Sinful Seduction?

[Zetti]

Aww Martha *reaches and hugs her*

[Barbara]

Poor Martha! Lisa has every right to be angry but she was so mean! Hopefully we won't have to hear from her again!

Poor Tony! I felt sorry for him when Jack told him he didn't know Martha at all.

More please.

[Tasha]

I loved the last part the best <33

Great chapter

More please soon

[bay girl]

All i can say is sucked in Lisa. Gosh i dont like that girl.

Thank god Jack finally told Tony everything thats going on with Martha. Hopefully he will be more understanding now.

Poor Martha. I hope Tony supports her.

Jack. I love him.

[matticus01]

OHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Lisa that was a little harsh...

Poor Martha, I had so much to catch up on, but I loved it all well done . . .

Well... now all that is over and done with, Lisa can just F88K off completely and Jacky and Marthy can go back to the happy loving couple they are.

[vale4eva]

Thank you! Sorry about the dialogue in this one. Just needed to get this scene out of the way really.

Enjoy

Chapter 50:

“I’m so sorry love” Tony sighed as he held tightly onto his eldest daughter’s frame. “I had no idea you’d had such a hard year”.

“It’s my own fault really” she sniveled through dejection; her eyes barely open, exhausted from all the crying. “I let it string on for so long”.

“No, I didn’t mean that …” he trailed off, as Martha titled her head to look at him. “I meant … Jack told me about your exams” he told her carefully, as he watched Martha’s head fall in realization and shame.

“Oh…” she hushed; her face scrunching up at the knowledge of him knowing she was failure.

“I wish you’d told me you were having a hard time at uni ... I could have helped”.

“Thanks but … it was something I needed to do by myself. And I’m feeling a lot better about it now. I re-sat them and didn’t struggle for the answers” she perked up a little. “So, unless I’m seriously mistaken, I think I did alright”.

“I’m sure you did love” he gave her an encouraging nudge. “You know there’s not a day goes by when I’m not proud of what you’ve achieved, and the person you’ve become”.

“Oh, you mean a lying, cheating, failing…” she rambled on.

“No” he butted in. “A kind, beautiful and intelligent woman. Someone with the biggest heart in the world. And someone that wouldn’t hurt a fly … You may have gotten yourself into a mess recently, but you’re getting yourself out of it”.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” the tears in her eyes built up.

“I know you didn’t love. I know”. His arm around her shoulder told her to not be afraid. He still loved her, and he still supported her. And to Martha, that meant more than the world could give.

“How did Lisa take it anyway?” he approached the subject softly, whilst Martha wiped her runny nose with a tissue.

“She cried, yelled at me and then threw me out” she spoke glumly. “Pretty much everything I was expecting to be honest … not that I could really prepare myself for it”.

Her head shook as the vision of Lisa’s face stung her mind. “I’ve screwed everything up so badly” she hushed in her cry, “and I'm not even sure how I can make amends for that ... Right now, all I know is the one person who should be here right now, isn't …". Turning to her father she pleaded with him in desperation, "I want Jack to come home dad, I miss him so much … I feel sick everyday when I wake up, just knowing that he’s not here with us … he doesn’t deserve this. Not when he didn’t do anything wrong … he’s only ever tried to do good by everyone. He shouldn’t be punished for that”.

A sigh escaped Tony’s lips as he slowly nodded in agreement. “I know”.

Looking at him harder, she queried. “Then…?” she urged him on.

“I just … I’m worried, that’s all”.

“But, worried about what?” she challenged him, while he remained silent. “Please just tell me. What are you thinking?”

With another long sigh, Tony began. “Don’t hate me for saying this Martha, but … I guess I’m a little worried he’ll hurt you”. Her face fell at her fathers words. “My marriage to Jacks mother didn’t exactly work out, and I’d hate for that to happen to you”.

“Jack’s mother shouldn’t even be a question here; this isn’t about what happened in the past. This is about the future, my future with Jack” she corrected him. “Look, the bottom line is, Jack is the most beautiful and kindest man I’ve ever met, he’s always there for me, and he always puts me first. Even when I treat him like crap, he’s still there, and he still loves me…

…I’ve been so awful to him these last few months, I’ve done things that I never even thought I was capable of … the lying, the cheating, that was all because of me dad. Jack just wanted to be honest, to tell the world we were together, but … I became so self-involved. I was so scared I’d lose you, I didn’t even give anything else a seconds thought” her face frowned endlessly. “If only I’d known that lying through your teeth never gets you anywhere” her eyes rolled as she shook her head in irritation. “Maybe then I wouldn’t have been so rash”.

Tony frowned as he looked ahead into the open air. Truth be told, the majority of her words were simply drifting past him without a meaning, but one thing in particular lingered in his mind, and he couldn’t help but feel sick at the thought of Martha ever thinking she didn’t belong with them. “Martha, you know your home is here with us. And you know you’re a part of this family. Nothing or no one will ever change that” he told her, hoping to at least ease her concerns.

“I know … deep down I do know that. But, I can’t help the niggling thoughts at the back of my mind” she admitted sorrowfully.

“But they’re merely irrational. And that’s what you have to keep telling yourself”.

She nodded slowly in agreement. “If only I could go back in time. If only I could just turn the clock back and do things right … I’ve been so foolish”.

“Martha, we all make rash decisions, and we all make mistakes; it doesn’t make you a bad person. None of us are perfect”.

“Yeah but, you make rash decisions like; leaving the milk out a little longer than you should do. Or, using it past its expiration date”, she rambled on.

“Oh please” he laughed, “what about me leaving the weeks takings in the office that night! I was totally asking for some crim to come along and steal from us. I made a mistake, and I’ve paid for it. But now we move on”.

“I’m surprised Jack hasn’t moved on by now” she answered back. “A part of me can’t even believe he stood by me through all of this. I was so cruel to him, how can he still want to be with me after that!?” she asked in a light and disbelieving laugh. “but he does” she smiled, as a tear slid down her cheek; her heart filling with so much love, as her mind drifted back to Jack.

Tony couldn’t help but smile at his daughters comment. He’d never thought of Jack being quite so noble.

“The greatest gift I have ever been given, is to be a part of your family. … You gave me the chance for happiness, you brought me here, and you brought me to Jack … and I want more than anything for my future to be with him” she gushed at him in final.

Tony could hardly argue with that. Looking at it now, it seemed almost as if fate had stepped in and brought these two young lovers together.

Before he had the chance to respond however, fast and tiny footsteps were heard speeding down the hallway, as Eli ran into see her sister.

“I finished!” she grinned as she held out the paper in her hand.

For a moment Martha had forgotten all about Eli’s picture, until the little girl handed it over. Displaying a colourful acrylic painting of Jack and Martha on their wedding day.

Martha's face beamed in happiness as she analyzed Elena’s work. In fact, she felt quite moved by it, overwhelmed with love for her family.

“Can I keep this?” smiled Martha as her tears brimmed over.

“But I made it for art class” Eli scrunched her face up at her sister.

“Well, maybe you can make another one for art class.”

For a second Eli took a moment to think, before her shoulders shrugged and her face smiled. “Ok”.

Not long after, and the girl was gone, off to paint some more no doubt.

Martha sat by her father’s side, looking down in sheer awe at the painting. The white ball-gown dress, well, it was actually yellow in Eli’s version. The flowers, red, purple and green, and Jack beside her, in a black suit. Even in the painting, where they’re heads were slightly large and out of proportion, it looked like a happy day, and a couple very much in love.

“I can’t wait to show this to Jack” she spoke softly and a little tearfully.

Noticing his daughter’s state; her eyes dark and puffy, her face pale and tear-stained, he felt his insides crumble.

How could he force such pain on his beloved children?

Knowing the time was right; he decided to put her out of her misery, bringing about some good news to their currently misery-consumed lives. “Why don’t you put it on the fridge?” he told her carefully, watching as Martha’s face turned to him in a delighted surprise. Never in a million years would she have thought he would display a picture of his children like this, for all to see. “And then ... when Jack comes home tonight, he’ll be able to see it” he said with a small smile; a smile which hindered a touch of regret and sadness.

“Really!? You mean he can come home!?” she exclaimed in a cry.

He nodded, wiping away his daughter’s tears. “I'd love for him to come home.”

Reaching over she hugged her father in thankfulness. “Thank you” she hushed into his ear repeatedly. As she closed her eyes and sobbed in pure heart-felt happiness.

……………………………………

Standing at the front door with his bags down beside him, he flashed a look of uncertainty.

“Well don’t just stand there all day Jack, you make the place look untidy” said Tony as he stood facing him at the other end of the hallway.

With a small and awkward smile, Jack picked up his bags, walking further inside to approach his father.

“Welcome home son” Tony smiled through his guilt, as he stepped forward and attempted to shake his son’s hand. Pausing for a moment and although a little nervous, he decided to replace the hand shake for a hug, as he pulled his son into his arms.

Taken a little by surprise, Jack remained rigid as a rock. He couldn’t even recall ever hugging his father before.

“I’m so sorry son” Jack heard his father’s soft words of regret, as he whispered into his ear. The shakiness of his voice displaying just how sorry he truly was.

Relaxing his muscles and allowing his tension to subside, he wrapped his arms around his father; hugging him tight and silently telling him all was forgiven.

Pulling away, they shared a smile of understanding; and not long after, a rush of female hysteria ran down the hallway, as a relieved Martha flung herself into her boyfriend’s arms.

“I’m so glad you’re back” she gushed with love into his ear.

Holding onto her body, he held her tight.

Through a moment of realization, he could suddenly feel a change, a difference in her body within a second. Strangely, she felt a little thinner, a little weaker and a tad unable to stand solely on her own two feet.

Luckily his arms around her body kept her upright. But he was silently concerned.

Pulling back he took a look at her face. “Are you feeling alright?” he asked as he cupped her pale cheeks in his hands.

“I’m fine, really” she smiled at him, “I just, had a hard day”.

Quickly remembering today was the day when she would tell Lisa, he finally understood, “Oh right, yeah. So you told her then?” he flashed her a small sad smile.

She nodded in return, feeling her tears building up once again.

“I am so proud of you, do you know that.” He told her directly, as he looked intently into her eyes.

Unable to hold back, the tears flooded out, and she once again crumbled like paper.

Clearly the events of the last month were finally taken its toll on Martha. Jack silently thought to himself, as he retook her into his arms and cuddled her trembling body tight.

Preview: All seems well within the Holden Household! ... but is it really?

Jack also takes a moment to talk to Lisa, but will she listen to reason?

[Barbara]

Great chapter!

Poor Martha! She's been through so much these last few days/weeks. But Jack is back home now, he'll take care of her.

Loved Martha and Tony's conversation. Glad he's asked Jack to come back home.

Eli's drawing was sweet!

More please.

[Tasha]

I can finally reply

Great chapter

Tony and Marthas talk was really sweet

Jack and Martha

Eli is so cute

What happened to the mum? she's hardly ever there

More please soon

[matticus01]

awwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony

Im so happy that TOny finally came around, all he needed was a push in the right direction, or seeing how much Jack meant to Martha

Eli is so cute, drawing a picture like that

Awwwwwwwww I hope Lisa listens to reason

update soon

[Zetti]

Would have replied yesterday but it went down

Awesome chapter and love the dialogue