Part Four

Steph and Andy entered the sitting room hand in hand as Tori was chatting away with Luke and Maria like they hadn't noticed they were there,

"Uh mum where is dad?" Steph asks making tori roll her eyes sighing,

"Where do you think Steph?! At work as usual now sit down and stop interrupting!" Andy again gritted his teeth not liking how they treated their daughter,

"Come on Andy lets go sit in the garden for a bit" Steph leads Andy out into the back garden which was filled with blooming flowers as they sat at the table,

"Sorry bout my mum"

"Hey your the last person that should be sorry!" Andy says pulling her onto his lap as she wraps her arms around his neck,

"I told you that Luke was the golden boy!" Andy nods his head slowly stroking her hair,

"Steph you sure your alright?" Steph exhales slowly before nodding her head,

"Yes. I am more than fine cause your here"

"And I'm sticking by you Steph" they kiss gently when they are interrupted by a tall slim guy dressed in a smart suit,

"Uh Steph you want to pull yourself away from your friend and give your father a hug" Steph pulls herself apart from Andy beaming as she hugs her dad,

"Dad! Uh this is Andy my boyfriend" her dad smiles warmly over at Andy as they shake hands Andy genuinely liking him.

Later that evening they all sit around the dining table as they begin to eat,

"So Andy how long you've been unemployed?" Tori asks him making Steph flush in outrage,

"Mum!"

"What its a perfectly simple question! Besides Luke mentioned he got fired" Steph glares over at her brother as she trembles in anger, Andy placing his hand over hers to calm her,

"It's alright Steph. Uh yes I did get fired and I'm not proud of myself but your daughter has been more than supportive you should be proud of her!" Steph smiles appreciatively over at Andy and whispers a thank you as Luke rolls his eyes,

"What is that look for lukey ?" Tori asks sending something not being said,

"Luke don't?" Steph pleads making her mum frown over at her,

"Steph? I do hope your not getting your brother to lie for you?" Steph stands up and walks off all becoming too much as she slams her bedroom door behind her and flops onto the bed tears streaming down her face. Andy shakes his head in disbelief at all of them as he stands,

"Unbelievable! You know I'm not perfect I've hurt her unintentionally and hate myself for but you lot clearly have no idea what a clever funny and beautiful daughter you have!" Andy heads up to the bedroom and carefully opens the door smiling sympathetically over at a sobbing Steph as he gently sits beside her,

"I'm sorry for everything Steph"

"Sorry? What you got to be sorry for? Babe it was my fault for assuming just once they could be happy for me!" Andy pulls her into him as she rests her head onto his shoulder,

"Do you regret coming now?"

"No. Steph I have to admit I thought given how close you and Luke are that you'd be this tight knit family" Steph sighs feeling drained of energy,

"Andy this weekend isn't a total disaster"

"No?"

"No. I have you and the fact that you are by my side means more to me than them liking you" Andy kisses her forehead as they hold on tighter to each other both drawing comfort from one another.