This was how I WANTED Season 3 to start! Hopefully a bit more cheery than my opening attempts at fic.

S3 AU… and no icepicks (well not yet anyway!)

DI Richard Poole eyed the embossed invitation almost suspiciously. A lavish ball to commemorate Police Commissioner Selwyn Patterson's many years of service would be a huge event for Saint Marie. But why oh why did he have to go?

He had started to tire of the excited chatter between his team over the past week, although he had to admit his curiosity had been piqued by what his Detective Sergeant, Camille Bordey, might be wearing.

She had been unusually coy about her outfit, and now here she was – leaning against his desk, the smell of her perfume distracting him from the legal papers he was reading.

"So, the boys have rented tuxedos, and I assume you must have one?"

She was teasing but genuinely curious. She knew he had studied at the prestigious Cambridge University, but had seen very little evidence of his time there. She mocked him constantly about his addiction to his hopelessly impractical suits for this climate, but imagined he would look very dashing in a proper dinner suit.

He… just hurrumphed back at her.

"Of course I have one, and yes, I will be wearing it… and NO I do not have a frilly dress shirt Dwayne," cutting his officer dead before he could chip in with a mischievous comment.

At that moment, a shadow was cast across the office as the imposing bulk of Commissioner Patterson loomed in the doorway.

"Pity, inspector – I think frilly would work very well," he smirked, enjoying his senior officer's obvious apprehension at his arrival. "Relax team, I just wanted to stop by and invite you all to pre-event cocktails, at my expense, as a thank you for all your hard work this year. I have arranged for a car to collect Fidel, Juliet and Dwayne – now where should I direct my second car? "

Richard was floored for a moment – allowing Camille to jump in before he could engage his brain. "Richard can walk to ours and we can all leave from Maman's house?" She turned, raising a questioning eyebrow at him, and he felt cornered.

"Well Maman and I can't very well walk to your place in heels across the sand can we?" Richard just mutely nodded, wondering how quickly he could escape for a pot of tea.

He knew that in his day he had cut a dash in his dinner suit at Cambridge, but it had been a while since he had given it an airing. Middle-age had not been that unkind to him, thankfully, and as he surveyed the finished article, he felt… well… actually excited about the evening!

It reminded him of the admiring looks handsome young undergrads had received while nonchalantly strolling the place on their way to college functions. Admittedly he was a long way past those years now, but set off for Catherine's house feeling suitably resplendent.

He knocked at her door, before stepping back and half turning away to gaze up the road. The gasp made him turn around, to view Catherine taking in his appearance, if he was not mistaken, quite approvingly.

"Why, Richard, you look quite handsome," she said, smiling. He debated whether to make a cutting quip about it obviously making a change, when he saw Camille walking down the stairs. His mouth dropped open, a reaction not missed by her mother.

"I know I've said this before, but you look… stunning!" Camille smiled at him, knowing that the sleek black number, cut low enough, and slit high enough to show off her figure without being obvious had made its mark.

The arrival of the limousine shook him out of his dumbfounded state. "Ladies – if you please?" He held the door open for Catherine and Camille before climbing into the back – as roomy as it was, the closeness between him and Camille was just intoxicating.

As they arrived, they saw Dwayne, who looked surprisingly dapper, along with Fidel and Juliet. Catherine caught Dwayne's eye – who promptly offered his arm, and risked a cheeky look behind him.

As Fidel and Juliet followed the pair behind, Richard shyly extended his arm towards Camille – she smiled and rested her hand on his arm, as they walked in to meet the Commissioner and his wife.

"Welcome," boomed the Commissioner, as he introduced his team, concluding with Richard and Camille.

"Well, of course it's very nice of you to invite us and host this," Richard began, but was cut short by the offer of a flute of champagne. Well he thought, when in Rome…

The night had progressed well, the team on a table together, chatting and for the first time Richard felt at ease. Well of course it helped that he had walked in with a gorgeous woman on his arm, and the admiring glances of other men in the room had not escaped his eye.

But for some reason, Camille hadn't seemed to notice all these other guys… and it was slowly dawning on him that she was giving him her full attention tonight.

Sure there had been a bit of teasing, perhaps a quick glare when he was tempted to launch into a bit of a history lesson, or disparage the French, but on the whole he was having… fun tonight!

"So, Inspector – enjoying yourself this evening." Richard looked up to see the Commissioner standing at his side - damn that man and his habit of appearing like a ninja! "Yes, yes, and again congratulations on your long service"

"Sergeant Bordey – Would you be so kind as to let me borrow Inspector Poole for just one short moment?" She caught Richard's eye – he looked mildly panicked (his usual look whenever the Commissioner was close by).

She briefly gripped his hand under the table, hoping it was unnoticed and that it would reassure him. She watched as he followed the Commissioner outside, and then found herself approached by the local hospital doctor.

He was well known to the team, and actually highly regarded by Richard, but deep down she knew if he returned to find her chatting to him… well…

Out on the balcony, Richard regarded his boss warily, aware that he had drunk far too much alcohol to be totally on his guard… but hey, what the hell! "There is something I need to ask you before I go on – and although I think I once knew the answer, I need you to confirm for me one thing."

Richard could only nod, as he figured his voice emitting a mouse-like squeak probably would not convey gravitas at this time. "If you could stay here, but had free reign to construct and run a forensics lab for the region, would you consider the job?"

Richard opened his mouth, but thankfully no squeak came out. In fact no sound came out at all. So he slowly shut it again. "The Met have agreed to help us fund a facility but it will be manned by someone they can trust, and see it as part of growing an officer-exchange programme.

"They have been very impressed with the way in which your team has gotten around the logistical issues around always sending materials to Guadeloupe, and we think that combined with funding, and facilities at the university, we could do a better job here."

"However, they want to send a young DI who has been following your work here closely out to work with us." Richard suddenly felt a chill – oh my god, they were sending him home, sending a younger man out here.

He looked away, back into the room, only to see Camille talking with the local hospital doctor. Ordinarily, he would talk this guy up to the heavens, but just now he was coming up with all kinds of imaginative ways to push him off the balcon…

"Inspector? What would it take for you to stay?"

Richard had never been any good with his career negotiations – but then again he had never had to be.

He had achieved good results, admittedly by being quite set in his ways, but here he had grown to respect the team, and had enjoyed the accolades passed down every now and again by the commissioner.

He looked at the Commissioner then gazed back into the room.

Dwayne was twirling Catherine extravagantly around the dance floor, Fidel was also proudly dancing with his wife, the two of them enjoying some time together.

His gaze fell on her – chatting away to the doctor, but suddenly, as if she could feel him looking at her, she looked up. The doctor was still chattering away, but she just gave him a reassuring smile, before turning her head back.

He'd never fought for anything – he'd never had to. He took a deep breath – and answered him.

Camille was enjoying chatting with Doctor Simpson – the guy was a friend to the station after all, but she was getting concerned about Richard. He'd caught her eye just now, and there was something in his face – she'd hoped she'd flashed him a reassuring smile – reassuring about what, well she wasn't sure.

She excused herself, and headed towards the balcony, surprised to see the Commissioner patting Richard on the shoulder as he stepped back in.

"Commissioner – talking work tonight?"

"Well, my dear – it had to be done, I'm afraid"

Now she really was concerned – Richard was now on his feet, staring out towards the sea in the distance. "My speech is in ten minutes – try not to throw each other over the balcony" the Commissioner said, grinning.

She stepped out, shivering slightly in the cool night air, and perhaps in anticipation of… what? Richard gave no indication he had heard her join him, so she gently placed her arm on his.

He started slightly – but gave her that shy smile that always made her heart skip. Richard noticed her shivering – "here, take my jacket." They stood together for a few moments, neither really knowing what to say.

"So," he started – looking down, across, anywhere but at her. "The Met want to send a DI who is a forensics expert to set up a new lab out here – it will be the focal point for the entire region, massive funding, continued exchanges – all good PR stuff…" his voice trailed off.

"Go on," she said, her voice low, desperately trying to keep it from cracking.

"They have offered me a chance to train specifically in forensic sciences back in the UK, and … there is an offer of a promotion to DCI on the table."

There it was. She looked at him incredulously – he was leaving her?