David woke up next to Fiona on New Years Day. She was fast asleep with her hands folded under her pillow. She slept in exactly the same position she had ten years ago. He was amazed at how her scars had healed from the accident. When he saw them last they were red and angry. Now they were barely visible. She still looked so young when she was asleep. He was amazed that after two kids her body had held up so well. She reliably informed him that it was the work of two years of Pilates and Yoga.

He had planned to spend New Year at home with a pizza and a bottle of wine. He spoke to Emlyn in St Anton, who was having a miserable time. Emlyn was missing Jilly and hated all of the young girls who were coming on to him. David commiserated with Emlyn. He turned down two other offers of parties.

In truth, David was feeling super sorry for himself he had decided to shun all other invitations and wallow in his own self-pity. How can you tell friends and complete strangers that your wife is knocked up with someone else's child? He was delighted when he received the text from Fiona at 11 pm.

Kids asleep. Want a Chinese and some company for the bells?

David slammed his glass of wine down and text her back as quickly as his thumbs would allow him.

Getting the tube now

He walked through the throngs of New Year revellers, heading to the Thames, he was going in the other direction. He got on the tube and observed how merry everyone else was. He got off at Mile End Tube and found his way to Fiona's. She opened the door to him and kissed him.

"Hey, lovely lady." He smiled. He noticed that she was in a silk kimono and underwear only.

"Want to see the New Year in with a Bang?" She laughed and pointed to her bedroom.

"Would I?" He mocked taking Fiona's hand and leading her to the bedroom. "Will we wake your kids?"

"My kids can sleep, through all sorts." Fiona laughed. "They were fast asleep at 9 pm.  Their little heads were like balloons on a stick. I promised them a new year walk tomorrow." Fiona held his hand and dragged him to her bed.

David looked at the clock and found it was 7 am. He keened his ear to listen to the sounds of the house awakening. He thought about leaving before the children were awake.

"Stay." Fiona stretched and yawned. She turned to face David. Stroking his face and arm

"Are you sure?" David asked. Drawing Fiona to his chest. She placed her hand lazily on his chest hair.

"I will go downstairs and make breakfast for the terrors. You can then come down for something to eat. The kids will be fine with that."

"Oh do men stay over often?" He teased. He knew that Fiona would not let anyone into the children's lives.

"Oh God no! Despite rumours to the contrary I only went out with three men after Oliver. Ok, so they were all Personal Trainers. They were mostly young, nice, funny but oh my life were they boring."

"After the first one, you would think that you would know." David turned Fiona onto her back. He placed himself between her legs and kissed her throat softly.

"Sam the first one was my personal trainer. I decided to get in shape after you know, Alice got pregnant. Then I went to a running club and met Richard. He was cute but very very serious. He was the one you met at Richard's 40th. Last one was about six months ago Ben, he took a club in the park and I literally ran into him with the stupid dog. All lovely, all very boring about what you can eat and drink. I didn't think they would be long term so I didn't introduce them to my kids. I didn't think it would be fair given what they had been through in the last couple of years."

"I fear I may be a little inadequate next to your past lovers." David mocked.

"David, they were boys. You are a man. You are great looking and honestly the best lover I have ever had."

"Miss McDonald, are you trying to get into my pants?" David wiggled his eyebrows. He had no clue where he would get the stamina from.

"Yes but not now. I have to feed the children and let my mad dog out into the garden. Afterwards, we can have a walk in Victoria Park and a cake at the Pavillion Cafe. Unless you want to do something different?" Fiona smiled and ran her hands through his hair.

"God no! I want to stay with you for a very very very long time. I don't even have a houseplant that would miss me at my flat." David admitted. His flat would be cold and empty. Fiona's house was a home. Filled with love and energy. He loved being here and with her.

"That settles it then. Give it twenty minutes and then come down." Fiona made to get out of bed. David snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her back.

"Can I not have a quick bite to eat now?" David began to kiss down her body. He nestled between her legs and Fiona had to stuff the duvet in her mouth to stop making to much noise.

As planned David came into the kitchen for breakfast.

"Kids this is my friend David. You have met him before. He is having breakfast with us. Henners move up sweetheart and let David in." Fiona motioned to Henry.

Henry moved up on the bench for to make a space for David. Fiona had placed toast and cereals in the middle of the long table. Coffee, tea and fruit juice set out. David was sure he could smell pastries in the oven.

"You had a sleep over with mum, didn't you? Mum that is unfair. You said we couldn't have sleepovers!" Henry whined.

"Henry, how did you know David slept over?" Fiona demanded. She could not believe that the kids had caught them.

Henry passed David some toast and the butter. David looked panic stricken.

Matilda looked up from her iPad. "Henners came in for your iPad charger and found him sleeping next to you. He called me in as a witness, so that you have to let us have sleepovers now mummy, if you have them."

David looked from Fiona to the children, smirked and then helped himself to some coffee.

"I wouldn't have any, until you are sure mummy has had two cups. She used to shout at daddy if he had." Matilda warned David.

David immediately put the cup down.

Fiona patted her cup, "On my third don't look so worried David, it's fine. They are messing with you."

"I used to be your mum's flatmate and she was the same then." David nodded. No one at Grove Road would speak to Fiona in the morning unless they could attest to the fact that there was a half drunken caffitiere sighted.

"You were mummy's boyfriend too weren't you?" Henry stated.

David nearly spat out his coffee. "How do you know that?"

"Daddy." Both children said in unison.

"He may have mentioned you a few times David." Fiona passed David some pastries. "Maybe in passing."

"He calls you very bad words in French," Matilda added.

"Huh? Oh, I think that may have been because I played rugby against your dad and won a few times."

"Daddy is a bad loser." Henry agreed. He went nuts when I beat him at Angry Birds."

"Is he bud? That is funny. I have never played it so will stink at it." David smiled.

Henry smelled a willing victim. " I will show you."

Henry laughed as he watched David losing at the game. Matilda gave David tips as Fiona looked on. David always got on with children well. She had seen him over the years with various kids and they all flocked to him. She felt heart sorry for him that he didn't have any of his own. It made her hate Suzie just a little bit more now. Not that she needed any encouragement.

"And David if you have an iPhone you can download the game onto there." Henry stated. He had David in the palm of his hand.

"What like this one? Can you show me bud?" David got out his iPhone and let Henry play with it.

"Ok, ok before I lose you all to your apple products we need to go for a walk." Fiona mock scolded.

A collective sigh came from David, Henry and Matilda.

Bundled up against the cold and armed with dog toys and balls they set off for the park. After walking around for forty minutes and walking the crazy out of the dog, they stopped for some pastries at the park cafe.

David bought them all hot chocolates and cinnamon buns which they ate overlooking the duck pond.

"Do you want to be my mum's boyfriend again?" Henry asked David.

"Why do you ask that?" David replied astonished.

"Well, you like her and I like you. You are getting better at Angry Birds and the dog likes you. So do you?" Henry looked up at David. His large brown eyes imploring David for an answer.

"You better ask your mum that bud." David blushed. He wanted to be with Fiona again. He wanted to be part of her life.

David exchanged glances with Fiona and hoped that she would say yes.

"Well Mr Nosey Parker," Fiona laughed, widening her eyes at Henry. She stole a quick glance at David to confirm he had similar feelings. "David and I really like each other. Would you and Matilda mind if mummy had a boyfriend?"

"Mum, Christopher in my class has two mums and two dads. He gets LOADS of presents at Christmas." Henry could see the possibilities of two sets of parents and how many more toys that would mean.

Fiona stifled a laugh and looked at Matilda. "What do you think poppet?"

"Do we get sleepovers then?" Matilda asked. If her mum had another adult in the house maybe she would be up for it.

"Well, if David stays over, it would seem a little unfair wouldn't it?" Fiona negotiated with Matilda. She was proud that both of the children seemed completely unfazed by the prospect.

David took Fiona's hand and gave it a squeeze. There it was. A small gesture between them that meant in an unusual and unorthodox way they were back together.