As Alec shifted to try and get somewhat comfortable in the the small folding chairs that had been crammed into the school cafeteria, he considered—once Ellie had made up her mind to allow their relationship to be public in Broadchurch, she certainly didn't waste time. Within days of their walk on the beach, she had invited Alec to go to one of Fred's school events with her. That wasn't so different, he had been to his school performances before. But when she reached over to hold his hand, he wondered if his pacemaker could keep up.

He felt silly. Like a teenage boy whose crush had just taken his hand. It wasn't as if he hadn't held hands with her before, kissed her, cuddled with her. And he had been married, even if it was to Tess, it had produced his beautiful Daisy. But for Ellie to take his hand in front of the gossiping ninny's of Broadchurch, it was a bold move for her and had huge meaning for them both.

He glanced over at her and she flashed him one of her brilliant smiles. He smiled back and in his own bold move, moved to put his arm around her.

Needless to say, there were glances and whispers.

They were both thrilled, a bit giddy, and tried to conceal their giggles. Maybe it could be fun to be the latest gossip when it was with someone pleasant that you actually were in a relationship with.

It was true, once Ellie Miller had set her mind on something, she didn't back down. That could be said for her relationship with Alec Hardy. It had taken her long enough to open herself up to a relationship with him. And now, even longer to allow their small town to be fully aware of their relationship.

But there had been some boundaries she hadn't crossed with Alec. No matter how much she cared about him—loved him—and he the same, she didn't ever want to seem as if she was taking advantage of their relationship.

She frowned and almost considered hanging up the phone as it dialed, but he picked up before she could.

"Hardy," was his gruff version of a 'hello.'

"Oh, you sound as if you're having a bad day. Sorry I bothered you, we can talk later," she quickly replied, hoping to conceal that she had a special reason for calling.

"Oh, El. I'm sorry, I didn't look at the caller ID. Just a bit annoyed with SOCO. They seem to be dragging their heels on the report I need to close this case I'm working on." He paused and frowned, realizing she was calling in the middle of both their work days. "Is everything okay, El? You're in Sandbrook following that lead on your own case, do you need me to track something down here?"

"No, no. Just—" she tried to quickly come up with an excuse. "Just thought I'd see how you were doing."

He frowned. "No you're not. That's not like you. We don't just 'chat' during the day, El. What is it you aren't telling me?" he pushed his question.

She sighed. "It's just—well I just got a call from the school. Tom is sick and needs to be picked up. And Lucy and Dad can't do it. And—"

"And why am I the last on the list and not the first?" he gently asked. He knew the answer, but he needed her to acknowledge it.

Ellie sighed, again, and spoke quietly, "I just don't want to impose on you, Alec. I know you like the boys, but you didn't sign up for—"

He interrupted her. "I don't like your boys, El."

"What?" her response was an octave higher, both confused and shocked by his short statement.

"I don't like your boys." he repeated, then paused for effect. "I love them, El. I love them like—like they were my own. Surely you know that. I don't want to be the last person you call when you need help. Ever. For anything. I want to be the first. Call the school back and tell them I'll be right over to pick him up."

There was a long silence—long enough that for a moment Alec wondered if their connection had been cut off. "Ellie?"

"I love you, Alec Hardy," she said quietly, wiping the tears off her cheeks.

"I love you too, Ellie Miller. See you this evening. Daisy and I will be at your house with the boys when you get home."

Ellie stretched her neck to both sides as she pulled her coat off and hung it on the coat rack by the front door. It had been a long day and the drive back from Sandbrook seemed to take forever. She was happy to be home to see her 'boys.' All three of them. And Daisy. She heard Fred giggling and Daisy speaking to him in an animated retelling of one of his favorite stories.

She followed her nose to her first stop, the kitchen, and sure enough, as she suspected, that's where she found Alec. He was stirring a huge pot of something on the hob. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his tie had been discarded somewhere, the top few buttons of his shirt undone for comfort.

He glanced up from his work on the soup he was preparing from scratch and smiled at her. "Ah, there's the weary traveler. Welcome home."

"What is that divine smell?"

"Chicken Noodle Soup. Homemade. This American policeman I met during a department conference swore by it for sickness, and I've had nothing but success with it, so I thought it'd be good for Tom, and the rest of us can enjoy it as well."

Ellie came up behind Alec and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her left cheek against his shoulder for a moment, then placing a quick kiss on his neck. Alec practically purred under her touch before she stepped away to pull two wine glasses out of the cabinet. As she moved to the refrigerator to pull out a bottle of white wine, she asked, "How is Tom?"

"He's over the worst of it now. He's up in his bed. He was sick a few more times after he got home, but it's been a few hours. Daisy's been keeping Fred occupied down here out of the way and away from the germs."

After pouring them both a glass of wine, she leaned against the counter close to where he worked at the soup, testing and adding more ingredients. She twirled the glass around, watching the liquid as she spoke again. "Thank you, for coming to my rescue."

"It's my job," he stated simply.

"Is it?" she questioned.

He stopped and set the spoon down on the spoon rest by the stove, wiped his hands on the towel hanging out of his pocket, and placed his hands on his hips, looking at her intently. "I love you, Ellie Miller. And I love your boys. So does Daisy. You are very independent. Obviously you've had to become even more so since 'whatshisface' went off the deep end. I wouldn't dare want to take away that independence—it's one of the things I love about you. But I do want to be able to care for you, to help you, and the boys. I know that is hard for you to accept. But I'm not just in this for the good company." He paused, and she continued to stare down at her wine, unsure of what to say, and sure that if she looked at him she might cry. "Perhaps I should have said all that before, but I had hoped that my actions would speak for themselves. Daisy and I—" He paused, hoping this was the right time. "We consider you and the boys to be our family. And family means being there for each other no matter what. Good, bad. Sick. Healthy. Happy. Sad. All of it. And helping each other through it."

Ellie slowly looked up at Alec and spoke quietly, "Be careful Alec, that sounds almost like wedding vows."

He held her gaze, swallowed slowly, then took the leap and answered with a question, "Would that be so bad?"

At just that moment, their silence and stares were interrupted by Fred running through from the living room, through the kitchen, towards the hallway. As he ran, he squealed, "You can't catch me! You can't catch me!"

Following on his heels was said teenage girl. "Oh yes I can! Oh yes I can!" As she passed through, she waved. "Hi Ellie!"

As silence once again descended on the kitchen, faint giggles were heard from the living room as Daisy indeed did catch Fred. The two adults looked back at each other and chuckled, shaking their heads, then both blushed a bit upon realizing where they had left the conversation. Ellie cleared her throat and set her glass down on the counter. "I'll just—I'll just go check on Tom."

He nodded and checked on the contents of the pot on the stove. "Sounds good. The soup needs to simmer a bit, should be ready in a half hour. Let him know we'll bring him a bowl when it's ready."

When Ellie came back downstairs a few minutes later, she glanced to her right and saw Alec sitting on the couch watching TV with Fred in his lap and Daisy by his side. She saw him cock his head to the side upon detecting the sounds of her reach the bottom of the steps.

"El, do you mind bringing me my wine glass?" he asked over his shoulder. "I left it in the kitchen and I'm a bit stuck at the moment."

She chuckled. "Will do. Be right back."

She made her way the few steps back into the kitchen and then over to the counter where Alec had left his glass by the wine bottle. She got a few steps away and froze.

There, next to the wine glass was a box. A ring box. An open ring box with a diamond ring nestled in it. Her mouth dropped open as she gasped. She stared.

The sound of a throat clearing behind her registered, but she didn't move. She saw out of the corner of her eye as Alec came into view by her side.

"What do you say, El? It isn't such a bad idea, is it? Wedding vows? One day. Soon, I hope. Me and you. Daisy, Tom, and Fred. A family. A team. Forever. Sickness. Health. Good. Bad. Happy. Sad. All of it. Together."

Tears fell down both her cheeks as she finally tore her gaze away from the ring and towards Alec. "Together."

He nodded. "Together. Forever."

She made the few steps left between them quickly and their arms were wrapped around each other. He held her close and after a moment they were rocking to music that wasn't really there but that they both heard in their hearts.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Is that a yes?"

He felt her chuckle vibrate into his chest and she whispered back. "Yeah. That's a yes."

*-*-* The End *-*-*