Gene wanted to do this right. He spent a week helping Alex and Molly pack all their things into cardboard boxes and had enlisted the help of Ray, Chris and Shaz to aid in ferrying all their girly belongings to his house.

Molly was ridiculously excited. She'd never lived in a house as opposed to a flat before and she squealed in delight when she saw the garden.

"Dad?"

The rest of his team exchanged a look as they unpacked various kitchen utensils but knew better than to say anything.

"Hmm?" Gene was battling with folding a tablecloth of all things. Catching criminals didn't seem to be a problem but he was completely baffled by how this bastard thing was supposed to fold neatly into Alex's 'tablecloth drawer.'

"Can we get a cat? Since we have a garden and everything. Mum never let me have a pet..."

"No, she didn't and she still won't," Alex told her, walking into the kitchen having just been putting away Molly's clothes upstairs.

Gene definitely didn't want to piss Alex off on their first night in their new house. "We'll see."

Molly grinned. "That means 'yes.'" She raced out of the door calling behind her, "Going upstairs to unpack!"

"You lot better sling yer hook and all!" Gene snapped at his team. Much as he was grateful for them helping him move the girls in he was desperate for a few minutes alone with Alex and then a nice family dinner later without his squad hanging around.

"He means..." Alex gave Gene a pointed glare."Thank you."

They smiled and said their goodbyes, shouting up the stairs to Molly who thanked her 'Uncle Ray,' 'Uncle Chris' and 'Auntie Shaz' for all their help.

Alex grinned. She honestly couldn't be any happier than she was at this moment.

Without the others there, just him and Alex, alone, Gene couldn't help but feel unsure of himself. He couldn't figure out why, after all, this was his house and he'd lived here for years but somehow with Molly and Alex it felt so different.

"So, did you unpack your clothes yet?" he asked her.

She nodded and gave him a sly smile. "I took the left side of the wardrobe. I sleep on the left side of the bed too."

"Bolly... There's no pressure..."

She silenced him with a kiss. "I'm so done with waiting. We're together, Gene. Really together. You don't have to treat me like glass, I won't break you know."

"I know." He traced his hands around her waist. "I just need to do this right. Been dreamin' about both of you living here for so long..."

"I know, but Molly can't have a cat."

"Oh, let her."

"Gene!" she reiterated. "She needs boundaries. Being a parent means learning to say 'no,' you'll get used to it. Besides, she loves you, whether you let her get a cat or not."

"Good, I bloody hate cats."

Alex giggled. "Me too."

They spent a few tender moments with their arms wrapped around each other until Molly appeared with a tape measure.

"Where did you get that?" Alex asked her.

Molly shrugged. "Dad, can you help me measure up the garden for the cat?"

"Why do you need to measure the garden for a cat?" Gene asked, sighing. He swore, he would never understand these Drake women as long as he lived.

"Please?"

"Order the takeaway, Bolls, that's a good girl," he said.

Before Alex could open her mouth to protest at having to take care of the food, again, he asked,

"What do you fancy, Molly?"

"You pick, Mum," Molly offered. "I always get to choose, it's your turn."

Alex perused the various takeaway menus scattered by Gene's phone. "Thai?" she teased.

Gene pulled a face. "Poof's food! I hate bloody coconut. Everything has coconut in it."

"Okay... how about pizza?" Alex suggested.

Molly nodded. "Make mine a Hawaiian."

"Say please," Gene reminded her.

Alex gave a little nod of approval. It was the first time that he'd ever even thought about scolding Molly, not that she seemed to notice.

"Make mine a Hawaiian, please," Molly repeated with a little smile.

Gene scowled anyway. He wasn't really a fan of pizza. "Plain, a marga- who sit, you know the one."

"Margherita," Alex confirmed as Molly dragged Gene into the garden.

When she was sure they were out of earshot, she enquired, "You *still* didn't ask her yet?"

"I told you, Molls," Gene said, pretending to examine a loose piece of fencing, "Wanna do it right."

Molly nodded. "You know that little Spanish place you took her for your first date?"

"Yeah."

"Take her there," Molly suggested. "Oh and then out for ice cream, she'll love it."

Gene sighed. "I really, *really* want to marry her, Molls. Living in sin ain't really my style. Not that I've ever really been this serious about anyone before. I'm just waiting for the right time. We'll settle down here and then I'll ask her, okay? It'll happen, I promise."

Molly smiled. "Okay."

They walked back inside and Molly hugged her Mum tightly.

"What was that for?" Alex asked.

"Nothing... I just decided I don't want a cat I guess."

"Okay." Alex nodded, secretly pleased. She knew Gene and Molly were up to something, she just didn't know what yet...