Sitting down at the island in the kitchen Hunter just waited a while for Stephanie to return so he could serve her dinner and then do the dishes so she didn't have to worry tonight. It had been at least half an hour since she had gone upstairs so he put the oven on low and started to heat up the dinner and get the plates out so as soon as she came downstairs he could just dish it out.

A further ten minutes passed before he heard movement and looking up he smiled seeing his girlfriend entering the kitchen, "hey. Did he go down okay?"

Walking over to her boyfriend she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a soft kiss to his lips surprising him. Standing close to him with her arms still around his neck she held him close, "he's fast asleep after talking a lot about your afternoon together."

Laughing softly he rested his head on her shoulder, "well I had a lot of fun with him, it was really nice. However much I am enjoying this cuddle, and it is a lot, I need to get dinner out of the oven before it burns so please release me."

Giggling at the way he worded it she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before she pulled away from him, "you know I can take care of myself right?"

Walking over to the oven he used the cloth to pull the dinner out setting it down before he answered her so he didn't burn himself, "I know but you've had a busy day and I've not and you're my girlfriend so it's kind of my job to take care of you."

Sitting at the island she leant her elbows on the top of it, "you've had a busy day too, taking care of Mikey is not a walk in the park."

Dishing dinner up onto two places he placed them on the island, "I think what you had to deal with is worse than what I had to deal with."

Watching as he took a seat she wasn't going to argue with him on it so just started to eat her dinner, "so exactly how did you get Mikey to eat this? Whenever I've suggested baked pasta to him he's always refused,"

Shrugging his shoulders he didn't have any sort of secret, "well I just opened the fridge and the cupboard to see what I could throw together and I just told him that for you to be able to eat the same dinner as him then I'd have to bake the pasta rather than cook it on the stove and as long as he could help he was happy. Before you panic I did not give him a knife or any actual kitchen utensils to use, I just got him to wash the vegetables and peel the mushrooms."

Laughing softly at him she found it cute the way that he assumed she would panic, "well someone is clearly very good with kids."

Not realising that she was talking about him he nodded his head, "you are, you really are."

Stephanie could only laugh at his comment not really knowing how to respond to that.

As soon as he had finished his dinner Hunter got up and started on the dishes so he could get them done before she threw him out or early enough so he could maybe get some cuddle time with her if she was up for it before he headed home.

Watching as he started on dishes as she finished her dinner she shook her head, "you're domesticated these days."

Laughing he turned his head to look at her, "thanks, I think."

Turning his attention back to the dishes he filled the sink with hot water before he began.

Finishing her dinner she got up from her seat and placed her plate on the stack of plates beside the sink and dropped her knife and fork into the water before she stepped behind Hunter and slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back enjoying being able to hold him and feel him so close to her. Relaxing completely against him and closing her eyes enjoying the warmth of his body she had no idea what came over her as she blurted out, "I love you." Stunned by her own admission she instantly pulled away from him, "I . . . uh I . . . I need to check on Mikey."

Enjoying the feel of her body against his back he was happy that she felt so comfortable with him that she could do this but when she said those three words he hadn't heard in so long he was shocked. When she pulled away and instantly started with some ridiculous excuse to get away from him he spun around not caring to wipe his hands in a towel and quickly reached for her, "what did you just say?"

Shrugging her shoulders she pretended like she had no idea, "I need to check on Mikey?"

Keeping hold of her arm not caring that he was soaking the sleeve of her shirt he shook his head, "before that, it sounded like you said you loved me."

Sighing she realised that she wasn't going to get out of this so she had to talk her way out of it, "I did. I know it's quick and soon and it's obviously too soon to say it and I'm so . . ."

Realising she was trying to talk her way out of it he needed to make her be quiet so put his finger to her lips watching as her eyes widened in shock but she did go quiet. As soon as she was quiet he simply said, "this is a simple yes and no question and there is no need to elaborate on your answer. Did you mean it when you said you loved me?"

Biting down on her lip she was shocked he shut her up in the way he did but even more shocked that he wanted to hear the genuine response to that question. Sighing softly she nodded her head, "yes."

Hearing her say yes it made him more confident to admit the truth to her, "I love you too."

Blinking she was sure she hadn't heard him correctly, "you what?"

Laughing he lifted his hand to stroke her cheek gently with his thumb, "I said I love you too."

"Really?"

Nodding his head he smiled leaning his forehead on hers so he could look deep into her eyes, "really. Stephanie I never did stop loving you so I don't see how you can possibly be surprised by this. Why do you think I was so angry with you? It was because I still loved you so much that it hurt when everything went down between us." Unable to say the words that she lied to him now that he knew the truth that she didn't he hoped she bought what he had said because it was the truth, he hadn't ever stopped loving her.

Closing her eyes she leant her head closer to the hand that was cupping her cheek as a tear fell from her eye and down her cheek the emotions of everything taking over her, "please don't leave me."

Confused he used his free hand to wipe her tear away, "what are you talking about? Why would I leave you? We just told each other we loved each other and now you're asking me not to leave you? Steph I'm kind of confused right now."

Taking a deep breath she realised that it was going to be now or never, she couldn't go on living this lie after hearing him say that he loved her so she had no other option but to tell him the truth about everything. Slowly pulling away from his embrace she felt cold when she didn't have the touch of his hands, "stay here, I will be back now."

Standing there with a raised eyebrow he had absolutely no idea what was going on in her head or where she was going but he wasn't planning on going anywhere, "I'll just finish these dishes so no, I won't be going anywhere so take your time."

Watching as she left the kitchen he turned back around to the sink utterly confused but hoping some light would eventually be shone on her behaviour.