As promised the sequel to "Friday I'm In Love". I would recommend reading that one first and it can also be found on . I've upped the rating to an M, although there won't be anything too graphic there will be some strong language and adult themes. Hope you enjoy the fic xx.

It should have been the best of days.

The jury was in, the verdict given and it was a good one. Mark Lewis wouldn't be bothering his wife and daughter for a long, long time. Even so, Alex couldn't help feeling a profound sense of disappointment as she walked out of the court room and into the cool London air. Despite the autumn sunshine everything seemed dull, dingy. In the days before congestion charges, the traffic outside was almost at a standstill, belching out fumes into the still air. Alex sneezed, hoping she wasn't starting a cold.

October 28th 1982. It had been one year, three months and eight days since she'd landed in this godforsaken place… since she'd last seen her daughter. Evan was her one link with her old life but he had essentially ignored her; turning his back when she had approached him. They hadn't actually spoken since she'd broken Mark Lewis' nose, the day that Evan had all but accused her of being in love with her boss. A ridiculous notion. Looking over her shoulder, Alex could see Gene standing just outside the doors, deep in conversation with Mrs Lewis… what was the woman's name? Karen… Carol? No doubt she was expressing her undying gratitude. Feeding his ego. Not that he needed it. Gene Hunt already seemed to think he was God's gift to the female sex. Alex allowed herself a small sigh when she thought back to that Saturday night in his office,

"Wouldn't have been that bad, you know," he grumbled.

"What wouldn't?" Alex asked, even though she was fairly sure that she knew the answer.

"Spending the night with me."

It was all Alex could do to stop laughing out loud. She was a twenty-first century girl and was fairly certain that she knew more about her body and what turned her on than Gene Hunt would ever bother to find out. She had always imagined that sleeping with him would be fun but not earth shattering. Of course the fact she had allowed herself to think about it at all was slightly disturbing.

She watched as he put his glass down and placed his hands on the desk either side of her. He leaned in close and suddenly Alex felt it. A twinge in her stomach that suggested she was affected by his proximity, the scent of his aftershave… the man stink.

"You'd have been screaming," he breathed.

"Really?"

"Begging for more."

Alex wanted to cry out Yes! Yes! Yes! But she met his gaze and answered lightly.

"Bet I wouldn't."

Gene drew back and shook his head.

"Not falling for that one again, Bolly," he said as he walked away.

Good. It was all good. At least that was what Alex had tried to tell herself in the days and nights that followed. She couldn't afford to form any emotional attachments. Not here. Not when Molly was waiting in that hospital room.

So life went on as normal. They still bickered like and old married couple, got drunk together, still had a friendship of sorts. Alex couldn't explain what was different but there had been a subtle shift in their relationship. Something was missing and she didn't like it.

"Luigi's?" she asked as he joined her on the pavement.

"Going to drive Kate home first."

Kate… that was it. Not Karen or Carol. Alex glanced at the other woman again. Kate Lewis was in her thirties, blonde… although the hint of dark roots made Alex suspect that the colour had come out of a bottle. Definitely attractive. Petite in a way that made Alex feel clumsy and awkward. But the woman's hands were shaking as she lit a cigarette. The bright sunlight accentuated the dark circles under her eyes and the redness that spoke of recent tears. Alex's heart went out to her.

"Go on," she told Gene.

"You sure?"

"I'm a big girl, Guv. I can get home by myself."

"Right… I'll maybe see you later then."

But she wasn't so sure. Deep down Alex knew that Gene wasn't the type of man to take advantage of a lonely, desperate woman, but she knew he'd stay as long as it took to make sure she was okay. There was a nagging doubt though. In the months since Mark Lewis' arrest his wife hadn't exactly been a stranger at Fencurch East. Alex had seen her a few times. Sometimes alone and sometimes with her daughter. She always wanted to speak to Gene… no one else would do.

Alex decided to walk back home, trying to enjoy the late afternoon Sun and the bustle of Londoners seething around her, yet Alex couldn't escape the fact that she was lonely. She remembered a time when she had relished being by herself. What with her career, her child such moments had been few and far between. The quiet time after Molly had gone to bed or before she woke up… when she could be Alex Drake and not a detective inspector, not Molly's mum. Here it was different. She wanted people around her. They were a distraction and stopped her thinking about what might be happening out there in the 'real world'. Perhaps that was why she had made that stupid bet with Gene? In the aftermath Alex had come to realise that he meant more to her than a mere distraction. For a few days she'd had him by her side before it had turned to shit. And it had been her fault… all of it.

Luigi's was heaving that night. Alex had to fight her way to the bar and even then it seemed to take her an age to get served. When Luigi finally got to her she ordered a bottle of the house rubbish and quickly retired to join the rest of her colleagues at the table under the mural. Conversation flowed around her. Ray and Viv arguing about the match on Saturday... Manchester United vs West Ham. Shaz was trying to explain something to Chris who was hanging on every word she said. It made Alex smile. He was doing his best but would never be able to keep up with Shaz's more agile intelligence. Still, he was totally devoted to her and in Alex's opinion that counted for a lot. She couldn't remember ever inspiring that kind of devotion in a man. With her ex-husband it had been the other way around. It had turned out he hadn't given a shit about her. The thought depressed her so much that she fought her way back to the bar for another bottle of wine.

She had almost finished it when she noticed that Gene Hunt had finally arrived. No pushing and shoving for him. The crowd parted before him as he plonked a third bottle on the table.

"You started without me, Bolls."

"I thought you had better things to do."

Mrs Lewis for example, her mind said although luckily the thought didn't make it as far as her mouth. As Gene poured for them both, Alex was becoming aware that she'd had rather a lot to drink already and should probably stop and go to bed.

"You know what she wants, don't you?" she said. Alex attempted to lean closer to Gene but misjudged the distance and found herself pressed up against him. He didn't seem to mind though and shifted his arm so that it was stretched out along the back of her chair.

"Who?" he asked.

"Kate."

"Kate?"

"She wants a new Daddy for little Emma."

Alex made an attempt to grab the bottle but missed.

"I think you've had enough," Gene said, moving it out of her reach. Not to be defeated, Alex picked up Shaz's port and lemon and drank that instead.

"She's taking advantage of you. I just hope she knows what she's letting herself in for, that's all."

"What are you blithering on about woman?"

For some reason Alex found that incredibly funny. It all made perfect sense in her head but so did most things after two bottle of wine. She leaned closer to him, trying to speak quietly but her voice was no longer under her control.

"You couldn't find a G spot unless it was wearing a Man U shirt!" she shouted.

Gene's reaction was immediate. He shot to his feet and Alex was hard pushed to maintain her seat without his bulk holding her upright.

"Are you accusing me of supporting United!"

"The Guv's a City man… always has been," Chris said.

"No love it's an erogen…" Shaz began but stopped abruptly and turned a delicate shade of pink.

But Alex's attention had been diverted back to the wine. She managed to grasp the bottle and pour herself another glass but before she could drink it she felt a hand on her elbow.

"Come on, Bolls, time for you to go upstairs." Gene said. "Up you get."

"Piss off."

She tried to shake herself free but coupled with trying to finish the wine in her glass the attempt wasn't very successful. Alex tripped and almost fell, would have done if Gene hadn't caught her. She giggled into his shirt. Suddenly she felt very, very tired. His body was warm, comfortable. A girl could quite easily fall asleep being held by this man. In fact, right now, that seemed like an excellent idea.