Author's note: all usual disclaimers apply.

Tommy knew the exact moment that fish and chips over a pint at the pub with his colleague became dating his future wife. One word had been all it took in response to his question. "Will I buy another round?"

"Yes thanks, Tommy."

She called him by his name. For ten years it had been her barrier, her last defence against any suggestion that they were more than friendly colleagues. They had been effectively a couple for nearly three months. Every night they had dinner together, either at the pub or his house. They had been to the movies, to a concert, to a performance of Wagner in Hyde Park and even to three West End shows. Now one word transformed all of those 'catch ups' into dates.

Lynley smiled so hard that his cheeks ached. Barbara blushed and looked at her glass, trying to pretend nothing had happened. But it had, and Tommy's first reaction was relief. Barbara felt it too. He had not imagined that her eyes had been looking more softly at him, or that she touched his arm, or shoulder or hand more often. They were finally allowing themselves to express their feelings and fall deeply in love.

Tommy still waited three nights before he kissed her. That first night, when she called him Tommy, he put his arm around her shoulder like he often did, and pulled her gently into his side. They walked home from the pub slowly, adjusting to the increased feelings flowing between them. At her door, he softly kissed her head and bid her goodnight. Her eyes thanked him. This was new, and precious, and should not be rushed.

On the second night, Barbara freely called him by name over dinner. He had bought tickets to a play, a political satire that made them both laugh uproariously. At one point he took her hand and held it. When she looked across, he smiled reassuringly. Barbara blushed and grinned shyly. Her grip had tightened around his fingers.

Tonight had been the third night. As planned Tommy picked up some curries, and they ate at his flat. As they watched the news, he put his arm around her. Barbara snuggled into his side. There was a story about a violent death at Earls Court, but they were not on call, and Tommy was not thinking about murder. He muted the news then gently stroked her hair. "Barbara?"

"Mmm?"

"May I kiss you?"

"I was beginning to think you'd never ask."

After all these years of knowing Barbara as a friend, Tommy was nervous about the next step. A hundred negative possibilities had run through his mind in recent days. He wanted the kiss to be perfect - not too strong, not insipid, not boring. What he feared most was that they would start to laugh. Now he had asked, he had to act. His head moved closer to hers. He could smell vindaloo on her breath which tickled his cheek when she sighed. He brought his other arm around to encircle her. Her arms slipped around his waist. In what felt like the super-slow motion of a movie, their faces drifted together. Tommy was surprised to hear a satisfied groan when their lips finally met. He could not tell if it was his or Barbara's.

The gentleness of their first contact soon gave way to savage need before settling back into a relaxed steadiness. Love and affection, desire and longevity - somehow one kiss had encompassed their past and their future. "Will you marry me?" he whispered into her ear as he nuzzled into her neck.

"Yes."

"I love you." Tommy had known she would agree. They needed each other. Almost since the first day they worked together, they had shared something unique. No one else would understand, but Tommy did not care. They had finally allowed themselves to ignore social dictates and give in to what they felt. They could be happy. They would be happy.

"Good, because I love you, Tommy."

Tommy stood and Barbara accepted his hand. They kissed again before he led them upstairs. Slowly, between long kisses, they undressed each other. Playfully, Tommy pushed Barbara onto the bed and stood back admiring her. "You're more beautiful than I imagined. We've waited far too long for this."

He bent down and began to kiss her stomach. He cursed when his phone rang. "Go away."

"It might be important."

"Nothing is more important than my business here." As he continued to kiss his way up her body, his phone rang again, then beeped with a voicemail message. "I should have left it downstairs."

Tommy gently lowered himself and rolled Barbara to face him. They had just begun an unhurried kiss when the chirpy music of her phone disturbed the moment. "Bloody hell," she said, "not now!" The phone stopped and his rang again. "We have to answer it or we'll never..."

Muttering about the bloody Met, Tommy snatched up his phone. "Lynley!"

Tommy listened to Hillier and frowned. "Yes, I knew Sally Gladwin, but that was years ago." His face drained of colour. "Yes, Sir."

Tommy finished the call and turned back to Barbara. "Remember that woman on the news who was murdered?"

"Yes, but we're not on call. Why can't Hanson do it?"

"Her name was Sally Gladwin. I knew her years ago. Hillier wants me to go to the station immediately and bring my solicitor."

Barbara sat up and put her arm around his shoulder. "Surely he can't think... Besides, you have an alibi. You've been with me all afternoon and evening. Come on. Get dressed and let's sort this out."

"I didn't do it."

"I know that! This is ridiculous. How did you know her anyway?"

"We had a fling. It was eight years ago. Before I was married."

"Odd that they suspect you."

"I wanted to make love to you."

"So did I. We will, but we have to fix this first."

Hillier guided Tommy into his office where his family solicitor was already waiting. "Thank you, Havers. We have this from here," Hillier said condescendingly.

"Barbara stays. She was with me all afternoon and evening."

"That's right, Sir. There was no way the DI could have murdered that woman."

"No one is accusing you of murder, Tommy. We have the man responsible in custody."

Tommy looked at Barbara then Hillier. "Then I don't understand why I'm here."

"I'm afraid the matter is a bit delicate. Sergeant, please go home or wait outside."

"No, Barbara. There's nothing you cannot hear."

Tommy's solicitor, Brandon Fothergill, stepped forward. He was a slight man with grey hair and thick glasses. Dressed in an immaculately tailored navy suit, he looked every inch the solicitor to an aristocrat. "This is a personal matter, Lord Asherton, you might want to reconsider."

"Barbara stays."

Hillier shrugged. "As you wish. At the crime scene we found something that indicated you and Sally were once close."

Tommy was puzzled. "What did you find?"

"There was a letter addressed to you and some other paperwork."

"You brought me in here for a letter from someone I knew eight years ago?"

"Not quite. There is a legacy too. How well did you know her?"

"She left me money? We had a fling, nothing more. It lasted about two weeks. Sally had just moved over from Australia. She was a nurse of some sort and was going to work at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, I think. I liked her. We had fun, but it was never serious for either of us."

"Well it became serious," Fothergill said, "you are the father of her child."

"Me? No!"

"You're saying it's impossible?" Hillier asked.

Tommy looked at Barbara. She had paled slightly but showed no emotion. "I admit we had sex, but we took precautions."

"This is important m'lord," Fothergill said, "are you sure there is no likelihood of you having impregnated her?"

"For heaven's sake, Fothergill! You make her sound like a stud mare. There is no...," Tommy paused. "There may have been one instance when our... contraception leaked."

"Leaked?"

"Yes, leaked." Tommy looked at Barbara and wished he had acceded to Hillier's demand.

"How?" his solicitor demanded.

"Must we do this?" Tommy pleaded.

"We can ask Sergeant Havers to leave if you'd prefer."

Barbara coughed. "I am not a delicate flower. I do understand how contraception works or doesn't. Just tell them, Tommy."

Tommy noticed the look Hillier gave them when Barbara mentioned his name. It hardly mattered now. He wished he could be anywhere but this room. "I think she may have accidentally bitten the condom when using oral sex as foreplay."

Hillier gasped, and Tommy was relieved to see Barbara suppressing a grin. She knew he had slept with more than his fair share of women. That fact was unlikely to deter her from their relationship. Having a child, however, may affect things significantly.

"Where is this child?" Tommy asked.

"In Interview Room 2. He witnessed the murder and is being debriefed by child protection officers."

"He?" Learning he may have a son, Tommy struggled to breathe. If the lad were his, then he would be his heir. Tommy did not want the next Lord Asherton to be the result of a loveless romp. He wanted it to be Barbara's son. He wanted him to be a product of enduring love.

Fothergill also realised the implications and quickly sprung to Tommy's defence. "We will need more than the mother's word and Lord Asherton's name on his birth certificate. We will demand full DNA matching."

"She put my name on his birth certificate?"

Hiller looked across. "Yes, she registered him as George Thomas Lynley, father Thomas Lynley, occupation - policeman. It seems she was unaware of your status. When you see him, I doubt you'll need DNA proof."

Tommy felt numb. "George? I have a son named George? That was my grandfather's name."

Fothergill seemed lost for answers. "What are your instructions m'lord?"

Tommy looked up. "Contact Lady Asherton please and inform her. Ask her to come down tomorrow. Arrange any testing to confirm it, but something tells me it is true."

"This is a copy of the letter she left you," Hillier began.

"You opened it?"

"I didn't, no. It was initially thought material to the case until George told the police who murdered his mother. It was her boyfriend. The child was punched trying to save his mother. It's not serious, but we want to have him examined later. The child protection people are with him now, trying to understand if there was any other... abuse."

"Abuse? You mean... sexual?"

"Yes, or other beatings. The boy was not saying much."

Tommy was shaking his head. He had no words. People started talking around him. All he could do was think about missing the formative years of his son's life and how he may have been in danger. Finally, he felt Barbara's hand on his arm. "Let's wait in your office. They can find us there when George is ready."

"Mmm. What am I going to say to him?"

"You'll know what to say at the time. Come on." Tommy nodded and let her lead him from the room. "I'm sorry, Barbara. I'm sorry."