Disclaimer: I do not own Waterloo Road, as it is the property of the BBC

A/N: After reading back through this story, I realised that I've stated the kids at different ages at different points, that don't add up. So I'm setting the record straight.

Mika and Brett are 18, whilst Donte and Chlo are 17. Anna is 32, and Tom is about the same age.

Chapter 23

The next day was filled with visits to certain graveyards, memorials, and rounded off by a trip to what seemed like just a field.

The coach pulled up at the last stop of the day, and everyone followed the tour guide off of it, and through a field.

' What we doing in some stinkin' wet field? ' Janeece asked.

' Oi! Keep it zipped and listen to what the tour guide's telling us! ' Jack reprimanded.

' She's got a point though,' muttered Anna under her breath.

Jack looked at her slightly, and smirked.

' Now, now, Miss Aspinall,' he said,' you should be setting a good example. '

' Gather around! Gather here! ' called Wendy, the middle aged tour guide. The group formed a semi-circle, and all looked down at a big hole in the ground.

' Down there,' Wendy said,' is a german dug out - the soldiers would have spent days down there, with no food or drink, and in very cramped conditions. It's a tiny little space, and up to 50 people would be in there. Now, the most people we've managed to get down there on one of these trips is 30, so lets see if we can beat that. '

Excited, the pupils all jumped down into the entrance, and filed out into the large hole, one by one. Then some of the teachers followed, until only Anna, Tom and Jasmine were left.

' Come on, teachers,' Wendy encouraged,' we've 28 there. We need three more. '

Jasmine jumped down and pushed her way in.

Anna looked at Tom,' I guess now would be a good time to mention that I'm claustrophobic? '

' You'll be alright,' Tom insisted,' go in last, then you can stand on the outside and you'll have some space. '

Anna sighed, taking the big leap down, and cramming up into the entrance.

The other bodies pressed against her, and she took a deep breath, as Wendy instructed them to stay there whilst she took some photographs.

When they could leave, Anna felt numb, like she was going to suffocate, and like she couldn't move. Tom brushed past her and clambered out of the gap, followed by Jack.

They both looked down at Anna, who was breathing heavily and looking around in wide eyed panic.

' Anna? ' Tom prompted.

Anna's breathing deepened.

' Out of the way,' Jack said authoritavely to Tom, stepping towards the end of the dug-out, and reaching forward, stretching both of his arms out.

' Come on Anna,' he said encouragingly,' give me your hands. '

Breathing deeper, Anna was hardly listening to Jack, and allowed him to take hold of her tightly, and pull her to safely, where Tom immediately took her in his arms.

He knew that she was claustrophobic, but she'd never had a bad case in front of him - she'd told him she only had bad cases on trains, and the underground.

' You alright?' he asked.

Anna's breathing was eratic, and Tom looked at her, not knowing what to do.

' She's having a panic attack,' Jack said to Tom, as all of the children filed out of the dug-out, and gathered around Wendy, as she spoke to them.

' W-what do we do? ' Tom asked, raising his eyebrows.

Jack rolled his eyes,' She's your girlfriend, you should know what to do. Give her to me. '

Tom reluctantly let go of his partner, and Jack grabbed hold of her arm, dragging her away from everyone else.

He spoke to her soothingly, and tried his best to make her calm down - even breathing with her, until she was calmer.

' Are you alright? ' asked Jack finally.

' Yes,' Anna said,' I - thank you. I - I - yeah. '

Jack shook his head,' Don't mention it. '

On the coach going back to the accomodation, Tom picked up Anna's hand.

' I'm sorry,' he said.

She laughed,' What have you got to be sorry about, you stupid, gorgeous man. '

' Not knowing what to do, and Jack did. '

' Don't you dare be sorry,' Anna said, leaning her head against his shoulder.

*****

That evening, the staff again went to the bar, but this time they did not take turns on the karaoke, but played 10 pin bowling.

They split into two teams - Jasmine, Tom and Rachel against Jack, Eddie and Anna.

By the end, the scores were pretty much neck and neck.

Anna was up.

' Come on,' Eddie said, laying a hand on her shoulder,' we need this one. '

' You can do it, Anna,' Jack called as she took her place in front of the lane.

She drew her arm back, let go of the ball, and threw it straight down the middle of the lane. It collided with the pins ... knocked down 7 .. 8 .. 9 .. all of them in one go.

Behind her, Eddie and Jack cheered, and when Jasmine took the final turn for her team seconds later, and only knocked down 7 pins, the two men, and Anna cheered much louder.

' We won! ' Anna exclaimed,' the drinks are on you, Rachel. '

Eddie high fived Jack, and hugged Anna, before Jack kissed Anna's cheek, his lips lingering for longer than they should have done.

Tom did not miss this, yet he kept quiet.

*****

The two days that followed were filled with famous memorials, battle sites, graveyards, and lots of intense learning and emotional journeying.

The final night of the school trip, everyone boarded the coach, and were heading for the Menin Gate Ceremony - a ceremony which had taken place in the town of Ypres every night since the end of world war one. It was a chance to remember the gone, and reflect upon the past. Wendy had said it would be extremely emotional, and everyone was prepared for it.

The actual ceremony consisted of a few moments silence, waving of flags, and music playing.

After the ceremony, the kids were told that they were to be back on the coach in 15 minutes.

During this time, Anna went looking around at the thousands of named carved into the white walls of the huge memorial.

It took her almost all of the 15 minutes to find it, but she eventually found what she had been looking for - a single name carved into the great walls.

Lance Corporal J.A Aspinall.

She ran her fingertips across the name - the name of her great-uncle, who had died but his body never been found. A single tear fell from her eyes, and she turned around quickly when Jack called out her name.

' Anna? ' he said,' it's time to go back. '

' Sure. sure,' Anna sighed, running her thumb across the name before turning to follow him back to the coach.

' Are you alright? ' he asked, noting her slightly red eyes.

' I'm fine - just found the name of someone in my family ... it's nothing. '

Jack put his hand in the snall of her back, and guided her onto the coach.

As she took her seat between he and Tom, Tom frowned.

' What's wrong?' he asked

' Nothing,' she insisted,' I'm fine.'

Before he could press the matter, her head was resting on him, and she was drifting off to sleep.

He threw Jack a suspicious glance.

*****

Anna walked down the corridor at 10PM, knocking on doors, and telling everyone that it was time for lights out.

After she did so, she told Rachel and Jasmine that she was going to step out for a while - the 6 members of staff had decided to stay in tonight, since they were in for a long day tomorrow, travelling back.

She then grabbed a coat, and pulling it on, left the room, and the building. The accomodation was laid out much like the school- there was one building in which the rooms were, and a courtyard between that and another buidling, which held the bar and dining rooms.

Anna went to stand out in the courtyard, leaning over a little fountain that was out there.

She looked back at the building - some of the rooms overlooked the courtyard, and she saw some lights on behind curtains - the pupils who refused to be sensible and get some sleep.

A few moments of contemplating, and thinking all about the horrors of the war, and what even her own family had been through, had Anna in tears.

' Oh now,' a voice from behind said,' all out here on your own? '

' Hello Jack,' she said, without even turning around.

Jack came to stand beside her, and he frowned down at her tears.

' Oi,' he said softly,' you'd better not be crying. '

' I'm not,' she said, sniffing.

Jack smiled wryly,' I know all this stuff is a lot to take in.,' he said, putting his arm around her shoulders.

She tried to shrug away,' Jack ...' she said, raising her eyebrows.

' No,' Jack said,' come here - let me look after you. '

' I don't need looking after,' Anna insisted.

Jack rolled his eyes,' Yes - you've got Tom, haven't you .. and where's Tom now, when you need him? ' he asked, mocking.

' Don't ... Jack .. just don't,' Anna said, shaking her head.

' Don't? ' echoed Jack,' that's just problem - I don't think I can stop myself. '

With that, he reached out and laid a hand on the back of her neck, closing the distance between them quickly, and laying his lips upon hers.

He kissed her slowly and tried to part her lips with his tounge. All the while, she struggled against him, trying to push him away, but he was very persistant.

He did let go when she hit his arm.

' What the hell are you doing? ' she hissed.

His only reply was to kiss her again.

This time Jack only released her when an extremely angry voice shouted,' Hey! What are you playing at, you piece of scum?! '

' Bugger,' muttered Anna, pushing Jack away from her, as her furious boyfriend approached.

' Well,' he said,' I was only heading over to the pay phone to give Mika and Brett a ring, and look what I come across! '

The sound of Tom's shouting causes some curtains to twitch, and some of the pupils - on both corridors - to look out of their windows.

' Tom,' Anna breathed looking between the two men in a panic, and going to stand beside Tom, laying a hand on his arm.

Tom yanked his arm away,' Don't you touch me,' he said.

' Tom, please! ' she snapped,' it's not what it looks like! '

By now, all of the pupils were up at their windows, and some had pushed the windows open enough to be able to hear better.

Tom glared at Jack,' Couldn't keep your filthy hands to yourself, could you? Just had to have a go, did you? '

' Tom, calm down,' hissed Anna.

' Calm down? ' echoed Tom furiously,' how can I calm down, when he's snogging your face off. '

The kids were shouting thing down - mostly thing such as " Go on Mr Clarkson", "Teach him a lesson, Mr Clarkson".

The angry Tom did indeed teach him a lesson, and suddenly, impulsively, punched Jack square in the face.

The kids cheered.

Anna screamed,' Tom! You can't go around punching people like that '

Tom now turned on Anna,' Defending your lover now, are you? How long has it being going on for? '

' Nothing's going on! ' she insisted.

' Well, you would say that, wouldn't you? Trying to save your skin. Don't even bother lying about it! I've seen the way that you act around him! Just admit it! ' he raged.

' Tom! Tom, listen to me! ' pleaded Anna, tears spilling from her eyes,' if you'd been paying attention, you'd have noticed that I tried to push him away. '

' Well you didn't try hard enough did you? ' Tom accused.

' Tom,' Jack said, trying to pull Anna away from him,' just calm down, mate. '

Tom punched Jack again.

It was second before Eddie, Rachel and Jasmine joined their collegues.

Tom was about to hit Jack again, when Eddie grabbed hold of him, and pulled him away.

' Tom, don't be stupid,' he said.

' Tom,' Anna sighed, looking up at him.

Tom shook his head,' No, I don't want to hear it .. this is it. We're done. Rimmer's welcome to you, because it's obvious that you never gave a damn about me, did you? '

' Tom! ' Anna yelled, as Eddie dragged him back into the building, and Rachel shouted up at the kids to go back to bed.

' No! ' Tom shouted,' we're finished. '

Jasmine put her arm around her friend's waist, as Anna dissolved into hysterical tears.

' Come on,' she said soothingly,' let's get you inside. '

*****

Anna had been in her bedroom with Jasmine and Rachel trying to console her for all of 10 minutes when there was a knock on the door.

Rachel opened it.

' Chlo, would you go back to bed, please? ' the headmistress asked.

' Please Miss Mason, I just want to talk to Miss Aspinall,' Chlo sighed.

' I don't think that's appropriate right now,' Rachel replied.

Anna sniffed,' Rachel .. it's alright, I'll talk to her.'

Rachel nodded,' Ok then, come on in, Chlo. '

Chlo came and sat down on the bed with Anna.

' Oh, Chlo, it's such as mess,' Anna sighed.

' This is ridiculous,' Chlo said,' you didn't want Mr Rimmer to kiss you, did you? There's nothing going on, is there? '

' Of course not,' replied Anna,' you know that I love Tom more than anything. And I love you and Mika too .. and even your Donte I guess. We were all one happy family a couple of days ago. '

' What's going to happen now? ' Chlo asked.

Anna shrugged,' I guess Brett and I are going to have to move out, now. We'll find a B&B, or something. '

' Tom'll come around,' Chlo assured Anna,' he has to. You two are so perfect together. '

'I don't know how we're going to overcome this one,' Anna admitted.

' You can't move out,' Chlo whined,' we - me and Mika - love having you around. It's like we're finally a proper family again .. our place is the happiest it's been since .. since my mum. '

' Oh come here,' Anna smiled, hugging Chlo tightly.

She patted the teenager's back,' I love Tom more than anthing, and moving out is the last thing I want to do. There is absolutely nothing going on between me and Mr Rimmer. I ... I only hope that Tom comes to his senses. '

' I'll talk to him,' Chlo said.

' You know more than I do that he's headstrong, possesive, protective, and stubborn. If he doesn't see sense, and we - Brett and I - have to move out, this doesn't change things between me and you two girls - I love you two to bits, and there's no getting rid of me now. '

' Where are you going to stay? ' Chlo asked.

' We'll find some grubby motel, or B&B nearby, or something. '

' Don't be ridiculous,' Jasmine said suddenly, skaking her dark curls,' you'll both come and stay with me.'

' Jas,' smiled Anna,' you don't have to, you know. I'll be fine in a B&B, and I can always send Brett to go and stay with his grandparents. '

Grantley and Fleur - the latter in particular - had really tried to get to know their grand son, and Brett sometimes had tea at their house - Grantly was even nice-r to Brett in class .Even more suprising, he was civil to Anna.

' Tom'll come around, I know it,' Chlo said, standing up and moving to leave.

' Well heres hoping,' shrugged Anna.

*****

She didn't speak to him again until they got back to the school. She sat at the front of the coach on the way home - swapping places with Rachel, and sitting with Eddie - Eddie was something of a mentor to her, since they were both in the mathematics depeartment. She also ignored the comments that came from the pupils - though not without great difficulty.

In the school car park, Tom stopped by his car, and looked over at Anna. His face bore a strange expression for a few seconds as she watched him, before he called out to her.

' I suppose you're coming back to the house?' he asked, his tone edgy, and his expression sad.

' Oh don't worry,' Anna replied, shaking her head,' I'm just coming to collect my son, and then we'll both be out of your hair. '

' Anna,' he said before she left.

' Yes? ' she asked, raising her eyebrows at him, trying desperately not to give away any emotion in her voice.

He shook his head,' It - no - it doesn't matter. '

' Suit yourself,' muttered Anna under her breath, as she got into Jasmine's car - Jasmine was going to give her a lift to her house - their house - so they could get Brett, and then they were off back to Jasmine's.

*****

Jasmine and Anna got there before Chlo and Tom did.

' I'll wait here,' Jasmine said supportively,' you go on in. You'll be alright. '

Anna sighed, leaving the car, and unlocking the house before entering.

' Hey - I'm here! ' shouted Anna.

The pair of them - Mika and Brett - ran down the stairs to greet her, only to stop in front of her and look at her in confusion when they saw that she was alone.

' Mum? Where's Tom and Chlo? ' Brett asked.

' Shh,' Anna said, shaking her head,' not now. '

She threw her arms around Brett, and kissed his cheek, before going on to embrace Mika, and also kissing her on the cheek.

' Oh, I'm so glad to see you both - you two been behaving yourselves? ' she asked, attempting a smile.

' Yeah course,' Mika said,' but where are Tom and Chlo? '

Anna sighed, and in the next instant, she'd broken into sobs.

The two teenagers looked at each other in alarm.

' Brett, we're leaving,' Anna announced, through her tears.

' What? ' chorused the teenagers, looking at her incredulously.

' Tom and I have - have split up,' Anna finally told them, leaving them reeling.

' No,' whispered Mika,' no you can't. You're perfect together .. you just fit. And we love having you around .. you're part of the family now, you and Brett. You can't go. '

The front door opened, and Tom and Chlo entered.

Tom's eyes widened,' Ah,' he said, noting Brett and Mika's shocked expressions,' so you know. '

' What the hell? ' Mika asked,' you can't seriously be splitting up! Why? '

Tom glared at Anna,' Because I caught her kissing Jack Rimmer. '

' No! ' Mika said.

' For the record, he kissed me, and I didn't respond,' Anna said icily,' and your stubborn step-father refuses to accept that I love him far, far too much to ever hurt him like that. '

' You kissed him! ' Tom yelled.

Anna sighed,' Brett, you and I are going to stay with Jasmine - I mean, Miss Koreshi - for a while. Don't bother stopping now to get any of your things. We'll stop by over the weekend when there's more time, and when Tom isn't around. '

' Does it really have to be this way? ' Chlo whined.

' I'm afraid so,' Tom said,' because it looks like some people can't be trusted. '

Anna scoffed,' You're such a hypocrite, Tom Clarkson. You shouldn't judge me by your own standards - I know you got together with Izzie whilst you were still married to Lorna, but that's not me. I love you too much to even consider hurting you. And there's the fact that whilst I'm so in love with you, I wouldn't even want anyone else. Come one Brett, we're going. '

' Mum, I don't want to go,' Brett insisted.

' Brett,' Anna snapped,' we're going and that's final. We don't have a choice in the matter. Now come on, Jasmine's waiting for us outside in her car. '

She pushed Brett towards the front door, but before she left, she turned back and looked at the two girls.

' I'm sorry it had to be this way, kids,' she sighed,' I really do love you both. And I'm sorry, Tom. '

' Sorry that you ever kissed Jack Rimmer? ' Tom challenged.

' No. Sorry that this is the end of us. '