After lunch Paul rang his parents and actually managed to speak to his Mom and explained the plan for the evening when she suggested that they just all stayed there for the night so he told her he would talk with Stephanie about it and they would go from there but he would call her back and tell her what they decided.

Walking into Stephanie's office he chuckled at the state of her desk, "you can find anything on that bomb site can you?"

Lifting her head to look at him she nodded her head, "I know exactly where everything is so don't start messing up my system please. What can I do for you though?"

Putting his hands up in defence he had zero plans to start tidying his desk as he valued his life, "I just spoke to my Mom. She is concerned that going from here to do shopping and then to your parents to pick up the kids and then to theirs to cook will be too much and it will exhaust us all . . ."

Before he could finish what he was saying she jumped in, "I hope you told her that we are going to go anyway."

Rolling his eyes he shook his head, "if you would have let me finish you would have heard me say that my Mom suggested that we all stayed over there."

Blushing she looked down at the desk, "oops."

"Yes oops, that is what you get for jumping in. What do you think about it though? We could drop home and pick up a change of clothes and toiletries for us all or we could go home after dinner."

She wanted to say that it was a terrible idea and they shouldn't stay and put his parents out but she knew that Paul got his stubborn streak from his Mom so thought better of it, "staying the night at your parent's isn't a terrible idea as long as they're sure. You'll have to call or text my parents and tell them we'll be late picking the kids up though as we really don't want to drag them around the store with us."

Nodding his head he had a lot to get on with, "sure. I'll call my Mom back now and then I'll text your Mom to let her know that we will be late picking up the kids. I will make some coffee in a little bit but if you need anything before then let me know."

"Thanks Paul, I don't know what I would do without you."

Chuckling he had a fair idea of what would happen, "oh I do, your office would fall apart and you would be grey by the end of the month."

Rolling her eyes she would throw something at him if finding an object wouldn't disrupt her organised chaos, "just go away before I make you walk to your parents."

Shaking his head he walked back out of her office to quickly call his Mom to tell her that they would stay the night before he texted Linda to inform her that they'd be a little late picking up the kids.

Linda was just setting out some craft materials for Alex and Lucy to make 'Get Well Soon' cards for Pat when her phone beeped. Looking at the screen she was concerned when she saw the text from Paul and showed it to Vince, "this can't be good."

Shaking his head Vince didn't like the idea of his wife jumping to conclusions, "it might be nothing."

"It might be something but it might be nothing I know that but I can't help but be afraid. He wouldn't dump her because of you know what would he?"

He sure hoped that Paul wasn't that fickle but he couldn't say anything for certain, "I don't think so but only time will tell. Let's not worry about them and let's just focus on these cards for Pat and let them worry about their own relationship."

Sighing softly she turned her focus to the kids, "come on kids, let's make Grandma Pat some cards."

Vince knew his wife and he knew being kept in the dark by Stephanie killed her because of what had happened with Luke but Paul was not Luke and he knew that he wouldn't hurt her in the way that Luke had.

After a long day at work Stephanie and Paul headed straight to the store picking up some groceries for dinner before they headed home and put together some overnight bags for them and the kids and then they headed to her parent's.

Pulling up outside the house Stephanie dreaded going inside, "I'm thinking my Mom is going to give me the third degree now, I can't wait."

"Your Mom likes giving you the third degree and my Mom likes giving me the third degree too so you can't think too much into it because it's what they do. Let's go and retrieve our kids so we can get to my parents."

Climbing out of the car they made their way to the front door and rang the doorbell.

Hearing the doorbell ring Alex got up from his seat on the floor and ran to the front door in front of his Grandma, "Mommy! Daddy!"

Stephanie smiled hearing Alex calling for them the other side of the door and put on a deep masculine voice, "I don't know who you're looking for."

Alex pouted as his Grandma appeared desperately trying to keep a straight face as she knew it was her daughter, "let me open that door and see who is behind there."

Alex pouted some more, "I's don't likes dem, it's not Mommy."

Unable to stop herself she laughed as she pulled open the door revealing Stephanie and Paul, "oh look Alex, it is Mommy and Daddy."

Flying out of the front door Alex flew straight into his Mom's arms, "Mommy it's you."

Hugging her son tightly she picked him up, "it sure is. Come on and let's get your sister so we can go home."

Wrapping his arms around his Mom's neck he held on tightly, "kay kay. Come on Daddy, Oocy's cranky."

Ruffling his hair Paul smiled at his son, "she's always cranky, women always are."

Turning to glare at her boyfriend Stephanie shook her head, "boy you are asking for trouble today. Just go and get our daughter and we can be on our way."

Seeing the look that Linda was giving Stephanie he decided to do them a favour, "why don't you come and help me Alex and we can make sure that we get everything?"

Wriggling in his Mom's arms he loved helping out with his little sister so he happily took his Dad's hand once he was on the floor and walked with him to the lounge.

Once the boys were out of the way Linda turned to her daughter, "I know what happened."

Looking at her Mom oddly she raised her eyebrow, "you know what happened when? It's getting a little late in the day for riddles."

"I know what happened on Saturday with Sarah, Alex told me."

Sighing heavily she shook her head, "fuck. I really didn't want him to be affected Mom, I had no idea that she would do that and I feel like such a shit parent that he had to experience it."

Unable to stop herself she wrapped her arms around her daughter, "it's okay. You are not a terrible Mother and Alex is not that affected, he is just sad at how rude she is and how badly she treats you all."

Hugging her Mom she sighed, "I'm still a shitty Mom."

"You are not, don't you dare say that. You have to re-think not telling Paul though, he really needs to know about what she did."

Pulling away she shook her head, "I can't, it will kill him to know what she did so please don't tell him."

Rolling her eyes she shook her head, "I won't tell him but you should however I can't force you to do anything so I won't. It is entirely your choice to make but just think of the kids."

"I do, every single day so don't you dare try to emotionally blackmail me."

Putting her hands up in defence Linda stepped away from her, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to try to do that but you know what I mean. I'm here if you need me okay?"

Sighing softly Stephanie nodded her head, "I know and I appreciate it but we really need to get the kids and get going."

"It's okay, I understand. Come on and I'll help you make sure they're ready."

Following her Mom into the lounge Stephanie just wanted out of there before her parents decided to open their mouths and say something to Paul.