Anticipation

'Oh hey, there you are. Cool resort you're staying in, huh?'

'Yeah, your mum picked well. I'll have to thank her again. Was a really nice thing for her to do.'

'Well, it's out of Dad's money that she still had. But yeah.'

'I'm glad Jude was able to come too. Had to persuade her, though.'

'Really? I thought she'd have been chomping at the bit to come visit. Carmella's missed her a lot.'

'Yeah, she's missed you all too. She was just unsure about being paid for. Anyway, I quickly managed to convince her.'

'Good, because it's no burden. Seeing you all is much more important than bothering over money, and who owes who.'

'Couldn't agree more. To tell you the truth... she hasn't been herself recently. She's got a lot on her mind at the moment.'

'Ah, yeah... poor Jude. I know the feeling.'

'Mm. And some of it's probably nerves too... We're gonna do it for the first time while we're here.'

'Oh wow, really?'

'Yeah... It's too awkward at home. Her place is out of the question, and mine is too chaotic. There's never any alone time. But here she's got a private room, so...'

'That makes sense. You two are really getting serious now, aren't you?'

'I know it's not really been that long, and we're young and it's a first romance kinda thing, but I think I love her, Zeus. She's so great. I want us to stay together when we go to uni.'

'Well, just because you're high school sweethearts doesn't mean it's not real. Look at Raya and Logan. They're still together.'

'You're right.'

'Look, we all have more growing up to do, and over the next few years we'll mature. The key thing is that you grow together, and not grow apart. If you become too different, with different priorities, it won't work. But if you still want the same things, and you're still compatible... you'll stay together.'

'I hope it's the latter.'

'I think it will be.'


Later...

'Any other plans for tonight?'

'Just relaxing, really. Making the most of having some actual downtime. How about you?'

'The same, really. The kids can tire themselves out playing, and I get to have a drink.'

'Sounds pretty bloody good to me! How have you all been holding up, anyway?'

'I think we're recovering. Obviously things aren't 100% normal again, but it's been so good for them, coming here. I just need to carry on working through it. Everything really took its toll...'

'Of course, it will do. I remember feeling pretty run down when I left my ex. Are you and the kids getting any kind of treatment, if you don't mind my asking?'

'Yeah, we're all seeing a counsellor now. Julius too, but for him it's just playing. He seems the happiest out of all of us, anyway.'

'Awww. Well, I hope it works for you. Therapy has been great for me, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you all.'

'Great. I'm glad Tristan's getting back to his old self. The other triplets have really helped there... though I can't help but think that Madina has too.'

'Oh great! I'd heard that they'd been keeping in regular contact. In fact, as soon as Edward announced that she could accompany him for work experience at the school, the first thing she did was text Tristan. Well, no, I tell a lie. The second. The first thing she did was practically rugby tackle Edward.'

'Aww. She seems a nice girl.'

'She is. It's nice to see her hang around Sunset Valley a bit more. Now if only I could persuade her to take Bryan back to Moonlight Falls...!'

'I... heard about him giving birth. I'm glad I wasn't a witness.'

'Ugghhhhh. I went and downed a bottle of wine by myself that night. I'm not normally much in the way of a drinker, especially since getting together with Edward, but after having to look at Bryan's hairy asshole? Fuck no, it was either that or a bathtub of bleach.'

'Oh my God. The miracle of childbirth, huh...?'

'Of all the people, why did the aliens have to pick Bryan?'

'Better than them picking Tate, I guess...'

'At least if it'd been Tate I would've been able to just laugh and hang up. Although it wouldn't have been funny for the baby. But the only way I would ever help him out with something like that is by taking a sledgehammer to his face. ...Though I think someone beat me to it.'

'That's awful. True, though. Anyway, I'm sure there's better things to talk about than him!'

'Pretty much anything!'

'Hi Nalini, hi Auntie Roxxi! Look what I found!'

'Ah. Lovely. That sure is a big spider!'

'Yeah!'

'You must be very brave!'

'So how many other insects have you found so far?'

'A few. I saw a big crab too, but I didn't want to get nipped.'

'I think it'd make a good pet though. Nobody would ever bother you again!'

'That's only if it went with Vincent wherever he goes, and I'm not sure walking a crab is a good idea.'

'You don't walk a crab! You walk dogs. I want a dog too.'

'You never know! Some could have invented a special crab leash.'

'Do you think Dad would let me have one?'

'Oooh, I don't know. Between that and a bird, you might have your work cut out for you.'

'Hey...'

'Hi, Jude. How're you feeling?'

'Nervous... but good.'

'Yeah, same here. You know you can change your mind any time, right? Zero pressure.'

'I know. I want to do this. Nobody's gonna interrupt us here, and it seems as good a time as any. I'm ready.'

'Glad to hear it. In that case... let's go.'