Alec decided after his drink he should maybe go to his room. The bride and groom had probably been on the way to theirs so he went to try to find Daisy again and saw her with Tess, going up the grand staircase.
"There you are Alec," Tess told him as he caught up.
"Dad, where have you been?" Daisy wanted to know. "I had loads of photos taken with Rose and Jamie, it was such fun, my friends are going to be so jealous. Jamie took them on his phone, he promised to send them to mine before we leave in the morning."
"I'm glad you've been enjoying yourself," Alec replied as they stood at the top of the stairs.
"Rose is so lucky Mum," Daisy laughed. "Jamie's such a dream, they make a great couple. Just think, they're going to be in the magazines for a while now."
Alec thought more expense for him and Tess buying endless copies of magazines and weekend newspapers for their bridal specials.
"Well if you want them, save up your allowance," Tess insisted. "If you're getting pictures sent to your phone, ask for the wi-fi password instead of using your data allowance."
"Mum, it doesn't cost anything to receive messages," Daisy laughed.
"It does to run the app," Tess reminded her. "I'm surprised the two of them weren't going off tonight."
"They no doubt stayed to make sure all the guests had left and any reporters," Alec suggested. "Some of the guests are still here. They would not want to be followed to a hotel."
"Well I'm glad they'll still be here in the morning so I can say goodbye to them," Daisy told him. "Rose promised to stay friends with me."
Alec hoped she wouldn't be disappointed when Rose soon forgot about it. Would he himself be any less disappointed once Rose got settled down to married life and forgot about him? She had sounded a bit sad when he'd talked to her but maybe she'd just been tired? She had been surprised he'd not danced with her but it wouldn't have been wise to make Jamie any more jealous than he already was. He had to admit he would gladly have danced with her, had he known she'd been disappointed but she was only being friendly, it wouldn't have meant anything.
Now, he had to go home in the morning, back to a murder investigation and forget about her. Would he be able to?
Rose was pleasantly surprised when Jamie opened the bedroom door and he had picked her up and carried her inside.
"Wow! You did all this for me?" Rose asked him as he put her down.
"Well I arranged it for you," Jamie replied. "Do you like it love?"
"Aw, it was really sweet of ya Jamie," Rose told him, smelling a handful of rose petal she picked up from the bed. "It's the perfect end to our wedding day."
She went to put her arms around him, Jamie lifting her up.
"Ah, wait until tomorrow, when we go on our honeymoon," he laughed. "No, I'm not telling you where we're going but you had best hand me your passport, you won't be needing it."
"Ya mean where staying in the UK?" Rose sounded disappointed.
"Well, not exactly but I had Jake arrange to get you a new one rushed through," he grinned.
"Cheat!" Rose laughed. "Well, tell me where we're goin' then?"
"Oh no, can't spoil the surprise," Jamie laughed back. "So, need help getting undressed love?"
"You've been waitin' to ask me that all night," Rose teased him.
Jamie wasn't going to be disappointed as she let him help her and once he'd blown out all but a few candles that could be safely left unattended as he'd arranged, they got under the covers, leaving the petals to fall on the floor. Rose thought he couldn't have got any more romantic on their wedding night and hoped now they were married, he would not stop when he usually did, something they had agreed on that they would wait as they knew they would get married.
Rose thought she felt a little different as she fell asleep, Jamie still nibbling at her neck and ear.
"Okay sweetheart?" he asked her. "Bet you were surprised with all the petals and candles?"
"Yeah, they were lovely," Rose agreed as she yawned. "This has been the best day of my life Jamie."
"Mine too love. I meant what I said earlier. My life changed the day you walked into my office," Jamie admitted.
The next morning, having a repeat of the night before, well Rose thought it was a repeat as she felt the same, they went down to breakfast, having left their cases outside the door for them to be put in Pete's car. He was taking them to the airport for the plane to Palma, where they were joining the cruise which set sail early evening.
They'd paid for extra luggage allowance, since they would be away for two weeks and Jamie had expected Rose to bring back presents for everyone, as well as even more clothes than she'd gone with. Daisy was waiting eagerly for Jamie to send the photos from the night before to her, Tess warning her not to bother the newlyweds too much.
Alec had woken early and felt no differently than the night before, which was trying to get Rose out of his mind and failing. What was he going to do when he got back to Sandbrook and Rose got on with married life? The only way he'd ever see her again was either in the glossy magazines or if by some chance Daisy was invited to spend the weekend with them. Tess would probably volunteer to take her anyway so that was out. What other excuse did he have?
He just had to face the truth, why would Rose be bothered with him after today? He looked up as Daisy and Tess entered the dining room, followed by Pete and Tony.
"Alec!" Tony greeted him as he tried to get away from Pete.
"Calm down Tony," Pete laughed.
"It's okay Pete," Alec told him as Tony wanted to sit next to him. "Are you still excited from yesterday?" he asked the boy.
"Yeah but Rose and Jamie are going away," Tony complained. "Dad said so, for two whole weeks," he sighed, looking disappointed.
Daisy went to sit next to him and patted his back.
"Never mind Tony, you'll see them when they get back, won't he Dad?" she asked Alec and smiled at Tony.
"Sure you will Tony," Alec tried to assure him and thinking how lucky the boy was.
"What time are you all leaving?" Pete asked Alec.
"After breakfast," Tess told him. "Daisy, make sure you've got everything."
"Don't worry about it," Pete laughed. "You'd be surprised what visitors leave behind. Jackie says it's like a hotel sometimes."
"Ah, where is she?" Tess wondered where Jackie had got to.
"Bit of a sore head this morning," Pete grinned.
Alec thought no wonder after last night. On the way downstairs, Jamie stopped to ask Rose something.
"Are you going to stay in touch with Daisy then?"
"Yeah, I promised her Jamie," Rose reminded him. "Why not?"
"Just wondered. Do you think she'll tell her dad?" Jamie wanted to know.
"Why do ya ask?" Rose asked him.
"No reason," Jamie tried to bluff. "I just wondered, I mean after I saw him leave the conservatory last night."
"Jamie, what ya mean by that?" Rose questioned him. "I told ya, he was lookin' for Daisy, that's all. In case ya never noticed, he never asked me to dance at the reception and he didn't queue up to kiss the bride."
"Okay, I'll give him that," Jamie admitted. "Did he talk about anything else though?"
"I'm not having this conversation with ya Jamie. Dad will be waiting to take us to the airport."
"We don't check in until two," Jamie reminded her. "I expect they'll be gone by then?"
Rose set off down the stairs, wondering what had come over her new husband. Jamie had it in his head that Alec being in the same room as her last night was more than it had actually been. This wasn't the first time Jamie had got jealous but she was hoping he would start to trust her more.
She tried not to let anything show when she joined everyone in the dining room. Daisy waited to ask Jamie for the photos and was making sure Rose had her phone number.
"So, is it okay if I call you sometime?" Daisy wanted to make sure.
"Yeah, 'course ya can," Rose laughed. "I'll call ya back to save the credit on ya phone."
"Great and I'm glad I got chosen, it's been a great weekend," Daisy told her. "Last night, were you saying something, about someone else almost being chosen?"
"Oh, it doesn't matter," Rose insisted. "I'm glad you all enjoyed yourselves. Ya should have seen all the entries we got from the competition. There were millions and I'd love to have been able to choose more bridesmaids but what number would I have stopped at?"
"You never opened all the envelopes?" Daisy went all serious.
"No," Rose laughed. "I just picked three envelopes, then chose one for head bridesmaid. Sorry, I had to check it was okay with your mum."
"I'm glad she said yes," Daisy looked at her mother.
"I would never have heard the end of it if I had said no," Tess replied. "It gave us all a break from work."
"Yeah, I bet," Jamie joined in.
"It's awful what happened to that girl," Rose told them. "Please give my condolences to her parents."
"We will," Alec assured her. "If I don't see them, Tess will pass it on."
"Alec, if there's anything Torchwood can do to help, don't hesitate to call," Pete told him.
"Thank you, I appreciate that," Alec told him. "I should start packing the car."
He didn't know what else to say. His chief may not like Torchwood taking over the investigation. It may also involve sending Rose to assess the situation and she would have her husband with her, unless she left him at home but that would be dangerous.
He was going to have enough problems getting Rose out of his system once he got home. He just hoped Ricky Gillespie wouldn't start going on again about how Lee Ashworth was responsible for Pippa's death. Maybe he should take up Pete's offer of help and get a confession out of the main suspect.
He just hoped that when they went back to work, they could get some solid evidence from the suspect's wife turning on him, Torchwood would surely have ways of doing that as well. He made his excuses and went back to the room he'd been using, seeing all the case's outside the newlywed's room and thinking he hoped they'd got extra baggage allowance if they were flying somewhere.
When Tess, Daisy and Alec were ready to leave, Jamie went to help the staff bring down their luggage and Rose was talking with Daisy as they went outside.
"Well, have a good journey back," Rose was saying, her arm in Daisy's. "So, are ya gonna follow your parents into the police?"
Daisy was sure Rose had asked her that before.
"I don't know yet, maybe?" Daisy replied. "I'm glad I got to be here this weekend, thanks for everything."
Daisy gave her a big hug and Tess was waiting to shake her hand, that turning into a hug as well. Alec though was trying to stay out of the way but failed.
"Aw, it was nice to have ya all here," Rose laughed at Alec's awkwardness as he pulled the back door down and turned to meet her face to face.
"I hope ya catch whoever killed that poor girl. Ya will call if ya need any help, won't you Alec?" she asked him.
"Yes, I will pass it onto the chief," Alec replied, holding his hand out but Rose took him by surprise and reached up to hug him.
She hadn't realised that Jamie had gone into their bedroom and was watching them. He was thankful the detective was finally going home but could he forget seeing him leaving the conservatory last night, then finding Rose alone in the dim fancy lighting. He shook his head and let the net curtain go and thought he'd just have to let it go or it would be bothering him all through the honeymoon.
"Bye Alec, take care," Rose told him. "Daisy, I don't want to see your story of this weekend all over the papers," she then laughed.
Daisy saw the funny side and got in the back of the car.
"Thanks for letting her come Tess," Rose then turned to her. "Bye everyone."
"Bye Rose," Daisy called from the back.
As Alec went around the other side of the car, she didn't hear him saying goodbye. He hadn't wanted to hug Rose, it was just making things worse and he didn't want her or Tess hearing him say goodbye.
"You didn't have to hug her back Alec," Tess told him as they drove off and Daisy had put her earphones on and was messing around finding something to listen to.
"Why are you so bothered?" he wanted to know as the satnav told him to turn right when he'd hit the 'Home' option.
"Are you two going to fight all the way home?" Daisy asked them both. "Geez, I should have stayed a bit longer where we've just been."
"Don't be cheeky," Alec told her, not wanting her to remind him he wished he was staying as well.
He hoped the further away he got, it would lessen the fact he hadn't wanted to leave. He had to go home and forget about Rose but how could he when there would be a constant reminder of the offer of help from Torchwood and she might be in charge? Then there was the fact she had an interest in the case by saying to give Pippa's mother her condolences.
Perhaps he should leave that for Tess?
As Rose got back inside, Jamie was coming downstairs, followed by one of the male staff.
"Blimey Rose do you need so much?" Jamie asked her.
"Ya said we were goin' for two weeks," Rose reminded him.
Now he wished he'd only booked one week, she would be bound to be buying presents and new outfits for various occasions. Tony had worn Pete down and was going to the airport with them.
"Don't bring him back any tacky presents Rose," Jackie told her when she emerged from the kitchen.
Rose remembered all the 'Tacky' things her mother used to bring back from a day out at Margate or some other seaside town they'd been to on the train.
"Mum, I want a t-shirt with Majorca on," Tony blurted out, getting a frown from Jamie.
"That'll teach ya not to tell him where ya takin' me," Rose laughed.
"How was I to know?" Jamie defended himself.
"Quiet Tony, ya know what your father said," Jackie reminded Tony.
"He's not given it all away," Jamie told her. "Thanks mate," he then grinned at Tony.
"Sorry Jamie," Tony grinned back.
"It's not your fault," Jackie then told him. "Really Jamie, ya can't expect to tell him something and not tell Rose."
"Never mind Mum," Rose told Jackie. "I'm sure it won't spoil it."
"Well that was only part of it," Jamie then admitted. "We should set off soon, at least I booked the VIP lounge!"
"Trust you," Rose laughed.
"We get well looked after in there," Jamie reminded her. "Remember?"
Rose did remember he used to book the VIP facilities on their travels. She couldn't decide if it was because he didn't want to sit with the locals and all their baggage strewn around the airport lounge and kids climbing on the seats and jumping on or over the cases or if it was for the air conditioning and cold drinks.
Jamie could be more of a snob than her mother at times. Once at the airport, Pete helped Jamie load everything on the baggage trolley while Rose kept hold of Tony, who wanted to go see the planes. At one time, it was the zeppelins he wanted to see but planes were becoming more popular even on the shorter routes.
"Shame there were no zeppelins scheduled today," Jamie was telling Pete, regretting not booking another flight instead of this one. "Rose would have loved that, I might see if I can swap the flight coming back. Tell Tony it's okay, he wasn't to know where I was taking Rose was a secret."
"I will, don't worry Jamie," Pete agreed as they headed to the VIP desk.
They got booked in and said goodbye to Pete and Tony then were allowed in the VIP lounge, where they had about an hour to wait for their flight to Palma. Jamie went to get them some drinks and sandwiches and Rose was hoping Pete had taken Tony to see all the planes at the gates.
"Well, ready for this?" Jamie grinned. "I thought you might like the first part of the honeymoon, where we can just relax, eh love?"
"If ya told me where exactly we're going?" Rose smiled as she finished her coffee, which being in the VIP lounge was served in fancy cups, not cartons.
"You'll find out love," Jamie smiled. "We should have had champagne instead of coffee,"
"I think we had enough yesterday," Rose told him. "Don't you go asking for some on the flight."
"I'll try not to love. I hope it was a wise move booking seats with more leg room," he then laughed.
"Yeah, you and your long legs," Rose smiled.
They were called forward to board the plane, Rose not surprised they were in first class and a few hours later, they were stepping out into the bright sunshine, Jamie going first and then helping Rose off the bottom step. They were directed to the VIP lounge and their luggage was waiting for them, then Jamie pushed the trolley towards the exit where they were greeted by the travel company's rep.
"You sneak!" Rose laughed when Jamie put his hand up in response to their names being called.
"I said it was something nice and relaxing love," he grinned. "What better way to enjoy our first week of being married than going on a cruise? We can wake up in a different place every morning without having to drag our luggage around," he pointed out.
As they went out to the coach that was waiting to take them to the port to board their cruise liner, Rose began to wonder if that was what had been on Jamie's mind, to wake in a new place every morning or was it because she hadn't wanted to go on any expeditions since they started planning their wedding? Who knew where Jamie was concerned?