'Witness' - The White Bridge Crime Series 3 - LGBT, manXman

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Freddie's arms slid around Tom's waist, pulling him closer.

They swayed slowly to the music.

Fred glanced down at the wedding band now shining on his finger, and smiled.

"So, how have you been?" He murmured in Tom's ear.

"Fine. The first few months were hard, but... Well, I got passed it. James helped."

"Who's James?"

"Rachel's baby."

"What?" Freddie drew back, looking shocked. "Rachel had a baby?"

"Yeah. She told us she was pregnant about three days after your 'death' was in the paper. When she was six months along, she moved into my house with Dylan; Dom was driving her crazy. I looked after her while Dylan was completing his basic training, and helped look after James until they moved out."

Fred stepped back to Tom, enfolding him in a hug.

"So, she called him James?"

"Yeah. She wanted Freddie, but... I knew it would be hard to hear that name every day, so she called him James instead. He still, technically, has your name."

Fred smiled.

"Thank you. I wish I could have been here."

"Me too." Tom curled his fingers into Fred's hair. "You let your hair grow out."

"Yeah. You got glasses."

"I'm helpless without then now," Tom said ruefully. "I can't see a damn thing."

He drew back and kissed Fred.

"So, what happened to you?"

"I was moved down to Cornwall. They gave me elocution lessons again-"

"I thought you sounded different," Tom interrupted.

Fred smiled and continued.

"They got me a small flat, and lined up two interviews at local businesses. I worked as a receptionist for a few months, before I was moved to junior management." Fred shrugged. "Pretty boring, really."

"What was your new name?" Tom asked curiously.

"Jonathan Bauer." Fred scowled.

Tom smirked.

"Jonathan. You're not a Jonathan."

"I'm a Freddie," Fred grinned. "I'm officially Freddie Glover again. And this time, it's because I chose to be him, not because I was forced to be him."

He wrapped his arms tightly around Tom, and held him close.

"I love you, so much." He murmured.

"I love you too."

They danced a while longer, before Tom saw Adrian and Eli beckoning the across from the buffet and they went across to join their friends.

"I can't believe it's been almost three years," Eli said, embracing Fred again.

"I know."

Fred wrapped his arms around Adrian and Eli's shoulders and embraced them simultaneously.

"I missed you guys. There was a little restaurant at the end of my street, that you would have loved, Aidy."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. There were loads of improvements I saw every time I went in, but the food was good."

"Well, it's up to you, but you can have your old job back, if you want it," Adrian said.

"Thanks. I'll think about it."

"Do. We did some work just over a year ago, and extended the bar. We've made a new cocktail menu, and bought some high tables."

"It looks great," Eli agreed. "And the customers seem to like it."

"The bar sales are up nearly five per cent since we re-opened," Adrian said happily.

"So, you can afford to give me a raise, if I come back them?" Fred smirked.

Adrian laughed.

"Perhaps."

Eli saw Rex watching him from across the tent, and grinned.

"See you later." Eli hurried across to Rex, and the pair stepped onto the dance floor, hand in hand.

"I can't get over how cute they are together," Adrian said.

"I know. Rex is like four feet taller than Eli." Fred laughed.

"Only one foot," Dom grinned too. "Come on, you."

He led Adrian away to the dance floor as well, leaving Tom and Fred beside the buffet.

The pair filled plates with food, and settled down at a table in the corner.

They ate in a friendly silence, watching other couples dancing. They laughed over the way Eli had to stand on tiptoes and stretch up in order to wrap his arms around Rex's neck.

"Freddie!" Rachel appeared out of nowhere and threw herself onto Fred.

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tightly.

"We thought you were dead!" Rachel said. "What happened?"

"That's a very long story," Fred said. "And quite complicated."

"Well, start telling it. I'll fetch more champagne."

Tom rose and went to fetch a chilled bottle and some glasses.

He put them down on the table beside Fred, who opened the bottle with the old flair of a practised barman that Tom remembered. He took a sip of champagne from Fred's glass, before stepping out onto the dance floor. He moved across to Dom and Adrian, wrapped his arms around Adrian from behind, and embraced them both.

"I forgive you for not telling me," he said.

"We knew you would." Dom replied. "How is Fred?"

"He's fine. He's busy telling Rachel what happened."

"It is quite a story."

Adrian drained his champagne glass, and settled back into Dom's arms.

"So you and Fred are going to be okay?"

"We're going to be fine," Tom said. "It's almost like he never left."

~The End~