She came down as usual with eyes glued to her phone, but this morning she was texting Ryder. He was coming down the other stairs keeping an eye out. They'd decided that they would just try to get them to slip up themselves and reveal everything.

"Good morning Lennox!" Joe said waving the spatula in her face.

"Oh sorry morning Joe!" she smiled and sat down at the table.

"What, no melt down or crisis today?" he looked closely at her.

"Not today." Her smile widened.

"are you feeling well Len?"

"oh stop I'm fine! So Joe…" she said leaning forward. "…any dates lined up this weekend?" she watched as he frowned and put down the breakfast.

"Sorry?"

"Just wondering what you're plans are for the weekend. Any new women?"

"You've never asked me this before Lennox, what are you scheming"

"I'm just taking an interest in the life of my much appreciated and beloved male rolemodel." She blinked and smiled even wider. As always the eyelashes of the teen he had come to see as his little girl blinded him and the oddness of the situation passed his notice.

"Right, well no. I'm meeting a friend for a drink on Saturday, he's coming into town for the first time in quite a while. But that's it."

"Oh you… you've been single a while now haven't you Joe…"

"Have I, I hadn't really noticed. You know the three of you just keep me so busy." He shrugged and flipped another pancake. "Why are you so concerned. You never take an interest in our lives."

"God I'm just trying to grow as a person and mature a little here. Why are you always so unsupportive." She huffed and stormed back up the stairs, applauding herself slightly for acting so natural. Not realising just how weirded out she had left her nanny in the kitchen.

/ / / /

"Lennox is up to something, she just tried to interrogate me about my love life." Joey said looking up as Mel walked into the kitchen.

"Oh I can fill you in. Ryder tried the same thing on me and basically told me what's going on." She said her eyes wide "Prepare yourself I nearly hurled." He frowned "Lennox has come to the conclusion that, that… tape is you and me."

"What!"

"Yeeah gross right."

"Gee thanks Burke!"

"What it is gross! She thinks we taped ourselves doing stuff… you and me!"

"what made her think that."

"I don't know that's all Ryder said before he realised he'd told me and asked me not to tell Len."

"that devious little… she was fishing to see would I admit to you and me"

Mel's eyes narrowed

"Well two can play at that game. Lets make her think we are…" her nose crumpled. "…no I cant its too weird. I can barely stand you as it is…"

"no, no you're right we should act like we are, you know, bumping uglies." He chuckled.

"Ew! Joe!"

"Oh come on like you've never imagined…" she raised a hand.

"Look are we doing this or not!"

"What about Ryder?" they both looked at each for a spilt second. "Yeah Never mind. Lets do this!"

/ /

"Ryder where are you go.."

"gotta go, tutors breathing down my neck work to do." He said quickly and slammed his door she stood in the hall for a few seconds wondering what that was about, then headed back downstairs to grab some food to take out with Xander.

Reaching the kitchen she went to the sink just in time to glimpse her Aunt kiss her nanny's cheek, as he handed her, her handbag. Her heart glowed slightly at the action

/ / / /

"did she see." Joe said through a gritted smile.

"Definitely." She mirrored him.

"See you later." He waved and headed back to the kitchen door. He smirked as Lennox made a mad rush to the island and played with her hair. "oh there you are! You didn't eat earlier."

"Is Aunt Mel gone?" she asked.

"Oh yes I think so. I'm not sure."

"Right. Well I better go Xander's taking me out for a romantic picnic."

"that sounds lovely. Make sure he knows to keep his hands on the picnic. And not you." Joe said still smiling.

"yes Joe." She rolled her eyes.