AN: This one is set early in the timeline…

It was all too much. He'd never been good at making decisions, and this one was way too big. When things had been good between him and Bianca she'd helped him, and before that he'd had Brax. Brax had made the tough calls and Heath had been content to follow. But he didn't trust Brax anymore, not after what he'd done. There was only one person he could think of that had cared as much for Harley as he did and that was why he'd come here. He hoped being close to Jess would give him the guidance he needed.

Heath took Harley from his car seat and left Casey behind as he picked his way through the headstones to Jess's grave. In a way he'd come here to ask Jess what to do. Could he give Harley up? Was Bianca more important than his son? Did Harley really need him? But now that he was here he realised he already knew the answers, and always had. And they were obvious. There was no way he could leave Harley, there was no one more important than his son and of course Harley needed him, he was the only parent the kid had left.

"I'm sorry Jess," he spoke down to the grave, "now I'm here I know it's stupid. Of course I'll take care of him, I want to do that...for both of you." Heath looked at his son then, and in that moment he felt their connection more strongly than he ever had, and the irrevocable decision was made. If he had to choose, then Harley was his choice. Bianca would have to fend for herself because Harley couldn't, and shouldn't have to.

No one who loved him would have put this choice before him anyway. Anyone who loved him would support his decision, and Heath had no time anymore for people who didn't love him as he was, and that meant accepting that he and Harley were a package now. You couldn't love one and not the other.

Casey was one of the good ones. Heath knew Casey would never make him choose. He turned to look for his brother and saw him standing a little way off, he beckoned him over. Casey had said they could do this together, and Heath needed that. He couldn't raise a child alone.

As Casey approached so did a pretty chick Heath recognised as Jess's sister, Rachel. She clutched a bouquet of flowers and Heath had the sudden feeling that they were intruding, but he couldn't just walk off now.

"Hey Rachel, how are you?" Heath passed Harley to Casey so he could offer her a hug. He didn't know her that well but under the circumstances it seemed appropriate, it was the first time he'd seen her since Jess's funeral. She said she was okay and asked after him and of course about Harley.

"How's the little one?" she clucked, reaching out and touching Harley's cheek.

"He's a handful, but we love him," Heath answered candidly, watching affectionately as Casey pulled a silly face at Harley to demonstrate how adorable they found him. Rachel smiled too at the easy way Casey had with the baby. Heath remembered then that they'd never met.

"Rachel, this is my b-"

"-friend, Casey. Casey Barrett, nice to meet you." Effortlessly Casey shifted Harley to one arm so he could shake Rachel's hand.

"Yeah, my mate Case," Heath said, playing along with the untruth, Casey must have his reasons. "Case, this is Jess's sister Rachel."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank-you, but at least she left us this little fella. Didn't she Harley?" She finished in a baby voice for Harley and handed her flowers over to Heath so she could take the baby from Casey. Casey placed him in her arms and she cradled him close, determined to cherish this gift her sister had left behind.

"How long are you here for?" she asked, still looking down at Harley dotingly, no doubt wanting to spend as much time with the little boy as possible.

"I dunno," Heath shrugged. "A few days? Forever? It's hard to say."

"Well what about tonight?" she asked, looking up at him. "Do you have anywhere to stay?"

"Not yet, we only just got into town. We were just gonna go find a motel somewhere." Rachel didn't seem to approve of his answer.

"Don't be silly, there's room at my place-"

"We couldn't intrude..."

"It's no trouble, I'd love to spend time with Harley, and you too Heath. We're family now."

"Really?" She really thought of him as family? The thought wasn't unwelcome.

"Yes really," she smiled, apparently thinking it was silly of him to think otherwise. She was a great chick, no pretense Heath realised, that was what he liked about her. She just told things like they were.

"Okay," Heath began, looking to Casey to see if he approved. Casey gave him a content smile, and it was so good to have someone by his side he didn't have to fight with, "we'd like that. Thanks."

"Great," Rachel grinned, before looking down to her sister's grave. "You hear that Jess? I told ya we'd look after them." She went back to fussing over Harley, and Heath shared a look with Casey. One that said he didn't need Rachel, but that it was still nice to have her support.

It really hit home then how easy it would be to leave Bianca behind. Even in Jess's dying days she had been worried not only about their son, but about him too, and he could never imagine Bianca having that kind of consideration for anyone else, let alone a bloke she barely knew and had just happened to get pregnant to. Bianca hadn't even been able to manage it for her husband, who she was supposed to love and support unconditionally.

Jess's selfless concern, Rachel's unquestioning acceptance and Casey's steady support proved to Heath that there were good people left in the world and the fact that he was standing in a cemetery by a twenty-eight year olds grave, was a potent reminder that life was too short to bother with the selfish and ungrateful ones. For the first time in a long time he was certain about where he should be, and who he should be with, and that was here in Melbourne with Harley and Casey and the Lockwood's. He didn't need anyone else.

AN: So I know what said about posting a sequel to Revelations but that was before I caught up on recent events in the Bay. I don't have the heart for it now, maybe one day I will but not now. Sorry to anyone who's disappointed. Also, I hope it's not too soon to post this. I did write it months ago with the intention of it being part of their happy ending, so I thought I may as well share it. Thanks for reading.