"How long until your flight home" Teddy asked as we finally parted.

I release her slowly and look over her affectionately, now that the painful part, the confessions were over with I could look at her, really look at her and take in every detail.

Teddy smiles as she watches me "what are you thinking" she asks softly.

I reach out my finger tip and place it inside of one of her dimples "I missed your face" I whisper.

She looks to me the same way, a peaceful exploration of my features "I didn't have to miss your face too much. I looked at a miniature version of it every day" she teases.

My smile widens "she is a clone isn't she" I agree.

Teddy nods and leans back again "Other than Allies eyes, yes"

I sit back too. "I have to go tomorrow. I have spent far too much time away from Wren this week and I have to get back to her"

"Before you go, let me show you a little of Istanbul , so that you are a part of it... that way when I think back to this time here, I will also think of you and it won't be all bad"

"I would love that" I say reaching out for her hand and squeezing it.

***

Teddy takes my hand and pulls me up into a passing tram. I laugh as we collide a little and she pulls me safely into her embrace as it takes off up the rail. Only Teddy could do that and make it look easy. The city is vibrant, so many colours and textures, buildings of every colour of the rainbow lining streets that end with a grand looking steeple topped piece of art that was the old church. The most beautiful and grand of all, to me, as we gazed at it was the lofty dome of 'Hagia Sophia' which was one of the worlds largest cathedrals for nearly a millennium before it was converted to a mosque and now a museum, gosh it was beautiful.

Teddy took my hand once again as we stepped off of the tram and she turned to look my way, her dimples deepening as she lead me into a world, that seemed far, far, from home. The grand bazaar, as deep and high as your eyes could see, an Aladdin's cave of wonders and as we entered my eyes widened, a look of awe and wonder falling on my lips. Teddy did nothing but watch my reaction to it all, the contented smile never once slipping from her lips, the first time she had seemed peaceful since I had arrived.

"This is something right" she asked me and I nod but I can't take my eyes from the stalls that wind through like a maze and span streets upon streets, making it seem as if you have entered another world entirely.

The scents were intense and powerful and every part of my senses were lit and consuming all this place had to offer, and Teddy, her arm stretched out ahead of me, her hand pulling mine. I let me eyes wonder over her and my god, she was beautiful, she looked perfectly at home here, her more exotic and Mediterranean features seemed more so.

I tug her sideways with me as we pass a stall of clothing and I spot something for Wren, it is a little playsuit with rainbow colours running through its light material and would be perfect for the spring and summer next year. I pick it up and admire it, finding the right size and Teddy comes to my side "she would look adorable in that" she admires and I hold it up "but let me barter for it" Teddy asks.

I shake my head "it's not expensive"

She whips it out of my hands "don't spoil my fun Harper. I've got quite good at it" she says and she smiles as she begins a rather intense barter.

I'm amazed as she fluently speaks to him and it's not anything like her Greek language ... it's much more Arabic. The guy throws up his hands and gives in and Teddy hands him some money, nothing compared to the price on the tag and she hands it to me with a look of victory. "For our little lady" she says.

I take it and slip it into my bag. Teddy when did you learn Turkish" I ask.

She shrugs "I just picked it up here" she explains casually, like that wasn't a big deal.

I widen my eyes and look to her amazed "is there nothing you can't do... it's been three months and you sound fluent"

"I'm not fluent" she says, amused at the suggestion "I probably just sprouted gobbledygook at him for twenty seconds until he got so flustered he practically gave it to me for free just to get rid of me"

I nudge her arm as we walk away. "Take me somewhere to eat I'm starved" I suggest.

She nods and winds her arm through mine "i know just the place"

We move through the town, winding down closer to the water, the smells of salt water and the coast mixing with the spicy scents of the bizarre as we leave it. The cafes and the restaurants are busy and loud, sounds of cutlery and plates filling the small cobbled street we walk down and as we spot the ocean.

Teddy takes a left and pulls me under her arm as she points across to the bridge and I follow her gaze "incredible right" she asks. and I nod "that's the Asian side of the city and if we had more time I would have loved to have shown you it..."

I wrap my arm around her waist and settle into her side, her warmth and embrace a welcomed sensation. I knew it wouldn't last, being together and I only had a night before I left her again for three months. We weren't embarking on our dating journey until February, it felt like a huge step back, but like Teddy said, this was the start of something else, something new and something better and it was much more traditional and formal for Teddy. This was something... and if it led us to our future, together, I would walk this path with her... happily. The thought of doing this all officially, embarking on it whole heartedly, it made me feel hopeful.

"Here" she says guiding me under a beautiful archway into a small restaurant, it's busy but the host clearly recognised her.

"Teddy welcome" she greets with a large smile "been a week or two I wondered if you had forgotten us" she says affectionately.

Teddy smiled back "never Vita..." she assures her.

Vita picks up two menus  "you want the usual spot" she asks.

Teddy shakes her head "no I want the best spot Vita... the best" she repeats wide eyed and nodding slowly.

Vita raises her eyebrows "okay... she's special huh your friend?" She asks pointing back to me as she weaves through the small restaurant.

I look to all the other patrons, young and old, a melting pot of culture and people. We head to the corner where there is an old metal spiral staircase and Teddy peers back to reassure me as we take the steps slowly and appear on a second floor, a table sits, made up perfectly overlooking the ocean and the town below.
There are views left and right that go on for miles and it is beyond magnificent.

Vita sits us and places our red and gold menus down. "Drinks" she asks "your usual bottle" she asks.

Teddy holds up the tall glass beside her "Water will be just fine Vita"

I look up and smile as she nods and disappears away from where we had just come.

Teddy leans across the table "now don't set this as my bar for dates Harper because this is literally top tier. I couldn't afford to date you as much as I desire, not if each one had to be this good" she says with a grin.

I raise my eyebrows "you want to date me a lot do you" I ask as my lips lift into a teasing smile.

"I want to date you like it's a profession..." she replies with confidence and she pours us each a water from the jug in the middle of the table.

"Who sets your hours" I ask.

She almost spits out her water as she looks back to me, noting my teasing expression "You of course..." she says wiping her mouth and taking another sip.

I lift my glass and let it sit on my lips. "And your duties on dates... what about those?" I ask.

Her lips lift "you" she repeats.

"And overtime?" I add, eyebrows raised.

"Like, night shifts you mean" she asks me humoured by my attempt at flirting after an extremely long time.

"Night shifts... day shifts... work trips...you know... work conferences to really zero in on your craft, there's a lot to learn in a new profession" I add and I honestly found it hard not to laugh at how poor my game was here.

"Over night work trips?" She asks, eyebrows almost wiggling.

"Maybe... it really does depend if you are a natural at this or not...I mean not everyone suits the profession they fall into" I add and she laughs.

Her eyebrows shoot up "oh Harper there will be no falling into anything. I will take my time to master every skill this new role requires and every move made will be to impress you enough for a promotion"

I place my hand open on the table and she looks down, reaching across for it and placing hers on top. "I missed this"

She smiles "me too".

"Can I just confirm though that this is not your hook up spot where you take every date you've been on here" I ask and she shakes her head

"Harper" she chastises "of course not ... and I've not dated anyone... I just come by with the team regularly" she adds and I sigh with relief.

"Good, because I don't much like second hand dates" I return.

She squeezes my hand "Harper Jameson you don't get second hand anything... everything I've ever given you is from a place nobody has ever been before. I've never connected with anyone on the level we have"

I lift her hand in mine and kiss it "I can't wait for February" I whisper and she smiles but it is mixed with a sadness and I can tell that Teddy is not herself. She isn't as full of life and even though she is attempting to be on the level we have always been, I can tell she's sad, really sad at what has transpired and I feel it too, the way it taints our time together, we needed time she was right. I had a lot to process as did Teddy and we had feelings to work through, and we would work through them, because we both wanted this.

***

"How is your dad" I ask changing the subject "I hear from Willa but we obviously get the filtered down version"

Teddy looks up from her menu and out to the view briefly "he's alive" she offers but it is said with a strangled grief, because of course that was not enough, to just be alive, a person needed to live. She seems to take a deep breath as if something is pushing down on her chest and I realise I should not have asked because it was torturing her to even think of him.

"I'm sorry" I say reaching for her hand and she looks back to me briefly and offers a gentle smile as she looks back to her menu. I doubt she's even reading it, because I've quite accidentally swamped her mind with thoughts of back home and if I know Teddy she's been burying it all. "Ted I think it would be good to talk to someone about all this when you get back... it's been a lot, you've carried a lot and I can't imagine what it is going on in here" I say gently caressing her temple before pulling away and she takes a sip of her water but doesn't make eye contact.

"I am actually going to start seeing someone before I come home" she reveals.

I nod and watch her "what made you decide to finally get therapy" I ask.

She finally looks back to me "I hit rock bottom a few days ago, before you came, and I promised myself I would try and make it better. I know I've locked it all up Harper and I know it's got to come out sooner or later and to be honest I'm terrified that when it does, if I've not got a therapist on speed dial... I might not survive it"

"Teddy" I say softly "it's going to be okay... they will help and you will survive it, and I know you will be back because that cheeky and confident girl is right there... I see her"

She stands up from the table and I look up as she comes around to my side and reaches out her hand. I take it and stand up as she pulls me into her body, her arms wrapping tightly around me "I've wanted this hug for so long I started to imagine it... but here you are... and now I don't want to let you go" she whispers.

I squeeze her and look up to meet her gaze "It's three months... Teddy...we can do this. Just promise me I can third wheel your calls with Wren now because I'm extremely jealous you both got to hang out without me"

She lets out a little laugh and her chest vibrates against my chin before she leans down and kisses my nose "You are officially welcome to crash our calls, it wouldn't feel right if I didn't see you. Not now that I've got to see your beautiful face here. It would be torture to wait three months"

"I'm not sure Wren will be happy for me to start monopolising your time with her... she might push me out of the camera shot" I consider with a smile at the thought.

"Be prepared to be grunted at...she's feisty that one, she knows what she wants" Teddy says.

Vita reappears "girls, what am I walking in on should I back up" she asks.

We shake our heads and smile taking our seats. "No Vita let's get these dishes lined up... my girl is starved" Teddy grins.

I look from her to the menu "her girl" huh I would take that. Is that not a label?!

***
We walk back up my street, the lights glow like fireflies against the starlit sky and I look sideways to Harper, her red hair caught in the breeze, and her beautiful profile makes me sigh contently. I've missed every inch of it, of her, and I can't bear the thought of her leaving, but I know she must and I know I must face my demons and exorcize them before I can be here for her and Wren.

She senses my eyes on her and smiles as she turns to me " Hi" she whispers.

I smile back "hi" I return and we stop in the middle of the street "Harper... I know we are about to embark on dating... the right way... but for old times sake... can I kiss you?" I ask.

She smiles softly, a loving lift of her lips as she takes in my features and she pulls me against my apartment building. She backs up against the cool brick and pulls me into her, her lips opening and accepting mine, soft and sweet caresses, her tongue softly running over my lips and into my mouth to meet mine, and as they do the warmth floods through me. My hands reach out and clutch her hips tightly as our kiss intensifies and again it is as always full of passion, a passion that is hard to cool back down, but we must, this was not about lust, it was love, and intimacy right now would not be good, we didn't need it, want it? Yes. Need it? No. For once I wanted more than that, I couldn't rely on lust to get me through anymore. I had had my fill of it, I wanted the love. I wanted Harpers love and I was prepared to work to get it and keep it and once we were safe with each other again, lust could take its natural place... because passion would of course be a part of us, it was hard to avoid it when just the sight of her would make me feel... everything. I just had to feel everything from within too, it was time to unlock the vault and work on my ghosts... why the hell was I so fucked up, time will tell.

***
That night I took Harper to bed, but there was no under the clothes touching, only a lot of holding each other, some gentle kisses and the first good nights sleep I've had in months, holding her to me, a feeling of content to feel her breath on my cheek and her heart beat against me.

Harper was my one and I knew it, I just had to open my heart fully, and let all that love in, and for once in my life, commit to a future with someone other than Wren. The moment that little girl was born I couldn't imagine my life without her, not a day, and I guess it was Christmas Eve that last year that the tides started to change for me, when Wren was born and she instantly found a back entrance into my heart, and she had started to loosen its binds and release its potential. Wren Jameson, the little girl who brought me back down to earth with a bang, and I would never let her go a day without knowing it, that I loved her and needed her to thrive to be happy. Now all I had to do was work to be the best version of myself so I could make her mama happy for a lifetime too. I didn't think I would ever know true peace in my life until the Jameson girls were mine, Wren my daughter, and if Harper would have me, one day, my wife.

Therapy... let's go!