A Fresh Start

Rating: M (but then again, that leaves me out haha!!)

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. Do you honestly think whora would still be alive if I did??

Dedications: To Lou….thankyou for all your help, without you this would never have seen the light of day!

WARNING: I have no idea if this makes any sense or what, but it's how I would like to see things happen.

A Fresh Start

By Lisey

Paula left ward 17 with a triumphant smile on her face. She had won…. Or so she thought.

Bron sat on her bed and looked at the ring which still sat on her finger. "It's really over," she thought to herself. He had chosen Paula over her…. It was ripping her heart into shreds. Tears formed in her eyes as she tugged the ring up over her knuckles and off her finger.

She looked at the beautiful ring for a few minutes before placing it on the bedside table, and ignoring the shattering of her heart went to join her roommates.

"How could you do this to me?" Paula asked tears streaming down her face, "How could you do this to Max?"

"I'm sorry," Ben said sighing and sitting down wearily "I never meant to hurt you….."

"But you did," Paula cut in bitterly, "And what about Max?"

"Max and I can still be friends," Ben said

"No Ben…I don't think so. It's all or nothing…. Max or Bron"

"Then I choose Bron," he said simply.

"Well don't expect me to be happy for you….."

"I think you should go Paula" Ben said standing up abruptly

Paula gaped at him for a second before storming out and slamming the door so hard it almost shattered the windows.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Yeah, yeah! Hang on….. I'm coming" Ben said running down the hall, dripping from the shower. "Scott…..What are you doing here?"

"Can I come in?" Scott asked pushing his way past Ben.

"I'll be right back," Ben said before disappearing into the bedroom to get dressed.

Scott paced up and down as he waited for Ben to re-appear.

"So where's Paula?" Scott finally called out

"She went home" Ben answered coming back into the room.

"I would have thought she would've been here peeling you grapes," Scott said sarcastically

"What did you want Scott?" Ben asked changing the subject.

"I came to tell you that I am going to request a change of partner…." Ben interrupted him

"What…..why?" Ben asked confused

"Are you this stupid on purpose or were you born that way?" Scott snapped at him.

"What is your problem?" Ben asked bewildered by how aggressive Scott was towards him.

"You…you're a bloody idiot!" Scott poked a finger into Ben's chest.

"Mate…" he was cut off again

"I was SURE you would come to your senses…. I didn't think…. How could you choose that THING over Bron? I don't get it?"

"Scott, what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you making the biggest mistake of your life…. Choosing Paula over Bron?"

"What makes you think I chose Paula?" Ben asked confused

"You left the hospital with her…. Everyone thinks you chose Paula"

"What about Bron?" Ben asked suddenly worried, grabbing Scott by the shoulders.

"Everyone" Scott reiterated

"I didn't choose Paula. I want Bron…I love Bron."

Scott sighed with relief, "Well you had better tell her. She's pretty upset, she's putting on a brave front…. But you know Bron"

"Yeah…" Ben said worry creasing his forehead.

"What are you going to do?" Scott asked him

"I have no idea" Ben told him "no idea"

Bron sat quiet while life went on around her. Jared and Rebecca tried to draw her into their conversation, but she wasn't interested.

They exchanged worried glances and looked at her. She sat staring, lost in thought.

"Want to go for a drink?" Jared asked sitting down and putting an arm around her.

Bron just shook her head no.

"How about a movie?" Rebecca asked

"Nah, think I'll just have an early night…thanks anyway" Bron told her trying to act normally.

Scott walked in at that moment carrying what looked like a takeaway bag; "I've got something for you" he said to Bron "Found it on the doorstep"

Bron looked puzzled and took the bag "What is it?" Rebecca asked curiously, Scott shushed her and continued watching Bron.

Bron opened the bag and took out a plastic container with her name written on it, puzzled she lifted the lid and found 2 fish cakes.

She smiled.

"Fishcakes?" Jared asked puzzled

Bron stood up and looked at Scott "Where is he?" she asked her heart beating erratically.

"Outside," Scott said, and she took off.

"What are the fishcakes for?" Rebecca asked bewildered

"Well…."

<Wouldn't want to be swept away…far away from the one that I love>

Bron ran down the front steps, out onto the street not even noticing she was bare foot. She scanned the street up and down…

"Bron…" came a voice from behind her.

Bron whirled around and found Ben.

"Ben…"

"I've been wondering how long it would take you to realize." Ben said

"Realize what?" Bron asked

"That I never stopped loving you, even while we were apart" he started moving closer to her, "That I made such a mess of things."

Bron looked at him, wondering if she was dreaming this.

"I wanted to hurt you for hurting me," Ben said, he could see the pain in her eyes, "I couldn't handle it. The whole time you were gone…all I could think about was you. The only thing that kept me going was that you were coming back, and you wanted to marry me."

"I did" Bron said looking at him with tear filled eyes.

"Did?"

"I do…" she corrected herself

Ben heaved a sigh of relief, and moved to brush the tears away "I want you…" he pulled her into his arms and rested his forehead against her, "I love you…. And only you"

"I love you too" Bron smiled at him.

Ben picked her up and spun her around, before placing her back down and kissing her ardently, his body tingling with desire.

Totally oblivious to the screams and whistles and shouts of jubilation from Scott, Jared and Rebecca, they eventually pulled apart and just grinned at each other.

Later that night….

They were finally alone! They door clicked closed and sealed them off from the rest of the world.

Ben saw the ring on the bedside and picked it up and smiled, he turned to Bron who was staring out the window. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, turning her so she faced him.

She looked so beautiful standing there in the moonlight spilling in from the window he fell in love with her all over again.

"I love you," he said "I know you know that, but I don't think you realise how much, and it's time you knew. I love you more than anything else in the world…..And I know that you are the only one for me."

"Ben…."

"Bron please just let me finish…. I'm doing it right this time"

Bron let him continue

"Marry me?" he asked

Bron smiled at him "Again? I thought we already were getting married?"

Ben grinned and picked her up "So that’s a yes then? You still want to marry me?"

"More than anything" Bron grinned back at him

Ben slipped the ring he still held onto her finger, and lowered his lips to hers, exploring her mouth with his tongue.

His slowly undid the buttons on her shirt as they made their way, still kissing onto the bed.

Hours later….

They lay naked wrapped up in each others arms, completely oblivious to everything else.

"God I love you" he said stroking a piece of hair off her face.

"Hmmm, I love you" Bron said, her head on his chest.

Ben picked up Bron's hand and looked at his ring sitting on her finger, before linking her fingers with his own.

The end!!!!

Songs used: "Hard to say I'm sorry" - Chicago

"Everlasting love" - U2