Sunday comes along and Alec spent his morning at home with his daughter as she finished the last bits of her homework, making breakfast for two and bringing it up to the study where she had been. In the afternoon, he brought her to pick out some stuff to put on the rooftop and the backyard.

After arguing on which swing set looks better on the rooftop and which garden table fits better in the backyard for hours, Alec brought her to lunch before driving her back to Sandbrook.

"You didn't bring as much stuff back." Alec reminded her, afraid that she might have left her things behind by accident.

"No, I didn't." Daisy replied as she updated her Twitter status, "I left some clothes behind so that I don't have to bring much the next time."

"What?" Alec raised an eyebrow, taking a glance at his daughter, "You plan on coming over again?"

She dropped her hands onto her laps before glaring at her father and rolled her eyes, "What? You don't want me to come over?"

"No, no no no," This is not the right time to forget how to handle the steering wheel, he mentally scolded himself so as to try and focus on the road, "I mean, I'd love for you to come over. But will your mum be alright with that?"

"She'll understand. Besides, it's not fair that you don't share the burden of taking care of your own child, right?"

"Don't be clever, Daise."

The girl shrugged her shoulders and picked her phone up again, scrolling through her timeline, "So. You and Miller. How long have you been together?"

Alec grabbed the wheel tighter and rolled his eyes. But out of all, he was more surprised at how she referred to Ellie by Miller, "I arrested her husband, for goodness sake, Daise..." He paused for a while before turning to her, "Miller?"

"I don't like Ellie. Or Knight, for that matter. Miller suits her. Well, not the husband, apparently." She sighed and dropped her hands again, shifting in her seat to face her father, "But it's obvious that she admires you. Well, you... a little mixed signals here and there, but still, you put up with her. That must be something, right?"

"How do you even know that she admires me? We don't even get along."

"But you're not denying the fact that you like her, right?"

"Don't be a smart-arse, Daise."

"Okay," His daughter squinted her eyes, "so, you do like her-"

"I didn't say that."

"Uh uh, you're not denying either." She pointed a finger at him.

Alec cursed under his breath, barely making a sound.

"Alright, so you like her," Daisy pulled her hand back in and picked up her phone again to scroll through another social media app that Alec never heard of, "and she likes you... I think."

"You think?"

"Woah, relax." Daisy double tapped on the screen of her phone, "I think. Maybe because of the way she smiles around you. Or does she always smile like that?"

"She smiles like that all the time. I don't like it. So bloody merry, that woman."

"Nah, I think that smile only occurs around you."

"You not feeling giddy, Daise? Drowsy?"

"Good try, dad. I'm a little giddy, yes. But I'm not gonna lay off this for another bit," She locked the phone and adjusted herself so that her seat leans back, "Anyway, she takes you out to dinner at her place. You brought her wine. She talks about you a lot. She brought us to picnic. Dad, that was obviously a date."

"It's a family day out."

"Oh, so we're family now?"

He simply rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, "I admire her, Daise. That's it. I wouldn't dare go far. I arrested her husband, for god's sake!"

"There we go," Daisy crossed her arms, her face beaming with a smile, "a confession."

"Edward is bringing in new motorbikes into his workshop this Friday. I want to buy one. You want to accompany me there after school?"

Daisy shifted in her seat, her back facing her father as she closed her eyes, "So bad at changing topics. Whatever. You pick one out yourself. You still talk to Edward?"

"Nah. He called me to ask how I've been when his son told him that he saw me at school fetching you up. Took the chance to ask him for discounts on his bikes."

"Then, what? Are you going to pick me up on a bike?"

"Aye."

"Dad, it's going to be a two hour ride."

"I can get a car for you."

"What are you? Starting a new life from scratch? You using the savings from the investment?"

"What are you? A copper? Why so many questions?"

"Dad, you're splurging. You bought a house and everything in it, a car, a new heart and now you want a bike?"

"It's not really a new heart-"

"Point is, you spending on all those, are you going to get a job soon?"

"I applied for one already."

"Back to being a copper?"

"I'm going to teach at the academy."

"What a bloody joke."

Apparently it was to everyone else except him. Tess had asked him of what he was going to do and he gave the same answer only to get a laugh in his face, "Hardy, you don't even know how to talk."

Ouch.

That was definitely a pang to his weak heart but he knows that he could do better than he did before. He wasn't forced to do so then – teaching those young hopeful coppers – but he's willing to now. He realised that being a detective took too much of his time that he lost the ones he could have spent with his growing daughter or loving his ex-wife better.

But Alec has a heart fixed, a life coming back together and he wouldn't want it to go to waste by taking the job that costs almost his life and most of his time. He loved that job, more than anything else - the mystery, the thrill - but the pain and burden that comes along with it was just too much for him to take in, for him to be able to sleep peacefully at night.

Still, he would definitely take it up again if offered. There are harshness and cruelty in the world and Alec wanted to make good and help those he can help with what he does. Saving the world one person at a time, he will call it. A bit daft, for him to still be thinking like that for someone his age but all that matters to him is that he could keep the people he cared about safe.

Even if it's just Daisy alone.

But Ellie had had a place in his life now. One way or another, she had managed to save a special place in his mind - maybe even a tiny spot in his heart as well - for herself and her family that he would do anything to keep them safe too. Ellie had made it clear to him the night before that she was going to look out for him, and he's going to look out for her to keep it that way.

Alec had seen her hurt and he'll never let her be again. Because that's what friends do.

Or is she more than just that?

What did Daisy saw in between the two of them that he hadn't?

Alec returned to Sandbrook the same day and had bought some groceries along the way, planning to fix himself a meal at home.

He was a tad disappointed that there was no note attached to his gates nor was there a woman in a bright orange jacket standing at the front of his house. But of all, he was still grateful that he doesn't have to come home to such a hideous sight.

All washed up, stomach full, body exhausted, he pulled out the suit that Daisy had helped him pick up from the laundry and hung it by the window. He stood back, his hands on his hips, scanning the outfit from top to bottom.

He wasn't sure if he was quite ready for the next day.

But apparently Ellie was. She's out half an hour earlier, having to send her sons to school and the child-minders. However, that doesn't stop her from being the cheerful and annoying bit she is as she greeted him from her car while he stood in the balcony, putting on the suit jacket.

Again, the neighbours' eyes were focused on both of them. Alec obviously realised this but he couldn't be bothered. In the distance, he saw Julie observing them with a knowing smile.

Seated in the CS' office, he became rather restless. Not because he was nervous but he'd been waiting for almost half an hour and his eyes are giving away - other than the fact that waiting out really his strongest pursuit.

When the door finally swung open, a female officer strode in and muttered apologies over and over, "Sorry, Mr Hardy. I had some discussion to get through with another force just now. Anyway, how are you?"

"Aye," Alec stood up and took the hand that was reaching for his before he gave it a firm, strong shake, "I'm alright."

"Right," She didn't even make it round to behind her table and she went straight down to business, her hands on her hips, "I'll be frank with you on why I called you up here."

She gestured for him to sit down and he obeyed.

"I'm Keira Anderson. CS here in Gracestone. But you might have known that already. Anyway," She leaned on the corner of her desk and crossed her arms, "I was told you were from Broadchurch, right?"

"Aye," Alec nodded curiously.

"DI there once, are you not? Sandbrook as well?"

"Aye." He repeated the action.

"Then you must know DI Miller."

"Miller?" He sat at the edge of his seat, wondering at the surname, "Ellie?"

"Ellie," CS Anderson raised her eyebrows, "you two must have been closer than I thought then."

He kept silent.

"Right," Anderson walked around and sat in her chair, "has she ever told you about the DI position?"

"Yes."

"Were you aware of the position being offered to you before?"

"No. I took time off the force and was unreachable."

Anderson leaned forward and settled her joined hands on her desk, "I was informed that you taught at the academy in Broadchurch and at that, you didn't do much of a good job."

"I wasn't -,"

"I have a DS position available for you."

Alec's mouthed gaped and silence overwhelmed the room. He fidgeted in his seat, not knowing how to respond.

"My DS had moved out to Wessex and looking at your record with DI Miller, I would love to have you two to be able to work together on this force. Here in Gracestone, we may not have big cases. But other districts would need a different set of eyes and minds and they will come to us for assistance and I believe both you and DI Miller could do a good job at that."

The coffeehouse nearby the HQ was initially empty and Alec had sat himself there since the meeting with Anderson till lunchtime and a group of officers sat down around a table. He sunk lower in his seat and groaned at the increasing level of chatters, gripping on tight to his cold cup of Earl Grey. When he saw the radiant glow of Ellie's curls as she stepped through the door, he sat up straight again as she scanned through the place before making her way to his table, and placing her phone in front of him that displayed his text message:

[need to talk. HQ coffeehouse]

He raised his hand for the waitress and Ellie placed her orders as he rubbed his eyes.

"What is it now, Hardy?" She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms.

"CS Anderson..." He sighed, "She, uh..."

"Spill it."

Alec rolled his eyes, "She offered me DS."

Ellie rolled hers and shook her head, "That's all?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "You alright with that?"

"I vouched for you," Alec's eyes widened, "Anderson walked into my office the other day with your application in hand. Do you really think I will put the young officers through you in the academy?"

Alec leaned back in his seat and took a sip out of his cup, staring at her in disbelief, "Well, uh... Thank you?"

Ellie shook her head as a smile started to curl from the corners of her mouth, "Unbelievable."

He let out a small laugh.

A laugh.

He hadn't been able to do that in such a long time around other people. He had one the week before with his daughter but a laugh around Ellie, he realised that his life is changing so rapidly he didn't even notice it, "Come over to my place tonight with the boys. I'll make dinner."

"Alec Hardy, sir. Are you actually celebrating?"

Alec had made it clear to CS Anderson that he wouldn't be able to start work until the next Monday because he had some things to settle on that Friday although he's free for the rest of the days. But she had insisted for him to start as soon as possible and he went to work the very next day and despite leaving home half an hour later than Ellie, he arrived before she did.

And he was welcomed warmly by the others, particularly one Detective Petrie, a friendly young woman who greeted him at the door, "Your desk is next to mine, anyway."

One annoying thing about the people in Gracestone is that everyone is just too bloody merry in the morning. They step into the bullpen with a smile on their faces and they greeted everyone from the entrance before making their way to their desks. Alec had the temptation to just bury his head into his table with every greeting but he tried to keep his facial muscles up when one by one they went up to him and introduce themselves. It's like being the new foreign kid in class really, "Why did you move here? Where were you from? Do you have a family?"

Ellie's morning greeting was like a siren, it blared through the bullpen and everyone turned to her to return her greeting with their own and a wave of the hand. He knew she saw his grumpy look that he had thrown at her, silently pleading her to get them off him, but she smiled it away and walked straight into her office. The rest went back to questioning him, "Heard you worked on the Broadchurch and Sandbrook child murders. You solved it with DI Miller, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

Alec was surprised however at how they are doing the background digging, none of them touched on the topic of his failure in Broadchurch or about having to arrest Ellie's former spouse. He was grateful for that and he was even more grateful for Ellie to have finally stepped out of her office, leaning against the door jamb, "Alright, everyone. Hardy, welcome to Gracestone," she gave him a nod and he returns it, "Dorset wants to know if we had managed to keep track of the Racers' distribution?"

"We have people tracking down the Racers' distribution. But it's a small operation here. We can make our own bust if Dorset allows," One DS Henry replied, being at the edge of his seat, hopeful for a positive reply.

"I'll inform Dorset. But until then, prepare everything you have on Racers' distribution and give it to me after lunch," Smiling slyly as she noticed the scowl on his face, "I'll have it all sent to them by then. I'm going to make some tea. Anyone wants any?"

All of them shook their heads and said their thanks and Ellie walked off to the pantry.

"Excuse me," Hardy pushed his chair back, "I need a cuppa."

The rest gave him the space and went back to their desks, "It's nice meeting you, Hardy."

Hardy attempted to return them a smile.

When he reached the pantry, Ellie had already prepared two mugs on the counter as she leaned against it, waiting for the water to boil. He moved to stand in front of her, quietly mirroring her position and stared at the kettle like she was, exchanging no form of verbal communication between them. Ellie looked up to him, a cunning smile slowly forming on her face.

Alec glared back at her like he always does, furrowed eyebrows, demanding eyes, his hand on his hip as he shook his head.

"You know that's not going to work on me anymore," Ellie took the kettle as it clicked, indicating the water had boiled, "Clean shaven and your hair neatly combed back, you look like you're fresh out of the academy, Hardy. Harmless."

Alec took in the mug she was holding out for him, "You'll have my resignation letter later on your desk after lunch."

"Awww," She feigned pity, a hand to her chest and pouted, "I'd hate to see you go."

He walked away, rolling his eyes, leaving her behind laughing to herself.

"Hardy," She called out.

He stopped in his tracks, his head tilted and a hand on his hip as he turned to face a still smiling Ellie. The smile wasn't mocking him, wasn't of her pleasure of teasing him. It was a smile of gratefulness.

"You'll be fine. I'll see you at lunch, alright?"

Lunch was a pain.

The two went out after everybody had gone off and when they arrived at the coffeehouse, they went for the corner table Hardy had sat at the day before.

Apparently, everyone at the bullpen were seated together at a big table and when Hardy opened the door for Ellie to pass, all eyes were set on them as they went straight for the corner table Hardy had settled at the day before.

"Will they stop looking at us?" Hardy whispered a question to her ear as she walked before him.

"They will if we sit with them. Because that's what I do most of the time."

"Should we?"

"Do you?"

"No."

"Then, stop being a child and just have your lunch, will ya?"

He groaned, "Why are you still Miller?"

"Didn't get the divorce until two weeks in Gracestone. Now, stop talking."

While the week passed with him trying to catch up on their little drug operation case, Friday came along and he took the day off like Anderson had promised to grant. His car arrived in the early morning and he bid farewell to his neighbour and current boss as both Ellie and his car went off at the same time.

Daisy H: [are you gg to get me a car]

Sent: [do you need one]

Daisy H: [you still getting that bike you want]

Sent: [yes]

Daisy H: [I'll have that car]

Sent: [ok. I'll call for one. You go home after school first. I'll ride alongside your car when it arrives]

Daisy H: [ok. see you.]

Sent: [keep your phone away. don't use it in class. I don't want it confiscated.]

Picking out the bike was not as time-consuming as he thought it would be. Hell, it took him less than 15 minutes even. But dealing with an old friend was. Edward had prepared tea with biscuits for them to have as they reminisced together about their younger days in the academy before the joining the force, a time over a decade ago for both. They talked about the long rides they would take till the sunset and the one time they had to hitchhike back because they ran out of diesel.

Hardy is not a sentimentalist and he doesn't have much emotional attachment to anyone or anything before but it became clear to him that sometimes, looking back isn't a bad thing after all.

Moral of the day: Look back, don't stare. Walk on.

Alec was glad he managed to reach back at the house before Tess returned from work. Daisy had prepared herself some biscuits and offered her dad some - he turned it down with a scowl on his face. As she packed her stuff, Alec called for a car.

"Dad?" She yelled from her room.

"What?"

"Is that your bike up on the driveway?"

"Aye."

"Phantom Shadow?"

"Well done, darlin'. What's wrong with it?"

"Good job."

He shook his head and smiled, as he took out the apple juice from the fridge to pour himself some.

The feeling of riding a bike again needs a lot of getting used to but he got over that in just a short while. By the time he reached home, it was way beyond dinner time and his daughter had once again, fell asleep in the car and couldn't wake up. Alec paid the driver, got her bag and thanked the driver for his troubles before carrying his daughter in his arms, huffing and panting his way to the door.

Daisy, however, stirred in her sleep and had woken up just as he passed the gates of his house. He exhaled a loud sigh a relief and put her down to stand on her own as he rummaged his pockets for the house keys, "I might need a heart transplant after this."

"No, dad. You need to exercise."

Sometimes, he really doesn't understand how one could still have a smile on their faces despite the day ending. And one he'd never understand would be Ellie. She appeared at his gates as he was about to bring his motorbike in, a plate in her hand, a smile on her face as she stood opposite him, across the motorbike, "I made extra lasagne."

"I don't want tomato sauce all over my bike," He continued to push it inside.

"Well," The smile was wiped off her face instantly, "I might just spill it everywhere if you're going to be rude."

He sighed and rolled his eyes. Alec knew that Ellie would have understood that it was his sign of gratitude and defeat at the same time - defeat of being in a bicker with her. Ellie smiled before making her way into his house.

Alec took a deep breath in.

That woman can smile and make her way through anybody's hearts, really. She's too thoughtful and caring of a person even though he made her drive him about against her will. He's starting to think that that trait is one of her biggest personal flaws.

Alec made his way through the living room, waking Daisy up, who had apparently resigned on the sofa, "Miller brought us dinner."

She brought her face up from being buried in the furniture, "Oh, good. Food."

Ellie had taken the liberty of asking Daisy about her week, about school. Alec couldn't thank her more for both the dinner and for asking the unnecessary questions about classes and homework. But being the way he is, he kept the gratitude to himself. Daisy talked her dinner away with Ellie that she almost forgotten about her dad's new job, "How's the teaching going on, dad?"

Alec growled.

"He didn't tell you?" Ellie perched her elbows on the kitchen island, "He's working for me now."

Daisy swallowed her food, "DS?"

"Eat up, Daise," Alec grunted through his mouthful of lasagne.

When all the dishes were dried and the kitchen cleaned up, Daisy excused herself to get cleaned up and to get to bed. Alec had taken himself to the sofa, resting his head against the back of it. Ellie sat down beside him a few minutes after, laughing as she placed a hand on his lap, "Got to be used to being a father again, huh?"

"Single working father. How do you even manage that on your own?" His accent thickened as he grumbled.

"Don't be such a jesse. Daisy comes over only on weekends. You know, I really never thought of seeing you being so domestic."

"Where's Tom?"

"Over in Broadchurch. Olly came around to pick him up just now. They're going camping."

"Wee-,"

"Fred's asleep. Gone hours ago. Wasn't feeling well. Missed you, I guessed."

And they hung in there in silence, the both of them with their heads rested against the back of the sofa, their eyes closed.

"New bike?"

"Aye."

"Nice."

"How's work?"

"Dorset's making the bust this Tuesday. Paperwork. The others missed you."

"Did you miss me?"

"Don't be such a soppy sod." Ellie gave his thigh a slap. He growled in pain, rubbing the area.

But he purposely caught hold of her hand and laughed, "I missed you, too."

"Hardy, if this is a way of you trying to hit on me so as to make me your wife just because you can't cope being a single father, I'll tell you right now it will never work.

"Oi," He gripped her hand tighter and rolled his eyes, "I never want to do that to you even."

He sat straighter in his seat, covering their hands with his other, as he took a deep breath and tried to take in the whole situation they were in. If close to a year ago, they could never see eye to eye, the woman before him now has his back. She had proven to him over and over, from time to time that she is going to ever stay and that she will always be supporting him. So, he took a deep breath in before he could even process his thoughts, his hands already brought hers up to his lips, as he settled for a gentle peck on it.

It sent her speechless as much as it had made him the same as well but like Alec, Ellie managed to get a grip of herself as quickly as the surprise had caught her.

"Thank you for dinner. Thank you for everything and for being a friend."

If there's one thing Alec could be certain of, it was how the situation is going to go awkward between both of them. Three months ago, when he left, he never thought that he'd ever meet her again – he was sure of it, even. But a day didn't pass that he didn't wonder about her well-being and now here she is, sitting beside him, her hand in his, fine and living – better than he ever thought she'd be. Three months ago, she wouldn't even hug it off despite him bidding farewell.

"Never would have pegged you for soppy." She laughed it off.

He leaned back again, taking his hand away from her and folded his arms; disappointed that she didn't take him seriously.

"Thank you for being mine too." He heard her murmur softly, "Back in Broadchurch. Thanks for being my friend. I hope we can still be?"

He laughed and put his arms around her shoulder, bringing her closer to himself, her head leaning against his shoulder, "Aye. 'Course we can. Never would have pegged you for soppy."