WEEK LATER

Claire sat in the study as Tess walked in,
"How are you feeling?" she asked walking up to the chair and sitting opposite Claire,
"Yeah good, still really sore," Claire smiled slightly rubbing her still blackened shoulder, chest and neck,
"Whens Alex coming back from Melbourne?"
"This afternoon," Claire smiled, "He rang me just before lunch," Claire added, Tess nodded,
"Um Claire, there's a rumour going around town, that Marty is the father," Tess said nervously, Claire glared at her,
"Huh, since when?"
"I don't know, is he the father?" Tess asked looking at Claire intently,
"No!, why are they saying this?" Claire asked as she stood up, her hands on hips,
"Well Marty came here 5 months ago and your 5 months pregnant," Tess shrugged as she too stood up,
"Huh, please Tess, you don't believe it do you?" Claire asked as they began to walk out to the kitchen,
"Well I don't know," Tess shrugged again,
"Look we did nothing, I kissed him that was it," Claire stated walking off in front of Tess,
"Claire, you kissed him?" she asked shocked running to catch up with her,
"Yeah," she shrugged making her way to the horses, Tess stopped, she threw her hands in there air, she gave up, her sister was just so aggravating.

"Mum! Alex is here," Felicity yelled running down the stairs, Claire stood up quickly, walking as fast as she could with her stomach, She walked out with a huge smile as she met Tess, while Alex pulled up,
"Hey Tess," he smiled shutting the door behind him,
"Hey Alex, how was your trip?" she asked as Claire came out from the house,
"Good," he smiled before seeing Claire, his smile broadening, "Hello beautiful," he said as Claire reached him, she smiled as he took her in his arms, squeezing her till she cried out in pain, "Sorry, you still sore?" he asked as she rubbed her shoulder. She nodded; Alex flicked her collar out of the way to see her bruise. He touched it slightly, before kissing her and walking back inside.

Claire looked up at Alex as she yawned, Alex stirred as Claire rolled onto her back, rubbing her shoulder slightly,
"Morning," he yawned resting his hand across her stomach,
"Hey," she smiled kissing him, he continued to kiss her bruise, she laughed resting her hand onto his head, as he began to make his way over her stomach and further,
"Alex!" Claire exclaimed shocked lifting the Donna up to see Alex tracing his finger's over her underwear, he gave her a wicked smile, before pulling them down,
"Come here," she whispered he sat up making his way to her lips, but was interrupted when Claire's door opened, Claire forced him down to hide him, he fell in between her legs, just where he wanted to be, Tess walked in oblivious,
"Claire, I'm going to…" Tess trailed off looking at Claire curiously, "Are you okay?" she added frowning at a side-tracked Claire. Claire stared at Tess, feeling Alex's finger's between her legs, she couldn't concentrate,
"I'm sorry what?" Claire asked shifting slightly, due to Alex, stroking her lightly,
"Are you okay?" Tess asked again still frowning,
"Hmm," Claire nodded trying to hide her pleasure in her voice,
"Riiiiighht, I'm gonna go help Nick," Tess stated as she turned still looking at Claire over her shoulder,
"Yep," Claire almost yelped, Tess frowned at her before walking to the door, she glanced at Claire who smiled at her, Tess shook her head before leaving. Claire listened intently to the footstep, making sure she was gone, she flung the Donna off,
"Alex!" she exclaimed embarrassed, "Now she thinks I'm a nuts,"
"That's not my fault you can't keep it in," he said raising his eyebrow playfully, Claire laughed shaking her head,
"Yeah, yeah. Come on up you get," Claire said pulling her underwear back up as Alex sat to her side,
"Why?"
"Cause you have go to town for me," Claire smiled,
"Ah are you serious? Why?" he complained,
"Because I need you to pick Flick's present up," Claire nodded,
"Right then I need a shower," he said getting up,
"Why do you need a shower?" Claire asked as she too got out of bed,
"I need a cold shower after that," He exclaimed walking toward the door, Claire laughed before walking up to him,
"I'm sorry," she smiled, hugging him with her left hand as her other one caressed him through his boxer's,
"I'm sure you are," Alex said kissing her passionately, she continued to caress him through his boxer's grabbing him through the silk,
"I thought you wanted me to go to town," he smiled at her she continued to stroke him,
"Oh, sorry, you better go," she smiled at him mischievously,
"You're gonna be the death of me woman," he exclaimed kissing her head before leaving for the shower.

Claire stood over looking Alex as he pulled up; she had blindfolded Felicity, while the others watched on eager. Claire smiled as Alex got out and went to the float that was hooked up to the back of his Ute. The group of girls smiled brightly as they saw Alex lead a chestnut pony towards them,
"Alright Flicky, take it off," Claire smiled looking at Alex, as Felicity took the blind fold off quickly and dropped it once seeing the pony, her face light up,
"Happy Birthday!" they all chorused as the young girl turned to Claire wide eyed,
"You got me a horse," she beamed, Claire hugged her as best she could with her baby bump,
"A pony actually," Claire exclaimed making her way over to the horse with Felicity, she shrugged star struck by the horse that smelt her hand, before she began patting it. Claire smiled at Alex as he gave the lead rope to Felicity and hugged Claire, wrapping his arms around her stomach,
"Thanks so much," Felicity exclaimed walking the horse around, pausing to look at her mother and Alex, "What's his name?" she added continuing to walk the pony around,
"He doesn't have one," Alex smiled as Tess, Jodi, Meg and Becky made their way over to him and Claire.
"Can I name him?" Felicity asked still smiling from ear to ear, Claire and Alex both nodded,
"I'm going to call him Ace," she smiled walking back over to her mother, who smiled as she took her daughter into her arms.