Humming softly under her breath, Betsy couldn't stop the smile from forming on her lips as she moved around the kitchen. She found her way with ease even as her mind drifted. It had been the same ever since her date with Nick. She would find her mind wandering into daydreams at the most inconvenient moments. She couldn't help it. When he had kissed her scar and looked up at her, with no hint of disgust in his gaze, it had healed something within her. There was still so much further for her to go before she felt whole again but, until then, she would just enjoy all of these new feelings.

She giggled under her breath. It felt like she was floating. It was the only way that she could describe the sensation. A few days had already passed and the effect had not dimmed even though they had agreed to take it slow. Or at least as slow as they could when they were fake-dating to save his company and living in the same house.

Shaking her head, Betsy pulled herself back to the present. And it was just in time too. Lurching forwards, the blonder curled her fingers around a pair of small hands to stop them from releasing their contents. Still, a smattering of white flour escaped from between his fingers and drifted harmlessly on to the floor.

"Tommy," She chastised, staring down at the small boy as she pulled his hands away from Delilah's clean hair. "What did we say about playing nice?"

The three year old stared up at her through his lashes, his eyes wide and innocent. "Be nice to 'Lilah?" Tommy asked, his head tilting to the side and his nose scrunching up as if thinking of a difficult problem.

Betsy cursed her weakness. He had clearly been taking tips off of his big sister because he knew how to play her. The blonde felt her heart just about melting as he stared up at him. If she hadn't just caught him in the act, just inches from dropping handfuls of flour into his sister's hair, she would never have thought him responsible.

Shaking her head, Betsy fought to stop the smile from forming on her lips as she tapped him lightly on the nose. "Don't give me that look. I saw what you were going to do."

She guided him over to the bin and shook his hand gently over the open top until the last of the flour had been released from his grasp. She attempted to keep her face stern but the smile slipped through. Sensing he had won, Tommy moved in close and wrapped his arms around her legs, his chin resting on her thigh as he stared up at her. Ruffling his hair with her hand, Betsy tried not to think about the white hand prints that were now dusting the back of her jeans. Instead, she simply enjoyed the moment.

"How are you getting on?" Mabel Reed asked as she hobbled her way into the kitchen. A kitchen towel was slung over her shoulder even though it had been her first step into the kitchen all day.

"Good.  The cakes will be ready to go in the oven in the moment and the kids have already made the cards." Betsy replied, attempting to step forward but the little arms only tightened around her legs.

Laughing, Betsy swooped down and drew the small boy into her arms. She allowed a content sigh to escape her lips as his body immediately snuggled into hers. His forehead rested on the side of her neck even as Tommy's fingers twirled a strand of her curly hair which had escaped the tie.

"Thank you." Ms Reed spoke softly, but it drew Betsy's gaze up to the older woman.

Giving a light laugh, Betsy smiled at the older woman in confusion. "For what? It's only a couple of cupcakes." She shrugged her shoulders. "I just wish I had known it was his birthday sooner. Maybe then I could have bought him something nice for his birthday. Though what do you buy someone who already has everything?"

The older woman shook her head as she stepped closer to Betsy. Her wrinkled hand rested on the blonde's cheek for a long moment before smoothing through Tommy's hair. "Not for that. But for this." She nodded her head at the small boy. "You don't even know how much you have done for them all already. You don't need to buy Nicholas anything for his birthday. You're already giving the boy everything he could ever want."

Betsy opened her mouth to protest but the older woman shook her head. "I've known Nicky for decades. He's a good boy but he's had a tough time of it. Other than the children, you're the first person who has been able to make him smile and live his life in the last few years. He's been too wrapped up in his work. It's only gotten worse since Francesca passed. Rest her soul."

Betsy startled at the name. She knew the name of his dead wife. Everyone who read the glossies knew about the tragic story of how she died too soon. Yet, in the entire time she had been under the Davenport roof, she had never heard her name spoken aloud. It was as if everyone was afraid to say it. That by speaking her name everyone would be forced to relive her loss once more.

Catching the expression on her face, Ms Reed sighed sadly. "She was a good woman. She loved Nicky with all of her heart but they weren't in love. They were friends from when they were babies. Their parents always attended the same events. " She paused and stared at Betsy for several long moments. "You are a good woman too. I don't know what you have gone through, and I don't expect you to tell me, but you deserve to be happy too. I think Nicky's already half in love with you anyway."

Betsy blushed and looked away. She couldn't stop herself from reacting like a silly school girl. She wanted desperately to believe the woman's words. Hope was such a fragile thing.  She clung on to it with all she had. When she had stepped in for her sister, never had she believed that Nicholas Davenport would pay any attention to her. She wouldn't have wanted him to pay any attention to her when she first arrived.  Yet, after getting to know him, it was all she wanted.

Taking a deep breath, Betsy dropped a light kiss onto Tommy's head and steadfastly ignored the older woman's gaze.

"Come on, let's put the cakes in the oven and then we can get ready for the tea party. Your daddy should be home soon." The blonde said loudly – too loudly.

Delilah looked up. There were smears of cake mix on her cheeks but the girl had managed to distribute the rest of the mix evenly into the cases. Shaking her head, Betsy placed Tommy back on the floor.  He pouted but she ruffled his hair affectionately.

It took twenty minutes to get the children clean and presentable. The cakes had been left in Ms Reed's capable hands so she only hand to get herself ready before Nick was due home in ten minutes time. He had been meeting with the Giannopoulos board again. It appeared that the closer they got to signing a deal, the more of his time the deal demanded. She missed seeing him around the house but even though he appeared worn out whenever he arrived home, there was always something else lingering beneath the surface. Nick thrived on it – the challenge of making his business succeed.

Slipping into a light pink off the shoulder top and a pair of pale blue jeans, Betsy allowed her riotous curls to settle about her shoulders. Only a light coat of gloss on her lips and a touch of mascara finished off her look. She gazed at her reflection for several seconds, debating whether she would be able to change again.

"You look pretty," Betsy complimented as Delilah came to stand beside her.

In a bout of independence, the young girl had decided to dress herself. She had managed quite well  choosing a pale green dress and little white shoes but Betsy couldn't help but notice she had odd socks on. It was a valiant effort. 

"Come on, your daddy will be home soon."" Betsy stated, taking her hand and leading her through the maze of the house. "And I'm sure he's going to love your surprise tea party.

"It's not just my tea party." Delilah replied, shaking her head to remove a few strands of auburn hair from her eyes. "You helped too."

Betsy shook her head and let out a little laugh, covering it with a cough when the young girl looked up at her quizzically.  After a few seconds she looked away again, obviously deciding that adults were just a bit weird.

As they arrived at the bottom of the stairs, the roar of an engine reverberated through the air. Betsy felt her heart skip in her chest. He was here.

"Daddy!" Delilah shouted dropping Betsy's hand to run towards the door.

"Wait Lilah! Remember what I've told you. You're not allowed to open the front door." The blonde called after her as she grabbed the homemade confetti, a collection of flower petals picked from the garden, and the cards which had been crafted by the children. "Besides, it's a surprise."

Delilah halted a few feet away from the door though her eyes never moved away from it.

"Take some of the confetti and, when your daddy comes through the door, you need to shout 'surprise' really loud.  Okay?"

The young girl nodded her head and took several fistfuls of the confetti just as Ms Reed and Tommy came in together. And then the door handle was twitching and the door swung outwards.

Betsy would never forget what happened next.

Delilah threw her fistfuls of confetti into Nick's face as she shouted at the top of her lungs, "SURPRISE."

With her hands raised above her head, a huge grin plastered on her face, Delilah stared up at her father expectantly.

Tommy belated shouted, " A PRIZE!"

With his tie slightly undone and the start of a shadow on his jaw, Nick coughed and spluttered to get the flower petals out of his mouth. His eyes moved between his children appearing more than a little bewildered. Whatever he had been expecting, it definitely hadn't been this type of greeting. He blinked down at his daughter and barely had time to open his arms before she was hurtling forward.

"Oof," he grunted as the little body made impact, her head hitting his stomach with force. Breathlessly he asked, "What's all this?"

"We all just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday." Betsy explained, stepping forwards but making no attempt to interrupt the father daughter embrace.

"Birthday? Is it really?"

"Yes and we made you surprise cakes for your surprise tea party daddy."

"Surprise tea party?" Nick gasped theatrically, leaning down so that he could pull his daughter up into his arms. Delilah nodded her head enthusiastically; almost head butting Nick in the process. Still he laughed and pressing a kiss to her cheek once she finally stopped moving. "Well then princess, lead the way. I've wanted cake all day."

As they moved past her, Nick paused to press a kiss to Betsy's cheek.

"Happy Birthday Nick," she murmured in response, caught off guard by the way the simple gesture affected her so much.

They hadn't even made it out of the foyer before there was a loud knock on the door. They all stopped to look at it.

"Were you expecting anyone?" Betsy asked, looking to Nick but he shook his head. Turning back, Betsy waved at the others to go ahead. "I'll get it. Go and get started without me."

Before anyone could protest, Betsy was at the door and had swung it wide open.

After the laughter and excitement of the day, the sight of two very formal and very stiff people stood on the doorstep was enough to wipe away the smile on her face. Both were dressed impeccably in a way that could only come from having a substantial amount of cash to throw away. The woman was in a stiff tweed suit that looked amazing but uncomfortable while her hair was set in the perfect chignon.

"Hi, can I help you?" Betsy asked politely, drawing the door closer to her body to reduce their view into the house. Her eyes searched theirs for any sign of malice. She had been prepped on the dangers of living within the Davenport household.

"Let them in, Betsy." Nick instructed, his voice coming from directly behind her.

Gasping she whipped her head around on her neck so fast she was sure she was going to feel it later. She blinked as she came face to face with his chest. The blonde hadn't even heard his approach.

Still, she did as he asked and stepped to the side. The couple moved past silently, staring down at the confetti on the floor with a cursory glance but displaying no outward reaction. It was disconcerting to the blonde. She quietly closed the door and turned to face the newcomers.

"I suppose I should make introductions. Greg . Carol. This is Betsy my -."

"- Housekeeper." Betsy supplied when the man struggled to find the right word. He shot a look at her which promised they would talk about it later. She resisted the urge to shrug. Technically it was true.

"Betsy, this is Greg and Carol." He paused and looked between the newcomers and the woman he was dating. His hand twitched at his side but finally he swallowed, looking as if he had just swallowed something horrible. "They're my in-laws."