Amanda was abruptly woken from a deep sleep by the ringing of her telephone. She rolled out of Marks arms and reached for the phone.

Hello? she enquired sleepily

Hello Amanda, its Anto sorry to ring you so early but I need to have a word with Mark if hes there

Sure, Ill just pass you over Amanda replied

Amanda shook Mark gently to wake him and passed him the phone. Amanda left the room to go and make some coffee for when Mark had finished on the phone.

Minutes later Mark was up, dressed and kissing her goodbye.

whats going on? Where are you going? Amanda asked, but mark had already gone, slamming the door behind him.

Amanda waited until 10am and then decided to take a walk to the corner shop and buy some chewing gum and a bottle of wine for when Mark got home. She grabbed the dog lead and snoopy out the front door. It didnt take long for her to get to the corner shop but its what she found when she got there that amazed her the most.

She grabbed the chewing gum and pondered over the wine until finally picking one and placing it down on the counter on top of a newspaper that was there. As the shop assistant was ringing the items through the till she glanced down and caught the headlines of the paper. What she saw there stabbed through her heart like a thousand knives:

WESTLIFES FEEHILY CHEATS ON FIANCÉE WITH EX-PAGE 3 MODEL

forget that lot Amanda said to the shop keeper as she turned and ran out the shop, only stopping to untie snoopy from where he was.

Argh, damn this Amanda shouted as she slamed down the phone for the hundredth time that day. She was desperatley trying to get in touch with Mark, but his phone had been turned off all day.

She slouched back in her chair as a tear rolled down her face. She wiped it away, angry at herself for letting herself cry over him. A knock at the door drove her away from her thoughts.

She walked over to the door, half expecting it to be Mark. When she saw who was the other side she was a little shocked. Kian? What are you doing here? I suppose youve seen all the papers? she asked

Well I was thinking you might need some company, Anto is off with Mark sorting stuff out and I thought you might need a friendly ear

Kian sat down next to Amanda on the sofa and spoke gently to her.

Look hun, I know what marks done has hurt you but you two are so good together. He really has found his soul mate in you and he loves you with all his heart.

If he loves me so much then why do this to me? Why kian? Why? Amanda said falling into Kians arms totally overcome with emotion.

Kian just held Amanda tightly not knowing what else to say.

Later that evening..

Amanda was now alone again, Kian had left to rejoin the band and she had received a phone call from Anto saying Mark was on his way home after being given a weeks compassionate leave. Amanda paced up and down the living room, not knowing what she was going to do when she was faced with mark. The Mark she loved and cared for, the mark who understood her like no other person ever could, the mark who had just cheated on her!

Amanda heard a car pull into the driveway and then heard a key in the door. There was no cheery Hello babe tonight. Amanda sat down on the sofa and waited. Mark appeared in the door way, his head hung low, unable to look up at Amanda.

You have some explaining to do Amanda said, showing no emotion

Mark just stood there in the doorway and slowly began to speak.

It was only the once, a few weeks ago when we were on tour. I had too many drinks one night and . Well it just happened. I am so sorry Mark said hanging his head

Amanda just looked down at the floor, unable to look Mark in the face.

Mark I love you so much, more than I have ever loved anyone in my whole life and I cannot face the prospect of loosing you. Amanda said as tears began rolling down her face.

you wont loose me, not if I have anything to do with it Mark said moving closer to Amanda.

Mark, II dunno what to do or how to feel. I wanna hate you for this but I cant, I wanna kick you out and never see you again, but I cant. I love you so much and you are the one that makes my life worth living.

Mark moved and put his arms round her, but she backed away.

Dont hate me, Ill do anything to make this up to you? Anything at all. Cause If I loose you Amanda it would break me, hurting you through all this is hurting me too. Cause when You hurt I hurt.

Amanda began to cry again. Mark walked over and held her close and this time she didnt back away. They stood there, together, crying and holding each other close.

Over the next few weeks Mark and Amanda worked on patching up their relationship. Amanda knew she would always remember what Mark had done to her and Mark would never forgive himself for hurting the woman he truly adored but neither could live without the other. And Amanda truly understood what it was like to Stand by her man.