Writers Notes:So, so here we go yet again Claire and Alex 3. I've always believed that I would have loved anyone being with Claire, cause she was so breath taking, but I know what the publicity want at that's Claire and Alex :P Again I had a little fun experimenting with this story…Enjoy and as usual I don't own anything or profit from this story, so no copyright intended. My stories are only written for fun as most of you have found ;)

Summary: Claire McLeod and Peter Johnson a tarnished love affair, but now there's baby Charlotte in the mix. What if they try again? Will there past catch up with them? What will the woman on Drovers do? And most important of all how will Alex react to their relationship?

Rating: M (Sexual References & Course Language)

Old Beginnings

Claire walked out to the veranda her eyes fixated on how happy Charlotte looked in her father's arms, in Peter's arms.
"Your good with her," Claire smiled as her and Peter stood on the verge on the veranda,
"Yeah, she's a calm baby," Peter sighed looking down at Charlotte, "There's not a mark on her," he added looking at the blue eyes of Charlotte, reminding him so much of Claire, "So you had a natural birth?' Peter asked smiling at Claire, who nodded,
"Yeah," she exclaimed, "in an old hut in the middle of nowhere," Claire said staring off into the distance, a flash back of the night Charlotte was born, the best night of her life. Peter looked up in disbelief,
"What?" he asked not believing a word; Claire nodded before Peter chuckled, "Never did things the easy way did ya'?" Peter stated as Alex walked towards them his eyes burning into Peter,
"What are you doing here?" Alex asked disgusted to see Peter face, after everything he had done,
"Well I've been asked," He justified just as rudely,
"Alex!" Claire warned with a raised hand, he sighed bowing his head slightly, Claire was his best mate but she seriously was a glutton for punishment,
"No, no, look I was just leaving," Peter said handing Charlotte who was blissfully asleep to Claire. Claire glanced from Charlotte to Peter to Alex disappointed. Peter was doing so well with her. They were doing so well, "You ever do have a kid mate, try being told you're not the father," Peter retorted as he walked past Alex,
"What are you doing here?" Claire whispered angrily walking up to Alex, he had ruined their special moment,
"Training Vince's horse remember?" he explained knowing better than to ignite a fight.
"Well just…. Ah take her," Claire sighed flustered, handing Charlotte to Alex rather hastily eager to catch up to Peter. The two struggled to untangle arms. Claire pulled her hand free slightly annoyed before slapping him on his forearm. Running to the front on the house, she caught up to Peter who walked to his car disappointed he couldn't hold his daughter longer,
"We need to talk!" She exclaimed finally catching Peter,
"Look," Peter sighed turning to an upset Claire, "If it's the maintenance, I'll take care of my responsibilities," he added looking into the desperate eyes on the woman he still loved so much,
"I told you, I want Charlotte to know who her father is," Claire exclaimed desperately for Peter to just stay a little longer,
"And you have my permission to tell her," he said but Claire frowned,
"And that's it!" She barked roughly, looking at him with a deep frown, Peter sighed,
"Tell me something, if the boot was on the other foot. Can you imagine seeing your baby for five minutes?" He paused reading the intense look on Claire's face, he hadn't see a look like that since the Gungellan Fair, almost a year ago, "You hold her and then you leave not knowing wither you'll ever see her again,"
"I didn't say I didn't want you to see her!" Claire exclaimed feeling her emotions take the better of her tone. Peter sighed yet again shaking his head at Claire unable to take his eyes away from the pain in her eyes, "You're with your wife?" She asked the pain increasing ten times over, Peter got the feeling Claire want more than him to just stay for Charlotte,
"No," he answered shaking his head, their eyes both reading each other carefully,
"Then stay, please just for tonight," Claire begged, her eyes pleading with him. He looked away for a minute. There was no harm in staying was there? The feeling Peter got was that Claire wanted him back almost, the jealous look and sadness at the mention of his wife plain in Claire eyes, and maybe if he stayed they could get back together? Peter thoughts where a hurricane,
"Alright, for Charlotte," he justified looking at Claire. The joy overrunning the feeling of sadness straight away,
"Thank you," Claire answered with a deep sigh of relief.

Peter lay motionless in the spare bed as he looked over the note Claire had sent him. Telling him he had a daughter. He ran his finger over Claire's name at the bottom on the page, he never knew he still loved her until he came back and saw her, why did things have to be so complicated? Meanwhile Claire rubbed her face harshly as she sat up, sleep had yet to come to her. It was strange having Peter back in the house, last time he was there they shared a bed, and they shared a life. She cringed as a thought crossed her mind; the thought being maybe she still wanted him. Claire thoughts were interrupted thankfully by Charlottes cry's for a fed. Peter sat up immediately hearing the desperate cry of his daughter. He swung his legs free from the doona ready to check on her, when he heard the old creaky floorboard go, Claire was awake. He could pick that sound out from any other. He too got up, wanting to help after all he did stay to help with Charlotte, though he knew deep down he also wanted Claire back. Still with the haze of sleep in his eyes he walked directly into Charlotte's room, only to walk in on Claire breastfeeding, he took a jolted step backward, ducking his head out quickly,
"Sorry," he apologised quickly, grimacing at how awkward and embarrassing that was for the both of them,
"It's alright," Claire answered as she and Charlotte settled for the feed. Peter still stood awkwardly outside the door, not wanting to intrude, he still didn't quiet know where he stood, "Peter its okay," Claire laughed slightly, she had to admit his face was priceless. He slowly walked back into the room, really not knowing where to look or what to say, but Claire looked up to him, "Sorry about before," she sighed, knowing she was in the wrong to provoke herself and Peter,
"It's fine," Peter answered smiling at how quiet Charlotte was as she fed,
"You're a good mother Claire," he said smiling at her as she blushed slightly,
"Thanks that means a lot," she admitted weakly always watching Charlotte feed, "I had a rough patch, thought I couldn't do anything right," Claire added with a defeated sigh. Peter was lost for words; he always thought Claire was strong, rebellious and powerful, never fragile. He smiled making his way to the chair next to Claire, resting a comforting hand on her back as they both watched Charlotte. A silence filled the room for another 10 minutes until Charlotte finally fell into a peaceful sleep. Claire herself was slowly nodding off until she finally laid her head to rest on Peter's shoulder; there was just something about that moment in time. It felt right, an actual family was bonded together,
"Claire," Peter sighed as Claire stood up slowly and laid Charlotte to sleep. Peter waited behind her, he wanted to look into her eyes, and there was no other excuse. She looked up wearing a weary smile, "You're the love of my life," he sighed taking a step closer to her. She looked at him in a blaze of confusion, but she looked away the painful memory of Peter, his wife and children hit her," I thought Julia was everything, but… as soon as I saw you," he breathed clutching at her arm lightly, "You blew me away Claire," Claire smiled up at him at the momentous compliment, knowing she was someone's love. They held there stare from what felt like hours, until Claire couldn't take it anymore, it was worth a shot, wasn't it? She kissed him, lightly at first, again and again the small kisses soon turned to a moulded passionate kiss, the desperation getting the best of them. They parted catching their breath, Peter looked at the flames that were in Claire eyes, a look he knew too well,
"I wanna try again," he sighed still holding Claire close, she smiled up at him broadly, waiting for what she didn't know, but still waited, until they kissed yet again, this time leading each other to Claire's bedroom. They hastily walked through the door, exchanging rough touches and kisses. Peter pulled off Claire's shirt as he shut the door, it slammed shut. Tess awoke snapping to sit up in fright to the slam that rattled the windows. Wiping her eyes she made her way out onto the landing. Thankfully Charlotte was still asleep, but Claire's door was shut. Tess tiptoed to the door, where she heard the desperate commotion. She frowned before looking into the spare bedroom, which was when she finally put the pieces back together; her sister had done it again. Claire had taken Peter back. She shook her head before going back to bed.

Jodi and Becky gossiped quietly as Meg fussed around the kitchen sink. Claire finished her coffee. All the time thinking how strange it was to have Peter back at Drovers, how strange it was to be back together with him, not that she had told anyone yet. Tess glanced up to see Peter walk in with Charlotte, a shiver was sent down her spine. Why was Claire such an idiot when it came to him? Tess rolled her eyes,
"Hello BOM," Claire cooed as Peter sat next to her rocking Charlotte to sleep in his arms. The four of them looked on awkwardly as Claire and Peter fussed over the baby girl. All exchanging confused looks at how there was no sign of tension between the two.
"I've got to go," Tess said standing up rather quickly, to get away from Claire, she couldn't look at her, she was dumbstruck at how Claire kept taking Peter back,
"Everything alright Tess?" Claire asked with a worried tone, Tess had no other option then to look Claire in the eye now,
"I'm fine," she said almost looking down her nose at Claire before leaving promptly.
"Anyone?" Claire asked looking from Jodi through to Meg, looking for an answer why Tess was so shirty. They all shook their heads still engaged at how relaxed Peter and Claire were together, almost as if they were together…

Tess stood absent minded leaning on the shove as she watched; Jodi and Becky do all the work.
"Tess are you gonna help?" Becky asked standing up, wiping the sweat from underneath her hat. Still Tess was lost in thought, trying to at least figure out what Claire saw in Peter, apart from the obvious that he was Charlotte father, but even then after all he had done,
"Tess!" Jodi yelled, watching the intense look of confusion on Tess face, she looked up coming out of her whirlwind of thoughts, to look at Jodi and Becky with wide eyes,
"You gonna help?" Becky asked, before Tess went to work quickly, but still quietly thinking to herself about Peter and Claire, it never leaving her mind for a second. Until she couldn't take it anymore, she had to tell someone!
"What do you think about Peter being back?" She asked stretching her back. The two girls stopped, due for a break anyway as they walked to the Ute, all sitting on the tailgate,
"I can't believe Claire let him back, after everything he's done," Jodi said before taking a long drink,
"Yeah," Becky agreed, "Still its only for Charlotte," she added taking the canteen off Jodi and taking a long drink,
"I don't think it's just for Charlotte though," Tess said looking at Becky and Jodi with a sort of grimace,
"What?" Becky frowned, Jodi too frowning,
"I think there back together, I saw them last night and this morning," Tess admitted, she had to admit it felt better to get it off her chest. Jodi and Becky studied her face, for a second thinking this was a big joke, but Tess never broke her concerned stare, until the two girls laughed at her,
"Tess I don't think they are, Claire would never take him back," Becky said wiping the sweat yet again from her brow,
"Yeah Claire hates him, she's only letting him stay for a couple of days for Charlotte," Jodi added nodding,
"But I saw them, together last night," Tess justified abruptly,
"What do you mean together?" Jodi asked intrigued a bit of gossip never got far from her ears,
"Like together, together they went to bed together," Tess explained in a disgusted tone, thinking about her sister like that wasn't exactly an inviting thought,
"Yeah right," Jodi scoffed,
"Then this morning didn't you see the chemistry?" Tess asked still determined on her point,
"Tess I would have seen it if they were flirting and they weren't," Jodi stated trying her best to comfort the almost distraught Tess,
"Yeah, I'm sure it's nothing Tess. Claire would never do that," Becky added standing up and walking back over to her shovel, Jodi and Tess following,
"hmm," Tess sighed, she didn't know what to believe. Believe what she saw which could have been an innocent case of mistaken identity or was Claire actually back with Peter, the man that manipulated her in so many ways, that made Claire pregnant, that caused her accident at the Gungellan fair, the same man that vouched that Claire was a bitch less than a year ago, she didn't know who to believe...