Okay, so here is the next update. I am not really sure where this story is headed, it's just happening; going with the flow.

They say holidays do wonderful things. They obviously do because I'm updating again! And given my track record with this story, that is pretty darn quick! LOL.

Dedicated to quonoeye who has reviewed every chapter, and because she was the one to review last chapter. And also to aussiebabe290 whose excellent PTTR fiction has inspired me to keep writing my own!

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Alex had again gone to work, and with the feeling of isolation again dawning on her, Rachel decided to head back to the Rafter house. She hadn't been there in days; aside from yesterday and today, Alex hadn't been working, therefore she's been spending her time with him. In the short time they'd spent together, Rachel had learnt so much about Jake's younger brother, from his dislike of peas, to his cunning ability to be able to bluff anyone at poker.

"Rachel!" called out the ever familiar voice of Carbo from the front of the Karadonis house. Stopping at her voice, Rachel turned towards her neighbours' gates.

"Hey Carbo," replied Rachel, politely but not as loud and enthusiastic as Carbo's welcome had been.

"Haven't seen you in a long time!" continued Carbo in his usual enthusiastic voice.

"You saw me on the weekend," she laughed.

"Which was five days ago! Today is Friday," added Carbo, attempting to strengthen his point. Wow, thought Rachel. Had it really been that long?

"Yeah... Well things have been kind of all over the place," replied Rachel slowly. Saying goodbye, Rachel walked a metre or so down the footpath towards the house she had grown up in.

Slowly opening up the front door, Rachel peered her head in slightly, trying to see any visible life beyond the door. After stepping her whole body in through the door, Rachel made sure to close the door quietly, only letting her hand leave the wooden surface after the soft click of the latch. She wasn't quite sure why she was tip toeing through the house considering it was ten o'clock in the morning and most likely, most should be at work.

"Rachel!" exclaimed her mother as she went to walk through from her bedroom to the kitchen. "Darling, it's been so different without you around!" Julie stepped forward to hug her daughter.

"I've missed you too Mum," said Rachel into Julie's shoulder.

"Have you... Are you home for good now?" asked Julie. Rachel slowly shook her head.

"No, Jake doesn't get out until tomorrow and Alex is at work so..." Julie nodded and went to speak again.

"Hey Rach!" called out Ben in a loud voice, much louder than the hushed tone Julie and Rachel had been speaking in. "I thought you were staying at Jake's house." Rachel sighed, but not unhappily. She was losing count on how many times she was having to explain what was currently going on in her life.

"I'm beginning to think that I should just call a public meeting and invite everyone so I don't have to keep repeating myself!" joked Rachel. "But I still am. Jake doesn't get out until tomorrow and since Alex is at work I thought I'd come by here."

"Cool, hey Mum? We've run out of bread," Ben said simply. Julie laughed silently. Twenty four and still not capable of making sure the house was well equipped with food.

Ben had gone home after finding the bread, and the biscuits, and Rachel was now sitting at the outdoor table with her Mum, nursing cups of tea.

"So have you been missing us?" asked Julie, waiting to see her daughter's expression, because Julie knew well enough that if something was wrong, she's be able to pick it up, despite the fact that Rachel probably wouldn't say so.

"Yeah, of course I have," insisted Rachel. Julie thought she was going to say more, but she didn't.

"How do you honestly feel about all this?" Julie asked honestly.

"Oh, it's ah... It's fine..." Rachel started to say but one look at her mother's face told her that her Julie could see right through her. "Okay, it's harder than I ever thought. I mean, I don't regret telling them I'd held out, not at all. But it's just a lot harder than I thought it would be."

"Remember you're not alone," replied Julie, giving her daughter a comforting smile while rubbing her hand. "We're all behind you."

"I know. It's just, a shock," continued Rachel. "But like I said, I don't regret it. I love Jake and I know he'd do the same for me if he had to." Julie gave her daughter a smile, which Rachel picked up on. "What?" Julie just laughed silently and Rachel was insistent on finding out what her Mum was laughing about. "What?!"

"You said you love him," Julie replied simply. Rachel registered what she said, then smiled herself.

"Yeah, I do."

"Then nothing matters," Julie replied. She couldn't help the feeling overcoming her that Rachel had finally found someone who would treat her well and be there for her no matter what. It was mother's instinct that Jake was right for her daughter, and that made her sigh with relief and happiness.

Next day...
Royal North Shore Hospital

Rachel and Alex had arrived at Sydney's Royal North Shore to collect Jake. It would still be a few days until Grace was released, but they were thinking positively. As Rachel and Alex neared the now very familiar door behind which Jake was residing, Rachel heard her name and turned around. Ben's fiancé Melissa was coming along the corridor. And considering she was in her uniform, Rachel assumed she was on a shift.

"Hey Rachel!" Melissa called out, not yelling but loud enough for Rachel to hear her comfortably.

"Hey Mel," replied Rachel, tucking her hand lightly in the back pocket of her jeans.

"You picking up Jake?" asked Melissa, yet she didn't really need the answer. Rachel nodded.

"Yeah. Grace can't come home yet but Jake can so, yeah," replied Rachel, her voice soft.

"Grace shouldn't be too far behind you, just a few more days," added Melissa. "Here, I have to give Jake the final once over before he can leave anyway." Melissa stepped forwards and re-opened the door that Alex had gone in just moments before. Both boys were laughing and Rachel presumed that Alex had told Jake some incredibly funny joke, something she had become well acquainted with over the previous days. But hearing the door open, Jake and Alex both looked up.

"Hey Rach," smiled Jake, a boyish grin crossing over his face. She just simply smiled at him, stepping back slightly to allow Melissa past. "Oh, and hi Melissa." Melissa laughed.

"That's alright. I'm not offended," replied Melissa as she moved to check the chart.

"Ready to come home?" asked Rachel, moving to the opposite side of the bed to Alex and Melissa.

"Am I ever. Hospitals aren't exactly paradise," was Jake's reply. "No offence Mel."

"None taken. If I was a patient, I'd be most likely thinking along the same lines." Rachel waited quietly as Melissa gave Jake the once over, before declaring him fit to go home. With Rachel's assistance, they got him sitting up.

"Alright you. Let's get you home," said Rachel, looking down at Jake who, due to the fact he was sitting, was shorter than her at present.

"Rachel, you know you don't have to stay, I can look after Alex on my own."

"But why do it if you don't have to?" Rachel reasoned. Besides, you can hardly stand on your own; you can't exactly look after yourself right now."

"Rach, you've given up your whole life for what, the last two weeks? We can't inconvenience you anymore." Melissa looked up whilst writing on her file.

"Uh, inconvenience? What are you, a walking talking dictionary? And now you'll just shut up, and listen," Rachel replied firmly, sounding completely different to the Rachel everyone knew. But she was going to get her point and way across, no matter how much work she had to do.

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That's a wrap... For now. I've left Lord Howe Island but I arrived back in Perth, then jumped onto a flight to Singapore. I partially wrote this at the airport and I've only just arrived in Singapore. So I'm going to admit, updating isn't my biggest priority. But I'm going to try for another update soon.

This chapter again wasn't huge. But I'm finding that my chapters are shorter, but at better places to finish.

Also to those other fantastic writers out there. Because of my plane switching and jet setting antics, I haven't been able to review your stories yet. But I'll get there soon! In the meantime, if you wouldn't mind taking the time to review/comment, it would be muchly appreciated.