Ending his phone call with his sister Paul started to work on making a big batch of pancakes because they were Stephanie's favourite food and he wanted to give her something she'd enjoy and would cheer her up.

Half an hour later and finally all of the pancakes were cooked and piled up on one large plate. Setting the large plate of pancakes on the tray that was laying around he placed two smaller plates on the tray also along with knives, forks, honey and sugar. Turning around he grabbed a couple of glasses from the cupboard and poured two glasses of orange juice before placing those on the tray also and picking the entire tray up walking towards the lounge.

Stephanie tried to put up a front with Paul but it was useless, he knew her like the back of his hand and could see right through her which is why she had just surrendered and allowed him in and allowed him to take care of her. Truth be told, if it wasn't for him she probably would still be in bed and would have stayed there all day without eating. Her only hope now was that her boyfriend wouldn't turn up on her doorstep whilst Paul was there because if he did it was sure to turn nasty and somebody would end up in hospital.

Opening her eyes at the sound of footsteps coming towards the living room she smiled softly when Paul walked in with a tray stacked high with pancakes, "you sure do know how to spoil a girl."

Laughing softly he placed the tray on the table beside her, "only you. Tuck in and hopefully you will enjoy them."

Giggling at his response she gripped her ribs, "fuck it. You know I could actually kill you right now for making me hurt my ribs."

Without a second thought Paul piled a plate high with pancakes before pouring honey all over the pancakes and picking up a fork and handing it all to her, "enjoy."

Smiling brightly she immediately speared a pancake with her fork, "so what did your sister say?"

Piling up his own plate of pancakes he sprinkled sugar over them before he took a seat across from her, "well apparently I just caught her on a break from work. She said that she will come by after work but if there is a risk of any major complications then I had to promise I would make you go to the hospital."

Frowning before taking another bite of her pancake she chewed it slowly as she went over in her head what he had said, "so I guess even though I said I wouldn't go to the hospital you promised that you'd make me go if there is a risk of serious complications?"

Not allowing a second to pass before he replied he nodded his head, "you bet your ass I did. Steph you are my best friend, I refuse to stand back and let anything bad happen to you so yeah, if there is a risk you could die from complications you bet I'm dragging your ass to the hospital kicking and screaming if I have to."

Tilting her head to the side she looked him over before her eyes settled on his face, "you really care about me huh?"

Shrugging his shoulders he tried to play it cool, "well you know McMahon, you're not half bad some of the time and if you weren't here who would I annoy?"

Nodding her head and immediately regretting it she closed her eyes briefly, "you make a good point. You always annoy me, especially right here and right now."

Laughing softly he reached across and patted her leg gently, "it's okay sweet cheeks, I know you love me really."

Raising her eyebrow Stephanie looked at Paul like he had lost his mind, "sweet cheeks? Seriously?!"

Shrugging his shoulders he waved his fork around, "what? I could have called you 'honey bun' or something equally as ridiculous."

Dropping her fork and rubbing her temples as her head started to pound again, "I think I'll take my chances with sweet cheeks today."

Smiling softly he put his fork and plate down moving forward in his seat so he could put both hands on her legs, "are you okay? Do you want me to just take you to the ER?"

Touched by his concern she slowly opened her eyes, "no I'm fine, I think it's just the hangover as the painkillers are wearing off."

"Well do you want me to get you some more? Maybe something stronger?"

Not being a massive fan of taking pills she shook her head slowly, "no I'll be okay thanks. The only thing I think you can do for me is just keep me company and keep my mind off of things."

Smiling brightly he straightened his spine and looked on proudly, "now that is something I'm really good at and can actually manage. I will even let you pick what we do."

Rolling her eyes he was too much sometimes, "you need your ego checking at the door boy. I'm so touched by your generosity in letting the sick girl pick what we do."

Pouting he held up his hand showing his grazed knuckles, "I'm not exactly a picture of health."

Smirking she reached for his hand and pulled it close kissing his knuckles, "there there now, all better."

Laughing he relaxed back in his seat, "you're so good to me, I don't know how I would ever live without you but luckily I will never have to find that out."

Suddenly coming over with thoughts of what could have been the night before she frowned, "if it wasn't for you you very nearly had to after last night."

Shaking his head he refused to dwell on that face, "let's not talk about that. The main thing is you're breathing, walking and talking so you're going to be okay."

Shrugging she picked up her fork and speared another pancake, "but I nearly wasn't was I?"

Having picked up his own plate Paul pushed his pancake around with his fork, "let's not think about that okay? I seriously couldn't live with you, you're the best thing in my life."

"Until you get a girlfriend and then I'll fade into the background and then we'll rarely talk, then texting will get more infrequent until finally we never hear from each other ever again."

Sighing heavily he took a bite from his pancake, "you know that would never happen Steph, you mean too much to me."

Resisting the urge to snort and roll her eyes she didn't believe that for a second, he would soon forget about her when he found a girlfriend and she genuinely didn't know how she would survive without him.

Silence fell over them both as they finished off their plates of pancakes before they drank their glasses of orange juice and Paul got up to do the dishes and put things away.

As he was walking out of the lounge his mind drifted to what she said. He couldn't believe that she would ever think he would desert her, she may be his best friend in her mind but in his mind and his heart she was so much more and was completely irreplaceable.