After her nice long shower Stephanie climbed out drying her body off before putting on some jeans and a t-shirt and throwing her hair up into a messy ponytail as she had more work to do around the house.

Making her way downstairs she shook her head seeing Paul and Alex totally engrossed in the cartoons on TV, "are you planning to stay in your pyjamas all day Paul?"

He shrugged, "I might. I don't think Shawn and Rebecca will mind."

"Shawn and Rebecca?"

Before Paul had chance to answer Alex did for him, "they's coming later. Now shhhhh."

Rolling her eyes she shook her head, "since when?"

Paul frowned, "Shawn called when you were in the shower. I asked them to bring some groceries with them."

"I see. It will be nice to see them."

They both got a glare from Alex, "shhh, I watching."

Rolling his eyes Paul got up from the couch and ushered Stephanie just outside the living room, "if there is a problem with them coming over then let me know and I'll call and tell them not to bother."

She shook her head, "no problem, I'm just surprised. I'm going to make sure the kitchen is tidy before I do some cleaning."

"Don't clean Steph, just relax and have fun with Alex."

"The house won't clean itself."

He shrugged, "the house is also not going anywhere. One day won't kill you. I will even go and get dressed if you promise to take the day off."

"I'm sold." And she laughed, "now go and get dressed scruffy."

"Yes Ma'am." He mock saluted her before heading back into the lounge to get Lucy to dress her also.

Stephanie followed him into the lounge before she sat on the couch next to Alex and pulled him close to cuddle up with him and enjoy cartoons with him.

Once Paul and Lucy were dressed they joined them back in the lounge to continue the cartoon marathon.

After an hour Alex got bored of cartoons and dragged Paul to the play room to play some games with him, he wanted to make the most of having a man around the house.

When Paul and Alex left the room Stephanie picked Lucy up from the floor and placed her on her stomach as she reclined fully on the couch, it was the first time in a long time that she truly felt relaxed.

Her silence was shattered by the sound of the doorbell. Reluctantly she got up from the couch and balancing Lucy on her hip she went to see who it was.

Opening the door she smiled seeing Shawn, Rebecca and Cameron loaded with bags, "hi guys."

Cameron smiled politely, "where's Alex?"

She laughed softly, "in the play room with Uncle Paul."

The little boys eyes widened and he went racing past her towards the play room.

Rebecca shook her head at her sons actions, "I apologise for his behaviour. We come bearing gifts in the way of groceries as Paul said the cupboards were bare."

Stephanie laughed, "don't worry about Cam, he's just excited. Thanks for the groceries though, the cupboards really are bare."

Stepping aside she motioned for them both to enter and once they did she shut the front door and followed them through to the kitchen.

After he placed the shopping bags on the counter Shawn turned to Rebecca and Stephanie, "may I please be excused to join the boys?"

Stephanie laughed, "be my guest."

Rebecca shook her head and shooed him away, "go, let me catch up on the gossip."

He didn't need to be told twice and he quickly left the kitchen leaving the two women alone.

Strapping Lucy into the high chair Stephanie started emptying out the bags quickly joined by Rebecca, "we weren't entirely sure what you normally bought so we bought a little bit of everything to hopefully tide you over until you can do a proper shop yourself."

Stephanie lifted her head and smiled, "it's okay. Thank you for this though, I really appreciate you doing this for me."

Rebecca shrugged, "my pleasure."

Silence fell over them as the two women went about emptying bags and sorting the food out before Rebecca passed the food for Stephanie to put into cupboards.

Once the food was in the cupboards Stephanie made two cups of coffee before they took Lucy into the lounge to relax and gossip.

Sitting on the couch Stephanie crossed her legs before she placed Lucy on her lap quite content and relaxed.

Rebecca had silently been taking Stephanie's demeanour in since she arrived and she couldn't help but notice how relaxed and happy she looked, "okay Steph spill, what happened? You look so . . . so relaxed and happy."

Stephanie laughed and brushed Lucy's hair back with her hand, "charming. I'll be grumpy if you wish."

"Oh you know I don't mean that so don't start with that."

Stephanie nodded, "I know, sorry. I just had a really good nights sleep last night because I felt safe and secure." She neglected to include that the only reason she felt so safe and so secure was because she slept in Paul's arms but Rebecca didn't need to know that.

Rebecca was sceptical of her answer but she couldn't put a finger on why, "so was that because Paul was in the house?"

"Umm sure, I guess."

"So are you going to ask him out?"

Stephanie rolled her eyes before throwing a cushion at Rebecca, "shut up. Just because he makes me feel safe doesn't mean I need to date him."

In the play room Shawn had joined in with the boys games until both he and Paul were eliminated so they had to sit to the side and watch the young ones play. Shawn took this break as his opportunity, "so how did you sleep last night Paul?"

Paul looked at him strangely not entirely sure what was meant by that, "uh I don't really know what you mean."

"It's a simple question, how did you sleep? I mean you're in a strange bed in a strange house."

"He slept with Mommy."

Shawn looked at Alex shocked, "excuse me?"

Alex wasn't sure what he did wrong, "he slept in Mommy's bed."

Shawn looked at Paul, "did you?"

Paul rolled his eyes, "not like that, don't twist the boys words. For reasons you already know I ended up staying in her room to make her feel safer."

Shawn frowned, "not the 'l' word?"

"Yes the 'l' word. He had been watching us during the day and had been in contact."

Shawn ran his hand roughly through his hair, "what are we going to do? This isn't going to be good for her to be alone."

Paul just shrugged, he didn't know what to do or what to say.

The two men were so engrossed in their conversation they failed to see the boys finish playing until they were stood in front of them, "can we get a drink pease?"

Paul lifted his head and plastered on a smile, "of course. Come on and let's go and see what we can find."

Pushing himself up off of the floor he followed the two little boys to the kitchen to get them a drink.

Whilst Paul was getting the boys a drink Shawn decided to make the most of it and use the time to tease Stephanie so he too got up from the floor but he went into the lounge.

Walking into the lounge Shawn flopped onto the couch next to Stephanie and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Stephanie looked at Shawn like he was crazy, "you do know your wife is on the other couch right?"

He smirked, "yes, yes I do."

Rebecca looked at her husband, he had that glint in his eye which meant he was going to tease somebody and judging by where he was sat she had a feeling it was going to be Stephanie. Picking up her cup of coffee she sat back on the couch to enjoy whatever he was about to do to her.

Once Paul had poured the drinks he carried the glasses through to the lounge for the boys so the adults could all talk together and keep an eye on the kids.

Shawn cocked his head to the side as he looked at Stephanie, "so how is old Paulie boy in bed then?"

Stephanie looked at him like he had completely lost his mind and Rebecca spat her coffee out in shock.

Paul walked back into the room as Rebecca spat her coffee out, "wow Becca I had no idea Stephanie's coffee was that bad."

Rebecca, Shawn and Stephanie all turned to look at Paul who was stood in the doorway, "what did I say?"

Shawn smirked, "I was just asking Stephanie how you were in bed last night?"

Paul shook his head, "you're a pig, you know that right?"

Rebecca was confused, "wait, what's going on?"

Stephanie glared at Shawn, "remember I said I felt safe and secure last night?"

Rebecca nodded slowly, "yes."

"Well that was only after he came and shared my bed and I fell asleep in his arms. How did you know this Shawn?"

Shawn shuffled down the couch a bit away from her, "Alex told me he slept in your bed, Paul was ever the gentleman and didn't divulge any information so I just thought I would tease you about it."

"Yeah well I would appreciate it if you didn't make jokes about my relationship with Paul."

With that she got up from the couch placing Lucy on Shawn's lap and walked out of the room.