Disclaimer - please see Chapter 1

I am posting this almost straight after putting up the first Chapter, because this is the first time in weeks my laptop has allowed me to get onto the internet, so I am making the most of it. I don't usually like posting a whole story in one go, but hate it even more when a story stops halfway through and is never finished, which would be the case if my temperamental laptop goes haywire again. So, think yourselves lucky, and happy reading!

First Impressions

The sound of a car outside the house drew Walter's attention and he went down and peered out of the window by the front door. Mr Edwards wasn't going to be back for at least another hour and a half, he had a meeting in town and was following that up with lunch with a few old friends. Walter grinned when he saw who opened the car door, and he opened the front door, arms held wide in greeting.

"Miss Jennifer! This is a surprise" he smiled as he gave her a hug. "We only saw you two weeks ago." As he stepped back, Walter caught sight of the man standing on the other side of the car, a small smile gracing his features as he watched the reunion. He was tall, dark haired and had the bluest eyes Walter had seen in a long while, eyes that were currently trained on Miss Jennifer. Releasing her from the hug, Walter turned as the man made his way around the car. Jennifer turned as Jonathan stood by her side, smiling up at him before turning to Walter.

Much as she loved Walter, Jennifer had wanted her Pa to be the first one she told about her upcoming marriage. She smiled at Walter as she spoke.

"It's lovely to see you too, Walter. I may not live here anymore, but this, and you and Pa, you're still home. Walter, this is Jonathan, he's – we're – " She paused, leaning into Jonathan as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"We're together" he finished for her, dropping a gentle kiss to her temple before shaking hands with Walter. Jennifer looked up at him with a smile, wrapping her own arm around him before nodding at Walter.

Looking between the two of them, Walter also smiled at the looks of happiness on both of their faces. This looks promising, he thought to himself, much more so than that bastard Manning. Turning, Walter gestured them inside and through into the kitchen, noting that Jonathan's hand did not leave the small of Jennifer's back as they moved through the house, nor did the small smiles leave their faces whenever they looked at each other.

"Sit down, would you like some coffee?" he asked, moving over to turn on the coffee machine. Jennifer moved over to a cupboard and took out some mugs, while Walter poured the coffee into the filter.

"That would be lovely, thank you. Can I do anything to help?" Jonathan asked, winning even more brownie points from Walter. Manning had simply sat and waited, looking around the room with an air of indifference. This Jonathan, he was there, offering to help, even if Miss Jennifer told him to sit down and relax.

Coffee made, and cake sliced, Walter and Jennifer sat down with Jonathan and for a few seconds nothing was heard.

"This is seriously good coffee," Jonathan finally said, sighing with happiness as he sat back in his seat.

"Hint of hazelnut" Jennifer smiled as she took a sip. "And Walter's special coffee cake too. We're honoured!"

"I love coffee cake," Jonathan said through a mouthful, smirking as Jennifer muttered "Manners!"

"What?" he blew a crumb free kiss at her, "You saying you don't love this cake? Or even better, are you saying you can make this cake? You given her the recipe?" he looked at Walter hopefully, his look turning to confusion when Walter began to laugh.

"Oy!" Jennifer said indignantly, before sighing. "Ok, ok. What Walter is trying to tell you is that I'm not exactly the best cook."

"Miss Jennifer, you know I love you, and I don't mean any disrespect, but you could burn water. You are a terrible cook, however hard I tried to teach you." Walter grinned.

"Good to know" Jonathan smirked.

"So you're an expert then?" Jennifer smirked right back, hers widening as Jonathan's lessened. "Thought so"

"Max is a fabulous cook, makes spectacular cakes. Just wait until you try his chocolate mud cake!" Jonathan fired back. "And if you give me the recipe for this coffee cake, he could make this one too" he smiled at Walter.

"Max?" Walter asked, looking between the two of them.

"He's – " Jonathan paused, trying to think of a way to explain what Max meant to him, who he was. Looking over at the smile Jennifer gave Walter, Jonathan knew how to explain Max. "Max is you, Walter. He's my you. He kind of brought me up, gave me a life and pulled me back to my senses. He works for me now, his choice, and lives in the apartment in LA with me. He looks after me and is one of my best friends as well." He smiled at Jennifer, before turning his attention back to Walter. "He's a damn good cook too, great at making cakes, so if – "

"Nope," Walter smiled right back, loving the banter between the two of them, they were so comfortable together these two, so in tune to each other. "Old family recipe, handed down generation to generation. My daughter Evie knows it and her daughter Callie will inherit it when she's old enough. Family only"

"Don't even try it," Jennifer said when Jonathan went to try his considerable charms of persuasion on Walter, "Walter's impervious to charm, even yours!"

"Years of practice from fighting off the sweet smiles of this one when she wanted something" Walter grinned at Jennifer, who pulled her 'who me?' face.

Jonathan sighed," Guess I've got that to look forward to then, such a hard life I'm going to lead"

"You love me really" Jennifer grinned, reaching over to kiss him.

"Suppose so" Jonathan said.

"Suppose?" Jennifer yelped.

"Kiss me again and I'll let you know"

"The cheek of it!" Jennifer said standing up, Jonathan standing too, suddenly worried that he'd pushed her too far. Walter had to bite his lip at the smirk that escaped her as she turned away from Jonathan.

Jonathan came round the table, wrapping his arms around her, feeling the laughter she was desperately trying to hold in. "Aha! Like that is it? Well then, Miss Edwards, a kiss you demanded, a kiss you shall get" he said, turning her towards him.

"I think you'll find that you wanted me to - mpf"

The kiss that followed was amazing, intense, passionate and filled with love. Walter hated to break it up, but from his stance at the kitchen window he could suddenly see Stephen Edwards' car was making its way up the drive, and he hardly thought the first impression Mr Edwards should have of what Walter was certain was going to be his future son-in-law, should be of him lip-locked with Miss Jennifer.