4 – Rooftops

(This is set about 4 years in the future and for this I'm imaging they got Leopards Den back).

Tiredly; Alice ran a hand through her dark hair, pushing her now full fringe back before resting her chin upon the same hand. The Leopards Den finances were not looking good; although they did appear and most certainly were somewhat improved compared to four years ago, but the harsh truth was Leopards Den was still suffering from the whole Peeters fiasco and it seemed it would take at least another year and a half to get their finances back on track and well... at a place where they could relax a little and maybe forget a few of the hefty budget cuts that she had had to introduce just to keep the place afloat.

Taking a moments break, Alice glanced out of the window; a risky manoeuvre she knew as if something caught her eye she'd never be able to return to the boring finances but it was the risk she was quite willing to take; anything for five minutes just to pretend that Leopards Den had no problems. She smiled as she was Thabo and Liv messing about with one another on the grass, throwing it at one another as though they were a couple of children again and not the mature engaged couple in their early twenties that they really were. She leant back in her chair before focusing her attention back on the numbers; now wasn't exactly the time to start thinking about Danny... not that there was a second when he wasn't somewhere in her mind.

Truth be known, despite the fact both Alice and Danny had never been more settled or happier in their relationship, and despite the fact she adored her family and the responsibilities with them; Alice missed some of the more simple things, the simple luxuries that they'd had in the early stages of their relationship. The alone time mainly; dates and the likes. Nowadays they went nowhere, mainly due to the state of the finances. Going out was too expensive so a romantic break away was definitely out of the question. The only place they went was Fatani's bar and that was always with the family; never ever alone and now, after almost 3 and a half years of having next to no alone time with her husband, Alice was craving it like she craved tomato sauce during her pregnancy.

A small knock came at the door.

"Come in." Alice shouted as she sat up, pulling herself away from her wandering thoughts and the numerous numbers she'd been crunching. She grinned as she saw Liv; she and Liv had grown close over the years.

"Hey Alice, me and Thabo are heading out and Nomsa just radioed to say she and Caroline are taking the Kids to the fair, Dup included." Olivia smiled as Alice sniggered slightly at the dig at Dup, "So you and Danny got the house to yourself."

"Thanks Liv." Alice smiled as Olivia closed the door and made her way further into the room, sitting down a chair near Alice.

"Are you ok Alice?" Liv asked, looking at the step mother with concerned eyes.

"I'm fine... just tired, fed up..." Alice sighed, "I'm sick of seeing numbers..."

"Then darling step-mother of mine..." Liv said sweetly as she stood up, "Leave those where they are..." She took a protesting Alice's hand and forced her to stand up, "And go and spend some time with Danny..."

"And do what?" Alice sighed as Liv forced her into the kitchen, "See how long it'll be if we save a rand each week before we can actually go out."

"You'll think of something, now... if you don't mind, my fiancée and taxi await! See you later!" Liv winked cheekily before rushing off with Thabo who waved as he passed Alice. Alice sighed and looked around the empty kitchen until her eyes cast upon the fridge. She grinned as an idea came into her head, she was about to get started when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind.

"Good evening Mrs Trevanion."

Alice smiled and leant further back as she heard Danny's soft tones before turning her head and kissing him deeply. He'd been working practically all day and looked almost as fed up as she did.

"So whole place to ourselves, what we gonna do with it?" Danny replied suggestively as Alice put her hands on his arms.

"Well... I was thinking before you're suggestion, how about a picnic on the roof?"

"On the roof?" Danny repeated questioningly.

"Yeh... remember when we found out I was pregnant... do the same but not fixing the roof; not that you and Dup let me anyway, but like we could share a picnic, talk. It's not expensive and we can watch the sunset together... the roof isn't an awkward shape either so it'd work."

"You're right... well you get some food and I'll get everything else sorted..." Danny grinned, overjoyed by the prospect of alone time with his wife. He kissed her upon the lips softly before rushing off excitedly.

(x)

Twenty minutes later and after much fussing on Danny's part about Alice's safety the couple were sat upon the roof of Leopards Den with a small picnic and a bottle of wine between them. Alice was wrapped in Danny's arms as the pair looked over the picturesque landscape of Leopards Den; they smiled as they saw a pair of giraffes walking gracefully creating a shadow against the otherwise perfect landscape.

"You know Alice, I know things aren't easy at the minute but no one said this was all going to be plain sailing, but I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. This here, with you... it'll always be my perfection." Danny murmured to her quietly.

"Danny..." Alice whispered, her voice cracking slightly. "I'm glad we share perfection." She replied turning to smile into his eyes, her own eyes glistening slightly before kissing him upon the lips passionately before bringing the last of all the strawberries to his lips. He bit into half before taking the half off her and placing it to her lips.

"Now..." Danny smiled as she ate the last of it, "How about we get down off this roof before the night get's nippy... the sun's just gone down..."

"Yeh..." Alice smiled, "Off this roof and swiftly elsewhere..."

"I like your thinking..." Danny beamed as she grabbed everything off the roof, going down the ladder first (only so he could hover as Alice made her way down and no doubt panic himself silly).

As the pair were walking into the house, Alice stopped Danny.

"You know what I've learnt?"

"What?" Danny replied.

"That money isn't needed, not for happiness." Alice replied as Danny nodded, "I love you Daniel Trevanion."

"As I love you Alice Trevanion, as I love you." He replied before sweeping her off her feet and into his arms, "And I'm gonna spend the rest of my life proving that to you."

A/N – BREAKING NEWS... Fluffy Bunny sales have increased!

:P x