For the rest of the weekend not a word was said about Sarah's visit or Stephanie's apparent desire to keep something from Paul, the two of them just focussed entirely on each other and the kids with a couple of phone calls to his parents along the way.

Dropping the kids off at her parents Stephanie sighed at the door as her Mom gave her that look that had been perfected so well, the one that said 'I don't believe a word coming out of your mouth'. Looking at her daughter Linda sighed softly as she looked at Paul who was smart enough to go back to the car, "Stephanie can you please tell me what happened at the weekend? I know something went down Saturday morning because I could hear it in your voice when we spoke."

"Mom nothing happened. Sarah came over and so did Kara and Paul went to the hospital to be with his Mom because he was worried about her. I was just worried about Pat, that's all."

Pressing her lips together Linda shook her head, "don't lie to me Stephanie, I have known you for far too long to know when you're lying to me and when you're telling me the truth and right now you're lying."

Sighing softly Stephanie looked at the floor, "I can't tell you what happened, I haven't even told Paul what happened and I can't tell him what happened."

The last six words spoken by her daughter gave her chills, "are you or the kids in trouble?"

Stephanie shook her head, "no, of course not."

"Then what is it Steph?"

"I can't tell you Mom. Neither the kids nor myself are in trouble, especially not from Paul if that's what you are thinking."

Chuckling softly Linda never had any thoughts that Paul would be behind any of what was wrong with her, "trust me I wasn't thinking Paul had anything to do with this but if you can't tell Paul then it has to be something to do with Sarah."

Biting her lip Stephanie motioned to the car, "I need to get to work."

That was answer enough for Linda to let her daughter go, "that's okay. Have a good day and we will see you tonight."

Smiling softly Stephanie gave her Mom a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, "tell the kids I love them okay?"

Laughing she nodded her head, "I will and I do apologise for your Father bribing them with gifts but he went out yesterday to pick something up for Declan's birthday that I'd forgotten and saw something that he absolutely adored for both of the kids and he couldn't help himself. He thought that they would both be enjoy the extra toy each as they're going to be here all week."

Rolling her eyes Stephanie wasn't mad, she couldn't be mad about it, "don't worry about it but still tell them I love them."

"I will. Have a good day and we will see you tonight."

Stephanie waved at her Mom as she made her way back to the car climbing inside and slamming the door shut behind her, "seems like my parents have bought the kids a new toy each which is why they were so excited to get away from us."

Laughing he started the car, "I won't take it personally, you know I appreciate everything your parents have done for me and Lucy so I can forgive them this one time."

Smiling softly she rested her head on the headrest, "well I'm glad one of us can. I really wish they wouldn't spoil the kids though."

"It's in the 'Grandparent's Code', they kind of have to as it is in their job description."

Smacking his arm gently she rolled her eyes, "just drive will you?"

Smiling at her he liked seeing her being playful again but the happiness was still not reaching her eyes again and that made him sad. Reaching for the radio he turned it on, "madam may choose the station."

Reaching for the dial she searched through the stations until she found an old music station and she smiled as she listened to songs she recognised from when she was younger.

The rest of the drive to work was done in relative silence with just the noise of the radio in the background. Arriving at work they said hello to the receptionist as they made their way to the elevator and up the floors until they reached her office.

Walking inside Stephanie went to go straight for her office but stopped halfway there and turned around to face Paul making her way back towards him, "I love you."

Slightly taken aback by her random declaration of love he stood there dumbly not really knowing how to reply.

Not receiving any sort of response from her boyfriend she slowly backed away from him before she turned and rushed to enter her office to shut herself off from him.

It was only when she backed away that he hadn't said a word in response and he quickly followed after her grabbing her arm before she was able to enter her office stopping her in her tracks, "I love you too."

Turning to face him again she hoped he couldn't see that her eyes were full of unshed tears, "you promise?"

Nodding his head he lifted his hands to cup her cheeks, "I promise. I don't know why I didn't say it straight back but I do love you, you hopefully know that I love you but it's true despite the random pause my brain inserted."

His rambling explanation brought a smile to her face and she blinked which pushed a few tears from her eyes and down her cheeks, "I can't lose you."

Staring at her oddly that came out of left field just like her declaration of love in the middle of her office, "you won't lose me. I don't know where this came from but I swear and promise on everything that I hold dear in my life that you aren't going to lose me unless you want to."

Shaking her head she looked down at the floor, "I don't, I can't. You have restored my faith in love and in men, I think it would kill me if I lost you."

Pulling her close despite where they were he pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, "you won't lose me, I promise."

Lifting her head from his chest she gulped, "good."

Leaning down he pressed a soft kiss to her lips, "yes it is. So we should probably get to work because I hear the boss is a bit of a dragon if she catches you not doing your work."

Laughing she slapped his chest gently, "shut up and get to work."

Pulling away he put his hands in the air as he backed up, "okay okay, no need to get violent."

Rolling her eyes she flipped him off playfully before she walked into her office and sat down at her desk to start her work.

Watching her as she walked away he didn't understand what was going on between them but it made him nervous to think of what might have happened at the weekend that had frightened her so very much.