I smirked at Liam, before making my way towards my room, taking my shoes off as I went.

"I don't kiss and tell," I said over my shoulder as I entered into my room and shut my door.

'Crap' I thought to myself as I got up off my bed and opened the door.

"Liam, did Alex get to bed OK?" I asked, as Liam sprawled out on the sofa and nodded.

"Good, night," I replied.

"Night, little cous," Liam leered.

I shut my bedroom door before stripping off my clothes and changing into my PJ's, which consisted of a strap top and shorts. I laid myself down on my bed, thinking about the evening and how much further it could have gone in the car. Smiling to myself I turned onto my side, grabbed my pillow and fell asleep with that grin on my face.

I woke up, still wrapped around my pillow and with a great, big smile on my face from my dream continuation of the car scenario. I slowly moved around to get comfortable, when my door opened and Alex snuck in and cuddled up with me under my sheets.

"Hey hun," I said, dropping a tender kiss on his forehead, as was our Sunday morning ritual. We snuggled in together, where Alex dropped back to sleep. Loathed to wake him, I gently moved my arm, to get up to use the bathroom. I then made my way into the kitchen and started making a nice pot of coffee.

"Morning," Liam muttered, as he sloped into the kitchen with extreme bed head.

"Morning," I replied lightly, turning around to poor the coffee.

"Oh God, you're way to chipper this morning," Liam complained, as he laid his head on his hands on the table.

"All I said was Morning," I retorted, placing his mug of coffee in front of him.

"Harrumph," he grunted, into his hands.

"OK, Mr Grumpy, I'm gonna leave you to it," I placated as I moved out onto the lanai. I sat down in my swing seat and just took in the view and sunshine.

"Mooooommmm!" Alex whined, as he came outside, "Your phone's buzzing and it won't stop," he sulked, obviously not liking being woken up by it. He shoved the phone at me, before stomping back into the house, probably to join Liam in his grumpiness, neither of them particularly morning people. Looking at who was calling I chuckled as Duane Lee's name flashed up. "Hey," I greeted.

DL's POV

"Hey" she greeted answering my call.

"Hiya, I just thought I'd call and see what you were up to today?" I asked.

"Nothin' much," she replied, "probably just hanging out with Alex and Liam. Why?"

"I was wondering if you fancied goin' to the beach?" I enquired, hoping she would say yes.

"Um, I guess, but I haven't really seen much of Alex this weekend and normally we spend our Sundays together…" she hesitated.

"Bring him," I jumped in, wanting to spend more time with her.

"You sure?" she questioned.

"Yeah, how about I bring Dylan and the boys could get to know each other?" I suggested.

"Don't you think it's a bit early to be introducing our children, I mean we've only been on 1 date?" she whispered.

"Well if you come today, it'll be the 2nd date and don't you think in some respects it's better to discover early on if your child likes a prospective partner?" I queried.

"OK, just hold on a sec while I check with Alex and see if he's happy to go," she agreed. There was lots of muffled noise when I heard "Cool" down the phone, when she was back chuckling.

"I take it that's a yes," I checked.

"Yeah, he's excited to see you again," she answered, and I could just hear the smile on her face.

"Shall I come and get you or do you want to meet there?" I asked.

"Which beach were you thinking of?" she requested.

"How about Kahanamoku?" I answered.

"We'll meet you there, that will give all of us more time to get ready," she replied.

"See you there in half an hour?" I checked.

"Yeah, see you later," she responded.

"See you there," I greeted as she ended the call.

Megan's POV

I can't believe it I'm going to be seeing him again! Today! YIPPEE! Hang on he's going to see me in a swimsuit! CRAP! Oh well, it was going to happen at some point, anyway I get to see him in swimming trunks. Maybe I should take Liam as a babysitter? Nay, this is my time with Alex and I can get to know Duane Lee and Dylan.

"Right, Alex, you need to go and change in to your beach clothes," I directed him as I put my mug in the dishwasher and headed into my room.

I scrambled through my drawers, trying to find some appropriate clothing. I finally settled on my tankini under my board shorts and a tank top. Quickly packing a bag with towels, sun cream and other beach necessities I made my way into the living room and grabbed my purse and keys.

"Alex," I shouted, "you ready?"

"Yeah," he answered as he came running into the room with his swimming trunks and t-shirt on.

"Where's your hat?" I queried, raising a knowing eyebrow.

"I'll grab it," he squawked, nearly tripping over his own feet, in his rush to go.

"You gonna be OK?" I directed at Liam, who was now sat on the sofa, eating what I assume was a bowl of cereal.

He nodded, with a mouth full, as Alex came skidding in. "Sure," he choked as he swallowed his food.

I nodded in reply, before grabbing my bag and making my way to the front door, where Alex was stood bouncing in excitement.

"Come on kiddo," I said as I opened the door and ruffled his hair, "Hey superman slow down," I shouted as he dashed out pass me to the pavement.

He turned round and pouted at me, which he seems to be doing a lot more recently.

"When the winds changes, your face is going to get stuck like that," I told him as I caught up to him and gestured that we could continue on our walk to the beach.

"Momma," Alex said as he looked up at me, with a serious face.

"What sweetheart?" I asked, wondering what on earth could have caused him to become so solemn after being so excited.

"Do you still love Dad?" he whispered, so quietly I almost missed the question.

Shocked, I came to an abrupt halt, as Alex stopped a few steps in front.

"What made you ask that?" I asked, surprised that he had brought that up.

He shrugged, and hung his head, as I walked over and crouched down in front of him. I nudged his chin to look at me, and when he looked at me, his eyes looked wet. I grabbed him into a hug and whispered into his ear, "Yes, I still love your Dad, and I always will. Now what made you ask that?"

"I was thinking about some of the kids at school, whose mums have married new husbands … and…and…um…they say that their parents hate each other," he answered with a grave tone.

"Oh hunni," hugging him tighter to me, "That will never happen, I will love your dad always. You wanna know why? Hmmm?"

Alex nodded shyly. "You," I answered, bopping gently on the nose with my finger, "Your dad gave me you. OK?"

He nodded again and we quietly restarted our journey.

"You sure you wanna go?" I asked as we continued, to which I had a scandalised little face looking at me with wide eyes.

"Ok, ok" I placated, putting my hands up in the air, and resumed our walk.

After another 10 minutes' walk, where Alex seemed to bounce back to his normal self, we reached the beach. We arrived at the sand and Alex was agitated and I knew he wanted to go running off, so I told him he could go ahead and look for Duane Lee, but he had to make sure he could see me. Keeping my eye on him and glad he was wearing a bright orange top, I ambled on behind him. I knew the minute that he had spotted Duane Lee as his speed increased whilst trying to look behind and urge me on. I smiled and waved as I saw Duane Lee stand up, with a boy looking to be a few years older than Alex, who came to an abrupt stop and seemed to be talking to them. He suddenly spun around and dashed back to me, when he grabbed my hand and started to drag me faster towards Duane Lee, who was smiling when we reached them.

"Hey," he said as he lent forward and kissed my cheek and ruffled Alex' hair.

"Hey," I replied, blushing like a school girl.

Someone cleared their throat, and Duane Lee laughed, "And this is my son Dylan. Dylan, this is Megan and Alex," he introduced.

"Hi" I said, shaking his hand, whilst Alex hid behind my legs, being uncharacteristically shy.

"Hi," Dylan replied, "Hey mate," he greeted Alex, who popped his head around me and smiled at Dylan.

"Right, shall we sort our stuff out," I took charge, getting our towels out of my bag.

DL's POV

'Wow' was all I could think as Megan stripped off her tank top leaving her in a bright and tight swimming top and board shorts that hung on her hips.

I guess I was staring for a while, because I felt an elbow jab me in the ribs, and when I turned my head Dylan and Alex were running off and laughing towards the water.

Hearing a chuckle, I looked back to see Megan settling back on her towel, with her sunglasses perched on the end of her nose, and laughing, at me!

"Hey, hey, hey" I reprimanded her. She stopped laughing, but I could tell it was a struggle, "That's all your fault," I accused.

She looked at me with one eyebrow raised saying 'Really' just with her facial expression. "Uh huh, looking all sexy stripping down like that," I told her as I sunk down next to her on the towels.

She looked at me, shocked. "What?" I asked, wondering what had caused that look.

"Nothing," she said, "Just haven't had a compliment like that in a while."

"You're kidding me," I responded, thinking how could men not notice this beauty, with her understated classy look.

Shaking her head, she looked down and slid her glasses up to cover her eyes.

"Well, I'm not complaining," I replied, which caused her to whip her head up to look at me, "That means I won't be getting into loads of fights with guys for ogling my woman. I like the idea that it's all for me."

Shocked face AGAIN! At this point I decided to prove to her how much I desired her, and bent forward for a kiss. She kissed back, before jumping back with water hit us.

"Hey guys, not in front of the kids," Leland demanded, with his hands on his hips and 2 boys either side.

'I could kill my brother!' I thought to myself as Dylan and Alex ran back up, obviously having been in the water.

"Dakota, Cobie, hey guys," Dylan greeted, "This is Alex," who raised his hand in greeting.

"And this is Megan," I indicated with my hand.

Dakota nodded his head in acknowledgment whilst Cobie smiled, before hiding behind his Dad's legs. He always was the shy one.

"Right then, who wants to get Uncle Duane Lee soaked?" Leland asked as he made his way towards me.

"Not a chance, little brother," I laughed as I edged towards Megan, but the boys took off towards the sea.

"I always take a chance, you should know this by now," Leland replied, as Megan started laughing. Watching her laugh was like watching the sun rise, light and beautiful, then suddenly she was scrambling out the way. Turning away I looked what had caused such a movement, I was greeted by 4 wet boys and 3 buckets of water! I was soaked.

Growling, I jumped off and took after the boys, who were running, but my legs were much longer and before they knew it I had Dakota in my grasp on the water's edge. I lifted him up off his feet and in the water before you could say 'Boo to a goose.' He came up gasping and spluttering, before launching himself back at me, with the other 3 joining in trying to pull me down. NOT A CHANCE! When suddenly I felt a weight hurtle against me and me in the water. Rising up I discover Leland, making his way out towards the boys, laughing and high fiving each other. I went for him, tugging at his ankle and then laughing myself as he went under.

He was up like a whippet and jumped onto my back to try and drag me under, when we heard "Boys, behave!" Looking up there was Dad and Beth along with Cicely, Gary and Bonnie.

"What is this, the Chapman day out?" I asked, slightly exasperated that my date with Megan was not going how I had planned.

"Looks like it son," Dad responded, as Gary made his way in to join the boys.

"Hey Duane…uh…hi," Megan stuttered as she joined us at the sea edge.

"Momma, did you see that?" Alex demanded as he made his way over to her. "Leland totally had Duane Lee. It was so cool."

She smiled down at him, obviously pleased he was having a good time.

"Oh, Dad, Beth this is my …uh…" I stuttered.

"Girlfriend," Dylan supplied, to which I gave him a sharp look before smiling cheekily at Megan, who looked shocked.

"Right, girlfriend, Megan and her son Alex," I continued, "Meg, Alex, this is my dad Dog, Beth, Cicely, Bonnie and Gary," pointing to each person in turn.

"Hi," Megan replied, whilst Alex looked a bit shell shocked and hid behind her legs. "Nice to meet you."

"You to hunni," Beth stated as she shook Megan's hand. At which point, Dad and the others did the same.

"Come on kids, let's get some ice cream," Leland stated as he continued looking from me back to Megan.

"We'll come to son," Dad replied as he and Beth helped urge the children up the beach. Beth looking back with a questioning gaze every once in a while.

Megan turned back to me with her hands on her hips and a piercing glare and asked, "Girlfriend?"