(It is about 2 weeks later. Everyone is missing Zoe but are getting on with life. Alice although still slightly upset is carrying on as normal. Matt however is somewhat different and Danny and Alice want to cheer him up.)
Danny's POV
I sat with Alice eating our usual breakfast of toast. I observed her carefully, she wore her dark silky hair in a tight plait over her right shoulder. Her blue vest top hugged her figure perfectly and her fashionable denim shorts showed off her powerful legs. Her usual Timberlands supplemented the outfit. I hadn't realised I'd been smiling or in Alice's words, drooling.
"Danny… why are you grinning like a Cheshire cat?" Alice asked, looking around the kitchen.
"Yeh man!" Dupe said walking into the kitchen. "You're drooling like a love sick puppy… or maybe that's just what you are." He added looking at Alice and smiling. Alice looked down and blushed, using her fringe to hide herself.
I laughed uncomfortably, I couldn't help but gaze at Alice, she was beautiful… and she didn't need the heaps of make-up to make her beautiful either.
"Well, we have work to do, come on." Alice said standing up, I nodded and followed her out, she waited for me to get by her side before we carried on walking down to the hospital.
"Where's Matt?" I asked as we slowly wandered down to the hospital.
"Down there already, you know what's he been like Danny. He's going to make himself ill though at this rate." Alice replied with a sigh. It was true, Zoe's leaving had affected Matt the most.
"I agree… I wish we could do something. He's going to fail at this rate." I commented, Alice nodded before running to get in front of me, she stopped me and put a finger to her lips.
"I can manage here for today" She whispered. "He likes you and you need to get a suit and everything for the wedding… get him to go with you, see if you can get through to him."
I looked around… Why would Matt open up to me? But if Alice said it was a good idea, I would do it, for her, I'd do anything for her.
"Okay." I mumbled… Alice grabbed both my hands and leant in for a kiss before I could carry on or protest. I responded pulling her towards me gently. Eventually we carried on down into the animal hospital.
Matt's POV
I was the biggest idiot alive. A foolish, pig headed, arrogant idiot. I've never had anyone in my life until now. Living life in a children's home sucked - simple as. I was picked on for being intelligent, A* boy, that's all I was. But, Zoe, she gave me something else, she… she… she cared about me… and my big mouth and stupid ways had thrown it all away.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. But he made me realise how much I loved her, and it broke my heart. I'd blown my chances, she'd never be interested in me again. I wanted to ring her, email her, visit her, but I knew I couldn't… mainly because I was a coward, but I knew she'd never be interested in me again - what was she thinking in the first place? What was I thinking? Thinking she would ever love me?
I signed the last of my course work papers. I sighed as I looked across to the desk where Zoe used to work. I wandered over and stroked it gently. Her distinctive perfume lingered in the air, there were still scraps of paper with her hand writing on there, a few pieces of sheet music and a couple of pictures - one of her and a horse, and one of… of…. Alice, Danny, me and her? I noticed a finger print over my face… but I didn't get it, was it to block me out? I stroked the picture gently before placing it back down.
I went over towards the giraffes when I heard Danny calling my name. I stopped and turned round, he and Alice joined me in the hospital, Alice began to get to work, but Danny caught me by the arm as I tried to follow.
"Not so fast Mr Dillon." He said authoritvely. "Day off, with me. I need help choosing a suit for the wedding, and as you're my best man considering Alice had stolen Dupe to give her away, you need yours too!"
I stood shocked for a moment, Danny really thought of me that much that he wanted me to be his best man. I huge smile broke out across my face, the first since had left. I nodded happily and walked out with Danny who had just given Alice a huge hug and a passionate kiss goodbye. Alice watched him leave every step of the way. I knew she'd miss him… she needed Danny as much as Danny needed her. They were like half a jigsaw. Without the other piece, the jigsaw was incomplete and couldn't function properly, it was broken. But with that over piece it had meaning and completion and could work to it's full advantage, it's bonds as strong as the cement holding the bricks together.
Danny's POV
As we pulled into town outside the suit shop, the expensive suit shop, I noticed Matt was sulking I sighed. This was going to cost a bomb, but Alice was worth it, if it bankrupted me, she was worth it.
"So Matt, how are you doing?" I asked, I was rubbish at stuff like this.
"Fine…" He lied. I raised my eyebrows at him, he looked at the floor and then back at me, tears filled his usual hard shelled eyes. "Crap." He replied more honestly.
"I know it's hard Matt… but you love her and she loves you… prove that to her."
Matt looked me, he shook his head. "How?"
"Contact her Matt."
"I can't." he mumbled. "I'm a coward."
"As am I, but we have to face our fears Matt." I smiled walking into the shop.
"I know, I can't do it though okay!?."
I nodded and patted him on the back, a young assistant came trotting up to us, she smiled sweetly and flirtatiously at Matt, but he took no notice.
"Can I help you sir?" She asked Matt, he shrugged and pointed towards me, I guess she expected Matt to be getting married, not an old timer like me.
"I'm getting married and need a suit, he needs one too." I said politely. She nodded.
"What colours?"
"Red and grey for him with silver jewellery, black shoes." Matt said quickly. I looked at him in shock, Matt, fashion, colour co-ordination?
The assistant must have read my mind, her grey eyes lit up and her bleached blonde hair bounced as her hot pink lips produced a dazzling smile, but not nearly so dazzling as Alice's. Alice was natural, not fake, not a Barbie doll like this disillusioned fool.
"Excellent colour co-ordination… I bet you're good with co-ordination aren't you." Her flirting made me sick. Matt looked away before turning back to her.
"Let's just get the suits sorted? I want grey too but with a different coloured shirt to him, different suits are important, his has to be the best."
The young girl gave up her flirting and decided to show us suits. I looked at them all. But one caught my eye, A light silvery grey one, I smiled to myself as I thought of a typical Alice comment - it would match my greying hair!
I showed it Matt who agreed, I grabbed the suit throwing it over my arm. He too had a grey suit, but a darker grey, he'd already chosen a hot pink shirt which would definitely suit him. He'd gone for a tie the same colour as his suit and black shoes.
I grabbed a bright red shirt and silver tie, and threw some black patent shoes on. I looked at myself in the mirror… Matt came out of his dressing room, he looked very smart and playfully wolf whistled as I emerged.
"Defiantly you Trevanion!" he jeered… he turned to the assistant who seemed to be experiencing hot flushes… maybe it was the amount of male goods? "We'll take em… now silver jewellery?" he asked.
Finally after what seemed an eternity (I seriously don't know what women see in this shopping malarkey) we were finished. I had my jewellery, Matt had his, we were fully kitted out… I high fived Matt playfully before setting off back to Leopard's Den.
Alice's POV
I was missing Danny - I needed him here… I know he's only gone to town, and you probably think I'm pathetic, but I'm used to always having him here with me. I looked up at our photo, me and Danny together, I loved it, cherished it, I always felt myself looking at it when Danny wasn't here, it made me smile.
I hoped Danny would have got through to Matt. I wasn't trying to get them back on track for me… they both needed each other. I'd been emailing Zoe, and her email's although jolly we're all a story, I knew she was upset when I spoke to her on the phone. I could here the choked voices.
I heard the Jeep return, Matt and Danny jumped out, Matt took away some bags and Danny came down here, as Matt disappeared I saw him pick up pace and run in.
"Well?" I asked greeting him with a quick kiss.
"Not a chance." Danny replied sadly.
"Danny… you know, it's quiet at the minute, and what with the Hero Award holiday and money…"
"I agree." He said, smiling.
"You don't know what I'm going to say." I teased.
"We go to England and talk to Zoe, and hire a locum vet?" Danny said tilting his head to the side.
"As much as I hate to let you win Mr Trevanion, I'm afraid I'll have too… you really agree?"
"Yeh! I'll speak to Dupe, besides we need a break from here, you deserve one." he grinned hugging me tightly.
"I love you." I murmered into his ear quietly.
"I love you too, but not a word to Matt yeh? We're just going on holiday…"
I looked up at Danny. "Daniel Thomas Trevanion, didn't have you down as the deceitful type?"
"Alice Collins - I didn't have you down as the intelligent type." he teased, I slapped him on his chest as he giggled.
"Well Danny, at least I'm not like you?" I said seriously.
"Why what am I like?" Danny asked taking my hands.
"I don't have to study for my blood test." I titled my head. Danny laughed our playful banter and pretended to be shocked, but neither of us could keep It up as temptation took over and we shared a long and intense kiss, without a care in the world who came in… it didn't matter to me anyway, I love Danny and I'll show the world just how much.