Eight months have passed and Stevie and Alex have begun a relationship but Stevie has sworn Alex to secrecy about the baby which has been very difficult.

Stevie has remained living away and working as a stock agent and Alex drives down almost every weekend to spend time with her and the baby.

Stevie wanted Alex to have time and space to deal with the fallout from his broken engagement.

Harry is giving him a really hard time about his absences on the weekends and even though it's only Wednesday and Alex is wishing it was Friday already so he could be with Stevie and the baby.

...

Harry is in a filthy mood when Alex walks in the door.

"Bloody hell those bastards undercut me again." Harry says as he slams the phone down.

"Who? " Alex asks.

"Oh this bloody new mob that have bought a place on the other side of town. Every bloody time I go to sell they're selling just under my price. And every damn good animal in the last year has been bought by the same mob."

Alex replies. "Sounds like someone knows what they're doing Harry that's all."

Harry still looks angry and says" The worst part is no one seems to know who owns it. I've been trying to find out who it is for months and no one is talking certainly not the overseer, bloody young upstart!"

Alex looks at him and says. "I'm just grabbing a drink and a bite to eat and I've got a bit more work to do."

Harry changes subjects and says "Alex I was talking to Roger Maloney today and his daughter Tiffany is back for a couple of weeks and I suggested to him that you might take her to the Farmer's Council Ball this weekend."

Alex is furious and says "Why would you do that? I don't need your help finding a partner Harry?"

Harry looks angry and says "I think you do Alex how long is it since you've gone out with a woman?"

Alex is furious and says "My personal life is none of your business."

Harry says "Well I'd like grandchildren one day and at the rate you're going I'll be dead before that happens."

Alex glares at him and walks outside.

...

Stevie's phone is ringing as she picks it up she says "Hello Stevie Hall."

She smiles and says. "Oh Hello, How's your day going? Oh Alex I'm sorry. Yes, Yes, I'm not sure. Do you really think we should he will not be happy? Yes I know. I just wanted you to have time to think about us. Yes I know."

As she is talking her heart is beating quickly he's upset and hurting and she wants to embrace him and tell him it's all going to be alright.

"Alex I love you." She whispers.

She sits silently and listens and feels like crying. "Really! I know I do too. Alex I don't have to work again until next Wednesday I'm coming to you I'll be there in an hour or so. Yes, Yes, Ok. Do you want me to go to Drover's or straight to Kilarney? Ok I'll see you then."

Alex moves back into the house. Harry is sitting in the living room.

"Alex! Tiffany's number is on the side table she rang to speak to you."

Alex moves to the table picks up the paper tears it and throws it into the fireplace.

Harry says "Well that was bloody stupid Alex."

Alex inhales deeply and says. "Harry I have a girlfriend so I don't need your help alright."

Harry looks at him and says "Since when?"

Alex replies "We've been together for eight months."

Harry grins and says "What's her name and what does she do?"

Alex thinks carefully about his reply and says "Her name is Stephanie and she's a stock agent."

Harry grins and says "A stock agent that could come in handy."

Alex says "Anyway I have work to do, I'll see you later."

Before Harry has a chance to ask any other questions Alex is out the door.

...

Alex works quickly and thoughts filter in and out of his mind .

Anxiously he waits for Stevie, he just wants to hold her, everything seems so much better when she's by his side, he's misses her so much.

He misses looking at her, talking to her, laughing with her and working with her.

He works close to the house so he'll know when she arrives.

Harry is sitting on the veranda when he sees a shiny black Jeep Cherokee coming down the drive.

As he watches it pull to a halt he thinks nice car.

Stevie steps out; he rises and says "Alex isn't here."

Stevie looks at him and replies." Hi Harry nice to see you too. How are you?"

Harry isn't happy just when Alex is getting his life together she's turned up.

...

Alex has heard the car and walks from the shed and sees her talking to Harry.

Stevie spots him and walks towards him as Harry is in mid sentence.

Alex smiles and embraces her, then kisses her and stands holding her close "I'm so glad you're here I've missed you so much."

She smiles and says "I've missed you too. I don't want to be apart anymore Alex."

He kisses her and then says "Where's the little fella?"

She replies "He's asleep in the car."

...

Harry is standing looking at them stunned.

He's already figured out Stephanie is actually Stevie.

Damn he's been seeing her for eight months.

Harry thinks if he'd known he could have stopped this before it got started.

Alex walks over to Stevie's car as Harry yells out "Alex what's going on?"

Alex ignores him and opening the back door reaches in and lifts the sleeping boy from his car seat, kissing him as he places him against his chest.

He swiftly walks to Harry and says. "Harry would you like to hold your grandson?"

Harry is stunned into silence but his mind is on double time.

They've been together for eight months and yet this baby is around ten months old.

Alexander stirs in his Father's arms and Alex kisses his cheek and says "Hello little man you've had a big sleep."

The baby reaches up and touches his Fathers face.

Alex grabs his finger in his mouth and the baby chuckles.

Harry is about to suggest a paternity test when the baby turns in his direction and with one glance Harry sees the image of Alex as a baby.

There could be no doubt of whom this child belongs too.

Despite Harry's anger he smiles at the baby.

...

Alex says. "Where's Granddad?"

Alex holds the baby out to Harry and Harry reaches and takes the child from him.

Holding him away from himself he says "How old is he?"

Stevie replies. "He's nine and a half months old Harry and his name is Alexander but his nickname is Bull."

Harry says "Bull you're a big boy aren't you!"

Stevie says "Yes, he is above average height and weight for his age."

Harry chuckles and says "Alex was always above average for his age too."

Harry lifts the child up and pretends to drop him while still holding him tightly then lifts him and pretends to drop him again the little boy chuckles.

Harry hugs him closely and kisses him and says "He even has your smile Alex."

...

"We'd better go inside." Alex suggests.

Harry asks a lot of questions and Stevie and Alex answer all of them.

Harry learns about how Stevie hid the pregnancy so as not to embarrass Alex and he's surprised that she took on a pregnancy and birth alone to protect Alex and the Ryan name.

Harry says "So you had him on your own Stevie."

Alex says "No she didn't Harry. Tess knew. Stevie swore her to secrecy so Tess was at the birth."

Harry is really angry. "Why would Tess not tell me I had a grandson?"

"Dad I didn't know I had a son until eight months ago, but Stevie had her reasons for doing what she did and I'm happy with everything as it is." Alex offers.

Harry looks at him and says "So you were engaged to Fiona at that time! Is that what brought about you ending the engagement?"

Alex says "Yes it was one of many reasons why I broke the engagement."

...

Harry says "What is Alexander's last name?"

Stevie replies" His name is Alexander Hall."

Harry says "So you registered him as a bastard?"

Alex stands and says "Harry watch your mouth."

Harry glares at him and says "Alex he doesn't have your name!"

Stevie excuses herself to go to the bathroom and in her absence Alex growls. "Harry he's my son whether he has my last name or not because I acknowledge him. You can't even stop being a nasty bastard for your own grandson's sake. We're going to head over to Drover's so Nick can meet the little fella and then I'm taking Stevie out for dinner we'll stay here tonight but if you say one more nasty or derogative word to Stevie or about her or the baby they'll leave and I'll go with them."

Harry looks shocked and says "Doesn't Nick know about the baby?'

Alex replies "No the only people that knew up until today were Tess, myself and Fiona."

Alex moves outside to bring in Stevie's bag and the babies porta cot leaving Harry with the baby.

...

As Stevie returns to the room she smiles listening to Harry talking and playing with the baby.

Funny she thinks to herself I would never have thought Harry had a soft side but being with Alexander has certainly brought that out of him.

Stevie looks around for Alex.

Harry says "Alex is just taking your things upstairs he'll be down in a minute. Would you like a drink or something?"

Stevie smiles and says "Harry I want nothing from you."

He looks pissed off but says no more.

...

The little boy begins to fuss and Harry says "I think he wants his Mum."

Stevie answers "He's due for a feed."

Harry passes the baby to her and she sits in an armchair and quickly and discreetly lifts her top and attaches the baby, he makes funny little noises as he searches for her nipple then quietens except for the gulping sound as her milk lets down.

Eventually he feeds quietly.

Even though he saw nothing Harry is shocked by the entire process, when Liz fed the boys she would leave the room if they had visitors and Stevie just sat there, one more reason to dislike her.

...

Alex has returned and walks straight over to Stevie and leans in to kiss her then plonks himself on the arm of the chair.

"When did you feed him last?" He asks.

"Just before I left home. He did well I thought he'd want to be fed on the way up here. He's having a growth spurt so he's feeding every two hours or so."

Alex smiles and reaches to cup the little boys head and says" He's growing so fast Cowgirl."

She looks up at him and he kisses her again.

...

Harry is full of mixed emotions watching them together.

He really doesn't want her to be a part of his family but the baby is very cute perhaps he'll just see what happens over time.

They'll fight they always do and he'll wait his chance to put threads of doubt in Alex's mind.

Maybe he can angle at her being an unfit Mother, she doesn't even have her own home what sort of life will that give his grandson and he certainly doesn't want her to live here.

...

Stevie changes the baby's nappy and Alex takes the nappy from her and throws it in the bin.

She sits back on the chair and continues to feed the baby.

Alex returns and sits on the arm of the chair. "Would you like to go over to Drover's Stevie?"

She smiles at him and says" I'd love to Alex there are few people over there that need to meet our son."

When Alex speaks the baby follows the sound of his voice.

Alex looks at him and says. "Come on stop looking around you're going to visit your Uncle Nick and Auntie Tess when you've finished."

The baby tries to suckle but he's smiling at his Father.

Alex keeps talking to him and milk spills from his mouth as he giggles at Alex.

Stevie laughs and says "Alex can you stop that he'll never finish drinking and it actually tickles me!"

Alex laughs and keeps going.

Stevie grins at him and says "You're just a big kid yourself aren't you?"

Alex puts his hand on his heart and says "Oh Steve's now that hurt."

They both laugh.

Harry watches fascinated by the repour between them but already he's plotting to bring her down.