When Mark walked downstairs, he only expected to find Natalia there but widened his eyes when he saw everyone sitting down in the dining room.

"It's nine. Are you guys not meant to be gone?"

"No. Jenna has a dentist appointment at half past and Paige doesn't have a class till eleven. Sit." He saw Natalia rush in with a plate on her hand. After she placed it in front of him, she went and got her own. "Natalia made breakfast for everyone."

"Mark, sit!" Natalia said as she pushed him down.

"Okay, okay. I'm sitting!" Natalia sat beside him and started to eat. "You barely have anything on your plate. Here, take this bread-"

"No! I ate quite a lot yesterday and I just wanna take it slow this morning. I'll eat later on." Mark nodded his head and started to eat.

"Oi. Just because you pop the question, doesn't mean you make her do everything. She was awake at seven cleaning your car," Paige said.

"I asked. I didn't say. She agreed."

"You are such a jerk," Natalia said with a laugh. "Do you even know what that sounds like?"

"That's how it is."

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."

"Jenna, just shut up." Natalia finished her slice of bread and kissed Jenna on the cheek before whispering in the ear.

"You ignore him, okay? He's still a little bit upset about something I done this morning. You go and get your stuff. You should get going." Mark stood up and walked out the room. "It's okay. You just ignore him, okay?" Jenna nodded her head before getting up.

After cleaning all the plates, she watched as everyone left and made herself a cup of tea. She heard Mark run down the stairs and saw him frowning at her a minute later.

"You should get ready for our date. You got about an hour."

"I'm not going with you on a date. I'm gonna get ready to go home."

"I've already planned it! Are you not gonna appreciate anything I do for you?!" Mark screamed.

"Why are you raising your voice? I didn't say anything wrong. Be honest. Do you even wanna go out with me today?"

"Why else would I tell you to get ready?!"

"A little smile would do. A little bit more spirit."

"Forget you! You never appreciate anything! Everything has to be about you! It's always about you. Well guess what, the world doesn't fucking revolve around you!"

Natalia shook her head and sat down on the sofa. She pulled the thin blanket up to her neck and sighed. "Yeah. Everything is always about me. I never appreciate anything you do for me because that's just how I am. Queen of the world. You know what Mark? You're not the only one hurting. Your dad can't even bring up his dead wife. Keep the memories fresh in his head. I held Jenna in my arms for a good twenty minutes as she cried about already forgetting her own mother. She's too scared to mention your mum because you're always gonna say something. And there's me. I'm hurting too. I'm trying to help you. I know I can help you but you keep putting up this...shield. A barrier. Everyone is trying to help you, Mark. Look further."

That's when he felt everything crash down on him. He closed his eyes and sharply inhaled, trying to block out what Natalia said. But she was right. After each sentence, he felt as though someone stabbed him through the heart.

"I need to go to her, Talia..." he said so quietly that Natalia barely heard.

"Then we go. Put on your shoes. I'll drive."

The drive to the graveyard was quiet. Mark jumped when the sound of the seat belt alarm went off. He felt Natalia touch his arm and closed his eyes.

"I can't...I need to be alone."

"Of course. I'll just show you where she is."

After a slow ten minute walk, Mark finally looked at his mother's name engraved onto the stone.

"Babe, I'll give you an hour. Call me when you're done. I'll just be in the cafe across the street."

"Why are there fresh flowers here?"

"Jenna and I came the other day. Next time we can bring some, yeah?"

"Can you just go now?!" he snapped. Natalia slowly backed away and left the graveyard, leaving Mark in front of the grave.

"Mum...I am so sorry. I wasn't there to say goodbye. So, I'm here now."

//

Natalia sat there for the next three hours as she ordered coffee after coffee after coffee. When she went to get another one, the man laughed.

"You've spent over- actually, you calculate. You spent £3.25 on each drink- three might I say are coffees- and you have gotten ten of them. That's about three an hour. How much did you spend?"

"Just over thirty pounds. Sorry. Can I just have a lemonade then?"

"It's on the house. Don't worry, I own the place." Natalia smiled politely and sat down on the table. She looked out the window and straightened up when she saw Mark about to cross the road. The man put the lemonade in front of her and smiled.

"I have a daughter your age. I know when something is up."

"My fiance just went to his mother's grave for the first time. It's been almost three years."

"You're engaged?! How old are you?!"

"Seventeen. Almost eighteen. It just...it feels right."

"I was married at your age, hun. Anyways, when he comes in, I'll give you guys a sandwich on the house and his drink."

"No. I can't do that."

"Trust me, it will be fine. You saw how busy it gets. Just wait till the school time finishes and work. It will busier then." Natalia looked back outside and sighed when she saw Mark still standing outside the window. It took another ten minutes for Mark to come into the cafe.

"Babe," Mark sighed as he kissed her forehead. "Sorry it took so long."

"No. That's okay. Are you not cold?"

"Just a bit." Natalia nodded her head and tapped her fingers against the table. "I'm sorry."

"You didn't do anything. I was just a bit worried."

"I didn't say anything. I only said sorry at the beginning but I sat there for three hours and didn't say anything." Slowly, he moved his hand over hers and entwined their fingers. "Thank you. I was talking to my dad when I came out and he said you planned to take me here today. Thank you so much, Talia. I sat there and I cried, Talia. I let it all go."

"That's good news. You needed to do this, Mark. Maybe one day you can sit with Jenna and talk about your mum?" Natalia got out of her seat and hugged Mark.

"Nice ass," a man commented from behind. Mark put a hand on her bum and looked over her shoulder. Natalia jumped at the contact.

"It is, isn't? Shame you won't be able to touch it." Mark moved his hands to her waist when she straightened up. "I love you."

"I know. Who doesn't?"

"Don't flatter yourself. Have you eaten anything? Shall I get you something?"

"I already told her I'll sort it. What sandwich?"

"Thanks, Romalo. He'll have the cheese salad one and I'll have the tuna one."

"Oh, I see she orders for you. Those guys giving you trouble?" Mark looked up at Natalia and smiled.

"I think I handled it. But can you just keep an eye on her while I go to the bathroom?"

"Sure." Mark ran down the cafe and entered the toilets. "Guy killed two birds with a stone. Got them away and he got to touch your ass," Romalo muttered as he wrote down the order.

"He is a sneaky one. Thank you, Romalo."

"No problem, hun." Mark walked out with a smile and sat back down on his seat. Romalo walked off.

"I say we go home, get changed and then go for the date."

"If you're up for it," she mumbled. "I'm sorry."

"What's wrong?"

"For not being grateful enough. You have done so much for me. So much! And all I do is shove it back in your face. And I know you're gonna say you were mad and stuff, but deep down I know that's how you feel."

"Talia...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"No. We all have to be honest, right?"

It remained silent until they both finished their sandwich. Mark moved his chair until it was touching hers. He put his hand on top of hers but she stood up.

"We should go now. It's almost three. I have to go home a bit early today as well." Natalia walked out after thanking Romalo and Mark quickly followed with her jacket and phone.

"Are you not cold?" Mark whispered as he put her jacket on. He put his arms around her shoulder and Natalia quickly hugged him. It only took a couple of seconds for Mark to realise she was crying. "Hey, its okay, you don't need to cry."

"You...you do so much for me...and all I do...I do nothing."

"No. That's not true. You're here for me. You're here right now, right beside me and that's all I can ever ask for. All I wanna see you do is smile. Laugh. Get that twinkle in your hazel eyes. I just wanna see you happy. Not crying." Mark leaned back so he was able to look at her face. "I love you, Natalia. I will always love you."

"I feel like I'm not doing enough for you."

"Well you can do anything you want for me after we get married. I won't mind you keeping me up all night."

"Hey," she said as she laughed. She playfully pushed him away but he put his arms around her waist again. "I love you, Mark."

"I know, who doesn't?" he mimicked her.

"I don't speak like that! You are so annoying!" Mark smiled as he leaned down and kissed her. When he pulled away, he looked into her hazel eyes. "You are still annoying," she whispered.

"I am?" Natalia nodded her head. Mark smirked at her before picking her up bridal style. "Well let me annoy you a bit more."

"Mark! Put me down!" She tightly wrapped her hands around the back of his neck. "If I die, I'm blaming you!"

"Natalia, you are probably just four feet up. Worst thing is sprain your ankle. Oh, you're so light. Even my weights are heavier than you." Natalia gripped onto his collar as he put her down. "Gosh, you're gonna strangle me!"

"I'm scared of heights! Don't do that!"

"I have the perfect place for our venue! Alton Towers!"

"No!" she screamed as she got into car and slammed the door. With a quiet chuckle, he got in.