Still there

It's two years later at Leopards Den. Danny and Alice are still blissfully in love as are Zoe and Matt, but is there a reason why Zoe is still Miss Point and not Mrs Dillon? Will she ever marry Matt and will a horrific event that bring unpleasant memories for Danny and Alice show them the wound are still very much open?

Ages of kids

Charlotte – 14

Olivia – 19

Evan – 20

Lyndon – 3

Chapter 1

Alice walked around the empty halls of the house, she was looking for Charlotte. She needed to talk to her about her report; it was of course perfect in every way, the usual comments...'A pleasure to teach', 'a pleasant and well mannered young lady', 'excellent progress this year', 'Keep up the good work!'. Alice knew exactly where her daughter would be. And she wasn't wrong.

Alice followed the beautiful sound that was being emitted from what used to the spare bedroom. Alice opened the door and slipped inside, she smiled as she saw Zoe, her step sister, sat at the old piano she had bought for Charlotte as a Christmas present, and Charlotte stood nearby.

Zoe was rocking gently in time to the music as her fingers hammered the keys of the piano in perfect order. Every now and then she'd add the perfect dynamics, or make a small comment to Charlotte. Charlotte was singing along, Zoe would every now and then nod her head a little more forcefully to signal Charlotte to begin.

Alice watched proudly. Charlotte had discovered her talents in the music and dramatics at school when she first took up music. Zoe had immediately put time into helping Charlotte. Alice knew why, of course she did, Zoe felt she'd wasted her chance and knew Charlotte should go places. Zoe had admitted to Alice, late one night when the pair had been up sharing a bottle of wine, that half of her regretted not pursing her musical career. It had been a tough time for Zoe back then. She'd been working hard at Mara, she had been so work orientated, and she'd had a throat infection that had ruined her voice permanently. She could still sing beautifully, but she lacked her original range and it would often frustrate Zoe when she couldn't reach the higher notes. Matt had been away and Zoe had been pregnant.

Yes, Zoe had been pregnant. It had come as shock to her; she hadn't expected it or planned it. Zoe wasn't even sure if she wanted kids, she certainly hadn't wanted a child at that time. She'd still been highly work orientated; she was still on the ladder of success. Matt was away completing some form of study and she knew she had to discuss it with him. Matt had returned elated at the news, but his failure to see Zoe's distress and worry caused a rift between them. It had taken time but slowly they had fixed their differences and nine months later came Sam.

Sam was now coming up to his second birthday, it was in a matter of months and he'd transformed Zoe. She'd thrown herself into the family role, her work ethic although still a hard worker she'd stopped the stupid hours, the stupid amount of effort. Of course, she still had her job at Mara, but she'd given up her responsibilities as head vet to David.

Sam was every bit the picture of Zoe, the blue eyes gave him away. Zoe had always said she knew how Danny and Matt felt when she and Alice used their eyes to get what they wanted. Alice sighed and clapped as she realised Zoe and Charlotte had finished their duet.

"What's up mum?" Charlotte asked, slightly breathless. She gathered her sheets together as Zoe continued to jam a little on the piano; Alice guessed that Zoe wanted to run through something else with Charlie.

"Nothing, you're report came, excellent as always." Alice beamed giving her daughter a hug. Charlotte returned it. She was almost Alice's height now, and her bouts of affection were becoming less and less frequent, but she was still impossibly close to Alice. "I do need to speak to you though... it says so on this letter." Alice pointed to the letter.

"Mum you don't actually have to follow them you know." Charlotte chuckled.

"I want to." Alice teased; she put the paper in her back pocket and jumped as she felt something hit her chest. She looked down and saw her stethoscope round her neck. "Not one old lady comment!" Alice chuckled.

"Well Alice..." Zoe teased finally stopping beating the hell out of the piano.

"Fantastic performance by the way guys! Love that song!" Alice beamed.

"Thanks mum." Charlotte said softly. She hadn't told anyone about her plans for her mum and Danny's anniversary!

"I gotta run, find Lyndon and your darling dad!" Alice smiled softly. She turned and walked out the room. Charlotte had taken to calling Danny dad all the time when she was younger and it had stuck. No one minded, in fact no one ever questioned the fact.

Zoe turned to Charlotte, a grin on her face.

"Pass us that guitar Charlie." Zoe pointed to an acoustic at the side. "Thanks. Your mum and dad are gonna love this you know."

"I know... I just feel like they've given me so much and I never do anything for them." Charlotte admitted as she drank from a bottle of water.

"They'll be so proud of you. Anyway, on with this, I have to go get Sam soon!" Zoe chuckled.

Alice wandered down to the animal hospital and saw Danny taking to Lyndon about the lions. Alice stopped and smiled. Her two men! She beamed both inside and out as she walked forward.

"So here you two are." Alice grinned.

"Mummy! Daddy says this lion is called Clarence." Lyndon told Alice, proud of the information he'd learnt.

"Your daddy's right." Alice smiled as she joined them; Danny kissed her quickly on the lips.

"Can I go see Tula?" Lyndon asked looking up at his parents. They both turned and looked outside and saw Tula stood with her family.

"Come on then." Danny smiled as he and Alice took Lyndon's hands.

"Swing me mummy, daddy!" Lyndon beamed. He loved it when they swung him in the air as they held onto his hands. Danny and Alice happily obliged, Lyndon giggling all the way up. He stopped and let go of their hands as he greeted Tula. Her trunk and moved over to him softly.

"Hello Tula!" Lyndon said with a natural air of confidence as he hugged Tula's trunk.

Danny and Alice simply smiled...