Shattered Glass

[hitmanfan]

Great sneek peak Looking forward to the next chapter, it looks like Drew is in for it!

[Zetti]

Am intrigued by the sneak peak, I wonder who the woman is..

[~Zoe~]

The sneak peak sounds good, looking forward to the next chapter

[SAM27#]

ooooooooo interesting!!!!!

Can't wait see to what has both Aden and Geoff so aggressive!!!!!

[**Julie**]

The sneak peak is intriguing. Can't wait to read the next chapter.

[leah1234]

Do you know if you are going to update tonight???

xxxxxxx

[Louise_2983]

No I'm not sorry

[leah1234]

kay that's fine

update whenever you can

xxxxxxxxxx

[Louise_2983]

Sorry it's been a while, hope it's worth the wait...

Chapter 55

She heard strong decisive footsteps approaching and hurried to wipe away the cascade of warm tears streaming from her big blue eyes. Sniffling softly she rubbed vigorously the back of her hands inadvertently burning her smooth cheeks a red, raw hue.

“Nicole?” he questioned as he stopped abruptly behind her.

She felt his warm breath tickle the nape of her neck as he spoke her name and found it oddly comforting. Inwardly she cursed herself. She cursed life. Of all the potential people it just had to be him.

“Are you ok?” he asked, his voice soft and brimming with concern as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder and rotated her body 180 degrees so he could look at her.

“Silly question” he whispered with an embarrassed smile.

“You’re clearly not ok, what is it?”

The sincerity and genuine concern apparent in his voice together with the worry shining in his blue eyes overwhelmed her in an instant. The guard she was usually so determined to have up whenever he

was around crumbled instantly as her sobbing body crashed into his toned chest. Tenderly he cradled her blonde head in his palm as, with his free hand, he rubbed soothing circles over the shiny

material of the dress draping attractively over her slender back.

“Nic” he murmured softly as her tears died down a little and he lifted his hands to gently hold her face between them. Tenderly he brushed his fingertips over her blushered cheeks, taking her tears with

them as he caressed her soft skin.

Her sad, watery eyes locked with his as a surge of electricity zipped through her as though she were a live wire. She bit her lower lip, a mixture of both anxiety and seduction as her gaze wandered to

his bow shaped lips, pink, perfect and inviting.

It would have been so easy to kiss him. To press her lips against his and lose herself. To forget everything else, to just be one with him again.

And she almost did.

“Well, well what have we got here?” a familiar voice teased with a chuckle as he emerged from the Surf Club just as she began to tilt her head forward.

Instantly his hands were in his pockets and a rush of coldness replaced the warm excitement flooding through her.

“You two better be careful that’s how rumours get started” he tutted not really caring what they were up to as long as he didn’t hurt her again.

“It’s not like that Aden!” Geoff protested.

“She’s upset”

Aden’s eyes flickered hurriedly over Nicole’s distraught face.

“Princess, what’s wrong?” he murmured as he walked towards her and gently brushed her tear stained cheek with the back of his hand.

Before she could stop to think words were blurting out of her, intermingled with tears and raspy gasps of breath as she told them the full story. Of her daughter’s conception, of how he’d said she should

have aborted her and of how he’d called them both ridiculous.

Rage instantly burned over Aden's strong, attractive features, flowing from his piercing blue eyes like tears as he twisted his body around and stormed away, a whirlwind of anger.

"I'm going to kill that loser!"

"Aden! No!" she cried in horror as Geoff also moved away from her and fled down the warm beach.

"Aden! Wait!"

"Geoff, stop him!" she pleaded not wanting Aden to do anything rash, which he would later regret, because of her.

"Stop him?!" Geoff exclaimed incredulously as he stomped away, hot on Aden's trail. A sharp anger she had never seen in him before flashing in his eyes.

"I'm going to hold the jerk down while he does it!

***

Belle was the one to see Aden first. Because she was the only one looking for him amongst the crowd of their friends and family on the beach. She was always looking for him. Whenever he wasn’t by

her side she was searching for his beautiful face, to share a secret smile meant for just for one other, to tell him that she loved him without ever having to utter the words.

But this time he wasn’t looking for her. He was scanning the crowd frantically, fury blazing in his eyes as he found the object of his anger and pounded across the beach, almost an inferno of rage.

She didn’t need to turn her head to know who he was aiming for. He knew. He had to know. And she had to stop this reaction.

“Aden!” She called after him anxiously as he reached Drew, who stood casual and carefree, just metres from her.

His hands balled into tight fists around the crisp collar of Drew’s white dress shirt as he slammed him forcefully against the warm, brick wall behind him just as Geoff appeared with anger flashing over

his features too as he was pursued closely by an anxious Nicole.

“Geoff!” Nicole half pleaded with him as he came to an abrupt stop not sure what to do with himself as fury surged through him but he was rendered useless by Aden’s apparent handle on the situation.

Nicole walked slowly up behind him, her hands gently gripping his forearms as he glanced back at her and they shared a moment of understanding.

Geoff wouldn’t be touching Drew.

Nicole’s hands remained in position, resting lightly on his bare skin, as they both turned back to watch the scene unfold before them.

“Go on then, hit me!” Drew challenged as Aden sneered down at him, his hands still clutching him tightly as he rammed him against the wall once more.

Hesitation fluttered over his features as he snarled back at him, clearly considering whether his next action should be to wipe that smug, self satisfied smile off his face with his fist.

“Aden! Don’t!” Belle called out again, desperate to stop him acting on the violent impulses she knew were surging through him in that moment.

As she observed her husband slam her step brother and former boyfriend backwards once more, his shirt sleeves scrunched up around his elbows and the muscles of his bare forearms rippling with the

movement ,she gasped in fear of the consequence.

The absolute rage in Aden’s bright blue eyes told her that if he swung even one punch he wouldn’t be able to stop at just that.

He hesitated again at the familiar sound of her voice as a sense of rationality flowed over him. This was their wedding he was ruining and nothing was worth more than him and Belle. He wouldn’t let

anything come between them.

Especially not the loser currently dangling from his fingertips.

“Better do what wifey wants” Drew jeered as Aden continued to pin him against the wall but took no further action.

“You’re just not worth it!” Aden finally snarled as he rammed his new brother in law back into the wall with maximum force and moved his face forward so his nose was almost pressed up against Drew’s

in an intimidating fashion.

“ You don’t deserve to have that little girl in your life! So stay away from Sophie, stay away from Nicole and whilst you’re at it stay away from Belle! Because don’t for one minute think I don’t know

about the little thing you’ve still got for her! Keep your hands off the people I love and I’ll keep my fists away from you!” he bellowed before letting him drop to the ground and sneering down at him in

disdain.

He glanced around him to find all eyes on the beach focused on him, even the few people who had been dancing to the upbeat song playing were frozen in position watching him. Uncomfortably he

shifted just as Belle, of all people, offered Drew her hand and pulled him up off the sand.

Aden scoffed in disbelief as Drew shrugged Belle off him and straightened his askew shirt before glaring at the groom still stood before him. Ignoring the temptation Aden’s gaze wandered to the pretty

little girl sheltered under a table not two yards away as she played quietly with the string of beads around her neck.

He approached her slowly and cautiously, kneeling down to her level and flicking up the edge of the soft tablecloth obscuring his view of her.

“Hey Sophie” he cooed gently as her big blue eyes looked back at him with uncertainty.

“Did silly Uncle Aden scare you?”

She nodded her little head, her blonde ringlets bouncing as she did so, and guilt ripped through him as he reached out a hand to affectionately brush her soft cheek.

“I’m sorry sweets, I didn’t mean to. It’s ok now”

“Adie mad” she whispered quietly, her lower lip quivering slightly as she spoke.

“Not at you little Princess” he told her softly.

“I’m never mad at you, you’re such a good girl”

“Sophie good girl” she nodded a sweet smile breaking through her fear filled features.

“That’s right” he laughed softly as he held out his hand to her and she placed her tiny palm inside his and let him guide her out from underneath the table.

“Come on sweetheart, I’ve been waiting for a dance with you all day!” he smiled as he lifted her into his arms and walked away down the beach to where people had previously been dancing, ignoring

the eyes still upon him.

Slowly people went back to their conversations, their drinks and the incident was almost forgotten.

“I think you should go” Belle told Drew, her gaze not on him but on Aden dancing playfully with the little girl who was oblivious to the fact that the ruckus had actually been mainly about her.

“Don’t worry I’m going” he replied and as he stormed away she didn’t take her eyes off her new husband once.

***

She found him on the pier, his legs dangling over the edge as he drank from the whisky glass in his hand. She approached slowly, the gentle rhythm of her footsteps alerting him to her presence but he chose simply to stare out to sea rather than turn to look at her.

Sitting down next to him she lifted his free arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, before leaning her head against him.

“I don’t know we’ve only married 5 minutes and you’re already avoiding me” she teased softly as he twisted his head to gaze down at her before pressing a soft, tender kiss to her glossy lips.

“I’m sorry” he mumbled quietly.

“I ruined our wedding”

“No you didn’t” she laughed softly.

“What’s a wedding without a scrap between the two different families hey?”

“I was just so angry”

“Really? I never would have guessed” she teased, pushing herself upwards slightly so her lips could meet his in a kiss.

“It’s bad enough that he’s been with you. The thought of him touching you and kissing you is enough to make me hate him”

“Then don’t think about it” she interrupted matter of factly.

“Easier said than done Babe. And then I find out that he just used Nic like that without even bothering to do a name check first”

“Aden, Nicole didn’t exactly ask him for photo id either”

“Are you actually defending that jerk?!” he snapped in disbelief, unwinding his arm from around her and pulling back slightly.

“No” she protested, shaking her head adamantly and pulling his arm back around her.

“And I don’t want us to fall out over him either, this is our wedding day Aden!”

“I know, I’m sorry” he sighed, tenderly rubbing his fingertips over her bare arm.

“Nothing is more important than today and us and I shouldn’t have gone off at him like that it’s just the thought of him just rejecting Sophie like that, like she’s some sort of commodity he can take back

to the store if he doesn’t like it. It makes me furious Belle!”

“I know” she nodded with a smile, kissing his cheek.

“And I love you for that. I love how much you care about Sophie. But Drew’s just in shock and freaking out a bit right now. Once he’s come to accept that he is her father then I think he might just come

through for her”

“Belle, he’s a loser”

“Deep down he’s ok trust me” she whispered with a smile.

“And I know about these things because once upon a time people thought you were a loser too and well I was right then wasn’t I?”

“You thought I was a loser once upon a time!” he teased with a gentle nudge as she giggled.

“And I was wrong so it’s a good job I gave you a chance to prove to me that it wasn’t the case isn’t it?”

“Yeah I guess” he conceded with a smile knowing exactly where she was going with this.

So all I’m asking is just lay off Drew whilst he figures this out”

“Ok” he nodded kissing her gently.

“But only because it’s you asking I wouldn’t do this for anyone else”

“I know” she grinned up at him.

“That’s why I’m the one asking and whilst I am can you please tone down the macho man act when Jamie’s around? It’s not exactly the best example babe!”

“Did he see it?” he groaned feeling terrible, he never wanted his son to see him like that.

“No” she shook her head slowly.

“He was inside the Surf Club with Roman thank god”

“I’m sorry” he apologised thinking that all he had done since she’d sat down was tell her he was sorry. He never wanted to disappoint her and he’d managed to do it today of all days. The day that was

meant to be the happiest of their lives.

“I know I’m not meant to be that guy anymore but I guess he’s still in there somewhere. That jerk that you hated”

“I never hated you!” she protested pulling him into a hug and resting her head on his shoulder.

“I just didn’t know you and we both know there are reasons why you developed that tendency to lash out when you can’t handle your emotions, that’s never going to go away completely Aden. It’s

always going to be part of the person you are, the person I love more than anything”

“I love you too” he smiled, tilting her head back so he could kiss her.

“...Mrs Jefferies”

“I like that” she whispered against his beestung lips, her heart overflowing with contentment as she snuggled closer into his arms.

“And not that this means I approve or anything” she grinned cheekily.

“But the whole bad boy act, it’s kind of hot. I don’t mind seeing it every once in a while!”

“Is that right?” he laughed, his head tilting back as his eyes sparkled in amusement.

“Yep. I love you Aden Jefferies” she told him as she tenderly ran her fingertips over his cheek.

“All of you. And I never want you to change not for me or for anyone because everything that you already are is more than enough”

“Belle” he whispered with a single tear beginning to fall down his cheek.

“Enough for you is all I’ve ever needed to be”

Tenderly she pulled him forward into a passionate kiss.

Loving. Soft. Sensual.

“And now I’m crying again” he laughed as she reached up and brushed away his tears with her thumb.

“And that’s ok, the sensitive side is pretty sexy too” she smiled softly, pressing a kiss to the spot where she had wiped away his tears from.

Gently he cupped her face between his palms and held her face before him as he simply gazed at her without a word.

“You’re amazing” he whispered softly when he finally spoke, his eyes never once leaving hers.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you”

“You were you” she sighed softly as she kissed him once more.

“I told you, that’s enough”

“Maybe” he nodded, his lips kicking up into a smile.

“ I know it’s silly but som-“

“Sometimes what?” she pressed as he stopped talking.

“No it’s silly, you’ll laugh at me”

“Maybe” she agreed with a cheeky glint in her chocolate brown eyes.

“But you know I’ll still love you no matter how silly it is!”

“It’s just sometimes” he admitted quietly.

“I just think about my Mum and how maybe somewhere up there she’s watching and maybe she sent you to me” he confessed as Belle looked up at him, her expression unreadable, as she remained

silent.

“I told you it was silly” he murmured sheepishly, his cheeks flushing crimson.

“No it’s not! It’s beautiful” she protested as warm tears began to trickle down her cheeks.

“And now I’m the one crying!” she giggled, wiping away her tears.

“It just feels like she was the only person in my life who truly loved me Belle...until I found you”

She kissed him softly knowing there were no words, she could tell him she loved him a million times but it would never truly be enough to convey the intensity of the pure love surging through her.

“I think that’s our first dance” she giggled as a familiar song struck up in the distance and floated down the beach to where they sat in a loving embrace.

“Nicole is going to be freaking out right now, we should probably get back” she told him getting to her feet and pulling him up with her.

As she made to leave he slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her back against his chest before twirling her around to face him.

“Let’s dance here, just us” he smiled softly down at her.

“Here?”

“Here” he nodded pulling her into a close hold and beginning to move slowly as the vocals flooded over the melody.

“It is our place after all”

“Some say love it is a river

that drowns the tender reed,

Some say love it is a razor

that leaves your soul to bleed

Some say love it is a hunger

an endless aching need

I say love it is a flower

and you it's only seed”

Their eyes locked in a tender gaze he lifted his hand from the small of her back and lovingly caressed her smooth cheek, his piercing blue eyes never once breaking from hers. His heart swelled with

love and pride that the beautiful, courageous, loving women in his arms was his wife.

His lips kicked up into a tiny smile as he thought of the first time he could ever remember having seen her, in the bustling corridor of Summer Bay High with her arms snaked around Drew’s neck as she

animatedly told him a story she clearly found hilarious.

He remembered letting his eyes wander appreciatively over her fine physique, down her tanned, bare legs as she stood on the tip of her toes, leaning into her boyfriend’s chest for support. As he recalled the soft sparkle which had illuminated her eyes and the beautiful smile which lit up her stunning face with it that day he let his attention truly focus on her in the here and now, in his arms, with a smile and gaze a million times happier and more intense than the one he had witnessed her give to Drew way back then.

He felt honoured to hold her in his arms, to be the one who could make her positively glow like she did right there and then. For the memory that overcame him most was the surge of pure jealously that

had run through him in the school halls that day as he watched the young couple interact.

Not that he had been in love with Belle back then, that wasn’t it. But he had wanted love. The desire to be loved and to be able to love had coursed through every vein in his body and as he’d witnessed

the scene before him back then. He’d felt sure that he would never have what the young, happy couple, so clearly wrapped up in each other, did. That it was emotionally beyond him.

What he hadn’t realised back then that love was so much more than what he had thought. So much stronger, so much harder, so much better. And he would never have imagined that she would be the

one to show him the truth, to teach him what love really was.

As he tenderly glided his fingertips over her soft, velvety tresses he gazed at her in utter disbelief. The bad boy of Summer Bay had come good. Better than good. He was someone that people could

love and care about. He was someone who people did love and care about without wanting anything in return and that was something that he would never have thought even imaginable until the

day she had stayed with him in the hospital waiting for news about his Dad. The day when she had completely turned his life upside down.

The bad boy of Summer Bay had done good, he thought with a soft, secret smile just for her.

He had persuaded Belle Taylor to marry him.

Twice.

”It's the heart afraid of breaking

that never learns to dance

It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance

It's the one who won't be taken

who cannot seem to give

and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live”

As he smiled that wry, secret smile he reserved only for her she rested her head contently on his shoulder and let her body follow his movement, swaying together in the soft summer breeze. Het heart beat a steady, constant rhythm against his solid chest. A rhythm of happiness, contentment and of utter love.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as he slid both hands slowly down her toned back, his palms sending a shiver of electricity trembling down her spine as though it were a zip wire, before they rested in the tiny dent just below her waist and he pressed her body against his so they were almost moulded together.

And emotionally she believed they were. She had never been so happy and in love. It had never been like this with another. Drew, Ric, Lucas. They had all been special in their own way but Aden was it for her. She knew it with every breath in her body. Aden Jefferies was the one.

The lyrics of the song floating over them as they swayed from side to side, their feet barely moving as they clung to one another. It would have been so easy to let them transport her to guilt and regret, to wallow over the time they had spent apart. When she’d been too scared or too stubborn or too mixed up to find her way back into his arms.

But none of that mattered anymore. She had taken a chance, jumped into the unknown, put her heart on the line.

And it had paid off.

Because no matter what life brought her in the future, to have this one moment wrapped in his arms, would make everything worth it.

”When the night has been too lonely

and the road has been too long

and you think that love is only

for the lucky and the strong”

It had taken them so long to get back there but they were there.

Finally.

They had fought the odds and won and finally the love that at one point or another either or both of them had believed they didn’t deserve, was truly theirs once more.

She tilted her head back and rested her chin against his broad chest. Her big brown eyes misty as she fought back tears.

He watched her intently, making no move to wipe away the surge of water breaking free of her deep, chocolate brown eyes. He knew they were tears of happiness.

His fingertips tenderly traced a delicate line down her bare forearms before he entwined their fingers and raised their hands to eye level with a soft smile before catching her lips softly with his own, her

warm tears soaking the smooth skin of his cheeks as he did so.

She sighed a low murmur of satisfaction against his lips as she felt a gentle tug on the bottom of her dress at exactly the same time as Aden felt his trousers being pulled just below the knee.

Twisting their heads in unison like puppets attached to the same string, wide grins of happiness spread instantly across their faces as they gazed down at their beautiful son.

Aden bent down and gathered Jamie into his arms just as Belle turned to find Matilda placing Alyssia in hers before making a discreet exit.

Aden reached out the arm he wasn’t using to support his son to pull his wife and daughter close as the small, perfect family unit held onto each other tightly and together they danced.

“Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows

lies the seed that with the sun's love

in the spring becomes the rose”

Song Lyrics from The Rose by Bette Midler

[LAURZY!]

Awwwwwwwww!

That was beautiful

Loved the memory back to when he remembered seeing her for the first time

The ending with Jamie and Alyssia was just perfect

Loved the scene with Geoff and Nicole too, they so need to get together haha

Cant wait to read more!