Lucy gradually opened her puffy eyes, turning over she realised that she was in a bed. She sat up immediately before seeing Ryan sitting up with the lamp on, reading.
"Ryan?" She questioned, looking up at him.
He looked down, putting down the book on the table beside him and lying beside Lucy.
"Hey." He began, softly.
"Where are we?" Asked Lucy, feeling anxious again.
"We're in a hotel, teachers are just across and the rest of them are beside us." Said Ryan.
"Was it you that carried me in?" Asked Lucy, smiling slightly.
"Maybe?" Replied Ryan,
"Thought I heard you say 'I've got you'" She told him, leaning her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm under her neck.
"I have got you." He whispered at her,
"That's a bit seductive." Chuckled Lucy, looking up at him with tear stained eyes, "since when did you read?"
"I've always read." He told her, lifting up the book with one hand, "it's in polish though." He placed it back down and looked back over to Lucy holding her close as she looked into his eyes.
"You're so smart." Sighed Lucy, putting one hand on his shoulder.
"You're so strong." Said Ryan, "so so strong." He placed one hand on her back and gently rubbed it, looking deep into her eyes.
"Didn't think I was gonna have a moment like this today." Whispered Ryan, before Lucy rubbed her nose against Ryan's and gently kissed him, gradually slipping her leg between Ryan's and placing her hand on his cheek as he continued to hold her waist.

Martin was lying awake in bed, it was about 4am. Zoe lay fast asleep beside him, her strawberry blonde hair spread across the pillow. Martin rolled over slightly and slipped his hand into hers before he heard his phone ring.
Startled, he turned around and answered it, seeing Bronagh Watson flash on the screen. He stood up out of bed and walked to the other side of the room.
"Hello?" He whispered,
"Martin, where are you?" Asked Bronagh,
"Just out of bed- it's four o'clock in the morning what's up?" He asked, noticing Zoe waking up,
"I just got a call from Lucy's dad.."
"I know. She said earlier." Said Martin,
"How is she?"
"Yeh.. shes just really upset, she expected it, just heart broken. We're in a hotel, she's got her friend with her in her room so she's not alone. I'm gonna speak to her dad in the morning."
"He told me that he didn't want Lucy to come home." Said Mrs Watson.
"W-what? Her mum's just died she has every right in the world to go home!" Repelled Martin,
"He said it wasn't safe for her, and that she's happier with you."
Martin sighed, "I'll talk to her in the morning. She just needs a bit of time to think." He told her, wiping his brow.
"How are you, Martin?" Mrs Watson asked,
"Good, Yeah, What about you?" He replied, knowing that she must be stressed too.
"Yeah, Okay." She said, "listen get some rest and let me know what's happening."
"Okay, g'night." He replied, turning off his phone and walking back towards the bed, seeing Zoe sit up.
"Sorry." He apologised, sitting down beside her before he noticed her tears. "Zoe?"
He put his arms around her, "what's going on?" He asked.
"What isn't going on?" She said before looking down, "sorry.. I just.. yesterday.. seeing you like that.." she wiped the tears from her eyes. Martin put his hands on her face, "Zoë. I'm fine." But she shook her head, "look at me. Zoe look at me. It's okay. It's gonna be okay." He slipped his hands down her cheeks and kissed her lips as she moved over onto him.

In the morning, Ryan and Lucy walked down to the dining room of the hotel for breakfast. They saw that Ollie, Jemma and Cloda were already down at the table, with croissants and mugs of tea and coffee.
"Morning." Greeted Ryan, letting Lucy sit down first,
"Heya." Replied Ollie, looking to Lucy in sympathy, "how are you Luce?"
"I'm alright." She replied, blankly smiling as Ryan handed her a cup of coffee. "Any sign of the teachers?"
Everyone chuckled, "who knows what they were up to last night." Laughed Ollie. Ryan and Lucy looked at each other and smiled before looking away.
"Oh speak of the devil." Giggled Cloda, looking over at Martin and Zoe who were walking into the room.
"Hey guys." Greeted Martin, taking a seat at the table.
Zoe had her hair up in a loose bun at the top of her head. Her freckles were shining through as she sat down beside Martin and he put his hand on her waist.
"Morning sir, morning miss." Greeted Ryan, pouring himself and Lucy a glass of water.
"What's the plan for today?" Asked Lucy, taking a sip of water.
"Well.. what do you want to do?" Asked Martin, still concerned about her, "I was talking to Mrs Watson at like 4am but I can talk to you about it on your own. Basically, everything is up to you."
"I spoke to my dad; he doesn't want me to come home." Said Lucy, "I should stay."
"All being said I can't keep you from going home, nor can your dad." He said,
"She's being cremated today. I'd miss it anyway." Said Lucy.
Martin looked to Lucy in confusion, "a day later?"
"Dad's quite solitary. Didn't want people to know. It'll just be him and his mates, I'd rather stay away."
Martin opened his mouth slightly with a mixture of shock and confusion before standing up, "I'll be two seconds."
He walked back up to his hotel room where he noticed the scattered clothes from the previous night across the floor beside the bed. He picked up his own clothes and piled them into his ruck sack before taking out his phone and dialling Lucy's father's number.
After ringing three times there was finally an answer from a low croaky voice,
"Who is it?" Muttered Lucy's dad.
"Hi, I'm Martin McCafferson; Lucy's teacher." Said Martin, anxiously,
"Christ how many bloody teachers does she have? I've spoken to Mrs what's-her-face and I've told her that you can keep Lucy."
"W-why? It's her mother's funeral!" Martin stood up and looked out the window,
"It's not a funeral. She's gonna be put in a coffin, burnt and forgotten. Lucy's not gonna miss anything and you can't force her to come home!" He yelled,
Martin stood still, his fists clenched and his stomach itching with anger, "don't you realise what you've got?" He asked,
"What? A dead wife and a daughter who hates me? Thanks for reminding me." Grumbled her dad,
"She doesn't hate you! I've seen the bruises you gave her, I've seen the pain and I've offered to call for help and get you arrested but she has constantly told me that you didn't mean it and that you're just upset! She is defending you!"
Martin felt himself thinking of Martha, "you have no idea what a wonderful child you've got and you're only going to appreciate her after she's gone. And she's gonna be gone soon. So just be the dad that she deserves, for once just do something for Lucy."
Martin had to sit down as Lucy's dad figured out what to say.
"You're the man who lives across the road from us, aren't you? You lost you're wife, right? Surely you can empathise with me."
"I also lost my daughter. Which do you think hurt the most?" Martin sighed, "we'll be home in a couple weeks, you need to be there for her."
"Alright.. sorry. Tell Lucy that."
"I will." Said Martin before hanging up.