Title: Summer Solstice

Fandom: Broadchurch

Characters: Alec Hardy, Ellie Miller

Rating: PG

Set In Time: June, the 21, 2014 (post Second Season, no big spoilers. Alec Hardy is back in Broadhurch... of course he is!)

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine and nobody is paying me.

Note: English is not my first language. Sorry for any errors.

Ellie was slowly walking on the cliff path enjoying the early evening calm. Then, her trained eyes noticed a lonely - and familiar - figure seated on the beach. She smiled, but feeling, at the same time, a little jab of worry. She decided to approach him.

Alec Hardy was sitting in the position she was now used to link to him, and him only. Knees bent and held tightly against his chest. Curled up, almost like a cat.

She was very close, and she was sure he noticed her, though he said nothing. But his reaction was exactly what she was expecting from him.

"Nice evening, huh?", Ellie tried the usual niceties. It was a typical human behaviour, wasn't it? She got nearer, hoping not to seem titubant.

"Umph", was Hardy's only sound.

"Can I sit?", it was a rethorical question, since she was already crouching down.

Her former boss looked at her with disdain, underlining how much it was absurd she was wasting so many words while saying nothing. After getting this concept clearer with one extra eye-rolling, he was back looking at the sea.

Ellie, far from being offended, shrugged and then followed his example. The sea was calm, with soft waves rippling the surface and producing a tender and intimate murmur. She loved that spot, it was her top favorite place.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, "It's summer solstice!", she gleefully exclaimed, as if it gave sense to everything. She turned toward Hardy with a big smile, but, obviously, he was frowing. She rolled her eyes, contemplating for a second the spectacular beauty of the sky, and tried not to laugh. She can't help admitting she was feeling at peace. At least. After all those months, she was starting to feel again at ease, it was like the old Ellie Miller was back. And summer had always been her favorite season. Schools ending, first warm days, the blue sky, the countless stars. Tom who didn't want to come home at night, because too busy playing with his mates. Fred, always trying to catch crickets to eat them. And the long walks in the Main Street, the 99s, laughters, garden barbecues and... just a second before her mind focused on the single thing that was missing and that would always be, Hardy decided to talk.

"Summer solstice... though it's kind depressing thinking that, starting from tomorrow, the days will be shorter and shorter. Tomorrow, winter will be closer."

"I've known you for a while, but your optimism in facing life is always enlighting", she commented with clear sarcasm.

"But...", he went on speaking, ignoring Ellie's stab but giving her a weird glance, "Daisy called this afternoon. She said she's going to visit for a couple of weeks this summer...", he stood, unexpectedly deft, and turned back, looking again at Ellie. She was instantly speechless. In her whole life she had seen him smiling two or maybe three times. And every single smile was tainted with melancholy and loneliness. But that only smile, caused by the mere thought of his daughter, could compete in brillance with the solstice. And easily winning.

He quickly brushed the sand off from his trousers, "Good night, Miller",and, in a blink of an eye, he was already gone.

Ellie didn't move, still admiring the longest sunset of the year, and still marveling abouth Hardy's smile. Yes, summer was definitely her favorite season.