Thank you for all the positive reviews i'm glad you like the last chapter :) I'll try and get the next one up before the new episode tomorrow :D

Alexis froze as she saw her dad stare directly at her, Ashley looked at her and she stood up. Kate and Alexis watched as both Rick and Ashley approached them.

"What happened?" Kate asked thinking that Ashley had done something.

"Alexis I thought he knew." Ashley started. "I was only making conversation."

Alexis looked at Ashley. He knew about last night! That was the only thing Ashley could have told him. She kept her eyes on Ashley scared to look at her dad. "Alexis?" Rick looked at her but she still refused to look at him.

"I'm sorry." Ashley said.

"Don't worry Ashley, it's not your fault." Alexis murmured.

"Rick?" Kate said looking at him. "What's wrong?"

He stared at her and then to Alexis. "Is there something you want to tell me Alexis?" He wanted to give her the chance to explain it. She deserved that at least.

She stared at him for a second but looked away. "Not really no."

"Really? Think long and hard about it."

"There's nothing I want to tell you." She started. "But there's something I should tell you."

"Go ahead." He urged her.

"Do I have to?" She asked nervously.

"Well no you don't." He said. "Because Ashley told me."

"Well I said it." Ashley began. "But it sounds worse that I said."

"What did he tell you?" Kate asked trying to get Rick's attention again.

Rick took a breath and then stared at Kate. "Alexis and Ashley they…" He had trouble saying it now. "Slept together last night."

"But we didn't do anything." Alexis stressed.

"I thought I could trust you." Rick said staring at her.

"You can!" She almost yelled.

"Well I don't feel I can anymore."

"You're overreacting at this dad."

"Are you serious?" Rick stared at her.

"Yes deadly."

He stared at Kate who hadn't said anything. "You don't seem surprised at this."

She stared at him and held her breath. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She looked to Alexis and then to the floor, suddenly finding the beach interesting.

"You knew didn't you."

She raised her head to his. "Rick…" That was all he needed to hear.

"So I'm the last person to know about this?" He stared at all three of them. "So that's a yes? Well that's great isn't it?" He said.

Alexis was about to say something but he stopped her. "It wasn't a question." He looked at Kate. "I can't believe you didn't tell me."

"I was going too."

"When?" He knew he shouldn't be acting like this but he couldn't help it.

"Later tonight, when we were alone."

"I thought we told each other everything."

"Can we not talk about this right now?"

"Why? It is inconvenient for you?"

"No but I think you need time to think this through and calm down."

"I can't believe this. It just goes to show you can't trust anyone."

"Dad?" Alexis was looking at him. There were the start of tears in her eyes and he resisted the urge to hug her.

"I need to go for a walk." He turned and took a few steps. "Please don't follow me Kate."

She stopped moving and watched him go down the beach.

"Kate?"

Kate turned to look at Alexis. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry it's not your fault." She said.

"If anything it's mine." Ashley said from next to Alexis.

"It isn't your's either he just doesn't do well with change most of the time."

"When do you think he'll be back?" Alexis asked.

She stared back to where Rick was walking even further along. "I don't know."

They all walked back up to the house in silence Ashley was trying his best to comfort Alexis on the way.

It had been 3 hours and Rick had yet to return Kate was getting worried. She had tried to call him but he had left his phone in the kitchen. She was now pacing the kitchen with Alexis and Ashley sat in the living room on the couch.

Kate was pacing the space of the kitchen when Alexis walked in. "Dad not back yet?"

"No."

"This is all my fault." Alexis said letting out a breath. "If I had just said something to him instead of letting him find out like this…"

Kate cut her off. "He probably would have reacted the same way."

"But he wouldn't have felt let down."

"Alexis you can't blame yourself for this."

"Why hasn't he come back yet?" She was almost crying again.

"Alexis just go and sit down and I'm going to go see if I can find him."

Alexis silently nodded and made her way back to sit with Ashley. Kate looked back at them and then opened the back door to the beach. She stepped onto the porch and looked to see if he was sitting on the bench. All she saw there was nothing. It was still daylight but in an hour the sun would be setting, she looked out towards the beach front and her heart skipped a beat if it was possible. She could only just make out the outline of someone sitting on the beach let the water run up to them and then wash away.

"Oh Rick." She whispered. She shut the door and made her way down to where he was sitting. There was a slight breeze which made her wonder how long he had been sitting out here. She slowly approached him but no matter how quiet she was he'd always be able to hear her coming.

"Where did I go wrong Kate?"

She sat beside him and continued to stare out towards the ocean. "We used to be able to talk about anything. I was there when she took her first steps, said her first words. She could tell me anything and now, I feel like I'm losing her."

Kate watched and took his hand in hers. "Rick you're not losing her. She's just growing up and you have to understand that when you reach a certain age, talking to your dad about certain things is embarrassing." She stroked her thumb over his hand. "No matter who their father is."

"I guess I should get used to this, I mean she's going to college and soon she's going to leave me for real to start her own family."

"Rick she's not leaving you. No matter where she goes or who she's with you are always going to be her dad." He stared at her then. "And she will always need you."

"Thank you Kate." His eyes sparkled for a second. "I'm sorry about the way I acted. I shouldn't have responded the way I did. I guess it just caught off guard a little."

"I know and I should have told you sooner instead of waiting."

"So how did you find out? Did she tell you first?"

Kate looked at him and bit her lip. "Well you know how you asked who I was talking to this morning?"

"You caught her didn't you?"

"She was walking out of his room and asked me not to say anything."

"So what else did she say?"

"You really want to talk about that now? I'm sure you're cold seeing as you are sitting here in only your swim shorts."

"How about talking on the way back up to the house?"

"I suppose that is acceptable."

They both stood and started a slow walk back to the house. "I talked to her earlier."

"Right." He said acknowledging her answer.

"They haven't done anything they only slept last night so you don't need to worry."

"Well there's one thing not to worry about."

"They are smart kids and responsible you have to remember that."

"I know, I sometimes forget."

"Look Rick, she talked to me earlier and I promise if she ever says anything of importance you will be the first to know."

"You promise?"

"Yes."

"Well I guess I can only ask for that."

They reached the back door and Rick paused. "How mad is she at me?"

"Rick I can only hope that she cares you are safe."

He slowly opened the door and walked into the kitchen. "Kate?" They both heard Alexis.

"I'm here and so is your…"

"Dad!" Alexis shouted. She ran and put her arms around him. "Thank god you're safe!"

He returned the hug and held he tight. "Alexis?"

She looked up at him. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry about earlier I shouldn't have acted like that."

"No dad. I'm sorry I should have told you sooner."

He stroked her hair. "Hey as long as you tell Kate anything that's on your mind I don't mind."

She hugged him again and turned to Kate. "Did you talk to him? About…"

She cut her off. Rick turned to look at Kate who was making signals at Alexis.

"Do I want to know?" Rick asked Kate.

"Later." She told him quietly.