And I'm getting strong in every way

You set my soul alight

Matt picks up the heavy box and starts walking up the stairs groaning. I follow behind him picking up the last box that luckily isn't so heavy. He puts it down on the floor and turns to me. 

'Well this is our place.' He sighs with a smile. 

'I know!' I squeal as we kiss. 

'We need to go out and get some stuff soon. You know, furniture and food might help.' He laughs, as we don't actually have a bed at the moment, and the only food we have is a box of cornflakes. 

'It's only 9am, Ikea is still open for ages and Tesco is open 24 hours so we could go now.' I suggest and he nods, grabbing his wallet.

Matt runs over to the bedding section.  

'Look at this one!' He shouts, holding up an alien duvet cover. Yes, an alien one... 

'Really?' I ask him and he nods intently. 

'Fine, but can we get one of those and a plain one?' I ask, pointing to a different stack of sheets. 

'They are boring though.' Matt whines and I laugh. 

'Well then we will get a patterned one, which one do you like?' 

'Erm, this one.' He points out a white duvet cover with cross hatched blue polka dots on it - Quite nice actually. 

'Right lets get that one then.' I say, putting it in the trolley.

By the time we have finished our shop we have everything from bedding to cutlery, and it is all piled into Tom's van that he kindly let us borrow. We have a long drive home as the closest Ikea was about an hour and a half away. 

Just as we go to put the last pillow in the van, a child, about 2 and a half runs past me, right into the path of an oncoming car. Without thinking I run and grab the child, swinging them around and onto the other side of me, holding them at arms length. 

'Grace?' I hear, and I look to my right to see a man about 20 metres away looking around for his daughter. I walk over and go to give her to him. 

'Excuse me,' I begin, and he looks around, wait; I know this man. 'Dad?!' He looks shocked and grabs his daughter. 

'Erm, I don't know what you are talking about.' He babbles, and he turns to leave, taking hold of a young woman's hand. 

'Yes you do, Gary Harvey.' I retaliate and he turns around again. 'Afghanistan huh? Working really hard I see. How could you do this to me? To Mum?! She has been a completely different person since you left, you abandoned me with a physco!' I shout, completely enraged as he looks ashamed. Matt runs up to me and takes my hand, pulling me away. 

'What's happening?' He asks me calmly and I take a breath. 

'That's my Father, who has supposedly been at war for 3 years but actually ran off with some slut whilst still married to my Mother.' I growl, and Matt looks sympathetic. 

'Hey!' My Dad buts in. 

'You're married?' The blonde lady screeches. And Matt pulls me to the car before I can scream at him anymore. I suppose I can leave that to his bit on the side. 

'What a fucking traitor!' I growl. 'He's my Dad and he just left me. With my witch of a mother no less.' 

'I know it's tough, but you've got me now, you don't need that bastard.' Matt says calmly, stroking my hair as I relax a little.

'It's just. I can't believe he would do that to me. I can't just bury it. I won't let him bury it.' I whine into his shirt.

'You have to. It's too late now, he has another family. If he would do something like this to you, you're probably better without him.' Matt comforts me, and I calm down and get into the van. Just as we are about to leave, my Dad walks up to the window of the van.

'So erm. If you ever need anything, give me a ring.' He says sheepishly, giving me a piece of paper with his number on it.

'Thanks.' I say with a nod.

'So erm, this your boyfriend?' He says and I nod again. 'A bit, erm, blue, isn't he?' I chuckle and he proceeds to walk away.

When we get home I give Dom, Tom, Chris and Kelly a ring so they can come and help us unpack.

After about 2 hours everything is taking shape. I have put Chris and Kelly in charge of the bedroom, Dom and Tom in charge of the living room, and Matt and I are doing the kitchen and bathroom.

By the time we have finished, everything is looking more homely, The sofa has been expertly assembled by Dom and Tom so we all sit down with a cup of tea from the new shiny red kettle.

'Nice job guys! Thankyou all so much!' I say, taking a sip of my tea and looking around.

Eventually everyone peels off home and Matt and I look at each other and smile. I run and jump on him, wrapping my legs around his waist and kissing him. And, well, I think you can guess the rest...