Having Faith

[LauraPhilly!!]

Thanks for your lovely comments, guys!

Here's the next chapter!!

Chapter 13

"Aden, that was delicious," said Mattie, as she put down her cutlery. "You certainly know how to cook that's for sure."

Aden chuckled. "The years I lived with Roman rubbed off on me!"

"I'll say!" said Belle, as she tucked into her third serving. "This chicken is amazing."

Mattie raised her eyebrows. "My God, get a room."

"I would get a room with this chicken," said Belle, her mouth half full. "I think I could show this bird a good time."

Aden and Mattie exchanged a surprised glance, while Faith giggled at her Mother.

"And you love her because..." said Mattie, teasingly.

"Oh ha-ha," said Belle, as she put down her cutlery neatly.

"No you sit down," ordered Mattie, as Aden attempted to stand up. "You made the dinner, now I do the washing up."

"I'll help you Aunt Mattie," said Faith, as she began gatthering the plates.

"Great, thanks Faith," said Mattie, as Faith carried the plates through to the kitchen.

"Now you go into the living room and play with your girlfriend."

Belle giggled and got up and pulled Aden from the table. He followed her willing and let her curl up on his lap when he sat down into the armchair.

"Your tired," noted Aden, as Belle unsuccessfully stifled a yawn. "Will I take you to bed?"

"No!" said Belle, determindly, although she then laid her head on Aden's chest and closed her eyes. "Mattie's here, I wanna hear what she's been up to!"

"Babe, that can always wait 'till tomorrow," said Aden softly, as he played with a strand of her hair.

"Aden Jefferies!" exclaimed Belle, sitting up and looking him straight in the eye. "Do you really wanna mess with an extremely hormonal woman?"

"I'm guessing that wouldn't be a wise choice," teased Aden.

Belle shook her head fiercely. "Certainly not! I can get very feisty."

"Fine," said Aden. Belle smiled and relaxed into his chest again. "Half an hour and then we're both going to bed."

"Agreed," said Belle. "I'll go whenever you go."

Aden nodded, and stretched out his arm to lay it on Belle's bump. "How's the bub? Any movement yet?"

"No there won't be for awhile yet," said Belle, as she watched Aden rub circles around her stomach. "Faith didn't start kicking for ages! I was getting worried at one stage but then...then she had no problem expressing her feelings. Right up until the birth I was convinced she was a boy!"

"That's a lovely thing to say Mum," said Faith, teasingly, as she joined them in the living room. "What a disappointment it must have been!"

"Oh no actually it was brilliant!" said Belle, earnestly. "I didn't want a boy at all. Boys are way messier, plus if it was a boy he was guranteed to turn out like Aden."

"What, you didn't want our kid to have my amazingly good looks!" said Aden, in fake disbelief.

"Well it's kinda like that," said Belle, not meeting his eyes and instead playing with his fingers. "I didn't want our child to look like you because I knew every time I would see them coming in the door, it would break my heart because you wouldn't be there."

There was a few minutes awkward silence before Aden wrapped his arms around Belle tightly.

"I'm sorry, babe," he said, softly. "I didn't see it like that."

"No it's ok," said Belle, reaching out and placing her hand on his cheek. "Your here now and that's all that matters."

Aden smiled, but he couldn't push away the feelings of guilt and regret that were now eating away at his heart. There was nothing really he could do to make up for the time he wasn't with Belle.

All he could really do was be there for her now, and love her, and Faith, and their unborn child as much as possible. This he promised himself he would do.

When Mattie finished the washing up and joined them in the living room, the conversation turned back to one of laughter, reminiscing and happiness. It wasn't until Aden realised Belle had fallen asleep against his chest, that they all decided to go to bed.

"I should have left ages ago," said Mattie, slightly flustered as she searched for your bag. "I didn't give you three any alone time or anything. Oh, I feel so bad."

"Mattie, don't please," said Aden. "We all wanted you here. Now, there's the spare bedroom down the hall, why don't you just stay there for the night."

"Oh no Aden, I couldn't really," said Mattie. "I've already been a burden to you guys tonight."

"Aw please stay Aunt Mattie," begged Faith. "It would be so great to have you here!"

"Mattie, I insist," said Aden, gently, as he stood up, careful not to jolt Belle in his arms. "Belle would be delighted to have you, as would Faith."

"Well, ok, just for tonight," said Mattie, as she picked up her suitcase and followed Faith and Aden down the hall. "Thanks Aden."

"See you in the morning Mattie," he said, as he disappeared into his and Belle's room.

"'Night Aunt Mattie," said Faith as she closed her bedroom door.

"'Night sweety," said Mattie, blowing her a kiss.

When both door had shut quietly, Mattie stood watching the place where Aden had just been. She smiled for a few seconds and then walked into the spare room, shutting the door quietly behind her.

*

"Aden darling, I know you love me and all," said Belle, as she lifted her head from the toilet seat. "But I don't think you have to be here to watch this."

"It's alright babe," said Aden, as he grabbed her hair quickly as she vomited noisely. "I want to be involved in every stage of the pregnancy, and if it includes this, well so be it."

"That's sweet babe, but it's really not necessary," insisted Belle, as she stood up and rinsed her mouth with listerine. "Anyway, I'm fine now. In fact, I think I'm going to go back to bed."

"Ok," said Aden, as she put her arms on his for support. "I'll make you your favourite banana smoothie, and put it in the fridge for you, and you can have it when you get up."

"I knew there was a reason why I loved you," said Belle, as she kissed him lightly.

He smiled and watched her as she went into their room, and got back into bed.

He looked around the hallway, and saw Faith's bedroom door open and a note sellotaped to it.

Gone to ride Lady! Will be back around 9. Love Faith xx

Aden chuckled and shook his head. He couldn't believe that girl was actually willing to get up around seven to feed, groom and ride her pony.

"Well I suppose I'm willing to get up and stand with Belle while she's sick," Aden said to himself. "So I can't really talk."

After making Belle's smoothie, Aden sat down and began reading yesterdays newspaper. He was just started on the sports section when Mattie walked sleepily into the living room.

"Morning," she said drowsily, curling up on the sofa opposite him.

"Sleep well?" said Aden, as he folded the newspaper.

"Oh yeah great," said Mattie, as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Was Belle ok? I heard her rush to the bathroom this morning."

"Yeah, it's just the morning sickness," said Aden. "It's been going for about 2 months now. Only one left, but Belle doesn't think she can put up with it anymore."

"Yeah, it's tough," said Mattie.

Then she looked at Aden cautiously "I don't mean to be making you feel bad or anything, Aden, but it was really hard for Belle, the first time. With you not being there and all."

Aden nodded, and then dropped his gaze, refocusing on the tasle on the armrest.

"I'm not trying to blame you Aden," said Mattie softly. "You weren't to know Belle was pregnant, and she chose not to tell you, so it wasn't really your fault."

Aden nodded, still not looking up at her.

"I guess I was just surprised to see you here again after all those years," continued Mattie. "Three years was fine, five years was bordering ok only, but thirteen years. That was a long time. A lot of us thought you weren't coming back at all. Belle always hoped though."

Aden nodded. "I guess I was slightly scared to come back."

"Scared?"

"Yeah, scared. Frightened really," admitted Aden, finally looking up. "I was afraid that she would have moved on, that she would have been with someone else, that she would have a family of her own."

"I was terrified first at the thought that she might have left the Bay altogether, but then I remembered how much she loved this place," said Aden. "Then I came back, and in my own way I was facing my worst fears. At first they appeared to have come true; she was with Max, and they had Faith."

There was a pause.

"But then," prompted Mattie.

"But then it transpired that Faith was my daughter. At this stage, Belle and I were already falling in love with each other again. It was like faith Mattie," said Aden, finally looking into her eyes. "Like all this was meant to happen. And now, I have a daughter, I'm with the woman I love the most in this world, and we're expecting a baby. It's like all my dreams, multiplied a hundred times, come true."

Mattie smiled as she saw the sincerity in his eyes.

"I have never been happier than I am now," he told her honestly. "And it's all because of Belle, Mattie. Belle, and Faith, and our baby. Having Faith, having a daughter has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. She is amazing, and i love her so much. Having her was like the cherry on top of the cake."

"They are my whole world Mattie. All three of them in their own special and unique way."

Mattie smiled at him.

"You don't have to explain it Aden," she said, softly. "I know how you feel. I know this is going to sound cheesy, but it's kinda like how the wolves imprinted in the Twilight books. It was the girl they imprinted on that held them to the world, not gravity. Everything you do Aden, revolves around Belle. Everything."

"It's exactly like that!" said Aden. Then he frowned. "But how..

"How would I know?" asked Mattie. "Well, I had a boyfriend a few years ago, in LA. He ended up dying of cancer but what we shared, what we felt for each other...i know that I will never love anyone as much as I loved Luke ever again."

"Mattie, I'm so sorry."

"It's alright," said Mattie, smiling gently. "It happened a long time ago, and besides, I know he's always with me wherever I go."

Then Mattie looked up and smiled at Aden gently. "Thanks for letting me inside for head Aden. You told me more than I could have expected of you."

Aden smiled. "Your welcome. And I'm sorry again...about Luke."

Mattie smiled. "Like I said before Aden, the ones we love never really leave us. They're always with us one way or another."

And as Mattie left the living room and headed for the kitchen, Aden looked on at his friend in awe and admiration. She had gone through something that Aden couldn't even imagine. Yet, she was able to smile and go on with life, knowing the man she loved was always with her. He was in the wind, he was in her every breath, he was in her heart.

Thanks for reading..!!

...xXx

[tessalove]

Great chapter, Poor mattie!! Thats sweet the way she can go on!!

[Lise]

The conversation with Aden and Matilda was beautiful. Good chapter

[amz89]

i loved aden n mattie convo thanks for chapter.. X more soon please.

[LauraPhilly!!]

Thanks for your comments!!

This next chapter is a bit early because im going to be out late tonight!

Chapter 14

"Grr!! Oh my God, I hate this!"

"Babe, what is it? Are you ok?" asked Aden, as he half- sprinted into their bedroom.

"I can't fit into my size 8 jeans anymore!"

Aden sighed and shook his head in disbelief.

"Babe, your pregnant, it's going to happen."

"But, I don't want it to happen!" said Belle, stomping her foot angrily. "I want to be slim!"

Aden sighed. "Which do you want more; to be slim or our baby?"

Belle growled at him. "Aden, you know I can't choose between those two!"

"Well, if you can't choose, your just going to have to deal with it, babe," said Aden, as he opened the bedroom curtains. "It's only for another 6 and a half months."

"Six and a half months! Argh!!"

Aden chuckled at his girlfriend's irrationally mood and left her alone to finish getting dressed.

Mattie saw Aden's expression when he walked in the room, and she laughed.

"It's just the hormones," she reassured. "She'll come out now in a few minutes, and she'll be in a completely different mood."

Aden nodded. "Yeah. I realised after her first mood swing that I would have to start reading the pregnancy books. I wanted to know what else I was in for!"

Mattie laughed. "Well, you were the one who got her pregnant Aden."

"God, Mattie, I never knew that!"

"God, you are all so horrible!" said Mattie, sliding off her chair and walking off. "You all love making fun of me!"

Aden chuckled and set about making breakfast. Minutes later, Faith walked in the backdoor, carrying her riding crop and hap and smelling very strongly of horses.

"Morning Dad," she said, cheerily, as she threw her jumper in the washing machine.

"Morning! How was Lady?"

"She was good," said Faith, as she sat down and watched her father put bacon on the grill. "Jumped her well high this morning. Few more weeks of training and she should be ready for the majors!"

"That's great," said Aden, as he offered her some of Belle's banana milkshake. "We'll be all sure to come along and watch you, pending how your mother is feeling."

"How is Mum?" asked Faith, as she drained her glass.

Aden chuckled. "She just discovered this morning that she can't fit into her size 8 jeans anymore!"

Faith laughed and raised her eyebrows. "Bet that didn't go down too well."

"No, it didn't!" said Aden. "Better watch what you say for the moment. I reckon anything could set your Mum off right now."

"Oh, I saw Aunt Nicole and Mr Campbell today!" said Faith. "They just came back from their weekend away. From the looks of it, all is back to normal between them. Or as normal as things can be."

"Yeah, there going to have it tough," said Aden, keeping his eyes on the grill. "That Year 10 girl is staying in Geoff's place right."

"Yeah, I've seen her around a couple of times," said Faith. "She's making herself look way more far along in her pregancy than she actually is. She keeps wearing these tight tops and stuff. It's looks wrong."

"Yeah, of all the girl's Geoff could have..."

"Yeah she wasn't the best choice."

They nodded and then Aden began to serve the breakfast.

"Thanks Dad!" said Faith, as Aden pushed her plate towards her.

"Your not going to do that -

"Aden! Aden, come quick!"

Aden sprinted down the hallway towards Belle's room, Faith hot on his heels.

"Honey, what is it? Are you ok?" asked Aden, crouching over his wife.

"What's going on?" asked Mattie, as she stuck her head around the door, her hair wrapped in a towel.

"Belle?" asked Aden, getting even more anxious.

Belle grabbed his arm, her eyes sparkling with tears.

"My size 10 jeans won't fit me either!"

*

"Nic, we don't have to go back to mine, you know," said Geoff, as Nicole got out of the car.

"Geoff, I have to face this girl sometime," said Nicole. "Besides, she's carrying your child. You have to be apart of the pregnancy."

"I don't have to be Nic," said Geoff, quietly.

Nicole smiled at him softly. "Geoff, could you really turn your back on your own child?"

Geoff looked at her and then sighed, shaking his head.

"You know me so well, don't you," he said.

Nicole chuckled. "I know your weaknesses Geoff."

"Ok, let's get this over and done with," said Geoff, as he lifted their suitcases from the boot.

Nicole walked ahead, and put the key in the door. Before she had time to turn the key in the lock, the door burst open.

"It's 'bout time you got back," snapped Lucy.

Nicole surveyed the girl standing in front of her very quickly. She was wearing a tight pink sweatshirt, which enhanced the size of her bump enourmously. She had her arms hanging at her side, in a I-don't-give-a-damn way, and she was chewing gum in her mouth.

Nicole looked at her, and managed to smile.

"It's nice to meet you Lucy," she said.

Lucy looked her up and down. Then she looked at Geoff.

"I can see why you decided to knock me up!"

Nicole, with great difficulty, managed to stifle her angry outburst. She was surprised however that Geoff didn't.

"Right, that's it, Lucy!" he roared at her. "Get out!"

Lucy had clearly not been expecting this as a ripple of shock ran through her face.

"You can't throw me out, I'm carrying your baby!"

"Fine, I'll pay for you to stay in a hotel," shouted Geoff. "Either way, your not staying here! I'm fed up of you messing up everything good in my life! You took advantage of my when I was in a moment of weakness. It's your fault we're in this mess!"

"Geoff -

"Mr Campbell to you Lucy," said Geoff sternly. "Now, I want you downstairs with your bags packed and ready to go in twenty minutes, you got that!"

"Yes, sir," said Lucy, quietly.

Geoff and Nicole watched as she trudged slowly up the stairs, not looking back at them once.

When she had gone, Nicole turned and wrapper her arms around Geoff's neck, leaned up and kissed him deeply.

Pulling away slightly, they leaned their forhead's against each others. Geoff smiled at Nicole.

"I love you."

Nicole smiled and kiss him lightly.

"I love you too."

*

"This is one of the worst days of my life!" cried Belle, as she stormed through the house. "First, I can't fit into two, two, different pairs of jeans, and now, I can't drown my sorrows in chocolate, because my eat-healthy boyfriend won't let me!"

"Honey, you'll thank me later," said Aden, as Belle entered the living room.

"Where's Mattie?" demanded Belle, as she looked around the room.

"She went to see Irene and Leah. She said she'd be back later," said Aden.

"Great," said Belle. "Now I don't even have my best friend to share my problems with."

"Belle, honey, I'm still here," said Aden, pointing at his chest. "What's wrong with talking to me?"

"Aden, you caused my problems!"

"And how did I do that?" asked Aden, turning in the armchair so he was facing her fully.

"Well, firstly, I can't fit into my jeans because you made me pregnant, secondly, I can't eat any chocolate, because you won't let me!"

"I'm sorry, babe," he said, teasingly.

"Will a hug make it all better?" he asked, stretching out his arms towards her.

Belle looked like she was going to say no for a minute, but then she smiled and bound into Aden's open arms, and curled up on his lap.

"How do you feel now?" he said, as he kissed her hair lightly.

"Much better," said Belle, squeezing him tightly.

Belle groaned when the phone rang beside them.

"We never get enough alone time do we?" she said, exasperately, as Aden picked up the phone.

"We would have had loads more time, babe, if you hadn't been screaming at me for the past hour!" said Aden, as he put the phone to his ear.

"Ooops!" said Belle, giggling quietly.

"Geoff, hi!" said Aden, into the phone.

"Dinner, yeah we'd love to!"

Aden looked at Belle and she nodded enthuasiastically.

"Mattie's coming too, oh that's great! Seven? Great, we'll see you then."

Aden grinned at Belle as he put down the phone.

"What?" asked Belle, suspiciously.

"Now you have a chance to wear that maternity dress you bought the other night?"

No sooner had he asked, then Aden felt a pillow hit him hard on the head.

"What was that for?" he demanded, rubbing his head.

"Aden Jefferies," said Belle, looking at him venemously. "Are you saying that I'm too fat now to wear a non-maternity dress?"

Aden slid Belle off his lap quickly, and ran towards their room, knowing he was going to get another beating when Belle finally caught up with him.

Thanks for reading..!!

...xXx

[sephy]

Haha. Hormonal Belle is just too funny. Poor girl Glad Geoff threw Lucy out. I wonder why Geoff had been in such a vunerable state that night? Hope you update soon.

[tessalove]

Loved it!! Update soon!!

[amz89]

loved belle hahah i can just see it hahah 2 funny. I loved nic n geoff 2 more soon please.

[LauraPhilly!!]

Thanks for your lovely comments..!!

Here's the next chapter!

Chapter 15

"I love being pregnant," said Belle happily, patting her tummy as they drove away from Geoff and Nicole's house that evening.

Aden looked at Belle in amazment. "You hated it earlier on!"

"Yeah, well I love it now!"

"Why?" asked Mattie curiously from the back seat, as deluded as Aden was.

"Well I can eat whatever I want and not have to worry about it!" said Belle, happily.

Aden chuckled.

Belle looked at him imperiously. "May I ask what you find so amusing?"

"You!" said Aden, still laughing to himself.

Belle narrowed her eyes at him and then sighed, nodding. "I can be quite the crack up!"

Mattie chuckled.

"Aden, I really don't have to stay in yours again to night. I'll go over to the beach house and rent a caravan."

"You will no such thing!" said Belle. "Your staying at ours for your entire trip."

"But -

"Oh please stay Aunt Mattie," pleaded Faith, speaking up for the first time since they had left. "We all love having you."

"Please Mattie," said Belle, her voice soft now. "I really need you around at the moment. Like last time remember."

Mattie looked at Belle for a minute and then nodded. "Fine, but the first sign that you are getting tired of me, I'm gone."

"We'll try our best to hide it then!"

*

Aden had now become use to the routine that started every morning at about 5.30am; Belle would start thrashing in her sleep. Minutes later, she would jump from the bed and sprint towards the bathroom.

Aden would follow her suit. The about ten minutes later, Faith would wake up and go ride Lady before school. Then Mattie would come out and take over Aden's position of watching Belle so he could sleep for a few extra hours.

"I don't know how you stick this Belle," said Mattie, as she sat beside her in the bathroom. "I couldn't live with throwing up every morning for two months!"

"It aint no holiday for me Mattie," said Belle, as she lifted her head from the toilet seat. "Believe me I can't wait for my second trimester. That's the fairly easy part."

"I'm sorry, the second what?" said Mattie, looking at her in bemusment.

"My second trimester," repeated Belle. "My second set of three months!"

"Oh right," said Mattie. "What so good about it?"

"That's when the baby starts kicking, remember," Belle managed to say before her head disappeared inside the toilet seat again.

"Oh yeah, I remember now," said Mattie, as she drained her glass of orange juice. "Have you guys thought of a name yet?"

"We've decided to let Faith choose," said Belle, as she collapsed against the shower door. "We've also decided to make her the baby's godmother."

"Aw, that's so sweet," said Mattie, smiling. "Faith will love that."

"Yeah," said Belle, her eyes drooping slightly. "We want her to be involved as much as possible."

Mattie nodded approvingly, then she stood up and offered Belle her arm. "C'mon, let's get you back to bed. You might be able to sleep for a few more hours."

Belle nodded, took Mattie's arm and carefully stood up. "Sure when's Aden lying beside, I'll have no problem sleeping."

"Yeah, you just keep thinking of lover boy and you'll have no problem nodding off," said Mattie, laughing at her friend as she lead her into their room.

"I've heard that Aden sleeps naked so I'm gona let you find the bed on your own ok," she said, as she opened the door a crack.

Belle laughed. "Yeah, I'll be fine from here. Thanks Mattie."

Mattie waited till she heard Belle hit the bed, and then she walked back into her room, closing the door quietly behind her.

*

"Angelo, there's an urgent call on the phone for you," said Tara, poking her head through Angelo's office door.

"Great, thanks," said Angelo, lifting the phone to his ear. "Constable Angelo Rosetta speaking."

Angelo's eyes widened in shock as his ears processed the news.

"He's what? Your sure! Right, yeah, I'll get my people on it right away! Thanks!"

Without wasting a minute, Angelo jumped up from his chair and rushed into the office, heading straight for Tara, who was standing behind the desk.

"Tara, I need to you to get Belle Taylor on the phone now!"

*

Belle groaned as she heard the phone ring beside her.

"Aden you get it."

"Belle, your nearest the phone," mumbled Aden. "You get it."

Belle groaned again, and reached for the phone.

"Hello?" she said, as she put it to her ear.

"He's what!" she exclaimed causing Aden to jump up beside her.

"What is it? What's wrong?" he asked, anxiously, searching her face for answers.

Belle, who had gone pale, put her hand up, telling him not to talk.

"No, he's not here. I'm fine, yeah Aden's with me, so is Mattie."

There was a pause.

"No, he just threatened me, I....wait Angelo, Faith's at her stables, he wouldn't..."

Belle gasped and dropped the phone.

"Babe, what is it?" asked Aden, as he grabbed the phone.

"It's Max, he's escaped," said Belle, as she burst into tears.

*

"There you go Lady," said Faith, soflty, placing a bucket of feed in front of her Connemara mare.

"You deserve that after all your good work this morning," she said, laying her head against the horse's tummy.

Faith sighed, Lady's rhythmic breathing relaxing her, from her head to her toes. "I could stay here all day you know."

"Well that's good," said a deep voice from behind her.

Faith froze.

"Because we could be here a long time."

Faith took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her now shaking body.

Slowly she turned away from her horse to face the all-too-familiar man standing in front of her.

"Hi Faith," said Max, leering at her. "Miss me?"

Thanks for reading..!!

...xXx

[tessalove]

Yikes!! I hope he dosnt hurt her!!

Update soon!!