The night kicked on and everyone at the barbecue seemed to be happy. Ric and Lucas stood in the back corner of the backyard, watching Nat and Mattie talking to Beth.

"So, you guys are on?" Ric asked Lucas.

Lucas smiled and nodded. "Yeah."

Ric grinned.

"It's weird. I've known her, what, two days? And already I feel like..." Lucas trailed off.

"Like what?" Ric asked.

"I don't know. All I know is she makes me happier than I've been in a long time," Lucas said before changing the subject. "So, you and Mattie? You guys got your acts together?"

Ric smiled. "Yeah. Yeah, we did."

"I'm really happy for you guys," Lucas said.

"And me for you. Now if you'll excuse me, there is someone much hotter than yourself who seems to be calling me inside," Ric said with a cheeky grin. He stood up and walked towards Mattie, passing Nat on the way.

"Hey," Nat said as she approached Lucas.

"Hey," he said with a smile.

Nat sat down next to him, close.

"Can I tell you something?" she whispered.

"What?" he asked, their faces just inches away from each other.

"I wish all these other people weren't here right now," she said.

Lucas had to use all his might not to lean over and start kissing her at that moment. Just the way she leaned close to him as she whispered. His heart was racing.

He didn't reply. He just blushed.

--

"Thank you again, Beth," Martha said as she and Jack left. They were the last of the guests to go, apart from Ric, and had been helping with the clean up.

"My pleasure," Beth said. "Good night."

"Good night."

"Night."

"I'm so glad they finally found each other again," Beth said as she closed the front door.

"Jack's the happiest he's been in a long time," Tony said with a smile.

"Now, you two," Beth said, turning to Mattie and Ric. "I am very happy for both of you, but I want to warn you – no sleep overs, no late nights, no nights alone..."

"Mum!" Mattie cut her off.

Nat and Lucas were both laughing. Ric looked terrified.

"At least until you've finished school, okay? I don't want this to distract you from your HSC."

"It won't, Mum. I promise," Mattie assured her.

"Alright. Now why don't you kids go off and enjoy the night while it's still young," Beth said.

"Mum, it's 11 o'clock..." Mattie said, unsure. Her mother never usually encouraged her to be out this late, let alone go out this late.

"Just think of it as a welcoming Nat to the Bay treat," Beth said, with a smile.

Mattie knew something was up, but she wasn't going to push it.

"Thanks, Mum," she said. "We won't be out too late."

The four kids headed out the door, and decided to head down to the beach for a late night bonfire.

"So, does anyone have matches?" Nat asked.

"I'll grab some from my house," Lucas said, running into his driveway.

"So, why do you think Aunty Beth wanted us out the door so badly?" Nat asked.

"I have an idea, but Mattie you might want to cover your ears," Ric said with a grin.

"Ohh! No! Ric!" Mattie groaned.

Nat laughed.

--

When they arrived at the beach, they realized that another group had had the same idea. Mattie groaned as they got closer and she realized who the group was.

"Aden Jefferies and co," she told Nat. "Summer Bay's notorious bad boy. A title formerly held by Ric," she told her.

"How edgy of you, Ric," Nat said in a congratulatory manner.

Ric shook his head. "I was not."

"Mmmm hmmm," Mattie said, knowing better.

"Do you guys really want to stay here?" Lucas asked.

"Come on," Nat encouraged. "It'll be fun. We'll find our own bit of beach. We won't even notice them."

"I guess we can head a bit further down," Ric suggested.

Everyone agreed, so they headed down ramp to the beach, heading in the direction of the pier.

"Hey, Dalby." They heard a voice call.

Ric groaned and turned around. "What do you want, Aden?"

"Just wanted to see who your new friend was. Hi, I'm Aden," he said, closing in on Nat.

"She's my cousin," Mattie said defensively.

"Oh, that's too bad," Aden teased. "What's your name, sweetie?"

"Nat."

"Wanna come join us?" Aden asked.

"Why would I want to do that?" Nat asked.

Aden moved in closer.

"I'll make it worth your while."

"Really? How's that?" Nat said, playing along. She knew she'd be able to win this.

He leant in a whispered in her ear. Lucas cracked. He moved in and pushed Aden away from Nat.

"Back off," Lucas warned.

"Lucas. I didn't know you had it in you," Aden quipped. "I thought you just let it all out in your precious little diary. 'Dear diary, today Aden was mean to me'. Yeah, that's going to win the ladies over."

"Says the guy who's not getting laid tonight, to the guy who just might," Nat said with satisfaction.

Lucas looked alarmed.

Aden walked closer to Nat. "You might have to be gentle with him. Little Lucas isn't really experienced in that area," he said, before walking away with a smug grin.

"Come on," Ric said. "Let's just go."