"Garth! Did you see that?" Pen cried " I can't believe it, what the hell does our son think he's doing?"
"What are you talking about Pen, I didn't see anything."
"I might've known, you didn't take much notice of us when we were married. Your son just ran right of here without paying, I bet it was that girl....I knew there was something about her!"
"Oh Pen, come on, its only a cafe, he couldn't have eaten much!"
"Oh Garth, what the hell did I ever see in you, honestly, look your gonna have to wait, I need to call home."

"Hi, Dee darling, if your brother comes home do NOT let him out ok?"
"Sure, why, what's he done?"
"Well lets just say I think he's being led astray and I need to have a serious talk with him, not that your father seems to care."
"What?"
"Oh, nevermind dear, just don't let him go out ok?"
"Sure, its not like I have a life so I'll be home" Dee replied sarcastically.
"Ok love, see you later.."

At the other end of the line Dee hangs up:
"What's going on babe?" Max asked from behind her
"Oh, I don't know, Mum's got her knickers in a twist about something Daniel's done...don't really care much to be honest, he can do what he wants!"
"He is your little brother."
"Well, he's not that little anymore....anyway he's grown up enough to burn the house down! Mum still hasn't sorted the kitchen out..what's she expect us to eat?! I'm getting sick of pizza."
"Sick of pizza!!" Max exclaimed, "You can NEVER get sick of Pizza!!"
"Oh shut up" Dee smirked "So, what shall we do this afternoon? Wanna go upstairs...."

Max smiled naughtily " Yes...but I've got to do some work Dee, I done nothing and the finals are only round the corner."
"Oh, stuff finals, don't you wanna be with me? Anyway, Laura's gone off on her honeymoon so she doesnt seem to care much bout them!"
"Yeah, but Laura's smarter than me and she's already been working hard in between organizing her wedding!! You'll know what its like next year Dee, its stressful!"
"Stressful!! Oh Max, don't be so boring...we've got the house to ourselves, Gran's at church and Dan, well god knows where he is! Please, just a little woohoo?"
"I can't Dee, I really can't, cause you know....your so hot I cant stop at a little."
"Oh whatever" Dee said angrily "Go and do your blimmin work, I won't miss you..."
"Don't be like that."
"Like what? You've got work to do...go on...I'll take care of myself!"

With Max gone, Dee set about cheering herself up:
"Well, if he's gonna be dull all afternoon then I'm certainly not sitting around doing nothing.....hmmmm....."Dee looked over at the bar beckoning to her.." Well, a couple won't hurt..."

At Cathy's Paul and Garth chatted:
"Alright Garth?" Paul asked
"Yeah fine, I've got Pen buzzing in my ear about Daniel, apparently he snuck outta the diner without paying...don't see its soo bad, he's only being a teenager!"
"Garth....you can't let him get away with that!"
"Not you too! Oh, Pen's gonna talk to him about it. Anyway, talking about letting sims get away with things what are you going to do about the little Adelaide?"
"Don't even start me Garth!" Paul muttered "I'm so angry at Sydney, how the hell did she think she was gonna keep this secret from me...I mean I was gonna find out sooner or later wasn't I!?"
"Well all I can say is, its not so great having your family broken into smithereens, I can tell you that from personal experience."
"So what you saying, just forgive her!?"
"No, no, but just think about the consequences if you end things....its not going to make you happy in the long term."

"Hello guys" Sangeev grinned as he came over "Have I got some news for you!"
"Hey mate" Paul perked up "Something with the baby?"
"No, no, no....I've just downloaded the entry pack for the annual drinks competition!!"
"What? You don't mean you actually gonna enter this year?" Garth asked
"Well, why the hell not?! Come on guys, it'll be great fun! We'll make it a team effort! I've been wanting to do this for ages....first prize is 10,000Simoleons, not to mention the publicity for this place!"

"Wow, that's a lot of dosh "Garth said excitedly "When do we start?"
"Well, as soon as, we need to get tonnes of ingrediants and then decide whether we're going the cocktail or beer route...I'm so excited about this!"
"Sangeev....this is soo great, come on lets go out back and start jotting some stuff down...we'll win this for sure....1/3 each man, sweet!"
"1/4 Paul, I've got to cut Harry in, he does work here" Sangeev corrected "As soon as he gets back we can fill him in on what we've been doing...no come on...lets get at it!"

At the Bains Cathy sat on the couch reading up on the latest pregnancy tips:
"So, lots of vegetables and, oh, I better keep her out of the pub, those smoke and alcohol fumes can't be good for her.....that's a point actually, the fumes at the diner can't be good for her either....I'll have to talk to her about that...COMING" Cathy called as the doorbell went

"Maria! What the hell...I didn't know you were out..."
"Hi Cathy, I'm sorry for just turning up but I didn't know whe...." Maria's voice trembled as she burst into tears
"Oh Maria, come in, come on, sit down.."

"Oh Cathy, I don't know what to do...everything's changed since I left...nothings the same, my boys grown up, my daughters married! You've...well from what I heard, you've got a baby on the way.."
"Yeah, we have....but how, why...I don't understand, I mean shouldn't you be in.."Cathy stumbled through her question
"prison" Maria finished "Its all clear, Cathy, I never pushed Irene. Her son lied at the hearing, when the appeal came around he collapsed in the dock out of guilt and told the judge that it was all lies. He got 6months for perverting the course of justice. I feel so sorry for him."
"Sorry! He lied!!"
"I know but his mother was dead, he missed her, wanted someone to blame...."
"Well, your a better sim than me Maria, I'd want his blood! I mean you've served a sentence in prison and you've missed so much..."
Maria's face crumpled again..."My own daughter was kidnapped and I wasn't even told.....oh Cathy.."
Cathy leaned in and held Maria as she sobbed "Its ok Maria, you're back now and thats all that counts. I'm here for you.."

Meanwhile Paul and Garth return from the pub:
"Paul, I'm gonna get on the net and start looking for inspiration for this comp then..."
"Ok Garth" Paul turned his attention to Sydney "Hiya, you alright?"
"Yeah, look Paul, I'm so so sorry...we'll find a place of our own.."
"No, Syd, no, you and Adelaide are staying right here."
"What? You mean it?" Sydney exclaimed with an oversized smile
"Yes, I mean it, but Syd, you really hurt me you know, there's a whole part of your life I don't know about and I, well I'm wondering how many more skeletons are in the closet?"

"Oh Paul, there's none, honestly "She squealed as she hugged her beloved "I'm sorry, I'll never hide anything from you again! Adelaide's gonna be so excited that she gets to stay...I called her father and he didnt want her there."
"Well, look, just remember she's your daughter, not mine and I expect you to keep her under control ok!"
"Yes, yes, anything Paul."
"Right, well we better box up some of Harry's stuff then as I guess she'll be having his room now...come on.."

At the Dixons Penelope arrives home from her shift at the diner:
"Daniel, are you in there.....I think I need to have a word with you!!" She said angrily

"What the hell do you think your playing at young man! Just because youre a teenager doesn't suddenly give you the right to act like that! I'm very disappointed in you."
"I know, I'm sorry Mum, I really am" Daniel whispered
"Speak up Daniel!"
"I'm sorry....I didn't want to but, well, the others wanted too and..."
"And what!? You'd jump off a cliff if they asked you to?"
"No!"
"Well then, oh Daniel, don't let other sims control you, you'll never have control of your life if you let that happen!"

"Come here you silly boy, don't ever do that again ok! I don't expect it from you, now from the likes of Tom Heppal and that girl maybe, but not you!"
"Sorry, I won't do it again...I'll pay for the pancakes.."
"Yes you will and so will Tom, and that girl if I can get hold of her..."
"She's Sydney Marshall's daughter."
"Daughter!? Crikey, I didn't think she had one...well, anyway....I'll give her a ring too then.."

At the Heppals Tom and Adelaide arrive back after their stint at the diner:
"Hi Dad"
"Oh, Tom, good, listen we need a chat."
Tom eyed his father warily "What about Dad?"
"Well I had a call from Mrs Dixon earlier this afternoon, a very interesting call!"
"Damn!!" muttered Tom "She would go running to you!"

"SHUTUP!! Don't give me anymore lip boy!! Now Adelaide I think you better be leaving..."
"Yeah I think I better go too" she replied sneaking a glance at Tom,"see you later ok.."
"Yeah, no worries Adelaide, I'll call by yours later.."
"Adelaide, I don't think he will be calling by yours later...no I think you should go...now!"

"What did you do that for?" shouted Tom "How embarrasing was that!"
"Thomas Heppal, I am disgusted over what you did!! I can't believe that you stole from the diner....and about those toys you got for your birthday.."
"Oh get over it Dad, Daniel gave them to me!"
"I know that he didn't Tom, I've talked to Pen about it and she only gave Daniel enough money for the car.."
"Oh for goodness sake! So I took them from a store, its not like you bought me anything for my birthday!! Anyway, what you gonna do about it?! Gonna shop me to the police...I don't think so!!" Tom said with a grin "Your my Dad, you wouldn't do that!"