...hello! I am really, really sorry for my absence. Its been a horrendously long time and I can only apologise. Exams and life and writers block has plagued me a bit but here I am with a massive summer ahead of me and loads of free time, so I've managed to get this up. Its only short to set the scene and bring me back into it a bit. I reccomend that if you can't remember things just to read the last few chapters (maybe from 17) to get you back into it. I fully understand if everyone has given up on this but a massive thank you to those who haven't. I will try update regularly now if I can. Anyway, enough garble from me. Enjoy, and thank you. Xx

Alex was now 10 weeks pregnant, with the news still not out in the open (although Shaz was fairly suspicious). It was the day of her first scan and as she walked into CID that morning her mind was elsewhere. Her relationship with Gene was now less awkward than before, but they were still not a couple again despite the baby now joining them together forever. As she sat down at her desk she got a gruff 'Morning Ma'am' from a few of her colleagues. Gene looked up from his desk momentarily to watch her, but she didn't look up to him. Things hadn't been particularly strained between them, but working together whilst knowing what they were both going through behind closed doors was painful for both.

It was an hour before Gene emerged from his office to address the team.

"Right ladies, we've got a case." Their ears pricked up as they turned to their DCI. "For a month now these letters have been sent to a man called Edward Long." He handed out four pieces of paper, taking the longest amount of time to give Alex one. Their eyes met as she took it, a look of acknowledgement that today was an important day for them both. Gene quickly diverted his eyes after a few seconds, not quite comfortable with the situation.

"Why hasn't this bloke told us before today?" Ray asked, inspecting a letter.

"He never did tell us, we found out. He was killed this morning." Gene replied, a look of anger crossing his face.

"Shit"

"My thoughts entirely." Gene grabbed his coat, "get yer arses into gear, we've got a body to inspect". Ray and Chris jumped to their feet and filed out of the room. Gene lingered a second whilst Alex put her jacket on. "This afternoon-" He began

"I can go on my own, if that's what you were about to ask." Alex quickly saved him struggling with words.

"No- I don't want that." Gene quickly replied.

"Then what do you want?" She didn't intend on it coming out quite so harshly and there was a flicker of surprise in Gene's eyes. "Sorry, I'm just a bit stressed.."

"Do you want time off work?"

"No!" He looked confused. "Not with work. This place is bizarrely the only thing thats normal for me now... gosh I never thought I'd be saying that. I need this place and I will be staying here and working here for as long as... physically possible." She casually darted round the subject of the baby to avoid any awkward conversation. Gene nodded in response before taking his time to reply.

"And so... this afternoon? Do you really want to go alone? Cos' y'know... big step 'n all that." Alex swallowed, allowing herself to look him straight in the eye.

"I'd love for you to come..."

"You sure?" Alex nodded. "OK." Their eyes stayed locked for a longer time than necessary and both felt a burning desire to reach out and hold one another, but neither would act on it. The double doors swung open.

"Er- Guv? Dead body waiting.." Ray coughed awkwardly, breaking the sexual tension filling the room. Gene snapped his eyes around towards him.

"Yes, and it won't be any more dead if we're five minutes late!" He barked, pushing himself up from where he was leaning on the desk and making his way to the door, closely followed by Alex.

Alex and Gene entered the hospital gingerly. It had been a tough day, typical of any murder case, and both were tired and pining for a quiet evening in Luigi's.

"Do you want to know if it's a boy or girl?" Alex asked absentmindedly, breaking the silence as they sat in the waiting room. She didn't wait for an answer. "I didn't with Molly, left it for a surprise. But that meant we had to paint her room yellow... and for years it bugged me - I just don't like the colour yellow on walls." Gene raised his eyebrows. Alex was talking quickly to cover her nerves.

"I don't really mind" Gene replied quietly, expressing his nervous energy in a much quieter way.

"Yes but see you don't mind about the colour of walls and details like this, whereas I do. I like to be prepared, Gene."

"And in control"

"No-! Well... maybe a little." She added as she saw a knowing look appear on his face. It felt like a strange conversation to be having. They weren't together and it didn't seem likely that they would be anytime soon, yet there were these touching moments when they'd talk as if they were a happily married couple with no underlying isses at all. Gene often found himself enjoying these moments, much to his surprise. Before he'd met Alex he'd have laughed at a man having such feelings but now - behind closed doors - he could appreciate just how much he enjoyed it. He was (although apprehensively) looking forward to the baby being born, not only because of the baby itself but also the intimacy and permanent connection with Alex it would bring. Even if their relationship never did extend back into romance they'd still be together in some way. Or at least, he hoped they would.

Meanwhile Alex had been talking continously about the colour of the bedroom walls.

"Is pink and blue too stereotypical though? What if we have a girl yet she hates pink? Molly hated pink."

"I don't think a baby will care..."

"Oh, but maybe the colour of the walls will then influence their opinions in later life? Pink walls may turn a girl very girly, or have the opposite affect and make them despise pink and they'll be a tomboy... or vice versa for boys."

"What, so we have no way of stoppin' the kid from growin' up like a poof?"

"Gene, if our child wants to be homosexual then he can be homosexual. I'm not having you attempting to turn a camp boy into some macho bodybuilder."

"Pretty sure most bodybuilders are bent..."

"Gene!" Alex shot him a glare, but it quickly rised into a smile with Gene's face following suit. They caught eyes and he quickly grabbed her hand, squeezing it before dropping it almost as quickly as he'd picked it up. Alex swallowed before quickly looking away, thankful of the doctor walking towards her to break the awkward air that was suddenly enveloping them.