The morning after the night before.
Louise awake to Strickland missing from the side of her, thoughts rushed into her head that he had woke up and regretted his decision to spend the night with her.
Strickland entered Louise's bedroom with two cups of coffee. "Morning" Strickland sat on the edge of the bed and place the cups on the small cabinet.
"Good morning" Louise greeted Strickland with a kiss then laid back with a smile on her face just thinking about how much her life has changed recently.
Strickland climbed back into bed and put his arms around Louise.
"Just so we're clear I don't normally sleep with people I've just met" Strickland laughed at Louise.
"Well that makes two of u" Strickland kissed Louise's forehead.
"What time is it" Louise ran her hand down Strickland's chest.
"Half 7"
"Shit, I've got to go pick the boys up at 8" Louise jumped out of bed and straight into the shower.
"You can let yourself out, there's keys downstairs in the hallway" Louise gave Strickland a kiss before trying to head off to Sandra's house.
Strickland grabbed Louise's hand just before it was out of reach and proceeded to kiss her alone her neck.
"Rob I really have to go, I'll see you at work"
"Oh and I'll be able to do this at work will I" Strickland said with a smug look on his face.
"I'm going now" Louise gave Rob a deep kiss before pulling away and running downstairs in hope of missing the traffic.
Louise drew up just outside Sandra's flat and stood on the door step waiting for an answer, still thinking of Strickland.
"Come in, tell me all about last night" Sandra forgot to even greet her daughter, she was so eager to hear about Louise's evening with Strickland.
"Have the boys have their breakfast because we really need to get going" Louise was concerned about getting the boys to school on time and informing the school about Pete.
Harrison ran towards Louise with open arms "look what uncle Gerry gave me" Harrison held up the toy car and looked at it with pride.
"It's uncle Gerry now is and has he been here all night" Louise turned round and gave Sandra a smug look. "I'll tell you all about my night if you tell me yours but first the boys have to get to school shall we take your car?"
"Ok, Gerry we're leaving now I'll see you at work" Sandra shouted up to Gerry before picking Noah up.
Louise got back in the car after walking the boys into school.
"So your evening with Strickland, how did it go?" Sandra looked at Louise.
"Eyes on the road mother" Louise laughed at how excited Sandra was to know about her evening.
"He's nice, we talked a lot, and urm he told me something about a dog on one of your first cases"
"He's going to regret telling you that, you shot a dog once and everyone goes on about it Jesus"
"So Gerry stayed at yours, are you sure there's not something you want to tell me?"
"He's better with children than I am so when I told him I was babysitting he offered to help"
Louise giggled at how defensive Sandra became when talking about her relationship with Gerry.
"Yeah yeah anyway were the boys ok?" Louise couldn't help but feel guilty every time she thought about what she'd done to Pete.
"Harrison knows there's something wrong, he was crying in the night" Louise and Sandra made their way to the office.
"I knew I should've cancelled on Strickland"
"Your going to have your hands full with three children, every parent or career should take time off sometimes" Louise raised her eyebrows at Sandra. "What I read it in a magazine" Louise and Sandra laughed.
In the office.
"Alright jack fancy a brew?" Louise called over to jack.
"No he doesn't, we're going to see Jason he's been lying about where he was when his girlfriend was killed" Sandra grabbed her coat and passed jack her handbag.
"I'll have one when I get back, I guess" jack smiled at Louise and walked straight back out the office.
Strickland walked in the office looking around to see if there was anyone else in the room besides him and Louise, then approached and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Oi what if they walk in" Louise wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Thank you for last night, we should do it again sometime" Strickland said in between kissing Louise.
"Weren't you complaining that you couldn't do this at work" Louise smiled softly.
"Well there's no one around and you can't blame me for not being able to keep my hands off you, so what about tonight?"
Louise looked confused at Strickland "what about it?"
"Round two, only this time we could have food" Strickland laughed.
"Erm not tonight I've got to talk to the boys about their dad" Louise lent over to grab the ringing phone.
"Mum, yeah I'll check and are you on the way back?" Strickland kissed Louise's neck "alright I'll see you in a bit"
"They'll be back soon so can you leave" Louise removed Strickland hands from her waist and went to sit down at her desk.
"Alright give us a call if you want any support later" Strickland just managed to leave the office before Sandra and the rest of the gang got back.
"Oh that information you wanted he was with a Mrs Bailey, I'll pay her a visit before I pick the boys up" Louise handed Sandra the information on Mrs Bailey.
"Ok thanks, you alright? You look a bit flushed"
"Oh yeah I'm just worried about telling the boys" Louise laid her head on the desk.
"We'll come over and see you later on if you like for support" Gerry placed a cup of coffee next to Louise.
"Thanks right I'm going to go, so that I can see Mrs Bailey but I'll give you a call after and tell you what I've found out" Louise grabbed her coat and headed out.
Before making her way to the car Louise decided to pay Strickland a little visit.
"Your PA said it was alright to come in" Louise perched herself beside Strickland on the desk.
"What can I do for you?" Strickland kissed Louise along her arm.
"Will you give it a rest, you forgot to give me my keys back when you came to the office earlier" Louise clearly wasn't in the mood and was getting increasingly more worried about talking to the boys.
"Alright sorry, they're in my jacket over by the door" Strickland let go of Louise.
"No I'm sorry I shouldn't have snapped, it's just" Strickland cut Louise off before she could finish her sentence "the boys I know, they'll be fine the best thing you can do is be there for them and I'm here whenever you need me"
"Thank you, keep the keys you might need them again" Louise winked at Strickland and made her way out of the office.
