Molly had taken it upon herself to be the 'parent' while Alex was recovering, both physically and emotionally, from the past few months. She was cooking, cleaning, ironing and telling Alex that all she wanted her to do in the evenings was relax and not worry about anything. Food gradually became less of an issue, Molly was cooking healthy and nutritious things for them to eat and Alex was at least trying. Of course there were bad days where she felt physically unable to eat but Molly was patient with her, telling her it was okay and they'd try again tomorrow. She'd made more of an effort to spend time with her Mum: watching TV together every night and insisting on regular movie evenings. If Alex was sad, Molly would hold her and tell her it would get better, she just needed to give herself time to heal.

However, in the few days since her birthday, Molly had noticed a significant and seemingly unexplained improvement. Alex seemed happier and more peaceful. She was eating more, Molly even found her having a slice of her birthday cake for breakfast and she'd almost cried with relief. She needed her Mum back and besides, this parenting thing was exhausting.

Molly was pretty sure she knew who was responsible. Despite asking Gene to stay away in the week for a while so she could spend more time with Alex, he'd unexpectedly shown up three times in the seven days that followed, with one lame excuse after another:

"I came to see how the cat was."

"What do you want for Christmas, Molls?" (It was the last day in July.)

"Did you see 'Fame' last night? I didn't."

Thursday's excuse was probably the lamest of them all. It was after ten and Molly was brushing her teeth. The doorbell rang and she inwardly cursed, she was hoping to persuade Alex to let her stay up under the pretence of watching 'Question Time.'

It was Gene.

"I thought you had darts on a Thursday?" Molly said, by way of greeting.

"I... Um... I think I left my driving gloves in 'Luigi's' on Saturday night."

"Well, you're wearing your driving gloves and you've had four days to check at Luigi's or ask Mum at work."

Molly smirked as Alex appeared behind Molly in the doorway.

Her heart fluttered on seeing Gene. "Hello."

"Hello."

"Molly, it's late, say 'goodnight.'"

"But 'Question Time!'" she whined. "Can't I watch it in your room then I'll go straight to sleep."

Alex relented. At least the programme was educational. "Okay."

"Night, Dad." Molly gave him a little wave as she left to get settled.

When Molly was safely out of earshot, Alex hissed, "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "Wanted to see you. I couldn't concentrate at darts so Ray kicked me off the team." He scuffed at her doorstep with his shoe. "We still on for tomorrow? The drink? Because if not..."

She smiled at him. "Of course we are."

"Good." He kissed the bump on the side of her nose again.

"You know, you have to stop staring at my nose, people are starting to talk."

"Really?"

"Ray's wondering why you're not staring at my arse anymore." She gave him a wry smile. "Tomorrow, then."

"Tomorrow."

888888

He couldn't keep his eyes off her. All day. The fact it was a ridiculously slow and boring Friday of paperwork didn't help. They had planned that she would leave at five and meet him in a small, quiet pub he'd scoped out earlier in the week and knew she'd love. He was supposed to follow fifteen minutes later but in the end could only wait five. He stopped by the florist where he'd arranged to have a bunch of flowers waiting for him and tried not to burn with jealousy when he arrived at the pub to find the barman flirting with her. Scowling at him, he kissed Alex quickly, just once. She tasted like her berry lipgloss and peanuts. He smiled, knowing it was her addiction to 'Marathons' that caused that taste.

"Hi," she whispered.

"Hi." He felt like a right soft Southerner, standing there with a bunch of flowers.

"Got you a beer." She pointed to the pint glass on the bar.

"Ta." He nodded to a table in a corner booth. "Want to?"

"Yeah." She picked up her glass of red wine and awkwardly slid into the seat opposite him.

"Oh, these are for you." He handed her a bunch of purple peonies, knowing they were her favourites. Molly had hinted earlier in the week; the girl was too smart for her own good.

"Thanks, they're beautiful."

Then there was silence. Gene was desperately trying to think of something to say that wouldn't totally petrify her or that wasn't about Molly.

"Um... did you get a haircut?" he stuttered, at a total loss for what to say. He looked at her, when did she get a fringe anyway?

"A month ago."

"Oh... it suits you."

"Thanks." Then she dissolved into a fit of giggles and then on seeing his bemused expression began fanning her face and murmuring, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Managing to calm herself down, she looped her little finger through his. "I miss you."

He stared at their linked fingers, taken aback. "I miss you too, Bolly."

Conversation seemed to flow easier after that: about Molly being an aggressive goal attack in netball (Gene pretended to understand,) Chris and Shaz, Ray, cases at work...

Once they got outside, it was a surprisingly cool evening for August. On seeing Alex shiver, Gene wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Can I walk you home?" he asked. It really wasn't a question, he was going to do so anyway, make sure she got back safe.

She nodded and put her other arm around his waist, slipping her hand into his coat pocket to warm her chilled fingers.

They strolled through the park and back to 'Luigi's' in comfortable silence, just enjoying being together until they reached her front door. The walk was nice and neither of them wanted to think about anything too deep for fear of ruining the evening.

"Well... I better..." he trailed off.

"Yeah, Molly will be home soon."

Gene nodded as he heard her take a sharp, nervous intake of breath.

"I can't stop either," he heard her say, barely more than a whisper.

"Can't stop what?"

"What you said when I was in hospital." She looked away, uncharacteristically shy.

It was then when Gene realised they were both staring at exactly the same spot on the floor, refusing to actually look at each other out of an unspoken fear. Both were thinking of how much they meant to each other but was unsure the other was on the same page. "You were supposed to be asleep."

"I wasn't." Cautiously, she shifted closer and laid her head on his chest, looping her arms behind him and resting her hands on his shoulders.

"I don't want to go," he told her, a rare moment of honesty as he buried his face in her hair. She smelled gorgeous and familiar, all soapy.

"I know." She squeezed him tighter.

He drew back, looked into her eyes and straightened a small piece of the new fringe. "We're still waiting, taking it slow." It was a statement rather than a question.

"Yeah." She sighed. "I want to be with you, Gene, I..."

He silenced her with a gentle kiss, calming her rapid heartbeat, soothing her. "You talk too much, I keep telling you."

She nodded and smiled, resting her forehead against his. "Yeah, I noticed that."