Hi again, thanks for the continuing steady stream of reviews, I really appreciate them.

Hope you like the next couple of chapters they were fun to write. Enter, Mikey Hunt and co.

As always it is a bitter disappointment to me that I do not own Gene Hunt or any of the recognisable Ashes to Ashes characters. I do however own this story along with my own characters.

Enjoy!

When the Quattro eventually pulled up outside a small terraced house in Greater Manchester it was almost six. Gene and Alex had left London a little later than they planned and the traffic had been worse than usual owing to a rare sunny spring day in Britain.

The journey had been fairly relaxed, apart from Gene's apparent hate for other road users. But now that she was here, Alex found that she was incredibly nervous. Mikey was obviously hugely important to Gene, as were all his family in Manchester, and she desperately wanted them to like her.

'C'mon Bolls. Or are yer plannin' on standin' out 'ere all evening?' Gene asked Alex as she was just standing on the kerb, staring up at the house. He sensed how nervous she was and so checked there was no-one about before taking her hand and leading her gently to the door.

'They'll love yer Alex, I promise.' He said quietly in her ear as he rapped the knocker on the door and waited for it to be answered. She merely nodded at him slightly.

After a minute or so the door was opened by a small, round woman in her mid-sixties. She had an open and friendly face which split in to a wide, joyous smile when she saw Gene.

'Gene, love. It's lovely to see you, dear.' She greeted as he bent to kiss her on the cheek.

'How you doin' Elsa? This is Alex.' He said as he introduced Alex.

Elsa smiled warmly at her. 'Gene mentioned he was bringing you with him. It's pleasure to meet the famous Alex at last.' She said with a wicked glance at Gene.

'It's lovely to meet you too.' Alex said genuinely, she couldn't help but love the friendly, old lady.

'Anyway, come in.' Elsa said as she stepped aside. 'You must be tired after that journey.'

Alex followed Gene into the hall, walked past the stairs and into a room on the left. It was a fairly large sitting room for a house that size and had two old-fashioned sofas and an armchair in the corner to match. Elsa followed shortly after and ushered for them to take a seat on the sofa furthest from the door.

'I'll jus' go and tell Bernie yer here, 'e's out in the garden. Mikey will be down in a minute, I jus' sent 'im up ter get changed. Do yeh want a cup o' tea or coffee?' Elsa asked.

'Tea would be great thanks, milk, no sugar.' Alex replied gratefully, only just realising how thirsty she was.

'OK. And I'm guessin' it's a tea wi' enough sugar to sink a ship fer you Gene?'

Gene smiled. 'You know me too well Elsa. That'd be great love.'

'She's lovely Gene.' Alex said as Elsa left the room.

'Yea, she's pretty great. Don't know wha' I'd 'ave done wi'out her and Bernie.' He replied fondly. 'She likes you, yer know.'

'How do you know?' Alex asked, hoping he was right.

'She's an even worse liar than you are Bolls.' He said with a cheeky grin. 'Trus' me, you'd be able ter tell if she didn't like yer.'

Elsa walked back in with two mugs of tea and handed them to Gene and Alex. She popped her head back out the door and called up the stairs.

'Mikey! You've got people down 'ere ter see you.'

After a minute the sound of little feet could be heard on the stairs. Gene stood up and placed his mug of tea on the fireplace. Alex stayed where she was, excited about seeing Gene's son, she wondered whether he would look like Gene.

'How many times 'ave I told yer not to run down the stairs, young man?' Elsa could be heard scorning the little boy in the hall.

'Sorry Granny.' Came the young child's voice. 'Who is it?'

'Go and see. They're in the sitting room.' Elsa replied.

The door to the sitting room pushed open slowly and Alex was met with the curious stare of a little boy with sandy blonde hair dressed in pyjamas with little cars on them. The young boy looked at her with a confused expression on his face before scanning the room and saw Gene stood by the fire place. The boy's face lit up like a light bulb and an excited grin spread across his face.

'Daddy!' He squealed as he ran over to Gene and jumped into his outstretched arms.

'Heya Mikey.' he said as he put the child back on the ground and crouching in front of him. 'How yer doin'? You being a good boy fer Granny and Granddad?'

Mikey nodded enthusiastically. 'Yea. But I got inter trouble at school yesterday, cos me and Lewis were diggin' up worms on the field. We thought it was really funny but Miss Morris told us off so I argued wi' her and then Granny got angry wi' me.'

Alex bit back a smile at the boy's story and she could see Gene trying to do the same. 'Arguing with the teacher at four years old. That is so like Gene!' she thought to herself. Mikey was adorable and Elsa was right, he was the spitting image of Gene, he even had the same pout which was outrageously cute on such a young boy.

'Yer shouldn't argue wi' the teachers Mikey. It's naughty.' Gene tried to say seriously.

The little boy pouted again. 'I know. But she annoys me.' Gene couldn't help the smile that spread across his face at that comment.

'Still, yer shouldn't do it.'

Mikey just shrugged. 'OK Daddy.' He said simply as he scanned the room again, his bright blue eyes settling on Alex. 'Who's she Daddy?' The boy said into Gene's ear, but still loud enough for Alex to hear.

'This is Alex, Mikey. She's a friend o' mine and she works wi' me in London.' He said, picking Mikey up and setting him on his lap as he sat back next to Alex on the sofa.

'Hello Mikey.' She said with a smile.

'Hi, 'Lex.' He said shyly and then looked confused again and asked more boldly. 'You work with my Daddy?'

'Yes. That's right.' Bemused at how this was confusing.

'Bu' yer a girl. Girls can't be policemen.' He said indignantly. 'Oh, he is definitely Gene's son.' She thought to herself in amusement. She raised an eyebrow at Gene who was trying not to laugh.

'S'true lad. She is. A very important one too.' He said as Elsa entered the room again, smiling to herself when she saw Mikey sitting on Gene's lap.

Mikey looked at his dad thoughtfully for a second and then said seriously. 'Not as 'portant as you. Cos you're the most bestest policeman in the world, aren't you Daddy?'

Gene smiled in amusement and Alex giggled. 'That's righ' son.'

'Why don't yeh go an' get Granddad, Mikey?' Elsa asked.

'OK Granny.' Replied the boy as he jumped off his dad's lap and disappeared out the door.

'He's been tellin' that to ev'ryone lately. That his daddy's the most bestest policeman on the planet.' Elsa told Gene.

Gene just laughed and Alex said playfully. 'As if you haven't got a big enough ego as it is!'

Elsa laughed at that. 'He must like you Alex, 'e's never normally that chatty around strangers.' She stated.

'S'true. Usually really shy, 'e is.' Gene confirmed.

'I hope so.' She said. 'He's lovely Gene, really. He's just like you, you know?'

'See, wha' do I keep tellin yer Gene?' Elsa put in.

Mikey came back into the room holding the hand of a man about the same age as Elsa, who Alex assumed to be Bernie. The boy let go of his granddad's hand and went back to sit on Gene's lap.

'Elsa told me you were 'ere. Good ter see yer Gene.' He greeted, with a smile. 'And you must be the lovely Alex.'

'That's right. You must be Bernie.' She smiled back.

'Tha's me. Lovely ter meet yer.' He said genuinely. 'Sorry ter be rude, bu' I'm in the middle o' watering me plants. I'll see yeh later.' He said and left the room again

'C'mon young man. It's yer bedtime.' Elsa announced.

'Aww Granny.' He complained. 'I want ter stay up with Daddy and 'Lex.'

'Mikey.' She warned. 'You can see them tomorrow.'

'Why don't I come up an' read you a story, Mikey?' Gene offered.

'Yeah!' he replied, suddenly excited again.

'I won't be long Bolly.' Gene stated as he was dragged from the room by his son.

'We'll be fine Gene. Plenty ter talk 'bout.' Elsa said as her son-in-law disappeared out the door.

'Bolly?' She asked Alex curiously.

'Oh.' She said in comprehension. 'Nickname from when we first met, I was working undercover…'

'Oh, I remember. Gene told me all about tha', always was one fer compliments wasn't 'e?' she added sarcastically.

Alex laughed. 'You could say that.'

'Haven't seen Gene this 'appy in a long while, ever maybe. Must be your doin that. Yer good fer 'im.' She said seriously.

Alex blushed slightly. 'Not so sure about that. He's the one that's good for me really.'

'Yer good fer each other, I think. 'Aven't seen anyone that's been able ter make 'im smile like tha' for years, 'cept Mikey o' course. 'E was so miserable when 'e was married, s'nice ter see 'im smile again.'

Alex shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 'Their marriage can't have been all bad.'

'They were rotten fer each other, should never 'ave got married in the firs' place, but I'm sure Gene's told you all 'bout that.' Alex nodded and Elsa continued. 'Janey's my daughter an' I'll love 'er no matter wha' but the way she treated that man an' then left 'im wi' Mikey, I'm not sure I'll ever forgive her fer that. 'Aven't seen 'er since she left, she 'asn't been back, she writes, but she's never once asked 'bout the baby.'

'I'm sure she had her reasons.' Alex said with a fairness that she definitely didn't feel.

'Anyway.' Said Elsa more upbeat. 'Gene's like a son ter me, s'nice to see 'im happy fer once. 'E must really love yer, ter bring yer all this way to meet 'is son, never done tha' with a woman before.'

'Yea. I think he does.' Alex said quietly.

'All righ'. 'E's asleep.' Gene announced his presence. 'You girls had fun?'

Elsa and Alex smiled at each other. 'We've had a brilliant time.' Alex answered.

'Good.' Gene nodded, slightly wary that they had been talking about him. 'C'mon then Bolls, let's get goin'. We would stay longer bu' we came straight 'ere so we should probably see me Mam before it gets too late. We'll be back in the mornin' ter pick up Mikey if that's OK Elsa?'

'Don't you worry about it, I'll 'ave Mikey ready by ten. See you tomorrow Gene, say 'ello to yer Mam for me. Bye Alex, it's been lovely to meet yeh.' Elsa replied.

'You too Elsa.' Alex replied as she followed Gene back into the hallway.

'See yeh tomorrow Bernie!' Gene called.

'Yep. See yer tomorra Gene!' Came the muffled reply from the garden.

Alex let out a long breath of relief as the door closed behind her and made her way to the Quattro after Gene. She got in the car and waited for Gene to drive off, it took her a minute to realise he was staring at her.

She looked over, his expression was mixed with emotion, anxious, concerned but also a relaxed happiness she saw very rarely in him. 'What?' she asked.

'Well?' he asked seriously. 'That wasn't as bad as yeh though it was gonna be, was it?'

'I wasn't expecting it to be bad, a little daunting maybe, but not bad.' She smiled at him reassuringly. 'I loved it actually, if I'm honest.

Gene smiled a little but still didn't look convinced. 'I know it's a lot ter shove on yeh so quickly.'

'Seriously Gene, it was great to meet Elsa and Bernie, Elsa especially. And as for Mikey,' she paused seeing the anxious look on his face. 'He's a fantastic kid. Honestly, he's a real credit to you Gene, I don't think I've met a sweeter little boy actually.'

Gene's expression visibly relaxed. 'Thank Christ for that!' he thought. He had been so worried about how they'd both react, they were the two most important people in his life and he wanted them to get along. He had been very pleasantly surprised at how easily Mikey seemed to have accepted Alex and was now equally relieved that she seemed to like his son.

'Really? Cos I think he really took a liking to yer. I mean I know yeh didn't spend much time together this evenin', but I think 'e could really get ter like you. Elsa meant wha' she said, 'e doesn't usually take so well ter strangers.'

'I hope so, Gene. He's brilliant, he is so much like you it's unreal. He's like you in miniature form, even down to that ridiculous pout of yours.' She smiled and he laughed at that. 'You're brilliant with him, you know? I struggled to see you as a dad at first but he adores you.'

Gene smiled that big open smile that Alex loved so much and she remembered what Elsa told her about him only smiling around Mikey. 'Yea, he's a good kid. All down ter Elsa and Bernie o' course, they've been fantastic with 'im.'

'You don't smile like that nearly enough Gene. That little boy is good for you, you're so much more relaxed here.'

Alex adored this side of him. Gene Hunt, fierce bastard, king of all he surveys, and loving father? That had been Alex's sceptical thought when he first mentioned his son, but seeing him with Mikey had removed all doubt from her mind. It appealed to her maternal side and made her fall ever so slightly more in love with him, if that was possible.

Gene leaned over and kissed Alex lightly before starting the engine. 'C'mon then Bolls. Just me mother ter go now.' He said teasingly.

Alex laughed as he drove off but was secretly almost as nervous as she had been when standing outside Elsa and Bernie's house earlier that evening. Gene's mother was the final test and likely to be a lot harder to please than an excitable four-year-old.

It had only seemed about a minute before the Quattro slowed to a halt again. Except of course it must have been slightly longer than that because they were no longer in built up residential areas, but on a less crowded, peaceful street. Gene got out and opened the passenger door so that Alex could get out.

'You comin' in Bolly?' He asked, taking her hand to help her out the car.

'Thank you, Mr Hunt. Very kind of you.' She teased as she found herself being led up a short path to a nice looking cottage.

Gene knocked on the door and it was opened almost instantly by a fairly tall woman, although not quite as tall as Alex, with her hair swept back in a bun. The woman's face split into a slight smile as she saw her son standing on the doorstep.

'Hi Mam. Good ter see you.' He said and bent slightly to kiss his mother on his cheek, feeling distinctly embarrassed at having to do so in front of Alex.

'Well if it isn't Gene Hunt.' She said sarcastically, with a grin. 'S'been so long since I seen yer I almost didn't recognise yer.'

'It 'asn't been that long, and I brought Alex wi' me this time so yer shouldn't complain and I'll bring Mikey over ter see yeh tomorrow.' He placated.

'Of course! You must be Alex, love. How are you?' She asked, as if only just noticing Alex was there.

'I'm well thank you, Mrs. Hunt. It's lovely to meet you.' Alex replied a little shyly.

'Oh, call me Mary, Alex. Gene's told me so much 'bout yeh, you're pratic'ly family already dear.' She said with a warm smile and pulled Alex in for a hug. 'Come in the pair of yer, can't 'ave yeh standin' out here all night!'

They followed Mary Hunt into the cosy living room and Mary gestured for Alex to sit on the sofa next to her leaving Gene to sit on the other free couch. 'Great.' He thought. 'Known each other two minutes and they're already conspiring against me.' Although he was secretly very pleased the two women seemed to be getting on so well.

'You said she was gorgeous Gene, I didn't expect her to be quite this stunning though.' Mary said to her son. Alex blushed, but shot an amused look at Gene.

'Mam!' Gene groaned, feeling like he was in his teens again and seriously embarrassed. 'This is pathetic, Hunt.' He told himself.

'All righ'. All righ'.' She said holding her hands up. 'Did yer want anythin' ter drink dears?' she asked.

'No thanks. Elsa made me a tea at theirs.'

Gene was about to answer when his mother cut him off. 'There's whiskey in the kitchen love.' She said to her son.

'Yer can read my mind Mam.' He smiled. 'Back in a minute.'

'I can't tell yeh how lovely it is ter meet yer at last Alex.' Mary said genuinely.

'He talks about me then?' Alex asked, not able to resist asking.

'Well, when I can get 'im on the phone fer long enough ter talk then yes, all 'e talks 'bout.' She said with a twinkle in her eye.

At that moment Gene walked back in, with a healthy measure of whiskey in a glass tumbler and settled himself back on the sofa.

'Oh really?' Alex asked teasingly, raising her eyebrow at Gene.

'Christ. What 'ave I done now?' He asked wearily.

'Watch yer language Gene.' Mary scolded and Gene shot daggers at Alex when she giggled at him being told off by his mum. 'I was jus' tellin' Alex 'bout our rare telephone conversations.' She continued with an impressively straight face.

'Oh. I love this woman!' thought Alex to herself gleefully. There weren't many that could get away with teasing Gene so mercilessly, and watching Gene being mocked by his mother was priceless.

'Oh Christ! Knew tha' would come back ter haunt me.' Gene groaned, deliberately ignoring his mother's jibe about his language, it was tame for him anyway.

'It's all right to talk to your Mum about your girlfriend Gene.' Alex reassured, trying to make him feel a little better, but unable to hide the amusement in her tone.

'Oh no. 'E's been talkin' 'bout yer ever since yeh joined 'is team. Alex this and Bolly that, s'been quite entertaining for an old lady really.' Mary cut across.

'Oi! That's not true, we weren't together back then.' Gene protested.

'No, still went on though. Insultin' yer new DI, thought yeh 'ated her when yer firs' mentioned 'er, till yer mentioned wha' she was wearin' when yer firs' met.' She raised her eyebrow at Gene. 'I knew then tha' you were a goner, wouldn't 'ave mentioned the clothin' otherwise. I 'ad ter listen ter you rantin' and ravin' but yer don't fool me Gene, even over the phone I can tell when me son is 'iding something. You should 'ave heard him Alex, never known 'im so frustrated at someone in me life!'

'No I got that. We used to fight constantly when I first joined the team. Thought he hated me as well.' Alex replied.

Gene, who had been resolutely glowering at the floor while his mother had been talking, looked up at Alex's comment thinking she meant it. But he was met with a soft smile and was slightly reassured.

'Yer know I didn't 'ate yer. We jus' didn't always see eye ter eye.' He said back. 'And you're one ter talk, you gave as good as you got!'

'I know Gene.' She said with a playful smile. 'In fact I think you got the worse end of the stick most of the time.'

'Too right I did! Almost broke me jaw!'

Alex laughed, remembering that day. 'You deserved it and you know you did. I am sorry though, not usually a violent person, you just seemed to get right under my skin.'

They smiled at each other for a little while, reminiscing about Alex's first few turbulent months in the force. Until a discreet cough reminded the pair of them that Mary Hunt was still in the room and they broke eye contact.

'He told me you 'ad quite a good left hook, I'm quite impressed actually.' Mary smiled. 'Eventually 'e stopped bad-mouthin' yer all the time. 'E was really worried 'bout yer fer a little while.'

Alex knew she was referring to the few weeks after the Price's death and looked back to Gene, she was hugely intrigued as to what he had been thinking those few months before they got together.

Gene cleared his throat uncomfortably, it wasn't as if he spilled his guts to his mum, far from it. But she had an uncanny knack for knowing exactly what he was thinking from what little he did tell her and should have guessed that she would tell Alex. He didn't particularly want to be present if this conversation was actually going to take place, he still hated showing weakness even in front of Alex and his mother.

'I'm goin' out fer a fag.' He said as got up and left the room.

'He'll be fine dear. He jus' hates how easily I can read 'im, probably why 'e tells me so little.' Mary reassured Alex, seeing her staring at the door that Gene had just disappeared through, Alex just nodded and continued to gaze at the door.

'You two really do love each other, don't you?' Mary asked with a soft smile on her face.

Alex snapped out of her reverie and turned her attention back to the woman beside her. 'Well, I don't know about him, but yes, I do, very much so.'

The old woman's face stretched into a grin that resembled Gene's rare smile. 'He does too dear, trust me. Not sure for 'ow long, cos he hides it so well, but 'e was definitely in very deep when you fell to pieces after that poor couple were blown up.'

Alex ignored the reference to her parents, it caused too much pain to dwell on it. 'He told you that?' she asked quietly.

'Oh heavens no! He'd never admit it, still 'asn't, but 'e was so worried 'bout yer. Never 'eard him express concern 'bout any of 'is team before, said 'e didn't know what ter do ter make it right. An' tha's a first, believe me!'

'You don't need to tell me that, never unsure is he, your son?' Alex asked rhetorically. 'I was a bit of a mess that week. Gene was brilliant, took me outside when I was upset so the team wouldn't see me cry, didn't shout so much, I think he even gave me an awkward hug at one point.' She remembered affectionately. 'Little things that no-one would notice, but it made the world of difference to me. That's when it all started really, well for me anyway.'

'He told me some o' that, 'e kept worryin' he'd do the wrong thing. I think 'e was secretly rather pleased to 'ave a reason ter be nice to you fer once. And then 'e said you got over it and things went back ter how they were before, minus a few arguments. I think 'e was disappointed, Gene likes to be needed an' when yer got better yer didn't need 'im anymore.'

'I did though. I just didn't realise it until then, I was just as disappointed when our relationship went back to the way it was before. I didn't say anything though, I thought it would ruin our friendship and working relationship, I had no idea he felt the same way.'

'Well, 'e was the same. He told me, rather reluctantly, 'bout that game you lot played and was very surprised by yer reaction from what I can gather. 'E refuses ter tell me much, now that yer together.' She said and continued with a cheeky smile. 'Who can blame 'im? Firs' thing I do when he arrives is tease 'im and then tell 'is girlfriend ev'rything 'e tells me 'bout her.'

'Well you're entitled to embarrass him, he's your son.' She giggled back. 'Speaking of which, he's spent an awfully long time on that cigarette, do you mind if I go and see if he's OK?'

'Not at all dear, I'm sure he'd rather see you than me righ' now. I'm going ter go to bed anyway.' She said as they both got up from the sofa. 'I've set up the spare bedroom for the two of you, Gene will show yeh where it is. I'm assumin' it's OK to 'ave put yer both in the same room?' Suddenly anxious that she had presumed wrongly.

'No that's great.' Alex replied, only slightly embarrassed at talking about sharing a room with Gene with his mother.

'OK love. I'll see yeh in the mornin'. It's been lovely ter talk to you at last.'

'And you Mary.' Alex said genuinely.

'Night.' Mary said as she was going up the stairs. 'Garden's out the back there.'

'Thanks. Night.' Alex replied, heading in the direction that Mary had pointed. She opened the back door and went down a step into the, now dark, garden. She scanned around the fairly decent sized walled garden and found the form of Gene Hunt on a bench at the other end.

Alex made her way over and stood in front of him. 'Gene?' She said softly, sitting down next to him.

He had his eyes closed but was evidently awake because he replied, 'You two mother hens finished talking 'bout me then?'

'It wasn't like that Gene. We just got talking.' She said, worried that he was angry.

He opened his eyes at Alex's anxious tone and smiled. 'Quit worryin'. Knew it was bound ter 'appen at some point, jus' didn't want ter have to listen to it. What did she say anyway?'

Alex was relieved to find no trace of anger in Gene's eyes and smiled. 'All nice things, don't worry.'

'That's exactly what I'm afraid of, ruinin' me reputation.' He smiled back.

'I never did thank you properly for being so good to me after the Price's car explosion, did I?' she asked.

'Oh, bloody 'ell, is that wha' she's been tellin' yer about?' He said, starting to feel seriously embarrassed now. The one time he had a moment of weakness and asked someone for advice, it had to be his bloody mother he asked!

'Some things, not a lot, but enough. Thank you Gene, I don't know what I'd have done that week without you.' She said sincerely.

Gene sniffed and looked at his feet. 'Jus' doin' me job, 'ad ter make sure me DI was fit for work.'

'It was more than that and you know it.'

'Yea. Well, I was worried 'bout yer wasn't I?'

'I know. And anyway you should be proud of that, it's part of the reason we're together now.'

He smiled and looked back at her. 'Thought that was Shaz's cunning match-makin' skills involving bottles.'

'That too, but nothing would have happened if I hadn't been falling in love with you.'

Gene's face looked hugely surprised at that. 'Fallin' in love wi' me? I thought yer jus' wanted ter sleep wi' me!'

Alex grinned. 'Well that too, but I'd wanted to do that since I met you. No. I started to see you differently after the Price's died and that night in Luigi's I finally gave in because I didn't want to fight my feelings anymore.'

'Seriously? Since the car bomb?' He asked in stunned disbelief. 'We could 'ave saved ourselves a good few months of messin' about if I'd known that.'

'You can hardly talk! You never admitted you loved me either, and you fell for me first so you should have been the one to say something.'

'Hey! 'Ow'd you know that?' He protested and then looked back at the house. 'Bloody mother!' he muttered.

'Yeah. Your mother might have mentioned it, but she didn't know when.'

'Oh really?' he asked sarcastically. 'I'm shocked! She seems ter be able ter read my mind, I'm surprised she didn't see that.'

'She had an idea though. So did Shaz actually.' Alex said, suddenly remembering the conversation with the young WPC a few weeks earlier.

'Oh, I thought she migh'. Bloody women, all ganging up on me!' He muttered. 'Yer gonna tell me then?'

'Nope. I want to see whether they're right first, because personally I'm not sure if I believe them.'

'Fine!' He rubbed his face and continued more softly. 'Ter be honest I don't really know, an 'ell of a lot sooner than you anyway. Well like me Mam so rightly perceived, I was sunk when I firs' found out yer were on me team; two-inch skirt, six-inch 'eels and my new flippin' DI! Christ! But it was the firs' nigh' yer came ter Luigi's in those clothes Shaz found yer tha' I knew I 'ad a real problem, an' it jus' escalated from there really.'

Alex smiled to herself. 'Shaz was right then. You know that night you told me about the Nottingham lads coming to join us?' Gene nodded. 'She told me then that she thought you were besotted within the very first week. I didn't believe her.'

'Clever girl, is Shaz. Wha' else were you two talkin' about that night?' He asked, suddenly curious.

'We were talking about her and Chris and then she let slip that she knew about you and I.' Then Alex had a sudden recollection. 'Oh, and you know when you walked in as I said "I think I love him" and Shaz said we were talking about music, that was a lie. She was covering for me because I was talking about you when I said it.'

'I knew she was 'iding summit, never dreamed it would involve me though so I didn't ask.' He said, remembering the exchange.

They were silent for a little while, each lost in their own thoughts when Alex shivered. It was quite late now and become rather chilly out in the garden.

'Bolls yer freezin', yer daft cow. Come 'ere.' He said, standing up and pulling Alex with him. He was only wearing a shirt himself and so had nothing to cover her with, he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. She settled into his embrace, content to be warmed by his body heat. When she stopped shivering he pulled back slightly to lift her chin from his chest and pressed his lips softly to hers. They continued to kiss each other slowly and lovingly for several minutes. When Gene eventually pulled back Alex had completely forgotten the cold night air and smiled at him.

'C'mon Bolly, let's go ter bed. It's cold an' it's late and we 'ave ter be up at a reasonable hour tomorrow.' He said eventually and led Alex inside.

Please review and let me know what you think of the new characters!