*Flashback – Month 4 of Alec and Liv, continued*

The next day, a Thursday—Alec's normal Roast Beef Sandwich day—she called in to the pub to say she couldn't come in because she was sick. She peeked out the window as she spoke to Jack on the phone, and saw that the police car was across and down the street a little. She could see the two officers in the car, so she knew why it was there, but they had moved back. She sighed, supposing this was Alec's version of a compromise.

She really did feel sick, her heart ached, her stomach felt nauseous, and her head pounded. She moved from under a blanket on the sofa, with a box of tissues in hand, to her desk, where she sat and stared at a blank page for an hour before going back to the couch and burying her head under a pillow with a moan.

Bloody. Alec. Hardy, she thought to herself. Why had she let him so close? She had sworn after Jim that she'd never let another man close. She made it four years and now here she was, head over heels for a stubborn, strong-willed Scotsman. Who, if she was honest with herself, was more like her than she cared to admit. Why did it bother her so much that he wanted to protect her? Because for most of her life, she had only ever known protecting herself. Letting someone else assume that duty made her feel weak, or at least made her feel like they thought she was weak.

Friday came and went, with her having cancelled singing at the pub that night. She had ignored multiple calls from Alec, and a few from Ellie. Saturday morning at seven a.m. there was a banging on her door. She was still in bed, and covered her head with her pillow, hoping the banging would go away.

She had an emotional and alcohol hangover from the multiple glasses of wine she had drank the night before. She knew drinking alone was dangerous. Her father was an alcoholic and she had sworn to Ellie she'd never drink alone. But at the time, it certainly seemed like the perfect way to get things off her mind. She groaned as the banging continued and finally got up, wearing only an oversized t-shirt that covered her bottom, and pants. She slowly made it to the door and opened it just as Ellie Miller was about to pound on it a third time.

Ellie's frown turned into a giant, obviously-fake, smile as her friend opened the door. "Well good morning, sunshine!" She invited herself in, two shopping bags in hand, and went straight for the kitchen just off the main entryway. "I assumed by the fact that you've been off the grid for two days that you were laying around here, moping, pouting like some poor pitiful creature who isn't getting her way. So, I've brought food and am making you breakfast." The painfully-chipper woman chattered away as she began unloading groceries out of the bags and cleaning up the kitchen that Liv had ignored for two days.

Ellie went to throw away a few stray pieces of rubbish and saw two empty wine bottles in the recycle bin. She dropped the charade and frowned at her friend, who had followed behind her slowly and had managed to prop herself onto a stool by the kitchen counter. "Two. Bottles. Olivia MacDonald I've got a right mind to spank you like a child and send you to your room."

"Please, please send me to my room. I'd love to go back to bed," she mumbled from where her head lay buried within her crossed arms on the counter.

"Oh no you don't. The only place you're going is a hot shower, then you're getting dressed in real clothes, then you're coming out here and having breakfast. And then we are going to have a talk."

"Aren't we talking now?" she grumbled as she pulled her head back up and squinted her eyes at her friend.

"Now. Shower. Let's go." Ellie grabbed her arm and pulled her off the stool and pushed her towards her bedroom.

"I can bloody well get myself in the shower, Ellie," she growled.

"Like hell you will. If I leave you in here you'll flop back on the bed and pass out again. Come on, strip off the t-shirt, it's not like I haven't seen you naked before when we were kids, or when we skinny dipped in the ocean that time for a dare." Ellie had her in the en suite bathroom and turned on the water, being sure to only have it as warm as necessary to be bearable. When she turned, Liv stood naked, arms crossed over her chest, glaring at her. Ellie rolled her eyes. "I'm sure that glare is supposed to scare me. Have you looked in the mirror? The only thing frightening about you right now is that scraggly mop of hair you haven't brushed in two days. Get in the shower, clean up and wake up, brush your teeth, get dressed, and come back out to the kitchen. Breakfast will be ready."

Thirty minutes later, Liv sat across the dining table from Ellie, pushing food around her plate. Her hair was still damp from the shower, having only been towel-dried. She had gotten herself into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt; one of Alec's t-shirts, actually.

She had been at dinner with he and Daisy at his house one evening and spilled wine on her top. He gave her a t-shirt with the Scottish football team emblem on it to change into and wear home. That was a month ago and he hadn't asked her about the shirt since.

"What do you think you're doing drinking two bottles of wine? Alone?" Ellie lectured.

"Maybe I wasn't alone, hmm? Maybe I had—a guy—over," Liv shot back. She was stretching far for an excuse, and knew Ellie would never believe such a thing.

Ellie practically spat out her food as she broke out in laughter. "Right. Because there's a man other than Alec Hardy who can put up with your Scottish arse."

"Are you trying to say I'm not dateable?" she shot back.

"Well you're certainly not acting like it this week," Ellie remarked between bites.

"Why did you tell Alec? I asked you not to." Liv pouted.

"Well, partially because he threatened to spend all day at my desk." That got a smirk out of Liv. "And also because he deserved to know."

Liv glared at her friend. "And that was your decision to make, was it?"

"Since you weren't seeing things clearly, and your safety was at stake, yes, I believe it was. Feel free to disagree." Ellie popped a smile on her face quickly, then rolled her eyes as she frowned again.

"I think we're all pretty clear that I disagree," Liv grumbled as she took another bite.

"Oh yes, we're all clear about that. From what I understand, we're lucky Alec doesn't have neighbors close by or it would have been clear to them too. Why in God's name did I have to be the one lucky enough to have two grumpy mule-headed Scots as my friends?" Ellie complained.

Liv's eyes went wide. "Woah, woah, you are comparing me to Alec's grumpiness?"

"If you had asked me a week ago, I would have never thought it, but now, I most certainly do." Ellie paused and Liv didn't say anymore, she merely frowned over her food. So Ellie decided it was time to put all her cards on the table, as it were, and try to set Liv straight once and for all. "Liv, nobody knows better than I do that you have had one hell of a life with a couple of shit men in it. The problem is, you had to grow up taking care of yourself, and then you married Jim, and you continued to take care of yourself. Even when you had friends around who wanted to help, you hardly ever let us help-you hid your bruises, your scars. And you're still doing it—you're still hiding your scars, Liv. But Liv, you're not alone. I've always tried to be there for you, and I always will be. And now, you've got Alec. And he isn't like them, Liv—"

"I know that!" Liv jumped in, raising her voice.

Ellie pointed an accusing finger and glared at the woman, a warning for her to stop talking. "No, I'm not done. You'll hear me out. Liv, I may not have known Alec as long as I've known you, but I'd like to think I have a pretty good idea of the type of man he is. He doesn't do anything halfway. It's how he ended up with a literally broken heart. He gave so much emotionally to his ex, to his job, and it all came falling down around him and it actually broke his heart. You know that. But you're almost the same. You, you've built up so many walls, not wanting to even think that you might need to ask for help, that you even could ask for help. I get it, Liv—for years you had no one you thought you could ask for help because when everything bad was happening, there was no one there to stop it for you. But there is someone now, and I think it's time for you not be on your own anymore."

Ellie sighed, and pushed her plate away from her. "If you decide that's not what you want, I'll have to respect that decision. But I'd hate to think you let Colin MacDonald or Jim Wright steal one more moment of your happiness away."

The doorbell rang and they both jumped. Liv took a deep breath. "If that is another delivery from Jim, I'm going to scream."

Ellie shook her head confidently. "Oh, it won't be another delivery from Jim."

"How do you know that?" Liv's brow furrowed.

Ellie grinned. "Alec went to visit to a friend of his in the force in Bridport this morning. Bridport police are paying a visit to Jim at his home."

"What!?" Liv shouted as she got up to answer the door, but stopped long enough to look at Ellie. "He won't—"

Ellie shook his head "Not a thing illegal. It'll all be above board, it's why he's letting his friend handle it. It will be an official warning, on record."

Liv sighed, then as she walked away, towards the front door, she said, "Then who is at the bloody door?"

"Delivery for MacDonald" the young man at the door said after she opened it.

Ellie came up behind her and spoke over her shoulder. "Who from?"

"Name's on the card. But, I believe it's an—" He looked down at his clipboard a moment. "Alec Hardy."

"I knew it," Ellie whispered with a grin.

Liv sighed as she signed the clipboard and took the huge box. After closing the door behind her with her foot, they went to the kitchen and she opened it to find a huge vase and two dozen red roses.

She sat them down on the coffee table and the two women plopped down on the couch in front of them. Liv took a deep breath, then took the card and opened. Upon reading it, her head fell back against the cushion behind her head as she blew a breath out of her lips hard. "Did you two have this all planned out or something?" She handed the card over to Ellie.

"He knew I was coming. He asked me to come check on you, not that I needed asking to want to do that. But I had no idea he was sending flowers." She took the card and opened it.

Dearest Liv,

You're not alone anymore.

I'll be waiting.

Love, Alec.

"Bloody hell," Ellie whispered. "I had no idea the man was that much of a romantic."

Liv whimpered and leaned over, resting her head on Ellie's shoulder. "I just—how can I let go? How can I let myself fall in love with someone?"

Ellie leaned her own head against her friend's, the two staring at the roses as she replied, "Don't you think it's a little late to ask that question, sweetie? If you hadn't already fallen, this wouldn't be so hard."