A/N: This came out of no where, I was going to write something completely different. But you know what I actually like that this hasn't ended with smut like I had intended.

Set Episode 8 Series 3. Provoked by the trailer. So I guess there are spoilers, although for the most part it is clean-ish

She could feel the heat radiating off him, her hands pressed open on his chest as she looks up into his eyes. They were less of a sea grey, it seemed almost like there was a storm within them.
The last time she was this mesmerised was when exhausted she had held her daughter for the first time. Alex lips quirked into a sad smile as she remembered being over filled with love. Love that for three years she had been forced to lock away in her heart for fear that it would break her.
He had confessed all to her. He had opened the closet with its multitude of skeletons. Somewhere in the old farm house the hands of a clock ticked by and the sky had darkened and the tears had dried on her cheeks. He asked her not to leave.
"Stay, Alex."
His voice sounded like gravel, desperate for her to concede to his wish. She had looked at him then, really looked and she was terrified at what she saw. Terrified, because what she heard was reflected in his face and she realised it had always been there, only it was more potent.
She could not stay. She had old promises she intended to keep. He had always known she was waiting for the day she could leave, but she wished some how he could have given her some insight into how much it would hurt.
Between bullets the love for her daughter had never faltered, but this man with flaws she had never thought she would cherish, he had found the spare key.
"Only for tonight."
She felt the crack in her chest as it pulled further apart. She could give him tonight, a parting gift. She would for one night give him all of herself.
"I won't be here when you wake up."
She hated herself for saying it, but it had to be clear. She knows that he is well aware that she can leave now if she wants to, so she does not want to lead him into false hope and wake alone, she could never be that cruel.
She slid her hands up to his shoulders, carrying them up to the side of his face so that she could brush her thumb across the shadow of stubble on his jaw as she spoke.
"You really are something quite special."
She smiled with soft eyes Alex inched closer, before giving in and pulling him to her mouth. His mouth was warm and the tender way in which his lips met hers soothed the ache inside. She let the kiss lingering a few moment longer, before breaking the spell.
"I won't get a second chance at this, Gene, but I want you to know I love you. I love you and it hurts."
The tear drop tipped off her lashes, splashing onto her cheek and he wiped it away slowly. He rested his head against hers, his hands tracing the contours of her face as he tried to remember her with only the touch of his callous finger tips.
"Don't make me say it, Bolls."
His voice was tight and raw, the way he spoke her name felt as though it was watered down and she did not dare look up in case he too was crying. She did not mind that he was unable to say the three silly words, because Gene conveyed them in his gentle touches, the way he spoke his words carefully and she knew he loved her, just as she knew his blue eye would fail to hide it from her were she to look up now.
"Its alright, I already know."
She looked up now, because she could not resist the desire to see the honesty in the depths of those beautiful eyes and despite the sparkle of tears, her smile did not hesitate to brighten her features. He loved her.