she agrees to marry Rhys. She then from advice from Tony she goes round to his house and proposes to him and he says yes. After some time apart they eventually marry. Rhys and Jacqui's marriage starts to hit rock bottom when they have an argument and Jacqui leaves and never returned the next day. Rhys fears that something has happened to her and goes look for her. When her family says they haven't seen her they all fear for the worst and look for her in the woods. Rhys and Jacqui make up for good and with help of getting dog, Terry, they become closer even having sex for the first time since the rape. Gilly returns to the village just as Rhys and Jacqui are beginning to put the past behind them. Jacqui and Rhys struggle to deal with Gilly being back which leads them to plan to move to Cornwall. Gilly goes to see Rhys and Jacqui at their flat where he admits he unknowingly raped Jacqui and leaves so they don't have to. Rhys and Jacqui struggle with money so get a lodger Ally Gorman (Dan O'Connor) to help with the bills. When Mercedes, Jacqui's sister, becomes depressed after her fiancé Riley Costello (Rob Norbury) with their son Bobby Costello (Jakob Chialton) leaves her Rhys goes to help her out however Mercedes kisses him and when he tells Jacqui he unknowingly causes a rift between the sisters. Rhys begins a passionate affair with Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring). Myra witnesses them kiss and tells Rhys to end the affair or she will tell Jacqui. Cindy ends the relationship with Rhys, when Tony loses his eyesight following an off-screen crash in the fated mini-bus. Cindy realises she wants to instead be with her fiancé Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard). Cindy and Rhys kiss, which she tells him is a way of saying goodbye as she loves Tony. Tony witnesses this, as he had recovered his eyesight, although Cindy is unaware of this. Rhys plans to leave Hollyoaks village, which Myra discovers. She asks him to stay for the double wedding of Cindy and Tony and Doug Carter (PJ Brennan) and Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) so Jacqui will not be upset at the service before he then leaves. Cindy and Tony marry but Cindy asks Rhys to take her with him (witnessed by Tony); he agrees seconds before Maddie Morrison