They walked back down the path towards the beach, awkwardly holding hands. Neither knew exactly what to say to the other, but inside they know what the other was thinking. Kirsty's mind flitted between her mum and the thought of being back together with Kane and the effort and time it would take to smooth over the cracks. To rebuild what they had during the months they had spent together at Sylvia's. It was going to be different now, with her living at home, especially with her family in the way, and she was scared of hurting them more than they were going to hurt once everyone knew about Shelley.

Flynn had reluctantly left them after Kane was out of the danger zone, despite wanting a serious word with Kane. But he had decided it could wait until things settled down a bit, and he got his own head cleared and had made his own way back home, leaving the couple to talk.

"You never did tell me what you got up to after I went missing?"

All the drama had been forgotten in recent days. The guns and kidnappings. She had only outlined the details to her family, and had persuaded the cops it wasn't worth pursuing.

Kane, glad for a starting point in conversation, recited the long story of his meetings with Dennis, his 'rescue' by Scott, his days on the run with Scott, winding up at Alfie's and eventually how he came to be reunited with her. She just listened intently, hardly saying a word. She had no idea how far he'd travelled within just a few days.

"So you don't even know where Scott is now?"

He shrugged. The last he'd seen of his brother some gangsters henchman was taking a shot at him.

"I assume he'll be dead... those guys won't have messed around"

He tried to make it sound like no big loss and, in many ways, it wasn't. But Scott was still his big brother, and however rough he got he had looked out for him on numerous occasions. He wasn't completely heartless, like so many people made him out to be. He hadn't turned into his father just yet.

They sat down on the beach, side by side. She gazed around them. The sun had just about disappeared over the horizon and the beach was virtually empty, with the exception of a woman walking a dog and a man throwing pebbles aimlessly into the sea.

"Babe?"

She smiled. She had been longing to hear him call her that for days. Their faces hovered closer together as they lowered their voices

"Yeah?"

It was as if they were the only people on the beach, the only people in the world, so absorbed in one another that nothing else mattered.

"Do you think we'll ever get back to how things were?"

He was petrified that he had ruined things for them, that she no longer trusted him.

"Maybe not straight away... but in time..."

Their foreheads touched gently.

"...I just need you right now Kane... I don't think I can do this without you..."

He knew what she was talking about. Shelley. He had only wished she had realised what she was losing by giving up on life.

"And I'm here for you... any time you need me"

They kissed gently, lying back in the sand together, holding one another tightly. No more words were needed. It was half an hour before Kirsty reluctantly broke the silence.

"I should probably be getting back home... everyone'll know about Mum now"

She was dreading returning home, but it had to be done. She could just imagine the atmosphere that would hang over the house. At least when she was with Kane she could put it to the back of her mind successfully. She wanted to get it over with. The quicker she dealt with it the quicker the pain would be over. She propped herself up on her elbow.

"Where are you staying tonight?"

She didn't know why she bothered asking, she already knew the answer. She didn't wait for a reply, unable to stand the thought of him sleeping alone in the back of that car for another night.

"We've got several vans free"

"Do you think that's such a good idea?"

He wanted nothing more than to be close to her, but imposing on the caravan park could be disastrous.

"I suppose not"

"Come on, I'll walk you up there"

He hauled himself off the sand, holding out his hand to help her up and, arm in arm, they walked back up the beach, heading in the direction of the caravan park. Once they reached the pathway up to the house they paused.

"I should probably go up on my own"

He nodded in agreement, understanding her concerns.

"Yeah... will you be alright?"

She didn't reply, tears were filling her eyes quicker than she could brush them away and pretend they weren't there. It had just washed over her so suddenly.

"Babe... what's the matter?"

Stupid question, it was obvious. He could have cursed himself for it.

Kirsty managed only a few words in response before collapsing into his arms, a trembling mess.

"Mum... she's gone..."

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

(Later)

He turned over again, groaning as he rolled onto something sharp. He hadn't managed to clear his car out properly as he had intended and there were still objects rolling around in the back, making his night increasingly unpleasant.

He had walked her up to the house after she had calmed down, where the family had welcomed her in, sat her down and got her a hot drink. He hadn't felt welcome just stood there in the corner, when the whole family were united in their grief, but Rhys had hastily offered him the use of a van. He had declined, seeing the look on Dani's face, and the looks she was giving her father, vehemently objecting to the proposal. He didn't want to give that family any more grief so instead he had slipped out as discreetly as possible and headed back to his car, still parked in the Surf Club car park.

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

SURF CLUB CAR PARK - Following afternoon

Kane returned to his car, finding Kirsty there, waiting for him. She had been waiting almost an hour, hoping for him to turn up. Wondering where he had got to for all that time. She ha just needed a break from home, a distraction. Dylan had passed ten minutes beforehand and she had dived down behind the car to avoid seeing him. She wouldn't have known how to tell him that she had been using him, not when he was trying so genuinely to support her. She grinned at Kane as he reached the car.

"I've been trying to call you"

"Yeah, sorry... my phone's out of batteries and I've got nowhere to charge it"

He smiled ashamedly, kissing her softly.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"No, not long"

She lied, it wasn't worth telling the truth. There didn't seem a lot of point in making him feel guilty. Instead she put an arm around him,

"So are you feeling better?"

"Yeah... not bad... better than yesterday"

Rhys had been overcrowding them all throughout the morning, constantly trying to make them feel better, trying to make them forget. Jade blamed him for everything, Dani was just numb, batrely saying a word since she found out and Max was blissfully neutral, trying to keep the peace and keep spirits up, sharing his innermost feelings over the situation only with Colleen. Dylan had called round earlier in the morning to offer his condolences but Kirsty had managed to persuade her father to inform him that she was out.

"Where have you been all morning?"

She had been longing to see him. He had just disappeared the previous night, without so much as a goodbye. But she guessed his reasons and couldn't blame him for not sticking around.

"I've been down at the wharf... managed to get my job back... I didn't think Justin would be so cool about it but apparently my replacement was a bit of a walking disaster"

He paused, not believing his luck. That time the previous day he had been ready to end it all and now he had Kirsty back and he was back at the wharf, the job which he loved.

"And I've re-enrolled at TAFE... I'm starting from square one again but I managed to convince them I wasn't gonna run out on them again and disappear for three months"

He was determined to get the right qualifications to fulfil his dreams, to make her proud of him. To prove that he wasn't the failure everyone, including himself, thought he was. He would do something with his life. She slipped both of her hands into his, intertwining her fingers with his. That was the Kane she knew and loved. The man who was willing to fight for their dream, the Kane who never gave up, whatever life threw at him.

"I'm going to talk to Mr Fisher... see if I can get back into school"

"No, Kirsty... you don't have to, not so soon after..."

He didn't want her doing anything just because she felt she had to, because he was moving so fast.

"No, I just I need something to take my mind off Mum or I swear I'll go crazy"

"So long as you're sure?"

"Yes! I'm sure! Now lets get some lunch, I'm starving... how about the Diner?"

"Nah, they refused to serve me yesterday after all the fuss with Dylan"

He'd been receiving the cold shoulder from virtually the whole Bay ever since. If looks could have killed he'd have died several times over. He just put up with it, telling himself that it would die down once people realised they weren't going to crack him and that he was sticking around in the Bay.

"Do you blame them?"

She thought back to the fireworks he had caused with a smile, unable to stay mad.

"Yeah, yeah, I know I shouldn't have kicked off and threatened to kill him"

He paused, reflecting.

"He was all over you... you were all over him..."

She was unable to meet his eye, not able to believe her stupidity. What had she been thinking?! He speedily changed the subject.

"How about I take you out tonight, celebrate my new job"

"I've arranged to meet Dylan tonight"

His face fell once more as Dylan entered into conversation again.

"Right... Dylan"

He spoke through gritted teeth, tensing up. She could hear that jealousy in his voice.

"Don't make it sound like that Kane... I need to explain to him properly"

"Then give him a call, get it over with"

"I can't just call him... it wouldn't be fair"

She had to dump him face to face, however much she was dreading seeing his face. It might have been a farce to her, but she wasn't even sure how he felt.

"Kirst, you barely know the guy"

He couldn't help but feel she was trying to get out of spending time with him, or that she was still trying to punish him by keeping him at arms length.

"Just trust me Kane, ok?"

She slipped her hand inside his.

"Lets go into Yabbie Creek to eat... then we can catch a film or something?"

She kissed him again to let him know she wasn't trying to avoid him, she was just trying to do the best thing by everyone.

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

DINER - later

Kirsty sat alone at one of the tables as Dylan entered, beaming as he saw her.

"Hey Kirst"

He kissed the top of her head, too preoccupied to ask why she didn't stand up to greet him. He just put it down to recent events with her mother. But he was determined to cheer her up.

"Sorry I'm late but I just had to drop into Yabbie Creek and pick something up"

Kirsty tried to cut in, to utter that immortal phrase "We need to talk", but Dylan was talking too fast to allow her, smiling enthusiastically

"Come outside and have a look"

He held out his hand, taking hers and gently pulling her out of the Diner.

"What?"

He pointed towards a flashy car. He had managed to afford a second hand car by drawing out every last dollar of the trust fund that his mother had set up for him. The owner had been selling it off cheaply for whatever reason, but he was too ecstatic to care. He and his mother were barely on speaking terms any more, not after her lies, and he had every intention of having fun with her money, to let her know that she didn't matter anymore and that he had a new life without her.

"It's yours?"

She gazed at the car in awe as he produced a set of keys, pressing a button to unlock the car, proudly opening one of the doors for her. He knew it was in a different league from the pile of junk that Kane called a car. She climbed in, still waiting for the right moment.

"Can you drive this thing?"

She looked at him nervously as he climbed in beside her.

"I got lessons as soon as I turned seventeen"

Sure, that had only been a couple of weeks ago and he hadn't yet got a licence, but he knew how to drive a car and he wanted to show off.

"Dylan..."

She touched his arm lightly as he went to put the key into the ignition.

"Yeah?"

He turned to her, still smiling.

"We need to talk"

Her voice was serious now, and he knew what was coming.

"I don't think this is working out"

"It's him isn't it?"

She paused, before nodding. It wouldn't be fair to lie as well.

"I'm sorry"

"So you and me... it was all a game to you?"

He was sick and tired of games. Angie played them all the time.

"It wasn't like that... I just... I'm in love with Kane... I'm so sorry"

She reached for the door handle just as Dylan pressed a button, automatically locking every door in the car, firing up the engine.