Disclaimer: I don't own anything you may recognise. This applies to all chapters of this fic.

Alex

It was early evening. The sun was gradually dipping below the horizon creating a startlingly pink and orange blush of colour. The low trill of the birds' evening chorus lulled gently across the village and surrounding hills and a faint breeze gently swept through the grass refreshing the air calmly. Alex was sat against the dry stonewall at the top of the field next to his house. Below him, he could see the whole of the village, including the green and the local pub, seemingly alive with customers and friendly banter judging by the lights on in the windows.

It was one of his favourite places in the world. Alex couldn't count the number of times he had retreated up to the silence of this vantage point. Either as an opportunity to get out of the house, away from his parents, or just to get a chance to properly reflect. It was the latter that had brought Alex up this time. That, and a need to refresh his head and feel the wind on his face after a day cooped up working in the supermarket in the nearby town. A small part-time and short-term job had turned into somewhat of a nightmare for Alex as he had never really managed to grasp the ideal gist of what was involved in supermarket work and the only thing keeping him in it was the money he was sure he would soon need for Alpha Forces' next pursuit. It was his birthday soon, and Alex had wanted to do something special, but the majority of Alpha Force were busy as it was during term time, although Alex had arranged for Hex to come and come camping with him for a weekend, as the Londoner hadn't got far to travel. Compared to the rest of Alpha Force anyway. Li was currently in China, whilst her parents visited a zoo there to look at some pandas. She, Amber and Paulo had all despaired at not being able to visit Alex for his birthday, especially because it was a special one, but all had promised with much zest that as soon as they all had some time off they would get together to celebrate.

Alex felt a disturbance beside him, but only looked up when their shadow caused him to shiver, despite the three layers he was wearing in the cold January air.

It was his father, and surprisingly Alex noticed, his mother several yards behind. Alex frowned. Both his parents loved the outdoors, but rarely ventured out in the evenings due to work, and, even stranger, was the fact they had seemed to come to find him. He frowned at them both as they settled down in the grass next to him.

"What's wrong?" he asked glancing from his father to his mother attempting to work out the reason for this strange behaviour. His father was staring intently at Alex as if trying to see something he had not before, and his mother was avoiding his gaze, her eyebrows knitted in worry. "What's wrong?" Alex repeated himself. Something had definitely happened. He was beginning to get a little worried…

Alex's dad sighed to himself as he tried to find the right words to begin.

"Alex we just received a phone call, from a lady in London." Alex frowned. As far as he knew his parents didn't know any ladies in London. Sure his dad had a few workmates living there, and some of those were women but he couldn't work out why he'd need to know about it. His father continued "A lady who says you know her son". Alex frowned again. For several moments he couldn't for the life of him work out the relevance before it slowly hit him.

"Hex" he murmured, still deep into his thoughts as to the reason for this phone call.

"Yes Hex" his mum said gently "And Amber, and Li and Paulo?" Alex frowned up at his parents.

"But you know about them." He said, even more puzzled "You know them, you've met them before, they're my best friends".

"Alex" his mother began. But her voice strained. Alex's dad placed his arm on hers and looked across at his son.

"Alex, we knew about your friends, but we didn't know the full extent of what you did with them. What Hex's mum told us" he paused as if searching for the right words "She found out what it is you really do. About Alpha Force".

Alex felt himself turn cold, despite his three layers. This was the one thing that all of them had sworn against, never to tell their parents, and now this had happened… He looked up at his parents.

"How did Hex's mum find out?". Alex's mum starred up to the sky and Alex thought he saw a flash of irritation spread across her face, but it had faded as soon as he noticed. Alex's dad answered.

"She found a few documents on his computer. Details of these missions. Alex, we don't want you to get into any trouble."

Despite this confrontation by his parents, Alex felt a thud of happiness and loyalty, realising what he suspected all along was true, that Hex hadn't told his mum through choice. He felt his mother staring at him and turned to face her.

"Mum, that's what we do. What we do as Alpha Force". His mum pushed her hair back and sighed. Alex's dad had become suddenly quiet.

"But Alex" she said, "I heard some of the details of these things that you do, and they're so dangerous" Alex began to speak but his mum continued, "I remember when your father and I got news of what had happened on the Phoenix. We were so scared. I was so scared. Alex it killed me thinking of what might have happened to you. I was so relieved when they found you, and then you kept going off with your friends. You came home with your arm in a sling twice Alex! Accidents I'm sure were connected to these missions." She stopped and looked up at the horizon for several seconds before continuing, this time in a much softer voice. "You know Alex, what you're doing with your friends is brilliant, I really think it is but it scares me so much. I can't imagine anything happening to you. It would be a nightmare." Her voice broke off and she looked across at her son.

Alex didn't know what to say. He felt he should apologise, but somehow it didn't seem right. Instead he stood up, stepped round his still silent dad and sat back down again next to his mum, wrapping his arms around her.

"I love what I do with Alpha Force mum. It's given me so much. Something to fight for, four brilliant friends and the best education I could get." He looked up into her face. "I know that sometimes it's dangerous, but we accept that and it's something I could never give up because it's a part of me now".

His mum was faintly smiling as she looked back at Alex. "I know" she said softly "That's why we're completely prepared to let you carry this on Alex. Because we've seen how it's changed you, and it's brilliant to see." She rubbed his back cheerily "Just be careful ok? Please?" Alex nodded, meaning it completely. "Good" smiled his mum "I'm going to go and get tea sorted. Before I freeze" Alex smiled as his mum got up and headed back down to the house.

Alex stayed where he was for several seconds before he realised his dad was still behind him. As he turned his dad was already standing up and walking straight past him, down the hill after his mum. Alex frowned.

"Dad?" His dad halted and turned. Alex couldn't read the expression on his face. There was a short silence wrapped in steeliness before a small smile crept up on his dad's face.

"We're proud of Alex. Really proud. Remember that". Alex sat taking what his dad had just said in before nodding, a smile slipping onto his face. His dad offered a short, half smile in return before turning back down the hill back towards the house.

Alex looked back out across the village. It was much quieter now as dusk settled in. There was an air of difference settled in the air now, a fresh feel of change. Alex took one last look at the pink sliver of sun before getting up to follow his parents. As he walked slowly down the hill, he stared up at the sky, and smiled.

A/N: This fic was written for be-nice-to-nerd's 'Discovery' challenge. Thank you to my beta, spinkle22 - Elle xx