A Tales of Sinners

Disclaimer: All Home and Away characters are property of the Seven Network.

#7

Pride

"I've been a proud man my entire life." Darcy said, as he walked along next to Elizabeth. I sighed a little; as Henry played with lose strands of my hair.

"You're a little like him." I said, nudging Henry as we both turned to look at the screen.

"What, devastatingly handsome and superior in all other ways?" He asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"No." I replied, as I elbowed him "You're proud. And you're pride always gets in the way of you seeing the full picture." I said, as he made a face at me.

"Cass, I am not proud. I just know what's right and what's wrong. I stick to my convictions, and don't ever let anyone tell me what to do. That's not being proud, that's being self assured." Henry replied, easing me off him as he stood up to turn off the TV.

"What about all those times you've been wrong, but haven't had the guts to admit it?" I replied, as he collected the plates and walked towards the sink with them. "There's nothing wrong with admitting every once in a while that your pride has been a little wounded, you know?" I said, as he turned to glare at me.

"Do you really want to have this discussion with me Cass?" He asked, throwing the dishes violently into the sink.

"I think I do." I replied, standing up and walking over to him. "First of all," I said, standing a little away from him "You've got to not get all hot headed about this. While nothing turns me on more than when you're angry and passionate about something, violence is never the answer." I said, as he stared at me.

"Thank you Dr. Phil." He replied, a snarky bite to his tone. "But the last thing I need is a lecture, thanks all the same." He snapped at me, moving past me gently as he walked back into the living room.

"I'm not giving you a lecture," I said relentlessly, as I followed him. "I just find it all kinds of amazing how you always manage to psycho analyse me, but whenever I try to put a word in, you cut me off, and then sulk until I let it blow over. Well not this time Henry Hunter," I said decisively, pushing him back down onto the lounge "This time, we're going to psycho analyse you."

"What's to analyse?" He asked, shrugging "I'm me. And I'm hot headed, and proud, and stubborn, and I wouldn't change a thing about myself." He said nonchalantly "Session over."

"But why are you all these things Henry? What the hell happened to make you so angry? I mean, the root of all my problems can be traced back to my upbringing, my parents, and the too and fro game they've been playing with me my entire life. But you're family, they are the sweetest people ever." I sighed "So, what happened?"

"Somewhere along the line, I didn't want to be that sweet kid that got trodden on any more. I used to be that quiet kid in the corner, who did everything right, and never, got in trouble. You know, that kid that got picked on by the bullies, who was never left alone by anyone. Then, one summer, I decided enough was enough. And I changed. I became the proud man you know today. I didn't want to be pushed down to the bottom any more."

"Oh…" I said softly, as Henry nodded his head. "I…" I began, unsure of what to say.

"Cass," He said gently "It's okay. I mean you know those ten million things I love about you?" He asked me, as he took my hand in his, and I nodded gently.

"Well, that's another one of them." He said, as he kissed the palm of my hand. "The fact that you want to know me inside and out, and you refuse to give in until I open up to you."

I smiled, as he pulled me close to him.

"You know what I'm proudest about?" He whispered into my ear later on.

"What?" I answered sleepily.

"Having you in my life." He replied, kissing my head as I smiled, drifting of into a content slumber.