Chapter 18

Gary's POV

What the hell just came over me?! I just lashed out at Mark and almost ended up punching him. My heart has literally sunk i'm incredibly disappointed in myself. Yes he kept something's behind my back, but it's not worth him getting beaten up over them. "Mark!" Again i call before rushing into the hallway. Without wasting anymore time i run up the stairs to the bedroom. "Baby..." I whisper resting my forehead against the closed door. Very slowly i open it enough for my head to peer around it noticing a figure curled up on the bed facing away from me. "M...Mark..." Quietly i speak whilst walking over to the bed. His arms are wrapped around himself as he softly sniffs and breathes faster. Sitting on the edge of the bed making it sag a little my hand travels to his back once i make contact with it he instantly flinches. He's terrified of me now... and i don't blame him for the way i acted. Never ever would i dream of hurting Mark he's my everything... the best thing that ever came into my life... he's basically my oxygen. "M...Mark...I...I'm so...so....so sorry..." I speak with a shaky breath completely heartbroken seeing him like this. Failing to hold the tears back they roll onto my pj bottoms sinking though to my skin. "I...i would never hurt you... you know that... i love you more than anything Mark..." Using the back of his hand he wipes the tears from his mouth and eyes.
"Y...You...s...scared...m...me..." His voice still trembles slowly he peers over his shoulder at me.
"I...i'm sorry... i know it doesn't mean anything, but i mean it from the bottom of my heart..." Softly i sigh bowing my head. We almost lost our baby today i can't lose Mark too.
"C...can...i...have a  hug....please?" Instantly my head lifts by Mark's response. Tears continue to run down his reddened face.
"R...Really?" I ask surprised that he even wants me still in the room let alone to hug him! He answers with a nods lifting his arms to my direction. Moving closer to him i tightly wrap my arms around him planting kisses all over his face. "I'm sorry baby... really...really sorry...."I speak during kisses running my lips through his hair. Mark no longer feels tensed and his tears have stopped falling.
"You're a twat...but i love you..." He wraps his arms around mine, as we lay together in an embrace.

My hand rakes through his hair not wanting to let go of him even for a second. "I love you."
"Gaz... that's the ninth time in three minutes...  i know you do." He places a single kiss onto my hand which is placed on his chest.
"Everyday i'm going to tell you how much i love you... not a day will go by that i wont tell you until the day i die."
"That's the Gary i fell in love with." He snuggles even more into my arms locking his fingers with mine. We were always meant to be it just took time for it to become real. Mark's fingers were made to fill the spaces inbetween mine. "What shall we do today...?"
"It's completely up to you gorgeous."
"erm... how about...hmm... oh the zoo!" Mark suggests giving me a wide smile. Its easy to mistake him for a five year old sometimes.
"The zoo? We're grown men babe why do you want to go there?" Laughing whilst i squeeze him slightly he's full of surprises is my Mark.
"Maybe we could make a day of it? Take Eleanor with us? It'll be nice to take her somewhere fun whilst Yasmin's in hospital and Rob is erm...well...he's you know...  things won't be fun for her with her parents at one another's throat once they're back home will it?"
"You have a point... ok... well if you get dressed and i'll go and fetch her from Mum's we can get a family ticket and spend the day down there?"
"Perfect." Mark grins.
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Once we've paid for our tickets we begin our walk around the zoo. It's pretty big i haven't been here before it was only built two years ago plus i didn't really have the need to walk around a zoo on my own. Me and Mark hold hands and Eleanor holds my hand. "Shall we get a map?" Mark points to an information desk with free leaflets containing a map of the zoo.
"Yeah we better just incase we get lost." It's a good thing we came wrapped up the days are getting much colder, but at least we have our holiday to look forward to in a few weeks and it'll be much colder there.
"P...pen...guieees!" Eleanor jumps up and whilst holding my hand.
"Penguins? Do you want to see the penguins, sweetie?" Grinning i squeeze her mitten covered hand a little.
"Aww..." Mark smiles looking at the map. "They're near the dolphins at the other end of the zoo." He begins reading the directions to the penguins and similar type of animals in that area.

After 20 minutes of wondering around we end up asking for directions from a member of staff. Mark can't read a map to save his life! We ended up at the lions four times. "Remind me not to let you read the map when we're driving god knows where we'll end." Cheekily i wink resting the side of my head against his shoulder. Mark tuts and kisses my lips keeping his eye on Eleanor who runs over to the Penguins. There's a safety rail and glass securing the penguins behind it. "Oh look you're allowed to go and feed them... do you want to Ellie?" Excitedly she nods walking to the door of the feeding room.
"Go on then Barlow." Mark laughs patting my shoulder. "Lets see you feed some baby penguins."
"Ay... why me?" I'm not a big fan of animals especially ones that are fast on their legs no matter the size i'm still not keen.

A member of staff opens the door guiding the small queue of people inside including me and Ellie. Mark watches from behind the safety bar bet he's loving this. The gentleman shows us how to hold our hands flat with a piece of fish resting in your palm. A couple of the baby penguins come running over to him taking it out of his hand. "Aww..." I smile crouching down to Eleanor's height. She can't stop smiling bless her.
"Sir... come here." He points to me reaching into the bucket for another small piece of the flesh coloured fish.
"Erm...me?" I ask pointing to myself. Oh great i'm going to make an absolute fool of myself in front of kids and their parents. He pulls me over to his direction making me kneel on the floor holding my hand out. Taking a piece of fish again he places it into the centre of my hand i hold it out flat in front of me. A few of the penguins come rushing over pecking my hand i bite my lip squinting my eyes a little. "Awwh..." It isn't as bad as i thought. They peck away the fish out of my hand once it's all gone they look at me pecking around the floor near my shoes. "I haven't got anymore." Carefully i stretch my hand out stroking one of them on the back. A loud screech sound comes from it's opened beak making me jump. I must of scared it getting it's revenge it starts pecking my trousers angrily. "O...ok... that's enough." Standing to my feet i try and stop it from pecking me until it starts to jump up my leg. Quickly i run to the direction of the door again being chased by at least four other penguins all following me squawking loudly after me. "Argh let me out."

Everyone falls around laughing at me clawing at the door. The middle aged staff member opens the door letting me and Eleanor out again shaking his head at me. Feeling incredibly embarrassed i quickly leave holding Eleanor's hand walking back over to Mark who's trying his best to look serious at me. "Are y-" Before he finishes his sentence he falls about laughing. "Oh Gaz... that was hilarious." He wipes a few tears which run down his cheeks from laughing.
"Shrup." I mumble blushing slightly. "They attacked me!" Even Eleanor starts laughing at me being chased by them.
"Aww... my poor man." Mark plants a soft kiss onto my lips pulling me into a hug. "Let's go to another part where you can't get attacked, yeah? Maybe you can ride on a dolphin." He chuckles holding onto my hand again.
"I prefer riding on your dolphin." Quietly i mutter under my breath.
"GAZ!" He playfully hits my arm. "Not in front of Ellie... naughty mouth... bad Gary."
Giggling a little i wrap my arm around his waist whilst i still hold Eleanor's hand as we make our way to the dolphin area. "I was talking about your tattoo babe... you and your dirty mind ay?"
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After spending a full day at the zoo it was finally time to go home. My feet are killing after being made to walk around all day. Can't wait to get in and have a cuddle with Mark in bed i'm freezing. We pull up on the drive. "Home sweet home." Mark smiles at me squeezing my thigh a little whilst peering into the back seat noticing Eleanor who's dropped off. "Bless her. She loved it."
"Yeah it was.... an experience... i'll say that." We both get out of the parked car. "Want me to carry her in?"
"No no i'll get her." Mark opens the back door lifting Eleanor into his arms. Her eyes open a little by the sound of the car door slamming shut, but closes them again straight after. Whilst walking up to the front door something catches my eye. An envelope is attached to the glass of our door. Mark slowly makes his way to me as i pull it off. There's nothing on it it's just plain. "What's that?" Mark looks over my shoulder still holding Eleanor against his chest. I frown my lips opening it up revealing a photo inside. A photo of Mark at Robbie's wedding. It was a photo which contained me and Mark which we had together, but i've been ripped off for some strange reason. "Ay?" He raises his eyebrow. Who even got hold of this? There are only two copies. Robbie and Yasmin had one of them in the wedding photo album and we had the other copy. On the other side of the photo is a message. Remember this night? I do... so does someone else... My heart begins to throb. Not these messages again. This is the second one now. What's going on?! Someone's playing a game with us and they're loving it.