Shane's pov

"Are you ready to go, luv?" Carrie and I are taking a little road trip this weekend. My cousin Nigel telephoned yesterday to let me know my Aunt Fay had passed away. Aunt Fay and I weren't terribly close, in fact I could count the number of times I'd seen the woman on one hand.

She was my Uncle's second wife and their marriage didn't last long, less than two years I think. Unfortunately, their divorce was rather messy so most of the family didn't keep in contact with Fay. Even though we hadn't spent much time together, Aunt Fay wrote me every month during my first year in the British royal navy. She was married to my Uncle when our family came to visit and the accident with my little brother occurred.

Aunt Fay was the only one who didn't treat me differently after that night. I never did thank her for the emotional support she provided during that difficult time and for all the letters she sent me while I was in the service. She would close each correspondence the same way, "You'll accomplish great feats in your lifetime Shane as long as you stay the path, despite the roadblocks you'll stumble upon along the way. I believe in you. Love, Aunt Fay."

Because she supported me during such a difficult time in my life, the magnitude of which was unknown to me until several years later, I wanted to pay my respects to Aunt Fay by attending her funeral. This trip will also provide me an opportunity to catch up with my cousin Nigel. Even though Fay was his stepmother for a short time, during most of which he was away at boarding school, Nigel still had formed a special bond with Fay and continued to keep in touch with her after she and his father divorced.

Perhaps the best part of this trip will be the time I'll get to spend with Carrie. I honestly hadn't even considered taking one of the girls with me until Mike brought it up. Julie and Stacey have basketball and Lisa has two important tests she can't miss plus she's still on an emotional rollercoaster thanks to her nicotine withdrawal so there is no way both of us would emerge unscathed after being trapped in a car together for eight hours. Carrie was the most logical choice, plus I've been wanting to make quality time with her a priority since the chem lab vandalism incident brought to light her feelings of neglect.

"I'm ready, Shane." Carrie gives Mike a hug goodbye as I put her bags in the trunk.

"I'll miss you, sweetheart," Mike says, looking in the passenger side window. "Remember, I expect you to be on your best behavior."

"I will, Mike," Carrie replies sweetly.

"I was talking to him," Mike says, gesturing to me as he smiles and pats the inside of the door before stepping back and waving goodbye as we drive off.

It was really nice to hear Carrie fill me in on all her teachers, classes, and friends on the drive to the hotel. The daily grind often causes us to miss out on the mundane and minute details but sometimes those details speak volumes about one's state of mind. Carrie was able to get some things off her chest and hopefully I was able to impart some wisdom with a side of good advice.

Since we arrived at the hotel after midnight, Nigel and I agreed to meet at 10am for a late breakfast.

At breakfast

Shane's pov

"Shane, it's so good to see you, mate." Nigel spotted us first and greeted me with a hug and a slap on the back.

"Likewise. Who's this lovely girl and what's she doing with a sod like you?" I asked jokingly, referring to the teen who looked to be around Carrie's age.

"This is my sixteen year-old daughter Ava. Ava, meet my cousin Admiral Shane Donovan and his daughter Carrie." Nigel smiled broadly. "We have so much catching up to do, cuz."

"Apparently." I had no idea Nigel had a child. As I would later find out, neither did Nigel until Ava was ten years old. Nigel was with me the night I accidentally killed my brother. We didn't see each other or speak much after that. I was so ashamed of what I did and unfortunately Nigel was a painful reminder of that horrible night.

After we have a bite to eat, Nigel and I spend some time catching up on each other's lives while the girls get to know each other over smoothies.

After the visitation for my Aunt we returned to the hotel and had a light dinner at the restaurant.

"Daddy, can we go swimming in the hotel pool please?" Ava pleads, batting her eyes and gripping Nigel's arm.

"I'm okay with it, if it's alright with Shane." Nigel, Ava, and Carrie all look at me, awaiting my response.

"Sure, have fun, girls," I say smiling.

"And, Daddy?" Ava looks down and bites her bottom lip while coyly asking Nigel.

"Yes, Ava?" Nigel's wise to his daughter's tactics, knowing she only acts this way when she wants something.

"We were wondering if maybe after we're done swimming, Carrie and I could have a sleepover in our room and you could bunk with Shane. Please, Daddy, please!" Ava gives her father her best pouty look.

Nigel looks at me and I nod in approval.

The girls start squealing in celebration but I cut them short, saying, "As long as you go straight back to your room and remain there when you're done swimming."

"And you're in bed and asleep by 11pm. We have to be up early to get to the funeral on time," Nigel adds, earning a small groan from the girls. "That's fine. If you don't want to share a room..."

"No no, we'll do it, Daddy. We'll stay in our room and be asleep by midnight." Ava quickly agrees to our conditions while trying to slip a modification past us.

"11pm, Ava, NOT MIDNIGHT!" Nigel warns.

The girls say, "Okay," and run off giggling to their room to get changed for the pool.

Nigel and I sit at the bar and reminisce over a few pints, sharing memories of Aunt Fay and our childhood. We continue to order rounds, catching up on what's happened since we last saw each other and gossiping about our relatives.

My phone rings and before answering the call I see it's already 1:12am. I can't believe Nigel and I have been talking for over four hours already.

" 'ello."

"Shane, can you come get us please?" Carrie sounds not only worried but distressed.

"Carrie baby, where are you? Are you okay? What's going on?" I'm becoming frantic.

Nigel looks at me wide eyed upon hearing the concern in my voice.

"We're at the Pacific Club. Please hurry, Shane, Ava wants us to leave with these guys but I don't want to go and I really don't want Ava to go alone with them. Please, Shane." From the sound of it, Carrie's in tears, overwhelmed by the frightening situation she and Ava have gotten themselves into.

"Baby, where are you and Ava right now?"

"I'm in the women's bathroom and Ava's in a booth with them next to the dance floor."

"Carrie, I need you to calm down, listen to me and do exactly as I say." I throw some bills on the table to cover our bar tab and motion for Nigel to follow me as we rush to the lobby to have the front desk call us a cab. "Nigel and I are on our way. I need you to get Ava and bring her into the women's loo with you and wait for us to come get you."

"I'm scared, Shane."

My heart breaks hearing those words come out of my youngest daughter's mouth.

"I know you are, baby, but it's gonna be okay. I'll stay on the line with you. Now go get Ava so Nigel can talk to her."

"I'll try, Shane, but my battery's at 2% and..."

My phone beeps, call ended.

"Bollocks, her battery died!" I cursed.

Nigel continues trying to call Ava but it keeps going straight to voicemail.

"DAMMIT!" Nigel curses. "I bet she left her phone intentionally, knowing I'd be able to track her."

Sure enough, when Nigel checks her location, it shows the hotel.

After what seems like a lifetime, we get to the club and find the girls exactly where I told Carrie not to be. They're sitting in the booth with two guys who appear to be in their mid to late twenties, one of whom has his hand rather high up on Ava's thigh and the other who has his arm on top of the booth behind Carrie. Even though Carrie tears-up the minute she sees me, the glassy look in her and Ava's eyes does not go unnoticed. They've obviously been drinking tonight.

"I suggest the two of you get your fucking hands off our teenage daughters before my cousin and I beat you both to a bloody pulp," Nigel growls, leaning over the table.

Upon hearing the words teenage and daughters, the guys immediately begin apologizing and back off as they get up to leave, stating they don't want any trouble. It's obvious to Nigel and I that they genuinely seemed surprised hearing the girls are underage.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Ava whines, slurring her words. "Carrie, you called them? UGGHHH! I can't believe you."

"THANK GOD SHE DID. WHAT THE HELL WERE THE TWO OF YOU THINKING?" Nigel yells, as he roughly grabs Ava by the arm, pulling her out of the booth.

Carrie rushes into my arms, collapsing against my chest as she sobs alcohol induced incoherent apologies into my shirt.

Holding her at arm's length, I ask, "Are you ok? Did he hurt you, sweetheart?"

Carrie shakes her head.

"No, he didn't do anything. I'm okay, I was just scared," she says, sadly hanging her head, clearly ashamed.

"Are you mad at me, Daddy? Are you gonna ground me?" Ava asks Nigel in her drunken haze, while stumbling over her own two feet as we head out of the club.

"You better believe you're grounded, young lady. You'll be lucky to see the light of day before you graduate." Nigel pulls Ava along as he exits the club. "We'll discuss this at the hotel tomorrow after we've both gotten some sleep, you've sobered up, and I've calmed down. Now let's go," Nigel says sternly.

"Am I grounded too, Shane?" Carrie asks timidly.

Ushering her out of the club with my right hand firmly gripping the back of her neck, I shake my head and sternly reply, "Oh no, your punishment is far beyond grounded on the pain scale, luv. You'll be lucky if you can sit comfortably before you graduate."