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'So Jonny seemed chipper this morning' Michael Spence enquired as he sat in Jac's kitchen eating toast having dropped in on his friend after finishing his night shift. 'Seemed to think there was new hope for your marriage.'

'We slept together' Jac admitted in a mumble just as the doorbell rang.

'You what?' Michael choked on the coffee he had just taken a swig of.

'I'd better answer the door' Jac hurried out of the room to let Sacha into the house.

'So how did my little fairy cake sleep then?' Sacha asked as he followed Jac into the kitchen.

'If that's Naylor you're referring to then pretty good after certain activities with Maconie last night.' Michael was still in shock at Jac's news.

'Michael!' Jac glared at him thinking he was being somewhat insensitive to poor grieving Sacha.

'I wondered why Jonny had snuck in so late last night' Sacha gave a soft amused grin.

'Wait a minute, let me get this straight' Michael crossed his arms 'you sleep with the guy and then make him leave his own home straight afterwards like a cheap whore?'

'Not straight afterwards, we did talk a bit too' Jac shrugged embarrassedly.

'So how was it…?' Sacha asked.

'Good lord, I can't believe you're asking that' Michael pulled a disgusted face.

'It was…nice' Jac settled on

'Nice?' Michael rolled his eyes despite his discomfort at the conversation.

'It was kind of comforting, which was nice' Jac shrugged.

'Sounds kinda boring' Michael half laughed 'poor Jonny is getting a bit of mediocre review.'

'It's never boring, Jonny makes me feel like no other man could' Jac narrowed her eyes at him annoyed at his male egotism 'do you need me to go into explicit detail?'

'No thank you' Michael shook his head firmly fearing for a moment she actually would.

'Who initiated it?' Sacha asked next.

'You know what? You are such a woman!' Michael looked at Sacha incredulously.

'Well someone's got to have these conversations with her' Sacha defended himself 'just be grateful we no longer have to discuss things of an entirely female nature.'

'Sacha!' Jac blushed as Michael grimaced 'I shared the stuff I was going through with my endometriosis with you in confidence!'

'And it will forever remain so' Sacha reassured her 'so who made the first move, you or Jonny?'

'I don't know it just kind of happened. I tried to stop it but…' Jac let her voice trail off

'He didn't force himself on you?' Michael suddenly sat up.

'What? No!' Jac glared at him 'I meant he persuaded me otherwise!'

'You have to learn to speak woman to have these conversations' Sacha placed a reassuring hand on Michaels shoulder 'rookie mistake.'

'So what now?' Sacha asked Jac.

'I don't know' Jac shrugged again.

'Well would you want to do it again?' Sacha asked.

'Dude, seriously?' Michael asked astonished at the unabashed way Sacha easily asked these questions with Jac.

'I miss him, he's my husband'

'What, like it was comfortable, what you're used to?' Michael asked curiously, feeling as though he was getting a long overdue lesson into the inner workings of the female mind when it came it sex.

'She means she loves him' Sacha interpreted for him as Jac shrugged helplessly 'can't imagine being with anyone else but him'.

'I'm just so confused, how did everything become such a mess?' Jac shook her head as Sacha pulled her into a bear hug. 'What should I do?'

'Oy-yoy-yoy' Sacha kissed the top of her head. 'Only you can decide what it is you want, what will be best for you and Ava.'

'A little while ago you wanted me to leave him' Jac mumbled against his chest.

'That doesn't mean I was right' Sacha sighed 'you and Jonny have gone through some pretty stressful things just lately, I guess he was just responding to it.' Sacha squeezed her tightly 'I know he's lost without you.'

'Hmm' Jac mumbled disbelievingly after Jonny's confident attitude last night in the bedroom. 'How is Mo?'

'She's not good' Sacha let Jac go and sat himself down at the table. 'I mean I didn't get much sleep but I don't think she slept at all. I counted it as a triumph I got her to leave the nursery and lie down on our bed. I held her but she just lay there as stiff as a board. She won't talk, she won't eat. I don't know what to do. I left Adele with her, I'm hoping she might be able to bring her out of herself.'

'I guess it might be the shock' Jac suggested as she placed a mug of hot tea down in front of Sacha. 'At least when I lost Amelia' she paused for a moment, letting the pain of that day pass before continuing 'well I guess I knew the odds' she sat herself down between her two friends.

'How has Evelyn been?' Sacha asked wrapping his hands around his mug.

'She's doing ok. Sad and missing her brother but basically ok' Jac placed a reassuring hand on top of Sacha's. 'She keeps asking for Mo though, I'm not sure how much longer I can fob her off with the story Mummy needs lots of rest.'

'She can't see Mo not coping' Sacha shook his head 'no child should see their parents go through this.'

'Daddy!' Evelyn squealed as she ran into the kitchen from the living room where she had been drawing with Ava. 'I drew this for Mummy' she spoke proudly as Sacha lifted her on this knee.

'Well that's beautiful sweetheart' Sacha kissed the child's cheek tenderly holding her tightly.

'That's Isaac and he's on the beach because Ava said there was a beach in Heaven' the child explained her drawing to her father 'and there's a chocolate ice cream sundae because he always liked chocolate ice cream the best and a swing because he used to giggle when Mummy pushed him on the swing.'

'Yes he did' Sacha chuckled as he wiped away a tear with the back of his hand.

'Are you sad Daddy?' Evelyn asked him seriously.

'Yes I'm very sad' Sacha answered her truthfully.

'Are you worried Isaac will be lonely in Heaven? Because Ava said her Granddad would be looking after him so he would never be lonely.'

'Well that's a lovely thought' Sacha kissed the child's cheek again.

'Can I show mummy my drawing?' Evelyn asked him.

'Well sweetheart Mummy isn't feeling quite herself but I'll take it home with me and show her for you.'

'Haven't you come to take me home?' Evelyn's lower lip wobbled and her large brown eyes filled will impossibly large tears.

'I'm sorry princess' a sob caught in Sacha's throat as he enveloped the child deeper into his arms. He held her whilst she cried, rocking her and hushing her as though she were still a baby and not the independent eight year old she had grown into.

'Hey Evelyn how about you come with Jac and I to Ava's riding lesson this afternoon?' Michael sought to distract the child 'I'm sure you could have a lesson too.'

'That'd be great wouldn't it Evelyn?' Sacha spoke encouragingly to the child as she sat up to listen to Michael. She nodded as she sniffed bravely. 'And Auntie Adele said she would pop around here to see you so that'll be fun won't it?' Sacha took a tissue out of the box Jac handed him and wiped the child's tears for her.

'I just want to see Mummy' Evelyn spoke quietly.

'Maybe tomorrow' Sacha kissed the child's damp cheek. 'You like staying here with Jac and Ava don't you?' he watched as Evelyn nodded 'I just need you to be brave and patient and stay here a little while longer ok?'

'Ok' Evelyn muttered softly in agreement.

'Thank you princess' Sacha murmured kissing her cheek and holding her tightly.

'You didn't have to spend the whole day with us Michael' Jac reminded him for the umpteenth time that day after he had yawned and grumbled how tired he was. It would appear a quick nap was not as refreshing after a night shift as it had been in his younger days.

'I want to' Michael grumbled 'I actually like hanging out with you guys.'

'Auntie Jac, come and watch me jump' Ava called over to her aunt. The red haired girl was mounted on a chestnut coloured horse which looked far more spirted than Jac would have liked.

'Oh bloody hell' Jac muttered under her breath to Michael 'it's like she makes me watch her jumping on that beast purely to torture me.'

'She gets that adrenaline junkie side from you' Michael laughed 'go on you'd better go do your Mommy Naylor duties' he teased her.

'Just make sure you get a decent picture of Evelyn on that pony so we can reassure Sacha she's having a good time' she glared at him before striding off to watch Ava in the other arena.

'Looking good Evelyn' Michael beamed encouragingly at the young girl who was having her first lesson sat astride a mild mannered pony being led by an understanding and patient instructor. He used his camera phone to take a few pictures of Evelyn in action and then flicked through them to check the quality would be good enough for Jac. As he studied one of the images he felt his heart jolt as he recognised an elderly red-haired woman watching from the distance. He lowered his phone and looked over at the spot to see she was still stood there engrossed in watching the arena where Ava has having her jumping lesson. Michael checked to see Evelyn was engaged in her own lesson before swiftly walking over to where Paula Borrows stood.

'What the hell are you doing here?' he greeted her with his arms crossed.

'Just watching, not a crime is it?' Paula sniffed. 'Isn't my granddaughter beautiful?'

'Yeah, she gets it from her Mother' Michael glowered 'I think you should leave, you've caused Jac enough upset for one lifetime don't you think?'

'She's my daughter I have a right to see her if I want to' Paula spoke stubbornly.

'Yeah well it's a pity you didn't feel that way when she was twelve wasn't it?' Michael spoke through gritted teeth. 'Now I'm asking you politely to please leave.'

'Where's the Scottish one? You know, her supposed husband?' Paula asked.

'Working' Michael answered her glaring at her audacity.

'Does he know about the two of you? Is it like some sort of open relationship arrangement?' Paula smirked.

'You what?' Michael asked her.

'You and my daughter, you look very cosy together doing a family activity' Paula simpered 'it almost feels as though Jonny, isn't that his name?, is missing out on something.'

'If you're implying Naylor and I are having an affair you couldn't be further from the truth' Michael practically spat at her.

'I know he didn't stay at home the last couple of nights' Paula smirked 'and yet you have.'

'Its slightly sickening that you've been stalking your daughter and her family like this' Michael hissed at her 'now listen good, you leave Naylor and Ava alone. They are nothing to do with you, they want nothing to do with you. So let them be.'

'Michael?'

He turned around at sound of Jac's worried voice calling his name. 'Get Ava, we're going home' he commanded her.

'What did she want?' Jac spoke in a terrified whisper as he neared her.

'Don't know, don't care' Michael put his hand on her shoulder and guided her firmly away from Paula. 'Let's just get you and the girls' home safely'.