Shattered Glass

[rfran]

Very intence love Nicole still the same only all grown up too and her with a little girl too.

Understand your portrait of Aden's anger, think it and Kristy's suspicion are really well written.

Like you taking on depression, a subject close to my hart, your writing is so good that I'm sure you'll do it really well.

[chelsjo]

I really love this fic, I am feeling really sorry for Belle, I think she should totally take Aden to court if he doesn't let her see Jamie soon.

PS. I loved the scene between Nicole and Belle, very sweet.

[wrongturntaken]

I absolutely loved that chapter! Loved the Nicole/Belle chat, i really like Nicole as a mother and how mature you've made her character yet kept her personality.

I liked that you showed the conversation between Kirsty and Leah by Belle's eavesdropping. That was clever and i really liked how worried Kirsty was and how she understood what Belle being back meant. I wonder if she knows about Aden's past, from the way you commented on their sex life.

Loved Aden's and Belle's reactions to each other at the end.

I really can't wait for the next chapter! You've made this so good! These kind of plots happening on the show would make it so much better! Update soon!

[KaiyaBlake]

Oh my god, Aden and Belle are so sad!!

Stupid Kirsty, she should be worried. Her and Aden aren't close? Ohhh poor Aden, he's lonely..

Nicoles a mum! Thats cool i think.. Although Geoff should've woken up to himself haha.

Great Chapter.. Update soon pleaseee!?

[Adelle_fan1000]

I like it!!!

And kirsty has alot to be worried about lol

[Louise_2983]

I liked that you showed the conversation between Kirsty and Leah by Belle's eavesdropping. That was clever and i really liked how worried Kirsty was and how she understood what Belle being back meant. I wonder if she knows about Aden's past, from the way you commented on their sex life.

I really can't wait for the next chapter! You've made this so good! These kind of plots happening on the show would make it so much better! Update soon!

Exactly what Kirsty does and doesn't know will come to light later on in the fic.

Thank you everyone for all the ego boosting comments lol!

[chelsjo]

Update soon?

[HAA Girl 08]

This fic is really great!

Can't wait for the next chapter...

[Louise_2983]

Chapter 6

The satisfying click of a camera shutter was normally Belle’s favourite sound on earth but as she took landscape shots of the beach that morning she found it irritating and unnecessary. Her favourite past time, which could normally take her away from the stresses of real life only served to remind her of them that day. Nothing could serve as a distraction from the fact that Irene was gone or of the royal mess she had made of her life, not even the breathtaking scenery of the place she had once called home.

She sighed as she changed the focus and began to snap away again.

“Cool camera!” a small voice besides her broke her concentration.

She twisted her head, the camera still poised in mid air as her heart leapt into her throat and she gulped, struggling to breathe and absorb everything about the young child next to her as quickly as she could, before he would be inevitably snatched away.

Her eyes flickered swiftly over his perfect features, memorising them, although there was no need. Every inch of his tiny face, from the adorable dimples to his piercing blue eyes, was a carbon copy of the man whose face she only had to close her eyes to see, having committed every minor detail to her memory long ago.

Panic began to surge through her as she rapidly scanned the beach for Kirsty, who would no doubt blame her for this. Even worse, she thought to herself, he could be there with Aden and then any chance she ever had of seeing him again would be completely destroyed..

Despite this fear, having found no sight of either Kirsty or Aden on the quiet beach, she focused her gaze back on her son, not able tear her eyes away again for the crushing fear that she would blink and he’d be gone. A huge knot of love and fear twisted in her stomach as she finally lowered her camera and dared to speak.

“Are you lost? Where’s your Mummy?” she asked, knowing it was the right thing to say even though the question was almost killing her by the time the final word flowed from her mouth. She wanted to bellow across the entire beach that she was his mother, her and no one else, but she restrained herself as the small boy shrugged nonchalantly.

“Around here somewhere. Gossiping with Leah like they always do. Yak. Yak. Yak” he held his hands up and made a talking motion with them as Belle stifled a giggle.

“But she’s not my real Mummy”

She felt her heart quicken and a surge of desire to know exactly what Aden had told him rush through her.

“No?” she asked gently.

“No” he shook his head before continuing.

“My real Mummy went away when I was a baby. She was sick, she needed to get better”

Her heart thumped even more rapidly as the realisation that in a way Aden had at least told him the truth. At least he didn’t think she was dead.

“I’m sure she’ll come back when she’s better” she whispered, her voice breaking and barely audible.

“I used to think so” he told her, so solemn he suddenly looked older than his tiny years.

“But I’m not a baby anymore and my Dad doesn’t like to talk about her. I’m not sure she got better”

She almost choked on her heart as it stuck in her throat, her stomach plunging in heartache. She didn’t speak, she couldn’t speak. What could she say to take away the pain she’d caused, allowing her

son to think she’d left him forever? It hurt her more than she could ever have imagined as she realised her perfect little boy thought the only reason she wouldn’t have come back to him, for him was that she was dead. How would she ever explain staying away for 5 years? Maybe Aden was right. Maybe it would be best for everyone, for Jamie, if she stayed away, kept out of his life.

“Do you live here?” he asked, suddenly interrupting her thoughts and changing the subject with the casualness and innocence with which only a child could.

“I haven’t seen you before” he told her when she didn’t reply, examining her face as though he was trying to recognise her.

“And my Aunt Nicole hasn’t been gossiping about any new people lately. And she likes to gossip about new people!” he whispered as though he was letting Belle in on some big secret.

“Well, all people really” he finished, although she wasn’t sure whether this last part was directed at her or if he was just suddenly realising how much Nicole enjoyed gossiping about other people.

“I used to live here” she told him, twisting around until The Beach House came into her line of vision, before pointing it out with her index finger.

“In that house there”

“With Nanny Irene?” he asked, his eyes suddenly wide with surprise.

She smiled at the mention of Irene’s name for the first time since she’d slipped away. In that instant it didn’t cause her pain or send grief rushing through her but instead made her thankful to have

found someone who had so clearly been there for her son when she couldn’t be there herself.

“Yes, with Irene” she smiled.

“But that was a long time ago now”

“Nanny Irene’s with the angels now” he whispered pointing a tiny finger towards the clear blue sky.

“She was real sick, but my Daddy says she’s happy now. It doesn’t hurt anymore”

“No, no it doesn’t” Belle replied, wiping a stray tear from her eye, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

“Geoff used to live with Nanny Irene” he announced as though he was putting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together in his head.

“Do you know Geoff?”

“Yes I do, I used to live with Geoff too”

He leant towards her and whispered conspiratorially.

“Aunt Nicole doesn’t like Geoff anymore. They used to kiss”

Belle couldn’t help but chuckle as he pulled a face in disgust at the thought of Geoff and Nicole kissing.

“I still have nightmares about it now!” she teased, nudging his arm gently with her elbow.

“Me too...eugh” he giggled, using an expression she knew he could only have got from Nicole in the first place.

As the tiny, childish chuckle escaped him she couldn’t help but enjoy the ease and familiarity, the amazing feeling of laughing and joking with her son. She knew she should back away, she could

practically feel Aden’s fury already, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so haunted by the fact that this could be the only opportunity she ever got to speak to him.

“Can I have a go on your camera?” he asked his eyes wandering back to the object she clutched in his hands, lighting up as though all his Christmas’ had come at once.

“Oh I don’t know” she pretended to ponder.

“It’s not really for little boys”

“But I’m not a little boy, I’m 5!” he announced holding up his right hand, all four fingers and his thumb outstretched, to demonstrate.

“5?” she smiled.

“Really?”

He looked down and bit his lip, before sheepishly lowering his thumb.

“But I’m so nearly 5” he protested.

“It’s my birthday after only another 33 sleeps”

“Well Happy Birthday for 33 sleeps time” she laughed.

“How old are you?” he asked suddenly examining her face as though it would give him the answer without her needing to speak a word.

“I would tell you” she smiled.

“But I don’t have enough fingers”

“My Daddy’s 27” he announced as though it was the most interesting fact in the world.

“But Kirsty’s 30! That’s 6 hands!” he exclaimed in horror.

“You don’t look as old as Kirsty”

“Thank you” she giggled at the backhanded compliment.

“That’s good, because I’m not. I’m much nearer your Daddy’s age”

“Will Kirsty die soon?”

“What?! No of course not”

“But isn’t 30 old?” he asked, the expression of concern on his face revealing that he was genuinely worried about it.

“It might seem old when you’re 5, but no it’s not” she tried to reassure him.

“Was Nanny Irene old?”

“She was older, but sometimes people don’t die because they’re old. They get sick and that can happen to young people too J-” She stopped suddenly realising he hadn’t even told her his name

and she’d almost referred to him by it.

“What’s your name?” she asked quickly, in an attempt to hide what she’d done.

“James Taylor Jefferies” he proudly announced the name she herself had given him.

“But everyone calls me Jamie”

“What’s yours?” he enquired back immediately.

“Belle T-“ she stopped instantly, not wanting him to equate her surname with his own middle name.

“Just Belle”

“Like Tinkerbelle in Peter Pan?”

“No” she laughed.

“What’s your second name?”

“I don’t have one”

“Everyone has a second name!” he insisted.

“Well, I’m special. I don’t”

“Like Madonna?” he asked before he began humming a song she could have sworn was Like a Virgin. If it had been her place at all, she would have killed Nicole the next time she saw her.

“Kind of” she laughed in amusement.

“You can just call me Belle”

“Ok Just Belle” he sighed in acceptance before gazing at her camera with longing again.

“So can I have a go?”

“Only if you’re very careful” she agreed.

“It’s very precious to me”

“Like I’m precious to my Daddy?” he innocently asked as she placed the camera carefully in his tiny hands, it’s large size almost dwarfing him.

“No” she shook her head slowly as she supported the camera’s weight with her hands.

“Nowhere near as precious as that”

“You have to look through here” she told him pointing towards the relevant spot on the camera.

“And when you’re ready to take your photo, you press this button here”

“Here?” he asked his tiny fingers brushing hers as he reached up for the oblong button. A shiver ran through her at the sensation of his soft, smooth skin on hers. She wanted to cradle his hands in her

own, to hug him and promise she’d never leave him again but instead she simply watched as he tried to line up the camera to take a photo of some surfers in the distance.

“JAMIE!”

Before Belle even had time to register Kirsty’s voice the older female swooped down and gathered the small boy in her arms, Belle’s camera falling back into her own hands as she did so.

“What have we told you about talking to strangers!”

“But she’s not a stranger” he objected as Kirsty struggled to hold him in the awkward position in which she had hastily lifted him.

“She’s Just Belle. She used to live with Nanny Irene! And Geoff when he still kissed Aunt Nicole!”

Belle couldn’t help chuckle at this last statement even though she knew it would infuriate Kirsty even more.

“I don’t care who she is!” Kirsty shouted at the young boy who partially covered his hands with his ears in an attempt to block out some of her volume.

“You don’t talk to anyone unless I or your Daddy say it’s ok. Do you understand?”

He didn’t answer and refused to meet her gaze.

“Jamie” she spoke, quieter and more gently as she realised that she’d scared him.

“Do you understand?”

He nodded sheepishly in silence.

“Ok, well why don’t you go over to Leah, she has ice cream for you” Kirsty nodded towards where Leah sat in the distance as she lowered him back to the ground.

“I just need to talk to Belle for a few minutes”

“Ok” he whispered softly heading towards Leah before turning backwards and waving.

“Bye Just Belle”

“Bye Jamie” she smiled and waved back, her heart breaking at the thought she may never get to speak to him again.

As soon as she was sure that he was out of hearing range, as he ran towards Leah and the lure of mint choc chip ice cream, Kirsty finally unleashed her anger on Belle.

“Why couldn’t you just stay away from him? I swear if you’ve said anything to him about who you are!”

“I haven’t” Belle tried to remain calm as Kirsty hollered at her.

“You heard him. I’m just Belle”

“Just stay away from him!”

“He came to me Kirsty”

“Well he won’t do it again, I’ll make sure of that!”

“What by screaming at him and scaring him half to death like you did just then?!” Belle finally snapped, her volume increasing together with the anger brimming in her tone.

“Don’t you ever talk to my son like that again! Or-“

“Or what Belle? What are you going to threaten me with? Go on, feel free because we both know you won’t be around to carry out your threats anyway!”

“I’m not going anywhere Kirsty” she stated, suddenly quiet and calm again.

“I know it would be so much easier and convenient for you and Aden if I just faded into obscurity but I can’t. Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, I can’t. I love that little boy, my little boy”

“Belle yo-“

“Just don’t Kirsty” she told her, as she began to walk away.

“Don’t even bother trying to argue with me. Because he’s my son and nothing you can say will ever change that. No matter how much you or Aden would like it to”

***

”Come on baby, Mummy and Daddy are dying to meet you” she whispered to her enormous bump as she ran a flat palm tenderly over it whilst gazing, frustratedly at the calendar.

“Speak for yourself” Aden mumbled as he gently nuzzled her neck and wrapped his arms around her, resting them gently over her expanded tummy.

“10 days Aden” she sighed.

“10 days late. 10 extra days of being fat and uncomfortable and fat”

He chuckled against her ear lobe.

“It’s not funny!” she forcefully slapped his forearm in annoyance.

“You’re not the fat and uncomfortable one! It’s ok for you, you just get to do the fun bit at the beginning!”

“That was a lot more than fun” he whispered seductively.

“And you’re not fat. You’re beautiful”

“Ha. Nice try” she contorted her face and pulled a face back at him.

“You just don’t want me to hit you again”

“Well, I admit getting through a whole hour without being bashed or shouted at for the first time in a very hormonal 9 months would be nice but I’m serious. You are so beautiful” he told her, gently

brushing his soft lips against her cheek.

“You have never been more beautiful” he whispered, gently turning her around to face him and gazing down at her blossoming bump before tenderly running his hands across it.

“Nothing is more amazing and beautiful than the way your body has changed to carry my baby, our baby,and to take care of them and let them grow. And I can wait until our baby’s ready to make an appearance because I could look at you like this forever. I swear I have never loved you more, Belle”

“You’re such a smooth talker” she grinned as he cupped her face between his hands and kissed her softly.

“But you won’t be saying that when I’ve got stretch marks and sagg-“

“Too much information!” Nicole cringed as she entered the house clutching a handful of shopping bags, with Geoff following close behind laden down with even more.

The blonde looked Belle up and down with a delighted smile.

“Still very pregnant I see” she almost rubbed her hands together in delight.

“Oh man!” Geoff groaned.

“Pay up Campbell!” Nicole demanded as Geoff pulled out his wallet and produced a $100 note.

“Do not tell me that you two have been betting on me staying in this miserable state!” Belle exclaimed.

“No” Nicole shook her head.

“Just me. Geoff bet you’d have had it by now!”

“It? That’s my baby you’re talking about!” Belle fumed as Nicole tried to take the money from Geoff but he refused to let go.

“Give it to me!” she cried as they held their own mini tug of war over the cash.

“How about we bet again?” Geoff asked cheekily.

“Double or nothing? I bet the baby will be here by this time tomorrow”

“I don’t know” Nicole murmured.

“The later she is, the better your chances get”

“Geoff!” Belle cried.

“I thought Christian’s didn’t agree with gambling, never mind when you’re betting on your surrogate sister’s pain and discomfort”

“To be fair, he wants you to have the baby” Aden defended Geoff.

“Oh shut up you!” she snapped as Geoff and Nicole ignored them anyway and continued to debate whether to bet again.

“Any twinges Belle?” Nicole looked at her expectantly.

Belle glared at her, clearly unimpressed, before sighing in defeat.

“Nothing, Zero, Zilch, Nada. It’s easy money. Take the bet”

“Bet’s on!” Nicole announced letting go of the note and causing Geoff to fall sideways against the kitchen counter.

“I think you’ve been had mate” Aden slapped Geoff on the back.

“Isn’t that what they call insider trading?”

“Insider what?” Geoff asked confused.

“Geez Geoff” Nicole sighed.

“You’re lucky you’re so hot”

“I’m quite cold actually. Does anyone else think it’s a bit chilly in here?” he asked, completely genuinely as the others laughed in disbelief.

“Anyway. maybe baby would actually want to enter the world if he or she was going to have a name when they got here!” Nicole exclaimed.

“I know” Belle sighed sinking into the sofa next to Aden.

“It’s just so difficult to choose” she turned to Aden with a glare.

“And to agree!”

“You’ve had ten bonus days already! Just pick one already! I wouldn’t want to be born either if chances were I was going to be lumbered with the name Bean!” Nicole giggled, perching on the edge of the

armchair.

“Bean?” Geoff looked at them, confusion still etched into his expression.

“Bean. B-E-A-N” Nicole spelt out slowly.

“I know, I just don’t get why” he glared at her for insinuating that he was stupid. Or couldn’t spell. Or both.

“Well,” Belle began to explain.

“Aden suggested that we should call the baby Adelle”

“Aden and Belle, Adelle, get it?” Aden interjected.

“Right, but ho-“

“Well Belle thinks she’s more important so she should be first so Belle and Aden equals Bean” Nicole clarified.

“But wouldn’t that be B-E-E-N?” Geoff questioned.

“It doesn’t matter because we are not naming our baby Bean or Been!” Belle exclaimed.

“It was a joke, it’s not even a name”

“Actually!” Aden interrupted, opening the baby name book resting on the coffee table.

“It is. Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain named their daughter Francis Bean”

“Because that would be such a good omen wouldn’t it?” Belle arched her eyebrows at him menacingly.

“If it’s good enough for Kurt” he muttered just loud enough for her to hear him and was repaid with a slap.

“Geez, all I asked for was one hour!” he groaned, “Geoff do yourself a favour and never get Nic pregnant”

“No danger of that!” Nicole sniped as she grabbed the book from Aden and opened it at a random page.

“How about Isaac?” she asked picking a random name.

“No. Nothing too biblical” Belle dismissed her offering as Aden picked up the list of names he had scribbled down and drew a line straight through one.

“What did you just cross out?” Belle asked, trying to peek over his shoulder.

“Jesus” he smirked, earning yet another slap.

“Sophie’s cute” Nicole tried again.

“Too girly” Belle dismissed instantly.

“You do realise there’s a 50% chance it might be a girl don’t you sweetheart?” Aden glanced over at her.

“That doesn’t mean we have to give her a girly name though does it?”

“You mean like Belle?” he chuckled as she stuck her tongue out in his direction before picking up her own list, knowing she couldn’t even defend herself when she had chosen her own name.

“I like Piper” she suggested.

“You can’t be seriously suggesting naming your child after a character from Charmed!” Nicole exclaimed.

“How about Blair?”

“Gossip Girl?” Belle’s eyebrows were raised once more.

“Well at least it’s current!” Nicole defended her suggestion before whispering dismissively under her breath.

“Piper!”

“Last time I checked this was my baby!” Belle mumbled, crossing Piper off her list. Now there was no way she would be able to call a daughter that without thinking of that stupid TV show.

“You wouldn’t think so the amount of stuff Nicole just bought for it” Geoff laughed gesturing towards the many shopping bags.

“There was a sale, I couldn’t resist!” Nicole exclaimed pulling out a tiny baby grow.

“How adorable is this?” she squeed.

“It is adorable” Belle softened slightly at the sight of tiny feet and hands of the garment.

“But it’s pink Nicole”

“I can see that Belle”

“Aden and I agreed, neutral colours only until we know the sex of the baby. Which means until he or she is born”

“It’s ok”

“No it’s not” Aden shook his head.

“No son of mine is wearing that”

“He won’t have to! That is if he is a he, I got it in blue too!” Nicole announced pulling an identical garment, but in blue, from the bag.

All 3 of the others laughed.

“What? I told you, there was a sale!”

“You better marry this one quick Geoff” Aden announced.

“She’s getting broody”

“Erm” Geoff shifted, visibly uncomfortable in his seat.

“Oh relax!” Nicole shoved him playfully.

“I don’t want one of my own, I’ll just play with theirs and then when they cry, or poop or vomit everywhere I can hand him or her right back to Mummy and Daddy”

“Geez thanks Nic” Aden chuckled.

“Well, we better go leave you two and little Bean to it. We have studying to do. But we’ll be back tomorrow so I can collect my money from Geoff” Nicole smiled, pulling Geoff up and towards the door.

“Belle” Geoff called out.

“Try spicy foods or walking or eating pineapple!”

“Tried them all Geoff!” she laughed as he listed things supposed to help on bring labour.

“But I like your style. Don’t worry, if I have my way your money’s safe”

“But not if Bean has his or her way by the look of it” Aden smiled, gently rubbing her bump and dropping a tender kiss upon it as the door shut behind Geoff and Nicole.

“We are not calling our baby Bean!”

“I know” he chuckled, his hands still tenderly caressing her bump.

“Mummy and Daddy would never inflict that on you would they?” he whispered against her tummy as a gentle ripple responded.

“Did you feel that?” she wriggled uncomfortably as baby continued to kick against her stomach and Aden’s wide hands.

“Baby likes your voice” she told him, kissing his forehead tenderly as she ran her fingertips through his hair.

“That’s good” he whispered, a broad smile illuminating his face as he nuzzled his lips against her cheek.

“Because they’re going to be hearing it a lot, I’m always going to be there. Even when they don’t want me to be”

“Who wouldn’t want you?” she whispered back, tilting her head sideways and catching his lips with her own.

“You know” he smiled cheekily as they broke apart, one eyebrow raised slightly higher than the other.

“There’s one other thing that’s supposed to bring on labour that we haven’t tried yet”

“Aden, how can you even think about that when I look like this!”

“I told you, you’re beautiful. Now stopping fishing for compliments” he laughed as he began to place hungry kisses down her throat.

“Come on,” he whispered against her neck.

“I know you want me”

“I always want you” she replied grinning as he stood up and pulled her up off the couch before leading her into their bedroom.

As soon as the door shut behind them his lips were on hers and he lowered her gently onto the bed, his hands wandering slowly over her body, paying particular attention and affection to the gentle

curves and rise and fall of her enlarged tummy.

Her flat palms ran tenderly down the length of his chest before slipping under the soft fabric of his t-shirt and pulling it slowly over his head. He briefly raised his arms to assist her before returning them

to her soft skin as she discarded his t-shirt to the floor.

“It’s not like you to help Geoff out” she giggled as he placed a tender kiss on her tummy,

“Can we not talk about Geoff right now?” he laughed as his face was level with hers, his lips biting and teasing her own.

“Ok” she smiled cheekily.

“But you know I’ll still be thinking about him right? When you’re a bored, married woman you have to get your kicks somewhere”

“Ok, that’s it” he pulled away in mock offence.

“Baby can stay in there”

“You know I was joking” she teased, placing a trail of kisses over his chest as he made a show of not responding.

“As if Geoff would ever be man enough for me” she told him as she ran her hands over his body and placed greedy kisses across his jaw.

“I mean he doesn’t even know what insider trading is”

“Do you even know what insider trading is?” he laughed, forgetting to be angry as her lips found his.

“I’m not sure” she whispered, their lips still together as she pulled him closer to her.

“Why don’t you show me?”

“Belle”

“Belle”

“Belle!”

Finally their calls brought her back to reality. Rather than being in bed with her husband 5 years ago, instead she was sat at the kitchen table nursing an increasingly cold cup of coffee.

“Have you even been listening?” Geoff asked clearly annoyed.

“Of course I have, I’m just tired. I haven’t been sleeping well”

“None of us have!” Annie snapped. Tension was still rife between the two of them despite both having apologised for the incidents of the night before,

“But this is Irene’s will, it’s about what she wants for her funeral. It’s important!”

“I know that!” Belle snapped back, hurt at the insinuation that she didn’t care about what Irene wanted.

“I was listening. She wants us all to wear bright colours, no black. She wants her favourite songs, not hymns. She doesn’t want us to cry. I heard all that, I just zoned out when you got to who gets what.

I don’t care who gets what, I’d rather have Irene back than anything she owned!”

“I think you should read this bit anyway” Geoff passed the will over to her and pointed to a sentence three quarters of the way down the page.

“I don’t care” Belle insisted, pushing the typed page back towards him.

“Read it Belle” Roman insisted, pushing it back towards her. She looked to Rachel to back her up but Rachel simply nodded in agreement with Roman.

She scanned the page and gasped as the words sunk in.

“She left me the house?” she asked in disbelief.

Roman nodded silently.

“Why don’t any of you look surprised? Did you know about this?”

“Yeah” Geoff nodded.

“She talked it through with us before she made her will” Annie chimed in.

“But why? I haven’t lived here for years”

No one responded, so she looked to the one person who seemed to be honest with her no matter how much it might sting.

“Roman?”

“She was worried that if you didn’t have a home to come back to, then you’d never come back for Jamie” he admitted and as predicted his words cut her like the sharpest of knives.

“If only that was true” a familiar voice cut in and she raised her head to find him staring at her furiously from the doorway.

“Outside” he demanded, glaring at her without giving any further instruction.

“Mate” Roman tried to intervene.

“Just stay out of it Roman please. I need to talk to Belle about her little rendezvous with my son earlier”

“What?” Annie eyes shot wide open in shock.

“Aden,“ Roman stood up, almost leaning protectively towards Belle.

“You’re clearly worked up, why don’t you just go home and calm down? Talk to Belle later”

“No Roman, it’s ok” Belle insisted following Aden outside and preparing herself to have his fury unleashed on her. To her surprise he remained calm.

“You couldn’t just do as I asked could you?”

“He came to me!” she insisted.

“It’s yourself you should be mad at. Or Kirsty. Just letting him wander off like that. I could have been anyone! Jamie’s just lucky he picked his mother to talk to out of all the potential people on that beach”

“Lucky!” he laughed in her face.

“Lucky to have you as his mother? I don’t think so”

“Thank you” she gulped, ignoring his painful words.

“For what?”

“For telling him the truth. That I went away because I was ill and not pretending that I was dead or that I never existed in the first place. He thinks I’m dead anyway but at least you didn’t tell him that I

was”

“What on earth did you say to him to get him to tell you all this?” he asked in shock.

“Nothing. I just asked where his Mummy was. I meant Kirsty, I knew you wouldn’t want me to talk to him, I knew I should just send him back to her but Kirsty’s not his Mummy is she? And he knows

that!”

“If you knew you shouldn’t talk to him then why did you?”

“Because I knew it might be the only change I ever got” she sniffled.

“Damn right it was. Stay away from him Belle, I won’t tell you again”

“I can’t”

“Yes you can. Go to Irene’s funeral and then leave. Go back to your perfect little life in LA!”

“It’s not perfect” she whispered.

“Why? Has your apartment only got 5 bedrooms instead of 6? Is your car red when you wanted silver?” he finally snapped, bellowing so loud she thought her ear drums might burst.

“Stay away from my son!”

Before either knew what was happening his arms were on either side of her, his palms pushed flat against the wall so, although he wasn’t touching her, she was trapped by his intimidating presence.

“Aden!” Roman exclaimed, his concern clear as he rushed out of the house to intervene having seen what was happening through the kitchen window.

“Stay out of this Roman!” Aden hollered back at him but stepped away from Belle as he did so.

“It’s ok Roman, just go back inside” she whispered.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded silently as Roman began to retreat inside.

“I’m watching Aden, if you lay one finger on her” he warned.

“I won’t” Aden promised but Belle wasn’t sure how much she could trust him anymore.

The man she could once trust so implicitly that she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would never hurt her had changed so much that she wasn’t even sure she knew who he was anymore. And

what hurt her more than anything was the knowledge that she herself had changed him. She had broken him.

“I can’t leave” she whispered when they were alone once more.

“I thought I loved him before but God Aden when I saw him today, spoke to him, heard his little laugh, saw his beautiful smile and those dimples. I love him. I love him so much. And I know I haven’t done anything to back that statement up. I know that all I’ve ever done is hurt him but I love him and I want to be part of his life. Please just give me a chance to prove how much I love him”

“You’ve had chances Belle and every time you just...”

“Please” she pleaded, her voice barely audible.

“I won’t need another chance after this one. Because I won’t screw it up this time, I won’t leave him”

“I wish I could believe that. But you’ve said that before Belle. You promised me you weren’t going anywhere and when you did it tore me apart. I was a grown man! Jamie’s 4 years old, I’m not going to let you do that to him”

“I won’t!”

“I don’t believe you! I don’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth!” he snapped.

“You’re not seeing him! Ever again! If you go anywhere near him I swear I’l-“

“You can’t stop me from seeing my own son!” she screamed, anger welling up inside of her.

“Just watch me!” he bellowed.

“And don’t even think about threatening me with court again because I’ve spoken to Morag and no court in the land would side with you!”

“You don’t know that!”

“Yes I do! You abandoned him to go and live in LA with your rock star boyfriend who probably does every drug going! As if they’d let you take a little boy into that kind of lifestyle!”

“You don’t know anything about my life!” she cried, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks.

“I know you’ve got nothing to offer him!” he hollered, his face so close to hers she could feel his warm breath on the tip of her nose. Like a fraying elastic she finally snapped and the words were out of

her mouth before she could stop herself.

“I can offer him more than a step mother who doesn’t even know where his is half the time and a father who’s probably abusing him!”

Instantly they both fell silent, the only sound a loud gasp from inside the house as what she had said registered with the listening ears.

“God Aden, I didn’t mean that” she whispered, feeling physically sick as the words whirled around in her brain.

“Yo-“ he began but couldn’t finish his sentence her words having left him breathless and in shock like a sudden punch to the stomach.

“Aden” she whispered again as he finally got his breath back.

“You’re not even worth a response Belle” he spat before turning and storming away, leaving her to cower against the wall.

[rokkafella125]

OMG!

i loved at the top where belle met jamie it was just so sweet! i dont think that kirsty is a good mum to jamie especially after talking to him like that for heaven sakes he is 4 (5 in 33 sleeps) years old!

i like the way you used the flash back to the happy times when they were still together and so very much in love... i liked geoff... typical geoff!

the bit where irene left belle the house so she could see jamie was very sweet and a very irene thing...

but belle was a bit out of line when it said

“I can offer him more than a step mother who doesn’t even know where his is half the time and a father who’s probably abusing him!”

it was very harsh!

i thought the bit when belle said

step mother who doesn’t even know where his is half the time

was very motherly

very good update!

cant wait for more!

x