Home…

Aden had been at the park for about 20 minutes when he spotted Connor sitting at the far bench. He watched the older man and couldn't help but notice that the man had tears in his eyes.

'Connor? Dude what's up!?' Aden asked as he went to stand in front of the former ranger.

'Ermm… nothing I'm just… nothing,' Connor said and Aden gave him a look.

'If I was sitting here crying would you have just left me?" Aden asked Connor and the older man nodded no. 'Good so tell me what's up?' he asked again.

'I'm remembering,' he said simply and knew the young boy was giving him a confused look without looking at his face. 'At this bench is where I got my heart broken. Through high school me and this girl were best friends and I soon started liking her. One night I confronted her and told her that I liked her and she said she liked me too. We got together that night and it was one of the best nights of my life,' Connor said and began to find it hard to continue. Aden saw this and went to sit next to the man and put a hand on his shoulder. Connor smiled as he looked at the hand and found the courage to continue, 'The next day she left early because she had an interview for a job she really wanted and we were fine. It was nearly 5 when she called me and told me to meet me here. I thought she sounded odd but I just ignored it because I was excited to see her. I met her here like she said and I bought her flowers and chocolates cause I was really serious about her. She smiled at me but I noticed something was different - her eyes had gone from a light shining brown to a dull and dark brown. We walked to this bench and sat down. I knew something was wrong so before she could say anything I told her I loved her and she began crying. She couldn't even look at me and said "I'm sorry but last night was a mistake. I love somebody else I'm sorry." Those words repeated in my head for almost 4 years and when I found out she married the guy and they had a kid I stopped talking to her because I knew I couldn't take it anymore. Until this day I am still in-love with her and that day will haunt me for the rest of my life. I will always wonder what I had done wrong,' Connor finished looking so hurt. Aden looked at Connor's eyes and now knew where he had seen those eyes. He had those eyes. Whenever he was hurt his pupils would shrink and his brown eyes dulled as his eyes quickly became bloodshot.

'Have you seen her since then?' Aden asked.

'No. My parents and twin brother wanted to move to New York so I said I would because there was nothing left for me here at Reef side. I still talk to my other best friend and he was keen on me coming home but I think I'll just stay on the down low for now. Till I'm ready to face everyone again,' he said truthfully.

'Listen dude I'm sure she still misses you and that she would rather be with you right now but you've got to believe that things happen for a reason. Life has a way of getting around things and one of the things you have to go through is hurt and pain or whatever,' Aden said and Connor looked at the young man.

'Who told you that?' he asked.

'My mum,' Aden said simply.

'Well she's a smart woman,' Connor said. 'Let get going then,' he said suddenly and laughed at the confusion in Aden's face. 'You came here to play soccer right!?' Connor asked and Aden nodded. 'Then let's go!' he said as he got up and walked to the big field in the middle of the park.

'Oh by the way little man --- What was your name?'

'Aden. You can just call me Aden,' the young man said.

'Nice. Let's get started!' The two of them cheered up but had no idea a woman was watching behind the bush.

'Is that Aden?' she asked herself. 'Connor?' she then gasped. She had to find Kira - soon.

Kira was about to leave the café when Trent walked in.

'Kira, can I talk to you please,' he asked the young woman in front of him. Kira turned and couldn't help the disgusted look that crossed her face. Ethan and Hailey had gone so she had to face him alone. And like she had said before – sooner rather than later.

'Five minutes,' she said and went to sit at the corner of the café. Trent was surprised she accepted and followed her to the table. They sat there in silence for a while and Kira looked at the watch on her hand and then looked at Trent. 'Four minutes,' she said and Trent looked at her realising she was serious.

'Ok. Look Kira I am really sorry. The truth is I've been treating Aden in a wrong manner and I need to apologize to him and you. Work gets so stressful that I just loose it. I know that is no excuse but it's the truth,' he said and Kira almost fell for it for a second but snapped to reality and said,

'Is that it? Is that all you have to say after abusing my son?' Kira began to get angry and got up. 'I hate you. I wish you could die right now,' she started screaming and now all eyes were on her.

'Kira stop you're making a scene!' Trent yelled and Kira smiled.

'What's the matter Trent? Mr Mercer! You scared people will know the truth about you. How you're a lying, manipulative and abusive father!!' she screamed to the top of her lungs. Gasps of horror escaped the crowd and some of the crowd began to shout at Trent.

'Get out!'

'We don't want you here!'

'My son is definitely moving from that school!'

Trent watched all the faces of all the parents and even some of his friends as they looked at him disgusted.

'So now people know exactly what you're like! I'm going home to get the rest of my stuff. Have a beautiful day,' Kira told Trent and walked out of the café. Trent's body tensed and his face became cold. He looked angry and his eyes had no life, no emotion. He looked at the crowd once more before storming out of the café. He ran as fast as he could towards his apartment and when he reached there he went up the stair.

'Kira Ford!' he screamed.

'Trent Mercer!' Kira yelled twice as he loud as he had.

'How dare you humiliate me like that in front of all those people?' he said and when he saw Kira paid no attention to what he was saying he grabbed her wrists and shoved her to the wall. 'Did you hear what I just said. You are my wife and it is your job to obey and respect me. How could you do that to your own husband Kira? Don't you love me at all?' he questioned and Kira spat at his face.

'Love you? The man I loved cheated on me and made another girl pregnant. I don't love you Trent and I never will. After hearing what you did to Aden its given me one of the best reasons to leave you and be happy with Aden,' Kira told him coldly and Trent slapped her. Kira fell on the bed and Trent went on top of her.

'You will not leave me now. You will stand by me and tell all of those people you were lying,' he began. 'If you go I will make sure I make you and Aden's life hell. I will make you regret stepping out of that door,' he said and Kira began crying. 'There we go. I knew you'd cry sooner or later – you're a weak and stupid woman. What's it going to be then Kira? Are you going to leave and risk you're son's life? Are you that selfish?' he began to question. Kira began to weaken and thought of Aden. She had to stay for him – so he would be safe. She couldn't risk his life and she knew she had friends who could've helped her but she had to stay here for Aden. Without Trent Aden wouldn't have half the things he did.

'Get off me,' she said in a whisper.

'Pardon?' Trent asked.

'Get off me please!' Kira then said and Trent smiled at her.

'That's my girl,' he said and kissed the top of her head. He took all of the things out of the bag and chucked them on the floor before facing Kira again, 'Let's go get you're stuff at Tommy's then shall we sweetie,' Trent said and left the room. 'I'm just going to go get a quick shower then we can go,' he said as he came back with a towel in his hand. Kira nodded and wiped the tears on her face. She waited till he had completely disappeared into the bathroom before letting sobs escape her mouth. 'I'm sorry Aden. I'm so sorry,' she whispered.

****

Aden and Connor had been playing soccer for about an hour and they were both having fun.

'You're in a better mood today aren't you?' Connor asked and Aden smiled at him.

'Erm yeah. I think its because I'm staying with my uncle and aunt. I feel at home there,' Aden said.

'Oh. So you still haven't sorted stuff out with your dad huh?' The former red ranger said as he grabbed the ball and sat next to Aden on one of the benches at the park.

'No. When I got home yesterday my mum said that we were going to stay at my uncle's house,' he said.

'Things must be really bad then!' Connor asked.

'Yeah – you could say that,' Aden said.

'Well when you want to talk about it I'll be here OK?' Connor said.

'Yeah thanks Connor,' Aden said. The two sat in silence for a while when Aden's phone went off. He read the text then turned to Connor. 'I have to go my mum wants me home for some reason,' he said and gave Connor a handshake.

'You want me to walk you there,' Connor asked.

'No dude I think I'm cool with walking home,' Aden said.

'Alright!' Connor said and smiled at Aden. Aden high – fived Connor before making his way home. Aden walked quickly to Tommy's house and was shocked when he saw his father's car.

'Mum? Aunt Kim?' Aden questioned as he walked into the big house.

'In here,' Aden heard his aunt say. He walked into the living room and gasped when he saw his mom and dad holding hands. He looked at his mother's eyes and saw the sadness and fear filled in them. He didn't understand and Kira saw the confusion in his light brown eyes. 'I'm sorry,' she mouthed.

'Mom what the hell is going on?' Aden asked beginning to get angry.

'You don't talk to your mother like that!' Trent yelled at his son.

'Trent!' Tommy yelled at the young man in front of him. 'You are not my favourite person right now and I don't know what Kira is thinking taking you back. I would've reported you if Kira wasn't a friend because you have already taken one step too far. If I find out you are still abusing Aden I promise you I will hunt you and wont be able to stop myself for what I do to you,' he said causing Trent to shut up.

'Aden do you want to go home?' Kim asked the little boy. Aden had a choice and even though he knew the right choice for him he had to do the right thing for him and his mum.

'Yeah I'm going home. I'll just get my things,' he said sadly and Kira didn't miss the look he received from her son. Kim followed the young man to her son's room and found him in tears.

'Aden honey, what's wrong?' she asked him.

'I don't want to go back there aunt Kim. I can't go back into that house. Why would mum do this? Why Aunt Kim? Doesn't she care about what he did to me?' he said as he continued to sob.

'Honey, she does care. I don't know what your mother is thinking but I do know if she's willing to risk you going back it must be really important,' she told him and he went to hug him. 'Here,' she said as she gave him her phone. 'Just in case your dad takes your phone, you'll have mine and hide it somewhere. When you get in trouble you call me. Your uncle's number is on that. You give as a call as soon as Trent lays a hand on you OK?' she said and Aden nodded.

'Thank you aunt Kim,' he said.

'Your welcome kid,' she said and helped Aden carry his things downstairs. Kira and Trent met him at the bottom and Aden went to hug both Ryan and Tommy.

'We love you kiddo,' Tommy said and Aden smiled at them.

'Love you too,' he said and began to walk out of the door. He got in the car and sat next to his mother at the backseat.

'Why mum?' he whispered.

'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,' she told him and the two hugged each other. The rest of the ride home was quiet and Aden was scared to get home.

****

The car parked in front of the house and the three beings got out of white Mercedes car. Aden's whole body tensed as he walked into the house. The feeling of home was gone and all he felt was fear. Kira smiled and Aden saw how it didn't reach her eyes.

'Come on guys let's order something to eat. I'll go get the number,' she said.

'I'm going to go in the bathroom,' Trent said and walked upstairs. Both mother and son watched as he went upstairs and then Kira looked at her son. Aden didn't look at his mum and this hurt Kira. Her son that said he loved her yesterday couldn't look her in the eye. This was the worst feeling for Kira and as she looked at her son only one name entered her mind. Connor McKnight.


Hey guys hope you like this chapter and please review so I know what you think. Thank you xx