Chapter Twelve

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You can always come home

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'Off you go then.' Alex said.

'The shape of things to come.' Gene muttered, 'Bossy Bloody Bolly.'

'You have absolutely no idea how bossy.' Alex whispered, 'There's still time to make a run for it, maybe back to the Isle of Wight?'

Gene picked up his wedding suit, holding it by the hanger, and then glanced at the buttonhole on the table, 'I really have to wear that?' he frowned at the pinched looking white rose surrounded by a collar of dark green petals.

Alex nodded, 'It was kind of Shaz to arrange the flowers, not a lot available this time of year, show your appreciation for once.'

Gene wasn't convinced, but didn't have time to fight his corner as there was a knock on the door.

'That'll be Viv' Alex smiled, she kissed Gene on the mouth, 'See you in a couple of hours or so.'

A short while after they had gone there was another knock on the door and Alex hurried to answer it.

Shaz stood there beaming, 'Excited?'

'Terrified' Alex gulped.

Shaz drew a bottle of pink champagne from behind her back, 'Glass or two of this might drown the butterflies.'

Alex gave a wan smile, 'Don't want to lurch up the aisle.'

'I'll hold you up,' Shaz said. 'shouldn't Liam be here by now?'

Alex nodded, 'can't think where he is, hope he won't be long.'

Shaz opened the champagne and pulled glasses from the cupboard, pouring the fizz into two glasses and leaving a third for Liam when he arrived. 'Go and take your rollers out and I'll help you with your make up and hair.'

As Alex was slipping into her soft and silky, not to mention expensive, new underwear, she heard Liam arrive. She opened her bedroom door.

'It's Ok,' Liam grinned, 'decided against kidnapping your husband to be. Nice hair by the way.'

'You look worn out.' Alex said, fluffing out her hair, 'You're not hungover?'

'No!' lied Liam, 'Had company last night though.' he sipped the champagne and winced.

'Who?' Alex demanded.

'Christopher Skelton and Ray Carling.' Liam grinned, and then looked alarmed as both women burst into tears. 'Er, I thought you were hoping they'd come back?'

'Where's Chris?' Shaz asked.

'In the bath when I left, and Ray had the curling tongs on his 'tache.' Liam replied.

'Sam?' asked Alex.

Liam shook his head, 'Sorry.'

'Oh well, we tried.' Alex said, 'Guess he didn't fancy London.'

Shaz blew her nose, 'Come on, time's moving fast- don't want to keep the groom waiting. Let's get your make-up sorted.'

oxxo

Gene, getting ready in his office, was running through his groom's speech to the cat, who as usual was paying him absolutely no attention at all and seemed to have a very urgently dirty bottom.

'…and so rather than me ranting on any longer I'll just thank you all for coming and say eat, drink and be merry.' Gene finally finished, tying his tie, 'What do you reckon? It's shit isn't it?'

The cat stopped licking and looked at him as if in agreement.

'Getting soft in your old age.' Viv laughed, 'Talking to a cat.'

'He's the only bastard around here who doesn't argue with me.' Gene said, 'I'm too old to be doing this Skip, aren't I? Getting married, and why would she want to?'

'Because she loves you.' Viv said, 'You know how crazy she is, there'll never be anyone else daft enough to take you on.'

The cat had finished his ablutions and had started yowling. Gene went off to the fridge and pulled out some mackerel fillets.

'Careful' warned Viv 'Watch the suit.'

'Doing normal stuff calms me down.' Gene said, forking out the mackerel and plonking the dish on the floor, he washed his hands carefully, and took a deep breath, 'Right are we ready?' he turned to find Viv had dashed to the loo again.

'Not so bloody fast!' a voice drifted into the kitchenette.

Gene's face darkened and then lightened again within a second as Ray walked in trailed by Chris.

'I dunno,' tutted Ray, 'what kind of wedding do you call this? No stag night? The one time I get the slimmest chance of handcuffing you naked to a lamppost and you send the invitations so late we only just make it.'

'Carling - your fantasies are very alarming.' Gene said, 'I had no idea you harboured those kind of thoughts about me.'

Ray coloured up, 'I meant in a manly way. It's what happens on stag nights- usually- when people have them- like most men do- with their friends…'Gene reached out his hand and Ray took it, 'Well Guv- here we are again' he said, a slight break in his voice.

'Good to have you back.' Gene said, his voice very slightly breaky too, he turned to Chris, 'Mr Skelton, thank god, maybe Shaz'll stop blubbering every two seconds now.' he shook Chris's hand but then looked even more uncomfortable as Chris brushed away a tear.

'Pull yerself together- flamin' Jessie! ' hissed Ray.

'I'm allergic to cats.' whimpered Chris, as soon as the words had left his lips the cat began winding itself around his ankles. 'They make me eyes water.'

Then both men stared as Viv came into the kitchenette 'Bloody hell!' they chorused as they and Viv slapped each others shoulders- manfully.

'How the…?' Ray looked shocked.

'My Best Man' Gene announced, he looked thoughtful and frowned slightly, 'No Sam?'

'Seen nowt of him' Chris replied.

'Oh well' Gene made a good show of hiding his disappointment , 'Right! We better get going, before Madame Fruitcake changes her mind.'

oxxo

By the time the car carrying the bride, her bridesmaid and Liam, who was giving Alex away, arrived at the church, it had started to sleet. Alex was shivering partly from cold and partly from nerves.

'Do you think he's in there?' she whispered, looking at the church.

'Where else would he be?' Shaz laughed, 'He's probably as nervous as you are.'

Alex rearranged her fake fur shrug for the fiftieth time, and touched at her hair. The heavy ivory sheath dress she wore felt as cold to the touch as snow. 'Whose idea was it to have a winter wedding?' she muttered.

As they got out of the vintage Bentley she felt her legs go weak, 'What am I doing?' she whispered to Shaz and Liam, 'I only asked him to marry me to get everyone back together, but you're back' she said to Shaz, 'and so are Viv Ray and Chris, so maybe we don't need to actually go through with it.'

'So you don't love him?' Shaz frowned.

'Of course I love him, more than anything, but do you think I'm forcing him into it?' she fretted.

'Excuse me' a quiet voice interrupted. 'I couldn't help overhearing and needed to stick my spoke in.'

Alex turned and her mouth dropped open, 'Sam? ' she gasped.

'Couldn't believe it when I got this' he flapped the wedding invite at her, 'Wasn't going to come, but than my curiosity got the better of me, I had to check and double check you were in your right mind. Now I see you're coming to your senses.' he grinned broadly as Alex rushed him and knocked her hair all out of place again. Shaz tutted and began fussing.

'What do you think Sam?' Alex asked, 'Am I forcing him ?'

'Have you ever known anyone to force Gene to do anything?' Sam laughed. 'Still feel for you, and can't imagine anyone willingly marrying him, but I knew I couldn't miss this.'

'Annie?' asked Alex.

'Snuck into a pew somewhere near the back.' Sam said.

Liam smiled and held out his hand to Sam; he looked at Alex, 'Think I'm redundant.'

Sam shook Liam's hand and Alex looked torn.

'It's only right that Sam gives you away.' Liam said, 'Plus I'm not likely to make a fool of myself what with you marrying the man of my dreams, I'm better watching from a few rows back. Honestly- it feels right.'

'Thanks' Sam said. 'Come on then Mrs Gene Hunt to be.' he shook his head in disbelief, 'This I've got to see.'

oxxo

Gene was grimacing at the sound of Purcell's Trumpet Tune and Air that he had somehow agreed to when the frenzied planning was in full swing and wondering how Alex had slipped that one by him, he turned to tell her to speed up the aisle so the music would hopefully fade. He was in for two shocks; one was the sight of Alex and how sublimely beautiful she looked, and the second was the sight of who was actually leading her up the aisle, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Sam. Gladys. Gene felt his face contort.

The two men smiled at each other briefly before Sam giveth'd this woman and Gene turned his attention to her. He nodded at her, and saw her eyes fill with tears. Everything was a blur but suddenly he was amazed to find Alex and himself saying 'I do' and exchanging rings.

When they turned to walk back down the aisle he was shocked at how full the church was , even though the very back pews were mainly occupied by tramps who had rushed in from the biting cold. Gene didn't care; he even managed to smile at them. He had his team back, he had a beautiful wife. He didn't need anything else.

As they froze in the cold for a few quick photos and a lot of excited chatter he saw a shadowy couple just outside the churchyard. He looked again; the man of the couple saw him looking. Gene slipped away from the crowd.

'Trust you to choose such inclement weather Gene' Keats said in his slightly hectoring tone.

'Yes well- it was a bit of a rush job- what do you want?' Gene looked annoyed, then he noticed Carlotta squeezing Jim's arm.

'We're being nosy really, would have liked an invite but I understand I'm not flavour of the month.' Keats said.

'King of the understatement.' Gene said.

'Just came to give you your wedding present.' Keats leaned forward, 'Gonna leave you alone for a year or two, maybe even try and find other fish to fry. Just thought you'd like to know.'

'Congratulations' Carlotta said to Gene.

Gene nodded at both of them before heading back to the wedding group.

'Was that Keats?' Alex asked.

Gene nodded.

'Oh no!' she wailed.

'It's ok' Gene said, I'll tell you later.'

oxxo

At the reception the top table was full enough to keep both Gene and Alex happy. The speeches seemed to go down well and Gene's nerves disappeared as he stood up,

'I'd like to thank you all for coming here today,' he said, 'even though there are a few unfamiliar faces.' He peered into the room at the little party of homeless old gentlemen who had somehow been swept along from the church and into the reception at Luigi's, 'You're all welcome, each and every one of you, just as long as you've brought along several bottle shaped gifts.'

Viv stood up to give his Best Man speech, 'I'd like to thank the Guv for getting me out of a tight spot, ' he said, and his lip trembled slightly but he recovered himself quickly, 'sorry, it's been an emotional day, even the cake is in tiers.' he waited while people tittered and groaned before continuing, 'I've been trying to work out why Alex would want to marry a man who's already married to his job, but then I realised that she knew she had finally met someone she could keep an eye on all the time.' he turned to Gene, 'You really didn't think this through, did you Guv?'

Gene laughed and slurped more champagne, 'there are ways and means Skip.'

'I think you've forgotten about Alex's affliction of toilet door blindness Guv' Viv replied.

'Bugger' Gene said.

After Viv's speech, Sam stood up hesitantly , 'Just like to add my bit.' he said quietly, the room watched and waited, 'Lots of you don't know me, ' Sam said, 'but me and the Guv have been through quite a lot together up in Manchester and er… here, and although I didn't fancy returning to London, I needed to see this for myself, so here I am, and I have to say in all honesty, that I've never seen him look happier, come to think of it I don't think I'd ever seen him look happy until today. I think they've both met their match and it's absolutely bloody perfect.'

'Yes thank you Gladys.' Gene said, looking embarrassed but pleased at the same time. Sam raised his glass, 'A toast' he proposed, 'Gene and Alex Hunt!'

'Gene and Alex Hunt!' the room yelled, as Luigi stood in the corner mopping his eyes on his waiting cloth.

oxxo

'You can stay for the weekend, but then you'll have to make alternative arrangements.' Ray told Liam as they watched Alex and Gene and other sickeningly happy couples dancing.

'I can't see the problem- if you just move those Airfix models and your vast collection of Action Men figures out of the spare room, I can go in there,' Liam said mildly, 'plenty of room.'

'You've been poking around in my spare room?' Ray said, outraged.

'Oh chill out, I'll get you a drink, come on Ray, admit it, you're…' Liam grabbed Ray's glass.

'For the last time- I AM NOT GAY!' Ray shouted, just as the music stopped.

People looked at them and giggled, but looked away as the music began again.

'I was going to say lonely.' Liam said, 'I don't care if you're gay, straight, or sideways. I'm lonely too, I reckon we could have a laugh- game of darts- snooker- go for a curry on a Friday?'

'Spoof?' Ray asked.

'Yep if you want.' Liam stood up and headed off to get their drinks.

'You're on a trial!' Ray shouted after him.

Chris and Shaz clung to each other while dancing to All of my Heart by ABC.

'It's so good to be back' Shaz said, 'Doesn't Alex look beautiful?'

'Yes' Chris said, 'But so would you if you were in her position.'

Shaz stood back in the midnight blue velvet dress that accentuated her curves and made her look like a forties movie queen goddess, 'So you don't think I look beautiful?'

'Course I do' stuttered Chris, 'I'm just saying, as a bride, you'd look even more beautiful.'

'You proposing then?' Shaz asked.

'Guess so' Chris replied, 'But no backing out this time.'

'No Sir' Shaz snuggled in closer.

'Past our bedtime' Gene told Alex, as Annie and Sam left them to talk to Chris and Shaz.

'It's been a long day.' Alex smiled, she gazed around Luigi's and her eyes misted over, 'Oh Gene, look at them, they're all here. They all came home- for you.'

'For us' he corrected, 'you made this happen, not me.'

'We- we made it happen.' she said.

'Our table's empty' he jerked his head to the corner table, 'feel a bit like a ruddy exhibit sitting here, shall we?'

They stood up and headed towards their table, Luigi accosted them on the way, 'Oh Mr 'Unt! Missis 'Unt! What a fantastico day!'

Alex kissed the little Italian and Gene slapped a hand on his shoulder, 'Certainly is Luigi.'

'One more drink' Gene told her as they sat down, 'then you can carry me over the threshold.'

'Yes Guv' Alex smiled.

A bottle of champagne appeared seemingly from thin air. Alex poured them a glass each. They toasted each other as they watched their team. Everyone was home, Luigi was right, it had been a fantastico day.

oxxo

The End

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