Thanks for reading! Next: the reception continues… Jessie xx

The Big Goodbye. Part Two.

"Get it out of your system."

Gerry scowled. Sandra had followed him outside, taken hold of his arm and practically dragged him around the side of the pub, away from the other smokers. And was now fixing him with her very familiar stern look. Which had never failed to make him feel not as if he was standing in the headmistress' office but rather in front of his favourite teacher being invited to explain himself.

"Go on," she insisted.

She knew. She knew him better than anyone. Better than any of his ex wives or anyone that he might have considered a mate in his many years. He could hardly ever lie to her.

"He's a good detective," she goaded him lightly. "Smart, intelligent. Diligent. Funny. Decent."

"Gay," he completed for her.

"As a row of pink tents with gay men camping in them," she grinned. "Go on."

As she listened with half an ear to his archaic tirade, she couldn't help but feel a peculiar mixture of pride and sorrow. She'd gotten to know this man over ten years of working with him and of being his friend. His defence of homophobia matched his defence of racism. It exposed the generational gap between them, revealed with true honesty the beliefs of the past, horrified her and endeared him to her. She'd known Nick was gay, as had Steve, hence the bets placed. She'd known that Gerry would be the one to have a problem with it; not a big problem, just a challenge to his world. Taking him away to let it out of his system so that it didn't get bottled up and blow at an inopportune moment was the one gift she could give to him with only five more working days together. And he knew that she knew he knew it. Which was why when they returned to the bar, he got his wallet out.

"So have you had any cravings?" Paula had joined the UCOS team at the bar having recognised Dee from working at the hospital.

"God I remember when I was expecting Ryan, all I wanted was grapes," Carrie groaned. "I ate so many grapes for that boy. Neither of us likes them now!"

"Girl talk," Dee raised his perfectly manicured eyebrows at Steve and Nick. The three men laughed.

"Not really," Sandra thought for a moment. "Just wine!"

"Red or white?" Gerry asked obligingly. He met her eye and gave her the tiniest signal that only she would read.

"Red," she smiled her thanks. If she was only to be allowed one glass, she would allow her best friend to buy it for her.

"Ahem…"

All eyes turned to the sound of a throat being cleared over a microphone. Mia looked up from where she was sitting with Bella, Esther and Grace. Brian and Rob stopped talking about carp. The gang at the bar fell silent and manoeuvred to find the source of the interruption over random heads.

Rufus waited until everyone was looking at him before pretending to look over both his shoulders as if sharing their innocence. Starting as he played at noticing the microphone, he shrugged. "Hi everyone."

Mia ducked her head to hide the massive grin at her brother's showmanship. Rob shook his head in disbelief.

"Well, it's nice to see so many people here – didn't know my dad had so many friends! Erm… for those who don't know me, which is probably most of you, I'm Ruf Strickland. And I'm the best man. So, I believe, it's tradition and my honour… to make a speech and who could ever pass up an opportunity to rib the old man? Even if it is only for a few minutes of a lifetime? Because, love, I'm told, is one of those things which lasts forever and five minutes all in one go. When my dad told me that there was someone he wanted me to meet… I kinda figured what was going on. When he told me they were getting married, I kinda figured he was mad. For Sandra. And, erm, well, I'm reliably informed that this is no bad thing. I mean, she's successful, she's smart and she knows how to send an e-mail. Some of these things might be related. Apparently, and don't ask me how, they worked together for nearly a decade before they even kissed. Well, my dad might not be the quickest, but the important thing is he got there in the end. Like how he spent all Christmas Day building my present so that when it was ready to play with, it was time for bed. But hey, I got Boxing Day and him and Sandra have the rest of their lives. I don't think it's going to be a peace and quiet for the near future because they're buying a house and having a baby. Things that people normally do in their twenties, Dad," Rufus shrugged as the congregation laughed in appreciation. "Anyway, there's a few thanks to send out and then my duties as best man are done! Firstly, to Esther and Grace, thanks for making the cake, it looks too good to eat, but I'm sure we'll force ourselves! On the subject of which, thanks to the staff here for the fab spread this afternoon and for allowing so many coppers in at one go, we know they normally have to be supervised! To friends, family and well-wishers, also those who just smelt a buffet, thanks for coming. Dad, thanks for paying for it. And Sandra, thank you for saving my dad from middle-age. I think that's it, so, clear a pathway here and ladies and gentlemen, it took them long enough to find each other the first time, let's hope love never loses them again, if I can ask you to raise your glasses, to Mr. and Mrs., to my dad and to Sandra, to the bride and groom…"

"To the bride and groom," echoed around the room as Rob found his way to his bride and kissed her to the catcalls that he was sure his son was initiating.

"Aww," Esther smiled. "They do look well together, don't they?"

"Yeah," Mia shuffled. "Would you mind watching Bella for a minute?"

As if it was even a question, Mia thought as she cut a path to the ladies. No-one ever passed up the chance to dote on her admittedly gorgeous daughter. So absorbed was she in this thought that she nearly walked into a young man looking nervously about.

"Woah, sorry, excuse me, Mia?"

"Darren? Darren Holmes? What are you doing here?"

"Erm…" the young man in designer jeans, pale blue shirt unbuttoned at the neck and black Armarni blazer hesitated. "Ruf, your brother, he invited me. Apparently your dad said he should have a few mates come to the evening do."

"Since when were you mates with my brother?" Mia asked bluntly. "Look, I know this is like really rude, but I really need to pee, why don't you get a drink and I'll catch you up in a minute?"

"Brown sauce? Serious?"

Nick grinned happily and sipped at his beer. Dee was a hit. Like Steve and Carrie, he preferred rugby to football (though possibly not for the same reasons), but that was happily evened out by Nick's own preference to football, like Gerry and Rob. Nick was more than aware that Gerry was uneasy about homosexuality, but the love of cooking that the Cockney and his partner shared was currently oiling the wheels of conversation; especially secret ingredients to the perfect bolognaise.

Sandra smiled at Rob, who subtly read her signal and while the boys and Carrie continued to argue over the price of meat, they slipped away from the new UCOS, miraculously avoiding anyone else until they reached the quietest corner of the room.

"You alright?" Rob asked, taking the opportunity to place his hands on her waist.

"Yes," she smiled back. "You?"

"Mmm," he kissed her cheek. "You look stunning by the way."

"Thank you," she stroked his shoulder. "Fab suit by the way."

Both of them were suddenly aware of the shared thought that they were going to enjoy removing the clothes as much as complimenting them and laughed like teenagers. She leant in to his body and rested her head on his chest.

"It's going well," he murmured, running a hand over her back.

"Mmm, yeah," she replied.

They had, after relatively little deliberation, agreed on the intimate ceremony with their closest friends and family followed by the rest of the day in the pub. Their reception plan was more for the guests than for themselves and both Rufus and Hermione had been encouraged to invite friends along. An open invitation had been passed through the station and through their friends' families.

"Did you see Rufus trying to chat up Caitlyn?" Sandra giggled.

"Yep," Rob shook his head. "Like father, like son!"

"Oh?" she lifted her gaze to his.

"Chasing women way out of his league," Rob kissed the tip of her nose. "Looks like I got lucky though!"

"Lucks got nothing to do with it," Sandra slid her arms around his waist and lifted her nose a little higher so that their lips could meet.