A/n This is just a filler chapter, but enjoy :D

Title: Song by Imogen Heap.

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After her mother had left Nicole decided not to dwell on their argument, but instead have some fun! Besides isn't that what being 17 is all about? So she grabbed her dad and Aden and told them that they were coming shopping, no arguments. They were all too happy to oblige. She dragged them into every single clothing shop, buying plenty on her dad's credit card. They also had lunch and caught a film. By the end of the day they were so worn out that they just wanted to go home and sleep. But as they were nearly home Nicole decided she wanted a coffee. So they sent her in giving her their preference. She was really, genuinely happy, which was an odd occurrence for her. She had an amazing dad and an amazing…friend. Was that what Aden was? With everything that had been happening Nicole wasn't sure anymore. But she was ripped from her musings as she felt a tap on her shoulder. She really hated it when people did that; there was no need for it. She turned around ready to give said person an earful when she came face to face with the man that haunted her dreams.

"Nicole, can we please talk?" Ray pleaded, he look almost desperate. She knew this day would eventually come, when they would have to 'discuss why she needed so much attention' but she prayed for later. Thankfully she had an alibi, a car full waiting on their coffees. So it would have to wait.

"Sorry but my dad is waiting for me in the car, and he hates waiting." She replied noticing him squirm when she mentioned her dad. He hated it when she called Roman that, he would always insist that she call him dad, but she could never bring herself to do it. It was always Ray or mums husband. She grabbed her coffees and turned to leave.

"Nicole, please. Just, um, meet me here tomorrow. I really need to talk to you." She silently agreed and walked back to the car, her previous good mood now shattered as she awaited the talk.

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Roman had noticed Nicole's sudden change in mood when she got back in the car and debated whether to ask her about it and ruin her mood further or just let it be for now. He decided on the latter, if she wanted to she would tell him and she obviously didn't want to talk about it. Whereas Aden had decided the opposite and followed her upstairs when they got back.

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"So what happened?" Aden asked as soon as they were alone.

"What do you mean?" Nicole asked plonking herself down on her bed. Aden followed suit and asked her what happened in the coffee shop.

"Oh don't play dumb Nicole, you're not very good at it. Just tell me what happened."

"Fine, I ran into Ray. He asked me to meet him there tomorrow to talk and I agreed." She told him.

"Then I'm coming with you." At her shake of the head he continued, "I'll sit in a different booth, but just keep an eye on you. I don't want anything to happen to you." She finally accepted but on the condition that he not try and eavesdrop, she may have told him some things, but she didn't want him to know everything.

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Ray was positioned at the same booth that Natalie and him had been the previous day. Nicole entered the café gingerly, glancing around the room with Aden in tow. Ray looked over and noticed she wasn't alone. He got up, about to protest when Nicole stopped him,

"He's just waiting for me, go sit over there." She pointed to a booth at the far end of the coffee shop so that he could still see them, but not here anything. He pulled her into a hug and whispered into her hair that he was there if she needed anything and walked off, squeezing her hand as he went. Nicole took a deep breath and sat opposite Ray.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" She asked, looking anywhere but his eyes.

"I want you to tell me why you said what you said." Ray answered bluntly.

"What do you mean?" Nicole asked nonchalantly, staring at her manicure.

"Why you said that I…" Ray raised his voice, but then lowered it realising where they were, "Why you said that I raped you."

"They believed me didn't they?" Nicole answered, finally looking up. She saw the hurt in his eyes and wanted to smash his head on the table. "Are we done here? Because Aden and I are going somewhere." She noticed the twitch in his jaw as she mentioned Aden's name, it gave her a thrill knowing she had that effect on people.

"I want you to tell your mum that I never touched you." He stated.

"And why would I do that?" She asked, challenging him.

"Your mother was happy with me, you know she was. That kills you doesn't it? That she was more happy spending time with me than being with you." Ray smirked, a facial expression of his that Nicole couldn't stand.

"You know, I really don't think pissing me off will make me do what you want." She scoffed; he really was a charmer wasn't he?

"Look Nicole, I just want me and your mother back together, I love her and I know she still loves me. Please, just do the right thing." Ray pleaded. She looked at him one last time, before getting up and walking towards Aden.

"You ready to go?" She asked once she reached him.

"Yeah, but I could really do with a hug." He wrapped his arms around her and she smirked, wishing she could see Rays face right now. He always hated all of her boyfriends; he liked to play the dad card as often as possible. She hated it more than anything; she had a dad and didn't need another. He grabbed her hand and led her outside, glaring over at Ray as they left.

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Nicole was confused. What exactly were her and Aden? Were they just friends? Or were they more than that? They were really close at the moment, always with each other but they had never discussed anything about them. She didn't even know if there was a 'them'. She decided that she would ask him, that night. He was coming over to hang out and watch a few films; Nicole figured that she could just bring it up as they were watching one.

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It was about 8:30 when Aden turned up. Lily was out for the night, Nicole wasn't sure what she was doing, but she told her to not wait up. Roman was out for a few beers with his old school mates, and Natalie was booked into a motel down the road. She figured it would be better to give Nicole some space, so they had the house to themselves.

"Hey, I brought a selection, I didn't know what you'd want to watch." He told her, walking in and putting them on the coffee table in the lounge.

"I don't mind, you pick."

"Okay" He put in The Hitcher, a horror film that neither had seen.

It was about half way through the movie when Aden put his arm round her. She turned towards him and studied him for a moment.

"What?" He turned towards her, feeling her staring at him.

"What are we?" She asked straightforwardly.

"Umm…what do you mean?" He questioned, wondering where she was going with this.

"I mean what are we, friends or something more."

"Well, what do you want us to be?" He asked watching her carefully.

"What do you want to be?"

"Well, something more," He said shyly, but hastily added, "But I totally understand if you are not ready." She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was this the same boy that everyone warned her about? Because this boy did not seem the slightest bit spiteful or malicious.

"I'm ready, believe me." She replied. He leaned forward to kiss her, which she eagerly accepted. After pulling apart, Nicole snuggled into him and watched the movie.

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When Lily walked in the door she heard a blood-curling scream. She raced into the living room afraid of what she would find. She was relieved to find that it was only the T.V and began to make her way into the kitchen. She looked back and noticed someone's hand flopping over the sofa. She walked back in and realised that Nicole and Aden had fallen asleep. They looked so sweet and peaceful. Aden had his arms firmly wrapped around Nicole and she was lead curled into his side with her face in his chest. She ran and got her camera, careful not to wake them and snapped a picture. Now, she knew it was one of her own rules that no one sleeps downstairs but they looked so peaceful. Plus, she couldn't expect Aden to go home at this hour and she couldn't condone them spending the night in Nicole's room, even if they were just friends. So she picked up a blanket and covered them with it. With that she went up to bed.

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Aden awoke to a clanging sound in his ear. He started to get up to investigate when he noticed someone's hand clamped over his stomach and someone's head lying on his chest. Then all of last night's events came flooding back, causing a big grin to appear on his face. Him and Nicole were now official. He had wanted this from the beginning, but he knew he had to wait, especially after everything she had been through. Everyone thought he was just some big bad bully, but they never took the time to get to know the real Aden, except Nicole. She was one of a kind. All his moving around must have woke Nicole; she glanced up at him, sleep apparent in her eyes.

"Morning," she croaked, giving him a small smile.

"Very good morning," Aden replied, leaning forward giving her a peck on the lips. Her smile widened. She climbed off of him and asked him if he wanted any breakfast.

"Yes please" He got up grabbed her hand and led their way to the kitchen. Lily turned as she heard footsteps on the tiles.

"Oh, hello kids did you have a good night?" Lily asked, dishing them up some pancakes.

"Yes thanks, did you?" Nicole asked taking her bowl and tucking in.

"It was lovely thank you. Just catching up with some old friends." Nicole contemplated telling her grandmother about her and Aden. She was becoming closer to her and thought of her as a mother figure now. That sounded horrible, as her real mother was only down the road but Lily had helped her be a better person and was the reason she met Aden in the first place. She would wait until Aden had gone anyway.

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"Grandma, can I talk to you a second please." Nicole asked later on. Aden had gone home to shower and see his dad. He was then coming back to pick her up so they could go to the movies.

"Sure, sit down."

"I don't really know why I'm telling you this, but I feel like we have become closer, and I don't really have anyone else to talk to, except my dad, and that would be a little bit awkward." Nicole rambled.

"Yes, carry on."

"Well, me and Aden are dating now."

"Oh, well congratulations." Lily got up and hugged Nicole. "I knew you seemed happier today." Nicole beamed and ran upstairs to change thanking Lily as she went.

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Aden knocked on the door of Lily's house checking over his appearance. Roman answered with a stern look on his face.

"I know that you and Nicole are dating now, and I am quite relieved it is you, you seem like a nice enough guy. But I am just warning you now, you hurt her and you have to deal with me, got it?" Roman warned, there were some perks to being in the army.

"I promise you, I will do my best to not hurt her, she's been through enough. Roman smiled and patted him on the back. Just at that moment Nicole appeared at the door with a smile on her face.

"Bye daddy." She leaned up and kissed him before greeting Aden, grabbing his hand and leading him towards his car.

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Ray sat in his car, a little away from Lily's house and watched Nicole with Roman and Aden. He hated seeing her with another boy, she was his little girl and she wasn't allowed to be seeing other guys. But what he really, really hated was watching her with Roman, her 'real' dad. She acted like he was the one who brought her up, but he had only been in her life for two years. He didn't raise her, yet she loved him more than anyone. He just didn't understand.