6 months into Gene and Alex's relationship, there have been so many few highs and lows. So in a surprising attempt to put a smile on his girlfriend's face, Gene suggests they should buy a canine companion.

Ashes to Ashes - For The Love of Alex

Chapter 1

Whether you were involved in a loving relationship, you would know without a doubt. - Never to keep anything secrets from your lover and to be as incredibly honest with them as possible. Keeping worrying matters from them as resounding no-no. So sharing and opening up to your other half was almost certainly the best option. However this optimistic way of thinking was definitely not the case for Gene and Alex, 6 months into their relationship.

The two Fenchurch East detectives' personal relationship outside work, was far from cosy and straightforward. They had rowed and made up with each other so much, in fact more often than the England football team's wasted chances of winning the World Cup.

Gene was left fuming and feeling angry with her for one such previous incident, she had risked and almost endangered the team's life, by choosing to help a young boy Joey escape from his abusive father on a council estate. Ray was lucky enough in managing to avoid getting clobbered in the back, by the angry father.

"Bolls I told you no but you went against me on this. I can't have my team being compromised in a father and son's abusive case."

"I done what I thought was right Gene. Anyway you probably would have done the same thing, if one of your gut feelings told you to."

Gene didn't respond after she had made this thought-provoking comment.

The Fenchurch East team looked more uncomfortable than ever, they didn't like seeing their DCI flying off the handle at them. It was because a few of the detectives had occasionally made a few mistakes themselves. Alex had stuck up for her colleagues and put Gene on the spot about, why he was taking his frustrations out on the team. So today of all days, she confronted him over this.

Gene seemed reasonably aware of what his girlfriend might be intending to tell him and if he could be at all honest with himself, he wasn't entirely happy about facing criticism because of one or two small hunches he normally had, with latest cases they were investigating

"Oh you think I need to stop being a right miserable bastard Bolls?" Gene sighed, he was getting himself stressed out and feeling tired of having the same old argument with her, especially ones which involved them arguing over the silliest of work related matters.

"Yes Gene because you're really not helping yourself, by making your usual bloody obnoxious comments to the team, when things aren't exactly going your own way. I just believe they don't deserve, what with this station being under pressure from the local Fenchurch council." She voiced her disappointment. A part of her still loved him dearly but sometimes she found herself wishing that, he wouldn't keep giving into old habits. Badmouthing the team and being critical of his team, whenever they partly or individually messed up on a case.

"I'm the Sheriff of Fenchurch East, what else do you expect me to do, take to the stage and take up stand up comedy or mime impressions as hobbies Bolly. I could do a few of Raymondo jokes easy-peasy" Gene was so fed up at that moment, so much so that he started to make a few familiar one-liners.

"Gene, I hate us arguing. Why can't we take some time off from the station and maybe go on holiday together. It'll help you and me to relax more better, and to take the pressures of work off our shoulders." Alex had constantly longed for 2 week holiday somewhere in the South West of England, perhaps Cornwall or Devon. Yet she couldn't even get the rightful chance of getting round to asking for time off, as one or two distractions tended to hamper the attempts she tried to make. She then felt Gene was certainly in need of a worthy holiday as well.

After 20 minutes of quietness and re-evaluating how stubbornly he'd behaved over the last few weeks to everyone at the station, Gene finally managed to respond "Haven't had a holiday for a few years. Costa Del Sol was shit, hotel room smelt of bad eggs, the view of the beach was too far away and lastly no one spoke a bloody word of English, Bolls." Ah he's back, fusspot Gene She gave a pleasant sigh of relief, once she knew he was back to his natural, upbeat self once more.

"I bet you packed your luggage quickly and were on the first flight home after you picked up on these negative points." She laughed softly, as she asked him this.

"Of course I bloody well was. Couldn't stay there another day longer or stand the poncy waiters, following me around like they wanted to teach me some Spanish manners. Well I thought bollocks to that, so I legged it from them, like a steam train. " Gene explained, the expression of annoyance written across his frowned face.

"Oh...my...Well you did the right thing there, getting out there when you were able to, away from those camp waiters. " She tried to keep a straight face, despite feeling the sudden urge to burst out laughing. Suddenly she found herself caught under the alluring gaze of his eyes, she couldn't resist smirking, once she acknowledged them staring at her with such admiration and fondness. Although when it came to him doing one of the things he loved the most, his job. There was absolutely no question of a doubt, Gene Hunt honestly loved every moment of cracking cases and making sure the streets of Fenchurch East were safe, from backstreet thieving tosspots. However the main important thing that mattered the most was, how he enjoyed being the Sheriff of Fenchurch.

"Oh I knew you'd find this funny enough, once I mentioned it." He sat forward expectantly, still he maintained eye contact with her.

"Sorry...sorry...I guess I can't laugh too easily at someone's story." She apologized, her cheeks blushed ever brightly.

"Well it's very obvious, no doubt because it's easy for me to tickle your fancy and your funny bones when I feel you need cheering up, after a few hard days in here." Gene said, with a flicker of smirk engraved across his heavenly lips.

"Since when did you prefer the enjoyment of making me laugh?" She sat forward, copying exactly Gene had done, a matter of moments ago. She expressed such keen interest, while she waited with bated breath over what her gorgeous lover might say.

"Ever since that moment you gave me a New Year's kiss on the steps outside Luigis, I didn't want to see you ending up with one those bloody Thatcherite Wankers and getting your heart broken by one of the sods, so I made my move, by asking you out before they had the chance to. It was no wonder you looked delighted, especially with that funny look you gave me, one of Eric Morecambe's looks." Gene sensibly explained to her, in a more honest enough manner.

"Yes, I was very happy that, you ended up finally coming to my rescue. Who would have thought it, The Manc Lion putting his pride aside and warning off those drunken Thatcherites who we're trying to chatting me up that night." She smiled blissfully, as she pleasantly reminded herself about a few details, regarding what happened on that New Year's Eve night. It was amazing, how the ordinary working relationship between the pair of them had blossomed into something meaningful, once they shared a New Year's kiss and how she was now surprisingly seeing him in a different light.

"Alright keep your voice down Bolls, no doubt Raymondo will have overheard you by now and gossiped to the team about what he's heard you telling me." Gene whispered to her, while his dazzling eyes were starting to wander down towards her cleavage.

"So, it doesn't really bother me at all, what Ray says." She shrugged her shoulders. She didn't seem in any way, too concerned about what type of gossip involving her and Gene, might be discussed amongst the team within the office.

"Well he's got better hearing than a Rabbit, that's a proven fact Bolls. They even point up once they hear a juicy conversation. " Gene said, he wasn't smiling much. She couldn't be sure whether he was being truthful or whether he was trying to wind her up good and proper, like he usually enjoyed doing. She also started to curiously wonder why he appeared to have all of sudden, locked himself away in thought. She quickly assumed, he was probably now considering whisking her away for a romantic weekend getaway. Perhaps the earlier conversation they'd had, had eventually persuaded him they both needed a few days of from work.

Funnily enough, she then pretty much detected a distinct hint of twitchiness above his left eyebrow. So she felt she should ask him, what certain things were on his mind apart from the obvious thought of hot romance and him trying to cheer her up, with a likely offer for a deserved weekend away together for the two of them.

"Hm Gene, it seems to me, you seem keen to get something very important off your chest. Well it might explain why you're looking oddly at me. Come on, spill the beans." She remained hopeful, he might be thinking the same thing as her right now.

"Alright, I've been doing some thinking lately. Well given that, me and you can't get a moment of peace together and that doesn't suit well with me, that we can't get a moment to share a kiss with each other. If we could get our own way, I don't see why we can't stay at your flat all weekend and get up too as much funny business as we can with each other. Maybe me and you can hopefully start perking up things and making additions to our relationship soon Bolls."

"Gene we are not having a baby together! we've only been dating 6 months!" She hadn't completely cottoned on to what he was actually suggesting to her and so she made the mistake of believing, Gene wanted them to start trying for a baby as soon as possible. It wasn't the first time, she had embarrassingly misinterpreted something he'd said.

"What?, No. Good grief Bolls, at least wait until I've finished what I want to inform you about. Look I've been thinking of telling you, me and you should get a dog together." He thought it was probably a stupid and rubbish idea, it felt like something out of character for him to ask her, all of a sudden. Well unbeknown to her, she had sort of put the idea in his mind, after mentioning how she loved dogs but never owned one when she was a child.

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