Hi everyone, so this is a very family oriented chapter, you are probably wondering why there has been nothing about Bella testifying and that will arise in the next two to three chapters. Charlie and Brax or even Cooper for that matter didn't believe she was serious. Anyway it will happen soon, I promise! Hope you like this one!

[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.]

BIANCA POV

Tonight we were having a family dinner at Angelo's and as per usual we were waiting for the girls to finish getting ready. I was the only one ready and that was because I had arrived clothed. Heath, Casey and Brax sat at the table impatiently waiting. It was another 10 minutes before Charlie appeared with Mckenzie on her hip. She was wearing a jade green flowy sundress and a pair of black high heels, her hair was out and wavy as Mckenzie twirled it around her fingers. Mckenzie was wearing a cute pair of white leggings and a black and pink dress over the top and a black strechy headband with a large pink flower to the side. I smiled as I watched the girls head over to Brax. Ruby headed down wearing a red maxi dress with her hair out and curly, pushed back from her face with a braided headband. She wore and pair of blue heels to match her blue chunky bangles. Bella was last as usual but of course she looked stunning, no matter how had we tried she always showed us up. Not on purpose of course, in fact she seems completely unaware that she looked amazing all the time. She was wearing a pair of black super skinny jeans and one of the most gorgeous top I have ever seen. It was a cream coloured singlet top with a black back with flowy black fabric around the entire thing, the top of the tanks was embellished with gorgeous rhinestones forming a scollaped shape across the shoulders and the chest . Similar detailing ran along the hem of the top. Her hair was slightly wavy and she wore black shiny pump heels to match.

BRAX POV

Tonight was karaoke night at the restaurant, we had ordered out food and were listening to the people sing when Darcy stared asking Bella if she would sing. I watched as Bella tried to talk herself out of it but knowing it was no use she agreed, much to the shock of everyone at the table. Bella had not sung since she had been attacked, Darcy ran off to pick the song as Bella followed behind. Bella took to the stage, looking somewhat nervous as the guy I had hired introduced her and announced her song. She was singing 'Been Here All Along' by Hannah Montana, Bella looked confused before the guy assured her the words were on the small screen at the bottom of the microphone. The music played and Bella began to sing, silence filled the restaurant as everyone watched on amazed. I saw Cooper's family enter the restaurant, Cooper did a double take as he saw his girlfriend singing and had to be led to their table by his mother. I smiled, Bella really knew how to keep herself a mystery.

COOPER POV

I knew I was staring but I couldn't help it, I hadn't known she would be here tonight but I was not surprised she was considering her brother owned the place. What I was surprised about was her singing. My mother must have caught me staring as she leaned over to me and whispered "she's a classically trained singer dear" I looked at my mum for a moment thinking she was kidding, she shook her head slightly as I resumed watching my girlfriend who hadn't yet noticed me. I couldn't believe how amazing she was, I was stunned that I never knew about her singing ability. She finished her song and the restaurant erupted into loud cheers causing Natyaliah to cover her ears before she climbed down from her seat and ran over to Bella and jumping into her arms. She caught her and kissed her nose as they chatted for a few minutes, Bella looked over and caught my eye, she smiled warmly, that beautiful, sexy smile of hers but I couldn't move. She made her way over to us carrying Natyaliah "I believe she is yours" she said smiling as dad took her from Bella's arms "that was wonderful my dear, I though you stopped singing two years back" my mum asked when suddenly it all clicked. Bella stopped singing after she was attacked, I looked up at her and saw she was uneasy, I took her hand and squeezed it gently as she smiled at my mum "yeah but this is just a bit of fun" she replied "I better get back to my family, I will see you all later" she said kissing my cheek and heading back to her table.

BELLA POV

I could not believe I had just sung in public again, it felt great but I was surprised that Cooper's mother had recognised me. I could tell Cooper was uneasy about what he had just seen and I knew he would want to know why I hadn't told him. My phone buzzed in my jeans pocket, I pulled it out to find one new message from Cooper. I opened it and read the message 'you were amazing. C xx' I smiled as I looked over to him, he caught my eye and winked causing me to laugh before I replied to him 'cheeky. B xxx' as I returned to my family dinner.

It was heading on towards 1am and I was the only one awake, I yawned as I turned the T.V off and put my mug in the sink, I headed for the stairs when I heard a light knocking on the front door. Confused I headed over and flicked the outside light on and opened the door slightly, Cooper was standing on the other side smiling at me "what are you doing here?" I whispered "I missed you" he replied, I laughed "I saw you a few hours ago" I answered back "I know but we didn't get to talk" he replied mock sad "oh so the texts we've been sending all night don't count?" I said sarcastically "no they don't, are you gonna let me in its freezing out here!" he cried as I pushed the door open slightly allowing him to come in along with the cold breeze. I had just shut the door when Cooper spun me around and pressed me against it, bringing his lips down hard on mine as he kissed me intensely. I pulled back "so you did miss me" I said cheekily as he answered me by kissing me again. He steered us over to the couch before he pulled me down beside him, not once breaking the intense kiss.

It wasn't long before I was straddling Cooper's waist as our kiss continued to intensify, I knew that if I didn't stop now I wouldn't be able to resist temptation. I pulled back, looking into his eyes "you're crazy you know that" I whispered "yeah, I've been told that a few times" he replied as he played with my hand "I didn't know you could sing?" he questioned looking down at our entwined hands "you never asked" I replied cheekily leaning back slightly as his hands moved down to the lowest part of my back to support me "you are really good" he said meeting my eyes again "thanks" I replied looking away "why did you stop?" he asked "after I was attacked I just couldn't sing anymore, it was like I had no voice left" I replied returning my gaze to his "well you certainly found it tonight" he said as he kissed me again, "I better go" he mumbled against my lips, he went to move away but I pulled his face back to mine as I deepened the kiss "I don't want you too" I replied "stay" I whispered "I don't want you to leave me" I finished quietly. Cooper responded by tightening his grip around my and lifting us off the couch, I wrapped my legs around him as we continued to kiss as he carried me to my bedroom.

Now just to clarify, Bella and Cooper didn't do anything when they went to her room, I don't want Bella to just give it up that easily. I want to show how she has trouble trusting a guy and taking it that next step further. I hope you all liked this chapter, it was a little shorter but at least it's a chapter right! I hope you like the fact that Bella isn't going to give in that easily and sleep with Cooper, I want her to be someone who has done that before and got hurt which is why she is so hesitant. Don't worry though I am not going to make Cooper one of those guys who is going to pressure her, I just want to show Bella's struggle in whether she can trust Cooper enough to go ahead and sleep with him. I don't know whether I will write their first time together in detail that is all up to you, if you want that then I will give it a go. Now remember to review and tell me what you think! Dannielle xoxo