The short story Bonfire of the Valentines covers part of the time between the last chapter and this.

It explains how Fiona got her feelings back, how she meets up again with Oliver and how David gets back with Suzie

2001

Emlyn left the hospice with his heart heavy as a stone. His wonderful Jilly was leaving him in the most permanent way possible.

When he proposed, quite spontaneously she surprised him by saying yes. He didn't want her to die without being his wife. She was so painfully thin and weak. He could not bear to be with her and he could not bear to be without her.

This was the only way he knew to let her understand how much she meant to him and to keep her memory.

Jilly had made three requests for the ceremony.

Her mate Eric to play Wonderful Tonight.

She had to wear her Zandra RHODES dress.

She wanted Heather, Bill, Fiona and David there.

He didn't know who Eric was so when he got home he would root around in Jilly's address book for him. His PA would sort that out. He knew the dress and he would make sure it was sent for cleaning. The worst one was how to get David and Fiona in the same room.

At all of the major events in the wider social groups since their split, they had to all plan meticulously in order that neither of them was left alone with each other. Wedding seating plans had an extra dimension of tension added.

He shivered against the February chill as he made his way to Grove Road. The house had transformed from the share they had five years earlier. Emlyn had used all of his architect skills to transform the building back to its former glory.

Jilly's flat was now the kitchen. The upstairs rooms were back to a day room, dining room, study and front room.

Since Jilly's illness got worse Emlyn turned the day room into a bed room and installed a small toilet and shower for her. With the alterations, she had stayed at home until she required round the clock attention and pain relief.

He opened the door went down to the kitchen, put on the kettle and dissolved into sobs at the memory of how they had met. He wept as he recalled their affair and how it grew from a physical relationship into love.

His parents were quite against the relationship in the beginning. They were fixated on the age difference between them. His mother, in particular, was worried that Jilly was taking advantage of him.

As their relationship deepened and Emlyn began to be more stable at work, gaining commissions and promotions his parents began to view Jilly as a positive influence.

His head felt so heavy and his heart felt on fire. He rested his head on his arms and took a few deep breaths in.

Emlyn was awoken by the sounds of soft giggling and someone shushing the giggler.

"Tuncle Emblyn you have gone night nights on the table silly thing!" A small voice said next to him.

Emlyn raised his head from the table to see a  three-year-old girl with masses of blonde curls and hazel eyes peering out of a round cherub face.

"Matilda! My second favourite girl in the world! Where is your mum?"

"She's in the loo, gone tinkle cos the baby is jumping and making her wee more."

Fiona waddled into the kitchen her pregnant bump protruding from her t-shirt.

"Oh Ems," Fiona soothed noticing that he had been crying, "how was she today?"

"Not good Fi, she is so ..." His eyes began to fill again.

"Skinny!" Matilda shouted. "My mummy isn't though. She is like an Elephant aren't you mummy?"

Emlyn looked at Fiona and burst out laughing.

"To be fair, she is only calling it as she sees it. You are bigger than last time!" Emly wiped his face with his hand and brightened.

"I am seven months and yes I am now bigger than I was when this monster popped out of mummy."

Fiona made to tickle Matilda, however, she jumped out of the way onto Emlyn's lap.

Fiona dropped into the chair next to Emlyn and gave a huge sigh.

"What can I do to help Ems." Fiona reached out for Emlyn's hand. With the other, she delved into her bag and handed Matilda her pencils and colouring book. Matilda happily took them. She sat at the end of the kitchen chair diligently creating her masterpiece.

"To be honest nothing more than being here and keep going to see her. Make sure she sees Mattie. She loves to see her and Heather's boys."

"Of course! I will be going on maternity leave next month. I can do some more of the afternoon visits."

"That's if she makes it that far Fi." Emlyn looked away trying to compose himself. "Anyway, you can help with the Wedding preparations."

"What Wedding?" Fiona looked at Emlyn quizzically.

"Our Wedding. Jilly and mine. I can't let her leave me without her being my wife Fiona."

Fiona nudged Emlyn and then gave him a huge hug.

"How does Oliver cope? You are too big to hug back." Emlyn laughed attempting to get his arms around Fiona.

"Daddy says mummy is still beautiful but tres  grande." Matilda chatted as she coloured her pages in.

Emlyn drew a breath in. He didn't know how to begin the next part of the conversation. He had spent the last week having conversations about Weddings and Funerals. He had conversations about Wills and Life Insurance. However, somehow this was the conversation that he felt the least equipped to have.

"Jilly has some very clear requests about the ceremony."

"Yes go on ..."

Emlyn began nervously. " She wants Eric her mate to play, she wants a certain dress...."

"All sounds very Jilly so far." Fiona stooped to collect a pencil that Matilda had dropped. She wondered how she would ever manage to get up from all fours.

Emlyn gave Fiona his hand and helped her back upright.

"So. Last thing she only wants four other people there." Emlyn stated

Fiona misread the apprehension on Emlyn's face. "Oh, Ems. Don't worry I won't be offended! I am so big she won't want me there!"

"No. She does. It's just, oh there is no other way of putting it. She only wants Heather and Bill. You and David." Emlyn smiled at Fiona.

"David! Is she nuts?" Fiona was shocked. It was the first time in five years that they were together without their partners.

"No, she is dying Fiona," Emlyn stated bluntly.

Fiona clapped her hand to her mouth. Instantly regretting her outburst.

"Emms that was really wrong of me! It was just a shock. I mean. It's a bit awkward isn't it?" Fiona gathered herself. "So no Oliver?"

"Nope and no Suzie either before you ask!"

"What about the others?" She asked.

"Nope, no kids, no one else she was quite specific."

"When?" Fiona's mind was racing from excitement and joy for Emlyn and Jilly to apprehension of how she was going to break the news to Oliver.

"Next Friday." Emlyn smiled. I have a lot to do."

"No kidding!" Fiona chuckled, "Let me know what I can do to help."   

----------------

David came off of the phone to Emlyn walked through to his kitchen, opened the fridge and took out a bottle of Peroni. He took a few gulps and dropped into the kitchen chair.

He felt so deeply sorry for Emlyn and Jilly. He had seen Jilly get weaker over the last three months. He knew from his own experience that she would not have much longer to live.

He was delighted to be asked to be Emlyn's best man. He was happy to go to the wedding. He was equal parts terrified to tell Suzie that she wasn't invited and that Fiona would be there without Oliver.

He felt a little intrigued by the prospect of spending time with Fiona. He felt slightly excited at the thought of her.

Did she feel the same? Was she different? He had seen her at Richards Wedding and at Dan's Wedding but that was almost three years ago.

She was six months pregnant at Dan's Wedding and she looked radiant. He could not take his eyes off of her much to Suzie's anger.

What's made it even worse was their failed IVF attempt. There was Fiona with her future child very much on display and Suzie feeling as much of a failure as she could.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Suzie coming down the stairs to the basement kitchen.

"Oh David, is it bad news? Is it Jilly?"

Suzie collected a glass from the cabinet and made for the fridge to pour herself a glass of wine. She sat in the next chair to David and patted his hand.

"Not that kind of news." He smiled at her.

"What then?" She smiled warmly at him.

"Jilly and Emms are getting married next week and they want me to be best man. "

"Darling that is great news. How lovely! I don't know if I can get a swap at this late notice..."

David took a deep breath in. "She only wants four witnesses and she only wants the people she has named. She is too tired for a large do."

"I understand." Suzie nodded. She took a long sip of wine. "Fiona will be one of the four?"

"Yes, she will," David answered slowly and decided not to add any other information.

He could see the calculations Suzie was performing in her head. He knew well enough that she would be viewing all of the permutations of the outcome of the scenario he had given her.

David sipped his beer quietly. He stared into space steeling himself for the onslaught of questions that would begin.

Suzie's mind was racing. She took a sip of wine. She waited for the calming effect of the alcohol on her emotions. Suzie had grown to like Jilly over the years and had imagined that Jilly felt the same.

She reminded herself that the woman was dying and really she could have anything she wanted. He thoughts lingered on the last time she had seen Jilly. She was funny and in good spirited. Suzie could see past the diversion tactics on to the deep pain that Jilly was in.

Whilst deciding that Jilly could have what she wanted her thoughts landed on Fiona and the effect her presence had on David. She knew that David had never got over the loss of the baby and what had happened to Fiona. She hoped that with a baby of their own and the passing of time that she would have the answer to the Fiona effect. The failed IVF attempts and the seeing Fiona at various group events stirred him up every time.

When Fiona married Oliver she had never seen David so angry. She knew better than to talk about it with him. She went home to her parents and let David have his Welsh mates over for the weekend. It took two weeks for David to reconcile himself and she knew that was the final piece of motivation he needed for him to propose.

The last IVF attempt had been very rough on both of them. So much so that they ended up in couples therapy. David had sworn that he would not go through it again. Perhaps seeing Fiona heavily pregnant may work to her advantage and push him into another cycle.

"Ok, I understand."

"Really?" David looked puzzled and relieved.

"Really." Suzie smiled. She walked upstairs and dialled their Fertility Consultant.

Ok, so they are all back together for Jilly and Emlyn's Wedding, thoughts......