#ashover

“Ugh, why did I eat that?!” Serena groaned, pushing her chair away from the table and sighing, rubbing her now slightly sore stomach with regret. “There must have been at least 600 calories in that tiramisu. 700 if you count the little chocolate wafer that came with it.”“You chose Italian.” Bernie shrugged, watching Serena over her wine glass. “I warned you their desserts were to die for.”“And I’m starting to think I should have bloody well listened to you.” The brunette muttered, taking a gulp of her wine and wincing, straightening her body. “I’m glad we didn’t come by car now, driving back on this cobbled street would have created some impressive spontaneous vomiting.”“Not in my car it wouldn’t.” Bernie raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly. “It still has the faint aroma of regurgitated ice cream from when we went to the diner on Holloway Avenue.”“Oh good Lord do be quiet.” Serena groaned again. “Or there will be a repeat of that event imminently.” Bernie smirked as she finished off her wine, thinking back to their third date when she’d taken Serena to her favourite American diner in nearby Keaton-on-Sea. Her partner had gone a little over the top at the all-you-could-eat dessert bar after spotting they had rocky road ice cream… Safe to say Bernie’s car had never been the same since that immovable brown patch in the passenger’s footwell had appeared.After the young waitress came over to give them their bill, the couple gathered up their things and began the slow, winding walk back to their holiday cottage. It was a clear, crisp August night, with a sea of stars overhead to keep them company as they wandered slowly over the hill tops towards the small village of Ashover. In the distance the sun was setting, sending ebbs of sweet purples and rich blues into the ever approaching darkness; painting the night as nature saw fit. They slowed as they reached the top of a rather steep hill, partly to take in the incredible views, but mostly to catch their breaths before they both collapsed.Serena tucked her arm under Bernie’s and sighed softly, resting her head against the trauma surgeon’s warm cream coat.“I never want this holiday to end.” She whispered, watching her breath curl and glide away before her, disappearing into the night. Bernie kissed the top of Serena’s head, her mouth twitching as a stray hair tickled her nose.“Me neither. But unfortunately-”“-I know I know, it must because we’re doctors, and the hospital needs us, etc etc.” The brunette interrupted, a slight hint of dissatisfaction in her voice. Bernie blinked in surprise.“Um, well I was actually going to say that I don’t think our bathroom scales would thank us if we went on a never ending holiday. Neither would Jason, come to think of it.”“Those…are very good points.” Serena raised her eyebrows. “That tiramisu will have me feeling full until we go home, there was so much of it. Who eats portions that size anyway?”“Well you, evidently. And in good time too.” Bernie grinned, watching Serena break away from her arm and face her.“It’s a good job I love you Berenice Wolfe, because you can be a cheeky bugger sometimes.”“And it’s a good job I love you Serena Campbell, because if one of my troop had said that to me I would have drop kicked them on the spot.” “Ha! I’d love to see you try that!” Serena exclaimed, before squealing as Bernie launched herself forwards and grabbed her partner by the waist.“Stop! Stop you’ll make me throw up! Bernie! Bernie!” Her voice was high pitched with excitable panic, as the woman squirmed and wriggled beneath her lover’s grasp until Bernie finally relented. She looked down into Serena’s eyes, bright and beautiful from the reflection of the moonlight, and she watched them close as she leaned in to kiss her.“I love you so much.” Bernie whispered into her ear, breathless but overwhelmingly happy.“I love you too.” Serena whispered back, planting one last kiss on Bernie’s lips before she intertwined their fingers and the couple carried on walking back to their cottage.