Be together

The next few weeks passed all too quickly for them and neither of them wanted to be apart until Christmas as Alec had to take the decision to gain extra experience when his dad told him a letter had come from the college. Rose had tried to assure him she was fine with it, that he should take the opportunity but Alec knew it hurt her to think they'd be apart for over three months.

He knew it could only get worse, that he'd be given other chances and Rose would of course insist he went ahead but he was determined he wouldn't miss either his or Rose's birthdays next year.

They had relented and let John come down for the last week to take them off to the coast for a few odd days and to the countryside. John was watching them splash each other in the sea on the last day and wondered how long it would be before something gave.

Alec went back to where he was and took his towel, Rose cooling off in the water.

"What?" Alec asked as John looked over the top of his sunglasses.

"You'd better both shake yourselves up and do something," John advised him.

"Like what?" Alec wanted to know as Rose waved to him. "She won't get engaged, I've asked her. She says she wants us to be together when that happens and not hundreds of miles away."

"Alec, Alec, Alec. Won't it be better if you insist you get engaged? Maybe it's too late before we go back but surprise her, at Christmas and buy her a ring then see what she says?" John suggested, seeing Rose making her way out of the water.

"What if she says no?" Alec replied, seeing her.

"I'd be more worried if she said yes," John joked.

"Hey, what are you two laughing at?" Rose wanted to know as Alec put a towel around her shoulders.

"Nothing love," Alec smiled, still admiring her in her bikini. "You get dried and I'll go get you an ice-cream?"

He went off and Rose sat beside John.

"Was he going on about us getting engaged again?" she wanted to know.

"When are you going to say yes?" John tried to sound serious.

"You think I should, don't ya?"

"Rose, it's between you and Alec but I'll give you the same advice I just gave him. It's better even if you're apart, surely?"

"I just want us to be together when it happens," Rose sighed.

"He knows you do Rose but you have to think how it's affecting him," John reminded her. "He'd do anything for you, if you let him. He'd give up everything to move down here and you know it."

Rose did know it and maybe she wasn't taking Alec's feelings into consideration but it was too late now, he was going back on Sunday. How much longer would he keep asking her though? Maybe if she didn't agree to get engaged the next time he came down, he'd stop asking her. Then when she was ready, he'd tell her it was too late.

Now, it was Sunday morning and Alec was all packed and Rose was moody.

"Come on Rose, I'll be back for Christmas," Alec was promising her. "You agreed for me to accept the extra training."

"Yeah, I know I did, I promised not to interfere with your studies. I'm not gonna apply for another college next year, I'm gonna get a job and save up, for when you can get a grant or a loan, whatever and I can go back to Scotland. Is your uncle sure he can't get any more information?"

"Rose, you know he's tried his best?" he replied, wanting to bring up the subject of getting engaged when he next came down.

They were about to kiss when John gave them a reminder he and Alec had to get going.

"Coming to see me off?" Alec wanted to know. "We'll have all next week to talk on the phone, then when I get settled in, I'll try and get the phone number and I'll call you whenever I can and you can call me back?"

"Yeah though mum will make me pay the phone bill," Rose joked. "Come on then before John reminds us again. Geez, I hate this bit, watching you drive off."

"I hate watching you in the mirror, standing there. Once I get settled there and if I do well, maybe I can get a transfer? Maybe not here but further north?"

"Yeah?" Rose seemed to cheer up. "How long would that take?"

"Not until I start properly but maybe before we originally thought," he replied as he was about to say goodbye to Jackie. "It's something to think about, I mean besides us getting engaged?"

John was saying goodbye to Jackie.

"Well thanks for letting me stay this last week," he was telling her. "How have those two been?" he nodded to where Rose had opened her room door.

"I'll knock their heads together if Rose doesn't give in and get engaged or Alec just puts a ring on her finger and tells her its staying there," Jackie laughed.

"They need some sense knocking into them," John agreed. "I think Alec's going to maybe insist at Christmas, if he takes my advice."

"Well I should hope so as well. You'd best go drag them out of that bedroom or Alec won't make it back to start his new college," Jackie laughed.

"Maybe that's the idea," John laughed.

After Jackie gave Alec one of her famous hugs, Rose walked down to John's car with him, as slowly as possible.

"It won't be too bad," Alec tried to assure her. "You go back to college and just try your best, it will help you get a better job."

"Did ya mean it, about moving down, before I can go back?" Rose asked him.

"Yes Rose, it may take a while though but it may mean a year earlier than we thought. Bye then, I love you."

Rose was clinging hold of him.

"Bye Alec, I love ya too. Wow, I can't believe you're actually gonna train to be a detective."

"Yes, I know. I will do something about people like Bob, I promise you. I'll make him pay for what he tried to get you involved with."

Rose tried to settle down at college again, getting teased about her showing off on the last day by the few that had stayed behind but now, she had something to concentrate on. Alec's dad took him to Glasgow on the Saturday before college started, giving him advice and saying he could back out any time he wanted or try his luck down in London.

"Rose is the reason I'm here," Alec admitted as he put his things away in the room he was about to share.

"I know Alec, if you're going to ask her to marry you, you need to get engaged first. Have you both thought about that? Getting engaged is fine but ultimately, it leads to a more permanent state. Have you even talked about that part?"

"We both know that Dad. Maybe that's why Rose wants to wait, so we won't have a long engagement?" Alec wondered.

His dad just hoped Alec was right and that she wasn't having cold feet now he'd actually got to the police college. Alec finally got the number for the block he was now living in so Rose could call him back but they couldn't talk for as long as they were used to.

He went back to his room one evening, just before he should have been going to see Rose and it was bothering both of them. His room-mate noticed.

"Trouble with your girlfriend?" Angus asked him.

"No, not trouble, just we should have been seeing each next week," Alec admitted.

"Then go," Angus told him.

"I can't, I signed up for extra classes, she already agreed I should take them," Alec replied.

"Then go down for a long weekend you fool," Angus suggested, a grin on his face. "You could go down after classes on Friday, come back Sunday night. What's stopping you man?"

Alec did wonder what he was thinking of. A weekend was better than nothing so he went back out to wait for the phone to be free to call John.

"Your room-mate's right Alec, you are a fool," John laughed when Alec told him. "I'll come and pick you up, I'll take the afternoon off and we'll go surprise Rose."

"Which weekend?" Alec asked, getting confused.

"Oh, I thought this one?" John replied. "Did you mean next one or maybe both?"

"Well if we went this weekend, Rose would want me back next weekend," Alec told him.

"Yeah, knowing Rose," John laughed. "Call her tomorrow, see if she says anything eh?"

"I can't tell her but I don't know why she didn't ask," Alec had to admit.

"Maybe she thought it would be too much to ask?" John suggested.

So after having more time to talk in the evening with students being away, Alec said nothing to her about his surprise visit and called her just before John was due to collect him.

"You're early," Rose laughed.

"Well everyone's away," he reminded her. "I can call later, if you want? Just before you go to bed maybe?"

"That's not gonna help me feel better ya know?" Rose replied.

"I don't know?" Alec tried to hint.

"Well okay, maybe around eleven then, since you said there's no-one there hardly."

"You can close your eyes and pretend I'm there," he suggested.

"I wish we could see each other while we're talking. Have I said that before?"

"Yes Rose, all the time. I'll talk to you later," he replied.

He wished he could tell her but he wanted to see the look on her face when he and John arrived.

Several hours later, he and John were making their way across London, Alec hoping they'd get there before he was supposed to be calling Rose again and also that she wouldn't be looking out of the kitchen window wishing she could see him getting out of the car.

Rose and her mother were watching TV, then Jackie declared she was going to bed and told Rose not to stay up late.

"Cheer up Rose, he's missed holidays before ya know?"

"I know Mum. It's a long way for me to hope he'll maybe manage the weekend," Rose admitted.

Jackie had a feeling Alec was going to pull out all the stops and get John to bring him down but she never said anything. John parked the car and they hurried towards Rose's block and let themselves in.

"She might not answer the door this late," Alec was telling John on the way up.

"Alec, think of the surprise she'll get if you ring the doorbell rather than calling her," John laughed.

Alec knew John was right as they walked along the balcony.

"Well go on then," John prompted him as they stood outside Rose's door.

"Her mother might be cross," Alec whispered.

"Oh get on with it," John insisted. "I didn't bring you all this way for nothing and we can't stay in the car all night. Now, ring that bell or haven't you missed her?"

Alec had missed her, more than anything and he had to try and make up for it, even only for a day or so. Rose was restless and got up to sit by the phone for Alec's call and while she waited, she silently wished Alec would turn up on her doorstep instead. She jumped when Alec finally pressed the bell.

"What is she doesn't answer?" Alec was worried as they waited.

"Then we'll go find a pay phone and tell her it's us. I wish they'd make those so-called mobile phones smaller," John replied.

Rose knew if she didn't go to the door, her mother would want to know who the hell was ringing the bell at gone eleven at night. Maybe it was one of the neighbours wanting to borrow something urgently, like a candle or a light bulb, no-one could get in the block without a code or being buzzed in. Then it dawned on her Alec had the code.

No, he wouldn't have come down just for the weekend would he? Had he called her early because they were about to set off and then him saying he'd call her later and she was still waiting?

"She's not going to answer," Alec was insisting.

"Shush Alec or you'll have her mother opening her window and complaining," John tried not to laugh.

Then they heard the door being unlocked but Rose changed her mind and left the chain on. John was surprised she'd not looked through the cat-flap they'd inherited when they'd moved in there. He was sure she would recognise Alec by his feet, who knew what they got up to when they were alone?

"Is that you Alec?" Rose asked gingerly, thinking that was a bit of a stupid question when anyone could mumble a 'Yes'.

"Rose, it's me and John, let us in," Alec replied through the small gap.

Rose couldn't get the chain off fast enough as she fumbled with it while trying to open the door at the same time, which didn't quite work. John had to smile to himself, they were both completely hopeless. She nearly knocked poor Alec over as the door finally opened and she flung her arms around him.

After she kissed him, John trying to get past them and picking Alec's bag up since Alec was too busy, John came face to face with Jackie, who had heard the noise and put her dressing gown on.

"Oi, what's going on Rose?" Jackie shouted as Rose clung hold of Alec then seeing John trying to get past. "What are you two doing here at this time of night?" she demanded to know, her arms folded.

"Hello Jackie. Alec wanted to surprise Rose so we set off after he finished his extra classes," John tried to explain.

"Well give us some warning next time," Jackie replied. "And do it a bit more quietly," she added.

John was going to say giving warning rather defeated the object of a surprise visit but he knew better than to correct Jackie Tyler when she'd been woken and was standing in her dressing gown. He knew already that Alec was going to be in for a tough time once he and Rose finally got their acts together and got engaged but maybe that was putting Alec off?"

He gave her a mock salute and went into the living room, throwing the bags on the chair, since he was too tired to be bothered arguing the point of 'surprise visit' with her and she always won anyway. He was relieved she turned her attention to Rose and Alec.

"And you Alec, ya could have missed a day and set off this morning," she continued her list of grudges.

"Leave him alone Mum," Rose insisted. "They're both tired plus Alec couldn't pick and choose when his extra classes were."

Alec thought Jackie did have a point, why hadn't he missed a day when he wanted so badly to see the love of his life?

"Sorry Mrs Tyler, I'll do that the next time or I'll let you know we're going to be late," Alec apologised and getting a look from John that said Jackie had him exactly where she wanted him.

Satisfied, Jackie went back to her room after calling 'night' to everyone.

"Ya both lucky I answered the door," Rose laughed as she sat beside John on the sofa and Alec made her move up.

"I said I was going to call Rose, I never said it was on the phone," Alec smiled.

"Have you two finished?" John wanted to know as he began to stretch his arms and his long legs, nearly hitting Rose.

Rose was already getting worried that Alec was getting taller and looking like a younger version of John.

Alec got up, holding his hand out to help Rose.

"Come on Rose, it's been a long journey."

"Yeah, sorry. Night John and thanks for bringing him."

"Aw, no worries Rose, he'll have only gone home and been a grump all weekend," John grinned.

Alec tried not to look embarrassed. After making up for being apart, the next day to give John a rest, they went into the centre of London and took a boat ride down the river to the Tower of London and walked around the gardens, then back to the Houses of Parliament then finally a bus back. Rose wished she'd had more time alone with Alec but it wouldn't have been fair on John, he didn't have to bring Alec down to see her.

That night after showing how they had missed each other, Alec making her giggle as he did her favourite thing to her, he asked her again about him taking the extra classes in the new year as he was missing them for Christmas.

"Alec, I know they're important to ya," she tried to assure him.

"They're not as important as you are Rose," he whispered in her ear as he kissed the tip of it.

"This is about you becoming a detective Alec, not about me. We'll have all Christmas and the new year together at least, then you come down for Easter, yeah?"

"I might miss your birthday again though," Alec was worried.

"Then I'll have to share yours again, won't I?"

Alec thought then she wondered why he loved her so much.

"I wish I could come down for yours though. Have you thought about what you'll do if you leave college next year? I wish we could afford to get a place of our own, nearer to the college so I could see you every weekend."

"Alec, it'd be hard, for both of us, let's just wait until you can get a transfer. Have ya found out what other colleges there are?"

"Manchester?" Alec joked as he nibbled her ear again.

"Geez, I won't be able to understand them there," Rose joked back.

"You understood me when we first met," Alec reminded her. "I'll have to apply first though but if I keep taking these extra classes, I might be able to train on the job and go to college part-time."

"Then let's hope so, yeah? That would be good though, being a real detective."

"I've already said I want to skip being a normal police officer and go into the detective's program. That was why they suggested the extra classes, not everyone gets picked."

"Let's hope ya do Alec," Rose replied, trying to get on top of him, which was a challenge in her single bed.

In the light coming from outside, Rose took her thin top off and placed her hands either side of his head, teasing him.

"So ya have something to think about when ya go back," she leaned down and whispered.

Alec had more to think about than Rose showing herself off to him but he loved it when she did. He had gone into the city centre and after walking around for what seemed like hours, had come across a reasonably priced jewellery store and put a deposit down on a solitaire diamond ring, having noted Rose's size from the previous rings he'd bought her.

His now friend and room-mate had teased him but wished him good luck saving up for it in time for Christmas as he'd been able to claim a small allowance for living away from home.

The next morning, Rose was delaying his departure again but he'd told her to serious.

"Rose, I have classes in the morning, remember?" he asked as he tried to get her arms off his neck.

"Yeah, sorry. I just hate you having to leave. I'm gonna concentrate on me trying to move nearer to ya when ya can get transferred."

"Yes, you do that Rose. It may not be too long, if I work hard."