Danny frowned slightly as he watched Alice nibbling on a slice of toast whilst reading an article in one their veterinary magazines. She seemed different today... in fact, Alice looked as though she knew something the rest of the family didn't. Her bold and beautiful blue eyes were shining with affection and excitement. A slight smile, ever so small, was tugging at her lips – and that couldn't be because of that magazine, He'd read it and knew it was dull! No, Danny concluded, she was up to something.

"Right, well I best be off." Liv smiled, as Thabo too stood up grabbing the Jeep keys. Danny nodded as a murmur of goodbyes came from around the table. Alice closed the magazine as she finished her last bite of toast and looked across to Caroline who was currently playing with the baby. She smiled softly as she watched them before kicking Danny under the table. He grunted before turning it into a cough as he noticed Caroline looking at him with a strange expression, as she turned back to look down at Daniel, Alice tilted her head towards Caroline. They were going to have the christening soon and Danny had still not told Caroline and Dupe about the fact they wanted them to be, well act as, the baby's grandparents.

"I best be doing some work..." Caroline smiled, shifting position slightly, "Here you go Little D, back to your mummy." Caroline cooed to him as Alice happily took him back.

"Hello wee man." Alice beamed looking down at her son with a soft expression. She giggled as he grabbed hold of her vest top. She looked up and saw Caroline and Dupe about to leave the table. "Wait! Caroline, Dupe."

"What is it?" Caroline replied looking at the pair who was by now the only two left sat down at the table. Most of the family had dispersed by now.

"Umm... well, urgh..." Danny stammered, Alice rolled her eyes and gave him a sarcastic look. He recovered and smiled, "Me and Alice have been talking and we, well we'd be really honoured and would love it you guys would like... you know, well..."

"What Danny is trying to say..." Alice covered for him, "Is that well, we see you as parent figures, and we would love it if you'd be Daniel's grandparents."

Dupe and Caroline both looked at one another before grinning widely. Danny and Alice looked up at them awaiting their reaction.

"We'd be honoured too." Caroline smiled, "Thank you this does mean a lot."

"Thanks." Danny smiled softly at them before watching them both leave the room. He turned his attentions back to his wife and his son. He looked at them both with a loving expression before resting his arm on the back of Alice's chair. She looked up at him and smiled.

"So... anything happening today?" Danny pestered as he rubbed Alice's arm gently.

"Nope." Alice replied, "Although you have three appointments this morning then this afternoon we've got a surgery arranged... although that is not until three thirty so you have a whole three and a half hours free... though they probably won't be free..."

"And why is that?" Danny chuckled, he was still certain his wife was hiding something from him and he was making it his mission to find out!

"Because free time never really is free time!" Alice replied smartly. She knew what he was up to but she wasn't going to slip up... not a chance! Rosie had rang to say she'd definitely be here around 12 noon with Max in tow. Alice looked down to her son who had fallen asleep in her arms. She smiled.

"I best go put this little man to bed." Alice said as Danny nodded. He quickly kissed his son lightly, causing Alice's heart to flutter slightly. Seeing Danny with their little boy had always had this effect on her and probably always would. He was such a brilliant, doting father and so passionate and caring too. It was one of the things that Alice loved most about Danny, the fact he was such a family man and would literally lay down his life for any member of his family, in particular his children, both biological and step; he loved them all unconditionally.

"Alice." Danny called as Alice turned ready to go put Daniel to bed. She turned round to face her husband, a slight smile on her face that seemed to grow ever so slightly as Danny walked towards her.

"Yeh?" Alice asked with a smile readjusting Little Danny so he was in a more comfortable position.

"I love you, you know." Danny said in a soft one as he gazed down at her, his green eyes connected with her beautiful blue eyes that had a slightly glazed look to them as he uttered those words that would always mean so much.

"I love you too." Alice replied in an equally soft and tender tone, adoration evident in her voice. Danny smiled before leaning forward and kissing her slowly, sweetly and tenderly.

"See you later." Danny whispered kissing her cheek before walking away. Alice watched him leave before letting a huge sigh of satisfaction escape her lips; her husband could be so sweet at times and that was the definition of sweet. She couldn't to any extent describe in full the feeling of love she felt in that moment, the security she felt.

"Come on Little D." Alice murmured to her sleeping baby boy, "Let's put you in your cot then mummy can go do some paperwork for your rather sweet daddy."

(x)

"I wanna know what love is!"

Rosie and Max were fully belting out Foreigners song as they hit the smooth tarmac roads of Jo'Burg. It would only be an hour before they arrived at Leopards Den and they were well on time, it was just approaching eleven by now and they were due to arrive around twelve. Rosie simply couldn't wait; she'd missed Leopards Den a great deal including her father and Alice too. She even missed Dup and Nomsa's cooking, now that really was something she missed! As good a cook as Max was, he was just not Nomsa!

"Ah Max, you know, I can't wait..." Rosie admitted as she took a left turn away from Jo'Burg city centre. Max smiled and squeezed her knee.

"I know." He beamed, "I'll be able to see how Fatani's doing with the bar!"

"You and your bars." Rosie laughed, "Still, I don't mind you serving me a drink anytime."

"Hmm... cos you think your husband is totally hot when he's serving beers." Max murmured smoothly, his south African accent making Rosie swoon slightly.

"Something like that..." Rosie beamed as she took yet another turn away from the hectic city.

A/N – It's finally up Emily haha! x