songofsong | AU } Maybe in another life, we wouldn't be alone tonight

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AU } Maybe in another life, we wouldn't be alone tonight

Saturdays were always big days, but today, well, it was even bigger.

The World Museum was open to the trawls of parents and children that flooded in every weekend, a spell of bad weather driving in an even bigger amount than normal. What also helped, was the fact that a new space exhibition had arrived on the science level, one that Melody Pond had been angling for some time, and today was the big opening.

It had taken a lot of hard work and a lot of money, but it was finally here, and Melody was practically bursting with excitement as she zoomed around the museum, making sure everything was going smoothly. She'd heard there might be some special guests making a visit later, the kind of special guest that could possibly see her head hunted. Therefore, everything had to be running perfectly.

Passing one of her colleagues, Melody stopped him with a hand on the arm, requesting in hopefully pleading voice that usually got her her own way.

"Malcolm, would you mind standing by for the 3D showing? Just make sure everything goes to plan? Thank you, sweetie."

He was all too happy to oblige, which was why Melody had asked him in particular, and she watched him go with knowing look, unable to feel much happier than she did in this moment. With her hands by her sides, she did a little spin on the spot before she bounced off to continue with her duties, nothing able to wipe the smile from her face.

Everything was going to plan.

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"If you tell them about the trains, I'm sure they'll understand," says Melody as she climbs out of bed, going for her overnight case so she could get dressed into her clean clothes. It at least makes her feel a little more prepared for the day ahead.

In the mirror, she tries to make her hair behave, but it remains ever wild, and in the end, she lets it do just that. No clips, just pure curls.

"Yeah I'm not the boss like you, Mels," he says with a wry smile in her direction. "I can't give myself a tap on the wrist." He'd probably be okay, but that doesn't mean he doesn't need to rush. He knows he does.

"Where do you need to get to?" he asks, hopping a little as he pulls his boots on, one after another.

"Sorry, I'd have stopped and got us breakfast or something if I didn't have to get back."

"Well, if you need anyone to vouch for you, let me know," she offers, though it's evident the trains had been an issue, so she only hopes he doesn't get into too much trouble.

Pulling on her coat, she fastening up the buttons, then making a grab for her handbag. "Oh, I'm just heading home," she replies. "But I'll head to the station, get a cab back."

He pauses a moment as he turns to look at her, wondering how in the time he's shoved on jeans and a tshirt, she's somehow managed to make herself look put together. Maybe it's part of that whole sexy older woman thing she's got going on.

It makes him smile. "Alright then," he nods. "I'll walk with you."

And on that, he scoops up his leather jacket and slips into it, making for the door and holding it open for her.

With one last shake of her hair, Melody steps on out of the hotel room, looking back at him with a small smile. She realises now this are the last few moments which they can truly spend together, before it's back into the big wide world, and back to the lives they had put on hold, if just for one night.

Out on the street, the rain has let up since the night before, and they can walk along without concern as they retrace their steps back towards the train station, where the taxis line up outside to await punters.

"Well, then," she says as she steps up onto the kerb, pulling her overnight case up after her. "I hope you're not waiting around too long for your train. They're fairly frequent from here, though."

He comes to a stop as they reach the taxi rank, turning back towards her with a slow smile.

"I really enjoyed last night, Mels," he tells her warmly. "I hope you did too. Look, you've got my number, so text me, yeah? If you come down my way, send me a message or give me a call. I meant it last night when I said I'd like to see you again."

He would, he really would, in fact the thought he might not is almost disconcerting. He doesn't want to have to think about it, so he pushes that thought aside.

"Yeah, me too," she admits, with something of a shy smile. It was a memory that would certainly stay with her for some time, and not just because of the nature of their meet up. He was memorable for many reasons.

When he reiterates that he wants to see her again, her eyebrows lift hopefully. "Oh! Yes! Yes, that would be nice," she replies, nodding at him. More than nice, but it'll remain to be seen.

"Thank you, James," she then says, her smile turning a little more sincere. "Honestly. Last night was.. really good." Good in many ways.

He can see a warmth in her eyes that wasn't there before. It's as if she's let herself go in a way she needed. He won't credit himself with that, but perhaps he can allow himself at least a part of it.

It's then, that quite without warning, and quite without care, he leans in, his lips to hers, capturing her in a long and slow kiss that lingers a moment or more.

"Be seeing you around, Melody."

She hadn't quite expected him to kiss her, so there's little stopping him when he moves down towards her, taking her lips in an indulgent kiss that brings back all the memories of the night before. For a moment, the station around them blurs into nothing, and she's ready to pull him back in for another. But when their lips part, she remembers just where they are, and she can't help but blush a little at the public nature of that kiss.

"James!" she whispers, looking flustered, but smiling nevertheless. She bites into her lower lip, giving him another look before she laughs to herself, shaking her head and turning away to go and get into the next available cab. Once she's inside, she can't help but look back, and she gives a shy wave through the window.

Her gentle chiding brings a wide smile to his face, and the way he sees her bite her lip makes him want to lean in and kiss her again. He doesn't though, rather standing there and watching her get in the cab, not heading off into the train station until he sees the car disappear from view.

On the train, he wonders if that's that. But he hopes it isn't, he hopes she doesn't too. He'd understand why, of course. Part of him suspects that as time wears off, she'll sink back to thinking it'd be a folly to contact him, silly to imagine such a thing. Because that's how she was, isn't it?

So about an hour into his train journey, he pulls his phone out and sends a text message.

Really glad those trains were cancelled last nite

As the distance between them grows, Melody does begin to wonder if they'll really stay in touch. While they're together, it's the most obvious suggestion, but apart, back in their normal lives, is it really going to happen? He's asked her to text him, but she's told herself to give in a couple of days. She feels by then both of them will know what they want. But she's stood in her kitchen, nursing a cup of tea, when she hears her phone go off with a text.

Heading over to it, she's expecting Toby, he's the only one who ever really texts her, so she's surprised to find James' name flash up on her phone, his full name too. Probably about time she knew that.

Considering the screen for a moment, she checks the time. He can't have arrived into London yet, and already he was texting her. She smiles to herself at the thought, and begins typing her reply.

Me too. Had a really nice time.

To kiss or not to kiss? She hesitates for a moment, before deciding they've already done a lot more than that, and so a small 'x' is tapped on to the end of her sentence.

James doesn't reply to that message, but he's glad that he can, glad to know he can. It feels oddly exciting, like something he can't quite quantify, the beginning of something exciting. It makes him feel good.

But as he gets back to London, and across it, back to home, it would be so easy to forget. Easy to put things behind him. But he doesn't want to do that, not with her, and as he's at work, scanning new CDs and DVDs, he finds his mind drifting to the previous night, to the noises she made and that little dimple on the small of her back. More than once, it takes his boss telling him to snap out of it. It's not like him to get so lost in his own thoughts.

He's not going to be that guy though, not going to hound her. After all, she's a grown woman, she's probably already forgotten all about him.

Still, he doesn't really stop thinking, and it's the Tuesday night, when he's walking home from work, pulling out his phone to play his music, that he decides to text her again. Something simple, something short.

Hi how's work

Edited 2014-09-20 11:35 (UTC)

With the weekend over, Melody is quickly thrown back into work, once more loaded with responsibilities and problems and constant questions. It makes Saturday night seem so far away, and it's only in the quiet moments of her day that the memories come back. Memories of his warm touch across her skin, memories of the way his threaded breath sounded in her ear. He lingers with her, just as her memories do, but in the whirlwind of work, she hasn't thought to text him until she gets one of her own on Tuesday night.

Busy, but that's a good thing. How about you? Was everything ok when you got back?

With her text sent, she settles back on the couch, and smiles into the glass of wine she's nursing.

The response comes fairly quickly, and he pulls his phone back from his pocket to look at it with a small smile.

Yeah got a bit of shit but not too bad. How's the space exhibit going?

The returned quick reply makes her feel better about answering him quickly, so she doesn't hesitate to do the same again, ignoring the television and settling down with her phone.

Still early days yet, but the feedback has been really positive! What are you up to right now?

He doesn't bother putting his phone back in his pocket, instead simply keeping it in his hand, texting as he walks.

Just walking home from work. Got a chow mein with my name on it.

After that, the texts continued, more frequent and longer in nature, asking each other about their days, talking about it when things weren't going so great. It had got to the point where now, she was just as likely to get a text off James as she was Toby, and at times, more likely.

But it was a good thing, and having James present somehow helped her to feel a little less lonely when she went home alone, because she knew there would be a message awaiting her to ask her how her day had been.

On Friday night's, James always tended to go out. This one is no exception. He goes to a bar with friends, catching up with his best friend Sally who people could be quite easily mistaken to think them a couple, the way she sits on his lap and kisses him playfully on the lips. They're friends though, nothing more, and good friends at that. Some other people they know are playing a gig and they go along. There are a couple of people there that James has been seeing, on and off. Ordinarily he might take one of them home.

But not tonight.

Instead he's alone when he steps back through the door of his flat, stumbling and a little worse for wear. He climbs into bed not long after, shifting a little and wondering to himself why he didn't bring someone home. After all, he does enjoy a little fun. He doesn't really think about the reasons why he decided to come back alone.

Lying in his bed, his thoughts drift back to the previous weekend, the memory of Melody awakening his senses. And so alone in bed, it's his phone he reaches for. Not realising the fact it's after 2am, he brings up Melody's contact and sends a message.

hi what u up 2

Unsurprisingly, Melody is fast asleep when her phone buzzes loudly on the night stand. She makes a groan of confusion as her eyes open and it dawns on her she has a message. Always fearing the worse (after all, she is a mother,) she quickly reaches out for the phone, worried she's about to find out Toby's done something stupid and needs her help.

But when she sees James' message, she relaxes, although remains confused at the hour of his texting.

Blearily looking at the screen, she manages to type a rather simple answer.

Sleeping? What are you doing?

Sleeping? It almost confuses him, but then he checks the time and realises.

fuck yeah its late sorry. been at a gig just got in

That doesn't quite explain why he's texting her, so she cautiously sends a reply.

Is everything alright?

James shifts on the bed a little, his next reply isn't so swift. A couple of minutes break. He has very specific thoughts on his mind, but then perhaps that's something to do with the drink. Or something to do with the fact he's young (he thinks) and has a tendency to have a bit of a one track mind at times.

yeah just lying in bed thinking about last weekend

The break's long enough for her to wonder if he's fallen asleep, and she goes to put her phone back, only for his text to come through. Reading it, she can't help but smirk slightly, and with some courage, types out her reply.

I've been thinking about it all week.

Her reply seems to bolster him, and his next response is quicker.

yeah me to. u made me cum so hard u no

The style of his texts makes her wonder if he might be more than a little drunk, which does amuse her. He's rather forward without the alcohol, so she can only imagine what he's like with it.

With a small laugh, she's slightly embarrassed by the admittance but she does reply.

I did notice.

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