Aaliyah felt a little guilty about Aden finding out about her and Casey the way he did, she knew she would have to talk to him. The only trouble was Aaliyah didn't want to get out of bed. She was wrapped comfortably in Casey's arms admiring her diamond engagement ring.
"Morning gorgeous" Casey groaned as he turned towards her.
"How long have you been awake?" Aaliyah grinned as she looked up at him.
"About 30 seconds" Casey laughed as he kissed Aaliyah's forehead "We'd better get up"
"Mmm, can't we stay here?" Aaliyah frowned as she gripped onto Casey.
"I'd love too baby, but you need to go and see Johnny today remember" Casey reminded Aaliyah of her visit to prison.
"Yeh I know" Aaliyah replied as she dragged herself out of bed and walked sleepily into the bathroom, she was wearing Casey's black shirt.
x-x-x-x-x
After her shower Aaliyah slipped on a pair of black skinny jeans and a white singlet, before heading into the kitchen where Casey was sat giving Kyle a bottle. Riley was sat on the sofa under a blanket "You ok buddy" Aaliyah asked as she sat beside Riley and pulled him towards her.
"I'm so tired mum" Riley replied almost in a whisper "I don't feel like going to see dad today"
"Ok sweetie that's fine you can come and see him another day" Aaliyah smiled; to be honest she was relieved Riley had decided not to go and see his dad. She wasn't sure how Johnny was going to react to her news.
Aaliyah threw a glance at Casey who had put his head up to listen to Aaliyah's conversation with Riley.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Aaliyah took a deep breath as she walked towards Johnny who was waiting for her on an empty table. Luckily for Aaliyah she was made to remove her jewellery before visiting Johnny so he wouldn't see her engagement ring straight away which was a good thing. Aaliyah wanted to assess what kind of mood Johnny was in before she told him anything.
"Hey Beautiful" Johnny groined as he hugged Aaliyah "Where's Riley?" Johnny wondered.
"Oh he isn't coming, he doesn't feel up to it" Aaliyah explained.
"Oh right ok, well at least you're here" Johnny replied calmly, he noticed Aaliyah seemed a little tense "Everything's ok isn't it"
"Yeah it's fine, well better than fine actually" Aaliyah smiled "Riley has got a match for a donor, its you Johnny"
Johnny beamed "Thank god" he grinned "At least now I don't have to feel so useless. I can do something to help"
Aaliyah smiled at Johnny's reaction, this was the Johnny Cooper she remembered. The man who would do anything for his family. Aaliyah felt this was the right time to tell Johnny her other bit of news.
"Johnny I have to talk to you about something" Aaliyah started nervously "Casey's asked me to marry him"
Johnny's smile disappeared in an instant "And what did you say?" he asked.
"I said yes" Aaliyah replied "Johnny I need a divorce"
"Nah…No way not in this lifetime" Johnny quickly answered.
"Johnny please" Aaliyah pleaded "It's what I want"
"No Ali, he disappeared for 3 weeks without so much as a word leaving you to deal with all this shit and now you want me to divorce you so you can marry a tool like that. I can't let it happen" Johnny explained.
"It's my life Johnny, you can't control it forever" Aaliyah was starting to get a little annoyed.
"I'm not trying to control you baby, I'm doing this to protect you" Johnny was still being surprisingly calm "Look I know there isn't a future for us anymore I'm not an idiot but it doesn't change the fact I still love you and I'm sorry babe but I just don't trust Casey enough to look after you" Johnny's explanation actually sounded quite reasonable to Aaliyah, he was just worried for her welfare.
"Well I do trust him and I know he's made mistakes but we have sorted them now" Aaliyah tried to talk him round "He won't let me down again"
Johnny frowned "Fine, bring me the papers and I will sign them, but I mean it Ali if he lets you down again I will destroy him" Johnny warned.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Aaliyah was extremely excited as she left the prison she couldn't believe how well her meeting with Johnny had gone. In fact she was that excited it didn't even occur to her that maybe Johnny wasn't being genuine, maybe he was plotting something.
She took a deep breath as pulled up in the car park at the hospital; Aaliyah was hoping this could be the day for good news as she was going to get Riley's test results.
Aaliyah sat quietly in the waiting room "Aaliyah hi" A doctor smiled as he approached her. Aaliyah stood up and followed him into his office "Take a seat"
Aaliyah was extremely nervous as she waited for the doctor to speak "Ok so I am pleased to tell you Riley's treatment has worked beautifully" the doctor smiled.
"What does that mean?" Aaliyah asked nervously
"It means Riley won't need a transplant" the doctor explained.
Aaliyah gasped she couldn't control her happiness tears fell from her eyes "Thank you so much" she cried.
"Now although this part is over, we still have a long journey ahead of us. It will mean regular check ups for Riley and constant monitoring of his blood" The doctor added. Aaliyah just nodded.
"But he's going to be ok?" She asked again. The doctor just nodded.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Aaliyah was practically skipping as she walked along the beach today couldn't have gotten any better for her. Well that was until she spotted Aden coming out of the surf. Aaliyah paused for a few moments before finally deciding to approach him "I've got nothing to say to you" Aden snapped as he tried to walk past her.
"Aden please" Aaliyah said as she grabbed Aden's arm. The filthy look Aden threw at her caused Aaliyah to let go instantly "Can't we just talk about this?"
"No we can't just talk about this, Aaliyah every time Casey has let you down I have been there picking up the pieces and what thanks do I get?" Aden spat "You know how I feel about you and you still continue to use me"
"Aden I" Aaliyah tried to interrupt but Aden hadn't finished.
"No I'm sick of it Ali, I'm sick of getting caught up in your mess, that's why I have decided to leave" Aden announced to a stunned Aaliyah "I can't stay here and watch you play happy families with him"
Aaliyah had no idea at that moment this was the last thing Aden was going to say to her. She was also unaware of the person who had been stood watching them from a distance.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
"Shh she's coming" Casey said as he rushed back inside Angelo's.
"Aaliyah was a little bit confused as she waked up the stairs. Angelo's was extremely quiet for a lunchtime "SURPRISE" voices yelled as she reached the top of the stairs.
Aaliyah was a little overwhelmed to see so many friendly faces there was Brax, Charlie, Heath, Bianca, Liam and baby Allie, April, Ruby, Xavier and even John and Gina.
Casey came to the front of the crowd with Kyle in his arms "I thought you deserved a bit of fun" Casey grinned.
"We can make it a double celebration" Aaliyah replied softly "The treatments worked, Riley doesn't need a transplant" Aaliyah beamed excitedly causing Casey to hug her with his free arm.
"That's awesome" Casey replied. Aaliyah had already rang ahead to explain to Casey what had gone off with Johnny.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
"I'm so glad Riley's going to be ok" Heath smiled as he handed Aaliyah a drink.
"Yeah" Aaliyah replied as she watched her son playing with Casey.
"And I'm glad you said yes to Casey" He added causing Aaliyah to smile "You two really are made for eachother I can see that now"
Heath didn't stick around to hear Aaliyah's reply he just disappeared leaving her stunned.
"Mum Kyle's been sick on me" Riley called as he walked towards Aaliyah interrupting her thoughts.
"Oh no did he" Aaliyah said as she looked at Riley's t-shirt "I think I have a spare set of clothes in the car" she added as she walked towards the door.
Casey followed her into the car-park and watched her forage around in the boot "I must have left them in the other bag" Aaliyah said as she stood upright "I'll pop home and get them"
"Wait here and I'll come with you, let me just tell the others first" Casey turned to walk back inside.
"No its ok you stay, it wouldn't be right us both leaving" Aaliyah smiled "I won't be long" she added before kissing him gently and getting in the car.
Casey turned and walked back inside Angelo's when he saw Aaliyah's car disappear around the corner.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Aaliyah pulled up outside her house and walked to her front door, she was surprised it was open a little when she got there. As Aaliyah opened the door fully and walked inside she could smell petrol, the smell overwhelmed her. It wasn't until she turned the light on in the lounge she saw the horrifying figure standing in front of her; it was pointing a gun directly at her.
BANG The sound of gunfire echoed around the house as Aaliyah fell to the ground, the person just stood for a few moments looking at Aaliyah's lifeless body before striking a match and running towards the back door. Aaliyah's blood was now seeping through her white singlet and onto the carpet as the flames filed the house.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
"Shouldn't Aaliyah be back by now" Brax wondered where Aaliyah was, she had been gone almost half an hour. It wasn't until Charlie approached with a grave look on her face that he realised something was wrong.
"Charlie what is it?" Casey asked, he had been stood next to Brax.
"That was the station" Charlie said as she held her phone up "They've been called out to a house fire"
Heath, Liam and Bianca were now also listening "Casey the fires at your house" Charlie explained grimly "And the neighbours have said they saw Aaliyah go inside the house before the fire broke out"
Casey staggered backwards "I have to go" he exclaimed before turning and running towards the exit Heath followed "Stay here and look after the boys" Brax ordered before running after his brothers.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
The fire brigade and ambulance were already there when the Braxton's arrived Casey jumped out of the car and ran towards the house "AALIYAH" he yelled. Casey felt two hands pulling him backwards. It was Heath, Casey struggled to get free from his brother but it was no good Heath wasn't letting go.
Casey watched helplessly as the flames engulfed this home. The firemen were trying desperately to get the fire under control but were failing miserably. It had been almost twenty minutes since some of the firemen had gone inside to find Aaliyah. And Casey knew the longer they took the less likely it was that they would pull her out alive "ALLIE" Casey screamed as he found the strength to fight Brax and Heath some more, both of them were determined to keep hold of their youngest brother. They knew going inside that house was a suicide mission.
Suddenly a fireman came out of the house carrying a small blond woman in his arms. Casey recognised her instantly "AALIYAH" he cried as Heath and Brax let go of him he ran towards Aaliyah. His eyes filled with tears when he saw all the blood on her singlet "Baby" he gasped before being pushed back by some paramedics.
Aaliyah was now laid on the floor with paramedics flocking around her she had about 4 working on her "What's happening?" Casey yelled. He noticed the two paramedics shaking their heads at eachother "What the hell does that mean?" Casey snapped.
"Shall we call it" one of the paramedics suggested.
"Call what, Brax what's happened?" Casey didn't understand why the paramedic had stopped CPR.
"I'm sorry mate" Brax choked.
"Time of death" One of the paramedics started causing Casey's head to spin round.
"Time of what" he gasped as he fell to the ground, everything had started t spin around him, he had no idea what was happening.
Brax and Heath couldn't believe what was happening either, it was only a few hours ago they were all celebrating Casey and Aaliyah's engagement and the news Riley was going to be ok…and now this.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
The police forensics had been and gone, the fire was out and the ambulance had disappeared, but Casey was still sat in the spot where he fell. He hadn't moved an inch, Heath had gone back to Angelo's to explain what had happened and Brax stayed with Casey. Charlie had just finished explaining to Brax what had happened.
"Case" Brax said but Casey didn't move, his tearstained face stayed in the same position.
"Casey" Charlie had now come over to speak to Casey his head lifted to look at her.
"Do they know what happened?" Casey asked numbly.
"Yeah, they said Aaliyah was shot" Charlie replied.
"What" Casey couldn't believe it "Who would do this?" he exclaimed
Brax and Charlie just glanced at eachother they new full well because of Aaliyah's past the possibilities were endless. Anyone could have been responsible for this.
Ok so this is the last chapter for this story but I will be writing a sequel. So your thoughts please.
A big thank you to all my reviewers each comment means a lot to me. They are what gives me the inspiration to keep writing, so thank you.
Love Always Nikalya X x x