"I'm sorry, I should not have done that," Alec realised she was embarrassed.
"No, it wasn't your fault Alec. I think right now, I trust you more than I trust Jamie to come back," she admitted.
"You really don't believe he will come back, do you?" Alec asked her.
"Honestly?" Rose looked at him. "I suppose he wanted to avoid a confrontation, that he wanted to spare me an argument? Maybe he even wanted to spare himself?" she wondered.
"I did not realise how serious things were," Alec admitted. "Did you ever argue over anything?"
"Not really," Rose recalled. "Maybe that's just it though? Maybe he had a temper I never saw, that he didn't want me to see? You have to promise not to repeat what I'm gonna tell ya."
He took both her hands.
"I promise Rose. Is it something to do with Torchwood? I told my DS we were getting help, although she never believed I knew you," he smiled.
"Yeah, it's to do with Torchwood. Ya could say they're responsible for me and my mum being here," Rose admitted.
"You mean with Pete?" Alec wondered, though he suspected there was more to it.
He'd read how Pete had lost his first wife to the Cybermen and how it was strange he'd met Rose's mother a few years later, who could be the first Jackie Tyler's double.
"Alec, that's only a part of it. Me and mum got caught up with those Cybermen, when Lumic set them loose, well it was just me, an old friend and someone I cared about. Anyway, we helped Pete and that group of freedom fighters, then we left. When the Cybermen got loose, Pete helped us when we found ourselves in the middle of it," she started to explain without giving too much away.
"Let me get this right. He wanted to repay you for helping him previously?" Alec wanted to know. "Who was this person you cared about? A boyfriend?"
"We were really good friends, we just never got around to admitting anything," Rose told him. "Anyway, the Cybermen disappeared, remember?"
"Yes, only too well," Alec admitted. "Go on."
"Pete had got a team together to take over Torchwood and they followed the Cybermen and this friend of mine volunteered to go with them so I said if he was going, so was I. He just never got back, he stayed behind to close this gap the Cybermen had made to escape."
"Are you trying to say you know where they went?" Alec wanted to know. "People said they could not have just vanished."
"Yeah, they went to a parallel world, exactly like this one," Rose confessed, thinking he'd get up and walk out and that kiss had been for nothing.
Alec sat back, not attempting to move as Rose had predicted.
"I might have known it would be something like that," was all he could say. "I think you are not telling me everything Rose."
Rose knew he'd caught her out.
"I got back Alec, he didn't. My mum had been with us, she kept going on at Pete for letting me go so this other friend of mine came after us and finally Pete, who dragged me back before the gap actually closed. We all got back except the one I cared about."
Alec listened to what she had to say but he knew she was covering something up. He was willing to leave it for now and to assure her he believed her so far.
"Alec, I was screaming at my friend to come back with us, Pete gave in to my mum because he couldn't face her if he'd come back without me. I didn't want to leave the most important person to me behind. I never got to tell him how I felt about him."
Alec could tell she was trying to hold back the tears.
"I am sorry you lost your friend Rose and now I understand why you want to find Jamie. Did he know what happened?"
"Yeah, I met Jamie not long after that, Pete had hired him 'cos he didn't know I would ever meet him. He and mum were really happy when me and Jamie started going out," Rose told him.
"I expect your stepfather thought he had made it up to you? Maybe he did have an idea he'd see you and your mother again? How did you meet up again?" Alec was curious.
Rose knew she had well and truly been caught out this time.
"Alec, can we leave this for now?" she used the excuse.
"Of course. Maybe I can escort you to your room?" he suggested.
"Yeah, it must be gettin' late," Rose realised. "What time do ya have to leave tomorrow? Mum will insist ya stay for lunch."
"Well if she insists?" Alec smiled. "Are you sure only your mother will want me to stay?"
"Well Tony will be pleased," Rose added as he helped her up.
"I was not talking about your brother," he teased her.
"Don't know what ya mean," Rose blushed the colour of her name.
"I'm sure you do," Alec replied as he let her go first.
Jackie and Pete had given up and gone to bed after checking on Tony.
"Maybe they've already gone to their rooms?" Pete suggested.
"Come on Pete, do ya really think so?" Jackie replied. "After what ya told me earlier? They'll still be talking."
"I hope Alec doesn't do anything stupid then," Pete told her.
"Do ya think something happened that night, enough to get Jamie really worried?" Jackie asked him.
"I really don't know Jaks," Pete replied as he turned out his bedside lamp.
"Well ya said yaself he was coming from the direction of Rose's room that morning," Jackie reminded him. "Why was he coming from that direction do ya think?"
"He probably just got lost. Rose said she'd been looking for someone to get her some coffee. He maybe just saw her and asked the way to Tony's play room," Pete suggested. "I don't think there was anything to it."
"Yeah but Jamie maybe took it the wrong way, ya know what he was like Pete," Jackie replied. "He can't have seen them that morning, can he?"
"I'm beginning to wonder about that," Pete told her.
"So ya don't think he'll come back then?" Jackie was worried as she turned out her lamp. "Poor Rose. Do ya think she's realised?"
"Maybe?" Pete pondered. "She was worried enough to call the person who maybe caused Jamie to go off."
Rose and Alec had reached her room.
"Alec, I'm not mad at ya for kissing me earlier ya know," she admitted.
"I should not have assumed anything," Alec replied. "I did wonder though, since I resemble Jamie. Rose, do we both look like the friend you lost?"
Rose didn't want to answer that but Alec put his hands on her shoulders.
"Rose? You said Jamie knew what happened to your friend, did he know he looked like him?"
"What do ya want me to say Alec?" Rose asked him. "Do ya want me to say ya don't look anything like the friend I lost?"
"Rose, don't take it the wrong way eh?" Alec tried to calm her.
"Sorry. So it's not about you looking like Jamie, ya think he never got over looking like someone else I cared about and you just made it worse?"
"I don't know, maybe?" Alec wondered. "It makes sense Rose. Now, can I kiss you goodnight?" he smiled.
"Geez Alec, he would have left me even if you'd never come to our wedding?" Rose asked him.
"It looks that way I'm afraid," he replied. "I'm sorry Rose."
"Yeah but I never blamed you for Jamie going off," Rose reminded him.
Jackie had gone to sleep but Pete couldn't help but wonder if Rose and Alec were still talking downstairs or if there was no sign of them so he got out of bed and was about to go downstairs when he heard talking.
"It's all my fault Rose," Pete admitted as he got near them, Alec moving his hands from Rose's shoulders.
Alec was just relieved Pete hadn't waited until he was about to kiss Rose again or he'd be asked to leave tonight, let alone in the morning when Jackie would have a go at him for ruining her daughter's marriage.
"Dad, ya didn't know," Rose reminded him.
"Know what?" Alec wanted to know. "Rose, Pete?"
"How much did you tell him?" Pete asked Rose.
"Not nearly enough," Alec now realised Rose had indeed been hiding something.
"Rose, if you trust Alec, then tell him," Pete suggested. "I know you never wanted to tell Jamie everything, just enough."
"Rose, I won't run away, from what you already told me. How much was true?" Alec asked her.
"All of it, just the fact Pete did rescue me from a parallel world, just that me and mum came from it and got brought here. I did go back for my friend, he was there all on his own but I would have stayed there."
"You two talk it out," Pete suggested before Jackie went looking for him and dragged Alec back to his room. "Alec, you can ask me anything you want in the morning. Goodnight both of you."
Pete went off, wondering what he'd have interrupted if he had got there earlier. Something was about to give between them, he'd seen all the signs at the wedding. It seemed Jamie had realised it as well, since the detective had got himself in the news again.
He just hoped they knew what they were doing. Alec seemed a sensible man, at least he was divorced but if the media got hold of this, he'd have more to worry about than catching a killer.
Rose was dying to retreat to her room but had a feeling Alec had more questions about where she came from, amongst other things.
"So, you want to know more?" Rose dared ask.
"Rose, I knew those Cybermen never just disappeared. You were on the front line, so to speak?" he wanted to know.
"Ya could say that," Rose answered quietly, hoping her mother hadn't noticed Pete had sneaked off and followed him. "We can't talk out here Alec, ya never know when my mum's on the prowl," she tried to joke.
She opened her bedroom door, leaving it for Alec to follow. He closed the door and stood behind it, his foot resting on it.
"Then tell me what you can. So you got brought here, when the Cybermen crossed to your world? Rose, was there a Torchwood there? There were rumours going around the old regime here had something to do with it but it was never proved. Then your stepfather took over and it was all hushed up."
"Not by Pete it wasn't," Rose corrected him. "He said he had no choice than to let the government sweep it aside, in agreement that he took over and changed Torchwood for the better. Pete had the backing and the money once he got his company back from when Lumic had control."
"Ah, Lumic?" Alec mused. "He had a lot to answer for, it was a good thing he went missing after what he did. I expect you were involved with that as well?" he smiled, moving towards her.
He put his hands on her shoulders.
"It's a long story," Rose yawned.
"Then you can tell me in the morning? Unless?" he replied as he leaned down to try to kiss her again. "What are you afraid of Rose? You say you think Jamie has gone for good, are you afraid there will be rumours? It does not bother me, he left you, remember?"
"I know. You have enough problems Alec, without me adding to them," Rose replied.
"Rose, let me worry about that eh?" he told her as their lips met.
This time, the kiss lasted longer, making Rose feel light-headed.
"Alec, it's not fair," she tried to back away but he still held on to her.
"Rose," he shushed her, putting his finger on her lips. "I will give you time to think about it, you can come down to Broadchurch any time you want. If Jamie does come back, I will understand you wanting to stay with him."
"I don't know Alec? Could I trust him again, if he wants to make up?" Rose wondered.
"I can't tell you that but you must know I care about you?" he asked her. "Why do you think I was willing to come up here and help you?"
He went towards her and put his arms around her.
"Rose, tell me what it was, I mean about Jamie?" he urged as Rose leaned into his shoulder.
"I can't," Rose replied as she looked up at him.
"I'm sorry but I think I already know," he admitted. "You said he was always backing away."
"I don't know Alec, honestly. It could just have been me," she admitted.
Alec held back slightly.
"Rose, don't take the blame for him. You would know if it was you."
"I would?" she asked innocently. "Geez Alec, I don't know any more. So if he comes back, should I say something?"
"Rose, he may already know that you have realised," Alec replied. "Do you honestly think he will be able to face you? What are you going to do, if he does not come back?"
"Come and see you in Broadchurch?" Rose tried to joke. "Seriously, I don't know Alec."
"Well, I meant it Rose, I won't care what is said in the papers, if it gets out," he told her. "I do care about you, I think you already know that? You need time to think, to sort out your feelings but I think Jamie let you down, badly."
"How do you know Alec?" Rose asked him.
"You did not have to say anything, it was the way you reacted," he replied, stepping back closer to her.
Before either of them knew it, they were under the sheets, Alec kissing her all over and afterwards, pulling Rose on top of him.
"Is something wrong?" he asked as she was reluctant to stay there and rolled on her back again.
"Nothing, it's fine. It's not you Alec, it's me."
"Oh, I was right then?" he replied, hovering over her, propped up on one arm and tracing her curves with his finger. "Ah, that would be the point your husband would shall we say 'back off'?"
Rose remained silent and started to get out of bed.
"Rose, don't run away eh?" he called after her.
She went to a drawer to get some clean underwear and a vest top, then put on her silky blue floral robe.
"I'm just going to the bathroom Alec, I'm not running away. I just need to freshen up."
"Something happened to you, yes?" he wanted to know as he watched her.
If he could have seen her face in the dim light from the lamp but he didn't need to see, he knew he was right.
"Rose, it's only natural, you don't have to run away. I did not cause you any discomfort?"
"What?'" Rose was still confused as to what he was saying. "If ya meant did ya hurt me, then, well just a little at first," she admitted. "I have to go now."
As she disappeared, Alec scrabbled under the bed for his shorts, thinking if they were going to discuss the event of them having sex and Rose not knowing she'd just had her real first time, he was not doing so not wearing anything at all.
He had suspected the problem was that one of them hadn't wanted to go the whole way but from what Rose had said and just done, he guessed it hadn't been her. Or had it, he wondered as Rose emerged from the bathroom. Maybe she had just been reluctant and Jamie had sensed it but he was no therapist.
"Hey," Rose greeted him as she got back into bed. "Was that what it's supposed to be like?" she asked innocently.
"Yes, so I guess it was Jamie who either thought he should back off and give you time or he sensed you did not want to give in?"
"I don't know which Alec," Rose admitted as he put his arm around her. "Hey, don't you go gettin' caught by my mother in the morning, she'll be up about eight to sort Tony out."
"I have no intentions of getting caught," he laughed.
"Well it's usually earlier than that but Tony just plays when he wakes up. When he was younger, he used to jump on my bed to wake me up. Mum told him he's too big to do that now but it was just to stop him pouncing on Jamie really."
"Well I will leave in plenty of time then, unless you wish me to leave now?" he asked, not wanting to take advantage.
"No, I don't want ya to go now. What do I do now Alec? Do I wait and see what Jamie does or just accept it's over?"
"Rose, it's up to you but you have to be realistic. How long do you wait eh? He may be waiting for you to make the first move," Alec suggested.
"Do ya think so?" Rose wondered. "I can't face it Alec, if I do make the first move, I'll have to get Pete to get me a good divorce lawyer. Then keep it out of the papers, stay out of the way."
"Then come down to Broadchurch," Alec offered. "The press are too busy going after the boy's family, trust me."
"You have too much to do already without worrying about me," Rose replied as she put her arm across him and laid her head on his chest.
"I will worry about you," he told her as he kissed the top of her head. "Get some sleep, we can talk before I leave tomorrow."
Alec woke early and tried not to disturb Rose, who had somehow crawled over him and was half on, half off him. He had to smile at her and moved some hair gently off her face, making her move slightly.
"Rose, I have to go back to my room now," he reminded her.
"Yeah, okay," Rose replied with a yawn. "Alec, we need to talk about this before ya leave."
"I know, don't worry eh? I would worry more about your mother catching me sneaking back to my room, especially from the direction of yours," he smiled, kissing her cheek. "Rose, last night was really something special and I regret having to leave but you need to talk things over with your parents."
He got dressed then leaned over her and gave her a kiss.
"Just remember, come down to Broadchurch any time," he told her.
"Yeah, I will, when I get sorted. Do ya think Jamie's waiting for me to make the first move then?"
"He may be but it's down to him, he was the one who went off," he reminded her again.
"Yeah, maybe he just wanted to prove a point?" Rose wondered.