So this is it. The last chapter. Thanks to Everyone for reading, reviewing and favouriting and following this story, it means a lot.

This chapter is 95% angsty and well 5% is... You'll have to read on and see ;).

However, The Epilogue is next and it's 100% fluffy and full of Galex don't worry.

I know I say it on every chapter but big hugs and virtual choccies and a case of Luigi's house rubbish to Emma S. Your help is amazing xxx

disclaimer: the writers have refused to answer any of my letters regarding taking Gene and Alex under my wing so they own everything. *Sigh*. Right enough of me waffling on,

Chapter 7.

Gene walked into his office letting out a great sigh. He had been on a late night stakeout with Ray, his now DI, last night and was starting to feel the effects of the late nights. This was the third night in a row and he was starting to get fed up at the lack of action. Something wasn't right. Ray's snout had given him the address but nothing had turned up.

Ray was good but not as good as Alex, this case had proved it.

Looking through the file that had been filled in by his DI, he sighed in frustration. It was clear that information had been left out and the case would suffer for it and as he flicked through Ray's notes, he saw that Ray had given the team the wrong address.

"Useless twat!"

Wiling himself to remain calm, Gene called Ray into his office. As Ray stood before him, Gene began to speak. He needed him to start acting like a DI, not someone who just pushed people around. He had witnessed Ray ordering Shaz around the other day, telling her to make countless cups of tea and to clean up his mess and Gene was getting tired of his attitude. He was a copper, a DI now and the team were meant to look up to him so he had to start acting like a deputy, otherwise Gene would have to rethink his position.

As Ray stormed back to the outer office, Gene turned towards his calendar and felt the sharp stab of regret run through his heart as he looked at the date. 8 months. 8 long and lonely months since he had forced the only woman who he had ever loved, out of Fenchurch and out of his life.

X~x~x~x~x

Flashback.

Gene knocked on the door, not bothering to use his key. Alex opened the door, not meeting his eyes and stood back to let him walk through into the living room. She went back into the kitchen and continued to make herself a cup of tea. For once, she didn't make him one. Gene say heavily on the couch and sighed. Memories of his late night conversation with Ray flooded his head. They had been talking about trust and partnerships. They had sat up for most of the night, Ray had asked Gene a number of questions regarding whether Alex was worth it.

He had hated to admit it but he knew the relationship couldn't go on. He had to do this for both of them.

They had to split up. They couldn't be together after what had happened. Gene was still angry and confused about what had actually happened between Alex and Mack but bottom line was, she hadn't trusted him enough to tell him what was going on.

Alex walked into the living room and sat down opposite Gene.

She opened her mouth to speak, just as Gene was about to do.

"Gene, last night-"

"Alex, we need-"

Gene looked at Alex and nodded at her to go first. Taking a deep breath, Alex leant forwards. Finally looking fully at him.

"Gene last night, we both said things that I think we both regret but it's true. It's not fair on either of us if we continue to be together. Every time one of us disagrees with something that either of us have done, this will always get brought up. I don't want that atmosphere around the baby, it wouldn't be fair on any of us. I think it would be best if you packed the rest of your stuff and moved out."

Gene felt his heart breaking at her words. He knew it was the only thing they could do but he wished they could turn the clock back. Nodding he stood up.

"It's probably for the best Bolls. For the record, I'm sorry about what I said about Molly. I dunno why I said it. Yer gonna be a great mum Lex. That kid is going to be a lucky chap having you as its mum."

At this Alex ran into the bathroom, her tears falling heavily as she closed the door on Gene, not wanting him to see her tears.

Twenty minutes later, Alex heard the front door close and left the safety of the bathroom. Walking over to the kitchen counter, she saw Gene had left his set of keys to the flat on the table. Picking them up, she fought back more tears.

"This is how it has to be".

Two weeks later, Alex had packed up her flat, said a tearful goodbye to Shaz and Luigi, where he tearfully cursed Gene and the lack of passion shown by the English compared to Italians, Alex had transferred to Scotland Yard's murder squad. Life was going to be different for both of them from now on.

End flashback.

Gene growled in frustration. It would be a month until she had the baby. She had sent him a few letters, but as he hadn't responded to any of them, he assumed she had given up. He had driven over to Scotland Yard frequently, armed with an apology and box of chocolates but he always stopped himself from getting out of the car. What could he say or do to make up for being an arse? If this was his child, then he had been a failure. He had let it down and was just like his own father.

Life in Luigi's was bloody miserable too. He often sat up at the bar, trying to ignore the glares being thrown at him by Luigi. He never sat at 'their' table anymore either.

Rubbing his eyes, he tried not to think of her but it was proving difficult. He couldn't do this anymore. He had to see her.

Alex tried to listen to what her DCI was saying, but was finding it difficult. It seemed that Junior (as Alex had taken to calling her baby) found her DCI as boring as she did. She smiled discreetly and placed her hand on her bump as she felt the baby kick, he or she certainly was quite strong.

By now she really should have gone on maternity leave but her DCI had resisted. She was new and therefore she couldn't just "swan off and take time off just because she felt like it." She had pointed to her rounded stomach but he still refused. Instead, she would be finishing up in a weeks' time and would be back to work 6 weeks after the baby was born. She wasn't happy about it but she was a woman living in a man's world so what could she do?

Sighing she looked at her calendar. 8 long and lonely months had passed since she had lost the love of her life. She had tried to keep in touch but after a while it became clear that he wasn't interested so she gave up.

She would often meet up with Shaz but the subject of Gene was always the elephant in the room. She didn't want to think of him but whenever she did, she wished she had the courage to go to Fenchurch and see him, make him go to the scan with her and see their baby. She had asked the hospital for the nearest date to conception and all evidence pointed towards Gene as the dad. She had been pregnant when her nightmare with Mack had begun. Gene was going to be a daddy.

"No Alex, he's not. He doesn't want anything to do with you, his latest floozy proves that".

Alex felt the tears sting as she remembered a conversation she had accidentally had with Ray. After finding out her dates, she had tried phoning Gene's office hoping to speak to him and convince him to meet and talk but instead Ray had answered, his words upsetting her more.

Flashback

"DI Carling"

"Ray, hi um it's Alex. I was wondering if Gene was there."

"Well if it isn't Drake, I thought we wouldn't be hearing from you again. Whatever yer calling for he ain't interested."

"With all respect Carling, I'd prefer to hear it from him".

"Well with all respect, yer can't. He's out with his new bird, Lisa. Probably will be out for the rest of the day, knowing what they're like. Cracking girl, Lisa. Funny, clever honest, not to mention good looking, all the things you weren't Ma'am".

"Now if yer don't mind, some of us have jobs to do, I'd like to say it's been a pleasure but unlike 'some', I'm not a liar Drake. Just leave 'im alone!"

As he slammed the phone down, he smiled as he hurriedly left the Guv's office before he came back from the canteen. He had made up Gene's new bird. Despite Ray's best efforts, the Guv hadn't looked at another woman since his break-up with Alex. However, he wasn't going to admit that to her. Things were starting to get back to the way it was before she arrived and he didn't want anything to spoil that.

As Ray slammed down the phone, Alex sat frozen in shock after his revelation. Gene had a new girlfriend? Just like that? He had ignored her and their child and had found someone else.

"Bastard".

Alex repeated these words to herself as she cried herself to sleep.

End flashback.

Alex picked up her handbag and went to meet up with Shaz. She hadn't mentioned that conversation to Shaz and she didn't want to. Walking out into the sunshine, she hailed a taxi as the baby kicked her harder than they had done before.

"You take after your daddy, kiddo, I expect you'll be able to pack a punch by the time your 1 if this is anything to go by".

Getting out of the taxi, she spotted Shaz Skelton, as she was now called, waving at her across the street.

She had been sorry to miss the wedding but hadn't wanted to spoil Shaz's day if she and Gene came face to face and caused a scene.

Instead, she had invited Shaz and Chris out to dinner when they arrived back from honeymoon and had listened eagerly to their news. Shaz was like her younger sister and she sorely missed her. She had helped her pick out stuff for the baby and went to some of her scans with her. She and Chris had even decorated the nursery in her flat when Alex had to work late one evening and wanted to surprise Alex.

After hugging Shaz, Alex sat down in her seat, wincing slightly as she felt a pain shoot through her. Blimey this baby was acting up today, that's for sure. She tried to concentrate on what Shaz was saying to her.

"Wow Alex! You look fantastic. How's it going?"

"Shaz, you're great for morale but please, I look like a beached whale! This baby better hurry up because I'm not sure I can take much more of this! Seriously, my jeans don't fit and I don't wear heels of any kind anymore thanks to Junior. I've forgotten what it feels like to look nice or have a night out".

Shaz and Alex shared a laugh at this. Alex certainly had enjoyed her nights out. Memories of last year's Police Charity Ball and Auction came to her mind. Gene had brought Alex as his date. Gene and Alex had enjoyed themselves immensely but Gene had been forced to take a 'tipsy' Alex home early before she had spent everything she had on a worn down cabin in the Scottish Highlands. Gene had teased her endlessly for a fortnight.

Alex chuckled to herself as memories of herself and Gene flooded her thoughts.

Alex let out a small groan as another pain shot through her. Something wasn't right. The baby was far too active. She winced as she felt another pain and with dawning realisation that the pains she had felt all day meant that the baby was coming early. Alex grabbed Shaz's hand who was looking at her in alarm.

"Shaz do me a favour. Help me get a taxi to the hospital. I think the baby has had enough and wants to escape but it's too early. Oh God something's wrong! Please Shaz, help me!"

Shaz grabbed both their handbags and helped Alex out of her seat.

Alex was beginning to panic. This wasn't meant to happen. She wanted to meet her baby but not yet!

Shaz helped Alex outside and into the waiting taxi. Shaz was currently trying to keep her calm as they waited for a taxi to appear.

"C'mon ma'am, I mean Alex, remember the breathing that you have to do. You can do it. I know you can. Squeeze my hand and take deep breaths."

Shaz winced as she felt Alex crush her fingers but she didn't say a word. She just hoped a taxi would arrive and fast.

Gene stormed out of CID and rushed to the Quattro. Slamming down on the accelerator, Gene felt a sense of uneasiness wash over him. He didn't know why but his head was telling him that someone needed him. Not just anyone. Alex. Something was wrong and whatever had happened between them, he had to go where he was needed.

Squealing around a corner, he noticed two women, one heavily pregnant and a smaller woman trying, and failing to hail a taxi and both of them looked panicked.

"Alex!"

His gut instinct had been right. She needed him. Not bothering about any other road user, he swerved the car across to the footpath and got out of the car and ran towards them.

"Bolly, Alex, what's happening? What's wrong?"

Alex breathed a sigh of relief but the pain seared through her again.

"Oh hello Gene, how marvellous to see you, can't you see everything is just fine and dandy! I'm just in premature labour so yeah everything is great thanks for asking!"

Gene signalled for Shaz to open the passenger door and moved to help Alex towards the car.

"Shaz, do me a favour. I'll drive Madame Sarky Knickers here to the hospital. Can you get a lift back to the station and tell Ray and the lads that I'll pop back later? Get Chris to drive yer back to the hospital. I'll look after her ok?"

Shaz smiled and squeezed Alex's arm and set off. This is just what these two need. Shaz hoped that a reunion would be on the cards. They'd both been bloody miserable these last few months but now hopefully they could begin to sort things out.

Gene sped off in the direction of the hospital and looked across at Alex. God she was beautiful, even if she was swearing profusely beside him.

"Right Bolls, keep breathing. What did the nurses tell yer to do when this happened?"

Alex shot him a look as she hissed at Gene, wincing at the pain and his driving and grabbed his hand, hoping she could take out her pain on him.

"Well if you had bothered to get in touch and answer my letters instead of shagging half of London, then you'd know!"

Gene chose to ignore Alex's grumbling and winced in pain as he felt his fingers being crushed. He drove faster as he weaved through the London traffic, glaring at anyone who got in his way. Alex let out a wail as another contraction ripped through her.

"Alex, I swear if yer give birth in me car, you'll be cleaning it up yerself, baby or no baby. Just breathe woman and try to relax. Look we're nearly here now."

If looks could kill, Gene knew he'd be a goner by now.

Pulling into the hospital driveway, The Quattro squealed to a halt and Gene got out and rushed to help Alex out of the car. Guiding her into the reception, he called for the doctor.

As Alex was led towards the delivery room, Gene stopped himself from following her. He had done his bit. He had helped her get to the hospital. She was in safe hands now. Turning to go back to the car, he heard a nurse rushing after him and calling him back.

"Sir. Are you Gene? Your partner is ready and asking for you, urgently and quite loudly! If you want to follow me, and I'll bring you to the delivery room. It's almost time."

Gene closed his eyes and sighed. She wasn't his. Not anymore. A little voice in his mind was screaming at him to follow her, that maybe they could get back to how it was. Mack was dead, he didn't have to worry about him being around.

Deep down, Gene still loved her and was certain she felt the same.

Glancing at the hospital exit, Gene sighed. Maybe this is what they needed.

Finally making up his mind, Gene nodded at the nurse and followed her down the long corridor to where the love of his life was waiting for him. She needed him and he vowed to himself that whatever had happened in the past, he would be there for as long as she wanted him. Pushing open the door, he smiled at the woman currently swearing and panting like a trooper on the bed.

"Ey up love, panic over. The Gene Genie is here."

This was it. Life would certainly be different from now on, that he was certain of, but maybe it would be better.

See? Happy ending of sorts.. I'll try have the Epilogue up by the end of the week, just need to tweak it a little bit.

Me and R please an thank you's.

Em xx