Paul stood there and watched almost helplessly as Stephanie left the room, he kind of understood why she was so sensitive but he definitely didn't understand why Shawn had made the joke to begin with because he was more than fully aware of everything that had happened with Luke and how fragile she had been since.

Shaking his head he went and placed the boys drinks on the coffee table before he glared at Shawn, "you're a pig you know that right?"

He then turned around and walked out of the room to check on Stephanie.

When Paul left the room Rebecca glared at Shawn, "did you have to say that to her?"

Shawn frowned, "I'm sorry."

"It's not me you need to apologise to."

"I know I know."

Shawn then turned his focus to Lucy to avoid any more of an ear bashing from his wife.

When she left the lounge Stephanie head headed straight for the kitchen and pushed the door shut behind her as soon as she entered, she wasn't mad as such at Shawn for making the joke but more frustrated by her inability to vocalise her feelings for Paul to Paul. Resting her elbows on the counter top she just put her head in her hands giving herself a minute to regain her composure.

Seeing the kitchen door pushed too Paul gently knocked on it before pushing it open a crack and sticking his head around it, "can I come in?"

Sighing she reluctantly lifted her head from her hands and turned around to look at him, "knock yourself out."

Walking into the kitchen he pushed the door to behind him again, "I'm sorry about Shawn, he can be such an idiot sometimes."

Laughing softly she shook her head, "he is meant to be your best friend."

"Which gives me every right to call him an idiot. You don't disagree do you?"

"I most certainly do not. You didn't have to check on me you know."

He shrugged, "I was worried about you."

Before she knew what she was saying the words were out of her mouth, "you really care about me don't you?"

He smiled softly at her not fully realising the implications of what he was about to say, "yes I do, a lot."

Silence fell over them with Stephanie too stunned to say anything and Paul not knowing what to say to her now.

After a minute of silence the kitchen door was pushed open and Cameron stuck his head in, "Daddy wants to know if you're going to be mad forever?"

Laughing softly she smirked, "tell him he'll be old and grey by the time he's forgiven."

Cam just nodded and ran off to give his Dad the message.

Paul watched Cam leave before he turned back to her, "I'll go back into the lounge with everyone, join us when you're ready."

He went to leave the room but stopped when he felt a hand on his arm. Turning back around to look at her he couldn't quite read the expression on her face, "is something wrong?"

Opening her mouth with the intention of replying she quickly shut it again not knowing what to actually say.

After a few moments more of silence she moved up onto her tiptoes and pressed soft kiss to his lips, not overly passionate but let it linger briefly.

Pulling back she dropped his arm and chewed on her lip nervously waiting for him to say something but when he didn't say anything immediately she started to panic, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. Please don't let it affect our working relationship or our friendship as I rea . . ."

Her words were cut off mid-sentence when he pressed his lips against her in a soft and gentle kiss as his hands moved down to her waist holding her.

After a moment where she didn't respond he was about to pull away when he felt her slowly start to respond to the kiss, it wasn't a hot and heavy kiss but just a soft and sweet one.

Only a few moment after she started to respond to the kiss Stephanie pulled away, "we should go back into the lounge with Shawn, Rebecca and the kids."

Paul was shocked by her behaviour, "shouldn't we talk about what just happened?"

"Not now."

With that she went to walk past him to leave the kitchen, she was conflicted within herself now and needed space to sort things out in her mind.

Before she was able to actually leave the room he gently grabbed her arm, "please Steph, can we talk?"

Without turning to look back at him she shook her head, "not now."

Truth be told she was afraid of the conversation the kisses would create because it would either break her heart if he said it was a mistake or it would scare her to think about actually attempting a relationship after everything with Luke, it's not that she hadn't imagined it but that was in her thoughts and her mind and not in the real world.

Dropping his hold on her arm Paul just let her walk out of the room as the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her by forcing her to do something she obviously wasn't ready for.

She left the kitchen and went back into the lounge immediately taking a seat next to Rebecca on the couch not wanting to be near Shawn right now.

As Stephanie walked back into the lounge Rebecca had picked up on her mood and the unshed tears that seemed to be in her eyes and her jaw locked at the thought that Paul might have done something to hurt her.

Turning to look at Stephanie Rebecca frowned, "you okay?"

Silently she nodded not really acknowledging her or looking at her.

Alex immediately picked up on Stephanie's down demeanour and went and climbed into her lap giving her a big hug, "wuv you."

She closed her eyes as she hugged her little boy tightly trying not to let the tears fall.

As Paul walked back into the room he stopped dead seeing Stephanie hugging Alex tightly and his heart dropped to his stomach immediately concerned that he did the wrong thing in the kitchen.

Unbeknownst to both Paul and Stephanie Shawn and Rebecca had watched them both and were now having a war of words with just their eyes with Rebecca begging Shawn to talk to Paul and Shawn begging Rebecca too. Like a lot of times in their marriage Shawn gave in and Rebecca won.

Sighing softly and almost reluctantly Shawn got up from the couch and handed Lucy to Rebecca, "boys do you want to play football?"

Alex's head shot up from Stephanie's chest and Cameron shot up from the floor both excited to play football, "yaaaaay."

Stephanie laughed softly and put Alex on the floor where both he and Cameron immediately ran past Paul who was still in the doorway towards the back door.

Shawn shook his head and patted Paul on the shoulder "come on buddy, you've got to help me with this."

Paul rolled his eyes, "you're the one that suggested it."

Shawn was a bit taken aback by his response as normally he was all up for playing with the kids, "I'm sorry?"

Wearily rubbing his face Paul sighed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you. Let's go."

With a final glance towards Stephanie he turned and walked out of the door to play football with the boys.

When Paul had walked out of the door Shawn looked over at Stephanie and smiled softly, "I am sorry for what I said earlier, I didn't mean to upset you."

He then walked out of the door leaving the two girls alone with Lucy.