Not edited. OK pricelings.. The last chapter affected us all and tears were flowing from literally all over the world. The part of this story that has me the saddest is knowing that Lucas has closed off his heart so severely he doesn't know how to open it again or even if he wants to. Whereas our baby Tara has no idea what love feels like to either receive or give. There's a long journey ahead for this pair. Each one needs to love and be loved. This story is literally heartbreaking.

"She stopped asking if she could eat."

"She's not eating?!" he asked in horror.

"Thats not what I said Lucas. I said she stopped asking for food. She now helps herself."

Lucas couldn't stop the grin even if he wanted to as he took in Maggie's words.

"It's a start isn't it Maggie?" he asked.

"It sure is Lucas. It's taken four weeks but it's finally sunk in."

The pair were sitting either side of the breakfast bar of the beach house where Maggie and Tara had moved to the day after he told her everything. She still refused to speak to him and he honestly couldn't blame her. He'd been brutally honest and in turn he'd hurt her even more.

"Do you think..." his voice trailed off. Maggie knew his question. He'd asked every time he stopped by.

She shook her head sadly "I'm sorry Lucas. She's just not ready."

He nodded with a solemn look on his face as he stared down at the black liquid in his mug.

"I didn't think so."

Maggie had seen that look before and it broke her heart.

"There's sonething else"

It was the answer to the unspoken question that lingered over them all since that first night.

He looked at her expectantly.

"She's not pregnant."

He lent back and closed his eyes. For her sake he was glad. She deserved to fall pregnant with someone she loves. For his own sake he didn't know how to feel. He was starting to hope, to wonder if maybe...  now it wasn't to be and he was hit with an emotion he never thought he'd feel when he first considered Matthews proposal. Sadness at the realisation that he actually wanted a baby with Tara.

"Lucas..."

He dropped his head back down and opened his eyes.

"I'm fine Maggie. It's best for her."

Maggie nodded in agreement.

"So, where is she today?" Lucas asked casually.

"Down at the beach with some friends from school. They're have a barbeque later so they all came early."

"All?"he asked with a look of distaste that had Maggie laughing at him.

"Yes, all. They're not that bad Lucas."

"Sorry Maggie but there's no way you'll get me to agree with you. A bunch of screaming teenage girls..." he shuddered.

"Oh they're not all girls."

"They're not?" he looked shocked.

"No Lucas. Boys and girls can be friends and the young gentlemen I met earlier are quite nice and polite" she couldn't help but grin as Lucas' face changed to a scowl.

"They have a guard down there don't they?"

"Yes Lucas. Adam is watching from a close but safe enough distance. She'll be fine."

"Oh I know that, Adam'll kill anyone that..." he broke off as Maggie raised her hand silencing him.

"Yes Lucas we all know that Tara is protected. Even those boys down there with them."

Lucas gave her a sheepish grin as she mocked him.

"These are the people who helped Tara. She wanted to thank them and I suggested the barbeque, the rest just fell into place. Jones volunteered to cook it while Adam said he'd hand out the drinks just to be sure. Tara's been lookinv forward to it all week."

"If you get any ideas of thing we can do to thank them Maggie, let me know and we'll make it happen."

She smiled and nodded as she got up to place their mugs in the sink before turning back to him.

"So where's Jones?"

"Out on the patio getting things ready"

Lucas nodded.

"I'll have a quick word before I leave. If Tara needs anything..."

"I'll get it for her. Don't worry Lucas. She's doing fine."

"She has enough clothes...?"

"Lucas Porter! Will you stop! I know how to take care of a teenager."

She stomped her foot at him crossly. He walked over to him with a grin and pecked her on the cheek.

"I think you've been hanging around with teens too long Maggie. You're becoming rebellious."

"Oh you! Get out of my kitchen!" she pointed to the door wearing a pretend scowl.

He walked out of the room laughing at her.

"Bye Maggie! See you in a couple of days."

She shook her head after watching him leave. He was a troubled boy.

"Hey Jones"

"Oh hey boss. You here for the barbeque?"

Lucas scrunched up his nose "No, I wouldn't be that welcome."

Jones looked at him sympathetically.

"Still won't talk?"

"Nope." He looked down towards the beach.

"Over that way" Jones pointed towards the left with a grin and as Lucas turned in the direction he was pointing he couldn't help but shake his head. The boss was far more affected by this girl than he was willing to admit. Maybe time would change that.... they were all hoping that it would.

Lucas watched as a group of teens ran from the water and up the beach. Each one seemed to be laughing.

He felt a hard pressure on his arm as Jones handed him a pair of binoculars.

"While you're here boss you may as well be useful and check things out while I grab some stuff from Maggie."

Lucas simply nodded and took the binoculars.

He scoured the area before going to where Tara and her friends were and frowned as he couldn't see her anywhere.

Then he saw her. That face that haunted him was now framed with a short cut back style and dyed a shade of burgundy. What did she do? She had beautiful hair and now... now he had to admit it suited her but it wasn't his Tara.

His Tara?

Where the fuck did that come from?

He shook his head in an effort to clear his head of the thought. She wasn't his.

He watched the group for a few more minutes when he saw Tara racing away from the group and a young boy was chasing her. He watched as the boy caught up to her and threw her over his shoulder. She was hitting his back and he was almost sure he saw her mouth the words 'put me down'.

Where the fuck was Adam?

He looked over to some trees and found Adam standing with his hands on his hips watching Tara and the boy. He grunted a grunt of approval knowing that Adam was ready to do whatever was necessary.

Looking back to where Tara and the boy were and he realised that they'd moved and in a panic he searched until he saw the boy walking into the water with Tara and dumping her.

He was furious. Taking two steps forward he watched as Tara came up spluttering as the boy laughed at her. He watched as Tara's face became one of determination as she started to move purposely towards the boy who stopped laughing and held his hands up in a  gesture of surrender that Tara ignored.

That's my girl.

She moved closer and the boy started to back away and when Tara was out of the water the boy took off running with Tara after him this time. She ran quickly and jumped up on the boys back and he fell into the sand face first. Lucas had to laugh as he watched Tara beating up the boy.

Weakling.

He heard Jones coming back outside and just as he was about to turn away Tara and the boy both stood up and he threw an arm around her shoulder and ahe put hers around his waist.

Fuck no!

"Hey boss"

He didn't turn to Jones but replied with a quick 'yep'.

"The kid's gay."

He dropped his hands down and looked at Jones.

"What?"

Jones nodded in Tara's direction.

"That boy, he's openly gay and his boyfriend is down there too."

Lucas smiled and nodded before turning around again. He was starting to like that boy.

Jones shook his head with a massive grin. His boss was an idiot at times.

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