06. WITHOUT A TRACE

Her heart started to pump quicker as she caught the door handle of her bedroom. Taking in a huge amount of air, filling her longs, Stevie pressed it down, opening the door. Immediately a broad silly smile appeared on her face. Her teeth bit upon her lower lip, making it seem to try to keep her smile under control. Stevie loved this view. The sight of Alex lying in her bed, all curled up, holding the sheets closely around his body. He was obviously fast asleep. For a moment her eyes wandered to the mess he left upon the floor; his belongings. But she couldn't care, all she cared for now was him; here ... the place where he belonged.

She kicked off her boots and picked the sheets up to join him. Stevie shifted closer to his body, moving against his back, his broad shoulders that she kissed so tenderly. Her eyelids constantly seemed to want to close, her smile playing weakly upon her lips as Stevie felt a content, happy feeling run through her veins. He was home and she could hold him, touch him, and smell him.

Remembering the lonely nights she made a promise to herself to never let him be apart from her that easily.

You won't talk me into it next time
If you are going away my heart is coming too
Cause I miss your hands, I miss your face
When you get back let's disappear without a trace

Her lips brushed over the back of his neck. He softly stirred, which made Stevie hold her lips still, forming a smile. She could smell he used her shampoo and it made her aware of the fact she probably smelled like mud and cows. Although it was hard to tear herself away from him Stevie decided to take a shower. She stroked his hair, which started to get quite long. Placing another soft kiss upon his skin Stevie whispered she would be back soon.

She made her way out of the room and a sleeping Alex stirred, turning around to the side she just had laid like he already missed her. Subconsciously aware of her presence.


Minutes later she sneaked back in, closing the door almost in perfect silence. Stevie tried to dry her hair, ruffling a light yellow towel through it, massaging her scalp. She breathed easily out, content while she could watch him, holding her head diagonal. A moment later she just dropped the towel and let her knees land upon the bed, her bathrobe hanging over her.

Waking him up was very tempting, but he probably needed his sleep and he looked so damn cute like this. Alex slept like he had just answered a prayer, at least the moments when he wasn't lying on his back, which mostly caused him to snore. But for now he lay flat upon his stomach, his face towards her.

Stevie took of her bathrobe, settled under the sheet next to him, her fingers trailing down his shoulder over his upper arm. Her fingertip circled around his tattoo. She kissed it, holding her position for seconds, closing her eyes, while her hand shifted under the sheets, moving over his back. It was too tempting to not touch him, but feeling his deep breath fall among her, Stevie realized he started to arouse.

Leaning her head back, so close to his, she spotted his sleepy eyes. His eyelids opening slowly to close again as a wide smile took over his face. A nice image to dream away with Alex figured as he Alex a bit, shifting towards her.

'Shhh ...', Stevie let out, brushing her fingers through his hair. 'We still can get some sleep. Diner isn't ready yet', she told him.

Alex opened his eyes half again. 'Diner?', he muttered, asking a bit confused. He had no idea of time.

Stevie smiled sweetly at him. 'Kate is making Nonna's special lasagna'. She could already hear him moan in delight. He loved Kate's cooking. She felt his arm pulling her close to him and she kissed his shoulder once more, snuggling up in need for a nice and cozy sleep.


Kate placed the oven plate with the lasagna on the table. It only would have to cool down for a few more minutes. Tayler had put down the dinner plates upon the table; five to be exact, but staring at it she doubted if it was needed. 'Hey guys, shouldn't we tell Stevie and Alex diner is ready?'

Grace looked up at her, as she had seemed to drift off into some secret dream of a certain neighbor. 'Go ahead', she just remarked, watching the girl walk into the hallway, as her head leaned upon her hand, her elbow upon the table.

Tayler looked up the stairs, holding its post for a moment. 'STEVIE, ALEX, DINER!', she yelled, shrugging her shoulders when there wasn't a reply. She walked back to the other girls, a bit careless as her look told them she had done the best she could.

They waited a few minutes till the lasagna was ready to be served. Again the girls glared at each other, eyes pointing that someone had to go upstairs and get them, but none of them felt like it.

'Oh no', Kate let out, as both Tayler and Grace stared at her. 'I made the lasagna, I had my share.'

'But you know them the longest', Grace remarked at the same time as Tayler added; 'don't you want them to taste your lovely lasagna?' Kate rolled her eyes as she let the spoon drop a piece of lasagna upon her plate. She now looked at Grace and Tayler was eager to join.

'What?', Grace mumbled with a full mouth, trying to eat her first bite of the lasagna that was still too hot. Blowing out, taking a sip of her glass of water to let her mouth cool off. She hoped this would also distract her friends, but against better knowing it surely didn't. 'Why me?'

Kate was pleased to know the perfect answer. 'Cause you are a McLeod and you live in this house. To be precisely we aren't even allowed to go upstairs'. Kate nearly chuckled at her last remark. She had found it a bit too easy for Grace to get charge over Drovers while Stevie was on honeymoon, just because she was a McLeod. A just arrived McLeod, while she herself had worked here for ages. So it wasn't bad to use that fact against her for once.

Tayler nodded heavily, completely agreeing, while Grace gave her an annoyed stare. 'Oh come on, maybe they don't wanna eat', Grace tried, but of course Kate and Tayler had made their minds up.

'What if they are naked, no way I'm going in their room. Or worse ...'

Tayler tried to hold in her laughter, seeing Grace's drop dead serious look of protest. Kate kept her demanding stare focused upon Grace, also fighting her inner laughter, but she was able to manage. 'Well that's nature; people are naked sometimes Grace.' Kate's lips pressed tightly together amused.

Grace dropped her fork, irritated, getting up. 'For goodness' sake, where is Moira when you need her', she complained.

'At Phil's', Tayler added cheery, knowing it would lead to another grumpy look of Grace, of course not wanting to hear the obvious.


Grace dragged herself out of the room, up to the stairs. Trying to focus upon noises; she was relieved to conclude it was quiet. She took a deep breath before she knocked on Stevie's door. Silence.

'Stevie? Alex? Diner is ready ... anyone?' Her eyes rolled up, letting her shoulders down. Why couldn't it just go the easy way? The McLeod brushed her hair behind her ear, deciding she had to open the door. Slowly she peaked through the small door opening. Grace let out a sigh of relief, seeing the two fast asleep, snuggled up together, mainly covered with the sheets. But her expression changed quickly as she doubted what to do next.

'Stevie, pssstttt ...'. No sign of course. 'Oh forget it!', Grace let out.

She nearly stumbled of the stairs, making her way down. 'Let's eat', she breathed out, entering the kitchen, sitting down, immediately picking up her fork.

'Where are Stevie and Alex, are they coming?', Tayler asked curious. At least Grace's face didn't look too pale, so it couldn't have been that bad, Tayler thought.

Grace took a bite. The only thing that was on her mind now was food. 'Nah, let them sleep. They can heat it later.'


Several minutes later Stevie slowly aroused, turning into Alex' arms. Just enjoying this familiar feeling as it felt like she hadn't have to miss it for weeks. This protected feeling full of love. She hadn't managed to open her eyes yet, but it started to dawn on her what their situation exactly was. Just a nap before diner. Not just, no, as they hadn't been together for some time.

She looked at him, asleep, reminding herself of how she had missed waking up in his arms. Gently Stevie started to stroke the back of her fingers over his face. She could tell he hadn't shaved for some days. It had something rough and sexy. Stevie finally leaned up, her elbow pierced into her pillow as she tried to look over Alex, up to her alarm clock.

Trying to blink her eyes, like she couldn't make sense of the burning red numbers on its display, Stevie moved further over Alex to see it clearly. 'Shit!', she let out, trying to turn away to get out of bed; realizing diner must have been ready by now. But before she could get to the edge of the bed two strong arms pulled her back.

'Not that quick, missy', a damn sexy male voice told her. Stevie rolled back, no need to hold in her smile when Alex placed her right next to him; facing each other.

'You're awake', she exclaimed, a bit surprised and serious now.

He nodded with a grin. 'Yeah well someone tried to use me as a hand support'. Alex pulled her closer and Stevie let out a soft giggle.

'Sorry about that, but it's diner time.'

'Really?', Alex replied, far from anything serious, cocking his eyebrow teasingly. Strangely enough food wasn't number one on his list. Just spending a few more minutes with Stevie so close was way more tempting than Nonna's lasagna.

'Yeah', Stevie said with a high, small and soft voice. 'So we better ...', she stopped her words feeling Alex' fingers gently starting to massage her lower back. How could she resist that?

Alex pressed his lips together, looking at her sweet face. 'Just a few minutes. I rather have you in my arms, than a full stomach'. She smiled, snuggling up against him, while Alex turned upon his back. She let her head rest upon his chest, his arms crossed over her back, hands still occupied with massaging the soft bare skin they had conquered.

'Just a few minutes', Stevie whispered back, closing her eyes to let herself dream away ...


Italic text: Vows & Missy Higgins – Ten Days