Evan sat in his room physically shaking as he tried in vain not to break down. He thought when he got out here everything would be ok bar the loss of Dup but it wasn't, his downward spiral just seemed to grow longer. He sighed and stood up violently, his hands twitching as he noticed his razor in his bag. He ran a hand along his jaw before clasping his arm. He stared at his arm and the razor in turn before hitting himself in the face. What was he thinking? He swallowed. He was ok out here, there was nothing to worry about… This was just grief. Grief and hurt, nothing more.

(x)

The next morning at breakfast, Alice studied her family as she played with her breakfast. She felt a deep pang of sympathy for Caroline as she sat next to the empty seat at the bottom of the table. The older woman seemed to be coming back into herself a little – of course she wasn't over her husband, but she was finally eating something and talking and that to Alice marked improvement, even if she was a recluse during the day and spent a lot of her time alone or busying herself. Her eyes then fell to Liv who had come over that morning, she smiled to herself, despite the unlikely pairing it did seem to work. Granted, Fatani was older than her but he had the mental age of someone half his age and he was surviving the Danny treatment although Alice wasn't sure how that would last if he proposed to Liv. She carried on around the table and sighed as she came to Charlotte, her daughter, the girl who'd recently took a turn off the rails. Alice wondered if that was all going to settle down now after yesterday's fiasco. She looked angry still and upset but Alice hoped with every ounce of her being that she'd hold on to her temper. Alice glanced the other way and noticed her husband and almost immediately her heart seemed to skip a beat, even as he went about the every day task of eating a slice of toast. He was smiling at something Liv was saying, his green eyes betraying his interest and pride. Reluctantly she moved on, noting the loved up couple of the week, Dylan and Rosie who were both whispering in one another's ears. Alice glanced back to Danny for a moment, wondering if that's how they had been once. Finally, she looked at Evan. She frowned as she noticed his plate. It held one piece of toast which he was nibbling at, he seemed uninterested in food and far away. His eyes seemed so shuttered, almost as though he was tired and thin. Alice didn't like how thin he was and vowed silently to fatten him up – he needed it!

"Coffee Alice?" Danny asked, breaking her reverie. She turned to him and shook her head, she wasn't in the mood for coffee right now.

"Tea?" Alice beamed sweetly.

"What? Tea instead of coffee?" Danny gasped dramatically as though she'd never had a cup of tea in her life, "But, are you ok?"

"Stop with the dramatics Danny it doesn't suit you…" Alice murmured, "I just want tea this morning – I do like it you know."

"I know but we always have coffee in the morning…" Danny replied standing up, "But your wish is my command."

"Good, anyway, I read tea's better for you!" Alice responded smugly.

"Not another health kick…" Danny groaned walking off. Alice smiled, turning back to the table and smirking dumbly to herself, he could always make her feel like a loved up teenager, even in the morning!

"God, we've got enough with Rosie and Dylan, don't you two start…" Liv said dramatically, "Why can't you be like me and Fatani? Sit nicely and refrain!?"

"Because…" Danny replied walking back up with two mugs, "We're married."

"You were like that before you were married, marriage just made it worse." Liv drawled. "Anyway, I'm off to do something productive. See ya later."

(x)

Charlotte sat staring out of the window as the teacher drawled on about algebra, as though she'd ever need that crap! She glanced to the board and noticed the equations were easy, god, she could do them backwards, what was it with these kids?

"Trevanion, you fancy contributing?" The teacher snarled, he was a new teacher called Mr Jenkins and no one liked him all that much.

"What to the dumb and dumber show? Nah you're alright, it's funny watching." Charlotte responded, "Anyone can see that C equals 6.5, Jesus Christ."

"You can cut the cheek." Jenkins responded, "But yes well done…"

"Yipee, frigging yay." Charlotte moaned, "Can I return to looking out the window?"

"No you might break it…" Jen replied, her cut still peeking out from under her foundation.

"Your head will break it if you carry on." Charlotte warned.

"Bring it zoo girl." Jen replied, laughing hysterically.

"Come on then… round two, I'll finish you off." Charlotte agreed standing up as Jen also stood.

"TIME OUT!" Mr Benzao shouted entering the class room, "What on Earth is going on?"

"She threatened me!" Jen wailed, "Again!"

"Bullshit! You started this!" Charlotte growled, lurching forward only stopped from hitting Jen by Mr Jenkins who had rushed forward.

"Enough!" Benzao yelled, "Charlotte, my office now. You can chill out."

"Great." Charlotte muttered under her breath, grabbing her stuff and walking out, she noted the triumphant look on Jen's face as she did and mouthed 'I'll get you' with a cocky, malicious wink.

(x)

Caroline jumped as the phone began to ring. She sighed, right now she really could do without guests, even if they did keep this place afloat. With a heavy heart she raised the phone to her ear, expecting to hear some jumped up tourist demanding a quality stay.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Caroline? It's Thabo."

Caroline blanched for a moment before gathering her thoughts, it made sense, she had put it in the local paper and news travelled fast around here. "Thabo!"

"I just thought I'd call to say how sorry I am about Dup, he was a great man Caroline. A legend."

"Thank you Thabo, you're very sweet." Caroline smiled, she wondered how her grand-daughter had been so stupid to let him go sometimes.

"And, if it wouldn't be too awkward… I'd like to come and pay my respects at the funeral, of course I understand if-"

"Thabo stop." Caroline said, halting his rambling in it's tracks, "Of course you are welcome to the funeral. Dup liked you, he'd want you there. I'll deal with Liv."

"Thanks Caroline, I hope you're all holding up ok. Let me know if you need any help."

"You're a good man Thabo." Caroline told him, "See you soon."

"Bye."

Caroline set the phone down before taking a deep breath, she hoped her grand-daughter was mature about this or all hell was about to be let loose!