The next thirteen days passed in a blur of bad dreams and a haze of distant recollections for Alex. Gene on the other hand was experiencing his own discomfort- mainly the lack of sleep from Alex's own nightmares.
"Come on, Bols, back to sleep," he'd soothe continuously, for all the good it would do. He didn't mind the fact she needed him, or even the fact he was exhausted because of it, but he worried about her. Her moans sent a chill down his spine as he felt the displeasure filling her all-too-big brain He was missing the smile in her now-tired eyes and the beauty of her sleeping body.

"Sorry," she'd mutter sleepily, "didn't realise I was shouting."
Then they'd awake the next morning with only a vague recollection of their conversation the night before.

It wasn't until the twentieth of December that Alex thought it was time to talk about what was going on.

"Maybe we should set a date?" Alex mentioned casually one morning over breakfast.

Gene choked on his cornflakes. "You mean-,"

Alex shook her head hastily. "Sorry, I meant...well maybe it's time to tell Molly what's going on?"

Gene furrowed his brow. "About where I'm from?"

She nodded.

"What brought this on?" Gene asked curiously.

"I'm just wondering if...well if maybe these dreams are a guilty conscience? I'm not used to keeping secrets from Mols, we're a team, but now you're in the picture-,"

"Oi I didn't turn up just to split you an' Molly up y'know!"

"Calm down," Alex soothed. "I didn't mean it like that. But I don't think I'm as close to her as I used to be, and now there's no Evan around...maybe she needs me and doesn't know enough? Maybe it's my subconscious telling me to tell her everything."

"Because your subconscious is always right, Bolly." Gene rolled his eyes sarcastically. "Wasn't it your subconscious' idea to get involved with Shipman?"
Alex frowned. "There's no need to be arsey about it."

Gene knuckled his forehead, and put down the spoon that had been hanging uselessly in his hand. "I know, I'm sorry. It's just the lack of sleep..."
"All the more reason to tell Mols."

Gene gazed in thought for a moment.

"Hello...conversation happening over here..."

He looked up at her irritably. "Can you hear something?" He asked. Alex was confused.

"Erm no..."

"Neither can I when you're twittering on. Shush for a moment will you?"

Alex tutted and folded her arms, waiting for the no doubt groundbreaking suggestion Gene would be sure he'd come up with.

"You mentioned a guilty conscience?"

Alex looked at him, and eyebrow raised, refusing to speak. She was "shushing for a moment".

This time Gene tutted. "Well, what if it's not Mols you're feeling guilty about."
Alex forgot she was trying to make a point. "Who else would I be feeling guilty over?"

"Evan?"

Alex snorted, and then was silent for a few seconds. He could have had a point. While she liked to pretend that being the strong independent woman she was, she didn't need or care about Evan after the way he'd treated Gene, she couldn't lie to herself in the middle of the night when all she could hear was Gene's snores. She missed someone being up before her, and the paper already being read and at the table for her to glance through while she drank her coffee. She missed a friendly hug at the end of the day. She missed the man she'd almost called Dad for 26 years.

"I'm never wrong, Bols." Gene insisted.

But instead of admitting defeat, Alex shook her head stubbornly. "Not going back," she pouted. "He's got to apologise first."

Gene rolled his eyes, but said no more on the subject.

***

Molly broke up for school on the 21st, leaving a mad couple of days set aside for the family to set up the house for Christmas. There was the tree to decorate, the food to buy, the presents to wrap- Alex had no idea whether it would all be done in time. All she knew for certain is that she wanted to make this Christmas the best one Molly had ever had, due to the strange circumstances. Before they knew it, it was Christmas Eve. With the last of the shopping done, Alex was finishing the mad clean round the house.

"Gene, can you give me a hand?" Alex called from the hallway with a feather duster. She couldn't stand an untidy house before Christmas, as she knew how awful it would be after the festive period had finished. There was one particular cobweb vexing her sincerely.

Gene trundled into the hall, from the kitchen where he'd been drinking a black coffee and reading the paper.

"You called, Lady Bols?"

Alex came down from her on her tiptoes, as she'd been trying to stretch for the cobweb in question. "I can't reach." She admitted, handing him the duster.

Gene turned his nose up in disgust. "Cleaning?"

"Yes, Gene. Foreign concept perhaps, but it needs doing."

"Do I look like a housewife?"

Alex gave Gene a playful thwack to his shoulder with the back of her hand. "You're tall enough, just get the cobweb and you can go back to ogling at some poor tart's tits."

Gene looked at her as if she had two heads. "Careful, Bols, you almost sounded like me."

"It's the risk I run whilst living with your caveman attitudes. Can you get the cobweb or not?"

Gene grinned at the frustration he could hear in her voice. "What's in it for me?"

Alex gave him the look that clearly said I'm not impressed, Hunt. "I'll tell you what's not in it for you if you don't get the bloody cobweb sorted!"

He grimaced and rolled his eyes. "Out the way then, Narky Knickers."

In one movement, Gene lifted the duster and swiped the grey lines of dust lining the corner of the hallway. But he wasn't finished yet…

"Put it down, Gene…" Alex warned, panicking slightly at the mischievous look in Gene's eye as he brought the duster closer to her.

"Scared of a bit of dust, Bols?"

"Put the duster-,"

"Scared of a bit of muck on your shirt?"

"Gene, I mean it-,"

"You could always take the shirt off-,"

"If you don't move that duster-,"

Too late. A grey mark had appeared across the chest of Alex's red long-sleeved top. It wasn't particularly expensive, nor did she value it highly, but it was the principle.

Alex gasped in fury. "Run." She warned him. "Run."

Gene grinned and, keeping hold of the weapon as protection, dodged through the hallway into the kitchen.

After taking a look at the impressive grey smudge and cursing playfully, Alex followed, giggling as she ran after Gene. She could hear Gene's chuckles as he jogged to a hiding place. She didn't know whether to be saddened or amused at how much adrenaline she could get out of such a childish game…she didn't feel this exhilarated unless her and Gene were…well…

"What you gonna do, Bols?" Gene teased mockingly. "Get your cleaning products on me?"

Alex followed the warm voice that could soothe her to sleep whether it was what she wanted or not…

As she opened the door to the kitchen, and looked around she couldn't see anything untoward. He was well hidden. The curtains seemed untouched (would he have been stupid enough to find such an obvious place anyway?) the tall cupboards were too full of general household rubbish to fit even Molly into. He could have made his way into the conservatory, but as far as Alex could tell the only option was behind the wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room.

She tiptoed towards it, unsure whether he'd here her light footsteps, until the floor creaked loudly under her foot.

She heard his husky chuckle again, and he appeared from behind the wall, brandishing the duster like a gun, grinning.

"I'm warning you, Bolly."

Alex inhaled deeply, she felt winded. She could hear Gene's warning in the kitchen, but also from nowhere a flash appeared behind her eyes, a flash of the gleaming white tiled walls of the bathroom in her flat above Luigi's. And Gene's voice. A different intonation of the same words.

It was such a strange feeling. Suddenly she was back in the room, being looked at suspiciously by Gene. Her heart was beating faster than she recalled before the strange vision, as if she were in fear, or had run half a marathon. Either way.

"You all right?" He asked, eyes narrowed.

Alex rubbed her eyes. "Y-yeah. Fine." She smiled to him, and then resumed her attacking position. "But you won't be by the time I get my hands on that bloody duster!"

He grinned and held it out. "Come and get it then."

Alex strutted up to him, in a manner that generally sent him crazy. She pushed her toned body against him and stretched for the duster he was now holding above his head.

"What are you going to do if you get it?" Gene grinned, cockily.

"You mean when." Alex corrected. "And nothing." She smiled sweetly. "I'm simply taking a dangerous weapon out of the hands of a dangerous man?"

"Dangerous? Do you trust me?"

Do you trust me? Again with the different intonation of the same words. This time the flash was of the dark store room from Alex's nightmares. She felt winded again and bent over, as if she'd been smacked in the stomach suddenly. There was a pang in her left side, and as she placed her hand in shock against her shirt, she was sure she could feel dampness.

Gene was alarmed. "Bols?" He asked, uncertainly.

Then she stood up again, shaken. She looked at her hand- no sign of blood, or the moisture she thought she'd felt.

"What's going on?" Gene questioned sternly. "Come on, Bolly, that's the second time you've 'ad a funny turn…"

"I'm f-,"

"Don't bother, Bols. You're not fine. I think we need to see someone."

Gene dropped the duster and placed his arms round Alex. "A shrink."

Alex scoffed as she rested her chin on Gene's chest. "No one would believe this."

"Didn't you believe Sam?"

"Not until it happened to me, no. I don't want someone thinking I'm a nutter. Let's just have a nice peaceful Christmas." Alex pulled away from Gene, picked up the duster from the floor and flicked it playfully at Gene, who ran up behind her and picked her up from under her arms, making her squeal. Then she shivered.

"Is there something cooking?" She asked. There was a loud beeping, it sounded like the oven timer. But she'd taken the mince pies out over two hours ago.

"Not that I'm aware of," Gene admitted, puzzled and putting her back on her feet.

"Then where's that bleeping coming from?" Alex moved around, searching for a source.

"What beeping?" Gene frowned. "I can't hear anything."

The beeps got louder, and blended into one continuous beep.

"You still can't hear it?" She asked.

Gene shook his head. Alex's heartbeat sped up again, faster this time, getting continuously faster. She was going cold.

"Alex?" Gene called. "Alex, love, sit down, you've gone a bit peaky-,"

Alex. Alex can you hear me? Alex? HELP, SOMEONE HELP!

Alex began to gasp. Her pulse was far too fast now. She could feel the blood surging through her veins.

SOMEONE, PLEASE!

"Can't…breathe…" Alex gasped. Gene placed his arms back under hers and pulled her to the floor, allowing her knees to crumple as she struggled for air.

Nurse, she's gone into cardiac arrest…Madam, we need you to step aside, we'll do what we can.

The room span as Alex sank in Gene's grip. "I…can't…breathe…Gene…I…can't…breathe!"

Gene visibly paled. "Yes you can, come on, Bols. You're talking to me, you can breathe."

Clear.

Alex jolted and gasped. "I…can't…Gene…help…me…"

"Alex, calm down, you can talk, you can breathe. Just deep breaths, calm down. You're breathing too fast that's all."

Stay with me, Alex. Come on. CLEAR.

"Gene…" She pleaded, gasping as fear took over. "Please…I can't…"

"Breathe, Alex, just nice and easy. Nice deep breathes. You can do it."

Charge to 200.

She jolted again, moaning in discomfort.

"Alex, try and stay still, you're fine, you're safe, I'm 'ere."

She's back. We've got her back. Thank God for that. Let Mrs Skelton in again.

Alex stopped in her tracks. Breath flooded back into her body, her pulse eased, and the shaking stopped. Her mind cleared. Mrs Skelton. Shaz?!

Gene meanwhile, was still pale, fear etched into every uneven grain of his face.

Alex held a cool hand up to the face of the man cradling her and stroked with her thumb. "I'm OK." She told him. "You're here."

-------

Alex was unusually quiet for the rest of the day- quiet enough not to notice Gene's equally quiet behaviour. She spent a lot of the evening sitting curled in Gene's embrace near the fire, wondering what on earth was going on in her head. She hadn't had flashbacks like that before. They'd felt so real…she could have been back in the restaurant again, waiting for Shipman to come and get them. Her heart galloped at the very memory.

Gene on the other hand had spent the evening burying his nose in Alex's hair for comfort. He'd been planning all week, he had Molly on side and everything was going according to plan. Until this afternoon, when he'd begun to doubt Alex's…well, her stability. The events since September would have been enough to tip anyone over the edge- but he'd been sure she was fine. The situation was insane, but he'd never thought either of them was…

"What are you thinking about?" Alex asked, removing her gaze from the flickering fire.

Gene stroked her arm. "Not a lot."

"Do you want to talk about not a lot?"

Gene snorted. "No. But I'd like to talk about what happened this afternoon."

Alex sighed. "I honestly don't know what happened this afternoon."

"You know what you were thinking at the time…" Gene wouldn't relent. "Please, Bols, I'm…"

Alex smiled sympathetically. "Worried?"

He nodded in agreement.

"I'm not exactly thrilled, y'know?" She admitted. "In fact…I'm quite scared too,"

Gene nodded and looked his love in the eyes, tightening his hold on her for reassurance. "Tell me about it." He encouraged softly in her ear.

She took a deep breath, unsure where to start. "Gene, when I was in my coma in '82, I could hear people, mostly Molly, and voices occasionally. People talking beside my bed. Asking me to wake up. I'd always follow the voice. But now…now it feels like I'm avoiding a voice. I'm not sure why or what or even how, but…what if this isn't what we think it is?"

Gene frowned. "What if what isn't what we think it is?"

Alex smiled softly. "Don't worry; I'm as confused as you are." She felt Gene's hand reach for hers and squeeze her. "I…Argh, I don't know."

"Calm down. Just tell me what you're thinkin'."

She rubbed her eyes with her free hand, fatigue beginning to gather in them. "These dreams…they're unclear. They're foggy. I don't remember anything in the morning, except the shapes. His afternoon…it was so clear. Things you said…they were things you said the night…that night. I could see exactly where we were when you said them. And then…" She trailed off, unsure how this was sounding, sneaking a look at Gene's worried face.

"Go on. You heard my theory. Think it's time I 'eard yours."

"Then when I couldn't breathe…I could hear things. Weird things. A doctor…and…and I think I heard Shaz."

"Shaz?"

"Panicking. It was like…like I was being shocked back to life. As if Shaz had been sitting by my bed or something. These daydreams…they're really vivid. I just hope that's all they are."

Gene gulped. "What else could they be?"

Alex shook her head. "I don't want to even think about that."

"I think you need to."

Struggling, Alex closed her eyes, and through gritted teeth uttered the worries flooding her mind that afternoon. "What if…this…isn't real?" Her voice broke on the last two words. Tears began to stream down her face. "What if none of this is real? What then, Gene? What do we do then?"

Stony-faced, Gene answered her question. "We cross that bridge when if we come to it. There's no point worrying until we do."

"No point worrying?!"

"We can't change anything, Bols. Best we can do is go with it."

Alex nuzzled into Gene's chest.

"I just hope it doesn't come to that." He whispered into her hair, so quietly he wasn't even sure if she had heard.

At eight o clock, Molly came into the living room, waking Gene from a doze. He looked at his watch, and was reminded of the plans the two had been creating. "Have you…?" He mouthed to her, hoping not to wake Alex from the quiet doze she was currently experiencing against him.

Molly nodded, smiling, and Gene made to get up, hoping not to knock Alex as he moved. He replaced his chest with a cushion, easing it under her head and letting her sleep for a few minutes longer.

He moved into the hallway, pulling Molly by the hand to help him. Sure enough, there were three cases ready to be put in the car.

"Care to give me a hand, young Molly?" He asked. She smiled in reply.

"Course."

She took the smaller case and led the way to the car, waiting for it to be opened by Gene. It took the pair less than three minutes to negotiate the cases into the boot, before retreating back to the warmth of the house.

"Do you think she'll mind?" Gene asked. "Honestly?"

Molly thought for a moment. "Why are you doing this?"

Gene pondered before speaking. "Because I think it's time she made up with him. And Christmas is probably the best time to do it."

"Then no. I think she'll love you more for it. You are sticking around for Christmas though, aren't you?"

Gene nodded. "Yeah, if Evan'll 'ave me."

Molly beamed. "He won't have a problem. You're bringing Mum back to him, that'll make you practically his favourite person.

"Steady on, young 'un, I wouldn't go that far."

Molly laughed. "Time to wake Mum up?"

"Mum's already awake." Came a groan from the living room. Alex appeared behind the doorway, stretching.

"What are you two planning?" She asked suspiciously.

"Grab your coat, Bols, we're off out for the evening, you, me and Mini 'ere."

Molly laughed, while Alex looked puzzled. "On Christmas eve? Where are we going?"

Gene rolled his eyes at Molly. "No patience at all in this one, is there?"

Molly grinned back, grabbed her coat and passed one to her Mum.

"Thanks, Mol." She gave Gene and her daughter a suspicious look, before doing as she was told and making her way to the passenger seat of the BMW. Molly followed as Gene did a quick search around the house, switched the lights off, grabbed his jacket and locked the front door.

"So…" Alex probed as Gene got into the car, doing his seatbelt up before putting the key in the ignition.

"Patience, Bollinger Knickers!" He teased. "All will be revealed."

Alex tutted. "Well can you at least turn the heating up? It's freezing…literally look!" Alex pointed out of the front window as small flakes of snow began to drop from the deep night sky.

Gene did as he was told and fiddled with a couple of buttons.

"Not even a clue?" Alex pestered.

"Not even a clue." Gene confirmed. "And if you even start spouting the "are we they yet" crap, I'll have to gag you."

Molly giggled from the backseat as the car pulled out of the drive.

Alex had been paying more attention to Slade and Wizzard playing on the radio than to the places she passed in the car- mainly because if Gene had a surprise planned, there was a reason she wasn't supposed to know yet. It wasn't until she began to recognise her surroundings vividly (even in the heavy snow that had set in) that she even guessed where they were going.

"Gene…" Alex began, spotting the sign for Primrose Avenue…then Clarke Avenue…then Briarwood Terrace…

Gene said nothing; it was enough to confirm her thoughts.

The funniest feeling rose within her. It wasn't dread, like she'd have imagined when faced with returning to her childhood home. It wasn't relief at the idea of a feud finally coming to an end.

It was a feeling she could only describe as like plugging a hole. A hole she hadn't even realised was there. As if the bucket had the tiniest of holes in, and was slowly dripping water out…now the water was flooding back. But excitement didn't fill her, she felt…strange. Neutral. As if she could cope with what happened no matter what. As if Gene had slipped drugs into her wine earlier! She laughed at the very idea.

"You OK, Mum?" Molly asked from the backseat, biting the skin around her festively painted nails.

Alex turned round and nodded reassuringly at her daughter. "Yeah. Yeah I am, thanks Molly."

As they pulled into Oakley Close Gene slowed down, edging them slowly towards number 38.

"If you want to back out," Gene offered, "Just say the word. We can turn around."

Alex shook her head. "No. There's no need." Gene nodded and sped the car back up, finally pulling into the driveway of 38 Oakley Close, to the detached house with a light on downstairs, blinds drawn. Alex got out of the car immediately, and as Molly made to open the door, Gene stopped her.

"I think your Mum needs to do this on her own, Molly."

Molly nodded in agreement but wriggled out of her seat and climbed over the armrest between the front seats to sit in her Mum's seat.

"What are you doing?" Gene asked, bemused.

"Well if you won't let me go and listen, I want a good view!"

Gene chuckled, his gaze moving back to Alex, who stood waiting on the doorstep…

She'd only pressed the doorbell once. It took her back to when she was younger, it had always been a joke between her and Evan that she'd ring three times, and that way he'd always know when it was her. She didn't exactly know if she wanted him to know this time or not. Would he have answered if he'd known? She was kept waiting a while too, shivering in the cold as flakes of snow fell into her dark hair. Finally the door opened.

Behind it appeared Evan, tousled; tie halfway down his chest, bags under his eyes, festive cheer completely absent from his expression. Until he saw Alex that is. He visibly brightened, though the shock was clear too.

"Alex? My beautiful girl?"

Alex nodded. "I'm not the ghost of Christmas Past at any rate."

"Oh, Lexi!" Evan flung the door wide and pulled her inside; wrapping her in the tightest hug she could ever remember. She weakened immediately, and the tears began to roll freely.

"I'm s-so sorry!" She sobbed.

"You daft girl," He whispered in her ear. "You've nothing to be sorry for! It's my fault. I'm the sorry one…I was stupid, and stubborn, and if he's the man you want to be with, I trust you to make the right decision. I should never have interfered, I missed you so much my beautiful, beautiful girl. I'm so sorry." He soothed.

Alex shook her head. "Don't be," She pleaded tearfully. "I just missed you." She told him.

Evan's eyes were sparkling. "Happy birthday, by the way."

Alex laughed. "It was over three weeks ago,"

"I know. But I got your present and kept it on the bureau in case you decided to pop round."

Alex snivelled. "You didn't have to get me anything."

"Of course I did. It's what godfathers are for." Evan cleared his throat. "Well, that and making a right mess of things."

"It was as much my fault as yours."

"No, Alex, it wasn't. Come on, come in. Actually, go and get Hunt and Molly from the car, then come in."

Alex raised her eyebrows. "Can you…can you call him Gene, please?"

Evan swallowed hard. "I'll do my best."

"Thank you." She murmured, before beckoning to the pair in the car.

----------

"Hunt?" Evan murmured in the kitchen at five to midnight. Molly had gone to her old room to unpack her case over an hour ago and Alex and Gene retreated upstairs shortly afterwards. Gene had come downstairs however to make a cup of tea each, before setting up Molly's stocking.

Gene straightened up from his position of placing tea bags into the mugs he'd found predictably above the sink.

"Evan." Gene nodded civilly, accepting the fact they'd never be the best of friends.

"I, erm…I wanted to thank you." Evan told him, blushing and unable to look him straight in the eye.

"Thank me?" Gene asked, surprised. "What for?"

Evan cleared his throat. "For bringing them home. Where they belong."

Gene shook his head. "I don't think this is a permanent move, Evan-,"

"I didn't mean that." Evan raised a hand to stop Gene. "It was pleasant of you to bring them back for Christmas. I appreciate it."

"Like I said, I don' know when we'll be going 'ome."

"Hunt, I…" Evan sighed. "Gene. I'm sick of fighting. I've nearly lost Alex twice now. I won't lose her again because I can't swallow my pride. I understand that she's an adult; she can make her own choices and decisions. If she wants to live with you, that's fine. I…I trust you to take care of her. You've done a good job as it is."

Gene frowned suspiciously at Evan as he grovelled. He hadn't expected this at all. Not that he'd expected an argument, but this was far more gratitude than he'd ever imagined.

"I didn' do it for you." Gene corrected him. "Alex is…well she's 'avin' a rough time of it…she needs 'er family. All of 'er family."

"What do you mean? Is she ill?"

Gene shook his head quickly. "No. No she's not ill, she's just…" He sighed, unsure how to explain.

"Oh dear Lord." Evan gasped. "She's pregnant."

"What, no, Evan-,"

"Pregnant! No wonder she needs her bloody family…another Drake? Oh I suppose it'll be a Hunt," Evan scoffed over Gene's furious attempts at interrupting. "Not that you could have used protection-,"

"OK, stop right there, Evan!" Gene ordered, finally getting a word in. "Alex isn't pregnant. Don't worry."

Evan breathed a sigh of relief, before resuming his suspicious glare. "So…what's wrong with her?"

"Nothing! Nothing, she was just missing you. Though she'll never admit it, so don' go tellin' 'er you 'eard it from me."

Evan nodded. "Like I say though. Thank you. I am grateful. I erm…I accept that I might have given you a rather hard time, back then and erm…well…let's just say I had more than enough time to think this past couple of months. I'd just like a relaxing family Christmas. And…well…" Evan rubbed his neck. "I'd like you to be here too. I think you're part of the family now too…"

OK. Gene had definitely not been expecting that!

"Erm. Ta very much. I erm…" Gene's sentence trailed off as the men stood in an awkward silence.

"Well," Evan spoke eventually. "I think it's time I was off to bed. No doubt Molly will be up early to sort her stocking out. Bless her, she loves Christmas."

Gene laughed politely, going along with the uneasy truce. How much of a truce it was, he wasn't quite sure. It could simply have been a Yuletide break in the war raging between Germany and England. Evan was Germany, of course. And there was no way Gene would go out and play a game of footie with the bloke in the snow. But the principles were there.

"Oh and," Evan smiled awkwardly. "Merry Christmas, Gene." He offered a hand for the man to shake. Gene took a quick glance at the clock on the wall. It was two minutes past twelve.

"You too." He agreed, shaking the hand in front of him.

The men both stared at the floor for a moment.

"Well. Bed it is then." Evan nodded.

"Yeah." Gene agreed.

"Night then."

"Night."

Gene was left alone with the mugs in the kitchen.

A/N: Sorry, it's taken so long to upload! Had a brilliant school trip, then couldn't decide how to approach this chapter. However, everything for the rest of the story is pretty much sorted, and I'm fairly excited about the rest of the chapters, so they should get written up quite quickly! Everything will be explained in due course!!!!