Set after Rose comes to Drovers Run for the first time after finding out Stevie is her Mother...
...Fisher...
Stevie and Rose sit chatting about the changes in Rose's life, and the differences between Michelle and Stevie and their parenting styles.
Stevie has relaxed considerably after her fight with Rose about her graduation dress.
Things are finally starting to work out for them and neither could be happier.
"Alex!" Rose exclaims then follows with " Hi Fiona."
...
Greetings exchanged Stevie shifts about nervously and the change isn't lost on Rose or Alex.
He feels the discomfort too.
Fiona pushes for him to tell their good news .
Looking at Stevie he sees her anger and something else but also feels her sadness.
For a split second their eyes meet .
Placing her hand on Roses back she ushers her away not wanting to listen or feel anything further.
Fiona leads him away in the opposite direction.
...
With guilt and longing he glances back.
He smiles as Stevie turns too .
Turning away from him she doesn't smile back.
Like a lamb he follows Fiona, convincing himself it's for the best .
...
Gungellan truck stop ... Three months later...
Alex pulls up at the bowser and Fiona climbs out.
The strain of living with her taking its toll on him.
He rarely laughs anymore.
She doesn't make him smile or care that he doesn't.
Its all about her and fertility clinics.
Obsessed with falling pregnant she's taken all the fun out of sex, life and their relationship.
...
Alex hadn't even noticed Stevie's Ute parked nearby until she scuttled out the side entrance looking more like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car than the confidant woman he knew.
"Stevie !" He exclaimed spotting her .
Rather than look happy about seeing him she scurried on sending him a brief greeting and an even briefer wave.
Quickly hanging up the pump he moves towards her car.
...
"Arn't ya gunna talk to me?" He quips.
" Got nothing to say." She says dismissively.
"Stevie!" He offers with such sadness she sucks in air.
As her eyes meet his she replies. " I'm sorry Alex but we can't be friends anymore."
...
When he doesn't respond she glances up and is shocked by the expression she sees there.
He sniffs.
She's only seen him cry a few times and a pain so intense slices her heart.
" I have to go!"She states starting the engine.
"Stevie I'm so unhappy please don't end our friendship it's about the only good thing in my life right now." He says softly , shocking her.
Defensively she retorts. "You think I care about that Alex? You were all I had and you forgot about me for that thing in there. She was wrong for you from the minute you met her and yet you hung on like she was everything. For one blissful moment in time I thought you'd come to your senses and then you dumped me back into reality. Harry was right you're too good for me and obviously you realised that and stayed with her. So you can go to hell Alex and rot there because I don't care. You deserve to be unhappy and you deserve every sad and pitiful moment she brings to your life. You're not my friend because you don't even resemble the tough, strong and awesome man I knew, you're a weak and gutless excuse for a man now and we have no room for you."
Fiona walks out just as Stevie drives off .
Stunned into silence Alex watches her go.
...
