Chapter 9.

Enjoy! Thanks again to Em for your help, I honestly couldn't do it without you! Xx

Walking into the kitchenette on Wednesday morning, Gene took out two cups from the cupboard and flicked the switch on the kettle. While it boiled, Gene leant back against the counter and thought back to Saturday night and his conversation with Alex. They had made progress. He had apologised for their row and she forgave him and they talked about the baby.

Flashback

Opening the door, Alex leant against the frame and raised her eyebrows at Gene.

"Yes. What do you want? Only I'm a bit busy, you know with my latest man inside. Since you've been gone. I've had quite a few gentlemen over, I thought I may as well do whatever you were accusing me of."

Gene sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair. Looking back at her, he pulled a Marathon bar, her favourite, out his pocket and held it out to her.

"Hello Bolls. Peace offering, can I come in? Please? Two minutes and I swear I'll get out of your way."

Alex gave him one last glare before stepping back and allowed him in.

"Boll, I'm sorry ok? I shouldn't have said what I said and I'm sorry I implied you were a slag. Me head was all over the place and I just saw red. I'm an idiot, a prat."

Alex crossed her arms and gave him a teasing glare. She couldn't stay mad at him, stupid, bloody sexy man. Taking in his ruffled appearance, she tried not to drool. She wanted to grab him and drag him to the bedroom. She chose to tease him instead.

"Is this Gene Hunt, apologising? I might just fall over with shock. It's ok, you're forgiven but say it again and you'll never father another child again, you hear me?"

Grinning, Gene sat down beside her and nodded towards her tummy.

"So how are yer? Baby behaving 'imself? Need me to give him a talking to?"

Alex giggled and slapped his arm lightly and raised her eyebrows.

"Oh will you know? Well yes everything is ok, bit tired but that's normal. What makes you think it's a 'him'?"

"Trust the Gene Genie bolls. If I'm his daddy, it's bound to be a strong strapping boy."

Alex laughed and leant against him.

They both sat in the quiet, Gene grinned as he placed his hand on her stomach and felt the baby kick. Glancing back at Alex, he saw that she had fallen asleep on him and smiled. Pulling the blanket around them, he pecked her on the forehead and closed his eyes. They'd be ok, he'd make sure of that.

End flashback.

"Gene Hunt actually making tea without shouting about it, will wonders ever cease? One of them for me?"

Gene snorted and handed her a cup. He could just see the hint of a bump under her top and his heart swelled with love.

"Well, it was actually meant for Ray but looks like he's going to miss out. You feeling ok?"

Alex smiled and rested her hand on his arm, both of them trying to ignore the tingling. Alex pulled back and rooted out Gene's packet if biscuits where she knew they were hidden.

"Gene seriously, I'm fine! Stop worrying, everything is perfect. You're still coming with me to the appointment with me later on aren't you? It's at four so we can sneak away."

Picking up his mug, Gene walked out of the room, looking back at her.

"Yep, no problem. I'll drive yer. Looking forward to it actually. Now back to work Bolls."

Giving her one last smile, he went back into his office and shut the door.

Gene sat at his desk, looking through the latest case file, a series of burglaries. Reaching for his packet of fags, he sighed as the phone rang. Slamming them back on the desk, he picked up the phone.

"Hunt!"

"You know a 'hello' would be nice! Do you always have to be so rude?"

Oh great! Just what he needed.

"What do yer want Sandra?"

"Don't be like that Genie, please. I was wondering if we could meet up for a few minutes. I want to apologise about the other night and we really need to discuss plans for Adam. It won't be long, I promise. Meet me at the bar in the hotel, I'll have a pint waiting for you. I'm not taking no for an answer."

Slamming down the phone, he swore. Why couldn't that woman take the hint and leave him bloody well alone! She wasn't the woman he wanted and he thought he had gotten through to her the other night.

Glancing at the clock, he saw that he had a little while before the appointment with Alex, so he sighed and reached for his keys he stood up.

Opening the door, he walked out, glancing at Alex as he left.

"I'm going out for a little while. I'll pick yer up on the way back. Don't worry, I ain't going to miss it. See yer when I get back."

Walking into the hotel bar, he spotted her waiting for him at the bar. Glancing at her warily, he wished he could turn back and leave but she had spotted him and called him over.

"Alright? Listen, there's somewhere I need to be so I'm not staying long. Let's just get this over with."

Smirking, Sandra leaned over and pecked him on the cheek and nodded towards the pint.

"Bet yer say that to all the girls! Right well thing is, I think Adam is a lot happier since he's been here with you. He smiles more and I'm great for that but I want him back with me Gene. I miss him."

"Well I'm not going to forget about him love, I promise yer. I'll miss him, he's an annoying little sod but he's been good company. I'll pop up to Manchester every now and then and see him."

Sandra inwardly sighed frustratingly. No this isn't what she wanted. He was going to come back to her whether he wanted to or not. She fixed her features into a gloomy look and began to get upset. When they had been married, this act would always win him over.

"Pop up? Are yer serious Gene?! This is your son! You let him go and what'll happen? He'll turn back into the annoying sod he was before. You are needed by him and me. Why can't yer bloody well see that! You know what, fine. If you don't care about your own son then fair enough, we'll get out of your hair in the morning. You can tell him why yer don't want him anymore."

Grabbing her bag, Sandra stalked out of the bar, smirking as she heard him calling after her before following her. This was going to work.

"Oh that bloody woman! Why did she have to make a drama about everything?" Gene swore as he watched her storm out. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was 3:30. Half an hour before the appointment. Right, go after her. Patch things up and then leave and meet Bolls. Calling after her, he followed her up the stairs to her room.

"Sandra, look I'm sorry ok? I care about him and in some ways, I still care about you too. But my life is here now, it has been for the last few years. I'm not going to move away from my responsibilities here just because yer want me to. It doesn't work like that."

Pouring him a glass of whiskey, she handed it to him and nodded to the nearby chair, indicating for him to sit.

"I'm sorry too. It's just that I don't want yer to miss out on his life any more than you have already Gene. I brought a few photos with me. Want to have a look?"

Handing over the photos, they both laughed as they looked through them Gene soon lost track of time.

Back at the office, Alex looked up at the clock. Where the hell was he? He was only meant to be out for ten bloody minutes! Well sod him, she wasn't going to wait for him anymore. Seeing Shaz walking over to her, she plastered a smile on her face.

"Shaz, can I ask you a huge favour? My appointment is in ten minutes and I was hoping you could come with me? Gene hasn't bothered coming back, I expect he's busy. Anyway, you are going to be the baby's godmother after all."

Shaz grabbed her keys without delay. She had overheard Alex discussing it with Gene earlier and sighed frustratingly. Typical, as if Alex didn't have enough on his plate without this.

"Right! Come on you! We're late as it is. I'll treat you to a coffee afterwards. Chris, I'm going with Alex, I'll meet you back at home."

Linking her arm through Alex's, she took in her disappointed expression. Gene would certainly be getting an earful later that's for sure.

Gene sighed happily in his sleep as he felt the warm body curled beside him. Rubbing his hand soothingly on her arm, he jolted awake as he heard Sandra speak. Shit! What the bloody hell did he think he was doing! Looking at his watch, he swore loudly. Alex was going to murder him! He was late and more than likely he had missed the appointment.

Jumping up off the couch, he ignored Sandra's protests and picked up his jacket and keys.

"I have to go. What the hell was I thinking? This was a mistake. I want yer gone, back up to Manchester. I'll talk with Adam about what he wants to do, he can stay with me and I can drive him up to yer, I don't care. I just want yer gone!"

Gene slammed out of the hotel room and bolted to the car. Maybe she'd be still at the hospital. Who was he kidding, it was well gone 5. He'd missed their baby's first scan. She'd never forgive him for this.

Waving goodbye to Shaz, Alex closed the door of her flat and looked at her precious scan photo. It was perfect. Pinning it to the fridge, she stood back and smiled broadly. Her mind drifted to Gene. She couldn't believe that he had let her down and missed it. She had thought he cared. Obviously not Alex, maybe they were better without him. She wasn't going to have him drifting in and out of this baby's life. It wouldn't be fair on their child. No he had his chance and he'd blown it, she had to do what was right.

Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the silence in the flat. No surprise for who it would be. Checking her reflection in the mirror, she trained her features into a nonchalant pose and opened the door, raising her eyebrows expectantly.

"Well look who's turned up! Only you're a little bit too late Gene! Where the bloody hell were you?! What was so important that you had to miss it? Don't you even think about lying to me!"

Gene tried to reach out for her but she shrugged away and he sighed.

"Alex I'm sorry. I honestly lost track of time and forgot. I know I'm a bastard and you have every right to be pissed off but I'm sorry."

Alex felt the anger rising through her and she lost patience, jabbing him in the chest.

"I asked you a question Gene! Where the hell were you! How do you think I felt, looking at OUR baby for the first time and daddy couldn't even be bothered to turn up? Now for the last time, what was so important that you had to miss this?"

Just tell her Gene, she's going to hate you anyway so may as well get it over with. Rubbing his neck awkwardly, he sighed and looked at the floor.

"Sandra rang me. She wanted to talk about Adam. I was at the hotel and we were looking through old photos and I fell asleep. That's why I wasn't there and I feel awful but Alex, I'm sorry ok and you know there'll be other scans. I'll go with you then."

Gene knew they were the wrong words as soon as they left his mouth. Seeing Alex shake with anger, he gulped and prepared himself for a punch but instead Alex spoke in a quiet voice that chilled him.

"So let me get this right, you would rather spend time with her, a women who you said you despised a month ago rather than see your unborn baby for the first time, is that what you're telling me? Well Gene that's fine because you can spend as much time with your real family as you like because I am done! I've raised a baby on my own before and I can do it again. Just get out of my sight Gene! Leave now!"

Slamming the door Alex slid down onto the ground and broke down, ignoring Gene's pleas on the opposite side. This is what was needed. She'd be fine.

Arriving home later that evening, Gene threw his jacket in a heap and walked unsteadily towards the kitchen. After leaving Alex's, he had gone down to the bar and started drinking heavily. Eventually, Luigi had ordered Ray to bundle him in a taxi and take him home.

Opening up the drinks cabinet, he pulled out the whiskey and walked towards the living room. He stopped as he heard Adam's voice in the living room. He was having a heated discussion with someone and it didn't sound good. Listening, he held his breath as his coppers instinct kicked in, sobering him up quickly.

"Look, I don't care anymore ok?! I'm done. Mam don't even think about threatening me because I swear you tell 'im and I'll drag yer down with me. Listen carefully, it's finished the plan is finished. Just go back to Manchester and leave us alone for good. Yer poison!"

Hearing Adam slam the phone down, Gene carefully opened the door and watched him pacing.

Clearing his throat, Gene stood up to his full height and spoke in a chilling voice.

"What plan is that Adam? Hmm? What have yer been plotting? Well come on tell me!"

Adam gulped and stared at his dad in horror. This was the last thing he needed. How was he going to talk himself out of this!

Uh Oh, Adam better run!

Hope you're enjoying. Only one more chapter and a short epilogue after this.