Afterwards they lay together, chatting and holding each other close as they usually did if they didn't have to sleep for work the next morning. It was another simple pleasure they both loved – the emotional closeness they shared after being together.

"So where was the necklace from?" Laura asked, her head was on Robbie's shoulder and her arm was draped lazily over his chest, her fingers gently and idly caressing him.

"I got it from that craft fair in Broad Street"

"You mean the artisan market?" He could feel her frown and knew she wore one of her irritated looks.

"No, the craft fair" and he smiled to himself. Sometimes he loved to wind her up and sometimes it was just too easy.

"They don't call it that anymore Robbie, we've been through this, it's an artisan market. Come on, keep up with the program, you can't stay stuck in the '70's and '80's all the time. Why don't you dig out your flares while you're at it?"

"Oh right, yes, artisan." He said softly through a smirk. "Well anyway I'm glad you like it"

Against his chest, he felt Laura's amused irritation turn to a smile

"I do, I love it. Thank you. It was a lovely surprise" She frowned "I'm not missing anything am I? I mean it's not my birthday"

"I know, but when I saw it, and when the girl who made it said it was a one off I wanted you to have it. It's a thank you I suppose, for everything you've done for me, Y'know, like the pictures in the spare room, and just generally"

He sighed. "I know I can be a bit rubbish at stuff like that. I 'm not always the most thoughtful. I know I messed up when I went back to work and didn't tell you."

Robbie looked down at Laura. She propped herself up on one elbow and regarded him with an incredulous look on her face.

"What on earth are you talking about?" She said, shaking her head with an indignant smirk. "You're not thoughtful? Are you insane? Who makes me tea and then breakfast in the morning? Who worries about me eating lunch when I'm at work? Who buys me presents that can only be about us?" She didn't mention the returning to work incident. They'd already reconciled over that and Laura had long grown out of holding a grudge, especially with Robbie.

He looked back at her with a shy smile and a soft laugh. He hadn't really thought of those things like that.

On his chest, Laura's hand went where it often found itself, over his heart.

"Robbie. You idiot. No hang on, what is it you like to say up north? You daft apeth? "

"Well, not exactly that, the north's a big place y'know, in Newcastle. . ."

She grinned. It was her turn to tease him. She kissed him as he tried to finish his sentence. He soon gave up.

She pulled away from his lips and he gazed back at her. Through the open window the night outside was cool and green and in the fragrant darkness of the bedroom she seemed to shine. He took her hand in his and they laced their fingers together.

"I'm so glad you like it" He said softly. "It was a bit of an impulse buy and it's a bit of an odd thing to have round your neck I suppose, but it just made me think of all those chips we've shared in the past. Maybe we wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for fish and chips"

Laura smiled at him. She thought to herself that what he'd said was possibly the truest and most unromantically-romantic thing anyone had said to her.

"You might just be right" She said, her eyes sparkling in the soft darkness.

"Here's to fish and chips" he said, and he leant in to kiss her, smiling as his lips lingering on hers.

"To fish and chips" she said and she kissed him back again before they both settled into a peaceful quiet in the darkness of the room.

Robbie soon dropped off to sleep. Laura lay awake for a while and heard the sound of a fox barking outside the window. She stretched her legs a little and next to her Robbie, snoring softly, stirred in his sleep at the movement. Out for the count. She smiled. The chamomile tea had gone cold as she knew it would do. Laura looked at Robbie and wondered how it was that her life had changed so much and yet stayed the same since less than a year before. It had always been in her mind that it was he who had needed someone in his life, that he was the lonely one. But she had been just as much adrift in a sea of loneliness. Somehow they'd found a safe haven together.

She sighed. She knew more than anybody that life was a brief spark in the endless ongoing nothingness of the universe. She looked at Robbie again. At least she had another spark with her right now. She snuck up closer and rested her head against him and gently placed her hand over his chest. He stirred slightly and in his sleep placed his hand over hers. To fish and chips and cold chamomile tea She thought to herself. Through the open window Laura could see that the sky had turned from a rich blue to a dark velvety black. For a few moments she looked at the moon, risen high into a peaceful night sky that was studded with stars. Then she slowly joined Robbie and drifted off into a contented, deep sleep.

AN: Thanks for reading if you got this far. This was total Robson sugar fluff and I apologise for the weak meandering "plot" and wandering narrative. My next story has a bit more to it than just Robson fluff and I hope will be a bit of a better read. I appreciate all your notes and messages and again, a big thank you for reading my syrupy waffle. Until next time . . . ML

PS there may be a bonus Rumpy-Pumpy chapter that erm, fills the gap between this and the last chapter. M rated obviously so if I do get round to posting, it won't show up on the archive, only on my page. kthanksbye!

UPDATE: Chamomile Tea - the bonus Robson-sexy-fluff-fest missing chapter is now posted on my profile page