I hissed as fingers pinched at my arm, looking down at the grubby paw I tried to keep calm despite feeling my skin bruising and supply of blood being cut off.

"You think you're better than me now. Is that it?" Mark snarled. Having me pinned into the corner of the warehouse out of camera view, I shook my head.

"Answer me."

"N-no." I stuttered biting the inside of my cheek straight after so I wouldn't whimper.

Any sign of weakness was enough for him.

"I've always been good to you. You know it's only because I love you." He urged.

"Mark you're hurting me.."

His hand dropped off my arm letting me pull it up to my chest as I rubbed it gently.

"You're gonna retract whatever you said in that fucking office. Do you hear me?" He growled.

"I- I didn't say anything about you. I wouldn't." I whispered.

"Is there a problem here?" A voice spoke making me jump. Mark spun around as my eyes met Zak's. Wiping my tears quickly, I grabbed my hold-all and went to his side.

"N-no. Let's go."

"Sure?" He asked looking between myself and Mark.

"Positive." I whispered.

"You should bring your friend when you come over later. The English one. Tell her to ditch that baby and I'll show her a good time." Mark spoke making my eyes widen.

"Who are you talking about?" Zak asked stepping forward.

"Luna knows her."

Zak looked down to me as I swallowed hard "My Maria?"

"We need to go." I urged.

"Are you talking about my wife and son?!" Zak snapped.

"No offence bro, but if you ever get bored..." Mark smirked.

I grabbed Zak's arm as he went towards Mark, his eyes shot down to my hand. "Think." I spoke before releasing his arm.

Zak stepped back and rolled his neck, his hand took my bag abruptly before he pushed open the door and tweaked his head for me to walk out.

I didn't hesitate and hurried out onto the shop floor before walking along side Zak who strode down through the shop. People seemed to move for him as he made towards the exit, as we crossed the door threshold I released a shaky breath.

"Is he the one marking your arm?" Zak asked as we approached a Mercedes.

"What?" I asked quietly.

"Your arm is covered in bruises, it was the last time we spoke. Is he your boyfriend? Cause for someone who's upset about Aaro-"

"No, he was just someone I used to..."

"What was that about back there then?" He asked pushing my bag into the back seat.

"Misunderstanding.."

His eyes narrowed at me before he nodded to the car. "Zak, have you spoke to Aaron?"

"Everything is sorted. Let's just get going, Maria is already ringing." He sighed showing me his phone screen. I smiled seeing her and Theo as his screensaver with a dog and countless missed calls.

"Cute dog." I smiled.

"That's Gracie. Theo adores her." He replied grinning back at his phone.

Getting into the car Zak answered his phone "Yes my darling wife?"

"I have Luna here with me now... No. I know you're eager but-... I love you." He spoke causing the voice to stop.

My heart warmed hearing that from a man, even if it wasn't directed at me, it was clear to see he adored them. He wasn't afraid to show his love either which was beautiful thing to see.

I kept quiet waiting as Zak finished up the call. Once he did, we were on our way to his house where we would load up an RV and head to the location.

"So you excited?" Zak asked as we pulled up to a set of gates.

"Nervous, I really don't want to let anyone down." I worried.

"Relax, you won't. Just do your thing, if you need help, Aaron is there and if you're stuck on shots. Well I'm always around controlling the ship." He smiled.

"Thank you... For this, the opportunity and for back there."

He nodded "I don't like bullies Luna. I certainly can't stand by and see any form of violence happen against a woman."

I tugged on my sleeve trying to hide the worst ones. Mark seemed to be more angry every time I saw him, each time he would blame me but without physical proof he could simply say I did it. Yes there were bruises but I could have got them anywhere..

"How long as he been doing that?" He asked quietly.

"I don't want to talk about it..." I mumbled.

"Talking helps. If not to me then Maria. If you need me to tell someone what I saw, I'll do that too."

I shook my head "T-there's no need. Really." I looked over seeing his brows pulled slightly at me.

"Okay." He replied as we drove through the street.

After a few turns and bends, we reached the top of a hill where a large house was sat.

"Holy crap." I whispered looking up at the house in awe.

"Welcome to the Bagans house." Zak grinned getting out as Maria came out with Theo on her hip.

Surfacing from the car, I watched as he went to her side planting a kiss on her lips and scooping Theo up into his arms.

"Hey! I'm so pumped that you're coming with us!" Maria beamed.

"I- Maria I'm really nervous." I whispered fiddling with my top.

"Don't be, trust me these guys will have you relaxed in no time. Sure it's a bit awkward with the farting and belching but they are men. I can thankfully say
Zak is a little more trained than that.... Kind of." She replied making me giggle.

"But I'm with you, we will be okay. We can tag team this yeah? Plus my little chunky monkey is coming too, so if you want to escape..." She trailed as Theo squealed from Zak's tickling.

The sound of a train horn made me jump, Maria let out a shriek and Theo? Well he screamed in excitement as An RV came to a stop and a bearded man got out with shades on.

"Bacon!" Maria snapped swatting him with a muslin cloth.

"Not the dribble rag!" He complained trying to hold back his laugh.

"Dude, I nearly dropped Theo! Don't do that." Zak answered shaking his hand.

"Oh he's alright! Let's get a look at this pork chop!" Bacon smiled taking Theo who's hands went straight for the glasses.

"Bacon. This is Luna.. Luna this is Bacon." Maria introduced us. I pushed my hand out and he shook it eyeing me carefully.

"Aaron's Luna?" He asked.

"I'm not.. Aaron's that is. But yeah, I'm Luna."

He nodded "Welcome to the crew. I'm Bacon. Robert Bacon. I drive."

"Awesome. Photographer, or at least I hope I'm good enough." I answered giving Maria a quick smile.

"Nerves are good. I'll be honest, I'm nervous all the time. First time back and I can't bare to leave Theo with Zak's mom. I-..." she paused thinking of the words.

"Too maternal to let him go yet." I finished for her.

"Exactly. So I thought with them being close by, that I could come back slowly. With Bubz too."

I looked at Theo who wore a little pair of black joggers and a familiar looking top.

"Darth Vader." I smiled ticking Theo's tummy.

"Yeah, Aaron got himself a matching top. I'm going to be so pissed if his first word is Jabba or Yoda instead of mum or dad." She answered brushing his hair back.

"I think Aaron's teaching him Chewbacca noises first." Bacon chuckled.

"Lord give me strength." She whispered.

After a few more minutes we were loading up the RV and hitting the road.

"So where are we going?" I asked as we sat around the RV table.

"Arizona. Ever heard of The Domes?" Zak asked pushing a plastic wallet towards me.

I looked down at the building feeling a smile fill my face. "You know.. I think I'm gonna be just fine." I replied seeing the structures and graffiti.

It was my kinda thing!

*****

After a stop for lunch, we were back on the road taking the final few miles when I noticed Maria's face. She looked stressed and with Theo's crying it was easy to see why. Zak had tried and failed and now it was my turn.

"Oh baby." I sang taking him off her and nodding as she looked at me.

I bounced around with him gently rubbing his back before I remembered an old trick.

"Bacon, stop at that supermarket." I said patting Theo's bum gently.

"What am I doing wrong? Am I doing something wrong?"

"Trust me when I say this, he's teething, right now anything and every thing is upsetting him."

When we pulled over I picked up my purse and handed it to Theo who instant shook it hearing the bells on the zipper. Distracted, I pulled Maria up and we headed for the store.

I dodged the purse a few times as it came towards my head as he cried. Walking to the bakery aisle, I went along the shelf until I found it. Picking it up I turned to Maria.

"Vanilla essence?"

"Have you got his soother?"

She pulled it out as I opened the pot, placing a little on his soother, I placed it in his mouth and waited.

His little chest heaved from the sobbing before the soother began moving manically in his mouth.

"Jesus you women walk fast. Is he okay?" Zak asked brushing a tear from his face.

"Vanilla essence. My mom swore by it for her little brother. Seemed to work for him." I shrugged.

"Is that good little man?" Zak asked Theo who's arms tucked into my body and head hit my neck.

"Now he's tired." Maria confirmed wiping her face quickly.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked.

"I felt useless then. I didn't know what to do." She answered quietly.

"Nobody knows everything.. I only guessed because my mom used to use it. Don't get upset."

She nodded as Zak gave her a hug "He's gonna be fine. At least we know he has a good set of lungs right?" He asked.

Maria looked at Theo who hadn't moved "You're really good with him."
She sniffled "If this doesn't work out with the photography, I'll hire you as his nanny."

With Theo asleep I walked around with him slowly, getting my fill of a babies cuddle. For some reason the cuddle I needed all week was filled from this little one clinging onto me.

"We wear the same perfume." Maria spoke as I walked beside her down the fruit aisle.

"Do we?"

"Yeah... I only know that because I'm getting jealous." She admitted looking guilty.

"Jealous of what?"

Her eyes went to Theo. "You can take him, I don't want to upset you, I just seen you getting stressed and thought I could help. I didn't want to muscle in-"

"No, no. It's me being silly. I just wished I could settle him as quick as you can. He's taken to you, he did to Aaron too."

"Are you sure you don't want to carry him?" I asked.

"No. God I love him more than the air itself but he's happy and comfortable. I'm not disturbing him because I got a little grumpy. Besides, you look like you've needed that cuddle."

I gave her a side smile. "That obvious?"

"A little, but then I notice even the smallest of things." She replied picking up watermelon slices. "What's up?"

"Just been a hard week." I replied.

Her hands fiddled with my sleeve fixing it to cover the large bruise. "I won't push for answers but if you ever want to speak.."

"Thanks."

********

"And we are here!" Zak sang before covering his mouth seeing Theo still asleep on me.

"I think my baby has fallen in love with our photographer." Maria sighed watching us.

"He's a snuggler." I whispered.

"Get that from his daddy too." Maria beamed as Zak made a fuss of her.

My little snuggle buddy was taken making me pout as Zak cuddled his son thanking me.

Zak was the first one off the RV followed by Maria as I grabbed my purse and camera.

A familiar laugh made me pause, swallowing the nerves in my tummy I slowly emerged from the RV.

My eyes connected with the big brown eyes I'd missed more than I wanted to admit. His smile fell slightly as he looked at us confused.

"What's going on?" Aaron asked.

My eyes went straight to Zak who grinned, it was then I realised he hadn't told Aaron at all...

We had been set up!

Zak looked at me giving me a reassuring smile "Meet our new photographer. I won't do introductions as I'm sure you both know each other."