At the airport

James reached up and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He was sleepy. The flight had taken too long and he'd been sitting next to an annoying brat of a baby who just would not bloody shut up. It was long and tiring and he just wanted to get back to her flat.

He saw her and smiled. He actually liked it when she acted that way. It made him laugh a bit. She was very excitable. It honestly made him giggle to see her doing it. "Cas!"

He came over and gave her a hug before she could stop him. "Hey love," he murmured.

She had no intention of stopping him, even if she should have done. It was too late now he was here. She hugged him back, closing her eyes and breathing him in. He didn't smell good as such, who would have a long flight? But he smelt the way he did at 5am in the morning on the way back from some rave, sweaty and she realised she missed that. The rawness of him.

"Hey," she said quietly, as she looked up at him. "Is this all your stuff? We should probably just get going yeah? I mean you must be tired and..." she trailed of realising she only had one bed. He could sleep on the sofa she guessed, or maybe she'd just see what happened. Just because they shared a bed didn't mean anything would happen right? "I didn't sleep too well myself actually," she admitted, chewing her lip. "It's weird, living alone. Like just when you're getting used to silence you hear a noise and it scares you to death?"

"Yeah, I didn't bring more than this. I figure if I need something, can always get my hands on it. Just pack the necessities and bring it on the plane, eh? Then it can't get bloody lost on you either." He smiled at her. Keeping one arm wrapped around her waist, he turned, kissing her temple and walking with her out of the airport.

"Yeah, I'm a bit tired. Thirsty too. Maybe we can pick up some take away on the way home..." He rubbed his hand up and down her shoulder as they walked. He missed this too, being without her. Not like he'd ever admit it.

"I never liked sleeping alone." He winked at her. "Need something to drape my arm across."

"I think you'd be pretty hard to lose," she commented as she lead him towards the exit. "Not that I intend to like test out that theory, but...yeah."

She laughed when he suggested they get take out on the way home. "Really James, give me some credit it's all taken care of. Food, drink...everything," she sounded slightly distracted as she spoke, mostly because she was attempting to get around how comfortable James seemed with her after all this time. Not that she minded much, it was a relief really. She didn't want things to be awkward while he was here.

She turned and raised an eyebrow at his last comment not sure what to say for a moment. "Don't s'pose that's been much of a problem for you has it?" she commented like she didn't care. In some way she didn't, of course there'd been lots of other girls look at him. It wasn't like she'd not slept with lots of other people since they'd broken up either, she just couldn't quite help feel a pang of jealousy. "But yeah, I remember." She frowned at that, wondering why she'd said it, maybe because it was true.

James smirked. He knew Cas. He always would. And the troublesome prat that he was liked winding her up. That was all. "Nope, never been much of a problem," he murmured, watching her. One eyebrow raised as he gazed at her, unable to hide the smirk that was quickly growing wider. "Though lately I have been sleeping alone. It's been bloody awful. I've had to snuggle up to a fuckin' pillow. I almost ate a feather."

He pulled her close and kissed her cheek, feeling very playful. "Hey," he murmured. "If you got food and drink, I'm happy. Now you just have to get me home?" He smiled and began to rub his palms up and down her arms. "Missed you," he murmured.

She tried to ignore it when he confirmed what he said, she could have pointed out that it had been the same for her of course but it was pointless she didn't want to get into any of that now anyway. She wanted to forget about all that anyway. "That explains why you agreed to see me then," she replied, more to herself than him. She supposed she'd got lucky really catching him inbetween girlfriends.

She bit her lips so she didn't laugh at the mental image he created. "Manly," she smirked.

Feeling herself flsuh when he kissed her cheek, she leant into hm a little, feeling all the annoyance she had for him melt. "It's not far," she murmured, pulling him out the doors, where a queue of people were waiting for taxis. "And I've missed you too, it's been weird here, on my own. Glad you agreed to come visit."

OH he'd just been messing with her. He didn't mean for her to take him bloody seriously. Still, he saw her flush and knew that she wasn't entirely mad with him. He stood in the line, huffing, wishing the damn queue would move already. He just wanted to get home. And soon.

"Why wouldn't I? Manly man that I am." He smirked. "You need me around."

She burst out laughing and turned from keeping an eye on the queue to face him. "James, I've taken care of myself since I was a little girl. You remember my parents right? I'm pretty sure they still haven't noticed I'm not in Scotland anymore," she shrugged and turned back again.

"I just got lonely," she admited, looking over her shoulder "I don't mind looking after myself, I just don't like being on my own."

James frowned. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he rested his head on her shoulder. "I don't like being on my own either." He hugged her tight, keeping her clasped in a bear hug. He kissed her cheek and sighed softly, breath warm against her.

"I get lonely too. I haven't had a girl in a long time. I was just pullin' ya..." He was speaking softly to her. "I'm here for you."

She tried not to react when he put his arms around her, but she felt her heart speed up. He always did have that affect on her. Reaching behind her she put one arm awkwardly around him.

"Yeah?" she sounded surprised, which she was. He could be incredibly charming when he wanted to be and he was gorgeous. "I left six months ago, I've been alone ever since." Twisting in his arms she looked up at him grinning. "I'm glad you came, things've been pretty shitty lately."

"I tried to be with someone once, right after you left." He smiled at her. "They weren't you. I..." His voice trailed off as they stepped up. They were next for the queue and there was a cab waiting for them.

"After you, m'lady. Chariot awaits..."

"After I left?" she repeated, sounding confused. True she had left but it wasn't exactly willingly. He'd made her leave by being an idiot but she was ignoring that. It was in the past, and it wasn't like Cassie hadn't done some pretty stupid stuff in the past herself. She didn't mention Sid when he mentioned the other girl. Mostly because she was trying to pretend he didn't exist and because if she started talking him she might not be able to stop and he didn't need to hear about the boy she was still sort of in love with.

She glanced back at him looking confused as she stepped towards the taxi. "I don't think I'm really a chariot type, yeah?" she pointed out, "it's all a bit fairy tale and well that's bull shit isn't it? They don't have fairy tales about anorexic fuck ups much."

Once they were in the cab and settled in the backseat, he took her hand in his, holding it close. "Well, I... I fucked up. Ok. We both fucked up, but it was pretty much my fault." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Why don't they have fairy tales about people who fuck up? I'd love to have a fairy tale. Then I could have a sword. I'd love a sword."

"I wanted to come back," she admitted blankly, staring out the window rather than at him. She had no idea why she was saying this at all. She'd invited him because she was lonely and yeah she did miss him but she didn't want to get into a big thing with him. It was all too complicated. "I wanted to but Michelle-" she broke off and started laughing hysterically, because she knew now just what a bad idea trusting Michelle had been, "Michelle said I was better than that, that I deserved someone that wouldn't pull shit like you do, course then she fucked my boyfriend so maybe she's like not the best person to listen too." She turned back to look at him, her eyes damp with tears at the memory of Michelle and Sid and squeezed his hand.

"You'd be fucking lethal with a sword," she commented, "and we don't get fairy tales because we don't fit the mold. No happily ever after see?"

"Michelle." God how he had hated bloody Michelle. He had never trusted her from day one. To be honest, she'd made a pass at him too, but he never had told Cassie about it. He knew how sensitive she was and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. Instead, he'd just waved it off and made a comment to Michelle how Cassie was fucking hotter. Yeah that had never gone well.

"Look. Michelle doesn't know shit." He looked at her and saw that she was getting upset. Letting go over her hand, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up against his chest, rubbing her shoulders with his hands. He kissed the top of her head and just held her there while the cabbie drove them home. "I fucked up. I really did. I'm sorry," He murmured.

"Aw, but that's just it. I'd be FUCKING GREAT with a sword," he muttered with a huge smile. "And if we don't fit the mold, we should break it. Make a better happily ever after."

If should have told her. For one she'd have known not to trust her sooner but also because she was entirely sure no one on Earth thought her hotter than wonderful fucking Michelle.

"I know," she agreed. Michelle had been nothing but a manipulative bitch, so got that now. She closed her eyes as he pulled her closer. "It was nothing," she said honestly, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter anyway." She didn't expect any better now, it was easier that way.

"That's just it though, there is no, happily, ever, after!" she said it slowly emphasising every word to make sure he got it. "For starters you with a sword would almost definitely start out with the princess at a graveside wondering how the fuck the handsome prince managed to stab himself."

He felt bad. And yeah, he should have told her. "Michelle ain't so hot. You're way fuckin' hotter than she was. She looked like one of those dried up old hags, all saggy and shit." He kissed her temple and just sat there, almost rocking her, quiet in the backseat of the cab. Just then, the cab pulled up to wherever they were headed. He crawled out first, then held his hand out for her, to help her out. Then, he even went so far as to pay the cab and tip well. Hey, he might have lifted a wallet or two in the airport.

He looked around. So this was where she was living, eh? "Aw, I wouldn't stab myself. I'm pretty handy with a sword. I could be all King Arthur and shit. And you... You could be my lady from the motherfuckin' lake!" He grinned at her, his eyes looking wild.

She stared at him like his was crazy. "Michelle's perfect," she said bitterly, "and I've seen her naked, I know that's bollocks. Tony was always saying she had wonky boobs but that's bollocks too. She was perfect. Perfect, pretty, little, Michelle. I'm just..." she wasn't sure what she was really, but she was very far from perfect she knew that much.

"You didn't have to do that," she said, as she took her hand and got out. "I have money. I'm doing pretty well actually. The apartment's like rent controlled or something?"

It was pretty nice place actually, not far from broadway, above a nice little diner. She'd really landed on her feet here. Thanks to the taxi driver whose name she'd never got that bought her here when she first arrived in New York and Adam who'd obviously suggested her to take his job when he'd left. She raised an eyebrow when he said he was good with a sword, really not sure if she wanted to know how he knew this. She grinned at the mention of King Arthur though. "My knowledge of Arthurian legends isn't exactly great but...wouldn't Guinevere make more sense? Actually she was shagging Lancelot right? So maybe not."

He shook his head. "Never seen her boobs, but you're hotter than her." He looked at her, wagging a finger in her face. "And don't tell me what I think, cause that's bollocks, you're no mind reader. I like you better. Always did. Even when..." He let his voice trail off. No telling her. He'd swore to himself he wouldn't. "And you should listen to Tony and me. We know our shit." He shook his head. "Even if Tony was a little fucktwat himself."

He sighed and turned, looking toward the building and the diner. "I wanted to do it." He shrugged his shoulders. He wanted to do a lot for her, but it sounded to him, or was beginning to, that this was just a booty call and nothing more than that to her.

"Then we'll make up our own legend. I'll be Robin Hood. You can be my Maid Marian."

"I wasn't trying to tell you what you thought," she protested, "just what I think. Michelle's perfect, everyone knows that." She smiled softly up at him though. "Yeah but you're weird aren't you?" she teased. She looked confused when he trailed off though, assuming he'd been about to say something like 'when I was snogging that other girl.' "Tony wasn't so bad in the end," she told him, "yeah he was a total prick when you were around but he got in this accident, yeah? And it changed him, he got nicer after that."

"Well thanks, but you're my guest, yeah? So I'll get the next one," she said. And yes maybe she did want it to be a 'booty call' although she'd never think of it like that, but she was quickly realising it wasn't going to be that simple. She'd already been too honest with him, if she'd only asked him to see her so she could fuck him they'd still have been in the bathroom of the airport toilets.

"Stealing from the rich to give to the poor?" she replied thoughtfully, as she led him through the side door up to her apartment, "yeah that suits us I reckon."

"And I think you're wrong." He stuck his tongue out at her rather mischieviously. "I am weird, but so is fuckin' Tony. If he got nice after that, good for him." And he meant it seriously, not a trace of sarcasm in his voice. "But I still think you're hotter than Michelle. When we get inside, I'll show you," he purred at her with a wink of his eye.

He leaned against the wall of the building, watching her with a raised eyebrow. "Yup, I'm your guest," he murmured. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, watching her. Yup, he felt like a glorified booty call. She only wanted to shag him, not to talk. He saw that now.

"Stealing from the rich to give to us. We're poor. Well, we're not rich." He followed her up to her apartment. "Works for me."

"I like wierd," she pointed out, perhaps weird wasn't quite the word but he certainly wasn't normal. She tried not to smile at his offer, but it was easier said than done. "You promise?" she said quietly.

She watched him for a moment, wondering what he was thinking. She was sure she'd been able into get into his head so easily before but now she had no what was going on in there. "You know I could get laid here if that was all I wanted yeah?" she said suddenly, glancing around them to see if there was any sign ofanyone else that lived in the building. "I just...I told you every thing went to shit right? Fuck, James I spent five hundred dollars to get you here." If that didn't mean something well she wasn't sure what would.

"My mum and day still send me money you know, they've not been in touch but every month my allowance goes through, weird that isn't it?" she asked, reaching out for his hand again so she could take him upstairs.

"Probably a good thing I like weird too." He took her hand and let him lead her up, into her flat. It wasn't anything expected. He let out a whistle, letting her know just how he felt. "Niiice." He smiled at her, kicking off his shoes and bounding over to plop on the sofa.

"So you want more than a shag." He made it a statement, not a question. This was her show, not his. As she had stated, she spent a lot of money to get him here. But why, now that was the million dollar question.

"They care. In their own fucked up way. Better to do that then none."

She laughed slightly in agreement, it wasn't exactly how anyone would choose to be described she realised but there were worse ways she figured.

"Isn't it?" she replied enthusiastically. "the last guy that lived her kind of...left. It's all a bit white, but yeah it's massive isn't it? And you should check out the view, you can see like half of New York."

She sighed at the question and turned away to look at said view. "Like I said it's really not that hard to get laid," she told him a little bitterly. Sex meant nothing though did it? It fact it just made her feel worse about everything. Slowly she turned back around to look at him. "I got lonely, I missed you, I just...I wanted you here okay? And yeah, this isn't about fucking although I'm not about to say no," she shook her head and closed her eyes. She really couldn't explain why she'd asked him here even to herself. He was the only one left, but there was more to it than that.

"I'm pretty sure they just forgot to cancel it or something," she shrugged, "maybe they're just happy they don't have to pretend to care any more. I worry about Reuben though, like who's looking after him."

"Hey..."

Slowly he got up and came over, away from the sofa to stand beside her. He wrapped his arms around her and gazed over the shoulder at the view. It was a nice view, but all he had eyes for were her. "I missed ya too. Why I said yes, didn't I? I'm not just here for a ticket and a mini break."

He sighed. "We can do whatever you want. Long as you're here."

"You could be here cos of that. I mean what idiot'd pass up a free trip to New York?" she asked, resting back against him and putting her arms over his.

"Shouldn't that be as long as you're here?" she said, glancing over her shoulder at him, "I mean I'm always going to be here. But I don't know what I want," she admitted. "There was someone else see? And I'm never going to see him again, and I never want to see him again, it's just all really complicated and I want you. I want you here and I just you know generally want you, I'm not sure I can get into anything right now."

"New York isn't a bad place. It's a bloody interesting place. Still, I didn't come just to play a tourist. I came here for you." He began to gently sway her. Quietly, he hummed in her ear, some stupid cheesy song from the eighties.

"So I am here. And you're here. And for the moment, that's all that matters, eh? Don't think about the twat. And don't think that we have to do anything complicated. We'll just... hang."

"I wouldn't've minded," she told him, "I didn't really expect you to come actually. I hoped, it's been a while hasn't it?"

Slowly she turned in his arms and put her arms around his neck. "I'm trying," she assured him, "I wouldn't mind a little help though. As long as you know. No expectations, yeah?"

James smirked. With a grin, he picked her up and slung her over his shoulder like a caveman. with a giggle, he carried her over to the sofa, playing her arse like a drum with his hands. He whistled some jaunty tune, dropping her on the sofa and pouncing on her.

"I don't mind."

She screamed when he picked her up and kicked her feet feebily. She didn't like being picked up much, because she was still a bit paranoid about her weight and she didn't want anyone feeling how much she weighed.

She frowned up at him, though she wasn't really angry, just mildly annoyed, but decided against saying anuthing. She didn't want to start an argument not after he'd come all this way. "Maybe you should like get a shower first?" she suggested carefully, "I can always come scrub your back if you need a hand."

James smiled down at her. He saw the frown, but he didn't want her to frown. He wanted her to smile. Brightly in fact. So he leaned in, nuzzling her between her ear and her shoulderblade. "Aw, you think I stink." He laughed, biting on her earlobe, tugging playfully with his teeth. Meanwhile one of his hands caressed her hip.

"You always were good with the soap," he purred into her ear. His tongue flicked out, licking her earlobe. "Mmm, promise to join me?"

"No, I just think you've been on an aeroplane for hours," she protested, as she drapped her arm around his shoulder.

She laughed lightly at his words, twisting her head to kiss him on the cheek. "I promise," she assured him quietly. "I'm just looking for a quicker way to get you naked really," she joked, well mostly joked.

James sat up. He smirked at her and got off the couch, standing beside it. Offering her his hand, his pink tongue darted out, licking along her bottom lip.

"I don't know where your loo is," he purred, his voice low and husky. "Lead on luv."

She ignored the way her stomach flipped when she felt his tongue and fought her urge to pull him back down with her onto the couch.

"I'm sure you'd find it eventually," she said quietly, not quite trusting her voice as she lead him down the hallway and pushed open the door. It was pretty simple inside, a bath, a shower, a toilet, although there were shelves everywhere covered with variously beautiful products. "Just help yourself, yeah?" she told him, finally letting go of his hand. "Think I might just go and pour us a drink actually, if that's okay I mean?"

James smiled. He squeezed her hand as she let it go. He didn't want to see her leave, but he knew her. If she wanted a drink to calm the nerves a bit, he wouldn't say no. Hell, it was a drink. He'd join her in it and say to keep the liquids flowing freely.

"Sure, luv. I'll get the water warm for us. And not a shower either. A nice, warm bath will be what we need..." He winked at her, then turned to survey the shelves. She was a woman. She must have had bubble bath. Truthfully, he hated the shit. It hurt his nose. But she'd like it.

That was exactly what it was, she was already starting to panic slightly about this about the whole being naked thing, because she was eating now, which was good it just made everything a bit more worrisome.

"I won't be long," she promised, trying to focus on not freaking out. It would be fine, she knew that deep down it would be fine.

She left the bathroom quickly and headed into the kitchen, quickly downing a shot of vodka for herself before pouring the both of them a vodka and orange, since straight vodka felt a little bit too much like she was trying to get drunk, which she didn't want him to think.