A/N- I wrote this chapter whilst on a train for three and a half hours. Hope you enjoy. Thank you for the reviews and favourites. Only a handful of chapters to go on this one now.

Disclaimer- Nothing belongs to me.


John stirred his coffee, completely lost in his thoughts. Would Anna appreciate his efforts? Did she only want a simple ceremony near home now? Would she mind being kept in the dark? All were questions he didn't know the answer to, but it was all confirmed, the administrative side of proceedings now completed and he had received the booking confirmation a couple of hours ago. Their ceremony was scheduled for Gretna Green in a couple of weeks time, now John had to work out how to put his plan into action without giving anything away.

They had booked the local registry office and had gained their marriage licence a few weeks ago. What Anna didn't know was that John had cancelled it. A party was planned at the Crawley's for afterwards, but Robert was in on his scheme. And as John looked up to the entrance of the coffee shop he was sitting in, it was time to reveal all to Anna's mother and Cora.

'I've ordered you both a latte, I hope you don't mind,' John said as he stood to greet the two women, kissing them both on the cheek. Elsie and Cora had formed a solid friendship since John and Anna's union, and it wasn't rare or out of the ordinary to see the two of them together.

'What are we doing here? And why is Anna not allowed to know?' Elsie asked, sitting down and placing her handbag on the floor, Cora doing the same.

'I might as well get straight to it,' John began, sitting once again now the two women were comfortable. 'I've cancelled the registry office.' He was met with two very confused faces upon his admission.

'Why on Earth…' Elsie started to say before John interrupted her.

'Anna had to give up her dream wedding for circumstances beyond her control, and I wanted to give her something more than a simple ceremony at a registry office. I might not be able to afford a beach wedding in Cyprus, but I can stretch to give her something really special.'

'Okay,' Cora accepted John's explanation, glancing at Elsie who was nodding her head. 'What did you have in mind?'

'It's all confirmed for the wedding to take place in Gretna Green,' John explained, 'I nearly had to think again because they were booked solid, but luckily they had a cancellation for two weeks, Saturday.'

'Two weeks?' Elsie gasped, grimacing. 'That's a fortnight away.'

'Yes, I know,' John nodded, rolling his eyes. 'But Anna has her dress, as does Madison. Me, Charles, Robert and Milo already have an appointment for our suit fittings tomorrow.'

'Yes, that's true but Anna's hen night is planned for two weeks Saturday,' Cora pointed out. 'We're going to Manchester for the night.'

John shook his head. 'I've already thought of that. Tell her you made new arrangements. I have booked the both of you, Anna, Mary, Sybil and Phyllis into a spa hotel in Scotland not five minutes drive from where the wedding shall be. I'll follow up with the kids, Rob, Charles and Joe. Tom and Matthew are invited too. Then on the morning of the wedding, I'll send Charles, Milo, Maddie and Anna's dress to you. It's all been meticulously planned between myself and Robert. We haven't forgotten anything.'

'Flowers?' Cora asked.

'Delivered to the hotel on the morning of the wedding.'

'And the reception?' Elsie wondered aloud.

'I've booked a small room at the hotel where we can have a meal together and have some form of speeches.'

John looked to Cora who was looking at him with a sceptical gaze, trying to think of a way to catch him out, no doubt. 'Honeymoon?'

'We'll stay until Tuesday in Loch Lomond,' John answered rather smugly. 'Which brings me on to a favour I needed to ask. The kids.'

'We'll sort it out,' Elsie dismissed John's fears. 'I just can't believe anyone has gone to all this trouble for my daughter. She'll be over the moon, John.'

'Do you really think so?' John asked, his face was beaming.

'I do. I really do and it sounds like it's right up Anna's street.'

'I've got other surprises up my sleeve along the way but they shall be revealed in time.'

'And Robert helped you with all this?' Cora asked, bringing her latte to her lips.

'He certainly did,' John confirmed, 'been a real help actually. So can I count on the both of you?' Both women looked back at John with smiles on their faces, he taking that as his confirmation that they approved of his plan. 'Great.'

'But myself and Robert will still hold the party at our house in your honour when you get back.' As John opened his mouth to protest, Cora quickly continued speaking. 'That we insist upon.'


Entering his house on a Friday evening, this weekend being his weekend off, John heaved a sigh of relief as he hung his coat on its hook by the front door. It was his stag night tomorrow night, and he had to admit he was looking forward to the prospect of a night out with Robert and Joseph, his two oldest friends. Charles would be there too, John hoping Robert didn't have anything embarrassing up his sleeve to show him up in front of his future father in law.

As he turned to walk down the hallway towards the kitchen, it was then that the sounds of his wife to be and their respective children filled his ears. Madison was trying to get Milo to reveal something, and he was having none of it.

'It's only Daddy who can't see Anna's dress before the wedding, silly,' Madison said as John stood in the doorway. 'It doesn't matter if we know what colour Daddy and your suits are going to be.'

'It's a surprise, Little One,' John boomed, making his presence known.

'Daddy,' Madison squealed, jumping out of her chair and running to embrace her father. 'You worked late tonight.'

'Yeah, it's because it's Daddy's weekend off,' John informed her, bending down to place a kiss on the top of her head. He looked to Milo, who was watching from his chair at the table, John moving further into the room and holding out his fist for the boy to bump, which he did. 'Good boy on holding firm, Milo. We don't want Anna to know we picked orange suits until the actual day.'

'You better not have, John Bates,' Anna chided him, moving away from her position at the stove to meet John's lips in a kiss, causing both children to grimace. John wrapped his arms around her waist. 'Dinner is nearly ready.'

'Perfect,' John smiled at his wife to be, releasing his hold on her so she could return to her task.

'Mum called today,' Anna said as John joined the kids at the table, Madison scrambling into his lap. 'Saying the arrangements for the hen night have changed. We're going to Scotland for the weekend now or something.'

'Oh right,' John answered indifferently, looking down at the table in an attempt to try and not give anything away. 'Well, that's a bit nicer than Manchester.' John thought on his feet. 'And she is from Scotland so maybe that was in her thinking.'

'Hmm, perhaps. It's odd though because everyone seemed hell bent on a night in Manchester.' Anna took the pan she was holding off the hob and preceded to pour its contents into a colander. 'You still off out tomorrow for your stag night?'

'Yep, Robert is picking me up at seven.'

'Daddy, what's a stag night?'

John looked at his daughter, she staring down intently at the plait she was currently trying to put into her own hair. 'Erm, well it's an evening where a man who is getting married goes out with his mates that are boys to celebrate for an evening.'

'A bit vague and missing out several key details, but well played Mr Bates,' Anna winked as she leant over him to place a basket of bread in the centre of the table.

'Can I come tomorrow night then, John?' Milo asked. 'Because I'm your mate, aren't I? And I am a boy.'

Looking to Anna with a sympathetic expression on his face, John was about to answer before Madison was talking again. 'Does that mean a hen night is for Anna and her friends who are girls? Because I'm her friend and I am a girl. So can I go to Scotland?'

'I don't think so, Little One…'

'Why not?' Madison whined, 'you said Milo could go to your stag night.'

'No I haven't…'

'Why can't we go?' Milo argued.

'Because it's for adults,' Anna answered, but something occurred to her. She placed a hand on John's shoulder. 'But that doesn't mean we can't have child friendly hen and stag nights.'

Creasing his brow, John looked up at his fiancée. 'What do you mean?'

'Well, I have an afternoon doing girly things with Madison, you have an afternoon doing things boys do with Milo. This Sunday is good for me. Seeing as we have my hen night next weekend, then the wedding the week after.'

'But it's my stag night tomorrow night, I'll be absolutely…' John looked at both of the children who were listening to his every word before mouthing to Anna, 'hanging.'

Anna grinned at his remark. 'Well, you'll have Sunday morning to recover. You could take Milo to see that new Superhero flick and get a burger whilst me and Madison stay here, do each other's nails, maybe some baking and discuss which Disney Prince is the best.'

'Oh, can we do that?' Madison was pleading, 'please Daddy. Please.'

'I really wish I could see that new Superhero film, John,' Milo added, John looking at the boy and realising he was unable to deny him anything, or his daughter.

'Oh alright,' John agreed, ruffling Milo's hair as the boy punched the air in triumph. 'But nothing kicks off until after midday.'


John shut the door of the taxi behind him, waving at Robert who was still inside. It had been a good night, just as John had anticipated. A nice meal followed by visiting a couple of pubs. His worries about Charles were unfounded, Anna's father more than happy to get involved in proceedings. John couldn't remember the last time he had done shots, but he was struggling to keep up with Charles by the end of the night. His capacity for holding down his liquor was incredible. Joseph had pulled out of the race early on, but Robert and John finally called it a night on six shots of Sambuca a piece, Charles still willing to continue.

Now as John stood on his doorstep, he placed the rose he had bought from the restaurant for Anna between his teeth and unlocked the door as quietly as he could. He felt a little tipsy, but was still coherent enough to open the door in one attempt. Placing his key in the dish on the table by the door, John looked down the hallway to see the kitchen light still on. It was only just before midnight and it wasn't unusual for Anna to still be up.

Carefully treading the wooden floor of the hallway towards the kitchen, wary the children were asleep upstairs, John stopped in the doorway and leant against the doorframe. She was only putting away some plates and cups from the dishwasher, but she still managed to take John's breath away. He was suddenly overwhelmed as the notion she was his filled his mind. Taking the rose from his mouth and holding it out in front of him, he slowly began to fill the gap between them. And he didn't know the reason why or where the song had come from, but John began to softly sing.

'Well I walked up to her and asked her if she wanted to dance…' Anna turned around almost instantly, holding her hand to her chest in her shock. John continued as her gaze softened. 'She looked awful nice so I thought that she might take a chance...'

'John, what are you doing?' Anna asked him, accepting the rose that he was holding out and smiling. 'Thank you.' Taking her by surprise, John placed a hand on Anna's waist and with the other took the fingers of the hand that weren't holding the rose in his grasp. Anna's giggle was music to his ears. 'John, what has got into you? Apart from alcohol, obviously.'

'What? Can't a man serenade and dance with his fiancée?' Spinning her around on the spot, John continued with his song. 'When we danced I held her tight, then I walked her home that night. All the stars were shining bright and then I kissed her.'

Stilling his movements ever so slightly, John pressed his lips to Anna's. She responded with vigour, bringing her hand to brush the hair at the nape of John's neck. Before she could become too lost, however, John was singing again but this time it was barely a murmur, and his words were leaving his lips and his breath caressing Anna's ear.

'Then I asked her to be my bride, and always be right by my side.' John brushed his lips where Anna's jaw met her neck. 'I felt so happy I almost cried, and then I kissed her…'

Eyes closed, John sought out Anna's lips once more, kissing her so slowly and deeply she felt like she never wanted him to let her go, like she never wanted this moment to end. But he was pulling away before she could gather herself, softly touching his forehead to hers.

'I love you, Sweetheart and I can't wait until I can call you my wife.'

'I love you too,' Anna felt a tear trickle down her cheek. 'So much I can't even tell you.'

He released a choked laugh at her words. 'Lets go to bed. I need to be fully rested for my stag night mark two with Milo.'

'Yes. Maddie was lining up all her nail varnishes before bed and Milo has picked out his favourite superhero t- shirt.'

'Well,' John began to lead Anna towards the hallway. 'I best find mine as well then.'


'And then when the hero picked up the car and threw it down the road, that was awesome,' Milo enthused as he and John left the cinema.

'Awesome indeed,' John had to agree, allowing Milo to leave the cinema before him through the door he had opened.

They had left the girls to it a few hours before, the last time John saw Anna she had her hair in curlers and a microphone in her hand belting out A Whole New World on Madison's karaoke machine. The little girl absolutely adored her future step mother, and it warmed John's heart to see the bond they had, already seemingly unbreakable.

John and his young companion were both sporting superhero t-shirts, John's emblazoned with a Superman 'S' and Milo's featuring the Avengers. The two of them had been getting along great just recently. The little lad had been through so much with the death of his father. But he had excelled in his first year at school, and his relationship with Madison was going from strength to strength. They argued like a proper brother and sister, but beneath it all was the natural friendship that they had formed and that had started everything.

'So what now mate?' John looked down the street from outside the cinema. 'Do you fancy a burger?'

'Yes please,' Milo answered politely, taking John's hand as they walked along the pavement.

'Why don't we go in that new sports bar? They might be showing the football.'

Soon enough, they had a booth in the family section of the new bar in town, Milo pleased as punch slurping on his chocolate milkshake, the football on the television on the wall a few feet away from them.

'So, is this what you and Robert did last night?' Milo asked, stirring his drink with the straw he had been using.

John rubbed the back of his neck, still not completely over the effects of the previous evening. 'Almost. You're much more fun than Robert, Joe and Granddad.'

'When will our food be here?'

'The waiter said about twenty minutes. There's no rush. If we go home too early Madison will end up wanting to paint our nails as well.'

Milo screwed his face up. 'I hate it when she paints my nails.'

'Yeah well,' John lifted his drink from the table. 'Anything for a quiet life, eh?'

'When you and Mummy get married, will that mean Maddie is my sister?'

After taking a sip of his drink, John shrugged his shoulders. 'Step brother and sister. But you can still be best friends.'

'Will Maxwell be my dog as well?'

John had to chuckle at that. At least the boy had his priorities straight. 'Yeah. He will be your dog as well.'

'I've always wanted a dog but Mummy wouldn't buy one for the flat.'

'Well, that's sensible. They need room to run and play.'

Milo stayed silent for a moment, John waiting to hear what his next question would be. He could be quite inquisitive at times. 'Finley Harris at school said his Mummy and Daddy don't love each other anymore so he has two houses. Like I used to.'

'Right…' John was at a loss as to where this was headed.

'But his Mummy has a new husband who lives with them. Finley calls him Daddy Steve.'

'Okay…' John still had no clue.

'And his Mummy had another baby brother, and Daddy Steve was his brother's actual Daddy.'

Trying desperately to stifle a laugh, John brought the side of his index finger to his lips. The boy was seriously trying to process something in his mind, John was just waiting for Milo to articulate his point.

'So if Mummy has another baby, will you be it's actual Daddy? And why will you be it's actual Daddy but not mine?'

God, where was Anna when John needed her. She was so much better at this than him. John began to stutter.

'Well, erm, yeah. If Mummy has another baby I'd like to think I'd be it's actual Daddy.'

Milo creased his forehead. 'Why wouldn't you be?'

John's face remained blank, maybe ambiguity wasn't the best way to tackle this. 'Yes. I would be the baby's actual Daddy.'

'But you aren't my actual Daddy, so would it be my actual brother or sister? Or my step sister or brother like Maddie?'

Rubbing his temple, John's head was hurting, and it was nothing to do with the effects of his stag night. He tried to work out the answer to Milo's question in his mind, closing his eyes as he spoke. 'No, the baby would be your half brother or sister. Not step.'

'What's a half brother?'

'Well, a half sibling is when one of your parents has a child with another person who isn't your parent.'

Milo's expression was one of confusion. 'Huh?'

Heaving a sigh, John decided to put things in simpler terms. 'Lets just say you and Maddie will be brother and sister, and if Mummy has another baby, somewhere in the future, they will be your brother or sister too.'

'And you'll be my Daddy John after the wedding?'

He couldn't help the smile that spread across his lips, Milo's question warming his heart. 'Yes mate. If you want me to be, I'd love to be your Daddy John.'

Milo was nodding in response. 'Good. But I'll just call you Daddy to make things easier.'

'Whatever you want,' John replied, Ryan's memory burning brightly in his mind. 'But that doesn't mean you have to forget your Dad.'

'I won't,' Milo shook his head. 'Mummy gave me a picture of him. But he's not here, so he won't mind.'

Suddenly, John thought of the letter Ryan had left him, asking him to take care of his little boy. 'I'm sure he'll be glad someone else is here for you.'

'Oh look, here comes our food,' Milo changed the subject as children often do, John looking over his shoulder as the waiter approached them.

John often wondered if Milo was actually only five years old. But then, he had always been clued in, Anna saw to that in the way she brought him up. Not treating him like a baby and allowing his inquisitive side to flow. He couldn't wait to see how her parenting style affected not only Madison, but any other children that may come along. Before he had too long to ponder that notion, Milo was making a request.

'Can you cut mine up for me, John?' Milo asked as he inspected his plate. 'Mummy usually cuts the burger in half.'


'Nope, still not done,' Madison said to Anna from her position in front of the oven, sat on a little pink chair. She was dressed as Tinkerbell, magic wand in hand and Anna hadn't been forgotten either. She had a tiara precariously balanced upon her head and a bright orange tutu over her jeans. Her slight waist meant some of Madison's more elasticated outfits just fit her, albeit snugly. Looking at the little girl from her position at the sink, washing up the larger items they had used whilst baking cookies, Anna couldn't help but smile.

They had shared a wonderful afternoon. Although she wouldn't change Milo for the world, Anna felt blessed to have acquired the love of John's little girl and God knew, she loved Madison too. She felt so sorry for her that Vera ultimately wasn't bothered about getting to know her. It made Anna even more determined to be there for John's daughter.

After rocking out to the best of Disney on Madison's Karaoke machine, it had been time to paint each other's nails. Although neon pink wouldn't have been Anna's first choice, she had to admit Madison did a good job on her manicure. After the rollers from their hair had been removed, Madison set about clipping pink hair extensions into Anna's hair, to match her nails of course, before finishing off her look with the diamond tiara and tutu.

Anna had painted a butterfly onto Madison's face, and had allowed the little girl to paint some love hearts onto hers. They both looked a picture, and the selfie Anna took and sent to John proved that point. He sent back a reply saying how beautiful his two girls looked, accompanied by a picture of him and Milo with their burgers.

'Can I do your nails the night before the wedding?' Madison asked, her gaze still focussed on the cookies in the oven.

'Maybe,' Anna said none too convincingly.

'Because I'm your bridesmaid and it's my job to help you.'

'Well, you'll be a help just by walking up the aisle with me. I'll be feeling nervous.'

'What's nervous?'

'Worried.'

'Why would you be worried about marrying my Daddy?'

'Erm no, maybe worried is the wrong word,' Anna tried to find another way to explain. 'I won't be worried about marrying your Daddy, I mean about having to walk and talk in front of your Uncle Robert, Aunty Cora and everyone.'

'Uncle Robert isn't scary,' Madison said with a chuckle. 'But I'll hold your hand if it will make you feel better.'

'Thank you sweetheart, it will.'

'Hello hello.' They boys appeared at the door then, Milo enjoying a piggy back courtesy of John. 'Something smells good.'

'Daddy!' Madison ran towards John, crashing into his legs with a bump. He put Milo down, who promptly walked over to his mother to see what she was doing.

'What have you made, Mummy?'

'Me and Maddie baked some cookies for us to enjoy before bedtime,' Anna informed her son, drying her hands before lifting him into her embrace. 'Did you enjoy the film?'

'Yeah, it was awesome,' Milo smiled before spotting something. 'Who has been drawing on your face?'

'Madison with the face paints,' Anna informed him, placing him back on the floor. Madison was sitting in her front row seat in front of the oven again, Milo walking over to her. As the two began to chat, Anna regarded her fiancé. 'Hello my darling. I hope he behaved.'

'Always does,' John replied before placing a quick kiss upon Anna's lips. 'How was my little fairy over there?'

'Perfect. We had a lovely time.'

'I must say, you look absolutely stunning,' John remarked with a slight jovial lilt to his tone, taking one of Anna's pink hair extensions between his thumb and forefinger.

'Well, they usually suit you better,' Anna quipped back, the two of them sharing a laugh.

'Well, that's true.' Looking behind him, John made sure the children were occupied before speaking again in a whisper. 'Milo was asking about our arrangements, actually. After we're married.'

'Right,' Anna said, chancing a glance at the children over John's shoulder. 'What did he ask?'

'If Maddie would be his sister, and then if we had any babies, would they be his brother or sister as well.'

Anna put the tea towel she had been holding back on the counter. 'Yeah. He's always been obsessed about having a brother or sister. Both of them were talking to me about it the other day. Did he mention Finlay Harris and Daddy Steve?'

John nodded. 'He wants me to be his Daddy John.'

Anna smiled at that, placing a hand on John's forearm. 'Is that okay? I'll talk to him if you want.'

'No no, it's fine. I just don't want him to forget Ryan.'

'He won't,' Anna shook her head. 'But kids can be very direct in their thinking. In his mind the fact is Ryan has gone and in all likelihood he'll look for another father figure and it will probably be you.'

'I'm happy to be that person.'

'I know,' Anna squeezed John's arm. 'It's one of the reasons I agreed to marry you. And I want to be that mother figure for Madison, especially with how things turned out with Vera.'

'Looks like we're lucky we found each other then,' John said with a smile that reached his eyes.

'I tell myself that every day.' They shared another quick kiss then, the children still engrossed in telling each other about their respective afternoons. 'I think, especially now Vera has signed those papers, after the wedding we should look into the adoption thing. '

'I'd like that.'

Anna brushed some lint from John's shoulder. 'Because I'd like Milo to have the same surname as all of us.'

'He's a Bates to me in everything but name, anyway.'

'Anna, I think the cookies might be done? Can we check?'

Sighing, Anna looked at John with a smirk before looking at her watch. 'Very well. But you two need to stand back. The oven is hot.'


Cora surveyed the boot of the people carrier she had rented for the trip to Scotland. With her belongings, Elsie's, Mary's, Sybil's and Phyllis', the boot was looking sparse of space. Add to that the stuff they had to sneak up to help in getting ready for tomorrow's surprise nuptials, Cora was beginning to wish she had rented a coach. As she turned her head to look at John's front door to see Anna exit with her own slightly large suitcase, her heart sank.

'Hello girls,' she enthused, treading the gravel towards the car excitedly.

'Hello sweetheart,' Elsie called to her as she came to stand beside Cora. 'We aren't going to fit everything in, are we?'

'Take care of my future bride, Ladies.' John was following out of the house, Madison and Milo in tow. He noticed Cora and Elsie chatting intently by the boot, Anna having gone to the passenger door of the car to greet her hens. 'Problem?'

'We've got make up and stuff for tomorrow morning in there,' Cora explained, pointing at a large polka dot suitcase, 'if we didn't have it there would be no problem.'

'I'll take it, then send it round with Charles and the kids tomorrow morning. I've got to bring up the dress in my car, anyway.' Elsie opened her mouth to speak before John stopped her. 'No, I haven't looked at the dress.'

'We'll have to do that,' Cora said, lugging it out of the boot before John replaced it with Anna's. 'Are you sure you have everything sorted?'

'Yes, trust me,' John whispered to Cora, looking her in the eye. 'Charles and the kids will get to your rooms at nine. Flowers will be there at eleven, transport for you all to the wedding venue will arrive at the hotel at midday to start at quarter to one.'

'Talking of the kids, what do they know?' Elsie asked, looking at her grandson and Maddie who were playing with a ball they had found on the gravel.

'Nothing. I'm about to tell them now and then we have a couple of hours to pack before Robert, Joe and Charles pick us up.'

'I can't help thinking something is going to go wrong,' Elsie sighed. 'A wedding without Anna knowing. It just seems quite elaborate.'

'What seems elaborate?' Anna asked reappearing at the back of the car.

'Nothing,' Elsie quickly backtracked. 'We have to leave a case behind to fit yours in, that's all.'

'What's in the case?' Anna asked, looking at the item of luggage John was holding on to.

'Oh just my creams and things. You know us Americans can go a bit over the top when it comes to our beauty regimes,' Cora answered, laughing awkwardly. 'That was what Elsie was calling elaborate.'

'Right,' Anna raised an eyebrow. 'You three are acting weird but I'll just brush over that and say goodbye to my two babies.'

As Anna stepped away to say her goodbyes to Milo and Maddie, John, Elsie and Cora exchanged worried glances.

'Ladies, please trust that I have got this right. Everything has been taken care of. I promise you.'

'Alright, but if it hasn't been…'

'You have permission to string myself and my best man up,' John assured Cora, offering her a wink. 'Just take care of her and make sure she agrees to it. That is what I am most worried about at the moment.'

'And you, I'll miss you,' Anna cooed, taking hold of John's hand and dragging him away from the car. 'I hope the kids aren't too much trouble.'

'Uncle Robert is coming to stay, they'll be fine.' As John looked at Anna now, it suddenly dawned on him the next time he saw her would hopefully be when she was at the top of the aisle. It was an overwhelming thought, especially after all they had been through to reach this point. He felt the tears stinging at the back of his eyes, biting the inside of his cheek in an attempt to keep his emotions in check.

'You okay?'

'Yep,' John murmured, 'Just take care of yourself. I love you so much.'

'I love you too,' Anna placed her arms around his shoulders and pulled him to her. 'I'll text you when we get there.'

They broke apart, and John brushed Anna's cheek with his index finger. 'Have fun.'

'Missing you already,' Anna called, turning her back and moving towards the car. John waved at Cora and Elsie as they got back into the car. Milo and Madison were by his side now, he reaching down to place a hand on each of their shoulders. Anna had wound the window down, and was blowing kisses in the direction of her family. 'Love you all, see you on Sunday evening.'

The time it took for the car to disappear off the gravel and away from the house, John had gathered himself enough to realise it was time to put his plans into action.

'Daddy, can we play tea parties now?' Madison asked as they made their way back into the house.

'No, it's my turn to pick the game,' Milo started to argue, John shutting the door behind them.

'There is no time to play,' John announced, two little faces turning around to look at him. 'Uncle Robert will be here for us at one o clock. We need to pack because we are going to Scotland.'

'Why? Boys aren't allowed at Mummy's hen night.'

'We aren't going to the hen night, Milo,' John rustled the boys hair as he walked past him and began to ascend the stairs, the two children following him. 'Your Mummy doesn't know it yet, but tomorrow afternoon me and her are going to get married.'

'The wedding is tomorrow?' Madison asked, jumping onto John and Anna's bed after they had entered the bedroom.

'Yes. Daddy has packed his bag, suit, your dress and Milo's suit already, so now we need to pack you some other clothes to take, and Anna needs a bag too.'

'And Mummy doesn't know?'

'No, it's a secret,' John replied as he pulled Milo's superman suitcase down from the top of the wardrobe, then Madison's Disney princess one.

'That's a bit cheeky, Daddy,' Madison said with a giggle, taking hold of the handle on her case.

'Yes, very cheeky,' John rolled his eyes. 'Now, lets get to work. We can talk about it more as we pack, but we need to get a move on.'

'What about Maxwell?' Milo asked as he and Maddie followed John across the landing to Madison's room. 'And the pigs?'

'One of the locum's I work with called Andy will be here soon to pick him up. He will be looking after Maxwell at his house and coming back here to feed the pigs as well.'

This seemed to settle Milo as he sat on Madison's bed, watching as she and her father argued over whether she really needed to take her karaoke machine to Scotland with them. Andy came on time, and left with Maxwell after he had been given a run down on how to look after the farm. So far, so good.

John paced the living room floor in front of the window that overlooked the drive, checking his watch every so often. Madison and Milo were engrossed in a programme on one of the children channels they enjoyed to watch. All the cases were by the front door, four clothes bags holding his, Anna's, Milo's and Madison's wedding outfits draped over the top of them.

'Is Uncle Robert late, Daddy?' Madison asked, looking up briefly from the television screen.

'When is he ever not?' John replied under his breath before the sight of Robert's 4x4 turning into the driveway caused him to sigh in relief. 'At last, he's here. Come on then, you too. Let's get going.'

Once outside, John fitted Milo and Madison's car seats into the back of Robert's car as he loaded the boot with their luggage.

'Do you have good music in your car, Uncle Robert?' Madison asked as she sucked on the lollipop he had just given to her.

'Depends what you consider good music,' Robert replied, carefully laying the clothes bags over the cases in the boot.

'Let It Go and Uptown Funk.'

'Then no,' Robert shook his head. 'I don't have any good music in my car.'

'Come on kids, lets get in.' John instructed, the two of them doing as they were asked.

'Watch your sticky hands on the leather interior.'

'Shouldn't have given them the lollies,' John told his friend with a slight snigger as he joined him at the back of the car.

Robert checked the boot was secure. 'We all set?'

'I think so,' John nodded, meeting his friends eye. 'Let's do it.'


A/N 2- In case you didn't know, the song John sings to Anna is Then I Kissed Her by The Beach Boys. Thank you to the person who suggested it.