Everyone's Got Problems

[Lise]

That was a really good chapter.

I am really interested in what's going on with Mark and Aden now!

[Inactive User]

Great fanfiction! Had been reading every chapter through ten pages! Good work, mate. Loved it Liking the character Tyler in this story. Update soon please, please-wanting to read more sooon :P

[Zetti]

I love the fact that that the chaper was mainly Tyler and Tess and they are just like Aden and Belle in their own way Hope you update again soon x

[xknomex]

any chance of an update today?

xxx

[wrongturntaken]

Probably not today, although there is the slightest possibility, it just depends on how much uni work i get done, hopefully there'll be one tomorrow though!

Thanks for asking! lol

[MissOlivia22]

Update soon?

[wrongturntaken]

Thanks for the comments, they are muchly appreciated! You get a few answers in this chapter... This shouldn't spoiler the chapter but just to clarify when Aden says, 'my kids' he's talking in general about kids from the drop in centre... just trying to avoid confusion, lol.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7.

Aden felt the cold wind sting his eyes and brush his cheeks as he looked out at the ocean, taking in the pink tinge of the horizon which showed how far along the sunrise was. He could hear no birds, animals or people as he stood on the cliff top looking out, only the sound of the breeze traveling past him, lifting up his tie annoyingly. He laid a hand on it to try and stop it from moving and felt the rose that he had in his hand; loosen. He took a step forward, approaching the edge; he sniffled and sighed before dropping the rose off the edge, whispering, “I miss you… and thank you.”

“Fancy seeing you hear,” he heard a woman’s voice behind him speak gently.

“Nicole,” he whispered as he turned around to face her. She was dressed in a white shirt with a black jacket and pencil skirt and she’d tied her hair up, protecting it from the wind.

“Can you believe it’s been a year?” she said sadly, walking to the edge and dropping a rose off also as she whispered, “I miss you Dad.”

They both stepped away from the danger of the edge but didn’t change the direction of their stares, watching the ocean’s waves curl and crash, remembering as they had done nearly a year ago at Roman’s memorial, which had taken place here, in his favourite spot.

“No,” Aden breathed. “You know sometimes I walk in to the diner and I still think he’s going to be there,” he admitted as he felt tears roll down his face. “Just ready to take my order for breakfast, that’s how I remember him, with that apron on,” he finished with a meek smile.

“I know what you mean,” Nicole told him as she sniffed, trying to contain her tears, “Rachel will have done something or achieved something and I’ll pick up the phone and start dialing until I remember that he’s not there anymore,” she finished her sentence before letting her tears flow freely.

They stood in silence for a few minutes.

“I miss you Nic,” Aden said eventually and swallowed back the lump in his throat to talk.

She was silent for a moment before answering, “I miss you too, Aden.”

“He’d be ashamed of us you know?” Aden said lightly.

“Yeah, I know,” she tried to laugh.

“I’m sorry,” Aden told her.

“…what for?”

“I know that you blame me for what happened…”

“Aden…” she interrupted.

“No, let me finish,” he said, finally facing her as she turned towards him. “You have every right to, I should have tried harder, he was one of my kids, and I let Roman go after him,” Aden said.

“Stop it, Aden,” Nicole tried.

“I could have stopped Roman going after him, I could have stopped him getting killed, could have stopped them both getting killed…” he said, tears now pouring at a faster pace.

“No, Aden,” Nicole said firmly. “It was not your fault, and I don’t blame you… …when that kid got worked up, upset or paranoid, or whatever he was and he ran away… you needed help and you called Dad… he was closer to where Dean was and he went after him… not because you told him to, because he was Roman and that’s what he did… he helped people… whenever he could… …but this time he couldn’t help him… Dean was too far gone to bring back…”

“…but I knew Dean, I could have calmed him down, I could have stopped it…”

“Roman knew Dean, if you had gone it would have been you who would’ve gotten shot and killed, and then you would have been leaving behind Belle and Mark and Tess,” she exclaimed, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “…and you would’ve thought with his SAS training he would have been able to wrestle the gun from him…”

“I think it was the wrestling the gun that made it go off in the first place… and we both know that it was guilt that killed Dean,” Aden said sadly. “I still remember him lying in that hospital, I felt so guilty but part of me wanted him to pay,” he admitted. “I know that’s horrible and it was only for a split second but then he did die and it didn’t make anything any better,” Aden continued, “…Nicole… I don’t understand, if you don’t blame me then why haven’t we talked properly in so long?” Aden asked her; confusion covering his face.

She took her hand away and turned back to the ocean, “I’m sorry,” she sniffed. “I should have talked to you, I should have been able to talk to you but it was just… too hard…”

“…too hard?”

“You are so much like him,” she smiled. “…but every time I saw you… it would just make me miss him so much… it was unbearable… it was weak but I just couldn’t handle it, it was easier to not see you, talk to you, to pretend that you didn’t exist, I thought it would make it easier to get past it…”

“…did it?”

“I thought it did,” she admitted, “…but now I realise that I lost two people instead of one,” she looked at him again. “I’m so sorry, if I had known that you thought I blamed you all this time, I would’ve said something…”

“I understand Nicole,” Aden soothed.

“…you do?”

Aden nodded, “Is that why you signed your part of the diner over to me and Belle?”

“Partly,” she answered. “I also knew you needed the money more than Geoff and I.”

Aden let out a small laugh, “Thanks.”

Nicole gave him a weak smile, “Aden, I don’t want it to be like it has been between us.”

“Me neither.”

“Can we… can we try and get back… there?” Nicole asked him meekly.

“I would really like that,” Aden said honestly. “For now though, I think we just ought to remember Roman… together,” he added holding out his hand for her which she took before they both retook their position facing the water.

After five or so minutes Nicole spoke as they began making their way back towards their cars, “No Belle?”

“She knew this was something I had to do on my own,” Aden told her with a small smile. “Beside, she’s been up all night… Tess didn’t come home.”

“She didn’t call?” Nicole was genuinely surprised.

Aden shook his head, “…and you know what mother’s are like, Belle refused to go to sleep until she knew that Tess was alright.”

“Yeah, I do,” Nicole said, “If Rachel didn’t come home I don’t know what I’d do. Are you worried?”

Aden paused, “I think she’s just being a teenager, but yeah of course I’m worried that she hasn’t called, I think I ought to go home and find out now,” he told her unlocking his car with the button on his key.

“Yeah I better get home too,” Nicole told him mimicking his actions with her own car.

“Nicole?”

“…yeah?”

“Do you want to come over for dinner some time, I mean you, Geoff and Rachel, we haven’t done it in so long?” Aden asked her.

She smiled, “I would really like that… we all would,” she answered before getting in her car and driving off leaving Aden to follow her.

*

Tess woke up slowly to the feeling of being encased by an overprotective figure. She smiled to herself and turned around to face him in his arms, “Tyler?” she whispered softly and saw him breathe but not wake up. “Tyler?” she tried again, a little louder before kissing him, he woke up at that and kissed her back, turning what was meant to be a light peck in to a proper kiss.

“Morning,” he said groggily.

“Do you know what time it is?”

Tyler yawned and turned the other way to face his digital clock, “Nine,” he answered her.

“Nine?” Tess cried, “As in 9 am?” she added sitting bolt upright and flinging her legs out of bed, before raising a hand to her head in agony and then determinedly getting past it to hurriedly putt her shoes on.

“Well, judging by the day light outside, I’d say yes,” Tyler joked, “What are you doing?” he asked her, also getting out of bed.

“My parents are going to kill me,” she exclaimed hopping around to put her shoe in before she raised a hand to her head again, “Oh my God,” she cried before sitting back on the bed.

“Headache?” Tyler asked her, trying not to be amused.

She looked at him evilly, “What do you think?”

“How are you going to get home, walk?” Tyler suggested.

“Yeah, or I’ll get the bus, the quicker I get home, the better, it’s a Sunday, there’s the slightest possibility that my parents will still be in bed,” she tried to convince herself but then sudden realisation dawned on her face. “Oh my God,” she breathed.

“What?”

“It’s been a year,” she said simply.

“…since what?” Tyler pried.

“Since Roman died,” she answered him.

“Who’s Roman?” he pushed gently.

“He was like a grandfather to me,” she explained, “…and one year ago today, he was shot… trying to help someone.”

“I’m sorry,” Tyler said genuinely.

“I have to get back,” Tess said adamantly. “There’s no way they won’t be up on today of all days.”

“Okay,” Tyler said, pulling on some jeans and a T-shirt. "I'm going with you."

“Uh, no,” Tess said, holding out a hand for him to stay where he was before she opened the window. “I don’t think you’d like to see either of my parents angry, it’s a rare sight, but not a pretty one, and if you’ll come home with me, you’ll be the target so I’d advise against it.”

Tyler let out a small laugh as he followed her to the window, “Okay, if you say so.”

She stuck one leg out of the window and turned to face him, “Thanks,” she said. “For last night and everything.”

“My pleasure,” he told her sincerely and went to cup her chin and kiss her quickly, making her smile.

“I’ll see you at school tomorrow,” she said.

He nodded and smiled, “See you then.”

*

Belle was sat in the kitchen on her own, tapping her foot constantly as she sat at one of the stools. She had tried to distract herself with cooking and the scent of bacon was now wafting around the kitchen but that hadn’t worked for too long as the combination of that and no sleep was making her feel nauseous, and then she had tried to distract herself with the newspaper but that just reminded her of work and then her mind just kept going back to Tess. She had rung round hospitals and anywhere else she could think of but they hadn’t heard of her which she took as a good thing. She had rung Tess’s mobile God knows how many times and it just kept going straight to voice mail. She was continuing her hourly ritual of pacing around the kitchen when Tess walked in.

She flung her arms around her daughter, “I was so worried Tess!” she exclaimed as Tess let her mother hug her. This only lasted a few seconds before Belle backed off, “Where the hell were you and why didn’t you call?” she yelled angrily.

“I’m sorry, Mum,” Tess tried.

“Sorry doesn’t cut it, Tess, where were you?” Belle insisted.

“I stayed at the party,” Tess lied.

“All night?”

“I fell asleep,” Tess shrugged, trying her best to look as apologetic as possible.

“Why didn’t you call?” Belle continued, folding her arms.

“My phone died.”

“…and there were no other phones at the party?”

“I fell asleep, by the time I realised I wasn’t going to make it home, it was too late to call, I figured you’d be asleep,” Tess said.

“Asleep?” Belle exclaimed. “You really think I’d be able to sleep when my only daughter hasn’t come home and hasn’t bothered to tell me why and where she is? Do you have any idea of how worried I was? How worried we both were?” she shouted.

“Ah,” Tess exclaimed, wincing as she raised a hand to her head, “Please don’t shout mum,” she whined.

Belle looked at her daughter suspiciously, “Were you drinking last night?”

Tess averted her gaze guiltily just as Aden walked in to the room, “Ah your home, finally,” he said sternly. “Have you given an explanation to your mother as to why you didn’t come home last night?”

“She’s too busy suffering from a hangover,” Belle filled in; fuming.

“What?” Aden exclaimed.

“What?” Tess repeated the word in a defensive tone, “You never said that I couldn’t drink, you said to be sensible.”

“…and if you have a hangover then that means you drank too much to be a sensible amount,” Belle said angrily.

“I’m sorry, okay, what do you want me to do? It’s done, I can’t change it,” Tess said, “Now, can I please go upstairs and get changed, I smell of puke.”

“No,” Aden said firmly, “You are going to tell us why, it’s not like you Tess.”

Tess fidgeted and sighed in annoyance.

“Your father’s right, you’re not going anywhere until you tell us.”

“Fine,” Tess answered. “I got worked up about Laura.”

Both Belle and Aden’s expressions turned to shock, “Why?” Aden said gently.

“I thought someone I knew was doing drugs at the party and I had a go at them, I was wrong and then I just kind of wanted to let go of all those feelings I’d just rehashed.”

Aden sighed, “Don’t ever do that with alcohol… please,” he said gently.

“Dad,” Tess said, taking a step closer to him, “Why do you get so stressed out whenever anyone talks about alcohol, I mean you barely ever drink yourself… "

“Not now, Tess," Aden told her softly.

She nodded slowly, “I’m sorry, I know it was stupid and I’ll be more sensible next time.”

“Next time?” Belle exclaimed, “There is not going to be a next time.”

“What?” Tess said in surprise.

“Tess, this is the first party of this kind that we’ve let you go to, and you let us down, you’re not to go to them anymore, not for a little while at least,” Belle said.

“…but,” Tess tried to argue.

“No buts Tess,” Belle said firmly. “…and you’re grounded for a month.”

“What?” Tess exclaimed angrily before turning to her father, “Dad?” she pleaded.

“Don’t do that Tess,” Belle said. “Whatever punishment I decide for you, your father will go along with,” she added looking over to Aden who nodded at her.

“Your mother’s right Tess,” Aden said.

“So, grounded for one month, with possible paroll in two weeks for good behaviour,” Belle said firmly.

“…but,” Tess tried again.

“Take what you can get Tess,” Aden said and gave her the hint of a smile.

“Now go upstairs and get changed,” Belle said, “You really reek.”

Tess trudged up the stairs loudly.

“Nicely done,” Aden turned to Belle.

“Thanks,” Belle said to him, “I can’t believe we just grounded Tess.”

“I know,” Aden said. “…but it had to happen sooner or later, at some point she was going to take after you.”

Belle punched him lightly in the stomach as he approached her.

“Ow,” he joked before wrapping his arms around her and she buried her head into his chest.

“Are we good parents, Aden?” Belle asked him worriedly.

He lifted his head back and they looked at each other, “Of course we are,” he reassured her and gave her a quick kiss before he held her close for a couple more minutes.

I hope you liked it, i figured i haven't really written much of Belle so that last scene was kind of refreshing.

Please leave me a comment!

[Taniya_K]

I agree. They are good parents!

I'm glad we finally found out what happened to Roman. I'm SO glad that Nicole and Aden have healed the rift between them too!

Tess and Tyler I swear, I don't care if they're your characters, I'm addicted to them! They're so the new generation of Adelle!

Belle grounding Tess was awesome. I like her as a mother. You portray the two of them as parents really well.

Can't wait for more!

xoxo

[LAURZY!]

Roman

LOVE Tess and Tyler they are so cute

Really looking forward to reading more

Loved it

[xknomex]

They are good parents!!!! I loved the way they handled Tess it was brilliant. The bit Aden said about drinking was very cleverly done.

The talk between Aden and Nicole was so sad, I still cant believe Roman is dead :(

I hope you are going to write the dinner scene cause I would love to see that.

I love Tess and Tyler, we need to think of a name for them, Adelle for Aden and Belle ? for Tyler and Tess. hmm will have to think about that. I love how its like the reversal of Aden and Belle. Tess climbing through the window hehe. I wonder if adelle will find out about that and laugh. In fact I cant wait till they find about them. XD

I still want to know what's going on between Mark and Aden?

Update soon

xxxx