Title: The Gamble

Fandom: Sweet Valley High

Pairing: Alice Wakefield/Hank Patman

Rating: M - yes, they get it going on...but whoever heard of a platonic affair?

Summary: Ever wondered what would have happened if Alice chose Hank? Sometimes we get the chance to find out the answers to our 'what if's…'

A/N: This was originally posted on an old account (and I couldn't remember my login details - same goes for old LJ account), but I lost steam with it and shelved it. It has now been re-tweaked and I am continuing the story.

In terms of the book canon (har, har!) it is set around the time of Trouble at Home / Who's to Blame / The Parent Plot.

Event Horizon

The sound of the kitchen door opening startled Elizabeth from her reverie. Her mother had just stepped through the door and was already on her mobile phone. She was laughing in response to something the other person had said and as she looked up, she saw the twins. Her eyes widened in surprise and she quickly said "I have to go, I'll call you back in a bit," and ended the call.

"You two are up early, what's the occasion?"

Alice stepped closer and looked at the cutlery on the table. She smiled warmly and sat down as Elizabeth poured out a cup of coffee.

"We just wanted to spend some time with you, mom."

Elizabeth looked across the table at her mother. She was wearing a crisp, white linen suit with a fitted knee length skirt and short sleeved jacket. She had paired it with a pink blouse and her straight, long blonde hair was pulled back into a smooth, glossy high ponytail. Her mother's sapphire eyes were accentuated by neutral eyeshadow and lined along the top with grey liquid liner and mascara. Shimmery pink gloss completed the look and silver earrings glittered in her ears. Elizabeth felt like crying – her mother had always been beautiful, but she had never gone to these lengths when her father had been here. Was she doing this for someone else? She looked heartbreakingly beautiful. Her mother reached for her coffee and as she did so an elaborate diamond ring caught the light.

"Mom?" Elizabeth gasped. She didn't know a great deal about jewellery, but she would bet that that ring cost more than both her parent's salaries combined.

"Is everything ok, Liz?" her mother asked with raised eyebrows.

"Um, I haven't seen that ring before," Liz stuttered.

"Oh, this?" Alice smiled as she looked at it. "A gift from a client. The owner of the Belle Vue Mall complex up the coast. It's De Beers, you know." She held her hand out and smiled again.

Jessica had nearly spat out her cereal on hearing the name De Beers.

"Mom! Can I try it? Please?"

Alice laughed and passed her the ring.

"Be careful, Jess, it's not insured yet."

Jessica's eyes grew wide.

"You have to insure it?"

"Yes, of course! It's very valuable," Alice answered, picking up her coffee again.

Jessica admired the ring on her hand. The slender white gold band in contrast to the cluster of diamonds creating a 'golf ball' shape. Sighing, she took it off and handed it back to her mother.

"Oh, mom, dad was checking out your new Range Rover," Jessica informed her mother.

Elizabeth closed her eyes, but Alice merely raised her eyebrows.

"Was he? Why was that?" she enquired neutrally.

"I think he thought it cost a lot," Elizabeth murmured.

"It did," Alice nodded, but offered no further information. Her previous off road vehicle had been nowhere near as expensive, so she wasn't surprised Ned had been taken by surprise. She couldn't deny it felt good to have Hank buying her these gifts, but she knew she could only pass them off as client gifts or treats for so long. Especially as her Range Rover had been almost $100, 000.

A benefit of being involved with Hank, as he had intimated during their initial conversation, was that her firm was attracting major league clients. They now routinely handled contracts that would previously have gone to major upstate design firms. It was testament to Alice's skill that not only did they successfully complete these contracts but that the clients came back. It was also an indicator of how powerful Hank was that all he had to do was drop her name in the conversation and they were emailing or telephoning the next day for a consultation. As a result of this her salary had skyrocketed and the firm expanded. She wondered if Hank had had something to do with that as well, he would no doubt think that he had been doing her a favour. She smiled to herself. He had that effect on her.

"Mom?" Jessica leant over the table, waving at her mother.

"Sorry Jess. What were you saying?"

"We were thinking, um, it would be nice to have dinner, we'll make it, with both you and dad….?"

Alice's heart sank. She couldn't really come up with an excuse, she had been working a lot and she knew she owed it to the girls to have their father around. Maybe if she could slip away this afternoon to meet Hank and tell him.

"OK, we can do that." She smiled at them both, noticing their worried expressions. "It'll be fine, don't worry." She stood up and kissed them both. "Now I really must go." She picked up her handbag and strode out of the kitchen.

Alice leaned back in Hank's arms as the Lear jet ate up the miles to New York. She remembered the meal with Ned and the girls and sighed. She personally had found it torturous. It just reinforced what she had known for a while now, that she did not love Ned. Both of them had tried to be civil, but Ned persisted in making barbed comments. Eventually she drew him to one side whilst the twins were clearing the table.

"Ned, why are you so determined to keep making comments about me?"

He looked away from her and didn't answer.

"You know you do, can't you just try to be civil?"

"Alice, you won't meet me, we haven't even exchanged two words since we split up! How are we supposed to try to sort things out?"

Alice sighed. What she really wanted to do was to say that she didn't want to sort things out, that it was over.

"Just try to be civil this evening, Ned. For the girls' sakes, ok?"

"Are you alright, baby?" Hank's voice floated down.

Alice smiled and twisted round in his arms. "I am now," she told him and kissed him deeply. Hank's arms tightened around her.

"I miss you so much when I'm not with you, Alice," he murmured into her neck. "I wish I could be with you permanently."

Alice's eyes opened in shock. "Sorry?"

Hank lifted his head and looked at her shocked face. "I wish I was with you permanently," he repeated with a serious look on his face. "You're the one I should have married. I wish I had. I love you," he leant forward and captured her mouth tenderly with his own.

Every time he was with her, it wasn't just sex, for the first time in his life he knew what it was like to make love to someone. That was most definitely what he was doing with Alice. She was an integral part of his heart, she was what made it beat. Since he had begun seeing Alice, all of his business associates had noticed a changed manner. He was still a hard bastard, but he was happier, more content. His family had noticed the change, too. Alice built him up, made him feel good about himself. She welcomed his embraces and touches and wanted to reciprocate. She loved him. He knew that if he did not have all of the trappings that came with his position, she would still love him.

Hank walked Alice through the Penthouse the next day with his hands covering her eyes. She was wearing a short silk nightdress Hank had surprised her with, and matching gown. Hank was right behind her with his own dressing gown and laughing at her obvious frustration at not being able to see.

"We're nearly there baby," he laughed.

"Good! I've nearly fallen over twice!"

"I wouldn't let that happen," he soothed. "OK we're here."

He took away his hands and waited for her reaction. The balcony of their suite had been transformed. There was a small table with a large vase of roses, and roses had been attached to the railings, the chairs and were in large vases around the balcony. There was a large bottle of champagne cooling on ice, 2 flutes standing on the table and a basket with continental breakfast items in it.

Alice's mouth dropped open, and she whirled around to Hank.

"Oh my god! It's gorgeous!" She cried and threw her arms around him, kissing him over and over. "You're the best!"

Hank wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back. "I'd do anything for you, Alice," he breathed.

Her bright blue eyes sparkled in the early morning light and she smiled adoringly at him. That was one picture he always had of her, shining eyes and a soft, loving look.

As they sat down at the table, Hank poured out the champagne and looked seriously at Alice.

"Alice, there is something I want to say." He looked down at the tablecloth and frowned. "It all depends on your answer."

Alice sat silently, waiting for him to continue.

"The time I have spent with you has been the happiest of my entire life. I love you with my whole heart, in a way I never knew I was capable of. You are what makes my life make sense, Alice. I am going to leave Marie for you. But I need to know what you are going to do?"

In a way, Alice wasn't surprised that this had come. But she felt overcome with emotion and love for this man.

"Hank, oh god I love you too. I want to be with you more than anything. I'll tell Ned, I just want to be with you."

Comments always appreciated