Everyone's Got Problems

[whispered_envy]

Great last few updates! I am very much looking forward to Aden and Belle telling their kids about what happened to them when they were younger...I hope Aden makes it to Mark's game! Love Tess and Tyler...they are too cute! I can see Tess, Lisa and Tyler forming a little group. Can't wait for more!

[Adelle_fan1000]

haha i loved the bit where tess told Aden about the window thing...funny how he laughed

and who is the mystery woman???? Aden isnt cheating on belle is he?

[wrongturntaken]

Thank you for all the comments! You know i love them! I'm really liking this updating every day thing, i might try and do it again today if i get time. Only one more filler chapter after this one, before the main story starts.

I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 14.

What are you doing back, Mel? I haven't seen you in nearly a year!"

"Well..." Melody held up her left hand for Aden to see the ring she was wearing there.

"No," Aden said disbelievingly, "You stayed in one place long enough to get engaged?"

"I know!" Melody agreed excitedly.

"So where did you meet?" Aden said but before Melody could answer him he added, "Actually, I have to be somewhere, but why don't you come over tonight? I'm sure the kids and Belle would love to see you?" he asked.

Melody smiled, "Sure, that's sounds great. I've really missed you all."

"Maybe you could bring your fiance," Aden said, almost suggestively.

"He's not actually in Summer Bay yet, but he should be here in a week," she smiled.

"So you're actually staying longer than a week?" Aden asked, as a surprised but happy smile graced his face.

She nodded, "Didn't you say you had somewhere to be? I'll tell you all about it later."

"Thanks," Aden said just as the phone started ringing.

The woman on reception picked it up and Aden saw a concerned expression appear on her face, "Aden, it's Sally, she doesn't sound good," she handed the phone to him.

"Hey, what's up?" Aden asked worriedly and got a blubbering response from the receiver although he could just about make out what she was saying. "Okay, I'll be right there," Aden said and put down the phone. "Sorry Mel, I have to go. I'll see you tonight though," he said, as he grabbed his jacket from the hooks next to the entrance and left the building, leaving Melody to make her own way out.

*

"Are you alright?" he rushed in to the hospital, seeing a young blonde woman sat on one of the hard chairs, apparently in shock.

She looked up at him suddenly and shrugged. He took a seat next to her, putting an arm around her.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Aden asked gently and she shook her head. "Sally... you need to tell me..." he pushed.

She swallowed. "Frank, he... he wouldn't stop hurting him," she said and burst in to tears.

Sally was a twenty year old with a four year old son, Marcus. Frank was her ex boyfriend and from what Aden gathered, he had regularly beaten Marcus before Sally came to Aden and he gave her the support and confidence she needed to be able to put an end to the relationship.

"Where's Marcus now?" Aden asked softly. "Intensive care," Sally answered, "He has a few broken ribs," she spluttered, "...and they think some internal bleeding so he might have to have surgery."

Aden pulled her in close to him, knowing that she needed comfort now. They stayed there in silence for several minutes before the doctor came to talk to them.

She explained that they were now taking Marcus to surgery to repair some damage to some internal injuries. The doctor seemed to think if the surgery went well, then Marcus would eventually be fine.

Aden sighed and looked at his watch, realising he was now half an hour late for the game, "Sally, I better go, okay. You'll be fine here," he gave he a small smile as he stood up.

She reached out for his hand, "No, Aden, please stay. I'm scared. What if the surgery doesn't go well, I need your help if things get worse."

"I know," Aden answered her supportively. "...but there are a lot of people around to help if you need anything."

"...but what if Frank comes in?" she answered. "Please stay, Aden... please?" she begged and Aden sighed.

He sat down again, "Okay, I'll stay until Marcus gets out of surgery." He felt guilty but right now he knew that Sally needed his help. Although he wasn't sure that anyone else would see it that way.

*

Aden was now at home in the kitchen waiting for his family to return. He had made dinner, a feeble attempt at an apology when he heard the door open.

Mark walked in and gave him one venomous glare before stomping off up the stairs. Tess followed and looked at her father in disappointment before following Mark. Aden sighed and looked at Belle as she walked through the door. She looked at him with a slightly less venomous expression than Mark, but enough to let Aden know he was in serious trouble with her.

"Belle..." he started.

"Don't Aden," she said bluntly. "I don't want to hear it. You made a promise, and you broke it. Do you have any idea how much you disappointed Mark. How is he ever supposed to trust anything you say again?"

"I'm sorry," Aden tried. "Would you just let me explain..."

"You did explain, and you said you could get passed it, Aden," Belle stated.

"That's not why I missed the game," Aden started.

"Oh really, because for any other reason, you could have at least called," she said, folding her arms.

He sighed, "Okay, I should have called, I just never got the chance."

"Why? Where were you?"

"I was at the hospital with Sally. Marcus was badly beaten, he needed surgery," Aden explained and Belle's expression softened for a second.

"Is he okay?" she asked concernedly.

"He will be," Aden told her thinking that she might be about to retreat.

"Good," she said shortly. "So you stayed with Sally?"

Aden nodded, "I couldn't leave her."

"Typical," Belle said, shaking her head from side to side as regained the vaguely angry expression she had had before.

"What?" he asked; confused at her response.

"Aden, you’re not the only one that Sally trusts," Belle said heatedly. "You could have called someone else. You know you could have if you'd really wanted to," she added as she could tell Aden was about to interrupt to say he didn't have a chance. "You chose not to."

"What are you saying?" Aden asked.

"Part of you still didn't want to go to that game because of the same reasons you told me about. You just used this as an excuse," she told him.

He looked at her for a moment, "Okay," he admitted gently, "Maybe your right. I can't help it Belle. Just because its decades later, doesn't mean that I can get over it in a second because I've had so much practice," he argued heatedly.

"Oh come on!" she exclaimed, "You know that you could work through this if you really wanted to. You know how to, you know that you can. What I don't get; is why you seem to be refusing to?"

"I'm not refusing to do anything!" Aden yelled.

"…really?" Belle asked him, raising her eyebrows.

"You can't expect me to be able to deal with issues so easily just because I'm a counsellor, Belle!" he answered. "Just because I can help other people, doesn't mean I can help myself like that."

"Then talk to someone," Belle said, calming downs slightly now.

"No," Aden replied adamantly.

"…why not?"

"...because I shouldn't have to!" he shouted.

"I don't get this!" Belle shouted back. "Why are you not letting me or anyone else help you? It's like you want to have this issue continuing on with you. Like if you don't have it, then something won't be right." She breathed heavily after her outburst and looked at Aden who she could tell was contemplating something in his head; varying emotions being conveyed through his expressions.

Eventually he sighed and settled on uncomfortable.

"What is it?" she asked him sternly.

He sighed, "Dad's up for parole in a month," he explained.

Apparently he'd shocked her in to silence as she just stared at him, "How long have you known?" she eventually asked him.

"A couple of months," he answered her timidly.

"...and you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't know how to," he tried to explain.

"I still don't get it."

"If I hold on to something from back then, it means when or if Dad gets released, I won't have to hash up memories from the past in this life, because it'll already be a part of it somewhere. I just thought it wouldl be easier, even if it doesn't make any sense," Aden said, realising how selfish it sounded as he spoke. He didn’t intend it to sound like an idea that he’d had, because it wasn’t. Yet he was sure that was how Belle viewed it now.

She, apparently, had had enough of him and turned to leave, "Mark's your son, Aden, maybe you should start thinking about that," she turned around to tell him, before following her children upstairs.

*

They were now all seated downstairs in the kitchen, eating their dinner; awkwardness emanating around them. There was little conversation, other than when Aden told them that Melody would be dropping by later. He knew that he had let them all down, especially Mark, and he had been racking his brains, trying to think of a way to make it up to him.

A couple of hours later and there was a knock at the door. Aden answered it to see Melody standing there. He hugged her and apologised in advance if it seemed weird between them all.

“Look who’s here,” Aden said, as he walked in to the living room where the rest of them were sat watching TV.

“Mel,” Belle smiled and immediately turned off the TV. She walked over to hug the woman, as did Mark and Tess.

“Sit down,” Aden offered and everyone reclaimed their places.

“So where have you been, Mel?” Tess asked excitedly. The entire time she had been growing up, she remembered rare visits from Melody in which she and Mark would be given presents from the far corners of the Earth.

“I was building schools in Africa,” Melody said.

“…really?” Mark exclaimed and Melody smiled, “That’s so cool.”

“So is that where you met your fiancé?” Aden smiled.

“…fiancé?” Tess exclaimed.

“Thanks for ruining the surprise,” Melody joked, looking at Aden and holding out her ring to show Tess and Belle who had now come forward as well. “…and yes, that is where I met him.”

“So what are you doing back here?” Belle asked.

“Well, I thought I’d been traveling for long enough and since me and Terry, that’s his name by the way, thought we should settle down. I suggested we come to Summer Bay and he agreed to live here for a few months to see how we like it.”

“So you’re staying?” Tess squealed and Melody laughed.

“Yeah,” Melody sighed, “…and you’ll be seeing a lot more of me too, I’m the new computer science teacher at school.”

“What do you know about computers?” Aden joked.

“Nothing really,” Melody continued, “I only created software worth millions of dollars, hence how I afforded all the traveling.”

“Yeah, I think I’d be just as qualified to teach that subject,” Aden said and laughed lightly.

Melody stayed for a couple of hours and then left to go home. She had said she was staying with Miles until Terry came down and they could start looking for a place together.

Unfortunately, the awkwardness of the family was not resolved before bed time, and Aden went to sleep, feeling detached from the rest of them as he tried to think of a way to regain their trust.

*

Aden woke up on Sunday morning with a sudden idea. He got up, showered and dressed quickly before barging in to Mark’s room, and ripping the covers off.

“Leave me alone,” Mark said sleepily.

“Come on, Mark, get up. We’re going out!” Aden said excitedly.

“It’s Sunday!” Mark exclaimed, now opening his eyes more and wincing as Aden pulled his curtains open, revealing the sun shining through.

“Downstairs in half an hour,” Aden commanded, figuring that would be enough time for Mark to get up and ready.

“Why?” Mark continued tiredly.

“It’s a surprise!” Aden said. “Now hurry up!”

Aden walked downstairs to find Belle already there. He smiled nervously at her and she returned the same sort.

He walked over to her, “I’m going to make it up to Mark, and I’m going to make it up to you,” he told her firmly.

“Good,” she said, and started to relax a little as Aden wrapped his arm around her waist as he stood behind her. He did it tentatively as he was afraid she wouldn’t let him before kissing her on the cheek. “So what are you going to do?” she asked.

“I’m taking Mark somewhere now,” Aden told her and refused to divulge anymore information at her questioning look. “What are you doing today?” he asked her.

“Tess and I are going to have a girl’s day out shopping in Yabbie Creek,” she told him.

“Sounds nice,” Aden smiled, pleased that the tension between them seemed to have evaporated.

Twenty minutes later and Mark came downstairs, looking annoyed that Aden had woken him.

“Right let’s go,” Aden said before Mark could speak. “…but I haven’t had any food,” he complained.

“Have a slice of toast for the way,” Belle laughed as she handed him the toast. He took it begrudgingly before following Aden out the door.

“So where are we going?” Mark asked as he climbed in the passenger side of the car.

“I told you it’s a surprise,” Aden said. “…besides I thought it would be nice for us to spend some father/son time together. We haven’t done that in ages.”

“Not my fault,” Mark said bitterly.

Aden sighed, “I know, I’m sorry. But I did explain what happened yesterday to you and I’m going to try and make it up to you.”

After ten minutes or so, they pulled up at their destination.

“What are we doing here?” Mark asked, as he watched Aden undo his seatbelt and followed suit.

“We’re gonna play,” Aden said with a small smile as he continued to the boot of the car and took out the football he had put in there earlier.

Mark smiled, “Just you and me?” he asked.

“…why not?” Aden shrugged and threw it at him as they walked onto the deserted pitch.

They chucked the ball for a bit and messed around, Aden commentating on Mark’s moves as though he was playing in an actual game and winning it for them.

“Thanks for this Dad,” Mark said honestly after they had been playing a while and were now sat on the ground, resting.

“That’s okay. We should have done it ages ago, I’m sorry I’ve been such a lousy Dad recently,” Aden answered him.

Mark sighed, “Just try and not be one anymore.”

“I will,” Aden told him and Mark threw the ball unexpectedly so that it hit Aden in the head. Aden looked playfully angry before retaliating the action. Neither of them realised they were being watched intently by a man stood just out of view on the sidelines.

I really wasn't sure about bits of that but i hope you like it anyway, please comment! x

[Taniya_K]

Yay, they [kind of] made up! I say kind of, because I've got this dreaded feeling that it's not going to last.

I loved Aden's explantion. It really did make sense, and it was so sad! I just hope that when, and if, Larry gets out, there won't be a downspiral or anything.

Who's that guy at the end though?! That's a bit dodgy...

Loved you bringing Melody into it! And she's getting married! And she created a computer software worth millions?! Nice...!

Cannot wait for more! Hope you do get the chance to update once again! I can tell you, I really love the idea of you updating everyday!

xoox

[LAURZY!]

Awww Mark and Aden were really swete at the ned! hopefully Aden will open up to him soon

Melody's back!! wasnt expecting that lol

ooo who was watching them???

Great update as per hun

[Jody]

I loved this chapter so much.

Yay! Melodys back. You have no idea how happy I am that shes in this fic. I love how you are writing her as well. It's so good to see when people write her properly and not as some kind of villian(because apparently just because she has problems and isn't acting very likeable on the show that makes her an evil person too most people). I'm so happy that shes doing so well in her life. I can't wait to meet her fiance. And it's also nice to see how Tess and Mark like her. Her conversation with Aden in the beginning was my favourite. I loved how happy they seemed when they were talking to each other and how excited he was to see her. They truly felt like the close friends they were in Can time really heal?

Okay now for the rest.

The Belle and Aden talk was brilliant. I'm glad she didn't go easy on him. I think he needed to understand just how much he was hurting Mark.

And that part in the end with Mark and Aden was really nice. It was sweet thing for Aden to do. I hope they start getting along better now.

Nice twist with Larry coming up for parole. I really want Larry to get realeased. I think it would make for some great scenes. As for the man watching them, I wonder who he is? Could it being Larry got realeased early?

Once again thank you so much for Melody.

Please try and keep with the daily updates. Can't wait for the next one. And what on earth made you call this a filler chapter when so much happened with everyone.

[Zetti]

Melody created software worth millions?!? Cool!

I love Aden's and Mark bonding

[Zetti]

Melody created software worth millions?!? Cool!

I love Aden's and Mark bonding

[rfran]

Just caught up fantastic loved these last chapters can't wait for the next one.

Find your reasoning for there inner turmoil really fascinating.

[xknomex]

Loved both those updates!!!!!!!

haha at Aden laughing at Tess climbing through the window! would loved to have seen Belle's reaction

Yay Mel came back, and she made millions for a computer thing! Wow!

Love Aden and Mark father and son bonding

oooo Larry's being released, interesting!

LOVE this fic!!! update soonxx