Summary: There's always something we have to do for them, but this is one thing we have to do for us...

Reader Warning: Graphic scene and sexting between two 17-year-olds, the age of consent in Jersey. The influence was music video Living in Sin

"Jon, I can't reach Ari, honey," Julie said, "can you try her phone for me, please? I'll call Leesh and see if they've heard from Ethan."

Jon looked up from his paperwork with a frown, "The kids should have been home by lunch," he scrolled through his contact list and dialed Ari's number and listened to the ringtone until it dropped out. He shrugged at Julie who turned and walked back down the hallway with her phone to her ear as he tried again and again.

"Hey hon, it's me. Have you heard from Ethan?" Julie spoke into the phone.

"No, I've tried calling and texting him. Nothing. David can't get him either," Leesha replied on the other end, cursing under her breath.

"Do you know where they were heading?" Julie asked, "They were staying at your place, right?"

"Yeah in Bay Head. David said he's gonna head down there. It's only about a 20-minute drive from here," she said, talking to David in the background.

Julie looked up to see Jon walk into the room, "Any word?" he asked.

She shook her head, "No, David's driving to Bay Head to check on them."

"I'll meet him there," Jon kissed her and with a parting, "Don't worry. I'm sure she hasn't done anything silly."

"Did you get all of that?" Julie asked into the phone as she watched Jon pull his sneakers on and head out to the garage.

"I did..." Leesha waited until David walked into the garage. "You don't think anything happened, do you?"

"No, they've probably hit the pool and can't hear their phones," Julie sounded positive but couldn't help the nagging feeling she had, "You know what that lot's like?"

There was a pause on the line. "Yeah, I know, but why do I still have the feeling the shit's gonna hit the fan?" Leesha asked.

"Oh fuck...you too, huh?" Julie sighed.

"Plus we just sent our hot-tempered husbands to check..."

"That's half the problem, I think," Julie replied, "Let me know if you hear from anyone, okay? Good luck." They said their goodbyes and hung up.

*~*Bay Head*~*

David's Bentley pulled into the driveway next to Jon's Range Rover and he jumped out of the car, fumbling with his keys. Jon sighed in relief, "You keep your shit locked up tight."

"Yeah to keep maniacs like you out," David retorted, sticking the key in and unlocking the door. He disarmed the alarm system and both men looked around at the empty liquor bottles and pizza boxes. "What...the actual fuck?"

Jon picked up one of the empty bottles. "How many of these kids are under 18?"

"All of them except Dan. He just turned 18 last week," David replied. "Ethan! Arielle!" No response. They searched each room on the first floor and basement. Evident signs of habitation yet no sign of life.

Jon checked by the pool, nothing. He walked back into the main house as David had completed a search of downstairs, "Anything?"

"No, I was just about to head upstairs," David replied. Both men took the stairs two at a time and each checked the smaller bedrooms.

Neither Ethan nor Ari were found on the second floor. As Jon was ushering a hungover Jen and Brandon downstairs, David looked up towards the third floor which only had one room. Oh sweet God don't let them be up there, he thought.

"Where the hell are they? All the rooms are checked...nothing," Jon said frantically.

"Not all..." David swallowed thickly. For your sake, you little shit, you'd better not be up there. They climbed the last of the stairs and David felt his heart beating out of his chest.

Jon flashed past him on the stairs before David could stop him, and threw open the door to the master suite. "Oh shit! Get up you two!" he yelled.

"Get the fuck out of my bed, you little shits!" David roared, yanking the sheets off the two entangled bodies.

"Where's Ari?" Jon demanded as the young couple scrambled to find clothes, "Fuck D, I'll deal with these two. You know your property better than me." He pushed David to the door before turning to Chelsea and Dan, "I'm calling your parents, so get the fuck up and get dressed. NOW!"

"No, please Mr. B," Dan pleaded, "Dad'll kill me."

"Should have thought of that in the first place, Daniel." Jon then turned to Chelsea who wasn't shy in wandering around naked looking for her clothes, "I know you! You were hanging off Ethan last time I saw you. I don't think I have your parents' number. Cough it up."

Chelsea looked at Jon with a smirk and said, "Oh I'm sure Mr. Bryan has it." Jon didn't have time to question her further when he heard David's yell from below.

"Where the fuck have you two been?" David yelled from the first floor. Ari and Ethan both took a step back from him.

Ari shrunk down behind Ethan and whimpered, "We just wanted to see the sunrise on the beach and ended up falling asleep, Uncle Lema."

"Ari?!" Jon bellowed from above.

"Oh shit," Ari muttered and looked up at her Dad storming down the staircase. "Dad, please I can explain..."

David huffed and gestured around at the lounge. "Don't wanna hear it right now, especially when you all reek of booze. All of you, grab trash bags and pick up all this shit. I want my house spotless," he demanded. Brandon and Jen joined their friends in their silence, each getting a large bag and gathering the empty boxes, wrappers, and bottles.

"None of you are of age to drink! Did you know David would be the one in trouble if you were caught since it's his home?! Did you all think about that?!" Jon berated all the teenagers, his face gradually turning pink to rosy red. "I'll call Mike and you can call Chelsea's parents," Jon said to David, teaching for his phone, "She said you'll have the number."

David dragged his eyes away from the kids to glance at Jon. "Don't look at me. I've never met her parents," he grumbled, sitting on the couch to send a message to the wives.

"Sure you have, Mr. Bryan," Chelsea piped up, her eyes full of evil mischief, "You've met her and oh maybe slept with her...once or twice..." Ethan and Ari's heads pop up in shock at the comment and the others stopped to look at each other in confusion.

"Doubt it if she has the same attitude as you. What's her name?" David asked curiously, hitting send on the group text to Leesha and Julie.

"My step-mother's name is Alexandria," Chelsea offered, "but you know her as Lexi."

David blinked at Chelsea and his mouth fell open. He swallowed hard and replied, "My ex-wife Lexi?" Chelsea nodded slowly and sauntered over to one of the armchairs. David looked over slowly to Jon and added, "I ain't calling her."

"I'll do it, but you owe me," Jon nodded grimly and got Lexi's number from David.

After phone calls and voicemails to distraught parents, the group was split up into David and Jon's cars. Ethan and Dan's cars were garaged until they could be collected at another time. Ari and Ethan shared a quick but deep kiss when their Dad's were out of sight.

"Message me when you're finally home and alone?" Ethan asked, his fingers caressing Ari's cheek. She nodded and rushed out when Jon yelled her name.

Ari sat in silence in the passenger's seat beside her dad. As he backed out of the driveway, Jon didn't even look at his daughter as he said, "Grounded. Two weeks. Don't even try pleading with your Mother about it."

"Yes, Daddy," Ari mumbled and laid her head against the door, her hands laying in her lap. Jon dropped Jennifer off first and made sure she was hand delivered to her parents, before driving to Chelsea's place.

He drove up to the large white house and grabbed her bag from the trunk. Opening the passenger door, he said to the girl, "Get out." He took her elbow and almost dragged her to the front door. Dumping the bag he stabbed at the doorbell once, twice until he heard movement from inside.

The door opened and Jon saw a face he hadn't seen in years. Lexi was clad in one of her painting aprons and long blonde hair tied back. "Lexi."

"Well well well, Jon," Lexi said and cocked her hip against the doorframe, "Good to see you again."

"Wish I could say the same," Jon replied, "I understand this one belongs to you?" He pulled Chelsea forward.

Lexi raised an eyebrow at her step-daughter. "You...get inside." Chelsea scurried past Lexi's red-hot glare and the woman looked back at Jon. "So I take it David didn't have the balls to face me himself?"

"He had bigger issues to deal with," Jon conceded, "Good to see your influence has rubbed off onto another generation."

"Mmm, I'm sure he did. Always does. Tell him I said hello," Lexi smirked and slammed the door in Jon's face.

"That went well," Jon mumbled to himself as he walked back to his car. He shut the door hard and sighed heavily before starting the engine and heading for home finally.

"Why did you think it would be a smart move to get drunk this weekend, Arielle?" Jon asked after a lengthy silence.

Ari whimpered and pulled her hoodie over her head. "Dad, please...my head is pounding." All she wanted to do was close her eyes and go back to the Ferris wheel or bedroom with Ethan. Under the hoodie, she silently pulled up her messages with Ethan.

Ari: Omg dad won't shut up

Luckily she had turned her phone to silent but saw Ethan's message pop up

Ethan: Same here...fuck me :(

Ari: That could be arranged ;-)

"Oh!! Your head is pounding?" Jon shouted, his blood pressure was skyrocketing quickly "Be thankful you're not passed out cold in some strange place or end up in the hospital like your sister did. Thank god you only did alcohol and not drugs. You didn't do any drugs, did you?"

Ethan: Oh really? Please do tell me more, baby ;-)

Ari: Will when home xoxo

"Oh my god, Dad will you shut the fuck up about Stephie for once!" Ari snapped, her voice raising as loud as Jon's.

"Don't raise your voice to me, Arielle Caroline! Your mother has been frantic with worry. And then when I couldn't find you at the house, I.... How are we supposed to trust you from now on?"

Ari let out a noise between a growl and snarl. "Dad, I'm 17 and totally allowed to go on the beach! So what...yeah we got into Uncle Lema's alcohol! I'll admit it! Happy now?!"

"No! You're still underage for drinking...all of you!" He was beyond exasperated with his daughter. Stephie never gave him so much grief, apart from that one time. It must be the Australian genes showing through.

"Fine, Dad. You're right. I'm sorry," Ari with resting bitchface and attitude to match.

"You were supposed to be going to the boardwalks for fun...did that even happen? Or did you lie about that too?" Jon was furious but not as much as he had been scared.

Ari rolled her eyes. "Of course we did. That was the main thing we did and it was..." She had to stop herself from saying anything about her feelings and what happened to her and Ethan, "...enjoyable." More than enjoyable, she thought. It was her dream come true.

"It won't be so enjoyable when you face your mother, young lady." Jon fell into another brooding silence as the visions of what could have happened to his Babymine.

Ari locked her bedroom door and flopped on her bed a couple of hours later after a lot of blah blah blah-ing from both parents, her punishment went from two weeks to three after she was caught making faces at her mother behind her back. She'd picked at her dinner and was sent to her room after fighting with Sammy and making her cry.

Nothing I do is good enough anymore, she thought to herself, I wish I could run away from all this shit! She grabbed her phone when it vibrated on her nightstand and smiled when she saw Ethan's name pop up.

Ethan: What's the damage, beautiful?

Ari: Three weeks grounded. Mom went totally ballistic on me and Dad was no help! You?

Ethan: Two weeks grounded, have to pay Dad back for the alcohol even though he's got multi-millions to his name. Mom wasn't as bad as him. Gave me the "I'm disappointed in you" speech. I already miss you, Scooby.

Ari: Miss you too. I just wanna be on that Ferris Wheel with you again.

Ethan: I had the most amazing time with you. We made that bed shake too. You sore? Still can't believe you wanted me to go that hard.

Ari: It felt right...what can I say?

Ethan: Everything about you feels right. Wanna see just how excited I am?

Ari: Please... Her stomach jumped when a photo popped up and she bit her lip. I can taste the excitement from here.

Ethan: Slide your hand into those panties. Touch yourself and describe it to me.

Ari: Hot and wet...for you...my clit is throbbing. What should I do, baby?

Ethan: Send me a vid of you stroking that little clit.

Ari slipped off her clothes and got herself comfortable and making sure she got a good angle, she hit the start button on her phone to record herself, then flipped the phone to show her sucking on her finger before she sent it.

Ethan: Better save some of that for me

Ari: Tell me what you're doing and what you'd like to do to me

She waited for a minute before a video came up for her and she hit play. Ethan's camera was angled to show him stroking himself and his thumb rubbing the purple mushroom head. His low breathing could be heard along with him whispering, "Ari...I wanna see you on top and riding my cock. I wanna feel your nails clawing my chest and feel myself buried deep inside that pussy."

Ari: Oh baby...that was so hot... She took a still of her fingers buried in her juicy slit and sent it. See what you did to me? I got all wet...

Ethan: My apologies, princess. Want me to kiss it better?

Ari: Oh! Yesss...can you sneak over? I'll let you know when they've gone to bed.

Ethan: Thought you'd never ask. My mouth is gonna be watering until I see you.

Ari: I'll be waiting, baby.

Two hours later she heard her parents' usual night time routine. They knocked on her door to say goodnight but she feigned sleep and heard her mum say, "C'mon Jonny, talk to her in the morning when she's in a better mood. Let me help you relax, baby." Ugh! Gag! Ari thought to herself.

Ethan: I couldn't wait. I'm just down the road.

Ari: Coming... She dimmed her lamp to a soft orange glow and quietly slid her window open, scanning the darkness until she saw the familiar black Navigator parked across their street.

Ethan: Oh that's a guarantee, beautiful

Ari slipped her phone and keys into her pocket and carried her shoes down the stairs. Sneaking through the darkened house, she disarmed the kitchen door and slipped out quietly, stopping only to put her shoes on.

Keeping to the shadows of the trees, Ari made her way to the street and jumped into the car without a sound. Ethan leaned over the console and wrapped Ari in a tight embrace, kissing her sweetly. "Hi," he whispered, gazing at the beautiful girl before him.

"Hey yourself," Ari smiled softly, "Thought you'd never get here." Ethan kissed the back of Ari's hand before he put the car into gear and slowly drove down the street to avoid being found out.

When they reached the main road, Ethan took off at full speed and squeezed Ari's fingers. "I drove a little slowly, you know, to avoid suspicion," Ethan said, "It felt like forever, though."

"I'm just happy you made it," Ari said quietly, smiling at the music he had playing. "I wouldn't have taken you for an old style rocker kinda guy."

Ethan chuckled and Ari felt her stomach flutter. "Playlist is called Stairway to Heaven because each song brings me one step closer to heaven...you," his voice broke a little on the last word. Ari looked down in her lap and bit her lip.

"Those words are music to my ears," she replied and studied his profile. His lips were slightly parted and blue eyes sparkling in the glow of the dash.

The drive was a short one and Ethan pulled his Dad's SUV in at the local "spot", Bayshore Waterfront Park in the Jersey Highlands. He cut the engine and smiled over at Ari, taking a moment to relish this small victory. They both sat in silence for a moment, savoring the anticipation.

"So...we're here," Ari murmured, a little unsure under Ethan's gaze.

"Get that sweet little ass in the back. As you can see, I've rearranged it a bit," Ethan said with a wide grin. Ari looked in the back seat and saw the seats had been reclined on all the way back, a soft blanket laid out over the tanned leather upholstery.

Ari climbed over the console to slip between the two front seats, giggling and wiggling her ass when Ethan gently spanked her. "Like the skirt I take it?" Ari asked.

"I'll like it even more when it's off." Ethan set the stereo volume and quickly jumped into the backseat, tripping a little when his shoe got stuck. He tumbled into Ari and tried to give her a charming smile.

"Still my clumsy Shaggy," Ari giggled.

Ethan reached under Ari's shirt and tickled her with his fingertips, making her laugh and wiggle around to escape the torture. She was breathless from her giggles and Ethan eased up, smiling down at her. They stared at each other for the longest time before he whispered, "God you're beautiful...I never realized it before now."

"Took you long enough," Ari breathed, reaching up to run a hand down Ethan's arm.

"Better late than never," Ethan replied, lowering his head and their lips locking in a few short sweet kisses then into long deep ones. His hand slowly trailed from Ari's waist down to her knee and up her inner thigh.

As their prolonged kisses deepened and their passion grew Ari's nimble fingers unbuttoned his shirt and jeans. She slid her hands inside his shirt and savored the feel of firm muscles rippling beneath her palms before she pushed the fabric off his shoulders as Ethan moved to help her.

He sat back on his haunches as Ari pulled her t-shirt up and over her head before shimmying out of her skirt. Ethan rolled to his side, dropping the two condoms on the floor next to them, and slipped his jeans off, kicking them into a pile somewhere behind him.

Ethan smiled as Without You from Motley Crue come on and crawled between Ari's legs, placing gentle kisses along her stomach. "Still having that...issue from earlier?"

"Uh huh," Ari nodded shyly, "You...you might need to check yourself though."

Ethan smirked up at her, his blue eyes glimmering in the light. "Ask me nicely."

"Please, Shaggy," Ari sighed, "Please...touch me...there."

Ethan dipped his head down and lazily ran his tongue up and down her slit, making Ari squirm and whimper. "Shhh. Be a good girl and stay quiet," he told her, his arms tucked under her thighs and hands running up and down her waist.

"Oh, Ethan..." Ari whispered, "More...Please?"

Three hours and six steamy windows later, Ethan and Ari reluctantly get dressed and start heading back to Red Bank. Before pulling onto her street, Ethan pulled the car over and took Ari into a soul-shattering kiss. "Fuck, I'm gonna miss you," he whispered against her lips.

"Me too," Ari whispered, "I hate to go, but I guess I'd better."

"Anytime you need me here, just say the word," Ethan promised. "I'll go through Dad's temper tenfold to feel your lips against mine." He drove up parallel to the house and stole one last kiss before Ari climbed out, winked and shut the door. Ethan stayed until she got to the front door and left.

Ari fumbled with her keys and unlocked the door, slipping into the still dark house and enabling the alarm once more. She leaned against the door for a moment, quietly setting her keys on the side table and sighed to herself.

Before going up to bed, she desperately needed water. Ari tiptoed into the kitchen and flicked the stove light on. She rummaged in the cupboards for a glass and snack, turned to grab ice from the freezer and screamed at the figure sitting at the dining table.

"Hello Arielle," Jon said cooly.

"Dad! What are you doing up?" Ari exclaimed.

"Waiting for you to come home," Jon rose and stood in the doorway so she couldn't walk past him, "Wanna tell me where you've been?"

Ari stared at her father and replied nervously, "I went for a long walk."

"For three hours!?" He yelled and slammed his hand against the door frame. Ari jumped and backed up towards the counter. Jon rounded on her. "I'll ask you again. Where...the fuck...were you??"

"Dad, I told you. Just a long walk!"

"Then why was David's car missing? After the security company called me and said the alarm had been set off, I checked your room. When I saw you were gone, I called David to see if they'd heard from you," Jon told her, his face becoming redder. "Do you know what he found?"

Ari rolled her eyes. "Obviously a missing car since you just said that..." Jon lost it and slapped Ari across the face, drawing tears from his daughter.

"Ethan was gone and so was David's Navigator," Jon growled. "It was traced up here to Highlands."

"That's great for Shaggy," Ari said through her tears. "But I'm going to bed."

Jon blocked her path. "Not until I'm done with you."

"Well I'm done with you," Ari cried and ducked under Jon's arm, racing up the stairs and smacked into Julie.

"Office! Now!" Julie stood firmly in her daughter's pathway, and seeing Jon at the base of the stair she indicated with her head, "Both of you!" before following Ari down the stairs and through to Jon's soundproof office. She shut the door very succinctly and rounded on her family.

"Would one of you care to fill me in on what the fuck is going on here?" Julie stood and watched them both closely. Ari was tearfully curled up in one of the chairs and clutching her face, looking disheveled, while Jon was pouring himself a drink with shaking hands. "Jon?" Julie prompted him first.

"You're gonna need one of these first," he sighed. Julie could see the pinched look on his face and the shine of unshed tears as she accepted the glass he held out for her on his way to his chair behind his desk. "You might wanna sit down, baby, it's gonna be a bumpy ride."

She took the seat next to Ari and went to tuck a stray hair behind the girl's ear but was shocked when Ari turned from her.

The room was silent for way too long as Jon seemed to be processing something, his brow furrowed and he was pulling at his bottom lip as is typical when he's worried about something.

"Arielle Caroline, why don't you tell your mom where you were tonight?" Jon's voice was low and almost deadly.

Julie was taken aback by his tone. The girl squirmed but stayed silent. "Arielle, I have not heard your dad this angry in some time," Julie looked at her first born and wondered where all those years went. Something was different but she couldn't yet put her finger on what it was. "Please, baby, tell me what's going on."

"I'm not your baby anymore, mom," Ari bit back with sarcasm dripping heavily from each word, "I'm almost seventeen. I can go out for a walk if I feel like it, can't I?"

"Not for three fucking hours!" Jon spat back, making his point with his finger on the table.

"In the middle of the night?" Julie was shocked, "It's dangerous, Ari, you-"

"She wasn't out walking for chrissake, babe," Jon cut her off, "The security company alerted me when she snuck out because it was out of the ordinary. I went to Sammy's room first, then Ari's to check on them both. Guess which daughter wasn't in her bed?"

"But..." Julie started to say before Jon cut her off again.

"So I text David to see if they'd heard anything, and surprise, surprise," Jon threw his hands in the air and leaned forward toward Arielle to catch her eye, "No Ethan and no Navigator. He traced it to the Highlands."

"So I sit and wait for two fucking hours in the kitchen and," he drains his drink in one go, scrubbing his face with his hands before continuing, "she sneaks back in reeking of sex!"

"Dad!" Ari protested

"Oh, Ari...no..." Julie was shocked. She slumped back into her chair and took a sip of her drink before straightening up and turning to the girl sniveling in the chair. "Arielle, you have earned yourself another weeks' grounding and you'll hand over your phone to dad this instant. Then you will get your lying ass upstairs and into your room. I don't want to see you until it's time for school in three hours time."

"A whole month?! No! You can't do that!" Arielle protested, angry tears coursing down her cheeks, "I've got tickets to Taylor Swift next week!"

"Do as your told Arielle, or so help me," Jon stood slamming his hand on his desk, "I'll make sure you'll never have a social life for the next five years."

"FUCK you!! I hate you! I hate you both!" Ari screamed at her parents, throwing her phone at Jon and fled from the room.

Jon started to round from the table toward the door but Julie stood in front of him as they heard her bedroom door slam, "Jon? Baby? Let her go. She needs to cool off and we need to talk. C'mon Rockstar, come sit here with me." She led him over to the leather couch and they sat together. Julie pulled him into her arms and he buried his face into her neck and wept finally. "Shh baby, I know...I know."