When Neil woke up, he found the bed empty. He groaned before turning around, reaching for his phone at the nightstand. Once he saw the time, he sighed before closing his eyes again. It was only six in the morning. Which meant JJ was most likely still in the flat.

His eyes snapped open when he heard a door slam shut. Slowly, he got out of bed but by the time he made it to door, he saw JJ walking towards him. "Hey," she whispered. "I'm sorry I woke you." Scratching the back of his neck, he shook his head. As he passed her, he kissed the top of her head. "You alright?" she asked as he entered the bathroom.

"Yeah I'm good. You're leaving quite early, don't you want some breakfast first?"

"I need to get home and have a shower. Sex gets your hair quite sweaty and so does your boyfriend's fingers in your hair."

"Sorry," he mumbled after taking the toothbrush out his mouth. "How about while you have a shower, I make you some breakfast here and then you can eat before you go." He returned to brushing his teeth and JJ shook her head. Rolling his eyes, he turned to the sink and spat. "Even if it's fucking cornflakes then so be it."

"Neil, you don't have to feed me breakfast."

"And JJ, I'm not letting my girlfriend go to work early in the morning and then work the whole say without eating. So what do you want? I'm gonna make a good fry up for me so you can oogle my food and eat your cereal unless I should make you some too?" She watched him raise his eyebrows.

JJ shook her head with a laugh. "You might as well then." She leaned up for a kiss.

"Don't take too long, otherwise I might finish it all," he whispered before meeting her lips. He felt her smile into the kiss and pulled her in.

"I'll be back in twenty minutes."

Neil heard the front door close. He opened the fridge door, glancing over the ingredients he would need for making breakfast. When he had dumped everything on the counter, he heard his phone ring from his room. It was his sister.

"Yes Le?" he asked as she entered the kitchen again. "How can I help you this fine morning?" He opened his laptop on the kitchen table and selected a random playlist.

"Wow, isn't someone in a good mood today," she said. "Just wanted to know if you are planning on keeping Lara here again."

"Are you basically trying to get rid of my daughter, Le?" He placed the phone down on top of the microwave before getting out the chopping board.

"Quite the opposite really. I tell you, that girl can talk more sense into my kids than I can. You know what?" he hummed as he started cutting the mushrooms. "She was cleaning away the toys yesterday and without a word spoken, my kids started helping her. I tell them ten times and they never listen."

"That's my girl," he said with a laugh. "If only she kept her clothes clean like that. But yeah, I am planning on picking her up today. I've got a file that needs to be handed in by two. I might then pick up Lara from you and we'll go and see if Jay is available for a coffee or something." It stayed silent on the phone for a minute. Neil frowned as he put the mushrooms into the browned butter. "Hello?"

"Yeah I'm still here. I'm just lost for words, Neil."

"Why?"

"You really like this girl don't you? Like really, really like her?"

"I do. So if you're planning to take the piss out of me or-"

"No, no, no. I mean to be honest I did call to do that but Neil- I have seen you go out with women for like two months, sometimes even three before they even get to see Lara. And I know you, you would not let Lara get close to her unless you knew she was special. Now I really want to meet her."

"I do like her, Le." He sighed as he took another pan out. "I feel so comfortable with her and I feel like we've known each other for years but then I stop and think to myself, it's only been two weeks."

"Would you look at that. My lil bro is talking about his feelings," she said with a laugh. "So what you up to now then?"

"Just making us some breakfast. She's gone to take a shower."

Laura gasped. "Are you making your mushrooms and goats cheese thing?"

"Not today. I won't have enough time because she needs to get to work."

"Ah man, can you make it for me soon please? I haven't had it in ages."

"When you be nice to me," he said. He scratched the back of his head before cracking some eggs in a bowl. "Fried eggs or scrambled?"

"I don't know. Haven't even met the girl."

"Ah shit, I'll just go with both. So what's the plan for today then? With you and the kids?"

He heard her sigh and could imagine her pinching the bridge of her nose. "Gotta go to work. Then Karl is going to take them to the day care and I'll pick them up from there. Unless you pick her up but-"

"How about," he interrupted. "I pick them up, all the kids and I take them out for some dessert. I haven't hung out with Alexa and Felix in ages. A bit of quality uncle time."

"Neil, do me a favour and never say that again." Just when he was about to respond, he heard a knock on the door.

"Hang on a sec, Le." He walked over to the front door and looked though the peep hole to find JJ rocking back and forth on her heels. "Welcome back," he said when he opened the door. JJ smiled before leaning up for a kiss. "I am almost done, just give me five minutes. You were a lot quicker than I thought."

"Yeah I didn't wash my hair. Just threw some dry shampoo on it and I'm gonna have another shower after work anyways." He took a hold of her hand, guiding them into the kitchen.

"Neil? Did you seriously just leave-"

"Shit," he mumbled. "Sorry Le, I went to go and answer the door. So I'll pick up the kids and then I will take them out for desert and bring them back. That gives you and Karl a good two hours to do whatever the fuck you want, okay? I'll speak to you later, love you, bye," he rushed before hanging up.

"Well everything looks good, Neil."

He frowned as he wrapped his arms around her. "Do you really judge my cooking skills after how many times I cooked for you?"

"I think this relationship isn't going to work very well in my favour. You're gonna make me fat, Neil."

Neil whistled as he took the frying pan off the cooker. "Damn, babe. The amount of effort you put in at the gym, I highly doubt that." He turned back to the cooker and sighed. "Do you want fried eggs?"

"Yes I love some fried eggs. I think the best thing about breakfast is breaking that yolk."

"Well just give me five minutes and I'll get the turkey bacon on." She looked up and smiled as she saw him rush around the cooker. With a sigh, she stood up and gently placed a hand on his back. "Hey I'm sorry, I was-"

"What do you need help with?" He hesitated before looking at the bread. Before he could say anything, she reached for it and opened the packet.

"Cara I told you-"

She wrinkled her nose as she looked at him. "Okay at first I thought I heard it but why do you call me cara?" Neil smiled before leaning down to kiss her.

"Is someone jealous?" JJ shrugged her shoulders, looking down at the floor. "Cara means dear in Italian," he whispered. She felt his fingers under her chin and looked up at him with a guilty smile. "It's what my parents call each other so there is no need to be jealous."

"I'm sorry. I just didn't know what it meant and I-" Neil shook his head with a laugh. His lips brushed against hers before he slowly kissed her. "Okay so how about we eat breakfast and I'll tell you about my little plan."

* * *

JJ poured water over the last plate, watching as the soap quickly swiveled down the drain. She heard the toilet door open and smiled, knowing that Neil would be in sight soon.

"Baby," he whispered as he circled his arms around her. She turned off the tap. His lips softly kissed down her neck, leading to her bare shoulder. "Didn't I tell you that I'll do the dishes?"

"It was only two plates and glasses. I think I'm fine."

"But still," he murmured. "I was thinking, I'm gonna pick up Lara and my sisters kids up later, told her I would take them all out for deserts. Would you be free later on to come and visit?"

She slowly turned around with a smile. "Are you not meant to wait three days before you ask me out again?"

"Just can't get enough of you." She leaned up to kiss him but stopped when she felt his fingers playing with her hair, a distant look on his face. He then shook his head, bringing himself to reality. "Of course if you're busy then let me know."

"You can come around six. I'll probably finish around three. Then I need to get started on the orders and stuff, punch in a few numbers and then I should be free. If you come before six, chances are you'll get deserts but not me," she said with a smirk.

"Well," he said, a smile on his face. She looked into his eyes and noticed the playful brown eyes looking back at her. "I never mentioned seeing you. You run a bakery and I happen to know the owner who makes a very good chocolate cake which I know the kids would love."

"Oh, here comes the funny Neil." Rolling her eyes, she leaned up, meeting his lips. "I gotta go. I'll see you later on then if you pop by. Let me know when you get there."

Neil walked her to the door. He pulled her in for another kiss, gently pushing her to the wall. JJ felt his hands slowly slip under her t-shirt and moaned. His fingers grazed her skin before he pulled away from the kiss.

"Oh," she whimpered sadly. "Just one more kiss." Neil smiled as he pulled his hands from under her t-shirt, now slowly travelling up to her hair. "Don't tease me just before I go to work. Just kiss me."

"As you wish."

After he pulled away, he kissed the top of her head. He carefully opened the door, hearing the squeak. "Need to-"

"I know. Listen, you have fun at work. And remember to drink water this time."

"Yes dad," she said whilst rolling her eyes.

"No. That doesn't do it for me. Lara calls me that so..."

"Noted." Neil chuckled, leaving down to peck her lips. "I'll see you later."