"Granny, is Uncle Danny coming to visit for your birthday?"

Glenda shushed the seven-year-old hastily, making sure the others were engrossed in their television programme. "Remember what I said, darling? Mummy and Uncle Danny don't really get on, so its best if we keep that between us, alright?"

"I don't get why they don't like each other, though." Ruby said with a slight frown. "Uncle Danny's really funny and so is Mummy."

"Well…" Glenda considered her answer for a moment, before sighing and reaching out to stroke her great-granddaughter's hair. "Uncle Danny wasn't very nice to your Mummy when she was younger. He didn't really mean it, but she hasn't forgiven him. Every time they see each other they just remember how things were back then and it makes them cross with each other."

"But it was ages ago, wasn't it?"

"Mmm… almost ten years now."

"So why can't they say sorry and be friends, like me and Lucy Burrows did when she tried to push me over at school?"

Glenda smiled softly. "Because things aren't quite that simple when you're an adult."

"I thought they were friends after Uncle Danny came to your last birthday."

For Glenda's sake, Katy and Danny had started the visit being civil to each other. Sadly, though, it hadn't lasted much longer than the birthday meal. Before they'd even reached dessert, Danny hadn't been able to stop himself making snide comments about Tyler and Katy had flown off the handle and ordered him to leave. When Glenda, powerless to do much about it, hadn't intervened, her son had stormed out and refused to go back.

"Not really, darling." Glenda sighed again, remembering their last meeting. "But that doesn't mean Uncle Danny doesn't love you, though."

Ruby nodded sagely. "I know. Lots of people love me and not each other. Like Mum and Dad." She scrunched up her nose. "So, is Uncle Danny coming?"

"I don't think so, darling." Her great-grandmother said with a sigh. "But that's OK, because I'll have you lot around."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Can I go and see Mum?"

"She's working, darling. You'll see her in about fifteen minutes at the restaurant."

"But I need to see her now, Granny." Ruby told her. "It's… it's about your birthday present."

Glenda hesitated, glancing at the others. "OK, I'll take you over there, but we've gotta be quick, right?"

"Long time, no see." Katy looked up at the voice, which was familiar, but that she couldn't quite place. Her mouth dropped open at the sight of the young man in the doorway. He grinned and motioned over his shoulder. "The guy downstairs said I should come up and see you."

"Dean? What…?"

He grinned even more broadly, leaning casually against the doorframe. "I've been in Australia for a while, but now I'm back I thought I should come and meet my niece."

Katy's heart stopped for a moment, before beating unnaturally fast. "Your what?"

"Nathan told me about Ruby when she was born. I thought it was time I came to meet her."

"Ruby's not… Ruby's not Nathan's daughter, Dean." She told him slowly. "I'm not sure what he's told you, or why, but Ruby's dad is my ex, Tyler."

With a frown, the young man walked closer, glancing sideways before dropping onto the sofa. "Why would he say he was?"

"I dunno… why don't you ask him?"

"I can't get hold of him." Dean told her. "Haven't been able to for a couple of years."

"That's… weird."

"Yeah…"

"I know he was into some dodgy stuff. The last time I saw him he was in trouble with some dangerous people."

"When was that?"

Katy shrugged. "Ages ago, now. Just after Ruby was born."

Dean watched her for a moment, narrowing his eyes. "Just after she was born?"

"Yeah."

"Why would he come here after she was born if she's not his?"

"Who says he came here?" Katy pointed out, arching an eyebrow. "He wanted to see me, so I met him. I told him that he wasn't her father, he believed me. That's the last I saw of him."

"Right… so he thought she was his but, just because you said she's not, he changed his mind?"

Katy shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "Don't ask me to understand the way your brother's mind works, Dean. Besides, it's been seven years and I haven't heard anything from or about him."

"Something ain't right, here." Dean said, shaking his head. He stood and walked slowly towards the desk. "I don't believe he'd just–"

"Believe what you want, Dean." Katy snapped. She exhaled sharply, not letting him see that she was rattled. "Nathan has nothing to do with my daughter. I told him that and I haven't seen him since. I don't know what you want me to say."

A tense silence fell between them. Katy was well aware that Dean was sure she was lying, but she stared him down, refusing to change her story. There was no way that she was going to tell him the truth about his brother's disappearance and she was sure that he wouldn't find out from anyone else.

"Katy? Glenda wanted me to remind you that we're meeting at Walford East at six." Jack said, walking into the office without even looking up from his phone.

"I haven't forgotten." She assured him with a tight smile. "I'll be there."

"You better be because you know it'll be my fault if you're even a second late." As his daughter chuckled softly, he noticed the young man standing on the other side of the room and narrowed his eyes slightly. The slightly aggressive stance the man had taken and the chilly atmosphere in the office, told him that something was wrong. "Who's this?"

"This is Dean Parry, Dad." Katy told him, standing up and moving around the desk. She leant against it and folded her arms across her chest. "Apparently Nathan told him he's Ruby's uncle."

Jack scowled at him. "Well he ain't, is he?"

"I've told him that."

"My brother wouldn't lie about it." Dean shot back angrily.

"Yeah?" Jack snarled at him. "He lied about pretty much everything else. Why would this be any different?"

"He told me she was his kid and Katy must be lying about it."

"Katy's ex, Tyler, is Ruby's dad." Jack took a step towards him threateningly. "We got a DNA test and showed it to your brother. He accepted it and left. He knew better than to step foot in Walford again."

"Yeah, why's that, then?" Dean challenged. "My brother wouldn't be scared of you, old man."

Jack laughed sarcastically, rubbing his jaw. "If he was smart, he would. Besides, he ain't here, is he? He ain't come back, so I think you better take a leaf out of his book and do one, yeah?"

Looking between Katy and her father, Dean shook his head and scowled, but evidently thought better of arguing. He slammed his way out of the office and Jack followed, watching until he was safely out of the R&R. Then he returned and pulled his daughter into a tight hug.

"You alright?"

"Fine." She exhaled sharply. "I never considered that Dean might…"

"Hold your nerve, alright?" Jack ordered her. "He ain't gonna find anything out. If he comes back, we'll deal with him."

Katy arched an eyebrow. "How? How are we gonna deal with him? The same way I dealt with Nathan?"

Jack didn't answer. Instead he pulled her into another tight hug and rested his chin on the top of her head, thinking carefully.

After a few minutes, Katy pulled away and walked back to sit in her desk chair again. She smiled weakly at Jack and told him that she was fine, but needed to get on with the accounts. He watched her for a moment, but when she refused to meet his eyes again, he gave up and left the office with a deep sigh.

As soon as he was gone, Katy leant back in her chair and chewed her lip thoughtfully. She knew that Dean would be back; there was no way this was going to be the end of it. He wouldn't give up until he found out the truth and there was no way that Katy was going to let that happen.

There was only one thing for it.

Standing up, Katy grabbed her jacket. She guessed that Dean wouldn't have made it very far – most likely to the Vic or the caf.

Katy was half way to the door when she heard her daughter's voice out in the upper bar. "I'm Ruby Mitchell, who the bloody hell are you?"

Feeling as though her heart had stopped as she considered who her daughter could be speaking to, the blonde yanked open the office door and rushed out into the main room. As she realised that Ruby was staring challengingly at Leon, one of her barmen, Katy felt herself relaxing. Without the threat of Dean looming over her, she found herself almost unable to stifle the laughter that Ruby's words had inspired.

Getting herself under control, she fixed the little girl with a stern look. "Ruby Mitchell, manners."

Pulling a face, Ruby reluctantly apologised before sloping into the office. Sending the young man, who looked completely bemused by the situation, an apologetic look, Katy shut the door behind her.

"Ruby! What have I told you? You cannot just–"

"Granny brought me over." Ruby promised, bouncing on the sofa. "She waited until I was inside before she went."

"Fine, fine!" Katy held up her hands in defeat.

She motioned towards the door and reached out to hold Ruby's hand. The little girl skipped along with her as Katy moved to the bar, tugging her daughter to stand beside the fridges. She passed her a glass of coke and poured herself a vodka.

"Why've you decided to honour me with your presence?"

"Granny was being annoying."

"It's Granny's birthday." Her mother pointed out with a chuckle. "I think it's the one day of the year she's allowed to be annoying, babe."

"I told her I needed to talk to you about her birthday present. That's why she brought me over."

Katy laughed again. "You're terrible!"

"I learnt from the best."

"Who told you that?" Her mother asked, shaking her head in amusement.

"I heard Granny saying it when Dad said I was a cheeky little sod. He said that you're a cheeky sod and I'd learnt from the best."

"Well, he's not wrong." Placing her glass under the bar, Katy glanced at the time. "Come on, babe, we're gonna be late if we hang around here much longer and then Granny will have something to say."

Waiting for her mother to get her things from the office, Ruby climbed up into the DJ booth and started pushing buttons. Katy rolled her eyes and held out a hand, telling Leon that they'd need to check the sound levels before they opened that evening. He nodded and told her to go and enjoy herself; that everything was under control.

As Katy had suspected, they were the last to arrive. Jack shot her a look as he stood to press a kiss to her cheek. Biting her lip to stop herself laughing as she greeted her grandmother. Katy settled herself on the opposite side of the table to her father, smiling around at her family.

"Happy birthday, Gran." She toasted once their food had arrived. "I know we don't always show it, but we all really appreciate everything you do for us – don't we, Dad?"

Jack nodded grudgingly. "Yeah, we do. Thanks for helping out with the kids, Glenda."

"So… for your birthday…" Katy looking meaningfully at Amy and Ricky, who both dived under the table before emerging with a large, homemade card and a bottle bag. "We wanted to get you something a little special."

"Oh, my darlings!" Glenda clasped a hand to her chest as she looked round at them. "Thank you."

"You might wanna open it first." Jack suggested with a grin.

Rolling her eyes at him, his mother-in-law didn't need telling twice. She looked at the bottle of wine, impressed by the vintage, before realising that there was an envelope tucked inside the bag. She opened it curiously, before beaming at her granddaughter, guessing that she had been behind it.

"A spa day?"

"Yeah, we thought you could take Kathy?"

"Or I could take you, my darling? You deserve a bit of pampering and it wouldn't do Jack any harm to return the babysitting duties for a day."

Katy laughed, raising her glass to her lips in order to prevent herself flatly refusing the offer. It didn't make it halfway before she slammed it back down on the table when her eyes fell on a young man making his way towards their table. Dean's eyes were darting between Amy and Ruby, clearly wondering which one of them was the girl he'd come looking for. Kicking Jack under the table, Katy nodded her head towards the new arrival.

"This is nice."

"What are you doing here?" Jack demanded, standing up with a scrape of his chair. "We've said all we're gonna say."

"Dad? Who's that?" Amy piped up, looking at the stranger curiously.

"Shh, Amy." Glenda flapped a hand in her direction, although she was evidently just as intrigued.

"Ruby?" He focused on the younger of the two girls. "I'm your uncle, your dad's brother."

There was a stunned silence. Then Ruby frowned. "You ain't Uncle Craig or Uncle Anthony… and Uncle Michael's dead."

"He ain't your uncle, Ruby." Katy told her in a hard tone. "He's someone I knew a long time ago, but he ain't anything to do with you."

Dean chuckled. "Yeah?"

Not answering him, Jack shoved the young man backwards roughly until they had disappeared out of the restaurant. Katy ordered the children to listen to Glenda, before rushing out after them. In the street, Jack was squaring up to the younger man, jabbing his finger angrily into his chest.

"We already told you that Ruby is nothing to do with Nathan." Katy snapped as she joined them. "We also told you that we ain't seen him in years."

"I know you, Katy Mitchell. I know when you're lying."

She laughed. "You don't know me half as well as you think you do, then, because I ain't lying. I ain't seen him since Ruby was a baby."

"You better get out of here." Jack threatened, stepping forward and narrowing his eyes. "I'm warning you now. If you come near my family again, you'll be sorry."

Dean looked at them for a moment, before snorting derisively and turning away. He pushed his hands into his pockets and sauntered away nonchalantly. He looked over his shoulder as he reached the corner, grinning at them challengingly before continuing towards the tube station.

Katy shot her father a look, shaking her head at him. "We need to sort that before he becomes a problem."

"What? Like you sorted his brother?"

"I did what I had to do." His daughter snapped back. "I'd do it again. I will do it again, if I have to."

Leaving her father staring after her, Katy wrapped her arms around herself and stamped back towards the restaurant. Before she had managed to take half a dozen steps, Jack grabbed her arm and yanked her backwards, turning her to look at him.

"You're gonna end up behind bars if you keep on like this."

"I ain't letting a Parry anywhere near my daughter." Katy spat back, her eyes flashing dangerously.

He shook his head, letting go of her arm and pointing towards the building they'd not long left. "Them kids need you, Katy. You need to think about what's best for them."

"Getting him away from Ruby is what's best for them." She reminded him. With a sigh, she shook her head. "If you won't do anything about it, I will."

That time when Katy stalked away, Jack let her go. He watched as she went into the restaurant letting the door bang closed behind her.