The final chapter of this particular fic. Thank you in advance for any reviews. A2A fanfic is dropping like flies because the authors think no one is still reading! I'm glad so many of you came forward and reviewed the last chapter, making it worthwhile to continue!

::

Chapter 7

March - Three months later

::

Gene trudged up the stairs of the Spitalfields headquarters and home of Drake & Hunt.

Hearing Gene buzz himself in Alex waited at the top of the stairs. Gene had a fantastic view of her perfectly taut legs and a prim black pencil skirt. She was wearing that purple silk pussy bow blouse again. The one that drove him crazy. The businessy Miss Moneypenny look but utterly unwrappable.

"Where have you been, Gene? Your Blackberry is always switched off. I know you hate it but could you please—"

"Relax, Bols. I was in Mayfair photographing that dickhead dodgy courier—remember?"

"And your mobile? It would be nice to get ahold of you when I want you."

Two steps down from her Gene reached behind one of her knees and trailed his hand up her arse as he met her on the landing.

"Get ahold of me? When you want me? I don't think you ever really have any trouble with that kind of thing, Bolly."

He squeezed her arse and handed her the camera he used to snap their latest subject. Alex had no choice but to take the camera from him. The expensive digital camera was awkward and heavy in her hand so she lowered it to her side and peeled Gene's hand from her arse.

Gene slinked into the office behind her watching her heels clicking on the wood floor of the hallway and across the office.

The bank of windows worked wonders at making a dim March day seem summery.

Drake & Hunt had been hired by a specialist courier company charged with transporting expensive or sensitive goods. Suspicions were on a particular driver who had various pick up and drop off points to the likes of Cartier, Channel and a portfolio of law firms near the Old Bailey. Goods had gone missing in transit on more than one occasion and then popped up again in records days later, like an administration mistake had been made. Gene was in sole charge of following a little white armoured van from the dull cement of Wembley to the polished brass of Mayfair and elegant carved stone at the Queen's Council.

Gene Hunt did not mind working as a private detective one bit. Paperwork was minimum, no one to answer to, no targets, it paid more—it pad a lot, just as Alex had predicted. Plus his business partner was an utter knockout. They flirted and fought just as before. The only difference was the sex sizzled and there was a teenage girl to look after.

"So what did you find out?"

"Dunno. The geezer is as boring as a headstone. Eats out of petrol stations. Drives slow. The bloke doesn't even smoke. He's a square but he's up to something I can feel it in my guts. He's too squeaky clean and too fucking boring. Knock yourself out with those pics Bolls. He's no pin up either so I won't be jealous."

"Well, why you have been tailing Wonder Bore I had a rather long, productive lunch with a big potential client."

"Not that smarmy, suited and booted git that was in here yesterday—the one who hit on you? Old enough to be my old man and your grandfather."

"The very one. And you are not as old as you try and put across. I've seen your "fake passport"."

Back behind her desk, Alex waggled her fingers despite the immense camera still in her hands.

They had been thinking of taking a holiday in the sun but there had been considerable debate on where they would go.

"I needed a fake passport to find some sun and so that I can see you in a bikini and—"

"Well, I think your passport will more than suffice. It was worth every penny to have a professional do it. Even your photo looks suitably...pouty."

Gene sat on the front of his desk placed at right angles to hers. He crossed his arms by habit. There was something different about her. Playful for a Thursday afternoon.

"Are you flirting with me, Bols?"

Camera safely down and SIM card taken out, Alex slipped her legs onto the corner of her desk, facing Gene, holding the SIM card seductively like a nugget in her fingers.

Shit. Long legs. High heels.

"Maybe."

"Well then..." Gene rounded his desk and loosened his tie completely, hung his suit jacket at the back of his chair and sat down heavily and put his feet up on the corner of his desk, facing Alex.

"Come 'ere then."

"No, you come here." Alex emphasised her point by sliding her ankle slowly up the opposite calf and back.

Schoolboy fantasy numero uno. Gene's eyes tracked it. The concentration on his face was obvious but he had to suppress it.

"This new client of yours must have slathered you up with proper Bolly, Bolly. You're pissed."

"Maybe."

"You tend to display these little...shall I say horny-temptress-tendencies late on a Friday afternoon. But..uh..t's Thursday...and—" Gene tapped his thumbs together in his lap belying the delight and tension underneath.

"—Perhaps. But tomorrow is a school holiday and Molly left on her school trip this afternoon."

She was giving Gene all the signs. He loved green lights.

"God I love school trips."

"You do, do you?"

"Yeah."

"Well then..." Alex swallowed and waited.

Gene rose slowly out of his leather executive chair, pulling his tie off completely and tossing it lazily on his desk.

"We haven't yet had the chance to christen our office with a bit of... Afternoon Delight."

"No we haven't." Alex slowly swung her hips back and forth in her swivel chair.

Gene clocked it. She was not normally like this. In the bedroom—yes—but this was their office.

He slowly rounded her desk and had every intention of perching his arse precisely where Alex's ankles were crossed. She allowed him to sit on the corner of her desk. She lowered her feet to the ground and rose to meet him. His knee was between her legs.

She put it there.

"I wanna pull your pussy bow this time. Last time you wore that blouse...you—"

Unexpectedly and without answering him, Alex slipped one of his shirt buttons open. Entranced, Gene silently raised his eyebrows and let her move to the second one while he watched her fingers. It was truly unusual for Alex to come on to him this hard during office hours.

There was always flirting. There was usually snogging. There might even be groping and panting. But never anything hardcore in the actual office. They would normally skip upstairs for that and lose clothes on the way. Sometimes Molly would find one of Gene's shirts in the hallway.

Gene was sure Alex was horny enough this time. Every inch of her was giving signals. He was enjoying it.

"Tell me again, why you didn't do anything like this in that cop show we did?" Gene asked after she released a third button on his shirt.

Alex had opened his collar wide. Keeping her eyes fixated on the widening triangle of Gene's chest.

"They didn't write it. Nothing happened between us because we weren't supposed to...you know..."

Gene enjoyed her seduction but could not resist a smutty comment.

"...Rip each others clothes off and shag like rabbits against my filing cabinets?"

He knew her eyes would flash up. That is why he said it.

Hazel flashed into blue and then instantly dropped to the pout. Her eyelashes floated. God he loved the heated sex look in her eyes.

"Something like that."

Kiss.

*KISS*

Kiss.

"You did have Bolly for lunch, Bolly."

Kiss.

"You're quite the detective, Mister Hunt."

"And you kiss nice. Desk? Sofa? Windowsill?"

Kiss. "Windowsill?" Kiss. "I can't see that working..." Kiss. "...very well. Shall we stay here for a bit..." *KISS* "...then the sofa?"

"K." Gene agreed gruffly with heavy lidded eyes.

Her fingers were working wonders at the back of his neck and in his hair. Alex had also tugged his shirt from his waist and had progressed to his belt. Gene ignored the pussy bow for the time being but had managed to pull down her skirt zipper. The tailored skirt slid to her ankles.

He had handfuls of silk-clad peachy ripeness. Black hold up stockings. Christ almighty.

"I missed you today."

*KISS*

"I think that's an understatement, Bols. Not that I'm complaining."

KISS. Alex fisted his hair. The back of Gene's hand had twanged her knicker elastic over her bottom.

"Gene..." Kiss. "...your boots..." Kiss. "...get your boots off..." Kiss.

KISS. Gene stood, turned her and pushed her gently onto to where he had just been perched.

"Too late for bloody boots, Bolly. Knickers! Off!" Shirt open, Gene got down on his knees and assisted.

Heavily assisted.

"GENE! UNGGGGGGH!"

After several minutes, several ignored text message bleeps and moans and groans from both, Gene rose to his feet, lust drunk.

He then kicked off his boots.

The pussy bow was still intact but that was about it.

"Now for those tits. C'mon."

Gene half carried, half stumbled them across the room to the sofa. Alex still in heels, knickerless but still wearing her satin pussy bow blouse. Gene with his socks and boxers. Alex finished off his shirt and left it behind.

::

"Shit." Gene muttered to the ceiling.

The room was pitch black except for the weak light from Alex's psychedelic screensaver meandering from frame to frame on her computer. There was very little light left of the March evening.

Gene sat bolt upright on the sofa and surveyed his surroundings. They had fallen asleep. He was naked except for his socks, Gene looked down on Alex's post-romp state.

"Hmpppphhhhfff...still look gorgeous and classy even whilst looking like a tart."

Her blouse was open, bra pushed up and over to expose her breasts. Heels on and knickerless she was fast asleep.

Gene drew his hand down his face and yawned like a lion with abandon. He then focused on the room for a moment trying to gauge the time.

"Bols. Bols? Bolly?" He looked down and gently commanded her to wake up.

Nothing.

"I'll be forced to tickle your muff, Bols, to come back to the land of the...living."

She stirred a bit. "Gene?"

"We shagged. We fell asleep on the sofa. We're in the office."

After a moment of blank expression, Alex's eyes opened wide. She sat upright. "Oh!"

"That's it, Bols. Focus."

"What time is it?"

"Time to thank ourselves we haven't hired one of those cleaners yet. Otherwise they'd have walked in and seen some proper debauchery."

Alex blearily raised her wristwatch close to her face. "It's gone seven."

"Not my fault, Bolly. You started it." Gene staggered across the room to her desk to find his shorts, doing absolutely nothing to hide his modesty.

When he bent over, the telephone rang. The office landline.

"Drake & Hunt!" Gene barked. Still naked.

Alex came more to her senses. Gene on the telephone speaking to clients was a highly dangerous undertaking. He had not patience for sales, marketing or cordial discussions.

"Yeah, that's right...oh...right...yes...okay...we'll be right over." Gene put down the receiver. "It's Molly—she's come down with the flu or something. That was the teacher ringing. We need to collect her at the school. She felt crook enough that she gave the trip a miss."

Alex went into responsible Mummy mode and with little fuss found her skirt and left the office.

::

Back home again with Molly, Alex tucked her into bed. Molly's room was situated in the eves at the very top of the townhouse. Known by Molly as 'the coolest part of the house' it was the perfect teenage retreat. Private, cosy and architecturally quirky, there were two dormer windows and slopped ceilings. Most of it plastered with posters and dangly bits.

Gene was always welcome in Molly's domain and some of the most productive and least frustrating computer lessons had taking place in her bedroom on her laptop. Gene learned to Google and set up an online turf account and linked it with an email address for the express purpose of betting on horses. Little did Alex know or did not want to know.

Gene leaned on Molly's bedroom doorframe. Alex smoothed her daughter's hair away from her face.

"Try and drink as much as you can. I'll be back in awhile and check on you—alright?"

Molly looked pale and had a chill, she was piled under blankets. Earlier in the afternoon she looked ready to fly the nest and see the world with frantic waves of goodbye.

"Thanks Mum." She said half heartedly with her eyes closed, she rolled onto her side and was still.

::

"Kids spring back from these things in no time, Bols." Gene tried to sympathise, following Alex down the stairs.

"I know, I know...but as a mother I worry. I was worried the minute she said goodbye this afternoon, when I wouldn't see her for a couple of days. It sounds silly but parenthood is about 90% worry about nothing at all. It's why parents look so knackered and wrinkled before their time."

"Bad kids do that to parents. You'll still be looking top drawer ten years from now. You are doing a good job raising her, she's a right little lady." Gene sat in his chair on the tiny dinner table for three in the kitchen.

"I thought you told me the other day she could "talk the knackers off a brass monkey". Alex waggled her fingers. "And besides, you seem to spend more time with her doing parental things than I do. She goes to you first these days for homework help."

"What can I say? I'm a Gene Genius with this algebra stuff. I shoulda been a surgeon or something."

"Hmmmm...somehow I can't really picture that. Though you'd look good in green scrubs."

"You see? This is why you're a tart. It always comes down to sex. Not that I mind."

"Sex? Where did you get to that idea?"

"You! Just now you said something about me in green."

"Oh. Yeah. Well...My point is that a sick child is something to worry about."

"Okay, Bols. Whatever. We'll check on her later and tomorrow she'll be bouncing off the walls."

In the kitchen they shared a glass of wine and warmed up a left over curry for dinner. They discussed business and their romp that afternoon but it was hard for Alex to show anything more than a mild enthusiasm. Molly had had her bouts of childhood sickness and every time Alex worried.

Alex sighed, suddenly tired again.

"Why not jump in the shower and hit the sack, Bols. I'll clear up here."

"Alright, that sounds nice."

Gene cleared the table in one swoop and filled the sink with dishes. After watching the news and enjoying a lone whisky, his nose was behind her ear in bed. "What was nice was you this afternoon." He slowly kissed and nibbled down her neck. "You up for a little more?"

::

In the middle of the night Gene tossed and turned while Alex slept. He decided to get up and prowl around the kitchen, perhaps find a pink waffer if the women had not already discovered his stash.

He remembered Molly and decided to check on her first. He put the light on at the top of the stairs, outside her room so he could see.

Her blankets looked undisturbed. Molly was asleep but her face looked like a sweaty mess. Gene turned her over and checked her forehead and her temperature seemed incredibly hot. He pulled down her bedclothes and her pyjamas were drenched in sweat. She stirred albeit weakly.

"Mum?"

"It's Gene, Little Lady. How you doing?"

"Mum?" Molly whimpered with her eyes closed like she was too much in a sleepy trance to open them.

Molly looked like she was beyond having the flu.

"Hey? You don't look right." Gene checked her forehead again, her wrists. Her pulse was weak, her complexion looked drained.

"I'm cold, so cold—freezing. Mum?"

Without any more delay Gene pulled off the thickest blanket and laid it across his knees and picked her up and wrapped her tight. "Have to get you out of here. Come on."

Molly was lethargic and feverish.

Alex, sensing Gene's absence and remembering Molly being sick, met Gene at the bottom of the top flight of stairs in her dressing gown.

"She's burning up, Alex. Something's really not right—she looks bloody awful. We're taking her to the hospital. Stay with her I'll get the car."

Without challenge Alex agreed and sat down on the steps and took Molly into her lap. As soon as she saw her face she could see why Gene was so worried.

::

It was the middle of the night when Gene raced them to Guy's Hospital, south of the Thames. Alex had managed to pull on a pair of jeans and a baggy top before leaving the house. She cuddled Molly in the backseat as Gene drove.

In the Accident & Emergency room Gene and Alex waited while Molly was assessed. Luckily when they arrived the ward seemed to be on top of all the cases, being a quiet night.

"Mrs Drake?" A doctor questioned the people in the waiting room after an anxious twenty minute wait.

Alex quickly rose and made herself known. Gene was right behind her.

The doctor was a young Asian man with an undetectable accent—a mix of home, university and London. He spoke assertively and clearly.

"My name is Dr Patel, your daughter appears to be afflicted with Viral Meningitis. You were right in your decision to bring her in. It is a disease that acts quickly and without any mercy—especially in children. At this stage she is being treated with intravenous antibiotics. I want her to be left alone during this time and perhaps in an hour or so you can pop your head in and sit with her but for now I highly recommend you let the staff do their business. In awhile, someone will come to see you and will recommend inoculations for you both. Alright?"

"Will she be...okay?" Alex asked wide eyed, the information had been delivered thick and fast. She was hanging on the word Meningitis and knew the seriousness of it.

"Yes, I believe so. Had you waited any longer, perhaps an hour or so, the situation might have been much worse. The intravenous is drawing in nicely, she looks to be of healthy weight and musculature so, yes, I believe the outlook is extremely positive. You should thank yourselves for being so vigilant and bringing her in when you did. Alright?"

"Thanks, doctor...thanks for...everything." Gene replied.

"Okay, I will leave you now and someone will come and see you about some injections for yourselves."

Alex was weakened but relieved. "Yes, thank you, Doctor Patel."

His work with the case complete, the doctor turned and disappeared behind the doors marked 'Restricted Area - Medical Personnel Only'. In the waiting area the only other person was a man dosing in a chair with his arms crossed.

Alex sank into her moulded plastic chair and instantly began to lose a few tears. Gene sighed and sank into the chair next to her. He rubbed her neck and back. "It'll be okay, Bols. She'll be fine."

She sat back and looked at him her face streaked with tears. "Thank you, Gene. You have done it again. You saved her."

"I've done nothing. The doctor and this hospital is doing the stuff they do to make her better."

Alex turned in her chair and clung to him. "Yes, but if you hadn't checked on her when you did, things might have been very different."

"Yeah, well, this parent worry stuff is contagious. She's my little girl too, you know that don't you?"

Alex looked up at him adoringly. "She is. She absolutely is. But thank you, Gene."

"I just knew something was up, something was not right and here we are. She's going to be fine, Bols."

The relief was properly starting to sink in and she simply nodded and smiled weakly.

::

November - Eight months later

"What about this one then?"

Hands stuffed into his coat pockets Gene bent over an elegantly illuminated glass cabinet in Boodles of all places. Although Gene Hunt had never been to New Bond Street he knew of its existence.

"It's a rather divine solitaire set in platinum."

"It's...nice...I s'pose."

"You seem to be attracted to the large diamond solitaires. Have you thought about another stone—emeralds or sapphires perhaps? What colour of her eyes?"

"They're hazel-y, goldish...erm...gorgeous coloured. Dunno what politically-correct-colour they are. I just know I want a diamond."

"Alright, Mister Hunt. It's nice to have a client who knows what he...wants."

Without responding Gene drifted over to another cabinet, scanned it quickly back and forth and then returned to his original place.

"And I want gold, proper gold. None of this platinum business. I want something...like this one...how much is that one?"

Gene pointed at one he first noticed when he looked into the cabinet three days earlier. He had been in the shop three times in two weeks looking at it.

"Let me see." The smartly dressed and perfume-clouded attendant slid the cabinet open from behind and retrieved the ring and velvet clam display box and rest it down again in front of Gene. "It's nine thousand, two hundred and fifty pounds."

"The two hundred and fifty must keep you in lunches for a week." Gene muttered witheringly under his breath.

"It is an exquisite cut, beautiful setting. You have good taste, Mister Hunt."

"No need to butter me up love with your sales talk. Diamond rings have a habit of selling themselves in 'ere. The sign on the door says you've been selling garb since the Brontes."

"Perhaps."

"I'll take it."

::

"What's "The Malties"?" Gene waggled his fingers.

"The Maldives...The Maldives...it's a country, a collection of tiny islands off the southern tip of India."

"Never heard of 'em...it...whatever."

"Well that doesn't mean they don't exist Gene. In 'your time', they were pretty unknown, completely undeveloped—a true, unspoilt paradise. But now they are a unique, carefully developed paradise. Look!" Alex sat back in her office chair so that Gene could lean over her and peer closer at the exclusive holiday brochure laid out on her desk. He leaned forward and propped himself up on both hands.

"Palm trees and things. Looks posh. Does it meet my other criteria?" Gene was sure it looked like a paradise but he needed to tease her awhile longer.

"You said somewhere where you can swim and be warm and the food had to be great too."

"No, Bolly, I said somewhere where you can skimp around in a bikini and the same place had to hear of great whisky. But good food's important too. Can't afford to waste away."

"Yes, Gene, it is a six star resort, they'll have at least five varieties of fine whisky...though in my opinion, you'll most likely drink beer. It will too be hot to enjoy whisky. You will probably have the best curries you've ever tasted in the Maldives too."

"Hmmmm curries..." He nodded in agreement "...the place looks nice so we can go. I need to try out my fake passport and then get oiled up and sizzle while I watch you."

Business with Drake & Hunt had been good. Very good. They could afford to splash out. Gene was getting used to a whole new set of lifestyle choices but his criteria always remained the same.

Gene flicked to a new page and saw a photo of small monkey and another showing a tiny green lizard and third with brightly coloured fish set on a magnificent coral reef in gin clear water.

"It looks like a paradise, I can't wait." Alex continued to marvel.

"Don't know about the lizards and things. Can't have stuff like that crawling about the place."

Alex tucked herself between his arms he was leaning on. "They will be harmless and will run away from you rather than get in your way. They are only tiny."

Gene was not convinced but changed the subject to more diplomatic matters. "And you're sure Molly won't be jealous that we go galavanting off to this place?"

"She would rather go skiing with her friends then hang around with the likes of us. She won't mind at all. She was there when I picked up this brochure and just keep telling me how excited she was to be going to The Alps."

"Okay then." He flipped the brochure over and looked at a map. "Looks like a long way to fly so your bikini better be right skimpy." He looked down on her and smiled a tiny lewd smile then bent down and pecked her on the lips. "In the meantime, posh holidays and things means that you need to get your heart-shaped arse in gear earning some money. We need to take more photos of that dick-wad bore of a husband who is having it off with his secretary."

"You have to admit it's better doing this type of work then getting shot at?"

Gene stood up and jammed his hands in his pockets. "Dunno. You holding a gun always gave me the horn."

Alex smirked and sighed sufferingly. "What about the pay? It pays more than the Met, plus we have more free time...no corrupt superiors. We're our own boss."

"Yeah, sometimes forget that working with the Mrs has it's pervy advantages."

The ring that Gene had bought was still in a secret hiding spot in his desk. Somehow there was never the perfect opportunity. He always pictured in their old life that if he ever got to be with a woman like Alex he would do it right.

Being in paradise would do nicely.

::

December - Two weeks later

"Gene? You awake?" Alex whispered sweetly.

"Hmmmmphffffghhnnnuh."

Gene was lying on his front under a thin sheet, his morning sleeping position. The flight to The Maldives had been exhausting and the transfers from Colombo added to the sticky, dehydrated misery of long haul travelling. The pair had more or less arrived at their luxury resort in the early hours of the morning, checked in quickly, showered and flopped into bed exhausted.

Alex ran her fingers through his hair and then rolled on top of him. She could hear the sea which was just outside.

"It's beautiful here. You should wake up."

"Keep doing what you are doing and the rest of me will wake up too." Gene gruffed out of the side of his mouth.

Alex nuzzled behind his ear and massaged the back of his head with her fingers, rubbing him the wrong way. "Do you mean like this?"

Gene groaned like some sort of hibernating animal liking the idea of the friskiness of spring. "Bit of that plus your muff tickling my ass, that's good too. Love your little wake ups, Bols."

She rolled off him and massaged his back with one hand and then rolled off the bed completely. Gene dozed for a minute and then realised the affection had stopped. Alex walked naked across their bungalow suite. He raised himself up on his elbows and had watched her hips sway their way into the bathroom.

"Oi! Where's my muff gone?"

He received no reply. Alex was busy washing her face but had heard the remark.

"It's time to wake up, sleepy bones. It's gone 9am already."

"Come back to bed and I'll show you my bone, Bols."

He rolled onto his back and eyed the open bathroom doorway that Alex disappeared into. There was no sign of her returning anytime soon.

The bungalow in The Maldives that Alex had booked for them was exquisite as it was exotic and worth the hardship of getting there. Gene was not keen on the way their en suite opened right onto the beach. It was an open air bathroom with no roof. Last night he had seen a lizard clinging between the cracks of the timber-planked wetroom shower.

It was a small hotel, the only one on that particular island. It housed a maximum of twenty guests and was operated by ten friendly, international staff. It catered to those who wanted to take life slowly and quietly. There was the main hotel where a few rooms were located, the reception, small intimate bars and a restaurant. The remainder of the guests stayed in self-contained bungalows trailing along the beach but set back into the trees.

It was possible to book diving trips and flights on float planes but most people preferred to lay and relax in the stunning surroundings. White sand, aqua blue water stretching forever and changing colour. Huge round boulders were the only other recognisable landscape feature. There were no hills and certainly no space to occupy a mountain. The island was strictly a flat, exotic paradise surrounded by the sea.

Gene pulled on a pair of boxer shorts and joined Alex but went no further then the doorway to the bathroom. His eyes scanned the floor.

Alex knew precisely what was on his mind.

"I don't know what you're afraid of, Gene, the lizards are tiny and are more afraid of you then you are of them."

"I'm not afraid of them, Bolly. I just don't want to share the place with 'em." He shifted his eyes subtly, looking for signs of movement. There was no sign of lizards so he naturally moved onto something more appealing.

It was not often he saw Alex brushing her teeth naked as they shared a family bathroom with Molly in their Spitalfields house. The sight of seeing Alex naked from behind was taking his mind off of small green reptiles. He came up behind her as she rose from swishing toothpaste out of her mouth.

His hands cupped both her breasts and he pressed her willingly into the wooden sink unit.

"Good morning." Alex lolled her head back onto his shoulder.

"How 'bout me be Tarzan, you be Jane?" He rubbed his growing erection against her backside.

"I like the sound of that but you will have to build me a house in the trees first."

Gene was massaging her breasts exactly how she loved to be put in the mood. "How 'bout settling for a bed made out of bamboo? I'll hide the flatscreen TV and get a monkey to shit inside the DVD player—don't even know why the stuff is even in here. Who goes on holiday to watch thirty-three channels of...?"

Gene was watching the effect of his massage was having in the reflection of the mirror and had forgot what he wanted to say. He was not surprised when Alex did not reply with anything other than little moans of approval. He breathed in the scent behind her ear.

"Hmmmm, Gene, that's nice."

He smoothed one hand down the side of her and cupped her ass, tickling the sensitive area at the back of her leg then moved to lightly stroke the line leading to her bush without actually touching between her legs. Despite Alex trying to wiggle him closer, he pinned her harder, his weight fully against her, propping her up.

When she wanted to turn he let her. Alex drew her hands up his chest and then up into his hair to pull him down for a deep, slow kiss. After breaking apart to breathe, they ended up as usual, their foreheads together.

"Me want to be Tarzan now and later too."

"I don't want to be a spoilsport but I think we should have breakfast first. We do not even know what The Maldives even looks like. What about eating something and then check out the beach. Then I promise you can be Tarzan as much as you want."

Disappointed Gene looked down his nose at her, wondering if he could sway her with a bit of twinkle eye.

"Jane wants Tarzan though, right?"

Alex stroked her hands across his chest, suddenly realising that if she really wanted to catch breakfast she had better stop there. She held his face, drew the pads of her thumbs over his soft stubble, lovingly examining the various shades of blonde in his beard. She smiled contentedly.

Gene loved the look of her downturned eye lashes examining him and then her eyes flashing up into his to answer.

"Yes, Jane loves Tarzan. Very much. I promise to make it up to you later. Okay?"

Gene listened with a pout.

"Well then, Bols, hop to it and get dressed instead of walking about the place, teasing me like a harpie. I'm starving."

::

After a relaxed and generous breakfast they spent twenty minutes walking around the small atoll island. A continuous beach ringed the island except for a few boulders and round rock beaches on the leeward side. The island was otherwise covered in tropical scrub, large green leaved plants of musa banana and whips of tropical vines coming down from the gentle-looking banyan trees. Swaying coconut palms outnumbered staff and guests twenty to one. They bent over the beach in places like they preferred to grow in bright sunlight instead of under the darkened canopy of the interior.

The sand was blinding white and soft under their bare feet except for the crunch of dead banyan leaves scattered in the sand. The sea was impossibly clear and pale blue, stretching for miles in all directions, little neighbouring islands speckled the horizon like mirage oasises. The sky was full of tall tropical thunderhead clouds to the east but was otherwise perfectly clear to the west. The breeze was warm and the air impossibly perfect.

"I could never get sick of the sight of a palm tree, could you? Long leaves swaying, coconuts, the rings in the bark. This is my idea of paradise."

Rather than hold hands Gene had his hands stuck into his Bermuda short pockets and Alex lightly draped her wrist over his. His pale blue shirt was half open. He wore dark sunglasses and sunscreen along his nose but nowhere else. Alex was barefoot and wore a simple denim jean-style sundress which brought out her emerging tan.

"They grow here so they belong here. The only reason why they grow 'em in London is so people can have that fake holiday feeling. They're better here, Bols. I'll give you that." He paused to slap the trunk of one and it felt hard as rock, which impressed him. Gene looked up and saw coconuts and then lent his back against the trunk and pulled Alex willingly into his arms.

Alex spoke coyly. "Why Tarzan...is this where you've decided to build your treehouse and make me yours?"

Gene drew his eyes away and surveyed the immediate area. "Don't know about the first bit but I like the sound of the second bit. How 'bout it?"

She clung onto the back of his shirt and smiled. "You don't usually like to display affection outside closed doors. What's got into you?"

Gene watched her lips move as she spoke and rather than answering, stared at them. He did not want to reply with words but to make his move. Alex sank into his lips.

*KISS*

"Dunno, what's got into me. Must be the tropics and your hips wiggling in that dress." He peered suggestively down her top but her neckline did not reveal enough cleavage to pass comment.

Knowing the look Alex massaged the back of his neck and made a proposal.

"Okay, how about a quick swim and then I'll make it up to you? I'll just get changed quickly. Meet me by the pool? Buy me a drink perhaps?"

How could Gene refuse. Alex was about to upgrade to a bikini that he knew she had been keeping under wraps.

"Sounds good. You want one of those pineapple colada things?" He reluctantly released her.

Alex back stepped in the sand and swished it with her bare feet, looking gorgeous, looking relaxed and happy. "I'd love one of those. See you in a minute...Tarzan." She raised her eyebrows teasingly.

Gene watched her disappear up the sandy path to their beach bungalow.

::

Gene arranged the drinks and pulled a couple of cushioned lounge chairs into the shade beside the small hotel pool. From his vantage point he could see the sea, the pool, the goings on at the bar and he would be able to spot Alex's approach. He chose a spot that was slightly screened by shrubs on either side.

Sunglasses on. Shirt open. Gene closed his eyes, laid back and waited.

After a short doze he lost track of time. He could see that the crushed ice in their drinks was still intact but Alex still had not arrived. Her drink sat undisturbed in the holder of her chair.

Gene scanned the scene.

The small resort handled very few guests in relation to the other islands. Three people lazed and waded in the pool. Others chatted to the bartender at the bar while and a few guests read books in the shade or slept under hats. One young man who looked like he was itching for something to do had white iPod chords trailing out of his ears. His feet were wagging back and forth on his sun lounger like a recovering alcoholic or perhaps he was dancing lying down. Either way, Gene Hunt was unimpressed with the pigeon-chested man and changed the angle of his sight so he did not have to look at him.

Gene clocked Alex's approach along the pathway. A hedge acted like a teasing catwalk. A row of low, clipped trees with bare trunks showed off her lower half. Leaves concealed her from view except from her hips down to her kitten heeled clogs. Gene could see the sway of her hips and long bare legs and a view of scant white bikini bottoms. A set of ties dangled from either side of her hips. He heard her delicate clip of heels.

He held his pina colada in one hand, condensation falling down the glass, suspended in midair. He eventually took a gulp, ignoring the bright red straw for the purpose and enjoyed the sexy view. Suddenly the legs stopped. Alex had paused to speak to what looked like a fellow guest, given his attire. All of the hotel staff wore uniforms. After a few moments Gene sat up and put his drink down impatiently. He considered rounding the hedge and collecting her but then thought better of it. Within seconds Alex innocently turned the corner, spotted Gene, smiled warmly and raised a hand to wave. She tipped her sunglasses on top of her head as she walked into a shady area towards him. Two men at the bar spotted her and turned heads. A middle aged man decided to do the backstroke so he could watch the intriguing guest pass his end of the pool.

Gene tipped himself back into his sun lounger and watched the bikini clad bombshell sway closer. She had some serious making up to do. The bikini top had a string tie front and back, the cleavage was out of this world.

"Blimey." Was all Gene could say to himself.

"I know it's a bit early for a pina colada but I really could not resist." Alex insisted on reconciling her craving for a tipple at eleven in the morning. She sank down into her sun lounger and swung her legs out and laid back, tipping her shoes off the end in the process. It was the first time Gene noticed her perfect pedicured toenails. Creamy pink.

She sighed heavily to the world and was about to lower her sunglasses to cover her eyes again when without warning Gene grabbed the side of her chair and dragged it as close as he could to his own. He wondered why he had spaced them a foot apart.

"Why don't they build these things for two?" Gene grouched.

"I have no idea." Alex pondered semi-seriously, picking up her cocktail in a bid to rescue it in case Gene's upset of her lounger would make it crash to the ground.

Resettled, she angled her legs in a classic bathing suit pose, she was semi-ignoring him on purpose.

Gene rolled onto his side, almost tipping his chair over to get closer.

"Bols." He leaned over onto her chair.

Alex took a long sip of her drink, continuing her teasing ploy of not directing too much attention to Gene. "Mmmmm...we need to live off of these while we are here. So delicious."

Alex licking her lips and sucking on her red straw was too much, Gene's hand ran up her side and tipped her over towards him. "You look bloody delicious, c'mere."

Despite the painfully awkward positioning Gene managed to shower her with kisses and a few brazen gropes.

"I don't know what has gotten into you, Gene, but I quite like your holiday mood."

"You know exactly what has gotten into me. You're a perfect 10 centrefold wearing a bikini that opens in...What? Four places? If I don't tear it off you first."

"I take it that you approve?" Alex loved to tease the obvious alpha male, her eyebrow arched, sexy smirk in place. Alex had been looking forward to enjoying their private time together, a proper dirty holiday. She had the wardrobe to pull it off. It was having the desired effect.

Gene had a desperate, frustrated look about him. Both, predatory and jealous. He could feel eyes of fellow male guests admiring her. His blood was up.

Gene pouted at the question, tore his sunglasses off and put them atop his head and then leaned into her again, making his point by piercing his eyes straight into hers and then straight, deep down into her cleavage, lingering there for a bit and then down to where his hand was located. Fingering the top hem of her bikini bottoms, making her stomach flutter. The wolfish, eye-devouring look he was giving her was turning her on. Gene's eyes displayed a thousand moods. This time it was similar to the predatory hunger when he first arrived at the Spitalfields house, but something more.

Head over heals. Under her spell. What is she up to?

"I approve so much, Bolly, that you have some bloody good making up to do...sooner rather than later and definitely several times. That is...if Jane is up to it." Gene reminded and challenged.

"Well then, let's finish these and go back to our room." Alex swirled her pina colada in the air.

Gene flopped back into his chair and sucked his drink dry and stood up within twelve seconds. He held out his hand for her.

"Might as well be gentlemanly about it."

"You are a gentleman, Gene, just a different sort. It makes me adore you." She whispered close, her lips brushing the shell of his ear making his hair stand on end, stirring his Id. "It makes you...so...unbelievably...sexy."

Gene chewed the side of his cheek in an attempt to display calm as he lead Alex along the poolside, holding her hand tightly. He glared at the bartender behind his sunglasses. The two fellow guests who had noticed Alex and had been paying too much attention suddenly became interested in their drinks. Gene knew he had a tropical goddess with a perfect bikini body in his hands. She was showing off everything she had to stunning effect but too many people were paying too much attention.

Gene Hunt was not up for sharing.

When they neared their beach bungalow, the path narrowed and he followed Alex and then rushed her into their front door. She would have managed the walk faster but her legs were like jelly from the double rum pina coladas that Gene ordered and the sexual electricity in the air.

Gene kicked the plank door shut with his heel and walked her back into a wall.

"Bloody hell you're gorgeous!" His voice gravelly against her neck, pinning her with his body, his teeth raking down her shoulder then nibbling and licking her ear. "You've had me itching for hours."

Helplessly enjoying Gene's onslaught Alex tried to stretch and move around the corner so that she could at least see if the bed had been made and indeed if housekeeping had even left the room.

"Gene! Gene! Check...mmmmm...check and see if we're alone...mmmmmm...someone might still be cleaning the room—"

Gene had ideas about pulling on the dangling ties containing her cleavage but he suddenly stopped, hands buried into the back of her bikini bottoms. He pulled out and backed away. Alex was left slunk against the wall in mid-passion so he could angrily stalk in the direction of the bathroom.

"Anyone there?" Gene cocked his head and listened out frustratingly. "Time to leave! Out! Oi!"

No emerged so he tugged at a button on his shirt and slowly turned to be distracted by Alex sauntering towards him, stepping straight out of her clogs and into his arms.

"Guess they buggered off." Gene pouted, looking down on her. He waited for the signal to re-ravage her. Her eyes were dazzling and the tassely white bikini still beaconing to be untied.

Fuck it.

Without warning Gene leaned hard over and picked Alex straight up into a kicking but submissive fireman's lift. A groan inadvertently escaped Gene's throat when the first thing she did when he bounced her in the middle of the freshly made bed was reach up and pull him by the back of the neck into an endless hungry holiday snog.

Before he had a chance to pull on any bikini ties Alex pushed him back and rolled on top of him. Sitting on top she peeled open his unbuttoned shirt and stroked her hands across his body. And kissed her way down. Alex nestled beside him, unzipped and pulled down his trousers. He helped her by wriggling out of them and his boxer shorts.

"I think Jane needs to help Tarzan with a little something."

"I can't help it, Bols. You in that—" Before Gene could finish Alex slipped her hand around his girth. Blue eyes met hazel for a moment while Alex kissed her way down his shaft. Gene froze and sank his head back onto the bed. "—oh God, yeahhhhh and you do that so...wellllll...Chrrrrist!"

"You were saying?" Alex could not resist teasing.

"You...that...in that bikini...ohhhh Chrrrrist...look fucking gorgeous..." Gene raised his head off the bed, tendons in his neck looking taught. He managed a split-second, rare smile and belly chuckle.

Gene's forearms were left suspended in the air. When Alex glanced up from her task, he had already flopped his head back down into the mattress. She continued to watch the expression on his face as she pleased him.

The white bikini had made a dramatic effect.

But something caught her eye.

"Um, Gene, just so you know...a little green lizard has just run up the wall behind the bed." She teased the sensitive tip of his cock as she waited for the reply, which came almost instantaneously.

"Don't care if it's God-bloody-zilla and his mate King Kong...don't stop!"

Alex did not stop but when Gene was close he pulled her up and flipped her over and held and kissed her like a man possessed. He half untied, half tugged off her bikini bottoms. Gene was desperate to hear his name echo around a small tropical island and to return a hugely enjoyable favour. He left red teethmarks on the blades of her hips.

She scissored her legs around his waist to welcome him back, finally tearing his shirt from his shoulders as she did so.

"Mmmmm Gene, that was—" They melted into a deep reunion kiss.

"—round one." Growled his intentions into her neck as he slid into her to the hilt and moved fast within her.

At the unexpected move, Alex moaned with pleasure as Gene grunted. They were alone together. Not at home. Not in the office. No Molly. No one knew them for over three thousand miles. Why not let go?

After awhile and with a concerted effort he slowed and put her on top. Gene shifted them to the edge of the bed to the sitting position. Both naked except for Alex's bikini top.

"I'm pulling these tie things but you need to leave it on, Bolly. At least for the time being anyways."

Gene's eyes displayed a yearning "Come to me", in blue looking at her newly exposed breasts, the bra loosely brushing the backs of his hands. He watched and felt her breasts transform. Her back arched, her legs wrapped, her hips spread and ground into him.

A huge overhead tropical fan wafted cool air down over the bed.

Alex never felt so horny and alive as Gene pushed up into her and made love to her breasts with his hands, his tongue, his lips, his teeth. His moans adding to her sensitivity. She lost track how many times she came or whether she had ever stopped.

::

The following afternoon Alex still did not have the slightest clue that Gene had packed a diamond ring.

They had swam in the sea, dozed under palm trees and made out in their open air shower. Gene enjoyed some of the finest curries outside of Brick Lane, downed countless local beers and practically forgot his 'two a day' smoking rations, putting it down to "jet lag and fantastic shags". Skin began to freckle, blush and tan in all usual places. Alex lusted over Gene's almost immediate sun-bleached hair and lax shaving and Gene lusted over Alex's holiday wardrobe.

Alex sat near the end of the hotel's dock peering into gin clear water, marvelling at the colour. Tiny seabirds soared overhead, their tails black and forked. A brightly painted wooden longboat with outboard bobbed up and down on its ties beside her.

She turned her head up to look at Gene and broke into the most serene smile he had ever seen. It disarmed him for a moment and then reassured him. He wondered if she somehow knew.

"Um...It's all set Bolly. Some geezer has agreed to maroon us on one of those islands out there." Gene pointed confidently out over the horizon, unlit cigarette between his fingers. His wrinkled sky blue shirt was buttoned in only three half-hazard places. After a few days he was now used to walking around barefoot but still wore long trousers with deep pockets.

He had to have a safe place to carry his lighter. And a small velvet box.

Alex stood up and patted non-existent sand off of her bottom. She wore an emerald green sundress and black one piece swimsuit underneath. "Really? They are going to just leave us there?"

"Not exactly. The boat guy hangs around for us. Plus I've got this." Gene dangled a slick and serious satellite telephone in front of her. "If we get into a tight spot, we can use this space phone."

Alex looked slightly relieved. "I can see the need for the special mobile. Out there is bound to be unpredictable."

Gene slid it deep into his trouser pocket and pulled out his lighter while he was in there.

She watched him light a cigarette and smile to himself as he looked at her. Some months previously he decided to heed Molly's nagging and cut down to barely two a day. He looked better for it.

She squinted at him, sunlight in her eyes. Gene was giving her a soft mysterious look like she was being tested for something. She crossed her arms and stood in his great shadow. The sea breeze blew hair across her face.

"You're enjoying it here, Gene. Our first holiday. You haven't worn shoes in days." She dragged a finger down her cheek to flick a thick lock of hair from her mouth flicked there by the breeze.

He exhaled, his cigarette obviously enjoyable. The breeze swirled smoke into his face. He looked down at his tanned feet. A gust of wind flipped up the hem of his shirt. Showing skin and a shrinking holiday belly. His sleeves were rolled up into different lengths. He hung his hand around the back of her neck and she stepped into his loose hug.

"Can't remember the last time I went on holiday. A proper holiday that is. What can I say? Food's good. Beer's good. And you...well...you're all over me like a tart. Robinson Crusoe never had as much."

Alex inhaled his scent, beach breeze and a faint hint of clean Spitalfields fabric softener. Gene's frank admission made her bury her nose behind his ear and giggle, she knew he chuckled his reply into the cigarette drag he made. She felt and heard the rumble.

"Who would have pictured this scene in C.I.D.?" She asked.

"Which bit exactly? The bit where my hand's creeping up your leg and you don't seem to mind? Or the fact that we're on a palm tree island?"

"Well both I suppose."

They both turned when the sound of their boat driver's footsteps hit the dock planks. The relaxed-unformed hotel worker looked like a cross between a local and a Californian surfboard champion. He wore a pleasant smile with his pointed goatee and smart new Ray Bans.

"Hey Lovers, let's give you a boat ride—eh?"

Gene smirked, stepped back and raised his eye brows. He agreed with the vibe of the place. Most of the locals reminded him of Nelson at the Railway Arms.

There was something about island life, what sand and sun does to one that concrete and cloud does not.

::

Their boatman drove the longboat straight out into shallow open water that initially revealed reefs and then turned suddenly into a deep green blue, like they flew over a sea cliff.

Amazing.

The deeper water was calm and the hunkered down wooden seats gave the two city passengers stability and confidence. Gene turned his head to watch their hotel island quickly disappear as quickly as a new island came onto the horizon. It was apparent there were tiny atoll islands everywhere, some with palm trees, most without and many were simply white sandbars that sat like lemon granita in a milky blue cocktail. The force of the boat engine blew their hair in all directions. The sun beat down on them. Gene pressed his sunglasses up onto his nose, afraid they might fly off. Alex sat comfortably back in her seat in front of him and rest the backs of her elbows across Gene's knees.

The boatman drove the longboat straight up onto the sand of the next island and expertly tilted the outboard propellers out of the water. They slid straight up onto a steep blindingly white beach.

"Wow! This place is amazing!" Alex held onto the hem of her dress as she deftly jumped out of the boat and onto hard wet sand.

Gene's boat exit was met by a high swirling wave that drenched his trouser legs and weighed them down. He pulled up his waistband.

Their driver sat back in the boat like he was anticipating his next snooze. "Okay now. You do your thing. I'll be right here." He shook a cigarette from a pack, stood up and from somewhere produced a fishing rod, and cast a line in the water and sat back down again, looking out to sea. Fishing.

The island they visited was of a similar size as the hotel's but seemed to have been born as a result of a sandbar gradually attracting plant life. The hotel island was made up of large boulders and rocky beaches like it was part of earth itself.

Gene trudged up the steep beach and onto the hot white sand. Dry, hot sand stuck to his trouser hems. "Blimey! My feet are going to bake into leather!"

Unaffected because she kept to the wet sand, Alex teased. "So! You're a softy after all!"

Pouting and ignoring her, Gene hurried back onto the wet sand. Annoyed that his trousers were wet from the knees down and caked with sand.

"Tarzan wouldn't have minded–"

"–Tarzan didn't spend time on bastard hot beaches now did he!"

As usual, Alex laughed at his irritation. Always fascinated how his temper flared up out of nowhere and often on his own accord.

"No, I suppose he didn't. Does this mean you want to turn back?" She knew full well his temper would calm even if she brazenly tried to fuel it.

Gene looked across the island and up the extensive beach. The new island was even more enticing and exotic than the previous. White birds seemed to be having dust baths in the sand, wiggling their bottoms as a collective. Small black birds with bright orange feet soared close along the shoreline. Strong quiet waves drew up the beach independently, like all the world's seas brought their own waves to it. The sand was even more white and pristine and allowed itself to be rippled by the wind. It looked as though no one had ever walked on the island. The island's bright green vegetation was more lush and tender. The tallest plants were only hip high and most of the greenery resembled lilly pads. The new island was begging to be explored.

Gene had a job to do. A change to make. He remembered what he had buried in his pocket. For once he knew more and better than she did.

"No, Bolly, we're not turning back. Walk up that way and don't step on anything poisonous!"

After following close behind and rechecking his left pocket for the ring in its velvet box, Gene eventually hung a heavy arm across her shoulders and she hung onto him. Easily and calmly reunited.

The island was a long crescent shape. Gene and Alex had decided to walk to the opposite end. They met bleached skeletons of driftwood and numerous unusual seashells, Alex scooped up a few and held them in her hands, knocking them together. Plastic had landed on the island too, foreign trash, tangled fishing tackle and dried husks of coconuts.

Eventually in the distance they spotted a particularly large piece of driftwood. It was not large enough to sit on but a curious destination nonetheless. Alex was the first to sit down, Gene nestled compliantly behind her. She leaned back into him and sighed, the back of her head in the middle of his chest, Gene breathed in the scent of her hair as he held her.

"Hmmmmmm...just look at that view..." Alex breathed.

"It's nice." Gene removed his sunglasses and stuck them on top of his head.

"Nice? It's much more than nice. More like perfect." She drew her bare knees up, smooth and tanned, her ankles ploughing back the soft sand on purpose.

Seeing his moment and wanting an element of surprise Gene tugged the velvet ring box from his trouser pocket, flicked it open with his thumb and held it atop her pointed knee.

He waited but there was no reaction. None whatsoever.

"You sleeping, Bolly?"

"Mmmmm...my eyes are closed. I love the sun—The breeze. I can hear your heart beating. This is lovely."

"You should open your eyes. Make the most of the view." The open ringbox held in his fingers, his hand resting heavily on her knee.

"I'm just listening to it all—the island. I love listening to the waves."

Gene was growing impatient. "Well, open your eyes, woman. I need to show you something."

She twisted her neck and looked into his eyes, leaning back further into his arms. "Show me what?"

Gene huffed and flashed his eyes along the stunning ocean horizon. "God, you're killing me here...turn around...look ahead!"

Alex sat up and scanned the sea like she was in danger of loosing an incredible sight that Gene was trying to point out to her. "Where? Where is it? I can't see it!"

"Bloody hell, woman...shit...got sand on it now—" Gene pointedly held the ring box up and straight and obviously in her line of sight. "—I got you something. This! Do you see it now?"

Alex gasped. Both hands covering her mouth. Her eyes dazzling in shock at the most stunning ring she had ever dreamed.

"Gene." She said quietly.

"It's a ring."

Alex slowly twisted around and kneeled in the sand between Gene's legs. She stared at him for a few seconds, chin quivering, breaking into a smile. It felt like an eternity. Gene met her eyes then looked at the ring and back. In that short time Alex's eyes had flooded with tears.

"I can see it's a ring. Sorry, I was so blind." Alex answered and waited anxiously.

Gene still held the ring box open towards her.

"Yeah, well, we'll get your eyes checked when we get back. But...erm...you should know I asked Molly for her permission to...uh—you know—if I could marry you. She asked all kinds of questions, like a proper little copper's daughter. I think I passed because said I ought to get a move on about it."

In a mix of continued shock and utter delight Alex was melting. "Oh Gene!" A new gush of tears flooded free. She did not know whether to laugh, leap for joy or say 'Yes'.

Was Gene Hunt really going to ask her to marry him?

"So...erm...Bolly, just so's there's no confusion I'm asking...Will you marry me?"

Relieved to find the moment was real, that it was actually happening, she blurted out an emotional reply.

"Yes, Gene, I'll marry you."

"Okay, then stop crying and give me your hand. I hate seeing you crying. Makes me—"

"—feel all romantic and soft?" Alex held her quivering left hand in the air.

For a moment Gene pouted and pondered if the hand she held out was the right one and which finger to push the ring onto. And Alex had just made a cheeky statement.

"Yeah, it does. You do. But don't tell anyone. Down here, they still assume I'm still a hard, cold bastard."

Gene carefully took the engagement ring and pushed it onto her finger.

Alex clutched her hand to her breast, to look at it.

"What can I say? I'm absolutely stunned. It's beautiful—the most beautiful ring ever."

"Yeah? Well, good. Good. I wanted something...nice." Gene smirked, nodding his head in a mix of a job done, relief and surreal-ness. He wondered what to do now. He had not thought about the bit after she said yes. But it was a great feeling.

Then Alex bent forward slowly and kissed him fully on the lips, eased off but went back for a few more tender brushes that conveyed even more emotion and meaning. It completely disarmed Gene even further. She pulled back and looked at him. Rather than offering a smart comment, he just held her face.

"I love you, Bolly. Always have. You know that don't ya?"

"Yes, Gene. Me too...since the beginning."

"I bloody knew it too. You swooned and wilted to the floor when you first saw me." Gene reminded her.

::

End of this mini epic. Please review.

I have another story in the works—Gene is a '00' and Alex is forced to take up a secretarial secondment at MI5. Then it all goes tits up. Expect guns, explosions in a girly-girl writing way, spies, dead guys dropping, romance, Gene being Gene, Alex being Alex, knickers and whisky and a lovely adventure.