Update: When I reread this story I noticed a few minor typos which I have now rectified. Thank you for the nice reviews of this and of Matters of the Heart. They mean a lot.

"Dad, I can't spy on Lucy. What would she think if she found out?" argued Tim.

"Look Tim, I'm sure Lucy's seeing someone but won't admit it. Even your mother agrees with me…for once, and as much as I hate to admit it she is usually right about these things".

Tim added, "I admit she has that look about her. I suspect she has a boyfriend too. And the question is, if she is with someone, why won't she tell us, it must mean there's something dodgy about him. He could be a criminal or something. I suppose it wouldn't do any harm if I was to do a bit of detective work".

Tim wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of spying on Lucy, but had been persuaded that it was better that they knew what was going on, so that they could stage an intervention if it turned out Lucy was in a damaging relationship and needed rescuing. He decided not to tell Daisy what he was doing though, in case she didn't approve.

...

For the next few weeks, whenever he got the opportunity, Tim would wait out of sight outside Lucy's apartment block to see if she went in or out with anyone. After a while, when this didn't seem to be getting him anywhere, he started turning up to the apartment unannounced, each time under some carefully thought out false pretence, but was frustrated to find Lucy now seemed to be keeping the front door locked all the time, so he couldn't just walk in anymore. Although this in itself seemed suspicious, much to his disappointment he never caught her with a man.

The only other person in the flat and whom he ever saw coming and going was Lee. He was either a really bad spy, or perhaps they had been wrong, maybe she didn't have a boyfriend after all, or maybe they had split up. He decided he would try once more, but if he didn't find anything out he would just have to report back to dad that he had failed in his mission. He couldn't keep up this for much longer, as he was fast running out of excuses for coming to Lucy's flat, not to mention explanations to Daisy as to where he kept going all the time.

...

A few days earlier.

Lee and Lucy were in the flat, and had just finished eating dinner. They had been a couple for a few months, having got together following Geoffrey's heart attack.

"I hope you haven't got any plans for this weekend, Lucy. I thought it would be nice if we went away for the weekend. I've found a really nice hotel overlooking the sea in a little resort in Suffolk.".

"Wow Lee, that's so thoughtful, it sounds lovely, and I didn't have any plans. It will be so nice to be together and not have to pretend we're not a couple, even if it's only for a weekend. I'm starting to get sick of not being able to show you affection when anyone else is around.

"Me too", agreed Lee, "I want to be able to show you off. It's really hard not being able to touch you in public".

"Touch me in public?", replied Lucy, raising an eyebrow, "steady!"

Lee grinned and Lucy smiled shyly.

"You know what I mean...I want to be able to walk down the street with you holding hands, without fear of seeing your mum and dad or Tim, although I wouldn't say no to the occasional public kiss".

With this, he leaned over and kissed her, and she wrapped her hands around his neck in response. Lucy eventually broke the kiss and spoke,

"well for now you're going to have to make do with kissing me in private".

"Only kissing?", asked Lee, a cheeky expression now on his face. God, Lucy loved that expression.

"Well maybe not only kissing…", Lucy added, getting up from her dining chair and taking his hand, led Lee to the sofa, where they resumed their embrace.

Things were starting to get heated, when they were disturbed by a sudden squeal. Someone had walked in, and they had been so wrapped up in each other that they hadn't heard the door. It was Daisy.

Lee moved off Lucy, and sitting up they both quickly readjusted their ruffled hair and clothing, Lee hurriedly redoing his shirt buttons. Lee and Lucy both sat on the sofa and very embarrassed could hardly bear to look at Daisy, who hadn't moved or spoken since she had seen them and squealed, but was just standing in stunned silence.

Lucy was the first to speak, "We can explain…".

Lee interrupted, "Yes, erm, I was giving Lucy CPR, she'd choked on her dinner".

Lucy frowned, he was trying to deflect a difficult situation with humour again.

Daisy, looking concerned, said, "Oh Lucy, are you okay? Should I ring an ambulance?"

Lee and Lucy looked at each other confused. They knew Daisy was ditzy but surely she wasn't that stupid.

Lucy continued, "Lee's joking, we were kissing, you weren't supposed to find out like this, but we're together, we're a couple".

"Wow, how?, err, when did you?, err I mean how long has this been going on?", asked Daisy, stumbling on her words, still in shock.

They explained how they had first got together, and that they now been going out for a several months. They were actually relieved that somebody knew and were pleased that Daisy seemed to be genuinely happy for them. Although she was shocked by the way she had found out, Daisy wasn't really surprised deep down, as she had always been able to tell they liked each other, long before they even admitted this to themselves.

"To be honest, it's about time, I had started to wonder if you two would ever get together". She paused, then continued, "I assume Tim doesn't know about this though?".

The mention of Tim quickly dampened the mood. "No, he doesn't", answered Lee.

They told Daisy that they did want to tell him, but weren't sure how to break the news. They begged her not to say anything, as they were waiting for the right moment to tell him and their parents, and Daisy promised to keep their secret.

Deciding to change the subject, Lucy turned to Daisy, "anyway, what was the original reason you came round Daisy, did you want to borrow something again?".

Daisy answered, suddenly looking serious, "actually no, I wanted to talk to you both about something".

"Go on", prompted Lee.

Daisy sighed, "you'll probably think I'm stupid...".

Lee rolled his eyes and went to open his mouth, but Lucy chastised him with a glare.

"Of course we won't Daisy, what is it you wanted to talk to us about?", Lee asked, stopping himself from saying something mean. Her response surprised them both,

"I think Tim might be having an affair".