Paul spent an hour putting away all of the bags and boxes whilst Stephanie cooked dinner before they sat down to eat together.

Sitting down at the table opposite her Paul couldn't help but admire her beauty and thank his lucky stars, "you're beautiful, you know that right?"

She blushed, "you're just saying that."

Laughing he shook his head, "trust me I'm not. I don't feel like I have ever told you how beautiful I think you are and I just thought I would take this opportunity."

With a straight face she was quick to respond, "suck up."

Paul frowned slightly taken aback by how she was taking it and the way she was reacting to it, "I'm sorry?"

Sighing heavily Stephanie looked at him apologetically, "no I am, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been rude to you, I'm just not used to being told I'm beautiful and it not to be followed by an insult or a hit of some form."

Shaking his head he reached across the table for her hand gently gripping it so as not to push her too far, "I didn't realise, I'm sorry. Don't worry about it though because you weren't rude to me, just a little abrupt." Deciding to quickly change the subject he decided to bring up the teddy, "so um when I checked on Lucy she had a teddy in the crib with her, where did it come from?"

She laughed softly, "oh yeah that's one of Alex's teddies. He asked why I was cuddling her before she fell asleep and I said it was because she needed comfort and so he gave her that to try and comfort her too."

"That's cute, your son is amazing."

Stephanie smiled warmly, "thank you."

Silence fell over the two of them as they tucked into their dinner before they got up and washed the dishes and put them all away before they made their way into the lounge to relax a bit before they went to bed.

Paul was first to take a seat on the couch whilst Stephanie turned the TV on before she turned back to him, "so . . . umm where can I sit?"

Looking around him he was confused, "wherever you like? It's your house so you can sit wherever you like."

Shuffling her feet a little on the carpet she looked at him nervously, "I kind of want to cuddle with you on the couch."

Sitting himself up on the couch a little he patted the couch beside him, "I'd like it too."

Smiling softly she walked over to the couch and sat down heavily next to him before she tucked her legs up beneath her and cuddled into his side.

After a few hours of watching TV cuddled up on the couch together they both headed up to bed.

The next morning the house was full of activity as both parents tried to feed, clothe and get their children and themselves ready for the day ahead.

After a few near collisions in the kitchen soon everybody was ready to head out the door.

Bending down Paul was strapping Lucy into her carrier ready to meet up with his parents when Alex appeared by his side, "can I help you Alex?"

Alex held the teddy he had given to Lucy out to Paul the night before, "yous forgot this."

Taking the teddy from him he smiled softly, "I'm sorry about that. Thank you Alex."

Placing the teddy on the top of the diaper bag he ruffled the little boys hair before Alex went running back to Stephanie and Paul went back to finishing strapping Lucy in.

Stephanie sighed softly when Alex ran back to her, "will you please stand still and put your coat on so we can leave?"

Holding out the coat to the little boy she helped him put it on before she did it up and then grabbed her bag, "come on, we need to get going before Mommy is late for work."

Alex obediently followed Stephanie towards the door and waited quietly as she picked up her keys before she unlocked the door opening it just as Paul came up behind her with Lucy.

Opening the door wide Stephanie stepped aside to let Paul out first, "I'll see you at work okay?"

Smiling softly Paul nodded, "you can bet on it. I will see you tonight Alex so be a good boy for your Grandma and Grandpa okay?"

Nodding his head Alex waved at Paul, "bye!"

Stephanie chuckled as she shut and locked the front door, "come on."

Walking to the car she opened the door and helped Alex into his car seat before she climbed into the drivers seat and started the car.

Pulling up at the park Paul smiled seeing his parents there waiting for them, "looks like your Grandparents missed you Lucy."

Climbing out of the car he went around the other side and undid the car seat before he picked up her diaper bag and slung it over his shoulder as he lifted the car seat out of the car and turned around before slamming the door shut behind him, "Hey."

Patricia smiled at her son, "good morning. How are you two this morning?"

Nodding his head he smiled, "we are good thanks. Lucy slept well so shouldn't be too cranky for you today. There's a new teddy in the diaper bag that is Alex's which he gave to Lucy to comfort her so make sure that goes back in the diaper bag tonight please."

"Of course we can. Any other special instructions?"

Shaking his head he handed over the carrier and diaper bag, "nothing out of the ordinary no. If anybody strange turns up tell them nothing and don't let them in."

Patricia looked at her son oddly, "are you expecting anybody?"

He sighed, "not really but taking this step by moving in with Steph I can't help just worry a little that Lucy and you will be targeted as a way to get to Stephanie so I just want to be certain."

Paul Snr stepped forward, "son don't worry, Lucy is our main priority and we won't do anything to put her in harms way so just go and have a good day at work."

Almost reluctantly he nodded his head, "call me if you need anything."

Bending down he kissed the top of Lucy's head, "be a good girl."

Slowly he walked back around his car and got back in the drivers side before starting the car and heading off to work.

Unbuckling Alex's car seat Stephanie contemplated just letting him go to the door himself and she waited in the car so they couldn't give her the third degree but she knew it wouldn't work.

Reluctantly she shut the car door after putting Alex on the floor and walked him to the front door allowing him to knock the door himself.

As the door opened to reveal her Mom she felt her stomach drop, "I'll pick Alex up after work tonight. Be a good boy Alex."

She bent down and kissed the little boys head and gave him a quick hug before releasing him to run into the house and then turning to leave but as she did she felt a hand on her arm, "Stephanie please hold on a second."

Sighing she turned back to face her Mom, "what now?"

Linda frowned seeing the woman before her it was not her daughter, "you know what we said last night was only because we care right? After seeing and hearing about what he put you through last time the last thing we honestly and truthfully want is for him to come back into your life and hurt you like that all over again and with there being Alex as well we don't want him to hurt him either. The thought of losing either of you kills us, please understand that we just want you to be honest with us."

Stephanie clenched her jaw and blinked a few tears to clear her vision, "I have to go, I will see you tonight."

With that she turned around and rushed back to her car before speeding off to get out of there.

Linda was left in the doorway watching as her car sped away, deep down she knew that Luke was back on the scene but she just needed to hear Stephanie say it.