"Let's just carpool to work." Those words came out before he could even reconsider it. He had been leaning against her office's doorframe for the past three minutes with crossed arms as she hadn't looked up from the papers on her desk. Everybody had left, except for a Detective Seiner who was seated at his desk with his cup of coffee, finishing up his paperwork.

When he shifted his balance, he heard her drop her pen, "Whatever for?"

Alec shrugged his shoulders as she looked up at him, "I don't know. Cut costs for both you and me. We're neighbours, anyway. And colleagues too. Maybe I can learn a thing or two like where Fred's child-minders is. We can take turns-,"

"OH FUCK." Ellie frantically searched about her desk, her papers falling all over the place, before she pulled out her phone from under the stack of folders. She quickly dialled a number and put it to her ear, "Petrie. Hi. Sorry. Are you free right now? Can you please do me a favour? Yeah. Yup. Hardy's going to be there. Oh, for god's sake. He's just my neighbour. Yeah. Alright. Thanks, Petrie. I owe you."

He stood up straight, his hands on his hips, "I heard my name."

"Hardy," She sighed, a hand rubbing the bridge of her nose, the other on her hip, "I need your help."

Alec raised his head, "What?"

"Petrie's going to take Fred from the child-minders. Can you please help me take care of him this evening until I get home?"

He sighed, his hands dropping to his sides, "Tom?"

Ellie beamed, "Nice! Okay. Umm, Tom's got keys. But he's got football training. He'll probably be home by 6.30. Or later if he doesn't hang out." She took a look at her watch, "Which will be like, in an hour."

"Alright," Alec loosened his tie and turned away, "Just take care of yourself. Take your time with the paperwork. Dorset's not going anywhere anyway."

As he was about to turn the locks to his house door, Petrie walked past his gates with Fred on her hips, "Hardy. I was told you're looking after Fred?"

Alec dropped his hands to his sides and sighed, "Aye."

Petrie stared at him curiously, shrugging her shoulders, unclear of what she was supposed to do next.

"Let wee Fred down. Get me his bag. I'll take it over from here."

"Right." And before his feet could reach the ground, Fred was already running towards him and went straight to hug him. Petrie rushed off to get the boy's bag and Hardy was still staring down at the little boy who had his arms wrapped around his leg.

Fred was not that difficult to take care of. He gave the boy a shower, changed his clothes with whatever he found in his bag and even managed to feed him. When the boy was cleaned up, Alec went to shower himself as he let Fred play in his room.

While they waited for Tom, Alec brought Fred out to sit on his motorbike where the little boy pretended to ride. He didn't need to keep a look out for the teenager as the boy perched himself at his front gate with his bag hanging from a shoulder, "Mom's not back yet?"

"She's got work to do. Probably be late. We had a drug bust today." He replied flatly, not taking his eyes off the toddler in his hands.

"Alright then. I'll take Fred from 'ere-,"

"No," Hardy simply responded, more like an order really, "Go get yourself cleaned up. Lock the house and get back 'ere. I've made dinner. Haven't got some food in me either, lad. You can leave your bag here first if you have homework to settle later. Maybe you can bring Fred's high chair as well, so we don't have to look after him when we eat later."

The teenager kept rooted to his ground, astonished at the sudden flood of instructions given, trying to process one by one only to come up with a one-word answer, "Alright."

Sure enough, they managed to have their meal without interventions from the young toddler. As they slowly ate through his course of leek croquette and cheese and potato bake, Tom decided to break the ice, "You know, mum said you have a restaurant."

He rolled his eyes, "I have a share, Tom."

"Same thing. You still co-own it, technically."

Alec nodded his head in agreement.

"Did you come up with the menu?"

He raised a brow to the boy.

"You cook very well, that's all."

"It's my brother's. He's a cook. I helped him on occasions. Still, thanks lad."

And they went back to silence, which was considered appropriate enough for the both of them. It's not like he knows what to talk about with the boy. Fred was at the side smashing his car against the kitchen island and that was all the noise that was made.

"You seriously not getting a dining table?"

"I don't see a need to."

"Well, you don't need the bench swing."

"Point taken."

Alec waited for Tom to finish his meal, asking the boy to leave his dishes in the sink, saying he will wash it. The boy said, "Fine." And sat back again with Alec, crossing his arms and leaned over the kitchen island, glaring into Alec's eyes before he spoke, "You've made mum happy, do you know that?"

But of course, being dumbfounded Alec was, his jaw dropped, his mouth opened but no words came out. And then he heard his heart start beating hard in his ears and his face getting hot.

"You got here and two weeks in, mum had smiled more than she ever did in the past three months. And she spoke about you almost every single day it's so annoying. It's already annoying enough that she talks a lot."

Alec closed his mouth, opened it again but still his vocal chords couldn't seem to work. And he nodded his head in agreement with Tom's last statement.

"Aunt Lucy's been putting her on dates but I don't like the people she'd picked out. Neither did mum. But I like you. I think. And I'll say it right now that if you ever want to take mum out on a date, go ahead. I've seen you spent a lot of time together the past two weeks. I just want to see mum happy."

Alec was beyond baffled to have listened to Tom's outright forwardness. He didn't know to be humbled that the teenager liked him or the fact that his young neighbour had even extended his permission for Alec to date his mother. He's not complaining for sure – Ellie is a gorgeous lady – but he never thought of dating her whatsoever because he had been the one who arrested her former spouse in the first place.

"Aye." That was all he could mutter softly.

Tom rolled his eyes and Alec's faced grimaced, embarrassed at his sudden lack of expression – he's a man of not much expression anyway. The teenager stood up, "Right. Where can I do my homework?"

Alec got up on his feet as well, picking up his dish and headed for the sink, "I have an office upstairs at the back."

Close to an hour later, Ellie arrived, bursting through his front door and he could hear her yelling her apologies over and over as he stood in the kitchen washing the dishes.

"I am so sorry, Hardy. Tom's here, I suppose? My house is locked. The lights are out." She settled at the stool by the kitchen island, resting her head on it, "oh my god. I am bloody knackered."

He shook his head and dried his hands. Walking over to the microwave, he heated up the cheese potato bake before serving it to Ellie, her head went up so fast with surprise that he was afraid it could have snapped, "Oh, bloody hell."

"What? Don't like potato?" He asked from the fridge as he took out a box of apple juice and a glass along before settling himself beside her, pouring the drink after.

"You didn't have to. Oh my god, you made dinner for the boys?" But she dug into the food anyway, shoving it into her mouth, "This is so good. Oh, wait. Where is Fred? Tom?"

"Slow down, Miller," He pushed the glass closer to her, "Fred's asleep upstairs. Tom's in the office finishing up his schoolwork."

She continued to eat her food up in silence. He went around and excused himself, heading upstairs to check on the toddler just to make sure he didn't roll himself off the bed. Alec was glad he didn't. Then, he proceeded to check up on Tom, who had apparently finished his English worksheet and attempted half the Math problems which he noticed a note stuck to the corner of his paper, "Mrs Borg help Algebra tomorrow". However, the boy was already asleep on the couch in the office with his Math textbook on his chest.

"Aich. Math." He muttered to himself. He sat down anyway and started to write the steps to solving it on a fresh piece of paper. It took him less than twenty minutes to finish everything before he proceeded to get an extra blanket from his room, removed the book from Tom's chest and threw the blanket over him, closing the door behind him before heading for his own bedroom again.

Just as he was about to step into his man-cave, Ellie appeared from behind him and tapped his shoulder, "Where's Tom?"

Alec simply pointed across the hallway, "In that room, sleeping."

"I've got to wake him-,"

Before she could take hold of the office's door knob, Alec managed to reach his hand out and pulled her back by her shoulder, "No, no need. Stay the night."

He could have smacked himself when he said that but what's the point. Okay, maybe at the way he sounded a little desperate. It's not as if Ellie never spent a night at his place before. Hell, she wasn't even invited. She had spent the night trying to piece together the Sandbrook case and left the house messier than it was in the first place. Even Ellie herself was flabbergasted at his order – or was it a request? – to stay.

Alec fumbled to find his words but he managed to recover quickly, "They're asleep, Miller. Let them. And it's already so late."

"But-,"

"You can have my clothes for the night. I'll get it for you."

"Hardy-,"

"Shut up, Miller. It's not as if you never spent the night in my house before."

"I-,"

"How the bloody hell can you still talk so much at the end of the day, Miller? I can never understand that. Aren't you exhausted?"

Ellie sighed in defeat. Alec refrain the smile that was threatening to spread across his face.

"Fine."

"Good." He turned and headed for his bedroom again, pulling out a random t-shirt, a pair of sweatpants and a towel before handing it to her, "You can sleep in Daisy's room. Fred's there."

She nodded without saying much.

"I'll be in my room if you need me."

But he wasn't. He had wrapped himself with a blanket and sat himself on the bench swing at the rooftop. When Ellie approached him in his garments and barefooted, he was quite speechless. His t-shirt had fitted her perfectly which meant that he is skinnier than he thought he was. But the sweatpants were too long on her.

"You are such a plank." He heard her say.

"You're welcome." He wriggled himself aside to make space for her. She settled herself and leaned against him. Before she could bring up her legs, Alec pushed her up, removed the blanket from around him and he threw the blanket over both of them. Ellie adjusted herself and leaned against him again, bringing her legs up and covered her feet. Alec put an arm across the back of the bench and he started swinging it slowly.

The wind was cold that night and Alec had only planned to sit a while before going to bed but with Ellie's head on his chest, he didn't think it possible. He felt a hand on his chest, tracing over the bump where his scar is, "Thanks for tonight, Hardy."

"'Tis alright," He traced patterns on her shoulder, "You going to work tomorrow?"

She sighed, "I'm taking over night shift."

Alec rubbed her arm, "Fred's still going to the child-minders?"

"Nope. I'll take care of him."

"Will you be able to rest, though?"

"You don't have to worry about me, Hardy."

"I just don't want you to push yourself too much. Look where it got me," Tracing the bump of his scar like she was already doing, "I'll send Tom to school."

She looked up to him, her eyes wet.

"I swear, Miller. If you are going to cry I will swing you off this rooftop."

She hit his chest lightly, "Fuck off, you plank."

And she leaned her head against his chest again. Alec could feel her body move as she laughed and he managed one himself, "You planning to sleep like this tonight?"

Ellie wrapped an arm around his waist, "Can we? I miss having someone to hold when I sleep."

Alec felt his t-shirt getting wet. Instantly, he knew that she was crying. His heart started beating hard again, guilty of having been the one to have arrested her former husband. Alec always reminded himself of that every time he was with her and it was partly why he looked out for her so much more to have found her again – to make up for the damage that he had done. He knows that it wasn't his fault that she had to go through all of those shit but then again, he was technically part of the reason why everything in her world crumbled. Alec sighed, trying to catch a breath.

"You alright?" She had her palm flat on his chest again, "Your heart is beating hard again."

"'Tis fine, Miller." He strokes her hair, "Just go to sleep."

He managed a kiss into her hair before she indulged herself in the slumber.

When the morning comes, he was alone on the bench swing, wrapped in the blanket. He straightened himself only to feel a searing pain up his back and discover that he had developed a stiff neck overnight, "Bollocks."

Alec realised that it was still dark and he walked into the office, only to find it empty. He went back to his room, grabbing his phone, "7.13."

He got himself ready.

He was going down the stairs after being all washed up when he smelled eggs and tea. Alec pieced everything together when he saw Ellie – still in his garments – in his kitchen preparing scrambled eggs and pouring juice for her all-cleaned-up teenage son. She saw him enter the kitchen and greeted him, "I'm sorry. I hope you don't mind. I made breakfast."

Alec shook his head and settled himself one of the stools.

"I made some for you, too." Ellie served him his serving.

"Thanks," Was all he could muster, his accent thick with sleep as he poured himself the tea she had prepared.

"I'll clean up after you're done and I'll be out of here straight away." Ellie yawned through.

"Take your time," Alec mumbled as he shoved a forkful of eggs into his mouth. "I have a spare key behind the door. Just lock the house up, alright? Where's Fred?"

"Still asleep upstairs."

"You sending me to school?" Tom asked him out of the blue.

"Aye."

"You know where it is?"

"Aye."

"Alright," Tom stood up and placed his plate and glass in the sink. Then he gave his mum a peck on the cheek, "See ya, mum. I'll see you outside, Hardy. I still need to get some stuff from home."

Alec nodded in acknowledgement. Ellie sat on the stool where her boy did and rested an elbow under her chin on the kitchen island. Her eyes could barely open themselves.

"Go upstairs, Ellie. Get some rest. You're on night shift tonight."

"You only have to remind me," She grumbled and ran a hand through her hair, "This stiff neck is not going to help me tonight."

Alec shook his head, "Same."

"I am never going to consider bench swings for a place to sleep again."

"Same," he repeated.

He was done with his breakfast quick, picking it up to place it in the sink. When he was about to turn on the tap, he felt her hand on his shoulder, "I'll get that."

Alec quietly obliged. He went around her and without thinking; he raised his hands up and started massaging her shoulders and the back of her neck, "I'll get a dishwasher next time. Just go get some rest."

Apparently, she was too stubborn to listen to him. Not that it was anything new.

Soon enough, Alec was outside putting on his helmet, with his motorbike already revved up when Tom walked out of his house.

"We riding that?"

"Why?"

"Nothing," Tom received the helmet being handed to him, "Never ridden one before."

"There's a first time for everything, lad."

The boy climbed up behind, "Nice bike, by the way."

At the HQ, Anderson gave him the folders to another mini drug distribution happening at the other side of town. He distributed the work among the bullpen equally, briefed them on the details of the investigation and what was expected of them.

His day working without Ellie was not bad as he thought it would be. But Alec was so used to having her by his side he felt truly and genuinely empty. Emptier and lonelier than he'd been on the months he spent alone. But at least the bullpen invited him to go for lunch together although he was quiet most of the time.

The time passed quite slowly too without her, he realised. When it finally did, Alec packed up his stuff and got on his bike, heading straight home as quickly as possible.

After he parked his bike, Alec cleaned himself up and had a change of clothes. Then, he went straight for Ellie's place and knocked on her door only to be greeted by Tom with Fred in tow, "Where's your mum?"

"She's upstairs, getting ready." Tom stood aside and let his neighbour in, "Were you the one who gave me the notes for algebra last night?"

"Why?" Alec bent down to pick his tiny neighbour who was tugging at his shirt.

"Thanks, mum could never do that. She hates Math."

"What did you say about me?" Ellie's voice thundered, causing all three gentlemen to flinch as she walked down the stairs. None of them said anything. "Good. I've left some money if you want to buy dinner."

"Don't worry, Miller. I can handle this."

"Sure you can," She sounded like she was mocking him but her face deceived her, guilt was painted all over it. He knows that she realised that he noticed it, so he gave her an assuring nod and she managed to put on a smile again, kissing her sons goodbye and gave Alec a pat, "If you want to stay the night, go ahead. Take my room."

When she was gone out the door, Tom whispered, "I'm glad she didn't cry. She cries so much."

"Tell me about it. Would you like to buy dinner or do you want me to make some?"

"Make, please."

"Alright."

"Can you help me with Math as well?"

Alec sighed at the mention of the subject.

Alec could never imagine of ever having a family again but although it scared him so much when he had decided on looking out for Ellie and her boys, taking care of them came easily for him. Tom had helped him with preparing dinner and taking care of Fred. He helped the teenager with his homework. He sat side by side with him as the teenager played his X-Box with Fred building a tower with a set of building blocks.

Bedtime arrived and he settled himself on Ellie's bed with sleeping Fred in his arms. Part of him felt uncomfortable that he's sleeping in his partner's bed but another part of him felt at ease as he smelled in the scent of her in the pillows when he settled his head on it. For the first time since arriving in Gracestone, he fell asleep easily.

Somehow, in the middle of the night, Tom had managed to tuck himself beside Alec that it woke the latter up. Alec felt Fred still tucked in his arms and deep in slumber but he found Tom slowly snuggling up to him and sobbing, "What's wrong, lad?"

"I dreamt of Dad and Mum and us being a family," He managed in between the sniffs.

Alec choked up. He simply stroked the boy's hair and made hushing noises to comfort him.

"I miss Dad."

Alec became more strangulated with guilt at the statement.

"Was it easy?"

He struggled to find the words, "What was easy?"

"Catching dad? Do I still call him dad?"

Alec sighed, trying to put his train of thought together but he spilled it anyhow, "It wasn't easy, Tom. It's never easy to arrest someone. Especially when you care about the people who cared for that someone. Call him anything you want, lad. But just know that he had once loved you."

"What happened to him that caused him to be like that, Hardy?"

He continued to stroke the boy's hair again, "I have no idea, lad. Sometimes, when we fall out of love, people tend to do the craziest of things. We don't even seem to think about it. And sometimes when we are too in love, we become blind. Sometimes we don't see the things that are happening. But sometimes, both happen. In anyway, just know you'll never be alone. You learn along the way who are the people that cared about you and those who don't."

"Mum always said how you're alone. Have you found the people that cared for you, Hardy?"

A small smile formed on the man's face, "I have. I finally have."

"I think mum found hers too."