Thank you to my wonderful Beta Aithusa

Ellie woke to the ear-piercing beeping of a mobile's alarm but she couldn't bring herself to move and turn it off. She didn't want to get up because she was warm and comfortable and she had had the most terrible dream where Joe had killed Danny. The man beside Ellie groaned and reached over her to turn off the alarm. The only problem was that it was not how Joe groaned when suddenly awoken from sleep. It was not Joe that was beside her. Ellie's nice little reprieve shattered as she remembered that Joe had killed Danny and that she had fallen asleep in the arms of her former boss after crying her heart out.

Evidently Alec's keen observational skills were significantly reduced when he had just woken up, Ellie thought, other wise he would have noticed that she was already awake and would not be trying to rouse her. Now that the fog of sleep had lifted and she knew that her dream was in fact reality, she was even more determined to not get up. How had the Latimers managed to get up everyday?

"Ellie, you need to wake up." Ellie noted that Alecs Scottish brogue was heavier when he was still half asleep. "Come on. You said last night that you had to be home by sunrise. That's in two hours." Two hours meant that she could pretend to sleep for another hour. "I'm not letting you drive until I'm sure you're fully awake. I'm not having you wreck on your way home because you were still half asleep."

"Fine, I'm getting up." Ellie mumbled.

She really did need to get home. Olly was doing her a huge favour, staying the night, and it would be bad form on her part to not be home in time for him to head off to work. Slowly Ellie raised herself into a half sitting position and looked at Alec. She had to smile. He looked like a complete wreck. His eyes were still half lidded, his hair was in complete disarray and he was currently wincing every few moments as he rubbed and moved his right arm around, most likely to get some blood flowing back into it.

"You look like hell." Ellie told him.

"Maybe you should take a look in the mirror yourself." He retorted.

Alec got up and started to stretch out his arms and back. "Do you always sleep like a log? I don't think you moved the whole night, which would explain why I'm so stiff this morning."

Ellie let herself flop back onto the bed. "Depends on how tired I was when I went to bed and if I took my sleeping pills. It's been a long while since I've slept so soundly. Not since my last day of vacation I think."

Alec grunted. "Buy yourself a bed. You can't work and take care of your kids if you aren't getting enough sleep."

At this Ellie did sit up fully to stare Alec in the eye, or at least she would have if he wasn't rustling through the dresser to get a change of clothes.

"You're one to talk about taking care of yourself. You get your surgery I'll get a bed." Ellie said.

"I'm not getting the surgery. I already told you I-"

Ellie cut him off. "And I told you that's just standard procedure."

Alec turned around and looked at Ellie. He wanted to make sure that she understood what he was saying and that she didn't just chalk it up to him being afraid. "My condition is a bit...abnormal. I haven't got the ten or fifteen percent or whatever the rate is now-a-days of death. If I get the surgery there's a fifty-fifty chance that I won't come out."

"That's also a fifty-fifty chance that you will and you won't ever have to worry about your heart for the rest of your life." Ellie said.

"Ah! I can't take your eternal optimism." Alec ran a hand over his face.

"Well I'm sorry that I'm not an eternal pessimist like you and can actually see the good things in life. Do you have a death wish, Alec? You say you don't want the surgery because you might die but without you will die." Ellie argued.

"I'm not having a row with you at 4:30 in the bloody morning. Put this on then I'll walk you to your car once I've changed." Alec said.

He threw a clean shirt at Ellie and resumed his search for clothes.

"I'm not wearing one of your shirts." Ellie said.

"You are. You didn't bring anything to change into and your own shirt is a mess from all the crying you did last night. Now go into the bathroom and change." Alec insisted.

He hadn't bothered to turn back to her when he spoke. He just continued rummaging through his drawers. Ellie took a peak to see why it was taking him so long to find an outfit as she passed by him to go into the bathroom. Apparently Alec didn't fold his socks after washing them and was now looking for a matching pair.

Once in the bathroom Ellie decided to make use of the facilities while she was there. A five minute shower later Ellie stood in her trousers, eyeing Alec's button down on the counter. She could already hear Olly's wisecracks. Oh, and God forbid should he tell her sister. Though observation was a necessary skill for a reporter, sometimes Ellie really hated just how observant Olly could be, like when he noticed Chloe Latimer at the beach. Ellie put on the shirt with a frown. She would just have to keep her bright orange coat on until Olly left, even if that might be more suspicious.

Alec was not a large man. He was slight and only a head taller than Ellie but his shirt still came to rest just above her knees and the shoulder seams still fell a quarter of the way to her elbows. Ellie rolled up the cuffs so she had the use of her hands and tucked in the shirt as she walked out the bathroom. Alec had changed while she had occupied the bathroom and was currently standing at the foot of the bed tying his tie.

Ellie leaned against the bathroom doorframe and raised an eyebrow.

"A tie, Sir? It's a quarter to five in the morning and you're only seeing me off." Ellie pointed out.

"Force of habit." Alec replied. "And what did I say about calling me Sir?"

Ellie smirked. "Force of habit." She responded.

"Good to know you're fully awake now." Alec picked up Ellie's coat from were it had been lying over the armrest of the chair and tossed it at her. "Best get you on your way then."

Alec wore the same thoughtful look that he had worn in those few seconds before he had offered to baby sit her boys as they made their way to her car. Ellie didn't know if that was a good thing or not because that same look also meant he was probably about to spit out a list of questions or make a somewhat unreasonable demand of her. Once at the car Alec leaned on the bonnet and looked Ellie in the eye. It appeared he had come to a decision.

"I want you to stay here at least twice a week." Alec said.

"Excuse me?" Ellie's eyebrows raised in surprise.

She was affronted. If he thought that asking him to hold her and crying herself to sleep in his arms in a moment of weakness was some sort of invitation she would take a page out Maggie's book and hang Alec from the town spire by his bullocks!

"You heard me. Regardless as to whether you feel the need to talk or cry or vent I want you to come over here and spend the night at least twice a week." Alec repeated.

"And why would I do that?" Ellie asked.

"So you can get at the very least two restful nights of sleep a week." Alec said.

His tone of voice it made it seem like he thought it was most obvious thing in world. Why else would a man demand that a woman sleep in his bed twice a week? Did he not realize that if some other crazy fool were up at this hour and just happened to be walking by and hear him demand that, that said person would most definitely draw other conclusions as to the meaning of the demand?

"And if I don't agree?" Ellie asked.

"Then I'll go to your sister and nephew. I'm sure they would agree to help me in kidnapping you twice a week. I can't speak for Lucy but I would bet my money on Olly having noticed the dark circles under your eyes." Alec said.

"You wouldn't dare." Ellie challenged.

Alec stood up from the car and took a step towards Ellie so he was right in her face.

"Wouldn't I? You know me Ellie, I'm a man of my word. If I say I'll do something I will make it happen." Alec said. "It's just a temporary solution until you buy yourself a proper bed. This is for your health."

Ellie's gaze dropped from Alec's face and stared pointedly at his heart. "Again, you're one to talk."

"I don't have two young kids depending on me to come home every night and make dinner." Alec said.

"But you do have a daughter." Ellie replied.

"Who lives with her mother and even if didn't she's old enough to take care of herself now." Alec said. "Not that it really matters, she wants nothing to do with me." He added in a mumble.

"She wants nothing to do with you?" Ellie said.

Alec's eyes widened as he realized what he had let slip. He quickly turned around and began to pace before turning back to Ellie.

"We're getting off topic. Just say you'll come." Alec said.

This conversation was really beginning to remind of Ellie of when she had invited Alec for dinner.

"Why does this matter to you so much?" Ellie asked.

"Because you're my friend and I actually give two fucks about you unlike everyone else in the god-damned town." Alec blurted.

Ellie took a deep breath and held it for a few beats before letting it go. "I'll have to discuss this Olly and Lucy since they're the ones who'll be watching Tom and Fred."

"Ellie..."

"I'm serious. I'll talk to Olly when I get back and I'll ring you later in the morning with their reply. I can't guarantee two nights a week on a regular basis but I can do one." Ellie said.

"Aye, alright." Alec agreed.

Ellie unlocked her car and got in. "Do not contact and set something up with them. It needs to work with my schedule too."

"Aye, ma'am."

Ellie shot him a glare as she started the car. "Don't get smart with me."

Alec smiled. "Get going, back your boys."

"Already am."

Ellie put the car in reverse and started to pull away. Alec turned to head back into the Trader's when Ellie called out to him.

"Alec, I'm sure she's just busy is all." Ellie said.

"Aye, you're probably right." Alec nodded, though he didn't seem to really believe it.

The entire drive home Ellie had only two things she was willing to admit to on her mind. One was how to approach Olly and Lucy about Alec's demand without getting a few wisecracks and the other was Alec's relationship with his daughter. The one thing Elle was not willing to admit to thinking about was how welcoming the prospect of sleeping next Alec felt. First of all, because it really had been wonderful to sleep in a soft bed again and secondly because Ellie had discovered that, despite all his grumpiness, Alec was a cuddler in his sleep and having the opportunity to get some blackmail on him was too good to pass up.

Ellie was eating toast at the island reading the morning's newspaper when Olly came into the kitchen at six o'clock on the dot. When she had returned to see that Olly was not yet awake Ellie had hoped to quickly change into one of her own shirts, only discover that Olly had decided to commandeer her room for the night. With resignation Ellie crept quietly back down the stairs. She would just have to tell Olly that she was cold. It was a reasonable explanation as to why someone would be wearing their coat inside.

"Morning Aunt Ell." Olly greeted.

Olly searched the cupboards and drawers for a bowl and spoon before going to the pantry and grabbing the box of Tom's favourite sugary cereal. It wasn't until he was seated across from his Aunt that realized she was still wearing her orange "mum coat".

"How long have you been home?" Olly asked.

"Only about fifteen minutes," Ellie replied. She turned a page in the paper hoping that if she appeared to be busy reading Olly wouldn't question her.

"Hmm," Olly hummed through a mouthful of cereal. He swallowed. "Any particular reason you're still wearing your coat?"

"It's a bit chilly in here is all." Ellie said.

"Sure you're not trying to hide a hickey?"

That got Ellie to stop her charade. Her head flew up to look at Olly. "Olly!"

"Nothing to be embarrassed about Aunt Ell. He's actually a pretty good guy once he lets you past all his walls." Olly said.

"We didn't shag. Or even snog for that matter." Ellie insisted.

Olly pointed his spoon at his aunt. "So you're telling me that you stayed out all night because you just happened to fall asleep in his bed?"

"Yes!" Ellie answered quickly.

"Well, if that's the story you're going with."

"It is."

They elapsed into silence for a few minutes. God, Ellie did not want to bring up Alec's demand after that conversation.

"He wants me to spend at least two nights a week with him." Ellie said while staring at the newspaper. Hearing Olly starting to choke made her look up.

"He wants you to what?" Olly gasped.

"He's concerned that I'm not getting enough sleep because I don't have bed yet, among other reasons, and has requested that I sleep at the Trader's at least twice a week." Ellie said.

Olly just stared at her.

"What days do you think you or Lucy could regularly come out here to babysit?" Ellie asked.

"You're not actually going to sleep with him twice a week are you?" Olly asked.

"I'm not sleeping with him! Just sharing his bed. He threatened that he would drive out here and kidnap me twice a week if I didn't agree. So what nights can you and Lucy regularly spare?" Ellie repeated.

Olly sighed. "Let me go home and talk to mum about it. We already know for certain that she can't do Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays. I can't believe I'm about say this but this arrangement might actually be beneficial for her; to have something other than her meetings to go to weekly."

Olly got up and pointed at his bowl. "Do you want me to wash this before I leave?"

Ellie shook her head. "No, I'll wash it. You go home and talk to you mum. I told Hardy I'd let him know what nights I'd be spending at the Trader's by noon but I'll tell him that you had to talk with Lucy about it and you'd get back to me. Don't be surprised if he contacts you. I don't think he really believed me when I said I'd talk to you about this."

"Alright." Olly said. He walked around the Island and kissed Ellie on the cheek. "I'll be off then. Tell the boys I said bye."

"I will." Ellie smiled in thanks.