Rose's stomach was churning, she had knots on knots and her mother wasn't helping. She'd tried calling Alec where he was staying and with there being a new intake of students, she'd got nowhere in trying to get someone to find him.
He'd supposed to have been moving in with one of the police sergeants but she had no idea who. She put the phone down and put her head in her hands.
"He has to be somewhere Rose," her mother reminded her.
"That's not helping Mum, why hasn't he called me? He was fine the last time I saw him, before he went back after the holiday."
They'd had another holiday in Broadchurch, Alec even looking up the cottage on the side of the cliff only to find out it was a holiday rental and they'd no chance of ever living there.
"Well maybe he got moved?" Jackie suggested, running out of ideas. "Call John."
"He moved, remember? He got that job he went after in Glasgow and though neither of them said anything, I bet they were trying to surprise me," Rose told her. "I bet Alec was gonna live with him."
"Maybe he was?" Jackie mused. "Well call his dad?"
"What if Alec doesn't want me to know where he's gone though?" Rose argued.
"Will you stop Rose? Alec wouldn't do that. Just call his aunt's then and get John's number. Do ya know what school he's at?"
"No, only he's had to go back to his Scottish accent, the school's a bit tougher than Paisley Grammar," Rose looked up, trying to smile at the thought and hoping John wouldn't slip up. "I can't call her Mum, what if Alec's told her not to say anything if I ring her?"
"Well I don't know what ya gonna do Rose," Jackie gave up. "Wait until he calls ya? He might have got lucky and got a sudden placement somewhere?" she suggested.
"Why wouldn't he want me to know where he's been sent Mum? Unless he's got somewhere down here?"
"Would they do that?" Jackie wondered. "Maybe he had to leave in a hurry and forgot to leave word of where he'd gone?"
"Who would he tell Mum? His room-mate was hoping to be sent somewhere as well. Why would any of the new ones know who he was?"
Rose waited nearly three months, to early December and no word from Alec, making her more miserable by the day. She'd taken the department store job and decided to keep her engagement ring on for now and hope Alec would get away from wherever he was to visit her at Christmas.
Maybe it was just a mix-up and he thought she'd try calling his dad or his aunt, she had wondered. With it being early December, she was getting even more worried he wouldn't pay her a visit, she had no idea how he was feeling. She had made friends with one Donna Noble, from the personnel office, who had started out as a temp and stayed and Donna had given her plenty of advice.
For Alec, it had been just as bad. He'd barely got back to the college after a week away with Rose when he was called to the superintendent's office.
"Your tutors are very pleased with your progress so far," he'd been told.
"Thank you Sir, I've tried my best," Alec had replied. "I hope I will be able to get some experience soon?"
"Yes, indeed. Well I have some good news, if you are willing to be further away from home? Everything will be arranged for you."
"How far away would that be?" Alec had asked, hoping it would be somewhere over the border but John had just moved to Glasgow, mainly for him.
When he'd been told it was further north, in Aberdeen, his heart had sunk. He'd not told Rose when he got back to his room, who he now shared with someone else and they'd hardly spoken, he'd acted as normal. He'd asked his new room-mate to give a message to Rose if she called and he'd not had chance to tell her.
Now he knew his message had fallen on deaf ears and Rose must not have got it. He'd travelled up to Aberdeen, to be taken on as a trainee plain-clothes detective constable, being one of the youngest to be selected. He'd found out where he was staying, tried calling Rose but hadn't realised she took a while to get home and her mother was still out.
Worst of all, he'd been given the night shift, to get some experience and Rose now worked on Saturdays. He knew Jackie was prone to going on shopping trips but even worse, would Rose still be talking to him? He'd managed to call John to get some advice.
"I can't get away for Christmas," Alec was telling John. "What am I going to do, about Rose?"
"Calm down Alec," John laughed, having given up maintaining an English accent for now.
"How can I?" Alec wanted to know. "She must think I'm trying to avoid her."
"I know it may seem like that," John tried to assure him. "Can't you get away at all? By the way, I've put in my notice for after Christmas, I hate that school, the pupils are un-teachable."
"You only moved because of me," Alec reminded him.
"I know Alec but it could have been worth it? Don't give up on each other," John advised him.
So, Alec had got Christmas Day off and tried calling Rose, thinking she'd be mad at him. John had told him to at least try when they'd spoken earlier that day. Rose was going through the motions of getting Christmas dinner ready, the first time in years there had been no Alec and John.
Rose jumped when the phone rang and went into the living room to stare at it. Her mother followed.
"Well answer it then, it could be him," Jackie insisted.
She saw Rose rooted to the spot so she picked it up and said hello.
"It's Alec," he said quietly.
"Yeah, I guessed," Jackie laughed. "Hold on while Rose comes to the phone, she's just here."
Rose was holding her hand out, with a blank look on her face.
"Alec? Where the hell are ya?" was what came out instead of why hadn't he called or left a number.
"Rose, calm down. I'm in Aberdeen," he told her.
"What are ya doing up there?" she managed to ask, Jackie retreating back to the kitchen while Rose told him off.
"It's where I got stationed. I'm so sorry Rose, I tried calling you but then, it got so long, I didn't think it was a good idea."
"What? I had no way of getting hold of you, then when it was so long? I didn't think it was a good idea calling your dad or your aunt. What was I supposed to think Alec? I honestly can't do this any more."
Alec took it the wrong way, thinking she was giving up on him.
"What can I say Rose? I miss you and I still love you," he managed to reply.
"I miss ya too Alec but how long are ya gonna be stationed in Aberdeen? The plan was, next year, I go back to Paisley or Glasgow with ya."
"I know it was but I might be back there by then love. I asked my uncle to make sure it would be safe for you to return."
"I thought I would be safe Alec, when I turn twenty one? Geez, how can I not be safe when I get to that age?" Rose wanted to know, wishing her mother would get a portable phone so she could pace up and down.
"We just wanted to be on the safe side Rose, that's all," he replied, knowing she was panicking.
"I'm going back Alec, I don't care, either on my next birthday or the day after, he can't stop me. We've waited so long," she began to cry.
Jackie could hear her from the kitchen and was almost in tears herself. They had waited so long and it was all her fault for getting involved with that man and signing that stupid agreement. She decided to risk interrupting their conversation.
"Rose, I could go back up there and get Bob to tear up that agreement," she offered.
"What did your mother just say?" Alec wanted to know as he heard Jackie.
"She said she could go back there and get Bob to tear that agreement up," Rose told him. "It won't work Mum, he abused you as much as he tried to abuse me. I can't let ya go back to him, for anything."
"I could at least try," Jackie said quietly.
"Rose, you can't let her," Alec was already saying.
"I know that Alec. I have to go back and face the consequences if he won't leave me alone. Who knows what he's done, in that twisted mind of his?"
"That's why my uncle has gone back to trying to find out," Alec told her, thinking this call would cost him a fortune but she was worth it.
"We have to face it Alec, Bob could have done more damage than we thought," Rose had to admit.
"I will stop him Rose, as soon as I can get back, I'll start an investigation," Alec promised her.
"For what Alec? We have no proof, remember?" Rose reminded him. "What are ya gonna investigate him for? Having parties and having his friends round or meeting them in the pub?"
"I'll find something," Alec tried to assure her. "Maybe I'll have to wait until I get a promotion though but I will get him, you have my word Rose."
"We don't even have any names Alec," Rose told him sadly.
Jackie went back to the kitchen. She hadn't wanted to admit she knew some of the surnames of the so-called friends of Bob's but would it do any good? She believed they were far too clever to even be accused of anything involving their kids.
"I know," Alec replied. "I have some leave to come soon, I'll try to get down to see you. Did you take that job, at the department store?"
"Yeah, it made sense, I needed a proper job. Just come down when ya can Alec and hopefully, I'll be able to get some time off, if ya give me some warning."
"If I'm still in Aberdeen, after your birthday, will you come back?" he wanted to know, fearing the worst.
"I thought I'd be staying with your aunt, or even John if he'd stayed in Glasgow and you were still there," Rose replied, trying to hold the tears back.
"I know that was the plan Rose but you would be okay in Aberdeen, it's not so bad," Alec tried to assure her.
"You're staying with someone?" Rose asked him.
"With one of the sergeants. I could start looking for places?" he offered. "It's only five months Rose."
*Four months later*
Alec had managed a long weekend to go visit Rose, just before his birthday and then he'd had to get in the chief superintendent's good books to be able to do so. He'd had to be honest with his boss and admit he may lose his fiancée if he didn't get to visit her soon.
"You have my sympathy Alec," his chief was telling him. "There are other officers in the same situation but since you've been honest, you can have the time off. How are you going to get to London though? It will be a long journey by train."
"I was maybe going to get my brother to come and pick me up or hire a car," Alec had replied.
He'd been unsuccessful with John, having given him too short a notice as he was planning taking his now girlfriend away for the weekend so one of the other trainees had leant him a car and it never bothered Alec that he'd never driven so far on his own before. He just wanted to see Rose but when he got there though, he feared the worse again.
Rose had tried to cope with it, she really had but her mother knew Rose was finally giving up on going back to Scotland to be with Alec. On his arrival, Jackie took him to one side.
"Ya have to do something Alec," she told him.
"I know but what can I do? We'll just have to wait a few more weeks and see if she'll come up to join me. There are plenty of cheap guest houses near where the police station is."
"Ya mean for Rose to get a job up there and save what she's got for a deposit on a flat or something?" Jackie wanted to know.
"Well that was the plan," Alec admitted, wondering where Rose had got to. "We could maybe rent a place but it depends how long they keep me there. I could get moved again."
"So ya'd never stay in one place?" Rose interrupted them.
"Sorry, I should have warned you," he admitted. "Once I pass the sergeants exam, I'll get somewhere permanent. I have to wait until I get a bit older and get more experience but I've learned a lot since I've been there."
Rose went to sit in the chair, her head in her hand. Alec went to sit on the arm, trying to put his arm around her but she moved it away.
"Rose, talk to me."
"About what Alec? Okay, I know ya need the experience and you're doing well but that doesn't help. I hardly see ya."
"I know Rose, I'm sorry but it's not that easy. I have a week's leave to come, I can book another holiday, if you want or John could come down for you and I'll go home for a week."
"Alec, we don't know what Bob will do, who knows with that twisted mind of his? He could go after me."
"Rose, I won't let that happen," Alec promised her.
"How can I risk it Alec?" Rose asked tearfully, letting him put his arm around her this time.
Jackie was listening.
"If I ever get my hands on that man, I swear I'll strangle him," she told Rose and Alec.
"Don't blame yourself Mrs Tyler," Alec told her. "It could easily have been someone else."
"I now that but I still feel responsible, being taken in like that. You're twenty one soon, ya can drop calling me Mrs Tyler," Jackie tried to laugh. "Rose, it should be safe for ya to go up to Aberdeen."
"I wanted to go back to Paisley," Rose replied, wiping her tears with the tissue Alec had managed to reach.
"I know you did Rose. Why don't I book another week in Broadchurch, say late September? I should be able to take a holiday then?" he offered.
Rose knew he was really trying to make an effort. So he went back and booked a caravan for a week, calling Rose to confirm and he sent her a present for her birthday, a silver bracelet with two heart charms on the end, since he was trying to make up for not being there.
"That's a lovely present Rose," her mother was admiring it as Rose put it on.
"Yeah, he always get me something nice. I just miss sharing birthdays with him."
"Yeah, I know you do Rose but you're going on that holiday, ya have that to look forward to," Jackie reminded her. "Don't be scared of going up there, Bob won't be able to go after ya now."
"How can I ever know that Mum? Alec's uncle can't find out anything else because he doesn't know who would agree to send out an agreement like that. We don't even know if he stopped adding things to it," Rose told her mother.
"Don't think like that Rose, ya don't know for sure that he did add anything except it was until ya were twenty one."
"I don't think he'll ever give up Mum 'cos if he was gonna give up, he'd never had made ya sign that agreement," Rose argued. "I think at first, maybe he wanted to get me involved with whatever was going on but later, well I don't want to think about it."
"I know what ya gettin' at Rose. He wanted you instead of me," Jackie already knew.
"Don't say that Mum."
"Well it's true. He was always after you. Maybe he thought he could have us both? Maybe he wanted me at first but why was he always on about you being old enough?"
"What are ya talking about Mum?" Rose wanted to know.
"I swear I didn't realise what he was gettin' at," Jackie admitted.
"He was waiting? For what? For me to take notice of him? He wanted me to join in, that's what it was all about and not just with his friend's kids. He wanted them to go with the other parents, I already guessed that before we left. Now, are ya trying to say that's what he wanted, from me?"
Jackie only managed to nod.
"I swear I thought I was wrong about it, that he really wanted us to be a family."
"I know ya did Mum. Alec wants to investigate what went on when he becomes a senior detective. He says they take stuff like that very seriously. The only problem is, he'd have to name us and the fact I'm his fiancée."
"Then he has to do it, Bob could already have got someone to take our places and he's trying to groom another young girl," Jackie told her sadly.
Rose didn't need reminding. Alec went to pick Rose up to go on holiday, borrowing John's now spare car but he noticed Rose wasn't quite the same as they sat on the beach when they arrived in Broadchurch, Alec thinking last year was going to be the last time they'd go there. He'd got transferred and they'd delayed Rose's return to Scotland but Alec wasn't happy about it.
"Rose, come back with me, please? Why are you staying in London?" he wanted to know.
"How do ya know that ya not gonna get moved again?" she wanted to know. "We might just get settled somewhere then have to leave? Do ya know if it's safe for me to go back anyway?"
"We've been over that," Alec reminded her, knowing full well she was scared to go back.
"Can we be certain Alec? That he won't get to know?"
"Rose, he can't do anything now you're twenty one and we'll get married as soon as we can. How about Christmas? I'll get John and my dad down to London and we'll get married. Then wherever I am, I'll have to say I don't want to keep moving around. I think I can pass the sergeants exam, maybe I can go in for it early?"
"Will they let you?" Rose asked as they sat arm in arm.
"They had better," Alec smiled as she rested on his shoulder.
He didn't want to tell her what he, his uncle and John had talked about when his dad had brought something up. Would Bob have spies and he'd get to know when Rose was back and go after her, even if they got married? The man was obviously obsessed with getting her back, one way or another.
Alec knew there was a risk Rose would be found and maybe taken against her will. He had to get stationed in Paisley, get promoted and get this man locked up. In the meantime, all he could do was hope they were all wrong that Rose was in danger when she did return to Scotland.
"Did Bob ever know my surname?" Alec tried to ask cautiously.
"Why do ya ask?" Rose replied.
"Well if you never mentioned me, who does he know to look for?" he pointed out.
Rose thought if only it was that easy.
"Alec, there's only one way of finding out, then what if he does go after me and you're not there?"
"Rose, I told you I go after him," Alec reminded her. "Is that not enough love?"
She buried her head further into his shoulder, tears in her eyes.
"If we give in to him Rose, he's won," Alec continued.
