No return

Rose didn't know what to say, this was totally unexpected as he held the box out to her. There on the cushion sat the ring he'd chosen for her.

"You bought this for me?" she asked slowly, reaching for the box.

"Yes, I bought it for you because with everything being uncertain, I wanted you to know that, well. Rose I want to make a commitment to you."

Rose put her hands over her face as Alec took the ring off the cushion and held it out. Slowly, she moved her right hand towards him. He took her hand and putting the empty box back in his pocket, began to put the ring on her finger. As he slid it on, it didn't need opening any further, much to his relief.

"It's beautiful Alec. That's what you were up to earlier?" she smiled.

"You got me," he smiled back as he moved his hand and Rose went to push it all the way on, looking at the design. "It has more than one meaning."

"Yeah? I know what it means to me Alec. I want to make a commitment too. All those times we laid together in the afternoon and you whispered things to me. We should start saying them more, say what we feel?" she asked.

"Like I should keep saying I love you more? We can do that, if you want? It's just I wasn't sure, you know, that you want to do things like that? Well I will, if you will."

"Yeah, we should. Things like saying I love you and anything else we both feel. When we're apart, well we can write it down, like love letters," Rose smiled.

She looked down at the ring, trying to hold back a tear. Alec saw her.

"Why are you upset Rose?"

"I'm not upset Alec. It's just the nicest thing you've ever given me. I mean you've done nice things before, for my birthday and last Christmas when you saved me from spending it being miserable at home and got your aunt to let me stay but this?"

"It's what I want to do Rose. It means so much more than anything else, it's what I feel, in my heart, like it's from my heart to yours. Is that saying too much?"

Rose let out a laugh and took his hands.

"No, it's just right Alec. If I go back with you and I could stay, well, we'd have a lot to talk about but I can't stay. We have to talk though, about you going to collage and getting in the police."

"Rose, I sent my application, John helped me," he admitted, giving her a smile.

Rose tapped his arm, Alec letting out an 'ouch'.

"What was that for?" he asked, rubbing his arm.

"When were ya gonna tell me?" she wanted to know. "Well, what did they say?"

"That I had to complete college and they'd consider my application. Rose, I was thinking. What if I was to apply for a training college in London?"

"What? Alec, you'd be leaving your family," she replied.

"Well I may have to if I don't get in the Glasgow one. I was going to ask about it."

"Alec, I can't let ya leave your family just for me. There's every chance I'll be able to go back."

"Rose, we don't know how far Bob would go, do we? You could still not be able to go back until you're twenty one or even older. Then what? How long do you stay away Rose?"

"He can't make it past twenty one, surely? What reason would he make it beyond that? Geez Alec, I've just thought of something," she told him, going to sit down.

Alec saw she'd gone pale.

"What's wrong? What have you just thought about?"

"Alec, what if it wasn't about his friends' kids going with each other? What if they were grooming the teenagers for the adults? Getting them used to each other then .?"

She had to stop, tears now in her eyes.

"Rose, what makes you think such a thing? If that's the case then you should report him."

"What proof do I have Alec? What if I go to the police and he laughs it off, saying he was just having friends round? That would make him go after me more. I think I'm right Alec."

"You don't know for sure Rose. Let's go back to the chalet and tell my dad and John?" he suggested.

"I can't Alec. If I tell them, they'll just say I'm wrong, they won't believe me," Rose replied, going for his shoulder.

"Rose, they've believed you so far. What makes you think they won't now? I know what you're getting at and I'll never let that happen."

"I know you wouldn't Alec but even if say he'll only have a hold over me until I'm eighteen, I still won't be safe from him, will I?"

"Rose, no-one will let that happen. You have to stop thinking like that."

"Alec, if I go back, I'll always be thinking that. That's what it's all been about, all that time they were getting those teenagers to start having sex with each other to get them ready to go with the adults."

"Rose, don't think that. It could have just been about the teenagers, the adults just might not have wanted them to go out with anyone they didn't know?" Alec suggested, one arm now around her and the other rubbing her back.

"Then why did Bob ask if I was having sex with you? Think about it Alec? Geez, it's all adding up, what the hell were they into? Were they going to groom those teenagers and swap and change?"

"Rose, calm down eh? For one thing, if you go back with us, Bob won't know you're even there, will he? Once you're eighteen, whatever the age he was being responsible for you, you can get that agreement looked at and made void. Now, stop worrying and we may just have time for a few kisses."

"I spoiled things, didn't I?" Rose managed to smile.

"You could never do that Rose. I know you are worried but forget about it for now, please? You may know what Bob's up to but he could never get you to go along with it, I know you are dead against it. He may try and force you to go back and live with him but he can't force you to get involved with what you think is going on."

"I can't help thinking he'd try," Rose replied, leaning into his shoulder.

"Let me help you forget it?" he whispered to her, kissing her cheek then going for her neck.

They were soon engrossed in kissing, Alec daring to go under the hem of her t-shirt at the side away from where anyone would see if they ventured onto the beach.

"I love you Rose," he whispered into her ear, Rose loving the feel of his lips pressed close that made her shiver.

"I love you too Alec, let Bob go after me when I go back, I have you to look after me."

"Yes, you have so forget about it. We'll get my uncle to invalidate that agreement, your mother can withdraw her consent maybe?" he suggested.

"Bob will have thought of that. You're right, I should just forget it for now. Hey, go back to kissing my ear, will ya?"

"You know where I would rather be kissing?" he replied with a smile.

"Yeah, well ya can forget that until after the holiday. We should be getting back."

"Yes, I know Rose. Since when did you like me kissing your ear?"

"Since ya just did it," Rose giggled.

"Well after the holiday, maybe I can see where else you like me to kiss you?"

"I'll keep you to that promise," she replied, trying to pull her bra back into place while battling his hand.

Trying to forget what they'd talked about that had upset Rose, they walked arm in arm back to the chalet where John was the one making something to eat.

"I didn't know you were much of a cook John," Alec's dad told him as John stirred the pasta sauce in the pan.

"Well, I had to learn to look after myself when I was studying to be a teacher," John told him. "I wonder what those two are up to? Alec was being very secretive earlier."

"Yes, I noticed, then he and Rose sneaked off. I hope he's not going to suggest they get engaged, they're both too young. He told me you'd helped him with his police training college application. Has he told Rose yet?"

"I think he was waiting until this week," John replied. "No, I don't think Alec would ask her to get engaged, well not yet anyway. If by some chance he does, are you going to oppose it?"

"I really don't know John. They're both too young but there again, teenagers run off all the time and get married or engaged these days. If by some chance he does, I should try and talk to him and get him to wait for a while."

"Yeah, he might just ask her though, since they're going to be apart for a few months at a time. He might just do it to assure her he'll wait?" John wondered.

They both heard the door opening and looked at each other, Alec's dad looking for Rose's left hand, which was in Alec's arm.

"Just in time," John called out from the kitchen area of the living space.

"Smells good," Rose told him, letting go of Alec and his dad breathing a sign of relief as there was no ring.

Then he saw her other hand.

"Nice ring Rose," he told her as Rose put her fingers on it. "Did Alec give it to you?"

"Yeah, just a while ago," she admitted. "I've never been given a ring before, he says it's a promise that he'll wait, no matter how long I have to stay away."

"Yes Dad," Alec agreed. "I wanted Rose to know I'd wait for her."

"Let's have a look?" John grinned as he left the pan on the stove. "Nice choice Alec."

"Well, before we eat, well John and I have something to talk to the both of you about," Alec's dad told them.

Rose and Alec went to sit on the sofa.

"Is something wrong Dad?" Alec asked him.

"Not as such. Rose, you know all of us would do anything to keep you safe?" he asked her.

Rose nodded and took Alec's hand. Alec found himself stroking her hand and twisting the ring he'd just given her. He braced himself for what his dad was about to say. He loved Rose and even what may be said was not going to put him off. He'd thought about what she'd told him earlier and they had to consider that was what Bob and his friends ulterior motive was. He would never let it come to that and neither would any of his family.

"John, tell them what your dad had to say," his dad turned to John.

"We were going to tell you before but we thought we'd wait. Rose, I'm sorry but you shouldn't go back to Paisley with us."

"What?" both Rose and Alec asked together.

"It's safer for Rose to go back to London, my dad uncovered more or less what that agreement with Rose's mother was about," John explained, turning the heat off the stove.

"Mum wouldn't tell me it all," Rose told them. "I don't think she really knew. Why can't I go and stay out of his way?"

"Rose, I'm really sorry but we think that if you return, well Bob has got child services involved and they'll force you to go stay with him," he continued, looking at Alec then his dad. "We don't know for sure but we don't want to take any risks. They may be watching out for you and got the police involved, if he says you may run away from your mother and he has her permission."

Rose sat back in disbelief. Alec went to put his arm around her, his dad just nodding.

"I know it's a shock Rose but we had to tell you. That was why we waited."

"Do you think he'd go that far?" Alec asked him.

"Yes, he would," Rose replied for him. "We never thought of that."

"Rose, tell them what you thought earlier," Alec encouraged her.

"No, it doesn't matter Alec."

"You may as well tell us," John shrugged his shoulders, his hands in his pockets.

"Rose thinks Bob was up to something else," Alec told him.

Rose nudged him. "Alec, I don't want to say anything."

"We know Rose," his dad told her. "They weren't grooming their sons and daughters to get together and maybe marry each other, to make them all related in some sort of sick way. We think Bob saw what they were doing and thought you Rose would be perfect for him to get in on it. We can only guess he wanted to throw you at that Jimmy so it would be easier to keep you for himself."

Rose took her hand back and lurched forward, getting up and running to the bathroom. Alec was going to go after her.

"Leave her Alec," his dad told him. "She worked it out didn't she?" Alec nodded, wanting to go to her. "Sorry Alec, this is why we waited."

"Yeah, sorry Cous," John told him. "They were into more than getting their kids together, these plans Rose said he had, they were to get her to leave you Alec and when the only alternative was this boy she didn't like, well you can guess the rest?"

"He wanted Rose for himself. He wanted me to leave her, it was her all along."

"Alec, it may have started out he wanted her mother but maybe he saw his chance? All this Rose told us, about him saying he was missing out. He wanted to push her towards this Jimmy despite him knowing Rose didn't like the boy. We think he was playing games, with Rose by putting you off her Alec, then she'd agree to what he had planned."

Alec put his head in his hands, wondering how Rose was taking it.

"So he was trying to wear her down?" Alec asked his dad.

"We think so. Maybe it was psychological, trying to wear her down?" he suggested to Alec.

"Rose would never have given in," Alec told him. "Bob didn't know how close we were, she would never have left me and he couldn't keep us apart all the time."

"Maybe not?'" John wondered. "If he was playing games with her? All he had to do was discourage you Alec."

"That would never have happened," Alec objected.

"We know that," John replied. "Go see how Rose is eh?"

Alec got up and went to knock on the bathroom door, where Rose was drying her face on a towel. She should have known this was what Bob had planned all along, to get her away from Alec and groom her by having her mother all over him, he hadn't wanted her mother, he'd wanted her.

That was why he was getting desperate, pushing her onto Jimmy so she'd easily agree anything for the teenager to go away. It scared her to think if she'd not had Alec, she could have easily fallen for it. She heard a knock on the door and put the towel down.

"Rose, please come out," Alec called to her. "They already know."

Rose unlocked the door and opened it slightly.

"They've known all along and they never told me," she told him quietly.

"We didn't know how to Rose," John called over after he put the heat back on the stove.

"John's right Rose." Alec's dad agreed. "You were thirteen, just the right age to start grooming you. Sorry to be so blunt but you and your mother were perfect targets but Bob never reckoned on you meeting Alec. We all did our best to protect you Rose."

"I know you did Mr Hardy, thanks. So, where does that leave me?" Rose asked.

She got up to set the table, Alec going to help her and touching her hand.

"It'll be okay Rose, you just have to stay away."

"Alec's right," his dad agreed. "Coming back with us only puts you at risk and we can't allow that to happen. You're safer in London, don't you agree Alec?"

John was hoping his cousin could take a hint.

"Yes Rose, think about it? You'd be hiding away up there, wondering if anyone was going to tell Bob or anyone else," Alec told her as they sat at the table. "Dad, I think I should stay in London with her."

That's what he and John had intended but they had to make it seem like it was his idea.

"Yes Alec, we think you should," his dad replied. "Would your mother object?" he asked Rose.

"She'd better not, she got me into this in the first place," Rose told them.

"Well, looks like I'll be leaving you two together when I take you home Rose?" John laughed as they helped themselves to the pasta.

"Will you come back for Alec?" Rose asked him.

"Weelll, I might just leave him there," John laughed. "Okay, if I can sleep on your couch again, I'll go back for him then. That's if he'll want to leave after five weeks?"

"Well, we'll have to work something out," Alec's dad told them. "Rose, if things cool down then you know you can go back anytime? Alec, I expect you'll be visiting Rose in the next holidays and not her visiting you?"

After they'd eaten, they wanted to be on their own again since they had a lot to talk about.

"So do you think your mother will agree?" Alec asked her. "Will she make me sleep on the sofa?" he teased her.

Rose gave him a nudge as they sat at the water's edge.

"Do ya think we should tell her?" Rose wondered.

"She really did not know?" Alec asked her.

"She says not but what if she's keeping it from me?" she replied, her arm in his. "So, do ya wanna spend the rest of the holidays with me in London then?"

"Do you even need to ask? Of course I do Rose, why would you think otherwise? As for Christmas and new year, yes, I'll miss being with my family and I'd rather you be there but I'll come down and spend it with you. Anyway, it will only be for a few years, you'll be able to go back at some point. Let my uncle work on it."

"What can he do Alec?"

"Well, he can find out why the clown of a solicitor even let Bob draw up the agreement in the first place," he replied.

"Alec, Bob could have got it back then changed it? He only needs to tell child services the main points to get them to believe him. It's not fair Alec. I mean if he wants to force me to go back and live with him, doesn't he get that I'm bound to stay away?"

"He's probably hoping you'll go back for me? Does he really think you would fall for it?" he asked her.

"Maybe he thinks my mum never told me and I would automatically just go? Well, he's in for a long wait then, isn't he?"

When they had left the chalet, John sat down.

"That went down better than we thought," he said to his uncle.

"I never really doubted Alec wouldn't go back with her. Has Alec said anything to you, about their relationship?"

"No, should he have done?" John asked.

"If he did, would you tell me?" he was asked.

"If Alec told me confidentially? It would depend," John replied. "There was one time, a while back. I called round and Alec took a while to answer the door. He claimed Rose had music on loud and he didn't hear me knocking on the door but I never heard loud music."

"Did you suspect anything John?" Alec's dad wanted to know.

"At the time, no," John replied. "They're teenagers Uncle, we can't watch them all the time. I did give Alec a warning, if Rose had been coming back with us. I reminded him why my brother never comes home much."

"I see then? I can't say if something else is going on with them that I approve but they behave when they're at our house, at least when I'm there anyway. I suppose I have to accept the inevitable?"

"Yeah, I suppose so?" John had to agree. "It's not going to be a problem though is it, now Rose can't go back?"

"No, I suppose not? I know they are disappointed but now Alec's going to be away?"

"Cheer up Uncle," John told him. "Our little Alec's not so little any more, is he?"

Alec's dad nodded his agreement. The house was going to seem empty while Alec was in London with Rose but he supposed her mother would have felt the same had Rose gone with Alec for the holidays. He wished he could confront the man who was going to be keeping her away but what could be done?

They had no proof what they'd discussed would ever happen, no proof that the friends Rose had said Bob had were anything more. When Rose and Alec returned, they went to her room since no-one felt like going out and talked quietly.

"Alec, do ya think your dad knows about us?" Rose whispered.

"I think I may have said something earlier," he had to admit.

"Yeah, ya might have done," she teased him. "Never mind, I think John already knew though?"

"He could do I suppose? It's over and done with Rose, no sense in worrying about it. Why did they wait until now to say it was best you went home?"

"They didn't want to spoil the best part of the holiday I suppose?" Rose suggested. "We still have tomorrow and I'll have to find a phone and warn my mum you'll be staying. It's not what I wanted Alec. There are no nice places to go around where I live. We'll have to get the bus into the city."

"Is there no underground near you?" he asked her, twisting the ring on her finger and wishing he'd had the nerve to buy her another kind of ring.

"It's easier on the bus, trust me. We can use it though, to get around, if ya want to try it?"

"Rose, I've been on it in Glasgow a few times," he laughed.

"Why did ya never take me on it?" she nudged him.

"It just goes around in a circle Rose, just around Glasgow, it's nothing special. It's not spread out like the one in London. Are there a lot of places that are free to enter?"

"Yeah, a few, like the science museum and the art galleries, then there are all the landmarks. I'll miss going to the park and the riverbank near you though."

"We'll manage Rose, the only thing that bothers me is this time, I'll be leaving you to go back to school. I wish I could go to school down there, with you."

"Listen to me Alec. You don't want to go to my school, trust me. I got away with being English up there but down there, there is no way you'd get away with being Scottish, anywhere. You have no idea how much I'd love for ya to still go to school with me but you belong at the grammar school and then ya have to promise me you'll go to college and get in the police."

"I'd give it all up for you Rose, you know that?" he asked her.

"Well I won't let ya give it up Alec. You've worked hard and you'll get accepted to college and the police one because ya deserve to."

"You worked hard as well Rose," he told her. "All that catching up and all the changes."

"Yeah, well I'd never have done it without you and John. Think about it Alec, you'd have to learn English history and geography and I can't help ya, I'm struggling to catch up 'cos I paid no attention until I went to school with you."

"Rose, you always had it in you, you just had no-one to encourage you, if your friends weren't bothered either," he replied.

"Well, if I'd not met you, I would have been sent to another school. I've no idea how I got in the grammar school."

"It was fate Rose, you know that? Just like you were meant to meet me, when I'd just lost my mum and then John, talking about us being invisible to everyone else. No-one bothered us Rose, when we sat on the back of that bench every day. No-one bothered to try to separate us, apart from when we got that new teacher and she soon forgot about it."

"Yeah, that was a bit strange," Rose recalled. "Well, that may not happen Alec, not if you give everything up and lowered yourself to go to my school. You'd have to hide how clever you are and I couldn't let ya do that, not for me."

She took his hand and he clenched his around it, then put his fingers inbetween hers.

"I'm not really that clever Rose and it's not your fault you slipped behind at your school, you were easily led by your friends."

"No, I was the ringleader Alec. I'm not proud of it now, trust me. I'd changed when I got back and they all wanted me to go back how I used to be so they tried their best but I refused. There's only really Shareen who's still my friend."

"I'm sorry Rose, you never said. You lost all your old friends?"

"It doesn't matter Alec, I used to show off but I'm past that now, I want to get good results and try to get into some kind of college. I can't let ya bring yourself down Alec."

"Don't put yourself down Rose, you've worked really hard and you would have done well, even at the grammar school. We have one more day here then whether your mother makes me sleep on your sofa or not, I'm staying with you the rest of the summer. Then we'll just have to manage, won't we?"