A/N: Thank you for your continued support. Here's the next chapter, I must admit that it isn't up to my usual standard because I find writing about Zoe and Alec difficult but I hope it isn't too bad. Next chapter will be much more interesting and Callian centred but needed to get this bit out of the way, plus it is quite fun to see how they interact differently in their marriages.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 4- Spouses

"You're late" Zoe grumbled as Cal sauntered through the front door after spending far too long round Gillian's discussing business plans.

"Sorry darlin', miss me" he replied smirking as he made his way over to his wife to greet her properly.

"You wish" she smirked back as she returned his kiss before grabbing her now half empty wine glass and sitting at the table, waiting patiently for her husband to tell her where he had been and why he had missed the dinner that they had planned earlier than usual so they could spend some much needed time together.

"Dinner?" he asked suddenly feeling ravenous.

"It's in the dog…" Zoe joked before pointing to the oven

"See I wouldn't be able to tell that was a lie if we had a dog" he replied grinning as he grabbed the plate of food from the oven and tucked in.

"So…you going to tell me what has had you too busy to phone your wife to let her know you wouldn't be home in time?" she questioned as he shovelled another forkful of food into his mouth.

"Well…I've decided to start my own business" he explained, knowing that the only way with Zoe was to get straight to the point.

"Your own business?" she repeated dumbfounded, of all the answers she was expecting that definitely hadn't been one of them.

"Yea in deception detection" he said before scraping the last crumbs off his plate and pushing it to one side. How he didn't suffer with indigestion at the speed he ate his food was beyond Zoe.

"Ok…" she replied, not really sure where this was heading but certain that she probably wasn't going to like it.

"Well since quitting the Pentagon I've been thinking about it and it makes sense. I don't want to work for anyone else, I want to do my work in my own way" he explained grinning at her.

"You have always had trouble following orders I guess. But how exactly are you going to fund this? And what about me and Emily? I thought you wanted us to spend more time together as a family?" she questioned hoping to highlight the fact that he clearly hadn't though this through.

"Me and Foster were discussing that today and we will both contribute as much as we can and will find the shortfall from sponsors etc. And I'm not being funny love but we're hardly spending more time together are we? You work all hours under the sun and Emily is hitting those years where she has her head buried in books and her ears plugged into some device pumping god knows what into her head" he replied, starting to get a little bit annoyed that Zoe hadn't just told him it was a great idea…..not that he had truly ever expected that.

"Who's Foster?" she enquired an eyebrow arched as if she was expecting to hate the answer, which of course Cal knew she would.

"The woman who I had my therapy sessions with at the Pentagon" he explained.

"A woman that I have never met is starting a business with you?" she questioned narrowing her eyes.

"Yea but it's not like that love. She's really good at what she does and well I think it will be a great partnership for the type of business I want" he said starting to hate the fact that he brought it up but knew he had to tell her. Although he decided it was wise to refrain from mentioning his and Foster's history from years ago.

"I just don't understand why you can't do some private consultation work" she stated, not happy about the fact that her husband was going to be working with another woman so closely.

"Because, love, I don't want to" he said hoping it would be enough.

"Oh right, forget me and Emily, just do whatever makes you happy" she snapped as she downed the rest of her wine.

"I don't know why you're being so irrational about this. It won't affect me, you and Emily. It will be good for us and it's something I have actually wanted to do for a long time" he said pushing his chair back, grabbing a beer from the fridge and moving into the lounge signalling that the conversation was over.

Zoe however followed him, not happy that he had had the last word "I am not being irrational but how can this be something you've wanted for so long when you've never mentioned it?"

"I don't tell you everything Zo" he sneered at her, realising too late that it hadn't been the smartest thing to say.

"Why does that not surprise me….it's a wonder you tell me anything at all" she replied storming off back into the kitchen.

Cal took a slug of his beer and decided to let her settle down before he went after her. He really hadn't wanted an argument tonight but it seems anything he did these days made her mad. He thought back to the afternoon he had spent with Gillian planning and he couldn't help but feel excited about it all. He could hear Zoe slamming about in the kitchen and decided he best go calm her down before she broke all the plates.

"Zo….can we just not argue?" he asked as he walked up to her and slid his arms round her waist. For a second he thought he had won her round but then she twisted round and pushed him away.

"No Cal….this time you can't just make it all go away because you're not comfortable. I am not happy that you've made such a huge decision without even speaking to me and you've asked a complete stranger to be your partner. What does that say about our marriage?!" she shouted storming out of the room, up the stairs and slamming the bedroom door.

Cal grabbed another beer from the fridge and a blanket from the cupboard in the hall before slumping on the sofa knowing he would be spending the night there as he definitely wouldn't be welcome in their bed.

MEANWHILE, THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN

Gillian was so pleased that Alec had taken her news so well, she had of course previously discussed Cal's offer with him but had at that time given the impression that she was not considering it a serious one. After Cal had left, having spent the majority of the afternoon sat at Gillian's kitchen table making business plans with her, she knew she would have to tell Alec that evening when he returned from work. Following her mother's sound advice from a long time ago that a way to a man's heart was through his stomach, she began to prepare Alec's favourite dinner in preparation for what could be a very difficult conversation.

Alec had commentated on the smell of the coq au vin bubbling away in the oven as soon as he entered the house. Making his way over to Gillian, he had wrapped his arms around her whilst asking what the special occasion was. Gillian had breathed a sigh of relief as she realised that Alec was in a good mood, which meant he must have had an excellent day at work.

"Can't a wife treat her husband every now and then" she asked as she grinned up at him.

"Of course she can but you must know that I could get used to such treatment" he replied teasing her.

The conversation over dinner had been dull, discussing work and such like and it wasn't until they were both sat down on the sofa with a glass of wine each that Gillian felt she could broach the subject.

"Alec, you know that job opportunity I told you about" she began keeping her eyes fixated on his face so she could see every expression and avoid any potential conflict that arose.

"The one with that guy Cal Lightman?" he asked sipping his wine as he ran his hand up her arm.

"Yes. Well I know I insinuated that I was unlikely to take him up on his offer but I spoke to him about it today in more detail and I have decided that I think it is a great opportunity for me to leave the Pentagon and get involved in something new and exciting" she explained, rather hurriedly, in the hope that they would not dwell on it.

Alec peered at her from over his wine glass, in what appeared to be an attempt to read her, not that he really knew what to look out for but he would certainly be able to see that she was genuinely excited about this. "Well if that's what you want to do babe then that's great"

She almost shuddered at the term of endearment he insisted on using but refrained. He knew she hated it when he called her "babe" but he never seemed to notice or care how often he did it. She smiled at him, glad that he wasn't in an argumentative mood and moved across to lean against him. Deciding not to discuss it in any further detail she steered the conversation away from her plans with Cal and on to safer ground, choosing instead to discuss his upcoming business deal. Alec seemed happy for the conversation to shift to a topic involving his work and didn't push Gillian for any more details. Whether that was because he didn't want to know about her plans or whether he didn't care was something Gillian pondered over as she pretended to listen to her husband drone on about his work yet again.