The alarm is beeping…"Ooah...stuff it!" Stevie complains while she hits the alarm-clock. She's far from being awake. It's to early and she'd drunk to much booze last night, all by herself, feeling lonely. Because her best mate is preparing himself to get married and so their pleasant evenings –as best mates- are as good as over.

Some things have changed, actually a lot of things have changed, since Alex came back –after he got away for two weeks- with his new fiancé Fiona. Even thinking about the name makes Stevie feel sick. She's the one who suppose to be his fiancé or lover. She loves him, more than anything in the world! And she was about to tell him, but –as always- everything went wrong.

Alex and Sandra caught up in a fire, Stevie saved him, but after doing CPR and he finally caught breath again...he left! Because of his anger with his -non-biological- father, Harry. He was hurt and emotions had ran high. Stevie was disappointed, not with him, but with herself...Why? Why couldn't she be honest, just for once...this was her chance and she blew it! That night before she had a dream about Alex, he came along and surprised her. He called her cowgirl, rapped his arms around her, lifted her of the ground and gave her a very romantic kiss...But later, when the dream was over and she saw him he also called her cowgirl, that confused her so much, she was just to nervous and chickened out. Alex thought she was acting weird...he didn't had a clue of what was on her mind...Or maybe he was to busy with what was on his mind? When he wanted to talk to her that day, about Harry..to express his feelings to his best mate, about him being hurt, she didn't wanted to be with him and made all kinds of excuses. Later on, when she finally pulled herself together, she was ready to talk to him, after she opened up about her feelings for Alex to Tess. Finally she was going to be honest, but than she found out what was going on with him. When he was gone, she called him, but no answer, he didn't pick up the phone. Ever since that moment she's just not the same, especially when Alex came back with Fiona. That was such a harsh moment. And now a lot of things have changed...Most of the times, when she sees him, she barely can't even look him in his eyes.

Anyway, this new day arrived, but the sun isn't even up yet. It only shows her first light. It's an early day for Stevie. She has to go to Fisher, for a sale. With Alex. The appointment was made about a couple of months ago...so she couldn't back out from it. It's going to be a long day...Breakfast doesn't taste at all and she just eats a small amount, enough to start the day. Luckily for Stevie no-one is up jet, so they can't see her gruffy face, and she doesn't have to answer all questions about it. After a quick breakfast it's time to pick up Alex. When Stevie's driving her car she already has visions of Fiona, kissing Alex goodbye and saying 'bye' in a very overreacting, fake, sick way. Ooh, that woman, she's getting Stevie on her nerves...Yes, she's jealous, because Fiona has the man SHE'S supposed to be with. She sighs when driving up the Killarny entranceway. No Alex'...She waits a few minutes in the car.

Could her mood get any grumpier? Yes...Now she has to go inside the house to look for him, the opposite from what she wants. With large steps she walks quickly to the door..."Let's get this over and done with", she thinks. Nothing to hear, no sounds or voices. She opens the door and slowly walks into the house, her whole body offering resistance. No one there. Great! Now what? Is she supposed to go to the bedroom and wake him up? That must be the most awful thing to do right now, seeing him with Fiona makes her feel so bad...How would it be seeing them in bed together? While she's the one who should be there, safely, in his strong arms.

"Alex? Are you ready yet?" She yells. No answer, she turns and sighs, feeling really gloomy...She decides not to search for a bedroom-door. All she wants to do is walk away, go home and crawl far under the sheets. And when anybody asks about the sale, she'd say "Sale? What sale?" But just as she wants to walk trough the door, Alex enters the room

"Oi. Cowgirl." He smiles, with sleepy eyes.

"Well, I thought you just dissapeared." She snaps thorny. She can't look at him and so she looks at some pictures at the wall.

"I'm sorry Steves, I overslept. It usually doesn't happen to me." Stevie almost retches when she thinks about it...why did he overslept? Because of his new fiancé? Because they've had a great, special night? Ewgh...She avoids looking at him, because what she feels is probably written all over her face. But than, whatever? He wouldn't notice anyway...He didn't notice any of her feelings jet, did he?

She suddenly clearly looks at him.

"What?" Says Alex, still a bit dull.

"Nothing, we should be going now." She says, acting numbly.

"I didn't had a breaky jet." Stevie is fed up with waiting.

"Then make yourself a toast and eat it in the car." Alex sighs a little irritating, not with Stevie, but more because of being late, he hates it.

"Are you being grumpy because of me being late, or is there something else?" He thinks out loud. Stevie is a little surprised, but she's getting used to his instantly way of having contact sometimes. Her talking immediately softens up

"I dunno, I guess I've been drinking to much booze last night."

Alex smiles. "You weren't in the pub like all the others, so you got drunk all by yourself?" He teases.

"I wasn't drunk." She looks shyly...

"Or you just can't remember..." He nags. It's always nice to tease Stevie. The look on her face is so funny and she always snaps back, Alex loves that...and HE always responds on it.

"Just think about it like you want to, we have to hurry." Alex grabs a peace of bread from the kitchen.

"Next time you're having a private party, let me know, ok?" He says when he enters the livingroom again. Stevie nods. Then they walk outside.

"My ute, or yours?" Stevie asks unstable.

"You could just ask me to drive, if you want to, I'm not the one with a hangover." Stevie loosens up a bit and follows Alex to his black ute.

On their way to the sale, Alex turns on the radio. Stevie is staring out of the open window. Her head leaning on her arm. She sighs when she hears romantic music, song after song...And every time she hears something in the words that suits their situation.

"Hey Stevie, you're really quiet, what's up? This can't be just because you've got a hangover." Stevie's eyes suddenly become bigger, she clears her troath

"Uh, no...I'm just a little moody. Dunno why." Alex pinches his eyes together for a second, as he carefully watches the road.

"You're sure there's nothing else?"...Stevie slowely shakes her head.

"It's not because of me, right?" Stevie now turns her head towards Alex and looks inquisitive.

"Why would it be?" She smartly askes. Alex noticed she's not going to open up. He takes his eyes of the road for a second and looks directly at her.

"Let's change the subject, shall we?" Then he turns his head to watch the road again. Now Stevie laughs, Alex looks towards her, again, for just a second.

"There, that's better, you're much prettier when you smile cowgirl." Alex says, to 'break the ice'. Stevie doesn't respond to that, she instantly feels bees flying threw her stomach...She turns her head and looks out of the window again. Why does he always has to speak to her like that? He makes her feel special. And yet, they're just mates, he's about to get married. That reminds her of the reason not to hang around him so much lately. Which means: no horse-riding together, no pool competition, no long conversations, no 'one on one' parties or anything like that. She just can't handle it, she tries to get rid of her feelings for him, but it's not that simple.

They're quiet for a while and Alex thinks, trying to figure out why she's acting so strangely...he noticed that behaviour before, since he came back from the city.

"We're late...goodbye best sales." Stevie mumbles.

"Well, at least we're having a good time together, finally." What does that suppose to mean? That he misses her too? And yes, her thoughts ar right...

"I miss you Stevie, I miss us hanging out together." Says Alex after a short pause. Stevie is speechless.

"Well?..Don't you miss me, just a little bit?" He teases.

"Yeah, I guess I do." She nervously responds.

"I guess some things have changed, huh?" He says.

"A lot of things have changed Alex." She snaps. Alex pinches with his eyes once more and frowns his eyebrows, as he doesn't get the message. Stevie is now looking at him, waiting for his next reaction, her eyes looking as if she's ready for a fight.

"Hey, don't you snap at me like that, I'm not the one who's rejecting anyone." Stevie feels anger coming up...What the hell is he talking about? Rejection? Wow, this is going to be a great day.

"What? How can you say that! I can't help the change...I'm not the one who's getting married." Alex, who also feel anger coming up, is quiet for a moment.

"I thought you where my best mate, but I guess that changed too." He says offensive. Stevie turns her head a side, that hurts. And this is the opposite of what she wants. She doesn't want to lose him as a mate.

"No, that doesn't changed, I'm still your best mate." She says with a much softer tone.

"I'm not so sure of that, we almost never hang out together any more. We usually went to the pub to play pool or we sat at my place, or yours, talking, laughing and drinking beer. That was fun, I miss that. And it hasn't got anything to do with Fiona." Stevie starts to feel really upset now and confused...She'd missed that to, but she has a very good reason why those times are over.

"Like I told you before, you're getting married...To me it feels a little bit weird if you would hang out more with me then your fiancé." She said it, that word; 'fiancé'...

"But, there's nothing wrong with that, you told me so...remember?" Alex continues.

Stevie gulps and looks at him "I did?"

Alex doesn't look at her "Yep, you've once said; I needed at least one woman who I can be friends with and an other one to be in love with." Stevie is now trapped in her own words. She said that and she can't undo it.

"You're right I said that, but this is different. I never thought about it really...but for a best friend it's not that simple."

Alex sighs and slowly shakes his head...why does she sounds and talks so different for the last couple of weeks? Their friendship is not getting any better, as a matter off fact it's getting worse...But Alex doesn't want to lose this friendship, it's to special, he thinks.

"What are we doing Stevie? Why can't we be best mates just like we always did. I mean, we where so close..I'm not even that close to Dave or any guy I've been friends with." Stevie barely can't speak, instead she looks at him, desperately. Now she's even more confused, this is why she'd avoid him, because of all the questions she'd get. And because they where so close, over the last year they mostly saw each-other more then once in a day...And not for just a moment, they really spend time together. Anyway, Alex is a straight-forwardly man so she believes the time would've come anyway to answer those questions. She suddenly almost laughs inside, why does he have to mention Dave? Or 'any other guy'?

"You're right, we where close, that's why things have changed I guess. There's a woman in your live, you're about to get married with, I want you to spend those special times with her." She lies, while she's forcing a friendly smile on her face.

Stevie tries to loosen up a bit, this is her best mate, it had always been a trusted and easy going it must be possible to loosen up somehow, right now.

She feels so weak inside, especially when the radio plays the song "Apologise." It's to late now...Maybe there's no need to apologise, but at least he needs an explanation, he's really worth that. Alex hears the song to and it touches him, he looks at his side, seeing Stevie staring out of the window again. Maybe she can't help it, she's always a tough, but very sensitive woman, the sudden change could be difficult for her right now. Just because they where so close, he figures. He feels like he needs to cheer her up.

"Hey Stevie, I think we just need to talk a bit more. I don't wanna lose our friendship, it's to valuable. Why don't we have a beer tonight, when we get home." Stevie looks up, but can't look him in his eyes...she's feels to fragile at this moment. But she doesn't want to lose Alex either, so maybe he's right.

"Maybe you're right, if we spend some time together, things might clear up between us." She says calm.

"And maybe, we find ourselfs laughing and talking like we used to do...But not tonight Alex. After this day and the sale and everything I will be to tired." She adds, with a soothing smile.

"What about tomorow?" He urges. Stevie knows it would be good for them to spend an evening together, just like old times.

"Tomorrow's fine." She says, while she hesitates.

Alex smiles happy "Righto, we've got a date then."

Stevie frownes her eyebrows: "A date?"

Alex winks "You know what I mean."

Stevie nods. "What about...Fiona?" She suddenly says, putting on a weird face when she'd pronounced her name, but Alex didn't notice.

"She's at the city, visiting family and friends."

Stevie likes the sound of that, but at the same time it frightens her a bit...Just the two of them being together, is she able to handle that? She doesn't want to be 'just' friends, but she doesn't want to lose him either, so friendship is everything that's left.

"Or are you affraid of being with an engaged man? Because I know I'm irresistible." He teases. Stevie forces a smile on her face, it was a joke, but for her it's true, he IS irresistible.

"You've got nothing to fear when I'm with you Alex Ryan, I'm just your best mate." She now teases him back. Alex smiles again

"Well, I dunno...It suddenly reminds me of something." He smiles. Oh no, what could that be?

"What?" She asks anxiously.

"I once thought we we're just mates, but then I ended up kissing you." He smiles.

"Well, it won't happen again..." Alex looks at her, totally self-confident

"Why not? It happened before." All kinds off feelings run through her mind...

"No, it won't. Never."

Alex smiles again. "Never say never."

Stevie smiles too and looks also amazed "Ooh no you wouldn't cheat on your wife."

Alex, still smiling -because he's enjoying himself teasing her- answers "She's not my wife jet."

Stevie responds shyly, feeling her face turns red. "Alex...No you wouldn't."

Things loosen up a bit between them and Stevie's nerves start to fade. That makes her a lot calmer and she decides it's just Alex she has to deal with, who she knows for such a long time. She tries to push away her deep, passionate feelings for Alex. After a while a nice song called 'the Lambada' plays on the radio.

"I always liked this song, I'm not really a dancer, but I always wish to dance on this song when I hear it..."

Stevie enjoys the song too. " Yeah, it's a nice song, but I never danced on it...Did you often danced with women?"

Alex shakes his head "Nope, sometimes...But I always dance on the Bachelors and Spinsters ball."

Stevie smiles.."Did we ever danced there?"

Alex looks at her "Yes, but not together...You know what? Tomorow we should dance on this song." Stevie is amazed again, if he didn't was engaged, she would say he felt more then friendship.

"Alex.." She says with a warm sound in her voice.

"What? This is my chance right? We never danced before, I want to dance on this song...You never danced on it...We have a 'date' tomorrow, so..." He rattles in a funny way. Stevie frownes..

"I would love to dance with you Alex, but I think mates like us aren't suppose to do that...And just for the record: It's not a date." Alex doesn't get it

"Mates like us?" He continues after a short pause

"What on earth could be wrong with us dancing, it can only be good." He smiles...

"Well, what if it feels TO good?" She honestly suggests.

Alex smiles again "Then what? You reckon something might happen between us Stevie?"

Stevie thinks about it and is quiet for a moment...It seems like he is getting 'on the edge' every time they discuss something. Or was he always like that, and is it only now when she realizes? It's a bit strange, he's engaged! Suddenly she starts to feel a little bit more self-confident. What the hack, with Fiona gone to the city and her lover making such comments to her...

"Well, if we drink beer and we're going to dance, yeah...things might heat up a bit. Because you're irresistible off-course." Alex laughs out loud, she's finally has loosen up and acting like 'Stevie'.

"You're not so bad yourself Stevie." He responds, charming.

Stevie laughs flattered. "Not so bad?"

Alex as directly as he can be, says: "Ok, I'm sorry...I mean you're gorgeous..." Stevie feels her body is getting filled with butterflies...did he just said she's gorgeous?

"Alex...you've never said anything like that to me."

Alex smiles "Well, it must be because of this bloody hot weather...and hey, I'm a bloke...with a very good eyesight." Stevie smiles back at him, how does he do that? Always being so charming and funny.

"What would happen Stevie?" He asks curious.

She blushes..."I dunno..."

Alex is quiet for a moment, but then he pops the question "We never ended up in bed, but you reckon it could've happen?"

Stevie is flabbergasted "How am I ment to answer that Alex? It's a serious question?" He nods as he tries to hide his smile.

"Well I'll try...Hmm...with me finding you irresistible and you finding me gorgeous...Yeah, it could've happen. But just for the record: You're engaged." She couldn't say it more funnier than that. Alex laughs so hard, it almost gets them off the road.

"Watch it!...Hey I want to get there alive Alex Ryan!" She shouts...They both laugh and then it's quiet again...What a ride.

They soon arrive at the sale. They're late, but not to late to do some good deals. They don't have to sell anything, they're there to look around and maybe to buy some good stock. Rob would take them back to Killarney with the cattle-truck. He's there to sell some of Alex' cattle. Alex thought Rob would be perfectly capable of doing that job for him, so he can look around and have an easier day, for once.

"Good looking sheep, aren't they?" She looks at him waiting for a little support.

"Yep, they're good, what's the price?" He let's her do the buying, but takes over with the haggling. Stevie let's him, because she's enjoying it, she loves the way he stands there, the way he talks, so confident but still so cute. Stevie notices sparkles fly through the air every time when his eyes meet hers. He's always a person who makes a lot of eye-contact, Stevie loves it...Sometimes it's hard too, but this time it almost makes her forget he's engaged. When they meet Rob, Alex arranges that Rob takes the sheep to Drovers Run.

They have a great day together, the only thing that's bothering Stevie is that a lot of people ask Alex about his oncoming wedding and about his fiancé. It makes her feel sick again...But all of a sudden he pays all his attention to Stevie again

"Oi cowgirl! Let's go and get something to eat." He insists. Stevie feels relieved, she nods and they head of to the eating counter. When they walk side by side, he smiles at her and pushes her gently in her side.

"Nice day, isn't it mate?"

Stevie agrees "It sure is." She says, as she looks at him, while she blinks her eyes in a cute way...

"I'm so glad we're having this day together, I almost forgot how it is to be with you." He's doing it again! Those comments...It's like he adores her, Stevie thinks.

And he does, Alex doesn't think about Fiona at all. He's just to busy building something up again between him and his best mate. He hates people coming up to him, asking about Fiona and the oncoming marriage...Because he's a Ryan, he's a prominent person, but in his heart he hates it. He tries to avoid people at the end of the day and Stevie noticed that.

"Alex, are you ok?"

Alex stares at the ground "Yeah, I'm fine." When he looks up he sees another person coming towards him

"Actually, I'm not, we're out of here Steves." He says in a funny way, while he grabs her arm and leads her to his ute.

Stevie laughs "You really hate all the attention, don't you?" She says, as if she can read his mind.

Alex sighs "You know, I'm just getting used to the idea of getting married...All those people asking me for a date, I just don't have a date yet and I don't care...why should I hurry?"

Stevie responds in a sensible way, in a way that Alex always carefully listens too and he finds it comforting. "You should get married when YOU think you're ready Alex, not when people say so." She gently puts her finger on his chest, right where his heart beats.

Alex is impressed,he nods "Yeah, you're right. Thanks Stevie." Stevie smiles friendly. Then they take off...

"I would be so happy to finally get to bed." She desires. Alex immediately starts to laugh...He thinks about their conversation that morning. Stevie gets it from the look on his face...She starts laughing too

"You're so bad Alex." They talk and laugh a lot, luckily things obviously cleared up between them. It was a good day. They both head straight to bed when they get home, in their own beds off-course.

Thanx for reading. This is the first part...Please let me know of you like it or not...review!