"Hannah" Jess knocked on the teen's door that night but she received no reply and so she took it upon herself to open the door slightly, she poked her head around the door and gasped at what she saw. Hannah was sleeping on her bed peacefully but beneath her head there was Mark. She was laid on his chest as his arms wrapped around her and held her tightly to him. Jess smiled sadly and shut the door on them, walking back into her own room where Don was sat on the bed, his brow raised at Jess.

"She's asleep" Jess said "but don't go crazy...Mark is with her...no idea how he got there but she looks more peaceful than she has in ages...I think she's taken him back"

"What?" Don gasped and his eyes went wide "how...? He shouldn't be here..." Don said and Jess climbed into bed next to him and she rested a hand onto his arm;

"Leave them Don" she instructed him "he knows what he did was wrong...and he is sorry...it's Hannah's decision"

"I know" Don said, holding his hands up in surrender "but I just want the best for her...and I don't know if Mark is that"

"I think he is" Jess stuck up for him "he's a good boy...he just had a rough time and he knows ignoring Hannah was wrong...I think him showing up every night and standing at her door proves he will do anything for her"

"I thought it was a little desperate" Don snorted and laid on his side

"Wouldn't you do anything for love?" Jess hit him lightly in the arm, raising her brows and looking at him in questioning

"I should suppose" he muttered, realising he had possibly been hypocritical

"Well then" she replied triumphantly "he was desperate to get her back...and he has done...leave the kid alone"

...

"Morning" Hannah said, walking into the kitchen in the morning and seeing her dad and Jess stood, cooking and pouring orange juice. She had a spring in her step and she smiled as she drank the hot chocolate Jess had placed on the breakfast bar.

"Good morning baby" Don greeted her "sleep well?"

"Very" she nodded. Mark had snuck out that morning so that he could go back to his apartment and pick up the Law books he needed for the day ahead.

"Did that have anything to do with anything that had happened?" Don continued to dig deeper and Hannah turned a slight colour of red and she looked up at her father and then she looked over to Jess and held her hands up;

"You know, don't you?" she asked them and they exchanged sly smiles at each other

"We know" Jess confirmed her beliefs "I went to check on you and I saw him lying there with you"

"He said he was sorry" Hannah shrugged "and I believe him...he was genuine and promised he wouldn't ignore me again..."

"Are you sure sweetie?" Don checked with Hannah, walking over to her as she sat on the breakfast bar stool and he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him and kissing her on the forehead.

"I'm sure" she promised him "I love him...and...I can't...well...I don't want to be without him"

"Okay then honey" Don said cautiously "but I want a word with him"

...

"Is he going to kill me?" Mark asked Hannah as he pulled into her drive that night, he looked over to her and she was staring at her lap, shaking her head.

"No" Hannah said "just give you the speech"

"Oh...the...'don't hurt my little girl speech'?" he checked and Hannah nodded as Mark leant across to her and laid a hand onto her cheek;

"I'm not going to hurt you again" Mark swore "and I know why your dad is going to talk to me...but I need you to know that I'm here to stay"

"I know" she whispered "come on"

The two teens walked into the house and Don was stood in the doorway of the kitchen as Hannah removed her coat and Mark just looked at Mr Flack.

"I'll be upstairs" Hannah made her leave and took the steps as Don nodded his head for Mark to follow him into the kitchen.

"I imagine Hannah told you I wanted to talk with you" Don stated and Mark nodded

"I know why" he said and Don simply leant against the worktop

"You hurt her bad Mark" Don said "and...me and Jess didn't know what to do about her...she was in bits"

"I know Mr Flack" Mark sighed, nodding as he went

"And I can see you're sorry" he nodded "but if you hurt her again Mark...then I will personally make your life hell"

"I understand" Mark said

"Good" Don replied "I don't think you're a bad kid Mark...apart from the hurting my daughter part...now go back to her"

...

"He could have been harsher" Mark shrugged "but I can see what he is getting at"

"Well at least you're still alive" Hannah tried to joke and Mark chuckled lightly

"True" he agreed

"Is it just me Mark...or...well...is this going to be awkward?" she wondered, and he sat her on his lap on the chair she was sat on at her desk and he laced his fingers through hers

"For the start perhaps" he didn't lie to her "we've been through a lot"

"I just can't imagine it getting to how it was...after all that happened" Hannah worried

"It will" he swore "I love you and you love me...that's enough"

...

"Are you having a laugh?" Jess asked, opening the door to reveal Geoff Clarke stood there.

"I'm not known for having a sense of humour" he said blandly "Is it true my son has broken up with your daughter?"

"No" Jess folded her arms firmly "they had a break...and now they're back on. He has moved out though"

"Shame" he drawled "could have done better without her...anyway...I hear he has a new apartment but we don't know where it is...and his mother wanted me to drop this off..."

"She should have come...then Don wouldn't have murdered her if he happened to open the door"

"Whatever" he snapped "just give these to my son"

He handed her a shoulder bag and she took it, placing it on the floor next to the coat stand before looking at Geoff;

"That all?" she checked and he remained still for a moment

"Yes...tell Mark...just...tell him I'm still sorry...for the loss of the baby"

...

Thank you to the usual regulars who review my story! It will get happier soon! And thank you to all reading!