The second time is after the divorce is finalized.

Greg confronts Carol about her affair with Meg's P.E. teacher a good couple of weeks after the holidays are over. The argument is not pleasant and it takes all of his strength not to cry when she finally admits to the affair, which has been going on since October. It's true, she's been unfaithful before, their marriage hasn't been very happy since the miscarriage and they've been trying to work things out for their daughter's sake, but this time Greg decides that he's had enough. He wants a divorce.

Telling Meg about it is the hardest part and it isn't helped by an age like fifteen. Greg remembers–though very vaguely–what being a teenager was like for him and like her he was a bit of a rebel, casually sneaking out to parties and concerts to drink and smoke with friends, but he didn't have to deal with a divorce like she does now. Meg says nothing when her parents announce that they're getting a divorce. She just sits their choking back tears until she can't take it any longer and runs to her room to be alone. She doesn't say a word to either of them for a long time afterwards. She wouldn't even let him hug her when he moved out.

Finalizing the divorce takes a good three months. Carol takes custody of their daughter. Greg moves out and rents a flat closer to work.

The day after the divorce, work in Scotland Yard is slow. Greg is almost thankful for it. With the mood he's in, he's surprised he even made it to work in the first place. Twenty fucking years and it had to end like this. He keeps his door closed and blinds shut so no one will see him crying because of it. As hard as he tries he can't push the thought from his head that all the memories he'd shared with the woman he loved and the future he'd hoped to have is now gone. He remembers meeting Carol in university and knowing immediately that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and now he won't. He won't reach a silver wedding. He won't hold her hand at his or her deathbed. He probably won't even watch Meg graduate or marry without feeling the same hostility that he did in court. Years from now, he'll forgive her, but not forget and it will take a very long time before that happens.

He instantly swallows his tears when he hears a knock on the door.

"It's open," he calls, rummaging through the papers on his desk in an attempt to look busy.

Molly opens the door and holds a file in her hand. "Detective?" she said. "I just came by to deliver the files on the Allen case."

"Ah," he says. "Thank you, Dr. Hooper."

Greg doesn't pay much attention to the details of the case or cause of death. His mind is everywhere at once. Too many thoughts and too many memories will do that to a man, even one like Greg. At some point he appears to zone out for what feels like hours to him until Molly repeats his name a third time.

Greg snaps from his dazed state. "Sorry?"

"I asked if you were okay," Molly says. "You looked a bit…not okay."

Greg straightens and looks through the files again, but swallows heavily. "Yeah," he huffs. "Yes, I'm fine, I…I'm okay."

But Molly doesn't believe him. She knows how it feels to have to hide even the strongest emotions in front of people, friends and colleagues especially. She observes Greg as he pretends to be busy with the files and notices that the ring on his finger is now gone and has left behind a very clear tan-line on his finger.

"Because if you're not," she continues. "Okay, that is. I could always…"

Greg looks up to Molly, but doesn't speak. His professional mask slips a little.

"What I mean to say is that you can talk to me," she says. "If you want."

There's an awkward silence between them. The fact that they've slept together does nothing to ease the tension. Molly stands blushing as Greg stares at her and then into space, as though trying to make sense of things.

"Do you want a coffee?" she asks, breaking the silence.

Greg manages to smile. "Yeah," he says at last. "I'd like that."

Molly leaves the office and comes back with a cup in each hand only to find Greg crying.

"Oh, god," she gasps and rushes towards him. Placing the cups on the shelf, she wraps her arms around his shoulders.

"Twenty years, Molls," he vents. His voice is broken and choked with tears. "Twenty fucking years!"

"I know."

Greg continues to sob and vent about how much he loves and hates his ex-wife all at once. She's silent as she listens to how they met, fell in love, married, had Meg and how their struggles started with the miscarriage of their son three years ago. During that time, Greg sought comfort with friends and Carol with lovers. He'd worked so damn hard to make things work and now it was over.

When he's done venting Molly hugs Greg close and assures him that he'll be all right. If she knows him at all, he will. She knows he will. Greg smiles weakly when she says this and thanks her with a hug, though distracted by her perfume.

"You smell nice," he says.

He hears a light chuckle from her. "Christmas gift from my brother. He's always had crap taste in gifts, but at least this one covers up the smell of formaldehyde."

"I like it."

Greg looks up to Molly with a smile. It's the first time he's smiled all week. When she smiles back he looks to the door and then back at her.

"Shut the door."

He doesn't need to imply anything with that. His tone and expression says it all. A shudder runs through Molly's body, from gut to groin. She's almost uncertain of locking the door, but thinks back to the night after the Christmas party. Reluctantly she turns to the door and locks it with a shaking hand.

Almost instantly she feels his hands on her waist and his breath on her skin.

Over the New Year they had agreed to keep their previous liaison a secret. No one has to know, after all, and it was just one night. One amazing night that still riddles both their dreams.

Just one night my arse!

She feels him growing hard against the small of her back as he trails heated kisses down the back of her neck. She takes a moment to enjoy the sensation of his mouth on her skin. Already she feels her arousal pooling between her thighs.

Greg creeps a hand between Molly's legs and watches her lips part and eyes close. He hears her breath quicken and feels her pants soak. He likes that he makes her wet just by touching her. She feels so delicate in his arms that he's almost afraid that he could crush her just by holding her...almost. He moves his fingers to add friction to her clit through the fabric of her pants. He uses his other hand to caress her breast and continues to kiss her neck, making a mental note of the sensitive spot behind her ear that makes her moan.

When he's fully hard he turns her around, kisses her hard on the mouth and leads her to his desk.

She fumbles with his tie, shirt and belt when he has her on his desk, quickly opening her blouse and tugging off her pants. He doesn't hesitate to slip inside her.

It's different from last time. There's no tender kiss, caress or word of endearment shared between them, just quick and dirty fucking in his office. Anyone could catch them, but somehow the thought of being caught is exhilarating to them. They try to keep as quiet as possible to keep their colleagues from hearing them, but Greg is desperate for a release and he's fucking her so fast and so hard that he causes the desk to shake. Molly has to bite into his shoulder to keep from screaming when she comes. Greg follows with a suppressed growl in her ear that sends shivers down her spine.

As soon as they catch their breath and can finally use their legs again, they button themselves back up again and Molly's able to put her pants back on. They don't say anything of it until after Greg's shift, where they discus the situation over coffee. They agree that what they have is casual, nothing more and if it happens again they will keep it casual. Truth be told, Molly would be lying if she didn't say that she secretly hopes it turns into more, but she doesn't say it out loud.

Neither does Greg.