Everyone's Got Problems

[Zetti]

Not Drugs!!!!!! Not Drugs!!!!!!!!!!

I hope he realises that drugs arent any good for him!

[wrongturntaken]

Tyler! you cant get into drugs!!!!!!!

That was a brilliant, it was so weird to read. VJ at Uni wow. and little Ryan with a baby AOL. so cute!!!!

lol at Amanda being called Grandma.

That was brill,

xxxxx

P.S where was the blue writing, I like the blue writing

i knew i'd forgotten something! I've corrected it now!

[xknomex]

Tyler! you cant get into drugs!!!!!!!

That was a brilliant, it was so weird to read. VJ at Uni wow. and little Ryan with a baby AOL. so cute!!!!

lol at Amanda being called Grandma.

That was brill,

xxxxx

P.S where was the blue writing, I like the blue writing

i knew i'd forgotten something! I've corrected it now!

lol, Yay!!!! one of the things I've always loved about your fic is the blue writing

[Lise]

I liked the last two chapters.

Amanda being called Grandma was funny. I can imagine that would have taken her a while to get used to.

It's interesting to see what Ryan and VJ are doing in the future.

[Adelle_fan1000]

I just caught up!! Tis a good read.. can't wait for more

Can't believe VJ is at Uni, and Ryan is a dad!!! *faint*

[MissOlivia22]

No! Not drugs....

Please update soon. Or give us a hint about when the next update will be?

[wrongturntaken]

Thank you for the comments! I really appreciate them! and i didn't forget the blue this time xknomex!

No one else has updated and i couldn't concentrate on my work because i'm ill, so i thought i'd write a chapter! I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 23.

"Oh my God, Aden!" Belle laughed, hitting him playfully on the arm as he went back to putting some more burgers on the barbecue. "You can't say that!"

He shrugged, "Why not? Don't tell me you can't see it..." Aden raised his brow at her and she looked over to where Mark was chatting to a girl he had invited to the barbie, it having now turned in to more of a Summer Bay party than a family reunion. Mark claimed this girl was just a friend but Belle was still getting excited for him, that was until Aden had told her to look over at Lisa, who it appeared could not take her eyes off Mark.

Belle shook her head, "Maybe you're right, lucky Mark hey?" she smiled.

"He's got his Dad's looks," Aden said lightheartedly and Belle smiled at the fact he actually did. Aden stopped cooking for a second and looked over to the big tree where his daughter was sat in the shade alone, "What's up with Tess?"

"Tyler," Belle sighed.

"What else!" Aden answered sarcastically. "So he didn't show up?"

"Not yet, anyway," Belle told him and spent a minute looking over at her daughter before speaking again, "I think Tess isn't telling us something."

"You think she's lying to us?" Aden said, and stopped prodding the meat for suddenly.

"Not because she wants to," Belle explained. "She's been so worried about Tyler, it just makes me think there's something more going on."

"I'm confused," Aden said. "Are we meant to be mad at her?"

Belle laughed, "No."

"Hey guys," came a familiar female voice from behind them and they turned around to greet her.

"Big turn out," Geoff smiled as he stood next to his wife.

"Yeah, I hope we've got enough food," Belle commented.

Nicole smiled and looked around the garden, "Is Tess alright?" she asked concernedly.

"She invited Tyler but he hasn't shown up," Belle explained.

Nicole nodded sympathetically, "It's understandable though, it can't be easy for him, poor kid."

"What do you mean?" Aden asked with a sudden interest.

Nicole narrowed her eyes, "He hasn't told you?"

"Told me what?"

"About his mum."

"What about his mum?" Aden asked, getting worried.

Nicole hesitated for a moment before answering slowly, "...she killed herself, Aden." He stayed silent but his eyes widened.

"That must be why Tess is so worried about him," Belle added in to the conversation worriedly.

"Yeah," Aden nodded sadly, "It must be what they were talking about when he was around here the other night. I wondered why she had forgiven him," he said as he came to the realisation, before adding, "I can't believe he's trying to deal with this on his own, he must be going through hell."

Geoff hesitated as the conversation lulled before speaking, "We're gonna go talk to Irene," he told them with an awkward smile, "...see you later."

Aden and Belle both nodded at them as they left.

Belle sighed, "Are you going to talk to Tyler?"

"If he'll let me...," Aden answered her sadly before trying to change the subject with a small smile, "Why don't you go and say hi to the guests? We don't wanna look like bad hosts now, do we?"

Belle shook her head, "I'm quite happy here with you," she told him and they kissed briefly.

"Belle," Aden started, looking at her understandingly, "I know," she answered him adamantly and at his forceful look added, "Fine, I'm going," before leaving his side to go and talk to Drew.

He was stood with his wife and son and smiled at her she approached, "Hey," he greeted her happily.

"Hey," she tried to match his level of enthusiasm but couldn't quite manage it as she took in how much his appearance had changed. His hair was completely gone and he'd lost weight, and although sat down casually, she could tell it was out of necessity as Harriet held his hand. Belle liked Harriet but she always felt a tension between them whenever they were on their own. She couldn't help but feel they would never have a real friendship for the daggers she always felt she was getting from her when she wasn't looking.

"Aunt Belle!" their 12 year old son, Dan, exclaimed as he saw her.

"Hey Dan," she greeted him with a smile, "Wow, you've grown!"

"Yeah," Dan said, "It's kind of the way it works."

Belle laughed, "...and just as cheeky as your Dad, I see..."

Drew laughed, "Why don't you go and talk to Mark, Dan?"

"Sure," the boy answered obediently and left the three adults alone.

"So how are you?" Belle asked. "I wanted to call, i just didn't know if you'd want a lot of people doing that," she explained although she knew it was no excuse and felt incredibly guilty about it.

"I'm okay," Drew said, he didn't have the energy to tell her that her not calling had hurt him. "Getting there, the doctors think its going well and my next round of chemo is my last," he told her.

"That's great," Belle replied sincerely.

"So how are you?" Drew asked.

Belle smiled, "I'm good."

"...and Aden?" he asked her, still with that slightly threatening edge in his voice that he had whenever he spoke Aden's name although it was considerably less so than years ago. He and Aden would have conversations now on their own if they had to, but they had never really been more than acquaintances.

"He's good too," she answered.

"...and the kids?" he asked after a moment, seeming to have nothing left to say. When Harriet wasn't around, Drew and Belle used to be able to talk without it being awkward, although it had been a while since a time like that.

"Lets just say you have the teenage years to look forward to..." Belle said slyly.

"Rebellion?" Drew questioned, resisting the urge to laugh.

"Kind of I guess, but they're good kids so i think overall we're pretty lucky," she answered and the conversation came to a halt. "...and how are you Harriet?" she turned to Drew's wife.

"I'm fine, thank you," Harriet answered politely. "I don't mean to be rude, Belle, but Drew kind of needs his rest..."

"Harri!" Drew exclaimed. "I'm fine."

"Drew, don't argue with me," Harriet said softly and Belle realised this was a rare moment where she got to see what Drew saw in her. She really did love him.

"I know you're worried," Drew said, squeezing his wife's hand supportively. "...but I can talk to my sister without dying."

"It's okay, actually, i have to go and talk to some of the other guests anyway, you know, play the hostess," Belle told them, wishing to get out of there as quickly as possible.

Drew smiled at her graciously before she turned and walked off.

*

"Aden. There's someone i want you to meet..." Melody greeted him as she approached, holding the hand of a man he didn't recognise. "This is Terry, my fiance."

Aden smiled and reached out his hand to the tall, muscular figure stood in front of him,

"The elusive Terry, i was starting to think she'd made you up," he laughed and the man smiled warmly, putting Aden slightly more at ease.

"Yeah, i got delayed with some business," he explained.

"Well, Melody speaks very highly of you," Aden said.

"Where's your wife?" Melody asked after smiling at Aden's comment.

Aden glanced around and saw Belle heading towards them, "Just coming."

"You must be Terry," Belle said excitedly as she reached them. "I've heard a lot about you," she smiled slyly at Melody.

"All good i hope," he laughed, seemingly nervously.

"Absolutely, and thank God," Belle said. "If Aden doesn't think your good enough for her, you might be in big trouble with him."

"Is that so?" Terry said, eyeing Aden, who looked at him and nodded, although he had a nervousness in his eye. He was pretty sure he wouldn't actually be able to take him.

"Absolutely," he settled on instead. "...but you seem alright, so i'm not gonna judge."

Terry laughed, "Well, it's nice to finally meet Melody's friends anyway, she's told me a lot about you too."

"...and i'm sure that's all bad," Aden said, with a cheeky glint in his eye, directed at Melody.

"Well, i didn't have any good stuff," Melody joked back.

"Do you want something to eat?" Aden asked them.

"Sure."

*

"Hey, Tess," Irene said, coming to sit next to her on the bench under the shade of the tree.

"Hi, Irene," Tess answered sadly.

"Are you alright?" Irene pushed gently and Tess sighed. If she ever had a problem that she didn't feel comfortable talking to either Belle or Aden about, or she was worried about how they would react, she would always talk to Irene. Something about the older woman was comforting, she always knew the right thing to say and talking to her helped get her thoughts in order. She'd told Belle once about her conversations with Irene who smiled and said she understood, and told her she still went to Irene for the same reasons to this day.

"I guess," Tess answered.

Irene scoffed slightly, "I'll believe that when there's a smile on your face, love... Let me guess, boy trouble?"

Tess smiled sadly, "I invited Tyler but he hasn't turned up."

"I see," Irene answered knowingly. "Are you and he together again?" she questioned lightly.

Tess shook her head, "No."

"Do you want to be?"

"I don't know," Tess sighed, "It's so complicated, Irene. I know what i feel, but its just... it's too complicated."

Irene smiled, "Do you know, this reminds me of a time when your parents were younger and they'd broken up."

"Mum and Dad broke up?" Tess questioned, suddenly attentive, her parents rarely talked about their relationship when they were younger and she'd never understood why.

Irene laughed, "A few times actually. But this one was the longest and hardest on both of them. Anyone could see they loved each other, but there was so much standing in their way."

"...but they overcame it, otherewise we wouldn't be here right now?" Tess finished for herself.

Irene nodded, "He talks about you, you know," she added with a smile.

"What?"

"His shifts at the diner, he seems to think the world of you."

"Really?" Tess said as she felt butterflies start fluttering in her stomach.

"Really," Irene answered her firmly, "He reminds me a lot of your Dad too, which makes me think he's probably worth it."

Tess smiled gratefully at her as she stood up, "Thanks Irene."

"Your welcome, love," Irene said although Tess didn't seem to have heard her as she was now looking over at the gate with worry.

Irene followed Tess's gaze to that spot as she heard Tess cry, "Oh my God, Tyler!" and sprint over to him.

I didn't like some bits of that but i hope you liked it anyway. Please leave a comment! x

[LAURZY!]

Awww that was great!

Love Aden and Belle they are so sweet!

Drew's got cancer?!! awww no!

I hope Tyler's alright!! hopefully now he will talk to someone!!!!!! lol

Brill update hun, looking forward to reading more

Hope your feeling better soon x

[Taniya_K]

I dunno what bits you didn't like but I loved it all! Seriously!

Firstly - Drew! Poor guy... Although seeing him married and with a wife like that is kinda funny...

Belle and Aden Need I say more?! Years down the line and they're still so AOL! [Though that's got more to do with your marvalous writing and imagination than anything else ]

I loved how you brought Irene into this. That was just great, esp Tess' thoughts about her. But that ending about Tyler!!!!! What happened?! Did he pass out or something?! Or is she just THAT happy to see him?!

Can't wait for more, like always! Although there was one thing I picked up in this chapter that I didn't like. A guy that Aden couldn't take on? Are you serious!? Aden can take anyone on!

Update soon please! I hope you get better soon though!

xoxo

[rfran]

So really enjoyed that chapter. Drew with his wife was interesting her being really protective in front of Belle was good. Loved Irene and Tess really sweet for her to give her confidence to carry on in what I feel is going to be rocky road.

Thanks