CARAVAN

Dylan knocks cautiously on the door and Rhys opens it cautiously, just in case it was Kane paying him another visit. His jaw drops in alarm as his son smiles up anxiously at him.

"Dylan... hi"

It was a bolt out of the blue, and both men appeared equally as nervous.

"Hi... I just thought I should come and sort things out... I heard there's been a bit of trouble with Angie"

His mother could be no end of trouble sometimes, and recently he'd discovered the pressure she had been putting on him for money. Blackmailing him so that she didn't reveal the truth to Shelley and destroy his family. He was aware the truth had come out though, and the girl who had answered the door, presumably his half-sister, has greeted him exactly as he had expected to be treated in the Bay.

"Right... come in... it's good to see you again"

Rhys tried to be welcoming, at the same time watching the caravan park in case they were seen. Father and son rarely met up, he being terrified of being found out, but on the other hand desperate to cherish his only son.

"Yeah... and you... Dad"

Dylan climbed up the steps into the van as Rhys stood back to allow him to enter.

"I'd offer you a drink but I haven't had time to go for a shop"

"It's fine... I just came to talk... I'm sorry about what's happened - with your family"

"Maybe it's for the best... at least everything's out in the open... no more secrets and sneaking around"

He'd done enough to last him a few lifetimes at least.

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

BEACH

"I've got it!"

Max made a feeble attempt to volley the ball back over the net, failing miserably, and Kirsty smiled weakly. Nick, Seb and Jade had managed to talk her into joining in the game, and she had agreed, to take her mind off everything else mainly. It didn't seem to be working. Every time she saw Nick and Jade together she thought of Kane. The last time she had been so jealous was when she was trying to turn off her feelings for Kane the last time. Before they gave into their desire.

"Kirsty!"

She looked up, just in time to see the ball flying towards her, whacking it back across to Nick, Jade and Max's side of the net, sending it hurtling onto the ground.

"Nice one!"

She smiled at Seb, managing to tune back into the game.

From above, Kane watched the game, leaning onto the fencing outside the surf club, staring down at the beach. His heart sinking as he saw her enjoying herself. Moving on.

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

CARAVAN

A knock on the door. Rhys gets up from his position beside Dylan on the bed, opening the door reluctantly. He hadn't wanted to be disturbed during his rare time alone with his son.

"Hello Rhys"

Rhys stared in alarm

"Angie..."

His throat had dried up, his eyes widened. She could only mean trouble.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Dylan appeared behind Rhys, silently curing her arrival. He had told her he was going to fin his father and that it would be best if she stayed behind. It would be the sensible thing to do.

"I thought I might find you here"

She smiled sickeningly at her son, walking up the caravan steps so that Rhys had to step aside out of politeness, allowing her access.

"Nice place you've got... home and business in one... must be worth quite a bit"

She glanced around the tiny van.

"What do you want Angie?"

"Just came to collect my - our - son... thought we could discuss some access for you as well"

"Access?! Angie, he's seventeen!"

Rhys sighed. She had a habit of getting under his skin.

"Wouldn't hurt... we could all meet up a few times a month..."

Rhys couldn't believe he was hearing it. She was acting as if he didn't have a life of his own.

"Angie, can we just go"

Dylan could see his mother was only infuriating Rhys. Angie paid her son a glance before smiling at Rhys.

"I'll see you soon Rhys"

She ran her hand along his arm as she brushed past him as she exited the van, sending a chill down his spine.

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

CARAVAN (late evening)

Dylan knocked on the door

"Dylan... what's happened?"

There had to be a reason why he was back so soon. Dylan stepped inside.

"I found something"

Rhys could tell something was wrong instantly. Dylan paused

"Go on"

He continued hesitantly.

"Adoption papers... Angie's not my Mum... I was adopted at birth"

He hadn't believed it at first, but the evidence was there. His life was a lie. Angie had begged him not to say anything, insisted that blood didn't matter, but she hadn't succeeded in stopping him departing to reveal the truth. The farce couldn't go on any longer, he knew how much it was hurting the Sutherland's. Rhys stared at Dylan blankly.

"No... you must have got the wrong end of the stick"

"All the information was there...my date of birth, my biological parents... there's no mistake... you're not my Dad"

Rhys sat down on the bed, reeling. A moment later he rushed to the sink, retching violently.

You're not my dad. The sentence rang through his head. Years of anguish. Thousands of dollars. And Dylan wasn't even his son. His family had broken up for nothing. He despised Angie. How any person could do such a cruel thing was beyond him. For seventeen years he believed he had a son, lived in fear of his secret being exposed. All for nothing.

"I'm sorry"

Rhys shook his head, making an attempt to compose himself

"It's not your fault mate"

Dylan nodded gratefully, before leaving the caravan.

"Hey!"

Kirsty swung round, her face dropping as she saw Dylan pursuing her.

"Still hanging around?"

She scowled.

"Yeah... well, not for much longer... turns out we're not related after all..."

Like she cared. It didn't change the fact that Rhys had had an affair with Angie Russell, or that he'd gone behind their backs, or that he's run off and abandoned them, driving Shelley to despair.

"So?"

He shrugged, having been hoping for some sort of sympathy. He didn't have anyone to turn to. Rhys wasn't his father and he could no longer face Angie, not now he knew the truth. He and Angie had always been so close.

They reached the house.

"See you around?"

She merely glanced back at him before the door closed behind her.

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

BEACH - Following day

Dylan descended the beach

"Hi"

Kirsty spun around to face him, her voice hostile

"What are you doing here?"

"Thinking"

"Well, could you go and think elsewhere?"

"It's a free country isn't it?

Kirsty frowned. Kane had said that once. At this precise place. When she told him to stop staring at her.

"Look, none of this is my fault"

"Wanna bet?"

If there was no son, Rhys wouldn't have had to support him, they would have their money so Rhys wouldn't have left, Shelley would never have found out and they would be happy.

"I didn't ask for Angie to ruin your family"

"Well she did..."

"I can't change the past... "

"Yeah, I know!"

"Look... maybe we could meet up sometime? Get something to eat?"

He didn't know why he had said it. Maybe it was just because he found her headstrong attitude appealing. Maybe he just wanted someone to lean on. After his fall out with his mother he didn't seem to have anyone. There was just something about her that drew him to her specifically.

Kirsty looked at him, bewildered and stunned.

"Are you kidding?"

"No... I - "

Kirsty shakes her head and walks away. She hadn't been prepared for that. Who did he think he was? One moment her half-brother, and the next he was asking her out.

"Kirsty..."

"Just keep out of my family's way... alright?"

She sped up and Dylan stared after her as she drew further away up the beach.

She didn't slow down until she was at the Surf Clun, where she grabbed a takeaway burger and continued her walk home. She chose to walk along the beach, joining the road up to the caravan park at the last possible point.

"Kirsty! wait up!"

She didn't look back, recognising Kane's voice instantly. Instead she sped up, ignoring him. He sped up too and she sighed as he finally appeared by her side, determined to talk to her. He had to talk to her.

"Just leave me alone, ok"

"Is that that you really want?"

He began to wish he hadn't asked the question the minute he had said it. Of course he hoped she had doubts about the split, that she would tell him she loved him and make everything alright again.

"Yes! It's over Kane! I thought I'd got through to you!"

"I love you Kirsty! Doesn't that count for anything"

She avoided eye contact, refusing to allow the words to soften her. Knowing that the minute she looked at him she would realise how much she still loved him. Knowing that she wouldn't be able to just walk away.

"Leave me alone!"

Maybe if he left she would forget about him and move on. She couldn't stand the fact that he persisted in trying to win her around. Constantly being in her face, reminding her of her intense feelings for him.

"You hassling her mate?"

For once, Kirsty was grateful that Dylan had shown up.

"And who are you?"

Kane swung around, looking the new arrival up and down

"Funny, I was gonna ask you the same question"

He had never been god at asserting himself. He attempted to return the evil eye the older guy was giving him, with extremely limited success.

"Dylan is that offer to go out still on?"

Kane looked between them, refusing to believe what he was hearing.

"Yeah... sure"

Dylan was surprised at the sudden change of heart, unnerved by the other mans presence.

"Tonight?"

Kirsty continued to blank Kane, smiling enthusiastically at Dylan, trying not to think about what pain she was causing Kane. Trying to concentrate on the fact that Kane lied and deceived her.

"Yeah..."

"Good... see you then"

Kirsty sped up the path towards the caravan park, breaking into a run. Kane turned back to face Dylan, who shifted uneasily.

"Dylan... not Rhys' Dylan?"

He knew he recognised that name. Rhys had mentioned his son by name a couple of times. He couldn't help but smile slightly. If this was Dylan, then he and Kirsty were related. It was all an act to make him sweat.

"He's not my Dad"

Kane's face dropped slightly.

"Right... so the minute you find out you start to crack onto his daughter?"

He was desperately trying to find a hole in the story, to prove that it wasn't real.

"It's none of your business"

Kane moved towards Dylan threateningly, struggling to remain in control in the face of the guy who was coming between he and Kirsty.

"It is when it starts to affect me... mate"

He walks past Dylan

"By the way..."

He looks back.

"...lay a finger on Kirsty and I'll kill you"