'Morning!' He stifled a yawn, voice carrying through the room in a much too cheerful manner.

'Woken up on the right side of bed, I see?' Lily flashed him a quick smile, turning to pass him a coffee mug.

'What reason would I have to be unhappy?' He carefully grasped the stem of the mug.

'Mm,' Lily just smiled, glancing out the window. 'Charmer.'

He dared to stretch a little, making ripples in the crisp white sheets. He breathed in slowly and steadily, feeling his chest rise and fall. 'Inhaling the musty hotel linen?' She asked.

He frowned. 'No. Just relaxing.'

'Well. Why not?' She smiled, a flicker of something dance in her eyes. She leaned to plant a kiss on the side of his temple, then ran her hand through his hair once. It settled on the back of his head, and she fixed her eyes on his.

'You're gazing, Lily. Too starey. On cloud nine this morning yourself, it would seem?'

'I have many a reason to be happy.' She told him. Light filtered through the blinds, making specs of dust appear to float in the air.

'As do I.' He didn't have time to blink before her lips met his. The warmth spread from their lips, radiating through their bodies. Her eyelids fluttered, watching him react as they continued to kiss. Sensing this, he opened his own eyes.

He pulled away slightly. 'Shut your eyes.' He scolded, but his voice had a gentleness to it all the same. She laughed softly, then proceeded to stand back up. 'I wanted to see.'

'You wanted to see? What's that supposed to mean? Goodness me, Lily. For a woman with such a rich vocabulary, sometimes you do surprise me.'

'I'm full of surprises.'

'With the best will in the world, I am absolutely starving. Please hurry up.' He moaned, clutching his stomach.

'I'm putting my makeup on.' She told him.

'I can see! You're just as gorgeous with or without.' He sighed, slumping at the wall by the door handle.

'That is flattery. You are talking in your stomach's best interests and not mine.'

He processed what she'd said, and rolled his eyes dramatically. 'Just hurry up. I've got a full English with my name on it.'

'All you ever think about is food, don't you?'

'On mornings, yeah!' He huffed, tucking the sheets in. He looked over when he'd finished. 'Can't you leave off the eyeliner, or whatever that's called?'

'Correct, and no...' She carefully outlined her eye, hand wobbling slightly as she spoke.

'It's only your family!'

'Exactly.' She gave him a look which managed to stop his further questioning.

A few moments passed, before she readjusted her hair and studied her appearance in the mirror. 'That will do. Now for the hair.' She leaned for the brush, while Iain sat on the bed and scrolled his phone.

'Go down, if you like. I'll catch you up.'

'Are you sure?'

'Why wouldn't I be? Save me a seat.'

-x-

'There she is.' He raised his eyebrows in greeting, shovelling forkfuls of scrambled egg into his mouth.

'How classy, speaking with your mouth full.' She raised an eyebrow, pulling out a chair to sit opposite him.

'You look nice.' He complimented, ignoring her remark.

'Thanks.' She smiled, a slight blush reaching her cheeks.

'I ordered you some toast. Speaking of...' He said, as a waitress came to the table and placed down a plate with a smile. She jumped slightly.

'Thank you, again. You know me well. I never have an appetite on mornings, I don't know how you can stuff yourself so much.' She peeled back the plastic on the pot of sunflower spread, taking a knife in one hand.

'Course I can. Breakfast's the most important meal of the day. You should know that, really.' He grinned as she gave him a reproachful look. They sat quietly for a couple of minutes, eating their food. They felt it nice to have the lull, as they knew they had to travel back home later that afternoon. Lily was working the next day, so she wanted to soak up the company of him as much as he could. Even if it meant enduring the awful jokes.

'Hey up,' Iain muttered. Used to the Yorkshire-isms, Lily glanced upwards in response.

'Shit.' She muttered, immediately unfolding her napkin and placing it over her knee. She readjusted her posture so that she was more collected, and greeted her father with a polite smile.

'Hello, Father.'

Iain chewed his mouthful, watching the interaction between the pair and seeing just how much it transformed her - for the worse.

'May I?' He asked, but sat without waiting for an answer.

'Of course.' Lily spluttered slightly.

'Down the wrong way, Lils?' Iain asked, washing his food down with a swig of orange juice. He purposefully ignored the looks he knew he was receiving.

Lily just nodded, not meeting Iain's eye. She didn't feel ashamed, but self-conscious of what her father would be thinking.

'Your mother is ordering our food. What a nice occasion last night was.' Feng remarked, his own lips forced into a tight smile.

'I agree, it was.' Lily's voice was clear and she enunciated each syllable with care. 'I'm so glad that Katie is happy, and of course that she invited myself and Iain too.'

'Yes, yes. I am just off to see your mother a minute.' Feng nodded, instantly dismissing Lily's response and standing up.

Iain couldn't help but think he was the type of man who never really listened, just waited for his turn to speak. Iain wished he'd shown Lily more appreciation through the years. He, himself recognised and believed that she was amazing, but he felt as if he was too late - he had only known her a couple of years. Feng had known Lily since the day she was born. Iain couldn't comprehend why he'd failed to express his love for her properly. She delicately nibbled on the toast, and though she didn't see Iain watching, he watched her every move. He knew she was wonderful, and he felt nothing but anger towards her father. Even more so when he glanced over and saw him whispering to his wife.

'He's a real headcase.' Iain sighed.

'That's my father, don't speak of him like that.' Lily looked pained.

'You're so loyal to him, Lily. If only he would ever do the same for you.'

'That's enough!' She hissed, looking over anxiously towards where her parents were in the queue.

'They can't hear.' He sighed. 'He puts you down, whether you see it or not. Cutting you short and stuff, I mean, what's that about?'

Lily just shook her head. 'We're going home after breakfast. Try to endure his company for half an hour, please. For me, if nothing else.'