Lara looked up at JJ who was on the phone. Within a few seconds of her hanging up, Neil walked in through the door, his cheeks turning bright.

"I'm so sorry Tesero, Daddy had to run up the stairs. The lift stopped working." He leaned down to kiss her cheek, noticing the way she nervously bit the inside of her cheek. "It's all going to be okay. It's going to be like last time with Ava in the room but this time Mummy and Daddy will be at the back. If you need us then we are there but we know what a strong girl you are."

Lara squeezed JJ's hand. "I know," she whispered. "Thank you for coming with me today. I know you didn't have to."

"You crazy? And miss out on ice cream after this?"

"Oh you both are using me for ice cream?" Neil asked with an eyebrow raised. They both giggled and before he could respond, Ava opened the door with a smile.

"Hey there again Lara. We're ready whenever you are." She looked between them. "If you need a little more time then that is-"

"No, that's alright." Lara turned to Neil. "Daddy do you really think I'm a big girl?"

"Of course you are."

"Then I want to try and do it myself." He looked to JJ who also had a frown on her face. "I promise I will call you if I need you."

Neil began to protest but JJ held onto his hand. "You're a big girl, monkey. I believe in you and your Daddy and I know how strong you are. If you want then you can definitely go in yourself. And if you feel upset or need any of us to hold your hand or give you a hug then that's okay too." She knelt so she was eyelevel with Lara. JJ glanced over at her face, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "I love you, monkey. I am so proud of you for doing this."

"I love you too, Mummy." They both hugged until Neil cleared his throat. Before they could ask what was wrong, he pulled them both into a hug, listening to them laugh. "Triangle hug!"

* * *

Neil watched as JJ paced back and forth. His gaze wondered over to the window that showed the busy streets of London. If you looked far enough you could see the river. In a few seconds, he grabbed onto JJ's hand and dragged her to the window.

"Shut up. I know what you're going to say. You look out this window. Count how many people you see with blue shoes and I am going to get you a sandwich." He kissed her hand. "Focus on something else. Our little girl is strong and the fact that she hasn't needed us till now means that she is a lot more mature than we give her credit for." She squeezed his hand, exhaling sharply.

Neil gave her hand another kiss before walking towards the stairs. He let out a groan once the door closed behind him.

"Fighting for custody or trying to keep it?" He snapped his head towards a man who leaning against the rail. "Don't worry, I've come here to groan out of frustration too. So horrible ex-wife?"

Neil chuckled, sticking his left hand in his pocket and scratching his forehead with the other. "One night stand. Dipped within the first few days and decided to come back after 8 years."

"Doesn't seem like a strong case."

He shrugged his shoulders, looking at the man in a suit. "Fairly strong. Has a husband, two daughters and a son in boarding school. Big house, the lot."

"Don't worry too much about it mate. Given all that she will get shared custody at best."

"Well thank you. I've gotta get my girlfriend some food before she chews away the inside of her cheek."

"Right. Well I will come along with you since I'm on my break." Neil laughed softly before sticking a hand out. "Oh I'm Wes."

"Neil." They both walked down to the cafe. Wes looked over at Neil who was glancing at the sandwiches.

"You know, mate, as a solicitor can I give you some advise?"

"Oh I would be happy to listen. Hang on, let me just call my girlfriend."

JJ felt her phone vibrate and jumped up slightly. She took it out her pocket and relaxed when she saw it was it was Neil. "Hey, honey."

"Hey Cara. I hope you're looking at shoes like I said." He heard her laugh and smiled at the sound. "I will take that as a yes. Alright I will keep it short, it's just about food. They have the chicken mayo sandwich you love but they also have it in a wrap and baguette so I don't know what one you wanted."

"Hmm, the baguette please. I would say get something for Lara but Ava came out and told me she's eating now."

"That's good. I told you not to worry about it, Jay. Our little girl is going to be fine."

"I know...but I don't want her to start crying like the last three times she's been here." JJ shook her head. "It's okay. She's strong and she will be fine. Can you get me a sausage roll too please?"

"Alright, one sausage roll it is. And don't worry, I know you're going to ask for brownies so I will get that."

"You read my mind." Neil smiled. "I love you."

"I love you too. I will see you in a bit." Once he hung up, he looked over to Wes and apologised.

"Don't worry about it. If you really want to impress your girlfriend then I will get her the eclair. Or the jam doughnuts."

He nodded his head with a smile. "It just means she will shout at me for buying her the food after she eats it." At the till, he let Wes go first. Neil listened as he flirted with the woman before leaning in and giving her a kiss. His eyes widened and he straightened up before looking away.

"Neil, this is my wife Malika. It's not a habit to go around kissing people. Pumpkin, this is a stranger I met along the way. Name is Neil."

"I hope my husband isn't being too annoying, Neil. Here give me those, I'll put it in a bag for you. Do you want any hot drinks?"

"I'll just have two black coffees please. And can I have two eclairs and three jam-"

"Wes suggested it right?"

"Yes he did." Malika rolled her eyes before turning around to make the drinks. "How long have you been married for?"

"It's been what, pumpkin?" he called to his wife, "about a good 10 years."

"There won't be an 11 if you keep calling me pumpkin."

"Love you too. So how long have you and your girlfriend been together?"

"It's just been 10 months a week ago."

"Hmm. You know the solicitor will try and make that into an issue. Did you know her before?"

"Not at all. Within the first few days of moving in and she came by with cookies. Then I asked her out on a date and almost three weeks later we went out and it's been that ever since."

"Right. And was your daughter involved? Did she know that your girlfriend was your girlfriend from the beginning."

"Within the first couple of days, yes. I struggle to see how this is relevant." Wes kissed his wife goodbye as Neil took the drinks and bag off her. He paid for the food and then went to the sugar table.

"If you have a mean solicitor then they will tear apart your relationship. Try and find a weak spot and make it seem unstable which would then mean your daughter isn't in a stable home. You guys also haven't been together very long."

Neil thought for a while before making his way to the door. Wes followed shortly behind. "Our relationship is strong. Jay has loved Lara from the beginning and she even calls her by mum now."

"You gotta make sure that your girlfriend knows your daughter inside out. They will ask her what her favourite colour is, favourite food, least favourite and all that sorts."

"Mate, our daughter literally sits down and has a conversation about what her favourite colour should be that week. That's a trick question and one Jay knows very well."

"I'm very glad to hear that. But if you have anymore questions, then don't hesitate to ask me. Here's my card." Wes put his bag down before quickly getting out his wallet. "I wish you all the best Neil."

They both shook hands before Neil walked over to JJ. He gently put the food down and then placed his hands on her waist. As expected, she jumped a little. He kissed behind her ear as he closed his eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you too Neil." She sighed. "Thirty seven."

With a smile, he opened his eyes. He focused on the water as his arms tightened around her. "I got you some food. Thought after this we can go and try that new Korean place you wanted to go to."

"Then ice cream?"

"Then ice cream," he said with a laugh.

* * *

Lara watched as the woman in front of her held out a toy. It was her second time meeting Penny and she still hadn't spoken a word to her.

"I'm your real mum," Penny said with a smile as she pulled up a chair beside Lara.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Krate, but we spoke about this before. We prefer not to use that term in this room."

"Alright, alright." Lara glanced up and sighed. "Lara, I know you already know, but my name is Penny."

"I know what your name is."

"Okay...well what do you like to do?"

"Not be with you." Ava bit her lip as she looked at Brad who seemed to be amused. She caught his eye and he shrugged his shoulders before standing up.

"Lara, I know this is hard for you but can you try and talk to Penny? How about you tell her what you do at school. Any after school clubs?"

With a frown, Lara buried herself deeper into the bean bag. "My after school club is helping mummy at the bakery."

"She's not your mum-"

“Mrs Krate," Ava said. Penny rolled her eyes before standing up.

"I'm going for a break."

Lara watched as Penny walked out the room. Ava closed the notebook and stopped the recording. "Alright Lara, do you want to take a little break too? We'll call you when Penny comes back."

When they opened the door, they saw Neil and JJ standing by the window, laughing at something outside. JJ ran over to them, hugging both their waists.

"Ava," Brad said. "Look how happy she is already. It breaks my heart putting her through this." She exhaled sharply before responding.

"I know." She watched as Neil put Lara on the window sill, her legs swinging back and forth. "It is what it is, Brad. The only thing we can do is make sure she stays with them."

"Daddy, how come you call grandad papa?"

"Because he's my father."

"But why don't I call you papa?"

Neil chuckled as he ruffled her hair. She swat his hands away before fixing it. "You used to. But then you went to school and everyone else was saying daddy so you stopped."

"Do you miss it?"

"Of course. I loved it when you called me Papa." Neil glanced at her. He raised his eyebrow at her and she smiled back innocently.

"Mummy?"

"Yes?" JJ said cautiously.

"Can I call you mama instead?"

"Of course you can, monkey. What has brought this all along?"

Lara smiled and shrugged her shoulders. She looked between them, focusing on Neil reaching out to hold JJ's hand. "I love you guys."

"Well we love you too, tesero."

From the corner of his eye, Neil saw Brad walking towards them. When he fully faced him, he saw Penny standing at the door picking at her nails.

"Back already?" Lara said with a frown.

"I'm afraid so. How about we make her do the talking this time?"

"She already talks too much."

"Lara, be nice," JJ said.

"Fine. Papa, can you held me down please?" Neil paused and looked at her. It had been years since she called him that. With a smile, he put her down and kissed the top of her head.

"Well how about instead of her talking, you teach us some Italian then? I mean I already know Italian because my wife is from there but let's teach the ladies together. Ava is terrible."

"Can I tell you secrets in Italian?"

"You can. But I will have to translate it after because it's still going to be recorded."

"It'll do. As long as Penny can't understand."

JJ laughed softly as they both walked away, already muttering in Italian. She nudged Neil's shoulder. "Cara, I think our daughter is broken."

"You can't keep saying she's broken because she does something weird."

"Yes I can."

"No you can't."

"Yes I can."

"No you can't."

"Yes I can."

"No you can't."

"Yes I can."

"Do you want sex tonight?"

Neil chuckled before pulling her in for a kiss. "I think I'm more in a cuddling mood tonight. You and Lara both beside me and I'm going to go to sleep thinking that I have done something right to be able to have the both of you in my life and how lucky I am that I found an amazing, wonderful, talented and beautiful woman." He kissed her again, watching her smile. "I love you."

"I love you too."