Thanks as always for the reviews and feedback guys! Sorry I always sound repetitive but it's true, reviews make me very happy and I am glad you're all into the story as I love writing it! Long update again which flits between POV's a little! Please leave your comments as always, thanks! x

Chapter Thirteen

Maddie's POV

She stared out of the car window and into the park that they'd stopped by at a red light. The play area was full of children and their parents but only a couple of people caught her eye. The little blonde girl looked like she was only a couple of years old and pushing her gently on the swing was who she assumed was her father. She remembered times when she'd gone to the park with her dad and they'd stayed out all day until she fell asleep in his arms. When he'd come back from long fishing trips for the first few weeks he'd never leave her side. She'd woken up many nights as a child to find him either asleep on the floor in her room or on the chair alongside her bed. Even when her mother had been her life she'd always, always been a daddy's girl.

He'd played such a huge part in her life and now it seemed like he wouldn't play any further part in it. A couple of days had passed by since her father had caught her and Jake together in her apartment and she'd tried to put a brave face on things for Jake. It's not like she wasn't happy because she was, she loved having him in her arms and waking up to see him staring at her. She loved being with him and having him around her but at the same time she was trying to deal with the emotions of everything that had been said by her father.

She was hurting and it was obvious that Jake had seen through her attempts at pretending that everything was completely fine. That's why he'd arranged to take her over to his parent's place thinking it would take her mind off of everything that was going on with her dad. It was a nice thought but deep down she knew that it was going to take a while for her to get used to the fact that her dad didn't want anything more to do with her.

'Mom's gonna be so happy when we tell her what's going on, I can't wait to see her face,' Jake started to talk just as the lights changed and he pulled off, leaving the park and the father and daughter behind.

'Well I don't think anyone could take it as badly as my dad has so that's a good thing,' she replied. 'Speaking of which, hadn't we better think about going to the boat to see if any of your stuff is still there? I know you said there wasn't anything there that you wanted to keep but I still think we should go just in case.'

'There's no point Maddie. Who's gonna take me on now that I've been fired by the Hansen's? They're probably busy phoning everyone that they know up in Dutch to give me a bad name. I'm just gonna have to try and find another job somewhere else, there are plenty of boats in Seattle, the pay won't be as good and I'll be away from home longer fishing cod, salmon, tuna, whatever, but I don't have much of a choice,' his shoulders slumped over as he drove and she couldn't help but feel a great amount of guilt. If it wasn't for her he would still have a job and he'd still be living out his dream. He'd sacrificed all that to be with her and now his family were going to suffer too.

'I'm sorry Jake, if I'd got to Sig first maybe I could have talked some sense into him. I should have known that dad would go straight round there to drop you in it,' that's exactly what he had done. In his quest to hurt her and Jake as much as possible he'd made sure that he had Sig on his side to veto Jake's firing. A couple of hours after he'd left her apartment she'd got a text message from Sig backing up what her father had said, Jake was persona non gratis as far as the Hansen men were concerned.

'You need to stop apologising baby, none of this is your fault. I made a choice and the past couple of days have been wonderful, I don't have any regrets,' she smiled at him as he briefly took his eyes off the road ahead to look at her. She'd never stop tingling every time he looked at her. He was a good man and as much as losing her father hurt, she wasn't going to change her mind. She needed Jake and he needed her and she wouldn't ever want to change the fact that they'd fallen in love with each other. She just wished that he'd worked on a different boat….

After navigating his way through the busy streets of Seattle they made it to Jake's parent's house an hour or so after setting off from her apartment. They'd already decided before leaving that he was going to fetch some stuff from home so he could continue to stay with her for a while. She hadn't officially asked him to move in with her yet because she didn't want him to feel like she was rushing him into anything and she certainly didn't want his parents to feel like they were losing their son to her. It hadn't been that long since Chelsea had passed away so they both wanted to tread carefully to make sure they didn't upset anyone else.

'You'd better be prepared for a big dinner, mom's probably been in the kitchen fussing around ever since I called to say we were coming over,' he smiled as he turned off the engine and took the keys out of the ignition.

'Mmm I need plenty to eat! After all the 'exercising' we've been doing I need some calories! I also need to warm up before we get going in future, some of the positions you had me in…..'

'Hey you were the one that put your leg behind your head! I just went along with it! It WAS a pretty awesome view I had though,' he winked before leaning over to place a kiss on her lips. 'You're okay with this aren't you?'

'With seeing your family?' Jake nodded. 'Of course I am, we have to tell them too. I want everyone to know about us so we don't have to hide anymore,' she smiled at him.

'I kinda like hiding in your apartment though, especially your bed,' he whispered the words into her ear and started to trail his fingers across one of her hands as she pulled back from him.

'Don't make me all hot and flustered just before we see your parents!' Before he could tease her again she quickly exited the car to get some much needed fresh air into her lungs.

Jake followed suit and she walked around to his side of the car so they could walk up to his parent's door together. Once reaching the front door she rang the bell and they waited for a couple of minutes until his mother came to answer.

'Oh Jake!' As soon as she opened the door his mother pulled Jake into a tight hug. Looking at his mother she could tell that something was wrong, it looked as though she had been crying as her eyes were all red and puffy.

'Mom? Is everything okay?' Jake obviously noticed that something wasn't right too and his mother pulled back from the hug and quickly focused her attention onto her, ignoring Jake's question completely.

'Maddie it's so good to see you again!' She was also greeted with a hug before they stepped inside the house.

Following his mother into the small lounge area she was surprised to find it empty. 'Where's dad? I thought he would be here too?' Jake asked as soon as he stepped inside the room.

'Oh he's had to go and help a friend with something, I don't know what exactly but it doesn't matter! He'll be back soon enough,' the forced smile on her face gave away the fact that she was lying.

'Mom, seriously. Tell me what's wrong,' Jake replied gently.

'Nothing's wrong Jake everything's fine!' She laughed before urging both of them to take a seat on the couch as she sat down on one of the two leather seats in the room. 'Now I want to know what's happening between you two and why you haven't been home these past few days.'

Jake stared at her for a second before slowly reaching his hand out to hers, she took his hand and intertwined her fingers with his before both of them looked at his mother who beamed back at them.

'Well we're kinda dating mom….'

'Kinda dating? Oh don't tell me you're doing, what's the phrase? The friends with benefits thing?' Her face had fallen at Jake's jittery announcement and he'd totally confused her but she couldn't help but stifle a giggle as Jake's face flushed bright red.

'No mom we're not friends with benefits! We're a real couple, boyfriend and girlfriend!' He quickly countered and right away the beaming smile reappeared on his mother's face.

'I knew you two would get together in the end!' She rose from her chair and went to hug Jake first before doing the same with her. 'Have you told your father yet?'

'Well he came to my apartment and found Jake there a couple of days ago so we had no choice but to tell him what was going on,' she replied.

'And as you can guess, I am now unemployed,' she lowered her head as he told his mother about his job status. She couldn't help but feel responsible for the tough financial time that his family was going to experience as a result of this job loss. She would have to sign up for all the extra work she could get to try and help them.

'But he didn't hurt either of you did he? You're both okay?'

'We're both fine mom, we're doing good,' Jake smiled at his mother.

'Well that's the main thing. I wouldn't want either of you getting hurt over this, money isn't important, I'm just glad you're happy and smiling again,' she was so delighted that his mother had taken the news of their relationship so well but a little sad at the same time.

Her first concern had been for her son's happiness, she was okay as long as he was too. In her mind, her dad should have reacted in the same away. She was happy and she was in love, even if her father didn't think that Jake was good enough for her seeing her happiness should have been enough for him to put his feelings to one side and just try to be happy for her. He hadn't even tried for one measly second, all he'd thought about was himself and she couldn't help but hate him a little bit for that.

'I'd better go and check on my lasagne, I know it's your favourite so I thought I'd give you a nice treat,' his mother said.

'Do you want me to give you a hand in the kitchen?' She asked and his mother accepted her offer immediately.

Leaving Jake alone in the lounge she followed her to the kitchen and started to help her. They were alone for a good while and it gave them a chance to talk which she was grateful for.

It was an hour or so later that Jake's father arrived from wherever he'd been. After his arrival they'd sat down to lunch and his parents had asked her lots of questions about her job and her life, Jake had stepped in once or twice to try and change the subject but she didn't mind answering their questions. She had nothing to hide or to be ashamed about, well apart from her stupid fucking father of course.

All in all they spent around four hours in the company of his parents before Jake went up to his room to pack a small suitcase full of clothes and toiletries. Before leaving they promised to return in a few days when all his sister's would be available to hear the news of their relationship, she was sure it would be a pretty fucking chaotic day but looked forward to it regardless.

They left the house just after four in the afternoon and arrived back outside her apartment just after five. She had been about to exit the car when Jake cursed loudly.

'Fuck! I forgot to pick up underwear!'

'How the fuck could you forget your underwear? That's the one thing you really need doofus!' She shook her head before closing the car door again.

'You go inside, I'll head back there myself,' he replied and immediately her suspicions were raised.

'No it's okay, I'll come with you, I've got nothing better to do.'

'I know this is going to sound really fucking awful but I'd rather go alone Maddie. Something was up with my mom and dad and I want to try and find out what it was, if you're there they probably won't talk to me openly you know? I mean they really like you but you're still more or less a stranger to them, they won't talk about certain stuff in front of strangers,' Maddie watched his body language as he spoke and she had no reason to suspect that he was lying. There HAD been an obvious tension between his parents and what he said made sense. There was still a tiny part of her which suspected that he wasn't going back to see his parents but a relationship was all about trust so she had no choice but to trust him.

'I guess I could make a start on dinner and get ready for bed because that's where I'm gonna take you for dessert,' she winked playfully as Jake leaned across and pressed a kiss on her chin.

'I won't be long baby, put on that red nightie of yours again, you look REALLY hot in that thing,' she smiled as he wriggled around in his seat in an attempt to hide the bulge that had popped up in his trousers.

'As you wish hot stuff, I hope everything goes okay. Call me if you need me,' pressing a quick kiss on his lips she exited the car and watched as he drove away.

She just really, really hoped that he was telling the truth about where he was going.

Jake's POV

The one thing that he hated doing was lying. The sad thing was that because he'd done so much of it in the past to hide his alcohol and drug problems that he'd become so good at it. He really hadn't wanted to lie to Maddie about where he was going but if he'd told her the truth he knew that she would never have let him go.

When he'd taken his suitcase out to the car and left Maddie inside talking to his parents he'd sent Edgar a text message asking him to meet up on the boat that night. He hadn't known at the time whether he would agree to turn up or not but just as he'd been walking up his parent's front path he'd replied to agree to the meeting. They'd arranged to meet at six so he didn't have much time to spare.

Over the past few days Maddie had tried to be strong but he could see through her attempts to make him believe that she was okay. Edgar's words had hurt her and he knew how much she loved and looked up to her father, she needed him in her life. That's why he'd arranged to meet Edgar in an attempt to salvage things. If he could just explain how he felt and convince him to give their relationship a chance he was sure that things would work out. He would never hurt Maddie in a million years because he loved her so much, if Edgar could see that he was willing to do anything for her then everything would be okay.

He knew it wasn't going to be easy and he sure as hell knew that he was taking a big risk by going to meet Edgar alone but he didn't see any other way of dealing with the situation. He didn't care about his job, he'd accepted that he wasn't going to get that back but he did care about Maddie. She was happy but there was something missing and that was her father's acceptance and support. She needed it and he knew that deep down Edgar needed Maddie. She was his first child. He'd been by her side for twenty five years. He couldn't just throw all that love away and not think twice about it. Even he knew that Edgar wasn't that cold and heartless.

After weaving his way through rush hour traffic, he made it to the docks with only minutes to spare. Jumping out of the car he ran as fast as he could to the Northwestern, if he were even a minute late he knew that Edgar might leave. By the time he reached the boat and jumped on board he could barely breathe but somehow he managed to stagger across the deck to try the dry room door. When it opened he knew that Edgar was already there so he forced himself inside and made his way to the galley. He found Edgar sitting at the galley table flicking his cigarette lighter, his eyes seemed to darken as he looked across the room towards him.

'Well, well, well. I'm surprised you decided to show up, thought you'd have enough sense to change your mind,' Edgar pulled out one of his cigarettes from the packet that lay on the table and brought it to his mouth to light it as he walked closer to him.

'I haven't come here to fight with you Edgar, I'm here to try and smooth things over….'

Without warning Edgar smashed his fist against the table and shot him a look that could kill. 'Smooth things over? SMOOTH THINGS OVER? You know how you can do that Junior? Keep the FUCK away from MY daughter and stop FUCKING her! THAT'S how you can smooth things over!'

He tried to keep calm as he moved ever closer to the table, if he started screaming and shouting then there would be a brawl and he hadn't come here for that. He HAD to make him see that he was in love with Maddie, he had to make him understand.

'I know you probably don't wanna hear it but I love her. I love her so much and all I wanna do from now on is protect her and make her happy. That's why I'm here! She misses you, she needs you….'

'If SHE needed me that much she would end this, this THING right now! I mean she's dated some fucking idiots in the past but this….this just really fucking stinks!'

'Look I don't expect that either of us are ever gonna be friends but we could at least try to get along for her sake….'

'Who the fuck are you trying to kid here? It makes me SICK thinking of the two of you together. My little girl, whoring herself out to some…..'

'Don't you dare talk about her like that!' He had tried desperately to keep his cool but he couldn't stand back and keep quiet when he insulted Maddie. He could throw insults at him all day but not about her.

He watched as Edgar stood up and got out from behind the table. He didn't move or flinch as he came face to face with him. 'This isn't about love, not for her or for you. She's looking for some troubled guy with a bad boy past to show her a good time, she's done this before and after you she'll do it again. She just wants to fuck you.'

A red mist glazed over him as he heard Edgar's words but he was too slow. Just as he'd clenched his fist as hard as he could Edgar's right hand landed a crunching blow to his left cheekbone that had him seeing stars. He tried to get his balance and retaliate with a punch of his own but he was on the back foot and Edgar knew it. Before he had a chance to straighten himself up Edgar grabbed him by the throat and pushed him up against one of the state room doors. 'If you wanna help Jake, leave her, NOW! Until you do I will do everything, EVERYTHING that I can to make sure she gets the fuck away from you!'

When Edgar's hands left his throat he doubled over, gasping for air to fill his lungs. He half expected him to finish things off with another punch or a kick but he didn't, he just walked away without saying another word. He'd made himself pretty clear.

Maddie's POV

'Jakkeeee! I have a surprise for you!' After waiting for a couple of hours her man was FINALLY back in her apartment. She'd had a shower and moisturised every single inch of her skin to make it nice and silky for her man to kiss her everywhere. She'd put on the red nightie that he loved to see her in and she'd even trimmed down below to make things a little….smoother.

She was lying back on her bed expecting him to burst through the bedroom door naked and ready to ravish her for the rest of the night but she was left disappointed when things didn't quite go that way….

'Jake! Jake come on! Don't make me use my rabbit because I will if you don't come here in one minute!' She yelled on top of her voice so that he'd definitely hear her, so would all her neighbours but to hell with them.

Nothing. She got nothing. Pulling on her dressing gown that was perched at the end of the bed she pulled open the door to her room and marched out into the lounge with every intention of letting her fiery temper loose on Jake but she came to an abrupt stop when she saw him.

He was sat on her couch staring right back at her but for the first time it wasn't his eyes that she noticed, it was the black bruise covering his left cheek.

'Oh my God Jake what happened?' She made her legs work so she could go over to him and inspect his face. The rest of it was fine but his left cheek looked so swollen and painful. 'We need to get you to the ER, this looks nasty. Let me go and change and we'll…' Before she could leave the room Jake grabbed her hand and patted the cushion next to him motioning for her to sit down.

She followed his instruction even though she was scared of what he was going to tell her. She knew that he hadn't been to his parent's place, she'd known that from the moment he'd said he was going there but she'd managed to convince herself that he was telling the truth.

'I lied to you Maddie and I'm so sorry,' he shook his head and looked down at the floor as he spoke. When he did summon up the courage to look right at her she noticed the hand prints around his neck and gasped out loud.

'Who did this to you?' Her eyes met his and she could see him hesitate. The bile rose in her throat as she began to realise what had actually happened. She had thought he'd gone out to a bar and got into a fight but just by looking at him she could tell that the reality was much worse, for her anyway. 'Tell me the truth Jake, don't lie to me!'

'I thought that I could help and somehow make things right again. I started it Maddie, it wasn't his fault,' as soon as the words stumbled from his lips she felt the anger bubble up inside her. He didn't need to mention any names, she knew who'd done this to him and she knew that Jake hadn't started it at all.

'Of ALL the fucking things he has EVER done NOTHING comes close to this! I'm gonna kill him!' Jumping off the couch she started to make her way back to her room but Jake reached her before she could get there.

'NO! No more fighting! He's your dad Maddie! I should have let things cool down for a while before being fucking stupid and thinking that I could somehow sort all this out. I was the one that contacted him and set this meeting up….'

'WHY are you defending him? Look what he's done to you Jake! How could he do this to the man I love? He should be happy for me and instead he's acting like a fucking Neanderthal caveman! I'm so sick and tired of him trying to scare people away from me and now he's gonna do all he can to scare you away too! First this then there'll be something else, then something else until eventually you'll run away and I couldn't bear that Jake! I don't wanna lose you, I love you so much, I don't want you to leave….'

'Hey!' Tears ran down her cheeks as Jake pulled her into his arms and held her close to him. 'I'm not gonna leave, I'm not gonna be scared away no matter what happens. I love you and I'm gonna be right here, I'm not afraid of your dad or anyone else. I was once but not now. I'm not going anywhere Maddie Hansen, you're stuck with me.'

She held onto him as tight as she could as her emotions continued to get the better of her. She was crying for Jake and what he'd gone through and because of what she was going to have to face up to. Her past was filled with happy memories of moments shared between her and her father but after what he'd done to Jake she knew that there wouldn't be any more happy memories to share. If her dad truly loved her he would be willing to let her go and he wasn't. He was determined to rule with an iron fist over every part of her life and now she had to be strong. Edgar Hansen was not going to break them apart no matter how hard he tried.

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