A/N: I must apologize for the delay in getting this out. I was on vacation all last week and then I got sick. This chapter was shorter than I intended. There is more Chelsie on the horizon but I had to push it back to the next chapter, but there is a lovely Charles and Aidan scene. I hope you all enjoy it! Thanks for all the reviews so far. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to reply individually but they all meant the world to me :)

Chapter 16

"Anna? Are you alright?" Gwen asked when her friend came to drop Aidan off at school.

"I'm sorry Gwen, what did you say?" Anna asked. She placed Aidan's backpack in his designated cubby and tucked Mr. Bear inside of it.

"Oh I don't know. You've just seemed out of it all week. Care to share with your best friend?" Gwen asked helpfully.

Anna waited until the children were settled with Sybil, she then waved her friend over to join her in the hallway. "I think I messed things up between myself and John," Anna confessed in a low voice.

"What? How?" Gwen inquired.

Anna's cheeks turned a shade of pink as she spoke, "Remember how I told you Aidan spent Halloween night with my dad?"

"Yeah."

"And John and I were alone..."

"Yeah."

"Are you really not seeing where I am going with this?" Anna asked.

"Oh!" Gwen exclaimed. "Was it bad?"

"No. I mean...we didn't even get around to that. I mucked it all up. I couldn't go through with it and things have been awkward ever since," Anna explained.

Gwen rubbed her hand up and down Anna's arm. "Oh sweetie. I'm so sorry. Do you want to talk about it?" she offered.

Anna considered Gwen's words for a moment. She didn't want her past having to be shared with anymore people than it already was. "I would but I don't think it would help. It's just something I have to figure out on my own."

"Well, I'm always here for you and Dano. Speaking of which, what are you planning on doing for the little one's birthday?" Gwen asked.

"I haven't even thought about it yet. I suppose I should do something big since he's turning five this year," Anna replied.

"He seems to be really into horses lately. Maybe you could do a cowboy themed party," Gwen said. But the look on Anna's face suggested she didn't really like the idea. "I'm sure John and your father would have some great ideas of things to do."

"Maybe."

"It would be an excuse to have John come over and it could get you past this awkwardness that is present between the two of you."

"I guess it's worth a shot," Anna answered back. "Thanks for trying to help, Gwen."

"Always."

Anna left after that but not before waving to Aidan and giving her friend a hug.

John sat under his mother's sink as he tinkered with the pipe that appeared to be the cause of the leak he was dealing with. His sleeves were rolled up and he was wearing an old, plaid, blue flannel shirt. His hair hung loosely over his forehead and he had to keep pushing it back to get a better view of the pipe that was propped at an awkward angle above him. "You know, you've been hiding out under there for a few hours. If I didn't know any better I would say you either had something you wanted to talk about but don't know how to ask. Or you're avoiding something," Margaret pointed out. She knew her son better than anyone else.

"Mum," John groaned.

"Well it's either that or you have no clue what you're doing," she added.

"Let's go with that," John said as he lifted himself up from under the sink. He wiped his hands on an old dish towel. "It seems easier than the truth," he mumbled.

"I'd put on a pot of tea while you pour your heart out, but I don't have any water," she said as she gestured towards the sink.

"The water still works its just a slow leak," he explained. "I'll turn the water back back on for now and then I am heading down to the hardware store to get some new o-rings and replacement piece for the pipe."

"That's all well and good dear, but perhaps we should discuss whatever it is that's bothering you first," she suggested.

"Who said anything was bothering me?"

"John, you're a brooder like your father. You didn't have to tell me. I just know," she pointed out. Margaret patted her son's cheek lightly. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Anna would it?"

John pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, but not because of his mother. Never his mother. He folded his arms and leaned back against the counter as he stared down at his brown boots.

"So it is about Anna."

He hated it when his mother was right. "I can't help feeling I did something to upset her. Something is off between us," he explained without giving anything significant away. But he knew if he didn't vent about it to someone he would go mad.

"Did you take her for granted?"

"No."

"Did you mistreat her?"

"God no!" he nearly jumped forward in defense. Again he restrained himself, not wanting to have a conversation about sex with his mother.

"I don't know what's going on between the two of you, but I can tell you love her. Just be open and honest with her and whatever you do be patient with her. I know what it's like to be a single mum. It's not easy Johnny," she gently reminded him. Sensing her son's displeasure with her response she added, "But I know you are doing right by Anna and that little boy."

John smiled at that.

"Are you ever going to bring her by? Christmas isn't far around the corner and your birthday is coming up. Perhaps I could convince you to bring them by for dinner," she said with a hint of a smile.

Just then John's phone began to vibrate. One peek at the screen told him it was Anna. "I should take this," he said in a whisper.

Margaret gave him a silent nod of approval as she gestured for him to head into the other room for some privacy. "Take your time. And remember what I said," she whispered.

John nodded his head in agreement as he slid the unlock button on the cell phone over. He shut the door gently behind him. "Hello, love," he greeted her happily, but it was lacking something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. There was an uneasiness between them now. Weeks of working to build up trust and progress that has been made had been partially destroyed by his actions the previous week. He should have known better. His instincts told him she wasn't ready for more, but he ignored it.

"Hi," she answered back anxiously. "Um... How are you?"

"Fine. Busy. You know how work is," he answered back.

"Oh yes," she replied softly.

"Did you call about something in particular?" he asked.

"What? Oh right. Aidan's fifth birthday is coming up and I was wondering if you'd like to plan something with me? Of course you're under no obligation to. You don't even have to go if you don't want to," she rambled.

"Of course I want to. How could you think I wouldn't want to be involved?"

"I just...well things have been off since we...or rather, since I...freaked out," she said. The comment had struck John harder than he expected, but before he had a chance to respond she started up again. "And he's not your child, so..."

"Now wait just a second," John cut her off. "Aidan may not be my flesh and blood but I have come to know and love him like my own. I don't see it as a requirement or an obstacle. I love doing stuff for him." John certainly wasn't angry, but something about his tone was more forceful than usual and he hoped he hadn't scared her. He was met by silence on the other end of the line. "Now as for you and I, I know that I didn't help things and I apologize if I made them worse somehow."

"You don't have to apologize," she insisted. "I just wish it wasn't so hard getting back to the way things were. It kills me that I have to keep you at arm's length sometimes because my mind hasn't been able to move forward yet. Especially, when I love you as much as I do."

He smiled at that remark. John already knew in his heart that she loved him, but sometimes it was nice to have that little bit of reassurance. "I love you too my darling. We'll get there eventually. Please don't berate yourself for it. Knowing I have your heart right now is more than enough for me."

Anna let out a sigh of relief. "Would you be able to come over sometime this week to help me put Aidan's party together?"

"I would love to, but I need to help my mother with some repairs around the house that I have been putting off for far too long."

"Oh well perhaps some other time then?"

"Actually...," an idea popped into his head and he smiled on his end of the phone. "How would you like to meet my mother?"

"Your mother?" she repeated back.

"Mmmhmm," he said with an eager bob of the head. "She has been dying to meet you. She could make dinner while you help me out and then we can work on planning Aidan's party. What do you say?"

"Sure. Why not?" she answered back.

Later that day…

It hadn't occurred to Anna how daunting it might be to meet John's mother when he had first asked her to come over and join them for dinner. Anna had been so eager just to see him again and to have the opportunity to restore things to the way they were, that even now as she was driving towards the address John had provided she was second guessing herself as to what she was doing. Anna had made arrangements for Aidan to stay with Charles for the evening while she worked with John on planning something special for her son. John had insisted she needn't bring anything beside herself, but Anna couldn't resist and stopped off to get a bouquet of flowers for John's mother and a bottle of wine to go with dinner. She had barely had time to change her clothes before leaving work and heading over to the Bates residence. Anna combed through her hair with a small hair brush she had stored in her glove box and fixed her make up in the rearview mirror of the car before heading up to the porch and ringing the doorbell.

She didn't know why she had expected John, but was pleasantly surprised to be met by the sight of Mrs. Bates. "Oh hello," Anna said as she stood back and confirmed the address once more that was emblazoned on the side of the house. "Are you Mrs. Bates?" she asked.

"Goodness no. Mrs. Bates was my mother-in-law. You can call me, Margaret. And you must be, Anna?" Margaret asked as she dried her hand on a dish towel.

"I am," Anna replied with a cheerful smile as she handed the bouquet of flowers over to Margaret.

"Oh my dear, you didn't need to go through such trouble," Margaret insisted. She stopped before heading off to the kitchen to find a vase for the flowers and looked around Anna as if she were expecting someone else. "Did you not bring your wee one with you?" Margaret asked.

"Oh…" Anna pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and began to answer but John quickly came around the corner to greet her.

"I thought I heard a familiar voice," he cut Anna off. "Mum, I told you Aidan wouldn't be coming because Anna wants to plan something for his fifth birthday, remember?" he reminded her.

"Right. I apologize. My mind seems to be wandering more and more with age," she said back to Anna. Margaret gestured with her hand for Anna to come in and join them as she led her back to the kitchen area.

"It's quite alright, my four year old has the same effect on me sometimes," Anna commented with a smile and it seemed to relieve Margaret of the embarrassment.

"When is your son's birthday my dear?" Margaret asked with curiosity.

"December second," Anna answered back quickly.

"Same as John's. What a small world?" Margaret replied.

"Well then we'll have to make it a celebration for you as well, John," Anna suggested.

"That won't be necessary. I don't care much for birthday parties. At least not for myself that is," John replied.

Anna couldn't help but take notice of his disheveled appearance. He looked so handsome in his loose fired jeans and blue plaid shirt. He had a bit of a five o'clock shadow that had made an appearance and she loved the rugged vibe he was giving off. "Don't be silly, I would love to do something for you as well," Anna chided him.

"That's what I tell him every year, but he won't go down easy without a fight," Margaret warned.

John held open the swinging door that led to the kitchen and smiled as Anna passed by him. "I'm nearly done with the sink. Just have to pick up the mess I made. Then I have to fix a light fixture in the bathroom. I'd hug you but I'm probably covered in grime and sweat," he said, not wanting to ruin the perfection standing before him.

"I guess a kiss will have to suffice," Anna whispered, "...unless of course we aren't allowed to do that in your mother's house."

His mother was off in her own little world as she rummaged through the pantry to find ingredients she would need for tonight's supper. John took his mother's absence as an opportunity to proclaim his feelings for the woman standing next to him. "Probably not, but I don't care. I've missed you something awful," John whimpered as he leaned forward to kiss Anna on her cheek. Anna threw herself into John to kiss him harder, almost knocking him off balance as they fell through the swinging door and ended up back in the living room. "Well, hello," John said as he pulled away with a flirtatious smile.

When Anna regained her composure she touched her fingertips to her lips and said, "I'm sorry."

"I'm not," John let out of with a huff of air.

"I didn't mean to…"

"You didn't mean to kiss me?" he asked with a tinge of shame.

"I did. But I didn't want to go against your mother's wishes. I didn't expect to miss you so much," she tried to explain. Only the more frustrated that she became with herself for not being able to find the words she wanted to say, the more adorable she became in his eyes. "What?"

"It does my heart a world of good to know you missed me as much as I missed you," he said as he reached his hand out for her waist and brought her closer to him. "I thought I had scared you away with what happened a few weeks ago. And it really made me realize how much you and Aidan have become a part of my life, because not having either of you in it is like not having air to breath. I don't want to live like that," John said.

"I feel the same way. Right now...I just...I feel like my heart is more than ready but my mind is having trouble catching up. I just don't want these setbacks to keep us away from one another or for you to feel that it is some fault on your part," she said.

"Agreed," John said with a twinkle in his eye. He ran the rough pad of his thumb across the knuckles of her hand before placing a kiss there. He knew she didn't like to talk about serious matters for long, it only resulted on her dwelling on things longer "So how good are you at replacing light fixtures?" John asked with a playful smile.

"I know we need to shut the power off before we work on anything, but that's the extent of my knowledge. My dad really used me more for holding the screws and nails or handing him the tools," Anna added.

"Well, sounds like we are off to a good start then," John replied with a smile.

Charles and Aidan walked along the city streets with the young boy occasionally pulling his grandfather in different directions at something he wanted to see. "Grandpa, where are we going?" he asked.

"We are going shopping," Charles replied.

"For my birthday present?" Aidan asked.

"Well, that and something else," Charles said, wondering if he could trust Aidan to keep such an important secret.

"What?"

"How would you like to go on a special mission with Grandpa? It would be top secret," Charles said.

Aidan immediately made the gesture with his hand as if he was zipping his lips shut.

"Is that a yes?" Charles asked.

Aidan nodded his head eagerly with wide eyes.

Charles then led Aidan into a jewelry store. The jeweler behind the counter addressed the older man and the young boy and asked if they were looking for anything in particular. Charles responded with, "I'm looking for a ring."

"Ah, I see," said the jeweller, "and I see you've brought some help along with you."

"Yes, this is my grandson, Aidan. He's got a keen eye for something as important as this," Charles answered back as he sat Aidan up by the counter.

The jeweller began to remove some of their more popular selections from behind the glass casing and placed them on the counter for them to look at more closely. He also offered to get Charles and Aidan something to drink and eat as they took their time making their selections. "So Aidan, what do you think? See any that grab you? One that you think Ms. Elsie would like, perhaps?"

Aidan munched on his biscuit methodically before wiping his hands together to free himself of any lingering crumbs. "I like the blue one," he said with a finger pointed toward the ring that grabbed his attention.

"Ah yes, the sapphire, a lovely choice and a unique one," the jeweller said as he held it up for Aidan to see more closely. "If you are into colored stones, we also have emeralds in green as well as canary and pink colored diamonds," he added.

This earned a raised eyebrow from both Aidan and Charles as they sipped on their hot tea.

"Do you know what kind of metal you would like for the band? Silver? Gold? White gold?"

"Uh, maybe just give us a few more minutes to look at the stones," Charles said. The jeweller gave them some space and Charles leaned over the counter a little more so he was sitting just over Aidan's shoulder.

"Grandpa, what is the ring for?" Aidan asked.

"I'm going to ask Ms. Elsie to marry me," Charles explained.

"Because you love her?" Aidan asked with a hint of chocolate biscuit still embedded into his upper lip.

"More than anything," Charles answered back.

Aidan sat there quietly as he contemplated over the different settings and colors of stones that were spread out before him. "If you marry Ms. Elsie will she still be my Godmother?"

"Of course. Well she'll also be your grandmother too," Charles responded.

"What about Grandma Alice?"

Charles felt his breath catch in his chest and for a moment his heart stopped beating. The memory of Alice on their wedding day passed through his mind and he was reminded of how indescribably happy she had looked when he asked her to be his wife. If he concentrated hard enough he could still hear her voice and smell her perfume hovering in the air. A part of him would always love Alice, but enough time had passed and he knew that Alice would want him to find love and happiness again. He was grateful that he had been able to find love again with one of his best friends; someone he was sure that Alice would approve of.

"Will John get one of these for Mummy someday?" Aidan asked as he broke Charles from his thoughts.

"Maybe. Would that bother you?" Charles asked in concern.

"I don't think so. I like John. He loves Mummy and makes her happy," Aidan answered without hesitation.

"That's good. I want your Mummy to be with someone that makes you both happy, that loves you and protects you both," Charles said.

"And you think that's John, Grandpa?" Aidan asked his grandfather seriously.

"I do," Charles said before ruffling his grandson's hair.

Aidan sat thoughtfully on the edge of the counter with his legs swinging over the edge before speaking up again. "I pick the blue one Grandpa. It's pretty, like Ms. Elsie."

"Anna, can you hand me that flat-head screw driver?" John asked as he began to put the outlet cover in place.

"This one?" Anna asked as she began to hold it up.

"Yeah, um...maybe go a size smaller though," John suggested.

"Will this work?" she asked as she handed him a smaller one.

"Perfect," he said with an easy smile. John fastened the screws in place and turned the power back on before flicking the light switch. "Good as new," he said in a low voice.

Anna gave off a small clap of rejoice, "We make a good team."

"That we do," John said as he began putting his tools back into his tool box.

She had to laugh when she noticed that John would stick his tongue out ever so slightly when he was really concentrating on something or the way his hands moved with such care and precision as he stripped the wires and replaced the bulbs. Even when he wasn't trying he was devastatingly handsome. She loved watching him work with his hands and she had to wonder why it was that John didn't do more work like this when he seemed to be so knowledgeable and got so much satisfaction from it.

"So any ideas of what you would like to do for Aidan's party?"

" I don't know. We've just always done something small with family: me, my father, Elsie, and Gwen," she said sadly.

"And you don't want to do that again this year?" John asked as he washed his hands in the sink.

"Well, Aidan never really had a lot of friends before. That was mostly my fault; I kept myself so closed off. But this is the first year he has a lot of friends that I'm sure he'd love to have over to celebrate with him," she said.

"That sounds wonderful. What about a sleepover?" John suggested.

"The problem is that a lot of his friends are from the football team," she said. She waited for John to put the pieces together, but when he failed to understand her meaning she filled in the blanks for him. "A lot of the mothers already disapproved of me before my little episode on the field. And I haven't been back since. I've been having my father take Aidan to the games since then," she said.

"I see. And you are afraid that they will reject Aidan's invite on account of you?" John asked.

"I never wanted to make my problems, his problems," she said.

John turned to face her and ran his hands up and down her arms to soothe her. "And you haven't. People are going to judge even when there aren't any real problems present, if only to deflect attention from their own problems. Just ask. The worst they can say is 'no', right?"

"I suppose so," she said in a weak voice. "I just don't want to deprive him of an experience with friends and family."

John leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead, "And you wont. Because at the end of the day even if no one from his class or football team shows up he has you, Charles, Elsie, Gwen, and me."

Anna smiled up at John as she felt the warmth from his lips permeate through her body. His boyish smile and his caring nature always left her feeling weak in the knees; a feeling she hoped would never subside. "And you think that will be enough for him?" Anna asked.

John was quiet for a moment as a memory from his past popped into his head. "It's more than I got as a child."

"Oh John, I'm sorry," Anna said.

"Don't be. I survived and so will he," John added. "Hell I'd be willing to bet that Robert and Cora would love to attend as well. They'd probably even offer to put the party on themselves."

"I couldn't accept that."

"I know. It's what I love about you; your independence and fire," John commented. "But I'm here to take care of you now."

"John! Anna! Dinner is ready!" Margaret called out from downstairs.

"Coming, Mum!" John called back. John turned back to Anna, "I hope you're hungry, my Mum makes a mean meatloaf."

"Alright, you're certain that's the one you like?" the jeweller asked Aidan and Charles.

"Yup!" Aidan answered excitedly.

"And when will I be able to pick it up?" Charles asked.

The jeweller rang up the total and looked back at Charles when he said, "It will be ready for pick up in a week."

"Excellent," Charles said as he handed the jeweller his card. He felt a tug on his jacket and looked down to find Aidan staring up at him. "What is it, Aidan?"

"Grandpa, can we go to the toy store now?"

Charles let out a small laugh. His grandson had actually been very patient for the most part. "Let me just finish up with the salesman here and then we can go," Charles assured him.

Anna had helped Margaret to set the table, John set about pouring the wine, and his mother served them a plateful of her meatloaf along with mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. Anna could hardly believe her eyes when she saw how much had been made just for the two of them. "I make so much so that John can have leftovers to take back with him to his flat. Although, I guess I don't need to do that anymore since he seems to be spending so much time at your place," Margaret said.

"Oh, gosh, I didn't mean to keep him away," Anna began to apologize.

"You're not to worry. I'm glad he found someone like you. I'll admit I don't know you well but the little that John has shared with me has made me very hopeful. Maybe when you feel more comfortable you can bring your son by too," Margaret offered hopefully.

"Mum," John scolded under his breath. He turned his attentions back to Anna, "Sorry, she's dying to have grandchildren running around here at some point."

"That's alright. I feel as though I've been hogging you all to myself. I'm sure Aidan would love to come by sometime. We'll have to have you over to our place."

John froze at her words, she had never referred to to her house as their place. He knew he had before, but it had never been intentional. It only seemed natural since he spent so much time there. Truth be told, since her flashback on Halloween he hadn't been back to her house; at least not to stay over. John had picked up Aidan a few times from school and had spent time with him at the park and when he couldn't he would call to check in on the both of them. It didn't seem right just leaving them and he didn't want to confuse Aidan more than he already had, but he worried that he was giving Anna the wrong impression. John feared he was pushing her to move faster than she was ready to. As a result, he and Anna had minimal interaction with one another because they thought it was what the other wanted.

"Were you two able to come up with an idea for Aidan's birthday party?" Margaret asked as she sipped at her wine.

I think we'll just stick with a family get together and maybe have a few of Aidan's friends over for a sleepover. He's really into superheroes right now," Anna reported.

"Is he now?" Margaret asked.

"Could be another costume party in the making," John joked.

"Oh Lord, the thought of you in spandex is too much to bear," his mother uttered.

"Hey, I filled out that pirate outfit pretty well. Didn't I, Anna?" John asked.

Anna turned a shade of pink at his comment as she was reminded of that night. "That he did," she answered as she swallowed hard. The two of them shared a smile across the table and Anna felt a jolt travel up her spine when John ran his heel across the top of her foot. The gesture had gone unseen by his mother, but Anna was sure that her reaction had not gone without notice.

They spent the rest of the evening talking. Anna fell into an easy rhythm with the little Bates clan. She loved hearing stories about John when he was a boy and the two women swapped war stories of the single mother sisterhood. She found that John was not much different from Aidan at his age and she found that reassuring. It gave her peace of mind that she was able to raise a self sufficient and respectable young man on her own. Anna could also see where John got his charming and fun loving nature from. It almost made her feel guilty that she had been keeping John all to herself this whole time. She made a mental note to encourage John to spend more time with his mother.

When they finished with dinner, Margaret unveiled a homemade apple crumble pie for dessert. Anna couldn't fathom where she would find the room to put it but she didn't want to be rude and cut the smallest slice she could manage. She had asked for the recipe, if Margaret didn't mind sharing. To which Margaret replied she supposed she could share an old family recipe with Anna. John gave her a wink after saying, "She must really like you."

"Really? She's a sweetheart, I can see why you love her so much," Anna replied.

Afterwards, Anna insisted that she and John do the dishes since Margaret did all the cooking. "I'll just be knitting in the other room. You both don't mind if I throw on some music do you?"

"I would love some music," Anna said happily.

"I don't have any of that new stuff you kids listen to. Only a record player and some old forty fives that I used to listen to with John's father," she said.

"That sounds lovely," Anna said. She found it endearing that his mother was still somewhat set in her ways and had an old fashioned taste in music. "Whatever suits your fancy."

"Now you behave yourself, John," his mother warned as she roamed into the next room. She was already humming some song to herself that sounded familiar to Anna, but Anna couldn't quite place it. Anna and John washed the dishes in silence, occasionally sharing subtle glances and smiles. Their hips swayed in time to the strum that had made its way from the other room, the gentle splashes from the water added a nice background to the soothing music. Anna paused when John went to hand her a dish to dry and she didn't take it. "Anna?" he asked.

"I just remembered where I heard this song before," she said. "My Mum sang it in a show once; I never got to hear her sing it, but Charlie told me about it."

"I'm sure she sounded lovely," John stated.

"Me too. She had the most gorgeous voice, even when she wasn't singing," Anna added.

"Sounds like someone I know," John said with a coy smile.

"Cheeky beggar," she said with a small splash of water in his direction. "Except for the fact that I'm rubbish when it comes to singing."

"That's not what Aidan says," John noted. He set the dish down that he'd been scrubbing and dried his hand on the cloth by the sink. "You know I still never got to finish that dance up with you."

"What dance?" she asked.

"You don't even remember our first and only dance," he said feigning anger.

"You mean from the charity ball?"

"One in the same."

"John, I look ghastly and my hands smell of dish soap," she pointed out.

"That's not how I see it. I see a beautiful woman standing before me, we have music, and a dance floor all to ourselves," he said while gesturing to the linoleum floor. "And look, thanks to my electrical skills," John slid the switch down so the lights dimmed, "mood lighting."

"You're such a nut," she said with a giggle.

"Maybe so, but I'm your nut," he replied with a chuckle as he pulled her closer.

They shared whispers in the dimly lit kitchen as they found their way back to one another. It didn't matter to him how she was dressed or even if he could smell a hint of lemon dish soap on the palms of her hands as she caressed the back of his neck. She was all he had ever wanted since he'd first laid eyes on her in the coffee shop. They swayed in time with the music until he heard the needle reach the end of the record. John released his grip on her hand and pulled his forehead away from hers, "I guess that means you have to leave now."

"God knows I don't want to," she whispered back with her eyes still closed.

"I know. But I'm sure Aidan is waiting for you to come home," he added.

"Can't you come with me?" she said.

John thought about her proposition, he would love nothing more than to return home with her but what if something like what happened before happened again? "I should really stay with my Mum tonight. Maybe tomorrow?" he asked permission as he pressed a kiss into her hair.

"I'm counting on it," she replied back with an effortless smile.