Though the Monsters

Chapter 10

Quick A/N. This chapter has an attached song. Start it at the beginning. Enjoy:)

Not Going to Give Up

Hadlee walked down the darkening promenade, her head in the clouds but her feet firmly on the ground. Was it weird that she had been glad to see Jethro during her shift on the beach? She didn't think so. He seemed to be doing better, and she was feeling a lot better about it. He had taken another step towards healing which was great, but the bubble of guilt still lay flat in the bottom of her stomach. She shook her head and took a deep breath.

"Nope, not going to think about-"

            Hadlee was cut off abruptly when she nearly ran into somebody.

"I am so sorry," She began to babble until she looked up and realized that it was Mouse. "Mouse? What are you doing here? It's nearly 10:00, the beach closed hours ago."

            Mouse chuckled and handed her a single rose.

"Go that way." He said simply, pointing towards the tower.

"Okay." Hadlee drawled, holding the flower lightly and continuing to walk down the prom. She saw Glick next, then Nicola, Jesse, Jules, Maxi, Reidy, Deano, Hoppo, Whippet, and finally she found Harrison standing on the steps leading down to the beach. He held out the rose that would make eleven and then held out his arm to her. Hadlee laughed but took it.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on Hutz?" Hadlee asked.

            Harrison laughed lightly.

"You will just have to wait and find out," He said. Harrison walked his sister out until she was standing in front of the water. "Shoes please."

            Hadlee raised her eyebrows but slipped her sandals off and handed them to her brother. He took them and kissed her forehead.

"Watch the water." Harrison said and slowly backed away from Hadlee.

            Hadlee was confused but she was also enamored with the way the sunset reflected off of Bondi's waves. The water slowly ran up the sand and over her feet and she smiled.

"I know how much you missed this." Somebody said.

            Hadlee's head whipped around, startled by the new sound. Jethro stood in khaki pants and a white button down, a twelfth rose in his hand. He took a few hesitant steps towards her but Hadlee met him before he could get very far.

"You did this?" She asked.

            Jethro smiled and handed her the rose.

"I know it's cheesy but I wanted to show you that I don't want to give up on us." He said, taking her hand in his.

            Together they walked along the water. A feeling of familiarity washed over her and she smiled.

"This feels oddly familiar," Hadlee laughed. "Are you recreating our first date?"

            Jethro smiled.

"With some twists." He said.

            Hadlee saw the blanket not too far up the beach from them and not far from that was a stack of wood, a bonfire. Jethro led Hadlee to the blanket and laid the roses on the blanket. He held her hands and looked in her eyes.

"Hadlee, I know that you said that you ran because you were scared, and I understand everything that you said, your reasons. But I still want to do this, I still want to hold you, and hug you, and love you. I fell for you the moment that I met you and I haven't stopped falling since. When you left for New Zealand I was upset and mad, but somehow a part of me knew that you had to go, even if I didn't want you to," Jethro said, his eyes dropping away from hers. "But now that you're back I'm hoping that you're willing to try again."