Making life impossible

Disclaimer: I do not own Hollyoaks, or any of the characters used in this story.
Notes:I didn't particularly like Gilly's ending and didn't feel it was a very good way to send off such a great character. Therefore, this is an alternate ending to his time in Hollyoaks based on rumours that I'd heard online a few months ago. So whoever posted them rumours, thanks for inspiring me. ;) The views aren't necessarily my own.
Rating: T – There is a tiny bit of language here and there.

Chapter One.

It was a cold day in November and winter was vastly approaching. The light was just beginning to escape and the street lights were beginning to turn on, one by one. Jacqui and Rhys had spent their afternoon inside their apartment, making preparations for their potential move to Cornwall. They couldn't take it anymore, the pressure of having Gilly around, every single place they went. All they had to do was step outside the front door and he was suddenly there, as if by magic, there was no escaping him without moving away from this small, claustrophobic town. Rhys hadn't even been able to get a decent job because he'd got in the way. Moving away was the only option for them now and the further away, the better the idea seemed. Besides, Cornwall had all you needed really. The seaside, endless amounts of pasties, pretty views… although the last one probably wouldn't make much of a difference, Jacqui hated nature and all that stuff. They couldn't hang around for a second more just watching Gilly get whatever he wanted, not after what he'd put Jacqui through, after he'd raped her back in February.

"Come here, Terreh, walkies time," Jacqui called her dog, grabbing his lead off the table. Whilst looking back upwards, she caught sight of Rhys carrying the pooch out of their room.

"Found 'im chewing on some of me socks again didn't I, silly mut."

"Yeah well, I keep telling ya to wash the damn things, don't I," Jacqui replied, a curve in her lips as a smile broke through. She secretly liked Rhys' messiness at times, it created more work to do and work helped her keep her mind off of the monster-better known as Gilly- lurking the streets. She took hold of the dog gently, fastening the lead to his collar before walking out of the door with him, grabbing Rhys' hand and pulling him quickly along too.

As they stepped out the door, the cold air hit them; it was beginning to feel like Christmas. Their first Christmas as a married couple; that was something to look forward to. A Christmas without the rest of the McQueen clan was always going to be difficult for Jacqui though, but she knew Rhys would make it special for her. She smiled at the thought, tilting her head up at Rhys and giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"What we gonna do for Christmas then babe? All alone, the three of us, in Conwall," Jacqui murmured, her head still tilting up towards Rhys, forcing an excited-looking smile onto her face. Finally, they could live without worrying about when or where they were going to bump into Gilly.

Rhys came to a halt, he stared in front of himself, unable to process what Jacqui had said. His eyes fixated on something and refused to move off of it. Jacqui soon followed his gaze. There were police, three at the most, standing below the steps that led to Chez chez. Frankie and Jack were also stood there, as well as a teary and motionless Cheryl. After pausing for a few seconds, Rhys rushed closer, with Jacqui following nervously behind. Despite their recent conflict with Gilly and in particular Cheryl's newly formed relationship with him, Rhys had always cared about Cheryl and hated seeing her upset. He walked hesitantly closer to the action, looking back just once to glance quickly at Jacqui.

"Chez? Hey, what's happened?" He asked; a quiet and sensitive tone to his voice-as he continued to walk closer, Jacqui still lagged behind a little with Terry. She imagined it'd be relating to Gilly in one way or another-that was pretty much the only thing the Osbornes and Cheryl had in common-so thought it'd be best to keep her distance, wherever them lot were; she wasn't welcome.

"It's her. That flaming Jacqui McQueen, she did this," Frankie screamed, infuriated as she pointed to the tall, dark haired women. "I'm telling you, it was her," she continued, aiming her words at the police officers present, but keeping her eyes fixed on Jacqui.

"Urrr, anyone wanna tell me what the hell's goin' on? It's like a bloody episode of the Bill or somit out here," Rhys joked, expecting whatever it was that had just happened to be a beneficial for himself and Jacqui.

"It's Gilly," Cheryl chocked out, the upset look on her face increasing more by every second. Crowds began to gather around, just people who'd been walking by wanting to see what all the action was about.

"Oh yeah? What's he done now then, raped you too? You know what, yeah? We warned you, Jacqui told you it'd happen. But you, you just wouldn't listen, would you, Chez?" Rhys shouted loudly, purposely trying to tell the whole street what he thought. This only caused more tears to run down Cheryls cheeks.

"No," was all Cheryl was able to spit out in reply. Rhys turned around, remembering how this would affect his wife. He faced the position she was in the last time he'd caught sight of her. She'd gone, disappeared, he looked around but she was nowhere to be seen. He skipped over to where a very agitated and upset looking Frankie was stood taking to one of the police officers.

"Where's Gilly then? Gilly the rapist. Where is he?" Rhys asked snidely, his voice still loud, beginning to sound frustrated. Jack stepped forward, pulling Rhys to the side, knowing his wife was unable to explain to yet another person what had just happened.

"He's gone," Jack said gently, pressing his hand on Rhys' shoulder. Rhys quickly brushed him off. Jack had been a good friend when Jacqui had gone missing, but it had been more than obvious he and Frankie had always been on Gilly's side through all of this.

"Gone to prison? Yeah? Well then, good. That's exactly where he should be. Now you lot should stop cryin' over it, yeah and believe he's a bloody rapist." Jack sighed loudly, trying to gain eye contact with Rhys; whose eyes were drifting around everywhere.

"He's not gone to prison, he's been found dead, son."