Thank you all for your kind reviews throughout; here is the final chapter,

Enjoy!

Alex rushed over to flat; she was going to make herself look nice for Gene tonight. She hoped that she hadn't misinterpreted what he had said, yes he was bringing Alexandra but it was also time for the two of them to talk over things; feelings maybe. She decided to go for a smart/casual look, she didn't want to look too overdressed and scare him away; she had to play it cool. She put on a high waisted black skirt; that wasn't too short and combined it with a navy blue blouse that hung quite loosely. She had to remember that Alexandra would also be coming so for that reason she had to dress appropriately; not in something 'skimpy' as Gene would say. She completed her look by clipping her fringe back and letting the rest of her hair hang neatly, and adding some liquid blue liner to her eyes. She was surprised that Gene had insisted on them cooking, he knew that Alex couldn't cook to save her life; though it would be a laugh, the two of them in the kitchen together. Alex found herself smiling at the thought of it, Gene hunt being a wiz in kitchen; who would have thought it? As she heard the familiar knock at her door butterflies began to fill her stomach, the time had come to be honest with Gene. She opened the door to find Gene hand in hand with Alexandra with a bottle of Bolly under his arm; holding a frozen pizza. It seemed Gene had also made a special effort for tonight, he was dressed in a white shirt and tails; something Alex hadn't expected to see. She stood at the door for a few minutes studying him appreciatively.

'Yer going ter let us in then Bolls?' He winked as he pushed pass her with Alexandra.

'When you said cook something Gene.' She looked at the frozen pizza he was carrying. 'I thought you meant actually cook something, not just bung a pizza in the oven.' She smiled at him teasingly.

'You think I'd trust you ter cook, you'd burn the place down; and if not that you'd probably give us all food poisoning.' He chuckled to himself as Alex nudged him gently.

'I'm not that bad, and anyway I'd be under your supervision.' They both smiled at each other momentarily; gazing into one another's eyes, when they realised Alexandra starring at them both.

'Right let's get this pizza in the oven.' Gene clapped his hands together and began to take the pizza out of the packaging as Alex and Alexandra sat themselves on the sofa chatting away about David Bowie. Alex remembered how she used to love David Bowie and how she would go around the house singing Space Oddity at the top of her voice. She couldn't listen to Ashes to Ashes; not since her parent's death, Ashes to Ashes had been playing on the cassette player as they were blown to pieces whenever she heard it she would breakdown completely.

Gene made his way over to join the two of them, he sat beside Alex and listened to her and the girl talking about music; music that he knew nothing about. He's much rather talk about Herb Alpert, someone who made 'real music' in his eyes. Alex turned to Gene who she noticed was sitting there bored listening to them chat on about girly things, so she decided to ask him what sort of music he was into.

'Herb Alpert, you can't beat Herb Alpert Bolly.' He reached out and poured them both a glass of Bolly. 'Don't want any Bowie shit unless it's Jean Genie.' He slammed his hand on the table, when a loud beeping noise rang through the flat .

'Oh no, the fire alarm; we've set it off!' He shouted as he ran towards the oven which was smoking, Alex ran after him to help out and started fanning the alarm frantically with a tea-towel; after a few seconds the alarm stopped and Gene had retrieved the burnt remains of the pizza from the oven.

'I thought you said it would be me who would burn the place down.' She sniggered as Gene just shook his head in disbelief. Alex noticed Alexandra was also laughing at all the commotion, what a great final dinner she thought to herself.

'I'll go grab some pizza from Luigis.' Gene dashed down the stairs and headed for Luigis he wanted to make the night special for the three of them, and he's ruined it by burning the dinner.

Alex felt bad for laughing at him; she could see how disappointed he was when he pulled out the black crisp pizza from the oven, he'd obviously really cared about tonight because he'd made a real effort by dressing up. She thought maybe she'd put him off, she wasn't dressed up; not really. She was dressed in clothes that she would sometimes wear to work and Gene had turned up in a suit; she hoped she hadn't ruined things by seeming like she didn't care. Gene returned ten minutes later with another pizza, ready to eat; Alex and Alexandra had set the table and were waiting patiently for him. As he entered a huge smile appeared on Alex's face, Gene must have noticed because he winked at her; causing her to blush slightly.

Gene began cutting up the large pizza for the three of them; Alex had offered to help but he had told her it was his job for ruining the last one. The three of them sat at the table, Alex and Alexandra next to each other; while Gene sat opposite Alex. For a while there was silence, not an awkward silence; they all felt comfortable with each other, and neither one of them said a word for the first five minutes. Alex loved being in Gene's company without the rest of the team; she preferred it when it was just the two of them, she would see a different side to Gene when it was just him and her and she could talk to him about more serious things; things other than work. As the three of them ate, Gene began telling some of his awful jokes that he'd usually tell to the team when he was drunk; Alexandra seemed to find them funny, it had been a while since they had seen Alexandra laugh. She would often give the odd smile but tonight she was in hysterics at some of the things Gene was saying. Deep down Alexandra was broken and Alex could see that; in fact she was sure of it, but for tonight she could just forget about everything and be a little girl again, Alex had always acted older than she was and that was due to the fact that her parents had been taken away when she was so young. She had to be strong day in day out; she had to put a brave face on for everyone's sake and she never really got to be a little girl; she was forced to grow up fast, realising that there were some cruel people out there; people who got off on hurting others.

'So Alexandra, do you know what you want to be when you get older?' Gene expected a little girl's answer, something like an actress or a singer; which every little girl seemed to dream of becoming.

'A detective.' She smiled and carried on eating, Gene looked at Alex in shock; a little girl dreaming of becoming a detective. Alex knew that ever since her parents were killed that she wanted to be a detective, go out and catch killers so that what happened to her parents wouldn't happen to anyone else. There was also a part of her that wanted to do it to make her parents proud; her parents were solicitors, and she'd love to grow up like her mum; make her mum proud, crime investigation was the best route, it seemed. As Alexandra finished her dinner and said her thank you's, there was a quiet knock at the door.

'That's probably yer Uncle Philip, sweetie.' Gene opened the door to find a tall, thin man standing there; he could tell right away that he was related to the Price's; well dressed, posh. Gene had never liked the Price family but he'd grown fond of little Alexandra.

Alexandra gathered her things together and before leaving, hugged Alex tightly and whispered in her ear 'When I grow up, I want to be like you.' Alexandra smiled once more before heading off to say bye to Gene, Alex felt a tear come to her eye, she certainly didn't want to grow up like her but she definitely would.

'When you're older you can come and work for me.' Gene said as the little girl hugged him not wanting to let go. Over the past week Alexandra and Gene had become really close, Gene was great with children and Alex couldn't understand why he had never had any of his own. Alexandra left with her uncle smiling and waving in the car as Gene and Alex watched at the window. It was good to see her with a smile on her face but Alex knew that happiness wouldn't last for long.

Gene and Alex stood looking at each other; not saying a word. It was time for Alex to tell Gene exactly how she felt, but how would she do it? She couldn't just blurt it out; she wasn't sure that Gene felt the same, and if he rejected her it would affect their professional relationship as well as their friendship.

'Gene, we need to talk.' Alex didn't mean to sound so serious, but she was nervous as to what his reaction would be; she'd never been the first in a relationship to say those three little words that meant so much and now she was in love with someone who she wasn't in a relationship with;and she didn't know how to say it.

'Go on then.' He replied impatiently.

'I've been thinking over the past few days, thinking about you…and me.' Alex felt like a schoolgirl all over again. 'We've been through a lot together over the years, and well- we care about each other don't we?' She hoped Gene would reply but he just looked into her eyes and took it as rhetorical question. 'Well I care about you anyway; professionally and as a friend-'

'Is this going anywhere Bolls, or have you had too much ter drink?' Secretly he knew what Alex was trying to say but he wanted to wind her up a little.

'What I'm trying to say is…' She paused and looked to Gene who was looking deep into her eyes.

'Spit it out Bolls.' He leaned closer to her, their lips just centimetres apart.

'I have feelings for you.' Alex couldn't bring herself to say it; not those three little words, anyway. Gene was really close now and she knew what he wanted to hear.

'And…' Gene prompted her, while smiling wickedly.

'I love you. Deep down I always have, I've just never wanted to admit it. I've wanted to tell you for so long; to let you know how I really feel-and well, now I have.' Alex diverted her eyes away from his, she'd said it; she'd told him how she felt, now it was time to see whether he felt the same.

Gene slowly brushed her lips with his, kissing her gently; more gentle than Alex had ever expected Gene to be. He was glad that she had said it, otherwise he would have had to. 'Me too Bolly.' He smiled then noticed her frown at him.

'Me to Bolly' she mimicked 'Is that all I get? I tell you how I feel, tell you that I love you; that I always have and you can't do the same.' She crossed her arms and pouted a little at him, waiting for him to say the same.

'You know I feel the same so I don't need to say it.' He smiled and leaned in to kiss her again, but was surprised as Alex pulled away.

'Say it Gene.' She had said those three words, now he could do the same. Alex didn't want to be in relationship with someone who couldn't tell her that he loved her; who couldn't be open about his feelings. She needed to hear those three words.

'I love you Alex.' He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her; more powerfully than before. This is what they had both always wanted, to be loved by one another what ever came their way now they would face together. They would risk their professional relationship being affected; after all it was all worth it. Alex had made the right decision leaving Molly behind, she now had someone who loved her not matter how crazy she seemed; Gene was hers and she was his. They were now; as they once said. Unbreakable.

Okay so I was going to go further but I decided that was a nice way to leave it. Some of you Keeley and Phil fans who may have watched 'Three go mad- River Cottage' may have noticed me use the part where they set the fire alarm off! After watching it I thought about putting it into a fic but changing it slightly. Please tell me what you think, drop me a review; friendly criticism always appreciated.

A big thank you to all those of you who have read this story from the beginning and stuck with it, thank you to everyone who favourited, followed, and most of all review. I appreciate your support!

-Lifeinthe80s xxx