The coffee shop smelled delicious. Coffee aromas were wafting around, getting stronger the closer you got to the counter. Bacon and eggs were cooking in the kitchen, and freshly baked bread was sitting behind a glass window. People were sitting around chatting before work or school started for the day. Nina smiled as she made her way over to the counter to order a coffee and then found Jack at a nearby table. This was what she had always imagined home to be like- a place full of friends and family, and a great community to live in.

"Good morning," said Jack when Nina took a seat across from him.

"Morning. I missed you last night," said Nina softly.

"I missed you too."

"Maybe we should try and get a new room together?"

"Sounds like a wonderful idea to me. We can fix that later, when Toadie is working."

"Okay." Nina smiled when Harold brought her coffee over. "Thank you Harold."

"Not a problem. How did your day go yesterday?"

"It was wonderful." She grinned. "Look." Nina held her hand out to Harold, grinning from ear to ear.

"Congratulations Nina!" He hugged her. "It's about time Jack."

"I was waiting for the perfect time," said Jack.

Harold laughed as he left them alone again. Nina reached her hand out to Jack and held on tightly. She had so much she wanted to say, but just didn't know how to.

"Nina, what's going on inside that pretty head of yours?"

"Sorry, I was just thinking. Listen, I texted Lou before I came here, and he's free now, so after breakfast, I'm going to speak with him about that house, and if I have time before he needs to go to work, I'm going to tell him everything. I can't hide it anymore, and I really need to tell someone. You have enough on your plate without this."

"Okay. I'm going to see Susan about staying with her and Karl, so I'll be just down the road if you need me."

"Thank you." Nina smiled again, feeling slightly better about what she needed to do.

After breakfast, Jack walked Nina to Lou's house, holding her hand to try and reassure her. He could tell how scared she was, even though it was only Lou that was going to hear about it. He couldn't imagine what it was like for her to be trying to cope with everything, even though he was there with her all the time anyway and could see what was happening.

"Jack, you said you were going to talk to Susan. Can I come with you?" Nina asked him nervously.

"No. Lou is waiting for you. I'm sure he won't pressure you, but he loves you, and he wants to help you. I'm two doors down if you need me," answered Jack.

Nina nodded. She stood at the front door of number twenty-two, her hand raised to knock. She couldn't bring herself to do so, and after a few minutes of Jack encouraging her, the door opened. Nina dropped her hand as Lou appeared in the doorway, smiling from ear to ear when he saw his visitor.

"Hey there sweetheart, come on in," said Lou happily as he stepped aside to let Nina and Jack in.

Nina hesitantly stepped forward, feeling silly for being nervous around the man that had been the father she had always needed, always wanted. She took a quick look over her shoulder and saw that Jack had already left.

"You said you wanted to talk?" Lou asked softly, seeing that something was not right.

Nina nodded. "Jack showed me the house. I wouldn't mind having a home in Erinsborough again," she began.

"I'll call the agent and let him know. But that's not what you wanted to talk about, is it?"

"No... There's something I have to tell you..."

"Okay. Tell me."

Nina opened her mouth, and closed it again, trying to find the right words to voice her problem. "Well, it's something in America, not here."

"Something to do with work?"

"Yes."

"Your singing or acting?"

"Technically acting, but it's affecting my music too."

"So tell me and I'll fix it."

"I don't know if you can Lou."

"Don't underestimate the power I have." Lou grinned.

Nina couldn't help a small smile. "It's my boss... and my manager."

"I thought you said James and Tara were lovely people?"

"James was my boss for my last movie. He isn't my boss anymore. And Tara is sick, so she's taking time out to recover. My new manager is named Adam."

"What is this Adam doing exactly?"

"Well... he forces me into work I don't want to do, especially work that is very humiliating. And he refuses to give me time to work on music, so I haven't performed in months."

"What about your boss?"

"Kieran. He's worse. I can handle the lack of singing, even the crappy work, but not Kieran. He's so mean, in every possible way." She looked away as tears filled her eyes.

"Nina, what does he do to you?"

Sniffling, she looked back at her stepfather. "I can't tell you..."

"You can tell me anything sweetheart."

"Please don't make me."

"Does Jack know?"

"Yes. He found out when he came to surprise me one lunch. He went ballistic at what he saw."

"Didn't he say anything?" Lou couldn't imagine that Jack would let something so bad slide.

"Of course he did, but it didn't do anything. Kieran doesn't listen to anyone except himself."

"He'll listen to me, don't you worry about that. If he's hurting you, he's as good as dead." Lou walked over, wrapping his arms around Nina. "You are my daughter- nothing step about it- and I won't let you get hurt. I want you tell me what he does, and then I'm flying to LA to murder him."

Nina laughed a little. She didn't let go though, despite her next words. "I don't need that, I just need it to stop," she whispered.

"That will stop it."