NEXT MORNING

At 6am Katie went into Cat's room to find out whether or not she wanted to go shopping. All she found was the bed still made and her portfolio laying there. Looking across the hall at Mark's bedroom door, curiosity got the better of her and as quietly as she could took a peak inside. The sight that greeted her warmed her heart. Cat was asleep on mark's chest, and he was holding her tightly against him, making Katie smile. A tap on her shoulder made her almost scream turning to find Glen standing there.

"He'll kill you if he sees you!"

"I couldn't find Cat anywhere, so I thought that I 'd look in his room. I was just having a peak."

Katie felt like a little kid being told off by the principal.

"And did you find her?" Glenn asked quietly.

She nodded and took off down the hall leaving Mark's bedroom door open, Glen looked into the dark bedroom and smiled before closing them off again. He just hoped that Mark would get over feeling like an old man and follow his heart, they both deserved to be happy. Glenn went back down stairs to escort Katie and Natalya on their shopping trip.

8AM – MARK'S ROOM

Cat woke up and wiggled a little and robbed her nose against the soft pad under her face. Opening her eyes she saw that her soft pillow was Mark's bar chest, resting her hand on his chiseled abs. His tattooed arms were wrapped around her waist holding her to him tightly. She smiled, Mark looked so peaceful when he was asleep. Cat began to trace the letters tattooed on his stomach, halfway through his hand grabbed hers and she looked up into sleepy green eyes.

"Sorry" Cat rolled so she was laying on her stomach next to him. 'Didn't mean to wake you up."

"Darling you gotta stop apologizing over nothing." Marks voice was all husky from sleep. "How'd you sleep?"

"Better than I have in forever."

He nodded in agreement and rolled to face her, wincing at the pain in his shoulder. Cat absentmindedly rubbed his shoulder for him.

"Slept well but then someone's fingers woke me up."

"you are such a bear when you wake up? I ain't seeing it!" She laughed when he growled at her.

"Can't be grumpy when you wake up to a beautiful woman." Cat blushed bright red and buried her fave in the pillow. :What'd I embarrass ya?"

"Old man you are incorrigible."

"You bring it out in me little girl." He laughed and watched her.

"Though we'd have been woken u a long time ago."

"Everyone especially Glenn knows that they ain't allowed in here at all." He looked past her out the windows.

"Why am I in here then?" Cat looked at him confused.

"You're special Darlin"."

5PM

Glenn and the girls walked in to find Mark and Cat wrestling each other in his custom built ring. They watched in silence as Cat moonsaulted onto him, Mark caught her in mid-air and gave her the last ride. He stood and got his breath back and by the time he'd stood up straight she'd hand sprung back up. He laughed and stopped moving.

"Alright you win little girl."

"Thanks Mark." She caught sight of Glenn over Marks shoulder. "Hey enjoy your shopping?"

Glenn rolled his eyes and they got out of the ring.

Mark and Glenn were outside cooking the barbecue while the girls did everything else, Glenn was feeling brave enough to ask about Cat.

"So how you going now?" Mark looked at his best friend.

"Better man."

They both went quiet; Glenn knew that Mark wouldn't elaborate unless prodded.

"Do you still watch those movies of Jess?"

"Yeah, I miss her Glenn! Cat blames herself for Jess dying." Mark drank some of his beer, he know that Glenn was trying to get information. Worrying his best friend was not something he liked doing.

"Cat reacts to that how I would as well. If I was supposed to be in that car and my best friend died in it I would be fucking devastated."

Mark nodded as he stared off into space.

"She's a strong women though. I'm amazed that she is how she is though with Jesse as her dad."

"What do you mean?"

"Well with the tattoo's and wrestling and her attitude. I can't see Jesse being all that pleased with how she is. Especially with the beer and tattoo's."

"He ain't that bad is her?" Mark turned the steaks and burgers.

"When she got her eagle he went so mad on her, he grounded her for months. Cat just moved out and did her thing, she started boxing, kept wrestling, got more tats showed Jesse that he wasn't going to dictate her life anymore." Mark finished his beer and grabbed another . "Her and Jesse have had a few major arguments over her influences and choices, he gives in eventually."

"Where did you gain so much insight into their relationship?"

"Natalya and Cat told me while she was rehabbing."

Cat opened the sliding door and joined them grabbing a beer along the way. She stood between them and shivered, Mark pulled her in fron of him so he could block the wind. Glenn watched the two with interest at how they interacted with each other. Mark saw Cat shivering still and wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her back against him.

"Whatcha talking about?" She asked, loving the feel of Mark's body along hers.

"Just you Darlin'."

"What about me?"

"You and your dad arguing mostly!" Glenn said as he flipped the onions.

"Okay I'm going inside where its warm." Mark almost pouted at the loss of contact with her but hid it knowing Glenn would never let him live it down.

Cat went back inside, Glenn grinned as Mark watched her back into the house. Dropping the grin as Mark looked at him.

"Is she worth it?" Glenn mumbled, obviously not quiet enough because Mark turned to him with an angry expression.

"What the fuck does that mean?"

Glenn had never been afraid of Marks temper, but when he was quiet angry that was when Glenn had to be careful.

"Nothing Mark I didn't mean anything bad."

"Then why say anything fucking at all?"

"Why is it such an issue?" Glenn flipped the steak. "How do you really feel about her. And none of this mind your own business bullshit!"

"I feel like a fucking dirty old man."

That one answer covered every question that Glenn had. He looked at his best friends face and saw more emotion than Mark normally showed him.

"You're not a dirty old man, Cat don't have no problem with your age in case you hadn't noticed." They went quiet for a moment.

"I'm too old for her, I fucking looked after her when she was ten."

"Mark she makes you happier than I have seen you in a very long time. Does it matter what other people think?"

"When did you get so fucking wise!" Mark grumbled, her put the steaks and burgers on plates. "I feel like a criminal."

The two men went inside and the five of them quickly devoured the food. After dinner Cat headed into the kitchen to wash up, Mark followed carrying a pile of dishes. Quietly leaving them on the bench he took the empty bottles to the bin outside. Going back into the kitchen he filled the kettle while Cat stacked the dishwasher.

"How you feeling?" he asked softly knowing Cat would understand.

"A bit better, thank you." Mark dropped a kiss on her head. "go save Katie from the lovebirds, I'll be in in a minute."

He nodded and left the room, when Cat had finished cleaning the kitchen she went into the lounge to find the only free seat was with Mark. She settled in the chair and watched, well pretended to watch, what was on tv. Cat's full attention was on the large tattooed man next to her.

She didn't really know what to do about how she felt, she was too young to have any real chance. Mark was after someone mature, beautiful and older than her, what would he do with a 22 year old. Especially on that looked and actes as she does. Cat had never seen Mark with a woman that wasn't hugely athletic, tall and blonde, unfortunately she did not fit that build. Maybe she was just a dumb kid with a crush.