True to form, here is the next chapter almost a year after the last!

Chapter Six~

Being kissed by Margaret Tate was definitely one of the highlights of his life. And this time it was different; there were no family members pressuring them into a kiss; no colleagues watching with eagle eyes. It was just them.

Her hands were everywhere; fluttering against his cheeks, gripping the back of his neck, running up his chest and down his arms. She tugged at his bottom lip with her lips and tongue and teeth, nipping at him sharply before soothing the area with a sweet kiss and he felt utterly overwhelmed. She was consuming all of his senses and he was dimly aware that they should stop, they should slow down because his whole point was that he loved her and he genuinely wanted to talk.

"Margaret," he murmured against her lips, giving her a soft peck before pulling away, but keeping her bundled in his arms. He looked down at her face; her eyes were still closed, cheeks pink and her chest was heaving and he had the flush of pride that he had caused that.

(He wondered what else he could do.)

"Margaret," he repeated, and pecked her cheek. "All I want is to try one more time. Let me take you out?"

She opened her eyes and he watched her carefully. He could see emotion pooling in her eyes, dark orbs studying him before she pulled away from him, barriers slamming down to chase away what emotion had been there. "I can't do this." she said firmly and pushed past him to leave the room in a hurry.

Except her brain was still swimming from that kiss, limbs feeling weak and annoyingly spaghetti like, and instead of storming out of the room to the safety of the bullpen she slammed into the closed glass door with enough force to propel her backwards onto the floor. She landed heard, her ankle twisting awkwardly underneath her and causing her to cry out.

Andrew watching in surprise, snorting slightly with a half laugh. "Looks like somebody won't be leaving for a while."

….….

"Ow!" she ground out in frustration as Andrew helped her to her feet and wound an arm around her waist as he helped her hop to the edge of the desk to perch.

"Oh, hush woman" he laughed as he pulled the chair closer to her so that from her position she could rest her ankle on the desk.

She glared at him in response and shook him off so that she could put her leg up herself.

"Let me look at it." he demanded, leaving no room for anything otherwise as he gently felt her ankle "hmm" he hummed. "I don't think it's broken. I think it's just twisted," he diagnosed with a flourish and a grin.

"Why thank you Doctor." she said, voice dripping with sarcasm as she winced.

"It's my pleasure." he said with equal sarcasm, adding, "I'm just gunna put it out there; I didn't think a glass door would be the thing to take down the Great Miss Tate"

"Oh I'm so glad you're finding this amusing, Andrew." she bit out. "Get me some ice."

"Oh I will. Right after we carry on our conversation." he replied, leaning casually against the chair that her leg was resting on.

"Andrew," she sighed suddenly shuffled until she was fully sitting on the desk, smoothing down the wrinkles in her shirt. "I don't know why you keep bothering." she avoided his stare.

"Because," he said with urgency. "I'm in lobe with you Margaret Tate. I was in love with you eighteen months ago and that hasn't changed." He reached forward to grab her hands.

"And I know you're in love with me too." his voice was soft and gentle and she let him take her hands in his. He watched her closely and saw uncharacteristic tears pool in her eyes that she tried to blink away.

"I'm just not-not good at this." she said quietly and he smoothed the back of her hands with his thumb.

"Margaret," he started. "I know you're not. But you don't have to be - this could be so simple. I love you and that's not going to change, despite what you think" he broke eye contact for a moment, taking a fortifying breath. "But if this really isn't what you want tell me now and I'll stop. I won't pursue you, I won't force you to see what we could have, but think carefully before you decide. Please."

She took a shaky breath in, breath hitching as he mentioned love. Maybe she should stop fighting this.

"Fine." She said eventually. "You can take me out for dinner tomorrow night" He grinned widely and moved to kiss her again but she stopped him with a finger to his lips. "But not to that stupid diner you always talk about. I don't care if you think their desserts are "to die for", their food definitely should not be-"

Andrew pressed forwards and silenced her with a soft kiss, pressing gently against her lips twice before pulling away and taking pleasure at looking at her slightly flushed face, eyelashes dark against the skin of her cheek.

She swallowed and opened her eyes, fixing him with a glare. "And you need to tell everyone that we are certainly not engaged." she said firmly. "We are-"

And Andrew cut her off with a kiss, his last coherent thought for a while being that it felt weird to kiss while smiling.

And that he had definitely won their bet; exactly one week later she was in his arms wrapped up in one of the greatest kisses he had ever had.

And this time she wasn't getting away.

So that's it, folks! Thank you to everyone who has left the kindest words on this story- it's so crazy that people have kept up interest in this over the like 7 years I've taken to actually finished it.

Much love

Ps- I started writing this as a teenager and so at some point in the near (or not so near) future I'll be doing a rewrite/ revamp of some parts!