Authors note: I haven't written one of these in years and I've only just started to get back into McLeod's Daughters so I apologise for any mistakes made in the story. Also I had trouble with my last story with the spacing and paragraphs so not sure how this one is going to turn out. I don't own any of these characters, all belong to channel 9 etc.

Consequences.

Chapter ONE

It had been days and no Alex. What was he thinking? Had he told Fiona? What did it mean for them? Stevie just couldn't get the memory of Alex's kiss out of her mind; the questions just kept rolling around her inside her head. Was he avoiding her? Did he regret kissing her? Stevie had dismissed that moment outside the pub when she had thought he was going to kiss her but she couldn't bring herself to forget the kiss.

More importantly she didn't want to. For the first time in along time Stevie felt that fluttering in her chest the slightly sick feeling she got whenever she was around Alex, the way he….

"Hey Stevie… earth to Stevie…" she jumped and turned around to find Jodie standing at the entrance to the kitchen.

"Yeah?" replied Stevie as she swallowed the water in the glass she had been holding for the past ten minutes.

"I've been looking for you everywhere, we need to bring the cattle in from Skinny Jims and someone needs to go into town and pick up the supplies, the windmill needs fixing again and…" started Jodie

"Yeah, alright, alright, I'm coming. Send Regan in to get the supplies, leave the windmill until tomorrow and you and Kate saddle up I'll meet you in the yard in five" interrupted Stevie, trying to disguise her annoyance at being found. Jodie wasn't fooled, Stevie had been on edge all week but wouldn't tell anyone what was wrong. She always had 'something to do' whenever anyone asked her what was upsetting her.

Stevie knew she had been dropping the ball a bit lately but didn't know how to fix it.

She couldn't bring herself to find Alex to talk about it. What if he regretted it and brushed it off as the heat of the moment kind of thing. Plus, the thought of facing Fiona made her feel sick. Stevie knew that things were not going well in their marriage but she didn't want to be the one to break them up.

With a shake of the head Stevie put the glass in the sink and headed out to find Jodie.

Meanwhile at Killarney….

"I said today" yelled Alex "What part of today do you not understand? If this happens again you'll be getting no more business from Killarney!" Alex slammed down the phone in anger.

"Alex calm down. Mistakes happen" soothed Fiona. But it only served to incense Alex further.

"Well I pay good money for this stock, I expect it delivered on time when I need it, now we're another day behind" ranted Alex, brushing off Fiona's arm as he stormed out of the house.

She watched as he headed for the car and took of in a cloud of dust, not knowing where he was going. She had to accept that she was not going to hear from him again until he decided to come home, possibly drunk and possibly still angry, she never knew these days. Deep down Fiona knew that she had caused many of the problems in their marriage but she wasn't sure how much longer she could handle his anger and her guilt.

She also wasn't sure how much longer she could compete with Stevie, she felt like it was a losing battle especially after what happened with Sandra on the edge of that cliff. Ever since Alex had returned home dripping wet and not saying a word, things had gotten worse. He could barely look at her and didn't seem to want to touch her. They hadn't had sex in over a week.

With a sigh Fiona turned away from the window and headed to the kitchen to make dinner, knowing she'd be eating alone tonight.

Later that night…

"I'm having a shower, I'll be down for dinner later" yelled Stevie as she headed up the stairs, tired and covered in mud.

"No worries" replied Moira as she raised her eyebrows towards Jodie who couldn't hide a snicker.

"Is she alright?" Moira asked as she put Stevie's dinner back in the oven.

"I have no idea. Something is bothering her and whatever it is it must be big." Jodie looked over at Regan who shrugged her shoulders. "She slipped over into a big mud hole down at the paddock after being clipped by Kate's horse. I don't remember her ever being this clumsy, or this distracted."

"I know" agreed Kate "I thought everything would go back to normal once the charges were dropped but she seems more touchy than ever" everyone fell silent as the remembered how close they had come to losing Stevie.

Regan glanced around the room and then looked towards the stairs. She had a fair idea about what was going on, she'd seen the look shared between Stevie and Alex the night Stevie rescued Sandra, but she hadn't wanted to push the point. Maybe it was time she put the hard word on Stevie and found out exactly what happened that night.

Stevie stood under the hot stream, letting the warm water run over her body, soothing her aching muscles and attempting to wash away the stress from the past week.

Fiona had rung earlier looking for Alex and sounded more than relieved when Stevie had told her she didn't know where he was.

Stevie didn't know exactly how bad things were in that marriage but when your own wife doesn't know where you are or when you'll be home, things cant be good thought Stevie. Somehow the thought didn't make her feel any better.

As Stevie was drying off she heard a commotion downstairs. Wrapping the towel around herself, Stevie opened the door and when to head to her room to put on some clothes when she heard Alex's voice.

"Where is she? I need to speak to her right now, it can't wait" she heard a scuffle and then Jodie's voice.

"Why don't you just take a seat Alex, I think you've had a bit too much to drink."

"Nah, this can't wait, I need to speak to her" there was more scuffling and the sound of chairs being moved.

"She's a bit busy Alex why don't you come back tomorrow?" Regan said calmly, obviously keen to get Alex home.

"Nah he shouldn't have even driven hear, look how drunk he is" piped in Kate. Alex had clearly had enough as he pushed past Jodie without another word and stormed up the stairs. Before Stevie had a chance to make it to her room she came face to face with a dumbstruck Alex.

"Wha… I mean I… you've got no…" stuttered Alex as he looked Stevie up and down.

"Yeah, I've just jumped out of the shower, if you give me a chance to change" Stevie attempted to step past Alex but stopped as he grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Stevie" began Alex as he pulled her closer

"Look Alex, your drunk and I'm tired, maybe you should go home to your wife" Stevie attempted to shake herself free but Alex only tightened his grip.

"Don't you understand, I don't WANT to go home to Fiona. When I'm with her all I think about is you. When I'm working all I think about is you. When I'm sleeping all I dream about is you. Its driving me crazy, YOUR driving me crazy." Stevie looked away as Alex continued "Every time I look at Fiona I think about how much she's lied to me, how much she's hurt me. I just want…"

"You just want what Alex? You just want Fiona? You just want me? You need to decide what you want." Interrupted Stevie. Alex looked at her and moved his hand to her hair.

"Your hair… it was wet like this… that night…" Stevie shook herself free and took a step back.

"You're married Alex, it shouldn't have happened. I love you Alex, you know that, but you chose Fiona and I'm trying to move on, can't you see that…" before Stevie had a chance to finish what she was saying Alex grabbed her by the waist and pulled her flush against him.

There was no time to resist as Alex planted his lips against hers. At first Stevie didn't move but gradually her hands found their way around his neck and she opened her mouth in invitation. Alex accepted and his slipped his tongue in, tangling with hers. Stevie felt Alex's hands moving down her back and felt the towel slowly slipping. It jolted Stevie back to reality and she pulled away.

"Alex we can't keep doing this" Stevie turned round to adjust her towel and when she turned back Alex was at the head of the stairs.

"I think I need a bit of fresh air and you need to get dressed before I pull that towel away from you and refuse to give it back." With that Alex hurried down the stairs and Stevie turned and ran into her room.