Disclaimer: I own nothing, apart from Imogen, Alfie, their mother and their Nana. BBC, Kudos and Monastic are the stupidly lucky people who own Ashes to Ashes.

Thank you very much to Jazzola for beta-ing this fic. Your support means a lot.

For those of you waiting for TTTH, the next update will come shortly. That is all!

Thud!

Imogen Elliot was rudely awakened by a noise from the kitchen. She sat up, stretched and slipped out of bed. She padded out into the hall, where she was greeted by hoards of police officers.

"What's going on, Mummy?" she asked sleepily.

"Get out, Imogen," her Mum snapped.

"Your Mum's been arrested, sweetheart," said a woman she didn't know. The woman was very pretty. She had brown hair arranged in soft curls and she was wearing tight jeans, a spotty top and a white leather jacket.

"Wha'd'ya do that for?" her Mum asked angrily. "She's four, you bloody stupid woman!"

As the people continued arguing, Imogen stood in a daze. Her Mummy was being arrested. What was going to happen to her and Alfie? Would they have to go and live with their Nana? Not that being with Nana would be any different than usual. Mummy was leaving them with her.

When she came back to Earth, she saw they were leading her Mum away. "Don't go, Mummy," she pleaded, tearfully. "What's going to happen to us?"

Her Mum didn't answer, didn't even look back. Despair washed over Imogen and she cried heavily. She was vaguely aware of being hoisted into the arms of the woman who had spoken to her. She was bundled into a car with Alfie and driven away. After 20 minutes, the car stopped. She was carried into the station and sat in a room with another woman. This woman was wearing a uniform and she had short, black hair.

"Hi, I'm Shaz," the woman said. "What's your name?"

"Imogen," she responded quietly, sniffing.

"That's really pretty," Shaz said. "Would you like anything to eat?"

"Yes please," Imogen said eagerly. She hadn't had any breakfast, so she was very hungry.

Shaz took her hand and led her to the canteen. She had a bacon buttie and a glass of orange juice. Alfie had a bowl of porridge.

"Shaz," Imogen said shyly when she had finished, "what's going to happen to us?"

"I don't know, Imogen," Shaz replied. "But Ma'am's gonna speak to you soon. She'll know."

"Hello, Imogen," the woman who had picked her up said. "I'm Alex. I want to help you."

"You arrested Mummy," Imogen sniffed. "What's going to happen to me and Alfie?"

Alex looked at the little girl. She was far more perceptive than her age would suggest. "You're going to be taken into care," Alex sighed. She hated having to do this. "Your Nana can't look after you all the time."

"Ok," Imogen whispered. Her bottom lip started to quiver and she burst into tears.

Alex pulled Imogen onto her lap and hugged her. Holding her close, Alex murmured "It'll be ok. I promise."

After a few minutes a man entered the room. He was wearing a grey suit and he looked angry. Alex looked up at him. "Yes, Gene?" she said.

"Social services are 'ere," was the gruff reply. "They ready?"

Alex set Imogen on her feet and picked up a snoozing Alfie. She took Imogen's hand and led her to the entrance of the station. A group of people were waiting there for them.

A woman bent down to Imogen. She had a pudgy face and wore very bright clothes. "Hello, sweetheart," she said in a high pitched voice. "We're going to take you away so we can look after you. Do you understand?"

Imogen felt Alex gently squeeze her hand. "Yes, I understand," she said.

As she was led away, she heard Alex say "look after her. She's special."

So they were driven away by the new group of people. After 10 minutes, Fenchurch Care Home loomed large ahead. Imogen shivered as she was taken inside.

She was shown to a room that she was told would be hers and Alfie's. Although some of their things were there, it didn't feel as though they belonged.

She picked her teddy from the top of one box and hugged him to her chest, sighing. She had felt safe with Shaz and Alex at the police station. Now she was all alone in a new and scary place.