Coming Home

Disclaimer: All Home and Away characters are property of the Seven Network.

Part One

"Oh no" Jazzie said from next to me. I looked up to see none other than Jack Holden strutting towards us.

"Here comes trouble." I muttered to her, as she grinned a little.

As Jack came closer, I saw his face, and the evil look that gleamed in his eyes. That look was never good. Before I knew it, I had been thrown over his shoulder and we were running towards the ocean. I was squealing loudly in his ear, half because of fear, half because of the excitement it was causing. More excitement than I cared to admit, actually.

However, everything was muffled when my body was thrown, dumped into the cold waves. I spent a few moments struggling under the water before surfacing, spluttering and clawing my way into a standing position.

"JACK HOLDEN" I screamed as I faced the man responsible for my current state of distress.

"Yes?" He answered innocently, pausing his laughter momentarily.

Our eyes locked and our gaze held strong as I moved through the water to stand in front of him. His face was serious, but in the depths of his soulful eyes, he was laughing. That was possibly the one thing that I never grew tired of with Jack. His laughing eyes. The ones that sparkled magically, that lit up every time I entered a room, because in me, he saw a challenge. And in him, I saw, those wonderful, beautiful, captivating eyes. Amongst many, many other things.

One of my hands moved to rest on his cheek, as my thumb gently caressed his soft skin. The other fell to his chest, stroking his muscled chest, and I had to wonder, how someone so strikingly handsome was still single? Then, as his hands moved to my waist, sending tingles all over my body, I remembered.

In one swift movement my hands moved to his shoulders and sent him flying backwards into the water. He floated momentarily before he emerged spluttering, much like I had done moments before.

"You're a glutton for punishment, you know that, right?" I smirked at him as he glared at me, before running and tackling me back into the water. We both came up short of breath, and I growled at him before stalking out of the water. He followed quickly and ran out in front of me, smiling with those damn eyes again.

"Awww come on Mackenzie, I was only having a little fun."

"It's always only a 'little fun' with you Holden." I mimicked "But is it you that ever trudges home in their underwear?" I asked heatedly as he shook his head, smiling a little. " I thought not." I huffed, walking off.

"That was one time Mackenzie." He said, almost pleadingly "And to my credit, it was your idea in the…"

"Prepare to face the wrath of a woman scorned Jack Holden." I snapped at him, my eyes narrowing. "Next time it'll be me laughing at you." I said threateningly, which only managed to egg him on.

"Bring it on." He said, stepping up to me.

"Oh, you better believe I will." I promised, turning on my heels and stalking over to Jazzie, who had watched the exchange and now had an amused look on her face.

"What?" I snapped at her as she handed me a towel.

"He lurrrvvvvvesssss you" She said, in what I assumed was a joking manner. But then she added "And you're pretty into him too." And I knew she wasn't kidding.

"I am not!" I replied finally, completely shocked at what she was insinuating.

"Are too." She retorted.

"Am not."

"Are too."

"AM NOT"

"Okay, we're not getting anywhere. So I propose a challenge." Jazzie replied calmly.

"Speak it." I said, as I groaned. "We really need to stop watching kiddie movies."

"But Steve Phillips is so plush." Jazzie joked, as I rolled my eyes. "Three dates with him." She continued, as my eyes lit up.

"Three dates with Steve Phillips? I'm so there!"

"No, Holden." Jazzie replied, rolling her eyes as I looked at her in distress. "If you realise you don't hate him as much as you claim to, I'll clean the house for a month. If you do realise you like him…" She said " You clean for a month."

She held out her hand, and I reached out, shaking it firmly.

"Prepare to get cleaning." I said, so very sure of myself. How could I possibly be wrong?