Welcome back people, due to a good response I have decided to continue with this one…

David has been badly beaten up by Derek.

David knows that by choosing to stay in the square he's a dead man walking, but he's vowed not to run anymore, he wants to somehow make things right and build a life with Carol, the question is how long their happiness will last?

With Derek's after David's blood how long will it be before disastrous consequences threaten the couple's hopes and dreams?

Chapter 2

7am in the morning David lay helplessly in bed, his face throbbing and swollen from Derek's handy work the night before.

At this moment he was feeling pretty stupid, why didn't he cut his losses and bugger off back to where he came from, there was nothing here for him.

With that thought he turned his head to look at Carol who was still asleep next to him, of course he had her. That's why he stayed, they were going to build a life together, be happy and grow old together. He wanted to spend more time with Bianca and his grandkids.

For once in his life he was following his heart rather than his head "no more running" he muttered as if trying to convince himself.

"Morning David" said Carol sleepily cuddling up to him "morning darling" he replied stroking her face, she looked so beautiful, he felt like all his Christmases had come at once, he had never really stopped loving her. He stared at the ceiling his mind replaying the events of the years gone by, he thought back to when he was just 14, a right jack the lad, He had got Carol pregnant much to the disgust of her family, that was the first time Derek had beaten him to pulp, the memory of that night was still raw in his mind, if only people could have left them alone, they could have been so happy together.

Although all these thoughts of ifs, buts and maybes filled his head there was still a little voice reminding him that everything he touches goes wrong, Carol's was the first persons life he had messed up, not that he thought for one moment she had any regrets about keeping the baby, Bianca had grown into something David would never change.

Then there was his first wife Lorraine who was expecting their first child within a matter of months of him moving in with her, she gave birth to their son Joe who was shortly followed by the birth of their daughter Karen.

David felt he'd been tied down, he was only 18 when Joe was born, which was hard enough but when Karen arrived it was the final straw, having two children to look after was too much for him, he was too young and certainly not ready to take on any responsibility.

This poor excuse gave him what he thought was the right to have several affairs before walking out and leaving his wife and kids behind.

"David Wicks this is your life" he mumbled alerting Carol "what?" she questioned sitting up flashing him a strange look "oh nothing darling, was just thinking" he answered before leaning in for a kiss.

They lay in each others arms cherishing every moment, Pat leaving them had made them both realise life was too short.

Moments later they both got up and dressed.

"Maybe I should stay up here for a bit" suggested David pulling on his shirt "I don't want to upset the kids, looks like Iv been dragged through a hedge backwards" he continued with a smirk. Carol walked over and wrapped her arms round him before replying "their going to see you sooner or later, you can't hide up here".

Upon entering the kitchen Liam, Morgan and Tiffany were sat around the table eating breakfast whist Bianca was doing her usual routine of trying to keep them under control "Tiffany no!" "Liam pack that in!" she wailed in her normal high pitched tone.

"Morning" muttered David taking his place at the table with his eyes fixed on the floor "granddads got a poorly face" pointed out the ever observant Tiffany, with that David grunted and went to leave standing up too quickly and bumping into Bianca "ahhh" he yelped as he doubled over in pain clutching his ribs "what the hells happened to you?" questioned a concerned Bianca "ohh nothing darling I just had a bit of a fall" replied David his voice rattled with pain "a fall?" she shot back crossing her arms "yes I wasn't looking where I was going and I bumped into something" he stuttered.

"You must think I came off a banana boat" shouted Bianca before continuing "this is down to Derek isn't it? Don't treat me like im stupid I knew there was something not right last night, you and mum deciding to stay and then going straight to bed without any kind of explanation" "darling please" "don't darling me dad, I want to know what's going on and I want to know now" Bianca demanded, it was clear she didn't plan on moving out his way until he started talking.

"What's going on?" interrupted Carol placing her arm round David's waist "granddads been battered" informed Liam with a chuckle. "I want to know what's going on" screamed Bianca by this point she was in no mood for jokes.

"we'll talk about it later" assured Carol "oh you know what, fine" spat Bianca grabbing Morgan and Tiffany leading them out of the kitchen.

David eased himself down into the chair taking deep breaths to try and counteract the pain, he caught Liam staring intently in his direction "what" he questioned picking up a slice of half eaten toast which Tiffany had left on her plate "what does it feel like?" questioned Liam "what?" replied David shoving the toast into his mouth "getting battered" continued Liam. "no one said he got battered Liam" interrupted Carol as she sat next to David with a cup of tea, Liam sat and thought about it for a moment before coming back with an answer "no one said he didn't get battered though" this made David chuckle, kids really do have an answer for everything, he remembered being Liam's age and driving his mother mad with his quick witted come backs.

"What was going through your head granddad?" Liam continued pushing for some kind of response, David looked at Carol and took a deep breath "size ten doc martins" he replied with a smile.

"Go on Liam get yourself to school" instructed Carol, Liam got up sighing "oh ok"

"Cheeky little bugger isn't he" laughed David "right well iv got to pop out" he continued lifting himself up and grabbing some painkillers from the cupboard "um where you going" Carol asked concerned "well il need to look for a flat or something, cant keep taking up space here can I" he answered, Carol stood up and cuddled into him "David you can stay here, we will look for a place together when you're a bit better, besides Derek might be hanging around and your not in a any state to" "Carol" interrupted David shushing her by placing a finger over her lips "im not about to go looking for trouble" he assured her "anyway like you said earlier, cant hide forever" he replied kissing her cheek and making his way out the house.

"David! Came a voice from nowhere "what you doing here? we warned you" it was Max, he was running towards David with what looked like last nights dinner all over his shirt "yes Max you warned me, and I chose not to listen" replied David holding his ribs and limping away in the opposite direction "oi hang on a minute what happened to you?" enquired Max, David took a sharp turn and headed towards the main street with Max still trailing him "come on David I only asked" shouted Max "ask your brother" responded David disappearing into the distance.

Back at the house Carol was going about her daily business consisting of cleaning, washing and people watching, she was stood looking out the window with a smile on her face "alright" Whitney said cheerfully flopping herself down on the sofa grabbing a magazine from the table "hello love" answered Carol joining her on the sofa "you look happy, has David been whispering sweet nothings in your ear" Whitney teased giving Carol a playful shove.

Carol didn't need to answer her smile and perfect aura said it all, life had never been better for her, she had always loved David and she knew he felt the same, she sat there staring silently at the blank television screen letting her thoughts take her away.

There was a knock at the door and Whitney got up to answer it "where are they" came Derek's voice from the hallway "excuse me" Whiney stuttered as he barged past her and into the living room "where's lover boy?" bellowed Derek "he's not here" answered Carol as fear surged through her body "you leave him alone, you've done enough damage, you could have killed him!" screamed Carol as fear turned to rage "yeah I could, I would, I should of" Derek wailed stepping closer to Carol grabbing her by the wrists "get off her" cried Whitney lashing out at Derek slapping him as hard as she could "silly cow" shouted Derek letting go of one wrist and violently shoving Whitney onto the sofa as he watched her race out the room he turned his attention back to Carol "im going to make you one promise Carol, David Wicks is a dead man"….

In a meantime Whitney had bolted out the door in search of help, she clocked David coming towards the house "David, David come quick" she begged "what's the matter sweetheart" replied David placing his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down.

Just then they were interrupted by a flying table that Derek had catapulted through the house window "oh no" David muttered doing a half run half limp movement towards the house "Carol" he shouted bursting through the door and into the living room where Derek had Carol pinned to the floor with his hands round her throat.

David wasted no time in grabbing Derek and throwing him out the way "Carol" stuttered David as tears filled his eyes "are you ok?" he continued stroking her face "you get away from her Wicks" instructed Derek his voice oozing with pure hatred "get out" screamed Carol as David stood up squaring up to Derek "come on then big man" he challenged "pick on someone who can actually fight back" he continued as Derek charged at him, the two men landed in a heap on the sofa, Carol got up just in time to see David's face change, she looked on in horror as she watched the colour draining from his face "ohhhh" he cried loosening his grip on Derek, his head fell back, his breathing became shallow.

Derek backed off looking at David lay there helpless as blood poured from somewhere under his clothes.

"oh my god David, David, some one call an ambulance!" screamed Carol with panic and fear in her voice, she grabbed David's hand and turned to Derek "what have you fucking done!" she screamed cradling David, Derek stood with a look of pleasure and satisfaction in his eyes.

"Something I should of done when I had the chance" Derek answered in a dry haunting whisper, as a smile spread across his face he turned and left them with the words echoing in the walls around the room….

David had been stabbed….

There you go people that's chapter 2 done!

Please comment or review if you have the time, I would love to hear what you think.

Thank you for reading! .