The Story of Dean and Ziggy

Chapter 15:

Four weeks later, Dean came out of the shower block in the caravan park.

"You look like you need this coffee more than I do," Willow commented as she got up off the camping chairs Dean had.

"I'm not really sleeping," Dean knocked back the coffee.

"Dean, you need to rest. You have a bad history of not coping with a lack of sleep," Willow pointed out.

"I know, Will. You don't have to stress about me," Dean took a navy t- shirt off of the clothes line.

"I'm always going to worry about you, Dean. You, Colby and Bella are my family," Willow told him.

"I've been better but things will pick up again," Dean assured her.

"Don't have a go at me but have you heard from Zig lately?" Willow wondered.

"We texted about the baby a week ago but it's been radio silent since then," Dean admitted.

"Try and be positive. Time apart might do you some good. It gives you both a chance to really think about what you want," Willow chipped in.

"I already know what I want. I want Ziggy and our kid. They're everything to me," Dean proclaimed.

"I'm sure you are what Ziggy wants too," Willow said gently.

>>>>>>>>>>>

"Hey, I was just about to head out for a surf. Are you in?" Colby said as Dean walked through the door.

"Maybe later," Dean sat down on the couch.

"Are you alright? You seem kinda down," Colby put a plate and glass in the sink.

"I just don't know where I stand with Ziggy. She's been gone weeks and it's been killing me," Dean admitted sheepishly.

"Dean, I feel so guilty. If it wasn't for what I did, you and Ziggy would still be good and she'd still be in Summer Bay," Colby chimed in.

"I have to say it would be easier to just blame you, but this is on me, Colby. Zig and I were building a life together and I don't know how I thought it was okay to not tell her about Ross. She deserved to know the truth and I should have trusted her," Dean sighed heavily.

"Why don't you tell her that you want her to come home?"

"I get the feeling that it's Zig who calls me not the other way around. She'll come back when she wants to. You can't that girl what to do".

He looked away.

"Enough about me. How's Bella? Is she still acting out about you keeping Ross' death a secret from her?"

"Yeah, she's angry and she's hurting. Even though she knew that Ross was abusive to me and our mum, there was still a big part of her that loved him. She can't see why I did it," Colby ran a hand through his hair.

"She'll forgive you. She has to," Dean said and Colby realised that Dean was drawing a parallel to his situation with Ziggy.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Colby and Dean walked into the Surf Club.

"Hey, boss," Dean greeted Ben as he put his phone and wallet behind the counter.

"You're early for your shift," Ben glanced at his watch.

"I just wanted to get started," Dean shrugged.

"Well you can go to the front and wait for the delivery driver to come in. We have a big order coming in," Ben chipped in.

"Sure thing. See ya, mate," Dean added to Colby as he headed off.