Maddy and Ric stared at the two figures standing by the surf club Ric's arms still around Maddy's waist his eyes full of panic. Maddy's eyes were wide with horror. Cassie remained stock-still and Henry began jogging down the sand trail to the beach leaving Cassie standing alone the wind whipping her long brown hair around. Tears began to stream down her cheeks and she made no effort to wipe them away. Ric looked at her feeling awful for her. "I should go speak to her," Ric said.

"I think we both should," Maddy said her heart breaking as she saw her best friend standing there in stunned horror. Henry reached them and grabbed Maddy's arm. 'What do you think your doing?" he demanded hotly.

"Me and Ric are in love," Maddy said defiantly.

"You're in love?" Henry asked his jaw dropping.

"Yes. We're in love," Ric said putting a strong protective arm around Maddy. When they looked towards Cassie she shook her and turned on one foot and ran. "I think we should leave her," Henry said gazing at the pair in amazement. "Well…Mads you're my sister, of course I'm gonna support you," he smiled affectionately at his sister. "You do need to talk to Cassie though," he said.

"I know," Ric said heavily but he pulled Maddy toward him gently and kissed her on the lips. "At least it's out in the open," he reasoned with her when they broke apart.

"That doesn't exactly make Cassie feel better," Maddy said wryly but she squeezed Ric's hand and suddenly nothing seemed to matter as she lost herself in his eyes.

Henry decided to leave them alone and they began to stroll along in the sunset holding hands and talking about their future. "It's going to be wonderful," Maddy promised.

"When I'm with you, everything seems wonderful," he said.

"How corny," she said her eyes sparkling with tears of happiness. Henry jogged home and when he passed the Caravan Park he saw Cassie lying on the grass her head buried in her arms. He debated in his head and jogged over to her. "Cass," he said awkwardly. "What did those traitors say?" Cassie demanded hotly raising her head where her face was red and tear-stained. "They're in love, Cass," Henry said. She dissolved into fresh tears. "Maddy is supposed to be my best friend! Ric is my soul mate!" she exclaimed.

"I'm sorry Cass," Henry said his voice catching seeing how upset she was. "It's not your fault," Cassie said heavily. "I'm going to go inside okay?" she asked.

"Alright, see you soon Cass," Henry said. Cassie ran across the lawn and into the house. She stood under the shower sobbing and washing her long hair. She twisted it into a towel and crouched on the floor of the bathroom in a towelling robe and lifted up her razor blade holding it over her right wrist her body trembling. She threw it aside… "I won't go through this again," she vowed. It was 6.30pm and still nobody was home, usually she would be making the most of this by gabbing on the phone to Matilda-usually about her relationship with Ric. She dissolved into fresh sobs.

Hayley and Kim had left Irene and Barry to their fight and went for a walk along the beach. Hayley had about a month to go until she was due. Kim watched her glowing face and walked unaided by crutches holding her hand and swinging it gently back and forth. She turned her beautiful eyes on him and smiled his heart did flipflops. They saw Scott standing by the surf club deep in conversation on his mobile phone. Hayley smiled reassuringly at Kim and they continued towards the juice bar by day. Scott's face went dark when he saw the pair of them. "I've got to go," he said to the person on the phone and stepped to them.

"You're looking well Hayley," he said stiffly formal.

"Thankyou," Hayley said. Kim nodded in curt acknowledgement of Scott but Scott grabbed his arm. "You better are treating Hayley right,' he growled.

"Of course I am, better than you anyway," Kim growled rising to the bait.

"Kim…come on honey let's just go inside," Hayley said. Scott looked at her incredulously. "I can't believe I never saw your relationship," he shook his head.

"That's all you ever saw," Hayley scoffed.

That hurt. "Well then I was right," Scott said.

"Seems that way," Kim said taking her hand and steering her around Scott.

"See you around," Hayley said. They sat inside drinking juices and talking about the baby. "Kim…I want to call the doctor and see what the sex is," Hayley said suddenly.

"I was trying to convince you to do that!" Kim said delighted passing her his mobile phone. "I want to start painting the baby's room," Hayley said.

"Actually I have a surprise for you," Kim said.
"What?" Hayley asked leaning forward on her elbows in eager anticipation.

"I bought us a unit!" Kim said.

"A unit?" Hayley shrieked delighted.

"Yeah! Did you want to come and see it after you've called the doctor?" Kim asked.

"Definitely! I can't believe you did this!" Hayley said kissing him softly on the lips.

"Mmm…I should buy us a house more often," Kim joked.

Scott heard that. 'You're moving in together?" he asked.

"Yes," Hayley said pressing speed-dial 2 on Kim's phone and calling the doctor. Scott stared at the pair unspeaking. "Doctor Carmichael? It's Hayley Lawson how are you?" she asked. "Kim and I were wondering if it is possible to know the sex of the baby?" she asked.

"Okay, I'll hold," she said after a few seconds. A few minutes later she let out a shriek of delight. "It's healthy?" Hayley confirmed. She shrieked again. "Thankyou…thankyou so much!" she said hanging up.

"Kim! Honey! We're having a…Scott can you give us a moment?" Hayley asked clearly irritated. "Right," he said dazed.

"We're having twins, aboy and a girl...he was just about to call us!" she said her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Claudia and Noah! This is amazing," Kim grinned. "I love you Hayles," he said huskily. Hayley didn't hesitate.

"I love you as well," she replied. Scott asked for a shot of vodka.

Irene sat on the couch Barry standing in the kitchen holding his head in his arms. "It's not working Irene," he said with a note of regret in his voice.

"What are you saying?" Irene asked. "I thought we were going to make this work!" she exclaimed. "We tried," Barry said. "Nothing I do seem to meet your standards," he said heavily. "One example!" Irene said.

"My FRIENDSHIP with Beth Hunter…you seem to be going crazy with jealously. I'm in love with you Irene and certainly not Beth, she's a friend and that's all," he said seriously. She scrutinized his expression and finally nodded in defeat. "I can't help it," she said in a small voice. "I've been hurt in love so many times before and I can't stand it," Irene said.

"You need to trust me, that's what love is about," Barry said.

"Okay…please bear with me, it takes me awhile to trust people," Irene said.

"Doesn't seem that way!" Barry said incredulously.

"The male population," Irene said wryly. "Not children needing my help, they always are given a second, third, fourth…chance," she said.

"I noticed," Barry said dryly. He moved onto the couch and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a sweet kiss that left no doubt in Irene's mind…he was in love with her and not Beth. She hugged him closer.

Robbie and Tash stood in their apartment dressed in old clothes and surveyed the room spread with blue plastic drop cloths. "Are we sure that pale green is the way to go?" Robbie asked.

"It matches the mahogany skirting boards and the mahogany coffee table, TV unit, the brick fireplace, side-table…" Tash began.

"We don't have these things!" Robbie exclaimed. "We have a TV on a cardboard box," he reminded her. "Tomorrow I get my cheque on my inheritance…and I'm going to spend it all on this furniture I saw at this great, quite inexpensive store," Tash said.

"Green it is" Robbie said noticing how futile it was to argue with Tash. "Can we at least get a waterbed?" he asked cheekily.

"If you want," Tash said shrugging her shoulders.

"Excellent!" he exclaimed.

"I think we should paint our bedroom this same colour," Tash said.

"Then what colour bedspread do we want?" Robbie asked dripping paint on the drop cloths.

"I think light blue, this green colour with silver threads running through it," Tash said. "Like the one in the cupboard I brought yesterday," Tash said.

Robbie laughed and slung an arm around her shoulders. "You know I don't care what furniture and stuff we have as long as everything isn't pink," he said.

"Can I at least have pink curtains in the kitchen?" Tash asked.

"Light pink," Robbie said. "Not so it hits me in the face every time I go into the kitchen," he said. "Alright, I can make pink lace curtains," she declared.

"We have a lot of shopping to do don't we?" Robbie asked.

"Yes," Tash nodded laughing at his crestfallen expression. Tash began painting one of the walls. "Across don't do your little dab here…dab there," Robbie said.

"Durr," Tash said running the brush across in thick stripes. The next few hours passed with them chatting about what they needed to buy and painting the living room and eventually moving into the bedroom to begin painting that.

Jesse and Martha watched Alf there eyes wide with fear. "How could you do this?" Alf raged to Martha. "Jesse…" Martha pleaded.

"I think I'm in love with Martha," Jesse said.

"You nearly KILLED HER!" Alf roared.

"Granddad I thought you were getting over this," Martha said gently. He wheeled around to face her. "I can't get over this!" he said in a low mutinous voice.

"So we don't have your approval?" Martha asked.

"No," he said. "This guy murdered Chloe…and you're saying that you're in love with him?" Alf asked incredulously. "I'm saying I can forgive people," Martha said. "You should know about forgiveness," with that parting shot she turned and walked off as fast as she could manage. "Martha! Wait!" Jesse called. He turned to Alf. "I'm sorry you're not happy…but please believe me…" he began.

"I don't want to hear it," Alf said turning with a sigh and heading inside his head throbbing with the beginnings of a headache. Jesse ran after Martha and caught her in his arms. They were unaware of the amazed expressions of the people around them as they began kissing passionately. "Is our relationship going to last?" Martha asked.

"I want it to last forever," Jesse said huskily.

"Last time it was purely sexual wasn't it? I don't want it to be like that again," Martha said.

"Don't worry, it won't be," Jesse promised her. "Now I have to get back to the diner because I have to meet Sergeant Waters there at eleven. I'm to be taken to the court room for day 1 of my trial," he said trying to sound light-hearted.

"What time does the trial start?" Martha asked as they began walking back hand-in-hand.

"One-thirty,' Jesse said.

"I'll be there," Martha promised.

well…what did you think? I haven't got many reviews yet so I'd appreciate some feedback!