AUTHORS NOTE: So it appears we've all been kind of suckish at updating recently and that's literally heartbreaking! It kills me not having writer's block but here I am with a new STUART/EWAN masterpiece that will hopefully entice me back into my writing :)

DISCLAIMER: I only own the OC's.

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[Arguments and Regrets]

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Stuart and Ewan had been a couple now for nearly two years and they'd been engaged for a good three quarters of that time but there was no real rush for them to get married and it appeared that the longer they left it, the more restrained their relationship became. It seemed that all they did recently was argue and that Stuart was always grateful for a dead body to wind up so that he had an excuse to run out and not return home for hours or either days depending on how severe the case was. That's what was happening now, they were arguing once again.

"It's not my fault I was working this weekend, Ewan!" Stuart snapped angrily. He was fed up of Ewan hanging it over his head that he never did anything with Ewan's family and especially seeing as Ewan understood that Stuart's hours weren't really family friendly. He should have known that long before they ended up here.

"It's just a damned coincidence that you're working every time I arrange for us to go to my aunts!" The man pointed out calmly and Stuart ground his teeth, things would work much more beautifully if Ewan would just shout back at him. How come their arguing always consisted of Stuart's shouts and Ewan's calm comments which just infuriated Stuart more?

"That's exactly my point. You arrange for us to go to your aunts without even bothering to ask me or check my timetable. I can't just stop working for you."

"I just wish we could manage to make time for family," the man stated and Stuart's jaw dropped as he turned to look at the man, his hand running over his tired face as he bit back a tide of curse words that he felt towards the man at that precise moment.

"You're self-employed! You're a rich nightclub owner that hires staff! Hell, you never have to go into work if you didn't want to." He pointed out and the anger was apparent in his voice as was the need for this conversation to end soon because they were obviously going to end up saying something they regretted or it would be something he said because Ewan was always careful with his words. "You know for a fact that if I could I'd spend time with your family!" He shouted angrily and knew that Ewan was giving in when he sighed.

"I'm sorry, babe," he said moving towards Stuart, his hand moving up to caress his cheek before allowing their foreheads to meet as he bit his lip. "I didn't mean for that to sound as bad as it did. I know you can't help the hours that you work, it just frustrates me that we can't have anytime to ourselves anymore and when we do we have Ronan to take care of."

Stuart reached up and curled his fingers through the fingers that were stroking his cheek, his head tilting to the side so that his lips could press a tender kiss to the palm that awaited there. He agreed that they needed time to themselves but it was hard. "Do you think we rushed into this?" He whispered knowing that Ewan would move away and yet his heart still sunk when Ewan did pull himself free, his eyes wide as he stared at Stuart.

"What are you trying to say, Stuart?"

"Ewan, we went from a one night stand to an engaged couple and then straight after that we were fathers to a beautiful daughter. Do you never lie awake at night thinking that things could be differently?"

"Do you want things to be different?" Ewan asked him and Stuart looked at him, unsure of what his answer was to that simple question. He did wish that they'd had time to be just them but he would never regret the times they had shared with as a family Ronan.

"I sometimes feel that it's really only Ronan that keeps us together. We used to be so spontaneous and romantic before but now everything is based on a routine of when I can take care of her because of my hours or whatever after school class she's at." He watched Ewan's face fall and he moved over, his hands cupping the man's face in his hands before leaning down and stealing a small kiss. "You're hearing me wrong. I wouldn't change anything. I love her and more importantly I love you. I know that you're a pair and you're a pair that I'd never want to lose."

Ewan smiled lightly, his lips pressing against Stuart's one last time before pulling away. "You'd best get going to work before Burke comes and bangs the door down again." Stuart chuckled at the memory before leaning in and stealing one last kiss.

"I love you."

"I know you do." Ewan said and Stuart wanted to say how that wasn't his normal response but Ewan had already left so he just sighed and walked through the front door.

***

"You and the husband had another fight?" Robbie asked as Stuart moved into the bullpen, his back turning almost immediately to hang up his coat and to also count to ten so that his tears wouldn't fall again at the word "husband".

"He's not my husband, Robbie and even if we had fought then it would be none of your business." Stuart pointed out moving over to his desk and switching on the computer. Robbie looked over at him, his heart sinking at the bright and puffy red eyes his friend was supporting and just sighed.

"What happened? It helps to talk you know." Stuart looked over at Robbie and just shrugged his shoulders.

"I might have just told him that I wish that sometimes things were different," he realised now as he told Robbie everything that he had been pretty stupid and did deserve the response that Ewan had given him as he left.

"What things do you wish were different?" Jackie's voice caused both guys to look up and once again Stuart shrugged but eventually sighed because he knew that the two of them would eventually get out of him what they wanted to know so he looked over at them, his tears threatening to overspill.

"I said that things had probably gone too fast between us. We were engaged almost immediately and then we went up being the parents to an eight year old? That's not what I had planned for my life, guys."

"Yet you admit that she's the most amazing thing to ever happen to you?" Robbie challenged causing Stuart to look at him in shock.

"Of course she is! She's everything you could wish for in a child. She's not disruptive, she's caring and she just loves to hang out with me and Ewan. How many children her age would you think understand the fact that she has two dad's rather than one? She's perfect." He heard himself saying these words and groaned. How come Robbie and Jackie always made him analyse his thoughts and he knew that he was in the wrong? "I need to apologise to Ewan," he went to reach for his phone but Robbie and Jackie both reached for the phone.

"It's not something for over the phone. He'd probably hang up on you because I know I would." Jackie said before moving to her desk as her own phone had rang. Stuart sighed.

"Fine, I'll just talk to him tonight." He muttered before turning his attention to his computer screen.

***

It had been a long day for Stuart. All day he had been itching to reach over and phone Ewan, beg for him to forgive and just pray that he'd hear him whisper those three magic words but he had resisted because he knew that Jackie was right. Ewan would hang up on him and even if he didn't, he should. Stuart had been an absolute dick, again, and he'd put himself first. When Burke came out and said they could go home for the night, Stuart literally said bye to everyone and ran to get his coat.

"Slow down! He's not going anywhere." Robbie called after him turning to smile at Jackie. "So do you want me to come over tonight?"

"I think you might like that. Your little princess is coming to mine for tea." She said with a secret smile and Robbie looked at her, his eyebrows raised as he took hold of his coat and threw her hers.

"Okay. I'll be over for seven." He said giving her a wink before leaving. She just rolled her eyes and smiled.

***

Just before Robbie managed to make it down to the police station's garage, Stuart was walking through minding his own business. He dug through his blazer pockets for his phone. Due to his distraction, he didn't hear anyone sneak up on him. A hand covered his mouth and he bit back against the shock, his body starting to struggle but suddenly something hit him on the side of his head causing him to black out. He was dragged across the car park, his lifeless body thrown into the back of his car.

The car pulled out of the garage just as Robbie stepped out of the elevator.

TO BE CONTINUED...