Here, Darling.

Alaska quickly poured out the correct dose of medication out, coaxing Ava into taking it a frown forming when she saw the disgusted look on her daughter’s face who immediately curled into a ball, arms wrapped tightly around her.

Alaska turned to look at the doorway, noting Zack leaning against it, not able to find the correct words to say instead throwing her arms up in a ‘I’m really sorry but what can I do’ kind of way, listening to Ava groan as she quietly sung her favourite lullaby, hand caressing her daughter hair as she tried to lull her to sleep.

Finally after what seemed like several hours but was really only about forty five minutes she finally got the little girl off to sleep, albeit a restless one but at least she was now able to get some rest.

Quietly she exited the room, grabbing Zack’s hand and pulling him behind her as she gently shut the door, dragging him into the kitchen behind her where she began to quickly wash up, mentally scolding herself for allowing the house to get into such a state.

“So I’m guessing the date is off the cards” Zack chuckled gently reaching out and touching Alaska shoulder immediately causing her stop from scrubbing viciously at the plates that Chris hadn’t bothered to clean.

“Yeah” Alaska sighed glumly throwing the brillo pad into the soapy water as she turned to Zack running a hand through her knotty hair that she hadn’t had chance to wash yet today “I’m really sorry but Ava is really ill, as you can see, and I can’t leave her –” Alaska began rambling, her eyes downcast onto the floor as she angrily tapped her sock clad toe on the wooden laminate floor.

“Adelaide” Zack tried to cut her off but failing, Alaska’s voice rising over the top of his and drowning him out causing him to sigh, a small smile pulling away at his face as he tried again “Ad, Addie, ADELAIDE” he said, finally managing to succeed in stopping the girl by placing a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening by the action.

“Adelaide, just shut up” He laughed, a hand still clamped over his mouth as he gently led her out the room, and leading her to the couch where he made her sit down “It’s fine really, I know that Ava is your first priority and I respect that okay so please stop stressing, now if I remove my hand from your mouth will you please stop apologising?” Zack asked, an eyebrow raised as Alaska nodded with an eye roll causing Zack to cautiously move his hand, Alaska keeping her promise, although it was only for a few seconds.

“But I was really looking forward to tonight” Alaska sighed, wiping her hands furiously on the thighs of her sweatpants, pulling her rat tailed hair into a messy bun, hating the fact that she looked like a state in front of Zack, hoping that this wouldn’t change her view of him.

“As you should, I’m a hot date you know” He laughed winking at her as he sunk down onto the cushion next to her, his arm draping around her shoulder as she just snorted, rolling her eyes at his choice of words as she playfully punched him in the arm.

“Did you just snort?!” Zack asked, grin widening as he Alaska shook her head violently, blush beginning to creep up her neck and take camp on her cheeks, this just caused Zack to leave over, his hands dancing over her waist as she shrieked with laughter, thrashing about as Zack just continued to laugh, tickling her more and more despite her pleas.

“Please!” she gasped, between laughter, tears streaming down her cheeks as Zack stopped, sitting back on the couch as Alaska sat upright, straightening her top as she tried to regain control on her breathing, shooting a playful glare in Zack’s direction as she clamoured to her feet.

“You’re mean” she pouted, collapsing next to him, arms crossed tightly across her chest as she stared in faux anger at the wall, as Zack just poked at her side, trying to gain her attention, a small sad look in his eye as Alaska refused to look at him, knowing that if she did then she would immediately crumpled, something she had learnt in the small amount of time she had know Zack was that she found it nearly impossible to say no to him or to stay angry.

“Come on Darling” Zack continued to prod, rousing a small smile from her lips as she turned to look at him, causing him to smile back in turn, getting rid of the puppy dog look he had been perfecting which made him look spookily like Lucy.

“Fine, you’re not that mean” she mumbled, bumping her shoulder with his as he just chuckled, an arm wrapping around her shoulder as she leaned forward to grab the TV remote, instantly clicking it into life handing it to Zack to flick through channels as she stood up, stretching her arms above her head causing her shirt to rise slightly, revealing a couple of inches of snowy white skin above her the low slung waist band of her sweats.

“Well, the night’s not completely ruined” she grinned, her hands falling down and now resting on her hips as she stood in front of him “If you haven’t eaten I could cook you dinner?” She suggested, her thumb pointing to the kitchen with a hopefully shrug of the shoulders, her lips pushed to one side as she waited in suspense for his answer.

“No, I’ve not eaten. But only if you don’t mind me staying...” he trailed off awkwardly, the carefree banter from earlier instantly gone. This was constantly going on between them one minute they were carefree as if they had known each other for years, flirtatious banter batting back and forth from the pair as if they were playing a game of tennis and then minutes later it was completely different, as though they were both thirteen year olds going through puberty and as though it was the first time they had ever interacted with a member of the opposite sex.

“Of course I don’t mind, if I did Zack then I wouldn’t have offered” Alaska grinned, rolling her eyes at him as she instantly started racking through her mind, trying to remember what she had in the house that she could make into some tasty concoction for them.

“Well then” Zack said, standing up and standing next to her, resting a hand on his shoulder as he spun her around pushed her to sit down on the couch, placing the remote in her hand “I am going to cook for us then, since you cooked for the guys and me countless times” he continued, placing a finger over her mouth to silence her when she opened her mouth to retort, motioning for her to keep it zipped as he headed into the mess that she called a kitchen.

Alaska sighed; she was really starting to like Zack. Alot. Way more than she thought she could have, and in such a short space of time, it was though he was beginning to slowly drift into different parts of her life bit by bit, so soon she wouldn’t be able to remember what life was like behind him.

He made her feel young, like she was twenty three, her age, instead of just like a frumpy old mother whose life had now stopped once her daughter let out her first scream.

He made her feel alive again. Life she was a young teenager dabbling into love for the first time again, having to try and think of the right things to do to impress the opposite sex and for them to think that she was attractive and fun.

She knew if she admit that she was falling for him to Lucy or to one of the other guy’s then they wouldn’t let her live it down, and Lucy would also think that Alaska was probably dropped on her head as a kid to think that her twin brother was attractive.

Alaska could picture it now, Lucy say in front of, her nose scrunched up, eye brows furrowed as she tried to comprehend the situation, her face then screwing into one of disgust when her finally clicked everything together, the fact that Alaska thought her brother was attractive and actually liked him.

She couldn’t help but giggle, instantly slapping her hand over her mouth as she quickly looked over her shoulder, knowing that if Zack could hear her know then she would seem as she was losing her marbles that was if she even had any to begin with.

Turning the TV on she decided to use this as a cover, using it as something to take her mind off of things and keep her occupied until Zack came back to keep her or company, or if Ava woke up.

Flicking through the channels absentmindedly, lips pursed as she tapped her fingers on them as she browsed the movies, selecting one that she had heard was good but had never actually had time to watch it even though she loved Kate Hudson as an actress.

She was about thirty minutes into ‘How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days’ when she began to feel a bit lonely, though it was nothing to do with Kate’s acting, she sighed, hands holding onto her now rumbling tummy as she began to shuffle into the kitchen, sock clad feet slipping and sliding on the floor as she tried to stay silent as a mouse.

She couldn’t help but smile as she watched Zack in her kitchen, how he seemed such at home in the place, she couldn’t help but start fantasize about the future, wondering if he would still be standing there in years time before instantly berating herself for being foolish after all this was only meant to be their third date together and she was already daydreaming about them living together. She needed to knock these stupid day dreaming thoughts out of her head.

Alaska’s eyes couldn’t help but stare appreciatively at his tones abs as he reached up to open the top shelf, his shirt rising revealing his toned torso, that Alaska had often thought about running a hands down in the middle of the night, something that she wouldn’t admit to anyone.

When she found out he was a musician that seemed to make him even more good looking to her, she had never been able to say no to them, they were always her weak spot but never lead singers, their ego’s were to big for Alaska to handle, they didn’t entertain her one.

Which was another reason she was so shocked when she found out they were a band, they were the most genuine people she had ever met, sure they made the odd dick or boob joke every now and again and played childish games but they never acted as if they were better than everyone else.

When Alaska had been out countless times with Jack or Alex or Rian in the day, doing silly little errands in the day for the bakery when she needed some muscle and Zack was with Ava they would always stop and talk to the crowd of fans that would surround them, not leaving until every last one had got a picture or a voicemail message that they had asked for, never leaving anyone disappointed.

This was one of the reasons why Alaska was so happy to have them as friends, they were probably some of the nicest and most genuine guys she had met and she couldn’t have asked for better friends, even if Zack did detest her at first under the false pretence of her apparent corruption of his sister.

“Hi” she whispered, causing him to turn around, a wide grin slipping onto his face when he saw her leaning against the door frame, with a smile like that it seemed to completely rid her of any self conscious thoughts she felt, as though instead of standing in front of him in a scruffy top and sweats she was dressed for a red carpet. Zack just had the ability to make her feel beautiful from just one of his looks.

“Hey” he grinned, turning around to quickly stir one of the pans on the stove before turning it off and turning to face her again “You have got here just in time, the food is just about ready so I just hope you are hungry” he said, placing multiple bowls on the table, pointing to her seat as she began to attempt to help him, instead receiving a stern look in return.

“Of course I am” she beamed, quickly jumping out of the seat when his back was turned and running to the fridge, pulling it open before he could chide her, grabbing the bottle of wine she had bought the day before for the weekend, placing it on the table along with two of her rather large posh wine glasses that she only got out if they were having company.

“Hey, I thought I told you to sit!” Zack, called causing Alaska to freeze, turning to give him a sheepish look as she sat down again, quickly twisting the bottle open and not even bothering to ask him if he wanted a glass before she filled both glasses up close to the rim, as Zack merely raised an eyebrow placing the last of the bowls onto the table.

“Are you trying to get me drunk to take advantage of me?” he questioned, taking a seat at the table opposite her as Alaska merely smirked, glancing around the kitchen to see that Zack had tidied up while he had been in here.

The pile of post was neatly sorted, the dirty plates were cleaned and put away, the last of the shopping she had bought the day before had been put away, and the sides had even been wiped down, before Alaska had time to thank him Zack had already raised her hand to stop her.

“Don’t bother thanking me, now I hope you like Fajita’s its one of the only thing’s I know how to make” he shrugged, as Alaska just smiled, something she seemed to be doing more and more as the days went on, grabbing a tortilla chip and filling it with the chicken and peppers that Zack had cooked for them, a bowl of salsa and guacamole sat between the two of them.

“I love it” she beamed, after taking a huge bite, self consciously wiping her mouth with the back of the hand as Zack beamed, digging in himself.

Within the next two hours the pair had demolished the food and already one and a half bottles of wine between them. Ava’s temperature had gone down and she was already passed out into a deep sleep.

After checking on Ava one more time, who was now no longer clammy or warm and seemed to be snoring away as she clung to Minnie Mouse, Alaska grabbed the third bottle of the wine, noting the fact that Zack had already demolished the last remaining drops of bottle number two.

Alaska could feel the filter from her head seeming to disappear completely which wasn’t helping as her head was already beginning to feel fuzzy, something that she hadn’t felt for a long time and she could no longer hold herself responsible for anything she said.

Alaska had always been a light weight, something that her friends in high school used to always make fun of her for, and since having Ava she rarely drunk, never building herself a tolerance for the stuff so whenever she did drink she always did something foolish, that she would forget the next day or would regret.

She collapsed on the couch next to Zack, quickly twisting open the bottle of wine, topping both glasses up to the top and grabbing her own as she leant back, Zack’s arm falling loosely around her shoulder, causing her to automatically lean into him, his body instantly warming her up, the thin cotton of their shirts seeming to not exist.

“Hey Zack” Alaska asked, turning to face him, her legs curling next to her on the couch as he turned to face her, their face’s millimetres apart.

“Yes Adelaide?” he whispered, the way he said her name always sent shivers down her spine, he said it so differently to everyone else she had ever met, it was as if he pronounced it differently to everyone else, always uttering the three syllables with a voice laced with care.

“I think I like you” she mumbled, tilting her face slightly as she stared at him, her green eyes locking with his brown one’s, never looking away as she took a sip of her wine glass, cradling it against her chest as a small smile sneaked onto his face.

“I know I like you” he replied softly, as her eyes widened a small smile and a flush making its way onto her face as she took another sip of the wine, now half empty as they continued to stare at one another.

“So if you like me and I like you” Alaska started slowly, as if she was trying to search for the correct words, but she knew that if she was sober right now she wouldn’t be having this conversation at all knowing that she would be dying with embarrassment.

“Does that mean I could kiss you now?” she questioned, her voice slow and careful, like one of a child that was trying to get their head around a theory of something they didn’t understand such as god, the meaning of life or Santa.

Alaska gnawed at her lip, as she awaited Zack’s reaction, it seemed to take the guy a couple of seconds for the words to process in his mind, she could practically see the togs ticking away behind his eyes before all the words finally clicked, a wide grin spreading across his face, one that mirrored Alaska’s.

“I guess it does, only if you wanted to kiss me, that is” he replied, his eyes finally breaking contact with her as they travelled down her face to her lips straying there for a couple of seconds before moving back to look at her.

“I think I would like that...” Alaska trailed off, not having enough time to finish her sentence before Zack cut her off in a way that was completely knew to her as his soft lips covered hers.

It took her a few seconds to react and she had to admit that she did quiet like the feel of his lips on hers as her hands slid around the back of his neck, pulling him closer to her, fingers tangling up in her hair as she deepened the kiss, not wanting to pull away in the slightest.

“Well that was nice” she panted slightly, trying to regain her breath as Zack just chuckled, a hand reaching up to push a strand of hair behind her ear, before his thumb grazed her cheeks as a deep chuckle erupted from the back of her throat.

“Just nice?” he asked as Alaska just smirked, her hands still wrapped around his neck as she just looked at him.

“Well maybe I need another one to make my decision” she mumbled slyly, pulling him in for another kiss, now she knew that tonight had not gone to waste.