The Heart Brings You Back

[Stevie]

Thanks

Chapter 5

As Amanda lay awake in his arms, she looked over and saw Dan looking back at her. He was smiling at her, she smiled back, but all she could think about was Peter. When she looked into Dan’s eyes, she saw Peter. No, Amanda, don’t do this, Dan is your husband and you love him. She tried to reassure herself. She looked into Dan’s eyes and felt relief wash over her. She did love Dan, she did. She was just confused. She told herself as she leaned over and kissed Dan.

“I’m so glad we’re not fighting anymore.” He said as he gently kissed her, again, and again, and again.

As she succumbed to his kisses he suddenly pulled away.

“What?!” she asked, wondering why he had stopped so suddenly.

“Mum will be here any minute to drop off Ryan.” He replied as he got up and began to get dressed.

Amanda lay there on the bed as she watched her husband get dressed. “I’ll be out in a minute,” she said as the doorbell rang.

Dan leant over and kissed her forehead, “Ok,” he said and went to answer the door.

Amanda in bed wondering. Wondering why she couldn’t stop thinking about Peter, and what this meant about her feelings for Dan.

*****

“Dad!” Ryan said, bounding in the door and jumping into his arms.

“Hey buddy!” Dan replied almost being bowled over by his energetic young son. “Did you have fun at Grandma and Grandpa’s?”

“Yep, look what I got,” Ryan replied excitedly, holding up a brand new remote control car.

“Thanks mum,” Dan replied, “spoiling him much.”

“I’m his grandmother, it’s my job,” she replied.

“Hey Mum, it was good of you and Dad to come and stay in LA for a while.” Dan said.

“Well we wanted to spend more time with you and of course Ryan,” she replied with a motherly smile. “How could I be so far away from my adorable grandson.”

Amanda finally emerged from the bedroom. “Hello Noelene.”

“Hello Amanda,” Noelene replied in a disapproving tone.

“Mum!” Ryan said as he gave Amanda a hug.

“Hello darling,” she replied. “What have you got there?”

“Grandma and Grandpa got it for me,” he replied as he showed her the car.

“Oh they did, did they?” She said looking up at Noelene.

The two exchanged glares, until Dan noticed and decided to speak up. “Thanks for dropping Ryan off Mum.” He said opening the door for her.

“Ok, ok, bye Dan, bye Ryan sweetie,” She said, kissing Dan on the cheek, “ Oh, and bye Amanda.” The animosity could be heard in her voice as she shut the door behind her.

“Why can’t you two just get along?” Dan asked once his mother had left.

“I’ve tried, but she just doesn’t like me.” Amanda replied. “Anyway, why don’t the three of us go out to dinner tonight?”

“Yeah ok,” Dan replied.

“Ok, Ryan, why don’t you go and get a jacket before we go.” Amanda said as he ran to his bedroom.

Dan put his arms around her and gently kissed her.

“Dan! Ryan is in the next room.” Amanda said, slowly pulling away.

“I’m ready!” Ryan said as he began to run out the door.

Dan and Amanda looked proudly at him as they followed.

[Roccoluver]

Awesome update, Poor Dan. Ryan is so cute. Panda love forever

[Traceve]

I agree with Jane, Ryan is SO cute! I just wanna cuddle him

Good on Amanda for trying to push Pete thoughts out of her head as much as I want Panda

Please update soon!

[Stevie]

Thanks for the comments

Chapter 6

Peter tried to extinguish the fire as smoke quickly filled the room. From the next room he heard his date, Natalie, calling out to him, “Is everything ok Peter?”

“Yep, everything is fine,” he replied, swatting at the flames.

She didn’t believe him, instead she decided to check on him in the kitchen to see what all the fuss was about.

“Oh my god!” She yelled, “Peter, you said everything was fine. There is smoke everywhere.”

“It’s ok,” he replied calmly, as he extinguished the last of the flames.

He reached into the oven, but instead of finding the gourmet roast, he found a lump of coal.

“We could always get takeaway.” She laughed.

*****

“Wow, what a lovely dinner that was,” Amanda said as they arrived home.

“Yeah, and good on you Ryan for eating all of yours,” Dan added. “Why don’t you go and get ready for bed?”

“Aww, do I have to?” Ryan whined.

“Do as you’re told please.” Amanda said sternly.

“Ok,” Ryan replied, as he sulked to his bedroom.

“Hey, I was thinking about having Peter and his new girl over for dinner tomorrow, what do you think?” Dan asked.

“Umm… yeah… I guess so,” Amanda replied uneasily.

“Cool, I’ll give him a ring, but first…”

Dan pulled her close to him and began to kiss her.

“Dan, what about Ryan?” Amanda asked.

“Oh yeah, later then,” Dan replied, grinning as he went to help Ryan get ready for bed.

*****

“Mmmm, this is delicious,” Natalie said.

“What? And my cooking isn’t?” Peter replied, feigning offence.

“Well, seeing as your food isn’t edible, I wouldn’t know.” She joked.

“Point taken,” Peter laughed.

He watched her as she ate, she looked amazing, and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

“You look great tonight Amanda.” He said.

The words came out of his mouth before he realised what he was saying.

“Amanda?!” She yelled angrily, “Umm, my name is Natalie!”

“Look, I can explain,” Peter pleaded.

“Don’t bother!” She replied as she stormed out of the apartment.

Before he could wallow in humiliation, his phone rang.

“Peter Baker,” he answered. “Oh, hi Dan. What, dinner tomorrow? Ok, but it will just be me.”

[Traceve]

*hugs Peter* That would have been really really embarassing for him, calling her Amanda.. Haha!

You can tell Amanda doesn't want to be with Dan for much longer, everytime he so much as kisses her she pushes him away and says no because of Ryan. I think it is because of Ryan and because of Peter.

Please update soon!

[Roccoluver]

Poor Peter and Amanda. Oh and poor Dan too, can't he sense something is wrong?. Post more soon

[Stevie]

Thanks again

Chapter 7

“Yes!” Dan yelled, “another win!”

He had been playing the pokies for a couple of hours now and he was doing fairly well.

“Ace…Ace…Ace…ACE!” He yelled, “you beauty!”

“Wow, you’re doing well mate,” the man next to him commented.

“Yeah, I seem to be on a roll.” Dan replied modestly.

“I think you’re a natural, you shouldn’t be wasting your time on poker machines.” The man replied.

“What are you talking about?” Dan asked curiously.

“Look, my name is Blake Silver,” the man replied, pulling something out of his jacket. “Here’s my card, give me a call if you wanna win some real money.”

Dan took the card as Blake began to walk away.

“Wait!” He called out as he chased after Blake. “I’m interested.”

*****

Amanda was setting the table when Ryan came in after playing outside.

“Oh Ryan, your filthy.” She said, “go to the bathroom, I’ll be there in a minute to run you a bath.”

“Yes Mum,” He groaned.

Amanda went to check the oven when there was a knock at the door. She went to answer it and standing at the door was Peter.

“Uhh, hi Peter,” she said, avoiding any eye contact with him.

“Hi,” he replied. “Where’s Dan?”

“He’s not home yet,” she told him. “There are some beers in the fridge, I’ll be back in a minute after I give Ryan a bath.”

“Yeah, ok,” was the only response he could muster, as he watched her leave the room.

This was a big mistake, he thought to himself.

*****

“Wow, you’re one lucky guy,” was the common line said to Dan all night.

Everyone was congratulating him, he couldn’t believe his luck. Maybe Blake was right, maybe he was a natural. He’d been winning all night, he didn’t want to stop, he didn’t want to break his winning streak. But at that moment he looked down at his watch.

“Damn, I have to get home.” He said.

“You coming back tomorrow night?” The man next to him, who introduced himself as Gus, asked.

“Yeah, maybe.” Dan replied, “wouldn’t want all my luck to go to waste, would we Gus?”

*****

“Finally, I got him bathed and clean.” Amanda said as she walked into the kitchen, where Peter was drinking a beer.

“That’s kids for you,” he said, handing her a glass of wine.

As he passed her the glass, their hands briefly touched. They both felt something, like a spark. It made them both feel uneasy.

“Thanks Peter,” she said, pulling the glass away quickly.

Too quickly infact, because she dropped it, shattering the glass and spilling wine everywhere.

“Oh Damn!” She cursed as she bent down to clean it up.

“Oh, here, I’ll help,” Peter said as he bent down to help.

They both reached for the glass at once. As they touched, they looked deeply into each other’s eyes. Everything else seemed insignificant and they felt as though they were the only people on earth. They stared at each other for what seemed like hours. Their focus was finally broken by Ryan running into the room.

“Hey Uncle Pete!” He said, almost bowling Peter over.

“Hey mate,” Peter replied.

“Wanna come and check out my new remote control car?” Ryan asked.

Peter looked at Amanda, as if to get her permission.

“Go, I can finish cleaning up here.” Amanda said as Ryan pulled him out of the room.

She had just finished cleaning up the mess when Dan arrived home. He was in an overly happy mood.

“Hey, I’m home.” He said, unable to wipe the smile off his face.

“You’re happy.” Amanda commented disapprovingly, “and late!”

“Yeah, sorry,” Dan replied as he could tell that Amanda was annoyed with him. “But I have some good news.”

[Traceve]

Dan is gambeling again!? !

Update soon, please!

[Roccoluver]

Dan you irresponisble noob! Great update. But why are Panda denying their love, even if she is married to his brother. Hehe Messy Ryan

Update soon or else Panda squad with be after you with... something

[Lilone]

Awww this gets better and better, Panda = 4ever!

Update soon