"Are you sure you'll be okay, Molls?"

"Yes, God, Mother, for the last time, I'll be fine. It's only one night, I'm not a baby. Besides, I'm staying with Uncle Ray so I'll be nice 'n' safe."

It was three weeks since the car bomb and Gene and Alex's relationship had gone from strength to strength. He'd been visiting every night without fail: staying for dinner, helping Molly with her homework and then snuggling with Alex on the couch until after eleven before reluctantly saying goodnight and heading home. He wasn't staying the night, he was old fashioned that way, even though that Molly hinted it would be 'really cool' if he moved in. But he suspected Alex wasn't quite ready for that yet and he didn't want to push his luck or ruin anything. She was special and he wanted to treat her like the princess she was, it was what she deserved, after all.

Then came the perfect opportunity: the Met end of summer ball was being held at a swanky hotel in Surrey. Last year Gene had been invited but didn't bother actually attending, he had no one to go with, black ties; ball gowns and chocolate fountains, whatever the hell they were, had all sounded a bit poofy to him. But this time he'd asked Molly's opinion over sickly-sweet banana milkshakes at McDonalds and she'd agreed that it sounded like a good idea and Alex would love to go. He'd been worried too about leaving Molly but she'd invited herself over to Ray's. To everyone's surprised he loved playing the role of Molly's great protector and often babysat if Gene and Alex went to the cinema or the theatre or out for dinner.

"There's something else I want to run by you too," he said nervously, taking an extra-long sip of his milkshake, which tasted disgusting to him, like penicillin. "Do you think it's too soon to tell her that I love her?"

Molly look genuinely touched that he was asking her this, even though it was obvious he did. "No way. She's nuts about you, Gene, she loves you back, trust me."

"Good."

So it was settled. He'd take Alex away for a fabulous night at the ball, tell her he loved her and then... they'd see. Not that he expected sex per se but it would be nice to make love to the woman he loved, show her how he felt about her at least.

Alex had, as Molly suspected she might be, been thrilled. Maybe a little concerned about leaving Molly but they'd talked it over and Molly assured her she'd be fine, they'd be gone for less than 24 hours and she'd excitedly helped Alex shop for a satiny, red ball gown.

As Ray and Molly waved them goodbye, Alex tried not to feel anxious. She'd never really left Molly before and she was very sure she would suffer from separation anxiety at leaving her daughter. Gene was the perfect gentleman, soothing away all her concerns all the way to Esher. He'd even booked connecting rooms at the hotel and offered to keep the linking door locked if that was what she wanted. So she'd kissed him and assured him she definitely didn't want that and the Gene-Genie began to feel a lot more confident.

"Alex?" he said, sitting on the bed and watching her apply a peachy-pearly blusher to her cheekbones.

She stilled and smiled. They might be in a relationship but he still hardly ever used her first name.

"Got something for you."

He came over to her and she pulled him down for a hug. Then he produced a little velvet box from his trouser pocket. Something flashed in her eyes and he couldn't tell if it was panic or sheer joy. "Someday, but it's too soon," he said, in part to reassure her. He opened the box to reveal a pair of ruby earrings that Molly had helped him pick out. They were quite simply, exquisite.

"Gene..." She didn't really know what to say, so she quickly fastened them in her ears and kissed him. Pete had never bought her presents; she wasn't used to being treated so well. "Thank you, they're beautiful."

"I just wanted you to know how happy I am with you, Bolly-Kecks. You, me and Molly... feels like we're a family."

She nodded, agreeing completely, too choked up to say much more. He was perfect and he was so wonderful with Molly and so patient and caring with her.

"Well, it's more than that," he explained, his chest hurting. Christ, he was nervous. "I brought you here to tell you that... well... I love you."

She kissed him again, smiling, her heart fluttering excitedly.

"You don't have to say it back, I don't expect..."

"I love you too," she cut him off. Why had she been afraid before? This was all so right, it always had been.

Then the kisses grew more heated and Gene knew he must stop it however much he wanted to continue. "Alex... wait..." He found himself lying on top of her, his hand very high up her thigh. "Darlin' I don't want it like this. We have to be at drinks in twenty minutes." It was probably more like ten now after their heavy make-out session.

She sighed, frustrated, but knew he was right. She didn't want their first time to be a quick fumble either and she loved him all the more for wanting to wait just a few more hours. "Tonight," she whispered in his ear, straightening her dress from underneath him.

"That a promise?"

"Oh, yeah."

And it was.

888888

Gene awoke first the next morning. It was barely dark and the sky was still inky-blue. The hotel wouldn't be serving breakfast for hours yet but he was starving, not that he was surprised after all the... exercise he'd had last night. Alex's face looked like ivory in the half-light. He noted with a smile that she still had the ruby earrings securely fastened in her ears. He hoped she never took them out. He also hoped this all hadn't been a dream. It had been... wonderful. She was perfect and she was his. She'd told him so last night. It wasn't just about the sex, though it had been easily the best he'd ever had, it had been... her. At the ball. She'd made it very clear to everyone she was there as his date. He saw a future and so clearly with this amazing woman. More than just a future, a family. Molly had just been the catalyst, he simply adored her.

Alex looked so peaceful and was just about stirring so he cuddled in close. Gene Hunt had never liked to cuddle before last night. She smiled and her face looked smooth as porcelain: fragile and precious and his. He could get use to this. Really used to this.

She stirred delicately in his arms, her eyes fluttering open. "What time is it?" she murmured sleepily. She always wanted to know what time it was, if she fell asleep on the sofa with him she always asked the exact same question on awakening.

"Just after five, love," he answered after he'd consulted the alarm clock.

Her eyes finally opened fully and she had the dopiest, loveliest grin on her face. "Hi."

"Hi."

"Last night was..."

"I know, Alex."

Suddenly self-conscious, she tried to smooth her hair and wipe her eyes where her mascara had inevitably smudged. She hadn't exactly had time to take it off last night; they'd been all over each other as soon as they stumbled through the hotel room door.

"Don't," he stopped her. "You're beautiful."

"Stop it." She blushed.

"I mean it." He dipped his head to kiss her. "I love you."

She kissed him back with a fervour, not needing to say it back, knowing he knew. It was a passion denied for so long she intended to make up for every second while they had the chance.

And then the phone rang. Right. In. The. Fucking. Middle. Alex ignored it, hardly acknowledging, hardly hearing it even. Who would be calling them at five a.m. anyway? She momentarily she forgot and brushed it off and concentrated on what she was doing with the man she loved and decided to ignore the rest of the world. Whatever it was could wait.

And it turned out Alex Drake loved to cuddle too. She hadn't with Pete; he'd made her feel claustrophobic. But with Gene, clichéd as it was, cuddling afterwards was the best part. She adored him.

"Gene?"

"Hmmm?" He kissed her hair. She liked how he didn't fall asleep straight away either, he actually wanted to talk and cared about her feelings.

"Molly wants me to ask you to move in with us. She's been bugging me about it for a fortnight."

"She does, does she?" He was trying to keep things light but he knew she'd be able to feel his heart pounding. He wanted to move in with them so much. "And what does her mother think about that?"

"Her mother would love that."

"Okay then, tell Molly I accept."

Alex grinned. "You make me really happy, Gene."

"So do you."

And they were halfway getting to round two of the morning when the phone rang again.

"Ignore it," Gene told her, his voice muffled by her ribcage.

"We have to answer this time," she said, 'work Alex' coming to her senses and kicking in. "What if it's a murder or something?"

"Let the bloody coroner deal with it, I'm busy." He licked his tongue in a circle over her skin as if trying to prove a point.

He tried to continue but she shoved him away, all be it apologetically.

"Hello?" she answered the phone on its eighth ring. "No... No it's fine. Is she okay? Yes, of course I will, I'll be right home." She gathered up the sheet around her, covering herself up. The mask was back again and it made Gene's blood run cold. Shit. "Bye, Ray."

He waited for her to speak, reality setting in. She dragged the duvet with her and set about finding her clothes. Her voice, when she eventually spoke, was like ice. "I have to go."

"Alex..."

"Molly knows about 2008. She remembers everything and... I'm not there."

"Alex..."

"Instead I'm here, shagging you and making ridiculous pillow talk. I mean it is ridiculous, right? Gene Hunt, family man. I've let her down and she needs me."

"This ain't wrong, Alex. This ain't wrong."

She looked disgusted with herself as she slid into a pair of her trademark skinny jeans, suddenly regretting what they'd done. She didn't belong here. She belonged at home with Molly, just the two of them, she was her family, not Gene.

"Alex..." He tried again to reason with her, the guilt was undeniable and gnawing at his insides. She had a point; they should have stopped, listened for the phone in case Molly needed them. Nothing was more important than Molly, after all. To either of them.

"I have to go."

And before he'd had time to react, she'd swiped the keys to the Quattro from the bedside table and bolted from the room...

888888

Gene didn't even have the heart to be cross; he was just concerned that Alex had run away in such a state. Her sense of direction was hopeless at best, she couldn't read a map to save her life, she'd probably end up in Lancaster rather than back in Fenchurch with Molly. Bloody hell, he must love her, he didn't even care she'd stolen the Quattro! He just wanted her, his heart ached with it; he just wanted her and Molly to be happy and safe. He loved them, yes, they'd made a mistake but he needed to sort this out and get his family back together. Sighing, he picked up her ball gown from the floor where it had been discarded last night, well, where he'd ripped it off her. He didn't regret making love to her, not for a single second. He had a plan, he'd take the train home and he'd fix this, he had to...

It was late afternoon by the time Gene finally made it back to Alex's flat. He was relieved to see the Quattro parked outside, not because it meant his car had made it back in one piece, because it meant Alex had arrived home safe.

Nervous and unsure of what her reaction would be, he climbed the steps and knocked on the door. When Alex answered she looked dreadful: ashen and delicate and like she'd been crying. He didn't know what to say. "Brought your things back," he said lamely, handing her the holdall he was carrying. He'd folded everything up as neatly as he could inside.

"Here." She produced the Quattro keys from the back pocket of her jeans and handed them to him.

"How's Molly?"

"Devastated. I've finally managed to get her to sleep."

"Good, at least that's something..."

They were silent for a moment and then, rather unfortunately, both spoke at once,

"Marry me."

"This isn't going to work, Gene."

Alex felt awful then, like someone had twisted her guts up. "Can you go?" she said, feeling hot and flushed and repulsed at herself. She tore the earrings he'd given her last night from her ears and folded them into his hand. "Just go."

Once she slammed the door she was distraught, thinking of Gene walking away without another word, the alpha male lion banished from his pride. Deep, pained sobs wracked her body as she sunk to the floor. She'd let everyone down, first Molly when she'd needed her and now Gene. He'd proposed. Proposed. She knew how hard that must have been for him. She adored him but she was terrified, it had all been too much.

Heartbroken, she squeezed herself into Molly's single bed beside her daughter who was also heartbroken. All she could thing about, as she cried herself to sleep was the third likely broken heart, likely downstairs and likely drinking himself into oblivion there.