Graham was discharged the following week, he had just walked through the door and the boys flew towards him.

“Halt!” Stacey said from the stairs, stopping the boys in their tracks.  “What did we say we weren’t going to do when your dad came home?” she asked.

“Oh yeah, we forgot.”

Graham sighed a sigh of relief at not having to go through his son’s eager welcome.  Stacey put her bag at the bottom of the stair just as Mark stepped back from giving Graham’s leg a hug.

“You promised you were staying.”

Stacey knew she was going to have to go through this again, she sat down as the boys approached her.

“I promised to stay while your Dad was in hospital and he’s back.”

“You promised to stay!” Matt said,  “You lied!  I hate you!” he turned and ran out the house, Mark looked at her then followed Matt.  Stacey bit her lip hurting.  She loved those boys.  Mr and Mrs Broderick vanished into the kitchen leaving Graham and Stacey.  Graham stood and looked at her.

“That hurt didn’t it?”

She nodded fighting back the tears.  “I’ve fallen in love with them.”

“What about me, do you love me?”

She looked up at him “You already know the answer to that one, you know I do.”

“You’ve never said it.”

“I love you.”

“Then why wont you marry me?”

“Cause I’m scared.”

“Of what?”

“If we get married and it falls apart again.  You said when you asked it didn’t involve the boys but it does Graham.  It was hard walking away from you once, I don’t think I could do it again especially since those boys are there too.”

“We wont let you go.” Graham said.  “I made that mistake the last time Stac but those boys will make sure I wont do it again if I am mad enough to let you go again.”

She looked up at him, he had moved closer.

“Stac your going to have to stand up, I can’t bend down to lift you up.”

She stood and looked at him.  She took her gently into his arms.

“I love you Stacey I never stopped loving you and I never will. The boys love you and we want you to stay.  I need you to stay.”

She smiled “I love you guys too.” The she stood on her toes and kissed him.  Wrapping her arms around him tightly, making him wince.  “Sorry.”

“You’re going to stay?”

“Yes.”

“You’re going to marry me?”

“I don’t have much of a choice on that do I?”

“Yes or no?”

“Yes.”

 “Lets go find those boys and tell them you’ve changed your mind and going to stay with us forever.”

He led her outside and to the boy’s secret hide out at the bottom of the back garden.  He knocked on the door.

“Guys, come out here for a minute.”

“No!” was the response.

“I have something to tell you.”

There was silence then Matt yelled, “Come in.”

Wincing Graham crouched down and walked into the hide out.  Both his boys had been crying.

“What you said to Stacey wasn’t very nice.”

“She promised she would stay with us.” Mark said

“You hurt her feelings.” Graham said.

“We wanted her to be our Mom.” Matt added.

“I want you to apologise.” Graham said, “Can I let her in.”

“She’s still here?”

“Yes she’s still here.”

Mark and Matt whispered to each other then nodded.

“Stac!” Graham called.

Stacey walked in and sat down next to Graham.

“We’re sorry.” The boys said.

“I’m sorry too.” She said.

“Stacey and I had a talk.” Graham said, “And Stacey is going to stay with us.”

“Forever?” Mark asked.

“Forever.”

He ran over and hugged Stacey but Matt just sat there.  Stacey looked at him.

“Matt I promise I won’t leave and I promise never to break a promise ever again.”

He considered her offer then he was in her arms giving her a hug.  The boys rushed out their hide out to tell their grandparents the good news.  Graham leaned over and kissed her; it was a hungry, passionate, loving kiss that promised of things to come.