Chapter 7.

Hope you like it. Thanks to Em for her help once again!

Looking between the two, Gene felt the walls were closing in on him. Seeing his ex-wife smirk at him, he felt his earlier frustrations rush back and wash over him.

"What the bloody 'ell are you doing in me house? Who said yer could come up?"

Sandra's grin grew wider and she put an arm around Adam. Glancing back up at her former husband, she raised an eyebrow as Gene loomed furiously in the doorway.

"Now Gene, that's no way to greet me is it? For your information, Adam rang. He was worried about you and I wanted to visit him so here I am. I'm sorry about what happened with Alice, truly I am."

Gene shot her a furious look before glancing at his son and nodding for him to go upstairs.

"You. Upstairs. I'll deal with yer later."

Seeing Adam open his mouth to argue, Gene's patience ran out.

"Now Adam I mean it! I need a private chat with your mother here."

Watching as their son reluctantly stomped up the stairs, Gene closed the door before rounding on Sandra.

"Right, now he's out of the way, what do yer really want! I know you Sandra, you're a crafty cow, who's always out for what yer can get and bugger everyone else. What's yer game? Start talking!"

Getting up from the couch, Sandra walked over to stand in front of Gene, pouting and giving him an innocent look.

"Oh come on Gene. I'm not here for any games. I came to see how my son is and lucky I did! From what he told me, your ex treated him awfully, thank god you did the right thing and put him first and to hell with what that Alice thought. I'm impressed."

As she reached out to stroke his cheek, Gene flinched away from her touch and stalked over to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a large measure of whiskey and downed it in one go. Pouring more into his glass, he reached for another glass, before filling it and handing it to her.

"It's Alex and she's worth ten of yer. Oh he's told yer has he? Did he tell yer what HE was like? He treated her like dirt love, and yer know what there's a big part of me that wished I chose Alex. Now I've ruined things with her for what? A mouthy, spoiled and cocky teenager who hasn't lifted a finger since he's been here. I've seen bloody corpses that are more active than him! Definitely your son!"

Placing her glass on the coffee table, Sandra grabbed her jacket and bag and turned to leave.

"He's had it tough Gene, you've not been there and he's had to grow up without a dad guiding him and teaching him how to be a man. I thought you'd come back, especially after our last night together. Why didn't you call? You know I love you, still do. Why can't you come back to your family? It's where you belong Gene. You said to me once that family meant everything to yer and you didn't want to end up like your old man so why not be that man you wanted to be. Adam needs you and so do I Genie. Think of us. I'm going back to the hotel and let you sort your head out. You can take me out tonight. We can talk over everything and sort stuff out. Adam tells me there's a decent Italian restaurant near here. Pick me up at 7. He'll tell you the name of where I'm staying."

Shouting goodbye to Adam, Sandra left the house, leaving Gene looking incredulous in the sitting room. The smirk on her face returning. She was still in control and hopefully by the end of the night, Gene would come back and she'd be able to make his life a misery again. She didn't even want him back, she had long since fallen out of love with him but he nor Adam needed to know that. She wanted to make sure no one else could have him. She had managed to convince Adam that she wanted them to be a family again and she was doing this for him and he had jumped at the chance. She just hoped that Adam would stick to their plan.

Gene sat heavily on the couch and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Bloody hell! Trust her to mess with me head!" He really didn't need her meddling in his life anymore, it was bad enough when they had been married! Hearing footsteps in the hall, Gene took a deep breath and nodded as Adam entered the room cautiously.

"You alright mate? Look about what yer mum said, you know yer can talk to me don't yer? I know it ain't been easy the past couple of weeks what with everything that's happened but I'm yer dad and I'm here. I know I let yer down when you were younger but I'm here now. It's just me and you. However, I'd prefer it if you didn't discuss me private life with yer mam. Yer were as much to blame for the hassle over the past few weeks and I won't have either of yer laying the blame solely at Alex's door because you were horrible to her too."

Adam sat down beside his dad and nodded but didn't say anything. Glancing at the clock, Gene saw that he had a few hours to spare before meeting with Sandra and clapped Adam on the back and stood up.

"Right come on. Grab yer things and get in the car. Me and you are going out, football, darts, whatever yer fancy, it's your choice. Come on. I'll wipe the floor with you!"

Laughing, they both left the house and sped off.

Sitting down breathlessly on the grass after a rather rigorous game of football, Gene grinned as for the first time in weeks he finally saw his son with a genuine smile in his face. The past few hours of worry left his mind as Adam shoved him playfully.

"Jeez dad, you're getting pretty slow in your old age! Anyone could have saved them goals but you're slowing down old man. Thank god me mates aren't here to see it; I'd be embarrassed for yer!"

Gene snorted with laughter and shoved him back, ruffling his hair.

"Oi you watch yer mouth. I could've played for Man City and England y'know. They wanted to sign me but I was just too good so I had to turn them down and you clearly get yer footy skills from yer old man. I remember when you were younger, I used to take yer to the park and we'd spend hours kicking the ball about and I even took yer to see City but yer whinged the whole way so I didn't take yer again."

"Er, yeah that was because I'm a United fan dad!"

Adam laughed and winked at his dad, seeing his look of mock outrage.

"Oi! How'd yer fancy walking back to the house. No united supporters allowed in me motor."

Shoving Adam in the shoulder, they both broke out in laughter again. Standing up, they both made their way back to the car.

As he looked towards his dad, Adam felt a surge of guilt run through him. He had loved spending time with him today. He wasn't at all like his mam had said. He wished that he had behaved better when he first arrived, maybe even made an effort with Alex but he couldn't change that now. What's done was done.

Once in the car, Gene cleared his throat and looked at the steering wheel. He wanted to tell Adam about Alex's news but was worried over how he'd react. He didn't want to spoil the atmosphere but if he wanted to be a part of this baby's life, then Adam needed to know.

"Er mate, I've to tell yer something. Now I want yer to know that it won't change anything between me and you ok? But erm, Alex is pregnant mate. I'm going to be a dad. Again."

Adam turned to face his dad. His blood running cold as the fear crept in. This wasn't meant to happen! If Gene found out what he'd done, then he'd be struck out of his life for good. Shit, he needed to talk to his mam, tell her he wanted out, he didn't want to be part of her games any longer. She'd be furious but what else could he do. He didn't want to lose his dad.

Despite his worries over his part in the break up and turmoil over the past few weeks, he was genuinely pleased about the news. Slowly, a genuine smile crept across his face. He was going to be a big brother. He'd always wanted another brother or sister when he was younger but slowly realised it was never going to happen.

"Wow, that's great dad. Congratulations. I'm pleased for yer. And Alex. Really I am."

Nodding, Gene looked intently at his son, glad that he seemed to be taking it quite well.

Glancing at his watch, he saw that he had only a short time before he would have to meet with Sandra. Groaning quietly to himself, he wished that an emergency would come up at work so he'd get out if it but knowing his luck, nothing would happen and so he'd be stuck to face her. Glancing across at Adam, he

"Right, I'll let yer get something in the chippy and then we'll head home alright?"

Glancing briefly at his reflection in the mirror, Gene winced as he tried to look like he wasn't making much of an effort so Sandra didn't get any ideas. The last thing he wanted was for her to think that he wanted to get back together. Picking up the bottle of whiskey that was beside him, he thought back over the last few hours. After arriving home, he phoned Alex hoping that he could apologise to her about the way he spoke to her earlier but she hadn't answered. He hoped she was just out and not deliberately ignoring his calls. He couldn't blame her though if she was, he had acted like a complete bastard to her. He'd put things right tonight. He'd go back to the flat after dropping Sandra back to her hotel and he'd apologise to her. She wouldn't stay mad at him forever, would she?

Adam glanced worriedly towards the hall as he dialled the hotel's number, where his mam was staying. He needed to stop this before it was too late. He didn't want to be part of her games anymore, especially after today. He had loved spending time with his dad and on the way home, he had made up his mind that he wasn't going to sacrifice it for anyone, even his mam.

Finally, after what seemed like an age, he was put through to his mother and took a deep breath, preparing himself for her reaction.

"Mam, yeah it's me. Shut up a minute and let me talk. Look, I'm not doing this anymore. Yer can't make me. I ain't going to ruin things with me dad, so whatever yer game is, yer drop it. I mean it! You keep me out of it and go back to Manchester, you're not needed round 'ere, not by dad, Alex or by me so I mean it. After tonight, yer gone!"

Cutting her off mid-sentence as Gene wandered down the stairs, he slammed the phone.

"Who was that?"

"Uh no one. Well not no one, just a wrong number."

Gene looked sceptically at him, not quite believing him but said nothing. He'd get to the bottom of it later. Grabbing his coat, he grabbed his keys and waved to Adam.

"Right, I'm off. I won't be that late but I might call into Alex after so I'll see yer later. No parties and leave me drinks alone this time alright? Wish me luck!"

Adam exhaled as the front door slammed. Lying down on the couch he groaned as he hoped his mam wouldn't drop him in it. He knew she could hit out when she didn't get her own way and he really hoped she wouldn't do that tonight. Turning on the TV, he tried to put it out of his head and focused on the football.

He hoped it would all be ok. His dad would sort everything out and he hoped they could move on without his mum in their lives.

If only it could be that simple.

Glancing briefly across at Sandra, he tried not to roil his eyes as she moaned repeatedly at him. At the moment she was going on about his driving and how she didn't want to end up on a slab because of him.

"If only", he muttered under his breath as he lit another cigarette. Pulling up outside Luigi's, he was glad that tonight was footy night so hopefully they wouldn't bump into any of the team. That was the last thing he needed.

As he got out of the car, he looked up towards Alex's window, smiling as he saw that the light was on, indicating she was in. Good, he wanted to pop up later.

"Gene! Are yer coming or what! I would like to eat preferably before I die of the hunger. C'mon!"

Gene groaned. This was going to be a nightmare. "Few hours and that's it, yer can see Alex after."

Deciding that thoughts of Alex would keep him occupied for the time being, Gene followed Sandra as she descended down the steps.