Pizza the action?

Tom drove through the streets of Aberystwyth as Elin fell silent. The teenager was exhausted and seemed to doze off as he drove. Mared sighed, to her the teenager would always be her baby.

"Ok?" Mared asked as Tom drove away from their intended destination.

"Think so."

"Right. So we are heading towards the motorway because?" She checked the passenger side mirror. "Will this ever end?"

"I've got a full tank of petrol so I'm hoping they haven't. They followed us from the school." He glanced in the rear view mirror. "Could be innocent."

"And I could be blonde." Mared mumbled; her heart pounded in her chest. "Tom."

"I know." Tom paused. "I know."

"Drive to the police station. Take us there. No one is going to do anything with a building full of coppers to witness it."

Tom smiled slightly. Mared was right, as always, he reminded himself. The logical one.

"Ok."

He pulled the car to the right as Mared swore. The illegal u turn causing their followers to break hard. Their emergency stop gave Tom time to lose them for a moment.

"For Gods sake!"

"Sorry." Tom mumbled. Mared raised an eyebrow.

"Too dark to get the registration plate. No need to try to kill us all. I think that was their job." Mared whispered as Elin began to snore.

Xxxx

The rain battered the small cafe as Lloyd paid for the food. He wanted to get home; his mind coming up with more than one scenario for what Prosser could be planning. Aberystwyth was a close community - a small tourist area on the coast of Wales. He loved living there, having a girlfriend was the icing on the cake. The thought that someone was plotting to ruin everything made him feel sick.

"Lloyd? Cariad?"

"Was miles away." He smiled. Delyth took his hand. The younger detective was determined to learn Welsh - the few words she had picked up had come in useful.

"I noticed that. Siân is waiting by the car." Delyth took his hand. "Come on." He nodded. Just for one night he wanted everything to be back to normal, to have a nice meal with his friend and girlfriend without worrying about the chances of some psychopath wanting to kill them. He sighed heavily before following Delyth out towards the car.

Xxxxxx

"Lost them." Tom paused as he drove towards the outskirts of town. The rain had abated as he headed towards Mared's house; satisfied that they were no longer being followed.

"Good."

"Who?" Elin paused. "Mum?"

"We're nearly home." Tom stated as Mared sighed. The plan to head to the police station forgotten as they'd lost the tail.

"Stay tonight." Mared looked at Tom. He smiled slightly.

"Are you sure?" Tom asked - it would be the first time he had stayed with her in her house. Although her family knew all about their relationship they'd never actually taken the step of staying overnight. It had been out of respect for her parents and Elin but now she'd asked him he saw no reason not to.

"Yes. I think I'd feel safer knowing we're together." She smiled shyly. "Pathetic isn't it? But I'll be worried sick if you're in the B&B on your own."

"It's not pathetic. It's been a long time since anyone cared." He whispered as she glanced at him. Sometimes she forgot how badly life had treated Tom Mathias. He had lost everything - his parents, sister, his child. She thought of Elin snoozing in the back of the car and felt her heart break for him. She had no idea how she'd go on breathing if she'd been in his shoes.

"Hey." He parked the car. "Mared?"

"I was miles away." She sighed. Elin stirred slightly.

"Do you mind if I go straight to bed?" Elin asked. "I'm done in."

"No, you go." Mared was relieved her daughter wanted to go straight to sleep. It would give her a chance to talk with Tom. With Prosser pleading innocent, the car following them and Elin beginning to ask questions about her sperm donor she had a lot to get straight in her mind. She didn't need to worry about Tom being alone.

Minutes later they were inside the house with Elin traipsing up the stairs.

"Night Mam, Tom."

"Night cariad." Elin called after her before turning to lock the door. Tom watched her as she bolted the door, before turning to face him. She bit her lip, her eyes filled with worry as he stepped towards her.

"She's ok."

"Yeah." Mared paused. "Why is he doing this?"

"Prosser?"

"Yeah. I've known him all my life. He was friends with my father when I was a kid." She sighed. "He was always sly but this is beyond. This is insane."

"Siân says it's a power trip." Tom stepped towards her. "Hey."

"I just. I don't want you or my family in court when I give evidence. I can't." She closed her eyes as he pulled her into his arms.

"Whatever you want." He kissed her hair. "Whatever you want. Don't cry." He held her as she hugged him. "Don't cry. Mared, we're safe." He held her as she shook. He brushed her hair out of her face as she pulled back. She reached up on her tip toes kissing him gently. His arms tightened around her as one hand came to tangle in her hair. All thoughts of Prosser, trials and men in black cars were forgotten as Tom pinned her against the kitchen wall. Mared sighed as his hands wandered over her frame and slipped under her blouse.

"Tom." She gasped. "Not here."

He stopped abruptly, as if she had shot him. Mared smiled, brushing her thumbs over his stubbled chin.

"Bed." She took his hand, leading him towards the staircase. He smiled slightly knowing he'd gladly die for the woman holding his hand and her daughter. He just wished it would never come to that.

Xxxxx

"Brian." The fat man sharing his cell spoke. Prosser wasn't interested in making small talk. His attention focused on the small radio in the corner of the cell. The newsreader hadn't mentioned anything about a car crash or the death of any Welsh police officers. He scowled, snapped the radio off before climbing into his bunk. He had to make sure Mared Rhys and Tomos Mathias stayed quiet. That was all that mattered.

Xxxxx