Dedicated to SveaR and SandyLee Potts who absolutely insisted this can't be a one-shot... so here's chapter 2 and yes there'll be more coming.

He'd gotten away with it far too easily, really, Abby mused to herself as she crumpled up the piece of paper she was writing on and tossed it into the bin. It'd been too natural, too perfectly in the moment, and too much of what she'd needed for her to protest when he'd kissed her.

If she could go back in time she'd have… well to be honest she'd do everything the same, but that didn't stop her from fretting a bit about it now. Mostly she worried that Connor would assume he could kiss her again whenever he wanted to just because she'd let him do it once. If he tried again she'd have to put a stop to it and that would probably really hurt him and disappoint him. After everything he'd done for her, she really didn't want to do that to him.

She couldn't do that to him, she realised as she pictured his disappointed expression in her mind. She'd never felt for anybody the way she did for Connor. No one else could have convinced her to tell them her secrets. She'd never felt like anyone had ever really understood her until he'd somehow magically known that she was upset and needed him right then. She refused to hurt him this time, even if that meant she wound up taking a risk on him that could leave her more hurt herself than she'd ever been in her life.

Family. That's what he'd said. They were family now, him and her. Sorta. They weren't related and they weren't married and their kid was a lizard, but maybe that didn't matter. Connor'd given her everything in the world when he'd asked her to go on holiday with him, phrasing it purposefully so that she could safely accept him without losing dignity or the protective walls she'd put up around herself. She'd always assumed that it was impossible for anyone to do that for her.

Abby glanced up as Rex suddenly came floating down from the rafters and landed beside her. She smiled and tickled the lizard's chin affectionately. "What do you think, Rex?" she asked. "You think Connor's right? You think we're a family?"

Rex gave a little chirrup and Abby giggled, letting herself completely relax around the lizard. "Yeah, I think he's right too. Only families, real proper ones I mean, they love each other don't they? Well we both love you of course, but do me and Connor love each other? And is it okay if we do?"

Rex made another chirp and Abby grinned. "Yep, you're right Rex, thanks."

Connor sighed where he stood listening from the loft and wished he knew what Abby thought Rex had replied.

Connor had booked the time off work for right after Jenny's holiday. He figured he'd have something sorted by then, so he was a bit worried when it was the day before and he still hadn't found a resort or anything that would be okay for Rex to come with them. There were a couple hotels that allowed pets in the room, but he didn't think Rex would be overly thrilled with the prospect of hanging about in a hotel room all day while he and Abby did other stuff and he wasn't sure how much Abby would expect him to pretend the holiday was all about the lizard's feelings in order to protect hers.

So far he'd told Abby only that the trip was a surprise, to keep her off his case, but he was a right mess as he stayed up until he fell asleep with his laptop still open on the pillow beside him while trying to find the perfect spot. Why was it so stressful planning a relaxing holiday anyway?

In the end though, it was the laughing green woodpecker that gave him the perfect idea just on time. He'd woken up bright and early (five in the morning on a day off, but he chose to pretend he hadn't seen the clock) due to the sun streaming through the window and lighting up the rafters and the woodpeckers distinct laugh coming in through the window. It was peaceful and energetic at the same time and, despite having had very little sleep, he suddenly felt like he couldn't stay in bed a moment longer on such a beautiful morning. Some days were just too lovely to sleep through. He was reminded of early summers when he was a kid where he'd wake up to the sun and watch the woodpeckers gathering ants in the lawn at his gran's and that's what gave him the idea because wasn't it just perfect that his gran had purchased a beautiful beach front summer home in her retirement? Surely the rare city woodpecker was meant to be a sign that it was the perfect spot for them to stay.

Connor grinned as he hurried to shower and dress and then went flying into Abby's windowless room to wake her excitedly. "Abby, Abby, wake up!" he shouted, bouncing eagerly at the end of her bed.

Abby groaned and opened one eye to glare at him with. "Go away, Connor. It can't possibly be morning yet."

"It is though, Abs, sorta, and it's our summer holiday!"

Abby opened her other eye and smiled at that. The thought of her first real family holiday gave her a sudden burst of energy and she sat up. "Okay, Con, I'm up. But you still haven't told me where we're going."

Connor grinned at her proudly, "Me gran's, Abs. She's got this beautiful place on the ocean and there's just forest behind it and cliffs around it so it's super secluded and private and the house is plenty big for Rex to fly around and explore or we could bring a big cage so he could come outside with us."

Abby smiled dreamily and then, to Connor's surprise, she kissed him on the cheek. "That sounds lovely, Connor. But what about your gran, will she be there?"

Connor frowned for a moment, his brow furrowing as if she'd thoroughly confused him. "I don't know," he finally said. "I didn't actually think of that, Abby. She might be, you know. It's her summer house and it is summer. She's got loads of space though. I don't think she'd mind sharing the house if you don't."

"'Course I don't mind," Abby smiled at him reassuringly. "It's a family holiday and she's your family. I think I'd like to meet her really. Only, will she be okay with Rex?"

Connor nodded, "Oh yes. She likes animals, Abs. She's got a dog herself, a golden retriever named Maggie. Don't worry though, Maggie's real old and gotten a wee bit lazy, I'm sure she won't chase Rex."

"Rex can fly anyway, I'm not worried. She'll buy the story that he's just a rare lizard, yeah? Not as up to date on the prehistoric creatures as you?"

"Abby, nobody is as up to date on them as me. But yeah, she'll buy it. If she's there. Maybe she won't be. But please Abby, won't you get up so we can go now?"

Abby laughed and nodded as she shoved him off her bed and then out of her room.