New Years Day

Leopards Den was bustling with activity as everyone prepared for the New Year dinner. Nomsa was in the kitchen with Charlotte and Olivia preparing and cooking the meal. Evan, Max and Rosie were in charge of setting the table and making sure everything looked ok. Dupe and Thabo was helping Danny and Alice with the animals. Danny and Alice had an emergency operation and so Dupe had taken charge of making sure all the other animals were fed and watered as Thabo helped to clean them all out.

"Alice, look at this." Danny murmured. Alice leant over the antelope, she sighed sadly.

"A tumour?" Alice replied. "It would explain why the treatments not been working."

"And why he's got worse." Danny finished.

"Ok, so if we check it out..."

"and see if we can save him."

"Can you two stop that?" Dupe interrupted. Both masked face turned to him in annoyance. "Well it's like you read one another's minds or something!"

Danny and Alice turned back to the animal before continuing with their operation, they didn't really want to miss the New Year's dinner... Nomsa was cooking it after all!

(x)

Rosie and Max looked at the table as Evan placed the last chair under the table. The three people stood admiring it slightly. It was then Rosie had a thought.

"What about drinks, do we have enough?" She asked.

"Yeh, don't worry about it." Max smiled as he wrapped an arm around her.

"Our work here is done!" Evan beamed, "Which means I'm off to change!"

Rosie and Max watched him walk off. Rosie turned to Max, wrapping her arms around him.

"I think we should go change you know." Rosie told him smiling.

"Hmm..." Max nodded. "I suppose that could be a good idea."

Rosie reached up and kissed him before the pair walked off hand in hand.

(x)

"Will he be ok?" Thabo asked as Danny and Alice wiped their brows after washing their hands. Alice threw their used greens away and walked back towards the pen.

"Don't really know yet." Danny replied. "It's whether the cancer has spread."

Thabo and Dupe nodded before walking off leaving Danny and Alice alone in the animal hospital.

"Hmm, you never cease to amaze do you?" Alice smiled as she wrapped her arms around Danny.

"Well I do try." Danny grinned as his hands rested on her lower back. "So, how about we go and get changed for this dinner?"

"Could be a good idea." Alice smiled, Danny nodded as they walked up to the house. They had their arms still wrapped around one another. "It smells well good!" Alice beamed as they made their way past the kitchen.

"And I'm sure it'll taste as good!" Danny chorused. Nomsa smiled at them, she laughed as Alice tried to remain in the kitchen. Danny tilted his head. "Alice you only get to eat it if you change!"

"You're not my father, you are my husband." Alice replied before smiling dumbly to herself.

"I'll remind you of that when you're being bossy and nagging, come on." He pushed her gently, she grumbled and walked towards their room.

"You do that, and I DO NOT nag and I am NOT bossy!" Alice argued as they walked through the door.

Danny rolled his eyes as he shut the door. Alice was already by the wardrobe deciding what she wanted to wear. She was flicking through each item quickly. Danny sat on the bed smiling to himself. Alice sensing his eyes were upon her turned round, she raised an eyebrow as she saw his smirk.

"What?" Alice asked tilting her head slightly.

"Nothing." Danny smiled.

"Danny..." Alice pestered.

"Honest!" Danny insisted. Alice shook her head before turning back round. "Anyway hurry up you're not the only one who needs to get changed."

"Well strip off then." Alice told him with a wink. "Ah-ha!" She pulled out a blouse and a pair of smart black trousers and set them down next to Danny on the bed. He touched the blouse gently.

"I like it when you wear that colour." He smiled looking at the pink material.

"Well you know what they say Danny, pink to make the boys wink!" Alice winked at him jokingly causing him to laugh, he stood up and walked over to his side of the wardrobe, pulling out a pale blue shirt and a pair of black trousers.

"Tie Mr Trevanion." Alice reminded him.

"Why?" Danny whined.

"Tie." Alice repeated sternly. He grumbled and grabbed the first tie he found, he smiled as he saw which tie he'd pulled out the wardrobe. He ran his thumb over the dark blue silk.

He walked forward and wrapped his arms around Alice from behind. She was only half changed and her top half was only covered by her bra.

"Hello Mr Trevanion" Alice smiled leaning back into him.

"Hello Mrs Trevanion." Danny smiled. He showed her the tie that was in his right hand. Alice smiled and touched it gently.

"The tie you wore when we went on our first date. Hmm, had some use that tie, and some pulling." Alice chuckled slightly. Danny put it on the bed along with the rest of the pairs clothes.

"When's that tea due to be ready?" Danny questioned as he nuzzled her neck gently.

"In ten minutes." Alice replied. "Unlucky Trevanion."

"We could..."

"No!"

"But..."

"You are not going to die! Besides, patience is a virtue!"

"But..."

"That would be twice in one day technically! No!" Alice told him laughing, she turned round in his arms. He put his best puppy eyes and don't love me face on. Alice chuckled again. "Danny, no!"

"A kiss then?" Danny asked,

"And if I don't..." Alice teased, her brilliant blue eyes shining with humour. Danny got lost in them for a moment, they were so unique...

"I'm not letting you out of my arms until you do..." Danny replied.

"Hmm... well, because we have a meal to attend..." Alice went up on to her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Well lower your head, I'm only just over five foot, not over six foot!" Danny laughed as their lips locked together, soon their quick kiss had escalated into a passionate embrace. It probably wasn't helped by the fact Alice still hadn't put her blouse on! Danny's hands had moved to cradle her face. Alice had her hand running through his hair.

Eventually Alice pulled away. She looked at him and grinned, he smiled back happily.

"We really need to get changed." Alice laughed kissing him very gently once before throwing her blouse on.

The whole family was soon sat around the table. Danny and Alice had finally managed to drag themselves out of their room and were now sat with the rest of the family eating their dinner. The conversation was lively as they all sipped on wine and chatted amicably. Laughter was in the air as they shared jokes and fond memories. Soon the meal that Nomsa had prepared, chicken wrapped in bacon with roast potatoes and an array of vegetables, a classic favourite at Leopards Den had been eaten as had the desert of meringue and ice cream!

Soon each member of the family were making a toast.

"Ahh god," Danny was trying to think. "Right got one." He raised his glass. "To health, happiness and prosperity," He paused for a moment and looked at Alice, "love in 2011"

Everyone repeated him raising their glass. Danny and Alice's glasses touched quickly.

Alice stood up next. She raised her glass before looking up to the sky, she returned her gaze back down.

"Ok, as a true scot I say... "Lang may yer lum reek, a guid New Year to ane an' a' mony may ye see!" Alice winked at them, "In other words all the best for 2011, may you have prosperity, wealth and your health!"

"To plenty of beer and poker in 2011!" Dupe shouted jokingly. Caroline looked at him with a thunderous expression. Everyone else was laughing.

"Beer and something else." Danny murmured to Alice. She blushed slightly as she laughed. Soon all the family had made some form of toast. The atmosphere was warm as they continued to talk.

(x)

Later that evening, Danny and Alice were sat in the living room with Thabo and Liv. Everyone else had gone to bed some time earlier, but the two couples had decided to stay up to watch a film. Alice looked at Danny and nudged him. He looked down at her. What? He mouthed with a frown. Alice tilted her head and signalled with her head to Thabo. He nodded with a smile, he'd almost forgot.

"Thabo." Danny cleared his throat. "Erm, me and Alice have been thinking and... well..."

"Danny?" Liv asked in confusion. Thabo was watching attentively as Danny looked to Alice. She nodded at Danny who continued.

"We wondered if you'd like a job? You know, on Leopards Den, helping Dupe out?"

"A job?" Thabo grinned, "What really?"

"Really." Alice smiled as she saw both his and Liv's face light up.

"No joke?" Liv squealed.

"No joke." Alice replied.

"Yes!" Liv hugged Thabo who hugged her back both were laughing. Thabo rushed over to Danny and Alice, shaking both their hands. Alice pulled on his arm though and gave him a hug, he laughed at her. Liv was the next to hug Danny and Alice.

"Thank you so much." Thabo beamed.

"You're welcome, anyway, we are going to bed aren't we Danny?" Alice said.

"Are we?" Danny replied.

"Yes." Alice told him, she had a look on her face he knew only to well.

"Yes, yes we are!" Danny replied. "Night you two! No staying up to late!"

"Yes and behave yourselves." Alice murmured as she walked past them, Liv hit her arm playfully as Alice laughed. When Danny and Alice closed the door to their room, she immediately jumped into Thabo's embrace, kissing him deeply.

"This is the best new year ever!" Liv beamed.

"Sure is." Thabo replied. "Can't believe it!"

"You best start!" Liv laughed.

"I agree." Thabo smiled, both kissed once more before heading off to their rooms.

(x)

"You Mr Trevanion deserve your reward." Alice smiled,

"Hmm, what could that be?" Danny whispered kissing her neck gently.

"You'll find out." She replied as her hand fell to just behind his ear. Danny kissed her on the lips passionately... 2011 had started perfectly...

A/N – I'm not too happy with this but I have writers block!