Saturday morning, after an early breakfast, they set off to where Alec used to live, just outside Sandbrook and Alec found a long-stay car park and they went to locate where they were meeting Daisy and Rose wanted to look around the shops. They decided to separate for an hour to look around and he warned Rose not to go buying a load of things since they were leaving the country on Monday but she had insisted they had a generous baggage allowance since they were going by zeppelin.
Alec wanted to buy some more t-shirts, some swim shorts and casual trousers for their trip but wanted to choose his own so reluctantly, Rose let him go off and agreed to meet outside the café where Daisy had chosen. Alec also had an hidden agenda, to buy something special for Rose and hoped he would get it through customs. He had called Pete while Rose had been soaking in the bubble bath yesterday evening and told him what he had planned.
Pete had agreed to go along with it but Alec hadn't told him the complete story. All he had asked Pete was to organise a party for her because he wanted her being back with her family again to be special. He knew Rose had been to the clinic earlier on Friday and could have tried to persuade her to give in but he had promised her now, to wait a while longer and he figured she was worth it and what he planned wasn't intended to get her to change her mind.
His mission accomplished, plus an extra special gift to give her for the party, he put his new clothes into the car and made his way to meet Rose and Daisy. What was it with him and women with names of flowers? He was surprised when he got there with five minutes to spare to find Rose outside with two carrier bags from women's shops, guessing she had been tempted after all and to find her talking to his daughter.
Daisy had of course recognised Rose and introduced herself and they were both laughing. Alec thought this was going to be easier than he had thought.
Rose saw him and put her free arm around him and kissed his cheek. "Hi, did you get what you wanted from the shops?"
Alec put his arm around her and kissed her back. " I went to put them in the car. So, you two have met then?"
Daisy spoke up. "Don't I get a hug as well?"
Alec rectified his mistake. "Come on then, let's go inside. You should have said you were going shopping as well Rose."
Rose smiled and put the bags under the table. "Just some sun dresses and a new bikini I saw. I want to go get a present for Tony before we go. I was just telling Daisy about him."
"So you weren't talking about me then? Should I be disappointed?"
Rose touched his leg under the table and made him smile. Daisy wasn't blind and guessed the two of them really were in love and was happy her dad had found someone. Over lunch, Alec told his daughter of their plans.
"Daisy, you know about Rose, what happened to her, don't you?"
"Yeah, I saw her on TV and you. I had a feeling then the way she looked at you that the reporter had guessed right. Mum suspected it too."
"Well it's been four years and now Rose wants to go back to her family so I'm going with her. I didn't want to tell you on the phone, I'm not deserting you and we want you to come over to visit us. We're going to be looking at renting a villa over there and well, you could come and maybe spend Christmas with us, if you want."
"In Majorca? Are you kidding? I'd love to spend Christmas in the sun, who wouldn't but we go to Paris in November, Mum might think it's a bit much."
"Never mind what she wants, if you want to come over, then don't let her stop you, I'll talk to her. So is that settled then?"
Alec was already formulating his little plan and it was all dropping into place. It was a good thing that the two women were getting along.
After lunch, taking another detour to the car, they went to the electrical store and Daisy chose her iPod and a laptop and Rose got a remote-control boat for Tony, not too big so it would fit in their hand luggage on board the zeppelin. Finally, it was time to take Daisy back home with her new purchases and Rose got out of the car to say goodbye. The girl gave her a hug and said she would see her when she came over, Alec saying he would send her a plane ticket and they would meet her at the airport and he would arrange the date.
Alec walked his daughter to the front door.
"So, we'll see you at Christmas then? Do you like Rose?"
"Yeah, she's nice and not stuck up like I thought she'd be. She'll be good for you and she makes you look younger. Have you two got more plans then?"
"I don't know what you mean, young lady," Alec protested but with a smile on his face and waving to Rose, who was leaning on the car bonnet.
"Come off it Dad, she's perfect for you. I know you and mum will never get back together and I'm really sorry I treated you like I did but you deserve to be happy and she looks like she makes you happy."
"She does and I'm glad you like her. So you're not mad for me going away and leaving you?"
"No, I suppose not. Are you coming in?"
"No, best not, we have to get back to Broadchurch. We have packing to do and we have to say goodbye to someone else."
He put his arms out and gave Daisy a hug. The door opened and Tess stood there.
"Not coming in Alec? You can bring your girlfriend in if you like, I won't bite. So when are you leaving then?" She looked over at Rose, who was getting back into the car.
"Monday morning, we go by zeppelin to Palma. Daisy wants to come over for a visit at Christmas, I'll send her a plane ticket. Any objections?"
"Why should I?"
Daisy had gone inside. "You made it clear Tess, you left me and took her with you, you didn't encourage me to see her."
"You could have asked."
"I was ill, remember?"
"You should have told someone. Daisy said that Rose saved your life, I suppose she can't be that bad then. Are you coming back for the hearing of that man you just caught? I know what I'd like to do to him. I heard he was your DS's husband."
"News travels fast. Yes, he is and before you say anything, no, she did not know about him. Now I have to leave her to rebuild her life, she doesn't need us hanging around. Right, I'm off then, we have a long drive back. I'll be in touch about Daisy coming to stay with us. You can send her on that school trip now, she got that new laptop she wanted, she tried to convince me it was for her school work but I managed quite well without one."
Tess laughed. "That's because she thinks you were around when everyone used a slate. That's how they do things now Alec, just because we never had them. Don't keep your girlfriend waiting then. I still think she's too young for you. Good luck then and if anything happens over that old case, I'll let you know."
Alec shouted goodbye to Daisy and went back to the car. Tess was still watching from the door as he got in and gave Rose a kiss.
"So is everything ok then?" Rose asked, kissing him back.
"Yes, all sorted, let's go home."
Sunday morning. They had packed almost everything except what they were wearing the next day and Rose had informed the car rental company she was returning the car at the zeppelin port. They had arranged to meet Ellie for lunch but she had left Fred behind with her sister.
"You'll never guess what?" Ellie asked over lunch in a pub just down the coast.
"Go on, may as well give me some last minute gossip but don't make it too juicy or I might be tempted to stay."
Ellie smiled. "Becca was seen out with Paul Coates yesterday, holding hands. Don't know what they were up to."
Rose smiled. Alec tried to look disinterested, nothing surprised him any more.
Ellie continued. "We'll see how far that goes. So what's the big news then? Did you go see your daughter Alec?"
Alec frowned. When did Miller start calling him Alec? Maybe since he had started calling her Ellie.
"Yes and it's fine. Have you made any plans yet?"
"No but I'm seeing the chief tomorrow. I'm thinking of getting a transfer to Devon, maybe Exeter, just me and Fred, Tom still isn't talking to me. You two ready to leave?"
Rose nodded. "Yeah, just gonna have a lazy afternoon then we leave early for the drive up to Bristol. Can't wait to see my little brother again. All I want now is to get my two best friends back as well."
Alec took her hand. "Well we're not giving up and as soon as they do come back, we'll get to know."
"He's right Rose. They may have just been thrown a bit further in the future than you were. You can't give up on them, your family never gave up on you. Anyway, good luck to you both, wish I could go with you. I'll see you for the hearing, you'll be there, won't you?"
Rose nodded. "Yeah, we'll both be there. Maybe when we get settled, you can come over for a long weekend."
Alec knew the two had become friends despite Miller trying to put Rose off him at the beginning so that was another factor in his little plan he was cooking up and hoped would be completed in time. They all said goodbye and Rose and Alec went back to their neater than usual chalet with cases stacked up by the far wall.
"Well, this time tomorrow, we'll be sitting by the pool drinking fruit cocktails and watching Tony playing with his new boat," Rose laughed, lounging against Alec's bare chest, his shirt unbuttoned.
"Yes and you'll be in your swimsuit or your bikini, whatever. Maybe, just maybe, you might coax me in the pool as long as you promise not to let go of me."
Rose smiled. "I promise Alec." She snuggled up to him. "Don't forget to set your alarm early for morning, we'll have breakfast at the café up in the town when we've dropped the keys off. Did you keep your passport out?"
"Yes, don't worry, I've got the tickets as well. I'm glad you went for the VIP lounge, I hate airports and I expect zeppelin ones are just as bad. You did book the quiet lounge, didn't you?"
She reached up to kiss him and put her hand on his cheek. "Yes, I did. Have you even been on a zeppelin?"
"No, can't say I have. Haven't really been on that many planes, my mother never trusted them and I guess I got that from her. You never had zeppelins in your world, did you?"
Rose didn't want to give details and had been happy to know no such incidents as the disastrous one in her world had ever happened here and she wasn't about to tell anyone what had happened.
"No, they fizzled out in the 40's though before then, they were all the rage but there were no private ones. Mind you, there doesn't seem to be as many as when I was here before."
"The novelty wore off after a few years, especially after the Cyberman invasion. Now come here and have our last snogging session on the sofa."
The next morning, they were loading everything into the car. Alec had been out the morning before to get another holdall they could take on board with them before they had gone to meet Ellie and Rose had already got another suitcase. They had breakfast, dropped the keys back at the letting agents and made their way to the zeppelin port. Their flight was at one and since the flight wouldn't get them until after four, allowing for the time difference, Pete would be meeting them but Rose didn't know that Pete had arranged a party for her at the golf club and he didn't know the reason Alec had asked him about it, he just thought it was a good idea.
Alec had been surprised Pete would agree to it without knowing the reason but had convinced him that Rose deserved it, they all did and he assured Pete that if Rose wanted to stay and rent a villa out there, then he was all for it. Pete had his suspicions though, he knew Alec was up to something, the way Rose had been all over him when he had come out of hospital and he knew then that Rose loved Alec even though they hadn't known each other for long.
While Alec and Rose had been travelling to the zeppelin port, Jackie had been having trouble getting an excited Tony off to school since his big sister and his new best friend were finally coming to join them. Jackie had told the boy if he was good, he could go to a welcome back party for Rose, just for a few hours. The boy went off to school happily and told all his friends that his sister was coming home and she had a policeman as a boyfriend. He was the most popular boy there.
Once at the zeppelin port, someone came to assist them with their luggage as Rose had booked the VIP lounge and they were soon checking in. Alec was glad they had upgraded since the main lounge was crowded even for a Monday, everyone was trying to escape to warmer climates but they were soon called forward for VIP boarding. Once they had taken off, Rose decided to get a pillow and spread herself out over Alec and have a nap once they were over the ocean. Alec could only try to get comfy and put his arm around her and relax.
He hadn't travelled that much considering his job but he had a feeling now he was with Rose, that would change. To start with, they would have to go back for the hearing and had a feeling Rose would insist on going back with him, even if it was only to support Miller. Rose woke up and kissed his cheek and touched his chin.
"You forget to trim your beard this morning."
Alec smiled. "I did have a very good reason, I packed all my stuff last night." He kissed her forehead.
The flight attendant came round with the meals and just over an hour later, they were approaching the port in Palma which shared the facilities with the airport terminal and once on the ground, they were shown into the VIP area to await their luggage and were soon out looking for Pete. Since Tony had got out of school, he had insisted on going with his dad and was tearing towards his big sister as soon as they came through the door into the main terminal.
"Rose! You're back, yeah!"
People all around were watching with interest as he almost knocked her over. Then he turned to Alec who had put their hand luggage down to let the boy put his arms around his legs as he couldn't reach any further.
"Hi Tony. We missed you too!"
They were soon in Pete's SUV type car and on their short drive to the villa, Tony sitting in the back with Rose and talking non-stop about school, telling his friends Alec was a policeman and asking if she had brought him a present. Once they arrived, Alec almost got hugged to death by Jackie, reminding Rose of the time she had cornered the Doctor.
"Best get unpacked and change Rose, we're all going out tonight," she told Rose as Alec and Pete took their luggage to the guest bedroom.
"But we've just got here Mum," Rose protested, looking at Alec, who just shrugged his shoulders.
Alec just hoped Jackie wouldn't give the game away and tell her the party had been at his insistence. Rose went to freshen up then hurriedly unpacked her dresses and some of what Alec thought was her rather sexier underwear and chose the new dress she had bought last Saturday. Alec changed into a clean shirt, having to remove her hands several times as she offered to help him.
"Not now cupcake, we don't have time, just wait until later."
Rose giggled and just ruffled his hair and reached up to kiss him.
"Do I look ok Alec?" she asked, looking in the full length mirror.
Alec went up behind her. "You look gorgeous cupcake."
He went into his jacket pocket and brought out a small blue box and opened it, taking a fine silver chain with a heart on it out of its padding and opening the catch.
"This is for you darlin' for being there for me. You saved my life and I can never thank you for that."
He fastened the clasp and kissed the back of her neck. That was not the only sentiment he was going to make that evening.
Rose turned around and cupped his face in her hands.
"I love you Alec and you don't have to thank me. Just be glad I was there."
"I am and I can only repay you by showing you how much I love you. So this is my heart, that I give to you."
"Aw, you're such an old softie Alec." She kissed him again.
There was a knock at the door and Alec moved away, letting an anxious Tony in.
"Mum said hurry up and stop kissing Alec and get a move on."
"Yeah, I bet she did you little monster. Come here and give me a big hug."
TBC