Back to the Future

[SAM27#]

OMG

Update soon!!!!!!!

You never keep us bored!!!! With all the twists and cliffhangers!!!!!

[MissOlivia22]

Any chance of an update today ?

[solaris]

Hopefully.

I've just finished a very emotionally charged scene, so there should be an update today.

[MissOlivia22]

Yay

[xknomex]

Hopefully.

I've just finished a very emotionally charged scene, so there should be an update today.

YAY will look foward to it!

[solaris]

Here we go again. There's a bit of everything in here so sit back and enjoy the ride.

Warning - language and some unpleasent inferences/kidnapping

Chapter 20

“Sit down before you fall down!”

Roman was jolted out of his state of static shock by a firm hand on his shoulder and a voice which booked no argument, he sat where he was guided.

“Nic, can you please explain how I didn't know about this?”

She shrugged, unnaturally calm now that the storm of emotion had passed. She was already resigned to whatever would happen from here, probably her dad kicking her out like her mom had.

“She didn't dare tell you, she figured you'd go...'super nova' was how she described it, then fight for custody just to hurt her.”

Roman dropped his head into his hands, when his little girl had needed him he hadn't been there. Guilt ripped through him like a knife, he fought for control and focus.

“What am I missing here? Yes I'd have probably reacted badly when she told me, but why would I have fought for full custody...? Just a minute, how did you being kidnapped come about?”

Nicole rested her head back against Geoff's chest, relaxing as his arms tightened around her. Somehow, the bible boy had become her rock.

“You're quick dad, I'll give you that! To cut a long and very messy story short, one of mom's 'gentleman friends' wanted me and couldn't have me. He took matters into his own hands and arranged for me to be taken, he intended to have me held until he could 'deal with me in person' – it doesn't take a genius to figure out what he mean by that!. He was away on business and got delayed, luckily I was found before he got back.”

Roman cursed fluidly, this was a mess and a half. He still had one question though.

“Why didn't you tell me when you came to town?”

Nicole closed her eyes, not wanting to see her father's response.

“She told me you'd hate me if you knew, said you'd want nothing to do with – and I quote - “an amoralistic little tart who leads men on”. I didn't lead him on dad, I really didn't. I was fifteen when he first started coming on to me...I was scared...I couldn't...”

She'd thought she was all cried out but the tears started to fall again, releasing the pain and fear of the past. The next thing she knew she had been scooped out of Geoff's arms, her dad's arms wrapped around her and she was cradled against his strong chest – safe.

Belle woke early on Saturday, last night had left her drained but sleep had been elusive despite a late night. There was no way she'd ever have predicted a shadow like that in Nicole's past, but she wouldn't have predicted Aden's past either. Maybe, in spite of her own background, she was too inclined to think the best of people. Crawling out of bed, she sent Aden a text to say she was going to the beach. She needed space to think, to breath air that wasn't thick with emotion. Her phone beeped, it was Aden – 'meet you there in ten babe, usual place'. Belle smiled and once dressed, headed for the kitchen. Geoff was already there, slouched against the back door with a glass in his hand. He was staring into space and he looked as if he'd managed less sleep than she had.

“Morning Geoff, how you feeling? Or is that a dumb question?”

Geoff turned to look at her.

“I don't know and...I don't know!”

The corner of Belle's mouth kicked up, the response was logical – to her at least.

“Fair enough, you spoken to Nic yet?”

“No, I didn't want to wake her if she's asleep. All this mess with Simon, him threatening you and Aden, it brought it all back to the surface for her. I figure that's probably a good thing...she needed to face it...but it's so hard to see her hurting like that.”

Belle wrapped her arm around his back and hugged him, the way he'd coped with Nic's meltdown had surprised her but she'd been proud of him as well.

“Yeah, burying stuff doesn't help. Sooner or later it has to be dealt with, but I think you should at least text her. The last thing she needs is to feel that you're backing away 'cause of her past.”

Geoff nodded and headed upstairs for his phone, sometimes his 'sort of sister' made a lot of sense.

By the time Belle made it to the beach, Aden was already there. He sighed in relief as she ran down the sandbank to meet him, she didn't stop until she was in his arms. Staggering a little as she made contact, he wrapped his arms around her as she threw her own arms around his neck.

“Hey, what's up?”

Belle just tucked her face into his neck and muttered something he couldn't hear, he held her for a while then forced enough distance so that he could look at her.

“You look tired babe. Sit down, start talking!”

She followed his directive to sit...didn't have much choice in the matter. Resting her head against his chest, she started to talk.

“I'm okay I guess, after what happened with Nic yesterday though I couldn't sleep. I...”

“Whoa, hold up! What happened with Nicole yesterday? I didn't see her after she went to bed Thursday night, I know Roman went to talk to her yesterday morning but I don't know what happened to her after that. Geoff spoke to Roman after school, he was worried...but again I don't know details. I think she was already in bed by the time I got home.”

Belle closed her eyes, not sure how much to tell Aden.

“When I phoned for Roman yesterday, Nic was at mine. I saw her on her way home, offered her a ride and she went into meltdown.”

“Damn, whatever she was hiding came to a head.”

Aden's comment was so soft she almost didn't hear it, but it was clear that Aden knew something he hadn't been telling. Sitting up, she turned to face him with questions in her eyes. Seeing the expression, Aden shrugged.

“I knew she was covering something painful, I did it so long myself I know the signs when I see them.”

There wasn't much she could say to that, he'd certainly walked the walk when it came to painful pasts.

“So, are you going to tell me about it?”

Belle looked up at him and shook her head.

“I don't think it's my story to tell.”

Aden smiled, his girl had standards and she stuck to them. Belle yipped as she was suddenly picked up, seconds later she was sat between Aden's legs with her back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her ear, then proceeded to rest is chin against her head. She relaxed against him, glad that they were a couple again.

At the diner, Roman was working. He'd left Nic at home with Geoff, he had been going to ask Leah Irene to cover for him but his daughter had been pretty insistent. She needed to talk to Geoff, felt she owed him an explanation and the rest of the story. After he'd taken her home the previous evening, he'd managed to get the rest of the story out of her. It appeared that her mother hadn't wanted to admit that she'd been at fault herself; instead she'd convinced Nic that she was at fault, that she was to blame for the actions of a man more than twice her age. Slowly but surely she'd almost brainwashed Nic into believing that her father would have the same opinion, thus explaining why he'd known nothing until last night. To say that he was not happy was an understatement, but anger at her mother would not help Nic right now. He swore to himself that his daughter being kicked out by her mother, would ultimately be the best thing that could have happened. Come hell or high water he was going to help her though this...but it seemed that Geoff was going to be part of that process. The smile that touched his mouth was rueful, Geoff and Nic...talk about out of left field!

“Another order just come in, it's for Principle Bartlett.”

Roman looked around and thanked Colleen, glancing at the order she'd given him he put it on the counter. He needed a word with the Principle.

[wrongturntaken]

That was great! I loved the cute scene with Aden and Belle and it was good to finally found out what happened with Nicole, but we still need more answers!

[solaris]

That was great! I loved the cute scene with Aden and Belle and it was good to finally found out what happened with Nicole, but we still need more answers!

What possible answers could you still be after?

*laughs evilly*

[xknomex]

By the time Belle made it to the beach, Aden was already there. He sighed in relief as she ran down the sandbank to meet him, she didn't stop until she was in his arms. Staggering a little as she made contact, he wrapped his arms around her as she threw her own arms around his neck.

“Hey, what's up?”

Belle just tucked her face into his neck and muttered something he couldn't hear, he held her for a while then forced enough distance so that he could look at her.

“You look tired babe. Sit down, start talking!”

She followed his directive to sit...didn't have much choice in the matter. Resting her head against his chest, she started to talk.

“I'm okay I guess, after what happened with Nic yesterday though I couldn't sleep. I...”

“Whoa, hold up! What happened with Nicole yesterday? I didn't see her after she went to bed Thursday night, I know Roman went to talk to her yesterday morning but I don't know what happened to her after that. Geoff spoke to Roman after school, he was worried...but again I don't know details. I think she was already in bed by the time I got home.”

Belle closed her eyes, not sure how much to tell Aden.

“When I phoned for Roman yesterday, Nic was at mine. I saw her on her way home, offered her a ride and she went into meltdown.”

“Damn, whatever she was hiding came to a head.”

Aden's comment was so soft she almost didn't hear it, but it was clear that Aden knew something he hadn't been telling. Sitting up, she turned to face him with questions in her eyes. Seeing the expression, Aden shrugged.

“I knew she was covering something painful, I did it so long myself I know the signs when I see them.”

There wasn't much she could say to that, he'd certainly walked the walk when it came to painful pasts.

“So, are you going to tell me about it?”

Belle looked up at him and shook her head.

“I don't think it's my story to tell.”

Aden smiled, his girl had standards and she stuck to them. Belle yipped as she was suddenly picked up, seconds later she was sat between Aden's legs with her back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her ear, then proceeded to rest is chin against her head. She relaxed against him, glad that they were a couple again.

soo cute

Romans reaction to Nic was brill. i love the father daughter relationship between them.

[adelle]

Adelle, so cute!!!

Poor Nic, Roman's great!

Update soon