Sandra was sat on the beach watching Olivia play in the waves. Cornwall was beautiful this time of year and Liv was having so much fun that she hadn't even really questioned why they had come away without her dad, on a trip she hadn't known about until they were on the train. She'd accepted Sandra's vague explanation about a last minute deal and Gordon not being able to get the week of work. Sandra knew it couldn't last, there was only so long they could stay here before they had to return to reality. But sat here now surrounded by people enjoying their holidays and watching her daughter carefree and happy it felt good to pretend for just a little while longer.

Sandra ignored her phone when it rang, just like she'd done every time for the past week. She would check it in a few minutes though just in case it was her mother checking in on her. She was the only person she was taking calls from but she hadn't even told her where they were. She trusted her mum but she knew what Gordon was like and there was no way he wouldn't have got the information out of her one way or another. She had long since blocked Gordon, after the first dozen messages she knew that if she didn't she would just cave so it was better to not give herself the option.

Her phone binged letting her know she had a voicemail message and curiosity had her fumbling in her bag to find it. Seeing Aaron's name next to the missed call notification made her heart stutter in her chest. She was immediately overcome with guilt. The boy that she had once treated like a son but with whom she'd had no contact with since he'd left all those months ago had just reached out to her. She hesitated before listening to the voicemail, but she knew she owed him this much at least. With shaking hands she put the phone to her ear, not sure if she was ready to hear what he had to say.

"Hi, it's um...Aaron. I'm sorry..." he sounded quiet and nervous and tired and so, so young.

"I'm sorry to ring, or ask you for anything but I kind of...I really need your help" she heard him take a deep breath. "Please just talk to the police, I know you didn't know" her stomach twisted with guilt. "But maybe there's something, anything. I just...I can't do this on my own" his voice cracked half way through. "And I'm sorry...for everything...I hope...I hope you're okay, both of you. Anyway, yeah that's it,..sorry".

The phone call ended and Sandra used the cover of her sunglasses to hide the wetness in her eyes. She sat watching Liv play, envying her her carefree attitude. She wasn't that much younger than Aaron had been when she'd first met him. Liv was her daughter, her only child and she had to do everything she could to keep her safe. But there was a time when she had thought of Aaron as her son, he used to call her mum. When had she decided that he didn't deserve the same level of care and attention. She was filled with shame at her cowardice. She could tell herself all she liked that she hadn't known anything was happening but she couldn't trick herself into believing it. Maybe the best way to keep Liv safe was to make sure Gordon could never get to her, it was time she stood up for all of them. It was the only way she could ever hope to forgive herself for what she'd done, or more importantly what she hadn't.

She didn't expect Aaron would ever forgive her though, not once he learned the truth, but that was her burden to bear, it shouldn't be his anymore.

Cain sat in Debbie's kitchen, drinking tea, it felt very domesticated and strange.

"So Aaron rang Sandra then?" Debbie asked from where she sat across the table.

"Yeah eventually, I don't know what he said though. He insisted on doing it in private." he answered leaning back in his chair and sighing. "Not sure if it'll do any good either, she didn't answer or ring back, and now the police have his phone so who knows".

"It's got to be worth a try" Debbie shrugged.

"That copper who showed up seemed to think the messages would definitely go against Gordon at least".

"Maybe it was a good thing then" Debbie took a sip from her mug and winced when the tea burnt her tongue.

Cain didn't answer, he knew what she was saying but seeing Aaron today he couldn't help feeling that it would have been better for him if Gordon had just kept his distance. It hurt seeing his nephew like that.

"How's his hand?" Debbie asked next.

"Paddy stitched it up" Cain told her, not that he'd watched, he didn't mind inflicting injuries but he'd never been a fan of the clean up side of things. "He's not going to be at the garage for a few days though".

"Well I wasn't expecting him to" Debbie frowned at him, obviously annoyed that he'd thought that was what she cared about. "I shouldn't have let him come in to work in the first place".

"It's not your fault he got hurt" Cain told her, not wanting her to feel bad about any of this, there was enough self blame going around already.

"Yeah" she didn't sound convinced though. "What now?"

"I guess we just wait to hear what the police say" that didn't seem right. He wasn't used to being on this side of the law.

"Do you think Gordon will stay away now?"

"He'd better. From now on though Aaron doesn't go anywhere alone. I'm not going to give that man a chance to get near him again".

"Aaron's going to love that" Debbie chuckled darkly.

"Tough" Cain told her.

"Do you think he's going to be okay?" she asked the grin from a moment ago falling.

Cain would have loved to have been able to say yes, but it was never going to be that simple, so he settled for the only answer he could give.

"I hope so".

Aaron lay in the dark of his room, his fingers running rhythmically through Clyde's fur. The German Shepherd took up way more of his bed than he would have liked but he didn't care. He felt bad for neglecting him this last week, although obviously he had good reason and he knew Clyde didn't resent him for it.

When he'd asked his mum and Paddy if the dog could sleep in his room earlier he knew they'd wanted to say no, but when he'd reluctantly admitted that the big dog made him feel safe they'd agreed without question. He had a feeling that they'd do anything he wanted for now. It would probably be a really good time to ask for those trainers he's been saving up for. He smiled a little at the thought.

Today had been yet another strange day. He remembered Liv asking him about something she'd heard at school once, an old Chinese curse that said "may you live in interesting times". He had no idea where she'd heard it but she had wanted to know what it meant, he didn't have an answer at the time but now he thought he understood. He'd give anything for boring, right now he needed boring.

Thoughts of Liv made his hand still. He really hoped she was doing okay and that she wouldn't end up hating him for what he'd done. He felt like he'd taken her dad away from her, what right did he have to do that?

Either Clyde wanted him to keep on stroking him or he picked up on his mood because the dog shuffled up the bed until he was lying right next to him. Aaron didn't push him away but instead buried his head into the thick fur on his back. At least this way he didn't have to use his sleeves to wipe away his tears and Clyde didn't seem to care that his fur was getting a little wet. He felt his eyes getting heavy and he allowed himself to drift off into sleep finally.

Chas couldn't help sticking her head into Aaron's room on her way to bed. Seeing Aaron's arm slung haphazardly over Clyde's back reminded her of when he was little and he used to sleep with his ratty old teddy bear, all be it Clyde made for one strange over sized teddy. The dog lifted his head up and looked at her when the light for the landing fell into the room. At first she thought that he was waiting for her to tell him to get down but there was something in his eyes that told her he wouldn't leave the teenager's side without a fight. She didn't care though because for the first time in a while Aaron actually looked peaceful.

She slowly closed the door and left them alone.