Howdy everyone, (sorry us Aussie's never get to use that word!) anyway enough with my weirdness and on with the story. This would be chapter number 43, and I hope you like it. I just want to say thank you to everyone who reviewed and gave me your ideas, I have taken them on board and am planning to use them in future chapters. This is a very Bella and Cooper oriented story, so I hope you like them as much as I do because the next few chapters will be mainly focused on them with the others as more background characters and I promise that the other characters will get more 'air time' so to speak so don't give up yet! Please! I hope you are all looking forward to the spoilers I gave you, I know I am looking forward to your reaction from them! Now please remember to review or PM (whichever it's your choice, I am happy with either) and let me know what you like, don't like blah, blah, blah. Anyway on with the chapter – REVIEW! Dannielle

[DISCLAIMER/COPYRIGHT: I do not own any of the existing characters or storylines in Home and Away but any characters, storylines or ideas used in this story are strictly copyrighted and are not to be used by any other person/s without written permission of the author of this story. Thank-you.]

BELLA POV

I knew Cooper was mad, I could tell by how fast he was walking. Charlie and Brax said they would meet me at home so I could catch Cooper. I was practically running trying to catch him "COOPER WAIT!" I yelled, I decided I was not going to do this "TAKE ONE MORE STEP AND IT WILL BE THE LAST YOU EVER TAKE!" I screamed. Cooper stopped, I sighed. Finally. I looked away as I walked over to him, it was getting closer to night and the sun was setting, making it a beautiful sight. The bright orange, yellow, red and pink rays bursting over the softening blue of the sky, mixing with the fluffy white clouds and casting a rippling sparkle over the ocean. I turned to face him as I got closer "I'm sorry, I shouldn't of run off like that" he said "no you shouldn't have" I snapped "why did you?" I asked softening slightly "I dunno, my dad is trying to keep the guy who nearly killed you out of jail what do you think!" he spat raising his voice. "It's his job Cooper!" I snapped back "yeah well I wish it wasn't, you have no idea how tough it is" he said looking out at the ocean.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes "tough" I spat "Cooper you don't know the meaning of tough. You think tough is your dad doing his job! You think having it tough means not have the latest BMW! You don't know tough. Try having your father abandon your family when you were so young you don't even remember what he looks like, try growing up with your mum wasting all the money on pokies and booze and then bringing home a different guy each week, try watching your mother as she slurred her speech and threw up in the rubbish bin at your 4th grade parent teacher interview, try being attacked when you were 15 by some low life who has a thing for knives, try being me Cooper. Try living my life for just one day and then see how tough your life really is! At least you have a dad, at least he cares for you enough to have a job so that you can get a good education, a job, fancy things! You have no idea what tough is Cooper so don't stand there and tell me that you have it tough when your life is FAR from tough." I spat angrily as I spun on my heels and stormed off towards the house.

Two days later and I have received many texts, email, Instant Messages, Facebook messages and phone calls from Cooper. I was so mad at him for thinking he had a tough life but I knew everyone was getting sick of the constant messages. I had the house to myself, Charlie and Brax had taken Mckenzie, Ruby and Casey to the city to see Morag. I had decided to have a relaxing pamper day, I had unplugged the phone and had visited the video store and picked up some chick flicks along with popcorn, chocolate and my favourite juice and softdrink before coming home and changing into a pair of grey close fitting yoga pants and a blue 'Los Angeles 48' V neck t-shirt that I had gotten on my trip there. I had everything set up and I had just begun my movie when the doorbell rang.

"Urgh" I moaned as I placed the large bowl of buttery popcorn on the couch and heading to the door. I swung it open impatiently to see Cooper stand behind it "what do you want Cooper?" I asked tiredly "I wanna talk" he replied looking me up and down "well I'm busy – what are you looking at?" I snapped "sorry it's just… you know you're hot" he said looking away. I looked at the ground "do you want to come in?" I asked softer, Cooper just nodded as I widened the door to allow him in. Even though there was plenty of room for him to walk through the door he deliberately brushed past me, looking into my eyes, he slowly leaned down towards me stopping slightly to check if it was okay, I flicked my eyes back to his letting him know it was alright as he leaned closer towards me kissing me softly. The kiss deepened fast, he moved us slightly, shutting the door and pressing my back up against the cold wood. I linked my arms around his neck, trying to get closer to him, his hands found my waist as he lifted me into the air, I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer towards me as he continued to kiss me passionately. I felt his thumbs slide under my t-shirt slightly, touching the skin where my scar was. I flinched slightly, he must have realised as he moved his hand slightly as we continued kissing.

I heard my phone ringing on the table "mm lea-ve it" Cooper murmured against my lips "mm no, I mm, I can't it might be Brax" I said as I pulled away reluctantly unwrapping my legs from around him and moving over to the table. I took a deep breath to slow my breathing "hello" I said into the phone "ah hi Bella. It's Richard Harding, Cooper's father" Richard said into the receiver "oh hi" I replied confused as to why my boyfriend's father was calling me "I was wondering if Cooper was with you?" he asked. I could hear the tiredness and frustration in his voice "ah yeah" I replied not wanting Cooper to know who I was talking to "would you be able to get him to talk to me, I wouldn't normally ask it's just. I am desperate." He replied, the desperation evident, I sighed lightly "hang on" I said before moving the phone away from my ear and covering my hand over the speaker "Cooper it's your dad" I said softly "god he is unbelievable!" he cried "he wants to talk to you" I continued "well tell him no" he replied "no" I stated "what?" Cooper asked confused "you're going to talk to your father and if you don't then I am pretty sure you know where the door is" I stated calmly. He looked at me for a minute before stretching his hand out towards me, I handed him the phone and left the room to give him some privacy.

I was lying on the lounge chair on the deck just outside the kitchen reading my magazine when I heard the glass door slide open. I looked over to see Cooper walk towards me "thanks" he said as he took a seat on the chair opposite me, I studied him though my black designer sunglasses "did you make up?" I asked cutely. He laughed "we're good now" he answered "although he did interrupt our make-up" he continued raising his eyebrows. I laughed, lifting the sunnies on to the top of my head, brushing the hair from the side of my face "yeah and a good thing to, was getting a little out of hand" I replied smiling at him as he moved to the side of my chair "mm, but me can still have fun right?" he asked as he leant down to my face "mm, I guess so" I murmured as we resumed out kiss. After a while I pulled back, pecking his lips quickly "want to go for a swim?" I asked looking into his bright blue eyes "sounds fun" he replied as he kissed me once more and taking my hand and pulling me onto the deck. He towered above me when I was flat footed but I liked it, I looked up and him in the sunlight "I just going to get changed" I said as I went to walk inside, Cooper wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back making me squeal with laughter "if I don't get to change neither to you" he whispered "haha no way! I am not swimming in my underwear, they are way too expensive!" I cried pulling away "and besides your wearing board shorts" I said as I walked inside to change.

I quickly changed into my white bandeau bikini and grabbed two towels and applied sun screen before heading out to the pool. I stepped out into the warm sunshine to find Cooper standing facing the beach his back to me, he had taken his shirt off and I could see his tan toned body, well the back of it. I put the towels on the chairs and walked up behind him sliding my hands around his waist, he turned to face me as he lent down and kissed me softly "is there anything you don't look hot in?" he asked looking down at me "a paper bag?" I replied sarcastically as I grabbed his hand and lead him towards the pool "I'm sure you would make that look good" he said from behind me. He dropped my hand and scooped me into his arms, I squealed in delight as he dropped my legs and turning me so I was at eye level, I wrapped my legs around him as I kissed him passionately and he walked us into the cool water. He missed a step and sent us flying into the water, I swam to the top laughing my head off as he pulled me back into my arms "did I distract you?" I laughed as I brushed my hair out of my eyes "mm a little bit. You have a habit of doing that" he said as we played around in the pool.

An hour later and I was sitting on the edge of the pool, my legs in the water hooked under Cooper's arms keeping him close to me. He was holding my hand and playing with my fingers when suddenly he dropped them. I looked at him carefully as he stared at my stomach, it wasn't long before I clicked to what he was looking at. My stomach flipped as I watched him stare at the infinity scar on the right side just above my hip. He moved his hand slowly up my leg to my stomach before looking up at me, I smiled lightly reassuring him as his fingers reached the scar, he traced it a few times before looking at me sadly "I'm so sorry" he said "huh?" I asked confused "about being a spoiled brat, you were right. I don't know tough, I just wish you never had to go through that. I wasn't there to protect you and I hate that" he replied looking back at my stomach. I gently lifted his face towards mine, looking in his eyes "you couldn't have protected me, no-one could have. He wanted to hurt me and he was always going to" I said calmly "how can you be so calm about it you were so close to dying" he said as I noticed tears forming in his eyes "I know, but I am here now and that is all that matters. I am not going to let him get to me like he did the first time" I said as I lent down and kissed him "you're amazing you know that" he said when I pulled away "yeah, I've been told once or twice" I replied cheekily before kissing him again, passionately.

I know that there was not a lot to that chapter but I wanted it to be a more Bella and Cooper oriented one, them spending the day together doing normal coupley things. Learning things about each other because as you know there are tough times ahead for them and I wanted to show them happy and fun loving teenagers who are really into each other without the seriousness. Just a fun, flirty, cute chapter and I hope that is what you guys thought of it. Tell me in your reviews what you got from this chapter. Did you find it fun, flirty and sexy or do want DRAMA! Personally I want to have a slight rest from all the sadness of the last few chapters and just show some fun, flirty, happy sides of each of the couples before getting into the more dramatic stuff which is soon to come. Though it won't be all mush ball and gooey, I'm not really a mushy person and neither is Bella and there will be light drama but nothing MAJOR just yet. Hope that's cool, let me know in your reviews, so that means you have to review! Okay, Review! Dannielle xoxo