New Year at Leopards Den

New Years Eve

"Oh Danny!" Alice grinned cheekily as he appeared around the corner, he had a towel drying his hands after washing them. They'd just finished up the animals for the day.

"Yes?" Danny replied a smile on his face as he began to walk as though he was in a trance. "She said it all so sweetly what must she want?"

"I want nothing actually!" Alice told him sternly. "Well actually, I do... I want a kiss."

"Suppose I can give you that wish!" Danny beamed as he leant down and kissed her deeply.

They walked outside hand in hand, Alice looked up to the house, it was then she remembered something very important. She pulled him to the Jeep.

"Alice?" Danny questioned in confusion.

She reached inside the glove box and pulled out a number of plants. Danny looked at her with a totally perplexed expression. She smiled.

"Listen, I know it's like... well not Scotland but, well do you think people would like..." Alice was beginning to babble a bit.

"So they are like traditions?" Danny asked softly, "What are they all?"

"Well here's a few pieces of Rowan tree, you hang it above the front door for luck." She pulled out a piece of mistletoe, she laughed as she saw Danny's eyes light up. "It's not for kissing under... it's to prevent illness to the people in the house."

"I knew that." Danny nodded seriously, Alice laughed at him before grabbing some holly.

"Holly for mischievous fairies and what have you, I never liked that one but mum was sooo strict." Alice laughed. "Hazel and yew to protect the house. Apparently they have magic powers." Alice mocked the tradition slightly. "So, what you thinking? I'm awaiting the laughter."

"I'm not laughing, this is part of your heritage. We'll go put em up later, best allow Caroline and Nomsa to clean up." Danny smiled.

"Yeh, hey that was tradition to you know! You had to spend the whole day cleaning up!" Alice said it with a slight sigh to her tone. "Me and Rowan used to argue about who did what. I always got the bathroom!"

"Aww, poor baby!" Danny teased, "So did you have loads of traditions."

Alice nodded, both decided to sit down outside on the veranda upon the bench. Alice had her hand slid over his that was resting upon his knee.

"Well first thing, we call it Hogmanay. We'd pretty much spend the whole day cleaning the house, I mean I'm taking when I was young here Danny by the way."

"Well, you clean owt as an older woman?" Danny teased.

"Do you want to know or not?" Alice laughed, Danny nodded and promised to listen. "Ok, well we did that so that we could welcome the New Year into like, a clean and tidy house. Don't ask me why, it's what the tradition was. Mum used to call it redding." Alice rolled her eyes slightly. "Anyway, then we'd do all the things with the plants and we'd burn Juniper, then dad would open all the doors and that would bring in fresh air. That meant the house was ready for New Year kinda thing."

"We went shopping." Danny giggled.

"So English" Alice grinned, "Anyway, no one was allowed in until the midnight chimed, then dad would open the back door to let the old year out and then he'd open the front door to let the new year in and all the guests. We had to make loads of noise too, scare off evil spirits apparently. When the Bells chimed we'd all sing Auld Lang Syne with linked arms. Then we'd dance and laugh... it was great fun! We'd toast each other afterwards, but I'll save those for later." She grinned cheekily.

"I look forward to them." Danny laughed.

"We used to eat black bun too, Rowan hated it." Alice laughed, "Anyway after your celebrations in your own house you went round everyone else, family or friends, with a bottle of whiskey. We called that first footing. Never used to get in til six in the morning." Alice beamed remembering over the fonder childhood memories she had.

Danny squeezed smiled at her before wrapping his arms around her. She grinned before putting her own arms around him. Both people looked over the veranda at the picturesque view. Alice looked up at Danny and kissed him. He laughed as she pulled away.

"What's that for?" Danny asked.

"I dunno." Alice giggled. "By the way, I've come to a conclusion."

"About?" Danny teased.

"Tonight." Alice replied smiling secretively.

"Ok..." Danny looked at her, silently willing her to expand.

"Well it's either a very long kiss or three kisses, which sounds more sensible." Alice told him.

"What?" Danny frowned.

"One at 11.59, to end 2010 perfect, one at midnight to welcome the new year in and one at 1 minute past erm... zero? To start 2011 perfectly!" Alice beamed.

"I agree to that one." Danny murmured as he leant towards her, soon they were kissing passionately once more. As they pulled away Danny patted her knee. "We best go help!"

"Yep." Alice mumbled.

(Later on and everyone is partying. Vanessa and Rowan have arrived as have Fatani and family)

Danny looked around as he turned round from grabbing another ice cold beer. He saw Liv and Thabo laughing and joking over on the veranda. Charlotte was dancing with Alice who was trying to stop her beer over flowing that was in her hand. Caroline and Dupe were talking with Fatani and Buhle, all the kids were running round. Rosie and Max were stood by the BBQ. He grinned and walked towards the main gathering where everyone was.

Max flipped the meat on the barbeque. He had his arm around Rosie as they chatted softly. Rosie watched her dad walk over to Alice and Charlotte.

"I'm glad dad's happy." Rosie told Max.

"Me too." Max replied smiling.

"Alice has really changed him." Rosie commented. "For the better too. You know they've been married half a year... I only just realised."

"Yep, gone quick!" Max smiled. "Oright, this meat's done!"

Nomsa walked over and smiled, happily taking the meat away to arrange it some fancy way. Nomsa was also on with other foods. She was bustling round the kitchen when Alice walked in ready to grab another cold beer from the fridge.

"Alice." Nomsa caught the younger woman's attention. Alice turned round. "I want to know if this is any good, I've never had to cook it before."

Alice frowned and walked over to Nomsa, she was in shock. Nomsa asking her, the one who was least qualified to cook, for advice? Just wait until she told Danny about this! She watched as Nomsa withdrew a dark type of cake.

"Black bun?" Alice questioned grinning, "But...?"

"Danny mentioned it." Nomsa smiled, "You're a lucky woman, so come on, is it ok?"

Alice tasted it and nodded.

"The best I have ever tasted!" Alice beamed, Nomsa grinned happily as she began to get it ready for serving, "Thanks Nomsa."

"You are welcome! You should go back outside Alice, there's only fifteen minutes left of 2010!" Nomsa reminded her.

"Ah yes! God, it's gone quick, too much dancing and alcohol I think!" Alice laughed. She bumped into Evan on the way out, he smiled at her. She then realised something. "Erm Evan..."

"Yes?" He asked,

"What you doing?" Alice teased him gently.

"Getting a beer." Evan replied with a wink.

"I hope yer grandmother doesn't catch you!" Alice laughed, "Right, must go find Danny!"

Evan laughed as Alice ran off. She found Danny stood with everyone else. They'd all crowded around on the grass near the veranda. She wandered over, she was nearly there when Nomsa came out with food followed by Evan.

"Count down! 10..." Evan begin.

"Nine." Everyone chorused.

Danny looked around and found Alice, he walked over to her.

"Come here you." He beamed as he crashed his lips against hers. Alice happily responded, her arms were wrapped around his neck as they kissed passionately. Everyone else continued to cheer.

"Three."

"Two"

"One"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR" Everyone chorused, including Danny and Alice who had pulled away from their kiss. Alice looked up at Danny once more and they kissed deeply again. "I love you." Alice whispered.

"Love you too." Danny smiled. Soon they were kissing and hugging everyone in their family.

Soon everyone was in a dodgy yet warm chorus of Auld Land Syne. Danny was copying Alice, she was struggling to sing though through laughter as he pretended he knew the words. As they finished Alice turned to him, reaching up and placing one hand on his back.

"Remind me to teach you that one." Alice laughed, her blue eyes shining with humour.

"You can teach me what you like." Danny said his tone low and quiet, openly seductive too!

"You know... they are all going to be partying well into the early hours..." Alice smiled, her eyes shining.

"Hmm..." Danny looked up pretending to be in thought.

"What's say we break in 2011 in erm... style?" Alice winked.

"Mrs Trevanion, you lead me astray!" Danny smiled before grabbing her hand and pulling her indoors. They got in without anyone seeing them. The minute they were in their room they exploded... it wasn't long before they were both completely undressed and entwined together upon the bed they'd shared for some time now.

(x)

"They look... flustered." Dupe slurred as he noticed a loved up Danny and Alice emerging from the house hand in hand. He noticed Danny's shirt was slightly more creased, his tie was now hanging even looser than it had been before.

Fatani and Max turned round to face them. They smirked slightly before returning to drinking. Thabo and Liv were making out passionately, they'd definitely had too much to drink! Evan was dancing with Charlotte and Caroline and Nomsa were sat quietly. Buhle was sat with them, Cashile asleep on the table for some reason.

"2011 is going to be the best year yet."

"Yeh?" Alice replied as Danny wrapped his arms around her.

"Yeh, cos you are gonna be by my side, our first full year as husband and wife!" Danny beamed.

Alice reached up and kissed him...

"Put it this way, it's started off amazingly!" Alice smiled as their eyes met.

a/n – I'll update again probs tomorrow, it's not as good as id of liked but got company coming in five mins! x