"Where we going?".
Ben glanced at Nicole as he drove along the busy London street. "We're going to Mummy's house," Ben reminded her, forcing a smile.
It was now the summer and the next day Ben was off to start a1's world tour which would go on into autumn. Heather had managed to persuade him to let her have Nicole while he was away. The court case was set for autumn, after Ben returned from the tour.
Ben pulled up outside Heather's new house- a large, modern-looking bungalow with a spacious back garden, which was situated on the edge of south-west London not too far from Ben's own house.
Ben unstrapped Nicole from her seat and carried her over to the front door.
Heather opened the door and smiled at Nicole. "Hello sweetie!" she said, taking Nicole from Ben.
"Mummy!" Nicole squealed.
Ben took a step backwards and spoke, his eyes avoiding Heather. "Here's her stuff," he said, putting two large bags on the floor. "I'll be in contact soon, bye-bye Nicole,". He turned and left without another word.
Heather closed the door and took Nicole into the lounge.
"Where'd daddy go?" Nicole asked, looking around for Ben.
"Ummm, daddy's gone away for a little while," Heather explained. "You'll be living with mummy until he gets back,".
Nicole wandered across the room to the back doors which were open. "Slide!" she cried as she pointed at the kiddies slide Heather had put in the garden.
Heather took Nicole's hand and led her out into the garden. "I've got a treat for you tomorrow," Heather smiled as she caught Nicole at the bottom of the slide. "Tomorrow I'm going to take you to Hyde Park with auntie Helen and the twins,".
"Yay, the park!" Nicole giggled.
Helen sat at home with the twins as they ate their lunch. "OK, I think I have everything," Paul said, entering the room with a couple of bulging suitcases.
Helen stood up and walked to the front door with him. "I'm going to miss you, I wish I could come too," Helen said, starting to feel lonely already.
"Yeah, I'll miss you too, I'd love it if you came with us but you need to rest at home as you get better,". Helen had been let out of hospital a few weeks ago but was still recovering.
"I'll come and see a couple of the concerts," Helen promised. "Make sure you ring me every night!".
"Of course I will," Paul promised. "Bye honey,". They kissed then he got into his car and drove off.
Helen waved until his car was out of sight. She then sighed sadly to herself and went back inside to join the twins.
"Daddy gone?" Jamie said.
"Yes, but we'll see him again soon," Helen promised.
Kris started to cry. "Daddy, I want daddy!".
That set off Jamie. "Waaaa!" he bawled.
Helen covered her ears. "Shhhh!' she said. She picked up the phone and called Sam.
"Hi Sam, want to come over?".
"OK," Sam agreed. "I'm on my way,".
Sam turned up an hour later with a bag in her hand. "I got the kids some sweets," she said.
"Oh, you shouldn't spoil them!" Helen replied, but she was glad Sam was being so nice.
The twins soon went quiet when Sam gave them a toffee apple each. "I was thinking," Sam said. "Why don't all of us girls go on holiday somewhere. You miss Paul, Helen's all alone, I'm sure Tasha, Lucy and Linda would love to come too,".
Helen grinned. "Cool! OK, but where?".
"I don't know," Sam said. "But I've got some holiday brochures here,".
That night, the band had arrived in Newcastle to start to tour. They would go all over the UK for a month, then go to Europe over August and September.
Sarah was there with Mark and couldn't stop smiling. "What are you so happy about?" Naomi asked her as they sat in the dressing room as the guys got ready for the show.
"I've got some big news," Sarah grinned. "I want to announce it to everyone after the show,".
"Oooh, what's this then?" Naomi asked.
"You'll have to wait and see," Sarah told her.
Meanwhile, Ben and Paul were avoiding each other. "Who wants the last bottle of Evian water?" Mark asked as he held it up.
"Me," Paul and Ben said at the first time. The both grabbed the bottle and wouldn't let go.
"Hands off, it's mine," Paul warned, pulling the bottle towards him.
"No way, I had it first," he narrowed his eyes. "Like I had Heather first but you couldn't keep your hands off her,".
Paul let go and glared at him. "It's all over now, stop bringing up the past,".
Christian interrupted the argument. "We found another bottle in the fridge so you can both have one," he said, throwing the new bottle at Paul. "Come on, stop arguing. This is pathetic,".
They went onstage and began the show. It went well and the crowd enjoyed it.
As Ben sang 'Walking in the Rain', he couldn't help thinking about Heather and how he missed her. A few tears slipped from his eyes as he sang. "Sitting by the window, singing songs of love, wishing you were here, because the memory's not enough, wear my mask in silence, pretending I'm alright, if you could see then you would be, here standing by my side,".
Paul stood and watched Ben sing, feeling guilty. He knew Ben was thinking of Heather.
Ben closed his eyes and carried on singing. "Of all we've said and done, remains the memories, days when life is fun, but now when you are gone, I sit alone to watch the setting of the sun...".
Straight after the song had ended, Ben rushed off backstage and burst into tears.
"Hey, don't cry," Mark said, handing Ben a tissue. "Come, let's go back onstage,".
Ben put on a brave face and returned the the stage and they finished off the show.
"What's wrong with Ben?" Christian asked when they were in the dressing room getting changed after the concert had finished.
"I think I know what's up," Paul said quietly. "It's four years ago today since he met Heather. He's missing her, I know he is,".
"Oh, poor Ben," Christian said sadly. He turned to Naomi, who was by his side. "Four years today since that party when we all met, hasn't time flown by so fast?".
"Yeah," Naomi smiled. "Anyway, Sarah has some good news to share with us all,".
Mark grinned. "Go on honey, tell them all,". He already knew what she was about to say.
Sarah stood up and everyone went quiet. "Mark and I are expecting our first child," she said with a huge smile.
Everyone congratulated Sarah and Mark... but Ben was being quiet. It got him thinking back to when he and Heather were expecting Nicole. As tears threatened to spill from his eyes again, he slipped out of the room quietly.
The next day, Heather and Helen sat on the grass in Hyde Park with the twins. They had a big picnic laid out in front of them. It was a beautiful day and not a rain cloud in sight.
As the twins played together, Heather and Helen had a chat. "Sam and I were talking about us girls going away on holiday this summer," Helen mentioned. "She wants to treat us and pay for it all, she can certainly afford it now she's got her two million dollar divorce settlement,".
"Cool, where's she taking us?" Heather asked, liking the idea of going away for a nice break.
"She mentioned going to the Caribbean then a few European cities maybe,".
They were interrupted by a couple of girls who were about thirteen. "Can we have your autographs?" one asked.
Helen was surprised. "Our autographs? Why?".
"You're Paul and Ben's wives, that's why!" the other girl said, getting a pen and some paper out.
Heather and Helen happily signed for the girls and answered questions about the band for them.
"We're glad you're better now," one of the girls told Helen. "Paul must have been so upset when you had your accident,".
Heather looked at the ground and avoided Helen's eyes. "Um, yeah..." Helen trailed off.
The girls left and Helen and Heather sat in silence.
Kris broke the silence. "Mummy, when's daddy back?".
"You'll see him again soon," Helen promised, taking her son and holding him in her lap. "Here, have some ribina,".
"I miss daddy," Jamie said.
"So do I," Helen told him with a sigh. "So do I...".
.