A/N Thank you so much for reading guys and thanks for the lovely reviews. i hope you enjoy this instalment.

Jennifer woke up feeling really tired. She could have done with at least three hours more sleep. She was called upon to do evening work the day before and spent the long evening with a small group of workers picking up trash on the beach. It turns out Sonas children don't know how to dispose of their candy wrappers properly. But despite being really tired Jennifer had a renewed sense of purpose. After work she would find Jonathan and they would start in on an escape plan, or at least work out how they would see eachother more often.

She pulled her jacket on and tucked her hair up under her green cap. Then she slung her leather bag over her shoulder and was out the door before Annabelle. The young Asian woman was pleased she didn't have to chivvy her around too much today.

Jennifer had a good think about everything last night as she was picking up trash. She decided that if everyone was so God Damn happy here then the punishments must be few and far between and probably not all that severe. If she could pretend to be happy too she could take the eye off herself long enough to meet with Jonathan and plan their escape.

She ignored Melanie as she crossed the classroom and headed out the door.

"Jennifer, you are due to start work in literally twenty minutes, don't wander off."

Jennifer banged the door shut on her way out.

Annabelle came out of the back room tucking her hair up into her cap. "Where did she go?" she asked looking all around her.

"I don't know, she headed off out the front door," Melanie answered sounding a little as if she couldn't care less.

"Why didn't you stop her, we start work soon."

"We're not her babysitter Annabelle. Leave her. She knows where the orchard is."

"Come in for coffee Mel, I have the kettle on."

As they walked towards the kitchen Annabelle switched on lights.

"She's ok you know, she just misses her husband."

"I know, it's just been a while since we had anyone new, they get so homesick. Yeah like we don't ever miss our home."

"You wouldn't leave here would you Mel?" Annabelle asked feeling suddenly anxious.

"Don't be an idiot, how am I ever going to leave. Scott was practically raised here. As crappy as the Sonas family are they have us rightly stuck on their little paradise island."

Annabelle poured two cups of coffee and gave one to her friend.

"Do you ever think seriously of leaving?" she asked.

Melanie took a sip of her coffee and had a think about that.

"Not for a long time," she answered at last. "It took Robert too long to recover the last time we tried to escape. They don't hold back."

she shook her head as if shaking off the painful memory.

"Is that the only reason?" Annabelle asked.

Melanie shrugged. "What about you?"

"I like it here, It's my home now." Annabelle said softly.

Melanie nodded and looked out at the darkness through the window.

"You just get used to it," she said at last. "It seems crazy but you do. You just get used to it."

H&H

Jennifer took off down the hill towards the beach. There were street lights dotted around the small built up area near the shops and restaurants. They were left on all night. She found the cobbled stone path and headed towards the beach. She knew that Annabelle and Melanie would be drinking hot coffee in the kitchen but she just wanted to be alone. Their rediculous cheerfulness in such strange circumstances was starting to grate on her. She passed Gill Sonas's house, it was all in darkness. Of course Gill Sonas and family would not arise from their beds until the sun was well up in the sky.

She passed the house she and Jonathan had stayed in. That too was in complete darkness. She opened the little gate and went in. The door was locked. She crossed the lawn and went to the patch of beach around back of the house. She eased her aching back into one of the lounge chairs. Her face darkened as she thought about the fun herself and Jonathan were having at this house. Little did they realise the danger they were in but as Jennifer thought about it she realised that somewhere in her brain alarm bells were ringing. The scared looking workers, the eerie feeling at the restaurant and other places. This place was off from the beginning. She looked out at the inky black sea and wished she could jump in and just swim all the way home. She would find Max and together they would send out a fleet of ships to rescue Jonathan.

"Foolish thoughts," Jennifer shook her head and pulled her jacket closer around herself to fend off the cold sea breeze.

She reluctantly got up from the chair and headed back out the way she came. They were just sorting people into teams when she walked up to join the others. She then followed Annabelle and Melanie as they headed down into the orchard.

A brasing wind blew through their thin clothes as they walked a well worn path through the trees. The orchard was miles long in every direction. Each tree was laidened down with full ripe apples. The ones that had fallen were scattered on the dry dusty path. Melanie and Annabelle immediately bent low to pick them up and deposit the best ones into their bags. Jennifer thought it best to join in on this back breaking exercise. Soon they were immersed in picking as many as they could. Annabelle sang out a cheerful song while she worked.

"How can you sing at a time like this?" Jennifer called over as she reached out for a large apple and dropped it in to her bag with the rest.

"I always sing when I'm tired. Singing makes you feel better Jennifer. You should sing when you are tired."

"Sing...or go to a health spa for a week," Jennifer muttered to herself, as she slowly reached out to grab another apple.

Finally the two hours were up and it was time to have breakfast. Cold boiled egg and buttered bread again but Jennifer didn't mind too much today.

"I might go for a walk after breakfast," she told Annabelle. "Some alone time."

"What do you mean?" Annabelle asked.

"You know a walk on the beach, a stretch of the legs," Jennifer smiled over at her.

Melanie looked across the table at her as if she was crazy to even imagine such a thing.

"We have work, you can't just swan off."

Jennifer frowned, "But the school is closed today, what other work?"

Annabelle smiled patiently. "Jennifer, this a large Island. There is always work to do here. But don't worry too much. There is no evening roster so we will be free at six.

Jennifer frowned at her own naivety, they were unpaid workers, slaves, of course the Sonas family would expect them to work on weekends. How did she ever expect it to be different. Jennifer was in a less than happy mood as they headed back to their room to change clothes. She put on the oversized gingham dress and her white shoes. An hour later she was trying to organise breakfast at the house of Maria Sonas. The lady in question was in bed feeling slightly annoyed that the new worker hadn't served her a breakfast of orange juice and scrambled eggs yet.

Meanwhile Jennifer was down stairs trying to restore some order at the breakfast table. Maria's four children were fighting and throwing food at each other.

"Silvia, give me that,"

Jennifer took a knife from the smallest child as she was about to fling it at her brother.

A second later she was roaring crying as said brother had thrown a Sindy doll at her and got her in the face.

"Jack, leave the table please," Jennifer ordered, pointing to the living room.

"NO,"

"Jack, I'm not telling you again, leave this table."

"You're only the help, I want my serial." He took a spoon and began eating his flakes splashing milk out on to the table.

Maria Sonas sat up,

"Oh here you are at last, I usually have my breakfast at 9.30 please. Can you fix my pillows behind me."

Jennifer set the tray down and went behind the satin clad woman to fix her pillows. She had to refrain from saying anything. She could not risk getting herself or Jonathan punished. She kept telling herself that somehow they would get away from this place and then all of these people would pay for their crimes.

"Jennifer, I know that you are new here so I won't take it further but in future I would prefer that there wasn't so much noise at the breakfast table. My children need firm guidance. They get frustrated if they are not given clear direction."

"Yes Mrs Sonas," Jennifer said quietly as she set the tray down on the bed in front of her. She had to try very hard not to pour the milk jug over her.

"I'm going to need some time alone to work on my novel after breakfast when you have filled the dishwasher I would appreciate it if you could take the children to the fair ground."

"Yes Mrs Sonas,"

"Try and keep them out as long as you can, I get nothing done when they are here. You can stop in and take Gill's kids aswell. I'm sure she could do with the break too. You're so lucky you don't have children Jennifer. They can really impact on your free time."

Jennifer soon found herself herding seven unruly children to the fair ground. Two of them were teenagers and they laughed to each other little regarding Jennifer or the smaller children around them. The five other children were over excited and talking at the tops of their voices. Jennifer was relieved when Annabelle suddenly came up beside her with two other children. She spoke with authority to all the children somehow returning some order to the unruly bunch. Once they came through the gates of the fair ground the kids just seemed to scatter in different directions. Jennifer started calling out and tryed to follow the little ones for she had a natural instinct for nurturing children, Annabelle took her by the arm and led her to a bench. They both sat down.

"Don't worry they come here every saturday. They know which rides they are not allowed on. All rides are free to them so they just go and play."

"Shoudn't we be supervising them or something though." Jennifer asked as her eyes darted around searching them out.

"We can see them on the rides, here have some chocolate."

Jennifer took the piece offered and sat back on her seat. She was suddenly feeling very tired.

Annabelle was talking around a mouth full of candy.

"You got nothing this week because you only started work three days ago but you will get six dollars next friday so you can buy candy in the store or you can save it up for a hat or somethng."

Jennifer gave her a small smile. "Thanks for this," she said.

Annabelle suddenly sat forward and she was staring at something, Jennifer followed her gaze.

"He is too small for the waltzers," she said as she began to get up.

Jennifer patted her leg. "Stay there, I got it."

Jennifer walked over calling out to him.

"Jack, you're not supposed to go on that ride. Your mother will not be pleased. Jack, you come here this..."

The words froze on Jennifers lips. She looked up at the waltzers ride and saw Jonathan standing on the platform. He was dressed in blue shirt and faded jeans and he was turning the individual cars as they were flying around. He looked exhaused, but his face brightened imediately as he caught sight of her.

"I love you," she mouthed to him.

He spoke back through a smile and she knew he was telling her he loved her too. It went straight to her heart and renewed her spirit.

"Come on Jack, that's enough," She said as she firmly took hold of the little boys hand and took him away from the dangerous ride. She sat with Annabelle for a while, Jack was perched on her lap eating a large fuzz of cotten candy. He kept pulling off bits and putting them into her face which she gladly ate. It was a warm day and almost pleasent to sit there chatting to Annabelle.

"Did Gill Sonas really build up this place?" Jennifer asked.

Annabelle shook her head. "Not really, she worked at a dollar tree store and then one day she bought a ticket for the Euro Millions. She won 200 million. That's when she bought this Island. She moved her whole family here. And then she needed a workforce for all the apples naturally growing here."

"So she conned us all into coming here," Jennifer said.

"The lucky five golden ticket holders," Annabelle said with a sad smile.

"I see your Jonathan is here," Annabelle said casually.

Jennifer turned to look at her.

"Don't go to him Jennifer, not here in daylight. You'll see him later," Annabelle spoke quietly.

"Later?"

"Shh," Annabelle smiled as the two teenage Sonas children came up to them.

"We are too hot, here mind our jackets will you," They handed them off to Jennifer.

"Be careful not to lose that, it's real leather," Shellie Sonas said without looking at either of them. They then headed off towards the ghost train.

"I'll see him later?" Jennifer asked again.

"Don't talk now Jennifer, later," Annabelle smiled down at little Jack in her lap as she spoke.

After a while they got up and walked through the fair ground counting the children and noting where they were. Jennifer had a good look at the Waltzers ride. It was spinning around at speed and Jonathan was on the platform turning a car occupied by three teenaged boys. Such a job, she hoped he wouldn't be sick. He had lost weight already.

Finally they were rounding the children up and bringing them out the gate. The teens could stay on and so they only had five children to bring back to their various houses.

"Jennifer, go in to the house, make the children a quick supper and bring them to the TV room," Annabelle told her.

"Don't engage in any conversation with Maria Sonas if you can help it. She will have you run ragged all evening. Try and be out of there by Six."

The children were getting used to Jennifer's ways. They all sat at their places though there were a few cranky whines here and there. She quickly rustled up a salad with macaroni cheese and cocktail sausages. The children actually enjoyed it though cooking wasn't usually Jennifer's strong suit. She quickly wiped their faces and taking hold of their hands she brought them into the TV room and put on a film for them. They were happily perched on large bean bags watching a Disney film as Jennifer was putting the dishes into the dishwasher and cleaning the table.

"Oh Jennifer, I'm so glad to see you. I've had such a day of it. I got nothing done on my novel. I took on this terrible headache and the thoughts of having to tend to the children this evening..."

Maria Sonas looked up as she noticed someone standing in the doorway.

"Oh I'm sorry, is Jennifer needed." she asked.

Melanie nodded. "Yes I am sorry ma'am, she is wanted in another Sonas household."

"Go along Jennifer. I am destined to do without you tonight, I'll just have to muddle through myself."

Once they were outside Melanie handed Jennifer a newspaper.

"Take this to house number 8. It's grandpa Sonas, he won't keep you. Just hand him the paper and tell him it came early. Then meet us back at the school house."

"Thanks Melanie," Jennifer said.

Melanie gave her a small smile. "Go on now, we'll have coffee ready for you."

Sure enough Jennifer was back at the school house within ten minutes. Annabelle handed her a cup of coffee. Jennifer had hoped there would be a small candy bar or something, she had so little to eat today but alas there was just the coffee.

"After your coffee, you'll need to put on your green uniform Jennifer. We have a load of work to do this evening."

"I thought you get off at six on Saturdays," Jennifer frowned.

"Sometimes you have to work, it just depends." Annabelle shrugged.

Jennifer was beyond protest. She felt so tired but all the same she put on the green uniform and followed the others as they left the school house and headed into the steep hills.

"What kind of work do we have to do," she asked as they walked.

"We have to cut away the long grass and pull up all the weeds and all that. Don't worry we usually get finished by around ten or eleven." Annabelle told her. Jennifer nodded without comment. Somehow she would just have to push through.

Jennifer looked up as she thought she could hear low playing music. She stopped as they came to large iron gates within the overgrown weeds and grass. Both girls laughed as they went on through the gates and pulled Jennifer with them. Jennifer had to smile as she looked all around her and saw several workers in green and brown uniforms sitting on tree stumps and on blankets. One man had an old radio he was playing very low.

Annabelle smiled. "Go on Jennifer, there's Jonathan. You go sit with him."

Jonathan quickly got up and came over. Those around whistled and gave a little cheer as the couple kissed.

"Jonathan, the bracelets," Jennifer looked up with wide eyes.

"The guard doesn't bother to watch the screens on Saturday night. Apparently he gets too involved in a game on TV." Jonathan smiled. He took hold of her and kissed her again.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I am now," she smiled up at him.

He had lost weight. His hair was a little more scruffy than usual and he was sun burnt. She would have loved to put some lotion on his face. It looked sore.

Robert came up beside them.

"Sorry to interupt Jennifer, but I'm guessing you're probably hungry."

She smiled as he handed her a large hot dog. They were grilling them over on a make shift barbeque and they even had sauce and mustard.

"Thanks Robert but won't we be punished for being out here. I mean isn't it dangerous?"

He shook his head with a smile. "The Sonas family all get drunk on a Saturday night. Sometimes we can't chance it but usually they are off their faces by now."

Jennifer took a big bite of her hot dog. It tasted delicious.

"You guys go sit over there, I'll bring you over some drinks."

Jonathan put an arm around Jennifer and brought her over to a rug he had placed against a large tree. They sat together. Jennifer finished the last of her hot dog and sat with her head resting against Jonathans shoulder. She about nearly cried with the happiness of being so close to him.

An old 60s love song was playing on the radio and everyone sang along with it. Jennifer always told herself that as soon as she met up with Jonathan they would plan out some sort of escape but as tired as they both were they just wanted to sit in eachothers company tonight and listen to the music together. Their time together had become so precious. Robert handed them both a glass of home made punch he had put together from disgarded fruit at the restaurant. There was a tiny bit of rum in there to give it a little kick. They all sat in a large circle, this hidden area of forest lit only by one or two tired old work lamps and they sang together to the songs on the old radio. Once Robert had seen to everyone and given them drinks he took his place beside Melanie. Annabelle was beside Rusty and they were both singing in harmony to a Drifters song now playing. As comfortable as Jennifer felt she soon drifted off to sleep in Jonathans arms.