Paul and Alex were out and about picking up a movie, some popcorn and a few other groceries that they needed and were about to head home when Paul had an idea, "what do you think about getting your Mom some flowers Alex?"

Alex nodded his head, "I pick?"

Chuckling Paul nodded his head, "you can pick."

Smiling brightly he grabbed his Dad's hand, "kay."

Taking a small detour on the way home they went past a florist and picked up a nice bunch of flowers for Stephanie before they headed home.

Pulling up outside the house Paul was happy to be home again so he could spend some proper time with his girls whilst they had the time off. Helping Alex out of his car seat he placed him on the floor before he handed him the flowers, "are you okay carrying these?"

Nodding his head Alex kept a tight grip on them as Paul got the groceries from the trunk and they went inside.

Hearing a car pull up in the driveway Stephanie really hoped it was Paul because she didn't want any other visitors today, she had had enough of visitors today to last her a lifetime. When she heard the key in the front door she knew it was Paul and Alex so turned to the doorway fully expecting Alex to run inside.

Carrying the flowers carefully Alex walked slowly towards the lounge, "Mommy?"

Chuckling when she heard him calling her name she checked on Lucy who was now playing on the floor before she got up from her seat, "I'm in the lounge."

Walking through the lounge door when he saw her stood in front of him, "Mommy look."

Raising her eyebrow when she saw Alex carrying flowers she knelt down in front of him, "flowers huh? Aren't you a lucky boy today?"

Shaking his head he thrust them towards her, "f'owers for Mommy."

Taking them from him she inhaled their beautiful scent, "they're beautiful baby, thank you." Lifting her head she looked at Paul sternly, "you shouldn't have."

Leaning on the door frame watching them both Paul shook his head, "I don't care, I wanted to and that always ranks above whether I should do things or not."

Giving Alex a quick hug before she stood up and walked over to Paul she leant up and kissed his cheek, "talking like that could land you in deep trouble Mister."

Sliding his free arm around her waist he pulled her to him, "it only pertains to me spoiling you, I promise."

Sighing softly she shook her head, "you don't need to spoil me."

"Are you crazy? You should always be spoiled because you're beautiful, amazing and all mine."

Raising her eyebrow she tilted her head, "all yours huh?"

Nodding his head he puffed out his chest proudly, "you're damn right you are and I'm all yours."

Pulling back a little to look deep into his eyes she searched for the truth, "you promise?"

Not sure why she was apparently a little insecure he nodded his head, "I promise on everything I hold dear, I'm all yours. Let's go and put these groceries away and those flowers in water before they die."

Sliding her hand into his she held on tightly, "okay."

Leaving the kids in the lounge for a minute they went into the kitchen putting the groceries away and putting the flowers in a vase before she took the flowers back into the lounge to put on the mantelpiece.

As soon as the flowers were out of the reach of the children she turned around to see Alex and Lucy playing together on the floor again with Alex still in his coat and with his shoes on. Shaking her head she moved closer to them, "Alex you need to take your shoes and coat off please."

Lifting his head to look at his Mom he frowned, "I p'aying."

Kneeling down beside him she shook her head, "I don't care. You need to take your shoes and coat off, the game is not going anywhere but unless you do as you're told you will be going to bed early."

Pouting he crossed his arms over his chest in a huff but allowed his Mom to undo his shoes and take them off before she gently moved his arms so she could take his coat off.

As soon as she had his shoes and coat off she stood back up, "there, that wasn't so hard now was it?"

Shaking his head he looked down at the floor, "sowwie Mommy."

Bending down she kissed the top of his head, "it's okay, just don't do it again."

Nodding his head he looked up at her, "pwomise."

Standing in the doorway watching the way she was with Alex he could sense something was wrong as she was harsher with him than she normally was. When she walked past him with the shoes and coat he turned around and followed her, "is everything okay?"

Putting it all away before she turned to face him she looked at him oddly, "should it not be?"

Shrugging his shoulders he wasn't sure of anything any more today, "I don't know, you're the one acting a little bit strangely."

"I'm not acting strange."

Looking at her disbelievingly he shook his head, "trust me, if you saw what I'm seeing you'd say you were acting strange aswell but it's okay, strange is kind of hot on you."

Smacking him gently on the chest she rolled her eyes, "shut up you goofball."

Sliding his arms around her waist holding her close he rested his cheek on the top of her head, "I'm only telling the truth and here I am getting abuse for it."

Resting her face on his chest she sighed softly and just held onto him, nothing she could say right now would verbalise how she was really feeling deep inside and she didn't want to have the conversation when the kids were both awake and around to potentially overhear what was going. They may have only been young and too young to properly understand what was happening around them but it didn't mean she was going to allow them the potential of hearing what was going on in her heart.

Taking the silence from her as a bad sign he kissed the top of her head, "I do love you Stephanie. I'm not sure what's going on but I want you to know that I do love you."

Squeezing him just that little bit tighter she closed her eyes not trusting her voice to be able to verbalise a response to him.

If Paul hadn't have been certain that something was going on before he most certainly was now because her silence said everything.