The next two weeks passed fairly uneventfully. Alex and Gene had been to buy a car for Gene instead of having him relying on her or Evan (something he avoided at all costs). After much bickering ("that's a poof's car, Bols!" "Have you seen how much that one costs, Gene?" "It's my money you daft bint!") They'd eventually managed to agree on a second-hand BMW (though without the sat-nav the salesman had been pushing as hard as possible. "Bols, I can read a bloody map, I don't need some twat in a machine telling me 'ow to get anywhere!"). It was nice enough, and even gene had to admit it drove well, and allowed him a little more freedom. More importantly he'd been able to use his own money for once (Alex refused to let him pay rent; not only was it frustrating for Gene to not have much responsibility, but it meant Evan had the power to Lord it over him…).

Alex opened her eyes on the dark, cold Wednesday morning to see the still snoring Gene Hunt lying in front of her, his face passive, as if dreaming of nothing of importance. Alex always found it funny how little of his ordinary "toughness" Gene let out in his sleep. He looked almost…cute. No, cute was the wrong word. You couldn't use cute to describe Gene Hunt.

"Morning Mr Hunt." Alex breathed delicately. The clock behind him said seven-ten, giving her about five minutes before she needed to wake Molly and set about making breakfast.

Gene stirred. "Bollocks-shit-bloody-arse-twat-arghhhh!" Gene's tirade had made Alex laugh, and then caused her to hit him. She didn't want reminding of the happier times they'd left behind.

"Whawuzzatfer?" Gene asked groggily, squinting as he tried to stop his eyes closing again.

Alex just laughed and snuggled up to him. It really was a cold morning. Obligingly, Gene wrapped the arm that he wasn't currently lying on around Alex's waist, his wide hand supporting her back and pulling her against him.

"What we up to today, Bols?" Gene asked, yawning into her hair, while his hands moved slowly downwards.

Alex laughed and slapped his hands away. "Gene!" She moved closer to him (greeted by a moan of frustration from Gene). "We've got two weeks until I go back to work and I propose we do something more active-,"

"I can do active-,"

"-than sex!" She laughed, his cheeky tone not surprising her at all.

Gene grumbled. "What did you 'ave in mind?"

Alex took a deep breath. "We could always go and see Sha-,"

"No."

It wasn't as if she hadn't been expecting that reaction. She knew they'd put them through a lot, but if she could just see them one more time…if she could apologise?

Alex had received four texts from Shaz since they'd said goodbye.

"Hey Alex, just wondering what ur up to next week…"

"Hey Alex let us know nxt time ur in Manc"

"This is Alex's phone right?"

"R u avoiding us?"

She hated being selfish, but Alex would rather hurt Shaz face to face, than hurt her from a distance. It seemed cowardly, calculated and cruel.

Alex sighed and nuzzled her face into Gene's chest. "What then?"

"We could…I dunno…play poker?" He groaned as he stretched; still only half awake.

Alex smiled at him in the dull morning light. "That would be great…hang on a sec, I need to go wake Mols."

Alex kissed Gene's cheek and prised herself away from him with difficulty. Not only the fact that she didn't want to leave him, but also the fact that the bed was much warmer than the room itself. She'd have quite liked to stay in bed.

----------------------------

"Mum, have you signed my slip yet?" Molly was packing her bag in the hallway, already running behind.

"Slip? What slip?" Alex asked from the counter where she was finding some money from her purse.

"The trip slip! France, in May?"

Alex cursed under her breath. "Can you find my chequebook, Mols?"

"Bit busy at the moment!"

"I'll do it!" Evan intervened, desperate to do something of some help. Gene was finishing up in the bathroom so Evan was using any moment he could do be with Alex and Molly to his advantage.

Molly fished around in her bag and pulled out a straggly letter and an envelope. Alex scanned over the letter. "Mols, this says 15th September. You haven't honestly had this in your bag since the 15th of September?!"

Molly blushed. "You've been busy! There's been other stuff going on!"

"You could have asked Evan?"

"He was busy too!"

Alex sighed and signed her loopy signature on the lines indicated as Gene walked into the kitchen. "Morning ladies, what's goin' on 'ere?"

"I'm late for school!" Molly groaned.

Evan walked smoothly into the kitchen. "Here you go, Lexi, chequebook."

"Thanks, Evan."

Alex flicked to a blank cheque. "How much is it?" She thought out loud, glancing at the letter. "Bloody hell, Mols!"

Molly grimaced. "It's the first instalment."

"£120 as the first instalment?!"

"It's the deposit as well…"

"I can pay for it if you want?" Evan asked helpfully.

"Thanks, Evan, it's fine."

Alex sighed and filled in the cheque, placing it in the envelope with the letter and passing it to Molly. "Gene, you couldn't give Molly a lift could you?"

"I'll do it!" Evan interrupted. "Come on, squirt."

"Evan, you'll be late for work. Gene can do it." Alex protested. She'd been enough trouble for Evan without making him late for work.

"Really, Alex, I can drop her off on my way-,"

"Don't be silly. Go to work, Gene can take Mols." Alex's word was final.

Gene looked bemused as it all unfurled before his eyes. The sight of the frantic kitchen was enough to make anyone laugh; a normally calm and cheery Molly rushing with pink flushes in her cheeks. The normally scowling Evan, smug and composed as he tried to help, Alex who had every minute of the day for her daughter snapping. Then the look in Evan's eye when his chauffeur offer was rejected; and the pure venom in the glance he shot Gene. Gene decided that grabbing the keys and calling "come on, Molly," was the best idea.

-------------------

Gene had never found chatting to Molly particularly hard. She was too like her mother for talking to be an issue. And she was a child who could leave silence alone- nothing was ever awkward.

But this morning, the silence in the car was almost frosty; this wasn't a good thing, as Gene hadn't any idea where Molly's school was.

"Where am I go-,"

"Left at the roundabout."

"Right."

Gene took a quick glance at Molly who was staring straight ahead at the queue of cars. Like a typical morning rush hour, the roads were packed, meaning there was a lot of time to fill.

"So…" Gene glanced around the car for inspiration. Molly stared ahead stony-faced. He felt a twinge as he caught the hardened expression in her eyes- the one her mother had. "Look, Molly…I…is it something I've done?"

Molly flinched and looked at Gene. "What? Oh…no, no it's not you. Not exactly anyway." She chewed her lip, and then sighed. "Why's Evan being such a twat?"

Gene was taken aback. He'd never heard Molly say anything less than positive about Evan. She had him firmly round her little finger…she was the apple of his eye. Gene had never expected a comment like that from Molly.

"Erm…I'm not sure your Mum would like to 'ear you talking like that…"

Molly raised an eyebrow at Gene in disbelief. "Not that you've said worse in front of me or anything…"

Gene snorted. "What's sparked this off then? Thought you an' Evan were like tha'?" Gene crossed his fingers.

"We are. But he's being a twat."

Gene laughed again. "Talk about it?"

She thought for a moment. "I don't see what the problem with you and Mum is. It's nice, seeing her…happy. She hasn't been this happy in ages. But she can't admit it because Evan doesn't know about you two!" She paused, her expression torn. "What's he going to do anyway? She can make her own decisions."

Attach my bollocks to a stake, Gene thought, before taking a look at the girl in the passenger seat. The traffic was at a total standstill, therefore he could look for longer than he would have done. She was staring at the dashboard, at least, that's where her eyes were pointed, but there was no focus. Lost in her own world of thought. How wonderful it would be to have childlike thoughts, Gene pondered, without even knowing the consequences. He wanted to put an arm around her and give her a hug- but he wasn't prepared to be that soppy.

"What d'you want to know?" He asked, bracing himself.

"I want to know about you and Evan. What's his problem?!"

Gene sighed. "It's better if that comes from me and your Mam…next question?"

"When are you going to tell him?"

Gene sighed again. Argh, for a sweet girl, she was surprisingly questioning. "That's your Mam's call an' all."

"Anyone would think she bossed you around, Gene…" She snorted.

Gene scowled. "We'll 'ave less o' that though!"

Molly laughed softly as the car moved twenty feet before coming to another stop.

What to talk about? Gene knew Molly's favourite foods (Roast chicken with roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings), drinks (lemonade, occasionally a small glass of white wine when her Mum let her) , music (some dancey stuff she listened to in her room by some pop band who were "awesome") and that she hated tidying her room. He knew her hobbies (netball, dancing and going out with her friends) and what she generally liked to watch on the telly. But he got the feeling she wasn't in the mood for a humorous chat…

"Your Mam mentioned you wan'ed to be a copper?" That took him back. The bathroom in Alex's flat. When they'd been locked in. When he'd told her…everything.

Molly looked up in surprise. "She talks about me?"

Gene gave her an odd look. "Of course…why wouldn't she?"

"No reason." She shrugged. "Just thought she'd have better things to talk about…"

"Oh you can cut that c- rubbish out right now!" Gene laughed, correcting himself. "Just because your Mam's…with someone, it doesn' mean she'll forget you! Molly, she doesn' love anyone more than she loves you!"

Molly smiled. "You think?"

"I know."

The girl beamed, seemingly appeased. In fact, her smile seemed to brighten the whole atmosphere in the car. "And yeah…I do. Want to be a police officer that is."

They were finally at the roundabout, the traffic having eased slightly. "Left you said?"

"Yeah."

As they took the first exit, Gene spoke again. "Why police though? Your Mam said you wanted to dance?"

"She's told you a lot by the sounds of it. I don't know, dancing…it took a lot of time…and if you want to dance you have to be committed. There's no changing your mind later."

Her words rang in his ears, and he got the distinct meaning she didn't only mean the dancing. But when he looked over she was looking out of the window, her expression out of sight.

God, she was one perceptive kid.

---------------------------------------------

"And you can take that look off your face as well." Alex smiled as she wrapped her arms round her godfather's shoulders, while the man himself tried to tie his work tie, his fingers fumbling; shaking in either anger or hurt.

Alex couldn't understand what Evan's problem was. Not only had Gene done him a favour by allowing him to get to work on time and taking Molly to school, but he'd been on his best behaviour for weeks. Not a single wise-crack (to his face anyway) in days, and he'd been doing the dishes every night- even after cooking. Plus, now Gene had his own car, Evan had more freedom too. Alex really couldn't see it.

"Get off, Alex, I'm going to be late." Evan wasn't in the mood for a hug and pushed her hands away.

Alex frowned. "See- if you'd taken Molly it would have been even worse. You'd never have heard the-,"

"For a bright woman you're incredibly naïve." Evan stood up after cutting Alex off and pulled at his tie in frustration.

Alex gasped and looked at Evan in amazed shock. "Excuse me?!" She found it hard to form the words running in circles through her mind. "You…I'm being…WHAT?!"

"It didn't occur to you that maybe I enjoy taking Molly to school?" Evan scowled, finishing his tie and moving through to the hallway to find his work jacket. Alex followed, hot on his heels.

"Oh- that is not what this is about!" She was fuming, but desperately trying to keep in control.

"Then tell me, Alex, what is this about then, huh?"

"Gene!"

"Because everything revolves around him…" He muttered dryly, half-hoping Alex wouldn't hear. There was little satisfaction in muttering to one's self about one's problems- it was better for him to be able to say it out loud…though the consequences wouldn't be pretty.

"Gene's my friend, Evan, maybe if you took that into consideration-,"

"He's no more than a friend then?" He asked, taking a snipe with an almost malicious glint in his eye. It was a glint Alex had never seen in Evan before, like an angry toddler who wasn't getting their own way.

Alex just scoffed in disgust and turned on her heel as Evan shut the door of the cupboard.

"Go to work, Evan!" Alex called dismissively.

But she was reeling. How much longer could she hide it?

-------------------------------------

"Take care o' yourself, girlie. Don't want you getting' sent 'ome in disgrace now, do we?!"

At five to nine, Gene had managed to get close enough to Molly's high school to drop her off.

Molly grinned. "See you, Gene. Don't get yourself into any trouble now, will you?" She winked before shutting the door of the BMW and catching sight of her friend, seemingly late too. She ran to catch up, and Gene sank back in his seat to watch her go in.

If he had to be stuck in a foreign world with anyone, he thought, he could have done worse than being stuck with Bols and Molly. Even Evan hadn't been too bad recently- except for the incident this morning. Maybe he could get used to this lark. Maybe…maybe he didn't want to go home? If the option was there of course. It had been just over a month since Gene had moved in with Alex and her family, and he'd come to think of it as…well, home. He was getting quite…domesticated. The words stuck in his mind like a bad smell. IN fact, his pride was hurt even thinking of them. Like a blemish to his br-

"Excuse me!" Gene's thoughts were interrupted by an urgent knocking on the window on his side of the car. The lollipop lady.

Gene wound his window down. "Can I 'elp you, love?"

"Who the hell are you?" She asked haughtily, pole waving almost menacingly.

For Gene, the lollipop lady who'd crossed him over the road every morning as a boy had been a snotty cow. A woman who couldn't have had a husband, and her manners were worse than most of Gene's bratty friends. Worse than Gene's, for that matter.

"I was just dropping off my…"

"I haven't seen you around here before. Clear off before I call the police!"

Gene frowned. "Sorry…what do you think I-,"

"Yes, well, there's a word for people like you, matey, we just don't like to use it around here! For goodness sake…one in our area too…I'd best warn the-,"

"Lady, what the 'ell are you talking about?"

"CLEAR OFF PERVERT!"

Gene raised his eyebrows in alarm. "I was just dropping my girlfr-,"

"You're seeing a schoolgirl?! Right, that's it, I'm calling the-,"

"No you daft tart!" Gene was desperately shushing the woman standing by his window. "My girlfriend's-,"

"GET OUT OF 'ERE! Mandy, Mandy go, 'e's after kiddies!" The woman was now signalling towards a teenage girl, only a couple of years older than Molly.

"Oh for f-,"

Gene's expletives were drowned out by the roaring of the engine springing into life. If it had been Ray or Chris, the situation would have been hilarious. For Gene it was a reminder that home wasn't quite as cosy as he'd thought…

------------------------------------

Alex had presumed that by the time Evan got home that afternoon, he'd have calmed down, and that everything would be far more normal. She presumed wrong.

She'd spent the afternoon being beaten hands down (literally) by Gene. Somehow he'd managed to notice every bluff she made, making her laugh when she was trying to look deadpan. She'd gone out and done the food shopping, getting some chicken breasts in to grill stuffed with tarragon (Evan's favourite- she was feeling guilty for lying) and even made Gene iron his own shirts (of which they'd bought some more over the last couple of weeks). It had been a fairly normal day. But it was going to be no normal evening.

"D'you wan' an 'and with that, Bols?" Gene called at around six that evening from the dining table where he was teaching Molly the intricacies of canasta.

"Bolly" was trying (unsuccessfully) to light the gas grill.

"I'll get it- in a min-," Alex told him through gritted teeth concentrating furiously on the lit match. She was crouching, thinking it would give her a better chance. "It does this sometimes."

Gene sighed, not entirely happy with Alex faffing around with matches near a gas cooker- but she wasn't an ordinary woman. He granted her with a little common sense.

"Come on Gene!" Molly giggled impatiently. "Pick one up." She gestured to the smaller of the two piles of cards.

"How do you know I'm not going to pick the pack up?" He asked her.

"Because I've put five tens down so far and you haven't picked any of them up." She smirked.

"…or I could have been waiting for the fifth. Thanks, Molly." Gene laughed as he lay out his two jokers with three fives, and picked up the tens. "Natural canasta…nice."

Molly rolled her eyes and lay her cards face down, waiting for Gene to sort the massive pile of cards he'd just picked up.

"Don't try and kid a kidder, kid." Gene winked, before spotting out of the corner of his eyes Alex trying once more to light the grill. Only she hadn't realised she'd left the gas knob on.

"BOLS!" Gene lunged from his seat five feet away and knocked the match out of her hand and he jumped across her. The match immediately extinguished itself, removing the three of them from their impending danger. Alex was knocked backwards onto the floor, while Gene landed across her. "'ow many times is that now?" He asked her, groaning as he pushed himself away from the floor.

"Is what?" Alex asked, still lying on the floor, breathless.

"'Ow many times 'ave I pulled you outta doom, death or disaster?" He asked, grinning and taking her by the hands, helping her up.

He reached for the knob and turned the gas off. "Use the oven, dizzykecks."

Alex smiled. He wasn't going to let this one go in a hurry, but she allowed herself to be pulled into his arms. Well, lurched- she went flying into his chest, losing herself in his gaze. It was warm in his arms, safe, protected. Comforting.

"Don't let me interrupt." An unfamiliarly cold voice came from behind the pair of them.

Alex closed her eyes. That had to have been the worst way Evan could have found out.

A/N: I'm sorry it's been over two weeks! I got so stuck with this chapter, I could only imagine the chapter where Alex goes back to work, but that seemed like too large a gap to leave unfilled! Sorry sorry sorry! Plus this won't get up until Saturday morning; internet connection's down! Please review, please stick with it, I'm sorry guys, the weeks are busier than I expected them to be =[ xx