Disclaimer: I do not own Ashes to Ashes or any of the characters. This is merely my take on their world.

*~*~*~*~*

Alex sat shivering in her dressing gown, shoulders hunched, staring sightlessly in to the distance. Eventually, she became aware of a gentle hand on her shoulder and glanced up to see her mother-in-law perched on the settee next to her, smiling and holding out a cup of tea.

"Here you are sweetheart," she said gently, passing her the cup, "drink this, it'll warm you up at least- careful, don't spill it."

Taking the cup, Alex tried to force a smile but, as she attempted to sustain it, her muscles gave way to crumple in to tears. It wouldn't have mattered if she had spilled the tea all over herself, she was numb inside.

A sudden shriek over the baby monitor sent a jolt right through her system.

"Molly..." she cried suddenly, panicking slightly, making to get up. Margery, however, took her firmly by the shoulders and pushed her gently, but determinedly, back onto the sofa.

"It's alright love, Bryan's in with her, you just concentrate on yourself. You haven't slept a wink."

Alex nodded numbly, unable to shift the image from her head- the terrible things he'd said to her- what she'd said- and then he'd just gone.

A little while later, soft mutterings came to her through the slightly ajar kitchen door. She opened her eyes, realising that she must have nodded off, and lay there listening to the hushed conversation coming from the kitchen.

"Is there any news?"

"No, he hasn't called since...little sh...I mean how could he leave her like this? With a child as well- we didn't bring him up to behave like this!" Bryan sounded livid.

Margery sighed. "I just don't know what to do with her- she's distraught, poor love..."

Alex sighed. She didn't know what to do with herself. She didn't know where Pete was now.

She didn't care...

*~*~*~*~*

The next two weeks passed, with Alex taking each day as it came, slowly adapting to life as a single mother, gradually learning not to jump every time the phone rang. Her biggest concern now was her daughter- their future. Surely she couldn't return to work with a six month old child solely dependent on her?

One evening, just as Alex had finished bathing Molly and dressing her in her baby grow, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" she called, the warm glow and sweet talc perfume emitting from her baby filling her, for the first time in a long while, with a great sense of peace and happiness.

Bryan stuck his head around the door, "Can I come in?" The mildly cautious look on his face concerning her slightly, Alex picked up her daughter and moved to a sitting position on the bed.

"Sure."

Her father-in-law came in and perched on the edge of the bed.

"The thing is Alex, Margery and I were wondering if you thought it might be a good idea if you came out to dinner with us tonight..."

"Oh, look Bryan, it's kind but..."

He cut through her, not aggressively, but determinedly, in a voice that tells a child that their parent knows what's best.

"Now come on Alex, it'll do you both good- go out there and show the world that you can cope with this...eh," he smiled, tickling his granddaughter's chin, "show her off!"

Alex couldn't help softening and, though something deep within wasn't certain, she found herself agreeing.

*~*~*~*~*

The air was chill that evening as the four of them climbed into the car and so Alex clutched her daughter to her chest.

"So where exactly are we going?" she asked as she fastened Molly's car seat.

"Oh not far," Margery replied, "just a little place in Fenchurch- Evan mentioned it once and it seemed nice enough the last time we went."

*~*~*~*~*

The restaurant was pleasant enough- an Italian place with low lighting and tables in intimate corners and a mural along the back wall. She couldn't explain it, but Alex had the distinct feeling she had been here before.

Having decided what they were going to have, Margery slipped over to the counter to order their food. Glancing around, Alex caught sight of a powerful-looking grey haired man sitting sullenly in a dark corner, apparently staring in her direction before, upon catching her eye, hastily looking away.

Just then, Margery returned, smiling but looking a little confused.

"Margery, what's up?"

She shook her head, "You know it's funny- I had just finished telling him what Bryan and I wanted, but before I could tell him your order he already knew it- veal scaloppini!"

"Well, he probably heard us talking about it," Alex reasoned away, her determined sense of logic carrying her through.

"Yes," Margery muttered, "you're probably right."

Alex looked up to the counter and was surprised to see the proprietor smiling, almost reminiscently, in her direction. Smiling politely back, Alex decided that it must just be her daughter he was smiling at- it was surprising how people reacted to tiny babies.

The rest of the evening passed without incident and soon the party were making their way out, Molly spark out in Alex's arms. None of them looked back as they made their way up the steps and out in to the dark night, but if they had, they would have caught sight of the Italian owner watching affectionately after them, before rushing over to the sullen looking man in the corner.

"Signore Hunt, did you see...?"

"Yes Luigi," Gene Hunt growled back gruffly, "I saw her."

*~*~*~*~*

Hope you enjoyed it- please leave a review and let me know what you think!