Shattered Glass

[LAURZY!]

LOVED DRUNK BELLE!!!! omg that was hilarious especially the bits with Geoff

The end bit was so sad though they're both hurting so much!

Really well written, absolutely loved it

Cannot wait to read more!

Hope you have fun tomorrow!!!!

[KaiyaBlake]

That was hilarious I want to get drunk with Belle hahaha.

Ohh, but poor her. Aden really needs to make a definite choice (Belle )

But hopefully she won't remember that she said it was over in the morning *crosses fingers*

Great Chapter. Update soon pleeeeease

[Adelle_fan1000]

Drunk Belle! gotta love her... I WISH Aden would hurry up and make a decision...

[Louise_2983]

One thing I've been meaning to say for several chapters:I liked your explanation of the title, about Belle's heart shattering like glass.(How long ago was that now?)

Lol it was the chapter where they told Jamie! Although I did specifically use the words in that chapter it is supposed to be kind of overarching in that their relationship shattered like glass when Belle left and when Aden married Kirsty and now both of them are hurting and their hearts are shattered like glass.

Zetti I can't believe you read the whole thing in one go! That must have taken you ages! Glad you enjoyed it

Thank you for all the ego boosting compliments everyone, I was worried about drunk Belle not living up to last time but you've all helped to put my mind at ease!

[Zetti]

Zetti I can't believe you read the whole thing in one go! That must have taken you ages! Glad you enjoyed it

I really did enjoy it, this has to be my favourite new fic now . I cant wait for your next update. xx

[leah1234]

hey just wondering if there's going to be an update tonight???

i have noticed that you've had a lot of updates lately so there's no pressure

xxxxxxxxxxxx

[Louise_2983]

No sorry I've updated a lot this week as I knew I had a busy weekend ahead!

[Louise_2983]

Chapter 19

”I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale

I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet,

Lead her up the stairwell

This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town,

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down”

White Horse - Taylor Swift

She sighed deeply as she sunk into the sofa next to him and turned to face him, slightly embarrassed and sheepish.

“I’m so sorry” she muttered, her face flushing a deep crimson hue as the apology tripped over her lips.

“Forget it”

“Geoff I’m mortified! Hitting on you like that was just...wrong. As if it’s not bad enough that you’re practically my brother, you’re a minister and...”

“Married” he filled in the blank space for her obligingly.

“I think we established I don’t have a problem with a guy ticking that particular box” she half smiled, unwinding a little as she realised his relaxed pose signified that he wasn’t going to hold the events of

the previous night against her.

“Kirsty doesn’t deserve to be lied to or cheated on Belle” he told her simply, his tone lacking in accusation and judgment.

“I know” she nodded slowly.

“I know that Geoff, I do. And if I was a better person then I’d walk away but I’m not. I’m me and I’m flawed and I make mistakes. Leaving Aden was my biggest one. I want him back but you don’t have

to worry I won’t be jumping into bed with him again. I won’t be the other woman, I’m worth more than that”

“Well, I’m glad you’ve realised that” he smiled at her fondly.

“I wish Aden would” she sighed, letting out a tiny laugh.

“I think he’s always realised that Belle” Geoff admitted quietly.

“He’s just too scared to admit it to himself right now”

“Voice of experience?” Belle questioned, detecting a solemn undertone in Geoff’s words.

He glanced around briefly before shrugging slightly.

“This is just between us right?”

“Am I about to take your confession?” She smiled cheekily.

“Belle!”

“Sorry” she couldn’t help but giggle as she apologised.

“Of course it won’t go any further , not if you don’t want it to”

“I don’t. Trust me I don’t!” he told her adamantly before taking a deep breath and beginning to talk.

“I couldn’t be more the opposite of Aden if I tried” he began quietly.

“Have you tried?”

“Belle!”

“Sorry!” she giggled again.

“It just could be the answer to all my problems! Except of course you’re married too so...”

“I’m trying to be serious!”

“I know, I know! I’m sorry!” she told him genuinely holding up both hands to signal surrender, she wouldn’t interrupt him again.

“I always do the right thing Belle. Even if it hurts more than words can describe I always do the right thing. I love Melody, I do. And I couldn’t imagine life without her and Sam but...”

“But?” she prompted as he sighed deeply.

“But...But...sometimes” he looked away from her gaze in embarrassment.

“Sometimes I see Nicole and I look at her and I see what could have been and sometimes I want it so much more than what I’ve got with Mel”

“Geoff” Belle whispered, her mouth slightly agape as his words registered with her.

“But I always do what’s right Belle and Melody was right. She’s funny and smart and we share the same beliefs. She doesn’t just support me in my work, she gets involved in it and I don’t even have to ask her to. Being with her was right even if...”

“Even if you don’t love her?” Belle dared to ask as his sentence trailed off.

“I love her” he told her simply.

“I love her but it’s different. It’s easy and content and I’m happy, I am. But she doesn’t drive me insane like Nicole used to, she doesn’t make me want to kiss her just to shut her up, she doesn’t argue

with practically everything I say just so we can make up later. It’s just not the same”

“I think that’s called passion Geoff”

“Well I guess that’s what’s missing then” he shrugged.

“But I can live without it”

“What if you don’t have to?”

“We were too different, Nic and I. It would never have worked”

“I know I wasn’t here when you split up so I’m not really qualified to comment but the last I saw it was working really well Geoff”

“I loved her. I still do in a way...but we wanted different things and in the end one of us would have had to compromise, to change who we really were to fit in with the other and that wouldn’t have been

fair on either of us. It’s better this way”

“Better for who?”

“Mel and I are happy, we have Sam and we’re a family. And Nicole will find someone who will make her happy too”

“And what if she doesn’t? What if you were the one who made her happy?”

“She wanted the type of life I could never give her Belle, it’s better this way” he repeated.

“Like I said I always do the right thing. And that means that no matter how much I just want to grab hold of Nicole and kiss her sometimes I will never actually do it”

“So, if you’re never going to do it then why did you decide to tell me this?”

“Because Aden’s not me Belle. Like I said we couldn’t be more different if we tried. He doesn’t do something just because it’s the right thing. He might be struggling with his conscience right now but

eventually we both know he’ll just think to hell with it and do what he wants anyway whether it’s right or not”

“Well I’m glad you think so at least!” she let out a low chuckle.

“He wants you Belle, he will leave her I know he will”

“I’m not so sure” she whispered slowly.

“It might be too late by then”

“Too late? You’re not thinking of leaving again are you?” he sighed almost in disappointment.

“No!” she shook her head adamantly.

“I am never leaving my little boy again believe me. But I can’t just sit around and wait for him to get a clue Geoff! Aden might not be one for doing the right thing but maybe it’s time I was. Maybe

it’s time I got some respect for myself and chose what makes me happy”

“Doesn’t Aden make you happy?”

“Not right now no. Right now he makes me anxious and confused and stressed and maybe it’s just time that I let all that go”

“Well, will you promise me something?” he looked at her expectantly.

“Go on” she encouraged, eager to hear what he wanted her to commit to.

“Before you decide what the right thing to do is, what makes you happy, just take a step back and realise that...you’re not me either”.

***

She wasn’t sure what she was doing. She shouldn’t have chosen the bar stool next to him or smiled coyly when he had glanced her way. She shouldn’t have accepted the first drink or the second and she should never have let him rest his hand on her bare knee.

As his fingertips gently inched their way further up her thigh, caressing the soft skin just below the hem of her short dress she debated getting up and walking away. She thought about leaving the quiet bar and going home to rendezvous with her book. She thought about telling him straight out that his luck was never going to be in so he may as well give in now.

But as his eyes traced her features and he smiled at her she enjoyed the attention. The warm feeling inside when someone actually gives a damn and she wanted it to continue, even if only for a little while.

“What are you doing?” He snapped accusingly as he came up behind them, jealousy burning in his eyes.

“I’m just talking to my new friend Dan here” she smiled in satisfaction.

“It’s Nick” the stranger corrected her, clearly put out that she couldn’t even remember his name.

“Dan...Nick...who cares?” she told him bitterly.

“I’m a skank, I don’t normally bother with names. Isn’t that right Aden?” she questioned looking up at Aden as he glared down at her.

“Belle” Aden sighed, his gaze settling on the stranger’s hand pawing her leg.

“Belle? You told me your name was Kirsty!” Nick exclaimed looking from Belle to Aden and then back to Belle again.

“Long, looooooooooonnnnggg story” Belle chuckled, winking at Aden mischievously.

“What are you doing with this loser?” Aden questioned, his tone brimming with disdain.

“Excuse me! Who exactly are you calling a loser? Who is this guy anyway Kirsty? Or Belle...or whatever your name is?”

“Her name’s Belle!” Aden snapped in an instant reflex.

“And I’m her husband so get your god damn hands off her before I make sure you haven’t got any hands to touch a woman with again!”

“Ex-husband!” Belle yelled, rising from her bar stool and squaring up to Aden. Staring him straight in the face.

“Ex-husband” she repeated looking at the stranger before returning her gaze to Aden.

“He’s my ex-husband who has no right to say who can or cannot touch me anymore”

“I think I have a right to know who my son’s going to be calling Uncle this week!” Aden replied sarcastically as Nick’s eyes widened in horror.

“You’ve got a son?!!” he exclaimed, the obvious fear in his voice suddenly bringing Belle back to reality with a bump.

“Yes” she stated calmly, rotating her body back to face him.

“I have a son and he is way too important to me to risk everything on a semi drunken fling so maybe you should just leave now”

“Don’t worry I’m going” he told her before quickly scarpering as Belle turned back to Aden.

“I forgot” he half whispered with a nervous gulp.

“For the tiniest fraction of a second there I forgot I wasn’t actually your husband anymore”

“Well remember Aden! Write it on the back of your hand if you have to but don’t you dare do that ever again! “

“I just...I just couldn’t stand to see him touching you Belle, I wanted to kill him”

“So it’s fine for you to climb into bed with Kirsty every night but if I so much as flirt with a stranger that’s crossing the line?” she hissed.

“God, you always did have a strange concept of boundaries!”

“I just can’t deal with the thought of anyone else touching you Belle, of them kissing you, being with you”

“Well I’m not about to turn celibate for the rest of my life Aden so learn to deal with it!”

“Bel-“

“And just so we’re clear!” she interrupted fiercely.

“I don’t exactly approve of “Aunty” Kirsty so you do not get power of veto on who I do and don’t date!”

“Belle, it doesn’t matter who you date I’m never going to approve, Don’t you get it? I don’t want you with anybody else!”

“Tough! You don’t get a say anymore Aden!” she bellowed waving her left hand in his face.

“See? No ring! We’re not married anymore so I can date and kiss who I like! I could kiss the next guy to walk through that door if I wanted to! In fact you know what? I just might!” she exclaimed turning towards the door and praying that the next face she saw wouldn’t be Alf Stewart’s.

She strode forward with purpose as it swung open and she launched herself forward, pressing her lips against the unsuspecting male and winding her arms around his neck. His hands slid to the small of her back and a eery familiarity began to surge through her before she pulled away in shock.

“Nice to see you too babe” he winked.

“Oh my god!” A high pitched voice exclaimed from the far corner of the bar.

“It’s Johnny Nichols!”

[xknomex]

once again Brilliant update!!!!!!!

Loved the chat between Belle and Geoff, Poor Geoff, you can tell he's still in love with Nicole. i'm glad he isn't really really unhappy though...

That last bit made me sad, why cant Adelle just get their act together?!?!?!

nice twist at the end!!!!!!!! although, I hope Belle tells him to go back to LA, although thats not going to happen is it?

Update soon

xxx

[Red Ranger 1]

Oh...my...god.That is really going to cause trouble.And someone had better be ready to hold Aden back.

Loved the conversation between Beff and Gell.(Sorry, it's a speech impediment.I just find it impossible to say their names together.)