TITLE: Somebody That I Used To Know

AUTHOR: bolly69

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or concept; they belong to the BBC/Ashley/Matthew, etc.

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Sorry for the delay guys – life, a leaky bathroom, chest infection, kids, etc. got in the way! (I'm still on medication, so not sure if that'll be a good thing or not with the writing!)

Anyway, my chapter ran too long so I chopped it in half – first instalment now and the next one soon.

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Chapter 8

Time.

Alex wanted time to stand still.

To stop, so that they could stay like this forever, in this moment, this feeling; with him; Gene. And although she still didn't remember all the details, she knew in her heart that she wanted to spend eternity with this man, this enigma, this beautiful out of time angel in front of her; wherever that may be it didn't matter, because wherever he was would be right, of that she was certain.

But she knew fate wouldn't be kind to them, he had had his time and more, and now it was almost up. She had been spared and given a second chance, but since he had found her she knew that her life would never be the same again, that without him it would be empty and hollow, and that she was destined to feel incomplete for the remainder of her time here.

She looked up at him as she lay with her head in his lap, studying his features, imprinting them in her mind, the task of checking her emails on her phone forgotten as she watched him intently flicking through the iPod she had given him a crash course in, quietly cursing when he hit the wrong button but smiling when he found a song he recognised. Alex smiled contentedly, happy to feel this relaxed with someone; with him.

The phone in her hand buzzed and pulled her out of her reverie; she answered it quickly and sat up, "Hi Jane, no it's fine, don't worry, I was going to call you shortly" she silently mouthed a 'sorry' to Gene, and climbed off the sofa, "yes, I can go over the weekend stuff with you now". Gene nodded at her and continued to study the iPod, and she watched him as she talked to Jane, his concentration pout in place, oh so familiar; those damned impossibly long lashes almost touching his cheeks; the sleek fingers sliding across the iPod screen masterfully.

Alex shivered, she knew she was only giving Jane part of her attention but she ummed and ahhed in all the right places, at least she hoped she did; the rest of her attention was still with Gene, and of thinking back over the past few hours they had spent together, gentle hours doing nothing more than being together after her tearful revelation; "Gene, look at me…" a stray tear rolled slowly down her cheek, eyes glistening at him, "I always knew he wasn't right for me, but I didn't know why. Now I do..." She wiped the tear away and gazed into his eyes, "He wasn't you…"

He had pulled her to him, onto his lap, and wrapped his arms tightly around her, burying his face in her hair, breathing in that smell that was undeniably Alex; she had always carried it with her and he knew it better than anything, like a drug he felt it surge around his body instantly soothing him. She had tilted her head up and locked her shining hazel orbs onto his fierce blue eyes; slowly she moved her face to his again, pressed her lips firmly onto his, this time with no interruptions. The kiss was tender, their lips moving together gently at first but becoming more demanding, hinting at the underlying passion fighting to come to the surface. His long fingers stroked down her back, feeling her curves through her top, felt the rise and fall as her breathing quickened; and she held her hand over his heart again, his body heat radiating through his shirt searing into her skin, and the ever present thump of his heart reverberated through her fingers.

They had sat like that for a while, neither wanting to move, drinking in each other, only breaking apart when Gene's leg lost most of the feeling in it and caused him to moan in pain rather than pleasure, and Alex had led him by the hand to the sofa and curled up against him, both of them taking a step back before it was too late and they would both be lost forever.

"No Jane, I can sort that on Monday…" Alex perched on the arm of the chair and continued to watch him, she felt so comfortable with him here like this, like an old coat that just fitted so well, comfortable and comforting. Not that she thought of him as an old coat, more soothing and familiar, and the more they had talked the more Alex remembered of her time in the past; good times and bad, the fear and the laughter, the confusion and the certainty; all made better by Gene being there, being her saviour; her constant; her rock.

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Once Alex had said her goodbye's and wished Jane a good weekend, they decided it was time for lunch, although it was now mid afternoon, and they left the flat hand in hand, strolling happily in the sunshine, with the intention of finding a cosy pub somewhere and to just enjoy their time together. They settled on a riverside pub and had a leisurely lunch, chatting and laughing together, Gene touching her hand at every opportunity and her smiling warmly back at him.

"I love this Gene, just love it" she blinked up at him, again trying to memorise every detail of his face.

"This pub? The wine?" he teased, his blue eyes dancing in the sunlight.

She laughed and took his hand in hers, "No silly, this; us," she hesitated, "there is an 'us', isn't there?"

"'course there is love. There'll always be an 'us', no matter how little time we have; perfect couple we are, Alex and Gene; like George and Mildred…"

"Helen and Paris" she smiled at their differences.

"Mork and Mindy"

"Scarlett and Rhett"

"Stallone and Nielson"

"Wait, what? Who?"

He laughed out loud, "doesn't matter, they won't last. Not like us…"

"But we won't though will we?" the tears were threatening to flow again, "how can we when we're so out of time Gene?"

"'coz what we have will outlive time love, and one day we will be together again, in the pub"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Alex, I am sure love" he gripped her hand reassuringly, hoping and praying that he was right.

They left the bright modern pub behind and walked along the river, arms linked, the streets now busy with workers making their way home for the weekend, with some beginning the weekend early in the bars and restaurants nearby.

Gene scowled as they sidestepped a group of suited revellers, "Yuppie twats. Sorry love, er…"

She laughed and squeezed his hand, leaning in to him, "It's okay Gene, I think that sometimes too. They can be so inconsiderate…"

"Yeah, but I keep forgetting these are different times Alex, and that maybe I'll scare you off, not remembering me, what I was like…"

"No Gene, you won't scare me off; whatever my head doesn't remember I think my heart does… always did…" she snuggled into his arm a little more, looking up at him with tear filled eyes. He nodded to her and held her tighter.

As they rounded a bend to head back towards the flat, Alex suddenly froze, her eyes wide and her face ashen.

"Alex… love?" Gene stopped in his tracks, watching her as she stared straight ahead; he was confused and searched her face for some clue, wondering if she was having another flashback.

"Th… that pub…" she weakly lifted her hand and pointed ahead into the distance.

Gene followed her gaze and saw it; there it was, on a corner standing out like a sore thumb in the middle of gleaming glass offices and expensive shops; it's shape and colour so distinctive; The Railway Arms. Nelson stood on the step leaning on the doorframe, his arms folded, a smile on his face. He lifted a long flower-shirted arm and waved a cheery wave at them both.

"Fuck" Gene trawled his fingers through his hair and put his arms around Alex, now visibly trembling.

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Sorry for the angst!

Thanks for reading! ;-)

Thanks to Ash & Matt for giving us fantastic characters to play with, to whatever ends…

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