Neil smiled as he looked up from his cup of tea. His sight settled on Lara and JJ who were sitting on the patio swing in the garden as they looked up at the sky. It was a warm afternoon so he knew he didn't have to worry about Lara catching a cold. His mum gently placed a hand on his shoulder and he tore his gaze away from the kitchen window.

"Well I see why you're so crazy about her. She is amazing."

"I'm glad you can see it now. Do you still think I'm crazy?"

"That's a whole other conversation. I thought you were crazy way before you met her."

"Hey," he said with a laugh. He looked back out the window watching Lara lean her head against JJ's shoulder. "Ma this is absurd. I feel like I've known her for years and we've been together forever but- I really like her and I'm just happy you like her too." Audrey laughed softly. She saw her son look back through the window and get lost in thought once again.

"Oh trust me, I'm nothing. I think your father is looking for your photo albums so he can embarrass you even more." Neil groaned, closing his eyes tightly. "He does it because he loves you."

Shaking his head, he opened his eyes. His mother laughed at him as she saw the annoyed look on his face. When the doorbell rang, Neil frowned. He put his mug down and looked at Audrey who looked confused.

"Ah, if it isn't my favourite daughter," Andre called as he opened the door for Lauran. She rolled her eyes, lifting up the baby seat and walking in. Her children all took off their shoes before running into the house.

"Would you look at that! All of you guys have gotten so big. Come give me a kiss."

"Ma, you said you wouldn't invite anyone else..." Neil said slowly.

"I didn't!"

"And why can't she invite me?" Lauran said as she placed the baby seat on the floor. "I swear Charlie gets fatter by the day. That guy is heavy now. But why can't she invite me?"

"Because his girlfriend is here," Alexa mumbled. Neil glanced over at her with a frown but then realised she was looking out the kitchen window. "She's really pretty, Uncle Neil."

"Well thank you. But I don't mind you, I honestly don't. It's Steph that I don't want here. If she finds out that you're here and JJ is here then she's going to want to come over and cause havoc. And I'm sorry, Ma, you raised a witch."

Felix opened the garden door and jumped onto the swing. Lara gasped before pulling him in for a hug. "JJ, this is my cousin Felix. And Felix, this is daddy's girlfriend, JJ. She's my friend too."

"Well hello there Felix. It's lovely to meet you." She saw his cheeks brighten and smiled softly. Before she could say anything, Lara went on to explain the game they were playing.

JJ looked at the door and saw Neil step out with a worried smile. He motioned for her to get up and she did so slowly, taking small steps towards him. "Okay," he said as he held onto her hands. "I don't want you to freak out...but my sister is here. She came unexpectedly so I am sorry for that. However the good news is that this is the nice sister."

"Okay," she said with a laugh. She suddenly hissed, raising a hand to her ear. Neil frowned, gently placing a hand on her cheek.

"You okay, cara?" She groaned in pain.

"Just give me a few seconds."

"I'm so sorry I can't do anything, Jay."

Lauran carefully took Charlie out the car seat with a heave. "Fat baby," she whispered. "Mummy's not as strong as she used to be." She moved closer to the door where JJ and Neil were speaking softly.

"You wanna eavesdrop don't you?"

"Have no idea what you're talking about, Mama."

JJ blinked back the tears as she straightened up. The ringing in her ear had stopped now but she felt a dull throbbing pain. "Cara...if you want me to take you home then-"

"Did he just call her cara?" Lauran whispered to her mother. Her eyes were wide. Audrey nodded. "Wow. He said he'll only call the woman he loves cara. Well either he loves her or he sure feels like she's the one."

Before Audrey could respond, she saw Neil and JJ walk in. Lauran smiled at them both as she put Charlie on the other arm.

"Hi, I'm Lauran. I've heard a lot about you."

"Should I be worried?" she said with a nervous laugh, glancing back at Neil. He smiled reassuringly before kissing the top of her head. "My name is Judith but everyone calls me JJ. As far as I remember you're the one that talks to Neil a lot?"

"Yeah I'm the one. No one else wants to talk to him so I have to."

"Oh very funny, Le. Now give me my nephew." He stuck his arms out for Charlie and she carefully handed him over. She looked down at his grey tracksuit and sighed. Whenever he wasn't in a suit for work she would always see him in tracksuits. She then looked over JJ who was smiling at the baby.

"Was this planned?" They both looked at her with a frown. "The tracksuits." JJ looked between them and laughed.

"No it wasn't. Didn't even realise. I didn't even know what he was wearing because I left for my appointment in the morning."

"Aunt Le!" Lara screamed as she came through the door.

"There's my favourite niece!" Lauran knelt to give her a hug. "And look at you. In your joggers and everything just like the two of them."

"That's her only niece by the way," Neil whispered. JJ smiled up at him. He tilt his head forward so his lips were almost against hers. "I don't think I've told you that you look beautiful today. So I just want you to know you look beautiful today and that colour looks amazing on you." JJ laughed at him as she took a step back. Neil quickly pulled her back beside him. "Where do you think you're going? I want a kiss."

Lauran watched as JJ leaned up to kiss his cheek. Neil frowned before pulling her in for a kiss. "Well aren't you two the sweetest?" JJ pulled away with a blush. "Honestly, you don't have to be shy about kissing him in front of us. Couples kiss, it's okay. Just keep it PG." Neil chuckled as he slid an arm around her waist.

"It's okay cara, you don't have to be so shy."

"So..." Lauran played with her fingers and she looked at them both. "Alexa told me you two looked like you were arguing yesterday. I mean none of my business but-"

"Exactly that. None of your business." Neil frowned as he looked at his sister.

"It was my fault," JJ said softly. "I overreacted about nothing and-"

"Don't say that. I already told you it was mine. You had every reason to react the way you did and that's my fault. Like I said I should have sat you down and explain to you exactly why I hadn't told Lara that we were dating yet."

"Sorry to break the moment...but I'm pretty sure Ma already did, didn't she?" Neil looked away from JJ to his sister. He rolled his eyes before looking at Audrey who had a mug pressed to her lips, avoiding eye contact with them.

"Everything is fine," JJ said with a smile. She slid her arm around Neil's waist as she looked up at him. "I know that he's a father and a damn good one at that. He's going to put his daughter first as he should and I know that if there is an issue concerning her we will sit down and we'll talk. Because Neil, as much as you are an open book, I can't read your mind."

"That's what I tell him!"

Ignoring his sister, he leaned down and kissed JJ. He brought his hand up from her waist to her cheek as he felt her smile into the kiss. Meanwhile, Lauran unlocked her phone, took a step back and took a photo.

"I'm so lucky to have you," he whispered as he pulled away. He pecked her lips before straightening up. Charlie stuck a hand out to JJ with a laugh. She turned to Lauran who quickly put her phone away.

"Do you mind if I hold him?"

"Oh go for it."

Neil handed Charlie over to her. JJ smiled down at the baby in her arms. "Well aren't you a cutie pie?" She watched him giggle as Neil pulled slowly pulled her into his chest. "He's so chubby! I love it."

"It's nice when you're younger and don't have back pain. This kid gave me the worst pregnancy out of the three."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Did the back pain start before or when you were pregnant with him?"

"I had a little back ache with Felix. Nothing too bad. But I'm just gonna put it down to age because this pregnancy was really hard on my body. I had high blood pressure, had diabetes and morning sickness was absolutely terrible that I couldn't even get out of bed for two weeks." JJ winced. "I know. And to top it all off I had an ear infection. Which brings me to ask, how are you?"

"I've got a constant throbbing in my ear. Occasionally there's a sharp pain. I mean about twenty minutes after taking the first pill I think I was very relaxed. But it's wearing off slowly."

Lauran sighed as Felix came into view, holding a worm in his hands. "Can I keep this one, mummy?"

"For Christ's sake, Felix. No more worms. You have enough."

JJ looked up at Neil with a frown as Lauran went after her son. He shook his head with a smile. "Don't ask."

"Right Well shall I get dinner started?"