Alec arrived with time to spare, finding the department he wanted when he enquired at the desk and handing in his letter. He never thought he would be doing this, he had resigned himself to probably dying on the job, he wasn't going to stop working so it may as well account for something but he'd surely get found out sooner or later. Miller would start to suspect, she didn't miss much, he couldn't even sneak a box of chocolates past her.

No, now he had someone to get himself fixed for despite Rose not feeling well last night and this morning and when he got back, he would get the number of the health centre she had registered herself at and take her there himself in the morning if she was no better. On the way to the hospital, he had decided he wasn't going to say anything to her about calling him James, she was obviously missing him and understandably after all the time she'd spent trying to find the Doctor and then three years with James.

At least they had got past her wanting to be on her own though he wouldn't crowd her, if she still wanted time, he would give it to her. He looked around the waiting room, stretching out his long legs and wishing Rose was with him, she would have been had she been able. His name was called and he was led to the consultants office, seeing all the diplomas on the wall.

"Mr Hardy, have a seat. I see you've been putting this off for quite a while? Any particular reason?"

"No, except I was busy working."

"What made you change your mind?"

"My new girlfriend."

"Ah, well if that isn't a reason then nothing is," she smiled, making a few notes.

She got up to examine him, shaking her head. Alec didn't think it was a very good sign but after checking other vitals, she sat back down.

"Are you taking your medication?"

"Yes but it may not be working as well as it should be, I've been getting out of breath climbing stairs and the other morning I had to avoid my girlfriend seeing me feeling dizzy. She thinks I'm sneaking off on her."

"Yes, well, the medication is only there to keep your symptoms under control but if you've only just started taking them on a regular basis, then you will be getting less benefit from them. Fortunately for you, I have an opening to fit you in on Friday afternoon."

"For what? Another consultation?"

The consultant shook her head and smiled. "No Mr Hardy, for the procedure. I know you have only just be referred here and I don't want you thinking you're jumping the queue but some of the patients here have not been putting it off for as long as you have."

"Friday? So soon?"

"How long were you expecting to wait?"

"I have no idea but my girlfriend was hoping it would be sooner rather than later. We had decided if I had a long time to wait, I would opt to go private."

"Well that won't get you in any sooner so save your money. There are a few things, you'll have to sign a form before we can go ahead and you should get your affairs in order but since you seem to be calm at the moment, providing you don't do anything untoward, you have a fairly good chance."

"That will please her then. So, where do I report to?"

When he got out, he felt like calling Rose to tell her the good news but it would wait until he got back. He'd been given all the details, no food or drink for an hour before he was to be admitted at 15.00 and he'd been told it would depend on how long it took him to come round before he could be allowed home, under supervision otherwise he'd have to stay overnight.

He was glad Rose had said she wanted the job of looking after him, if she herself felt better. He called a cab and made his way back home, getting dropped at the pub and wondering if he should get something for Rose while he was ordering some food but decided she would probably throw up, even though it was only a baked potato with tuna and salad. He stopped in front of his cottage and decided he'd eat there, in case Rose was already out of bed, he'd not been as long at his appointment as he thought he would have been.

Twenty minutes later, he was walking to the station to retrieve his car, hoping Miller wouldn't see him or his car behind Rose's apartment. He walked slowly up the steps, not rushing like he'd done earlier, which had been a bit stupid before his appointment, he admitted and let himself in to see Rose coming out of the bathroom, still in her robe.

She had woken up about twenty minutes earlier and run into the bathroom, throwing up and had just washed her face, feeling slightly better but Alec knew she wasn't right and was glad he eaten at his place. She did at least seem to know who he was now as she gave him a weak smile.

"Hi, I'm so sorry I couldn't go with you Alec."

He went up to her, opening his arms as she reached for him, still a bit out of it.

"No love, don't worry about it, feeling better?"

"No, I just threw up, I think I ate something that was off."

"Let me make you some tea and some toast, settle your stomach eh?"

Rose nodded as he led her to the living room, pulling back the curtains since he knew Claire would be at work. He knew in the light of recent events he should get Miller to call the salon and ask the owner to let her know if Claire failed to show up for work but so far, he had no grounds to do so and Miller was not that keen on meeting with her again. Who could blame her?

As he brought a plate of toast and two mugs of tea in on a tray, Rose moved her legs to let him sit down and asked how he'd got on.

"Fine love, I have to go back on Friday afternoon."

"For another consultation?" she asked, trying not to pull a face at the toast and hoping she could keep it down.

She had a nasty suspicion what was causing it, she'd eaten nothing that could have caused the sickness and she would know for certain next week. She couldn't say anything to Alec just yet, he had enough to worry about.

"No love, for the procedure."

"Already? How come?"

"They assumed since I'd kept missing appointments and delaying it, they'd caught me and they were not letting me get away with it any longer," he mused. "I expect they will get a nice fat bonus for being the ones who did not let me escape."

"Sounds more like there was a price on your head," Rose smiled weakly, relieved the toast seemed to have stayed where it was, for now.

"Aye, you could look at it that way I suppose."

"Are you sure you're ready for it?"

He stroked her leg absent-mindedly, she'd put a clean vest top on and a pair of black leggings while he'd been preparing the tea and toast though he wished she was still bare-legged.

"I have to be love, I never wanted to worry you but the medication may not be doing as well as it should."

Rose handed him the mug to put down and moved around, snuggling up to him and curling her legs behind her. Alec put his arm around her after putting the mug on the coffee table and kissed her forehead.

"Who are you doing this for Alec? Me or you?"

"For both of us now love, I never expected it to be so soon though but I have to do this now. Can you get time off to go with me, if you feel better?"

"It's probably just a 24 hr bug, I'll be fine. I'll ask Maureen, I'll call her tomorrow and say you need someone with you for an appointment."

"You can't tell her."

"I won't so how about a trip to the dentist?"

"Really Rose, that's a bit lame."

"Well, you're the genius around here, you come up with something better."

She took his silence as he couldn't.

"You said you'd look after me," he reminded her as she moved to lay in his arms, unfastening her robe and seeing the gap down her pink vest top and being sorely tempted to do something about it. Instead he put his other hand under the hem, Rose flinching but not moving it.

"Yeah, I did. I meant it."

"Then move in with me?"

"Alec, I have to give a week's notice."

"So? Well go give it then, why have two places?"

"Well Friday, I won't get the chance and Saturday's are mad at work, I'll have to go tomorrow or it will be another week."

"Then do it, I mean it Rose. I know it's not certain I'll get through the surgery but I've made plans. I went to personnel and made you my beneficiary for all my benefits. If something happens to me, you will get the rent paid and an allowance every month. I should go see a solicitor though and leave everything else to Daisy, not that there's much but the last few years, I've managed to save a bit and I have an insurance policy made out in her name, enough to get her through college. There is also a funeral plan paid for by the police, they will make all the arrangements. Don't let my ex take charge, will you?"

Rose felt bad enough but he was making her feel worse. Rose agreed she would take a walk to the agency in the morning and give her notice, he was right though she would miss the sea view which was why she had settled so easily and knew the Doctor had chosen it well but it wasn't practical to keep two places going but if the worse was to happen on Friday, would she want to stay in his cottage? She could easily get her apartment back, the notice wouldn't start until Monday, she could withdraw it, if she was in a fit state to do so.

All that day while Rose had been feeling sick and Alec had been to the hospital, Claire had gone into work to see what the atmosphere was like and she had got a stony reception. There was no way she could stay there now so she would make this her last day, pack her rucksack and leave the key with a neighbour, the agency would come round when she cancelled the rent payment at lunchtime.

She would leave in the morning, no, lunchtime and make her way to Broadchurch, make sure Rose was in her apartment and get her revenge once and for all that neither Rose or Alec would forget in a hurry and if it got violent then so be it, she would be long gone before Alec got to find out, she would disappear amongst the few holidaymakers and catch the first bus towards Exeter.

She would get two days pay so she would just have to live on that and as for her just walking out of her job, she wasn't that worried looking for another, that was one of the advantages of working for yourself in the past, you could claim you were tired of working on your own and wanted some company, it had worked the last time.

As for Rose, well she would get what she deserved, Alec being her boyfriend or not. She would tell Rose why she stayed off last Saturday, say she'd been to the clinic and show her the proof, the altered report she'd got from when she'd been in when Lee had got arrested with the dates obscured. She would bluff her way into Rose's apartment by saying she would go to the newspaper with her story, it was all Alec needed in the middle of a murder investigation, he couldn't afford a scandal – that of getting the wife of a suspect in a failed case pregnant and abandoning her in a strange town then going off with another woman.

By the time she left, she was quite pleased with herself and told everyone she'd see them tomorrow but she had no intentions of ever going back. Claire didn't waste her time watching Rose or Alec's place, Rose would be at one of them on her own tomorrow anyway and she had a feeling she would get caught hanging around tonight, someone would be waiting for her.

Alec stayed the night, Rose just wanting to snuggle up to him, which was fine with him since he should try not to get over-excited but as they just kissed, Rose was settling down and still feeling a bit off, he told her he loved her again.

Even though she didn't feel that good, she had to give him some sign she was going to stick by him, even if it was all over on Friday afternoon but the Doctor wouldn't do that to her, would he? He wouldn't let her meet Alec and then have him taken away from her, not after she'd told him things hadn't worked out with James, he'd have felt guilty for getting them together in the first place so he was trying yet again to get things right.

Alec suddenly lay Rose on her back, lifted her flimsy silky floral nightdress and began kissing across her tummy and despite still feeling a bit queasy, it felt good as she ruffled his hair with one hand and her other on his back, lifting the t-shirt he'd put on, one he had left there on her insistence. He helped her pull it over his head as he lifted the nightdress higher and without putting too much weight on her, skin touched skin until Rose moved so both her hands were on his back, one going down the back of his shorts.

"Alec, I'm really sorry about not feeling well."

"Shush love, no matter, I'm just glad you are feeling a little bit better."

"Yeah, it's probably nothing but there's something else I'm sorry about. For not telling you something and you still want me to move in with you."

"What's that love?" he asked as he kissed higher up and Rose's hand going lower down the back of his shorts.

He looked up, seeing her face in the light coming from outside, the moon had been reflecting on the sea.

"Alec, just that I should have told you – I love you."

"Rose, I already know that but to hear you say that means a lot to me, with my surgery coming up so soon. I love you too sweetheart and I am going to get through it, I told the consultant when she asked why I had changed my mind suddenly, I said I was doing it for you. If I don't make it, you made me happy you could finally tell me."

The next morning, Rose feeling slightly better, Alec kissed her goodbye and said he'd see her at his place and for her to bring what she needed for the following day and he would take her up to work.

"Take it easy today love."

"Yeah, I'll just go up to the agency and give my notice on my apartment but I'll have to pay another week's rent."

"No matter love, just pay it and Sunday, we will move your things out."

"Hey, you won't be able to drive right away."

"No matter, we can walk or get a taxi but tonight, we have to talk about if I don't make it tomorrow."

"Well if you insist though it will be for nothing Alec, you are going to make it. Won't they be able to revive you, if the pacemaker doesn't work?"

"I have no idea what might happen."

"You should have asked," she smiled, putting her arms around his neck and Alec getting a good view of her cleavage as he angled his face to kiss her again.

"I will, before they take me in. Don't forget to call your boss."

"No, I'll do it when the salon opens, maybe I won't have to use the dentist's excuse, I can tell her I'm not well and may have to go to the heath centre."

"That may be more believable love. Now, I have to go. I love you sweetheart."

"I love you too and I'm sorry for calling you James."

"No worries, it happens, I'm not mad with you."

To prove it, he wrapped his arms tight around her and they were both breathless when they broke the kiss.

"I'll bring some food back tonight shall I?" he asked as he walked to the door, Rose just behind him.

"I'll see how I feel first, do you want to meet for lunch?"

"Yes but I may have Miller with me. Did you hear what happened to the newsagent, why I had to leave early yesterday morning?"

Rose shook her head, she had been well out of it at the time and hadn't asked him last night. Rose was horrified when he told her and he hated leaving her after telling her how the newsagent was driven into taking his own life.

"I have that to deal with today, find out who was behind it, forensics found his car windscreen smashed and graffiti on his boat. My first stop is the local newspaper office, the reporter there started an argument with him a few nights ago."

"Ellie's nephew? I can't see him being behind it."

"He may have seen someone hanging around at the time. This is all we need, another death on our hands and no clues."

"I thought you had a suspect for Danny's death?"

"I do but no proof, just my suspicious mind."

As he closed the door, Sandbrook was still on his mind, this was far too similar to that case, having a strong suspicion he was right in pursuing Ashworth but him getting away and he sincerely hoped it wouldn't turn out the same way.

Rose got herself dressed in a loose t-shirt and some slacks, her stomach feeling a bit tight after leaning over the sink again but nothing happening this time, she'd not told Alec she'd been sick earlier. She thought she would walk the long way to the High Street, since the rental agency was at the bottom end, then she would do a bit of shopping and go meet Alec for lunch. As she set off, she was relieved she'd finally been able to tell him that she loved him.

The agency was a little surprised Rose wanted to give up the apartment in such a prominent place but she said if she changed her mind, she would be back on Monday, that covered her to see what happened tomorrow. When she got out, she found herself outside the pharmacy, wondering if she should get something to settle her stomach. As she went up to the counter, she wasn't sure what to ask for.

"What are your symptoms?" the woman asked her.

"Feeling sick for almost 48 hrs but I've only been sick a couple of times."

"In the mornings?" the woman smiled.

"Yeah, now you mention it." Then it slowly dawned on her but it hadn't been two weeks since she had first slept with Alec but they hadn't taken any precautions that night.

The woman turned around and brought some tablets out. "You can try these dear, you can take them during pregnancy, if that's what's causing it although I recommend you go see your doctor if you take them for more than three days."

"Yeah, I'll give them a try, what testing kits do you have?"

As she came out, she thought "Better safe than sorry," she could be wrong about it and didn't want to worry Alec but she couldn't use it for a few more days so she would have to tell him before he went under the anaesthetic tomorrow, he deserved to know. It would give him another reason to fight his way through it. She tried not to show any signs she was still feeling off as she made her way to the harbour to wait for Alec's arrival, with or without Ellie.

Ellie had noticed Alec seemed in a good mood, despite him being absent yesterday afternoon and the demise of the local newsagent.

"What's with you today? Did you stay with Rose again?"

Alec would normally have politely told her to go away and mind her own business but being with Rose had changed him.

"What if I did? So, what happened while I was away?"

She was about to leave after filling in him with the details when she asked him how Rose was. He saw it as his chance to skip off work the following afternoon.

"A little better though I think she should still get herself checked out. I'm meeting her at lunchtime, you can come with me, if you want?"

"I'll call Joe, have him meet me down there, Rose wanted to see Fred when he wasn't asleep."

"Fine, do that then."

When she'd gone back to her desk, Alec wondered briefly if that was what was wrong with Rose but they had only been together once or twice without protection and the first time wasn't even two weeks ago then it wasn't very likely, not in his condition but the way Rose was with him, anything was possible. She had been honest with him although afterwards and she had attempted to do something so he'd been more than happy to take the responsibility on himself until then.

He would just have to wait and see, next weekend but she may not be aware what was wrong with her but he intended asking her before he went for his surgery. Since he and Miller had to go out, they were back just in time to see Rose talking to Joe Miller and his youngest son, Rose making a fuss over the young boy.

"Hi Fred, you're awake to today huh?"

"He's just woken up, he fell asleep while we were walking down here," his dad told her. "He's still a bit cranky."

"Aw, he'll soon wake up, won't you Fred?"

She was still missing Tony, Fred was reminding her of him. The last few days she'd not even checked her device to see if it had started working, she could have missed it but would she risk going back now? Maybe before she had told Alec last night that she loved him and before she had started feeling sick, there were a few more days before she could rule out pregnancy, she knew it wasn't safe to use the device if she was. She saw Alec and Ellie cross the road and turn towards the outdoor catering area.

"Hi sweetheart, made a new friend?" Alec asked, kissing her cheek and nodding towards young Fred as he was showing her his police car and chattering away.

"Oh yeah, me and Fred are ok."

Alec knew she was missing her stepbrother and if she was pregnant, it would help lessen the impact but what if he didn't make it tomorrow? He didn't want to think that way any longer, he was going to get through it. After they had eaten, Rose managing a plain baked potato with some salad, he walked her back to her apartment and stopped at the bottom of the steps.

"Call the health centre and get an appointment love, please?"

"I got something that might help while I was out, if I'm no better in the morning, I'll call them, I promise."

"Good, I'll see you later then, at my place though we should start calling it our home. You do like it there?"

"Yeah, it's nice but I'll miss the sea view, it reminds me so much of that beach in Norway."

"You need to put that behind you love, I can help you do that, if you let me?"

"We'll talk tonight Alec, we both have things we need to say to each other before tomorrow afternoon. I still need to call my boss."

They kissed goodbye, neither of them noticing Claire sat at the far end of the stone pier but she had seen them walk past. She decided to wait a little longer then go and confront Rose once and for all and teach her and Alec for making her like this - alone.

Rose was packing a few things after tidying up and putting the testing kit on the bathroom sink, meaning to move it before she went out, when she could think of an excuse to use it. It was just after three and Claire had decided enough was enough and was walking up the steps. Rose was startled by the loud knocking on her door and thinking Claire would be at work, never expected to see her standing there as she'd stood to one side so Rose wouldn't see her through the frosted glass panel in the door.

"Go away Claire before I call the police."

"You mean Alec? Fine, call him and I go tell the local newspaper what he did to me."

"Leave you here on your own? They'll be all broken up over it when I tell them you've been stalking me."

"No, where I went last Saturday, don't you want to know?"

"I'm not interested in your lies Claire."

"Let me in or I tell them he got me pregnant again and I went to get rid of it. Just think of the scandal, a failed case and another murder he can't solve."

Claire put her foot in the door and barged her way inside, seeing the bag packed by the door.

"Going somewhere? Off to stay with Alec are you? You don't still want him after he got me pregnant twice and left me to it do you?"

"Stop lying Claire, I believe him when he says he's never even slept with you."

"Didn't he? He even took me to that clinic the first time, he said he couldn't afford for his wife to find out about us having an affair."

"It's all in your mind Claire, you're just sick. Now you'd better go before I do call him, I'm not listening to your lies any more."

"Suit yourself, I'm still going to the newspaper, I reckon I'll get a good bit for my story, I hear he's not too popular as it is in the town."

"Yes he is, since he's been with me, his DS says he's changed, for the better."

"You sent her after me, I won't forgive you for that," Claire said, looking around.

"That was your own doing, get out Claire."

"I hope you'll enjoy reading tomorrow's headlines?"

"You go to the paper and see what happens, how Alec had you hauled in and locked up for stalking and I was the one who talked him into letting you go and how many times you've been escorted out of town. So it's stalemate Claire."

Claire huffed and thought about it, it would serve no real purpose if she also ended up on the front page.

"I'm leaving this dead-end town anyway, I hate it here. I need to use your bathroom."

"You have a real nerve Claire."

"This way is it?" Claire asked, heading for the bathroom, Rose forgetting what she had left on the sink until Claire closed the door behind her. If she saw it, Rose didn't know how she would react.

Claire of course noticed it when she went to wash her hands, picking it up. Rose had taken it out of the packaging but Claire couldn't tell if it had been used or not but decided to use it to her advantage but as she came out, Rose had a worried look on her face.

"Thought I wouldn't see this?"

"Mind your own business Claire, now get out. Just because Alec has never been interested in you except in your twisted mind."

"No, you don't get this Rose, you don't get to have been with him and get yourself pregnant."

"So it was all lies?"

Claire knew she had been caught out. She was still holding the plastic testing kit in one hand and suddenly, she felt her temper rising even more.

"Give that back Claire."

"You've not told him yet have you? See what he says when he finds out you never told him you didn't take anything."

With that, Claire lost it and threw the item in Rose's direction, hitting her just above her left eye.

Rose cried out and put her hand to the cut.

"You bitch, just you wait. Get out, now. Alec will send the whole of the police force after you now, you won't be able to hide."

She pulled her fingers away from the cut, blood on them and knew she should get it treated. Claire looked like she about to leave but instead, turned around and grabbed Rose by her hair, yanking her head back and dragging her into the living room, Rose praying someone would be walking past and look up.

"You don't get away that easy," Claire told her as Rose was saying "Ouch!" at her hair being pulled.

Suddenly, she felt a blow in her ribs as Claire's fist connected with them and Rose doubled over, Claire letting go of her hair but hitting her again to make sure she wasn't followed as Rose slumped onto the floor. Rose heard the door slamming, trying to sit up next to the sofa, grabbing for her mobile and dialling the emergency number.

"Emergency, which service do you require?"

"I need an ambulance, I've just been attacked in my apartment and I think I might be pregnant."

Rose gave her name and address, wincing at the pain now coming from her side.

"Are you able to let the ambulance crew in Miss Tyler?"

"The door's not locked, my attacker just left, I know who it was."

"Do you require the police to meet the ambulance?"

"No, my boyfriend's a detective, I'll call him from the hospital. The woman who attacked me, she works with me."

Before Rose knew it, there was a tap on the door and a female attendant was calling her name.

"No, don't get up, let me check you over first. That's a nasty cut, we'll get that fixed in the ambulance."

A few minutes later, the attendant had handed Rose her shoulder bag and dropped her mobile into it and they were helping her up, gently. The male attendant locked Rose's door behind him after putting it on the latch when she assured him she had her key and if she hadn't, her boyfriend had one. As they laid her down on the stretcher, Rose wondered why Alec hadn't heard the ambulance go past and come down to see, considering she'd been feeling ill.

Alec and Ellie had been out again so he had no idea what had happened but he was soon going to find out when he got back to an empty cottage.