After everyone had left, Neil left JJ in the sitting room whilst he cleaned the kitchen. He called out to her several times to ask if she wanted anything to eat when she finally answered with dessert. Once the final dish was washed, he dried his hands and took the food off the table.

"Hey cara?" Neil called when he walked into the room. He found her on the floor, wrapped in a blanket. With a smile, he put the tray of tiramisu beside her. She sat up, leaning against the sofa. "I'll be back with the drinks. And two spoons. Do you want anything else?"

"No it's okay. Get whatever you want to eat."

"Not even garlic bread?" She looked up with a smile. "Maybe just one I'm guessing? I'll put it in the toaster for a few minutes."

She gave him another smile before he walked away. A few minutes later, Neil came back, setting everything on the table beside them. JJ pulled the blanket aside and he set himself down on the cushions. Once the blanket was over their lap, Neil picked up the tray and placed it between them.

"I'm sorry," he heard her whisper before she put a spoonful in her mouth.

"Don't even think about apologising for being on your period."

"I'm still sorry. And plus I really wanted to have sex with you tonight. I meant it when I said I missed you." Neil laughed softly as he looked down at her. "And you're gonna say everything is okay and you don't mind."

"More or less. Listen to me, I don't think I've made this clear enough but I will tell you once again to get it through that thick skull of yours. I'm not in this relationship because of the sex. I mean don't get me wrong it's pretty darn good but I'll live for a week without it." He kissed her softly. "You however, you're gonna struggle."

"No fair." Gently, she placed her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead taking a hold of her hand. "Thank you for not being a guy about it."

"Am I meant to get offended? And plus, I grew up around three women and a bunch of my cousins are women. I know what to do and what not to do. And freak out and be grossed out is something not to do." He kissed the top of her head, wrinkling his nose at the feel of her baby hair at the entrance of his nose.

"I'm sorry. I told you, you should treasure this night."

He gently pulled on her hair to tilt her head up. When he was able to look into her tired eyes, he smiled. "I mean right now I've got the most beautiful woman in my arms, we've got some great ass dessert and we're going to watch some classics. Why shouldn't I treasure this night?"

JJ opened her mouth to say something but then shook her head. With a smile she tilt her head up to reach his lips. "You're the best."

"I am, aren't I? Now eat your garlic bread before it gets cold again."

"I mean it, Neil. You have treated me the best anyone has in a month of knowing you."

"Well you're the best..." He smiled down at her. His free hand softly rested on her cheek. "And you deserve the best."

"You're gonna make me cry, stop it."

"If it's happy tears then I don't mind." Neil dropped his hand before pulling her in for the kiss. "But seriously, don't cry." He watched her nod her head. Without looking away, he picked up the garlic bread and raised it to her lips. "I know you just like all carbs in general but would you say garlic bread is your favourite?"

"No I don't have a favourite. I mean it's in the top three." Her fingers grazed his as she took the bread off him.

"Okay. Are you going into work tomorrow?"

"No, why?"

"If you're up for it, and you don't have painful cramps, I was thinking I could drop off Lara and come back here, take you out for breakfast. Possibly go into Waterstones because I need a few more books so if we're together I'm just gonna drag you with me."

"We're good. My cramps usually kick in around three days." With a giggle, she looked up. "I guess tomorrow is a date."

She turned back to the paused screen. After finishing the last bit of the bread, she shuffled, resting her head against Neil's shoulder.

* * *

Neil wrinkled his nose. He sniffed before bringing a hand up to move the hair away from his nose. He had been lying awake with his eyes closed for the last twenty minutes waiting for the second alarm to go off.

"Cara," he groaned. "Your hair is going up my nose again." JJ remained still. She felt his hand rest back on her waist. "You always move away from me at night." When she didn't respond, Neil sighed, tightening his arms around her. "I know you're awake. Your ear stopped twitching every two minutes." As hard as she tried, she could stop the giggle that escaped her lips. "And there's that beautiful laugh."

"Should I be worried you know how often my ear twitches?"

"No. I always wake up super early so when you sleep over I pull you back beside me. Also can I say that every time I do, you smile in your sleep and its fucking adorable."

With a groan she turned around. When he saw her light brown eyes he immediately smiled. "Morning beautiful." He leaned down, pressing his lips against hers.

"Good morning. I'm sorry I leave you at night. You've just got a bigger bed and in my head I know there's a bunch of space." She kissed him again. "It's okay, if it helps I only want to be beside you at night."

"Alright we're getting cheesy. But I know that when you're sleeping and moving, your legs are still between mine."

"Well you're very warm." With a laugh, she rested her chin against his chest. His fingers traced over her cheek. "How about, instead of you going and coming back, we go together and go for breakfast?"

"You sure you okay with that? I don't want to drag you along if you're in pain."

"I'm fine. I'll let you know if I'm in pain and we'll come back." Neil frowned. JJ rolled over him. She gave him a kiss before getting up and going to the door.

"That's a lie. You wouldn't tell me when you're in pain."

"Probably not. But I do need to go and get ready. I'll see you in half an hour."

"Wait." Neil got off the bed. He stretched as he walked over to her. "I want another kiss before you go." With a smile he leaned on for a kiss. "Now you're free to go." Leaning back with a sigh, he cupped her cheeks. "Wrap up, it's cold today. And, also, latest we have to leave is ten past eight."

"More than enough time. I'll see you later."

Neil watched her go and laughed softly. When he heard the door close, he shook his head, scratching the back of his head. "She's got me like a love sick fool," he mumbled. Before he could make his way to Lara's bedroom, he heard his phone ring. When he went to answer it he saw it was Lauran.

"What's up loser?" he said.

"Oh we're calling each other names right now?"

"I mean I can continue if you want."

"Don't worry, don't want to make you cry. How are you anyways? How's JJ?"

"I am great actually and Jay is fine. Nothing happened yesterday and Steph was behaved so nothing to worry about." Neil walked over to Lara's room. He slowly pushed the door open and smiled when he saw her reading a book.

"That's good. I just didn't want her to feel uncomfortable for the whole evening. It's not like it's mum's house and we can separate ourselves. We were literally in one place and I mean hats off to her because I don't think I would have sat down for God knows how many hours with someone who thinks I'm a child predator."

"Yeah I'm gonna talk to her about that today. We're gonna drop Lara off together and go out for breakfast and just spend time together."

"Didn't you say you had to spend today getting all that stuff ready for tomorrow? I swear you had a meeting?"

"Lara, honey, its time to get out of bed. Finish the page you're reading and daddy's gonna come back in five minutes, okay?" She nodded her head. "Jay doesn't know I have a meeting tomorrow. And she doesn't know that I was planning to do all of that today. So I'm gonna spend the day with her, come home and work through the night." A few seconds went by in silence. 

"Would you look at that...Kevin I think my brother is in love already!"

Neil shook his head with a groan. "He is? Congrats man."

"I didn't say that. I just wanted to spend some time with her that's all. Get away from the family."

"And have sex all day long." That was Kevin. He heard a smack and knew his sister had just slapped him.

"No, no. She's on her period so that's not happening. It's purely just being able to give her my undivided attention for a few hours."

"Boy you've fallen for her and haven't even realised yet."

"Shut up. I am not in love." He sighed. "Yet."

"Yet? Yeah you're totally gone."

"Shut up. I'm hanging up now."

"Oh before you go, can you ask JJ where she got the dress from please? The one she was wearing yesterday." She paused. "She looked really beautiful yesterday and I know I told her that yesterday so many times but tell her that again today. Oh my god, Neil, she's so cute. Like a little sister I never had."

"Fuck off."

"Love you too little bro."

After giving Lara breakfast, Neil heard the door bell and quickly walked to the door whilst buttoning his shirt. Once he opened the door, he saw JJ rocking back and forth, with a smile on her face.

"Welcome back." JJ put her hands over his, stopping him from doing the rest of his buttons. Her jeans rubbed against his bare legs as she stepped beside him. "I'm hoping you brushed your teeth because there is nothing more than I want to kiss you properly right now."

Before he could lean down and kiss her, he heard a door open and looked up. "Morning Neil." JJ bit her lip as she turned around. "Oh, hi JJ."

"Hi," she said with a small wave.

"So...are you two a thing?" Neil chuckled when he saw the uncomfortable look on JJ's face.

"Yes," he said. "Been just about two months, right cara?"

"Sure thing."

"Basically when you moved in?" Neil nodded his head. "Wow that fast. I mean I asked JJ out a million times and she sad no." He saw the neighbour glance JJ up and down, letting his eyes linger on her chest. Neil inwardly groaned. JJ turned round to him with her eyes wide.

"I'm sorry man. I guess I got lucky. But I really gotta go and get my daughter ready for school."

"Yeah sure thing man. See you guys soon." Once he started walking away, Neil gently pulled her into the flat. "Is it me or-"

"It's him. Fucking weirdo I swear. He keeps asking me out all the time and always seems to corner me. You know just before you moved in, I would catch him staring at my door when he came out from the lift or he would wait in the morning till I left my house and I knew because he literally stood for ten minutes by the lift."

He frowned as he traced his thumb along her jaw. "If he does anything else to make you uncomfortable then you come straight to me and I'll sort the guy out. He's lucky I didn't say anything to him when he ogled your chest." Leaning forward, he kissed the top of her head. "Have you reported him to the security?" 

"I made a complaint once. But t's just getting worse." 

"Honey, you gotta go and make another formal complaint. It's not right what he's doing. You should be able to feel safe in this building. It's your home. Go and make a formal complaint and for all you know there might be other people in this building that he's doing the same thing to." 

She nodded her head as she put her hands on his chest. "I will, I promise." 

"Now, do I get my kiss?" She giggled as she looked up at him. 

"A kiss you shall get." She leaned in for a kiss. He felt her hands at the back of his neck and slowly leaned towards her, pushing her back against the door. His hands went under her sweater as he kissed her harder.

"Oh wow, your boobs have already gotten bigger."

"They're sensitive. Be careful." Neil smiled softly.

"I'm sorry."

"Oh no, trust me, your hands are not hurting me. It just makes me want to climb into bed and let you run your hands over me."

"Is that so? I mean I had period sex one time. Did not end well." JJ dropped her hands to his shoulders.

"Would you be willing to give it a try for me?" Neil chuckled before leaning down to kiss her again. "I'm being serious."

"I know. I'll consider it and get back to you on that. But for now, I should really put on some pants and finish getting ready." Neil walked ahead of her letting JJ glance down at his legs.

"You've some thick ass thighs you know that?"

"That's what playing rugby for ten years does. I may have put on the weight but I still got the thighs."

JJ rolled her eyes. "I love your thighs. I wasn't hating."

"Are you ogling them right now?"

"Of course. Why can't I stare at my man?" Neil chuckled as he entered the kitchen. Lara was silently eating her cereal. "Good morning monkey."

"Morning," she mumbled. JJ looked up at Neil who shrugged his shoulders.

"I have no idea. She woke up grumpy."

"I'm not grumpy! JJ left without saying goodbye when I was awake."

"Tesero, she wasn't gone." JJ looked up at Neil who was frowning as he looked down at his daughter. She pushed her hair back before putting a hand on Lara's shoulder. 

"Sweety, I didn't say bye because I just went to get changed. I'm going with you to drop you off to school." When she remained silent, JJ stuck out her hand. "I hereby pinky promise that whenever I leave and you're in the same place then I will tell you if I'm leaving, even if it's going to the shops, okay?"

Lara stared at the hand in front of her. She felt her father's gaze on her and looked over. He had on his boxers and shirt that was still half done. "I'm sorry. But I pinky promise."

"Right well now we got a smile back on Lara's face, Neil go and put on your pants. Lara is going to get dressed because we need to leave soon. There was an accident on the highway so we're gonna have to leave ten minutes earlier."

"Thank you traffic news. But you come with me because I'm not done with you just yet," he said as he enclosed his hand in hers.

"JJ, can you do my hair like yesterday?"

"Of course I can. Just go and get ready and get your hairbands out."

They both watched her go before Neil wrapped his arms around her. "Cara..." She hummed as she felt his lips on her neck. "You look absolutely beautiful this morning."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"I love how confident you are. But can I take a photo of you?"

"With or without clothes?"

"I will leave the ones without clothes to you. I do have to admit my hidden folder of you is growing. But I do want to take a picture of you because you look really cute. And you can't lie, I do take Instagram worthy pictures."

"I can't seem to remember from the photo shoot yesterday." Neil kissed up her neck with a smile. "Stop you haven't got time."

"I will stop and make time to kiss you."

"Okay that's very sweet but Lara can't be late."

Neil sighed as he rested his chin on her shoulder. "You know cara, I see us being happy for a long time. Longer than eight months."

JJ smiled as she unwrapped his arms from around her waist. "Neil, hurry the fuck up. At this point you're taking longer than me to get ready."

"I forgot how to do my buttons." JJ shook her head with a laugh. She stepped towards him again. "What would I do without you?" he said with a grin as she put her hands on his shirt. Neil watched as she smiled before resting her chin on his chest. "Il tuo sorriso è bellissimo." He raised his hand slowly and stroked her cheek. "I love how you curled your hair even though your natural and very beautiful hair is curly."

"It's because my hair is always frizzy. And when I do curl it it's curly but with less frizz."

"Well I think you look beautiful no matter what. Frizz and all. But I can hear Lara opening her door so I should go." He quickly leaned down to kiss her just as Lara stepped into the kitchen.

"Go and put on some pants daddy. I'm gonna be late."

"Well I love you too my angel. Remember to put your homework in your bag."

Lara rolled her eyes as she set the hairbands on the table. JJ took the hairbrush off her hand and started doing her hair. Five minutes later, Neil came into the kitchen with a camera in his hands. Within seconds she saw the bright flash and then looked up.

"You two look very cute."

"Neil I look like a mess right now."

"Nonsense. You look absolutely beautiful cara. Isn't that right tesero?"

"You always look beautiful JJ." Neil watched as his girlfriend's cheeks tinted.

"Why do you never blush when I call you beautiful?"

"Because...kids are brutally honest and if they say something then I know it's true. But you're my boyfriend so you're meant to say that."

"Cara," he sighed. "When I call you beautiful I mean it with all my heart. Every compliment I have given you is not because you're my girlfriend it's because it's the truth."

"Stop, I can feel my cheeks burning." Neil stepped towards her and pulled her in for a kiss.

"Just the way it should be." JJ patted Lara's shoulder to tell her she was done.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome monkey. Go and put on your jacket and we'll leave soon."

"Picture time. Let's go out to the hallway." JJ giggled as she stood in front of the white wall. "Cara now is not the time to be awkward. Just be you. Shall I tell you a joke? Did you hear the rumour about the butter?"

"No."

"Can't tell you. Don't want to spread it." JJ stared at him for a second before giggling. "I know it's terrible but your laugh is beautiful."

"Daddy can I join in?"

"Of course you can. We'll take this picture and then leave. Okay the both of you smile please. Lara smile properly."

"I am."

"It looks like you need to fart. Smile properly." JJ let out a laugh as she put her hands on Lara's shoulder. "We're gonna be late, smile please."