a/n: Hey, everyone. I'm not entirely sure if there is anyone who even follows this story on this website anymore. I'm really thankful for those that had favourited this story. It took a lot for me to gather myself and get this whole story posted. This is the final chapter. Thank you, once again, for following this story to the end. Leave reviews, don't leave. I'm still grateful this story had views. I love you.

She had always known that communication wasn't his strongest point, which left Ellie with no expectation of one when Alec left to go back teaching at the academy. So, when he dropped a text for the first time after days of being away, there was a small part of her that relived the fear she once had before - of being abandoned. Yes, when someone makes an attempt to communicate with another, it's supposed to indicate that the person intends to be a part of another's life. But Ellie was afraid of hope and he was giving it to her. How could she be so sure that he was going to stay? How could he be so sure that he would be staying? He did mention that he only came back here because he needed a place for him and Daisy to stay, nothing more than that.

That reason only made it harder for herself to believe that people would stay for her which led her to thinking that it would be better that she was not to have a reminder of him in any form just so she would not raise her own hopes up. But his daughter was staying with her and was in almost every bit the person her father is.

Daisy's witty (and at times, snappy) comebacks, the way she quietly carries herself around and she even has the sad eyes that her father possesses that just draws one in and makes one feel like they want to care and protect them.

It wasn't fair, Ellie thought. How was it that Daisy could be so different from her father and yet be an embodiment of him at the same time? There's a softness to the teenager in the things she said and did despite the mask she wore to act cold or indifferent, just like her father.

When Alec gave Ellie a call out of the blue when they were already exchanging texts, it threw her off-guard. She was surrounded by other colleagues and was replying to him sneakily under the table, afraid that someone would take a peek, unknowingly smiling to herself the whole time. So, when her phone rang, Ellie panicked for a bit and hurriedly excused herself to stand at a distance to talk to him.

Then, a line of questions came firing at her the moment she returned to her seat.

"So, El. Are you seeing someone these days?"

"Got a bloke, have you now?"

"Who's got you blushing like a schoolgirl, then?"

Ellie thought she could get away with it but she could barely compose herself and stammered, "Piss off, now. I've got too much on my plate for that."

"Hardy's daughter, is she staying with you?"

"For this week, yeah. Beth has her next week."

"We don't get it, El. How do you tolerate him?"

Ellie feigned a smile, "He's not all that grumpy and broody of a knob. He's warmer and more of a human than most of you here, really."

"Can't really give him a chance when he doesn't give us any."

"He went out to the pub, didn't he?"

"Yeah and he stuck through the night being by your side."

"He's adjusting." Ellie tried to sound indifferent, "Give him time."

But even her last statement surprised her.

Time. What a funny word. That was all there was in between them when he left. For two years, she had hoped that he could at least drop her a "How are you?" or at the very least one "Happy New Year". But there wasn't any bit of news. And she was darned that Alec was no longer going to be part of her life and that he's just a ghost of someone from a life she used to live. Suddenly he's back again with a daughter in tow, strutting in at work as if he never left.

Those two years were the longest years of her life.

Yet, this time around, it felt like the week flew by. Alec may not be around but having Daisy around felt like he was there. She had her father's demeanour, caring for others quietly - attending to Fred asking for water in the middle of the night, sitting with Ellie at the table just silently sipping on their tea when neither could sleep and even accompanying her father for evening walks.

But there was still a void which Ellie didn't know existed until she saw Fred laying down on the sofa with Daisy while she was in the middle of a video call with the latter's father, incorporating the little one in their conversation before they all said goodnight. Still, he didn't make a mention of her in their conversations. How was it they could be so connected yet distant at the same time?

Friday eventually came along.

Apart from that one day that he called and texted, Ellie hasn't heard from Alec ever since. He did mention to her before that he wasn't good at 'all this' - whatever 'all this' was supposed to mean. But all she knew was he would be arriving at her place by 7pm to fetch his daughter and nothing else. Then again, it's Alec Hardy. Since when did he ever tell her things? Ellie could only gamble her trust by holding on to his promise.

"I'll be back."

And he did.

The drive had been long and exhausting, considering he had a whole day of only law classes to teach. Alec was beginning to see the rationale behind the women's protest against him commuting and was grateful that they persuaded him out of it. More like nagged him out of it. He stood awkwardly on the porch of Ellie's house with a box of chocolates in one hand and his daughter's favourite box of doughnuts in the other, waiting for someone to open the door.

As it swung open, a young boy greeted him brightly, "Uncle Alec!"

Alec gave half a smile, "Hiya, wee Fred."

"Are those for me?" Fred pointed at the box of chocolates, looking up at Alec hopefully.

"You can have it, yeah."

"Daisy!" The small boy called, "Uncle Alec is here!"

"You know, you really shouldn't be opening the doors. Could be bad people. It's dangerous." Alec nagged.

"I know, mum told me." Fred replied, his hands reaching out for the box of chocolates. When he had grabbed them, the little one turned around, making his way into the house, "Mum saw you from the window. She told me to open the door for you."

He didn't intend to stay but Daisy had texted him that Ellie told her that they should have dinner before they go which was how he ended up at the dining table across from David as they both helped to set up the table. Alec wasn't particularly keen on coming to her house with her father in the house but he did miss Ellie and had to fetch his daughter, the only reason why he braced himself to face David and endure a probably infuriating conversation.

But Beth was apparently also invited, hence the house was filled with children who helped themselves to the box of doughnuts Daisy decided to share as they waited for dinner to be served. He was beginning to feel his social battery draining fast.

"So, how's teaching, then?" David initiated a conversation as they sat at the table after setting up.

"It's fine. It's nothing much." Alec replied flatly, as he shook his leg anxiously under the table in discretion, "Thank you, sir, for helping me care for my daughter. I'm sorry if she inconvenienced any of you in any way."

"No, no." David waved a hand, "She's sweet, your daughter. Thoughtful lass. It was nice having her around for company."

Alec pressed his lips into a line, not knowing how to respond to the compliment. He was proud of it, of course. He just couldn't express it. Plus, he didn't think David could start off a conversation civilly so it threw him off guard but he was pleased about it.

"You and Eleanor," David whispered as he locked his gaze, "what are your intentions about it?"

"Sir?" Here we go again, Alec thought.

David tilted his head, sighing, "I know when I had this conversation the last time with you, nothing was going on. But I know things have changed between the two of you when you drove her home two mornings in a row. Anyone can tell that."

Alec's leg stopped shaking, taken aback.

"I'm not stopping the two of you." David continued, "I know I can't, bloody sure about that because I know there's no stopping my Ellie. But you, I'm not sure about you. All I know is, I'm pretty sure I can't stop you either judging from the way you talked to me about her last time."

For a moment, silence passed as Alec tried to process David's statement. He was more surprised at the fact that David seemed sincere and far more respectful than their encounter before. He had a bad first impression of the elder but then again, Alec realised that he wasn't the most pleasant person to be around with either.

And Alec understood, being a father himself, where David was coming from. No father would let his daughter go through heartbreak again and especially for one with Ellie's circumstances. But he needed to make David understand that he was sincere. Alec looked around, making sure neither Beth and Ellie nor the children were anywhere near.

"I don't know where we are going, but I'm staying." Alec clasped his hands together, as he looked up at the older man, matching his gaze, "That, I can promise you. Miller and I, I will wait for her. Whatever she thinks is best for her, I'll support her decision. That's all I could say. But nevertheless, I'm still staying."

David folded his arms as he leaned back into the chair, nodding, "Fair enough."

"But whatever she decides it to be," Alec straightened himself in his seat and put his legs together underneath the table, both hands on his knees, "I'd like to know if I have your blessings, sir. For me to be by Miller's side. And her boys too. Until the day she doesn't want anything to do with me anymore."

David sighed.

Alec pursed his lips.

"If you ever were to leave her," David finally said, "make sure you come to me first."

It took a while for the children to say farewell. It was apparent that even Tom was reluctant to part from Daisy, his younger brother even more so. Chloe and Lizzie lingered too, delaying the goodbye. Alec didn't know what happened while he was away but he could see that Daisy hesitated to part too.

"Do you want to invite them and have a sleepover for tonight?" Alec asked before getting into the car.

Daisy looked up at her father as if he was a stranger to her, "Why would you ask that?"

Alec shrugged, "I don't know. You look like you're having fun."

"I was. But I'm fine, really." Daisy gave her father an assuring pat to his arm, "I'll be staying with Beth anyway next week. I'll see them plenty then. Don't worry about me, alright?"

"Right."

And they talked a bit about what she'd done throughout the week during the drive back home. It was nothing that she hadn't told him from their calls but Alec was delighted that Daisy seemed excited talking about it, so he let her speak while he drove. She especially babbled on Fred's antics which unfurled something in his chest. Alec had always wondered if Daisy felt lonely as the only child and he often felt sorry for her every time she came home from a day out with her friends.

Tess and himself often worked late hours and Daisy had grown up pretty much in the care of a babysitter or at the childminders. She'd go over to her friends' houses instead for sleepovers when invited but she never hosted one before, since Tess and himself were never home at proper hours.

But she had never complained, which left him wondering just how much of her feelings Daisy kept hidden away from them.

They had just placed Daisy's overnight bag in the front room when Alec's phone rang. He had to suppress the smile forming when he saw the caller ID being Ellie. He had been trying to start a conversation with her alone the whole evening but there was always someone in the way, be it Fred looking for his mother's attention or Beth sticking by her side the whole time to help her with the dishes. Then again, he was also disheartened that Ellie didn't approach him once the whole time. If he had known better, it would have seemed like she had been trying to avoid him the whole night.

There had been attempts on his part when he saw opportunities in between where no one was around and tried staying close to her. But each time she'd pull away and give him something else to do instead, sending him away. It was further discouraging that she went out of her way not to look him in the eyes either. But Alec gave her the space and put aside his discontent, understanding that Ellie was still trying to adjust herself around whatever it was they had going on.

"I'm sorry," Ellie apologised from the other end of the line, "I know you're tired but Fred wanted to talk to Daisy."

"You could have just called Daisy." Alec responded, realising too late he might have sounded rude.

"But I wanted to talk to you too, Uncle Alec." Fred's voice came over the phone, "I wanted to thank you for the chocolates. And the doughnuts."

Alec smiled, putting the phone on speaker so that Daisy could hear, "It's alright, wee Fred. You can say what you want, Daisy could hear you."

"Can I have a sleepover again one day, Uncle Alec? I like spending time with you."

Daisy looked over to her father, eyebrows raised with delight as she remembered his offer earlier on. She didn't have to say anything but her father understood. He gave her a nod, permitting her to say whatever she had to say next, "Do you want one, tonight?"

Instead of a reply, they could only hear murmurs over the phone, Fred's little voice pleading with his mother, his mother trying to reason with him.

"Is your father alright with that, love?" Ellie finally asked.

"Aye. It wouldn't be a problem. We were talking about it earlier on." Alec responded.

"Can we bring Tom and Lizzie and Chloe too, Uncle Alec?" Fred pleaded, followed by Ellie telling him off, saying Uncle Alec needed to rest. "Please?" Fred managed to plead into the phone, his voice distant.

Daisy waited for her father's approval. For once, he thought he saw a twinkle in his daughter's eyes. A twinkle that he hadn't seen in years. A twinkle that he realised she'd lost when she was still so young. It broke his heart realising that his daughter had had to grow up so fast at such a young age. The look in her eyes reminded him that she was still a child too and how many years of her as a little girl he had missed. His little girl. All grown up.

This was his second chance to allow her to be a child again and not have her worry about him. This move to Broadchurch, was his second chance at being a parent he couldn't be to her through the years. It's years way too late, but he'll take it.

Alec gave her a smile and nodded, whispering, "Go ahead, sweetheart."

It was almost half past 10 when Beth's car finally pulled up. Ellie and Beth alighted, followed by Tom and Chloe with their younger siblings in tow, the youngests evidently elated they were reunited again so soon. Alec and Daisy had set up futons, blankets, pillows and whatever it was that was needed for a sleepover in the front room. They didn't have much nor enough even, but the pair had taken out all they could spare. When the doorbell rang, Daisy went to greet them as her father stood in the kitchen preparing hot chocolate for everyone. There was a warmth that spread in his chest when he heard the small footsteps and giggles in the house.

Alec felt a dull ache in his heart somehow. For years, he had lived without the warmth of domesticity. Of course, one could still have domesticity despite living alone but for him, all he wanted back then was to pull through the day and have a place to rest his body, not that he could fall asleep anyway. Yet, he found a certain kind of solace listening to the laughters and chatters of their children in the background, knowing that they felt safe and that his daughter was enjoying herself being a part of them. Even when he was still married to Tess, he had never experienced this particular form of domestic delight - the house was often too quiet as Daisy retreated to her room to play by herself, considerate enough to understand that her parents were tired. It was a form of bliss he had missed out on as a parent.

He wondered, how did he manage to pull through all those years being on his own?

Beth and Ellie eventually joined him in the kitchen after setting down their children's things, helping him to bring out the hot chocolate he made. Beth had taken the liberty to bring snacks, knowing that Alec probably didn't have anything at home, especially when the sleepover had been impromptu. He had thanked her for that as they both sat at the dining table, sipping on their drinks as their children were spread on the floor with the different sets of activity books Fred insisted on bringing.

"Are you sure you can handle this, Hardy?" Beth asked from across the table, sceptical, "Not that I don't trust you, but you've had a long day at work and a long drive back."

Alec shook his head as he took a sip, "I'll be fine. Daisy needs this. I've never done anything like this for her."

"It's nice and all for you to do this, but isn't it a bit much for you to handle on your own?"

"If you don't mind, I can stay." Ellie offered. Alec turned to face her as she settled beside him, an eyebrow raised. He wasn't sure if she was staying for the children or for him. And it was as if she read his mind when she said, "I mean, you look kind of shit. I reckon you still do need your rest too. I don't mind staying to help look out for them."

Beth nodded, "I can stay too and camp out here with the kids and Ellie."

"I'm fine, really." Alec stifled a yawn, very apparently exhausted. But he was insistent, "You working mothers deserve a break anyway."

"They'll be a handful, Hardy." Beth warned.

"And I will have my hands full, then." Alec reassured her.

Beth leaned back in her chair with her arms folded, "I don't feel quite right leaving them with you. Have you taken a look at yourself?"

Ellie snorted, "Even if he had, he wouldn't have done anything about it."

"This is the least I could do for the both of you." Alec crossed his arms, "You are already helping me care for Daisy. That's a favour big enough. I can look after your children for a night so that the two of you can get some rest."

"Well, I'm actually quite alright." Ellie said, "Dad's been helping me care for the boys. But Beth, you've been handling things on your own."

Beth hung her head, "Ach, don't remind me. Ever since Lizzie could run, she hasn't stopped."

"Go home, Beth. Take a break." Alec encouraged her. "If it helps," he paused, glancing at Ellie, "I'll take up Miller's offer. But you, you need your rest."

Their conversation paused, as the three parents looked over to their children, all sprawled out on Alec's floor, some colouring, some attempting to colour. Alec felt sorry for them that he didn't have much to accommodate them, which hit him how bored out of her mind Daisy must have been being at home alone the nights he returned late. He regretted he'd overlooked so many trivial things as a parent that could have meant so much to his daughter.

"I'm sorry I couldn't offer much." Alec muttered, hanging his head, his hands fiddling with the mug of hot chocolate in hand.

The women turned to look at him. Beth's shoulders dropped, "What should you be sorry for? I'm pretty sure the children would never stop talking about this sleepover. You're all right, Hardy."

"I just…" He stammered, "I just couldn't thank you and Miller enough. I look at the both of you, raising your children while taking care of yourselves after everything that has happened. And here I am struggling. And I only have one teenage daughter who practically takes care of herself."

Beth sighed, tilting her head in disbelief. She was relieved that Alec was starting to open up to her as well but she had always known him to be the hardened detective he was. Hearing him admit that he was struggling was new territory for her. And she understood that he probably felt guilty for not setting things straight for both Ellie and herself, she just wished he would start forgiving himself and stop having to make it up to them. And to his daughter.

"Hardy," Beth brought his attention to her, "you'll be fine. You're already doing good simply being here for Daisy. I'm pretty sure Daisy knows that too. Look at them. We all struggle, Hardy. But we're here for each other now, aren't we? We can just help each other out, eh?"

Alec nodded. Beth gave him a small smile. Ellie gave his thigh an assuring squeeze secretly under the table.

His head was pounding by the time everyone finished their hot chocolates. Alec's body was running on auxiliary energy when he was washing up their mugs but the children didn't look like they're going to retire anytime soon. He'd been awake all day but he was trying his best to stay awake so that he could make sure he could attend to the kids should they need him till they all fall asleep. Did he really have to? Or could he leave them to be? How are sleepovers supposed to be hosted anyway?

Ellie on the other hand, had been held hostage by Fred and Lizzie who had insisted on her helping them with the colouring as Beth helped him clean up the empty crisps wrappers. He was drying the mugs when Beth made a quiet entrance into the kitchen and approached him. Alec stiffened, preparing himself as if she'd come to tell him off. He had his guards up, but he wasn't even sure what threat Beth could be to him in the first place.

She came up beside him at the sink, leaning herself against the counter as she crossed her arms, "Hardy, if you don't mind. I want a word with you here for a bit."

Alec froze, placing the mug down and turned to face Beth, bracing himself, feigning composure, "You all right?"

Beth pursed her lips, "Are you all right? You and Ellie."

He blinked blankly, "What?"

"You and Ellie," She repeated, "are you all right?"

"What do you mean?"

Beth tilted her head, frustrated, "She's been avoiding you the whole night. What have you done now?"

He knitted his eyebrows, "What could I have done?"

"I don't know. That's why I'm asking."

Alec placed a hand on his hip, "Honestly? I'm not sure either."

"Then what did you not do?"

"How would I know?"

"Gosh, you're infuriating." Beth huffed, "I wanted to ask her but I thought I'd come to you first. Are you sure you have no idea?"

Alec only shook his head on the matter, "What makes you think she has a problem with me?"

"I don't know. The two of you never seem to see eye to eye." He tilted his head in confusion, she shrugged, "She may have complained to me about work from time to time."

Well, Alec couldn't exactly blame Ellie for that. He hadn't been the nicest person to her either, pushing her to work despite being in the middle of her murderous ex's trial and accused of an affair. But then with the changes of late between Ellie and himself, he wondered if she had mentioned any of it to Beth. He pressed his lips together, having a conflict of his own, a burning question he had for Beth regarding the issue, his foot tapping away unrealisingly.

"What is it?" Beth asked in a soft voice.

"What?"

"Something's bothering you. You're nervous. What is it?" She persisted.

"I-" Alec gave up. He wanted to know how she read his mind but at this point he's beginning to realise that he probably couldn't read social cues as well as other people did. He hesitated, battling his own curiosity. Despite all that, it still got the better of him. Alec took a step nearer – still leaving a gap – and looked around before he mustered his courage, "Do I- do you- Oh for God's sake."

"What is it, Hardy?" Beth pressed, evidently impatient.

"Do you like me?" He took a sharp breath, "Like, are we friends?"

Beth laughed, "Are you kidding me? That's got your tongue?"

Alec sighed, his hands on hips, waiting for an answer.

"Well, fine, yeah." Beth mirrored him, "You're a good person. A bit shit, if you don't mind me. But, yeah. Are we not mates yet?"

"I don't know. I'm not exactly good at this."

"Yeah, Ellie's told me about it. Has she given you a good bollocking yet? For disappearing?"

Alec pressed his lips into a line, hurt at the reminder of him being an arse, "She did."

"Well, that's done then. I thought I might have to do it on her behalf."

"Right." He nodded, his shoulders tensed.

Beth squinted her eyes, "But that's not what you wanted to ask, was it?"

Alec exhaled loudly, running his fingers through his hair, "I don't know if I should ask this."

"Get on with it."

"Fine," he crossed his arms, "Miller and I - we, ach."

Beth's eyes widened. Alec sensed she might have caught on to what he wanted to say, "Shit. Are you shaggin'? Is this what it is?"

"No!" Alec denied quickly, hushed. "It's not- we're not- Oh, bloody hell."

"Then what is it?"

"I- We- I'm not sure what we are."

"But?"

"I don't know. I wanted to ask her."

"Then ask. What are you even doing with me, then?" Beth scolded, knitting her brows.

"I thought- You're her friend. I thought I'd talk to you. If anything changed between Miller and I, would you be fine with it?" Alec finally asked, his shoulders dropping.

"What? Are you leaving again?"

"No! No. I'm staying. I thought I made that clear. I mean, what if Miller and I, we-?"

"Oh."

"Beth, I promise. We never had an affair. On Daisy's life."

"You don't have to do that. But- you knob- do you think I don't know that?"

He shrugged, "Can't be sure."

"Wow." Beth huffed, "You and her? Didn't think it could actually happen, really."

"Beth, please." Alec tilted his head, pleading with his eyes.

"Hmm…" She locked his gaze, "You're a good person, Hardy. Just… Tell us if you're leaving. Saves us all a lot of pain."

Alec's face dropped.

"I never said this, Hardy. But thank you. For not giving up on Danny. For staying by Ellie's side when I turned my back on her." Beth gave his arm a pat, "I didn't know you left. For months, Ellie's eyes were empty. She smiled and laughed, but it was obvious something was missing. When I found out you'd gone, I realised she had been alone."

"I didn't think I needed to tell anyone."

"Yeah, quite right." Beth smiled, amused that Alec felt he needed to justify himself, "I just felt sorry for Ellie, is all. I had Mark, I had my girls at home. But Ellie, she was on her own trying to make things right with the town."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You had the right to do whatever you did. It wasn't your place to check up on her either. I don't know how deep the connection between the two of you ran. But if it was as far as you make it seem to be, I understood why it hurt her when you didn't call her for two years."

"Ach, don't remind me."

She laughed, "Just be nice to her, Hardy. And talk things out. Whatever it is, you're alright. I don't have anything against you."

It was raining and all five children had finally gone to sleep in the middle of a Shrek marathon. The pitter-patter of raindrops on the windows seemed to lull them all accompanied by 'Livin' La Vida Loca' playing in the background, the movie still playing. Tom had stretched himself out on the sofa, little Lizzie squeezed in between Daisy and Chloe on the blanket-futon covered floor whereas Fred laid asleep in Alec's laps as the latter sat leaning against the sofa as support, patting the child. Ellie came up to them, kneeling as she tried to pry her young son away and transfer him onto the floor, placing a pillow underneath his head.

"You should wash up. It's nearly 3. You've had a long day." Ellie whispered, adjusting Fred as he laid in between them.

Alec nodded, his eyes lingering a little longer on her as he observed her. He was still in the suit he wore that morning and he could feel the shirt beginning to be a part of his skin at this point. But the children are finally asleep and Beth has gone home(for obvious reasons) leaving only the two of them still awake in the house. He had waited all night to finally be able to be this close to her, to talk to her and he was not going to waste it.

"Miller?"

Ellie looked up at him as she sat cross-legged, stroking Fred's hair.

"Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be?" Ellie gave him a small smile. The lights had all been turned off, leaving only the lamp by the dining table illuminating the front room with a soft dim glow of orange which seemed to soften Ellie's features and for the first time that night, Alec was finally able to look at her without her turning away.

"You've been avoiding me all night."

"I just needed to sort myself out." She averted her eyes away from him and onto Fred instead, "I'm just a bit lost."

"About us?"

Ellie nodded.

"Aye, quite right too." Alec reassured her, "Should I- Do you want to talk about it?"

"Yeah." She said softly, her voice barely heard, "Don't mind me. You wash up, okay?"

"Aye, alright." He was disappointed that she was dismissing him away again. Still, he knew better than to push her. So, instead, he got up to excuse himself. As he walked past Ellie, he circled back and kneeled beside her, cupping her face with a hand. She didn't flinch, didn't respond. He sighed and as gently as he could, planted a kiss on her forehead, "Take my room tonight. I'll leave it to you after I'm done showering."

Alec needed that shower badly. After a long day of dealing with trainees, admin work, a long drive and a longer night of socialising, it gave him the break he needed as the warm water relaxed his tensed up neck and shoulder muscles. He had pulled all-nighters but he never thought it would actually be suffocating to engage with little children in his work suit. Changing into a pair of joggers and t-shirt never felt more liberating for him. He was standing in front of the mirror of his en suite bathroom, drying his hair with a towel when he heard a knock on the door of his bedroom. Walking over, he opened the door to Ellie with two cuppas in her hands.

"Thought you'd like one before you go to sleep." She said as she handed one out for him.

"Ta." Alec stepped aside as he took the cuppa, inviting her in, "I'll leave you."

"Stay."

He stumped at the interruption.

"Stay for a while. Please?"

"Aye."

Ellie stepped in, standing awkwardly in the room as she waited for his next move. The room was dark, only illuminated by the light streaming out of the bathroom as Alec wasn't bothered with turning on the main lights when he'd gone for a shower.

"Should I close the door?" Alec asked. Ellie nodded. He does. Both of them stood quietly for a while, each with a cuppa in hand before Alec gestured her over to the bed for there was nowhere else for them to sit anyway. Ellie settled on the edge of the bed as Alec pulled a chair from the study table over and positioned in front of her, both of them silent, not knowing if they should be saying something or if the other had something to say. Eventually, Alec broke the silence first, "Was it because I didn't regularly check in with you?"

Ellie stared at him, confused, "What do you mean?"

"I didn't call you or text you throughout the week. Is that why you felt lost?" He asked, both his hands holding on to his cuppa, harnessing its warmth as he sat leaned back into the chair.

"No." She shook her head, averting his eyes and looking at her feet instead, "Maybe? I don't know."

"Miller," He called her softly, "we don't have to be anything if you don't want it to be. I'll still be here."

"Right. I know."

And their conversation came to a halt again. Alec couldn't even be frustrated or angry at her. He knew he was at fault too somehow but it's 3 in the morning and he's exhausted, so was Ellie probably. If that hadn't been the case, he wouldn't mind waiting for her to organise her thoughts and waited for her all day. But he needed her to rest too, for she too had work in the morning and had spent the evening being a host for dinner and entertaining the two young ones till they fell asleep.

"Go to sleep, Miller. You're tired." Alec said, his elbows perched on his knees as he hunched over.

But Ellie brought her gaze back up and met his eyes, "Do you think we can do this?"

"Miller," He called her name in a soft voice. Not in the way he wanted her attention, not in the way that he needed something done. But more like an acknowledgement that he recognised her worries, "We don't have to do this. You don't have to push yourself about it."

"No," She cut him off, "don't say that. Please. I need you with me. I want you with me, whatever it is this is supposed to be. I need you to stay. I want you to stay. So, please don't say that."

"We're all right then?"

She nodded, "But I'm not sure if we're allowed this."

She didn't have to say anything else. Alec understood where her worries were coming from. He realised his choice of words may have sounded like he was uncertain about staying. But he also understood that she was worried about their relationship being permissible by the others.

"You have no idea what I had to go through on my own, Hardy."

Alec's heart skipped a beat.

She used his name.

For the first time in the longest while, he heard his name in her voice. It was suffocating how she could be the regular Ellie Miller who argued with him in the presence of others. But the moment it was just the two of them alone, it was as if she had no energy left to spare to keep her front up. And it drains the air out of him seeing how vulnerable she let herself be with him. He was glad that she trusted him enough to be able to show this side of her but there was only so much he could take, knowing that most of her pain was caused by himself.

Alec reached out and placed his cuppa on the nightstand, getting up to join her on the bed, his arms wrapping around her shoulders into a side hug, holding her as close as possible. He had been waiting all week and all evening to do that and upon feeling her body relax in his hold, a wave of emotions came over him.

Relief, pain, regret, guilt and sorrow flooded his chest, almost pushing all remaining air out of his lungs as he felt himself welling up.

"I'm sorry, Miller." Alec pressed a kiss to her hair, "I didn't. I really didn't."

"I really want this. I don't want to be alone anymore. But are we allowed this?" She whispered, her voice cracking, her grip on her cuppa tightening.

Alec recalled the conversation he had with David and Beth earlier on. He wanted to tell her about it but what if she felt like it wasn't his place to be talking about it in the first place? What if she thought he'd crossed a line?"

"We can try, Miller." He assured her, "But if you think it's too much, we don't have to. But I will still be here."

"How sure are you that you'll still be staying at the end of the day?"

He exhaled loudly. Peeling himself away, he held her by both her shoulders, turning her to face him. Removing the undrunken cuppa out of her grip, he deposited it to the nightstand alongside his, taking her hands, "Very."

"You can't promise that."

"And yet, I have." Alec wiped away a stray tear trailing down her cheek, "I know I should have discussed this with you first. But I promised your father too. And Beth."

She knitted her brows, confused.

"David asked me about us while we were setting up the table earlier on. Beth, when I was in the kitchen." He brushed away a stray curl and pushed it behind her ear, resting his hand on the nape of her neck, his thumb stroking her jawline to comfort, "I'd promised them, Miller. Now, I'm promising you. I know this is alot for you. But it's fine if we have to put all this aside."

"Why do they want to know?" Ellie frowned, her voice slightly raised, "It's my life. Why would they be busy nosing about it?"

"Ssshh, sshh." Alec hushed her, pulling her in again and held her head to his chest, keeping one hand around her, the other stroking her hair, "You'll wake the kids."

"It's my life." She sniffled into his chest.

"I know, Miller." He tightened his hold, "I know."

And he let her stay there a little longer, his t-shirt slowly soaking up her tears. But he wouldn't have it any other way. He'd rather tell her himself than let her find out on her own.

"What did they say?" Ellie asked quietly, slowly snaking her arms around his waist.

Alec exhaled in relief that she managed to calm herself down, "Told me to tell them if I'm leaving."

"Are you?" Ellie looked up at him, "Leaving?"

"No," He looked down at her, "I'm staying."

Alec realised that it bothered her more than she let on, his departure of two years. He had lost count of the amount of times she had asked him the same question over and over when his answer was the same each time. But he also understood that she was never able to show it because of the professional relationship they had and that it wasn't easy for her to talk about it with someone who didn't want to.

What they had wasn't conventional either and he wasn't sure if he could even pinpoint where their relationship took a turn. He recognised that he should have at least made repairs with her earlier on instead of walking into the station without giving her a heads up, as if he didn't owe it to her. Of course he owed it to her. She had saved him in more ways than anyone ever could. Alec just never thought they would end up here one day, in his room, on his bed, Ellie in his arms looking up at him, wondering if he'd stay. He was drinking her eyes in as the raindrops in the background filled in the silence, "You should rest, Miller."

Ellie nodded. Reluctantly, he peeled himself away from her and got up to leave.

"Can't you just stay here?" Ellie asked, grabbing the hem of his t-shirt. But it seemed more like a plea and it broke his heart.

"The kids." He tried reasoning.

"We'll talk to them in the morning." She countered. Her eyes were determined and he knew there was nothing he could do about it. Alec could only nod as he stood in front of her. Holding him by his wrists, Ellie pulled him down slowly as he crouched before her, levelling his eyes with hers, "Stay with me tonight."

"Aye." Was all he could say. The next thing he knew, he had his face in her hands, her pulling him in as their lips met.

It was a mixture of desperation and longing, Ellie pressed, pouring out all her pent-up emotions into the kiss. Alec, stunned by her sudden boldness, hesitated for a moment before surrendering to the intensity of her embrace. Their kiss deepened, fueled by years of unspoken words and suppressed desires. Without breaking apart, he rose with a hand cupping her face, the other pushing her by the shoulder, lowering her onto the bed. Ellie pushed him away first, breathless and shaken as she looked up at him, his eyes still closed as his lips quivered, their foreheads touching, "You should go to sleep."

"Aye." He responded, his eyes meeting hers. He pulled himself away from her, allowing her to adjust herself properly as she took one side of the bed. When his breath eventually regulated, Alec climbed onto the bed beside her, pulling the covers on top of them. Before he could even settle properly, Ellie closed the gap between them and laid on her side, resting her head on his shoulder, an arm over his waist.

He was surprised how desperate her hold on him was. Two years ago, she would flinch at the slightest of his touch but that night, she had been honest with her wants and needs, telling him exactly what she wanted. Alec responded by holding her close, tucking her head under his chin. Ellie rested a palm on his chest, right above his heart, "This is working well, yeah?"

Alec laughed, "It is."

She took a moment, tracing the bump of his pacemaker, "You're very skinny."

"I am." He replied.

Ellie pulled herself away and lifted her head, meeting his eyes, "You're comin back, right?"

Alec gave her a tired smile, remembering that he still has one more week of teaching to do, which meant another week being away from her and Daisy. It pained him a little, but he managed, "I'll be back, I promise."

"Okay." She acknowledged, laying her head back down on his shoulder.

Alec wrapped his arms around her a little tighter,"I'll see you in the morning."

"Okay."

Planting a kiss into her hair, he whispered, "Goodnight, Miller."