The next morning when Zoe awoke she was alone in bed. She looked across at the clock and it was 11.30am. She really had needed some sleep. She climbed out of bed and made her way downstairs. She found Richard in the kitchen at the stove.
"Morning" she yawned before kissing Richard on the lips.
"Morning gorgeous. I was just making you some breakfast to bring to you in bed" Richard said indicating to the eggs in the pan.
"I can't believe I managed to sleep so long." Zoe said.
"I think after the last week your body needed it." Richard said as he tipped the eggs out into a plate and brought the plate over to Zoe. He then poured some orange juice into a glass and put that down in front of her also before sitting in the seat opposite her at the table.
"Are you not eating?" Zoe asked as she tucked into the breakfast in front of her.
"I ate earlier but I wanted to let you sleep as long as possible" Richard replied running a hand through his hair. "How are you feeling now?"
"Not as tired now" Zoe replied in between eating mouth fulls of egg. "It still feels strange that he has gone but I feel so much better now that the funeral is over."
"You will grieve for a while, that is understandable" Richard said reaching across the table to place a hand on top of one of Zoe's. "Just know that I will be here for you no matter what."
"Thank you Richard" Zoe replied. "I love you."
"I love you too" Richard replied.
Zoe continued to eat her breakfast when a thought came to her head.
"Richard do you have any plans today?" She asked.
"None at all, I'm all yours" Richard replied.
"Can we invite Kit and Rose round this evening. I would like to cook for them both as a thank you and of course I can't wait to meet Rose" Zoe said.
"Of course we can as long as you feel up to it" Richard replied with a concerning look.
Zoe who had finished her eggs now stood up from the table and walked round to Richard's side and sat herself on his knee. He wrapped his arms around her in response.
"For me to grieve I need to carry on with life. I need to keep busy and I need normality around me. I have always been busy it is what I do" Zoe replied playing with a curl in Richard's hair.
"If that's what you want I'll give them a call now" Richard replied and kissed Zoe on the lips.
***
Five hours later Zoe and Richard had returned from a quick trip to the store for supplies and Zoe was busying herself in Richard's kitchen. She had opted to make one of her favourite dishes tonight, fish pie.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Richard asked as he watched her prepare the fish.
"Would you be able to get the table ready please?" She asked.
"Of course love" Richard replied.
Once the pie was in the oven, this then gave Zoe chance to go and get changed. It was a very casual affair tonight but she still wanted to look nice for her guests. She decided to pair a dark green top with her favourite skinny jeans.
"You look lovely" Richard said as he walked into the bedroom after having a shower with only a towel wrapped around his waist.
"So do you" Zoe said as she felt herself blush.
"Oh do I now?" Richard asked as he sat down on the bed and pulled her down onto his knee.
"Richard your soaking wet!" Zoe said as she tried to pull away from his grip.
"I'll let you go if you give me a kiss first" Richard laughed.
"Fine" Zoe huffed as she leant forward to place a kiss on Richard's lips. She felt Richard's hands move up around her as their kiss intensified. Zoe wrapped her arms around Richard's neck her hands finding his wet curly hair, running her hands through it. After a couple of minutes Richard pulled away.
"Wow," He said breathlessly "soon I would not of been able to stop myself. You are amazing."
Zoe climbed off Richard's lap and left him to get changed whilst she checked on dinner.
Kit and Rose arrived at seven. Richard went to the door and let them in whilst Zoe continued with dinner. As they all walked into the kitchen to join her Kit stepped forward and gave her a hug.
"How are you feeling now?"Kit asked.
"I'm just trying to keep myself busy to be honest and try not to think about it" Zoe replied.
"I guess that's fair enough" Kit replied. "May I introduce you to my wife Rose"
Rose stepped around from behind Kit and hugged Zoe.
"It's lovely to meet you finally and I'm so sorry for your loss." Rose said.
"Thank you" Zoe replied. "It's lovely to finally meet you too. I have heard a lot about you from Kit and Richard and those meals you sent us were a life saver. Thank you."
"It's my pleasure" Rose replied. "Now I hope you boys have been saying nice things about me." Everyone laughed.
Richard poured out a glass of wine for Zoe and Rose and got himself and Kit a bottle of beer from the fridge and Zoe brought all the food over to the table and they all took a seat.
"This is delicious Zoe" Kit said as he ate his first mouthful.
"This really is. Never tasted fish pie like this" Rose said.
"It was my grandmothers receipt that she taught me when I was young" Zoe replied. "I'm just glad you are all enjoying it."
"It's beautiful" Richard replied squeezing her hand.
As they sat and ate Richard, Kit and Rose recited all their tales from being on the set of Game of Thrones together. She couldn't help but like Richard's friends and was soon joining in with their jokes.
"So what is it you do?" Rose asked trying to get to know her new friend more.
"I work in marketing. That's when I work. With everything that's gone on I haven't been there for a few weeks" Zoe replied.
"You sound like you are happy about that" Kit joked.
"I do enjoy my job, it's just these last few weeks have really put my life into perspective and I really don't know know if that's what I want to do forever. Before I just accepted that I had my job to pay for the roof above my head and Daniel's carers where as now things are different." Zoe said.
"So what has always been your dream?" Rose asked.
"It's embarrassing" Zoe said.
"It's not embarrassing at all" said Richard cutting in. "Don't forget you are talking to three actors at the moment."
"I have always loved to sing" Zoe said as she felt Richard squeeze her hand.
"That's amazing. I just wish I could sing" Rose said.
"And how do you know I can?" Zoe laughed.
"Well why don't you show us" Kit asked.
Zoe blushed. "Oh I really don't know, another thing that has always stopped me Pursueing this dream is nerves."
"I would really love to hear that voice of yours" Richard said the kindness showing in his blue eyes.
"Erm ok, what would you like me to sing?" Zoe asked.
"Well what's your favourite song to sing?" Kit asked.
"Well I have always loved titanic" Zoe blushed.
"Ah do my heart will go on then?" Rose asked.
Kit found a karaoke version of the song on YouTube on his phone and once Zoe was ready Kit pressed play and Zoe began. As she sang she couldn't look at anyone. She had never sung in front of anyone before. This was usually something she saved for when she was alone in the shower.
As the song came to an end she heard all of their applause.
"That was amazing" Kit said giving Zoe a high five.
"You really have a talent there" Rose said as she hugged Zoe.
Zoe turned to Richard as he wiped a tear away from his eye.
"That was beautiful love. Wow I am just speechless." He pulled Zoe into a tight embrace and kissed her on the lips. "People have to be able to hear that beautiful voice of yours and I may have an idea."
"Have you got any contacts in the music industry?" Rose asked.
"No not really" Richard replied. "But do you remember that film I filmed a few months ago, Beyond?"
"Is that the space one?" Kit asked.
By now Zoe was beyond confused.
"Yeah that's the one, well they have this song for the movie that runs through out the film and is the end credits, like my heart will go on is in titanic and I know they are really struggling to find the right artist for the song. I think Zoe here is that artist." Richard said.
Zoe started open mouthed at Richard.
"Are you serious?" She asked. "I doubt anyone would want me singing such an important song."
"Well why don't you let me speak to Michael the director and see if I can get an audition for you to sing to him and let him be the judge" Richard replied.
"Why would they want me?" Zoe asked.
"You have never heard yourself sing before have you?" Rose asked.
"Not for years. I just enjoy singing" Zoe replied.
"I think if Richard can get you this audition you will smash it." Kit replied.