[Disclaimer: I do not own Home and Away or their characters, but I do own any plots or characters I have made up]


Dex and Romeo sat at the kitchen table trying to eat their lunch in peace but all they could hear were the cries from Ella's room. Indi walked in from the front door after finishing her morning shift at the Diner and Dex put his hands up in the air, praising his sister when she walked into the room, kissing Romeo on the cheek.
"Finally" he said watching Indi sit down next to Romeo, grabbing an apple. Indi took a bite, looking at him weirdly
"What?" she asked in a confused manner. Dex smacked his forehead with his hand, dumbfounded at his sister.
"What do you mean what? Ella's been crying all morning and now your home you can go make her stop."
Romeo half laughed, knowing that it wasn't that simple; after all he had witnessed the scene from the other day and knew why she was hiding away in her room. Indi rolled her eyes at her younger brother for being so inconsiderate, but he did have a point. Ella had been moping around the house for days now, not eating or sleeping which wasn't healthy for her or the baby so Indi knew it was time to knock some sense into her, so Indi put down her half eaten apple, walking off into the direction of Ella's room.
As Indi wearily opened the bedroom door, she could make out the music playing in the background – Adele's 'Someone like you'.
"This is really sad. All you need now are a couple of cats..." Indi said crossing her arms as Ella looked up with her blotchy eyes and points over at her laptop, showing cats for sale site.
"That's it, you're not turning into a crazy cat lady if I can help it..." takes her hand "We're going to get some retail therapy"

Casey walked past his older brother Brax's room, noticing hid bed hadn't been slept in, some clothes were missing from the wardrobe and his surfboard was gone. Outside in the lounge room, Heath was slumped out on the couch, feet up on the coffee table.
"Where's Brax?" he asked, sitting on the other lounge chair. Heath didn't take his eyes away from the TV screen as he shrugged. Casey was beginning to worry about his older brothers since their fight the other day. Once they had cooled off and headed back home after their altercation, Heath didn't speak one word to Brax about what had happened. The days after that had left the house in complete silence with only Casey trying to smooth things over with them, but being as stubborn as Heath is, he wouldn't listen and Brax told Casey to lay off. Casey could see Heath wasn't in the mood so he decided to make himself some lunch so he walked into the kitchen, and on the fridge was a note from Brax.
"Case, I've gone up the coast for a few days to clear my head and give Heath some space.
Brax"


Ella and Indi threw down their bags of shopping in their rooms and Dex walked in "Bought the whole store?" he asked sarcastically. Ella groaned, ignoring Dex's comment
"Indi, what have I done? I know I've cheated on boys before but Heaths different, this whole scenario is different. I used to be a girl who wouldn't care if she hurt any guys feelings, I'd do what I want when I wanted. I didn't care who would get hurt. I love him and I've gone and screwed it all up"
Dex and Indi stood quietly together as Ella looked at them for answers but they had none. Dex then told them that Sid wanted to talk to them in the lounge room so off they went.

"Whats up Dad..." Indi started to say when they approached the room but when they saw two figures, standing there they both recognised the second immediately.
"Dad?" Ella said as if she could not believe her eyes. Ella's dad was in his late 40s, with dark brown hair which was starting to bald a little bit. He was around the same height as Sid and the same build, and the only feature he and Ella shared were there green eyes.
"Hello Elizabeth" her Dad replied then looked down at her stomach with disgust "What have you gotten yourself into?" he said and met her eyes. Ella was speechless; she had no idea how to respond to her Dad. It was such a shock he was there – the last time they had spoke was before she had taken off on her soul searching trip. Ella was brought back down to earth when she saw Sid and her father exchange handshakes
"Thanks for calling me Sid" He said letting go of his hand "No problem Greg" Sid answered as Greg began walking over to Ella. Indi looked from Greg to Sid, still surprised to see her best friend's father out on the farm.
"You called him?" Indi asked Sid and actually Ella had just been thinking the same question. "Why would you do that?" suddenly Ella was outraged that Sid had the nerve to call her Dad after all that's happened, they had proven they did not want anything to do with her life. Ella stormed out of there with Indi following who was just as angry at Sid, he had no right to call Greg.

Down at the Diner, Indi went and bought herself and Ella a milkshake, trying to dodge Colleen's nosy questions about Ella's mood. Once Indi had joined Ella at a table, she just stared off into space.
"Whats going on in that head of yours?" Indi asked taking a sip of her drink. Ella was about to tell her when Irene came over, commenting on her baby bump
"Wow chickydee, the babies sure coming along. How far along are you now?"
Indi thought Ella was about to lose her cool but instead, Ella surprised her and kept it together
"I'm around 20 weeks now" She answered, smiling at the other redhead. Once Irene had left them alone, Indi asked the same question. Ella sighed, not know what she was thinking when her dad walked through the Diner, looking for her.

"Indigo" he said approaching them "I'd like some time alone with Elizabeth" Indi could tell by the tone Greg used, she knew not to argue so let them be.
Ella watched as her Dad looked around the Diner, judging it the same way as her Mother had those months ago when she had came to Summer Bay.
"What are you doing here Dad?" Ella finally asked, wanting to get straight to the point. Greg hesitated for a minute, and then started to talk
"I'm here to take you home. When your Mum came to get you, it didn't work out but this time I am taking you home whether you like it or not. Just look what you've done with your life! Your pregnant, you're not married and you have no financial help."
Ella refused to listen to her father's ramblings, so got up and headed for the door but he pulled her back, holding her wrist.
"Your Mother and I have it all worked out. You remember Alex? His father has just given him his own practice, and his family already has money. You'll be set"
Ella turned to her father, utterly shocked at what he was proposing
"Are you talking about an arranged marriage?"
Greg nodded and continued "Alex and you always got along well and he's always fancied you. We've discussed the issue of the pregnancy and..."
Before he could keep going, Ella's attention was at the Diners door when Heath walked in. He saw her straight away and they locked eyes for a split second before Greg brought her attention back to him.
"Are you listening to me Elizabeth?"
Ella went to walk to Heath but he walked back out, shaking his head at her. She ignored her Dad and ran out after him, well tried to run...
"Heath please!" she begged him to stop, reluctantly he did so, once he heard her sobbing start up.

Outside the Diner, Ella held onto her stomach "I'm so sorry for all that I've done.." Greg caught up to his hysterical daughter
"Elizabeth, what on earth are you doing? Running out like that and making a scene." Greg took one look at Heath and scoffed, realizing who the young man was.
"And you must be the young man who got my daughter pregnant?" Heath noticed the same tone Greg used was the same that Ella's mum had used when she first met him. Ella looked from both men, hoping Heath wouldn't take a swing at her Dad but actually Heath just stood there, motionless.
"Look here , I know your type and let me tell you something - your all the same good for nothing, barbarians who live off centrelink, not holding a job for any of day your life you pass the time by drinking. You lazy selfish broods that don't have a care in the world! Well let me tell you something, you will never be seeing my daughter ever again." Greg finished but Heath just stared down at Ella who didn't know what to say. "
You're leavin?" Heath finally managed to say. Ella could see the pain in Heaths eyes still, there was no forgiveness there. Her only option now was to go back home, she no longer had the one she loved.
Greg answered for his daughter "Yes, we're going back to the City. Say goodbye to my daughter, you've messed up her life now we've got to clean it up. Elizabeth has a real man waiting for her when we get home and they will be getting married" he said taking his daughters arm and tugging her away but added an obnoxious grin
"We'll send you an invite".


Later on that evening, Casey noticed on the arm chair was Heaths' phone which had 20 missed calls from Ella and even more messages. Casey asked Heath when he was going to call her back
"Case, its not that simple' Heath angrily replied finally turning his face away from the TV and looking at his brother. Casey thought for a moment as Heath turned his attention back to whatever he was watching and then spoke again.
"I know your hurting Heath and I know you won' admit it." Casey saw Heaths jaw tense up but continued anyway, he needed to hear this.
"Look Heath, none of us are saint's. We've all made mistakes and wish we could take them back, but that's apart of life. We need to move on from the past and that's how we go on with our lives. You know how much Ella is hurting over this and just remember its your baby. You need to hurry and forgive Ella before you lose her forever.
Heath smiled crookedly at Casey "Since when did ya get and wise and stuff Case?" he said sarcastically, pulling him into a head lock and jokingly rubbed his head. Heath then got up from the lounge, picking up his car keys as Casey watched on curiously and asked what he was doing.
"I've gotta get a move on if I wanna beat traffic goin' into the City" he replied, with his usual cocky grin and then walked out the front door.

Greg opened the front door to their waterfront home, which also had the view of the City nightlife. Nothing had changed since the last time Ella had been here – well accept that the floorboards had been replaced and the kitchen had some renovations – all the simple things which rich people liked to spend their money on when they had nothing else to buy. Greg put all her suitcases by the door, calling out for her Mother and Ella took this moment, taking her handbag up the staircase towards her old room.
When she opened her bedroom door, millions of memories flashed before her eyes but the one that she kept seeing was not a happy memory, probably the worst one she ever had.
Ella sat down in the corner of her room, next to her bed and closed her eyes thinking back on the last time she'd sat in that exact spot.

Tears running down her face, her heart was racing as she curled up in a ball looking at the bruises coming up already on her body and noticed her school top had been ripped. Ella picked up her pillow, bringing it to her face as she screamed into it, listening to the laughter and friendly chatter coming from downstairs – they had no idea what had just happened to her, that her teacher just raped her and they didn't care, they didn't even notice she had arrived home.

Ella opened her eyes when her mobile phone went off, not believing how vivid that memory still was; it felt like it was yesterday.
Indi had called to make sure she'd gotten to the City safely and began talking about what Ella was going to do
"So whats the deal with Alex? Does he want the baby?" Ella had no idea what was happening and still couldn't believe she had left Summer Bay and was back in the City, what hell was she thinking?
Ella's mum called her downstairs so off she went, but standing at the door was Alex and his parents. Alex looked different to the last time she'd seen him, he was still tall but his lankiness was gone and he was a bit more filled out – nothing in comparission to Heath. His blonde hair was the same, still scraggy and his nerdy yet cute glasses were gone, probably got with the times and discovered contacts which was good because now you could see his bright blue eyes. As Ella and Alex awkwardly talked as their parents started to discuss the future, at the back of Ella's mind the only eyes she wanted to see were brown, the only lips she wanted to kiss were heightened by dimples and the only man she wanted to be with was in Summer Bay.


An hour and a half later, Heath found himself in the rich suburbs of the Inner City. Man oh man was this different to what he had been brought up with in Mangrove River. Heath had pulled up in front of the address which Indi had given him, squinting and then whistled in amazement – this was impressive.
After waiting for his nerves to go away, Heath got up and knocked on the front door, tapping his foot impatiently. A few minutes later, the door opened and Ella's mum stood, wide eyed and her jaw pretty much hit the ground.
"So Elizabeth, we know about your situation about what happened with your teacher but we want you to know that, our Alex hear is willing you look after you and help you raise this baby. " Alex's father proposed as Alex sat next to him, nodding in agreement. Of all the years Ella had known Alex and his family, she knew he had a crush on her but she wouldn't give him the time of day. He was a couple of years older which surprisingly didn't appeal to her but looking at him now, at how much he had grown up and how successful he already was, Ella knew this was the type of guy she should be with, the type of guy that would treat her like a princess and they'd raise her baby together... but her train of thoughts were messed up when she heard her Mother yelling at someone to get out.
"Where is she? I ain't leavin' till I speak to her"
Ella knew straight away who it was and shot up off the lounge, into the hallway seeing Heath half smiled when she approached, her grin growing wider and wider.
"I thought you left this dirt back in the Bay?" Her Mum exclaimed, still not letting Heath through the door "He's not stepping one foot inside my house!"
By now Greg had come to see what the fuss was all about "How dare you come here?" He yelled. Heath looked at Ella, pleading for her to say something so she did.
"If Heath can't come inside, I'll go outside"

Both her parents protested but Ella didn't care, she followed Heath outside walking towards his ute "Ella..."
Heath began but she stopped him, looking back at her house then to him "Heath, there's a guy in there willing to marry me and give me everything I could possibly need..."
Heaths face tensed up but he kept his cool, gathering he had wasted his time coming to win her back and should go back home.
"But when I was in there, I was trying to play happy families but in the back of my mind as I sat and watched Alex, all I could think about was you. I know how much I've messed up, I'm not perfect but I love you and I want us to do this, to be a family..."
Heath took her hand, surprising her with the romantic gesture
"Ella, I came here to give you a huge speech, not the other way around. Look, someone told me that everyone makes mistakes and to move on with your life you have to forgive. So I do, I forgive ya Ella because I love you like I've never loved any other person if this world. And I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with ya"
Heath pulled out a ring from his pocket, placing it on Ellas finger "Will you marry me?" before Ella could respond, her parents who had obviously been watching on, came running out.
"How dare you come here you scum bag, you've reuined her life..." Ella's mum started to say but Ella cut her off. "How can you say that? That Heaths ruined my life? He's saved my life! He was there for me when I needed my family the most. I can tell him anything. He's more of a family than my actual family. And I know now that Summer Bay is my home and Heath is my future."
Greg grabbed her wrist roughly, pulling her away from him and she struggled to get out of his grip but Heath got in the way, looking at Greg sternly in the eyes
"Don't touch her like that" Heath snarled. He let go fast as Ella's mum watched on with her hand over her mouth.
"If you leave us, don't ever bother coming back. You won't have any money or..."
Greg turned to Ella who simply smiled, from her Dad to her Mum "Dad, I don't need fancy cars and huge mansions to raise this baby. All I need is Heath and that's it.
Ella's Mum through her hands up in outrage, she couldn't believe what she was hearing "But he's a redneck!" Donna exclaimed.
Heath raised an eyebrow, starting to laugh as Ella shrugged looking back at him "I don't care what you call him, I love him with all my heart and he's the father of my baby. If I can't come back then good riddance. I hope you two have a good life together. Goodbye" Heath nodded at Greg and the Mrs, walking to the drivers side while Ella hopped into the passenger.
"Elizabeth!" her father called out once more, Ella rolled her eyes and called out from the window "It's Ella".

As Heath started the engine, Alex and his parents came outside and joined Ella's parents, confused as to what had just happened.
Ella waved to Alex who waved back, still confused. Heath looked at Alex, raising his eyebrow once more
"Really? Thats the guy you were goin' to marry? Pfft"
Ella jokingly hit his shoulder as he drove off out of her street. After a few moments of silence, Ella took Heaths spare hand as he drove, sweetly smiling at him and he kissed her hand.
"You ready for this?" she asked him. Heath turned to her for a second, flashing his gorgeous cheeky grin and nodded
"Bring it on"


Next time

Ella and Heath catch up with some of her friends while Indi and the others organise a surprise for the couple when they come home.
Brax comes home and someone from Ella's past returns.


Authors Note - I'm not really happy as to how this chapter turned out, what do you guys think?
Also I was wondering if you guys would like to see a bit more of any of other characters like -
Bianca, Casey, Dex, Romeo etc :)

As per usual, review and I'll send you a snippet of the next chapter :)