Once on the train, Rose called James.
"Hey you, I'm on the train, it gets in around eleven thirty, are you still meeting me?"
"Yeah, of course I am, just because you ran off with that infuriating detective."
"I'm not talking about this on the phone James, you can lecture me all you like, it won't change anything and I haven't run off with him."
"So, he's the reason you're staying in Broadchurch though, Donna told me."
"What's your sister been telling you James? Look, we'll talk when you pick me up. I have to let my mum know I'm on my way back. Thanks for still agreeing to meet me."
"Ok, we'll talk when you get here but I don't know what you can tell me Rose, I'm disappointed."
Rose was aware of her surroundings. Even though she had a seat to herself, people were all around, some with earphones in, some on their laptops or tablets, some reading books.
"I said I was sorry James, what to do you want me to say?"
"That you're not going back there."
"I can't say that. Besides, I left my stuff there, I've rented a holiday chalet for six weeks since I agreed to pay for my own accommodation, it was cheaper than the hotel."
She thought she had best leave out the fact she was actually sharing and she hadn't yet paid anything. The letting agents only agreed to the terms because she had used Hardy's name and they didn't want to cross the town's newest, gruffest detective since he had hauled one half of the town in for questioning and the other half were on his hit-list.
After her call to James, she sent Alec a message. She got one back. "Missing you already."
Rose smiled. This was a far cry from their first tense kiss the other night and it seemed strange how a bit of a shock had changed the two of them. She hadn't had the time to let his words he was very ill sink in before all joking or whatever it had been between them had been dropped like a hot potato. Something deep inside her knew she was already head over heels with the man, since their first meeting but now, all that mattered was seeing him through this.
It still hurt that he hadn't told her before, about anything. His health, his divorce, him wanting to get her into bed or anywhere else, that he'd wanted to have sex with her and had left it too late. After she had finally left Sandbrook, she had put it down to the fact he'd had enough of women and thought she was as bad as his now ex wife.
Now it was the beginning of August, just about nine months after she had dragged herself back to London after giving in to pressure from Donna and now her editor was letting her do it again, stay behind with the promise of a big story at Alec's expense only this time, they were both on the same side. They were not going to let Danny Latimer's killer get away, not like Pippa's and possibly Lisa's. If Alec did get through this, she was going to encourage him to go back and solve the other case and if they worked together, maybe they would get to the truth.
She decided she would support his decision to maybe put off his operation though she didn't want him to suffer if he did. The first sign of him getting worse, she would drag him to the nearest hospital but first, they would both hear the consultant out to find out what his chances were. They had just finally settled their differences and she wasn't about to give him up that easily. They had both been a pair of idiots. It had been plain to everyone else how they felt about each other, all except to them.
While Rose was on the train, Alec had wandered down to his office and closed the door, staring at a pile of folders on his desk. Anyone with the smallest of records had been put to the top of the list. It had been over a week, they were getting nowhere. Rose had been giving him tips during the week and he was getting the credit for them, which was a bit unfair he supposed but they were a team now, she had insisted she would use her reporting skills to help and she had kept her word. Rose had found out things he couldn't have got anywhere near and people had been surprised they had got caught out, never suspecting the reporter from out of town and the detective were actually working together. It was a well known fact that the two hated each other.
He was surprised she had finally got the Latimers to agree to open up to her yesterday. He had got back to the hotel and found her grinning, revealing to him that Beth Latimer had given her an exclusive and it would be all over Monday's edition of The Herald. She had even said how her editor was pleased and had agreed to let the family see what was being written before printing and when Rose got back, she would be meeting with the family that evening. He had hoped they would spend a quiet evening in their new rented chalet but Rose had assured him it wouldn't take long.
He supposed he had to give her a moment of glory. Just after twelve, he made his way to the rental agency and since they knew who he was, he soon had the keys after paying a week in advance and being told his wife had said they wanted two keys. He would be having words with Rose when she got back, what exactly had she told them? Now it would be all over town that his wife was here but his ex was back in Sandbrook and everyone would think he had remarried and if Tess got to know, well he didn't want to think about it.
He would have to play it down and say the agency had misheard. He did smile all the way back to the station though but if Miller found out, he wouldn't hear the end of it. He called into the personnel office but no-one was there so he would have to change his address on Tuesday and tell them he moved out on Sunday since he was well into another day at the hotel. He got a message from Rose to say she had finally got home.
James had been waiting outside Waterloo station in London, having to pay for an hour's parking almost five minutes away and made his way to the platform after he looked it up on the arrivals board when the barrier was opened and waited for her walking up the ramp. He saw her through the crowd, no luggage, which meant he was right and she had left her things behind. He was half hoping she had been joking.
"Hi Rose, back in one piece? Come on I've had to park a bit further away, it is Saturday, it was busy."
"Hi James, thanks for coming. I need to stop by Donna's office first and get her approval on something."
"If you mean the Latimer story, she's already approved it. She left it to me to tell you to go ahead and tell them. If they don't approve, just ring me and I'll stop it. Are you ok Rose? You look different."
They had reached the car park and James opened the doors.
"I'm fine, it's just facing my mum, I've not told her I'm staying in Broadchurch."
"Well rather you than me, from what I've seen and heard about her."
Rose smiled. All her friends knew Jackie Tyler's reputation. They arrived behind the block of flats Rose lived with her mother.
"I don't know why you still live here Rose, you can afford something better can't you?"
"I grew up here James, we know everyone and mum won't move, not unless they're knocking the place down. Besides, I'm always away so it doesn't make sense to live on my own."
"Are you going to live on your own in Broadchurch for the next few weeks Rose?"
Rose went to open the door but James leaned over and stopped her. "Answer me this Rose. Why are you doing this to yourself? Why do you let Hardy get to you so much?"
"Why does everything I do have to involve him? I want to see this through and I can't do it from London, that's all there is to it, despite what you may think. I'm sorry James but I never led you on. You wanted to be friends, I'd still like that, if you want?"
"I said I wanted to be friends and I still do. It was me who tried to make more out of it, I'm sorry Rose. You didn't encourage me, it was all my own doing, I know how you felt about Hardy, I was no competition for him. I still don't know what you see in him though, he made you miserable."
"I know but I think it's got beyond that now James, I just want to make sure he does right by the family this time."
"I know and I don't blame you, just don't say I didn't warn you."
Rose leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Look after yourself spaceman. Just why does Donna call you that anyway?"
James smiled. "I used to borrow my grandad's telescope and look at the stars when I was a kid. Then he bought me an astronomy set when I was twelve. I still like to stare up at the sky and imagine what it's like out there. You never know Rose, one day, we could be out there."
Rose said goodbye and went to face her mother, who noticed her daughter was without her luggage.
"What, no washing? Where's all your stuff, did you leave it on the train or is James behind you carrying it for you? He's like a lost puppy. Honestly Rose, why do you string him along?"
"I don't string him along, we're friends, that's all. I left my things at the hotel, I'm going back."
"What? Did Donna agree to it or are you doing it on your own?"
"She agreed. I promised her a really good story out of it and there's going to be one on Monday, once I get approval of the victim's family."
"What about Hardy? Did he kick you out of his town?"
"Mum, we're not in the wild west, he can't kick me out of town as you put it. I had to agree to pay my own way though so I'm renting a holiday cottage by the river but I'm going to share it with someone. I have to keep the costs down."
"Oh, maybe I could come down for a few days then, I could do with a holiday."
"Not when I'm working Mum." She cringed at the thought of her mother meeting the man who had made her daughter's life a misery for so long.
"That's no excuse. What aren't you telling me? You've not found a man to share with have you?" She saw the look on Rose's face.
"No, don't tell me, you're taking up with him aren't you? Rose, when are you going to learn? He's no good for you."
"Just leave it Mum. I said I was going to make sure he got it right this time and I'm not letting him get away with letting this family down."
"You still haven't answered my question though. Are you sharing a holiday cottage with Hardy?"
Rose knew better than to lie to her mother or to try and get out of it. "Yes and you'd better not tell anyone, especially Donna. We're just sharing, nothing more. We're not having sex if that's what you mean. I agreed to help him solve the case and since we were both paying for hotel rooms, it was cheaper to rent somewhere instead of people in the hotel thinking we were together."
"Oh but are you together, at all?"
Rose walked into the kitchen. She was already wasting valuable time since she still had to go see the Latimers when she got back. Switching the kettle on and spooning some coffee into a mug, she went into her room and got her other case from the top of the wardrobe. Jackie followed her and stood in the doorway.
"Don't get involved with him Sweetheart, he's not worth getting upset over."
"I'm not upset Mum, really. He doesn't bother me anymore, we've sort of got a truce. I'm keeping him from doing something really stupid and making sure he keeps his word."
"I hope you know what you're doing. You'll come crying back to me when he does upset you again. What are you going to do when he solves it, if he ever does?"
She hadn't thought long term, it all depended on what he decided on Monday at the hospital.
"I'll wait and see what happens, I'll probably just come back here." There was no point admitting at this stage that she may stay with him.
Rose set off back to Broadchurch just after two and sent Alec a text saying she was on her way. She got a text back just saying 'Good, I miss you.'
Just over two hours later, after she stopped for coffee and a sandwich, Rose made her way back to the hotel, getting a funny look from Becca.
"Thought you'd left and gone back to London?"
"I'm here to help Alec Hardy move, I take it he's told you he's leaving? I left my stuff with him while I went back to London to get my car and some more stuff."
"He told me, I'm a bit disappointed losing the revenue you know. I could have given you both a good rate for however long you stay here."
"It's not that, really and I'm sure he would have stayed, it's just well, you'll have to ask him about his reasons for leaving. Me, I'm on a budget and since I've found somewhere down by the harbour, I won't have to pay to park my car."
"So are you and the detective sharing then?"
Rose had been put on the spot and wasn't sure if Alec would like her to tell the hotel owner, word would soon get around.
"I'm a reporter Becca, I know when I'm being interviewed. Like I said, you'll have to ask him his reasons."
Becca shook her head and supposed she wouldn't get anything out of the reporter. She had seen the two of them the last few days, a far cry from when they had been arguing the first time she had seen them together. Becca smiled as she saw Rose take the stairs. As if no-one had seen the reporter and the detective in the bar, him touching her at every opportunity he got. They had gone from sitting on separate tables to them eagerly awaiting for the other to arrive and practically sitting on top of each other. Last night, she had seen Hardy's hand on the reporter's leg and it wasn't there accidentally.
Alec was pacing his room, waiting for Rose's arrival since she said she was leaving the service station what seemed like hours ago. Then there was a knock on his door and he swallowed. What if it wasn't Rose? What if she'd changed her mind and turned back and gone home and it was Becca with a message? If she had changed her mind about taking him on, he knew he couldn't get through this. He opened the door to find his new girlfriend standing there, a big smile on her face.
Before she could even get into his room, he had his arms around her and they were kissing.
"Did you get everything you needed from home?"
He let her go and allowed her inside.
"Yeah, did you get the keys?"
Alec smiled. "You cheated, you told the letting agent you were my wife."
"Well I couldn't give my name and I never said I was your wife, just I was booking it for you and there were two of us. They must have assumed I was your wife. You're not mad at me are you?"
Alec looked at her. She was young, she was blonde, was there any reason people would not be impressed at him bagging such a prize? He had changed his tune about her in a few days but it had always been there, wondering what it would be like to introduce the stunning Rose Tyler, the woman who had been hounding him about the Sandbrook case, as his girlfriend or better still, his wife. No, he wasn't quite ready for the last bit, not yet, it was too soon after his divorce and Tess could still accuse him of having an affair with Rose during the investigation and he had spent a lot of time keeping his distance so his ex would not suspect he had a thing for the reporter.
He knew if the truth were to be told, one of the main reasons he had kept his distance was what he had told Rose, he didn't want his then wife involving her but he also didn't want their daughter to find out that her mother was having an affair, she would have been devastated to find out they both were. At least keeping away from Rose, despite Daisy finding out her mother had been seeing another man, he couldn't be accused of seeing anyone.
He kissed her again. "No, I'm not mad at you. Just don't do it again without warning me first."
They took all their luggage down to Rose's car and drove around to their new place.
Rose had found out to turn off into a field just out of town and could park behind the chalet. It was now after five and Rose still had to go see the Latimers. So Alec agreed to walk back up to the mini-market just up the road and get essentials like milk and tea and Rose would go see the boy's family and would call at the takeaway on her way back.
Once she arrived at the boy's home, Chloe let her in.
"Sorry I'm so late, I had something to do, I can come back another time if you'd like?"
"No, it's fine Miss Tyler. Can you show us the article you wrote?" Beth Latimer asked.
Rose nodded and got her tablet out of her shoulder bag. "Please, call me Rose. If there's anything you don't like then please, let me know and I'll change it. We just want people to know your story, so they won't forget. I know things like this make people lose interest but something like the story you are telling, helps them remember."
"Maybe we should clear it with DI Hardy first?" Beth Latimer asked.
"I don't think there's any need, you're not saying any more than they already know, nothing about the investigation so it doesn't need his approval."
The family looked at each other. It was Mark that spoke. "Ok, go ahead and print it, we just want to find out who did this."
He handed the tablet back to her and she logged into the paper and pressed the 'Send' button.
Rose was about to leave. Beth spoke up. "Can you put me in touch with the mother of that girl who was killed in Hardy's last case?"
"Sure, I'll make a call for you. Beth, this is different, I'm sure he'll catch the killer this time."
"Just how sure are you of that?"
Rose wanted to say because she was sleeping with the said detective but knew it would just complicate things.
"Because I'll see you get justice."
While Rose had been out, Alec had got a few groceries, not knowing if he was going to go ahead with his operation or not on Monday. If he went and it went wrong, well he didn't want to think of leaving Rose on her own, knowing she was the only reason he was doing it. She called him to ask what he wanted to eat and was back twenty minutes later.
After finally unpacking, Alec was grinning that he had been right and they had to use both wardrobes.
"Don't you look so smug, detective, I still had to leave some stuff behind."
"Really Rose? You need a wardrobe the size of Narnia. I told you this chalet was not bigger on the inside."
He put his arms around her waist. "Come here Rose, why don't we go for a drink then have an early night?"
"Can't argue with that detective."
They kissed again then walked across the footbridge to the pub that was almost next door to them. As they walked in, they didn't see Beth Latimer sat having a drink with Ellie Miller, the latter's eyes lighting up seeing the two of them walking in, Alec's arm around Rose's waist.