Over the next few months, Alec became unsettled, even with Rose by his side. He got to see Daisy once a week but it was strained, going to a fast food restaurant or the bowling alley or even the cinema for a few hours seemed like much longer because he wasn't allowed to take Rose with him. He and Tess had got the officer of the court to intervene over visitation rights and they were fighting for custody until Daisy was deemed old enough when she turned thirteen in March to choose who she wanted to live with and she chose her mother.

The six months limit on Rose's transfer was up and they were both now trying to wait as patiently as they could to get out of Sandbrook but they had to wait a while longer until Alec was finally called to the chief's office at the end of June.

"Good news Alec."

"You mean Ashworth turned himself in somewhere and confessed?" he asked, he and Rose having given up on the hope of finally getting out of the town.

The first part of his divorce had been granted, he was just awaiting the judge to sign it off.

"No, I thought you were keeping tabs on him?"

"Haven't I got enough to do? No, I got DC Craig, he's got connections and as far as anyone knows, Ashworth left the country after skipping police bail. How he got out is anyone's guess. He probably hitched a ride on a fishing boat or something. He'll get tired of hiding and come back eventually. So, what did you call me in for?"

"I got someone to take you off my hands, if you still want to go, well not that you have much choice, since the chief constable is up for re-election and you're still causing him trouble."

"Why me? My cow of an almost ex wife was the one to blame."

"Yes but he doesn't see it that way, not if he wants to keep his job. I know it's short notice but there's a job for you down in Dorset, the chief there wants an experienced DI because her only alternative is a DS who is waiting for a promotion."

"Won't the DS in question be a bit annoyed?"

"Not if we time it right, seems the DS is away for three weeks from last Friday. You could go down next week and be settled in before they come back, take a week to settle."

"What about Rose? I promised her I would not go without her."

"Ah well, there's only the one job so far but look, I can put her in for a promotion to DS, it might help things along. It will be up to you to persuade your new chief you two can work together, if you want her to know of your relationship."

"I'll not hide her. I will talk to her tonight because the divorce will be final soon and Tess will start getting difficult if I just leave her. What are the arrangements, if I agree?"

"They'll put you up in a hotel until you find somewhere then pay half the cost. If Rose does go with you, you can apply for her allowance to be put towards it."

Rose was not happy when they got home.

"I know love but if I go there, I can work on getting you to join me."

"How long will that take?"

"I don't know, I can come back at weekends, it won't be so bad. I promise I will do everything I can to get you a job there and the bank holidays are coming up soon, I can get them off and come back."

"What am I gonna do about this place? I can't afford it on my own."

"I will still pay half, they will pay for a hotel and I can delay getting a place until I know you are getting transferred. It's the best the chief can do and he would normally tell you this but he's putting you in for a promotion."

"Well that's no compensation Alec. Will it help my transfer?"

He put his arms around her. "It won't do any harm love, I will have to leave on Monday though."

Rose sat down and he joined her on the sofa that had seen some action since he'd moved in.

"Why so soon?"

"Because the chief there wants me to get settled in before the DS who was hoping to get the job comes back from holiday and complains."

"They'll complain anyway, that's hardly fair, sneaking you in like that. Did he say if your new chief would allow us to work together?"

"I am on my own on that point, I will have to convince her that we can, we have managed so far have we not?"

"Yeah, apart from snogging in the car when there's no-one around."

"That is the best part love."

The thought of finally getting away from Tess cheered Alec up in some ways but not having to leave Rose behind. All the rest of the week, she clung to him every night, Alec trying to assure her nothing was going to change between them until the Sunday night.

He'd been to see Daisy, to tell her he was moving and it had not gone down well.

"Mum said you didn't care and she's right," the now teenager told him after they had been to the fair that had arrived in the town.

"I do care love, things are just difficult but I will be coming up for the next few weeks anyway, I will still see you."

"You're only coming back to see her."

"That's not true and you know it. Yes, I will be coming back to see Rose but we can still have time together. It's up to you how often you want to see me."

When he got back, Rose could see it had not gone well.

"She'll come round Alec, it's not easy for her, I hate to think what Tess has been telling her."

"I know but she thinks I will only be coming back to see you and what happens when you move?"

"Then you come back every two weeks, we both will. We'll stay overnight somewhere and you still meet her. I love you Alec, I wouldn't come between you and Daisy."

"I love you too Rose and as soon as the divorce comes through properly, I want you to think about making what we have official."

"Yeah? Really? I thought you'd want to be a free man for a while?"

"Ah but with you my love, why would I want to be free? Are you ok tonight, not too near your monthly?"

"I'm willing to take the risk if you are? I won't see you until Friday, will I?"

As they tossed and turned under the bedclothes, Rose knew now there was no holding back and Alec noticed when she didn't try and stop him when it was so close to her monthly and she wasn't protected.

She tried not to cry the following morning as he was packing his car. Rose had arranged for her friend Annie to collect her for work since she no longer qualified for the use of a car until she got her promotion and then she hoped she wouldn't be there long enough to need one. Alec was ready to leave just before eight even though it would only take a few hours, he had a meeting with his new chief at eleven and he didn't want to wait until Rose had gone to work.

"I will see you on Friday then?" he asked as she rested her head on his shoulder and hoped Mrs Chambers wasn't being her usual nosy self, not that this morning she cared even though she often had to fight Alec off when he wanted to kiss her as she was getting in the car.

"Yeah, I'll miss you like mad and I'm not volunteering to become anyone's else's DC, I have to study for the DS exam."

"You will pass love, I know you will and if you don't, you can re-take it. I love you Rose now go back inside before our neighbour calls and has us arrested for me getting you up at the side of the car and jumping you."

That made Rose smile at the thought so she kissed him goodbye and stood waving to him until the car disappeared around the corner. She was just going back inside when the nosy neighbour came out.

"Not going to work today?" the other woman asked as Rose was on the second step.

"Yeah, he had to leave early."

"I know it's none of my business but is he leaving you?"

"What? No, he's not leaving me. He got a transfer and he's going to find us a place to live before I join him."

Well so she hoped, if he could convince his new boss they could work together without sneaking in his office for her to grope his cute ass. Annie arrived and saw the change in her friend's mood.

"Come on Rose, cheer up, it's not forever you know? He's never going to stop trying to get you a transfer to join him. Shall I tell you something?"

Rose turned to her friend and nodded.

"That day when it all erupted, you know, well me and Peggy figured out you were seeing him, you had that look about you. We kept it quiet until everyone else figured it out but we were happy for you. Serves Henchard right for warning us all off him, we all fancied him before she turned him into an ugly duckling and you brought him out of that."

Rose knew she had changed her boyfriend and lover. He still dressed smartly at work but refused to fasten his tie properly, leaving the top button of his shirt undone and when he got home, he changed into his slim-fitting jeans and a t-shirt or a jumper and they would fool around for a while before making dinner together. They had been together almost nine months and now, he'd surprised her by talking about making it official, once the divorce came through. She decided to ignore Tess when she walked into the office, now she herself was going for a promotion, Tess could no longer boss her around and just let her try.

Alec arrived in what his old chief had described as the sleepy coastal town of Broadchurch where he was told nothing ever happens. He parked across from the town's police station, which was situated conveniently by the harbour. He was shown to the chief's office and decided he'd come straight to the point after she told him that DS Miller would not be happy when she got back from her holiday the following Friday.

"You gave me a week to settle in, I would like to use some of it to find a place to rent and then start work. I am hoping my girlfriend will be able to join me soon."

"Ah, yes. Your old chief mentioned she was wanting a transfer as well. I'm sorry Alec but I just can't take on another DC at the moment and DS Miller will be your partner when she gets back though she may be a little hostile at first but she will work with you. I considered her for the post but she had time off recently on maternity leave and the boy is still young, her husband is taking care of him but that could change. I don't think she's quite ready to take on the job of DI."

"Yes, well I was hoping that if DC Tyler got her promotion, you might be able to make room for her?"

"I can't make any promises Alec, the department won't raise my budget and unless someone leaves, then my hands are tied. I'll let you go find your hotel and get settled in and the sooner you get your own place the better. If you get stuck, there's always the caravan park next door, if neither you or your girlfriend don't mind living in one, at least until you find something else."

"I will bear that in mind but until I find out she is coming to live here, a caravan may be preferable to a hotel, I would have room to move around but I will be away at weekends going back to see her. You may as well know once my divorce comes through that I intend marrying her, just in case you thought I would get her to come here then leave her."

Getting back in his car, he followed the direction on the navigation system he did nothing but argue with, which made Rose laugh and parked across from the hotel, seeing there was a two hour limit and it was just outside the town's newspaper office. He crossed the road with his luggage and entered the hotel lobby, seeing a blonde sat at the small desk looking bored out of her mind.

"Oh, hello, you must be Alec Hardy?" she greeted him with an Australian accent and getting up, took a large keyfob from the hook.

"You were expecting me."

"Yeah, it's a bit quiet yet, welcome. I'll let you get settled in, I've given you one of the larger doubles, no extra cost. Anyone joining you?" she asked, looking at him and hoping the answer was no or she might have to take up Mark's invitation for a drink one night, now he'd convinced her he was getting bored with his wife.

"Not at the moment but I will be away Friday and Saturday night, I will be going back to see my girlfriend."

"Oh. Well that won't be a problem, got far to go?"

"Just a few hours from here."

He took the key and wondered if she had any help around here or if she did everything. If she did, it would keep her from bothering him every five minutes which had just looked like that was exactly what she would do and he may be going to miss Rose but nothing would make him risk losing her because the flirty Australian hotelier was trying to find out his marital status and hoping it was single.

He sent a message to Rose to say he'd arrived then went to find somewhere else to park his car. He had expected there to be one behind the hotel but no such luck since there had been some arguments about the land when the owner's boyfriend had left. Now the hotel shared one with the pub a few doors up which used to be a hotel but no longer took guests and had been turned into two more floors of bars, not that it did The Traders any good.

He then took a walk down the High Street to see if there was a rental agency and when he found one, went inside after looking at a few possibilities but he doubted the police would pay the prices of the rental holiday cottages, well maybe when Rose joined him so the caravan site was looking more appealing. He left his details that if anything reasonably priced came up they would call him and feeling hungry, wandered into a café that was frequented by the nosy town's reporter, who looked up when he saw Alec walk in, recognising him from the Sandbrook case and wondered what he was doing in the town.

Olly Stevens thought it was a shame his aunt was away on holiday or he could have asked her. He knew she'd applied for a promotion but it was put on hold until she got back but now Hardy was in town, it looked like she was about to be disappointed and he couldn't even warn her. She was going to walk right into it when she got back to work and he would get a story out of it.

Alec decided he would call at the caravan site on the off chance they may be willing to do business with the police and after some persuasion and a phone call by them to discuss the payment arrangements, he agreed to take one on a weekly basis until the camp closed at the end of October and his allowance would more than cover the costs.

Pleased with himself, he only had a week to stick it out at the hotel but Friday seemed a long way off to him as he told Rose everything when they talked that night.

"I miss you already Alec. I was studying most of the day today, have you had any luck with the chief there?"

"No love, not unless someone leaves and I got a female DS for my partner but she is married with two kids so don't go getting worried."

"Why would I do that? They don't call me Tess."

"I already know that love. Don't worry, I will be leaving early on Friday, I will have dinner ready for you."

"Can't wait then, the week won't go fast enough. So, you've got us a caravan? Maybe I should come down there?"

"No, it will take too long on the coach, you heard your mother complain the last time she was there. I will come up there and I will leave early on Monday morning."

"That's a bit better Alec but who says I will want to let you go again?"

"Who says I will want to go? I love you Rose."

After he had his evening meal, he decided to put the TV on to try and forget his first night in nine months he'd not spent it with Rose. Just after nine, there was a knock on the door and Becca stood with some towels in her arms.

"Oh hi, hope I'm not disturbing you? Is everything ok?"

He was about to reply with something about until she knocked on his room door but being with Rose, he'd lost a lot of his rudeness.

"Fine. I meant to tell you in the morning but when I get back after the weekend, I will be moving out so I will just come back at some point on Monday to clear my things out."

"Oh, you found a place to rent?"

"Near enough. I'm hoping my girlfriend will be able to join me soon."

"You must miss her? Didn't I see you in the news a while back?"

He had been hoping everyone had forgotten that.

"You may have done. Was there anything else?"

"No, I'll leave you to it. The bar's open, if you fancy a drink?"

"I don't think so," he told her, especially if she were the only one there.

"Oh, I wasn't inviting you for one or anything, sorry."

"Right, of course not, I did not take it as such."

He tried to close the door before she invited herself in.

"You must miss your girlfriend though?"

"Yes, even though it has only been a day. We are getting engaged soon."

Well he hoped they would, she'd said she would want to make it official.

"Oh, well congratulations, she's very lucky. What's her name?"

"It's Rose. Don't take this the wrong way but I would appreciate it if you did not keep checking up on me."

"I wasn't, I'll go then?"

"Right, goodnight."

He closed the door and thought himself lucky he had just escaped, he knew when a woman was wanting an excuse to be invited in. Becca stood at the closed door, he was a tough cookie and obviously loved his girlfriend, what a shame but it had been worth a try.

By Friday morning, he was packing all his things and was just taking what he needed for the weekend. When he came back on Monday, he planned on missing his lunch break, go pick his caravan keys up at four then collect his things from his hotel room and hand in the key. Becca saw him on his way out so he decided to leave his key and thought he may as well have just brought everything with him.

"Leaving so soon?"

"I want to get there early and I won't be back Sunday night after all, then I will be checking out on Monday afternoon."

Becca could do without losing the revenue for charging the police for his stay. Alec made a short stop on his way back to Sandbrook but still made good time so he decided to wait for her after work to surprise her after dropping his things at the apartment but Tess saw him first as she drove out of the parking area and stopped.

"What are you doing back here?"

"Nice to see you too Tess, you've not changed in a week. Thought you had got rid of me?"

Tess just huffed as she saw Rose come out of the main entrance, talking to her friends. Alec waved so Rose said goodbye to them and got in his car, giving him a kiss.

"Hi, couldn't wait for me to get home then?"

"What do you think love?"