"It looks like a worm, tastes like one too!"

"Oh for God's sake, Gene, it does not!"

Thai food. Alex knew Thai was probably a mistake as far as Gene Hunt was concerned. It was their six-month anniversary and Gene had asked Alex where she wanted to go and she'd come up with the new Thai place around the corner from her flat.

"It's only noodles, Gene," Molly said from the seat beside him, taking a sip of her coke. "It won't kill you."

He just grunted, pushing his plate away. "Think I'll just get the bill."

It might have been his and Alex's anniversary but he found himself not wanting to go out without Molly. She'd become an absolute permanent fixture in his life and he adored her.

Once he'd paid the bill he declared, "S'all right, I'll just get fish 'n' chips on the way home..." He let Molly have a chip but not Alex when she'd asked him. Sometimes she wondered if her boyfriend spoiling Molly at every tip and turn was really such a good idea. Molly had everything she wanted and more thanks to Gene. A brand new Walkman, a constant supply of new clothes, the latest Betamax player...

For tonight, Gene had bought Molly 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' for them all to watch after dinner. They'd already seen it three times in the cinema and Gene wasn't a fan of Indiana Jones but the girls liked it and that was all that mattered to him. Molly curled up next to Alex on the sofa and he took the chair.

The film ended and Gene looked at his watch. "It's getting late, I'd better get home." Since he and Alex got together properly and then were taking things slow he wasn't sleeping on the sofa anymore.

"I think you should stay!" Molly blurted. "I mean, I know you're shagging."

Alex gasped and turned bright red. "Molly Drake!"

"Well, you're adults, I'm cool with it."

"Nah." Gene scuffed with his shoe at something invisible on the carpet, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "Don't fancy sharing a bed with her, I bet she snores and steals the covers."

Molly giggled. "I'm sorry, Mum. I'll run you a bath, want the Ylang-ylang oil?"

"Great, thanks."

Molly kissed Alex on the cheek and skipped off to the bathroom. As soon as she was out of earshot, Alex blushed again. "I am *so* sorry." She walked over to Gene and took his hands in hers. "About that... I am grateful, you know. That you're willing to wait until I'm ready."

He shrugged, it really wasn't a big deal to him. "We're taking things slow, Bolly. I promised you I'd wait and I am and I will."

She nodded. "I'm getting there, okay?"

"Okay." He kissed her nose as Molly reappeared.

"You staying?" Molly asked Gene.

"Not tonight. Maybe another time."

Molly nodded and told her Mum, "There's towels in the bathroom. I left you the nice ones."

"Thanks." Alex leaned across and gave Gene a chaste kiss on the lips. "See you tomorrow? You coming for dinner?"

"Of course, Sunday roast!"

Alex vanished behind the bathroom door and Gene said to Molly, "Walk me to the Quattro?"

She nodded and as soon as they were outside asked, "Did you get it yet?"

Gene looked panicked and put his finger to his lips. "Sshhh! DI Bat Ears will hear you!"

Alex really did have exceptional hearing.

"Well... did you? Can I see it?"

Gene reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the velveteen box. He showed Molly the ring inside, the engagement ring she'd help him pick out for Alex last week. She jumped up and down on the spot in delight.

"You have to go in and ask her right now!"

"What, just burst in on her when she's in the tub? Not ruddy likely." He brushed an imaginary piece of lint from the paintwork of his car. "I want to do this right, Molls. Romantic, like. So you have to help me come up with something, okay?"

"Okay, deal." She nodded. "I'll think about it and we can discuss it tomorrow. You can take me for coffee."

"Coffee? Don't think so. Imagine how hyper you'd be if I let you drink coffee!"

"Mum let me have Starbucks all the time..."

"What the bloody hell's a 'Starbuck?' Neither of you make any sense half the time."

"Right. Sorry." Molly knew she had to be more careful so not to blow their cover.

Gene looked at his watch. "Way past your bedtime, sweetheart. Run along inside, I'll see you tomorrow." He pushed her gently towards the door. "Go on, I'll wait until you're inside. And don't give your Mum a hard time about staying up late, promise?"

"Promise." Molly pulled Gene into a hug. She might do it every night but it still surprised him. "Goodnight... Dad."

God. Did she just say what he thought she did? It was like the first time Alex told him she loved him, it took his breath away. It was something he could get used to, he was surprised it didn't frighten him or worry him in any way. He held on to her for just a second longer than normal. "Goodnight, Molly."

She smiled and ran up the stairs back to the flat. At the door she turned, waved and went back inside.

Gene smiled to himself as he saw Molly turn off her bedroom light. She'd kept her promise. She was a good kid... and she'd called him 'Dad.'