A/N
I am so sorry for such a delay in updating this book. I have 101 million ideas for it but I've just had writers block recently. I think mainly because I'm writing about 4 books at the same time so I focus on one for ages and then I lose strength for the others. This one has been seriously neglected (even though it's one I enjoy writing the most) and I'm so sorry for that. But here is an update - I hope you enjoy ❤️

-

"Shh." Courtney could hear Shayne in the kitchen just next door to his bedroom. "Anna will be here in a minute to pick you up for preschool." He was whispering to Ava.

There was noise while he made breakfast for her and got her ready for the day. Courtney laid there quietly pretending to be asleep the whole time.

"Where's your sweater?" Shayne sighed getting her ready to leave the minute Anna got there.

Courtney heard the patter of feet and then suddenly the door burst open. "Your room Daddy." She said stopping in the doorway of the still dark room with its curtain closed.

"Go to the door. I'll get it." Shayne grabbed her sweater from his room and then darted back to the living room.

"Why is Courtney in there?" Ava asked as he slipped her sweater on her.

"She's sleeping." Shayne blushed.

"In your bedroom? Doesn't she have her own room?" Ava giggled.

"She was tired after watching that film with us last night. So she stayed over... oh look Ave. Anna is here to take you to school." Shayne swung the door open and saw that Ava was set off that morning with everything she needed.

Courtney heard him say his goodbyes and then shut the front door loudly. Then the sound of footsteps approached and he came back into the dark bedroom.

Slipping off his jeans he got back into bed beside her, placing an arm around her, resting on her stomach.

"I'm sorry about that." He whispered into her ear.

She turned in his arms, she still hadn't put any clothes on from last night. Upon seeing his face she pressed a long kiss to his lips.

"It's okay." Courtney smiled. "Daddy." She giggled with a cheeky smirk across her face.

"Don't you start..." Shayne hummed moving closer to her and pressing another long kiss to her lips.

"I had a great time last night." She smiled, holding his face in her hand and admiring it in the dim light of his bedroom.

"Me too." Shayne began kissing her neck. Spreading long kisses along her jaw and down to her chest, leaving a few small bite marks along the way that left Courtney moaning and thirsting for his body against her.

"We have to go to work." Courtney mumbled into his mouth as they joined in a kiss once again. "We're already going to be late."

"Then why not be a little later." Shayne pressed another kiss to the corner of her mouth and trailed it down her cheek and neck.

"No, come on." She sat up searching for her clothes she'd discarded last night. But Shayne groaned beside her trying to pull her back down into his arms.

This had been the first time she'd spent the night there. They'd talked about it for a few weeks and finally decided last night that it would be okay. Ava's room was nowhere near Shayne's so there was no fear of her hearing anything.

They had even made sure to take Ava to the park after work so she was too tired to make it through the movie they watched last night.

"Come on." Courtney laughed pulling Shayne out of the bed. "If you get up now... I'll let you take a shower with me?" She smirked.

"That's a deal." Shayne leapt to his feet and joined her in the bathroom, where they shared a long shower that was only going to make them even later than they were.

Luckily they had told the squad about their relationship. So while they would get teased, there would be no complications with having to hide anything from them.

When Courtney and Shayne told their friends they were going to give it a go and try dating, none of them were surprised. The words 'Finally' left Ian's mouth and that was their boss.

They'd all caught on to the flirting in the office and how much Courtney had been helping Shayne through the rough time he'd been having with finding out about Ava.

- - - - -

"I wish I didn't have to leave every lunch break." Shayne whispered against Courtney's lips as they said goodbye outside, away from the cameras.

They were filming on set at a house and Shayne had just rushed to get changed out of costume and leave to pick up Ava from school. She was still only in school for morning classes as she was only 3 years old. So... Shayne either had afternoons off, sent her to Anna's, or had her come to the office.

He never wanted to bring her on set. Seeing him dressing up and being stupid was not something he wanted her to see. She'd seen enough of that behind camera on a Smosh Games hot pepper video.

This would be the first time she'd come to a place where they shot on location. Luckily it was just a house they had rented to shoot in.

"You have a kid dude. And what sort of parent wants to be labelled as the 'late dad' so go!" Courtney smiled against his lips, holding onto his shoulders, encouraging him to get in his car.

"You could come with me?" He sulked.

"We said I wouldn't." Courtney hummed quietly.

They'd set ground rules when they decided to date. For Ava's sake. One big one was letting Shayne be alone with Ava. The more time Courtney spent with Shayne, the less bonding time him and his daughter had.

"Ok, ok, see you in a bit." Shayne pressed a quick kiss to her lips one last time and then hopped into his car, pulling away from the house.

Shayne hadn't taken more than 25 minutes to pick Ava up. He brought Ava around the back of house into the backyard.

Courtney spotted them coming through the gate. The little toddler holding her dads hand tightly, as she shied away from the amount of people who were sitting around chatting on their lunch break.

Ava knew the cast pretty well by now. Specifically Courtney, Damien and Olivia. They were the people she saw the most.

It always took her a few minutes to come out of her shell. She'd always spend the first 5 minutes silently by Shayne's side as they all tried to talk to her. Hiding behind his legs or sitting on his lap until someone made her laugh or Olivia started to play a game with her.

Olivia instantly distracted herself with Ava. She loved kids and was the only person who'd actually finished their lunch so she hopped up and started a game of hide and seek her in the backyard. Soon involving Keith in the game too. Ava laughed a lot at Keith, he'd be really funny and goofy and she loved it.

"Everything go ok?" Courtney smiled resting her hand on Shayne's as they sat together on a few scattered chairs by the pool.

"Uh yeah. Teachers say she's great, she's a smart kid." Shayne nodded but his tone was off.

"Everything you just said sounded so positive... so why was your voice so sad?" Courtney could always tell his true feeling behind that face. He was an actor, hiding feelings was his job.

"Her teacher said she'd been asking about her Mom. Drawing pictures of her and such..." Shayne shrugged it away, sitting up straight in his chair.

"That's understandable. She can't really understand what happened. No matter how much you explain it to her at the end of the day she's still only 3 years old." Courtney felt uncomfortable talking about it but she hated Shayne being so upset. It wasn't his fault, and it was a difficult situation for any parent.

"I know, I know. It just gets to me sometimes." Shayne shrugged it off with a smile and a quick kiss to Courtney's cheek.

"Look at her, she's happy as anything." Courtney pointed over at Olivia lifting Ava in the air after finding her in hide and seek. The little girl was giggling and laughing loudly like her dad.

"I know." Shayne hummed quietly.

When they were called back to set, things got a little tricky. Everyone was occupied, so no one was around to watch Ava. Shayne was getting frustrated trying to figure out what to do. Everyone was needed for the scene, and no crew were available to watch her.

"Shayne. Go to wardrobe, I'll fix it okay?" Courtney grabbed him in his flummoxed state and sent him away to get ready.

"Courtney!" Ava cheered as she approached the little girl waiting to be told what to do.

"I have a really important job for you." Courtney bent down to be at the same level as Ava and she smiled widely at her. "Do you think you can do it for me?"

"Yes!" She squealed.

"I have this colouring book, I've been meaning to finish it myself but I can't find the time. Would you be able to help me?" From behind her, Courtney pulls out a kids book and showed it to her.

"I can do that." Ava nodded.

"Alright, come on." Courtney picked her up, carrying her on her hip into the other room where they were shooting. In the back corner behind camera there was a small table and a chair.

Courtney placed her down on the chair and set up the book and pens for her to use.

"Are you going to be a good girl and be really quiet for daddy while he works?" Courtney smiled down at her.

"Okay." Ava shrugged eager to get on with it.

"If you do, I have a surprise for you." Courtney ruffles the blonde hair out of Ava's face and smiled down at her, happy with her achievement.

"Oh thank you, Court." Shayne appeared suddenly in the room.

"It's okay. She's an easy kid." Courtney shrugged.

"You're the best." Shayne smiled sweetly.

Halfway through shooting a scene Ava started to sing to herself while she coloured. Shayne had to stop and tell her to be quiet numerous times but she'd just start again without knowing or come walking into the set asking for something.

Courtney could see in Shayne's face that he was exhausted. The idea that he couldn't control his own kid, frustrated him and she could see it. He wasn't ready for this.

"Can I have some water?" Ava said the next time she came walking onto the set mid-scene. Unaware of what was going on around her. They called cut and Shayne let out a big sigh.

"Ave—" Shayne began to lose his temper.

"Hey, let me try." I pushed Shayne's chest back slightly. "Ava, remember that surprise I said I had? Come on, I'll show you it."

Courtney led her back to her seat, grabbing her some water on the way in case. Shayne watched from a distance. From her back pocket, Courtney pulled out her phone and headphones. She set up a playlist of YouTube kids videos and placed it down in front of Ava.

"If you are quiet for the last little bit of today, you can watch all of this okay?" Courtney knew the way to a kids heart. Tv... or well YouTube.

Instantly Ava was in a trance. Silent for the rest of the day, colouring while watching and listening to YouTube cartoons on Courtney's phone.

"You're a wizard." Shayne was amazed when she came back over.

"Thank me later." Courtney smirked getting ready to shoot another scene, now Ava was quiet.