** For authors notes, disclaimer etc. see chapter 1

Puppy love 3/?

"Thanks Laura are you sure you don't want me to take you home?" James asked as they pulled up outside Jean's house and took the puppy supplies and the puppy himself .

"No honestly James I've already called Robbie and he's on his way if we're being honest I think he's coming as much to see the puppy as he is to do me the favour of picking me up!" Laura laughed taking the shopping bags from James while he balanced the puppy in one hand and unlocked the door with the other.

Making their way inside through to the kitchen he set the puppy down on the floor and they watched as he immediately started exploring his new home leaving no corner of the stone tiled surface un-sniffed as he did before stopping near the door and weeing.

"Oh god thank goodness she has no carpets downstairs I have a feeling we're going to have quite a bit of that until we get him house trained." James sighed reaching under the sink for some kitchen cleaner and paper towels before going to clean up the puddle.

"At least it's right by the door when you clean it up put one of those puppy pad things the girl at he pet shop convinced you to buy down and maybe he'll sticks to the one spot then you can gradually work on getting him to go out the door to go instead of going just by it." Laura smiled as the puppy made his way back to her sniffing her toes through the open topped end of her sandals and she bent down scooping him up again.

"Yeah good idea put him in his bed with that cushion thing while we unpack the stuff he is probably exhausted from all the excitement." James replied watching as Laura scanned around looking for somewhere to put the bed. "Just set it in here anywhere for now if I know Jean it'll end up in the living room right by the fire in case he get cold or lonely or whatever but here will do for now."

"That's probably Robbie I'll go let him in." Laura smiled setting the puppy in the bed where he sat looking at them as if he wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do next.

"So where's this pup I've been hearing about." Robbie asked entering the kitchen as James was putting water and food into the two bowls on the kitchen counter. "You realise we'll have to frisk madam here when we're leaving to make sure she hasn't tucked him inside her coat and is trying to escape with him."

"Oh yeah she's already said if Jean doesn't want him she'll take him home." James laughed as Robbie lifted the puppy scratching him playfully behind the ear.

"So this is the new Barney then, she's going to fall for him the minute she sees him Laura I think your luck is out on this one."

"You knew about Barney too? Why am I the only one who didn't realise Jean was such a "dog" person?"

"Because you didn't attend the department summer BBQ every year, Barney was a regular attendee he was a big dopey softie everyone loved him, and she's not your boss so you didn't get roped in to helping with the rehoming centre fundraiser every year or have to make emergency deliveries of huge sacks of dog food when they were running low." Robbie laughed about to continue when James's phone chirped into life and he held his finger to his lips silencing them and letting them know it was Jean on the other end before he answered.

"Hi gorgeous I thought you'd be in the middle of Chris's awards thing by now….." He said quietly trying to sound like there was absolutely nothing unusual about the evening as Laura set the dog bowls quietly on the floor and Robbie set the puppy beside them causing him to give a squeaky bark and them all to freeze. "No…no of course there's not a dog in my flat you know the landlord is fanatical about no pets it was on the TV one of those Paul O'Grady programs that make you cry and want to go take all the dogs home…..Yeah so did you do your proud Mummy bit without embarrassing him…..aw I'm sure he was delighted you were there anyway and you knew he probably wouldn't turn up you told me he hasn't to anything important for Chris for most of his life and besides it means you can relax now at the reception afterwards without worrying about him picking a fight…..11, yeah that's fine do you want me to pick you up from the station….oh yeah I forgot you left it in the park and ride ok then I'll see you about 11:30 ….love you too night honey."

"Aww you two are such a sweet couple." Laura smiled when he hung up the phone and lifted the puppy who was now staring innocently up at him.

"You nearly gave the game away little guy you're going to have to be a little more quiet tonight if she rings back ok?" He smiled breathing a sigh of relief that for now they were getting away with keeping his surprise under wraps but knowing that when she called back that night from her hotel room, which he knew she would, another bark and the game would be up and he really didn't want that before she got home.