoes and so on. By the end of it, she felt actually quite pleased with herself and she made her way –key in hand– down the corridor, ready to meet with Matt.
She knocked on his door, and waited. He answered promptly, looking devilishly handsome as she knew he would.
He looked at her and smiled, “You look tops as ever, Kingston.” He told her.
Alex laughed, “Thank you, honey. You look rather good yourself.”
“Ready to go down?” Alex raised her eyebrows suggestively and Matt quickly added, “Not like that! Honestly, Kingston, you’re terrible.”
“So are you.” She pointed out, laughing happily, “It’s one of the many reasons we get on so well, dear.”
Matt sighed, stepping back into the room, leaving the door open for her. He found his shoes and sat on the bed to pull them on, ignoring Alex as she chuckled at him from the doorway, smirking smugly. He straightened up, grabbed his key, and left the room, locking the door behind him.
“Right then,” He said, offering his arm to Alex, “Off we go.”
Alex smiled and linked her arm through his, walking with him down to the reception desk -where they left their keys for the evening- and along through to the dining hall. It had been decorated during the day, and a large space had been cleared for dancing. A live band was set up in one corner, and tables lined the walls.
They wandered through tables until they found the appropriate name cards labelling their seats, and sat down. Soon they were served dinner as the band played. Matt and Alex spent the night chatting together and with the other guests at their table. Couples danced happily in the clear space, and Matt bit his lip, looking out at them.
“Would you care to dance, Kingston?” He asked her eventually.
She smiled, “Of course.” She told him, “What use is a ball without dancing?”
They walked out to where the other guests danced together, and Matt took one of Alex’s hands in his own, his other coming to rest on her waist. He was a skilled dancer, not at all the fumbling tumbling two left feet sort of thing someone might expect him to be, and Alex enjoyed herself immensely. By the end of the night her feet were very sore indeed, but she was exhilaratingly cheerful having had such a wonderful time laughing and dancing and talking all night. Though perhaps some of it had to do with all the wine she’d been drinking.
“Right then Kingston,” Matt murmured; his breath hot against her neck, “Time to get you to bed.”
She laughed loudly, giving him a playful swat, “Oh don’t tempt me darling.”
Matt smirked and they walked, their arms linked once more, out to the reception desk to collect their keys. They made their way slowly up the stairs, laughing freely together until they reached the corridor leading to Matt’s room.
Matt frowned, his nose crinkling in distaste as something in the air bit at his senses. He turned to Alex, “What is that?” he asked.
It was familiar and unpleasant. Sharp and tangy, but he couldn’t quite think.
“Blood.” Alex replied, “It smells like blood.”
She was right. The tang of the air was like iron, sharp and metallic and so familiar. His nose wrinkled further.
“Blood? Come off it, Kingston. Why’d it be blood?” Matt asked, breathing through his mouth, “It’s probably just… something rusting after all the rain we had today.”
They stopped by his door, Alex chewing on her lip thoughtfully. “Maybe.” She said, though she didn’t look convinced.
Matt wasn’t sure how to respond. He looked to his shoes, running a hand through his hair, “G’night then.” He said awkwardly.
“Goodnight.”
He hesitated, then leant in and brushed his lips against her cheek. He turned quickly, and busied himself with the key. Alex lingered a moment behind him, but as the lock clicked he heard her footsteps begin to walk away, echoing strangely through the silent corridor.
The door opened, and Matt stepped inside, switching on the light and closing and locking the door behind him. His room didn’t smell, or at least it didn’t smell any different from when he’d left it earlier that night, but stepping into it felt rather like stepping into a freezer. He shivered violently and glared out the window into the dark night. He wouldn’t be surprised if he woke to snow.
He stepped out of his shoes and loosened his tie, pulling it off and letting it drop to the floor as he continued to strip out of his clothes. There was no way he’d be able to sleep in just his pants tonight, so Matt rummaged around in his bags, finding the sweat pants and pyjama shirt he’d brought with him. He pulled them on, turned out the light, and used the glow of the fire to guide his way over to the large bed.
It wasn’t until he climbed under the thick covers that Matt realised the fire had been burning all evening, probably since early that afternoon. The room shouldn’t be so cold.
As he realised this a shiver ran through his entire body. He felt chills ache through him, right down to his bones, his hairs all standing on end.
He closed his eyes tight, curling his body into a ball, the thick bedcovers tucked around him. It was in his head, he thought, it wasn’t actually cold, he was just drunk; twisting the scenario in his mind to be something it wasn’t. The fire would do its job soon enough and keep him warm, the bedcovers would heat up from his body warmth, and he’d have to push them away, lie spread eagled.
Matt waited, still curled tight and clenching his teeth together so they didn’t chatter.
If he brought his arm out from under his pillow he could read his watch in the firelight. What time had they left the ball? How long had he been lying here?
The window was open. It must be. He could feel wind blowing over his face, through his hair. It stung, and he tried to bury his face in the pillow, but that left the back of his neck exposed and let the chills run straight down his spine like thousands of small icy daggers. He winced, why wasn’t the fire working?
The window wasn’t open when he went to bed.
He could see the orange glow of the flames flickering, voided by the furniture in the room. Shadows moved and twisted, flickering with the flames; contorting into strange and complicated creatures. The fire was so alive, why wasn’t it working?
The window wasn’t open now.
He pulled the covers up over his head. He felt so small. He felt like a child. God, what he’d give to be a child right now. For this to all just be some silly dream.
He could still feel the wind.
It wasn’t real. He was dreaming. He was probably having one of those horrid nights caught in the limbo of dream and reality; confusing and dark and suffocating, but absolutely not real.
He couldn’t breathe through his mouth, his jaw still clenched tightly shut. His breaths were shaking. He could smell iron again, it seeped through into the room and he couldn’t avoid it.
Matt peeked out from under the covers to look at his watch. Almost three am. He felt sick.
He thought about Alex, about yesterday when she had gripped his hand so hard, had winced at the rustle of trees, shied away from a simple ghost story… No. Absolutely not. He was still drunk. Drunk and sleep deprived. It was a mad idea, completely mad. There were no such things as- he wasn’t even going to think it. No.
But Alex had been so scared. And Alex had recognised the smell as blood. Alex of all people- No.
She had admitted herself that she didn’t like the dark. Perfectly reasonable, a lot of people didn’t like the dark, and a lot of people didn’t like forests, especially at night. And the smell, the smell was exactly what he said before. There had been an awful lot of rain all day, and this was a castle. (A castle in Wales, in March, as Alex had said). Of course it smelt like rust. Of course it was cold, even with the fire. And the window…
The window he couldn’t explain.
But he didn’t need to. Because ghosts didn’t exist, and if they did Matt was fairly sure they didn’t control the wind. If he let himself believe there was a ghost it meant letting go of knowing what was real and what wasn’t. It would mean opening himself up to vulnerability. Nothing would be definite anymore. Nothing would make sense.
Matt could forget about the window if it meant holding onto his understanding of the world. But he had more trouble forgetting the burning gaze he felt in the back of his head. It was almost impossible to ignore the feeling you were being watched.
All at once it was too much. Matt shoved violently at his bed covers and clambered out of the bed. He turned the deadlock and opened the door, letting it swing shut behind him without bothering to grab his key.
The corridor was in complete darkness. All the lights that lined the walls had been turned off for the night and Matt couldn’t even see his hand in front of his face. Slowly and carefully he walked. It was still so cold, and the air smelt even worse than before. Like Christmas ham that had been left in the fridge too long and went off, stinking out the entire kitchen. Like dead flesh.
The stone floor beneath his feet was uneven, and Matt caught his toe, stumbling forward before quickly reaching out to the wall to catch himself. He waited a moment, then moved on, trailing his hand over the cold wall to guide his way through the darkness.
It was like it was following him. The smell, the cold. He could feel it all around, yet somehow he felt like up ahead, where he couldn’t see in the dark, it would be gone. But it clung to him, all of it. It was worse. He couldn’t bare it any more, couldn’t ignore it.
Something was in this castle and it was there, with him, around him, watching him. He couldn’t even tell what direction it was coming from. It was everywhere and all-encompassing and he just want it to stop. He wanted to be left alone. He wanted to wake up at home and struggle to remember just why this was all so incredibly terrifying.
He almost fell down the stairs.
Matt shook violently. Trembling in fear, shivering in cold, he couldn’t tell anymore. He found the next corridor and felt for the first door. Alex’s door.
He shook the doorknob, curling into the door, cowering from the darkness, from the watchful, burning eyes. He started to shake it harder, chanting a wish, a prayer, over and over in his head. Open the door Alex, please god, open the door.
He rocked and tremored and shook at the door with one hand, the other coming up to rest against the wood, softly hitting it. He didn’t want to attract attention. It was watching him. He couldn’t attract attention. He couldn’t be loud. It would hear.
He stopped.
“Alex.” he croaked, his voice sore and trembling, “Alex.”
He just wanted it to be over.
“Alex, please.”
When would it be over?
“Alex.”
“Matt?”
Matt jumped, and saw Alex peering at him through a small crack in the door. The sharp bright light hurt his eyes and he flinched away from it.
“God, Matt.” She sounded horrified, “What’s happened?”
He was still shaking, his heart still beating so wildly against his chest, and Alex was right there. Her voice so warm and soothing like honey, and he just wanted to melt into her and tear himself in half.
He couldn’t see against the light, his eyes scrunched tight. But he heard the door creak slightly as she opened it, and her arms wrap tight around him, her hair soft against his face. The threat in the darkness began to ebb away. Alex would protect him.
“Darling you’re as cold as ice.” She murmured, making no move to let go or pull away. Instead she just pulled him into the room, shutting and locking her door with one hand, and led him over to the arm chair closest to the fire. She ran a hand through his hair and murmured softly to him, directing him to sit, and he did, pulling her down with him so she sat in his lap.
Alex didn’t know what to think. She had no idea how to help him; it didn’t look like he was going to be explaining any time soon. All she could do was murmur to him softly, and let him hold her, cling to her, as they sat together in front of the fire.
Slowly Matt began to calm down. He stopped trembling and he warmed up, his cheeks returning to a healthy pink rather than the stark white they had been. Alex yawned, her fingers absently stroking through Matt’s hair. She slowed to a stop and straightened up.
“Come on, darling,” she said, “Let’s get you to bed.”
She stood herself up and took Matt’s hands, helping him to stand with her before leading him over to the large bed. The covers were pulled back from where she had left them, and she guided Matt to sit down then climb under them.
“There we go,” she smiled, “I’ll just turn off the light and then I’ll be right there with you.” Doing just as she said Alex slipped into the bed next to Matt, and curled herself protectively into his side.
She ran her fingertips lightly over his chest, one of her legs curling around his. He hummed, eyes closed, face relaxed, and she smiled, looking up at him. He must have sensed her gaze because his eyes opened and met hers almost immediately. They stared there for a while, looking into each other’s eyes, the firelight flickering gently across their faces.
Matt caught her hand on his chest in his own, and interlaced their fingers, squeezing softly. She squeezed back and he pulled her hand up until he could brush his lips over her knuckles and leave her hand there to rest softly against his lips, his gaze never once dropping hers.
Alex breathed in and out, her breath slow and calm, her mind fuzzy and on its way into sleep. She hesitated for only half a slow moment, then pushed herself up, pulling their hands out of the way, and kissed him.
It was soft and crisp and sweet and Alex smiled against his lips, feeling his arms encircle around her, holding her close. They kissed again, and again. Short sweet kisses. Alex felt him start to pull on her lower lip, the kiss becoming more demanding. She whimpered, pressing herself closer and Matt shifted until she lay over him, every inch of their bodies touching.
His lips were cold, but his tongue was warm, pushing against hers, hesitant but strong. She felt herself melt against him, heat pooling in her stomach. He tasted like wine, and the effect was almost the same. She felt drunk under his touch, surrounded by his arms and his mouth and pressed so deep against him. She wanted more.
The kiss was desperate, longing. He worried her lip between his own, sucked on her tongue, making her moan so prettily. His hands moved, sliding over her back until they found the hem of her shirt and dipped beneath it, his fingers finding her sensitive waist.
Alex pulled back, her body still pressed to his but her head up, hovering over him. Her eyes searched his face, trying to read him in the firelight. He stared blankly up at her, his thumbs rubbing soft circles on her sides. She shivered under his touch and licked her lips before opening them and whispering his name. He squeezed her gently in reply.
“This isn’t you seeking comfort where you can, is it?” she asked, “This isn’t a one night thing we’ll forget ever happened?”
Matt’s eyes widened, and he shook his head, his hands running over her lower back, holding her close, terrified she had drawn the wrong conclusion. Subconsciously Alex reached out to soothe him, one of her hands moving to the side of his face, her fingers stroking through his soft hair. She was content there, tucked under the warm covers of the bed, lying across Matt and looking down into his eyes.
But heat still pooled in her stomach, and she could feel Matt was much the same. She rolled her hips against his and he groaned, his eyes rolling back slightly. That was all the encouragement she needed.
Alex lowered her mouth to his once more, and let him take control. His kiss was rough and demanding, and Matt pushed them over, rolling so Alex lay beneath him, his hands at her sides, pushing up her shirt as she curled her fingers in his hair.
It soon melted together, a blur of hands and mouths and clothes as piece by piece they were removed and discarded. His hand on her breast, her legs wrapped around his waist, he thrust into her, resting his forehead against her shoulder as he groaned. She was so warm and just Alex, all around him. He was submerged in everything her; her touch, her smell, her body. Nothing else mattered.
She whined softly, reminding him to move, their hips thrusting together, quickly finding a rhythm as they moved in complementing unison. He kissed along her shoulder and nipped at her collar bone. Alex threw her head back, and he made his way up her neck before capturing her lips again. She smiled against him, her hands pressed over the muscles in his back. He had been right, she thought; so much more than ‘good’.
Rather amazing in fact. She came with a scream of his name and a spasm that ran through her entire body. Matt followed soon after, his voice muffled against her neck as he thrust wildly, and collapsed on her, spent. They lay panting on the bed, both unwilling to let go of the other, Matt only moving just barely to one side, their legs tangled together, his head resting over her chest.
Alex smiled, her eyes drooping and her heart slowing. Quickly and easily she fell into sleep, Matt tucked closely into her side.
Matt woke slowly, his mind fuzzy and his head heavy. He kept his eyes closed and stayed perfectly still on the bed, hoping to slip back into sleep. He was all too keenly aware he was alone, but in his dream he had been with Alex. He let himself imagine she was still there and smiled. He could smell her shampoo.
A door opened with a slight creek and Matt’s eyes flew wide. He sat up and saw Alex stepping out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her hair but wearing nothing else.
Not a dream then.
“Morning, honey.” Alex smiled, walking forward to her bags by the foot of the bed.
Matt stared, his mouth dry as he watched her naked form move, stepping into a pair of knickers, pulling them up her long legs. “Morning.” he murmured eventually.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, concern clear in her eyes, though she kept her tone light and casual.
“Um.” he thought, “better.”
“Good.” Alex dressed silently as Matt watched, then smiled at him, “Why don’t you jump into the shower, darling, then we can go to breakfast.”
Matt nodded and pushed the covers back, standing up. He walked to open bathroom door, trying not to think about the fact that he was very naked and Alex was definitely staring at him appreciatively. As he walked passed her however, he felt her reach out to swat his bum, and he jumped, turning to face her in surprise.
She smirked at him, “How was I to resist?” she asked, stepping forward and placing her hands on his chest.
Matt’s hands found her waist of their own accord, and he smiled. While he’d been taken aback at first in his half-asleep morning haze, he now realised just how natural and easy this felt. To hold Alex. To wake to her smile and her teasing. He smiled further and she laughed.
“What?” she asked.
Matt bent down and kissed her soundly, then pulled back and let her go. He turned and walked easily into the bathroom, closing the door behind him and locking the door. By the time he had showered, dried, and left the bathroom, towel wrapped around his hips, Alex had gone to his room, and collected all of his belongings together, laying them out on the end of the bed for him.
She sat in armchair, writing out the postcard she’d bought to send Salome. He kissed her (now towelless) head in thanks and moved to his bags to get dressed. Breakfast passed mostly in comfortable silence, and after they had finished eating the two made their way back to Alex’s room to pack. They would be leaving soon.
“Matt.” Alex murmured softly as she folded her nightclothes and placed them into her bag.
“Yeah?”
“Last night...” Matt stopped what he was doing, “What was wrong?”
“What was wrong in the forest?”
Alex sighed at his deflection but decided to answer never the less. “I was being watched.” she said, “By something I couldn’t see. Is that... is that what happened to you?”
Matt swallowed. “Yes.” he said, his voice stiff, held back. “It was burning into me. And... you were right.”
“Right?”
“About the blood.”
She bit her lip, looking around the room warily, “Do you think,” She wondered, “that it’s possible we made it up? Just concocted it in our heads, linking meaningless things like wind in the trees and the smell of wet metal into a...” she trailed off.
“Ghost?”
Alex winced.
“Yes” Matt told her. “Of course it’s possible. A creepy castle at night; out in the forest where we can barely see.”
“A little alcohol in your system.” she added.
Matt smiled, “Exactly.”
They turned back to their packing. Matt debated about telling Alex about the wind and the window, the burning fire in a freezing room that chilled him so much she herself had felt it.
“Oh Matt, darling, here’s your shot glass.” Alex said, pulling him from his internal debate, “It was in my handbag.”
Matt reached out and accepted the box, and absently his fingers began to pull at the flap, opening the box and pulling the glass from the styrofoam. It was a novelty souvenir glass with the words Pritchard Castle along one side, and a small illustration of the castle on the other, with a classic cartoon ghost coming from one of the windows.
He stared down at it for a moment. He’d thought it funny when he’d bought it before the ghost tour, but now he rather wanted to chuck it out the window. Instead he forced himself to pack it away in its box and into his bag. He could always give it away, or chuck it in the bin once he got home.
He looked around, “I think I’m done,” he said.
“Yes well I had given you a bit of a head start, collecting your things while you were in the shower.” Alex rolled her eyes.
He chuckled, “You can’t have spread your things out too much in two nights, Kingston. We’ve barely spent any time in the rooms.”
“You underestimate me.” Alex replied, “But I think I’m almost done. Could you look under bed for me?”
Matt nodded and lowered himself to the floor, looking under the bed. He smirked, and reached under, taking the only item that hid there.
“Well you definitely can’t forget these,” he said, Alex turned and saw her expensive knickers dangling from his fingers.
She took them from him without comment and did a once over of the room, double checking that she had in fact not forgotten anything. Certain they had all their belongings, Matt and Alex gathered their bags and their keys ready to leave.
They made their way downstairs once more and Matt checked them out at reception, passing over the room keys. Hand in hand the two walked to his car together and placed their bags in the boot before taking their seats and buckling up. Matt turned the key and started the car, beginning their journey home.
“Alex?” Matt asked roughly half an hour after leaving the castle, “When you went into my room this morning, was my window open?”
“No, darling.” Alex looked at him, “Why?”
“No reason.”
They drove on in silence, Matt reaching out to gently lace their fingers together, squeezing her hand.
Neither of them mentioned the sharp smell of blood in the air.
By: Halfthefunistoplantheplan
For: Deathbykingston
Rating: T
Summary: Matt falls for his English teacher, Ms. Kingston, on his first day of school.
Prompt: AU: Sixteen-year-old Matt is growing quite fond of his new English teacher, Ms Kingston.
“Remember to have your essays in by the end of this week, everyone,” Ms. Kingston stood at the front of the classroom, as the school's new English teacher she has assigned her class an essay to get to know each of the students. To find their interests, their strong points and their weak points, and who is serious about getting their work done in the class. “That's five hundred words describing yourselves, your likes and your dislikes. Who's the class clown...” Everyone laughs and the bell rings but there's one student in the back, eyes fixed on the teacher but completely zoned out and not noticing that everyone else has left for their next class. Ms. Kingston looks at the seating chart to see who exactly this student is. Probably high, she thinks, just like the last school.
“Excuse me, Matthew?” His eyes loose that distant look and are immediately taken over by sheer embarrassment. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, yeah, sorry.” He stands and brushes his hair out of his eyes. “Bye, Ms. Kingston.”
“Have a nice day.” She turned and started erasing the assignment off of the blackboard and writing the assignment for her next class. Matt turned out of the classroom and into the hallway where his best friend Arthur was waiting for him.
“Okay, what was that about?” Arthur elbowed him. “Stayin' after the first day. You like her, huh?”
“Nah.” Matt lied, a bad lie at that, his smile was far too big. “She's my teacher, I'm not a creep.”
“It's not being a creep, she's hot! Come on, you can't deny it, I mean...” Arthur was cut off by the final bell before they're marked tardy and they walk off to class.
It's the last class and Matt still can't stop thinking about Ms. Kingston, he heard her introducing herself to another teacher as Alex. Alex Kingston. She is pretty hot, Matt thinks then looks over at Arthur who is already smiling at him, God it's like he knows what I'm thinking.
Matt finishes the essay that night, he writes mostly about his love of football and his on-off relationship with his (now ex) girlfriend Daisy. He prints it and puts it in his school bag for tomorrow and contemplates calling Arthur, but he figures he'll be out with Karen- his girlfriend- who, although Matt thinks she's pretty nice, has been taking Arthur away from him more and more recently so he decides not to call. He walks to his living room to watch some TV, but his sister is watching some show with David Tennant running around with some red-haired woman.
“Matt! Doctor Who is on, no football!” His sister yells when he grabs at the remote, Matt sighs loudly and walks back to his room and to read over his essay. Don't want Ms. Kingston to think I'm an idiot... He thinks as he opens the document on his laptop and a smile creeps across his face as he whispers to himself, “I mean, Alex.”
“Ms. Kingston!” Matt shouts as he runs towards her the next day in school. “I know it's only Tuesday, but here's the essay.”
“Oh, thank you! Good to know I have at least one student who's eager to learn this year. I'll grade it and have it back to you tomorrow.” She takes his essay, which is a bit wrinkled but at least he did it in time, and puts it in her binder. She begins to make her way into her classroom but Matt isn't moving, he's only staring at her blankly. “Is it early for extra credit? I'm only going as high as 5 extra points, I prefer not to give extra credit.”
“Oh, uh, no. Sorry, no extra credit, thanks.” Matt snaps back into reality and he begins to walk away. “See you second period!”
“Yep!” Alex calls to him as she walks into the empty classroom. “Second period.” She decides to take a look at Matt's essay which she regrets immediately as it is filled with grammatical and punctuation errors. It looked like he'd done it in ten minutes and Alex honestly felt bad. The bell rang after she finished marking every error signaling the start of second period. Of course, Matt is the first one there, and she decides to pull him aside to tell him about his essay.
“Matt, I'd like to have you stay after school today, if you can, for extra help.” Alex says handing him his essay, now crumpled and covered in red ink.
“Why, what's wrong with it?” Matt says frowning at his paper. “Why did I get a 60?”
“Have you ever needed a tutor for English class before?” Alex says, sympathy in her eyes.
“No, I never needed one.”
“Well, meet me in my classroom after school today, and I'll help you. From there you may want to talk to your parents about finding you a tutor.” She puts a hand on his shoulder. “I won't tell any of the other students, I know this kind of thing can be a bit embarrassing for teenagers.” Matt was unaware his cheeks were burning until she said that.
“Yeah, thanks. I'll be here.” Matt's eyes don't meet Alex's and he turns away and walks to his seat.
At 2:30 when the dismissal bell rings, Matt finds himself walking to Ms. Kingston's room rather quickly; in fact, he's outside the door by 2:32. He can't help but smile a bit remembering how Arthur had been teasing him and calling it a date, only Matt denied the fact that he has a bit of a crush on her while he knows he does. Putting his inappropriate thoughts of his own English teacher aside, he walks into her room. She doesn't see him at first, so he has the chance to stare at her for a moment. Why wouldn't he? She's wearing a white button down shirt with a blue blazer and a matching blue pencil skirt that Matt loves. It isn't until she looks over her reading glasses that Matt walks fully through the doorway.
“Hello, Matt. Thank you for coming. Not many people accept extra help, you're smart though.” Alex feels like she's smiling a bit too much because of his presence but Matt doesn't seem to care.
“Well, I don't really want to fail out.” He mimics her smile as he pulls up a chair in front of her desk. “So how come I got a 60?”
“Well, as you can see, you misspelled a few words and left out some punctuation. You wouldn't happen to know what a run-on sentence is, would you?” She holds up the essay and points to it with her pen.
“It's when you put too many letters in one sentence, right?” Matt says, almost questioning his own answer.
“Not exactly.” Alex frowns and has him correct sentences she writes on the whiteboard. He gets a few wrong at first but he progressively gets better.
“Did you purposely write a horrid essay just to come see me after school?” Alex jokes when he gets five sentences in a row correct.
“No! I swear it was a genuinely bad essay!” They laugh for a moment when Matt realizes what he had just said. “I mean, not that I wouldn't want to see you after school. I love your class, and you are a wonderful teacher.”
“Thank you, Matt. I know what you meant.” She giggles a bit but Matt feels like he offended her somehow.
“Really, I'm not kidding you're my favorite teacher!” Matt puts the whiteboard marker down and leans against the board.
“It's only the third day of school and you've come to that conclusion already?” Alex smiles and crosses her arms.
“Yes, I have.” Matt pushes himself off of the board and moves a little closer to her.
“Well then I might have to assign extra work to you.” He's even closer than he was a moment ago.
“You just might.” And with that, the space between them was gone and their lips met. At first Alex didn't know what to do because she knew it was so wrong but she couldn't help it, that's all either of them had wanted since the first day of school. Oh god, Alex thought as he moved his hands to rest on her waist, I'm his teacher, I don't even know if he's 18. They finally break apart and they both just stare at each other for a minute.
“Matt...” Alex finally breaks the silence with the one word in barely a whisper but still understandable.
“I'm sorry. I don't know why. I mean, I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have-” Alex's arms are thrown around his neck and Matt is cut off by her lips on his.
“It's alright, Sweetie.” She stands on her tip-toes to whisper in his ear. “I don't mind.”
The next day when Matt sees Arthur he wants to tell him about kissing Alex so badly but he knows he may tell Karen, and he knows if Karen finds out the whole school will, too. He keeps his mouth shut until second period when he can't take his eyes off of Alex and Arthur begins to tease him about it and after class it just slips.
“You what?!” Arthur stops walking and stares at Matt. “Matt, she's our English teacher! You can't just go around kissing those!”
“I know! It just sort of happened.” Matt nervously runs a hand through his hair as he smiles at the thought. “You cannot tell anyone, Arthur.”
“Well obviously.” Arthur's shocked expression quickly turned into a smile. “How was it?” Matt remembers Alex's arms around his neck and the way she stood on her tip toes to kiss him.
“It was...” Matt smiles and his hand moves to the mindlessly scratch the back of his neck as he is at a loss of words. “Amazing.”
“So what happens now? A's for the rest of the year? Oh my god are you two going to sleep together? Because I don't think I can keep that secret.” Arthur laughs.
“I don't think we'll take it that far until maybe after graduation.”
“You mean, you're going to start dating our English teacher?”
“I don't know, we might, if she's up to it.”
“Well you may want to ask her about that.” Arthur gestures to behind Matt, where Alex was walking down the hallway, and walked away leaving Matt alone with her.
“Hey, Ms. Kingston.” Matt smiles at her when she stops in front of him.
“Hello Matt, if you wouldn't mind meeting me during lunch or one of your free periods that would be great.” Alex smiles back but it doesn't seem to reach her eyes.
“Yeah sure, see you then.” Matt makes it all the way to lunch without worrying too much about what the meeting may bring. As soon as the bell rang for lunch, Matt walked to Alex's room where he found her pacing.
“Matt.” Alex sighs as he walks into the room.
“What's wrong?” He walks over to her to hug her but she made her way to her desk.
“We need to talk about what happened.” Alex says, her eyes not meeting his as she bites her lip. “Matt, I'm your teacher, we shouldn't have done that. It's wrong, it's illegal.”
“But Alex...” She looks up at his sudden use of her name and he swears he can hear her laugh a bit. “I really like you. Not just as a teacher, as a person.”
“Matt, we're really not supposed to-”
“Alex, I know you like me too, you just won't admit it because you're my teacher but I know you do. Otherwise, you wouldn't have kissed me back.” He smiles and walks closer.
“Alright, for argument's sake, let's say I do 'like you back'. What happens if you tell a friend, or someone finds out and the school board catches on? I'll be arrested.”
“Then I'll visit you in prison.” That's when they kiss again, only this time they had both been planning it.
“That's funny.” She said when they broke apart, sarcasm in her tone.
“So what do you say, do you want to go see a movie or something.” She looks down, unsure. “I promise no one will find out. Plus who cares, we both like each other, we'll tell everyone when I graduate and everything's going to work out.”
“Fine, but for now, no one can know. It has to stay a secret.”
By: Lifeinaperceptionfilter
For: Eveninywandering
Rating: PG
Words: 2,510
Summary: Matt stumbles upon an upset Alex in the laundry room of their Cardiff flats.
Prompt: Mattex doing laundry at the same time. Set in Cardiff flats during filming. Not in a relationship.
A/N: I do hope you like it, dear. It was originally going to be PWP, but then this happened. I’m sorry. Many thanks to Tisziny for beta-reading. Title from The Decemberists’ “The Crane Wife 3” Con-crit is welcome, as always.
Doing laundry was not among Matt’s favorite ways to spend a Saturday. He usually tried to wash during the week, so he wouldn’t have to devote any of his weekend to menial chores. However, last week a mass recall had gone out on the type of washing machines furnished in their rented flats. Consequently they had all been pulled out, and the cast was stuck using the basement utility room when they could spare the time to lug their laundry and detergent down there.
Matt readjusted his grip on the laundry basket in his arms and continued down the dimly lit staircase. He was nearly at the foot of the stairs when he heard an odd, strangled noise coming from inside the utility room. He paused and listened for a moment. He heard the noise again and recognized it this time. Someone was crying – no, sobbing inside the tiny room that housed two ancient sets of washers and dryers. Matt frowned, wondering what to do. He himself always hated it when someone caught him crying. He didn’t often cry when he wasn’t required to do so as a part of an acting job, and so when the tears did come it always felt intensely private. But then again, he couldn’t just leave someone alone who was so obviously upset. Better to make sure whoever was in there was alright. He walked down the last couple of stairs and slowly opened the laundry room door.
Alex was leaning against the gently humming washer, one hand gripping the edge of the machine and the other covering her face. He watched as her shoulders heaved and she let out another sob, as if her heart would break or perhaps already had. He quickly set down his basket and rushed towards her.
“Alex? Oh, my God. What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
Alex startled at his voice, obviously unaware anyone had joined her in the utility room and attempted to hide her face from him, wiping ineffectually at her cheeks. Matt placed a cautious hand on her shoulder. He could never stand to see her upset. When Alex cried it made everything in the world seem wrong, and he was overpowered with the need to just fix it.
“Please, love. Is it Salome? Has something happened? Is she alright?”
Alex was shaking her head. “No, no. Nothing like that. It’s just me. I’m being silly.”
Matt wasn’t buying it. For one thing her voice was still choked with tears, her breath hitching and her shoulders shaking as she suppressed more sobs. For another, Alex was still turned away from him, and that in and of itself spoke volumes. She was one of the most openly affectionate people he knew, always leaning in to give him a quick hug or pat on the arm. Now her body language was closed off and miserable.
He used the hand on her shoulder to spin her towards him. She looked up at him through tears that spilled even as he watched, her lips pursed together and her head shaking in negation. She was trying so hard to hold it in, but it was a losing battle, and he pulled her into his chest, wrapping long arms around her. She was stiff against him, still valiantly trying to hold the tears at bay, but he squeezed her gently and felt her slump into his chest, a broken sob escaping her. He held on to her as the tears dampened his shirt, murmuring words of comfort and stroking warm hands along her back. When the tears finally slowed, she pulled back slightly.
“Oh, darling, look at what I’ve done to your shirt. I’m so sorry.” She was still trembling and sniffing as she stared forlornly at the wet spot on Matt’s chest.
Matt took both of her hands in his and led her over to a rickety wooden chair some poor foot sore person had dragged down here. He sat her down, crouching in front of her and raising her hands to his lips, kissing each one in turn. “Alex, I don’t give a damn about the stupid shirt. I’m worried about you. Now tell me, what’s got you so upset, love?”
Alex let out a watery sigh, avoiding his eye and instead looking down at their clasped hands. “I told you. It’s silly. Embarrassing, really. I’m just over emotional right now. It’s probably bloody hormones or something.”
Matt stroked his thumbs along the backs of Alex’s hands. He could never get over how small her hands felt in his own. “Well, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, Alex, but I’m concerned. I’ve never seen you so upset. Did someone hurt you? Tell me who and I’ll go out and make sure they never hurt anyone ever again.”
Alex finally looked up at him, a startled expression on her face. The vehemence in his voice had surprised her. “You’d do that for me?”
Matt wondered why she was so surprised. Did she really not understand how precious she was to him? Well, he had to remedy that. He turned his crouch into a kneel for better stability and tugged her forward until she laid her head on his shoulder, his arms once more wrapping around her tiny frame. “Of course I would. No one hurts you and gets away with it. Just point me in the right direction, and I’ll set your world to rights.” He was alarmed when she gave a great hitching sob in response. “Alex? Oh, God, love. What is it?”
“I- I’m so sorry, Matt.” She forced out between great shuddering sobs. “It’s just- it’s been so long. So long since- since I’ve had anyone who wanted to defend me.” She took a deep breath trying to still the trembling and stem the seemingly endless flood of tears. “You must think I’m insane, acting like this. I don’t even have a decent reason. I’m just a wreck, and I can’t seem to stop crying.”
“Shh. It’ll be okay. I don’t think you’re insane, but maybe if you told me what brought all this on it would help.” He stroked soothing circles onto her back with his right hand and brought his left up to cup the back of her head, threading his fingers through her glorious curls and caressing her scalp.
Alex took another quaking breath and began to speak. “It’s stupid. I just- I had the telly on earlier, and an old episode of ER was showing. I don’t normally watch shows that I’m in, and I haven’t watched this particular episode since we filmed it, but I thought it’d been long enough. I thought I could watch it. Mostly I just wanted to see Tony’s performance again. He was so brilliant, and I thought, ‘It’s been years since we filmed that. I should be fine’.”
“But you weren’t?”
Alex shook her head against his shoulder. “No. I wasn’t. It was- do you know anything about the ER storylines?”
Matt chuckled. “Yeah. I was a bit of a fan.” He’d only really become a fan because she was on the show, but he didn’t volunteer that information, afraid she might figure out just how long he had been enamored with her.
“Okay. Well, it was the one where Mark dies.” She paused, fighting to maintain control. “It was a beautiful shoot, but so so hard. I think I cried for a month straight. I watched the episode once right after we shot it, when the rough cut was done. I didn’t want to, but Tony convinced me. I was a right mess by the end. I shouldn’t have tried to watch it again today, but I thought I could get through it without it bothering me too badly. But it did bother me, quite a lot, just for completely different reasons this time.”
Matt kept up the calming movements of his hands, afraid she’d clam up again if he stopped. Not that it was in any way a burden. Anytime he got to hold Alex in his arms was a cause for celebration. He turned his head slightly to press a soft kiss into her hair. “What was different this time?”
“Originally it was just such a sad storyline. Things were still okay with me and Florian, and I kept thinking how devastating it would be to have to watch your husband first be crippled and then die from something like brain cancer. How hard it would be to live on afterward with a toddler who looked like him but would probably never remember him. This time, though-” She swallowed thickly. “This time I kept thinking about lost time. I watched as Mark tried to fix his relationship with his daughter, how hard it was because of all the times he had missed out on her life. And- and it made me ache for Salome. I’ve missed so much of her life. What if I’m doing the same thing because of my career and because Florian and I couldn’t make it work between us? If something happened to me right now, would she even know that she is my whole world?”
Her voice cracked on the last word, and Matt felt her body tightening with grief. It absolutely broke his heart to see her in such a state. Anyone who had ever witnessed Alex with her daughter knew she would move heaven and earth for that child, and here she was flogging herself over her perceived weaknesses as a parent. He squeezed her to him and spoke softly in her ear. “Of course she would, Alex. You are an excellent mother. Salome knows you love her and would do anything for her. That’s apparent to anyone who sees you two together. No parent is with their child 24/7. You’re not supposed to be, and you’re with her as much as you can be. Please don’t beat yourself up, love. You’re one of the best parents I’ve ever seen.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes. I do. I really, really do. You’re amazing. I don’t know how you do it. You’re such a good role model for her. You’re smart, warm, funny and generous, not to mention gorgeous. You’re a mind-blowingly talented actress, and somehow you manage to balance your career with spending time with your child. Salome’s lucky to have you.”
“I’m sure she would disagree at times, but thank you, darling. You’ve no idea how much that means to me. Now if you could just soothe all these other feelings that stupid show brought up, but that’s just me being pathetic.”
“What other feelings? C’mon, spill. I told you. I’m going to set your world to rights or die trying. Now tell me.”
Alex sighed into his neck. “Lord, but she’s one lucky girl.”
Matt was utterly confused now. “What? Who’s lucky?”
“Whoever gets you, darling.”
Matt spluttered. “What? No, I’m just doing what any decent person would do. Anyway, we’re not talking about me. We were talking about you and these other feelings.”
“You’re a lot more than decent, honey, but fine, I’ll tell you. Like I said, lost time. Before, I kept thinking how awful it would be to lose someone you loved, but now I think how much time would I even have with someone? I’m fifty in a few weeks, and even if I could make a relationship work, which is debatable at this point, how much time would I have to spend with them? I wanted a lifetime with someone. I just can’t seem to find that someone. I’m afraid I never will. I-I’m sorry, darling. It’s wrong of me to dump all of this on you. I’m just emotional and craving intimacy, and you’re such a dear to put up with a crazy old woman crying on your shoulder.”
Matt could tell from the tone of her voice that she was getting ready to pull herself out of his arms and don the mask she so often wore to face the world. He couldn’t let her do that. There was no way he could allow her to close herself off to him again, not when he saw how deeply she was hurting. He wanted to be the balm to soothe her wounds. He wanted to be who she turned to every time something upset her. He wanted to be her rock and her defender. He so wanted to be her someone, but he didn’t know if she could even feel that way toward him. Sure, she’d said whoever ended up with him would be lucky, but that was probably just her naturally generous spirit. He didn’t want to press his luck, and he certainly didn’t want to take advantage of her emotional state, but it felt like his window of opportunity was closing, and he couldn’t let that happen without at least trying. So when she lifted her head from his shoulder with a watery smile and pressed a hand to his chest in preparation of pulling away, he threw caution to the wind, moving his hands around to cup her beautiful tear-streaked face and lowered his mouth to hers.
She stiffened against him immediately, and he felt his heart plummeting. Just as he was about to release her and begin his apology, she seem to melt into him, kissing him back, a small whimper escaping her as she lifted her arms to wrap around his neck. When they parted, he pressed tiny kisses to her eyelids, cheeks and chin, kissing away the tear tracks and causing new tears to form behind her closed eyelids. He brought her head to his shoulder once more, enfolding her again in his strong embrace.
“Alex, I can practically hear you worrying, love. I don’t want to take advantage. I know you’re upset, but I didn’t do that out of some misguided attempt at comfort. I kissed you because I’ve wanted to for so long now, and I just had to show you. I care about you so much. And you may hate me later for kissing you, and that’s fine. Well, not fine, but I’d understand. I don’t want to pressure you into anything, but I thought you should know how much I want this – us.”
“Matt, you don’t really mean that.”
“I do! I have, for so long. It’s like you said, we’ve lost so much time already. I couldn’t bear to let another minute go by without you knowing how I feel.” He felt her breathe heavily against his neck and could imagine what her face must look like, her brow furrowed in concern and her bottom lip between her teeth as it always was when she was worried, confused, or pondering a problem. He finally forced himself to ask the question on his mind. “What are you thinking?”
Alex pulled back to look into his eyes. He was relieved to see the look of adoration on her face.
“What a lucky girl I am.” She pulled his head to hers and sealed their smiling lips together.
By: Sassa-Who
For: Amie33
Summary: Many years ago they made a deal. They agreed never to cross the line between personal and professional. Now, all these years later, will the line even still be there?
PROMPT: In the future. At least 5 or 10 years. Where is Matt? Where is Alex? Are they married with lots of curly haired children or alone and regretting they never tried anything together, or did they try but it failed…I let you decide (but I have to admit a bit of angst in this one would be great).
Rated: M
WORDS: 6700
With thanks to Charina for the beta.
March 11, 2017
“A little bird told me you’d be here,” his voice whispers, low in her ear, “Happy Birthday, Kingston.”
“Hello sweetie,” she purrs back, trying to keep her voice casual and channel what she can still muster of River Song.
“Was the little bird named Steven, by any chance?” she laughs.
“As a matter of fact, it was,” he replies, chuckling.
They both know precisely why they are here. Steven Moffat has assembled a stellar cast of Who alumni for the read through of the fifty-fifth anniversary special.
Matt and Alex are standing just outside the studio on a little patch of grass; a place where they ate innumerable lunches and drank litres of tea and coffee, what feels like a lifetime ago.
“It’s just so gratifying being forever the same age as this program,” she laughs at her own sarcasm and for the first time since he stepped out of the limousine and back into her life, she allows herself to properly look at him. Of course, he has picked the exact same moment to look at her. Their eyes meet and hold for a few seconds before Matt says, “You haven’t changed at all. But then you never really age do you. How do you do that?”
Alex smiles self-deprecatingly, “You don’t see me in the mirror every day.”
No. But I’d have liked to.
“Have I changed?” Matt asks, from under that floppy hair, perhaps a little greyer now than before.
She studies him more closely, answering, “There are one or two lines around the eyes I don’t remember.”
Because I know your face so well. Every freckle and line and crease. It is etched into my mind and carved into my heart.
“But you’re allowed some age-you’ve been busy,” she continues.
“I’ve kept myself out of trouble,” he replies.
I’ve kept myself so busy I haven’t been able to think about all that I lost. All that might have been.
“Yes. You’re a famous movie star now, eh?” she smiles
“I’m doing alright,” Matt answers with great modesty.
Fact is, these days he’s an international superstar. Alex has kept up with his career with enormous pride and interest. He’s been doing great work. There’s Oscar buzz about him this year and he’s already on his second BAFTA. Not that she’s counting.
A long pause follows. Neither of them is quite sure what to say. It’s been such a long time.
The work ended.
They didn’t keep in touch as they’d known they wouldn’t.
It had been for the best.
“I missed you,” Matt says at length, “every day for a long time.”
“You never called,” she responds but even as she says it she knows why.
“We didn’t exactly leave the door open, did we?”
Its best we don’t. That way only to heartbreak lies.
They continue to make small talk for a while. Both had agreed to Steven’s invitation to film the fifty-fifth anniversary special, for old time’s sake and because they adore the show runner so much, owe him a great deal. There is a lot of Press speculation and rumour about the episode. The triumphant return of Eleven and River Song.
When approached four months ago by Steven himself, Alex had decided that enough water had passed under the bridge; enough time had elapsed for them to film together again. She was certain that the emotional ‘complications’ that plagued them years ago had long since faded away. They could be professional colleagues now. Nothing more. It would be easy. It would be fun.
But already the past is sliding between them like an unwanted third party on a date and they both realise that this reunion is going to be so much harder than either of them had expected.
They walk for a bit and sit on a bench, continuing to make small talk. They reminisce about old times; ask after people they have in common. Matt asks after Salome, now almost eighteen and driving about LA worrying her mother to distraction and talking about going to Drama School. Alex is unsure she wants her daughter in that world but feels like a hypocrite for saying so. They talk about everything except the one thing that hangs between them still.
Ultimately the small talk gives way to an awkward silence and eventually Matt can’t help himself. He has to know. Has to ask.
“Did you ever think about it?” he blurts out, his need to know overriding his need not to know the answer.
“Did I ever think about what?” she replies, twisting her scarf nervously in her hands, knowing full well what he means.
“Crossing that line,” he says softly, “the line we drew so carefully and so clearly. Did you ever think about crossing it?”
“Of course I did. Every time,” she whispers, nodding.
Every time I saw you. Every time we worked together.
“Then why didn’t you let us?” he implores, after another long pause.
“Because we agreed,” Alex says simply, “and you know what happened when you tried.”
Then they are both lost for a moment-remembering…
A stretch of sand by a lake in Utah. Alex sitting comfortably on a case that at some point had contained a piece of filming equipment. Dusk had come and gone- the last embers of a funeral pyre lighting the night. Suddenly he was there beside her.
“You don’t need to look so sad,” he joked, “the rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
She laughed but the tears were still there. He knocked her shoulder gently with his own.
“What’s the matter, Alex?” he asked.
“It’s so overwhelmingly beautiful,” she said, regarding the lake and the view around them, “But that’s not why I’m sad. I started to get all melancholy and then I started to think about my life; what a bloody mess I’ve made of everything. Rubbish wife. Rubbish mother.”
“Stop that. Stop it right now,” he said almost angrily, “It’s simply not true, so stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get up and keep moving. It’s what we all do. Every day.”
“Easier said than done, darling,” she smiled through her tears even as his arm curled around her shoulders, warm and strong and it would be so easy, so easy to turn her face to his. To start something they would never be able to stop. It would escalate to an almost certainly devastating conclusion. She was vulnerable right now, laid bare. She couldn’t do this to him or to herself.
He was still gazing at her as the conflicting emotions played across her face.
“There’s a line we can’t ever cross,” she said meaningfully, letting the weight and understanding of the statement wash over him.
“I know,” he replied at length, then smirked, “but you can’t blame a man for trying.”
She had laughed then, a genuine, throaty laugh, “You are so naughty, you are.” And with that Matt saw the mask had fallen back into place. The actress was back in the room.
She had stood, hauling him to his feet saying, “Come on then Matt, you can buy me a drink; help me drown my sorrows.”
They had gone drinking that night with cast and crew and although they had been in the same room, Alex had ensured a respectable distance was kept between them, for the rest of the evening.
xxxxxxxxxx
A set in a studio. A pyramid and a wedding. She felt uncharacteristically nervous. The last couple of onscreen kisses had seen her taking the lead; she had been in control- well, River had been anyway. This time it would be all Matt and it unnerved her.
When it was over, she had blurted out, ‘I could just kiss you all night,’ out of a ridiculous nervousness and a need to diffuse the emotional intensity of the scene. He had replied, ‘and I you Miss Kingston,’ and it had suddenly been all too warm in the studio; he was too near.
She had fled as soon as she could and he had followed a short while later, knocking on her trailer door.
She had allowed him entry with a reluctant sigh.
“We need to talk about this,” he said.
She sat nervously and fidgeted with the hem of the black suit jacket she wore.
“There’s nothing to talk about. It was an intense scene. We were letting art bleed into life. But we’re professionals. There’s a line we don’t cross.”
Matt rounded on her angrily, “Do you really think it’s just our characters influencing this- thing- between us because I think that’s bollocks, Alex. It’s an excuse to be afraid and alone.”
He knew as soon as he’d said it that he’d hit a raw nerve but his emotions were too exposed. He couldn’t stop now.
“Don’t,” she snapped, standing and advancing on him a little, “Don’t speak to me about afraid and alone. Don’t you even presume to know anything about my pain. I’m an actress. This is a role and I will walk away from it one day, just like any other role. What makes you think you’re special?”
She could see the hurt burning in his eyes but she needed him to understand and she was hurting too. So she went on;
“There’s a line. We drew it as professionals. And we don’t cross it. Not ever. One day when you’re older you’ll understand.”
His anger burst forth then, “Oh, how did I know you’d play the age card at some point. You seem to think that I give a damn about that and I don’t. I just don’t. When I’m with you all I see is you- not your age- not bloody River Song. I see you. And your pain; your fear. And all I want to do is make it go away.”
“That’s enough Matt,” she spat a warning, “I have rules and I don’t break them. Not for you. Not for anyone.”
“Not even for someone who loves you?”
She had been completely lost. His statement hanging in the air between them like smoke; heavy and dulling. He looked at her; her vulnerability; her soul laid before him; the hint of something in her eyes- and he hoped with all his heart that this was their moment. That she would understand and love him back and everything he had ever wanted would be his.
“Get out!” she cried and he recoiled like he’d been slapped.
“Get out of my trailer and never, never say such a ridiculous thing to me again. You’re a child, Matt- go away and grow up- this is real life not a sodding romantic comedy. I don’t fall, fawning into your waiting arms. We don’t ride off into the sunset on a white horse.”
He stood, lost, in the middle of the floor, unable to move or understand.
“Get out!” she screamed again and he ran, slamming the trailer door behind him, tears clouding his eyes.
They didn’t speak or communicate in any way until she returned to the role of River almost a year later and she filmed her last two episodes, telling Steven her time had come- she was too old and too tired to keep playing River Song.
She and Matt barely spoke throughout the filming of those episodes but professionals that they were, none of their tension bled into their performances.
The crew threw her a party to say goodbye but she left early for LA and sent her apologies along with bottles of champagne as parting gifts; the same message on every card:
‘River Song has left the Library. River Song has been saved. Thank you for the spoilers, sweeties. AK.’
Matt thought he would never recover. Never get over her and in a way he never had. He could never make any relationship work after that. He ended up hurting girls because he couldn’t love them with his whole heart and they knew. They always knew he held something of himself back. It hurt him to hurt them, so eventually he stopped trying. He tried instead to work out the best way to get through each day of grieving; the best way to get over her…
They smile sadly at one another, sitting on the bench on a tiny patch of grass and then they stand and head into the rehearsal room. The hustle and bustle of familiar voices filling their hearts with so many fond memories. Matt just stares at Alex for a long time and sees her professional façade fall neatly into place. He knows this face better than any she wears and it is almost unbearable. He finally says, “It’s been good to see you again, Alex. I’m looking forward to working with you. Just like old times.”
He walks over to join the rest of the crew and she stands immobile, whispering, “Just like old times.”
Don’t go. Come back. Don’t leave me.
A sudden thought occurs to her. Here, in this place she knows so well and feels so comfortable in, she has been handed a second chance. This time despite the five long, lonely years that have passed, she has the opportunity to make things right. She has to tell him. He has to know…
She calls out to him as he moves away, “Matt?”
“Yeah?” Ask me to stay. Tell me not to go.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know, love. I know. So am I”
And with that he is gone.
xxxxxxxxxx
DAY ONE OF FILMING
She is studying her script. So absorbed she does not notice him staring unashamedly at the tilt of her head, the soft curve of her neck, her adorable habit of biting on her lower lip as her forehead creases in concentration. He remembers everything about her. Everything he loved. Everything he loves still.
He’s been watching her for a long time now and she finally looks up, catching his eye and smiling a little nervously as he is forced to look away, shaking his head slightly.
He sometimes wishes she wouldn’t feel his eyes on her, wouldn’t shoot him those sympathetic smiles. He has always loved to look at her when she thinks no one is. It is like he catches the purity of her, the essence.
But somehow, in the second it takes for her to look up, the honesty and truth of her expression is lost and the actress reappears. He wishes she would show him the real her again and not just the façade she presents to the world. He longs to see something real in her eyes, not just artificial playfulness or worse; sympathy for him.
He saw it once, the truth, for just a moment and it haunts him still.
Whilst lost in thought, she has approached the seat he sits in.
“Are you ok?” she questions, quirking a brow at him as he stands meeting her gaze.
“Yeah, m’ fine,” he answers, but it is clear from his tone that he is anything but.
She returns to her script, “It’s a big complicated scene,” she says, “there’s so much at stake for both of them, don’t you agree?”
“Yeah,” he responds and feels instantly like he’s the village idiot. Nothing of any great importance to add to her observations.
He looks thoughtful for a moment then adds, “I think though, that she has more to lose than him at this moment. That must frighten her quite a bit.”
“She’s strong. Doesn’t frighten easily. And he has quite a bit at stake too,” she answers, but risks meeting his eyes for the first time since their conversation began.
“She’s not really as strong as she pretends to be,” he replies holding her gaze steadily as he lets his words sink in.
“You must know her well,” she smiles sadly and folds up her script, walking away.
He feels the loss of her instantly, as he sighs deeply.
It’s lost on neither of them that their conversation has had nothing to do with the characters they play and everything to do with them. But is there even a them after five years?
Matt feels the tug; the pull towards her still. He wonders what she feels.
I still want you. Don’t walk away. Talk to me. Please.
xxxxxxxxxx
DAY FIVE OF FILMING
He watches her wander over to the tea trolley as she begins ‘the ritual’ -as he thinks of it- of her tea making. She seeks out Earl Grey-bag in first then sugar, then a dash of milk. Then the hot water and a quick stir. She leaves it to steep and searches the trolley for a sweet biscuit- just one-usually shortbread but occasionally a cream. She selects carefully and nibbles off one corner before returning to her tea, dunking the bag precisely three more times, stirring vigorously once again and depositing the bag in the nearest bin. She sips, sighs and leans against the closest wall awaiting the power of the tea to revive her.
He doesn’t have to watch the ritual to know it intimately. He’s seen her perform it so many times he could recall it in his sleep. It’s one of the things he loved most about her. The rituals. She had many, but tea making was and is one of his favourites.
One of his least favourites was the ritual of withdrawal. That was where, he felt he’d been making some headway with her, breaking down some of the protective barriers she had long ago created against him, against others. Suddenly and for no apparent reason she would close up again, move away, make a joke or flirt and toss her mane of curls and she would be lost to him once more. The actress returned.
These past few days, he reflects, since their quite remarkably frank reunion chat before the read through, she has rarely allowed herself to be alone with him for more than a few minutes. He blames himself for that. That last argument between them playing over and over in his mind; causing him sleepless nights filled with memories of her. He destroyed their friendship. He shouldn’t have pushed her all those years ago. He shouldn’t have told her-but how could he not?
How could he have allowed himself to go through life having never said the words; having never seen his feelings reflected, however briefly, in her eyes? Sometimes he thinks it was worth it to see the façade stripped away for that one glorious moment of truth.
Before the anger. That awful, numbing anger. The anger he brought upon himself by being such a pillock.
Most times, even now, he just feels her loss intensely, along with a sense of his own stupidity. He feels more alone in this studio than he has ever been and yet there are so many people here who care for him, pamper him, pander to his every wish and whim.
But none of them are her and they will never be enough to fill the void she left in his heart.
He risks glancing her way, only to meet her gaze and see her quickly look away. He wonders fleetingly if she stares at him when he’s not looking, in the same way he stares at her. He’d like to think she does. It warms him a little.
Alex’s breath catches as his eyes meet hers. She’s been studying him for some time; trying to work out how to get him alone. Trying to think what to say. Has it been too long? Is he with someone else? Does he hate her for the way she spoke; for what she did all those years ago?
And yet, when they had spoken before the read-through it was as if no time has passed at all. Matt was still the same clumsy, adorable man-child he had always been, and at thirty-five her fifty- five didn’t feel quite so wrong anymore.
They say you can’t go home again, but you could build a new home-couldn’t you?
xxxxxxxxxx
DAY TEN OF FILMING
Alex wanders over to him and he is surprised when she simply lays a hand on his arm, leading him, guiding them around a piece of scenery to a small, relatively private area just off the set. He says nothing, unsure what to say, unsure why she is here with him.
It must show on his face because she speaks first, inquiring in a low voice, “Penny for your thoughts?”
“You’d need more than a penny, love. These are some very complicated thoughts right now.”
“I’m independently wealthy,” comes her immediate response and his heart quickens, a feeling he hasn’t dared to feel in a very, very long time trying to bubble back to the surface as he tries just as quickly to push it aside. Is she flirting with him?
“Would it surprise you to know I was thinking of you,” he responds, lifting a hand to brush an errant curl from her face.
She steps back from his intimate touch but doesn’t recoil, “Not surprised,” she replies, “just concerned.”
“Well, you don’t need to concern yourself with me though do you? You made that abundantly clear five years ago.” It comes out far more bitter than he’d intended and he clears his throat offering an apology.
“I’m sorry. I’ve no right to speak to you that way, when you’ve been perfectly civil with me.”
“And abundantly clear, apparently,” she smiles ruefully. A Pause.
“Pity it’s all been lies,” she adds quietly, risking a glance at him.
She sees the look of utter shock that passes over his face before he reigns in his emotions, and asks, in as even and neutral a tone as he can manage, “What do you mean, it’s all been lies?”
“I’ve been lying to you for the past five years and worse still I’ve been lying to myself,” she sighs, leaning against the nearest wall.
He can only ask again, “What do you mean?”
He doesn’t look at her, daren’t hope, can’t even fathom going through her rejection again because last time it felt like she almost killed him and he’s never really been quite whole since then.
She tries again to find the words she needs, “Last time we were here; on this very set, you ambushed me and I wasn’t expecting that. I mean we’d always enjoyed a close working relationship and I valued your friendship… and we’d agreed. I mean I thought we’d agreed not to cross…”
His legs no longer seem able to support him and he slumps into a nearby chair. She follows his lead and sits opposite him, concern flaring in her eyes as he considers that this is probably the longest they have been alone together like this in years. He also thinks he never wants her to go. Never wants her to leave him. It feels like ice water is flowing through his veins, even as heat suffuses his skin.
Talk to me.
When he can bring himself to look up again, her eyes are wet with tears and he can see she is trying to tell him something.
“Tell me,” he chokes out, afraid and uncertain; his own eyes growing damp.
She continues at last, “Five years ago, y-you frightened me. The last thing in the world I was expecting from you was a declaration of love. How could that even have worked? My age, my location my,”-
He cuts her off with, “Yes- you made your reasons very clear to me five years ago. We really don’t need to go back over them again, do we?”
“I – it’s just, oh God, I’m doing this so badly. It all sounded so much clearer and easier in my head. But in my head you weren’t responding so…” she fixes him with a stare and he cannot look away. Cannot breathe.
She is unutterably beautiful and, he realises with surprise, utterly vulnerable. He has never seen her as vulnerable before. All her guards are down. She is here, present with him in this moment. No pretence, no act. What passes between them here and now, is as honest as he’s ever going to get and he can’t bear it. But oh, how he wants it too.
“Alex, what are you trying to tell me? Because if this is another goodbye I don’t want any part of it.” He clutches at her hands, holding them tightly in his own. Only a stagehand passing by causes him to drop them, edging his chair backwards to return the professional distance between them. He risks looking at her again, sighing as he expects to see the mask firmly back in place once more-but it’s not there. She still looks lost, uncertain. She is shaking a bit; her trembling obvious through the ends of her untamed curls.
“You must hate me,” she states simply and the pain burning in her eyes tells him she really thinks that. Really believes it.
He reaches out once more, this time taking one of her hands in both of his and squeezing gently as he replies, “I told you I loved you five years ago. What makes you think anything you’ve said or done since then has in any way changed the way I feel about you?”
“I ran,” she sobs out, “I gave you a million excuses. I shouted and I ranted and I tried to push you away. I lied. And I ran.”
He can scarcely believe his own ears, ‘I lied’ echoes over and over again. He is hardly breathing as he asks again, “Lied about what? Alex? This is important. Lied about what?”
“About how I felt,” she whispers and she cannot meet his eyes staring instead at his long fingers wrapped warmly around her freezing, shaking hand, “I felt the same, but I was so afraid, so shocked so stu-”
She doesn’t get to finish that sentence, he hopes she never will. His hands cup her face, drawing her forward until his lips are pressed to hers, his hands attempting to pull her closer, to never let her go. She kisses back, uncertainty mingling with desire. He senses her conflict and pulls back fixing her with a look of such intensity she forgets how to breathe.
“I’m going to kiss you again now Alex,” he says, “and I don’t want you to run anymore. I want you to let me love you. I want us to try and make this work and I don’t care about our ages and I don’t care that you’re afraid because frankly, I’m shitting myself right now.”
She laughs and it is the most wonderful sound he has ever heard. She leans into him this time and her mouth is soft and warm and inviting and full of promise. Eventually he pulls back, breathless, thumbs grazing her cheeks.
“Alex, I want us to try. Please say you will.”
He moves closer again as she breathes, “I will, darling. I will. As long as you can forgive me.”
They hear a sound and break quickly apart as two stage crew round the corner that has been shielding them from view, dragging a massive alien prop towards the set. Matt and Alex gaze shyly at one another, then break into matching grins, then begin to laugh. The tension ebbing from them both. ‘This is what happiness feels like’, Matt thinks and grins ridiculously at her, saying, “Of course I forgive you.”
Alex fixes him with a serious look and says nervously, “Matt, we need to take this slow. It’s been five years and we’re bound to have changed.”
“Ok,” he agrees readily, even as he presses a quick hard kiss to her lips. She gasps as he says, “I had to. Come on- those lips. I’m only scared if I start again I might never stop.”
‘Oh, lord I hope so,’ she thinks as they head hand in hand back to set.
xxxxxxxxxx
POST DAY TEN OF FILMING
The knock on her hotel room door that night startles her but is not wholly unexpected.
“What part of we need to take this slow, did you not understand,” she smiles.
He looks gorgeous, pale blue shirt, casual black jeans.
She stands aside to allow him in and moves through her suite towards the kitchen, “Would you like a drink or something?” she asks.
“Or something,” he responds, his voice thick with emotion; his eyes dark. She turns towards him.
They stand at either end of the room and just stare. Long seconds tick by; the only sounds their breathing and the ticking of a clock.
It is too much- unbearable. He advances on her rapidly, grabbing her by the hips and slamming her against the nearest wall, burying his hands in her hair as she grapples with his shirt, giving up on undoing it and tearing it open, the sound of buttons peppering the floor, making her giggle nervously and blush.
That is very soon forgotten as his mouth devours hers and she pushes her palms against his chest, before fisting her hands around the ends of his shirt and spinning him; thrusting him against the wall and pressing herself against him, pulling at his hair until it is painful.
She feels like she would willingly crawl inside his skin if she could. Every thwarted hope, every moment of longing; every filthy fantasy and desire have contracted into this moment. This tiny point in time; so inconsequential and yet so powerful; so loaded with possibility.
She bites at his bare chest even as she drags the shirt from his arms and he yelps as her teeth rake against him, then moans as her tongue soothes.
He pushes her top up past her lacy black bra and he squeezes her breasts, feeling their perfect size and weight in his hands. Years of wondering had not prepared him for the perfection that is her. He lowers his mouth to the lace and bites at her nipples, already straining against the fabric, aching to be freed. She keens and arches towards him and he throws his head back banging it against the wall as he spins her thrusting her forwards against it, her palms beside her head. He hikes up the skirt she wears. One hand grips her tightly around the waist as the other moves lower.
He seeks to pull her knickers aside and slide a long finger into her perfect wetness. She pushes back against him; his growing erection brushing her arse and she pushes back again, even as he slips a second finger inside her. She writhes against him, undulating her hips and causing unbelievably powerful waves of sensation through his whole body. He shivers, he trembles, he fucks her with his fingers; her mewling, keening sounds driving him crazy.
He teases her wet folds with a third finger and finally pushes his thumb against her throbbing clit, rubbing maddeningly gentle circles around it as the hand holding her waist moves higher to cup her breasts. He bites at her shoulders through the top she still wears, hiked up around her neck. He kisses the back of her neck and she turns her face to meet his mouth in a wet, sloppy kiss. It is sublime.
He presses his thumb harder against her tiny bundle of nerves and her legs quake and twitch as she feels the building, burning perfection of orgasm. It gathers, draws tight; she pants and clenches against his fingers; she’s so close; so close and she realises she is moaning this over and over; his fingers continuing their torture until she feels the final tightening; the burning wanting and the release; her climax crashing over her in wave upon wave of unbearable pleasure. Her legs give way and she slides down the wall collapsing into his lap, into his waiting arms.
“I’m not done with you, yet,” he pants in her ear and she reaches behind her to squeeze and release the not disappointing bulge in his trousers. He groans and pulls her around to face him, pushing her onto the hall carpet and kissing her furiously, his tongue thrusting against hers even as his hips start to do the same.
“Going. To get. Carpet burn,” she laughs, thinking fleetingly that she feels about sixteen not fifty-five. He makes her feel young and desired. So desired. So desirable.
He drags her shakily to her feet, moving with her to the bedroom of her suite. It takes them a long time to get there, discarding clothing as they go, leaving a trail of garments all the way, until she stands before him in just her bra and knickers, all black and lacy. He in navy boxers, clearly straining under the weight of his desire. She breaks from him, kneeling on the bed, looking for all the world like a Playboy model twenty years younger than she is.
“Take off your bra,” he commands, eyes almost black with wanting.
“Make me,” she teases.
He considers for less than a second before he pounces upon her dragging the bra straps down her arms and pulling her breasts free of the cups. His mouth descends to the hard aching peaks at once and he pulls and rubs and rolls them using teeth and fingers and she feels the build of orgasm again from his touch on her breasts alone. How can he do this? Has it really been that long?
He shocks her by suddenly throwing her onto her back and dragging her knickers down her legs; her bra now more like a belt round her waist and she struggles to turn it and unhook it and finally, gloriously, she is naked.
He stops his frantic assault and pauses; takes her in. She is covered in a thin, glowing sheen of sweat, her eyes wild and unfocused, yellow and green and blue all at the same time. She is panting, unable to still her body, her need for release building by the second.
“God. Please. Matt,” she begs, “Please. Just- Please, please.’
She shocks him by running her own palms over her breasts, letting her fingers trail downwards over her stomach before they slip through her curls and she touches herself, writhing against the onslaught of her own fingers, moaning softly as he simply watches her pleasure herself.
“Go on, love,” he encourages, lightly stroking his cock through his boxers, “Come for me. Show me what you like.”
She doesn’t need much more than this and screams her release as he speaks to her of love and sex and the future; bucking up against her own fingers and twisting on the bed as she wrings every drop of pleasure from her body. She keeps her eyes fixed on him throughout and it feels dirty and intimate and sexier than anything she’s ever done with any man. Ever.
She watches as he steps out of his boxers, his erection springing free.
‘Oh, wow,’ she thinks, ‘majestic didn’t quite do it justice.’
Matt climbs onto the bed and she expects a continuation of the rough, frantic fucking that has punctuated their session of lovemaking thus far, but he surprises her, kissing a slow line from her throat to her stomach, down the cleft between her breasts, her hands gently stroking though his soft, silky hair as his stroke her skin, feeling it break into goose bumps at his feather light touch. He moves over her, kissing her mouth in a slow, sensuous rhythm, his tongue pressing against hers but not battling. He sucks gently on her bottom lip and she feels it all the way to her core.
He palms her breasts, licking them lightly and flicking his tongue over her nipples, kissing her navel, swirling his tongue there and then his kisses move lower and he parts her thighs, pressing his tongue against her sex, kissing her other lips as gently as he kissed her mouth. She cries out and feels the need to fly off the bed and grind herself against him. He repeats the action and she mewls, dragging him up her body by the hair and panting out, “Matt, I want you inside me. I’ve waited long enough and so have you.”
She strokes his hard length again, feeling the beads of moisture that seep from the tip as he groans against her mouth; kissing her passionately once more.
She surprises even herself as she says, in the filthiest, most erotic voice she possesses, “Get inside me. Now.”
“Do we need-?”
“Hurry. Now.”
And with that he makes her laugh and pant in frustration as he rushes from the room to locate his trousers, fumbling adorably with his wallet and finally, locating a condom. His hands shake so much she takes it from him, rolling it over his length as he twitches and jumps against her hand.
He finally hovers over her for long agonising seconds before he begins to ease inside her, one inch at a time. She feels her body stretch and open for him and suddenly she thrusts upwards as he pushes down and with a scream, he is buried inside her.
Concern floods his features as he brushes curls from her forehead, “Did I hurt you?” he asks. “I never want to hurt you.”
She shifts against him; the ripple of glorious sensation almost his undoing, “It hurt,” she says, “but it was a good hurt. I promise. Now move my love, move.”
He feels a wave of utter bliss at her words, ‘my love,’ and indeed that is what they are now and forever more; lovers.
He moves, withdrawing ever so slightly before thrusting again. Each stroke becomes easier, slicker with her juices and soon he is moving forcefully against her, her meeting his thrusts with pants and groans and frantically raised hips.
She feels the familiar tightening ache again and cannot believe that he will bring her over the edge a third time. He is close too, his cries becoming more erratic; his breathing more laboured. Suddenly he adds a twist to his hips as he thrusts against her causing her clit to be abruptly pressed against him and she rushes towards orgasm; crashing over the brink as he cries out; pulsing and throbbing inside her fluttering, clenching flesh.
She thinks she might have passed out for a few seconds and he is already withdrawing, disposing of the condom and growing heavy lidded with the need for sleep when she comes fully to. She curls against him and feels his warm hands stroking along her back.
“That,” he says at last, “was glorious.”
“Promise me we won’t be waiting five years to do that again,” she drawls into his ear, even as she sucks on his earlobe, causing him to squirm and grip at her hips.
“Keep that up and we won’t be waiting five minutes,” he pants back at her.
She runs her hand along his length; soft, warm yet twitching already in her hand.
“Who’s a clever boy then?” she purrs.
“Not a boy, love, not anymore.”
She continues to stroke him gently as her eyes close, “No, not anymore.”
And all too soon, they fall asleep.
xxxxxxxxxx
Hours later, they lie in sweat tangled sheets, arms and legs jutting out at all sorts of odd angles, as they curl around each other.
Soft curls tickle at Matt’s chest as Alex struggles to find the energy to move, so she can sit up a little and meet his gaze.
Finally they are eye to eye.
“Why did we wait so long?” she asks in awe, and he laughs as he replies.
“Because you’re daft and I gave up too easily.”
“There’s a lot to work out,” she begins seriously and he shushes her as he presses a long finger to her lips.
“One day, one detail at a time, love. We’ll make it work, I know we will. It’s not as if we’re rushing into this.”
She opens her lips, drawing his finger into her mouth as she watches his eyes glaze with desire once more.
“Are we crossing that line again?” he asks hopefully.
“Oh, my love,” she laughs, rolling over on top of him, “we’re obliterating it.”
By: Canyousonicmedoctor
For: Perfectalexkingston
Rating: K
Prompt: Matt freaks out when Steven tries to have River's hair straightened. He starts rambling about Alex and everything he loves about her.
Summary: Matt, on the other hand, has gone slightly pale, not sure why he feels a slight panic rise up in his stomach. What he does know is that there is absolutely no way on earth that he's going to let Alex Kingston's wonderful, magic hair be altered in any way possible. No, everything is supposed to be perfect for today.
Matt's stomach is in knots as he pushes through the doors of the studio. One thought had woken him up this morning and spurred him to wake up with a grin and a little extra spring in his step. Alex is back.
Today is the first day of filming for the season seven finale and it's also Alex's first day back on set. Matt had definitely not been looking forward to today since he got the shooting schedule two months ago (so what if he was, it is Alex Kingston after all).
He had hoped to catch Alex last night when her flight came in, texting her yesterday afternoon to see if she could pop by his for dinner. He'd wanted to tell her then.
Unfortunately, her flight had been delayed (just his luck of course). So Matt spent the evening trying not to think about the following day too much, and failing miserably.
He was just far too excited and ,at the same time, terrified to see Alex again after she had been off set for four months. He missed her being around. Without her, there was no one to really joke and flirt with (Jenna is much too reserved to flirt with him like Alex does and not definitely too reserved to play jokes on like he did with Kazza). He missed being able to make her laugh by accidentally (purposely) being clumsy. He especially missed tugging on her blond curls just to watch then magically bounce back into place. He missed everything about her, from her sparkling green eyes to her adorably small hands. And today he was going to tell her why.
Matt's eyes scan the room as he walks through the studio doors, looking for the familiar head of curls that could catch his eye from a mile away (how could he even go about missing something like that if he tried?). He hasn't quite figured out how he's going to tell Alex that he's mad about her, but be wants to find her before his loses his admittedly, but only to himself, fragile nerve. Besides, he's always been fairly good at thinking on his feet.
Matt sees Jenna sitting off to the side, sipping a steaming styrofoam cup of tea. He wanders over to her, a frown of concentration as he continues to peruse the studio, not wanting to give up his search for Alex. Jenna's attention is focused on the book in her lap and she jumps slightly when he sinks down into a chair next to her.
"Have you seen Alex yet?" He doesn't exactly look at her as he speaks, unable to stop himself from looking around the room and growing increasingly frustrated as he doesn't see her. When he doesn't see the mass of wild curls, he turns his attention to the petite brunette next to him.
Jenna glances up at him with a half smirk on her face. "Well hello an good morning to you Mr. Eager." She turns her attention back to her book before answering his question. "She's in hair and makeup already." Matt's frown deepens a bit. Usually Alex is out saying hello to everyone she hasn't seen for months since her last stint on set.
"They had to start on her early," Jenna shrugs, eventually turning to look up at Matt. "Her hair is going to take a good while," she chuckles and he doesn't quite get the joke. She must see the confusion that crosses his face. "Haven't you heard?"
"No, I haven't. What are you on about?" Matt looks at Jenna like she's gone a bit mad. Alex's hair is so wild that there isn't much the girls in hair an makeup can really do with it.
"Steven decided he wanted Alex's hair straightened for the finale," she explains to him animatedly. "Something about her hair being 'too damn recognisable'," she continues, using air quotes. "His words, not mine," she informs him when Matt looks at her with what he's sure is a suitably shocked expression. "I can't wait to see her hair like that," she admits with an excited smile. "I bet it will look brilliant," she beams with the enthusiasm only another girl would have about something like hair.
Matt, on the other hand, has gone slightly pale, not sure why he feels a slight panic rise up in his stomach. What he does know is that there is absolutely no way on earth that he's going to let Alex Kingston's wonderful, magic hair be altered in any way possible. No, everything is supposed to be perfect for today.
The only thing on Matt's mind after hearing the news is to get away from Jenna and find Alex. He's not sure how he's going to stop Steven from straightening her hair, the man is Scottish for gods sakes, but he needs to try.
Jenna is still talking, having moved onto a different subject and chatting away about something Matt wouldn't have been able to focus on if he wanted to. Interrupting her mid-sentence, he stammers out "Uh sorry, but I, um, I need to go check on this...thing."
Matt knows it's a lame excuse, if it can even be called an excuse in the first place. It's all he could come up with at the moment before he is off, walking towards the hair and makeup trailer. Every ounce of strength and self control he posses goes into keeping his pace unhurried and casual. He manages to do so for about ten seconds for he is half jogging across the set in his haste to get to her. People were turning to stare at him and he couldn't care less. The only thing he cared about at the moment was a certain woman with wild hair and green eyes that cut right through him every time she turned her attention to him.
Barely even pausing to open the door, Matt bursts into the trailer and looks around for the head of hair he has always associated with Alex. He hoped she hadn't already had her curls massacred before he managed to get there. Just as he was about to yell in frustration, Alex walks out from the bathroom with a robe over her costume and be beautiful ringlets framing her face he lets out a sigh of relief at seeing curls instead of unnaturally straight hair.
Alex jumps when she sees him standing there. "Matt! Darling you scared me. What are you doing in here?" He had a different trailer do he didn't really have a proper excuse to be there.
He fumbles for for words for a second before just plain blurting out, "Your hair!"
She looks at him curiously. "Are you alright, Matt?" He probably does look a bit panicked, eyes wide and slightly out of breath. "Why would you be concerned with my hair, of all things?" Her hand is raised subconsciously to fluff the mass around her shoulders and his eyes follow the movement greedily.
"It's just..." oh bugger it all, he has no clue where he's going with this. She's sure to have seen him burst in or at least heard the door slam, so it's not as though he can really just play it off casual now. And in all honestly, he really isn't all that great with thinking on his feet.
"Say something, darling, you look horribly flustered about it," Alex insists with a smirk. He didn't know what to say and how the hell is he supposed to have normal brain function when she's smirking at him like she has a naughty little secret running around in her mind and this was not how today was supposed to go andshit why did he care so much about her bloody hair??
"Because-jenna-told-me-steven-wanted-your-hair-straightened." The words come out in one big rush without Matt pausing for breath. It only served to make Alex furrow her brow and look at him like there is a very high chance that he's lost the plot. He might have or at least is on his way there. The day is still young.
"Why would you care so much about my hair being straightened," Alex reiterates her previous question. Even in his agitated state, a part of Matt's brain still has enough abilities to notice how adorable Alex looks when she's confused. 'No, wait,focus Matt,' he chastises himself. 'Alex thinks you're completely mental and she needs to know why before today all goes to hell.'
"Because..." He begins, but trails off because apparently he has lost all powers of speech today. "Because," he tries again, a bit firmer this time. "I didn't want anything to be different about you today. Especially not your hair because it is so singularly you. I want your wild, distracting curls to be framing your face and everything about you to be absolutely one hundred percent you, today." He knows he's probably not making much sense, but just being around Alex after so long (along with the added distraction of the hair straightener sitting menacingly on the vanity off to the side) has reduced him to an incoherent mess.
"What on earth makes today any different from any other day?" She looks incredulous, like she has no clue what to make of him like this.
Alex's confusion only making him more frustrated he doesn't even thing before continuing. "Because today is the day that I need to tell you how I feel before I bloody explode!" Matt huffs and flails his arm about as if that will explain everything. This is so not going according to plan at all. Okay, so there hadn't actually been a plan, but he likes to think of there had been one, it would have gone better than this. At least in his head.
"How you feel about my hair?" Alex's expression has changed from confusion to bewilderment and Matt doesn't know why she doesn't understand what he's trying to say. He sighs, passing a hand over his face and trying to reign himself in because he is definitely going to need at least some sense to keep from completely fucking up this encounter.
"How I feel about you, you daft woman," he finally manages to get out. Maybe it sounded more eloquent in his head, but at least he said it and now it's out in the open and shit he should be looking at Alex now but he can't seem to force himself to turn around and see her pitying expression because why the hell would she even consider him when she's so far out of his league and he-
"What?" Alex's question interrupts his panicked inner babbling. She sounds cautious and even more confused than before. Probably just doesn't want to upset him with rejection.
"Alex," he hesitates for moment but what does it matter because she already knows so he might as well say what he had spent the entire night going over in his head. If he could only unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth, he might be able to explain himself.
"Alex Kingston, you have to be one of the single most oblivious people I have ever met if you haven't caught on to the fact that I have been in love with you for the past two bloody years." She tries to interrupt him but he's only got enough nerve to get all of this out in one go. "Please Alex, let me finish," he begs her, his eyes pleading.
"I only realized it after Kaz and Arthur left. I mean I suppose I've always sort of known it because I've been attracted to you ever since I met you. Honestly, how could I not be?" He laughs once before sobering bam up and continuing his speech. "But seeing them go made me realize that even if my best mates aren't here, I'm okay. Sure, I miss them like hell but I can keep doing this with another person helping me. But if you had to leave for good, I don't think I could keep on this. You don't know how much I look forward to the times when you're on set."
At this point he's pacing back and forth through the small trailer with Alex watching him but he knows if he looks into her eyes for a second he'd forget everything he's trying to say.
"Everything is so much brighter when you're around. I can't imagine not seeing you traipse around set and laughing and flirting and make everyone fall under your charms without even having the fairest clue you're doing it. So, I thought why that is and then I know what I've really known all along, but I was too afraid to admit it to myself. Afraid because why would you even think of me like that? You with your magnificent hair and sexy, throaty laugh and a smile that radiates sunshine on the cloudiest of London days and a naughty smirk that just screams for me to song you until neither one of us can hardly breathe. Why would you want me?" He pauses for a deep breath and looks Alex dead in the eye before saying one last thing to finish his confession. "I'm in love with you, completely and irrevocably. And there is nothing in the world that could possibly change that for me."
In Matt's dazed mind (because honestly he should have thought this through so much better), he can't read Alex's expression at all. Instead, he just laughs once or twice humorlessly, taking her shocked silence for the rejection he had anticipated before he even got on set today.
He drops to the nearest chair and rests his head in his hands, unable to bear looking at her anymore. Now when it's so plain he's screwed up everything. "And now I've gone and ruined our working relationship because I can't keep my stupid feelings to myself."
"Matt," Alex's commanding tone makes Matt's head snap up. She must have moved while he was hiding his face in mortification because she's standing directly in front of him with her hands on her hips and a fierce expression in her eyes. He prepares himself mentally for the gentle 'I'm sorry but...' That she is about to bestow on him for sure.
What he doesn't expect her to day is, "You haven't ruined anything, you impossible man." And he certainly doesn't expect there to be a smile on her face and god help him because is she actually saying what he thinks she is?
Apparently she is because in the next moment she takes his face in her hands and slants his lips over his. He sits there in shock for a moment because as happy as he is, he hadn't thought that she would say yes but then it sinks in that Alex Kingston is kissing him and there aren't any cameras around and he surges into action.
Matt wraps one arm around her waist to pull h down onto his land and his other hand flies up to to bury itself in the beautiful curls that spurred him to tell her how he feels, even if it wasn't how he pictured it going in the slightest. Alex certainly doesn't seem to mind. When Alex pulls away, Matt is breathless and can't keep himself from ginning like a madman. He doesn't let her go far and presses their foreheads together do he can just stare at her while he catches his breath. "So I didn't just totally scare you off with my mad ramblings?"
Alex rolls her eyes in response, but the action is negated by the fact that she has a matching grin on her face. "I probably would have been scared," she admits. "If I didn't feel the same way." She shakes her head and Matts eyes are immediately drawn back to the way her curls bounce with the simple movement. He'll have to remember to thank Jenna later, after all she is the one that practically sent him away to ind Alex in the first place, but right now he has the woman he loves (and who loves him right back!) on his all and he has two years of time to make up for.
Seeming to follow Matt's train of thought, Alex bends her head and kisses him again, this time with a distinct hunger that he whole-heartedly reciprocates. When his tongue snakes out to brush against her lips, she wastes no time in opening her mouth for him. She tasted like tea and honey and something that he wouldn't have been able to name if he tried. It's intoxicating and he clings to her for dear life as his whole world becomes cantered on this moment with her. The way she tastes, smells, feels pressed against him. He never wants to be anywhere else.
Alex moves to straddle Matt's lap and he can feel his trouser tightening (becauseAlex, his Alex, Simon him and he he has waited for this moment for so long). He wraps his tongue around hers and she lets out a moan than goes straight to his core and fuels the fire under his skin.
Just then, he hears a voice calling Alex from the other end of the trailer. She makes a frustrated whimpering noise that he would have found absolutely adorable if not for the reason being that something is interrupting this moment and moves to stand up. She looks at him with unbridled desire in her eyes that makes his breath hitch and practically growls out the word, "Later."
With that promise in his mind, he stands up and pulls her to him once more to press his lips to hers with a gentle kiss that says everything he hadn't been able to before. He nods his head and agrees and goes to exit before turning around with the grin back on his face.
"Alex," he calls softly to get her attention. "I love you," he repeats once more just because he can.
She crosses back over to him and kisses him one last time before she softly chuckles "I love you too," and pushes him out of the trailer so they can finish doing whatever it is they need to do before shooting starts.
And at this point, Matt doesn't really mind what she does to her hair anymore.
By: Mattandthebadger
For: Canyousonicmedoctor
Rating:T
Summary: "The zoo?" Alex asked disbelievingly, blinking at him, as he pulled in to a parking space "seriously Matt?"
A/N: I’m sorry. Apparently I’m terrible at sticking to prompts. I have no idea what happened. Title from Green Day’s ‘Holiday'
Prompt: Salome is on spring break and in London for Alex's birthday and Matt takes them out for a day of fun.
Holidays. Alex loved holidays, even if it was only due to lack of work. It meant she could have a lie in on a Monday when usually she’d have to be up at some ridiculous hour. Not only that, but there’d be no time to adjust to the new day normally, without an alarm clock beeping at her repeatedly. And worst of all, no time to cuddle with Matt. It put her in good spirits and there was no better cure for the early morning blues, than wrapping up with him.
So she rolled over in search of Matt to warm her, but he was gone. He’d probably gotten bored and gone to watch football reruns or to grab some breakfast. That was usually how it worked when she was really late up, especially when Salome was over. Her little girl would demand some company sooner or later.
It came as a surprise then when, just five minutes later, Salome ran in and jumped on her feet. She awkwardly climbed up the bed and sat cross-legged next to Alex with a huge grin.
“Happy birthday, mum!” She grinned. Alex groaned. Perfect. She'd managed to make herself forget about that, as well.
50. The dreaded 5 0. Oh god. Well that’s just bloody fantastic, that is.
She buried her face back into the pillow telling herself over and over to just go back to sleep, please, please just go back to sleep. She heard Matt’s low chuckle from the doorway, and what she thought was the rattle of cutlery as he pushed off the door frame.
“Good morning, love. Happy Birthday.” She could hear the bastard's grin and she groaned again “C’mon ‘Lex, rise and shine”
“No” came her muffled reply.” Matt wondered over to their bed and sat down, waiting.
The smell of breakfast eventually reached her through the pillow and her stomach growled at her hungrily.
“I made breakfast” he sounded so proud of himself. Damn him.
She lifted her head slightly, deciding that he and Salome probably wouldn’t let her sleep anymore, and turned to the tray Matt had set down next to her.
She glared at him before tucking into the meal -a greasy full English breakfast- eagerly.
"Hungry?" Matt smirked. Alex just hummed around a mouthful of bacon and cast him a small smile.
She ate most of the food, Matt finishing off the remains of her breakfast, and looked around for Salome. She must've run off or something though, since she was no longer sat on covers next to her. Matt took the tray away and walked back into the kitchen with a little spring in his step.
Still sleepy, she slid back under the covers and allowed herself to think over how they'd got to this. If she was honest with herself, which she hardly ever was, she didn't really know when they became this. She supposed it was probably near the end of filming for season six. Matt just asked her to dinner and they started seeing each other more and more, until they wound up in a mess of sheets at Matt's London flat.
After that was considerably clearer, though. She thought back to how he laid out his heart to her, willing to give her everything and claiming to need nothing in return but her presence in his life. Telling her how, as long as she was there and he could touch her and hold her and kiss her, he just didn't need anything else.
And even then she'd gone and almost thrown away the best relationship she could possibly have by laying down all the flaws in a relationship between them, and told him it couldn't work, no matter how much either of them might have wanted it. Fortunately, Matt had set her straight, telling her he didn't care about those things if she didn't and, that no; he could never throw her out like rubbish. That he wanted her forever, and would she please just try to make a go of it.
Coming back to the present, Alex felt her eyes well up with unshed tears. Matt was by her side in an instant, despite her thinking he was still in the kitchen.
"What’s wrong, love?" he asked worriedly, looking puzzled. He sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms, running long fingers through her curls.
"Nothing, honey. Just thinking" she answered calmly.
"Well don't think if it makes you cry. I don't like it when you cry" Matt replied grumpily. He kissed the top of her head, stood up and started out of the room
"are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, Matthew, honestly" she said in an exasperated tone, but with a smile.
"Good. Don't want you upset on your birthday, do we?" he smiled back
"besides, I've made plans."
"Oh really? What sort of plans might those be?" Alex smirked
"Not those sort of plans, Kingston" he answered , then dropped his voice so it sent shivers up her spine, "those plans come in later" He winked at her and walked off to put whatever plans he had for the day into action. She already looked forward to what he had planned for the night
-x-
"The zoo?" Alex asked disbelievingly, blinking at him, as he pulled in to a parking space "seriously Matt?"
"You don't like the zoo?!" Matt asked, acting offended although Alex could see the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"I never said that, darling. But are you sure it isn't more suitable for Sal's birthday?" she chuckled, but followed as Matt went to get out the car.
"Oh, Kingston." Matt sighed over dramatically when they were stood at the back of the car together "stop being so grown up. Have a little fun."
"I am a grown up, darling" she smiled, grabbing the few bits they'd put in the boot.
"That doesn't mean you have to act like one all the time" Matt beamed, bopping her lightly on the nose and twirling as if to show her. Like she needed showing.
"C'mon, live a little. Where’s that grin I love so much" he drawled, dancing around her.
Alex looked over at her daughter, now jumping on the small rocks across the car park. She strode from stone to stone, up the car park then down again.
A grin spread across Alex's face and she stood up on her tiptoes, quickly kissed
Matt hard on the mouth, and then ran across to Salome as fast as she could.
Matt stared after her in a daze, shock etched on his features, wondering what the bloody hell just happened before shaking his head, locking the car, and sprinting after his girls.
"Can we go see the giraffes first?" Salome asked when Matt had caught up
"then Matt can meet his long lost family."
Matt's hand flew to his chest "how dare you, Salome!" he gasped
"Yes, sweetie." Alex giggled. Then she bent down and stage whispered in
Salome's ear "maybe we could leave him there"
Salome giggled in delight and Matt huffed "I see how it is" before following them to the giraffe enclosure.
At lunch they settled down for a picnic on the grass banking, Salome huffing and sighing whenever her mum asked if she wanted to go play in the big play area, answering with an 'I'm not five anymore, mom'.
She ran off to the play area as soon Alex pulled the fruit out of the picnic basket.
"See?" she winked at Matt "most children have a fear of healthy food."
Matt snorted before grinning at her "you're just trying to get me alone aren't you, Kingston?"
"You've seen through my master plan, darling" she joked with a roll of her eyes
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice concerned "you seem- oh, I don't know...- distant."
"I'm fine. It’s just... Salome's growing up way too fast, I’m fifty now and- ugh- why can't time just go slower" Alex groaned
"That's what kids do, Alex. Grow up faster than you want. As for you, love, you look just as beautiful as the day I met you." Matt reassured her, lying back on the blanket and pulling her with him.
She rested her head on his chest and sighed "I bloody hate birthdays"
Matt's usual cheek returned, "You won't later" he promised.
"I look forward to it" Alex grinned
-x-
Matt smiled as they pulled up outside the block of flats they stayed in for filming
"we need to drop Sal off first, okay?"
"Right." Alex agreed hesitantly. She hadn't been told any of his plans toward what would happen after they came back from the zoo, so she was confused, however she couldn't deny that she felt excited at the thought of another surprise.
In all honesty, she had expected them to go home, buy pizza, watch a movie and hopefully wind up in bed. Or any flat surface. She wasn't picky.
"Matt, Alex!" Karen grinned as she appeared at the car window, making them leap out of their skins "hullo! Just got back from shopping" Karen pointed to the bags in her left hand
"Heya, Kaz" Matt beamed back, holding a finger to Alex to say he'd be back in a minute and she could wait in the car, before climbing out with Salome following his lead.
"Do you still have the key to my flat?" he asked when he’d climbed out.
"Yeah, course. It'll be in here somewhere" she answered, gesturing to her handbag.
"Right, good. I didn't make her pack anything, so the two of you'll have to sort that out, okay?" Matt smiled, ruffling Salome's hair. "And if you accidentally, on purpose, forget your tooth brush again I'm telling your mother."
"Jeez, Matty. You said that last time and you didn't tell her anything" Salome replied, rolling her eyes. God, she was like a miniature Alex when it came to her behaviour. Which really wasn't all that rosy if she was told to do something she didn't want to.
"Yeah, well I mean it this time. Your teeth will end up falling out." Matt answered. Salome grinned. He turned to Karen, "make sure she takes her toothbrush. Seriously, the kid's teeth are going to start falling out. I really don't see the need to avoid it"
"It takes too long. And I could do so much in those two minutes I have to waste twice every day" Salome answered, a cheeky smile plastered on her face "By the time you die how many minutes must you have wasted brushing your teeth"
Matt sighed and rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "It doesn't matter."
"Right, dad. When you've quite finished having this- frankly, really quite weird- conversation, my arms hurt and I'd like to take my bags in" Karen interrupted.
"Right. Have a nice sleep over, Sal… And remember- this is really, really important- there's no such thing as too much popcorn." Matt grinned at her, ruffling her hair again as the girl beamed back, before turning on his heal and skipping back to the car, Karen yelling a ‘Good luck!’ before he opened the door. He needed all the luck he could get right now.
Matt climbed in and started the engine. "She's staying the night with Karen. I mentioned the toothbrush thing, though! I did remember. And she probably hates me for enforcing that rule. I should just tell her that it’s you who makes me say these things." he grumbled the last part under his breath. "I’m supposed to let her do stuff y'know!"
When they set off on the road Alex narrowed her eyes at him "what did you do?"
"What?! Me?! I never did anything!" Matt exclaimed. Apparently being an actor didn't help him with his lying skills.
"Matthew. What did you tell her?" Alex demanded. As stern as she was trying to be with him, she really couldn't do it, and found the corners of her lips turn up in a sort of half smile.
"I may or may not have told her that 'there's no such thing as too much popcorn'" Matt grinned sheepishly, glancing at her when they stopped at a red light.
"Matt!" Alex grinned, still completely failing to be strict. "Oh god she's never going to sleep."
Matt chuckled and they set off again.
-x-
"It’s a nice quiet place" Matt explained as they turned into a car park behind a nice looking Italian restaurant "I've been here a couple of times with Karen and Arthur. It’s kind of a special place. Quite a shame you haven't been here before"
"Well, introduce me then, darling" Alex smiled as Matt climbed out the car, indicating for her to stay put as he walked briskly to the other side and opened the door, Alex taking the hand he offered her gratefully, and stood with all that grace that came so naturally to her
"That I will, Kingston. That I will." He smiled brushing his thumb across the ring box in his pocket in a momentary daze. He came back to himself and looked at his watch, "right. Plenty of time"
"For what?" Alex asked as he laced his fingers through hers
"Alex, my dear! This is a posh restaurant, you can’t go in dressed in jeans" Matt
said, gesturing with his unoccupied hand to her clothes. "I packed you a nice dress, all your make-up, and about ten pairs of shoes, because I know what you're like, and knowing me I'll bring the wrong stuff. But I did bring the right dress. I assure you."
"That's all well and good, darling. But where in earth are we supposed to get changed?" Alex asked with a small, teasing smile
"There." Matt answered pointing to some public toilets across the road.
"Are you serious" she whined
"Deadly." he replied, before begging, "C'mon, Alex, you've never used a public loo?"
"Not since I was about seventeen. They're awful" Alex answered, crinkling her nose in distaste.
"No. You're Alex Kingston. You could walk up to one of these houses and get treated like the bloody queen" Matt smiled, pulling her across the street and into one of the three grubby toilets.
It was a decent size, plenty walking space for both of them. Surprisingly no graffiti.
Matt handed her one of the two duffel bags- the bigger one with shoe heels visible as they tried to push through the fabric. "Get changed then"
Alex smiled at him and opened the bag to see a black dress. She recognised it as something she had bought quite recently under instruction from Matt to buy a pretty dress.
She remembered how it clung to her in all the right places, and the skirt hanging loosely from her hips, dropping almost all the way to the floor. It was strapless, had a slit up her left leg all the way to her mid-thigh and a plunging neck line, which Matt had openly expressed his adoration for. He insisted she bought it.
After quickly washing in the cold water using a sponge Matt had brought along and applying her make-up, she pulled the dress on and turned to Matt. He instantly obeyed, not needing a command and zipped her up.
He wore a simple two piece suit and a thin black tie. The usual one. And god, did she love it.
"You look beautiful" Matt whispered, brushing a stray curl behind her ear.
"You look rather dapper yourself, darling" she smirked back.
"Shh, Kingston. I'm admiring you" he smiled, closing the distance between them to plant a quick kiss to her lips. "Twirl."
Alex obeyed and spun around slowly, letting him take in every inch of her.
"I'm so glad you listened to me when we bought this, y'know. It’s not often you do that." he smiled, looking her up and down once more.
"I like to be in control" Alex smirked, winking at him. "Are we going then?"
"Yeah, yeah, you just wait outside where it smells a bit better, I'll just put my stuff back in my bag" Matt smiled.
Alex did as she was told; only narrowing her eyes at him for a second before heading out the door to stand and wait in the reasonably fresh air. There was no such thing as really fresh air in Cardiff, though.
Matt let out a shaky breath as his hand slipped into the pocked of the jacked he'd been wearing earlier and closed around the velvet box. Oh god. His brain went into overdrive, imagining every scenario- every way- he could get rejected.
He knew she was The One -he could see the capital letters in his head- but did it always work both ways? Was she ready? Oh god, oh god, oh god.
Deciding it was now or never, he slipped the ring into his trouser pocket, shoved his clothes into the bag, and joined Alex in the street, looking across to the restaurant. This meal could decide their fate together.
He wanted to slap himself for being so over dramatic.
-x-
They'd just finished the main meal and there was a lull in conversation, not an awkward silence, though. A pleasant one for Alex. Not really so much Matt, though. He decided to just go for it, he wasn't going to get as good an opportunity as this for quite a while, if ever again.
"Alex," Matt started, giving Alex time to look up, and get her full attention "I love you-"
"I love you too, sweetie" she smiled at him- all adorable nervousness. What he was nervous about, she had no idea.
"Sh, I'm not done." he replied "I love you. And Salome. Both of you; you're my girls. My family. And you're perfect. I love seeing you, talking to you, not talking to you, as long as you're just there I'm the happiest man alive"
Alex found tears welling in her eyes as he told her what she meant to him, she was about to reply, but apparently Matt wasn't done. He carried on speaking, "I love waking up with you and I want to wake up next to you every day for the rest of my life" he slid from his chair to sit next to her on the floor, knelt down on one knee, pulling the ring box from his pocket.
Not entirely knowing whether to be encouraged by her quiet gasp, he finished,
"so, Alexandra Elizabeth Kingston, will you marry me?" as he said the last two words as he opened the box. It revealed a silver engagement ring. It was reasonably simple; three stones which Alex assumed were diamond
Alex was crying. She sat in shock for three or four seconds, which felt like hours to Matt. Maybe even weeks. But then she fell down to his level and kissed him.
If Matt's mouth hadn't been otherwise engaged, he would have sighed in relief. But all he needed was Alex. So he pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss, running his tongue across her lips. She parted them for him automatically, letting his tongue slip inside. She tasted like the pasta she just ate and wine and that wonderful taste that was just Alex and he could never quite describe it.
Her hands were around his neck as she kissed him back with equal passion until he pulled away, breathless and grinning.
"I'll take that as a yes then?" he smiled at her
"Yes" she whispered, letting him stand and pull her up.
When they stood they noticed the other people, watching them with a smile in their faces. They grinned at their small audience and the customers and staff watching applauded them.
They turned back to each other and Matt took the ring out of its box, putting the latter on the table before slipping the ring on to her finger, while she held her shaking hand out for him.
"I love you" he grinned, running a hand up and down her arm
"I love you too"
-x-
Matt had her pressed up against the wall the second they got through the door, mouth on hers in an instant.
"God, I was so scared, Alex." he panted, letting his mouth leave hers for a brief second before kissing her again then breaking away to finish "I kept thinking you'd say no"
Matt’s lips moved down to kiss her neck as Alex breathlessly answered "why would I ever say no? How could I say no?"
"I dint know I just- ugh" Matt groaned as Alex palmed the bulge in his trousers.
She relented and he groaned again, this time at the loss of the delicious friction, but he finished what he was saying "I was just nervous I guess."
"I love you, you idiot" Alex smiled
"And I love you too" he replied with a grin "shall we relocate to the bedroom?"
"I think we shall"
He grabbed her hand and led her upstairs, where they stayed for the rest of their weekend alone. The whole time Matt couldn't stop staring at the ring now on Alex’s finger.
She was his. And he was hers. For the rest of their lives. And that was perfect.
By: Indigoxsoul
For: Mattandthebadger
Rating: PG-13/T
Summary: On a quiet Saturday morning, Matt goes for his usual tea and scones with Alex and then discovers she’s been in an accident, but when he gets to the hospital, the doctor has quite a surprise for the both of them.
Prompt: Alex or Matt are in a car accident and the other has to look after them as they broke their leg/arm whatever and can't do everything on their own. They have a baby together. A complete accident and shock and doubt on Alex's part, but Matt manages to convince her it okay. They have the baby together in the end.
It was a peculiar sort of Saturday morning. The sun had risen and it bathed London in that golden light that is so characteristic of the mid-dawn hours. You would’ve expected it to be filled with a slow, slightly nippy warmth that would permeate the brumal pavement smothered in the shadows that lurked beneath the buildings and trees, but that wasn’t the case today. Today, the morning was both fair and cold. The blue sky was not a sign of kind weather, but of the windy days when the sun turned a chilled, pale face towards the earth. Yes, it was an altogether peculiar morning, fit for peculiar happenings.
Matt would’ve missed it had he not rolled out of bed with the sole purpose of seeing a certain Alex Kingston at the shop on the corner for tea and scones slathered with generous helpings of cream cheese. Normally, he would lounge in bed and wait for the feelings of guilt about the things he ought to be doing and the slow aching of his back to finally chase him from the covers. Not today, today he had plenty of motivation to get his lazy butt out of bed and greet the crisp morning with hooded eyes, hair that stuck in every direction but down, and a wrinkled T-shirt. Ah, he would spend a few minutes despising life of course, that much was a given. But once his momentary hate for the morning hours had passed, he would remember the Kingston and her fantastic hair and hop out of bed with a spring in his step and a grin on his face. So, he was already up, showered, dressed, and heading out the door at the ungodly (at least ungodly for a Saturday morning) hour of half-past-eight.
He arrived at the shop fifteen minutes later and flung the door open, whistling an unnamed tune. Alex wasn’t here yet. That was a little unusual. She was a habitually punctual woman - but perhaps she’d just wanted a few extra minutes in the warm recesses of her bed. He went over to the counter and ordered their tea and the scones and a tub or two of rich cream cheese, as was the usual custom of his and the Kingston’s Saturday morning, and then claimed the corner booth. Minutes passed, he took a sip of his tea. His gangly knee began to bounce out of a nervous habit. Alex was rarely late. He still clung to the belief that she’d slept in - so he shot her a text message.
Ten more minutes passed. He tried to stay casual, calm - maybe her phone was off? Maybe she’d forgotten? But it wasn’t like her to forget. A few more text-messages later and he opened the little packets of cream cheese and begrudgingly spread it on a scone and took a bite. What ought to have been an enjoyable, flaky, and creamy bite instead seemed only flat and thick on his tongue. He quickly gulped some more tea to wash it down. Five more minutes and half his now lukewarm cup of tea later, a napkin became a limp paper crane. He glanced at the clock that read 9:45 and decided to call.
He dialed her number and fought the urge to pace from worry. The dial tone droned on and on.
“Come on, Kingston, pick up,” he muttered, fingers curling around the paper crane, crumpling and unfolding it in his worry. When it became obvious she wasn’t going to pick up, he hung up his phone and frowned. Maybe he should go over - just to see if she was okay. He got his coat and put it on, dumping their tea and scones in the trash.
He was halfway out the door when his phone rang. He jumped and fished it out of his trouser pockets. His face fell when he didn’t recognize the number. He picked up anyway.
“Hello?”
“Is this Matt Smith?” it was a female voice on the other end, but none he recognized.
Matt frowned and nodded despite the knowledge that the person couldn’t see him. “Yeah it is, who’s this?”
“Hello, Mr. Smith - my name’s Jenny, I’m a nurse at Beckenham Hospital and I think you’d better come down.”
Matt was already rushing out the door and tripping over his feet. “What?”
“Ms. Kingston’s been in an accident. You’re on her contacts form.”
He spluttered for a few moments, hopping in his car and turning the key in the ignition before he even had time to think as to why of all people Alex had puthim on the form. “I’ll be there in ten,” he replied, quickly hanging up so he could concentrate on his driving and not get into an accident himself. It seemed the whole world had stopped as he sped along as fast as the speed-limits would allow - sometimes faster -
She couldn’t be badly hurt.
Not his Kingston.
His heart was pounding as he parked the car rather haphazardly and slammed out the door and up the steps of the hospital. He skittered to a stop in front of the registration desk and gasped out, “Alexandra Kingston?”
The nurse was running through her computer far too slowly for his liking and he was trying to catch his breath when a voice from behind him called, “Mr. Smith?”
He whirled to see a nurse in blue scrubs standing there, she gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m Jenny. Alex is in surgery at this point. I’ll take you to the waiting room.”
His heart stuttered in his chest and his throat constricted as he ran up to her, knowing he had to look a fright. “S-Surgery?”
“She’ll be fine,” she reassured, apparently not wanting to worry the poor lad any further as she walked briskly down the hall and deposited him in a comfy-looking waiting room with a bubbling fish tank. “Dr. Craig’ll be out when she’s stable.”
With that she left him alone. The only sound was the ripple of the water in the tank as Matt stood there helplessly, not knowing what to do. He fell a step back and sank into a chair, wondering at how a morning could go so wrong so quickly. Finally, the beating of his heart and the rushing of blood in his ears quieted and he stood to pace back and forth, waiting on Alex for the second time. The hands on the clock struck 10:00 - had it really only been fifteen minutes since he’d sat in the coffee shop, mildly worried? Now he was pacing frantically, hands in his pockets while his chest clenched with terror. The nurse had said she’d be fine - but what if she wasn’t?
She had to be.
They’d only just begun. It’d been only a few months since he’d asked her out to dinner on the night after her return from LA. She’d shyly accepted, but that shyness had melted to a beautiful confidence and grace as she took the lead on the dance floor. They’d been dating ever since and he had plans... so many plans... and he’d be damned if he lost all he’d found now.
Time passed and he was forced to jaunt to the bathroom and get something from a nearby vending machine. He sat there, munching on his packet of crisps and feeling every bit as worried as a young man could when finally,finally a doctor in a fresh lab-coat strode into the room and gave him a smile.
He really wished people would stop smiling like everything was okay. Alex had been in surgery, she was hurt. Nothing was okay.
He set aside his crisps and jumped up. “How is she?” he demanded.
Dr. Craig took a breath and gave him a sympathetic look as he checked over his clipboard. “Very fortunate,” he stated with the lilt of a Scottish brogue. Matt’s mouth felt dry as he continued. “She’ll have a concussion and she broke her right wrist, there was quite a bit of internal bleeding that we managed to get under control, and there’s two broken ribs, one of which narrowly missed her left lung.”
Matt felt a bit dizzy as the doctor continued to assure him that everything was fine and that Alex was lucky. That word had a certain sort of way of not settling right with him. How could she be lucky in this sort of situation? He felt indignation smoldering in the pit of his stomach until it was chased away when he caught the word “Baby” in the slough of words.
“Hang...Hang on a minute,” Matt interrupted and Dr. Craig gave him a withering look. Matt ignored him and frowned and scratched his head. “Did you say‘baby’?”
He nodded patiently and continued, “Yes, I said they’re both very fortunate that the baby wasn’t harmed.”
“She’s pregnant?” Matt’s voice rose an octave or two.
The doctor’s brow furrowed, looking puzzled. “You didn’t know?”
“No...” Matt ran a hand through his fringe and then looked very hard at the man. “You’re absolutely positive she’s pregnant?”
“I saw the ultrasound myself, she’s nine weeks pregnant, Mr. Smith,” he replied firmly.
Matt felt lightheaded and sat. Of course, he and Alex had had sex. She’d assured him that they didn’t need to be careful. She couldn’t get pregnant - or at least it was extremely unlikely. Matt knew that. This... was completely and utterly unexpected. He’d thought if his plans (really his daydreams) were to work out, then they’d end up having a child through surrogacy... or adoption. This - he hadn’t even dared to hope for and here it was, practically dumped in his lap.
“You can go see her now, if you like,” Dr. Craig said gently. He stepped towards the door with the clear intentions of Matt following him. Matt rose and followed him in a numb state. The doctor led him down the catacombs of halls to Alex’s room in the ICU, then slid the glass door open and ushered Matt inside.
Matt quickly pumped some hand-sanitizer into the palm of his hand and rubbed it through, then rushed to her side and sat. His mouth had turned to sand as he sat there with the wonderful, impossible Alex Kingston. She seemed a mere shade of the woman that he’d expected to see for coffee that morning. The blinds were drawn and in the half-light of the room she was a ghostly color. An IV or two slithered between the blankets and into the exposed flesh of her arm. Her curls were damp and limp, and he smoothed them back from her cool forehead. A bruise was forming there, and he bent down to kiss her forehead as if he could kiss it away. She shivered in her drug-induced sleep, and he drew the covers up around her and squeezed her uninjured hand. Her right arm was in a cast. Matt took a breath and sank into the chair next to the bed, holding her hand.
He wanted to reach over, to put his hand over his belly and somehow feel the unexpected, fantastic growing life that was hidden there. He wondered vaguely if it was a girl that he would give horsey-rides to and play tea-party with, or a boy that he would teach to play football. He thought that it must have Alex’s hair and would inevitably be every bit as clumsy and awkward as its father and for that he felt a bit sorry.
It was so impossible, so improbable. It seemed so queer and yet so right, the knowing that he was going to be a father. It was like the world had flip-flopped in a marvelous way, turning upside down. Yet it had left him still standing - if not breathless in wonder. He couldn’t believe it, and yet he had to come to grips with it. There was no other option.
******
When Alex woke, everything hurt and she was utterly confused. Her eyes slowly opened and everything seemed so white. Then, everything came back to her as to why she hurt and what exactly had happened and...dear lord.
Alex let out a little groan and felt like she couldn’t move for the life of her and that might be the most frustrating thing about it. She was surprised by a warm hand covering hers and a rumbling, low voice that she definitely recognized.
“Hey, Beautiful.”
She turned with some effort, wincing as she did, and her eyes focused on Matt’s gentle
face hovering a few feet away. She squeezed his hand and shifted in bed. “Hey...I- what happened?”
“Got into quite the accident, you’ve been out for a while,” he supplied, scooting closer to her. Alex frowned.
She took in his wrinkled T-shirt and mussed hair and then finally asked, “How long have I been out?”
“You weren’t...out the whole time per say, just not lucid,” he replied, a slow smirk spreading across his face. Alex’s eyes widened slightly, remembering that she could get really,really sloshed on morphine.
“How long?” she repeated again.
“Two days,” he replied, reaching over to play with her curls. “Don’t worry about it, Kingston.”
She let out the tiniest of gasps. “You didn’t stay the whole time, did you?”
He scratched his head and looked at her a bit sideways in a peculiar way as if he was avoiding her disapproving gaze. “I went home a few times, but yes - I stayed.”
Alex sank back against the pillows and sighed softly. She wanted to berate him for not looking after himself - but the fact that he’d stayed this whole time with her vomiting from being sick on morphine...not to mention she had probably said some spectacular things... She looked up at him and gave him a tiny, sheepish smile. “Thank you.”
He smiled back. “You’re welcome.” They were quiet for a few moments and Alex considered going back to sleep until Matt got the look of supreme and divine remembering. “Oh!” He reached around him for a tray. “The doctor wants you to try and eat something.”
She looked at it, nausea and hunger warring in the pit of her stomach. “Oh.” She attempted to lift her arm to reach the tray and sit herself up a bit better, but frowned and stopped. Her right arm felt limp and useless. She looked over at it and stared stupidly at the cast.
Right. She’d broken it... she’d remembered panicking at the numb pain and the sight of her wrist bent at an unnatural angle as she struggled to get out of her car.
“Yeah, it’s broken in two places,” Matt told her gently.
She sighed and then looked disparagingly at the plate of food. “How am I suppose to eat it without my dominant hand?”
He gave her a small smile. “Here- one minute,” he pressed a button on the side of the bed and it rose her slowly into a more upright position. She winced a bit at the pain in her midsection.
“You broke some ribs,” Matt explained before he scooted closer and placed the food on his lap and picked up the spoon.
Alex gave him a wary look as he melted some brown sugar on the hot oatmeal and then poured a little milk in from the carton. He stirred it around and then filled the spoon. “Open wide, Kingston.”
She blushed. “I’m not letting you feed me.”
“C’mon, better than getting it all over you,” he chirped and gave her a bright smile.
When Alex was still stubborn, he began making airplane noises and then guided the spoon on a winding path to her mouth. She blinked at him in shock and accepted the bite.
“Ha!” he cried in triumph, “It works on adults too!”
She chewed and swallowed. “Only because I was so surprised, you git.”
“I’m not a git,” he insisted, looking mildly hurt and guiding the spoon to her mouth again.
She relented. “You’re not.”
An hour passed in the same way. Matt would feed her, making airplane noises purely for the fun of it and Alex would give him withering looks in between bites. She had to admit that it was slightly embarrassing, having to be looked after like this. However, Matt seemed a little preoccupied, as if he was thinking about something else and had something to say. She wondered what it could possibly be that made him a little more jumpy and clumsy than usual. The way he’d get that far-off look in his eyes for a few seconds and snap back to reality just as quickly. She’d never seen him like this. Her eyes flicked around the room for some sort of explanation and then caught sight of a black sheet that was attached to the whiteboard on the wall. She squinted and recognized it immediately.
An ultrasound.
Matt blinked at her when she didn’t open her mouth to accept another bite. She pushed the spoon away and frowned.
Matt set the food aside and then looked at her in concern. “Alex? What’s wrong?”
“What’s that on the wall, then?” Alex asked, looking at him.
He looked puzzled and then looked at the wall where she’d pointed. When he spotted the ultrasound, his entire face lit up. He stood and walked over, gently taking it down and then coming to sit by her again.
“It’s an ultrasound.”
“I know, what of?” she asked, it came out more cross than she’d intended. What was he playing at?
He licked his lips and then held it where she could see it, then pointed. “The technician told me that’s the head...you can’t see a heartbeat yet or anything,” he rambled.
“Whatof?” Alex demanded, though somewhere in her mind, a fuzzy realization was growing there that she simply wasn’t ready to accept.
Matt looked up at her with a boyish smile. “Our baby.”
Her breath caught in her throat and she stared at him, really stared. She tried to find any hint of a joke in his eyes, the twinkling of mischief, something - but there wasn’t any. She bit her lip and she crossed her good arm around herself. “Matt, this isn’t funny.”
He sat back and shook his head. “I’m being serious, love - it’s our baby, I was just as shocked as you were.”
“But-” her fingers despite herself went to trace the outline of the picture, “I don’t get pregnant.”
“Apparently you did-” he paused and then amended, “We did.” He scooted a bit closer and leaned his head on her shoulder, his arm snaking carefully so his fingers could rest on her stomach. “Can’t say I’ve ever been happier, Kingston,” he whispered.
A million emotions were warring within her: Happiness, shock, surprise, and the awful heartbeat of terror that throbbed through her being. She wasn’t exactly twenty anymore. A pregnancy this late was going to be risky... for her and the baby. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. As desperately as she wanted to be excited as a new mother should, she was just far too scared of disappointment - of disappointingMatt. A part of her knew it was stupid to make excuses - she’d always wanted a second child and now it was here, wrapped in a pretty bow, and here she was wondering if this was even what she had hoped for. But it was, and it wasn’t. She had never wanted to beterrified.
“Alex?”
Bless, she was crying. She sniffled and took a deep breath and looked up at him. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he kissed her wet cheek and gently dried her face with a tissue.
She swallowed and leaned her head on his chest. “I’m scared, Matt,” she admitted in a quiet whisper. “Everything’s just so...”
“Upside down?” he finished for her with a knowing smile.
She looked up at him with surprise and nodded. He carefully wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her close. “I’m here,” he murmured. “No matter how this happens, I promise you, I’ll be here.”
How had he known that was all that she had needed to hear? There was an ferocity in his voice that left her breathless. She looked back up at him and smiled. “Pinky promise?”
A smile spread across his face and he took her good hand and firmly locked pinkies, pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. “Pinky promise, Kingston.”
She sighed softly and nodded and took his hand, guiding it to rest on her stomach with hers. Her eyes closed and somehow, though it felt like her entire world had flipped upside down, since Matt was here - she knew she’d be okay.
I spent so much time throwing rock at your window that I never knocked on your front door.
By: Waittillmyhusbandgetshome
For: Halfthefunistoplantheplan
Rating: T
Summary: She had finally been convincing herself that it would never happen. She was moving on. And now she was back at square one.
Prompt: Alex's birthday party, just some of the cast from both old and new Who, Matt shows up late and drunk and professes his undying love to Alex.
Alex's birthday party was in full swing; Arthur and David were arm-wrestling at a table, Karen was mixing all sorts of crazy drinks, Catherine and Billie were dancing, Steven was chatting to some of the crew in a corner and Matt was... Well that was the problem; no one had any idea. He certainly wasn't at the party, even after he'd promised to show up. Now she was getting worried, he always kept his promises, whether it was something like buying her a new shirt the second he got paid to replace the one he'd ruined by spilling coffee or something important like... well, whatever was important to her.
She was about to step out of the disco hall to call him when the Macarena came on. Alex suspected Karen had requested it and her suspicions we soon confirmed as the noisy red head dragged her onto the dance floor.
When Alex had finally managed to escape, it was getting late and it made her all the more worried. She hurried out quickly and dialed Matt, silently begging him to pick up.
"Sorry I can't take your call right now, please leave a message..." *beep*
Alex sighed. "Matt, where are you? It's late and you're starting to worry me. Just please call me back."
And with that she put her phone back in her pocket and went to join the party again. David had won the arm wrestling, Karen had joined Catherine and Billie, Steven was dancing with Sue and she was dragged back onto the dance floor by the ginger scot.
---
Alex had finally loosened up, with just enough alcohol in her system that she was starting to dance and enjoy herself properly.
Karen was just teaching her some crazy routine when suddenly the music stopped. Everyone look round at each other then over to the sound system. Matt was stood there- or rather leaning on the mic stand for support. He looked disheveled; and with a microphone in hand, god knows what he might do.
"Alex!"
She stared at him. Whatever he was about to say or do she knew would embarrass him, her or both of them. Please not today...
"Alex!" He slurred again. "I need to tell you something very, very important. I've been doing lots and lots of thinking about this. And I think..."
He was babbling drunken nonsense. He was spoiling her party. He had gotten completely wasted and decided ruining her party would be the best idea. If he would just shut up and put the sodding music-
"I love you, Alex! I'm in love with you!"
And suddenly every pair of eyes in the room was on her. She didn’t need to look around, she could feel them all staring at her. The embarrassment and attention felt suffocating. Alex pushed people out of the way and ran out of the room, gulping in fresh air when she made it outside.
That was one of the most embarrassing things he had ever done to her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. She just wanted to go home. She wished he'd never turned up.
"Alex?" That was his voice. He was trying to talk to her. Why couldn't he go away?
"Leave me alone, Matt..."
"Lex, please-"
"Don't call me that. Don't talk to me. Don't come near me. Just leave me alone!" she shoved him out of her way, hailed a cab and jumped in. All she wanted to see now was her bed. He had ruined her birthday. The man who usually made her laugh until she cried had instead upset her until she cried. Just when things had been going well...
---
In the morning, Alex had dragged herself from bed only to sit and watch crappy TV. She was upset and in no mood to socialise. When there was a knock at the door she groaned knowing who it was. Bastard. She was so angry. She had been dreading her 50th enough. His appearance had just made it worse.
"Alex, I know you're in." he called through her letterbox.
"Go away!"
"No. I need to talk with you."
She growled. He just didn't get it. She had been pushing down her feelings for him for years. Matt was too young, too good for her. He had Daisy- or at least used to. She couldn't give him what he wanted, a future and a family. Her love life always ended in tears and mostly her own. She had finally been convincing herself that it would never happen. She was moving on. And now she was back at square one.
She pushed up off the couch and stormed to the door, flinging it open. "What do you want?"
He shifted nervously from foot to foot. "I need to apologise..."
"For?"
"Being and absolute twat and ruining your day..."
She nodded. He had no idea had much he had actually screwed up.
"But the thing is... The alcohol was only to give me courage Lex."
"Oh don't start that crap. It doesn't wash with me." She turned and walked off inside, leaving the door open for him. He followed quickly, babbling about her letting him explain himself. She threw herself down on the couch.
"This better be good." she muttered. "Explain."
"I have been putting this off since I met you. I put it off because I knew I wasn't good enough. You're way out of my league and everyone can see it. I ended up leaving Daisy because my feelings for you are stronger than for her. I didn't want to lead her on. I want to be with you. But I knew I wouldn't be able to tell you the truth so I drank. And I drank and I drank and I drank. I didn't intend to get so utterly hammered. I just wanted to confidence to tell you the truth. I love you, Alex. More than anyone I've ever met. Please believe me..."
Alex was staring at him. Was he serious? He had felt exactly the same as her for three years and said nothing? She wanted to slap herself. She was normally so confident with all the flirting, teasing and banter. She never seems to be bothered. But she couldn't ask him on a simple date? What was wrong with her? She must be mad. She should have gone for it.
"Alex? Hello? You ok there?" She looked up at him. He was waving a hand to catch her attention. "You alright, Alex?"
"No." He frowned and looked disappointed. Then she sprang up from her seat and walk toward him. "But I will be..." And with that, she kissed him tenderly, her arms locking round him in a loving embrace as they melted against each other. She caressed his lower lip with her tongue gently until he opened his mouth to hers and deepened the kiss. Alex wound her arms round his neck and moaned softly. He didn't seem taken aback by her forwardness at all as he moved to lay her on the couch and climb on top of her.
He ran his hands down over her chest, ribs, stomach and lower, making her groan. Her hips bucked up into his hand as he stroked between her thighs, over the jogger bottoms she was wearing. He bit his lip. She reached up to lift his shirt off, losing the contact that was ruining her underwear as he raised his arms.
He undressed her slowly beneath him, tracing his lips over her flesh as a new piece was revealed. She moans gloriously. "Matt... Please... I have wanted you for so, so long now..."
"Likewise, Kingston. I intend to make the most of this..."
---
Not long later they lay together on her sofa, bodies tangled and covered in a thin layer of sweat. Alex nuzzled Matt's neck affectionately and trailed her fingertips up and down his arm gently. His lips brushed her temple and she felt him smile. Her feelings had risen to the surface again. She was undoubtedly his now. No questions asked. She knew this was it for them. The happy, long relationship they both wanted.
dededos
andulkaphoto
turnnoffyourmind
2087
snowghoul
stormborns