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As promised, here are chapters 3-5! I do hope you enjoy them!
Title: Stay With Me
Author: Molly (Me)
Pairing: Greg/Josie, Tony/OFC
Pimped (Betaed) by: Ally (ally_pops)
Rating: PG

Chapter Three
The sweet smell of the wine was holding among the table as Greg checked his watch for the ninth time. The empty seat opposite taunted him to the point where he was biting his cheek to stop himself screaming.

“Ok, five more minutes and I’m out.” he hissed to himself, biting harshly into a piece of bread.

“Is sir ready to order?” a young fresh faced waiter had appeared, notepad in hand. Greg shook his head, “No.” he sighed, looking back at his watch.Where could she be? I hope she’s okay. Has she left me? Have I been stood up? Greg threw his napkin onto the empty table and told the waiter to cancel his seat as he marched through the restaurant, head bowed, face burning with shame. People recognised him, they whispered how they thought was discretely as he tugged his arms through his coat and pulled the glass doors onto the south bank.

“Greg!” The shrill call, not in panic but in surprise, desperation. Josie ran, shoes in hand, hair skewed across her face, eyes blackened as she sprinted. Greg tried to look at the floor, ignore her but he couldn’t. Grabbing him by the shoulders she let her shoes to drop to the floor and panted. “Greg, I…I’m so sorry I’m late.” Greg really wanted to be stern and tell her that she had just humiliated him completely but instead he let her steady herself on his arm and slip back into the heels. “Listen, don’t worry.”

“Five cabs drove past me then it began to rain…” she babbled, “Then I had to get a train and the machine wouldn’t take my money then I missed the train. I’m so sorry.” Groaning she buried her head into his jacket. “You had a table…” Greg nodded and patted her head, “Yeah, I’ve cancelled it now though.” he licked his lips and surveyed the banks. “Ok, we’ll find somewhere else.”

****

Her hand fitted snugly in his as they strolled. Ambled. Whatever they did, it was nice. It gave them time to talk. Things he never knew about her suddenly came out and he was sure he told her things she never knew.

“So are you new to London?” Josie asked, a mist of icy air lulling from her mouth into the navy air as she spoke. He nodded, folding an arm delicately, but not too presumptuously around her back and shoulders. She knew how to retaliate and rested in, noticing how he towered over her even though she wore heels. “Yeah I’ve only been here since we started filming.”

“Oh.” they walked to the sound of the waves crashing into the side of the wall. Greg breathed in the spicy scent of her shampoo and perfume and hugged her tighter, the warmth from her coat and body a delight on the cold November night. “Josie, can I ask you something about Tony?” Turning her head she giggled, “Yep go ahead.”

“Did you guys ever go out?” he ruffled a hand through her curls as she laughed. “No! People always get that impression. Listen, would you ever go out with one of your best mates?” Greg hummed and shook his head, “Guess not. He’s a good friend then?”

“Yes.” Josie bound and arm around Greg’s waist and whispered in his ear. “He tells me when a man is worth my time.” She added a cheeky smile and stopped, the clip of her heels ceased echoing. They had walked, the realised when they looked back, past five bridges and were now at the foot of the Houses of Parliament, the clock tower twinkling like a big Christmas tree in the wake of the bronzed towers.

“Well,” Josie sighed and leant over the crest of the bridge, the water gliding beneath her as she sighed. “There’s always a burger.”

A small stall sat down the road, which never slept seemingly, on Westminster finally served a purpose in their lives. Josie had often wandered past, the smell of onions and ketchup repulsing her; yet now nothing had ever smelt so appetising. When she had dressed tonight, she had dressed for wine, champagne, steaks and posh service; not burgers and a can of Coke, but she found herself smiling as she ordered the two fat burgers with extra condiments.

“Here you are.” she handed over the burgers as Greg fished in his wallet and paid. “I feel cheap,” he grunted, biting the burger. Josie giggled and walked by his side, down the steep steps of the bridge until they found a small wooden slated bed beside the banks. “I mean you could always ask him if he had any champagne stowed away in that trailer of his.” She added a little smirk.
“Aw, but Josie, you got all dressed up as well.”

“Yeah…but this is nice. Plus I’ve never wanted a burger from that van so much in my whole life.”

“Hey, a burgers a burger…” Greg decided, smiling through the ketchup.

The two sat silently, pulsing their way through their meal. Silent as though they were, they enjoyed each other’s company. It didn’t matter that they didn’t speak, nor did it make a difference that they were eating a greasy burger instead of the Michelin cuisine they had anticipated. Paper discarded, they lazed across the bench, Josie in Greg’s arms. Josie traced the fine lines of muscle on his arms with her finger, never before had she felt something so delicate yet so strong. It didn’t matter now, but for years she had denied herself the chance to be friendly with Greg, just in case her hopes were raised then shot down. She had told Tony in confidence; she knew he understood. Somehow she knew he had an inkling. After the years they had known each other there had been what some may have called a sixth sense. He could tell just by a passing glance what looks Josie went for and what sort of humour a man had to have. Josie wished now she had Greg, Tony would find someone. He spent so much time looking out for her he hadn’t given himself a chance to settle down himself…

“Josie, would you like to know a secret.” Greg’s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. Nodding, Josie blinked back from her mascara swept eyes. “Yeah.” Greg pulled her head close, his mouth against her perm curtained ear, “I l-”

The bell of Big Ben tolled and they broke apart, fright gripping them until they began to laugh at their stupidity. “It’s midnight.” Josie gasped, astonished at the time. Barrelling up, she grated her back against the river railings to catch a better view of the illuminated clock. “It’s midnight, Greg.”

Greg joined her by the river and looked into the black water, the flecks of yellow bulbs like footlights along the banks. “That mean’s it’s the weekend.” he grinned and took her hand. “Sorry it wasn’t the night we planned.” he groaned, helping her up the stairs.

“Still,” she sung, “That burger was pretty nice.” The two hung over the bridge, the clock tolling in the midst.

“Ok, Cinderella. Time for you to get home before your pretty face turns to mush.” Greg braced himself for a hit but instead he found Josie blushing, smiling at the paving slabs beneath her feet. A black taxi swerved as he hailed, “Thanks Greg.” Josie sighed and headed for the taxi, but stopped halfway. Before she knew what to do, Greg had her in an embrace, his mouth firmly on hers, his warm body shrouding hers. Pulling away she secretly rejoiced, a mini band complete with fanfare and choir singing praise to the lord for a perfect ending to a perfect night.

Chapter Four
“Really? Ok…ok. Josie? Josie, I really have to go. I want to get some breakfast this morning or I’ll be miserable all day long. Ok, tell me about it later…Ok…love you. Bye.” Tony slammed the phone on the receiver, chuckling at his love struck friend as he locked his front door and zipped his coat up around his chin. His legs began to gallop like that of a newborn horse; getting nowhere fast in the most awkward method. His train left in five minutes and he knew if he didn’t run he’d be left on the platform as the train did one of those fancy, taunting slips out of the station, the merry passengers on board having a silent smirk of smugness as they settled into their seats.

“Last call for the seven seventeen..” the loud voice of the speakers squeaked over as Tony hurried through, paper in hand, his Bambi-legged gallop now a sweaty sprint. Things pass in rush he realised, a blur. People he bumped into were all of a sudden too far away to say sorry. Life was like that sometimes, he felt; emotions high, adrenaline pumping then all of a sudden the whole world to too slow for you and before you can do anything about it you’re alone.

“Quick.” A small hand grabbed Tony’s and pulled him headlong onto the train as the doors shimmied to a gently close behind him. Nobody had taken any notice of his home video style calamity as she straightened up, slicking his hair back, styling the whole scene out.

“You okay?” Tony shuffled paper in hand around a pole, a young woman picking her bag back from the floor onto her shoulders. She had a small frame, very slight, and she had shoulder length blonde hair; not a bleach but subtle, delicate and natural highlights.
“Yeah, was it-? Did you just help me on?” Tony pointed at the door as she nodded. “Yeah.” she smiled, her long blonde hair sweeping over her pale face, “It happened to me last week and nobody helped me though.” Tony motioned to a couple of empty seats and beckoned her over, “That’s just rudeness though, not helping a young woman on the train.”

“Yeah, suppose it is.” the woman unfolded her newspaper, “By the way, I’m Danielle Harris.” she held her hand out, smiling a little cheekbone raising smile.

“Oh,” Tony shuffled with his papers before throwing them on the floor and taking her by the hand, “Tony Slattery, so you work in the media industry as well?” Tony pointed at a folder with “The Guardian” emblazoned on the spine.
“Yes, yes the newspaper. Not exciting.” she added a nervous blush. “I work at South Bank, see. Nice ride in.” Tony nodded, “Yes, same here.”

“Really?” Danielle showed obvious, apparent interest, “Where?” There were few people who actually knew Tony in the street. It hadn’t been long since the launch of the show and what with it being on a new channel. “I am an actor.” he said meekly. He hated declaring his profession as he felt the term “actor” brought to mind skiving blokes, bottles of whiskey and a Chinese meal for one. Ok the last bit wasn’t so much a lie but Tony had never been a scrounger. Danielle sighed, “Wow, been in anything?” Suddenly she bit her lip, “Sorry, I’m being intrusive.”
“No, no, it’s ok. Yeah I’m on a-”
“The next station is Waterloo.” The drivers voice interrupted with rude importance. Both Tony and Danielle looked up at the pulsing speaker and raised, bumping into each other with little bursts of apology and shuffling as they clustered off of the train, hundreds of suited and booted office folk dispersing like the seeds of a plant.

“Ok, Danielle. Umm, see you.” Tony had managed to lean behind a buttress, clear of the people clouding the barriers. Danielle looked slightly hurt but smiled all the same, “Nice meeting you Tony.” Her heels clipped down the platform, but Tony felt like a right plum, even though he ’t place why. “Danielle!” Calling he did a little stylish skip and stopped before her, the warmth of his breath glittering the end of her nose, “I don’t know when you break for lunch. But, there’s a nice little café around the south bank, I mean if you’re free.” Danielle shuffled on her heels and bunched her scarf around her neck, “Yeah sure. Twelve at the station?” With a brief nod, Tony watched her fade into a November sprinkle before bounding merrily to the studios.

****

“My, my. Somebody is happy this morning.” Greg smirked. It was official, Greg and Josie had finally told the world through non-verbalisation that they were an item. It didn’t require an explanation; hand in hand as they giggled on the couch in the green room seem voice enough. They were like that, the pair of them, getting people guessing. Tony brushed off a few flakes of snow from his blazer and tidied his hair in the wide mirror. “Happy?” Tony spun, an abnormally large smile pleating his peachy face, “What makes you say that?”

Josie bit her lip, “Stop smiling Slattery, it’s freaking me out.” The green room clipped with laughter as Greg gave Josie one of those meaningless kisses as she rose from her seat. A squirt of aftershave and Tony glided through the double doors into the corridors to the dressing rooms.

“Tony.” Josie’s voice was barely about a whisper, a sharp short hiss to grab his fluttered attention. With truth he only had plans for lunch on the brain. Josie exchanged a knowing smile with him and pinned him playfully against the wall. “Who is it?”

“Who is what- ow!” Tony giggled as Josie smiled pinching his arm in play fight. “Ok, ok. I’m just going out for lunch today with a girl I just met…” Josie dropped him from the wall and covered her mouth dancing around the spot. “No way! What’s her name?” Tony clicked the lock of his room. “Her name is Danielle. Now I’m going to get ready…go off and play with lover boy sweetheart.” he closed the door leaving Josie gleaming from the other side of the wood, “And wish me luck!”

****

Flipping a twenty pound note from his wallet, Tony paid the man for a selection of posh delicacies and coffee as he took a seat by the window. Danielle peeled her coat off and sighed, “Are you sure I can’t give you any money?” Tony cracked into a sandwich and flapped his hand, spraying a mouthful of food uncouthly across the table, “Dofnt be sshtupid.” Danielle giggled into her mug. The two munched their way through garbling on about their lives. Danielle was 30, a feeble match to Tony’s 33 and she was working at the offices of the Telegraph just to the rear of the Channel Four studios where Tony went.

“I told my friend your name and she said you was on a new show.” Danielle said, the end of the sentence rising like she wanted him to clarify. “Yeah I am.” Tony smiled.

“Oh, well sorry I didn’t recognise. I don’t know what you think of me, I don’t watch too much TV.”

“Well good for you. Don’t. Rots the brain.” Tony added with a saucy wink. Danielle sighed and looked out of the window, “So…are you looking forward to Christmas?”

The pair, despite the chops of irrational shyness, they managed to finished boxes of sandwiches, fruits, yogurts and mugs of coffee until there was a frightful knock on the window. Josie and Greg, arm in arm were pointing at Tony, who was shining a dazzling red, head in hands. Danielle looked from Josie, to Greg, to Tony and giggled, “You know these guys?” Josie thudded the window again and waved at Danielle who grinned and waved back.
“I’m Josie.” she called through the pane. Tony groaned, “Yes. Sadly.” Scrawling his number on a piece of paper, Tony smiled. “Listen, I better be getting back now anyway, Danielle.”

“Yes, same here. Thank you for a lovely meal.”

“Oh it’s ok. Here, this is my number, if you ever fancy grabbing a coffee or anything then just give me a call.” Danielle blushed and folded the paper into her bag, “Thanks. I will.” Tony waved her off and joined Josie and Greg who were outside dancing their way back to the studios, gushing over Tony’s new found friend.

Chapter Five
Christmas was approaching rapidly, shops were stocking on the necessities as it drew to a week before. Tony knew Josie and Greg had decided to spend the holiday week at Greg’s north London home, while Tony decided to spend some time alone. Everywhere he went, it seemed every branch had been donned in bulbs and tinsel- a silent taunt?-he wondered. Tony hummed a gentle tune and poured a mixture of cat food into a bowl and stroked his cat as she bounded onto the counter in one pounce. A bottle of wine was chilling in a glass on the side; his one little luxury for the weekend. Settling into the sofa, he was just in time to see the phone shudder as it rung. “Dear god- Hello?”

“Hello, Tony?”
“Hey Josie.” he felt his shoulders sag a little as he rested back onto the sofa, “You okay?”

“Yeah I’m good thanks.”

“How is it going with you and Greg?”

“Not too bad.” Jose emitted a small sigh, which he wasn’t sure if he was meant to hear it. A sigh which led to ulterior motives for the call. “Listen Tony, me and Greg have been talking about Christmas. We wanted to know whether you wanted to join us for dinner.” Tony held his head; he wanted to go somewhere but he didn’t want to intrude on their Christmas. He didn’t want to be a burden or to make them feel like they had to invite him. “No, Josie, honest. I’ll be ok-”

“No please we insist.”
“I don’t want to be a burden-”
“Oh shut up Slattery!” her voice was as though she was emitting a smile. “Please.” Tony pummelled his head into the cushion and groaned, “Ok.”

“Greg, he’s coming.” Josie cupped the phone in her hand, “Ok, Tony, come over on Christmas Eve, to Greg’s house. I’ll give you the address.” Tony obediently copied the address and promised he would join them, with a few bottles of something strong, on Christmas eve.

“Ok.” Josie sighed, “Why don’t you ask that Danielle if she wants to join you.” Tony bit his lip and spat into the receiver. “I met her once for coffee. Once.”
“So…every journey has to start with one step, dear.” There was a deep pause until Tony finally sighed, “Well, we’ll see. I don’t think so.” Josie breathed into the phone and clicked her tongue, “Shame.” she uttered, “She seemed like a nice girl.”She was.

****

“Oh for fuck’s sake.” Tony groaned. The tube station was heaving with bodies as was the street. Greg mumbled a little chuckle and nudged him in the arm, “We both knew it’d be busy.” Tony begrudgingly trudged up the stairs, his feet trailing behind him as he and Greg reappeared out of the exit. Greg checked his watch and pulled Tony through the throng of people, carrier bags clashing as they trundled through, scarves tight around their necks. For a work night the street was teeming; bloody hell it was December and he was sweating, Tony thought.

“Ok, I need some hints on what to buy Josie.” Greg said, tugging Tony into a small alcove before Selfridges.

“I don’t know, I’m not a bird, Greg.” He sighed, ripping his scarf from around his neck. His eyes full of desperation, Greg pleaded and eventually towed Tony to the perfume counter where he pressed his nose against the panel of glass separating all the slender bottles. “Ok, which one.” Greg asked, prodding his finger at the glass.

“Excuse me.” a young assistant knelt down beside Greg and unlocked the cabinet, “We are promoting this fragrance.” Greg held the bottle up to the light and smiled, “Tony, would Josie like this?” The woman looked from Tony to Greg, thinking either “why are these two gay guys looking at women’s perfume?” or “do I know them from somewhere.” Tony shrugged off the possibilities, and inhaled the perfume, nodding, “Yeah, that’s lovely. You buying that Greg?”

Handfuls of notes were exchanged as Greg filled the yellow bags with goodies for Josie. Bottles, clothes, ornaments; everything and anything he could think of. Tony scrambled, sweating through the floors and still ended up fruitless. In the end he decided to scarp off by himself in hope that Greg’s missing shadow would clear the atmosphere and help him shop more efficiently. There were heads among heads in view as he descended the escalators, a thousand and one curses for Greg for making him come to this hectic hellhole.

“Bags.” he said aloud. Rows of cow hides moulded into fancy bags and purses lined the walls.

“Tony?!” All he needed now was a fan. He wasn’t in the best mood for entertaining. But as he turned he recognised a familiar streak of blonde hair; “Danielle.” He wrapped her in a hug, her mittened hands clamouring his back with folds of bags smashing with people around. “God fancy seeing you here! How are you?”

“I’m great.” She smiled, rearranging her hat, “You here alone?” Tony shook his head and waved to Greg who came through the crowd, a few more bags to his load, “No, this is Greg you saw him through the window the other day.” Greg beamed and waved, raising his eyebrows at Tony who blushed a deeper scarlet than he already was. God how embarrassing can one man be. “You here alone?” Tony asked hastily before Greg could intervene with a ground-swallowing question. As Tony asked he suddenly realised the young man standing beside her, his arms laden with bags. He had similar blonde hair and blue-green eyes. Quite gorgeous, some would say. “Oh no.” Danielle chuckled and peeled a few bags from him, “This is Luke. Luke, Tony. I told you I went with him for a coffee the other week.” she smiled, touching him gently on the arm.

The shatter as a stone hits the glass wall of his emotion. As every piece of laced glass which was once held into place with the hope that he may see her again, was crumbling vertically, from his head, spearing through his heart until it gushed from his feet. An emotion he never knew existed until then. But it existed.

Luke smiled and tore a burning hand through Tony’s. “Nice to meet you.” Greg’s face was writhed in confusion. Every muscle in Tony’s body had ceased yet the bug in him that made him a good actor kept him from collapsing, kept him from droning on an autopilot. “Same back at you, Luke.”

“Hey aren’t you from that new show?” Luke’s eyes were wide in awe as he asked. Tony raised his eyebrows and took a couple of steps back. “Why yes.” God he seems like a lovely bloke. Bastard. Tony thought. Greg saw the brick built tension and creased his bag rather loudly, “Ok then, Tony we better be off now.” Never feeling so relieved, Greg bid farewell with haste, picked a bag from the shelf and immersed himself into the crowd.”
“Oh Tony,” Greg whispered, his voice only heard by Tony himself. Every word etched his skin like a taunt.

Comments appreciated xxx