Disclaimer: I own nothing. Enjoy!

-

-

-

Seduction of Summer

Chapter 15: Oh those summer storms.

And love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah

-Jeff Buckley, Hallelujah.

I hadn't spoken to Ric since the night before. Now, staring out past the rocks into the eye of an oncoming storm, I wondered whether life would ever be easy for us.

He and I loved one another, that much had become apparent the night before when he'd rescued me from Henry. I had come to believe he'd always been the one rescuing me, and I'd always been the one pushing him away. I guess that's how it's gone since day one. He wanted to know me better and I hid behind everything.

Then finally, over the summer, everything had come to a halt. We'd both hidden behind Flynn's death instead of facing our own problem, instead of dealing with one another.

But all that needed to stop now. Once and for all. I was going to have it out with Ric. Even if the end result wasn't pretty, I needed him to know how I felt about him, about Flynn, about he and Maddie, hell he needed to know how I felt about Henry.

Most importantly, he needed to know I could bare life without him. He was my world, and he needed to know this before anything.

Front up honesty had never been one of our strong suits, but now, with the most massive storm brewing in the distance, I felt like the rain that would come. And all hell could break loose within me any second.

Determined to get this all off my chest, I stood up from the rocks and brushed off all the sand from my clothing. Turning around, I was about to begin my hunt for Ric when I realised that I needn't look further than three meters behind me. Because there he was, in all his glory, a soft loving look on his face.

We stood facing each other for some time, each of us summing up the movements of the other, each of us too afraid of what the other might say, or what we might say.

So, we were stuck, until someone made the first move.

I didn't know if I could. Looking away from Ric's face, I closed my eyes and counted to five, silently promising that if Ric hadn't moved by the time I opened them again, I would go to him.

I didn't have to worry though. By the time I reached three, Ric had taken three large steps to cover the distance between the two of us and was now cradling me in his arms, holding me as close as possible, as if he didn't want to ever let me go again.

Truth be told, I wasn't sure I ever wanted him to let go either.

Slowly, my eyes opened to find a dim room, with no one but myself in bed. Sighing to myself, I wondered what the time was, because it had taken me hours to drift off into sleep after Maddie had gone.

It wasn't surprising that she'd left the room as soon as she woke up. I hadn't expected her to stay. She was so out of it last night, chances are she didn't remember a damned thing, and freaked when she thought she'd come into my room by herself, and run off somewhere.

I was happy yet disappointed in this fact. I needed to tell Maddie everything I was feeling, but I didn't know if I'd be able to get the words out. The last week had been a whirlwind of emotions and all that I wanted to do right now was fall asleep… with Maddie in my arms, and hope that everything would just return to normal as we slept.

But when living in Summer Bay, normal doesn't exist.

And this small fact meant that I would have to confront Maddie, and all the demons that were lurking in our closet before anything could happen. Even if it didn't return to normal, I just hoped we'd be able to return to something where we didn't fight or cry every few hours.

Heaving myself out of bed, I grabbed a robe quickly and made my way into the kitchen. My stomach was growling at me, and I was resigned to the fact that I needed to collect my thoughts before anything happened. I was surprised to find Dad and Beth in the kitchen, having what appeared to be lunch.

"Well,' Dad said 'Good afternoon sleepy head. You must've been out till all hours, its almost two in the afternoon."

Smiling sarcastically at him, I grabbed a sandwich quickly off his plate and shoved it into my mouth before he could stop me.

It was Dad's turn to smirk back at me before saying, "If you wanted one, all you had to do was ask. Beth made more than enough."

"Yes Lucas, you're more than welcome to join us if you want. There is plenty to go around. I thought Maddie would be joining us, but obviously she's enjoying her walk down at the beach too much." Beth said, before going back to her lunch.

Mulling over Beth's words, I chewed silently on my sandwich for moments before running quickly to my room, not before hearing Dad say "Woah where's the fire?"

"There's just something I have to do." I yelled through my bedroom door as I quickly changed into jeans and a shirt and ran into the bathroom to wash my face and clean my teeth.

Reappearing in the living room quickly, Dad and Beth looked at one another, then at me, before turning their heads and going back to their meals. I said a quick goodbye before walking out the front door down onto the beach.

I knew where Maddie would be. There was a little cove we had found once while exploring, and she had proclaimed it her favourite place in the entire world. We'd been down there together numerous times. Sitting on the sand together we'd share everything we could think of, then just lay in silence.

Wandering down there now, I saw a storm brewing on the horizon. Dark clouds were forming, and I felt almost chilly despite the fact it was the middle of summer. I loved a good summer storm as much as the next person and I knew this one would be a beauty.

Looking up, I saw a small figure huddled in the sand; knees bent into their chest, and knew from instinct that it could only be Maddie. Walking slowly towards her, I knew there was no going back. Not now.

Everything had just become so strained over summer.

I thought summer was seductive. That it held an allure that no other season could match.

It was sensual, and magic.

At least that's what I'd once thought.

Knowing what I knew now, I knew summer could ruin all things wonderful in a life, and leave you alone and desolate, and the world is so very much against you.

Thinking about the mistakes I'd made in the past week, I realised there had been more to this than just kissing Ric at the party. It had begun at the beginning of summer, when I had taken my life for granted, thinking that nothing could ruin it, least of all me.

Funny, that's exactly how everything turned out.

I had managed to ruin the most important relationships in my life, and ruin my own life. Last night I'd destroyed all hope of mending things with Luke. Somehow I'd ended up in bed with him. Somewhere in between getting to the club with Ric I'd managed to get home.

All other memories of the night had been lost.

I guess there are some events we just aren't meant to remember.

There had been pain, heat, passion and anger this summer, and amongst that, a resounding sadness that could not be escaped.

Pulling my jumper tighter around me to stop the cold chill of the wind, I wished everything would just disappear. That I could just disappear and go away from here.

Then maybe everyone else I knew would have a chance to be happy, without me stuffing everything up.

A loud crack of thunder broke me from my pathetic self hate thoughts, as I looked up to the horizon to see a storm gathering in the distance. The sky was becoming darker with the clouds that were forming, and except for the occasional bolt of lightning, you wouldn't have guessed it was only mid afternoon.

Lost in my own thoughts about the storm reflecting my own emotions, I jumped when I heard a movement from behind me, and as I turned around, was shocked to see Luke walking towards me at an alarmingly fast pace. Worried that something had happened, I stood up and walked slowly over to meet him.

He abruptly stopped in his tracks when I was about a meter away from him, and simply stared at me. Worrying even more, I quickly said "Is everyone okay? Mum, Tony? What's going on Luke? You look so worried?"

Part of me knew I was rambling because Luke was staring so intently at me, but that didn't stop him. In any case, he stared harder at me as I finished, and an overwhelming awkward silence came over us.

The only moments I could ever remember awkward silences to fall between Luke and myself was when we first met, and over the last week.

So our track record showed that we could either go one way or another.

Damn.

I could see where this situation was heading. And our relationship? After last night's performance, that was as good as over.

Sighing, I broke eye contact with Luke and went back to sitting on the soft sand, staring our across the vast ocean. When Luke was ready to speak, he'd come to me. If he ever wanted to speak again that was. I'd made such a huge mess this summer, and I wasn't sure that it could be fixed.

Then there was a movement behind me and moments later I felt the ground shift, which meant that he had sat down next to me.

I didn't take my eyes off the ground, I didn't dare, because if I looked into Luke's eyes, my own would betray me and show him the deep sadness and pain I felt. After all, the eyes are the window to your soul.

However I felt Luke's hand on my chin, as he shifted my face so I was looking directly at him.

Then he began to speak.

Knowing that eventually we'd have to speak, I truly regretted breaking from the embrace I'd held Cassie in for some time. Instead, I sat down and pulled her instantly to my lap, as she huddled herself in my arms, trying to stop the sobs that ran through her body.

Why she was crying, I had no idea. She had nothing to be sorry for, nor did she have anything to cry about. It was until I felt my own tears streaming down my face that I realised we were both crying for us. For everything that we'd been though, in the last six months or in our lifetime, it didn't matter. Everything was going to be said now. Everything was going to be let out.

As I felt her relax a bit in my arms, her crying became quiet sniffles and then nothing. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose running, yet she had never looked more perfect to me in my entire life. She looked so fragile, as if she could break at any second, which made me want to protect her even more.

It was now that I choose to speak, because I realised the moment could be gone as soon as it had been given to me. My window of opportunity was growing smaller and smaller as the storm came closer and closer, so this speech had to be my Sistine chapel, my Mona Lisa… my final plea.

"I'm sorry Cass. Not just about the party. That's tiny compared to what else I'm sorry for. I'm sorry for Flynn, for not being able to protect you from feeling that hurt. I'm sorry for not opening up, for pretending the situation was okay, then ignoring it completely when I realised it wasn't."

Taking a breath here, I turned her face towards mine, so she could see every word of my apology forming on my lips, and read between the lines in my eyes to see how deep this apology went. Because it truly went into the depths of my soul.

"I'm sorry for the party, and the stupid, stupid kiss. I'm sorry for never really, truly apologising for that night, for the jealously and the pushing everyone away. I'm sorry for hurting you over and over, and for pushing you into that complete bastard Henry's arms. I'm sorry for making you cry all the time, for making you feel anything but pure magic. Because you deserve to feel the magic Cass, that's what you are. You're magical, beautiful, special, extraordinary… being with you is indescribable."

"Most of all,' I finished slowly 'I'm sorry for not doing this sooner."

And I kissed her. I kissed her in the rain and the wind with every ounce of love I had within me, with every fiber of my being, I let my passion and sorrow and joy and happiness into that kiss.

Pulling away, I pulled her forehead softly against mine as I stroked her face. "I love you Cass, I always have. And I always will. That I promise you here and now. I will love you forever."

And she kissed me. Our faces were a wet mixture of tears and rain as it pelted down against our bodies. The wind whipped around us but I could only pull Cassie closer to me and kiss her deeper, ignoring the summer storm that was upon us. The rain droplets so thick and heavy, the clouds so dark, the wind so cold. But I was as warm as I could possibly be, full of love and acceptance.

Cassie pulled away this time, and said something. But the storm was so great, I could not hear her. Smiling widely, she pulled me closer and screamed "I LOVE YOU TOO!"

Picking her up, I twirled her around and around in the pouring rain, knowing that now everything was going to be okay.

"Maddie, there's something I've got to tell you,' I began, hoping that would be a good starting line.

But she broke apart infront of me. There and then, literally crushed by my first incomplete thought.

There were tears streaming down her face as she stood up and walked away from me.

So not as good a start as once hoped.

Standing up, I quickly followed her, shouting out her name in the hopes of getting her to stop.

"I know what you're going to say Luke. I've had it coming since the party and Ric and everything. Last night was just the icing on the cake for you. Me winding up in your bed probably freaked the hell out of you. Especially since you've been all ice queen on one another since the party." She said to me.

At least she'd stopped walking and allowed me to catch up to her.

Knowing I only had one shot at this, I tried to formulate the right words in my head. Maddie was the kind of girl that jumped to conclusions after one sentence, instead of waiting out the entire conversation. I'd gotten her to slow down once, now I needed her to listen.

So I did the only thing I knew she'd respond to.

I spun her around and pulled her too me, taking her lips with my own just as the heavens opened and the rain began to pour down.

Talk about timing.

Ignoring the rain and the wind, I pulled her as close to me as possible, and hugged my arms around her waist, as she gave into the kiss and snaked her hands in my hair, tugging lightly and subconsciously at the nape of my neck.

Then, like lightning had struck us, she pulled away rapidly, and wouldn't look at me until our breathing had calmed down.

"But you're breaking up with me Luke. You can't forgive me for everything I've done. And we certinaly can't go back to the way things were. I can't even remember last night for god's sake. What kind of person goes out for a night and wakes up with no memory of the event? A slut that's who.' She spat 'A cheap whore who's only looking for a good time." She finished painfully slowly. I thought she was breaking in two as she spoke these words, I could see it in her face.

Walking towards her, I pulled her close, wanting to feel her body next to mine, but also wanting to protect her from the wild storm that had grown around us.

She was soaked head to toe, her hair plastered to her face, dripping droplets of water, her skin pale from the lack of heat. She looked like a child, scared and alone. And I didn't want her to look like this any more.

Taking a shakey breath, I said, "You ended up in my bed last night because I put you there. Just like the night of Henry's set up party. I put you in my bed both those nights. Because you didn't need to be alone, and because I didn't want to be without you. Just like I slept next to you the night of our party. While I couldn't bare to be with you, it hurt too damn much not to be with you."

Taking her hand in mine, I kissed it softly before turning it over, kissing her palm, then putting it against my cheek.

"I live for this Tilly. I love it when you touch me. And I love it even more when you look at me. When we're alone in a room together, just being us. When there is no charade or wall between us. When we're simply being, together. I love you too much to let go. I never let you go. Not once during this hell week. I'm just sorry it took me this long to tell you everything. Since I walked out of the bathroom last week. Nothing could ever really come between us, not really, because we're destined."

By this time I was screaming, my voice trying to be heard over the hard rain.

"We're written in the stars. I love you with all my body and soul Tilly, and I'll be with you forever and ever." I finished anxiously, waiting for her reaction.

Seconds passed, then she smiled at me. Through tears and rain, I could see her bright smile.

The she kissed me with everything she had. And I felt myself go weak at the knees once again. Like the first time we kissed. Like every time we kissed. Then I kissed her back with my everything. Gathering her in my arms like I was cradling a child, I held her against me, our bodies joining once more.

Eventually she pulled away, and smiled once more, tears in the corner of her eyes.

"I'm supposed to be the one apologising." She managed to joke before I pulled her against me once more.

I'd been away from her for far two long.

Now, finally, the ache within me was disappearing.

I pulled away from the kiss after a while, barely conscious of the fact that it was still pouring rain, and pulling her towards the house. There was one last thing that needed to happen before everything was okay.

-

-

-

AN: One more then the epilogue. As if my story could end up anything but happy. Idea's for new ones? I have some up at my website. Just some ones I've been mucking around with for the last week. Anyways, as always, read and review. And also let me know what you think of my story ideas.