Chapter 1.

This was a chance for a new start, he thought as he walked towards the Hamersley. He’d had enough of the bigger ships, while most people aim to go straight to those war ships he’d always wanted to be on a patrol boat. There was something about the close-knit crew that appealed to him. He was nervous he knew the crew would be close and Commander Marshall had told him that it might be hard to settle in at first but he’ll fit right in soon enough. He was just stepping onto the boat when he saw the CO walking toward him.
“Lieutenant Oliver Richardson long time no see. Lieutenant Commander Mike Flynn although an introduction is probably not necessary.” Mike said shaking Oliver’s hand, Oliver shook his hand back but made no connection with the name “But around here its sir or boss. Which ever you prefer.”
“Boss, I was never one for the formal stuff unless I had to. I still prefer Richo.”

“How’ve you been?” Mike asked

“Not bad myself, just sick of all those big ships I always wanted to work on a patrol boat.”
“Well then Richo lets go up to the bridge and the XO and I will explain the ship to you. Before you meet her she prefers Flip or m’am.”
“Flip??”
“Short for Flipper, she’s my cousin actually. They call her that because she’s a swimmer she used to be a diver before her move up in the ranks. She’s only recently become the XO. Our old XO is my fiancé she moved ship so we could be together. Not that we’d done anything while we were on the ship but we were together a while back. Anyway you’re Cl… I mean Flip’s replacement.” Mike had to remember in front of the others he could not use Claire’s name.

When they entered the bridge she had her back to them, still Richo had made no connection as to who she was. But one thing was for sure, it was that when she turned around he would get the shock of his life. Never would he have expected to see her.
“Claire this is Lieutenant Oliver Richardson. Our new crew member.”

Claire almost froze on the spot, it couldn’t be! She thought to herself, him? But surely it couldn’t be him. Knowing she’d have to turn around and see him sooner or later she slowly turned to face him. His jaw dropped with disbelief, her?! Never had it crossed his mind that he would see her again. His love for her still deep down somewhere inside him, all those years ago he knew it had been wrong and that’s why he’d stopped it. But back then he had thought he’d never have to face her again. How wrong he had been.
“Lieutenant.” She said shaking his hand, trying not to look in his eyes. He’d been the only other person she had ever loved apart from Jake. But Oliver had broken her heart and she was determined to not let it get the better of her.
“It’s Richo, m’am.” He said politely with almost no expression. “I’m glad to be serving on Hamersley. I’ve heard a lot about this crew, it’s an honour to be serving with you all.”
“Claire could you show Richo around the ship?” Mike asked completely unaware that Oliver and Claire already knew each other, quite well, very well in fact. Claire nodded and walked out of the bridge, Richo followed her.

She was already a few metres ahead of him, quickly walking trying to not acknowledge his presence. He had to almost run to catch up to her.
“Claire!” He whispered “Come on, it’s not like I planned to see you here. I had no clue you were on the Hamersley. Do you think if I did I’d be here?”
“What do I care? You can do what you want. Just don’t think I’m going to start being all lovey again.”
“You still haven’t forgiven me have you?”
“Forgive you? HA!” She laughed derisively “I will never forget it. After two years you just up and leave.” She hissed “How could I ever forgive you for that? You broke my heart Oliver.”
“We shouldn’t have been doing what we were doing. You know that.”
“Then why stop after two years? If you knew it was ‘so wrong’” She said indicating the inverted commas “Why not stop it earlier on. Save me from all the heart brake.”

“Don’t do this now. I don’t have any time for it and I’m sure you don’t have any either.” He was becoming more annoyed but it was nothing compared to how Claire was.

“NO! You had your turn; you left me without warning so now I get to speak. Do not expect me to ever be your friend or what ever you think is possible. I will not forgive you. You understand me?” It wasn’t anger talking through Claire it was more hurt than anything else “Show yourself around the ship.” She huffed as she walked back up to the bridge. Leaving a stunned Oliver standing behind her.

“Where’s Richo?” Mike asked curiously when Claire returned to the bridge alone.

“Oh he said he’d prefer to find his own way around Hamersley so I let him.” Mike gave her the you should have stuck with him look “If that’s what he wants to do then that’s what he wants to do Mike. I have no problem with that.”

Claire stood next to the chair, waiting for Mike to take control of the ship. She was determined that no one would know about her and Oliver, ever.

“You can have her today.” Mike smiled and Claire almost jumped into the chair, she liked the fact that her and Mike shared it sometimes. She loved her job. “Just don’t make me look bad okay.” He laughed

“Don’t worry I plan to. Seems like you knew O… Richo.” Claire quickly tried to cover up her mistake Mike laughed at her

“He was an instructor at ADFA actually for a few years. It was around the time that you and Kate were there. I thought you’d know him.”

“That’s where I’d seen him before, I couldn’t remember. Thanks for jogging my memory.”

“No problem cousin. So are we ready to go?”

“Hamersley is as ready as she’ll ever be.” Claire said turning away from him so he couldn’t see her face, she was almost cringing at the thought of having to serve on the same ship as the same man who had once been the love of her life.

Hope you enjoyed chapter 1 of ‘Back In My Arms Again’. The Kate and Mike wedding is definetly coming up soon so is some drama/tragedy etc etc, and more on Claire and Oliver its common stuff to write about I know but its easy and that’s what I do best so yeah. The basic thing on Claire and Oliver is that when he left her after ADFA Jake (who was her best friend) was there to comfort her and that’s where their relationship started. More to come soon hopefully 