"Hi Zo" Nick smiled, taking off his coat as he entered the kitchen, returning home from work. He walked over to where she stood, placing a hand on her waist as he greeted her with a kiss. "What did the school say?" He asked, noticing that Zoe was being rather quiet than usual.

Zoe sighed "Oh just fighting once again" She replied, trying to attempt a convincing smile.

Nick shook his head in disappointment "Where is she now?" He asked.

"She's in her bedroom" Zoe informed him "Hasn't moved since we came home at lunch" She added. She really wasn't her usual self and Nick could see this.

"I'll go and have a word with her" He said, not hesitating before heading to the kitchen door.

"Nick, wait" Zoe called, stopping in his tracks and grabbing his attention "There is one other thing" She mumbled. There was no way she was going to tell him about the smoking, he would absolutely kill her; she had made a promise to Maisie and she was going to keep it. The other matter on her mind however, wasn't going to be let go of so easily; this had really hurt her.

Nick sighed. He already knew he wasn't going to like this "Go on, just tell me" He prompted her.

Zoe paused for a moment before telling him "She said I wasn't her real mum" She told him, the hurt present in her voice.

"What?" Nick shouted, there was a fine line and Maisie had just crossed it. He didn't say another word to Zoe and stormed straight upstairs.

He knocked on Maisie's door loudly, entering before she even had the chance to call back. She was lying on her bed, playing on her phone, only glancing at her dad from the corner of her eye as he entered.

"I think you need to go and apologise to your mum right now" Nick ordered, pointing towards the door.

Maisie put her phone down, sitting up as she sensed her dad's anger "I didn't mean it dad" She apologised with tearful ears.

"You know full well that Zoe is your mum" He continued to shout.

"I know, I was just angry and it just came out" She continued to apologise.

Nick shook his head "Do you have any idea how much you've upset her?" He asked.

"I said sorry" She continued to try and tell him. Tears began to roll down her cheek as she sat up on the edge of her back, looking for a sense of forgiveness.

"What has gotten into you lately?" Nick questioned "I am so disappointed with you" He shook his head.

Maisie rolled her eyes at him, quickly wiping away the tears from her face "Yeah mum has already said that" She mumbled.

"Well there's no wonder" Nick replied "I thought all this had stopped?" He asked.

"I said I didn't mean any of it, for gods sake" She continued to cry once again.

"Go downstairs and start apologizing" Nick demanded, indicating towards the door.

She quickly got up off her bed and left the room, closely followed behind by Nick.

"Mum" Maisie mumbled as she sheepishly walked into the kitchen, trying to grab her attention "I'm sorry" She apologised.

Zoe turned around from making her coffee "It's OK" She said, trying to force a convincing smile.

Nick wasn't having any of this though "No Zoe, it's not OK" He interrupted, he could see how upset she still was.

"Nick it's fine, really" She assured him "her hormones must be all over the place" She spoke as though Maisie wasn't even in the room.

"I really am sorry, you know you're my mum" She apologised, tears forming in her eyes again.

"Come here" Zoe said, opening her arms for Maisie to come and hug her.

Maisie raced over and wrapped her arms tightly around her mums neck "I love you so much"

"I love you too" Zoe smiled, kissing the top of her head "You can always talk to me about anything though" She told her.

"I know, thanks mum" Maisie smiled, pulling away from their hug.

"Come here" Nick said, wrapping his arms around her "I'm sorry for shouting" He apologised.

"I'm sorry for being a pain" Maisie apologised, tightly hugging her dad in response.