"I think you better shut your mouth now Tom before your regret it! After your mother going to jail I'm kinda used to having family members involved with the police!"
"You wouldn't though...would you" said Tom, the grin rapidly disappearing
"Well I've got a good mind to after the way you just spoke to me! Tom, I can't beleive you could do this, what has happened to you, you used to be such a sweet kid."
"Its called growing up Dad, without a mother.."
"Thomas Heppal, that had nothing to do with it, she was only gone a few months! You, my son are grounded!"

"What!! You cant do that!"
"Oh yes I can, and its indefinately!" Geoff said sternly
"You can't keep me in! I'll just go out when your not here!" Tom replied defiently
"Well, I'm happy for you to do that as long as you dont mind the police getting an annonymous call about someone shoplifting! No we can start the grounding right now...go to your room.."
"No!! I'm gonna talk to Mum about this, she wont let you do this!"
"Oh YES SHE WILL!!! NOW UPSTAIRS NOW!!"

"I hate you, I hate you SOOO much!" Tom screamed "You may as well call the police.....prison's got to be better than here!"
"GET TO YOUR ROOM, YOUR ONLY MAKING THINGS WORSE FOR YOURSELF!"
"I'm going...why don't you just shutup!!"
"That's it, I've had enough of your backchat....I'm confiscating your music as well!"
"WHAT!? what am I supposed to do in my room.."
"Ummm, err, let me think.."Geoff said sarcastically..."Homework? No for the last time GO!"

In the early hours of the following morning the honeymoon's finally over:
"Oh, its good to back, in our own place.." Laura sighed
"Wait!" Harry exclaimed as Laura went to go up the stairs "I've got to carry you over the threshold...its only proper!"
"Oh!!" Laura giggled! "I've been here so many times before I forgot about that!"

"Well we need to do something with this kitchen! Look at it!" Laura exclaimed on entering the kitchen and seeing the bare walls
"I know, I think Keith was in the middle of redecorating when he and Kate split. I'll ask Kate if we can slap some paint up or something. Brighten it up a bit for you, seeing as you'll be spending all your time in here...you know cooking my meals like a good wife" Harry said with a smirk
"Oi! I don't think so"  she replied as she splashed a load of soap suds all over him "I've got far too much to be doing elswhere Mr!"

"Well, yeah, you want me to pick any books up from the library for you?"
"Oh Harry, don't even talk about finals! I'm not ready for them at all, all the wedding preperation meant that studying went out the window."
"You'll be fine Laura, I was your teacher remember..I know your capabilities!"
"Oh but I'm not ready for the adult world...leaving school's a big deal."
"Not ready for the adult world! Laura, you've just organised a wedding, got married and gone on a honeymoon, I think whether you like it adult hood is here!"
"I don't want it to be" Laura replied reluctantly "I've had too much fun. But then I guess there's college to look forward to."
"Exactly...now do you need anything?"
"No, I'm gonna pop over to see Mum and grab some stuff so I'll get the books on the way home. Thanks anyway babe."

There's also an early start for Adelaide and Sydney:
"Mum!! What you hollaring about? Its early."
"I know Adelaide, but I've got an early shift at the hospital and I needed you up and ready."
"Up and ready for what?"

"School!"
"WHAT?! I'm not going to school!"
"Oh yes you are young lady and there's no getting past it, I've already talked to the headmistress."
"Are you joking? I can't believe this! Its almost end of term I thought I wouldn't be going to next school year. Cant I do that?"
"Nope, this way you get to make friends before the holidays and you won't be under my feet all the day."
"Gee, thanks."
"Oh, you know I didn't mean it like that, just that I'll be at work and I can't rely on Paul and Garth to look after you."
"I'm 14, I don't need looking after!!!"
"Hmmm, I guess not, but anyway, you better get in the shower so you're ready...come on...chop chop..."

"Everything alright?"
"Yeah fine, she doesn't want to go to school but tough, just cause she's at home now and not at boarding school doesn't mean she can get away with bunking off school. Anyway, I've got to work and I can't leave her at home with you."
"No way!" Paul exclaimed "Oh that's not how I meant it, just I'm not her Dad and I don't want to become him either.."
"Paul, its fine...I understand how your feeling. Just because your my partner does not mean that I expect you to start becoming "Dadsy"...in fact.." Sydney grinned and grabbed Paul's butt "that's a complete turnoff and I like you just the way you are."

Its Mid morning and things are running smoothly at the diner:
"Oh Marc, before you go can I have a quick word?"
"Sure, what's the problem."
"Well its about my kitchen. I haven't sorted anything out and I know your in the kitchen, designery type business...you wouldn't happen to be interested would you?"
"Interested?! I'd love to Pen, our kitchen's our rathy pricey though."
"Oh, well we'er covered by insurance but...never mind.."
"Wait Pen, look I could probably sort something out, I mean we're neighbours.."
"Oh Marc, could you, that'd be so good!!"
"Well to the company its some money rather than none, I'll drop some magazines in and you have a look through.."
"Thanks so much Marc...that's a real help." Pen smiled
"No problem...listen I bet get going...I'll drop those mags by later this week..."

"Watch it!!"
"Oh, sorry." Pen exclaimed as she backed into a customer " I wasn't looking where I was going.."
"Well next time be more careful, god its lousy ser..."The man stopped mid sentence as he looked up from the floor where his coffee cup lay "Oh, sorry, I wouldn't have been so rude if I'd known I was talking to such a beauty."
Looking flustered Pen's cheeks started to glow "I'm so sorry, I'll get another for you..on the house.."
"So, what's your name?"
"Penelope, do you take sugar?"
"Beautiful name for a beautiful face. Your husband's a lucky man.."

"Oh no, I'm not married, well not any more."
"Oh, well in that case...I'm Adam"
"Nice to meet you, look I better get your coffee..did you take milk.."
"Oh Penelope, stop worrying about the coffee, lets just take a moment..."
"A moment for what?"
"Well, come on, your a beautiful woman, I'm a good looking man..."
Getting redder by the second Pen managed to blurt out "I don't know what to say...ummm.....I'll be right back.."

"Help, Jen...oh god.."
"What on earth's the matter Pen!"
"Oh I bumped into a man, and he was rude but then he saw me and we chatted and..."
"Pen, take a breath, slow down...what?"
"Look" Pen pointed out through the hatch to Adam who was leaning against the counter "How hot is he!! And he's saying I'm beautiful! What do I do?"
"Right ok, you've gotta be cool ok. Take his coffee out, be sexy.....oh where's he going...oh no....." Jen exclaimed as Adam disappeared out of the diner doors " Oh Pen, I'm sorry.."
"Oh well, should've known, who's gonna fancy a washed up housewife like me." And with that Pen silently dumped the broken cup in the trash and wandered off to clean tables.

"Laura!" She gasped as her daughter walked in
"Mum! Oh God, its so good to see you.."
"I didn't know you were getting back today, I've missed you so much."
"Didn't Dad say?"
The cheeryness in Maria's tone changed to one of coldness "Your Dad and I haven't really been getting on so well. I'm staying in your old room for a while."
"Oh Mum, why? He was such a mess whilst you were in..were away, I thought you'd be glad to be back to your old life."
"Laura, things change when your in prison, priorities change, there's a lot of time to think. Anyway, I want to find out about you, how was the honeymoon?"

"Oh it was so great! I think I turned into a complete nightmare before the wedding, I was so stressed.."
"That's from my genes, sorry!"
"Well, we women can't help it but I really did neglect Harry. It was so good to spend some decent time with him with no-one else to worry about. We could just do what we wanted. And now its back here to my finals and never seeing him cause he has to work constantly."
"Look, I didn't really get you a wedding present..if money's a struggle then I can help out."
"No, no, Mum you just turning up was the best present ever! And, even though money is tight, me and Harry are married, we want to stand alone....thankyou though..."
"Oh God Laura, I just can't believe I'm standing here, with you, not in prison..."Maria's eyes welled up " I never thought I'd ever see you again..."

"Oh Mum, I'm so sorry I didn't visit but I just couldn't bear to see you in there..."
"Its ok Laura, the mindset I was in I wouldn't have wanted to see you...just come here...your Mum needs a hug."