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Marcus goes with his mother to Suzie’s New Year’s Eve party, and is surprised to see Ellie there. She points out her mother, who is dancing wildly, punching the air and shaking her hair around. Ellie tells Marcus that she is embarrassed by her mother. Ellie brings him a Coke with sherry in it, and Marcus thinks that it smells like trifle. Ellie tells him that she knows his mum tried to kill herself, because she heard her mother talking about it with Suzie. Ellie didn’t make the connection with Marcus until much later. Ellie feels that it is unfair that people criticise mothers for not putting their children first, but the same rules are not applied to fathers. Marcus finds that he is enjoying having a real conversation with somebody of a similar age to him, even though it is a miserable subject. He desperately wants to keep the conversation going, and in a panic he asks Ellie if she wants to dance, even though he is hopeless at it.

The following week, Will takes Marcus to an amusement arcade, and while they play on the machines Will tells Marcus that he has made Rachel think that Marcus is his son and that he needs him to play along with the misunderstanding, because he really likes this woman and wants her to be his girlfriend. Will arranges to take Marcus to Rachel’s house one Saturday lunch time. When Marcus arrives at Will’s, he is wearing the hairy Christmas jumper and bright yellow corduroy trousers, and Will is horrified because he has dressed in his trendiest clothes. He briefly considers taking Marcus shopping for new clothes, but he ignores the urge and tries to feel proud of his ‘son’.

Rachel owns a tall, thin house near Camden Lock, and it is cosy and welcoming, with lots of books and old family photos. They go up to meet Rachel’s son, Ali, who is in his room playing computer games and wearing headphones. Ali looks at Marcus’ clothes and his face seems to darken. Rachel introduces the two boys and asks if they want to hang out in Ali’s room for a bit, while she and Will go downstairs. As Will is leaving the room he looks at Marcus, and Marcus answers Yeah. At that moment Will really loves Marcus because he is making such a sacrifice for Will.

As soon as Rachel and Will go downstairs, Ali stares at Marcus and swears that there is no way his mother is going to get together with Will. He adds that if they do get together, then Marcus is dead. Ali tells him that he does not want to see either Marcus or Will again. Marcus calmly replies that it is not really up to him, but Ali says that it had better be, or Marcus is dead. Marcus tells Ali that Will is keen on Rachel and suggests that she might be keen on Will, which drives Ali into a fury. He screams that his mum is not keen on Will because she is keen on him. Marcus decides to leave. Will finds him some time later standing at a bus stop. He gets into Will’s car and explains to him that Ali is mad, and threatening to kill him if Will goes out with Rachel. Marcus laughs when Will tells him that at this moment Ali is crying his eyes out. Ali apologises.

On the way home from school that week Marcus is waiting outside a newsagent’s for Ellie when Lee Hartley, the bully, and his gang surround Marcus and one boy steals his glasses. When Ellie comes out she orders the boy to give Marcus his glasses back and then hits the boy in the face. Marcus is unable to speak or listen to anything; he just looks at Ellie in adoration.

Will thinks about his developing relationship with Rachel. He worries about the pretence about Marcus being his son, and sees that he cannot have a long-term relationship based on a lie. One night in a Japanese restaurant he tells Rachel that Marcus is not his biological son. Will tells her the whole story of his involvement with Marcus and Fiona, only leaving out the part about joining SPAT. They go back to Rachel’s for coffee.