Alec was just bringing Jack upstairs, Rose hearing Jack babbling away.

"Aw, is it his bedtime?" Daisy asked, sounding disappointed.

"Yeah, he's getting his bath first, come and watch him splash around."

Alec ran the water while Rose got Jack's sleepsuit and Daisy held him, watching how carefully her dad was testing the water and putting the baby bath oil in.

"You're an expert at that, I remember when you used to put me in while mum was working."

"You never forget. He enjoys the water."

"Mum told me what happened, when you found Pippa and I'm sorry I was so hard on you."

"It's done with, forget it. I got myself fixed, no more grumpy dad eh? Come on Jack, let's get you ready for your bath."

The three of them crowded into the bathroom, Alec using the baby sponge to clean him then Rose carefully washing Jack's hair, which was growing. Once they had got him in his cot, it still being light so Alec didn't bother with the mobile, they switched the monitor on until Daisy was going to bed.

"Are you mad at me for coming down without telling you Dad?" Daisy asked.

"No, I'm not mad at you, I did say any time and I was going to tell you about Rose."

"Yeah, he was Daisy, things have happened very quickly for us, neither of us expected it to, it's just one of those things. I had no idea where I was going when I set off, I was gonna stop off in Exeter for a while but whether I'd have stayed there is another thing. Your dad said his DS lived there and she hated it."

"I was not just saying that to put you off leaving you know?" Alec smiled, taking her hand. "Ask her yourself."

"I will," Rose smiled back.

Soon, Daisy said she was going to bed so they turned off the baby monitor and Alec went up to check on him, Daisy saying goodnight to Rose.

"Thanks for letting me stay."

"It's nothing, you came all this way to see your dad, I wasn't going to turn you away. Will you tell your mum about me?"

"Tell her what? She knows you're staying here, she'd never believe he could get a girlfriend."

"Why not? He never talks about what happened, not that it's any of my business but what's wrong with him? If you ask me, it's her loss and my gain."

"She went off with another bloke, when he was obsessed with finding those girls' killer. It got very bitter and she dragged me into it, I was only twelve when it started."

"Sorry, it must have been upsetting for you, not knowing what was going on?"

"Yeah, it was. I wish I'd known the truth, that my dad was ill."

Alec had come back down and heard them talking.

"I never told your mum how bad I was but it may not have made any difference. We will both take you to the bus station in the morning, I will call and take the morning off then call the ticket office for the times of the coach. Where was its destination?"

"Exeter, where Rose was going. It's not that far is it?"

"No, I had to go to the court there. Right, off you go then and call us if Jack wakes up."

"I will, make sure you hear me."

Leaving Daisy to settle down, Rose curled up on the sofa next to Alec.

"Guess we'll have to keep quiet tonight?" she grinned as she kissed his cheek.

"You make all the noise love. So, you got something to take in the morning eh? We'd best leave it tonight, in case Jack wakes and Daisy calls out."

"Yeah, if we have to, I was rather looking forward to it though. Why don't we have an early night?"

"Only if you promise to stay quiet love?"

Rose was right, it did make a difference and she hoped what she had to take in the morning really did work. Alec lay with her in his arms afterwards, kissing her forehead.

"That was amazing love. You made the right choice, me not using anything, just don't go forgetting in the morning eh?"

"Mmm, you were so good. No, I won't forget but we only have another few nights, I got told not to take anything too near the time, best be on the safe side and Saturday night, I'll be worked up about James seeing Jack."

"Rose, there is nothing to worry about now, I will go with you, if it will help?"

"No, best stick to the plan, I'll take Jack across to meet him then bring James back here. Let's leave that bed up until we get a sofa bed, can we afford one? You have my car to pay for."

"We will leave the bed for now, in case Daisy decides to visit during the holidays and the changing unit can wait as well, we'll manage on the bed."

"Do you still want to move?"

"Well I was going to wait a while, until we got settled but we can start looking any time you want?"

"I like it here, let's stay a while longer?" she replied, her arm around his waist. "No dashing off to get cleaned up or check on Jack tonight."

"No love, I can get used to not having to mess around with those things but I will miss checking on him."

"Daisy is capable of hearing if he wakes, even if he doesn't make a noise but maybe you spoiled him last night, giving him some milk?"

"Ah, I was prepared for that, the milk is downstairs already out of the fridge."

"You think you're so impressive, detective inspector."

"I am impressive, am I not?"

"Yeah, aren't you just?" Rose giggled back, kissing his chest.

Sure enough, they were just going to sleep when Daisy knocked on their door, Alec putting his t-shirt on over his shorts.

"Dad, Jack's awake but he's not crying, just thought you should know."

"I will get him a drink," Alec told her. "Can you bring him in?"

"Yeah, I can manage him Dad."

Twenty minutes later, Jack seemed satisfied and it was up to Rose to sneak him back in his cot without waking Daisy.

To her surprise, the next morning, Alec was still beside her.

"Hi there, not checking on Jack?"

"No need, we have a babysitter in his room, I am sure she will wake us when he's ready to get out of his cot to come in here."

Daisy had woken up and heard noises, then went to Jack's cot.

"Hello there, you want your mum?"

She left him and knocked on their door, just calling Jack was awake. Rose went to get him while Alec got dressed and she got the boy ready, Daisy going to the bathroom to get changed. After breakfast, Alec called the station while Rose looked up coaches for Daisy to get home.

"Alec, there's a coach at eleven, do you want to call the ticket office?" Rose asked him.

"No, we will get Jack ready to go out and let Daisy look around the rest of the town and get there half an hour early, that ok with you Daisy?"

"Yeah, fine. You mean there's more to this town?"

Rose smiled. "Yeah, this is just the harbour area, hardly anyone lives down here, except in those flats and the houses on the cliffs. Where did ya think the bus station was?" she laughed, getting Jack's outer jacket on and trying to keep his socks on.

"Rose, you should really get him those suits that have feet in them, he is going to lose those socks love," Alec warned her as Jack reached down and he took the boy's hand. "Jack, come on now or your toes will be cold."

Jack looked him and tried to move as Rose fastened his jacket. Daisy was taking it all in.

"What are going to tell mum?"

"She's a detective, I have someone staying with me, let her work it out for herself and don't you go helping her."

Daisy smiled at the thought of giving her mother the run-around.

"Don't worry, I'll plead innocent and say I saw nothing while I was here, you never even snogged in front of me."

"Really?" Alec asked, raising his eyebrows as Rose put Jack in his stroller. "We will have to remedy that, won't we?" he asked Rose, pulling her towards him and going to kiss her.

"Yuck Dad, get a room."

"Now you have something to tell her if she corners you and interrogates you," he smiled, winking at Jack who was making noises and taking hold of his duck Rose had already fastened on.

"We walking up then?" Rose asked.

"Why not? Daisy, any objections?"

"No, I'll be sitting on a coach for a few hours. Ready?"

With Alec pushing the stroller, something he'd already got used to, pushing Fred Miller around, they made their way around to the road up into the town just after nine, stopping to look in a few shops and Alec waiting outside a few while Rose and Daisy went in where there was a sign stating no pushchairs but they came to the indoor market and still having an hour and them all being able to go in, Rose bought a new scarf and a toy for Jack to play with in the bath.

Soon they were making their way to the bus station, Alec going with Daisy in the queue to get her ticket.

"Are you coming for a visit soon Dad?"

"I don't think your mum is ready to meet Rose and Jack yet but soon, when she realises we are serious."

"Why didn't you stay, when you came to see me?"

"Daisy, it is not that I never wanted to stay but it was impossible to go back there and work, after what happened. Can you imagine your mother and me in the same station?"

Daisy put her arm in his and they walked up to get her ticket then went to join Rose, who was giving Jack a drink of juice.

"All ready?" Rose asked as Alec sat beside her and Jack noticed him.

"Aye, she has just gone to the ladies room, why don't you go check on her love?"

Rose kissed his cheek and went off to find Daisy, who was just washing her hands.

"Did my dad send you to check I got on the coach?"

"No, he wouldn't do that. I wanted to say it was nice meeting you, you should let your dad walk you to the coach."

"Sorry. It was nice meeting you and Jack, I've not seen my dad like that for a long time, you're good for him."

"Thanks. Now don't miss your coach and call him the next time you're coming for a visit."

They walked towards Alec arm in arm and he got up as the coach was announced.

"Bye Rose, thanks for letting me stay," Daisy told her, going to hug her. "Bye Jack, you be good."

She leaned down and kissed his cheek, Jack gurgling. Rose watched them walk to the stand the coach had pulled in to and saw them hugging.

"Bye Dad, I'll come back soon, if that's ok?"

"Aye, it's ok. Have a safe trip."

He waved as the coach backed out of the stand then went back to Rose and Jack.

"We will get a taxi back then after lunch, I have to go back to work."

"Yeah, my feet ache," Rose agreed, Jack looking for Alec to take him out of the stroller.

There was a taxi rank just outside so Rose got the boy out while Alec put the stroller in the back of the cab, giving the address then he got in and Jack was trying to get to him.

"No Jack, you stay strapped in with your mum eh?" he told the boy, wondering why taxi cabs never carried a spare baby seat since it was the law in private cars.

When Alec got to work, Ellie was curious as to why he'd had the morning off.

"My daughter decided to stay overnight, I had to see her off and get her a ticket," he told her, thinking last year he would have told her not to be so nosy but that was what Rose was doing to him, making him more bearable.

"So, how did they get on? Has Rose left you?"

"No, not yet and I think I may have just worried over nothing."

"I could have told you that, idiot. If she can take an unexpected visit from your daughter, you're home and dry."

"Aye Miller, I think I just might be. We talked about Jack, that Rose would call me his dad, just at home."

"See, I told you, that's great."

Alec thought it was great but what would happen once Jack's real dad came to visit? Was he worrying over nothing just like he'd been about Rose leaving when his daughter visited?

Up at the garage, they were just finishing Rose's car by filling the radiator and making sure everything was topped-up and 'Mac' was about to call Alec, with the good news it would be ready to collect at three, he hoped.

Alec saw the garage's number come up and braced himself for bad news – not that they were going to get away with it.

"Hardy," he answered, waiting for the excuses Rose's car would not be ready today.

"DI Hardy, your girlfriend's car will be ready to be collected after three, we're just filling it up now."

Alec didn't like the way the man assumed Rose was his girlfriend but since he'd made such a fuss about it the previous day, it wasn't surprising and everyone would now think the same. If he thought about it, that was what they wanted anyway, without the complications of others also assuming Jack was his but did he correct them for thinking such a thing?

"Then I will be there just after three. You do take bank cards?"

Mac then assumed he'd been right, since several of his employees had been talking about this week's edition of the Broadchurch Echo earlier and the headline that the once grumpy town's detective was here to stay.

Alec now had to get a ride to the garage to pick it up and hope the extra expense wouldn't leave him short until the end of the month, which was the following Tuesday but at least she would be able to get out and about with Jack a bit more. He called for Ellie to tell her he needed to collect the car.

"You're taking this part-time business seriously lately."

"I am not leaving Rose to deal with the garage, they will try and talk her into all sorts of extras."

"I use that garage, they don't try that with me."

"That's because they know who you are and besides, I am paying for it so I have to go."

"Well have you seen this week's 'Echo'? You two are on the front page, I saw it earlier. Now everyone might stop talking about you, eventually."

"Good, that was the idea. We will leave around three, the car should be ready then."

"Are you still taking that bed down? I can fit it in my garage if you want?" Ellie offered, now a lot of Fred's baby equipment had gone but she still had to tell Beth she'd let the cot go, she'd assumed their baby was still in the crib.

"No, we are going to leave it for now, in case Daisy comes back, we are then going to look for a sofa bed. We were going to look for a bigger place but Rose seems to like it there though she's not keen on carrying Jack down the stairs."

"Well if she lived in her mother's flat, it's hardly surprising. Even if you move, she'll have the same problem."

"Aye, I just have to give her some time, I suggested she held Jack and followed me down."

"She'll soon get her confidence. I'll come back at three then?"

"Do you know about parking permits? I got one when I rented the cottage but Rose will have to leave her car around the front, I hardly got in the other day."

"Olly has one, I'll ask him for you."

Just after three, Ellie dropped him at the garage and Alec went to settle the bill. He found a place to park and put his permit from his own car in and used the 'Police' sign he got from the desk sergeant on their way out in his own. Rose had been out for a walk along the east pier and had met Beth Latimer, Rose recognising her from the papers.

Beth was fussing over Lizzie as Rose reach where she was sitting.

"Hi, mind if I join you?" Rose asked, since Jack had fallen asleep. It seemed the fresh sea air did that to him.

"Yeah, how old is he?" Beth indicated to Jack, who was now laid back, clutching his toy. "Does he always keep hold of that?" she smiled.

"Yeah, it's special to him. I'm Rose, that's Jack, he's seven months, well just about. I just moved here a few days ago, though it was quite by accident."

"I never thought anyone came here by accident," Beth told her.

"Well my car broke down and I sort of got persuaded to stay. I've just made friends with Ellie."

"Oh, she asked me about the baby equipment, you're the one she lent it to? I should have known she wouldn't just lend it out to anyone. Lizzie's too small for any of that yet anyway though she just told me she lent you the cot but we're keeping Lizzie in the crib a bit longer. Ellie said she didn't know if you were staying around though?"

"Well, it was a bit up in the air but yeah, we're staying. I wasn't planning on it but things changed."

"You and Alec Hardy?"

"Ellie told you?"

"She said you were staying with someone and I saw the paper this morning."

Rose had forgotten all about it and wondered exactly what had been written but Alec would have something to say if it had still been suggested he was Jack's father. She wanted him to take the job but when James had been for a visit on Sunday, would all that change?

Rose was glad to get her car back and planned on sorting out her insurance and other details the next day, changing her address and also seeing what the benefits office had to say now she was living with someone again. Alec went with her on Thursday, since they wanted his proof of income and he was still on reduced hours and a bit of sick pay. When they got out, Alec told her she'd nothing to worry about and that they would manage until a decision was made.

"We can manage love, don't fuss about it. You still have some money left?"

"Well now I don't have to pay anything."

"Well on Saturday we will go down to the big supermarket and do the shopping, there is more to choose from and why don't we try Jack on some of the things we eat?"

"Such as chips?" Rose smiled, taking one from the carton as they sat by the river and Jack holding out his hand.

"Well not yet. You don't seem very happy love, something wrong?"

"No, it's just all these changes, now I'm staying here."

"Well, you would have had to do it, wherever you settled. At least now, I am here to help you."

"Yeah, thanks Alec. No Jack, you can't have mummy's chips, you're not old enough yet. Sure he's finished his food?"

"Yes, all of it," Alec confirmed, putting the empty bowl into the plastic bag and getting some milk out.

Jack eagerly held out his arms for the bottle, Alec supporting the bottom of it.

"He'll be holding it on his own soon," Rose remarked.

Alec was hoping not too soon but Jack was growing and taking more notice of things.

"Aye love, he will. Worried about Sunday?"

"Yeah, now it's getting nearer. I'm nervous about the two of you meeting."

Alec took her hand with the one that wasn't holding Jack's bottle.

"It will be fine, stop worrying eh? I promise to be civil with James."

Rose smiled, she knew this wasn't going to be easy for any of them. By Saturday, it was really telling on her how worried she was about the next day. As they got back from shopping, Alec suggested he took Jack out for a walk and let her have an hour to herself.

"Rose, we could bring our bath night forward, if you want?"

"No, I've got pains, I think I'll just lie down for a while. Sorry about not going swimming, I don't want to risk it and I can't expect you to take him on your own."

"That does not have to stop you from going love."

"Yeah it does, it can happen any time now, trust it to be a bit early. Shame I can't get something waterproof like those swimming nappies we just got for Jack. We can go next week or maybe one afternoon when you get out of work? I could go early and you could come and join us?"

"We will do that then. Now, I will take Jack out and you take it easy and I will make lunch when we get back."

Not being able to do much that night except kiss and get as close as they could, Alec lay with her, assuring her he'd been through much worse with his ex wife.

"I told you Rose, I swear Tess had two a month, I don't want you to go worrying about it. Now get some sleep love eh? You are already too wound up about tomorrow."

"I know, sorry. What if Jack won't go to him?"

"He will love, if anything, it will be James worrying about Jack not going to him. Just feed Jack as normal in the morning, get everything ready for him going out and when James calls, go meet him and I will wait here for you. Then bring James back here and while you are out, I will put the playpen up so he can see Jack has somewhere safe to play and you can show him Jack's room if you want?"

"I can't take Jack upstairs, I won't be able to carry him back down."

"Rose, you have been doing fine following me downstairs with him, you can do it on your own love or suggest James carries him down."

"You won't mind seeing them together?"

"Rose, when the visit is over and James has gone back to London, you and Jack will be staying here and that is all that matters to me."