Title: Everything looks better with a beer

Summary: The boys and their girls reflect over their lifes as they drink a beer

Pairings: Nick and Tess, Alex and Stevie

Rated: T

Set after 6x16 Secrets and Lies, but episode 8x08 Close enough to touch never existed, so Alex never died

Part 1

"I know that you're really tired and confused right now, but the only way to get over that huge jet lag that you're suffering is trying to get into the argentinian routine as soon as possible. So now is time for lunch, no sleeping for the two of you until you have eaten properly. Come on Fiona give me a hand".

Alex saw his sister in law get his wife by the arm and go to the kitchen in her house in Buenos Aires as if it was a dream, his foggy mind trying to process what Tess had just said. He noticed that Nick had sat in the easy chair in front of him and now was trying to get his attention tapping gently in his forearm.

"Tess is right. When I first came here I had this huge jetlag for three long days, I couldn't eat or sleep properly and to make my confusion even worse everyone talked to me in Spanish, so I felt like I was living a nightmare", Nick saw his brother trying very hard to focus on his words so he paused to let his words get in his mind. Slowly Alex nodded making him know that he had understood what he had said, "so when Tess first arrived here, I tried another tactic to make her get over it, so instead of letting her go to bed and sleep, I made her lunch and forced her to be awake for more than 10 hours, so when we got to bed she was so exhausted that she slept for 12 hours in a row. When she woke up the next day, she was fresh and ready to start our new life in Buenos Aires".

Alex felt a terrible headache coming and just nodded and closed his eyes to rest. He heard Nick sigh and quietly call his name, "I know, I know no sleeping until lunch...", he said quite crankily.

"Do you want a cold beer? I have bought this tasty Argentinian beer and I want your opinion on..."

Alex opened his eyes and looked at his watch, he had to focus twice to see the time "For God sake, Nick it's 2 a.m. How in hell do you want me to drink a beer now?!"

Nick smiled and raising an eyebrow just replied, "Alex, it's only 1 p.m. here in Buenos Aires. Since when the time has been a problem for you to drink a beer?. If my memory serves me right you always were the last one to leave the pub. I remember once Brian had to call Constable Cook because you and the boys didn't want to leave until you had the last but one"

"Yeah, yeah... That was ancient history and now I'm a respectable married man, not the root rat I used to be. But if that in itself isn't enough for you, I have been travelling for more than twenty hours in my honeymoon to the other side of the world to see my brother and right now all I want is to go to bed and sleep for a week. But he and my bossy sister in law don't let me because..." and then mimicking Tess' voice "I've to get over that huge jet lag"

Nick burst out laughing, "You know, I've never thought I'd see the day Alex Ryan refused a cold beer because he was exhausted or, even better, MARRIED..." he said laughing even louder.

"What are you laughing about, Nick?". Alex saw how his brother rose from his chair and went to Tess' side, she looked from Nick to Alex and as she saw the look of mortification in his brother in law's face she chastised her husband "come on Nick, don't tease your brother. Lunch is ready, so do something useful and set the table"

Nick kissed his wife on the cheek and put his left hand gently in Tess' pregnant belly, "your wish is my command, wifey"

Alex saw how Tess' face became softer and she gave Nick a peck on the lips, then she gave him a gentle pat on the arm, "good, I forgive you. Now go to the kitchen..." Nick smiled and kissed her again before leaving the room. She then turned to Alex, "Alex, what do you want to drink? We have this really good beer...", she saw him lean forward in the sofa and hide his face between his hands, "or maybe wine..."

Alex heard Nick's laughter from the kitchen and he grunted, Tess looked at him very confused. At that moment Nick entered bringing a tray of food followed by Fiona who brought the cutlery, "Aparently Alex is too married to drink a beer"

Tess and Fiona looked from one brother to another, but just Tess was able to express her confusion, "what are you...?" she was interrupted by a really crancky Alex, "Shut up Nick, I just said that I didn't want a beer at 2 a.m." He saw how Tess tried really hard to suppress a smirk, "No, not you too"

"I'm sorry Alex, but you've never refused a good cold one before. But what I don't get is what has this to do with being married? Nick is married and he drinks beer at any time" Tess saw the smirk on Nick's face get wider as he went again to the kitchen to bring the plates.

"Nick recalled the time when I was a root rat and I had to be thrown out of the pub and I just said that…"

"Now he's a respectable married man" Nick finished for him, trying to suppress his laughter.

Tess just smirked, "I don't know what you've done to him Fiona, but you have changed Alex outside down. Alex a respectable man... I didn't see that coming. I have to call Drovers and explain it to Stevie and Jodie" Nick was back again with a tray with four of glasses and cold drinks and the table was finally settled. Alex rose up from the sofa.

Fiona, still a bit groggy from the long trip, kissed softly Alex on the lips and then smiled happily, "I think it's very sweet of him to change out of love..." She said looking lovingly at her husband eyes.

Tess smirked again and just raised an eyebrow at Alex. He saw the sarcasm in his brother and sister in law's expressions and just replied "Or maybe is this bloody jet lag... So the sooner we have lunch the sooner we get to have a nap" Tess opened her mouth to reply when Alex said, "yeah, yeah... just one hour's nap. I'll set the alarm and you can wake us if we don't get up on time" He pointed at her with his left hand and incisively said, "and not calling Drovers to tell the girls the tale that Alex Ryan has changed into an old respectable married man because as soon as I get over this damn dizziness I'll drink your husband under the table"

Tess took his hand, fondly kissed his cheek and cheerfully said, "That's the Alex we all know and love" Then, arm in arm, they went to the table where a smiling Nick was waiting to have lunch. They failed to see how the sappy smile fell off of Fiona's face when she listened to her husband outburst.

"Come on Fi, I'm starving and these 'empanadillas' look delicious. Thinking twice I reckon I'll give that argentinian beer or yours a chance, Nick" Alex said as he sat.

"I knew that my respectable brother couldn't resist a cold beer" Nick rose from his chair and winked at his wife as he went to the fridge to bring the drinks. Fiona faked a smile and followed everyone to the table. For the first time since they got married she got the feeling that she hadn't as influence on Alex Ryan as she thought.