Time After Time

Cos I've had the time of my life

And I've searched through every open door

And I found the truth

And I owe it all to you



The last beats of the song played out as she came against the floor, spinning in against Dennis' chest. She could feel the hammering of his heart going through her back and knew that hers felt pretty much the same. Everyone around them went wild, but nothing could have sounded more incredible than what she'd heard next, just above her ear, which had previously let in only Dennis' gasping recovering breaths. She heard but one word.
"Yes."


She knew what he meant, of course she did, how could she mistake it? But it didn't stop her from whirling around in alarm. As she saw in the amusement in his face, she felt sure that he was playing with her. But as she spent time scrutinising the position of every facial muscle, he smiled softly, making sure she could feel his hold on her hand. She cast her eyes to it doubtfully, but as he swung it gently, something seemed to fall into place for her and she pulled him from the crowds, up the stairs and out into the dreary and deserted night, the cold night air not even touching her.
As soon as she realised he was out too, she dropped his hand and turned to face him; her gaze this time not faltering as she stared at him. He watched the uneasy heaving of her chest as she dragged in breaths, but before he could think of the words to say, he found himself shoved hard against the promotions board, feeling the bare wood scratching at him through his shirt, sure he could feel also a loosened nail digging in uncomfortably to the ridges of his spine.
But it was not as though he could care, because what was against him next was Sharon, clamouring desperately for his lips. Her hands raked at the material of his shirt, and his at her back, wanting to bring her closer, to touch wherever he could reach as he surrendered to the delicious sensation of Sharon forcing her tongue against his by swiping impatiently at his lower lip and exploring the depths of his mouth with an urgent moan.
"You mean it?" she gasped, pulling the most teasing fraction back from his kiss.
"Well if I didn't... I do now." he grinned, pulling her closer with an untold urgency to meet her lips again.
She kissed him gently, a complete contrast to the way she had as she had pulled him out here. But he didn't mind, able to feel her wide smile against his mouth as she launched her arms around him, and he swept her up from the floor, spinning her round, feeling more and more elated as he listened to her squeal in delight.
"Oh my God - we're really gonna do this aren't we?"
"Yeah." he nodded with a bemused grin. "Yeah we are."



And she squealed again, framing his face with her hands and kissing him again. But as she drew back, she shocked him into letting her slide back to the floor by saying "What changed your mind?"
"Nothing changed my mind." he replied, baffled. And Sharon's sparkling eyes clouded over with confusion. Oh God, she'd misunderstood somewhere.
"But I thought..."
"I never said "No." Sharon."
"Yes you did!" she cried, throwing up her hands in exasperation. "You must have said it half a dozen times!"
"Yeah, in panic!"
"Baby, when someone proposes to you, and the next thing you say is "No" and walk off, what are they meant to think?"
"They aren't meant to think anything because you know... oh alright, so I'm an arse! But I love you.... Bloody hell, it was me that started the whole "let's get married" thing" y'know!"
"Yeah, I do know." she shot back, nodding furiously. "Which is why I couldn't understand you... being like that!"
"You freaked me out! Honey... I never thought you'd ask."
"Why not?" she demanded defensively.
"Because every time I mentioned it today, you clammed up, you got just as freaked!"
"Well... maybe I did. But you're right. If we're gonna be together, then let's be together."
"What..." he began, raising an eyebrow. "So you just wanna run off and get married... without a word to anyone?"
"Dennis," she replied, feeling her happiness deflate steadily as she tilted her forehead against his. "if we tell anyone, they'll take you away from me."
"No, they won't. They can't."
"Yes they can." she informed him sadly with a nod before daring to smile. "Marry me... then let them try."
And before he could reply, try and reason with her and explain that announcing they were together was much more unlikely to freak everyone out than the two of them strolling into the Vic and announcing that far from being the brother and sister they all remembered from the previous day, they were now husband and wife; Sharon was kissing him again, her tongue soothing away the words from where they lay in his mouth.
"You really wanna marry me huh?"
"Yeah..." Dennis mused flirtatiously. "...though I can definitely think of a couple of things I'd like to do first!"
"No!" she giggled gently, pushing him back with her hands, whispering; "Tell me where Tony lives."
"What? Why?"
"Cos that's where we're going. Don't you want your best mate to see you get married?"
He chuckled, his eyes sparkling wide and bright. "Right, so, are we gonna take a detour to America and knock on Michelle's door an' all or is it just Tony you're interested in?"
"Yeah, it is. We're madly in love, see, but what with him already being married and all that, he convinced me I should stick with you."
"Ah!" Dennis clicked his fingers smirking. "I knew you were looking at him funny when you met him a couple of months back."
"What can I say? The only reason I'm with you is cos I needed a passionate affair to mend my broken heart."
"Oh right! So we're getting married because...?"
"It'll last longer." she shot back silkily, making him laugh again as she began to trace patterns in his shirt. "Now... the sooner you tell me where he lives, the sooner he can see me marry you, then we can move on to these other "things"..."
~*~



Having to follow her back to the house, snatching up birth certificates and whatever else and knowing that she wouldn't let him push her back against the bed was pretty much torture for Dennis, and as for the half hour's ride in the back of a cab to Tony's house in Wilton... oh God, it didn't even bear recalling! Sharon drove him mad with sexy little smiles every couple of minutes, her hands falling into his lips, her fingertips dancing up the inside of his thigh.
As soon as they'd slowed up outside the house he recognised so well, he jumped out, afraid that if he didn't, he'd be jumping on Sharon. She scrambled out after him, giggling softly as he slipped his arm around her back, guiding her towards the door, lifting his fist to knock.
"He's gonna think we've lost it y'know."
"Then you'll just have to tell him this whole thing is so we don't lose it then won't ya?"
"Well, I can try!"
Tony answered the door immediately, pausing for a moment in shock to take in the image of the two of them wrapped around each other. His mouth gaped, and he blinked furiously, raising laughter from his visitors.
"Mate, what's the matter with you?"
"Sorry." he managed, shaking his head and composing himself. "Sharon..." he said, smiling at her, before his gaze slid questioningly. "...your sister right?"
Sharon and Dennis looked at each other out the corner of their eyes, and dissolved into fits.
Tony backed up, clearing the way for them both to move into the hallway. "What?"
"Er... nothing... we just might need to talk to you about that!"


"You're what?"
Tony fell back against the coffee table with a thud, looking across at the two of them on his couch.
"We're getting married."
His eyes darted between them both. "But he's... she's your..."
"Fiancée." Dennis finished with a smirk, realising how good that sounded. "As of about an hour ago anyway."
"No... No... hang on." his friend shot back, laughing nervously and lifting his palms to halt the rush of his words. "Just... let me get this straight." He glicked his finger in Dennis' direction, who scooted forward, pulling Sharon's hand into his lap as he waited expectantly. "Your dad... is Den Watts. And..." Dennis nodded uneasily.
"Not through choice..."
"And Sharon... Watts..." He smiled awkwardly at her again as she looked expectantly at him. He felt nervous just looking at her. He knew nothing about her apart from the fact she was Dennis' big sister, and now, suddenly... she was going to marry him! Something was missing, somewhere... "Den Watts is your dad too?"
"Adoptive, yeah."
She laughed sweetly as she watched his chest heave, almost in relief, as he sloped back. "You were adopted?"
"Yeah, I was. When I was three."
Tony's wife, Faye crept in, mugs of tea clattering in her hands. "Honestly, Tone... even I knew Dennis had told you that. What were you hoping for, a bit of friendly incest? Here you are Sharon, one sugar wasn't it?"
"Yeah it was." she smiled gratefully, dropping Dennis' hand and curling her palms around the warm mug, letting the delicious warmth sink through her skin. "Thanks Faye."
"That's alright." she replied, leaving Tony's on the table and settling back against the armrest and gazing over at Dennis. It didn't go unnoticed, and he nervously sipped his tea, looking right back at her suspiciously.
"What?"
"Nothing. I was just trying to work out how you did it... y'know, proposed... can't quite see you on you on bended knee, so c'mon, how did you...?"
"He didn't!" Sharon cut in. "I did."
"Oh!" she cried, surprised, but obviously impressed. "I like it - shows him who wears the er..." She looked dubiously at Sharon's bare legs. "...trousers."
"Doesn't it? He turned me down to begin with..."
"No I didn't!"
"... probably scared... or pissed off cos I didn't wait for him to do it!"
"Yeah, that sounds like the Dennis we know, don't it Tone?"
Dennis looked across at his friend, immediately concerned at his stillness. "Mate?" he muttered, shaking his shoulder. "You alright?"
But Tony didn't address him. He looked at Sharon, rather apologetically. "So... you're tying Rickman down on a technicality?"
"Tone!"
"Dennis, Dennis, don't, it's fine honestly." Sharon gabbled, pressing down hard on his arm to make him sit. She flicked her fringe out of her eyes, clearing her throat. She caught sight of Faye's horrified expression out the corner of her eye, but ignored the disbelieving shake of her head and refocussed her attentions on Tony. "Yeah. I guess you could say I am. The way I see it is... we have no bloodlines... I didn't even know who he was this time last year. It's not like my... our dad ever thought about Paula or Dennis is it? I never knew I apparently had a brother... we didn't grow up together or anything - we're just two strangers in the same family unit, that's all."
He nodded. "Right, so... your other sister... Vicki, is it... and your dad... they don't mind that you're... engaged?"
"They... er... they don't know. We're kinda eloping..."
"But they... they know you're together right?"
"No."
Sharon could feel herself blushing. She felt so stupid, but she wasn't here to be judged.
"Then how long have you been together.... together?"
"Two weeks." she said slowly. She saw Faye look at Dennis and then glare at her husband and as Sharon felt Dennis slide his arm across her shoulders, she could pretty much guess that that was the way he had looked at Faye himself.
"Tony babe, they don't have to justify themselves to us." Faye said, as sweetly as she could, although the warning in her tone was evident. But he didn't heed it.
"Two weeks? Don't you think you're being a bit drastic?"
"Oh, for fuck's sake, I'm not listening to this!" Dennis hissed. "OK, so it's not the greatest set up, but... I'd have thought you could at least be happy for me, mate! I'm only gonna be doing this the once!"
"I am happy for you... I am.... I'm just... how are you gonna explain this one to the folks back home?"
"That's why I asked him." Sharon admitted softly, even though she knew it was probably the last thing in the world she should do. "I love Dennis, Tony, and if I don't prove how much, I know I'm gonna lose him, because our sister... our dad... they'll hate the idea of us being together. I need to prove to them... to myself and to him..." She looked quickly in Dennis' direction, her heart melting as his eyes locked on hers, drinking in her every word with glittering eyes and a half-smile. "...that they can't break us."
"Still... ain't it a bit rash?"
"Tony, for God's sake! It's romantic! They love each other, that's all there is to it, let 'em enjoy it - and try asking what it is they're here for!" Faye cried out, exasperated. As she puffed the words out, she smiled at Dennis. She knew he wasn't just here to share his good news. Dennis Rickman always wanted something.
"We... We want the two of you to be our witnesses."
"Us? Are you sure?"
"Course we are." Sharon assured her, looking uneasily to Tony, but relaxing as she saw that he was grinning.
"What are you after Rickman? C'mon, you can tell me..."
Dennis pretended to look confused, and then returned the grin. "Well..." he said slowly. "Can we take the bike?"
"Dennis!" Sharon gasped, whacking him on the arm. But he just raised an eyebrow at her, as if silently imploring her to acknowledge the butterflies playing in her stomach at the thought.
"Do I get to sit on your lap?"
"Very funny Tone, you still got the rust bucket ain't ya?"
"Ooooh!" Faye winced, laughing. "Careful, that car's his pride and joy! But yes, of course you can! Can't they, babe?" she added warningly, in a way that said he had no choice in the matter, however he looked at her. "Am I to assume you two are wanting to go now?"
Sharon slipped her hand through Dennis', squeezing it lovingly. "Yeah, yeah we are."
Faye beamed as she heaved herself up. "Well, I best go get changed hadn't I? I can't go to a wedding in me jim-jams! And my own darlin' husband here-" she stepped up behind Tony, her hands falling around his shoulders as she dropped a kiss on his head, "-will go and get the bike out the garage for you both... won't you honey?"

Tony got up and led them both through the house, back out to the front. Sharon settled against the step and watched with a happy sigh as he wrenched upon the door and wandered in. Dennis clambered down next to her, pulling her into his arms just as they heard the engine revv, and they cheered appreciatively as Tony slid out onto the driveway astride the bike. He swung and stood proudly, waiting for them.
Dennis stood first, and glanced back, offering Sharon his hand. She pushed herself up and slipped her hand through with a smile. She listened to the scraping of her heel against the damp pavement for a moment, before she ducked her head, giggling softly. "Oh no."
"What?"
And she stopped, turning to face him and taking up his other hand, gazing up into his beautiful face and loving the way the moonlight danced across it. And with a smirk, she began to sing softly.
Looking in your eyes, I see a paradise

This world that I found is too good to be true

Standing here beside you, want so much to give you

This love in my heart that I'm feeling for you
And he laughed, rolling his head back. Oh yeah, he could see why she hadn't wanted to elaborate. Poor darlin', she'd seen way too many trashy Eighties flicks. But his attentions were caught once more as she pulled lovingly on his hand.
Let 'em say we're crazy, I don't care about that

Put your hand in my hand baby, don't ever look back.
They walked a few steps as she carried on singing to herself, just loud enough so she would hear it too. The laughter bubbled against her throat, but to Dennis it didn't matter. He was almost frightened to be so captivated by her.
Let the world around us just fall apart

Baby, we can make it if we're heart to heart
Almost without thinking, she was moving into him, gently swinging her hips and nestling her chin into his shoulder. He knew not how to do anything except met her, closing his eyes and savour her singing gently into his ear.
And we can build this dream together, standing strong forever

Nothing's gonna stop us now

And if this world runs out of lovers, we'll still have each other

Nothing's gonna stop us... nothing's gonna stop us now
"Baby... Tony's staring..."
Sharon just smiled into the fibres of his shirt, and pushed a little more of her weight against him so he slowly turned around, at which point, she gave an even brighter smile over his shoulder to Tony.
"I'll just go sort myself out shall I?" he managed finally, slipping into the house without so much as being noticed.
Sharon straightened up triumphantly, wrapping her hands around Dennis' neck and lazily playing with the curl again. And they spent a few moments in complementary silence, each admiring the image of the other as they moved together to nothing but the silence enveloped them.
I'm so glad I found you, I'm not gonna lose you

Whatever it takes, I will stay here with you
She stepped back, straightening his arms and pulling him towards the bike. It was only as she felt it behind her that his hands shifted, lifting her on. She lifted her foot over to the other side, without even considering the length of her dress, just leaning back against the handlebars and watching him settle. She admired him for a moment.