A/N: Sorry about the wait, but I think you'll forgive me once you've read the chapter. Enjoy! Thanks to Gene'sGirl13 once again for beta-ing.

Chapter 10

Alex tossed and turned in her bed for what seemed like the thousandth time. She looked at the clock; 11.35pm. She'd been in bed for over an hour and a half but sleep was eluding her. Thoughts of Gene had been swimming round her head since she'd left the house and she realised that she finally had to face up the truth she had been hiding from for so long. She was in love with him. Now she had to decide what on earth she was supposed to do about it.

She turned over one final time and closed her eyes; determined to get some sleep. But her eyes shot open as she heard someone outside the door, fumbling with the door handle. Irrational fear swept through her and she screwed her eyes tight shut as she had done when she was scared as a child. It was only when the door opened and she heard a familiar voice growl,

"Stupid bloody nancy lock!" that she allowed herself to relax.

"Gene?" she murmured, craning her neck to see over her shoulder.

"Ah shit Bolls. Didn't mean ter wake yer!"

"It's okay. I wasn't asleep. What are you doing here?"

"Couldn't stay there," Gene began as he got changed; Alex averting her eyes. "'Ad a row wi' me Mam. She kept goin' on about 'ow Jay would be better off with 'er or Sheila. That 'e needed a mother figure an' I jus' couldn't take it anymore."

"Oh Gene, I'm sorry. I honestly thought that if…"

"Forget it Bolls; it's done now," he told her slipping into the bed behind her.

"Is Jay still at your Mum's?"

"Yeh. I didn't want ter disturb 'im. I'll get up early an' make sure I'm back before 'e wakes up. 'E'll never know I were gone." He snuggled up behind her putting an arm around her stomach anchoring her to him. He nuzzled at her neck, "Missed yer Bolly. Why weren't yer asleep anyway; yer been thinkin' again?" Alex's soft chuckle confirmed his suspicions. "Bloody 'ell! Doesn't that brain o' yers ever switch off? What yer thinkin' about now?"

"Nothing," she lied. Gene was not fooled.

"Must be summat if it's keepin' yer awake," he commented. "So, what's up?" Alex remained silent, not wanting to have this discussion now. Gene didn't need the extra worry or stress. But when he placed a light kiss to the sensitive spot just below her ear she couldn't let it go.

"What are you doing?" she asked, a little harsher than intended.

"Tryin' ter get yer ter relax, so yer'll go ter sleep."

"Well doing that's not going to help!" Gene rolled away from her and lay on his back, letting out a heavy sigh. Alex suddenly felt incredibly guilty.

"I'm sorry, Gene."

"Nah, it's fine. If yer don't want me ter touch yer I won't." He was sulking now and Alex knew that avoiding the issue was no longer an option. She rolled over to face him, propping herself up on her elbow.

"It's not that. I…I'm just wondering what exactly is going on here…with us. That's what was keeping me awake. What are we to each other Gene? Because I'm pretty sure we've passed colleagues and even friends. We can't go on ignoring this. I need to know what you want from me."

"Why der women always want ter analyse everythin'. Why can yer never just go wi' the flow?"

"Because I don't want to ruin our friendship or our professional relationship. Is this just happening because you're feeling vulnerable right now because of Jamie? Or is it something that would've happened anyway?

"Woulda 'appened eventually I reckon. Only so many times I coulda looked at that arse o' yers before I'd 'ave given in ter temptation."

"I'm being serious, Gene," she scolded.

"So am I Bolls. Yer bloody gorgeous an' the more time I spend wi' yer the 'arder it's is ter keep me 'ands off yer!"

"So it's purely a physical thing then?" Alex was the one sulking now.

"That's not what I said!" Gene protested. "Bloody 'ell Bolls. Yer amazin' alright. Yer a great friend, a good copper and yer brilliant wi' Jay." He paused but Alex didn't interject as she had a feeling he wasn't quite finished. She was right. "Yer make me a better person Alex an' I think...I think I've fallen fer yer." He looked up at her as he said those final six words and Alex could help herself no longer; she leaned down and brought her lips to his. The kiss was gentle and sweet; filled with a tenderness that most people wouldn't have thought Gene capable of. After a few moments Alex broke the contact and pulled away to look in his eyes.

"Am I ter take it that yer approve then Bolls?" Gene asked with a smirk.

"You could say that," she returned with a smile. "So...now what?"

"Now, I suggest we get some sleep; big day tomorrow."

"I was actually thinking more about long term, but sleep does sound like a very good idea right now."

"Look, I want ter be wi' you and you want ter be wi' me right?"

"Right," she replied, unsure of where he was going with this.

"Good. So, can we leave the rest o' this 'now what' talk 'til after tomorrow?"

"Of course. But whatever 'now what' we do decide on, there's Jamie to consider, and work, and..."

"Bolly?" She looked at him. "Shut up," he ordered, pulling her down so she was lying next to him, her head on his chest. He placed a chaste kiss to her forehead. "Time fer sleep."

The next morning Alex awoke to the bright northern sun streaming in through the curtains. She stretched out in the bed and noticed that the other side was empty; Gene wasn't there. For a moment she wondered if she had dreamt him arriving last night but, blinking a few times to get used the light, she noticed a folded piece of paper on the nightstand with her name on it in Gene's familiar scrawl.

Had to go but didn't want to wake you.
I'll be back for you around 10.
G x

She looked at the clock, it was 8.45 already; she'd better get a move on. She showered quickly and did her make up before drying and styling her hair. She was just finishing off with the curling iron when there was a knock at the door. A quick glance at her watch told her that Gene was 10 minutes early. Wondering why he wasn't using his key she opened the door. But instead of coming face to face with Gene as she had expected, she was faced with a young brunette woman.

"Hi," she offered, extending her hand. "I'm Annie. Annie Tyler." Alex shook her hand; so this was Annie. But what was she doing here? "The Guv…Gene asked me to collect yer; he's got stuck at 'is Mam's. An' 'e knew it'd be a struggle fer yer ter get ter the church on yer own."

"You're going to the funeral?" Alex was confused. She'd heard Ray and Chris mention Gene's ex wife in passing and knew that they didn't think too highly of her after the way she had treated Gene. She assumed Annie would have been of like mind.

"Yeh. Fer Gene…and Jamie. 'E's me Godson."

"Ah right," Alex nodded, stepping back to let Annie in. Sam had been Gene's best mate; of course he'd choose him and his wife to be Godparents to his first born. "Come in, make yourself at home. I won't be long. Just need to get dressed," Alex told her, picking up her outfit and from the bed and heading to the bathroom.

"No problem," called Annie. "Don't rush on my account." She sat at the dressing table and looked around. This was a family room and she knew Gene had stayed here last night, but the single bed didn't look disturbed and Gene Hunt was hardly the type of man to make the bed after him. Was there something more to his relationship with Alex that he was letting on? Her gut instinct was telling her there was; she smiled to herself, it was about time Gene found some happiness.

A/N: So was is worth the wait. Hope so. Am I forgiven?