Chapter 8.

Finally this chapter is written. Exams, studying and The Durrell's and The Hollow Crown got in the way (Loved Talbot, sad that Phil was in it for a short period :-/ L).

Thanks to Emma as per, for you are brilliant help! Hugs.

On entering Luigi's, Gene cast a quick glance, sighing in relief as there was no sign of any of the team. Nodding to Sandra to take a seat, Gene walked to the bar to order drinks, nodding sheepishly to a scowling Luigi.

"Alright Luigi? I'll have a pint and she'll have a vodka tonic."

"If I must. Who is she Signor Hunt? You moved on from the lovely signorina so soon, typical English men!"

Sighing in frustration, Gene tapped his fingers on the bar and groaned. He'd never hear the end of this now! Bloody Sandra, why'd she want to come here?

"She is me ex-wife Luigi. She wants a private chat so 'ere we are. Now do us a favour and get the drinks, and make sure the food is quick tonight. I need this to be over."

Luigi fixed him with one last glare and passed him the drinks muttering.

"I come and take your orders in 5 minutes."

Walking back towards the table, Gene placed the drinks on the table and sat down heavily.

"So I'd have thought Ray and Chris would be here tonight. I was so looking forward to a catch up. I hear Chris has got himself a wife. Will wonders ever cease? He always seemed like a div when we were married. London must agree with him. You're looking good too Genie. Less moody, Adams really enjoyed being here these last few weeks. Well apart from all that business with Alice, horrible woman. I don't know what yer saw in 'er!"

Gene ground his teeth and looked around, hoping that Luigi would come and rescue him.

"Right for the last time, it's Alex! How would yer know whether she's horrible or not, you've never met 'er! Like I said earlier, she's amazing and worth ten of yer. Adam treated her like crap and I unfortunately chose him. Stop slagging her off will yer? We came here to discuss us not me and her."

As soon as the word 'us' had left his mouth, Gene regretted it. Seeing Sandra's grin widen he cursed himself. She wouldn't let this go now.

Sighing, Alex turned off the television and went into the kitchen, flicking the switch on the kettle. She hated being alone and wished she could call Gene and ask him over, but she stopped herself. He was going to have to grovel for what he had said earlier to her. How dare he call her a bad mum after what he did! Feeling the tears well in her eyes, she picked up a photo that was lying face down on the counter, smiling as she traced his face. It was the only photo she had taken from their house. It was from the night if Chris's party. Luigi had taken a photo of them when they hadn't been paying attention to what was going around them. She smiled as in the photo, they only had eyes for themselves.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and she jumped. Wiping her eyes quickly, she opened it, smiling as she saw Shaz on her doorstep.

"Right, you can stay up here all night and be miserable and cry or else you can come downstairs and watch me drink Luigi's dry. Chris has gone out with Ray and I'm bored. C'mon and don't even think about arguing with me. Jacket now!"

Slamming the door behind her, the two women giggled as they descended downstairs, unaware of Gene and his dinner partner's presence.

Gene was slowly growing tired of listening to Sandra. Glancing discreetly at his watch, he groaned. Great, ten minutes in her company felt longer. Seeing Luigi shuffle over to them, Gene nodded at him, trying to coax Luigi into being his usual jovial self, not that he could blame him for being annoyed.

"What you want? Usual signor Hunt?"

"Er yeah Luigi. What about you? What do yer want?"

Sandra smirked and winked at Gene, ignoring Luigi completely.

"Apart from you? Oh I don't know, this menu looks a bit shabby. I expect the food will be the same. I'll just have the lasagna ta."

Gene gulped and threw an apologetic glance at Luigi, but Luigi ignored him and continued to glare at Sandra. If looks could kill, Gene thought Sandra would be well and truly dead by now. As Luigi left their table, Gene heard him muttering curses under his breath and glared at Sandra.

"Oi! Stop slagging him off, he's alright. Just tell me what yer want Sandra."

"Haven't yer been listening to me all day? I want you Gene, I want us back together. You, Adam and me. It's what's right, Gene. The reason why it didn't work out between you and her was because of us. You admitted it a few minutes ago that there is an 'us'. Deep down, you still love me!"

Gene snorted and raised his eyebrow as Sandra took his hand in hers and with her other hand, she stroked his cheek. He was about to reply but stopped when he saw Shaz and Alex enter the restaurant. They stopped giggling as soon as they saw Gene and Sandra. Seeing Alex struggling not to cry, he loosened Sandra's grip on his hand and stood up.

"Bolls. Alex, it isn't what it looks like, I swear. This is Sandra, she's Adam's mam. She wanted to meet up and talk about him. Nothing else I swear."

Shaz snorted and squeezed Alex's arm and walked towards the bar.

"Not what it looks like to me."

Glancing over Gene's shoulder, Alex nodded towards Sandra, who Gene noted, was no longer smiling, instead she looked furious.

"C'mon, bout time you two met. Alex this is Sandra. Sandra, Alex. How are yer? Everything ok? Look, I don't want to do this now in front of an audience but can I pop back later to talk? Reckon we need it."

Turning away from Gene's furious guest, she smiled.

"I'll look forward to it. I'm a bit tired so I'll have a drink with Shaz then go up. I'll leave the door unlocked, just open it when you come back. I'll see you later Gene."

Nodding, Gene watched her make her way back towards Shaz, smiling as Luigi muttered something to her and she giggled.

Still smiling, he sat back in his chair and took a sip of his drink, ignoring the jealous glares from across the table.

"Right come on let's get this over with."

"I'll drop yer back to yer hotel if yer want? It's no trouble."

Gene meandered through the heavy traffic. He wanted to get back to Alex quickly, he dint particularly want to spend any more time in Sandra's company than was strictly necessary but he couldn't exactly let her walk back alone. He'd never hear the end of it. Sandra sighed. This wasn't meant to happen. She was getting somewhere before that bitch turned up. Loathed to admit it, but Alex looked stunning. Sandra always knew that she looked good but she couldn't help but feel inadequate when she saw Alex. She now knew why Gene had fallen for her. However, she was still determined to get her way.

"Do yer have to? Why don't we go back to yours, watch a movie and talk some more. Maybe even a nightcap. C'mon Gene, yer used to practically drag me home when we were married. What happened? Why can't we go back to how it was?"

Leaning across she tried to kiss him but he pulled away furiously.

"What the hell do yer think yer doing woman?! Look, get this into yer skull, I don't want yer because I don't love yer. Whatever we had, it's long gone! We were toxic together Sandra. Rows, drinking and the sleeping around. Yes I was a bad boy but I stopped all that when the lad was born. You were the one who slept around with everyone, including me bleeding super! I ain't perfect but at least I admit when I did wrong unlike you! Now I'm dropping yer back to yer hotel, alone. I'll get Adam to call yer tomorrow to sort stuff out."

Pulling up at the hotel, Gene stared ahead, ignoring her.

"You're going to regret this Gene Hunt! You think you've got the perfect life? Nice house, perfect ex-girlfriend, not to mention your trustworthy son. If only yer knew what was going on under yer nose. That smug look would be wiped off yer face. Tell Adam I said hello."

Slamming the door, Sandra let out a furious scream, as the Quattro roared away. She was going to ruin everything, including the relationship between Gene and Adam. He was going to pay.

Ooh you tell her Gene!

Hope you're all enjoying! Do let me know. :)