2012: Bay of Destruction

[Jen]

First of all, Apocalypse fic -- I'm so hooked!

Second, Dex as the one to figure out the doom of the bay -- Simultaneously hilarious and pure genius.

[HighwayUnicorn]

THANK YOU (ON BEHALF OF ALL THREE OF US) FOR THE COMMENTS.

I DEDICATE THIS CHAPTER TO TELE FOR THE AMAZING BIRTHDAY SURPRISE YESTERDAY.

CHAPTER TWO

He groaned as the letter box slammed shut against the front door, signalling the morning’s post had just arrived. Sprawled across the sofa, Aden pulled the blanket up over his head, blocking out the world outside and its surrounding noise, people continuing with their busy lives in the city.

Once again, he groaned, before kicking off the blanket and swinging his legs over the edge of the sofa, before slipping his feet into the flip flops beside him.

Resting his face in his hands, he sighed, before strolling tiredly towards the door.

He skimmed through the letters addressed to him, brushing them aside, all except one, as he placed them onto the small wooden table that stood beside the door. The last letter Aden came across was a postcard, from Justin, he assumed.

He carried it through to the kitchen, screwing it up as he did so, before throwing it in the bin.

He progressed to grabbing a glass from the cupboard, before heading to the fridge and taking the carton of orange juice from it.

He poured out the fresh drink into the glass, taking a sip from it. As he did so, his eyes averted to the bin where he had thrown away the postcard.

He reconsidered reading it, deciding that maybe he should contact Justin. He had already lost him once years ago and never wanted that to happen again.

Aden reached for the small piece of card and unfolded it.

The scrawled writing wasn’t what he recognised; losing all faith that it was Justin and as he continued, noticed it was a request.

He shook his head, unaware of who would request him to meet at Stewarts Point. Maybe it was a prank? Various scenarios ran through his mind as to who wanted to meet him and what they wanted.

He knew it was impossible for anybody from Summer Bay to be contacting him, with nobody knowing his current address.

He decided to attend the so-called meeting, the postcard not signed and the handwriting on the back was indistinguishable, which added to his curiosity.

Heading towards the bathroom within his flat, he turned the dial on the shower and heated it to the chosen temperature, before stripping off his boxers and climbing into the hot, running water as it splashed onto his muscular chest.

*

Within two hours, he was ready and had arrived at Stewarts Point, currently deserted, at the time specified on the postcard. As requested, he was also alone.

Aden waited as the minutes passed, before a large black vehicle pulled up.

A young gentleman climbed out of the car, wearing a dark suit, heading towards Aden, who stood in a pair of beige trousers and a blue shirt that showed off his muscular upper arms.

The car, he noticed, was blacked out, the windows tinted as he watched the man closing the door behind him.

“Mr Jefferies? Aden, Jefferies?” the man asked as Aden nodded.

Finally, Aden was hearing an actual person talking to him in particular. The only times he ever heard any type of conversation was on the television set. Even at work, now with owning his own prawn trawler, he worked alone.

“I assume you obviously received the postcard today” he told him, before continuing the conversation. “I’m here to discuss the development site with you” he told him. “I hear that you are aware of what occurred there.”

Aden nodded once again. “Vaguely, yes. Why?” he asked.

“Well we found that there was toxic waste on the site, causing cancer to take the lives of people around the area. After a lengthy court case, we have provided evidence to imprison those who were involved in the handling of the toxic waste and chemicals on the site.”

Aden nodded. “Tim?” he asked.

The man nodded.

“But what has this got to do with me?” Aden asked.

The young gentleman folded his arms across his chest. “That’s what I am about to get to.”

Within seconds, the door of the car opened, causing Aden to look away from the man he was speaking to.

His body went into shock as he instantly recognised who it was.

“Belle?” he asked, shocked, yet smiling.

Belle returned the smile. “Hey” she spoke softly.

Her tone was gentle as he remembered, her hair, a dark blonde, waved in the wind and the smell of her perfume was the recognisable scent, the one he awoke to every morning.

“I’ll leave you both to it” the man said. “If you need anything, Belle ...” he murmured as she nodded, knowing what she had to do, the number she had to call.

Both Aden and Belle stared lovingly into each other’s eyes, before Aden came back to reality.

“I held you in my arms when you died” he told her.

Belle shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. “I am so sorry, Aden.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“How could I? I didn’t even know if I was going to be safe. I couldn’t have dragged you into it as well.”

Aden rested his hands on his hips. He loved her, of course. He always loved her and still did. But none of it made sense and Belle needed to give him a reasonable explanation.

“Why, Belle? You let me and everyone else believe you had cancer and that you died?!”

“Can you please not shout at me, Aden?”

“I’m not shouting” he argued. “I just want an explanation.”

Belle nodded. “I understand that. How about we sit down?” she suggested, gesturing to the bench further along the road as Aden nodded.

They both headed towards the bench, seating themselves next to each other as Belle explained what had happened in the lead up to her supposed death.

“So I figured that the development site was still going on and I needed closure, I guess. I found out what happened and that they needed to be punished. But the only way, realistically, that I could do that was to go into Witness Protection or something of the sort.”

“So you had to die?” he asked.

“Yes, but only for everyone else’s safety. I couldn’t go into Witness Protection as such. I would have had to have changed my name, had a different lifestyle and if I am completely honest, I was so scared of becoming a completely new person and falling in love with someone else, that I couldn’t do it.”

“Then what? Aden progressed to asking.

“Then I knew that if I pretended to be dying, I could easily get around going away for a while for the court case so as you, Irene, Annie and Geoff were all protected. I couldn’t risk you getting hurt. All I had to do was make a switch of test results at the hospital ... and I’m sorry because I know that must sound sick, Aden but I had to ...”

Aden nodded. “I understand, so far, anyway.”

“How’d you mean?” Belle asked, confused.

“Well, what happened next? You went away, undercover, like?” he asked.

Belle nodded. “Yes. I was in a flat for a while, whilst the court case was going on anyway. Once they were sentenced, I was allowed to go back to my normal life.”

“When were they sentenced?” Aden asked.

“Two weeks ago. I had to get everything sorted before I could come home straight away” she told him. “But I’m here now” she murmured as Aden nodded. “Are you happy?”

“Of course I’m happy. Confused, but very happy. For two years I thought you were dead. So this will take me a while to get my head around this.”

There was a short pause before Belle begun again. “I wanted to tell you.”

“Why didn’t you, babe? I would have come with you.”

“That’s exactly why I couldn’t tell you.”

“But I wanted to be the one who protected you.”

“And you always have done, Aden. But it was my turn to do something for you and look after you.”

“Where are you staying at the moment?” he asked after a short pause.

Belle smiled. “We’ve actually got a place in Summer Bay now.”

“We?” Aden asked.

“Me and you.”

“Really? How?”

“Since I found out that you were no longer living in Summer Bay” she told him. “What happened?” she asked him delicately.

“I think we should take a walk. It’s a long story” he told her.

“Okay” Belle muttered gently. “Where are we going?” she asked him, hopeful of the answer.

“The beach of course.”

Belle smiled.

The couple took a stroll along the beach, hand in hand as Aden explained to Belle about Nicole and his relationship with her and then Justin and the situation they had gotten themselves in with Larry and the police.

“I leave for five minutes and you get into all of those messes. Honestly, babe” Belle told him. “I am sorry though. You never deserved to go through any of that, none of it. But like I said, if I had told you what was going on, you and me would have been dead. It was the best way of keeping you, me and everyone else safe.”

Aden nodded. “I get that. Typical of you though, Belle” he giggled.

There was a comfortable silence between them again as the approached their favourite, desolate spot on the beach and sat down onto the golden, soft sand, Belle seated between Aden’s legs and Aden wrapped his arms around her petite frame.

“You must have been in a really bad place to decide to join the army” Belle pointed out.

Aden nodded. “Yeah” he sighed. “I won’t lie to you ...” he began as Belle interrupted.

“Unlike me, you mean?” she giggled.

“Hey, I wasn’t going to mention it!” he laughed. “No, anyway, I lost you, or thought I had anyway. And after everything with Nic and dad and Justin, it just seemed like the next step. But it wasn’t a pleasant experience and only a five minute wonder. I was shocked at Justin joining though after everything with my grandfather.”

Belle nodded. “At least you’re here now though” she sighed. “I don’t know what I would have done if you had ever actually wanted to join the army whilst I was alive” she told him. “That would have killed me. Literally” she laughed.

“I wouldn’t have joined it” he told her confidently, yet seriously. “I would never have done anything to have me taken away from you. But I thought I had nothing to lose. God, Belle I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too” Belle admitted. “All I ever wanted to do was pick up the phone and call you, tell you that I was still alive and that I wanted you to find me ... and that I love you.”

“I love you too” he smiled.

“Good” Belle murmured as she turned her head, Aden pressing a kiss to her lips, intensifying it more so by the second, deepening it as they emitted moans of pleasure against each other’s lips. “Maybe I should die more often” Belle spoke as she pulled away from Aden, smiling.

“Never again, Belle Jefferies. You aren’t leaving my sight for a split second” he told her as he held her tightly, never wanting to let go.

[Miranda]

Ooh! Belle didn't die Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice.

Must say also I like the picture at the beginning of the story too, very good!

[Zetti]

Well you know I love it & I know everyone else will to

Personal thanks to all who liked my chapter

[Lucii]

Wooo! Belle's alive

Can't wait for more x

[ldscott]

Wow! Those first two chapters were amazing!

Loved the way Dex worked out the clues and love the fact that belle's not really dead!

Can't wait to read the next one! By Tele I'm guessing?

Lisa x

[TelephotoMarigold]

Well since it was my idea and they have done their chapters I can't really get out of it.....

.....especailly as they know where to track me down on Facebook...

and have my mobile number....

[HighwayUnicorn]

But it's not like I nag you 24/7 is it, Tele?

[LauraPhilly!!]

Oh my God Carina I absolutely LOVE you!

You granted the very wishes that I had hoped for in the weeks after Belle's death! You are the best!

Only you would do it of course!

Love you all the more for it though!

Omg I'm practically dancing with happiness now!

Wish that had actually happened on the show! It would have been brilliant!

That was a really great chapter Carina, and now I am looking forward to Tele's which I know will be great also!

This is a great fic so far guys! Jeez you must have put so much work into it!

Looking forward to reading more!

[HighwayUnicorn]

Aww, thanks Laura.

Well it took a lot to get on track to write that chapter.

But I even said, 'Can Belle be in it? With Aden?'

So I got my wish granted there.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.