Buffer and the Wife.

Chapter 7

"And how he was with the kids was amazing." Nikki told Bomber as they were having a girly chat whilst on watch. "And her daughter was so cute." She smiled before Bomber started commenting on her opinion of the kids. They quickly stopped however when Spider entered the bridge. He was starting to act a little funny with the whole situation, avoiding eye contact with Buffer and barely speaking to him unless it was necessary. Buffer wondered what was up, he'd emailed Alex and she responded by saying he was always odd and was probably about to get his period, but Buffer suspected that the young Sailor really needed to speak to his older sister.

----

"Do you think I'm crazy? I mean its like things are moving so fast but also slow. I can't figure it out. He's great with the kids... yeah he's spent time with me and them... blame that on Billy he introduced us... I don't know, all I know is I'm taking each day at a time and everything step by step...ok, I will see you then...bye." Alex hung up the phone and walked into the living room unaware that Spider had heard almost every word, it was almost 6 weeks later and Spider had shown up at his sisters deciding that he wanted a chat with her at almost midnight, however she'd spent the last 20 minutes on the phone to her best friend from back home. "So William to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" She asked taking the seat next to him and removing the remote from his hand to turn the TV off.

"Well I've been thinking." He told her and she sat up interested as he seldom if ever started a conversation that he said he'd thought about. She said he had her attention and he started speaking. The relationship between her and Buffer had been mentioned more on the Hammersley and a lot of people were talking about it, and he was starting to feel a little left out of the loop as he didn't know what was going on. However that wasn't the issue. The issue was where the relationship was going as it was blatantly obvious to everyone on the Hammersley that Buffer was really falling for Alex, and Spider wanted to know how his sister felt because he respected both her and Buffer and didn't want to see either of them get hurt. Nor did he want the kids to get hurt as he knew that they liked Buffer and enjoyed seeing him with their mother, and for them to like someone meant that they had to be a really good guy.

"Billy honey, it's hard you know. Things would be so different if it were just me but it's not. Having said that though Peter is such a great guy, in every way I could imagine and I never thought I'd meet anyone like him." She answered partly to her brother's embarrassment.

"I sense a but coming." Billy said worried what her response would be.

"Peter and I need to work out the next step. I'm only telling you this because you're my brother and only have my best interests at heart but I've fallen for him, really, and I haven't felt like this since...well ever and that scares me."

"What about Liam?" Spider asked referring to the twin's father. "I remember you saying you'd marry him and wanted a family with him and look what he did to you!" Spider couldn't help but raise his voice as he remembered how broken his sister had been back then.

"I was young and got my heart broken, but I got the best thing in the world from that relationship I got my babies. But this time it's different," She said with a sigh. "I'm older and wiser, I'm more confident and also more wary, but I can't control my heart and in this case my head agrees with it, he's a good guy and I can actually imagine a life with him and the kids. I can see a future in a way I never really could with Liam."

She was being honest with her brother and he realised that, he gave her a hug and said that the though Buffer was feeling the exact same way.

----

"Does she need any help with the food?" Bomber asked Buffer who was filling her in on the plans for Spider's surprise birthday party that was being held at Alex's house, it was 10 weeks after she had told Spider how she felt.

"Glad of any help you can give her, she's baking a cake so it'll just be other things. I'm sure if you head to the house in the morning she'll put you to work." Buffer said with a smile, he'd seen a different side to Alex with her planning the party, she was very organised and super efficient, he even joked that she could show the X a thing or two, something that Spider agreed with, however he did look slightly frightened as he said it.

"So this will be the official introduction to the Hammersley crew for Alex then?" Swain asked knowing full well it was; he was looking forward to meeting Alex for himself having heard so much about her. Even better for Swain was that Alex had said the invite was open to spouses and he had a feeling that Sally and Alex would like one another.

"Yes so you all have to be on your best behaviour. Don't show me up or the Hammersley." Buffer replied feeling slightly nervous about the upcoming party knowing that everyone was dying to meet Alex, they'd all tried to get their cars sorted there but he'd caught onto the plan after the X and Nav so they'd stopped. The two female officers though commented on how lovely she seemed and both said that they'd call in at the party as it was Spider's 21st; he knew that they just wanted to have a chat with Alex, all the crew wanted to have a chat with Alex.

----

A knock on the door Saturday lunchtime on the day of Spider's party was responded to by Buffer who opened the door to find Charge and Bomber stood smiling at him.

"You're here early." Charge smiled knowing that Buffer had spent the night. "The Mrs in?" He asked wondering why she hadn't answered the door herself.

"Picking Maddie and Mattie up from football practice, they'll be back in a bit." Buffer replied showing them into the kitchen.

"So how are things with you and Miss Webb?" Charge asked sitting down at the table as Buffer put the kettle on, the older man smirked at how at home Buffer was in the kitchen.

"Great, we went shopping last night and got everything for the party." Buffer replied and Bomber smiled at the thought of Buffer and Alex in a supermarket with the kids doing a shop. Images of Buffer chasing the twins down the aisle with a trolley popped into his head.

"Buffer guess what!" Maddie shouted walking in through the front door. "I got a hat trick and it was so good that even Mattie said I'd done well." She said entering the kitchen followed a few moments later by her now cast free brother and mum.

"Future world cup winner or what?" Buffer smiled giving the young girl a high five.

"Right then you two, I want you to have showers and get those rooms sorted. If they don't get done you're staying upstairs whilst we have the party ok?" Alex asked the kids who nodded and said hi and bye to the two newcomers before heading upstairs.

----

"We're here to help so put us to use as you wish." Charge said to Alex with a smile that turned into a frown when she pulled a list out of her handbag. She caught his worried glance and reassured him it wasn't for the party – it was her to do list for the following week. Buffer had taken over the job of delegating tasks and reeled off a list that included cutting the grass, cleaning the windows, getting extra chairs from the staffroom of the garage, and other party related tasks. Charge told Buffer he'd let him do the household jobs and set off to the shop to get more alcohol, Bomber meanwhile was helping with the catering in the kitchen and getting to know more about Alex and the kids.

"So where did you learn to cook?" Bomber asked as Alex started making a pie that she claimed was Billy's favourite.

"Taught myself a lot, Mum was ill when the boys were little and spent a lot of time in hospital so I took over kitchen duties from her. Trial and error for a while then I found what I could cook and couldn't help but burn." She smiled before saying that Spider thought the pie was his mum's recipe but it was her own.

"Was your mum ill for long?" Bomber replied having only heard Spider mention how good his mother was, Buffer and Charge were in the kitchen eating their sandwiches.

"About 5 years on and off, Billy was 2 and Tom was 4, Dad had the farm to run and Mum to think about so I started looking after the little ones as I used to call them." She gave Buffer a look that was slightly sad before continuing. "Billy doesn't remember her being ill; Tom does but only remembers the getting better part. It was hard but I think it's why me and the boys are so close, and in hindsight gave me practice for my own two. But Billy and Mum are close. When she got better she made an effort to make up for lost time and she did." She finished and picked up her rolling pin.

"Well whatever you did you did a good job, with Spider and the twins." Bomber smiled.

-----