Back as one

Hey, this is kinda gonna be a short fic about Rax returning (as they may be doing – but not yet confirmed) and then there will be some like snap shots of life at Leopards Den. It's not much more than fluff stuff to be honest but I hope you enjoy!

Alice smiled as she leant on Danny's shoulder slightly, watching him with a soft gaze full of admiration as he fed their little baby. Alice sighed as she watched Danny feeding Daniel Junior, or Little Danny as he was affectionately called by the family. He was almost two months old now and it felt as though time had flown by - although those two months felt like two days to both Danny and Alice.

Suddenly the phone in the study began to ring intolerably, Danny went to stand up but Alice shook her head beating him to it. He looked up at her, every now and then casting his eyes down to Little Danny.

"Don't worry, I'll get it." Alice smiled before walking on swiftly. Danny watched her with an adoring, love struck grin before focussing his attention back down to his son.

"I think we're the lucky ones son." Danny whispered to him quietly.

(x)

"Hello, Leopards Den?" Alice droned into the phone with a false upbeat manner. She hated answering the phone within the house and hated taking bookings! People always changed their mind or asked stupid questions.

"Alice! How are you?"

Alice grinned as she recognised the speaker instantly and almost immediately relaxed.

"Rosie! I'm very well thank you, how are you?" Alice replied resting against the table.

"I'm good thank you." Rosie said with a light hearted tone.

"You want your dad?" Alice asked her; although she and Rosie always had a good conversation afterwards she knew in general she preferred to speak to her dad first. It was usually quicker than a full blown girly chat with Alice!

"Umm, no not really... I'll just tell you." Rosie laughed; she could just imagine Alice's surprised face, "No need to look so surprised Alice!"

"How...?"

"I know you!" Rosie laughed, "Anyway, no, me and Max, we're umm wondering, if you and Dad would mind us coming back?"

"Of course we don't mind! Your dad will be so pleased! But why Rosie?" Alice asked, a slight confusion was evident in her tone.

"Well... count the years Alice..." Rosie laughed. Alice began to count mentally in her head and grinned.

"Ah! You're work exp. Year! Of course! Oh you're dad will be so pleased!" Alice beamed excitedly, grinning from ear to ear. She had always had a feeling Rosie would return to Leopards Den for this all important year but of course, peoples life take all new directions when they move away. Rosie however was coming back and Alice couldn't be happier.

"Yeh! Good timing too eh Alice?" Rosie chuckled referring to Little Danny. Alice too laughed with a remark of agreement; it had been difficult since Little Danny's birth. Danny had practically taken over the animal hospital but there were still times when it was just necessary for two vets to be present and operating and Leopards Den at the moment could not afford one, and a veterinary assistant wouldn't do. To the untrained eye, it seemed as though one vet always took charge and led whilst the other acted as an assistant and sometimes Alice could joke about being the 'glorified assistant', but in essence it wasn't true. Although Danny often appeared to lead and do all the 'good' stuff, it was more a case of he was processing things out loud. Alice was assisting him but also taking on her own work, using her own veterinary skills... something an assistant couldn't do, and whilst they could probably afford an assistant, it seemed a waste of money.

"So, you choosing Wild animals as your specialism?" Alice asked breaking from her thoughts of how veterinary operations works and the many assumptions people made about the working relationship of two vets.

"Yep!" Rosie replied.

"Great! So when you coming?" Alice asked happily glancing over a picture of her, Danny, Rosie, Max, Charlotte and Evan that hung on one of the walls.

"How about tomorrow?" Rosie asked sheepishly.

"Sure thing! I best tell your dad better I?" Alice smiled.

"Unless me and you have a little bit of fun..." Rosie whispered, a mischievous and playful tone to her voice. Alice shook her head with a small giggle, god, she was so her father's daughter!

"What kind of fun?" Alice replied, "You know I'm meant to be mature now!"

"As in, you know but don't tell Dad... you can resume your mature stepmother role after tomorrow!" Rosie bargained, "If you don't do it I'll call you an evil stepmother!"

"Blackmail!" Alice snorted, "Fine, fine! I'll do it! And who were you exactly?"

"A guest arriving tomorrow at twelve noon!" Rosie replied smugly.

"Ok..." Alice heard footsteps and cleared her throat, "Right yes Mrs Gretholn that will be fine, yep, see you tomorrow!"

"I do love you Alice!" Rosie laughed.

"And you too, bye!" Alice said quickly, placing the phone down just as Danny wrapped her arms around her, his chest to her back.

"Guests?" He asked, his lips close to her ear.

"Yeh, tomorrow twelve noon... where's Daniel?" Alice murmured leaning into him.

"Liv and Thabo are coo'ing over him." Danny chuckled, "I hope they don't get any ideas."

Alice laughed and spun so she was facing him before reaching up and putting one hand to his cheek, "Hmm yeh... see what you mean, got a couple of brown hairs still showing!"

"Are you trying to say I'm not far off becoming an old man?" Danny asked her, pretence of shock evident in his tone as a smile slowly spread across his face.

"Would I?" Alice beamed playfully, "Of course I would!" Alice giggled, "You are an old man!" She stuck her tongue out at him as he tilted his head. He couldn't resist, the way her eyes were full of life and vitality, the way they shone, so beautifully; he sighed before pulling her towards him, encasing her in his arms as she moved voluntary into his tight embrace, pressing her body against his.

"You're a cheeky buggar but I love all the same." Danny smiled before swooping down and catching his lips with hers. As they pulled away, Alice squeezed his hand, giving him one secretive smile before walking off. He was going to love this!

A/N – More to come :)