So here it is, my new story. I hope you all enjoy it, and it would make my day if you would leave me a comment :D

Games, changes and fears
When will they go from here
When will they stop
I believe that fate has brought us here
And we should be together
But we're not
I play it off but I'm dreamin' of you
I'll keep it cool but I'm fiendin.

Saturday the 1st of March, the day when Sally and Nate finally got married. They were married in the same Church as Jess and Callum had married in nearly 2 years ago now, and where Lexi was christened a year and a half ago. The day was cold, but the sky was a crisp, frosty blue, Beth's favourite kind of day. Beth and Jess were Sally's bridesmaids and little Lexi was the flower girl. Again, Will was the best man. Beth could see a pattern emerging.

I try to say goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near

Beth was sat at a table with Jess, Callum, Lexi, Will, Smithy and Stevie, dressed in her pale blue bridesmaid dress. Lexi was sat on her lap, playing with her long brown hair. Beth couldn't believe how big Lexi was, and how beautiful she was, with Jess' blonde hair and Callum's dark eyes.

"You're gonna be a heart breaker when you're older." Beth said with a small smile, absently plaiting Lexi's long hair. Lexi just looked at her questioningly, and carried on playing with Beth's hair.

"You alright Beth?" Smithy asked, turning to talk to her, tickling his goddaughters stomach.

"Yep, just thinking how I always seem to get picked to be a bridesmaid." Beth said, turning slowly in her chair so she could talk to Smithy.

"Oh come on Beth, you've been a bridesmaid twice." Stevie said with a laugh.

"Actually, I've been a bridesmaid three times, to my auntie Yvonne, to Jess, and now to Sally." Beth said, a small smirk on her face.

"That's only three times, and people obviously think you make a brilliant bridesmaid." Smithy said nodding.

Beth shrugged her shoulders, looking across the crowded reception room at a man standing at the bar.

"Beth...Beth?" Stevie said a bit louder.

"Huh? Oh sorry Stevie, what was that you said? I was a million miles away." Beth asked, coming back to the conversation. She saw Smithy and Stevie following where she was staring, then looking back to each other while trying to hide their smiles. Stevie composed herself before saying, "I was just asking if you were worried about the whole "always a bridesmaid but never a bride" phrase."

"Yeah, I mean it seems like everyone has got married recently. My cousins have all started getting engaged and married now. I feel a bit left out." Beth replied, mulling it over.

"Would you like me to find you a guy Beth? My matchmaking skills are almost as good as my detecting skills, just look at Smithy and Stevie." Jess said with a smile, turning round now that the conversation was starting to get interesting. Jess and Sally, and both the station probably, knew that Beth had a major thing for Max Carter, and after they slept together at Jess and Callum's wedding the crush had only intensified. It was hard to tell if Max felt the same way, he wasn't exactly the type of person to talk to people about who he fancied...in fact her rarely talked to people unless he had to.

"Jess, that was a lucky guess. You only pushed us together again, you forget that we were together shortly after my undercover gun running operation." Smithy said, rolling his eyes at his friend and colleague.

"Yeah, but you have to admit that if it weren't for me you wouldn't have been an item for the past 6 months, and you wouldn't have asked Stevie to be your date for the wedding would you?" Jess said, a smug smile on her face.

"Smithy, I would just admit defeat now. You know how stubborn she is." Callum said, kissing Jess. Lexi started wiggling on Beth's lap.

"What do you want sweetie?" Jess asked, swinging her daughter onto her lap.

"Dance!" Lexi squealed excitedly.

"You want to dance?" Jess asked, laughing at her daughters excited face. Lexi started trying to get off Jess' lap and onto the dance floor. "Shall we see if auntie Sally will dance with you? And how about auntie Beth as well?" Jess said, looking at Beth expectantly. Once again, Beth was looking across the room at Max, but this time he was looking back.

Will sauntered over, looking at Beth staring at Max. "Beth, if you keep staring at Max he can get you done for stalking."

Beth looked up at Will and mock glared at him, "Shut up you. I wasn't looking at him, I was checking the special cocktails, that's all." Everyone started laughing at her lame excuse.

"Are you going to dance with your beautiful niece Beth?" Jess asked. Ever since Lexi was tiny, Jess had referred to Sally and Beth as Lexi's aunties, and Smithy, Will and Nate as her uncles. All of them loved being Lexi's adopted uncle or auntie, and they spoiled her rotten like real auntie and uncles would do.

"Yeah, in a minute, I'm just going to get myself a cocktail." Beth said. Smithy stood up, offering his hand to Stevie who took it, and they headed for the dance floor. Then Callum stood up, whirling his daughter up in his arms, and put his other arm round Jess' shoulders, and they too headed for the dance floor. Then it was just Will and Beth. Will took Jess' vacated chair and said to Beth, "If you like him, why not just buy him a drink?"

Beth looked at Will with wide eyes, "Will, I don't like him, not in that way anyway. Why does everyone think I do?" Beth asked in an exasperated tone.

"Because you make it so obvious that's why! And since that time you slept together..."Will started, before being interrupted by Beth.

"Will, I have told you not to talk about that! I admitted it in a moment of weakness and now you bring it up whenever you can. Just shut up about it!" Beth said, glaring at him with her big brown eyes.

Will raised his hands in a surrendering gesture. "Ok ok, shutting up. But seriously, just go and buy him a drink." And with that, Will got up and danced over to where his goddaughter was making some moves on the dance floor.

I may appear to be free
But I'm just a prisoner of your love
I may seem alright and smile when you leave
But my smiles are just a front
I play it off but I'm dreamin' of you
I'll keep my cool but I'm fiendin

Beth stood up and quickly headed to the ladies toilets. Inside she found Sally who was touching up her make up.

"Congratulations again Mrs Roberts!" Beth said, hugging Sally tight.

"Thanks Beth, again." Sally laughed before continuing, "Thanks for being my bridesmaid Beth, it means a lot. I have a present for you, but its in my room so I'll drop it round tomorrow morning on the way to the airport."

"Aw Sal, you didn't have to get me anything! I've really enjoyed being your bridesmaid." Beth said honestly, putting on more mascara and straightening her hair quickly. Sally looked at her in the mirror, and a smile appeared on her face. Beth looked up to see Sally looking at her. "What?"

"Who are you going out to impress?" Sally asked, a knowing look on her face.

Beth immediately frowned, "Am I not allowed to wear make up now? I want to look nice Sally, this is a wedding, I can't go around looking like a tramp can I!"

"Ok, let me rephrase...is there a certain DS you trying to impress?" Sally asked.

Beth was about to retort, but then she sighed. "Am I that obvious?"

"Well, only to those who know about your little thing with him." Sally said, nodding.

"Ugh, why do I ever tell you lot anything?" Beth said in despair.

Sally laughed at her petite friend, giving her a quick hug, "You are such a drama queen! And you tell us stuff because you can't help it. Look, just go out there and..."

"If you say buy him a drink I might have to hurt you, regardless of the fact that its your wedding day." Beth said with a glint in her eye.

"Will said it as well?" Sally asked.

"How did you know?" Beth asked, a bit shocked.

"Because me, Will and Jess were all going to say the same thing so that you would eventually cave in and do it to stop us going on at you." Sally said with a grin.

"Oh God, you're in on Jess' matchmaking aren't you?" Beth said, reapplying her lip gloss.

"Possibly." Sally said with a laugh. "You look gorgeous. Now go out there, throw some sexy moves on the floor, go to the bar, sit near him, order a sex on the beach and drink it really seductively. Let him come to you." Sally said with a nod.

Beth sighed in defeat, "I don't have any choice do I?"

"You always have a choice Beth. You either listen to my instructions or you try it your own way and get no where." Sally said with a triumphant look on her face, "Now if you don't mind, I better go. I believe my adorable goddaughter wanted to dance with me. Good luck!"

"Thanks, I'm gonna need it." Beth said, taking a deep breath, rearranging her dress. She headed out of the toilets, a confidant look on her face.

I try to say goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near

Twenty minutes later Beth was back in the toilets, this time accompanied by Millie, Jess and Sally who were bent over double laughing. Beth was sat in one of the cubicles, her head in her hands, her heels strewn on the floor next to her. Jess straightened up, wiping under her eyes.

"Oh my god Beth, that was the funniest thing I've seen in a while. Poor Lexi though, she thought you were dead!" Jess said, leaning against the counter for support.

"Are you ok though?" Millie asked after she'd finished laughing.

"Yeah, that looked like quite a fall." Sally added, holding her dress up.

Beth looked up at them, her chin resting on her hands. "I don't think I've ever been as embarrassed in my life!" Beth said with a groan, rubbing her ankle.

"Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" Jess asked.

"No its fine, I'll just get a cab home and put some ice on it. Thanks for the offer though." Beth said with a small smile.

"God, the look on Max's face when you feel right in front of him was priceless though." Sally said with a stifled giggle, which then set the rest of them off. This time though, Beth couldn't help but let out a laugh. She had done what Sally had said, gone to the dance floor and danced as sexily as she could. Before she went to the bar, she grabbed a glass of something off the waiter as he went by for a bit of Dutch courage. But as she approached him at the bar, she slipped on something and her ankle twisted, causing her to fall face first onto the floor, right in front of Max's barstool. She had been so embarrassed and in pain that she didn't look up for a few minutes, just laying on the floor. And then she saw the pair of shoes in front of her get off the barstool and stop right in front of her, and she felt a hand grasping hers, helping her to her feet. He had looked genuinely concerned, but as soon as she was up he gruffly asked her if she was ok, and she quickly nodded before Sally, Jess and Millie got to her and took her to the toilets.

"He did look a bit worried about you though." Millie said with a smile.

"And when he helped you up he definitely got an eyeful of cleavage, so that's something right?" Jess said innocently.

"You lot can be so mean sometimes!" Beth whined, gingerly putting weight on her left foot. It didn't feel so bad, so she decided now was the time to make a move.

"What can we say? You would say the same had it been one of us." Sally said.

Beth thought about it for a minute and nodded, smiling, "True. Right, I'm going to go and say goodbye to everyone then get a taxi home. Thanks for the wonderful wedding Sal, I've had a brilliant time, right up until twenty minutes ago." Beth hugged Sally, then Jess and Millie. "I'll see you two tomorrow night at work I guess."

"Yep you will. Come and say goodbye to Lexi though, she'll be really upset if you leave without saying goodbye to her." Jess said, taking Beth by the hand and leading her out to where her daughter was, which was in Will's arms as he spun her round. "Will, if she's sick tonight I'm going to come and wake you up so you can clean it up."

Will grinned before he stopped spinning and handed Lexi over to Jess. "Dance mummy!" Lexi said, smiling at her mum.

"In a minute sweetie. First you need to say goodbye to auntie Beth." Jess said, stroking her daughters hair down. Lexi's face fell as she squirmed in Jess' arm trying to see where Beth was. When she spotted her she held out her arms. Beth smiled and took Lexi from Jess' arms.

"Bye bye Lexi, I'll see you soon." Beth gently kissed Lexi's forehead before handing her back to Will. "I'll see you all later. Night everyone!" she called out to the crowd. Everyone said goodnight and she began to head to the door so she could wait outside for her cab.

Here is my confession
May I be your possession
Boy I need your touch
Your love kisses and such
With all my might I try
But this I can't deny
I play it off but I'm dreamin' of you
I'll keep my cool but I'm fiendin

As she walked past the bar she kept her head down, not wanting to meet Max's eyes. She breathed out in relief as she got past the bar, and was about to head up the stairs when someone called her.

"Beth! Wait a minute."

She knew who it was before she turned around. She sighed quietly and turned, gently putting pressure on her left foot, wincing as she felt pain shoot up her ankle. Definitely sprained. "Yes?" she said to Max.

"I just wanted to see if you were ok." Max asked, looking at Beth's slightly swollen ankle.

"Um yeah, I'm ok. I'm just going to go home, put some ice on it and go to sleep. Thanks for helping me up." Beth replied, a blush appearing on her cheek.

"That's alright. Do you need help getting up the stairs? You look like you're in a bit of pain." Max offered, holding out his arm. Beth stood there biting her lip. This was weird, Max was never like this with anyone. Beth took a breath and placed her arm through Max's one.

"Thanks sarge." Beth said gratefully as he helped support her up the stairs.

Max laughed quietly, "You don't have to call me sarge when we're not at work, Max will do."

Beth smiled at him, and Max could feel himself melt slightly. "Ok, thank you Max."

Max waited with Beth outside until her taxi came, and he helped her in and paid for her cab home. "I'll see you tomorrow, just take it easy."

"I will, thank you." Beth waved as the taxi drove off, not believing the past ten minutes.

I try to say good bye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near

Max stood there for a while, watching the taxi until it turned a corner and was out of sight. He didn't know what it was about Beth that attracted her to him, but he didn't really care. He admitted to himself that he felt something for her, although he wasn't sure yet, but he didn't want to find out. Work relationships never worked, not for him anyway, and he was a DS while she was just a PC, if anything were to happen people would think they were together just to give Beth a helping hand up the career ladder. But, he couldn't stop thinking about that night at Jess and Callum's wedding where they had had sex. He wondered if she thought about it as much as he did, but she was so drunk at the time she probably couldn't even remember. It wasn't as if she had made a pass at him since then, and there was no way he was going to ask her, he was eleven years older than she was, he didn't want her to think he was a dirty old(ish) man. There was also the fact that he was never good in relationships, he always came across as distant and uncaring, but deep down he didn't mean to be like that, things just came out wrong. Like the time when Millie had been on a case and was kidnapped with another woman. Max had been harsh to her, calling her an airhead, and she had put herself in danger trying to prove him wrong. Then when they found her jacket covering all that blood, he had thought she was hurt and couldn't help but think what he had said of her. She was a good cop, but he didn't like her methods, not thinking she could know enough considering how young she was. He knew people thought he was heartless and cold, and in a way he guessed they were right. He sighed and started walking home. Why did things have to be so complicated?

Song- Macy Gray: I Try