Paul was woken by the sudden shrill squealing of 'I Can't Take My Eyes Off You.' It took several seconds before he realised it was Gina's phone, that had somehow, most probably when they fell in the door, ended up on the floor near his side of the bed. Paul gently reached out to grab it, not wanting to wake Gina and not considering the possibility the ringtone had probably woken the entire hotel anyway.
          "Hello," he managed to croak.
          "Paul?"
          "What?"
          "It’s Abbie, can I speak to Gina?"
          "Sure," Paul mumbled and poked Gina in the back. She lifted a hand and without opening her eyes took the call as Paul settled back down.
          "Hello."
          "I just thought you should know your Mum called," Abbie perked.
          "Why?" Gina sighed.
          "To make sure you were still coming for lunch."
          "Shit," Gina groaned. "You didn’t tell her about…"
          "No, I told her you were still in bed. Well, it's not a lie is it?"
          "Well…no," Gina replied sheepishly as she felt Paul’s fingers gently moving down her stomach.
          "Tell her we're having sex as she speaks," Paul mused as his lips found her neck.
          "I heard that and I didn't need the mental image," Abbie groaned. "Anyway, I'll go since you sound distracted."
          "What?" Gina breathed.
          "My point exactly," Abbie sighed and ended the call. Gina dropped her phone back on the floor and rolled over to look at Paul.
          "Paul, how do you feel about meeting parents?" she asked. Paul stopped kissing her instantly and lifted his head.
          "I'm not adverse to it, why?"
          "I kinda promised my parents I'd go for lunch today, don't suppose you want to come?"
          Paul rolled onto his back and studied the ceiling a moment, "We've been on one date and you want me to meet your parents?"
          "Well only because I'm going there anyway. And I want to enjoy the look on my mother's face when she finds out I'm dating you."
          "Your mum doesn't like me?" Paul winced, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
          Gina sat up, making sure to keep the covers wrapped around her. "Actually, she thinks you're adorable but has always had a phobia I might actually end up with you or someone like you."
          "Is that a good or a bad thing?" Paul asked.
          "It's an interesting thing," Gina countered and kept one of the sheets wrapped around herself as she got out of bed. "Better get showered if we're going to be there on time."
          "Want me to help you with those hard to reach places?" Paul asked with a sultry smile.
          "No, I'm fine," Gina nodded and scurried into the bathroom. "Idiot," she grumbled to herself. Gina wasn't sure why but she'd suddenly felt very self-conscious. Maybe it was the call from Abbie had brought her back to earth after the air of fantasy that had surrounded them the previous night or perhaps she was just nervous about introducing Paul to her parents, as she imagined anyone would be.

          "I'm going to have to call into Abbie's on the way to my folks’," Gina declared as Paul emerged from the bathroom.
          "Why?" he asked, dropping the towel from around his waist and grabbing his underwear from the floor. Gina blushed and focussed her attention somewhere else. It didn't matter that they'd spent the night together naked, she still wasn't quite prepared for full bollock naked Paul McDermott.
          "Clean underwear, hair brush that kinda thing," she said quickly.
          "Whatever for?" Paul smiled as he ran his fingers through his hair. "So, how far is it to your parent's place anyway?"
          "About fifty minutes," Gina shrugged as Paul sat next to her on the bed to pull on his shoes and socks.
          "Right and how do we get there?"
          "We catch the bus," Gina winced. "That's ok with you right?"
          "Yeah, why wouldn't it be? You know I don't drive right?"
          "Of course I do."
          "So, how else do you think I get around?"
          "Magic carpet," Gina said blankly.
          "Yeah, me and Ali Baba together," Paul jeered. "Drag racing through the stratosphere."
          "I think you'd look great in a turban," Gina grinned.
          "Oh man, when we were in India once I…" Paul cut himself off. "No, I probably should save that story until we're married or something."
          "Why?"
          "Because I don't want you fleeing on account of my stupidity," Paul sighed, looking miserably at his feet.
          "I've seen you in tights, if anything was going to make me flee it should have been that."
          "When did you see me in tights?"
          "On the Big Gig you guys were dressed like Flacco."
          Paul dropped his head into his hands, "Oh the shame."
          "Legs like a ten year old girl," Gina nodded as Paul lifted his head and smiled.
          "Maybe I'll have your Mum dig out some photos of you huh? See some of your most embarrassing moments."
          "Don't you dare!" Gina gasped.
          "Oh I will, find all those naked baby pictures or worse the teenage ones where you're all spotty and pubescent."
          "You are such a bastard," Gina huffed and pushed him back onto the bed.
          "And you can't get enough of it," Paul grinned and pulled her into his arms.
          "Neither can you," Gina breathed as they fell into a heated kiss. She felt herself being drawn into him again and forced herself to pull away. "No, we have to go or we'll miss the bus."

          The bus ride to Gina's hometown was fairly quiet, with late Sunday morning not being a popular time for transport. By the time Gina rang the bell they realised that they had barely said two words to each other the entire time there. Gina had been distracted with trying to think up excuses about her home and how to tell her parents about Paul. While Paul felt a few nervous flutters about meeting Gina's parents. Sure, he wasn't a kid any more but it was still an unnerving experience, especially when he was absolutely besotted with Gina.
          "I'm sorry it’s a bit crap, it’s kind of the shittiest suburb in Adelaide," Gina winced as they crossed the road.
          "Trust me when I say there are shittier places in the world than this and I've stayed in all of them."
          "Nah, it was probably just one place but you were drunk and thought it was several."
          "You are way too cynical for you own good," Paul chided. "Is this your folks place?"
          "Don't be absurd, this is Abs's place," Gina perked, leading Paul to the door. Paul looked on in horror as five cats all appeared at the door.
          "Fuck, she's a mad cat woman!"
          "There's another three somewhere," Gina mused as she unlocked the door and shooed the cats back.
          "What are you doing here?" Abbie asked, appearing from the kitchen.
          "I need to change," Gina replied.
          "Are you like breeding them for a reason? Do you use them to like line jackets for orphans or something," Paul announced, still looking at the cats.
          "Don't be an arsehole," Abbie scorned.
          "Don't be an arsehole," Paul mimicked as Gina dragged him down the hall into one of the rooms and closed the door. She grabbed her backpack and started hunting out clean clothes. Paul was still for a few seconds before he started exploring.
          "Ohh pretty dress," he mused as he grabbed a picture frame. Gina pulled her pants off from the previous night and changed her underwear while he was distracted.
          "It's from our school formal," she replied, sauntering over without pulling her jeans on. "I was 18."
          "Which one of the guys was your date?"
          "Guess," Gina smiled.
          Paul bit his lip and thought for a second, "Nuh, no idea."
          "None of them, they're all gay," she sniggered.
          "Really?" Paul gasped and Gina nodded. "They missed out," he added and leaned forward to capture her in a kiss. Gina wanted desperately to resist but ended up with her fingers through his hair and at least of one his hands on her near bare bottom.
          "You are so bad for me," she gasped before her lips were back against his.
          "Wait," Paul breathed, surprising himself. "We've got to get to your parents place and I'm sure Abbie doesn't want to hear you scream."
          "Wouldn't be the first time," Gina purred, her fingers toying with his shirt buttons.
          "Oh god," Paul groaned with a pained expression on his face. He backed out of the room and walked into the kitchen where Abbie had taken to baking. He grabbed her cup of water that was supposed to go into the mix and dumped it over his head. "Tell Genie I'm waiting outside."

          "I can't believe how quiet this place is," Paul sighed as they walked arm in arm along the footpath. At that moment two barefoot children on bikes whizzed past and nearly cost Paul his right arm.
          "Stupid little fuckers," he hissed.
          "Spoke too soon," Gina mused.
          "Don't pick on me," Paul pouted as they stopped at the curb. A car screeched in front of them before kicking up the gravel and taking off up the road. "Such fabulous driving skills."
          "Makes you glad not to drive huh?" Gina nodded. "Well, this is it."
          Paul looked at the humble brick house, with sparse front garden and smiled. It made a change to be invited to associate with real people, instead of other celebrities in huge mansions and various other North Shore types.
          "We not going up the path?" Paul asked bewildered as Gina kept walking along the footpath.
          "In my family everyone enters by the back gate," she replied as they walked up the driveway and Gina expertly unlocked the gate. They were greeted by a dilapidated old dog, which leapt about before losing her balance and falling flat on the grass.
          "Tess is a bit stuffed these days," Gina laughed and gave the pained looking animal a hug. They rounded the shed to find Gina's mother trapped amongst a pile of washing that she was progressively hanging on the line. "Come on," Gina enthused and led Paul across the grass.
          "She's cruel this one," Paul declared to Tess who cocked her head to the side.
          "Mum, there's someone I want you to meet," Gina perked as her mother emerged from the washing. Her mother Sandra who was holding a vest in one hand and several pegs in the other looked surprised at Paul. "Mum meet Paul McDermott, Pauly this is my Mum."
          Sandra looked as though she wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry and quickly discarded her pegs and washing.
          "It's a pleasure to meet you, " Paul grinned stepping forward to peck Sandra on the cheek.
          "You're not really seeing him are you?" Sandra gasped, looking shocked at her daughter.
          Gina smiled and nodded enthusiastically, "Well more than seeing really."
          "I'm going to have her children," Paul perked.
          "Oh god," Sandra breathed as Gina's father Bob appeared from his shed.
          "Oh I thought I heard voices," he perked.
          "Dad's been hearing voiced for years, we've just never been sure whose," Gina chided as her father strolled over.
          "Dad meet Paul he's my…" Gina paused. "Boyfriend, Paul that's my Dad."
          The men greeted each other and shook hands.
          "You know who he is don't you?" Sandra asked and Bob looked bewildered. "Paul McDermott, the one from Good News Week."
          "Oh right," Bob smiled. "The one she's had a crush on for years."
          "Shame," Gina mumbled and buried her face into Paul's shoulder. Paul laughed and turned to Sandra.
          "That reminds me, I'm demanding a showing of her most embarrassing childhood photographs."
          "Do that Mum and I'll never give you grandchildren," Gina threatened.
          Sandra smiled wickedly, "I thought he was having them."
          "That's right," Paul nodded. "So, your Mum who’s really, really nice can still show me embarrassing photos of you," he added in a childlike voice and looked pathetically at Sandra.
          "Do you want to see them now or after lunch?" Sandra perked.
          "Oh can we look now," Paul grinned.
          "I hate you all," Gina pouted and walked off into the house.
          "I don't know what she's worried about," Bob mused. "It's not like we have a photo album devoted purely to embarrassing photos of her, we have two."
          Paul started top laugh; "You guys are the best in-laws ever!" Sandra and Bob looked at each and Bob quickly descended back into his shed, while Sandra busied herself with the rest of the washing and told Paul she'd be in soon.

          "You don't really hate me right?" Paul asked, sauntering into the kitchen where Gina was flittering about by the kettle.
          "I don't think so," Gina replied. "Do you like my parents?"
          "I love your parents," Paul smiled as Gina pulled at her fingers. "Why?"
          "No reason really, I'm just paranoid."
          Paul pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow, "Why would you be paranoid?"
          "Hey, I'm the journalist here. What's with all the questions," she joked feebly.
          "If there's something wrong babe tell me?" Paul said, moving closer.
          Gina leaned back against the sink, "I don't know, I just feel like you're this really fantastic famous bloke and I'm just too boring and normal for you."
          Paul rolled his eyes and smiled warmly, he placed his hand comfortingly on her arm. "That's exactly what I love about you. You're not some pretentious b-grade bimbette who just wants to fuck her way into television, you don't try to impress me and I don't have to pretend to be anything around you."
          Gina tried to pretend she hadn't just used to word 'love' in reference to her. "It's hard to try and impress someone when you can't stop thinking about them naked."
          "That I can live with," Paul sighed. "It's the trying to hold the image that everyone perceives you to be in front of someone who makes you feel naked and vulnerable that's hard."
          "I make you feel vulnerable?" Gina gasped, ignoring the boiling kettle.
          Paul nodded, "Does that freak you out?"
          "Ah huh," she nodded as her hands crept around his waist, his had already found their way around hers. "I really don't know what to say to that."
          "I've always thought actions spoke louder than words," Paul smiled and teased her by rubbing noses before they fell into a kiss. They were still kissing when they heard footsteps on the lino and Gina broke the kiss to see her mother standing in the doorway with an amused expression on her face.
          "Well at least we know your image of a sex crazed pervert hasn't been tarnished," Gina mused as Paul couldn't help but look slightly embarrassed that they'd been caught.

          Lunch was a BBQ, which was the usual Coleman family solution to feeding guests. It was a long held belief that if you had a BBQ there'd be something for everyone, even vegetarians could toy with the potato salad. Sandra stood sweating over the BBQ, while Bob was nowhere in sight and Paul had decided to be nowhere in sight with him after the kissing in the kitchen incident.
          "Can you not wait until it's cooked?" Sandra scorned as Gina appeared with a handful of chips she'd stolen from the bowl on the kitchen table.
          "No, I missed breakfast," she shrugged. "So, do you like Paul?"
          "Where'd you meet?" Sandra asked, deliberately dodging the question.
          "Amanda at work set us up for a bit of fun," Gina replied.
          "Did you ask him out or did he ask you?"
          "He asked me, I'm not that bloody forward."
          "I'm surprised you didn't pounce on him," Sandra teased.
          "Mother!" Gina gasped.
          Sandra laughed, "So how long have you been seeing him?"
          "Four days," Gina winced with the knowledge that her mother would know that they'd already slept together. "Hence why I'd never mentioned it before."
          "Still early days then," Sandra said cautiously.
          "Yeah, feels a lot longer though," Gina mused. "Is that a good or a bad thing?"
          "Don't change the subject," Sandra chided.
          "Me, you still haven't answered my initial question."
          "I'll let you know," Sandra smiled. "It's ready, go and tell the men."
          "Yes ma," Gina sighed, worried that her mother for the first time didn't have an instant opinion of her boyfriend.

          Gina hurried across to the shed and found Bob and Paul hunched over the computer that Bob was apparently fixing, playing a computer game.
          "Got the little bastard!" Paul declared as the character he was controlling blew apart another character.
          "Nice to see you two working hard," Gina declared, making them both jump.
          "I finally got it up and working," Bob perked.
          "Yeah, we were just making sure this game worked ok," Paul nodded. "And look it…little shit killed me…"
          Gina rolled her eyes, "Lunch is ready."
          "I'll get you later," Paul warned the gun toting computer game villain as he followed Gina and Bob into the house.

          After Bob had been abandoned to do the lunch dishes and Paul was nursing sore shins after Gina had taken to kicking him every time he'd been leading toward saying something unsavoury. Sandra led the way into the living room and stopped before she sat down.
          "Did you still want to see those photos?" she asked.
          "Yeah, course I do," Paul grinned and then turned to mock Gina as her mother scurried off to hunt out the albums. A few seconds later they were sat on the couch, Sandra at one end, Paul in the middle and Gina cringing at the other.
          "Nice olive green cord dress," Paul teased.
          "This from the man who was wearing paisley when I first met him," Gina quipped.
          "The paisley-sperm image is back thankyou very much."
          "So is green cord."
          "You're right," Paul nodded. "But that butterfly costume is just sad."
          "It was for a dance class I did, we were doing Winnie the Pooh," Gina pouted.
          "Gee, I don't remember there being Winnie, Piglet, Tigger and Butterfly girl."
          "Shut up," Gina giggled and slapped his arm. Paul sniggered and squeezed her thigh affectionately before turning the page on the album.
          "Oh now that I like," he perked pointing to a picture of Gina when she was about five and on a family picnic. She was sat at the table, head on her arm, embarrassing sunhat on her head and an expression that could be described as nothing less than extremely pissed off. "That to me is the proof that some people never change."
          "You know," Gina said blankly. "I can't wait to meet your parents, I want to see all your embarrassing pictures."
          "Just log onto the Internet, there's plenty on there," Paul shrugged. "Besides, I like you too much to introduce you to my parents."
          "What an awful thing to say," Sandra gasped.
          "Mum, I wasn't serious," Paul said, trying to keep a straight face.
          "Oh," Sandra said blankly as she tried to pretend he hadn't just called her mum.

          After a few more albums and anecdotes Gina declared that they'd have to go or they'd miss the flight back to Sydney. Paul nipped off to the toilet as Gina collected her things and looked to her Mother who was collecting up stray mugs.
          "So, are you going to tell me what you think? And don't pretend you don't have an opinion because I know you too well."
          "You want to know what I really think?" Sandra asked, approaching her daughter. Gina nodded as Sandra lowered her voice, "I think he cares for you a lot more than you realise."
          "That's it?"
          Sandra smiled and raised her eyebrow. "It might be early days but the world can see there's something between you two, so don't stuff it up."
          "Right," Gina said sheepishly. "So, what’s the great Sandra Coleman's prediction on this one?"
          Sandra studied her daughter for a moment, "Well, if the way he was looking at you all day is any indication and the little talk you had in the kitchen is anything to go by then I think I finally have myself a son-in-law."
          Gina felt her cheeks redden, "You heard the kitchen stuff?"
          Sandra nodded, "Oh yes."
          "Right," Gina mumbled. "And no you can't borrow him to flaunt to the rellies."
          "Wait until your brothers find out."
          "Can we not tell them?"
          "Are you aware your toilet paper has poetry on it?" Paul asked, wandering back into the living room. Sandra and Gina looked at each other and shook their heads.

          "Can we visit your parents every weekend?" Paul asked as they walked up the steps to Abbie's front door.
          "God no," Gina scorned as she unlocked the door and was disappointed that Abbie was nowhere in sight. "Shit, we'll have to call a cab."
          "Ah, there's plenty of time," Paul mused, perching on the arm of the couch.
          "Yeah, I suppose we can give Abs a few minutes," Gina sighed as Paul coaxed her into his arms. "You've been a walking hard on all day."
          "I held off at your Mum's."
          "Only because she caught us kissing and you got all embarrassed," Gina teased.
          "Yeah, well it’s not a good look to meet someone's folks and then half a second later they find you groping their daughter."
          "It's not the first time my mother has witnessed me being groped."
          "Hmm kinky family," Paul grinned and fell back onto the couch taking Gina with him.
          Abbie returned five minutes later after a quick trip to the supermarket and stopped when she stepped into the living room.
          "I'm not opposed to throwing a bucket of water over you two," she declared.
          Gina let out a squeal; both their shirts were open and her jeans were undone. Paul tried to right himself but ended up just falling onto the floor.
          "So Abs, any chance of a lift to the airport," Gina shrugged as she made no attempt to cover herself.
          "Sometimes I'm glad you moved to Sydney," Abbie breathed.
          "So? Are you taking us?" Gina reiterated.
          "Yes, but you're sitting in the front and he's sitting in the back. I'm not going to drive all the way to the airport with you two going at it in the backseat."
          "It's all right, I just crushed my balls falling off your couch," Paul declared as he stood up and readjusted himself.

          Like the bus trip to her hometown, the flight back to Sydney was quiet. Gina wasn't entirely unhappy that she and Paul didn't have seats together and it gave her time to think about everything. A few days ago she'd been not entirely enjoying singledom. Now she was heading toward, god only knows what with a man she barely knew but who made her happier than she could ever imagine being. Her only concern was that things were going too fast, she had never foreseen them ending up in bed so quickly together and when he'd used the word love earlier it had scared her half to death. They'd known each other a few days, he couldn't love her that quickly and a relationship just couldn't develop that quickly could it?

          It was early evening when they were reunited in the terminal, Gina had stopped to hunt out her car keys.
          "So, your place or mine?" Paul enthused as Gina shoved her keys into her jean's pocket.
          "Um, actually," she breathed. "I'm pretty tired how about we just stay at our own places tonight."
          Paul looked taken aback as they headed out to the carpark, "Oh right, well, yeah I mean if that's what you want."
          Gina felt a stab of guilt, "I'll give you a lift though," she half smiled.
          "I can get a cab," Paul offered.
          "I insist," Gina declared on finding her car and unlocked it. They drove in silence with only the radio humming away and the few directions from Paul to break it. A short while later Gina stopped her car outside Paul's apartment building. "Traffic wasn't too bad," she said blankly.
          "Have I done something to upset you?" Paul asked.
          "No, of course you haven't," Gina soothed. "I just don't think we need to spend every second together."
          "Fair enough," Paul nodded and unclipped his seatbelt.
          "Paul," Gina said quickly. "I've got to know, what did you mean when you said that I make you feel vulnerable?"
          Paul looked at her out of the corner of his eye; "You intimidate me."
          "Me? How?" Gina gasped.
          "Look at you, you're a beautiful, intelligent, successful, independent woman," Paul said softly. "Why on earth would you want someone like me?"
          Gina unclipped her seatbelt and shifted in her seat to look at him in the dull light being cast by a few streetlights. "I could tell you that it’s because you make me feel special and that you make me do things that no one else can…" she paused and leaned closer to him, her fingers caressing his cheek. "But the truth is, I think you're the sexiest man ever and I'll be damned if I'm letting anyone else use you as an arm ornament."
          They shared a brief kiss and Paul let out a sigh, "I can't convince you to stay?"
          Gina shook her head, "Sorry."
          "Well, I had a fantastic weekend anyway," he sighed and kissed her again before clambering out of the car.
          "You and me both," Gina breathed as she watched him turn to head toward the apartment block entrance he stopped and turned back, walking to the driver side as she wound down the window.
          "That thing in India," he declared. "We'd all been smoking things we shouldn't have and spent the afternoon stealing turbans from people in the street. We ended up getting chased by the police and I'm ashamed to say it, we ended up concealing ourselves at a funeral. Because we had the turbans on we were mistaken as mourners and were forced to use a guide book to make up lies about the great friendship we shared with the dead guy, Sanjay."
          "Why'd you tell me that? I thought you weren't going to…"
          "Why do you think I told you?" Paul smiled before backing away a little, paused a moment and then heading toward the apartment block.