Disclaimer not mine. I do not own Ashes to Ashes. If I did there would be more than 3 series! Thank you for all the encouragement. This is the penultimate chapter before starting What Makes A Man. (provisonal title!)

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Sharon Grainger was a good Catholic girl. Always had been. As she stopped the car as near to the garage as she could possibly get it she whispered the Rosary that her mother had taught her when she was much younger than Molly was now. She kept the engine running as she whispered. She closed her eyes for a moment as she saw Gene carry Alex towards the car. Leaning over she opened the door for him as he settled Alex in the passenger seat.

"Oh my God Ma'am" Sharon stared at her.

"Hi Shaz" She smiled slightly as she saw her young friend stare at her bruises.

"Who did that to you?" Shaz bit her bottom lip, angry that Alex had been the focus of yet more violence. It seemed trouble followed Alex just about everywhere she went.

"Long story" Alex coughed, her own voice sounded harsh after not being used for so long.

"Shaz luv, let me drive me own bleedin car" Gene watched as Shaz blushed before jumping out of the driver's seat to let him in.

"Right, have you spoken to Sammy boy or that Chris of yours?" Gene threw the car into gear as he headed towards the station.

"Yeah" Shaz couldn't take her eyes off Alex as she spoke. "Yeah I spoke to Phyllis actually"

"And?"

"And Annie and Sam are bringing the girls to the station. Ray and Chris have an address for Peter Drake" Shaz bit her bottom lip.

"Oh God" Alex closed her eyes. She was finding it hard to believe what had started as a straightforward but horrible case for the team had turned into a case where two female officers had been abducted, Gene had nearly gone mad and Annie had put herself in the line of fire at almost 20 weeks pregnant. It didn't bare thinking about. Now her ex husband, Jim Keats and the Hughes brothers seemed to be conspiring against them. Against me! How did Evan get involved in all this. She rested her head against the car seat as she wondered just how Evan had been caught up in the web. She couldn't believe the man that had taken her in and brought her up as his own could be part of a plan to destroy her and her family. She opened her eyes as she felt Gene touch her hand.

"Bolls? You ok?"

"I wil be, when I see the girls I will be" He squeezed her hand.

"Yeah me to Alex. Me too" He whispered as they reached the station car park. Sharon had the sense to remain quiet as she sat in the back of the bright red Audi. She smiled slightly, wondering if she would ever be lucky enough to have the kind of relationship with Chris that Alex and Gene shared. They looked out for each other. Chris doesn't see me like that. I'm his girlfriend thats all. Gene and Alex they are the real thing I reckon, like Sam and Annie. She folded her arms and sighed, not in the slightest bit jealous. Just pleased that the DCI and his DI were together.

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Molly was angry and exhausted. Ruby had slept through everything. She was still in the car seat Phyllis had got from Alex and Gene's house. The older woman watched the baby sleep as Molly rested her head on her folded arms.

"You alright luv?" Phyllis turned to the young girl.

"Yeah" Molly yawned

"You worked it out didn't you?" Phyllis was proud of the young girl. Molly shrugged her shoulders.

"I just thought it was weird. You know? Mum was in hospital for ages and Evan was really worried. I mean really worried."

"We all were" Annie walked in as Molly nodded.

"I know" Molly smiled at her "But then we were watching telly in the living room. Ruby was sleeping and it just didn't feel right. It was like he was waiting for something. At first I thought he was just waiting for someone to ring him to say mum was ok. But then I went to get some juice from the kitchen and saw Evan's mobile on the table. I know I shouldn't have but I picked it up" Molly glanced at Annie, she was sure she was going to be told off.

"You looked in the phone?" Annie smiled

"Yeah. My father's number was in there. I thought it was because Evan helped with Dad adopting me. But then I read the text messages. They were from him about mum. About getting me away from mum. How the adoption wasn't final and if Evan didn't help then he would tell mum about what happened when she was little. I put the phone in my pocket. Thought it might be useful" She pulled it out and gave it to Annie.

"You are a proper little Nancy Drew!" Phyllis laughed as Molly smiled back.

"The adoption will go through wont it? I mean Gene is my dad isn't he?" Molly bit her lip as Phyllis and Annie both nodded.

"Course I am luv" Gene stated as the young girl spun on her heel.

"Mum!" She was in Alex's arms before Alex could say a word. Gene shook his head and smiled.

"Right, that phone is evidence" He pointed to the small Nokia as Phyllis pulled evidence bags from the back of her desk drawer. "Now where is that idiot husband of yours?" He looked at Annie.

"About now, he's interviewing Evan with Viv. Ray and Chris have just picked up Drake. They are on the way back here" Annie glanced towards her friend. She didn't like the way she involuntarily tightened her hold on Molly or the way she flinched when Pete's name was mentioned.

"Good, right" Gene sighed "I think Sam can manage here for a bit"

"Gene?" Alex looked up.

"Police station no place for kids" He ushered Alex and the girls back to the Audi as Annie smiled.

"Dad?" Molly stared at him

"I'm taking you three 'ome luv." Molly nodded as Ruby began to wake up. "Oh and you titch have got great timing" He picked up the car seat containing Ruby as the nine month old baby displayed her best gummy grin. Alex rolled her eyes. It was clear both her girl's were Daddy's girls. For a moment she felt sorry for any future boyfriends her daughters may think of having.

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Sam walked through the station's myriad of corridors as he thought about what Evan had said. He's Alex's biological father? That's why Tim tried to kill the whole family all those years ago? He found out about the affair and Alex's true paternity? Bloody Hell wonders if Alex knows? It's going to be thrown in her face in Court. What a mess! What a bloody mess! He shook his head as he saw Annie walk towards him.

"Hi" She beamed

"Hello" Sam ran his eyes over her as she blushed. "Where's Alex and the Guv?"

"He took her and the girls home. Mind you I think Alex should have gone to hospital. Shaz said she was in a bit of a state when Gene found her" Annis narrowed her eyes. She was worried about her friend and equally angry.

"Good, she probably needs a rest" He leant against the door as Annie frowned. "What?"

"Here" Annie took his hand and rested it on her swollen abdomen. Sam smiled as he felt his child kick.

"Going to play for Man U that one" He smiled at the expression on Annie's face.

"And what if we have a girl?" Sam shrugged at her words.

"She'll play for Man U ladies" Annie rolled her eyes as Sam pulled her in for a kiss "I love you" he whispered as Annie stared at him.

"Sam?" She bit her bottom lip as he rested his forehead on hers.

"It's going to be messy Annie. The court case after all this. Gene and Alex are going to need their friends around them" He closed his eyes as he felt Annie nod against him.

"We'll be here. She does know you know, about Evan and her mother."

"Does she know he's her father?" Sam sighed "Evan was being blackmailed. Drake said he had to help Keats destroy Fenchurch East CID and get Molly away from Alex or he's make sure everyone knew what happened between Evan and her"

"Oh God. That explains motive" Annie sighed.

"Yeah" Sam opened his eyes as he felt Annie step back. "She doesn't know does she?"

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Molly had practically fallen asleep in the car on the way home. Gene smiled as he realised he was the only person awake. They had been home less than an hour and both children were snoring softly as he checked on them. The thought Evan had been involved in a plot so intricate that it could really have destroyed everything Gene cared about made him feel sick. The women in his house were the only people he cared about. Alex, Molly and Ruby were his priority and he couldn't understand Evan being prepared to hurt Alex the way he had. He's practically her father. Same as me with Molly. Blood means nothing. They are both my girls. He shook his head as he reached his bedroom. The darkness of the room soothed him as he crept towards the bed.

"Gene?" Alex was clearly having a nightmare.

"I'm here luv" He whispered as he slipped in to the bed beside her.

"No" Alex muttered as Gene shook her slightly. She opened her eyes to see him brushing her dark hair away from her face.

"It's ok. It's over" He hoped he wasn't lying.

"I" Alex met his eyes as she tried to control her breathing. Her pulse raced dangerously fast in her chest. "He was trying to take my girls. I couldn't stop him. You weren't there" Alex looked at his bare chest as she spoke. She knew it was a nightmare. Her mind playing tricks.

"Bolls, listen to me" He tilted her chin so she had to look him in the eye "Ruby is asleep, baby monitor is on. Molly is snoring her head off." He ran his hand along her bare arm "And as for me, you daft bat. I ain't going anywhere. You are stuck with me"

"Even though I'm a mouthy posh tart?" Alex smiled, remembering one of their early and more colourful arguments.

"Yes, even though you are mouthy and posh" Gene smiled "I love yer you daft bat"

"Gene, you are such a romantic" She smiled at him as tears filled her eyes. "God Gene I was scared. I mean really scared. He had our girls" She screwed her eyes shut.

"I know. You weren't the only one either. It's over Bolls. Just us now, just us four. Nothing going to change that" He kissed her as he felt her pull her to him. Suddenly sleep was the furthest thing from his mind.

"Promise" Alex almost whispered as she pulled out of the kiss. She felt rather than heard Gene answer.

"Promise"

A/N Enough Galex? Just the epilogue to tidy the loose ends and then the next story if anyone is interested. Thank you all for the lovely reviews. PS I am sure I got Alex's mum's name wrong.