Rhys staggered backwards, breathing heavily. He had wanted to do that for so long. So why did he feel no better? It didn't wipe out Danis' pain. All he had done was drive Kirsty away. He could see that just by looking at her. She was motionless, stunned, devastated. It was beyond his understanding why, but his actions clearly hadn't helped.

"We're going home"

Kirsty gazed at her father, shocked, helpless. They couldn't just leave Kane. He was in agony. And she was hurting for him. Feeling his pain. Rhys gripped her arm and eased her away.

"Dad, let go"

Kane lifted his head at her voice. He wanted to stand up, to protect her, but his whole body was aching. His hand grabbed out for the wooden rail nearby. Clutching it, he eased himself up, hoping it wasn't going to give in to his weight. Blood was pouring from his nose and his lip was cracked. One of his eyes wouldn't open properly, disorientated.

"I said leave her alone"

What was he doing? Was he insane? He didn't stand a chance. He hadn't stood a chance before, let alone now. All he knew was that he had to support Kirsty. He wanted her by his side. Forever.

Rhys swung back to face him. Shelley put a restraining hand on his arm. What was this boy doing? Kirsty looked at him pleadingly, willing him not to push Rhys. Rhys let her go and clenched his fist.

She ran. She didn't know why she did it but she ran. She had to get away from this, from everything. She couldn't face it any more. The pain. The hatred. The shame. Behind her, the echoing voices of her parents got fainter. She stumbled off the wharf, sobbing, tears clouding her vision. What now? Where did she go? Across the car park. Past Rhys' car. She could run no further. She collapsed down behind a van, closing her eyes, willing the world to go away. Trying to shut the world out. Trying to imagine that she was back by the stream, lying in Kanes' arms, carefree.

On the wharf, Shelley and Rhys watch as their daughter gets further away. Kane watches. Why was she running? Was she running from him? Had he done something wrong? Rhys stepped towards him threateningly. He shrunk back. It was a gut reaction.

"Stay away from my daughter."

Kane didn't reply. What could he say? He couldn't answer him back. Not again. Yet he refused to agree. Refused to say that he wouldn't see Kirsty again. He couldn't just forget about her. He didn't want to spend a minute without her, let alone a lifetime.

"If you so much as look at her again..."

Rhys grabs his shirt. He winces, preparing for the blow. The blow that never came. Rhys threw him aside and Kane watched as Shelley guided Rhys down the wharf, towards the car. Where was Kirsty? Was she waiting in the car? Ready to go home. Play happy families. What now for him? His body was throbbing with pain. No wonder Kirsty ran. He must be in a state.

Rhys and Shelley become specks in the distance. Specks getting into their car.

Kirsty listened to the car engine roaring up. Were they finally leaving her alone? Did they know she was here? Or did they just not care? The engine became distant. Had she won? She sighed, shakily. She's frozen to the ground. Unable to move. Immense feelings of relief, fear, helplessness swept over her. She had to find Kane. She needed him to hold her. To tell her everything would be alright. Why was it that the one person she wanted by her side was the one person she was forbidden from having by her side? Exhaustion.

"Kirst..."

Her eyes clipped open. She must have dropped off.

"Kane?"

He was knelt next to her, staring into her eyes. Was she dreaming? She tries to stand, but her legs are shaky and weak. It has started to rain. He helps her up. They stand, inches apart, as the rain gets heavier. His hair is matted to his head by rain. His face is a mess of blood. But he's here. She grabs hold of him, close to tears. They hold one another, rain pouring down around them, each comforted by the others' company. Kanes' wounds are hurting like hell but that doesn't matter. Not now.

.....................

Kane's mobile rings, cutting through the silence of the car. Kane looks at the display. Flynn. That was all he needed. Flynn sticking his nose in. He switched the phone off. He didn't want to talk to him. Not now. He didn't want to be told that what he was doing was wrong. Driving Kirsty away from her family.

"Who was it?"

Kirsty spoke distantly. Thoughts of her family ran through her head, over and over. Dani mainly. How her life had been destroyed. How long it had taken for her to rebuild a life for herself. Did she really want to crush her again? Turn her own sister against her? She didn't deserve it. Kirsty knew that much. Were they doing the right thing at all? Were they being selfish?

"Flynn."

Kirsty raises her body slightly out of Kanes' arm and looks him in the eyes.

"Do you think we could do the mediation - with my parents?"

"I went to see Flynn about it earlier. He said he didn't think it would work"

Kirsty stared at him. Flynn had told her that he could help. Was it all a lie? A ploy to try and make her tell her parents. She remembered how down Kane had been earlier when they had met up on the wharf. That must have been why.

"We could give it a go."

There was no other way. Maybe Flynn could get everyone to see sense. Kane looked at her. Of course he was willing to do it. If it meant they could be together. He would do anything for her. Even put himself up against her parents. It couldn't make things worse. She takes his hand and squeezes it. He nods, unable to find words. They knew what they had to do. All they could do. If they wanted to stay together. If they wanted to be happy. He started the engine and pulled out of the roadside.

CARAVAN PARK

"Where is she Rhys?"

Shelley panicked. She wished she hadn't said all those things to Kirsty. She wished she had listened. Maybe it wouldn't have come to this if she had. She would be with him. She knew it. All she wanted was to protect her daughter. Her family. A family that was on the brink of falling apart, collapsing. Could Kirsty not see that her actions would have serious repercussions for the entire family?

"If she's with him then I'll kill him"

Rhys was furious. The drive home had been terrifying. He had been in no state to drive. He was fuelled by anger. The urge to protect his family clouding his vision.

"You'll never guess what!"

Dani. She had rebuilt her life over the year. And now she was happy. Did Kirsty really intend to destroy her again? Could Dani sense that something was wrong? Shelley turned her head away, concealing tears. Rhys clenched his fist, trying to crush the anger.

"My secret admirer - it's Josh"

Rhys forged a smile. If Dani thought something was wrong then she didn't say anything.

"I'm going to head over to the drop in centre now - I have to talk to him. I know I said he's a loser, and that if I could chose who I fell for it wouldn't be him but I love him... and that's what matters."

If only she knew. What her sister was trying to do for love. How love could hurt everyone around you.

"Could you tell Flynn that I need to talk to him?"

"Yeah, sure"

Hopefully Flynn could make Kirsty see sense. It was their last hope.

DROP IN CENTRE

Kanes' car rolls into the car park. He and Kirsty look across at each other, reassuringly.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

Kane reaches for the door handle.

"Kane."

She puts a gentle restraining hand on his arm. Is she going to change her mind? He wouldn't blame her. She's risking everything.

He turns back, expecting to be greeted by tears, or apologies. Expecting the dream to end. She kissed him. It reminded him of the first time they had kissed. Unexpected. Mind blowing. He had been taken aback. He thought no one could ever have feelings for him. Not after what he'd done. Least of all Kirsty, Danis' sister. He remembered the next time they had spoken. On the beach. The kick in the gut as she told him they couldn't see one another any more.

"Thank you"

"What for?"

"Standing by me"

Was she joking? What had he done? Taken a beating from Rhys. And he'd asked for that. All in the name of love.

They get out of the car. Should he take her hand? What would it feel like? To walk around as a couple. To tell everyone that they were a couple. In love. The short walk to the door is slow, awkward. It's now or never. Kane holds the door open for her and they enter, coming face to face with Flynn. He looks from one to the other. Kane is in a terrible state. He's obviously taken quite a beating. Both of them look anxious, but determined.

"G'day..."

"Hi."

The greetings are blunt, unfriendly.

"You had better come into the office"

They were only too glad too get out of the way. Away from the staring eyes. Flynn closes the door behind them. The three stand, awkwardly, huddled into the small office.

"We need your help Flynn"

Kirstys' voice is shaky. She has no big speech planned. She doesn't know what to say. Or how to say it.

"Do I need to ask what it's about?"

The office door swings open. Kirsty turns pale. Dani. Danis' eyes meet with Kanes'. Kirsty could see the fear in her eyes. She had never felt so guilty. Kane felt ashamed, distraught that he had this effect on anyone. Dani is still frozen in the doorway. She looks at each of the three people in the room. What's happened? Has something happened to Kirsty. Has he done something? She speaks, her voice faint and unsure.

"What's going on Kirst?"