Sibling

Set 2 years after the finale. Everything seems to be going perfectly for Danny Trevanion. His wife, Alice is heavily pregnant again, and everyone in his family seem happy. Is their tranquil haven about to be blown apart?

"I wish I didn't have to leave you." Danny whispered, his hands either side of his wife's protruding stomach. They were currently stood outside their animal hospital, trying to delay the inevitable chores the day would bring.

"You'll see me tonight." Alice promised, kissing his soft lips tenderly. "Go, you don't want to be late for your first call out."

With those instructions, he gave her one last, lingering kiss before walking off and climbing into his Jeep. He waved goodbye before rushing off, leaving nothing but a trail of dust, unsettled from it's usual rest. The animal hospital was busier than ever before, and with Alice heavily pregnant once again, he found himself working increasingly alone. Of course, their daughter, Rosie worked there too, but as one of them took on call outs, the other took on the surgery and today, it was Rosie's turn to take charge of the surgery.

"Alice, dear! You really must take it easy!"

Alice turned to see Caroline rushing towards her, gushing over her like a mother hen. Despite her good intentions, she was succeeding in driving Alice insane, and Nomsa wasn't helping as she insisted on giving Alice double portions at every meal time - scolding her if she dared to leave even a mouthful.

"Caroline, I'm fine. I was just waving Danny off..." Alice began but was cut off by Caroline who was escorting her gently towards the house.

"Alice, you need your rest." Caroline insisted as Alice rolled her eyes. This was the last time she was having a baby - she couldn't handle the cotton wool wrapped around her!

"I'll go for a nap after I've taken the kids to school." Alice conceded walking up the stairs to Leopards Den.

"Liv is taking them on her way to University." Caroline smiled.

Alice sighed, giving up on arguing as he entered the kitchen. She smiled as Bobby wandered up to her, his lunch box in his hand and his tie hanging limply around his neck. She bent down slowly, and began to straighten out his tie.

"I don't like school." Bobby declared, "I want to stay and look after you."

Oh god, not her son as well! "I'll be fine Bobby." Alice smiled, kissing his forehead, "Be a good boy."

"I'm always a good boy!" He grinned proudly, puffing out his chest. Alice laughed, standing up gingerly before ruffling his hair.

"Mum, will you sign this please?" Charlotte asked, walking through with a crumpled up, make up stained letter. "It's for the trip to Cape Town."

"You could have kept the letter in better condition." Alice sighed, signing it quickly, "How much do you need for the deposit?"

"Danny gave me that. It was fifty rand..."

Alice nodded with a slight smile; trust Danny to be on top of everything. After adding her scrawl to the bottom of the paper, she handed the letter back, watching as her daughter galloped off in another direction.

"Charlie, Bobby, we're going!" Liv called. She had decided to train as a teacher; and this week she was on placement. "Guys!" She called impatiently, eager not to be late.

"Ok!" Charlotte whined, "Bye Mum!"

"Bye!" Bobby shouted before all three left, Liv nagging them as they went along.

Alice stretched tiredly and stood up - maybe an quick nap would be a good idea.

(x)

Alice's deep sleep was only interrupted by a rather over-excited, Bobby re-entering the house. What Alice had intended to be a nap had turned into a six hour sleep; she checked the time and noticed her son was back early before remembering his school always shut early on a Wednesday.

"Mum! Someone's here!" He shouted, entering the room, his tie hanging limply around his neck. Alice was struck at that moment by how quickly her son had grown - was growing. She sat up, stretching.

"I'm coming." Alice told him, groaning slightly as she stood up, before straightening out her appearance in the mirror. She wondered who on Earth could possibly require her attention - after all, Rosie was down in the hospital and Nomsa was always around.

Upon walking out of the house, she noted a tall, blonde woman, probably around her own age. She was slim, with a kind hearted expression. She smiled as she noticed Alice, walking forward with confidence.

"Alice Trevanion... how can I help you?" Alice asked, offering her hand, which the woman took slowly but surely.

"Trevanion?" The woman asked, "I'm glad I've found the right place." Alice remained mute, waiting for her to continue, "I'm Louise."

"Pleased to meet you." Alice smiled.

"Do you know Daniel then?" Louise asked before Alice could say another word.

"Danny's my husband." Alice replied, "Listen, I don't mean to be rude but who are you? Why do you want Danny?"

"Louise... Trevanion. Danny's my half brother." The woman supplied, her expression coy. "I only just found out about him..."

Alice stood for a moment, unsure of what to say. She wondered whether to query further but decided against it.

"Plus my father is buried here." Louise expanded, "I wasn't that close to him by the end..."

"Robert?" Alice asked, sighing as the woman nodded, "Listen, I... I'm not sure how Danny will react, but you're welcome to wait for him to return. He should be here with the next hour or two. I'll get Nomsa to get you something to eat."

"Thanks." She replied, "So, how far gone are you?"

"Seven and a half months." Alice replied, "And this one isn't half as much bother as this one was." She laughed, ruffling Bobby's hair.

"Do you and Danny have a lot of children?"

"Between us, yeh." Alice smiled, "This is our second child together. Bobby here, was our first."

"Mum, can I go play with the lion cubs?" Bobby nagged, tugging her hand, "This is boring."

Alice shot an apologetic look at Louise, before looking at her son. "No, Rosie's working. Go do your homework."

"That's even more boring." Bobby sighed dramatically.

"Well, how's this... if you do your homework, you can play with my lion cubs later on this evening when Dad gets home." Alice bargained, "Although don't go nagging your Dad right away... let him get in, and settle down."

"Fine." Bobby huffed, walking off to his room.

"Just like his father." Alice murmured as she watched him walk away. She glanced at the woman beside her, and noticed the hurt expression cast upon her face and the same green eyes as her Husband's fill slightly. "Let's get you some tea." Alice smiled, willing her Husband to get back quickly.

(x)

Two hours and later and Alice was stood outside, awaiting her Husband. He'd radioed her ten minutes ago to say he'd be ten minutes, and so after making her excuses, she'd left Louise in the more than capable hands of Nomsa and Caroline. Alice wasn't entirely sure what to make of her - she seemed genuine enough, but as with anything concerning her Husband, Alice felt a natural protection towards him, and didn't want to see him hurt. She wondered what his reaction would be like - especially when he found out who her Mother was.

Her musings were broken by the Jeep carrying her Husband approaching. She smiled, pushing herself off the Veranda pillar she was leaning on, and walking steadily to meet him. He grinned widely upon seeing her, jumping out of the Jeep enthusiastically, despite his tiredness.

"Good evening Mrs Trevanion." Danny crooned, wrapping his arms around her.

"Good evening Daniel Trevanion." Alice replied, wrapping her arms back around him, responding whole-heartedly as he leant down and kissed her with an undoubted passion.

"How's your day been?" He asked as she pulled away, kissing her once more.

"Eventful." She sighed with preamble. "Danny..."

"Alice?" He asked urgently, understanding her tone.

"I didn't know what to do so I kinda just off laid her onto Nomsa..." Alice began.

"Who?" Danny frowned.

"Louise... Trevanion - you're half sister, or so she says." Alice told him, taking his hands in both of hers. She squeezed them gently, trying to rid him of the tension.

"I don't have one?" Danny asked confused.

"Maybe you do... You didn't speak to your Dad for years Danny." Alice shrugged, "Look, I know this is huge Danny..."

"Another lie!" He fumed, "Alice, how can one man hurt me so much?"

"At least you made your peace with him..." Alice shrugged.

"Sorry." He whispered, knowing the guilt that coursed through Alice every day about her own father. "What is she like?"

"Seems nice enough." Alice shrugged, "Look, Danny... whatever you decide I'm going to be by your side, and no matter what, you've got me, the kids, and this family. Don't hide away..." She whispered, running a hand down his cheek, "Now come on, let's face her together."

"I love you." Danny murmured, as she led him up the veranda stairs.

"I love you too." Alice replied, smiling comfortingly at her Husband.

Louise, who had been watching the display outside with interest, stood up as the tall man who she assumed was her brother, walked through hand in hand with his wife. She sighed, he looked so normal.

"Louise?" Danny asked her, offering his hand, "Danny."

"Pleased to meet you." She smiled. "I hope you don't mind..."

"It's fine." He replied. "So, you're my half sister?"

"Yes, Robert, he was my Dad." She replied, "I only found out about you a few days ago, from my Mum. I wanted to get to know you so I got the first plane out and well..." She shrugged.

"Dad and I didn't get along... please don't expect to great a thing from me." Danny told her.

"I hated him." Louise sighed, "We didn't get along."

Danny raised an eyebrow obviously surprised.

"Right..."

"My Mum always said he was a stubborn man... although they had the classic love story." She sighed, "She was his nurse and he was the Doctor..."

Alice saw the change in her Husband almost immediately and closed her eyes for a few moments, wishing she could take away his pain. He missed his Mum, always had, and probably always would - he'd spoken numerous times about how he wished Alice could have met her, how she'd have been, how much she wanted to be a Grandma.

"You're mother was Dianne Brooks?" Danny asked, his tone completely different.

"Yes." Louise replied unsure.

"I'm can't-" Danny began but stopped, walking out and towards the animal hospital.

Alice glanced at him, before glancing at the woman, an expression of hurt etched across her face. "I'm sorry... it's just hard for him... I'm sorry." Alice repeated, nodding at Caroline who began to comfort the other woman, as Alice moved as quickly as she could to catch up with her Husband. "Danny!" She called.

She caught up with him just as he entered the hospital office, throwing the pen holder at the wall to unleash his anger, before his shoulders slumped and his composure failed him. He collapsed into his wife, as she pulled him into her arms, comforting him as he sobbed quietly.

Rosie concerned, glanced over but Alice waved her hand, indicating to leave it. The last thing he needed now was his daughter seeing him like this. Rosie nodded, walking into the indoor pen, making a start on mucking it out.

"She broke my Mum..." He cried, "Alice, I can't... I can't!" He repeated.

"Shush, Danny, I know honey, I know, it's ok." Alice murmured, "But she didn't break your Mum."

"Her Mum broke my Mum... she was the reason it all went wrong. They killed her!" He spat.

"Robert and Dianne did the damage sweetheart, not Louise. Look, I know it's hard, and no one is going to force you to have a relationship with her, but don't blame her Danny, she didn't ask to be born." Alice whispered.

"I see her..." Danny whispered, tone pained, "I see her and all I feel is anger and hate. I don't want to see Dianne, but I do!"

"Look at me." Alice demanded, placing her hands either side of his face. "You are a good man Daniel Trevanion, and no one would blame you if this is too hard."

"I want to try Alice." Danny croaked, "How do I do it?"

Alice sighed as he rested his forehead upon hers, when an idea struck her. She pulled her mother's necklace out from underneath her shirt, slipping it over her head and placed it around her Husband's neck.

"Last time you needed luck, my Mum helped you." Alice murmured, her voice scratchy, "Maybe she can help you be strong again."

Danny gripped the locket in his hand, smiling down at his wife, before leaning forward and kissing her, pulling her into a tight hug. "You're my strength." He whispered.

"I'm always here." Alice murmured, "Now... come on." She smiled, wiping his eyes gently, "Go and be the big brother I know you can be."

Danny nodded, tucking the necklace into his T-Shirt, before walking off, hand in hand with his wife. With her, he felt indestructible.

Louise stood as they re-entered.

"Sorry..." Danny smiled, "Now, how about we start again. Danny Trevanion, pleased to meet you."

A/N - A bit of Danice fluff. Not checked it so excuse mistakes.

I intended this as a oneshot, but if people want me to write another chapter I will do so :)

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