"Hey!" Hannah said when she saw her father walk back into the apartment after his and Jess' spontaneous weekend away.

"Hey to you too" Don said and he wrapped his daughter into a hug and then let her go after placing a kiss onto her forehead.

"Where's Jess?" Hannah looked over her dad's shoulder at the closed door as he walked into his bedroom and dumped his duffel bag onto his bed before walking back out into the living room.

"The cab dropped her off at home. She wanted to do some washing before work tomorrow. Anyway, did Mark go home today?" Don asked and he began to make himself some coffee and Hannah sat on a stool and clasped her hands onto the worktop.

"He went home this morning. We both had homework to do and we've started revising again but Mark is looking at colleges away from New York" Hannah sounded slightly deflated as she looked at the college prospectus' which were on the worktop near the door where their keys were. She had seven at the moment which were sat looking at her. She knew she wanted to stay in the city with her dad but she had to make other choices too in case she couldn't get into NY College.

"Oh right? And you're thinking of going to...?" Don let her finish off his sentence

"Still New York dad...I don't want to move away" Hannah told him and he drank the hot coffee and Hannah looked at the worktop.

"And I don't want you to go Hannah. Anyway, I'm going to take this coffee and hit the sack...night baby" Don said and he kissed Hannah as she remained sat on the stool.

"Night dad. Don't forget we're off to look around New York college on Thursday" Hannah reminded her father as he walked back into his room.

"I remember. I booked the day off" Don told her

...

"Did you see the science department?" Hannah gushed as she walked with her dad out of the college as Don flicked through the booklets which he had been given as Hannah walked to the side of him and looked up to the sunny sky.

"I saw" Don said as he read through them and Hannah watched the other college students in the campus as the two of them left.

"I mean the research facility is excellent and I won't need to stay on campus because I can bike there and back every day and it would be amazing!" Hannah gushed and she wrapped her arm into her father's as he smiled down at her and then ruffled her hair.

"Yeah...it will be. Jess said she wants to meet us for tea" Don said and he walked out to the footpath and he opened the car door for Hannah and she climbed into it and he handed her the books they had been given from colleges.

"Hannah...I want to ask you something...and I would understand if you got freaked out by this...but I need your opinion" Don stammered before he started the car and Hannah looked at him. The only sound was the soft hum of the car as Hannah fiddled with the golden chain around her neck.

"Go on then?" Hannah urged him

"Do you ask someone to move in first or do you wait until marriage?" Don asked Hannah and she stared wide eyed at her dad and she shook her head.

"You want Jess to move in?" Hannah asked "dad...I know you love her...but you've only been dating since last year...September...it's only February"

"So you don't want her to move in?" Don asked her and Hannah's mouth opened up wide and she shook her head.

"I didn't say that dad! I just think it's a little early...I know you're getting along together and she has a key to our apartment...I don't want you to rush into anything" Hannah told him

"So do you or do you not want her to move in?" Don pushed her for an answer

"Dad...I don't know...you haven't dated her for more than a year...but just a no to marriage. That is too early" Hannah did persuade him and he nodded

"It's just that me and Jess have been getting on so well recently...well...we enjoy each other's company and we don't really like to leave each other and I want her around more..." Don explained and Hannah sighed as he finally put the car into drive.

"I don't mind her staying over dad but to move in is a bigger step...I like her dad...I like her a lot but I'm just cautious. It's just been us two for a while now and I'm nervous at the thought" Hannah explained to her father and he pinched the bridge of his nose as he stopped the car at traffic lights.

"I know Hannah...I know...I'll leave it for now okay? I was being hasty probably...after the weekend away I thought moving in would be the next logical step and I thought I was ready but if you're not..." Don trailed off and Hannah shook her head.

"I didn't say that" she snapped "I said that I thought it would be awkward and you two have only just become serious with this weekend away and spending Christmas with us and I know she saved my life too...but...just ask her if you want"

"No...Hannah...I'll think it through. I don't want to rush in to asking her...and it should be a mutual decision shouldn't it?" Don asked. He didn't know.

"Well yeah dad...the time will come when you know it is right to talk about it" Hannah assured him as Don stopped outside the restaurant and saw Jess stood there.

"Don't mention this to her" Don told Hannah

"No...I won't" she promised.