Okay. Here is the long awaited sequel to "I've Been Waiting For You." You probably need to read that one first, in order to understand this one.

I hope you enjoy. I can't promise how frequently updates will occur; life has reared it's very ugly head this week. But I'm posting in order to try and remain focussed on something other than the situation I currently find myself in.

This starts off in October 1982…Alex and Gene have been together for 5 and a half months and things are going well.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ashes to Ashes. If I did, we'd have had a different ending! The franchise and its characters belong to Kudos and BBC and I am not making any money from writing this.

Chapter 1

With a quick flourish of her pen, Alex signed her name on the last piece of paperwork and let out a relieved sigh. It had been a quiet day in CID; the criminals were obviously taking a break before the pre-Christmas rush. Gene had been ordered to attend some conference on the 'rules of modern policing," meaning Alex had been left in charge of the department and much to her annoyance, the stack of paperwork that Gene had been letting pile up for the last few weeks. She made a mental note to have a word with him about that over dinner later.

She smiled as she thought about their "date" that evening. Normally it was difficult for them to get anytime quality time to themselves. In the 5 and a half months they'd been together she could count on one hand the number of evenings they had alone together. There was always Molly or the rest of CID around. Not that she minded spending time with the others; it was just nice to have some alone time every now and then. She let out a small chuckle as she thought about the rest of the team; they were still blissfully unaware of her relationship with Gene as far as she knew. And Ray wouldn't have been able to keep his mouth shut if he'd known; he'd have had some smart-arse comment to make. Alex had thought Shaz would become suspicious and work it out but she was too wrapped up in her pregnancy to notice much else at the moment. Nevertheless she had offered to take Molly to the pictures tonight and have her stay over, while Chris and Ray went to a card game with some of the lads from B relief. Gene and Alex planned to make the most of the situation. They'd decided against going out; Alex had offered to cook and promised Gene that they would finally get around to watching that copy of "They Died with Their Boots On" that was propping up her coffee table.

The doors to CID swung open and Molly bounded in, having been home to drop of her school stuff and change. She walked straight to her Mum's desk and dumped her overnight bag right on top of the reports Alex had been working on.

"Hey Mum!"

"Hi Molls. You're very chirpy today."

"Yeh, well it's been a good day; we've just broken up for half term, remember? And Shaz and I are going to have a fab time tonight."

"Well just make sure you're good," warned Alex.

"Don't worry Ma'am; I'm sure she won't be any trouble," commented Shaz, absentmindedly rubbing her bump. "So what do you plan to do with your night of freedom?"

"Yeh, Mum. What are you going to do?" asked Molly, with a glint in her eye. Of course she knew full well that Alex and Gene were having a quiet night in; she just enjoyed winding her Mum up. Alex shot Molly a warning glare before turning to Shaz,

"Oh I don't know really," she lied, "probably just have a quiet night in front of the telly."

"Sure you won't get lonely Mum?" Molly teased. Alex fixed her with a stare,

"I'm sure I'll cope Molls," she retorted as Shaz wandered off to the kitchen to make everyone a drink., providing Alex with the perfect opportunity to chastise her daughter. Pulling her over to the corner, she whispered harshly,

"Molly! What on earth do you think you're playing at? Saying all that."

"Relax Mum. No one is any the wiser; they don't even suspect," she told her, indicating the rest of CID.

"That is not the point. What if someone had worked it out?"

"Would that necessarily be a bad thing? I really don't understand the need for all this cloak and dagger stuff."

"That's a little dramatic Molls," she chuckled, before putting her hand on her daughters shoulder. She did kind of understand where Molly was coming from; sneaking around was quickly losing its attraction. "We will tell them but only when we're ready. You have to try and respect that," Alex explained. Molly sighed,

"I suppose. Although I have to say, I do worry about their abilities as detectives; you and Gene have been carrying on under their noses for nearly 6 months and none of them have noticed a thing." Alex laughed at this; the same thought had crossed her mind several times.

"Care to share the joke with the rest of us Lady Bolls?" Gene asked as he waltzed into the department.

"No Guv," she replied innocently. "How was the conference?" she asked following him into his office.

"Complete flamin' waste of time!" he complained loudly as he sat down in his chair, "I sometimes wonder what planet these people are from!" Alex walked round so she was stood next to him, before perching herself on the edge of his desk as he continued, "Come to think of it Bolls; yer should have gone in me place. Yer'd have fit right in."

"Any more remarks like that Guv, and I may have to rethink our plans for tonight," she smirked, discreetly squeezing his leg before getting up and sashaying back to her desk. Gene let out a low growl; that woman would be the death of him!

As the credits for "They Died with Their Boots On" rolled, Alex pulled away from Gene and stretched,

"Well Bolls; what did you think?"

"It was alright," she answered, stifling a yawn.

"Alright? Only alright? It's bloody fantastic!"

"If you say so," she told him, snuggling back into him. Westerns really weren't her thing, but she suffered them for Gene. As she settled back down, her eyes were drawn to the gym bag that Gene had dumped in her living room on his arrival. He did keep a few things in her flat; he had his own drawer in her dresser and even his own shelf in the bathroom but he would still, more often than not, go home in a morning to change, before work. He even did it most weekends too; to give her and Molly some 'quality time together.' Occasionally though he would turn up on a Friday with a bag and wouldn't leave until either very late Sunday night, or very earlier Monday morning,

"You staying all weekend?" she asked, hopefully.

"What do yer think?"

"I'm hoping that the fact that you brought a bag means you are," she admitted.

"Good job I am then isn't it," he said, smiling down at her and placing a small kiss on her forehead. She returned his smile and he continued, "Listen Bolls, I've been thinkin'…" He heard Alex snort and sensing she had a smart arse comment to make he quickly added, "it does 'appen occasionally yer know," causing Alex to giggle. He let her laughter subside before continuing; he wanted her full attention for what he was about to say. "Anyway as I were sayin'. It seems daft me spendin' most nights 'ere then drivin' 'alf way across town in the mornings to shower and change, don't yer think?" Alex looked up at him, her eyes full of questions. Was he really suggesting what she thought he was?

"What are you saying?" she asked.

"What I'm sayin' Mrs Fruitcake, is 'ow would yer feel about us livin' together?"

"What?" she asked, wondering if her flat could really accommodate three people on a permanent basis, plus Lucy when she came to stay. A flicker of hurt crossed Gene's face,

"Well if yer don't want to then…well…stuff it; it were only an idea." Alex realised Gene had taken her question the wrong way and quickly made to reassure him,

"No Gene, that's not what I meant. I was just thinking that this place might be a little small for all of us."

"Honestly! Wimmin! 'Ere's me suggestin' movin' in together and yer automatically home in on the negatives!"

"I'm sorry! I would love to live with you."

"Really?"

"Really," she assured, kissing him to emphasise her point.

"What d'yer reckon Molly'll think?" Gene asked as she pulled away.

"I'm sure she'll be fine about it. We can talk to her when she comes home tomorrow," Alex suggested. "What about Lucy? I think we should ask her opinion; she will be coming to stay with us after all."

"Yeh, we can speak to 'er next time we see 'er."

"And what about work?" Alex pressed gently, knowing this could be a touchy subject.

"What about it?" Gene asked, although he knew deep down what she meant.

"We won't realistically be able to keep our relationship secret if we're living together. We'll have to tell them."

"Suppose," he agreed, albeit reluctantly.

"You could sound a bit more enthusiastic about it," Alex challenged, wishing he wasn't so guarded about their relationship. Gene just sighed,

"I'm sorry Bolls, it just that I don't particularly want me private life to be the subject of office tittle-tattle. You know what it's like; them lot could give the WI a run for their money when it comes to gossipin'."

"I know. But it won't be for long. Give it a week or two and they'll have moved on to something else. Ray's latest conquest probably. Be worth it though," she pointed out, "in the end."

"Course it will. Suppose it's not too much to suffer in return for having a posh tart in yer bed every night," agreed Gene, waggling his eyebrows. Alex was about to respond but was cut off by the phone ringing. "Saved by the bell," chuckled Gene as Alex reached across him to answer it.

"Hello? … Yes he's right here. Hold on please." She held the phone out to Gene, "it's for you." Gene looked at her quizzically; no one knew he was here. Alex just shrugged her shoulders as he took the phone from her,

"'Ello? ... Yeh that's me." Alex watched curiously as Gene's face drained of all its colour. "What? When?" he asked, panic in his voice. "We're on our way!" Gene put the phone down before turning to Alex, "It's Lucy. She's in 'ospital."

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