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Chapter 9

Lucy stood and watched the toaster, waiting for the toast to pop up. This had been a good week so far, she decided. The Guv had decided Hale's stunt was a final straw, especially after DI Hunt had told him a few other things, and he'd decided to make Lucy his new secretary. DI Hunt would mentor her and she could still go on the beat with Blake if she wanted, but Gene was keeping her away from the harassment. He had decided now that he was the Super he would make his own rules and said so when his superiors tried to tell him he couldn't do it. No one seemed inclined to argue once he'd put his foot down.

She quickly scraped some butter across the toast and ate it down as quickly as she could. She was not going to mess this up. She had been very careful to graciously accept Shaz and Ginger's apologies; she didn't want to give the wrong impression. Chris seemed to be the only problem she had now. He was still nice to her, as he had been before, but there was another quality to it now. She could see it in his eyes when he looked at her and she found herself thinking about that kiss.

She drained her tea and headed out of the flat at a near run. It wouldn't do to be late. She hurried into the station and straight to the desk across from Ray's in Hunt's outer office and got started.

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Rowan stood in the kitchen and watched as Trevor trained Nora on some of the prep. It looked like she would do fine. She walked into the dining room and nodded at Charlie and began to help him set up the dining room for breakfast. She hadn't minded giving the young man a chance. At least he was nothing like James. He had confessed to being hopeless in the kitchen and she was quick to offer any lessons if he ever wanted them.

She finished doing her side of the dining room and set up the till for the day while Charlie finished. She sighed. She was worried still about Alyssa. She was also tired of Jack constantly calling her to find out how she was since Alyssa refused to answer her own phone when Jack called. She wanted to knock their heads together. The only time Alyssa seemed normal was when they were talking about the wedding or when she was with the twins. Rowan knew she needed to get them talking.

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Jack left the house and drove to school. At least it was the last day. He would be able to maybe step up his campaign to get Alyssa to forgive him. He didn't dare try the restaurant, but the salon now, there was potential. He tried to remember if any of them besides Kim had been in the pub that night. He couldn't remember. Most everything had flown out of his head after what Rowan had done to him anyway. He hoped she was working today. He would check at lunchtime. He looked at the small box he'd gift wrapped for her. She'd been eyeing the bag every time they saw it on TV and whenever they were out. So he had bought it for her.

He just hoped she wouldn't take it the wrong way. But a gift should be presented when groveling.

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Alyssa finished getting dressed and came out of her room. She was planning to on a trip up north to the cottage for a while, to get away. She needed to get away; she was finding excuses to stay away from the Square as much as possible, she'd go to work, and then come straight back to the Restaurant: Jack hadn't tried to come and see her there yet. She was sick of his phone calls. Why couldn't he get the message that she just didn't want to speak to him?

She got a glass of juice from the fridge and drained it in one before rinsing the glass out, wiping off the lipstick mark and replacing it.

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Ray got the twins strapped into the car and looked around. He was giving Alyssa lifts to Albert Square most mornings so that she didn't have to walk, he dropped her off at the Station and she walked from there to the Salon. She always took her time getting down here though. If he didn't get going soon then he'd be late.

"LYSS!" he bellowed into the Restaurant.

Rowan came out of the kitchen and gave Ray a look.

"Can you please not give all my employees heart attacks?" she asked him mildly.

Ray grinned at her.

Alyssa looked up as she heard Ray yell and grabbed her bag. She dashed downstairs and called a quick goodbye to Rowan before heading outside. She raised her eyebrows at Ray as she climbed into the car without a word and strapped herself in. Ray shook his head and got into the front of the car. He was glad that the nursery offered a summer option, it was only half days but he and Rowan had worked out a system so that it worked.

Ray dropped off the twins at nursery and then climbed back into the car. Alyssa hadn't said much, commenting occasionally on whatever the twins were saying, but nothing apart from that. He was worried about her; he knew Rowan was worried, too. He pulled up outside the station and Alyssa thanked him quickly for the lift before clambering out of the car and setting off down the road. He sighed as he locked the car and headed into the station.

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Gene walked into the station. At least things were calmer now, it seemed. He'd managed to change his and Alex's schedules around so that Sammy was at nursery as little as possible and the days he was there, he was only there half a day. Gene wasn't sure if Alex had realized it or not, he didn't care if she did. He was still going to get to the bottom of this bullying though.

He'd shown what he'd thought of it at the station by changing things to suit him and get Lucy Beale out of the way of it. He knew he had upset a few people, but he really didn't care. He was in charge….end of. He was sure once these people got more used to her, they would leave her alone. But for now, he had no intention of losing such a promising officer. He wanted her on his team.

He walked into his outer office and nodded at her, glad to see her there bright and early.

"Tea," he muttered at her as he went to his desk and she nodded and went to get it. She knew better than to refuse. She was "just a secretary" for now.

She went to the kitchen and almost decided to wait when she saw Chris was in there. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and went in.

"Morning," she said to him.

"Alright?" he greeted.

"Just getting the Guv's tea," she told him and checked the kettle.

"Your first week going okay?"

"Yes, it's fine, thanks."

He nodded. "I know it's not ideal, but it keeps you from quitting. Guv was sure you would and he thinks you'll be a good copper."

Lucy gave him a small smile. The tension was making her awkward and she covered her nerves by grabbing a tea bag and tossing it in Gene's mug. She turned to say something to Chris and took an involuntary step back when she found him right next to her, nearly touching. He closed the distance between them again and put a hand on her upper arm.

"I'm glad he and Alex got things sorted for you," he said softly and before she knew it, his lips were on hers. She knew she should pull back, but she couldn't. She kissed him back intently and then hurriedly broke it off.

"We shouldn't…." she began.

He cleared his throat. "I know."

He picked up his mug and left the kitchen. Lucy inhaled deeply and leaned against the counter. At least hardly anyone was here yet, no one would have seen. She quickly finished making Gene's tea and took it to him.

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Alyssa strolled down the street towards the Salon, barely looking where she was going. She didn't glance towards the house; she knew that Jack was off school now because it was the holidays. Hopefully, he would just leave her be. She didn't want to talk to him. She didn't even want to see him. She sighed at the sight of the Salon and grabbed her keys out of her bag. Getting a lift off Ray meant that she got here first, but if she chose to walk and get here later then she'd still have to leave at the same time as Ray. She didn't mind being early, she could sort everything out before the girls got in which meant no havoc.

Alyssa locked the door behind her and grabbed out her laptop which she placed on the front desk. She sighed as she looked around and then started setting up for the day.

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Jack finally finished his meetings and managed to sneak off the campus. He jumped in his car and went straight to the salon. He just hoped it wouldn't be busy, he wanted to talk to her alone. It had been a week.

He parked and got out of the car and slipped inside. No one in the waiting area at that moment, he noticed with relief. He walked up to the desk and put the wrapped gift on the desk.

"Lyss, I can't apologize enough," he said softly.

Alyssa didn't look up from the appointment book, she didn't want to look at him and she didn't want to look at whatever he had placed on the desk.

"Go away," she said, her voice void of any emotion at all.

Her gaze stayed fixed on the page, using a pen to skim down the page, slowly: there were only a couple of pages she could go through before she had to find something else to do to avoid him.

"Lyss, no, I can't go. You have to let me apologize. I'll get on my knees if you want me to. It meant nothing, you had hurt me...I thought you were lying to me...I wanted to hurt back. Lyss, please," he pleaded.

Alyssa looked up at him. "You didn't have to sleep with someone else to hurt me, Jack, you were already doing that by falsely accusing me," she told him. "And saying it meant nothing doesn't make it any better, it makes it worse, at least if it meant something you were doing more than jumping into bed with the nearest tart!" she told him.

"You hurt me, Lyss, by telling me you didn't want me there. I didn't know what was going on and you just made it worse and then you walked out. I was drunk and didn't really know what I was doing."

He pushed the box closer to her.

"It's something you really want. At least take it. It's me trying to grovel here."

She barely glanced at the box. "I don't want anything from you," she told him as she pushed it back across the desk.

He stared at her and swiped at a tear. He sniffed and pushed it back towards her. "Keep it," he choked out and turned and left. He climbed into the car, leaned against the steering wheel and began to sob.

Alyssa watched him and ignored her heart jerking in her chest at the sight of him starting to cry. It was his own stupid fault after all. She rarely saw him cry, he was always the joker; her overly sensitive joker. She shook her head: he wasn't hers any more, she didn't want him.

Alyssa looked at the box and sighed. She couldn't just leave it there. She grabbed it up and put it under the counter. She wasn't going to open it: she didn't want it, whatever it was. She'd put it back in the house and he could give it someone else. She realised now more than ever that she needed to get away for a while, to sort her head out. She wasn't sure whether or not Jack knew what had happened at the Restaurant with James, she supposed that his being best friends with Gene meant that he must have, though it had been the last week of term, so Jack wouldn't have had much time to socialise.

Alyssa snorted and pushed all thoughts of Jack out of her head. She wasn't going to think about him.

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Jack finally lifted his head and started the car. He drove slowly home and sat in the car. He leaned his head back and then pulled his cigarettes out and lit one. He drew in a deep lungful of smoke and blew it out slowly. What was he going to do if he couldn't get Alyssa back? He hadn't even considered it. He sat in the car and slowly smoked his cigarette.

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Whitney looked at the clock and began to bounce slightly on her heels. She'd gone to the bank on Monday and she'd got the loan she needed. Bolton was supposed to come and help her reorganize the work area so there would be more room. And they were a couple! She couldn't be happier. She had tried being mad at Molly and Lauren, but was so happy she couldn't manage it.

She paced around the room again impatiently. She didn't want to go out front in this grubby t-shirt and jeans, not while there was people there. Business in the shop had picked up a bit since the show. Some people were put out that they had to special order the clothes, but others didn't seem bothered.

She peeked around the door again and sighed. At least this workroom had a door to the storage area so they wouldn't have to carry everything through the shop where people could see.

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Bolton bolted across the square and down the High Street. He'd woken up late and he knew that he was supposed to be helping Whitney today. He had been tempted to kiss Molly and Lauren when he and Whitney finally decided to become a couple, but had discarded the idea and had resorted to simply thanking them for giving him the push he needed.

He sent her a text that he was there and opened the door and walked cautiously inside. For all the time that he spent here he still felt a little intimidated. All of these people coming to Whitney for special handmade clothes. Yeah, he always felt a little anxious in the shop, but once he was up in her flat he was fine.

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Lucy put the tea on Gene's desk and then quickly went and got him a plate of his favorite biscuits to go with it. She put it down next to the tea and quickly left his office, closing the door behind her.

She nodded at Ray, who had arrived at his desk while she was in with Gene.

"Morning," she greeted. She wasn't sure what to make of Ray and she wasn't sure what that nice little woman Rowan saw in him, but he didn't hassle her, for which she was grateful. He just seemed bluff and didn't seem to talk much, either. She didn't mind. She just wished she could get that kiss out of her head. Why did he have to kiss her again? And like an idiot, she'd kissed him back. She knew her old self wouldn't have cared, and she did want to get back at Shaz, she couldn't help it, and she rather liked Chris, he'd been the only one who was nice to her. She huffed out a sigh and focused on the letter she was typing.

Ray glanced up at Lucy. He was still trying to get used to the Guv having a secretary again. At least Lucy wasn't like Debbie.

"Morning," he replied before collapsing at his desk and switching on his computer. He watched her for a moment, remembering everything that happened with Debbie. Yeah, Lucy wouldn't be like that. And Ray doubted that Rowan would get all angsty about him working next to Lucy Beale every day. A smile played around his lips, they had just over a month before the wedding. He could barely wait. He was glad that Rowan had chosen to face her fear of marriage. He'd do anything for her, he was sure that she knew that.

Lucy glanced over at him and raised an eyebrow. What was he grinning about?

"Are you okay?" she finally asked. "Do I need to make you a tea or something?"

The sound of Lucy's voice pulled Ray from his thoughts and he looked up at her, a little startled

"What?" he asked then shook his head "No, ta, I'm fine!" he told her with a small smile.

"Well, I just got one for himself in there, so if you want one, it's sort of part of my job," she told him. She looked back at her computer screen and then back up at him.

"Okay, really, I have to say it, the smile is creeping me out a bit here," she told him. "What is up with you?"

Ray looked up at her and shrugged.

"I'm getting married in just over a month," he explained simply with a smug grin.

"You? Who'd marry you?" she blurted out and then realized what she'd said. "Sorry, that came out wrong. You just don't look the marrying kind if you'll forgive me for saying so."

Ray frowned at her but brushed the comment away. "Rowan," he answered her. He knew that people generally saw him as being something different from what he was.

"The one with that restaurant? The one that makes the brownies? Huh," she commented and nodded with a slight impressed look on her face. "She seems nice...pretty."

"Yeah, that's her. And yeah, she is," he grinned at her.

She picked up her own mug of tea and took a drink of it before looking over at him again. "How long have you been together then?"

"Ummm...about 5 years?" he said. "A long time anyway," he shrugged and looked at her curiously. "I think about the same amount of time that your brother and Molly have been together, maybe a bit longer," he told her.

She fell silent and typed a bit longer then stopped and turned to him again as something occurred to her. "So, what took so long, I mean, don't you have kids? How did she finally get you to propose?"

"Yeah, Claire and Denis," he smiled at her. Ray shrugged and sighed. "She didn't. I've been suggesting marriage to her for a while now, every time she rejected the idea," he told her with a sigh. "She just...wasn't ready," he said but a smile crossed his face.

"Really?" Lucy commented, trying and failing to keep the surprise from her tone. She would have thought it was the other way around. He apparently wasn't so bad after all.

"But she finally agreed and now she's got her sister helping her to plan the wedding," he explained.

"A family member helping…well you might end up paying quite a bit then," she told him. "You might have done better to keep it between the pair of you."

Ray shook his head. "Nah, Ro knows what she wants. Alyssa's just helping her here and there," he told her.

"Hope you're right," Lucy said.

She shrugged. She really should get away from this topic before she put her foot in it more than she already had.

"Is he always this grumpy?" she asked and jerked her thumb at Gene's closed door.

Ray looked over at Gene's office and shrugged. "Mostly yes, sometimes he's in a better mood though," he added with a smile. "Though recently he's been grumpier than usual," he sighed.

"Well, I'd think he didn't like me if I didn't know better," she snorted and focused on her screen again.

Ray shrugged. "He's like that with everyone," he said reassuringly. "Except maybe Alex, but that's only because she gives back as good as she gets," he chuckled.

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Whitney read Bolton's text and peered around the door and waved him back. She smiled as he came around the counter and into the workroom and wound her arms around his neck.

"Hi, you," she said and pulled him down for a kiss.

"I've got everything sorted so it will be easy to move around. We can start with moving the things that need to go into the storeroom there," she pointed. "Then we can organize in here and hopefully by the time we've finished the new machines will be here and you can help me get them set up, too."

She smiled cheerfully at him.

Bolton wound his arms around her and nodded amiably.

"Just tell me where you want stuff and I'll do it" he said with a grin.

"Okay, we can start with these bolts of material right here," she said and gestured at the bolts stacked up on a table.

"Have you got any DJ jobs from those cards you got from the show?" Whitney asked him as they moved tables around in the workroom now that everything that was going into the storeroom had been moved.

Bolton looked up and nodded at her. "Yeah, I've got one coming up at a club in a few weeks," he told her and smiled broadly.

"You should come," he said. "I can probably get you in for free as my groupie," he chuckled.

"Oh, nice one," she said. Her brow furrowed at his comment. "I'm your groupie, am I?" she asked him, the smile on her face making a lie of the threat in her tone. She walked over to him and slid her arms around his waist. "So what? Am I supposed to wear next to nothing and scream a lot…maybe faint?" she teased.

Bolton grinned at her. "Or just stand around looking gorgeous," he suggested. "And enjoy a free night out," he added with a wink at her.

"Gorgeous am I?" Whitney asked. "I think I'll keep you if you keep saying things like that."

"So, why don't we go upstairs and take a break?" she suggested archly and took his hand to lead him from the workroom.

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Peter winked at Molly and gestured at the kitchen.

"How much different is this guy than Fatboy?" he said. "He cleans up after himself, he's quiet, I don't mind at all that he's renting the other room. So, how long do you think it's going to take for Lauren to hook him?" he asked Molly with a grin.

Molly looked over her shoulder at where Charlie's room was and then back at Peter with a shrug.

"No idea," she smiled. "She's really going for it though, have you noticed her inviting herself over to 'help' me a lot more?" she grinned. "I don't even know what she's supposed to be helping me with!"

"Yeah, she's over here all the time now, might have to start charging her rent," he said with a chuckle. "And now he's working at Rowan's, Lauren will probably be eating there all the time when she's not here. Did you hear from Roxy yet about hiring him at the club? Course, you should only do that if you want to see Lauren all the time there as well."

He looked at the clock.

"I better get to the pub," he said and brushed a kiss against her cheek. "I'll see you later. If you're not busy why don't you come into the pub for lunch?"

Molly shook her head. "Not yet, Roxy's getting really bad at checking her emails," she told him.

Molly nodded, she was working from 6 but until then she was busy with the final piece of her coursework. "I'll see you later," she called after him.

Peter headed off to the pub. He nodded at Peggy and got to work in the kitchen.

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Charlie smiled at Lauren as she came in for breakfast.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?" he asked her.

"Well, it's Friday and most of the attorneys are out finishing up various cases so there's not much going on," she said with a shrug. "Now get me a cup of coffee and the breakfast special, if you please," she said with a smile.

Charlie nodded and went to place her order. Rowan watched Charlie and Lauren as they talked. She nodded to herself. That was a much better match than him and Annie. She could see it.

She wondered when she and Alyssa should go shopping for a dress. Soon, no doubt.

She went into the kitchen to check on Nora and then headed back to the counter. Friday tended to be a lot of takeaway, people hoping that they might get off work early.

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Alex looked at Sammy working through his little writing book and ran her fingers through his hair with a smile. "You need a haircut, Sammy," she told him.

Sammy shook his head violently and glared at her. "No," he said to her and went back to his book. Alex raised her eyebrows at him and nodded. "You do Sammy, it's getting too long."

Sam's head whipped back around to look at her and he shook his head, brushing her hands away. "I like it long," he told her.

"Just a trim, Sammy," she said as she lifted up some of his hair. "It's nearly long enough for me to plait it," she told him with a smile and he did a perfect imitation of his father's pout as he folded his arms.

"No," he repeated and Alex sighed.

"Fine, keep it long then," she told him and he nodded and returned back to his writing.

Alex sat down opposite him and watched him when he looked up at her

"Mummy, what's this?" he asked her and Alex looked at his book where he was pointing.

"That's a 'G,'" she told him and he frowned. "A Gee?" he asked her and Alex remembered that they were taught the alphabet phonetically. "Yeah, a Guh" she corrected herself and watched the comprehension bloom on Sammy's face.

"And…how do I…" he trailed off and Alex took his pencil.

"Like this," She said as she slowly drew out the letter for him. Sammy watched and then had a go and frowned when he couldn't do it in one like Alex had.

"Try again," she encouraged and Sammy looked at her once before having another go.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Jack opened his eyes and rubbed at his face. He was still in the car, must have dozed off, he thought. He started the car and drove to the restaurant. It was after breakfast, but before lunch, he was pretty sure the place would be slow now and he needed advice. Surely, Rowan would be the best person to talk to.

He went inside and nodded at Mercy.

"Is Rowan around?" he asked her. Rowan came out of the kitchen and saw Jack. She sighed and walked over to him. She put a hand on Mercy's arm. "Go help Charlie finish setting up," she said, but kept her gaze on Jack.

"She's not here."

"I know that. I've already tried to talk to her at the salon. She won't even give me a chance to apologize."

"Can you..." Rowan began loudly, her tone slightly hostile; she broke off and lowered her voice. "Can you blame her?"

"I know I made a mistake, Rowan, but surely she can let me apologize. She won't even see that a small part of it was her doing. I didn't know what was going on and she kept rejecting me and then she left, how is that fair, Ro? How?"

Rowan thinned her lips, but kept silent. She knew Jack had a good point. Alyssa seemed to only see her own point of view.

"Jack, I don't know what to tell you. I can't help. She's still furious; I don't think she's going to see any other point of view just now. You've betrayed her and..."

"I know that, don't you think I know that, for fuck's sake!" he cried and Rowan looked at him. He snapped his mouth shut and had the courtesy to look slightly ashamed. "Sorry, but this just isn't fair."

"You're going to have to give her time, Jack. If you love her and if she's really worth it, you'll wait for her. Simple as that."

Jack hung his head and nodded. "Sure, okay, thanks Rowan. Make sure she at least keeps the groveling gift. It's that designer clutch thingy she's been wanting."

Rowan nodded. "Okay. I'll try."

Jack gave her a slight wave and left the restaurant. No one could help him. What was he supposed to do? He had no idea. Wait, Rowan had told him. As if he had a choice.

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Alyssa glanced at the clock and saw it was coming up to lunch time. She grabbed up the box Jack had brought with him and put it into her big handbag. She'd drop it back off at the house then go and get some lunch. She set Maddie looking after front desk until she came back and set off.

She felt a little relieved to see that Jack's car wasn't outside. He was out. Good, this would make it easier. She found her keys at the bottom of her bag and opened the door cautiously. She sighed as she put the box on the small table in the hall and looked around the house briefly. She could see the dirty plates stacking up in the kitchen and assumed that because of everything going on at school recently he hadn't had a chance to tidy up.

Alyssa locked the door behind her as she left and made her way towards the cafe. She wasn't going to go all the way back to the restaurant, there was a lot of appointments this afternoon and she wanted to stay close in case they got a few early arrivers.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Molly smiled as she saw the time and left her final draft on the desk. She was nearly done. One more check over her essay and she'd be sorted.

She grabbed her purse and jacket and headed out towards the pub. She smiled at Peggy as she hopped onto a bar stool. "Can I get a lemonade, please, Peggy?" she asked.

Peggy nodded at Molly and got her the drink.

"Are you having lunch, darlin'?" Peggy asked.

Molly nodded. "I'll just have a bowl of chips, please, Peggy," she smiled.

Peggy nodded and went to put the order in.

She looked over at Annie and then leaned on the bar.

"Shame that Charlie didn't work out here," Peggy commented softly so Annie wouldn't overhear.

Molly nodded. "He's renting our spare room now," she said as she kept her voice low and one eye on Annie. "He's really nice," she smiled. "Clean, tidy, polite, charming, Scottish," she chuckled lightly.

"Well, if I were twenty years younger," Peggy said and trailed off and gave Molly a mischievous look. She looked up when Peter came out to sit with Molly and gave Molly a wink before walking away to do something else.

"So, anything good on at the club tonight? Oh, wait, it's that end of year party isn't it?" he said. He had got together with Molly at one of those parties and he smiled at the memory. "Guess I'll dress up and meet you there?"

Molly beamed at Peggy and laughed as she walked off.

Molly grinned at Peter and nodded "Sure!" she said. She smiled as she remembered the first one that she had gone to she had gone with Peter. And now look at them! They were planning to have a family!

"I'll make sure my suit is clean, then," he promised.

Molly smiled at him. "A suit! I do feel lucky," she teased him with a smile.

"Well, if you really want to feel lucky," he began and leaned over to whisper in her ear.

She brought herself out of her thoughts and looked at him "Busy today?" she asked as she glanced around.

He shook his head at her question. "No, not very busy at all, which is strange since it's a Friday," he told her and then shrugged. "I'm not bothered though, I get to spend time with you."

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Jack got home and stared at the house for quite awhile. He'd bought it for her. Everything he'd ever done, he'd tried to do for her. She didn't want him anymore. It had only been a week, but it felt more like years. He got out of the car and plodded into the house. The box sitting on the table caught his attention. She'd been here!

"Lyss?" he shouted hopefully and began to run through the house. He went into every room, calling her name, nearly breaking his neck coming back downstairs after checking every room upstairs. She'd brought it and left it he realized when he saw no sign of her. He sat down on the bottom step and stared at the box. Rowan had promised she would make sure Alyssa got it. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, then changed his mind. He would take it to her, drop it off and then come back. He was having a harder and harder time being in the house. He stood up, snatched the box off the table and drove to the restaurant.

He handed it to a surprised Rowan and turned and walked out without a word. Rowan looked at the box dumbfounded for a moment and then stuck it on a shelf below the register and quickly helped the woman who was waiting to order her lunch.

Jack went back home. He looked at the kitchen, he really should clean up, but what did it matter? He wasn't really eating anyway. He made sure the door was locked then stumped upstairs and went into the spare room. He kicked off his shoes, lay down on the bed, folded his hands over his stomach and proceeded to stare at the ceiling.

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Rowan rushed around the dining room. She knew Abi would be here soon with the twins; she was picking them up from nursery for her now. The twins liked Abi and she seemed to like them and sometimes she brought Oscar with her, even if he was older than they were, they all enjoyed playing together anyway. She wondered if Ray would be coming to the restaurant for lunch. She didn't have time to text him and find out as she, Mercy and Charlie moved as quickly as they could to handle the unusually busy lunch rush.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Chris ignored Ginger and went into Gene's outer office and looked at Ray.

"So, should we all go to lunch then?" he asked, glancing at Lucy as well to include her.

"Sure, I wouldn't' mind getting out of here," she replied and looked at Ray. "If you don't mind?"

"Course he won't mind," Chris answered for Ray.

"Let's go."

Ray followed Lucy and Chris out of the office and looked at them.

"Restaurant?" he suggested hopefully. He quite wanted to see Rowan now. He hadn't really got a chance to see her when he got up, she was so busy with the restaurant and he was in charge of the twins.

"Right, as if we'd go anywhere else when we've got a choice," Chris tossed over his shoulder and grinned at Lucy, who grinned back.

"I've gotten some of the takeaway dinners they make there, but I've not actually sat down and eaten there," Lucy explained as they walked. Chris patted her on the shoulder.

"You'll learn," he said and held the door open for her and then Ray when they got to the restaurant.

Lucy gaped at the almost-full restaurant.

"Busy," she remarked and smiled at Charlie as he came over and led them to the only empty table.

Rowan saw them and brushed Ray's shoulder with her hand as she passed him on her way to the kitchen to drop off orders.

Ray grinned and looked around.

"Hasn't been this busy in a while," he remarked as he sat down and immediately saw Rowan. His gaze tracked her as she went and then looked back at Chris and Lucy as he grabbed a couple of menus for them. He already knew the menu off by heart. He knew what he was having.

Lucy caught sight of Ray's face as Rowan walked past. He was completely different. She hoped someone might look at her like that one day.

Rowan walked over and smiled at them. She tucked a hair behind her ear that had come loose from her braid and raised her eyebrows.

"Can't believe it's so busy," she remarked. She had an idea why it was, but chose not to say. "What can I get you?"

"I'll have this chicken salad," said Lucy.

Chris looked at Rowan and grinned. "Guess."

Rowan gave a little sigh and made a face. "Every time," she muttered. "Steak and kidney pie," she said and he nodded then looked at Lucy. "She gets it every time."

Rowan then looked at Ray.

Ray raised his eyebrows at her and leant back in his seat. "You're really asking me that?" he asked her, his tone affronted. Ray shook his head and smiled at her pleadingly.

"Are you doing fajitas today?" he wanted to know.

"I didn't actually say anything," Rowan chuckled and leaned over. "For you, there will be fajitas," she whispered in his ear and dropped a small kiss on his earlobe before straightening up and heading back to the kitchen.

She came back with their drinks and then went to check on a few more tables before coming back.

"Your day going well?" she asked, keeping an eye on Charlie. "At least Charlie seems to be coping well with the rush."

Lucy and Chris both nodded. "Today's okay. I think I've managed my first week as DSI Hunt's secretary okay."

"That's good, he can be slightly unpleasant sometimes," Rowan commented.

"Yeah, I had noticed."

"He's been a bit worse than usual, though," Chris put in.

Ray nodded. "I know," he agreed. "There's something up that's made him moodier than normal," he sighed.

Ray grinned and watched Rowan walk back to the kitchen before turning back to Lucy and Chris.

"I think it's to do with Sammy," Chris said. "Not for sure, but Sammy's name gets mentioned and suddenly the Guv is all annoyed."

Lucy stuck her chin in her hand and mused over the conversation as she sipped her Coke.

"Maybe he's having trouble at nursery?" she finally ventured.

Chris shrugged and looked at Ray.

"Sounds reasonable."

Ray shrugged his agreement. He didn't really want to meddle around in the Guvs business. Mainly because both Gene and Alex had massive tempers. But Chris was right, whenever Sammy's name was brought up Gene's expression darkened.

"Could be anything," he shrugged.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Gene came out of his office and saw everyone was gone. He snorted. Going to lunch without him? He shook his head and went back into his office and picked up the phone to call Alex. She could bring Sammy down to the station and pick up lunch for him on her way and they could eat right here. He still had more paperwork to go through to see what he could give to Lucy to do and what he had to do himself.

Alex smiled at Sammy as she went to get the phone.

"Hello?" she asked as she took the phone and went to sit back down with Sammy.

"It's me, why don't you and Sammy come here and bring some lunch with you," Gene said gruffly. "They've all gone out. Nobody even offered to bring me anything back," he complained.

"Awwwwwwwwww poor you" she simpered mockingly down the phone. She put her hand over the phone and looked at Sammy.

"Fancy having lunch with Daddy?" she asked him. Sammy grinned and nodded. Alex smiled as she pressed the phone to her ear again.

"Yeah, we'll get you something and be there soon."

Sammy tugged on Alex's arm and gave her a pleading look.

"Chips?"

Alex frowned. "Chips aren't good for you Sammy," she told him and Sam frowned.

"But they're yummy!" he insisted.

Alex sighed. "How'd you feel about chips, Gene?" she asked him.

"Chips are fine if there's some fish with them," Gene told her. "Now get your shapely backside in gear and bring me some food," he ordered gruffly and put down the phone. He looked at the papers he'd been going through and then frowned at the file before standing up and going to smoke.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Abi picked the twins up at the nursery and led them to the café. She'd got a text off Syed saying the restaurant was very busy and Rowan wondered if Abi would take the twins to the café for lunch. It must be busy, Abi thought, if Rowan didn't even have time to send the text!

"Auntie Lyssie!" they shrieked in unison as they caught sight of Alyssa when Abi led them into the café. They pulled free of Abi and hurried over to Alyssa and climbed up to sit with her.

"We eat wif you," Claire informed her in no uncertain terms. Denis nodded.

"Abi too," he added. "Then we go home."

Abi ordered them all food from Bianca; glad she knew what the twins normally ate and walked over to sit down.

"Hope you don't mind we're joining you for lunch," she said. "Apparently the restaurant is really busy today. Syed had to text me to take the twins here for lunch."

Alyssa smiled at Claire and Denis. She knew there was no way to get rid of them. They were both as stubborn as their parents. She shuffled over to make room for them and smiled at Abi.

"It's fine by me," she said with a shrug.

She turned to the twins curiously. "So, what's happened so far today?" she asked.

"We singded again today," Claire quickly told her and sang a little bit of "Friday" before picking up her juice and drinking it.

Abi's eyes widened and she looked from Claire to Alyssa. "Did you know she could sing?" Abi mouthed at Alyssa.

"I drawed a pitcher of Claire," Denis said and showed Alyssa. Claire saw Denis showing his drawing and got hers out and held it over to Alyssa, shaking it a bit to get Alyssa's attention.

"This is me and a puppy. I want one," she told Alyssa.

Denis frowned at her. "Mummy and Daddy said no," he reminded her. She turned and made a face at him.

"Daddy will change his mind and he'll make Mummy say okay," she said smugly and made a face back.

"Nuh uhhhhh," Denis argued. Claire opened her mouth to argue back, but Abi interrupted.

"Oh, look, the food's here," she said quickly. Claire and Denis glared at each other sullenly, but stopped talking so they could eat.

Alyssa nodded at Abi. She had heard Claire sing before but was at a loss to where she had got her voice from. She knew Rowan couldn't sing, and she had never heard Ray sing.

Alyssa looked over both pictures and praised the pair of them on their drawings.

She looked speculatively at Claire "Why not start off with something smaller?" she suggested "A dog is a big responsibility, maybe a rabbit?" she said "That way you can start with something easy and prove how responsible you can be?"

Claire snorted. "Rabbits is borin', puppies play."

Denis nodded. "I votes puppy," he agreed, his mouth full of chips.

Abi looked at him and he grinned at her.

"Rabbits are cute and cuddly and don't need lots and lots of walks" she argued back with a smile. She knew she wouldn't get anywhere with them, they were both as stubborn as their parents.

"But walks is fun," Claire argued. "You go t'the park and run round and throw balls and stuff so puppy can catch."

"Or fizbees," Denis added.

Alyssa shook her head at the twins with a smile. "What if you get bored with a puppy?" She asked them then wrinkled her nose. "And there's all that stinky dog poop to pick up," she reasoned.

"How can you get bored with a puppy? They is well fun," Claire said in genuine surprise as she looked at Alyssa. "And warm and they sleep wif you and you can hug them and pet them I gonna name it too, me not you," she said and pointed at Denis, who shrugged at her.

"You can name t stupid puppy, I don care," he said and looked away.

"Eat your lunch," Abi told them and looked at Alyssa. "They've been like this since I picked them up. I already texted Rowan to warn her," Abi told Alyssa softly.

She looked at the twins, who once they'd stopped talking about getting a puppy had been steadily eating.

"Are you coming to the party tonight?" Abi asked Alyssa.

Alyssa shook her head at Abi. "No, I'm not," she said and her face creased in a frown. She shook her head and forced a smile "Are you?" she asked back.

Abi smiled and nodded at Alyssa's question. "Yeah, course I'm going."

Her brow furrowed. "Why aren't you going?" she asked curiously.

Alyssa looked at Abi and shook her head. "I'm..." She began and then shook her head "I'm angry at him and not ready to forgive him yet. In fact, I'm not sure if I can forgive him."

"Oh," Abi said and wished she hadn't opened her mouth.

"So, ready to head home?" Abi asked them brightly when they were done eating. Denis finished cramming a handful of chips in his mouth and nodded. Claire looked at her plate. She'd finished her sandwich, but still had most of her chips. She frowned and climbed down from her chair and marched up to the counter.

"Miss B, can I haf bag for chips?" she asked, her expression one of studied pleading. Bianca looked down at her and nodded before handing Claire a paper bag to put her chips in.

Claire smiled brightly at Bianca and hurried back to the table and climbed back onto the chair and began to pick up her chips and put them in the bag. She looked at Denis. "I not sharing," she told him. "These is mine."

Denis shrugged. "Mummy will make me more," he told her. "Or she'll let me have crisps or summat," he said back, mimicking her superior tone. Claire glared at him and wadded the top of the bag closed.

"Ready for home now, bye Auntie Lyss," Claire said and climbed off the chair to walk over to Alyssa. She put her hand on Alyssa's leg and waited patiently for her kiss. Abi quickly sent off a text to let Rowan know they were leaving the café and on their way.

Alyssa looked down at Claire and smiled as she bent down and gave her niece a hug and quick kiss. She set her back on the floor and gave Denis a hug and kiss too. She watched them leave with Abi then looked down at her coffee. She had just sat and listened to the Twins arguing and talking about the dog; she'd forgotten about her coffee. It was cold now. She sighed and stood up, grabbing up her bag as she went.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Alex pulled a face at the phone before she put it down then looked at Sammy "Why are you still sat there?" she smiled at him "go and get your shoes on!" she said and Sammy slid down from him chair and ran to get his shoes.

Alex held Sammy's hand for most of the way to the chip shop. She got a small chips for Sammy, fish and chips for Gene and another small chips for herself.

Sammy half ran to the Police Station but slowed as he got inside. Alex smiled as Sammy walked ahead of her to Gene's office. She watched his little face crease in a frown as he saw that Gene wasn't there. Alex shook her head and dumped the bag holding their food onto Gene's desk.

"Stay there," she told Sam. He climbed onto Gene's chair and sat there proudly.

Alex wandered outside and leant against the wall and watched him smoke.

"So you order me to get you some food then don't even have the good grace to be where you're supposed to be when I get here," she smiled at him.

Gene looked over at Alex and stuck his smoke in the ashcan.

"Well, if you didn't take so long, woman," he shot back and snaked and arm around her waist and pulled her to him. "You know how impatient I can be," he added and kissed her thoroughly.

"Now let's go see my boy," he stated and grinned as he let her go and headed back into the building. He glanced back to see if she was following yet and chuckled.

"Hello, Sammy boy," he said as he walked into his office. "I hope you brought me fish and chips."

Sammy looked up at Gene and grinned broadly as he pointed at the bag then looked pleadingly at Alex. She smiled down at him and unloaded the food from the bag and handed Sammy his portion as she grabbed one of the spare chairs and sat herself down.

Sammy pulled his own chips towards him then pushed Genes across the desk to him.

"We got you the big chips," he told his Dad with a grin.

"I should hope so, I'm very hungry," Gene told him. He looked at Alex.

"Anything exciting today?" he wanted to know as he dug into his food.

Alex looked at Sammy then back at Gene.

"Well, we did some reading, and then some more writing," she smiled at him. Sammy nodded enthusiastically.

"I can write my name, and Molly's, and Mummy's and yours," he told him proudly.

"Really? Go on then," Gene said and grabbed out a sheet of paper and shoved it across the desk and then dug a pen out of his drawer and handed that over. "Let's see you."

He winked at Alex and began to eat his chips as he watched Sammy.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

"So, should be interesting playing chaperone at the party tonight, huh?" Whitney said to Bolton. She cuddled closer to him. "Should I wear the dress I wore to the one we went to? I still have it you know," she smiled at him.

Bolton stroked her arm and grinned. "Oh yeah?" he asked. "You still fit into that?" he teased her.

"Of course it does..." Whitney trailed off and sat up. "I should kill you for that," she told Bolton and proceeded to pretend to choke him.

Bolton laughed and prised her off and flipped her onto her back with a grin.

"You could kill me but then who would you spend time with at the party? Because Molly will be with Peter and Lauren will be with Charlie. And I don't think that playing gooseberry is fun at all," he said with a shrug.

"Well, I'll just maim you then, something painful, but not incapacitating," Whitney teased and chuckled before pulling him down for a kiss.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Lauren happily left the office just after lunch. She wasn't sure how Molly had managed to talk Charlie into chaperoning the party tonight, too, but Lauren wouldn't be able to thank her enough.

She bounded up to her room and began to ransack her wardrobe. She needed something that would knock Charlie's socks off. She'd seen him on the Square the other day; he'd paused and watched Annie as she had walked to the pub. Lauren had to take her chance and reel Charlie in before he decided to go back to Annie.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

"Yeah," Chris added and straightened up as the food arrived.

Rowan put the plates down and leaned over Ray.

"The twins are on a puppy campaign again," she whispered in his ear and hurried off to finish helping other tables that were getting ready to leave.

Chris looked at Ray curiously. "What's going on?"

Ray watched Rowan dash off and looked back at Chris.

"Oh, the twins want to get a puppy," he sighed. "We keep saying no but both Denis and Claire are refusing to give up," he shrugged.

"They are pretty stubborn," Chris remarked and then grinned at Ray. "Wonder where they get that from?" Chris turned to Lucy. "And that Claire, she'll just keep on. Denis will go quiet, make you think he's given up, but Claire…" Chris trailed off.

Lucy giggled and started in on her food. "And I bet she wraps Daddy around her little finger," Lucy ventured before taking a bite.

Ray frowned at the pair of them and tucked into his food without a word. His daughter did not have him wrapped around her little finger! No way.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Abi was glad when she finally got to the restaurant. The whole walk the twins had been arguing over what to call the puppy Abi was pretty sure they weren't going to get. Claire was insisting on Muffin and Denis was suggesting anything not so "girly and stupid." Abi opened the door so they could walk inside. The place was mostly empty now, but all the dirty tables gave evidence the place had been very busy. She herded them towards the hall to get them upstairs, but they caught sight of their father finishing his lunch.

"Daddy!" Claire shrieked and rocketed across the room. She stopped next to his chair, raised her arms and clapped her hands together. "Up, up!" she insisted as she bounced in place. Denis walked over more sedately and climbed into the empty chair at the table. He looked at Chris and Lucy.

"Hi," he said to them.

"Alright, Denis?" Chris said.

"Hello," Lucy greeted.

Rowan heard the dulcet tones of her daughter and came out of the kitchen.

"Thanks, Abi," Rowan said and handed her the money.

"Sure," Abi said and pocketed the money before hurrying out. Rowan walked around and picked Denis up from the chair he was in and then sat in it and placed him on her lap.

Denis stood up on her leg and wound an arm around her neck as he leaned against her.

"So, can we get a puppy?" he wanted to know.

Rowan sighed and shook her head.

"We've already said no," she told him softly, causing Denis to immediately look at his father.

"Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaasssseeeeeeee," Claire begged once Ray had picked her up.

Ray heaved a sigh and glanced at Rowan once before looking back at Claire and shaking his head at her.

"Your Mam said no," he told her and looked at Denis apologetically.

"But you is boss of Mummy and you can make her say yes," Claire reasoned. Chris quickly hid a laugh with a cough and hid his face. Lucy turned her head also to hide a smile. Denis nodded along to Claire's comment.

Rowan gave a sigh and simply looked at Ray, very interested in his answer.

Ray let out a chuckle. "Yeah, that'd be nice Claire, but no," he shook his head. "No, I am not the boss of your Mam," he smiled at her.

He glanced at Chris and Lucy as they dashed to pay and then looked back at his kids.

Lucy stood up. "I should get back," she said and looked at Chris. He quickly drained his tea and nodded.

"Me too," he agreed. He didn't want to be here when the whole thing blew up on Ray. He and Lucy hurried to the register to pay.

"See you back there," Chris said to Ray as he walked off.

"I'll get this," Chris told her.

"Thanks," Lucy said and let him pay.

"Listen okay, we're not getting a puppy. So please, drop the subject," he told them. Ray dropped a kiss on the top of Claire's head, he was well aware that the pair of them were probably going to go into a strop with him now. But he could deal with that: there'd be something else that they wanted soon enough, something that he would be able to give them.

"Okay, I think you two need to get upstairs now," Rowan said and put Denis down and picked Claire up off her father's lap and put her on the floor, too. The twins both looked daggers at their father, but turned and began to walk slowly towards the stairs.

"You should probably get back to work, too," she said to Ray. She pressed a quick kiss to his lips. She glanced back at the twins and then looked at Ray.

"Do you think we should change our minds and let them have a puppy?" she asked him softly.

Ray sighed as he watched his children walk away. They were angry at him.

He shook his head at Rowan. "No, Ro, we live in an upstairs flat! Above a busy restaurant, the last thing we need is the dog getting loose and causing havoc down here. Not to mention a puppy takes a LOT of training and I don't really want to be picking up dog shit and cleaning up after it until it is fully house trained. Plus they need loads of walks and until the twins get big enough to take it out without us it's up to us to do it and we both have enough to do without that. And what happens when they get bored of it?" he shook his head heavily. "Maybe when they're older," he said to her.

He stood up and kissed her again. "Couple of years maybe?" he suggested as he glanced over her head at them. "If they still want one then."

"Yeah, I know, it was just a thought," Rowan sighed. "They'll survive without a puppy."

She sighed and folded her arms. "I'm going to close up early," she told him. "I know why it was so busy today, everyone coming to gawp at the scene of the crime...and me...," she told him in a slightly bitter tone. "I know I should have expected it," she sighed heavily again. "I'm just in no mood to put up with anymore today."

She gave Ray a small smile before walking over to the counter. She looked at Mercy and Charlie.

"You can go now. I think I'm going to go ahead and close early," she told them. Charlie nodded and went over to at least finish clearing and wiping up his tables before leaving.

Nora went into the kitchen and told Syed and Trevor, who both began to quickly clean the kitchen.

Ray watched her dismiss her staff and stood up. He moved over to her and pulled her into a hug.

"It will die down soon enough, Ro," he assured her softly. "But for now you have two moody kids upstairs that think I'm horrible," he smiled down at her. "And I news to get back to work before the Guv notices my extended absence," he said as he let her go and brushed a kiss over her lips.

"Go put your feet up and watch a movie with them or something," he suggested as he smiled at her and headed towards the door.

"I hope so because I don't like being made to feel a freak. It's a good thing Alyssa wasn't here, though she's probably getting much of the same," Rowan said with a sigh. She nodded and watched Ray leave.

She turned and walked into the kitchen. "Can one of you lock up for me, just send a text to let me know. I have to get up there, who knows what they'll do left alone for too long," she said and smiled.

"Sure, Rowan," Syed said. "Are you okay?" he asked her in a concerned tone.

She nodded and patted his shoulder. "I'll be fine. Thanks for your help," she replied softly and headed upstairs to deal with the twins. She walked into the flat and saw them sitting on the couch wearing identical expressions of disappointment.

She walked over and knelt before them. "Look, we live over a restaurant, do you really think it's a good idea to have a puppy that might go downstairs and cause problems? I might get into trouble," she told them. "You wouldn't want that to happen would you?"

The twins looked at each other and then at her.

"Guess not," Claire finally admitted.

"No," Denis added with a shake of his head.

"We should move then, so we could," Claire suggested brightly.

"No, we can't move, Claire. Now, do the pair of you want to stop sulking and watch a movie with me or do you want to go upstairs?" she asked them, her tone slightly threatening.

"Can we haf crisps?" Denis wanted to know.

"Sure," Rowan said. She stood back up and let the twins get a movie while she got crisps out of the cupboard. She put the box Jack had pressed on her for Alyssa on the bed Alyssa was using and then sat down on the couch to watch the film.

Rowan realized the time and muttered a curse under her breath. She left the twins watching another film and hurried into the kitchen to get dinner started. Ray and Alyssa would be home soon. She carefully prepared Alyssa's favorite. Lyss hadn't been eating much lately and Rowan was worried. She decided a bit of extra effort was needed and maybe Lyss would finally get some food in her.

She had forgotten to finish up downstairs, too distracted with the twins, but knowing Trevor and Syed the place was no doubt spotless. She'd check after dinner when she went to get the day's paperwork to sort out. She focused her attention back on the stove and began to hum to herself as she cooked.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Sammy took the pen eagerly and grabbed the paper. He looked at Alex once before furrowing his brow in concentration as he carefully started to write out all four names.

Alex sat there, eating her chips silently as she watched Sammy write and smiled proudly up at Gene.

Sammy looked up triumphantly and pushed the paper towards his Dad as he put the pen down carefully on the desk. "See!" he exclaimed as he pointed at the names.

"Muh, uh, muh, muh, yuh," he said. "Spells Mummy," he pointed then proceeded to spell out each name verbally.

"Nice one," Gene commented as he looked at the paper. "So go on and do the rest," he encouraged.

He turned to Alex.

"Anything change at errr," he trailed off and gave her a look.

Sammy nodded and leant over the paper obediently to carry on with his writing, making it as neat as possible for his Dad.

Alex sighed and glanced at Sammy briefly. "Nothing much. He won't really talk about it," she murmured back, her gaze drifting to the top of Sammy's head as she spoke.

She edged around the desk towards Gene so that they could talk without Sam hearing. "He clams up whenever I bring up the subject and goes completely silent until I suggest something else," she told him sadly. "How am I supposed to help him if he won't tell me what's going on? And the nursery are no help, they're insisting there's nothing going on. But why is he still upset when he comes out every day if everything is sorted?" she sighed.

Gene grunted and glanced at Sammy from the corner of his eye.

"We need to find out what's going on, or we need to take him out of that bloody nursery. I've had it with this."

Alex sighed and looked at him. "He starts school in September, Gene, that's less than 6 weeks away," she said. "He'll be fine once he's in school," she said. "And if we keep working our shifts like we're doing then he's not spending much time in the Holiday club at the nursery anyway," she added as she laid a hand on his arm gently.

"Are you sure about that?" Gene hissed. "There's more bloody kids there, more chance for problems. He never has mates round, never even talks like he has any."

He looked back over at Sammy, who didn't seem to be hearing any of it and looked back at Alex. "We've got to sort this, Alex."

He glanced up as he noticed Lucy coming back in.

"So let's see it, Sammy," he said cheerfully to his son. "It'll be time to go in a minute."

Alex nodded. "That's exactly why school will be good for him!" she insisted. "More children around means a bigger chance that he will make some friends," she told him softly.

Sammy looked up at Gene and pushed the paper towards him happily.

"See," he said. "I can write," he announced.

Gene looked at her, not quite believing her. But she had been a mum before so maybe she knew.

He grinned at Sammy.

"Well if you can write all this I'll have to put you to work for me," he told Sammy. He patted his son on the head and then looked up as Lucy knocked on his office door.

"You should leave soon, Guv, if you're going to make that meeting," Lucy told him. She nodded and smiled at Alex before sitting back down at her desk.

Gene frowned. "Always bloody meetings," he muttered.

"I'll see you later when I get home," he said.

Alex smiled after Lucy and watched her. She was glad that Gene was keeping an eye on her, the poor girl had been through enough.

She looked down at Sammy who had finished his chips and finished off her own. Sammy smiled at his father and giggled. He knew that whenever Gene said the word bloody that he wasn't allowed to repeat it, but it was still funny that his daddy said words that he shouldn't. Alex heard Sammy's giggle and shot him a warning look.

She grabbed up the empty wrappings and dumped them in his bin. She watched Sammy climb off Gene's chair and stroked Gene's shoulder. "Sam will be fine," she promised him and kissed him gently before turning and looking down at her son.

"Ice Cream?" she suggested and he beamed at her and nodded.

"Right then, say goodbye to Daddy and we'll go," she told him.

Sammy ran over to Gene and gave him a hug. "Bye!" he said quickly before turning to Alex expectantly and pulling on her hand. "C'mon Mummy!" he told her insistently.

Alex smiled down at him. "Go on then," she said and pushed him gently. He smiled and ran off towards the front desk. Alex turned to Gene. "We'll see you later," she told him. "Don't worry Gene, couple of weeks and he'll be perfectly fine," she assured him. "So please, try not to worry."

Gene grunted, but gave Alex a half-smile as he watched her go.

/\\\/\\/\\/\\\/\\/\\/\/\\/\/\\\/\\/\\/\/\

Chris stayed silent as he and Lucy walked back to the station. He glanced around and quickly opened an interview room door and pushed Lucy inside.

"What are you doing?" she gasped as he closed the door behind them.

He grabbed her face and kissed her hard. Lucy couldn't help but kiss him back, she knew she shouldn't. She finally pushed him away.

"We really can't do this," she said breathlessly.

"I want you," he told her simply. "And I think you want me. Let me come round yours tonight, I'll make up a story for Shaz."

Lucy shook her head. "That's a bad idea, Chris. We can't do this."

Chris pressed close to her and kissed her again.

"I hope you'll change your mind," he whispered and slipped out of the interview room.

Lucy sagged against the wall and let out a long breath. Chris was right. She did want him. But could she do this? She didn't know. She left the interview and slipped into Gene's outer office and into her chair and quickly tried to distract herself with work.

/\\\/\\/\\/\/\\\\/\\\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\/\\

Whitney realized lunch was technically over.

"We better go finish up and then I have a party to get ready for," she told Bolton as she slipped from the bed. "The new machines and stuff should be here pretty soon, too, you can help me get it all set up so bright and early Monday morning, I'll be ready for business."

She grinned at him and began to pull on her clothes.

Bolton sat up so that he could watch her dress then pulled himself out of bed to get dressed too.

/\\/\\/\/\/\\/\\\\/\/\\\/\\\/\/\\\/\\

Lucy noticed it was finally time to go. She got up and picked up a file and walked down the hall to the main room. She peered in and noticed Ginger was gone, but Chris was still there. She put the empty file on his desk.

"I don't think you should come round tonight," she told him.

"I'll tell Shaz I have to work late, she'll never bother," he grabbed her hand. "I'll be right behind you," he told her. Lucy looked at him. She had to admit she'd been lonely since moving back and Chris had been the only person who was nice to her. He was all right, she supposed. She thought about what Shaz had done to her and narrowed her eyes slightly. She finally smiled at Chris.

"Fine, I'll see you in a bit, then," she told him and left. Chris watched her go and then picked up the phone to tell Shaz he was working late.

"I'll see you in a couple of hours, love," Chris told Shaz and shut his phone as he watched Ray and the Guv leave. He waited a few minutes and then headed out of the station. He climbed in his car and drove close to Lucy's flat and parked and walked the rest of the way to her flat.

He knocked on her door and smiled when she opened it and let him in.

"Still not sure we should do this," Lucy said as she closed the door behind Chris. He didn't reply, just grabbed her and kissed her. Lucy felt her resistance melt away and found herself kissing him back. She broke off the kiss and then took his hand and led him to her bedroom.

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Alyssa put up the closed sign and locked the door behind the girls once they had left. She shut off the main lights and leant against the door. All afternoon she had been taking new appointments, she was sure she'd never answered the phone so much in one afternoon. She felt drained. Alyssa managed to heave herself off the door and went to finish tidying up the Salon.

Once everything to the last bottle of nail varnish was in it's place she packed up her bag and left the Salon. She was walking home, Ray had offered to give her a lift, but she had refused. She liked walking home from work, especially now: it gave her time to think. To stew in her thoughts and try to work out what she was going to do. She couldn't stay with Rowan forever, it wasn't fair on Rowan, Ray or the twins.

She didn't know what to do about Jack. It was clear enough that he wanted her back but she wasn't sure that she wanted him. She wasn't sure if she could forgive him. She knew that at the moment forgiveness wasn't going to happen. She couldn't stand to look at him. She heaved an angry sigh and her fists clenched as they often did at the thought of Jack and what he'd done. He was her husband, she was supposed to be able to trust him! Clearly she couldn't if one argument led to him sleeping with any random woman he came across.

Husband? Did she ask for a divorce? She didn't know. She wouldn't consider it yet, she felt it was still too early for thoughts like that and she knew that she was still angry and prone to rash decisions. She didn't want to do something she would regret.

She looked up at the Restaurant as she reached it then went through the side door. She noticed the smell of food on the air the moment she started up the steps and she sighed. Rowan cooking meant that she was obliged to eat at least some of the food, she wasn't that hungry. She smiled at the twins as she came in and waved at Rowan from the kitchen as she went to her room and put her bag down. She frowned as she caught sight of the box and she grabbed it up and stalked into the kitchen.

"What is this?" she hissed at Rowan.

Rowan looked at Alyssa and raised her eyebrows.

"Jack came here just as the lunch rush started, made me take it and promise to give it to you," Rowan said. She put down the wooden spoon she was using and walked over to Alyssa. "Now you know I don't hold with what he did, but he's clearly in pieces, so I took it. Throw it away if you want or open it and keep it or don't open it and keep it. I would recommend hanging onto it though, for when or if you do forgive him."

She walked back over to the stove. "Now, I'm making your favorite so I expect you to eat."

"I do eat," she muttered.

Alyssa looked down at the box in her hand and then back at Rowan. She frowned and stalked back to her room, she threw the box back onto the bed and stared at it. She would return it once more and ask him not to send it back to her: she didn't want it.

She came back out of her bedroom and looked over at the twins on the sofa. She glanced over at Rowan again then opted to go and sit with Denis and Claire. She collapsed onto the sofa near them and looked at the TV.

"What are we watching?" she asked them

"Lady and Tramp," Claire told her. "Mummy said we couldn't haf a puppy cause we live here, so we is watching puppy movies," Claire told her and climbed up onto Alyssa's lap.

"You know, you could gets a puppy and share it wif us," Claire suggested and looked at Alyssa hopefully.

"I could" she agreed "I'm not saying I will, but I'll think about it okay?" she said softly. She glanced over her shoulder at Rowan and watched her for a moment before turning her attention back to the TV and the twins. She sighed as she shifted Claire gently and began to braid her hair

Claire nodded eagerly and Denis perked up. Claire almost began to bounce, but at the feel of Alyssa's hands on her hair she sat very still. She liked it when Auntie Lyssie fixed her hair.

/\\\/\\/\\/\/\\\\/\\\/\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\/\\

Ray finished up his work and grinned as he grabbed up his jacket and headed out of the office

"See you, Adam," he said cheerily as he passed the front desk and got into his car. Ray drove home, glad he had missed the rush hour traffic and parked in his usual spot outside the Restaurant. He headed upstairs and glanced at Alyssa on the sofa with the twins once before heading into the kitchen to see Rowan. He placed a hand on her arm to let her know he was there and looked over her shoulder.

"What are you cooking?" he asked her.

"I'm making Alyssa's favorite, chili con carne. Need to try and get her to eat," Rowan told him softly. She glanced towards the front room and then at Ray again. "I told the twins what you told me about the flat and Claire said we should move," she added.

Ray nodded."Smells good," he told her and then sighed and shook his head.

"They need to understand that it's not going to happen," he said as he looked over at the twins for a moment, his brow creased as a thought that had been in the back of his head pushed it's way forward. He turned back and looked at her.

"You're not considering it?" he asked her with a small frown.

"Of course I'm not considering it, Ray, can't afford it, not unless I sold this place and I have no intention of doing that," she told him. "And yes, I know there's the money that Junior is paying me on the house, but I want that going nice and snug in the bank for now. The twins will need money for university...I hope...and we're going to need some of it for the wedding, not a lot, but some. I don't want to cater my own reception," she told him. She gestured at the cupboard.

Ray chuckled at her and nodded. "Just checking," he told her quietly.

"Why don't you set the table, dinner is pretty much ready," she said and gave the pot a final stir.

"Hands washed for the table," Rowan called over her shoulder.

"Time for eat," Denis said excitedly and quickly climbed off the couch and ran to the bathroom to wash his hands. Claire waited patiently for Alyssa to finish with her hair before sliding down and going to wash her hands.

Ray reached up and grabbed the plates and cutlery from the cupboard and set the table for the 5 of them. He looked back over at the food as he handed Rowan some plates.

Alyssa watched the twins dash off to wash their hands and followed once they had taken their places at the table. She silently took her seat and looked on as Rowan plated up the food. She had to admit that the chilli did look and smell fantastic, but she just wasn't hungry. At all. She would eat though, she knew Rowan had made the chilli for her so she felt obliged to eat at least a little of it.

Rowan responded to the twins' chatter, but kept watch on Alyssa from the corner of her eye. She was glad to see her take a few bites of food. Even if Alyssa was only doing it because Rowan had cooked for her especially, Rowan didn't much care. Alyssa was eating, that was all that mattered.

"The restaurant was overly busy today, how was the salon?" Rowan asked Alyssa. She had wondered if people had stopped in to simply look at Alyssa.

Alyssa looked up from pushing the chilli around her plate. "The phone was ringing non-stop, next week is completely booked up, and more people than usual were looking at the treatment promotion posters on the window," she said with a shrug.

She looked down at the chilli on her plate once more and knowing that Rowan was watching her took another mouthful.

/\\/\/\\\/\\/\\\/\\\/\\/\\/\\\/\\\

Shaz looked down at Olivia and sighed.

"Daddy's going to be late," she told her and sighed as she watched Olivia's face fall.

"Hey," she said as she put her hand under Olivia's chin and lifted her head. "He'll be home soon, just a little late, he'll still read you a bedtime story," she promised and Olivia's expression brightened a little. Shaz put Olivia back down onto the floor and watched her toddle off to get her toys then turned back to the stove, she'd leave his tea in the oven for when he got back.

Annie watched Charlie walk past the pub and hurried over.

"So, where are you going all dressed up in a suit?" she asked him.

"I've agreed to chaperone that end of school do over at the club," he told her.

"Does that mean you're staying? I mean, I know you've left the pub, but I heard you're working over at that Diner place..." she trailed off.

"Yes, I'm working over there and I haven't decided yet. Look, Annie, I'm still not sure I can forgive you. You're one of the first real relationships I ever had. Amber was nothing more than a fantasy, she was never going to have feelings for me, but I let myself trust you and look where that's got me. A strange town with no friends and the first chance you get you cheat on me."

"I'm so sorry, Charlie. I...I don't know what else to say," she said softly and looked down.

"I'll be finding out you're married or something next," he sighed and since she was looking down, he didn't see the expression on her face change to one of near panic. She bit her lip and smoothed her expression before lifting her face.

"I'm not married, Charlie," she told him sincerely, which was more or less the truth. Charlie caught sight of Lauren, Whitney and Bolton walking in his direction.

"I have to go, I can't be late," he told her and turned away from her without a word and joined his new-found friends.

Annie watched him walk away and her brow furrowed. She was going to have to be careful he didn't find out too much about her past. She walked slowly back to the flat and sat on the couch staring at the wall until she fell asleep.

/\\\/\/\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\\\/\/\\/\/\\/\\

Chris made sure to clean himself up when he finally climbed from Lucy's bed. He leaned over the bed.

"When can we..." he trailed off and pressed a kiss against her lips.

"We'll just have to see won't we?" she replied. "I'll see you."

Chris nodded and headed out of the flat.

"I'm home," he called out as he walked into his own home.

Olivia looked up immediately and bounced off the sofa, her book clasped firmly in her grasp as she bolted towards Chris.

"Peease daddy," she said as she held the book up to him.

Shaz turned around and glanced at Chris before grabbing his plate from the oven and setting it on the table.

"She's been waiting for you to get back so you could read her her bedtime story," she explained as Olivia went on her tiptoes to hold the book higher for him.

Chris quickly swung Olivia up into his arms and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Of course we'll have a story, I made absolutely sure I would not be late for storytime," he told Olivia and then walked over and gave Shaz a quick kiss on the cheek before taking Olivia to her room.

When she'd fallen asleep he came back out and sat down to eat. "Thanks for this, I only had a packet of crisps and a Kit Kat from the machine, I'm starving," he told her. "There's talk Hale is going to resign, so I thought I might pick up a few of his nights if you don't mind. We could use the extra," he said and began to shovel food into his mouth.

Shaz sat down at the table opposite him, a mug of coffee in hand and watched him eat. "That's fine" she nodded "If you're sure you want to do it, I don't mind putting in some extra shifts too, you don't have to take all of them Chris" she offered as she smiled at him

"Just a few mind, I know it's a bit more money, but I don't want to miss out on too much time with my girls," he told her with a smile. "Course, it's still just a rumor for now."

Shaz nodded at him and sipped her coffee "Just let me know which nights so that our shifts don't clash," she told him.

"Well, of course," Chris snorted and set about finishing his food.