#joandeavour

When Morse arrives at the Thursday's home in Fugue, Joan is staring out the second-story window already waiting for him to arrive

As soon as he rings the doorbell she is there to pull the door open, meaning she probably flew down the stairs so that she and she alone would be the one to answer the door instead of anyone else

And all I can think is that at dinners in the Thursday household, Fred has been telling his family about the strange new man he's recently been working alongside (leaving out the work details, of course), although the new fellow is no more than a boy, really, who's sarcastic and devoted to opera and has a bit of a chip on his shoulder but oh his mind is brilliant and he's got a peculiarly gentle and caring side to him that you don't often see in policework-

And after all those dinners of her father talking about his new bagman, Joan must have found out that one morning he would actually be coming to pick Fred up instead of Jakes. And after all she has heard about this new boy she is just dying to meet him because this is a guy her dad actually seems to like, someone he genuinely approves of instead of "scaring off," and maybe Joan is hopeful, and maybe she wonders if he's really as gentle as her father says, and maybe she wonders if he's at all cute, and maybe she thinks there could be something there in the future

and she would be one hundred thousand billion trillion percent correct

It was quite a challenge to capture this still because it’s such a fleeting moment on his face, and I didn’t want to use a GIF or a video clip. I just wanted that instantaneous moment of pure rage, one of the only ones we see from him in nine seasons.

He’s drained, exhausted, recently hospitalized, and this call from Joan is more than he can stand. Everything boils up and over and he’s left impotently furious, frustrated and devastated.

It’s another moment of sheer unadulterated acting brilliance from this man. 

For years Morse has had all these feelings for Joan and never once put it into words. And when he FINALLY put his feelings into words, those words were *so* beautiful (honestly the combo of Russ' words and Shaun's delivery were 👌).

I rewrote the joan/endeavour scene from 4x04, hope you like it 

‘I never meant to fall for you but I Was buried underneath and All that I could see was white...’                       My Salvation - Gabrielle Aplin

Morse’s footsteps echoed throughout the cold Oxford night. He took a deep breath trying to clear his mind, but his thoughts kept coming back to one thing. He stilled as he neared his flat, an ominous figure standing outside, stopping him in his tracks. The figure turned when they heard him approaching and his heart began to race at the sight of Joan. Her face was half obscured from the darkness but he could still make out her endearing wide eyes and rosy lips. They stood there, a thick air between them, neither knowing quite what to say. Tentatively Morse took a step forward.

“Would you like to come in?” He asked, awkwardly moving down the steps to his front door.

“Yes.” She replied a little too quickly, following him inside.

He flipped the light switch and turned to face her, and his body began to ache with rage at the sight of the purple bruising circling her eye and trailing down across her cheek.                 Instinctively, Joan raised her hand to cover her face, Morse’s intense gaze suddenly making her feel very self-conscious. He took a step forward to examine the injury closer and she flinched, shattering his heart.

“It’s honestly not that bad.” She said defensively.

“Not that bad?” He argued, taking another step forward, “This time maybe, but what about the next time?”

“He promised, never again, it was an accident.” She said weakly, visibly deflating.

“Joan,” Morse said softly, lightly tracing the bruises that marred her otherwise perfect face, “There will be a next time and I can’t let you go back to him.”

At his words, Joan broke into hysterical sobs that made her whole-body shake. Morse was never one to be good at dealing with emotions, he could barely process his own let alone someone else’s. However, it seemed he always knew exactly what to do when it came to Joan and so he pulled her into his arms and let her sob into his chest, staining his shirt with her tears. He placed a soft kiss on hairline where the bruising bean and she sobbed harder.

“I’ve made such a mess of things.” She choked out.

“Whatever it is I’ll fix it.” He said desperately, he would do anything to make her pain go away. “I have a new job offer, for the Met in London, you can come with me, you’ll be safe, I can keep you safe.”

“You can’t.” She said defeatedly.

So, Morse blurted out the only thing he could think of, “Marry Me!”

Joan took a step back, but kept her hands clutched to his shirt.

“I’m sorry Morse, I can’t, I don’t want your pity.”

“It’s not pity,” He pulled her back in close, “I love you.”

“And I love you, but I can’t.” Her lip quivered and the tears began to fall again, “I just can’t.”

She turned to leave, but he caught her hand and pulled her back in close. Delicately, he cupped her cheek and pulled her lips up to meet his. The kiss conveyed everything he couldn’t articulate to her. It was months of unsaid words between them and missed opportunities and most of all it was full of love.                         They broke apart breathing heavily. He looked at her and he knew it wasn’t enough, but he asked anyway.

“Stay?” It came out barely above a whisper.

She shook her head and he couldn’t hide the pain that crept across his face. She took his hand and brought it up to her lips.

“Remember I love you Endeavour Morse.”

His name on her lips was too much for him and he finally let the tears that he’d been trying so hard to keep in fall. Slowly she dropped his hand and turned away, the sight of him crying almost enough to make her stay, but she knew she couldn’t not in her situation.

Cocksure Optimism.

Please enjoy. The music is uncharacteristically similar (not the same, thank you @too-antigonish )for both versions, UK and US. It’s brief, but I just love the swagger. 

Poor crushed Morsey, 45 seconds later.

Morse looking at Joan