Return to the Bay

[Skykat]

Next chapter. Huge thanks to Jess...your squeals tell me I'm on the right track! Vikky I've answered your question in this chapter and ILM I can only write about Milko because thanks to your fic I now know what he looks like! Please keep reading and revieving pps every comment is really appreciated even criticisms.xx

CHAPTER FORTY THREE

“Hey Joey,” Selina whispered, “I know you probably can’t hear me but I want to talk to you anyway. I just need you to know that I don’t blame you at all for everthing that woman did, and I want to thank you for saving my life. You took a huge risk for me and if you don’t pull through I’ll feel so guilty all my life, so you have to make it through, do you hear me? I want you to be Godfather to my baby, you were always like a brother to me and I want you to always be there for my baby too. I know you’ve not been well, but none of this is your fault, please wake up Joey!” Selina begged, tears streaming down her face.

“Not sure I approve of your choice of godparent.” Stephen’s voice was quiet and low, Selina turned to face her angry looking husband.

“I’m sorry, but it’s something I have to do. He was like a brother to me, and I know you don’t believe it but he saved my life. I owe him everything Stephen,” Selina replied.

“I hear that, but don’t you think having him as a godparent is going a bit far?”

“No I don’t, it’s what I want. I thought you were going to support me from now on?” Selina demanded.

“Of course I am. I do support you and you can have him as Godparent if you wish, but just don’t expect me to be happy about it, alright?” Stephen asked her.

“Okay, thanks though. It means a lot to me to have your support,” Selina told him.

“You always have my support,” Stephen reminded her.

“Hear that Joey? I’ve got my husband onside as well, so all you’ve got to do now is come round and make things easy for me. I can’t stand feeling guilty, do you hear? You’ve got to come round!” Selina begged.

“Sel babe please don’t upset yourself. It’s not good for the baby, you’re seven months gone and I think our little one’s had enough drama in the past few weeks, don’t you?” Stephen asked.

“More than a lifetimes worth, so has it’s mother,” Selina replied with a smile.

“Come on, the Doctor’s discharged you lets go home,” Stephen urged.

“Okay, I’ll be along in a minute. I just want a few moments alone with Joey,” Selina replied.

“Don’t be long okay?” Stephen kissed her head gently and then left the hospital room.

“Did you hear all that Joey? Stephen says you can be our baby’s godfather so you have to wake up now,” Selina begged but still there was no response. “Okay well I’m going to go but you just think about what I said.” Selina gently squeezed his hand and still in tears left the room in a hurry but in doing so missed the gentle blinking of Joey’s eyelids.

“Matilda! Mattie, hey wait up!” Dylan was surprised when Matilda carried on walking up the Beach. He could have sworn she could hear him, obviously not so he chased after her. “Hey Matilda didn’t you hear me?” he asked as he reached her.

“Yeah I heard you,” she snapped.

“Why didn’t you stop then? Hey, have I done something wrong?” Dylan asked.

“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?” Matilda demanded.

“Well I can’t think of anything so can we drop the hostilities hey? How’s your brother? I bet he’s relieved to have Tasha safe,” Dylan remarked.

“He is, but he’s more upset because she won’t see him,” Matilda replied in spite of herself.

“She’s probably in shock, she’ll come round,” Dylan soothed.

“Yeah,” Matilda replied, non-commitally.

“So how are things between you and Lucas?” Dylan asked.

“Still over,” Matilda snapped, the frostiness returning.

“And how are you feeling about it?”

“I don’t know Dylan why don’t you go and ask Lucas, you seem to discuss everything else with him,” Matilda shot back.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I heard you, yesterday in the Diner, talking about me,” Matilda rounded on him furiously.

“Yesterday? We were only talking for a minute and it was nothing bad anyway, I don’t know what you heard but…” Dylan began.

“I heard you arrogantly bragging that every girl comes to you eventually, and that if I wanted you I’d have to chase you. I mean come on, get over yourself! I’ve just split up with Lucas how can you be so arrogant as to think I’d go from being with him to chasing you, I mean hello…” Matilda launched into full on attack.

“Hang on a minute. You blatantly only heard half the conversation and until you have the full conversation I don’t think you have any right to jump to conclusions,” Dylan protested.

“And here comes the bull,” Matilda sneered.

“No bull it’s the truth. Besides which you shouldn’t listen to other people’s conversations…”

“You were talking about me!” Matilda interrupted.

“…because when you do you never get the full picture. Do you want to know what was really said?” Dylan demanded.

“By all means enlighten me,” Matilda replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.

“Fine I will. Lucas gave me the green light to make a move on you if I wanted to, but I told him that I wouldn’t do that because rebound’s not my thing. I said that if anything were to happen between you and me you would have to instigate it because only then could I know for certain that you were completely over Lucas. I also said that I liked you too much to try and jump into something unless you were completely ready and besides which I didn’t think you really liked me. So next time you want to have a pop try getting your facts straight, okay?” Dylan shouted at her.

“Dylan...” Matilda began.

“Save it.” This time it was him streaking off up the beach.

“Dylan please!” she begged but he did not stop and Matilda felt totally dejected and confused; why did she keep messing everything up? Frustrated she sunk down to the sand and head in hands began to sob.

“Hi could I speak to Katherine Allgate please?” Belle asked, “Nobody lives there by that name, okay thanks anyway.” Belle slammed the phone down in disgust.

“Belle come on,” Ric urged.

“That’s the forth one we’ve tried, this is hopeless!” she announced.

“It is not hopeless there’s two more left, it could be either of them, and it’s the only lead we have right now, so keep positive yeah? I’ll give you the next number to ring.” He read the phone number to her and Belle dialled it.

“Hello could I speak to Katherine Allgate please?” she asked.

“I’m sorry dear but Katherine’s not here at the moment, can I take a message?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Oh no thanks, can you just tell me when she’ll be back?” Belle asked.

“I couldn’t say dear, I’m sorry she could be back any time,” the voice replied.

“Okay thanks a lot.” Belle hung up the phone and then squealed with delight, “She was there!”

“Did you speak to her?” Ric asked.

“No someone else answered and said she was out, but she still lives there!” Belle said enthusiastically, pulling her shoes onto her feet.

“Where are you going?” Ric asked.

“Where do you think? I’m going to see her!” Belle announced.

“But I thought she wasn’t in?” Ric asked.

“Well she has to come home eventually, I’ll just wait,” she replied.

“Belle just hold on a minute you need to think this through,” Ric urged.

“What’s there to think through? My real mother could be as close as Yabbie Creek Ric, I’m not going to let this opportunity go,” Belle insisted.

“I understand that but a couple of hours won’t hurt. If you go racing round there like a bull in a china shop you might put her off,” Ric told her.

“Gee thanks for the vote of confidence. I have to do this,” Belle told him.

“I know and I’m not stopping you. I just say you need to think about it,” Ric repeated. Belle paused for a second.

“Okay thought about it, now can we go?” she asked.

“Okay I give in, but I just don’t want you getting your hopes up, what if this woman’s not who you think she is? It could be a false lead, the letters don’t say for certain that Katherine Allgate is your mother they just mention a name, she could have nothing to do with you at all,” Ric explained.

“Can you quit with the negatives please. I’m going to find my mother, I can just feel it!” Belle almost danced around the room on one foot as Ric looked on anxiously, “Come on, can we go?” Without waiting for him she took off from the bedroom leaving Ric increasingly worried that she was about to get her heart broken.

“Is that everything?” Kirsty asked of Kane as he loaded the last of their things into the boot of the car.

“Yeah I think so,” Kane replied.

“It feels good to be going home again doesn’t it?” Kirsty asked.

“Yeah it does. Don’t get me wrong I love it round here but it’ll be nice to have some peace and quiet and get back to being just us,” Kane admitted.

“I know exactly what you mean. We’re definitely going to be safe though, aren’t we?” Kirsty whispered.

“Yeah we’ll be fine now. Peter thinks that now that we’re complying with Gus’s orders he’ll have no need to threaten us, and just in case he’s sending the police guard to watch our place,” Kane explained.

“That makes me feel better,” Kirsty replied.

"I just wish I knew what it was he wanted of me, I hate waiting around,” Kane admitted.

“I know, but we don’t have a choice do we? Has the post even arrived this morning?” Kirsty asked.

“I don’t know you know, I haven’t checked,” Kane replied.

“Is that it on the table?”

“Yeah I think so.” Kane picked up the pile of mail and filtered through it; Kirsty heard him take a sharp intake of breath.

“What is it babe?” she asked.

“It’s here,” he replied.

“Well open it then,” Kirsty urged.

“Shouldn’t we show it to Peter first?” Kane asked.

“Kane stop stalling and open it, Peter can see it later,” Kirsty insisted. Kane needed no further telling to rip the envelope open and scan through the letter. “What does it say?”

“Blah blah, blah blah, blah blah here we go ‘I love you son and an appointment has been made for you at the Commomwealth Bank in Yabbie Creek on Saturday with a Mr Williams. The account details are on the sheet of paper enclosed and the password for the account is family. In there you’ll find a present for yourself. I’ll write tomorrow with more information for you and I’ll phone you your appointment time on the day. Give my love to Kirsty and that beautiful grandson of mine,’” Kane read

“That doesn’t tell you much does it?” Kirsty mused.

“He’s splitting it up. He’s sending the rest of the information tomorrow in a separate letter, which means that I won’t receive it for another day so that makes it Saturday morning and I won’t receive my appointment time until then anyway,” Kane told her.

“More waiting then,” Kirsty remarked.

“Yep. You know what this is don’t you Kirst? He’s playing games with us, dragging this out,” Kane told her.

“Of course he is, but we always knew he would. Come on babe stay positive. Why don’t you take the letter round to Peter now, Irene tells me he’s living with Angel so if you turn up there it won’t look as suspicious as if you turn up at the police station and besides you can take this,” Kirsty suggested.

“What is it?”

“An invitation to the party Irene’s throwing for Selina and Tasha tomorrow night,” Kirsty replied.

“Okay, but you should come with me because you’re friends with Angel so that’d look more convincing, and besides, I want you there,” Kane told her.

“Well if you insist, moving home can wait until later I guess,” Kirsty remarked.

“Yeah it can, this is more important,” Kane told her as he gently lifted Matthew into the pram and the three of them left the Beach House in the direction of Angel’s.

“Wow, I’d have moved in here months ago if I knew there was a cooked brekkie every morning,” Peter replied as he came downstairs in Angel’s house to be greeted by a full English breakfast.

“It’s a one off to say welcome to the house so don’t get any ideas okay?” Angel shot back. Peter grinned at her and began to tuck in.

“So when’s Don coming back to the Bay then?” Peter asked.

“I’m not sure, he’s only been gone a day or two, but I think Seb’s been a bit depressed so he might stay down there a little while longer. Can’t really blame him, I’ve barely spent two minutes with him since I arrived thanks to one thing or another,” Angel replied.

“It wasn’t your fault though, I’m sure Don understands,” Peter remarked.

“Yeah he will do. I still feel guilty though. What time are you going in?” Angel asked.

“About another half an hour or so. How about you, what are your plans for today?” Peter asked her.

“Nothing much really, I’m going to head to Yabbie Creek to pick up school uniforms for Dylan and Shane, they have to start school next week which I’m sure Dylan will be delighted about. I need to pick a few things up from the chemist, something for this stomach bug I seem to have got and then I might pop in and see Selina,” Angel replied.

“Are you still not feeling too well?” Peter asked.

“No not really, it’s probably just a stress thing though because I wasn’t sick at all last night after we found Selina,” Angel explained.

“Maybe," Peter mused.

"Well it’s probably just a stomach bug. I’ll pick up something from the chemists for it and then later I might try and find a job,” Angel announced.

“A job? Surely you’re not short of money?” Peter asked.

“No but I am bored and I’ll be worse when the kids go back to school so it’ll keep me occupied,” Angel explained.

“Fair enough then, what sort of job?”

“Who knows, I’ll just see what comes up.” Angel stood up to answer the door and admit Kirsty and Kane.

“Hi Angel, we bought you this,” Kirsty told her.

“What is it?” Angel asked, “come in.”

“It’s an invitation to the party Irene’s holding for Selina and Tasha tomorrow,” Kirsty replied.

“That’s a nice idea,” Angel remarked as Kane made his way to where Peter sat and passed him the letter, which Peter scanned through quickly.

“Doesn’t give away much does he?” Kane remarked.

“He’s just being careful, these letters would be evidence in the wrong hands,” Peter replied.

“Like yours you mean,” Kane remarked, Peter smiled. “So what now?”

“Not much you can do now except wait for the next lot of instructions, we know it’s going to be Saturday so I can start arraigning for a team to be in place, but until we get the exact time it’ll be difficult to do anything,” Peter remarked.

“So more waiting?” Kane demanded.

“Afraid so,” Peter replied.

[sevenpuddings]

I say SQUEAL again and say yay, yay, YAY!!! You know how much I love this story, but I shall tell you again. I LOVE THIS STORY and there it is. Can't wait for the next chapter

[ldscott]

Brilliant chapter!

Can't wait to read the next part!

[Jazer]

Another great chapter. Thanks SKYKAT!!!!!

Thanks,

Jarad

[Skykat]

Jess you make me laugh! Squeal as much as you like because i think you might just enjoy some of what comes next...working on the next chapter, it should be with you later today or tomorrow.xx

[I love music]

ILM I can only write about Milko because thanks to your fic I now know what he looks like

*uh-oh! I think Milko's getting fed up of everybody thinking he's invisible!*

That was a really sweet scene, with Selina and Joey and I'm glad to see Kane and Kirsty are back. I really can imagine most of this dialogue as an actual script.

[Gypsy & Will Fan]

Fantastic more soon please!

[vikkysmile]

That was brilliant. Thanks for answering my question. Hope she has a baby girl, i can just see Selina and Steven not agreeing on Names. I think Selina may go for a more modern Name and Steven wanting a old fashion name. Well done and keep up the great work. If you are intrested i did have a few names for the baby boy or girl. Just thought i would let you know.

[Skykat]

Okay here's the next chapter. Just a short one but I've already started working on the next installment. I'm trying to keep this story within a realistic timeframe so it might be a while before I get round to Selina's baby but when I do I'll be grateful for your suggestions Vikky, I'm awful at thinking up names! Thanks as always to my awesome proof reader Jess who gets excited about my writing and makes me feel better about it, cheers hun. As always please keep your comments coming, they're really appreciated.xxx

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

Robbie had been pacing for round about twenty minutes. He knew Tasha was in her room and he knew she was alone, but for some reason he just could not pluck up the courage to go see her. What would he even say to her? She had hurt him so badly yet he loved her as much now as he ever had, but could he forgive her? He wanted to speak to her, he wanted to know why she had done it, but most of all he wanted to know if she still loved him, he wanted answers but then he didn’t. What if she didn’t say what he wanted to hear? What if she didn’t want to see him?

“Robbie?” he looked up from his internal questioning to see Tasha watching him.

“Hi,” he managed.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I wanted to speak to you,” Robbie admitted.

“So why didn’t you come in?”

“I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me,” Robbie replied.

“I didn’t, but you’re here now,” Tasha replied heading back into her room. Eagerly Robbie followed her.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Better thanks.”

“Good.” This was so awkward, the tension in the air was thick and heavy and Robbie felt suffocated by it. “Look Tash I’m really sorry,” he said finally.

“What for?” she asked, quietly, almost afraid.

“For what you went through,” Robbie replied.

“That wasn’t your fault, it’s me who should be sorry. I should have listened to you,” Tasha admitted.

“It’s okay,” Robbie told her.

“No it’s not. I kissed Jonah,” Tasha admitted. Robbie felt like somebody had taken a scalpel and cut through where his heart should be, he took a deep breath.

“It’s okay, they brainwashed you, I understand,” Robbie replied.

“No you don’t. I wanted to kiss him, I was attracted to him,” Tasha admitted. Robbie shut his eyes, he did not want to hear this, but Tasha had tears streaming down her cheeks and she was hell bent on getting her confession off her chest. “I felt close to him, closer than to you because he understood me. He understood what I wanted, obviously I know now that you were right but I didn’t then.”

“It’s okay. I kissed someone else too, Jane an friend of Kit’s,” Robbie told her. Tasha’s mouth dropped open, her eyes holding a look of total devastation.

“I guess I deserved that,” she replied.

“Look Tasha that’s all in the past. The question is where do we go from here? Can we get things back?” Robbie asked.

“Do you really want to?” Tasha responded Robbie took a deep breath and let it out quickly.

“I really don’t know,” he admitted finally and Tasha said nothing, merely looked at him sadly.

“Belle this is crazy!” Ric warned her. They had been sitting watching Katherine Allgate’s house for the past two hours but there had been no sign of life.

“No it’s not, look there,” she pointed madly as a car drove onto the drive and a woman emerged, Belle darted forward but ric managed to pull her back.

“Just hang on a minute,” he urged.

“But she’s going inside!”

“I know she is but she’ll still be there in a minute,” Ric told her.

“Yeah but…”

“No buts. You need to think about this, you can’t just go flying in there and ask if she’s your mother. This is going to be a shock to her as well, remember?” Ric warned.

“So what do I do then?” Belle asked.

“Well at least have the letters and photos with you, they might help,” Ric suggested.

“You think?”

“Yeah and I think you should take a minute to calm down. Rushing in there won’t help, I know you’re excited but you have to remember that this might be a false alarm,” Ric told her.

“Quit with the negatives already!” Belle snapped.

“No because I don’t want you getting your hopes up, I don’t want to see you hurt,” Ric replied.

“You do care about me then?” she teased.

“Of course I do,” Ric replied.

“I have to do this,” Belle told him.

“I know just take your time though,” Ric cautioned.

“Okay, thanks.” Belle stood up and letters in hand, she slowly made her way to the front door and knocked loudly on the knocker.

“Hello can I help you?” the door was answered by a middle aged woman with a kindly face.

“Katherine Allgate?” Belle asked.

“No sorry,” she replied, Belle’s heart sank. “Katherine, somebody to see you!” Belle felt as if her heart had been repowered as her hopes soared again.

“Send them through!” came back the sing song voice.

“Come in child, she’s just in the front room,” the woman replied.

“Thanks.” Half terrified but half excited Belle followed the woman into the house.

“Bet it’s good to be home hey girlie?” Irene asked after she had repeatedly hugged Selina and settled her on the couch in the Beach House.

“Yeah it feels really good,” Selina replied.

“I’ll put the kettle on shall I? I’m not sure where Belle is but Kirsty and Kane moved home again this morning and, did I tell you that Kim’s leaving? He’s going the city with Kit so it should be a little quieter round here, at least until Tasha moves back,” Irene replied.

“I bet you’d be happier if it was full though, hey Irene?” Selina asked, knowing her old foster mother too well.

“I like people girlie there’s nothing wrong with that,” Irene replied.

“So tell me about Barry’s proposal? Angel said it was really romantic,” Selina begged.

“Well it was unexpected I’ll tell you that for nothing,” Irene replied with a smile, she looked over as Stephen went to answer the ringing phone. “I was whittering on to everyone about how relieved I was to have you safe and he kept trying to get my attention. I was ignoring him, then he finally snapped so I turned to look at him and he was on one knee with a ring. I was well and truly gobsmacked I tell yer,” Irene explained.

“Aw that’s so cute!” Selina remarked. Stephen was in the kitchen gesturing at Irene over Selina’s head.

“I’d best just go pour that tea out a second girlie,” she replied standing up and making her way to the kitchen.

“That was the hospital on the phone, Joey’s woken up,” Stephen explained, Irene opened her mouth but Stephen put a finger to his and whispered sssh at her. “I don’t want Selina to know.”

“And why the blazes not?” Irene demanded.

“Because she’ll worry, I want her to concentrate on getting better first and she’s spent enough time in the hospital recently. I’ll tell her in a day or two when she’s feeling a bit better,” Stephen replied.

“You want me to lie to her?” Irene asked.

“It’s for her own good,” Stephen protested.

“You’re her husband, but I’m telling you now I don’t like this one bit,” Irene remarked.

“But will you keep quiet?” Stephen begged.

“Yeah alright, for now but you better tell her and soon because I’ll tell yer something for nothing that girlie ain’t gonna be please yer lied to her,” Irene told him.

“She’ll understand,” Stephen argued.

“Somehow I doubt it, look I'm going to the hospital," she glared at Stephen and then called across to Selina: "Selina love I’m just popping round to see Pip!”

“Okay Irene,” came back Selina’s reply.

“Thanks Irene,” Stephen replied.

"I hate lying to her Stephen but it's your decision,” she answered, in a tone of voice that sounded suspiciously like ‘it’s your funeral.’

Angel sat on the closed toilet staring desperately into space. She had no idea what to think, this situation was unreal, and she couldn’t quite get her head around what was going on. Why did things have to be so complicated? She had laughed off the suggestion from the woman in the chemist at first; it was ridiculous to even think it, but then Angel had begun to think it. She’d quickly realised that the woman’s suggestion could be a reality and that little piece of plastic that the woman had so willingly sold her now suggested that it was in fact a reality. Suggested was the right word because those things were wrong all the time, weren’t they? Except that Angel knew that this time there was no mistake. She knew her own body and there had been other signs, signs she had been ignoring because she did not want to face them. She still didn’t but somebody else had forced the issue. The snotty woman in the chemist had made Angel confront her fears, and now they were proved right the question was what to do about the situation she had gotten herself in? She didn’t want this, it was the last thing she wanted, the last person. She couldn’t believe she had been so stupid, stupid, stupid alcohol, stupid, stupid Angel. Now everything was ruined, a mess, destroyed and she had only herself to blame; stupid, stupid Angel. Her head was in her hands and thoughts were swirling themselves round in her head, she felt so messed up, confused and angry. She was angry with herself, with the situation, with the woman in the chemist, with him. A noise downstairs unsettled her and Angel hurriedly hid the box in the depths of the bathroom bin before making her way furiously downstairs prepared to vent her anger on whichever child had unwittingly disturbed her inner turmoil. At the top of the stairs she stopped, her eyes locked on the very last person she wanted to see.

“Hey Angel, I didn’t realise you were in,” Peter remarked on seeing her.

“Why are you home?” she demanded.

“I forgot my phone,” Peter replied, “hey are you okay?” he asked.

“No not really,” she whispered.

“What is it?” Peter asked concerned.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” she admitted.

[I love music]

Great chapter. I love the pace and the way you keep interesting storylines going with all the characters. The Selina/Steven/Joey is great. I got a feeling there'll be trouble when Selina finds out about Steven lying to her!