Prologue

20th August 1994

Bring Bring, Bring Bring

"Hello?"

"Hello, is that Ms Price?"

"Yes, speaking"

"Hello, this is Susan from the Accommodation office at UCL, congratulations on gaining your place but I'm afraid we have a few issues regarding your staying in halls due to your circumstances."

"Oh, er, okay- I'm assuming this is because of Molly?"

"Assuming that she is your child yes, whilst we are able to provide you with free daytime care this would mean you have to undertake private accommodation as the current halls of residence are not large enough for two people."

"Ah okay, I understand…um...am I to arrange that through you or-"

"Yes, yes there's a vacancy just come up with a family approval near our Bloomsbury campus, where the majority of your Psychology and Pathology? Classes will be held."

"Yes, Pathology is my 5thmodule, the optional one."

"Ah okay, you'll be sharing with someone training at Hendon for at least the first year…name of Jean Hunt. Rent is £120 a week to cover all utility- can I approve that for you?"

"Yes that would be wonderful, thank you."

"You'll get some forms and things in the post within the next 7-10 days. Your move in date will be the 19thof September, with all classes commencing on the 28thof the same month."

"That's great, thank you- will that be all?"

"Yes, yes, goodbye now dear."

"Goodbye, thank you!"

18th September 1994

Gene hunt sat in the new Italian bar below his new home. Training at Hendon to become a DC with the Met's Major incident team, it had been the first reasonably- priced place he had come across since transferring from GMP, a short drive away from the camp giving him ample opportunity to continue volunteering as security for Fresher's week- doing bag searches for drugs and the like, as well as show off his new motor. The second hand 2002 Audi TT he'd saved up for over the past 9 months, with its bright red and leather seats it wasn't a bad choice for a first car, the girls seemed to like it anyway.

Brooding over the events of the day with a pint of bitter, he was joined by Raymondo, Wonder Chris and Dorothy, or Sam, as he was better known.

"Alrigh' Guv." Asked Ray, used to the nickname from their school days when Gene was captain of the football team.

"Yeah ta- how's that 'tache coming along?"

"Not bad, Charlie seems to like it anyway- says it makes me look all manly."

"Yeah okay Ray." Gene replies with a slight roll of his eyes- Charlie was Ray's girlfriend; all blonde hair and shirt skirts the poor bloke was doomed when he first clapped eyes on her.

"I saw that girl Shazzer in the Café again this morning Chris." Piped Sam, who had been amused at the banter that flowed easily within the group, he was glad he wasn't the only Northerner training this year. A part time student in the Universities pathology department meant his training would also be part time and so he was due to be there a lot longer than those he first met, including Jim Keats, his current creepy flatmate.

"Yeah, she's a waitress here now, Luigi told me." He said, trying to conceal his dopey grin from his mates though the inevitable "OOOhhh Shazzer!" followed by a series of kissing noises from the rest of the group.

"Shurrup." He grumped, still too shy to talk to her himself. It had taken him nearly 3 weeks just to be able to order something from her, stumbling over his words like a lovesick puppy.

"She might go for yer Chris," Jeered Ray "Div's are in fashion at the moment!" leading to a raucous of laughter from the slightly drunken group.

"Ey up lads, c'mon, leave the poor bloke alone." Was the retort from Gene, and lead to a quick silence from the topic.

"Managed to shake off your flatmate then Dorothy?" Asked Gene, who equally despised the trainee with his to-the-book methods and superior air to him, though the fact that Gene beat him hands down on every test was a slight comfort to his slimy ways.

"Aye, think he went to the library- lick his wounds after tripping up in that drill today." Smirked Sam, he and the group knowing full well that Gene was responsible for the mishap.

"Yeah, shame that- really needs to learn how to tie his shoelaces. Soppy southerner." Chuckled Gene.

"Ey, Guv, haven't you got some new bloke moving in wi' you tomorra?"

"Aye, Alex Price or sommat- won't be in when 'e moves in like, early call tomorra. Meet us on the usual corner if yer still want a lift in yeah?"

"Cheers, yeah." The group chorused.

"Mind you, 'e's studying psycho-watsit so might be a bit of a fairy like"

"Well you don't know 'til yer meet 'im remember." Warned Sam, wary of his friend's occasional non-PC ways.

"Yeah, yeah. Right anyway lads, I'm off, I'll see yer tomorrow."

"Night Guv"

"Goodnight Mr Hunt!" Cheered Luigi with a hidden grin on his face as his best customer headed upstairs… little did he know what a surprise he'll be in for when he meets the new lodger.

19th September 1994

Carrying the last of her boxes up the short flight of stairs, mainly filled with Molly's things, Alex wiped her brow as she thanked the removal van as it pulled away from the street. She turned to her 14-month old daughter, wiggling to escape the bounds of her Pram.

"Come here Molls! Ready to see our new home? I just need to find Mrs Rossi for the keys then we can go play yeah?" she cooed, picking Molly up and into her arms and kissing her forehead.

"'Ome!" Molly giggled, he vocabulary limited, but quite extensive for a 1 year old.

"Yes darling, 'Ome." She smiled, Molly was her pride and joy and no amount of disapproving stares could take these times away from her.

"Aaahhhh I thought I heard something, you must be Alex!" A distinctly Italian voice called from the bottom of the stairs.

"Yeas Mrs Rossi, we're up here!" She replied, seeing the short, round woman dash up the stairs.

"Ahh you call me Anna, yes? And my husband Luigi, he is very happy to have you here!"

"Well ,thank you very much for having me…ah..Anna." She replied, loving this woman already.

"And this must be your Molly…ahh, she is a very beautiful like her mama."

"Boofer!" Cried Molly, grinning.

"And very clever too aren't you Molls?" she praised, pleased at her daughters keenness for learning.

Molly just giggled, and wriggled some more.

"Any time you need a night babysitter you call me yes?" Began Anna, "And here are your keys, one for the front door, and one for your room. The other tenant has been here a few weeks already so blame and mess on them. You call me if you need anything, yes?"

"Yes! Thank you for all your help Anna!"

"No worries my dear, no worries- I bring you some linguini for supper tonight- on the house!" She yelled as she descended the stairs in her dispositional cheery manner.

"I think we're going to like it here Molls." She whispered, heading inside.

A/N: So apologies for my attempts at Italian dialect, but I hope you got the general gist of things. This was originally going to be a bit longer but I felt that here is a good place to end the prologue-esque chapter. More descriptions and the GAlex meeting to come next time. Would love to here what you all think so hit up my review box if you fancy! Happy reading