This chapter is dedicated to sarah4steve who suggested the idea of Nick and Zoe having a night alone :)

If anyone does have an idea which they would like me to try and include in this story then please just put it in a review and I will try my best to include all within the storyline which I have already planned out :) and once again thank you for the reviews and continued support!

I've been trying to post a chapter a day but as I know i'll be unable to post tomorrow i'm giving you the treat of two today haha :P

"Mmm something smell nice" Zoe said as she entered the kitchen coming home from her long day at work. She kicked her heels off and threw her bag and coat on one of the table chairs.

"Not bad for someone who can't cook" Nick joked as he stood stirring the stir fry which he was cooking.

She walked up to him and wrapped an arm around his waist as she took a look at what he was making "it looks perfect" she told him, appreciating the effort he had gone through for her. "Where are the kids?" She asked letting go of him as she began looking through the letters and mail which had been dumped on the kitchen work top unopened.

"Phoebe and Oliver have only just gone to bed" He told her as it was now half 8 "And Maisie is at Mollie's but Kay has promised to bring her home no later than 10" Usually Maisie would have gone round to Mollie's house for a sleepover on the weekend or vice versa, but as it was Nick's birthday in the morning, he had organised with her mother Kay for her to be dropped off later tonight. "So lucky for us we've got the night alone" he said.

Zoe smiled "ooh I like the sound of that" She said "I'm just going to say goodnight to the kids first"

She slowly poked her head around the door to check Ollie was still awake "Hi trouble" She said as she entered his room "How was school?"

"It was good" Oliver replied "We had to talk about jobs and everyone thought it was cool that you were a doctor" He beamed, excited to tell his mum all about his day.

"Well I'm a pretty cool mum aren't I" Zoe joked, sitting down on the side of Ollie's bed and tucking him in with his duvet.

"You're not that cool mum" Ollie giggled.

"Is that so Mr" Zoe playfully tickled him and he giggled in return.

"Right then night" She said kissing his forehead "Love you" She said before heading towards the door and switching off his light. She treated both Maisie and Oliver like her own children, well in fact they were, she had brought them up and she loved them just as much as Phoebe.

"Night mum love you" Oliver called back as she closed his door.

She then moved onto Phoebe's room but she was already fast asleep and Zoe didn't want to disturb her so she shut her door too and headed back downstairs.

"Everything alright?" Nick asked as Zoe joined him back in the kitchen.

"Yeah Phoebe's fast asleep already" She told him.

"She did look tired" Nick commented.

"Ooh now this looks fantastic" Zoe praised as she went to take a seat the dining table which Nick had set out with their plates and a wine glass each along with a lit candle "blimey you sure there's not an occasion" She teased.

Nick laughed "no just relax" he told her as he took his seat opposite her.

"Who knew you were so romantic" She continued to joke, taking in the relaxing atmosphere which Nick had created.

"This is amazing" Zoe said in shock as she took her first mouthful. Nick rarely cooked, especially a romantic meal for the two of them, she never realised he was this good a cook.

"There are many talents you still don't know about me" Nick playfully teased.

"Oh is that so" She playfully replied, raising one eyebrow in suspicion.

"Wine?" Nick offered as he began to pour himself a large glass.

"No not for me" Zoe refused shaking her head.

Nick raised his eyebrows in surprise "You feeling alright Zo?" He asked, joking, but he knew how much she loved her wine or any alcohol for that matter.

"I've gone off wine since last week" She admitted "I think it's because my drink got spiked"

Nick laughed, she was so persistent that her drink had been spiked "Your drink didn't get spiked, you were drunk"

"Drunk.. Spiked.. same thing, it has definitely put me off being at deaths door" She said in all seriousness.

"well I never thought I'd see the day" Nick chuckled "Cigarettes next" He joked, knowing that there was never a chance that would happen.

"Don't know about that" Zoe laughed, she definitely loved cigarettes more than alcohol.

After finishing their meal they sat relaxing at the dining table for a while.

"How did it go with Maisie yesterday?" Zoe asked, she didn't want to mention it when they came home in case it upset Maisie.

"She asked me how Yvonne died" Nick informed her.

"and did you tell her?" Zoe asked in response.

Nick nodded "Of course, i had too" He said

Zoe's heart dropped, she knew Maisie still thought about her mum and finding that out must have really been a shock to her "Poor girl. It's best she knew though"

"I think she had an idea all along" Nick admitted

"Yeah she's a bright girl, she understands"

"speaking of bright girl" Nick said "guess who got full marks in their science exam today?" He beamed like a proud father.

"Not Phoebe?" Zoe gasped.

"Yep another doctor in the making so it seems" He proudly said. They were all good at science much to Nick's delight and Maisie and Phoebe had often told him that they wanted to be doctors.

"Wouldn't expect anything different from your daughter" Zoe smiled seeing how proud he looked.

"of course" Nick agreed "Shall we go in the front room?" He suggested.

Zoe nodded and they both headed into the front room where they relaxed together on the sofa.

Zoe lay so that her head was resting on Nick's chest "So then birthday boy" she said putting her hand on his chest.

"It's not my birthday yet" Nick reminded her.

"You're an old man now" Zoe playfully teased knowing how much this annoyed him. She propped herself up so that she could face him.

"I'm not that old, I could still teach you a thing or too" Nick quickly responded, giving her a wink as he said it.

"Is that so Mr Jordan?" Zoe seductively replied as the air between them got heated, their faces almost touching with desire.

"Lets go to bed" Nick wisely suggested as they both became more and more aroused.

"Best thing you've said all night" Zoe whispered as she took his hand before heading upstairs.