Chapter Text
Originally beta-read by bittie752, kelkat9, and kilodalton. Many changes have been made since I originally posted. I am, however, forever grateful to these ladies for their help with plotting, grammar, and well, everything!
Prologue
The winding ribbon of black road had captured Alec's attention. But when Rose rested her hand on top of his and gave a single squeeze, his death grip on the gear shift knob relaxed. He turned his hand over, tangling their fingers. She rested her head against her headrest and closed her eyes.
Alec briefly looked at her -- just a moment -- and then he returned his eyes to the road. He wondered how he could have wasted two precious weeks away from her. They could have been working through their pain and disappointment. Together.
In the few hours he had spent within the Tyler household, he had learned quite a bit about the family that occupied the mansion. The members of this family loved each other; they cared, were protective, and generous.
Jackie, for her humble roots, had not let wealth ruin her. She may now wear expensive clothing and a diamond the size of Gibraltar on her ring finger, but there was something grounded about her.
She was loud, earthy, and authentic — well, except for her bottle blonde hair that she probably bleached herself.
Alec cracked a brief smile, still reeling from the fact that the woman had slapped him. Without a doubt, Jackie Tyler was completely devoted to her husband, small son, and to her grown daughter.
Pete had told Alec that every morning, Jackie got up when he did — no matter how early — to make him his favorite tea. (Jackie made complicated tea, too.) And then she would made a second pot to fill his favorite battered old thermos.
Pete Tyler had once been a man of power and influence. But he'd invested the bulk of his fortune -- not to gain wealth -- but to keep people safe.
He was kind and playful with his son, generous to his stepdaughter, loving and affectionate, and he respected his wife. Clearly, he was still well-off. But while money did buy his family an extremely pleasant lifestyle, Alec knew that money could never buy the true affection that his family had for him.
And Rose. She had been so easy and natural with her little brother. And that story about the bird people. He lowered his eyebrows slightly. Did she just come up with that tale on her own? There was nothing even vaguely familiar about it. She must have a brilliant, creative mind. His thoughts skipped ahead, and he wondered what sort of a mother she would be. Gentle, kind, devoted? Of course.
Alec shook himself mentally. They were still fixing this thing that was happening between them! But even still, he couldn’t help but think what would it would be like to see her waistline swelling, to hear the wailing cries of an infant, and then a child's laughter within the walls of his stone cottage. He decided to think about renovation plans. And then Alec heard the beep beep beep of Rose dialling her mobile.
"Ellie. Hi. Um, this is Rose."
"Why the hell haven't you called me? I've been worried sick about you!"
Alec could plainly hear Ellie’s voice through the mobile speaker.
"Well..." Rose began.
"Never mind why. Are you doing all right?"
"I'm good actually. Really good. I'm on my way back home. Home to Broadchurch, I mean. I'm really sorry I never rang you up after I left."
"Yeah, well, you’re gonna explain that later. And believe me, there will be yelling. Did Alec show up at your place? And he’d better’ve been on his bloody knees.”
Rose looked over at him. He smirked.
"Yeah, he did," Rose replied. “No kneeling, though.”
Alec thought he heard a smile brightening her voice, confirmed when he saw the upward curve of her lips.
"We're driving back together, in fact," she said more quietly. "My dad is gonna ship my car to me tomorrow."
”Shipping it? You spoilt little rich girl!" Ellie teased.
“Yeah, s’pose I am.” Rose laughed. “Pete’s sorta generous that way. Said he didn't want me and Alec to have to go home in two cars."
”Movers took all your things.”
Alec saw Rose look down at her lap.
Stay here if you want. I’ve got a pull-out downstairs.”
A lump formed in Alec's throat. That was a subject that they had not broached: Rose's sleeping arrangements for the night.
"I... Uh... My things are still at Alec's place. From, you know, before. 'Cos of Rowe."
"Give your mobile to Alec. I wanna talk to him."
Alec saw Rose pinch her lips as she handed him the mobile.
"Now listen to me, Hardy, and listen good. If she stays with you, and I'm positive that's exactly what she's gonna do, do yourselves both a favour, and just sleep. Got it?"
"I refuse to talk about this with you, Baker." He handed the mobile back to Rose.
Rose snorted a laugh. "See you tomorrow at Zoka? I'm opening up the shop as soon as I can get milk delivered in from Tesco's."
”You’re opening tomorrow? Bit soon, don’t you think?” asked Ellie.
“We’ll see. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.”
”Yeah. Well whatever you do, swear you’ll never close your shop again, because I think I have the start of an ulcer from that battery acid at the station."
Rose ended the call after chatting for a few more minutes, and then slid her mobile into her handbag.
Alec broke the silence after a long pause. “So. Are you staying with me? Until your things come of course.”
"Yeah" Rose halted. "If that's, you know, all right. Or I could check into the inn," she said, “until my things arrive. Have to order a new mattress. Rowe hacked mine to bits. Sofa and chairs too…” Her voice trailed off.
“That’s a shame. That was a good mattress,” he flirted.
She smirked, but squeezed his hand anyway, which she had never released, even through the telephone call.