Neil watched from across the bakery as his daughter handed the change to a customer. JJ leaned down to kiss her cheek before looking up at Neil. She stuck a hand out and he shoved his hands into his pockets before walking over to them. 

"You know, she doesn't have to get behind the counter every time. You're working." He pecked her lips before putting a hand on her waist.

"You're just jealous because I'm cute."

"We're going back to this?"

"Well it's the truth." Lara heard the bell chime and smiled at her teacher who walked in. "Can I persuade you to get a banana milkshake this time Miss Whetstone?"

"Yes you can dear. Make that a small though. And can I have your assorted dozen for the cupcakes please?"

"Is that to go, Miss Whetstone?" JJ asked.

"Yes, please."

"Of course. Cheryl can I have small banana milkshake to go, please? And my lovely young helper, follow me and open up a box."

After getting the cupcakes in the box, they walked back to the till where Neil was leaning against the counter. "You sure she's not disturbing you Cara?"

"Don't worry, she's wonderful help." She pecked his lips before turning to Lara's teacher. "Cash or card today?"

"Card." Lara frowned as she turned the card machine to her. "But I do have some change for tip. Since Lara was so nice and polite and she needs help for her father."

JJ giggled when she saw Neil scratch the back of his neck. "That's very nice of you, Miss Whetsone. I'm sure Lara would appreciate it."

Neil waved goodbye to her teacher before smacking the back of both their heads. "You lot are losers."

"It's okay, monkey. Daddy's just jealous."

Neil bit his lip as he looked over at the both of them laughing. "Right that settles it. No one is sleeping next to me tonight. And no hugs and kisses for the both of you."

"Not even a goodnight kiss after story time?"

"Not even a goodnight kiss."

Lara thought for a few seconds. "It's okay. JJ can give me a goodnight kiss."

* * *

"Neil, come on, you're being silly." He looked up, not bothered. "You haven't kissed me once since I came here."

"Well I live up to my word."

"Fine." She leaned down and kissed his cheek. "I'm going to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." Neil watched as she walked away from the room. When he heard her opening the shoe box he quickly got up to find her opening the front door.

"Where are you going?"

"Home. You said I can't sleep next to you tonight."

Neil chuckled as he closed the door. He turned her around and smiled down at her. "Did you really think I would be able to go the whole night without giving you a kiss?"

"Well you managed so far."

"And it is driving me crazy not being able to kiss you. So how about I break my word this time and you tell no one?" She nodded her head before leaning up and closing her eyes. Neil kissed her softly. "Now let's go to bed because I haven't held you all day."

"No." She leaned up to kiss him again. "You said I wasn't allowed to sleep next to you tonight so I'm going home."

"Cara, I was only joking."

"No it's okay. You did all this to prove a point and now I will go home and leave your bed empty to prove a point."

Three hours later, Neil was putting his laptop away. He heard his phone ring and frowned before getting up to pick it up.

"You okay Jay?"

"I'm fine. Are you in bed yet?"

"Not yet. Just putting work stuff away. You sure you're okay?"

"I can't sleep," she mumbled.

"I'm gonna go to the toilet. I'll leave the door unlocked for you." He heard her giggle. "I'll see you in a minute."

When Neil returned to the room he found JJ under the blanket. He turned off the light before joining her, leaving the lamp to guide him to the bed. "Alright, let's get you comfortable." She shuffled in his arms before she had her head tucked into his chest. Neil pat over her hair before she looked up at him. He pecked her lips as he smiled. "You look absolutely beautiful."

"I did my hair because I couldn't sleep."

"Of course you did," he said with a chuckle.

"And I had a shower. And I ate some food. I watched TV and I couldn't sleep." JJ pouted as she looked at him. "I hate that I can't sleep without you now."

"Well my bed is here for you always."

"And your arms?"

"Ready to hold you all night."

"I like the sound of that."

"Thought you would. Now go to sleep, we both got work in the morning."

"Neil?"

He closed his eyes with a sigh. "Yes cara?"

"Will you kiss me properly tomorrow?"

"You can count on that. I'm gonna kiss the hell out of you tomorrow. But right now I'm really tired. I just want to hold you, hear you snore, wake up with your hair in my face and then kiss you in the morning."

"I hate you."

"I know," he said with a smile. "Goodnight, cara."

"Goodnight handsome."

* * *

JJ groaned as she reached for her phone to turn the alarm off. Once off, she slowly opened her eyes to find the bed empty.

"JJ, daddy said to wake you up now." Lara stepped in front of the bed and sighed. "You're real sleepy today aren't you?"

She groaned. Lara slowly got into the bed and shuffled beside her. JJ opened her eyes fully and smiled. Her hand reached out and she combed away Lara's hair to kiss the top of her head. "Good morning monkey."

"Good morning. So did daddy let you sleep next to him? Don't tell him but when he came into the room last night I was pretending I was sleeping and he kissed the top of my head like every night."

"I promise I won't tell him."

Neil stood up from the kitchen chair with a frown. "Lara, I told you to wake her up so what... Oh." Neil chuckled as he put his coffee down on the desk before walking towards them. He got into the bed beside JJ and sighed when she placed a hand over his that was around her waist. "Is this a morning lie in?"

"You got that right. JJ said she loves me so much at work that I should miss out on school and help her out at the bakery."

"Oh I hardly believe that."

"But it's true, daddy." JJ giggled as she tilt her head back to Neil's. He pecked her lips before resting his head on her head. "Isn't that right Jay?"

"All I know is that you need to learn how to lie better. But today I'm not going to be at the front. I've got a few cakes to make so I'm gonna be at the back."

"Can I watch you please? Pretty please?"

"No, tesero. You gotta let JJ work. We will stop by but no helping."

"I just want to watch, daddy. I'll be quiet. You won't even know I'm there."

"That won't be a problem, Neil. No harm is gonna come by her watching."

"You don't have to let her do everything, Jay."

JJ turned around to face him. "I'm not. She just wants to watch."

Neil frowned. "If for any second she annoys you and you can't work you let me know and I will take her away."

"She is here," Lara said. She rolled over JJ and in between them both, accidentally shoving an elbow in Neil's chest. He let out a groan and she apologised before she settled down. "Daddy can you take a picture?"

"Of the three of us? Sure I can."

"I meant JJ and I. But you can join in too."

"Well now Im definitely joining in." He lifted the phone whilst JJ quickly fixed her hair. "Everyone ready? Smile. Lara smile. That is not a smile. Goodness me." JJ giggled as she looked over at Neil. He turned to her with the phone still raised before leaning in for a kiss. "My daughter is broken. She can't smile."