When they both had stopped crying Danny pulled back, wiping his eyes. "You can get back to the hospital, now. I'll be fine."
Alice shook her head, "Charlotte was the one who told me to go, she and Rosie all but pushed me out the door." Danny laughed then grimaced slightly as his ribs hurt. Alice noticed.
"Here lie down and let me have a look at your head." He did so as Alice gently lifted the plaster. He winced. She smiled, "Still a wimp."
"Who you calling a wimp, Mrs Trevanion!" He said as she placed the plaster back on.
"I never said a word." she said innocently and kissed him softly. Alice lay down beside him and snuggled into his side, Danny placed an arm round her.
"You ok?" He asked quietly after they'd been lying silently for a while. He felt her nod. "You worried about Charlie?"
Alice let out a breath. "Yeah she seems fine, not really said much about the lion. I'm just scared she's bottling it all up, and me and you both know that that doesn't do any good."
Danny nodded rubbing Alice's shoulder. "I know. Look we'll get her home first then speak to her about it. Don't worry." He kissed the top of her head.
Eventually Danny felt Alice's breathing become deeper. He risked moving slightly so he could look down. She was fast asleep, at last. He'd let her sleep for a few hours. She needed it but he knew she'd be annoyed if she left Charlotte for too long. Being careful not to jostle her too much. He got up and after kissing her softly and pulling the blanket over her, left the room.
He decided to call Rosie.
"Hi dad, you ok?"
"I'm fine."
"Is Alice there?"
"Yeah and before you ask we sorted everything."
"That's great dad."
"Look, Alice is asleep just now are you ok to stay at the hospital for a bit longer?"
"Of course not," exclaimed Rosie "Liv's here now too." Danny heard a lot of murmuring in the background. "Listen dad me and Liv can stay with Charlotte tonight."
"Rosie-"
"Charlotte's fine" Danny heard Charlotte agreeing in the background, "and you and Alice need a break dad."
"Look I'll speak to Alice, get her to phone when she wakes up, is Robert alright?"
"He's fine. Life and soul as usual."
"Good, well I'll or we'll come pick him up later regardless."
"Sure thing dad."
"Love you, bye" He put the phone down. He wasn't sure how Alice would feel about Rosie's suggestion. He'd ask her anyway. In the meantime he decided to go check the animal hospital.
"Bye." Rosie put the phone down.
"What did Danny say?" asked Charlotte.
"Your mum's going to phone later and they're going to have to come get Robbie anyway." Liv had Robert on her knee. He was chatting away to himself oblivious to everything around him. The girls laughed at him. Charlotte yawned tiredly.
"Try get some sleep Charlotte." She nodded and lay back within minutes she was fast asleep.
"You don't mind staying tonight Liv?" Rosie asked.
Liv shook her head, "It's fine. Anything to get away from Cedric." Rosie recognised that tone.
"Trouble?"
"He's so...clingy and I dunno...I saw Thabo the other day." Liv blurted out.
"And?"
"It was just in town. We chatted for a bit, just catching up." Robert had turned his face into her jumper the way he did when he was tired. Liv smiled down at him. She looked up at Rosie. "I'm so confused."
Rosie remembered being Liv's age and going through the exact same thing. "It's tough. But, listen, Liv it will sort itself out. Trust me relationships at your age may seem like the most important thing in the world but they aren't."
"Thanks Rosie."
"No problem sis. Anyway what about Uni?"
"Don't you start too. I get enough of that from Danny." Rosie laughed. Liv continued, though more seriously. "It's results day next week so we'll need to wait and see, I've been looking at some courses."
"Dad stresses out too much. You'll do great."
"Can't be worse than last time!" They laughed.
Danny opened the bedroom door just as Alice opened her eyes. She grinned at him as he crossed the room. She wrapped her arms round his neck as he leant down to kiss her. "Good afternoon." he smiled kissing her again deeply.
"What time is it?"
"Just going on half three, you slept for a few hours. I was just going to put the kettle on. Cup of tea?"
"Please."
Alice watched him walk out, stretching. She hadn't had a decent sleep in ages. Suddenly the feeling of sickness she'd been experiencing again returned. She only just made it to the en suite in time. "shit." she whispered to herself looking in the mirror.
As she emerged, Danny met her at the door.
"You ok?" He asked.
"Yeah." she replied brightly. Maybe a bit too brightly as he looked confused.
"Well your tea's out." surprised by her enthusiasm. As they sat at the kitchen table Danny looked at Alice. She seemed distracted. He shrugged it off, their daughter was in hospital after all. "Rosie phoned."
"Everything ok?" she said panicky snapping out of her deep thoughts for a moment.
"Fine! Eh Liv's there too and they said they could stay at the hospital tonight with Charlie. I didn't say either way. It's up to you, I said you would call when you woke up. We need to pick Robbie up but I can go get him. Unless you want-"
"Danny." interrupted Alice. Placing a hand on his arm.
"Sorry" he said sheepishly.
"I'll come with you to get Robbie and that sounds like a good idea." Danny smiled. "It's been a while since I spent a night with my boys."
Danny laughed. "Well I'll go get my keys then." He leant in giving her a chaste kiss. "Love you."
"Love you too." Her smile left her face as soon as he'd left the room.