Paul stood outside the polished wooden door to his new home, keys in hand. "Seriously? They're letting us move in, already?"

Ben nodded. "Well… It took a bit of persuasion." He replied. "They weren't happy for us to go in without the cleaners giving it the once over, but I've been on me hands and knees scrubbing the place myself."

Paul raised a cryptic eyebrow. "You? You're actually telling me that you put on a pair of marigolds and picked up a duster." He placed a hand on Ben's forehead. "Kissing in public and now this, are you sure you're feeling alright?"

For a moment, a look of embarrassment flashed across his face, cheeks flushing a bright scarlet. "Louise talked some sense into me." His voice was low, almost too ashamed to admit it. "Made me realise what an idiot I've been."

Louise.

If only he knew what she had been saying earlier.

Paul forced a smile. "Looks like you two might finally be getting on."

"Me and her?" He wrinkled his nose. "She ain't ever coming around here, but I suppose she's alright, when she behaves herself."

"What, so you're just never going to invite her over?"

Defiant, he shook his head. "You're joking, right? There'll be nail varnish on the carpet and those bleeding bobby pins will be all over the place." He paused. "No, I ain't having it, that girl is blacklisted; I better get some flyers printed so people know not to let her in at the main door."

Paul studied his face, looking for any indication that he might be joking – He found none. "Wow… that some real brotherly love, right there." He couldn't help but smile. "Anyone else on that list?"

A small smirk. "Roxy ain't coming in either; whenever she walks into a room, that perfume she wears lingers in the air for hours." He shuddered. "It gets right down your throat. I can put up with in my Dad's gaff but not here."

"If you're using that logic, then surely Jay isn't allowed over either."

"He's always going to be here."

"His aftershave is surely worse than Roxy's."

Ben lifted his T-shirt to his nose, sniffed. "I wear that aftershave too."

"Take. The. Hint."

"At least I don't smell like a woman. I swear you've been taking a bath in your Nan's perfume"

Paul playfully punched him on the arm. "It was a Christmas present, she spent hours picking that out for me." He smiled. "And anyway, Grandad says…"

Ben placed a hand over Paul's mouth. "I have a new drinking game. The rules are simple; every time you say Grandad says, I take a shot of vodka. I'll be passed out within an hour, but it could catch on."

Paul patted his hand out the way. "I'm sorry I offended you by loving my grandparents." He couldn't help but smile.

"Mate, you could write a book; I can see it now, it would be called The World According to Les Coker." He winked. "It would be endorsed by Richard and Judy, have more pages than War and Peace and would of course have a full unedited transcript of everything Granddad says - including an exclusive interview with his wife Pam, who shares what it's like to have bagged the one man that every girl dreams about."

"Ha ha, very funny." He attempted to look serious, failed miserably.

After a moment, Ben gestured to the keys in Paul's hands. "C'mon then, I didn't spend all afternoon cleaning for us to stand outside the whole time."

Paul looked bewildered. "Where is the key?"

Ben took them in his own hand, selected a plastic disc. "Look, it's a fob." He placed it underneath, the door handle, making a green light flash. "There, all you gotta do is wave it in front of the sensor and it will unlock automatically." Placing his hand on the knob, he pushed open the door.

He stepped to the side. "Go on in, take a look."

"Aren't you going to carry me over the threshold?" He gave him his best pout. "It's our new home; I expect that as a minimum."

"I am not carrying you anywhere."

"Go on, just once."

Ben sighed. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly."

Ben crouched slightly. "Alright, hop on."

He shook his head. "A piggy back? That is the least romantic thing I think you've ever done. "

"You're pushing your luck." He turned around. "C'mon, get over my shoulder."

"I'm not a sack of potatoes." Paul crossed his arms amused. "I want to be carried officer and gentleman style or I don't want to be carried at all."

"Good! because I don't want to carry you at all." He moved to enter the flat.

Paul reached out, took him by the arm. "There's only one way you're getting me in there." He took a few steps backwards, leant up against the opposite wall. "I can wait."

Ben let out another hefty sigh "Bloody hell, you're really starting to wind me up now." Despite this, he walked over to where Paul was stood. "Right… if I'm gonna do this, you tell no one and I mean no one."

"You have my word."

Ben slowly shook his head. "I can't believe I'm doing this; I must be daft in the head." He reached down towards Paul's legs. "Put your arms around my neck I guess." Taking a second to position his hands where they needed to be, Ben pushed up from his knees and hoisted Paul off the ground, taking the full force of his weight.

"See that wasn't so bad."

Ben felt a searing pain running up and down his arms, almost as if his muscles were on fire. "You're heavier than you look." Slowly, his face began to turn a bright purple, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. "My God, Paul, what have your grandparents actually been feeding you?" He took a step forwards, stumbled slightly to the left before steadying himself.

Paul raised an eyebrow. "You ok there?"

"I'm fine." His voice was uncharacteristically high pitched.

"Then why aren't we moving?"

"I'm about to, just hold on a moment." Taking another step forwards, he felt Paul begin to slip in his arms. "Hang on, I gotta stop." Clumsily, he readjusted the hold, then slowly inched forward.

Paul raised a hand to his mouth, supressed a laugh. "You can't do it, can you? Ben, the hard man Mitchell, isn't strong enough."

"Yes, I am." He took a few deep inhalations; the current shortness of breath was comparable to what he would experience after running up a steep flight of stairs. "I'm just taking my time, ain't I?"

"Maybe speed up a bit?"

Beyond the point of talking, Ben merely nodded. Once more, he put one foot in front of the other. This time he managed two more steps.

A sudden twinge shot up his back.

He heard a crick.

He let a shout.

He dropped Paul.

Ben doubled over and cursed loudly. "My back, I think I broke my back."

Paul began shouting too, clutching his head. "You dropped me." For a moment, he lay still, his vision blurred from the impact. "I'm not a ragdoll, you can't just throw me down."

"I didn't mean too! You're just so heavy." He rubbed at his back.

"Most people would have just gently put me down, but no, you had to slam-dunk me with as much force as possible." He reached up, placed a hand on the area that took the force of the blow; already a lump had begun to swell.

"Never mind your head, my back is broken!"

"It's not broken; you wouldn't be able to walk if it was."

"This is agony." Ben lowered himself down onto the ground. "I gotta lie down; this is all your fault."

"My fault? You turn me into a human javelin and suddenly it's my fault." He got to his knees, buried his head in his hands. "It hurts like hell, thanks for asking."

"Don't you start." He stretched out flat on the ground.

Before the argument could be taken further, the sound of the neighbours door creaking open brought the exchange to an abrupt end.

Looking up from where they were on the floor, their eyes immediately fell on a middle aged couple. The man, smartly dressed stood slightly in front of his wife, looking bewildered. Ben studied them for a moment. They looked like a parallel universe Billy and Honey, where they had hit the big time and could now afford a luxury apartment and designer clothes.

The husband was the first to speak. "Pardon me for intruding, but my wife and I couldn't help but hear the commotion." He said. "Is everything alright?"

Ben took a second to compose himself. "Uh yeah, we're good; just had a bit of a fall, that's all."

"You threw me to the ground!" Unsteadily, Paul got to his feet.

Embarrassed, Ben gave them an apologetic look. "I didn't throw him; I put my back out trying to carry him and I ended up dropping him."

The wife stepped around her husband, knelt down to where Ben was laid on the floor. "Would you like us to call you an ambulance?" She reached into her pocket, retrieved her phone. "Maybe it would be a good idea to see a doctor."

Ben noted that although she looked like Honey, she spoke like Joanna Lumley.

Paul rolled his eyes. "He's fine."

Billy. 2 spoke up. "In all due respect, I wouldn't call being flat out on the floor fine."

His wife nodded. "Yes, a bad back is a terrible thing." She placed a comforting hand on Ben's shoulder. "I have this wonderful physiotherapist; I really must give you his number. He's a complete god send."

"He sorted my neck right out." Billy. 2 nodded.

Ignoring the suggestion, Paul sighed, crouched down and picked Ben up as if he was no heavier than a pillow. "What he needs is some deep heat and a comfy bed."

Honey's doppelganger's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure you can manage? We don't want you injuring your back either."

"Paul, put me down." Ben hissed.

"I will… once we get in." Paul flashed the couple one of his winning grins, turned on his heel, entered the flat and closed the door with his foot. "Right, which one is the bedroom?"

"First door on the left." Ben was clearly unimpressed. "I feel like a right div."

"That because you are one." Awkwardly he put his back to the door and pushed the handle with his elbow."

Once he entered, Paul's jaw literally dropped.

The bed was bigger than he ever could've hoped for.

Gently, he put Ben down, held onto him until he was on his feet.

Ben rubbed at his own back. "Go on then, don't just stand there with your mouth wide open; tell me what you think."

"It's … It's amazing." He said. "But how did you buy this? I've got your credit card."

He flashed him an evil smile. "I know the combination to my Dad's safe, don't I?"

Paul was suddenly less enthusiastic. "You stole from him?"

He shook his head. "Course not, I left an I. O. U note."

"Oh yeah, because that's really going to smooth things over." Paul couldn't mask the worry in his eyes. "He's going to break your neck; you do know that right?"

Despite this, Ben's smile didn't falter. Walking over to the bed, he made himself comfortable in the middle of it, patted the space next to him. "Have you ever done it on a water bed before?"

Within half a second, his smile returned. "No way."

He nodded. "Try it yourself if you don't believe me." Ben picked up an armful of cushions and threw them off the bed.

Paul took a running jump, belly flopping down on top of it; getting to his feet, he bounced up and down a few times. "This is amazing."

Ben grabbed his hand and pulled him down into the lying position. "Sure is, Paul." He smiled. "Thought you'd like it."

"I love it. I've never had one this big before." He turned, plumped the pillow behind him. "Can't believe it's all mine."

"Well, half of it anyway." Ben replied. "Unless your planning on making me kip on the sofa."

"No chance." He shuffled in, closing the gap that separated them.

Ben lifted his hand, ran his fingers through Paul's hair. "How's your head anyway?"

"Hurts."

Ben reached over, opened the draw of the bedside table. "I'm sure I put some paracetamol in here earlier." He continued to rifle. "At least I thought I had, but then again, I may have moved them to the bathroom cabinet."

"Just leave it, I'm sure it will pass." Paul removed his shoes, lifted the duvet and covered himself. "C'mon get in here."

He did as instructed. "What do you think of the sheets? I got them cheap off the market."

"They'll do… for now." Paul fumbled around in his pocket, produced the credit card. "I'm sure if I go online I can find some better ones, especially now I've got this."

"Just keep in mind that it ain't free money, I do have to pay it back."

"Don't worry, I won't go too crazy."

"Somehow, I don't believe you." Moving onwards, he placed a hand on Paul's chest, unbuttoning his shirt. "Anyway, let's not talk about money right now; I can think of much better things to be doing in this bed.

He raised an eyebrow. "You sure that you're up to it with that back?"

Ben waved a dismissive hand. "No harm done."

"No harm done?" His tone was one of outrage. "You're telling me that after the show you put on out there, that there is no harm done?"

Ignoring the question, Ben lowered his hands down to Paul's trousers and undid his belt, sliding it off with ease. "New flat, new bed; it's only right that we christen the place."

"You're such a drama queen! That couple outside were all for calling you an ambulance."

"C'mon, make me feel better then." He pulled him in for another kiss.

Unable to stay angry for too long, Paul soon relaxed. "Just mind the headboard alright? Another bang to the head will really kill the mood."

"I think I can manage that." Quickly, he tore off his own shirt and flung it across the room.

Paul watched as the shirt landed on a lampshade. He turned so he was lying on his stomach. "Someone is keen." He winked. following Ben, he took off his own.

"Damn right I am." Ben climbed on top of him, removing his trousers and underwear as he did so. He leant down and kissed his neck. "Just think, after today, we'll be free to do this whenever we want without any interruptions."

Paul closed his eyes and submerged himself in the moment. He could feel Ben's hands sliding up and down the backs of his legs. It felt exciting – just as exciting as the first time.

He noted how cold Ben's feet felt against his own, however, there was something oddly satisfying about it.

He loved the warmth of his breath on the back of his neck.

He loved the strong grip he had on his hips.

Then it happened, slowly at first, gradually picking up the pace as they delved deeper into the experience, until finally they felt like they could fully let go; even trying new things that they'd only ever dared think about in their wildest imaginations.

Long after it was over, they continued to hold onto each other. "Blimey Paul, I knew you were into some weird stuff, but that was something else." Ben said.

"Did you like it?"

"Did you hear me complaining?"

"Quite the opposite actually."

"There you go then."

For a moment, they both laughed. Paul swung his legs over the side of the bed, scooped up his clothes. "C'mon you, we can't spend all day in bed."

"Speak for yourself." He lifted the duvet that had been covering his naked body. "In fact, I reckon I'm good to go again."

Placing his own clothes to the side, Paul scanned the floor until he spotted Ben's boxers; picking them up, he tossed them back at him. "And I'm ready to see my new bathroom."

oOo

Pam arrived home to find Les sitting at the kitchen table; a mug of tea had gone cold in front of him. She discarded a bag of shopping next to the front door, took the seat opposite him. "Well, did you speak to her?"

Slowly he nodded. "I saw her."

"What did she say?"

Les gave her an uneasy smile. "She obviously brought certain things up and who could blame her?" Uncertainly, he placed a hand on top of hers. "I just keep going over it, you know? I can't have you losing him for the mistakes I've made."

She tensed. "Les Coker, I will not hear of such nonsense."

"If we're going to tell him the truth, we're going to have to face up to what I did and how you've been protecting me ever since." He paused, looked her full in the eyes. "You may have been ruthless, but let's not pretend that any of that would've happened if it wasn't for me."

"That's enough, Les." Her tone was sharp.

"Is that what you're going to say to Paul?"

"We're going to have to tread carefully, I'm not saying we won't." She said. "But you're my husband, I did what I did at the time for you and I will continue to stand by it."

"He'll never understand, Birdie."

"Then, we'll make him understand." Her tone was adamant. "Yes, you were foolish, Les, but haven't we all been at some stage? We had been going through that rough patch and honestly, I don't blame for having some sort of mid- life crisis."

Les rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "Is that what we're calling it now? I seem to remember last time, you referred to it as a nervous breakdown." Suddenly hot, he loosened his tie. "Nervous breakdown, minor indiscretion, mid-life crisis; pick the one you like best and make it fit."

I had to cope somehow." She said. "I did unethical things, lied to Laurie for rest of his life and have been doing the same to Paul for all of his. I can sometimes barely look at myself knowing the things I've done… so if I like to make myself feel better somehow, then surely you can respect that."

A look of remorse spread across his features. "I should've done the right thing years ago; that was my mess and you've been cleaning it up ever since." He studied her for a moment; he could've sworn that every day he fell in love with her just that little bit more. "A wonderful woman like yourself could've had anyone she wanted; I can never understand why you came back to me."

"What do you mean I could've had anyone I wanted? I did have who I wanted." She inched her chair closer to him. "I still do and as long as we're together, I always will." A sad look appeared in her eyes. "But, without Paul, I don't know how I'd cope; We're a family of three, Les."

"Oh Birdie." He placed a strong arm around her shoulder. "Whatever happens from here on out, I will protect you, just as passionately as you did me. You hear me? I will own all my mistakes and leave him in no doubt as to where his anger should lie."

"Are you scared?"

"Terrified." Les admitted. "And I have been since the first time I held him; I think it's made me love him even more. I used to stand in the doorway of his room, watching as Laurie would put him to bed in his little cot."

"Me too."

"And to tell you the truth, Pam, during the times where Laurie would leave him unattended to go to the bathroom or to answer the phone, I would consider just scooping him up and running out the door with him." He gave her a chance to respond; when none came, he continued onwards. "I used to think if I took him far enough away, we'd reach somewhere where the truth could never come out and I'd never have to live with the fear of losing him ever again."

She considered this for a moment. "What stopped you?"

"I'd look at you and I'd look at Laurie." He explained. "When it came down to it, there was no way I could've left any of you behind; there may have been times where I couldn't stand the sight of Laurie, but that didn't mean I loved him any less."

"I understand." She agreed. "Before Paul was born, I'd lose track of the amount of times I'd cry myself to sleep over his behaviour; he was out of control at times."

"I hit him the once you know."

Pam recoiled in horror. "You did what?" She couldn't hide the shock on her face. "I've never seen you be violent to either the boys."

"And I never have been with Paul." He was quick to state. "With Laurie it was just the once. I got up in the middle of the night because I heard a noise downstairs in the chapel of rest; when I got down there, Laurie was stood over this older woman we were burying, prising a diamond ring off her finger."

Pam clasped a hand to her mouth. "No." She shook her head. "How could he?"

"I just saw red, Pam." He explained. "I didn't ask questions, I just lashed out; he fell to the ground, I grabbed the ring from him and returned it to her finger. I pulled him out from there and kept the room locked from there on out."

"Did he ever say why?"

"I didn't ask." He paused. "Although I have a fair idea; I never properly confronted him about it, because I couldn't face the thought of how many others he had done that to; we were meant to be giving a top class service to grieving relatives, but all the while our own son was robbing them."

"I knew he could stoop low, but that?"

"When I think of the man he became when Paul came along, it's hard to believe it was the same person." He sighed. "Do you think he would've reverted back if he had ever found out?"

"I'd like to hope not, but what else did he have apart from us and Paul?"

"I only wish he'd stayed in school, you know? It wasn't as if he wasn't clever, he could've gotten some good grades, maybe gone to university." He paused to think. "Whatever possessed him to knock about with the people he did, or do the things he did will forever be beyond my understanding."

"I sometimes think I must've gone wrong somewhere as a mother." Pam started chewing her finger nails. "Three years I was gone and in that time, I left you alone to deal with him, when really I should've been there to help you get him under control."

"Don't do this to yourself, Pam." He gave her a look of warning. "He was sixteen when we separated; perfectly capable of looking after himself. When Paul was that age, he'd already moved out."

Pam leant back in her chair, stared up at the ceiling. "Paul always used to think that we compared him to Laurie; I think he thought that we wished he was more like him. Truth is, he's everything that we ever could've wanted."

Les nodded. "And that is what stops me going mad with guilt; I look at him every day and tell myself, that if it meant I could still have him, I would do it all again."

"I would too." She was quiet for a moment, gestured to the mug of tea in front of him. "You haven't touched your tea; tell you what, how about I make us a fresh one? I'm sure I have some custard creams hidden in one of the cupboards somewhere."

"Hidden?"

"Well, you know what Ben's like, if he'd have got to them first, the whole packet would've been devoured before we even so much as had a crumb." Taking the mug in her hand, she took it to the kitchen and poured the cold tea away. "I don't know where he puts it all; you weren't here last week when we ordered Chinese were you?"

"Uh, no." Les was taken aback by the sudden change in direction of the conversation.

"He had two chow meins." Pam shook her head. "I mean honestly, Les; you've seen the size of their portions, how he managed it on top of those spare ribs and chips he had is beyond me." She reached into the cupboard, retrieved the tea bags and flipped on the kitchen. "And then he finished what Paul left behind; it was quite the sight."

Les hated it when she got like this. "I've seen him eat before, Birdie." It took everything he had to mask the annoyance in his voice.

"And if you're wondering where that tub of ice cream went, he had that too; me and Paul didn't get a look in."

"Pam, I don't want to talk about ice cream right now." He said. "What we need to discuss as you full well know, is how are we going to deal with it, when Paul demands that we find out for sure."

She kept her back to him, unable to meet his eyes. "I don't know if I could deal with it, Les."

Les softened his tone. "It's going to be difficult, but you don't honestly expect him to let it drop."

"Maybe he'll feel the same? What we have now works, doesn't it?" Her voice was a sad mixture of desperation and heartbreak. "Why would he want to risk that? And if it does come out that…. Well I couldn't bear it Les, I just wouldn't cope."

"He's not going to feel the same." Les tried to sound assertive. "You know what he's like; make no mistake, as soon as we tell him, the first thing he will do is find out for certain and when he does, we will no longer be left wondering."

"I don't wonder anymore. It solves nothing, so I gave up doing so years ago."

Suddenly angry, he sprang to his feet. "Well, I haven't!" Les didn't even try to control the volume of his voice. "I wonder every single day; every time I look at him."

Impulsively, she grabbed hold of the mug and threw it across the room, watching as it narrowly avoided her husband, before smashing into small pieces against the opposite wall. "It's just too much." In seconds, she was sat on the kitchen floor, sobbing. "I've tried work it out myself; I always thought that as he grew up, it would be apparent, but it's not."

Without hesitation, Les joined her on the floor. "I can't work it out either." He admitted. "But all things considered, it really is no surprise."

"He's got all the Coker looks hasn't he?"

Les nodded. "The men of the family always did have that distinguished look; the hair, the cheek bones… It's something all generations have shared." He considered this further. "Unfortunately, quite a lot of my relatives have been burdened with diabetes too."

At this, Pam found herself in tears once more. "But he doesn't look like me, does he? Laurie looked mostly like you, but when you looked into his eyes, people could see me in him." She glanced over at a family photograph of the three of them together. "But Paul…"

Les suddenly interrupted. "Don't do this to yourself."

"But does he? Does he look like me Les?"

With that, he got to his feet and picked up the same photograph that Pam had been studying seconds before. He kept his eyes on it for a while, his eyes darting back and forth between the images of his wife and grandson. "No…" He admitted. "He looks nothing like you."

oOo

Ben perched on the edge of the bath, poured some champagne into a glass and passed it over to Paul. "I can't believe you're taking a bath." He laughed.

"I can't believe you're not." He adjusted the speed of the jets. "We should get some bubble bath."

"If you're hosting a foam party and you're willing to clean it up, then go ahead." He placed his hand in the water, splashed at him. "Otherwise, you shouldn't use it in this type of tub. Apparently, the last time a tenant did that, it reached the living room."

"That is so not true."

"It might be."

Paul shook his head. "Didn't happen."

"Could've happened."

"But it didn't, did it?"

Grabbing the champagne bottle again, Ben poured himself a glass, took a large gulp. "Well, no, but it was an interesting story for like a second." He dipped his finger in the water, turned on the tap, injecting some hot water. "Surely you're wrinkling up by now."

Paul inspected his fingers; indeed, he was. "Will you still fancy me in fifty years when I look like this for real?" He held out his hand for Ben to inspect.

"Always." He winked. "Even when you lose your hair and I have to push you around in a wheel chair."

Paul painted on a look of mock insult." Uh… excuse me, I am not going to lose my hair."

"I've seen old photographs of your grandfather and I expect he said the same." He said. "But what about you? Would you still fancy me when I'm old and passed it?"

"I'm not promising anything; I don't want to wake up one morning and find myself sleeping next to a Phil Mitchell doppelganger." He shuddered.

"Oi!" He laughed: turned on the cold tap, filled up his glass and flung it in Paul's direction.

"Don't get my hair wet; I haven't brought anything to stop it frizzing."

"Whoa, your masculinity just took a serious hit then." At this point, he had only been wearing his boxers; slipping them off he climbed into the bath. "I suppose I'd enjoy it whilst it lasts; it won't be long before you have any left."

"If I'm losing my hair, you're certainly losing yours."

"How do you make that one out?"

"Have you looked at your Dad and Uncle recently?"

He shrugged. "Maybe it will skip a generation? You wait, in fifty years time I'll have as much hair as I do now."

"And meanwhile, poor Lexi will be walking around with a head like an egg?"

"Yeap, like I said, it skips a generation."

"Poor girl."

"I wouldn't worry about it, when the time comes, we'll gather up all the hair you will have lost and make her a nice wig." Ben shuffled up. "Switch places with me."

"No, I don't want the tap end."

"You've been in here bleeding ages, take one for the team."

"If I called shotgun in your car, you wouldn't make me move." Paul said. "It's the same concept with the tap end."

"No it ent!"

"That's the rules, Ben."

He frowned. "I've got a bad back, I don't want these things sticking into it."

"Nuh uh, you said earlier that it was fine, you don't get to suddenly change your mind to get your own way."; Paul gestured for him to come closer. "Just come here, there's no reason why either one of us should be down that end."

Doing as he was told, Ben relaxed into him, his head coming to rest on Paul's shoulder. "Talking of Lexi, I've been thinking."

"Oh yeah?" Paul was intrigued.

"How about we have her over one of these days?" He turned to look at him. "I'm not talking anything major, but what about if we had her over for tea, or took her out for the day?"

"What's brought all this on?"

Suddenly, a look of doubt spread across his face. "Forget it, I shouldn't have said anything; it was stupid." He said. "I was just thinking with us doing all this, it would be nice for her to see me settled."

"It's not stupid." Paul said. "It's a great idea."

"Yeah?"

"Of course it is." He continued. "Lola used to bring her into the salon when we worked together; she's a lovely child."

Ben considered this for a moment. "She won't even recognise me by now."

"Does it matter? Children are a lot more accepting than adults." He sunk down further into the water. "We'll take her to the zoo, buy her some ice cream and she won't care how long you've left it."

"I just want her to be proud of me, you know?"

"And she will. We'll have our own business, our own flat; if that's not a stable environment, then I don't know what is." Paul took a further moment for consideration. "She's must only four years old; compared to how many years you will have with her; it is not too late to start being her Dad."

"It could work, couldn't it?"

He nodded. "We'll make it work."

Before anything more could be said, the shrill ring of Ben's phone brought the conversation to an abrupt end. Ben reached over, read the caller ID. "Do me a favour, would ya?" He passed the phone over to Paul. "It may seem odd, but I want you to answer it and whatever they say, just go along with it, alright?"

Paul accepted the call. "Uh… hello?" … "Alright, that's fine I guess." He shot Ben a bewildered look. "And that's in half an hours' time?" …. "Sure, we'll be there." A look of confusion on his face, he hung up and handed the phone back to Ben. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"Did you not get what you need from that call?"

"You've made an appointment with a tattoo parlour." He stated. "You're not seriously thinking about getting one are you? I hate tattoos."

Ben reached over, retrieved a towel. "You'll like this one, trust me. Now stop moaning and put your clothes back on."