(It is a week later... Danny and Alice are in England and on their way to find Zoe... Matt still in unaware of their plans and Dupe is left in charge)

Alice's POV

Danny and I were lost. The Sat Nav in the hire car was broken, and Danny's 'I know where I'm going' was beginning to wear off, he doesn't seem to realise that places change from when he was younger.

"That never used to be like that!" Danny spurted out, I rolled my eyes at him and patted him gently on the arm.

"Danny, darling, these places have changed... it would be a bit worrying if they hadn't changed since the dark ages!" I smiled sarcastically, Danny pretended to be shocked and deeply hurt. "I'm only joking, but come on, we need to pull in to the services."

"It's fine Alice, I know where I'm going." Danny persisted, he was so stubborn!

"Even if you do, you're fuel gauge is on empty." I smiled calmly, Danny suddenly swerved off to the services, nearly causing a huge pile up. I sighed.

Danny began to fill the car up with fuel as I went to pay, I bought a map, got directions and paid.

Danny jumped in as he saw me but I stood still, feet planted to the floor.

"What are you doing?" Danny asked getting out the car.

"I'm not going anywhere Mr Trevanion unless you give me the keys." I smiled cooly.

"Don't be silly Alice." Danny ordered, pointing towards the car.

"Don't be stupid Danny." I replied sarcastically.

Danny rolled his eyes and gave up, he threw me the keys in a huff and jumped into the passenger side, I laughed as I fastened my seat belt.

"I know where we're going." I said stroking his knee gently, he smiled at me softly, my heart raced faster as he leaned in and gave me a quick kiss, I grinned and put the car in gear. To Preston we were destined.

Zoe's POV

I looked at my surgery, I had a huge pile of paper work, three clients to see and horses to see too, but I just wasn't in the mood for any of it. The truth was, I was never in any sort of mood for anything. I was miserable. I missed Leopard's Den... I missed Alice, my best friend and sister. I missed Danny, the man who gave me all the opportunities, I missed Dupe and Caroline, Charlotte, Liv and Evan too... but most of all I missed Matt, the man I loved.

I looked at my desk, in a frame I had a picture of me and Matt alone, the only one I had. Alice had taken it whilst trying out Danny's new camera. He had his arm wrapped around me and we both wore huge smiles. I felt the tears cloud my eyes. I sighed... get him out of your head Zoe.

"Zoe?" I heard the voice of the secretary.

"Yes." I replied sharply, Freda hesitantly came in.

"I know you're busy, but I really think you should come out the front..."

"Can it wait?" I asked uninterested in another of their childish games, the old Zoe would have loved them but the hurting Zoe hated any small talk.

"No... you need to go to the car park... and now." She replied before leaving.

I cursed under my breath before slowly standing up... this had better be good.

Dupe's POV

Trevanion and Collins owe me. Bloody holiday – hmph – yeh right. Leaving me in charge of three whining kids, a nagging wife, a moping student and a house maid, not to mention the guests. They don't half owe me a drink.

I figured I'd best check on Matt and the Locum vet. The responsibility had given Matt a new attitude, he seemed happier, still moping though. Reminds me of Danny and Alice all this, but not as bad as those two were!

I saw Caroline and smiled, I loved her more than anything in this world, more than this place even, she meant everything to me. I gave her a hug and kissed her gently before we both carried on with our chores.

Danny's POV

"Well this is it." Alice said sighing heavily. We were at the Preston hospital. Alice shuddered slightly... hospitals, of course. But, she was brave as ever and slipped her hand into mind and walked towards the physiotherapy receptionist.

"I need to see Zoe Point." Alice said confidently. I squeezed her hand. Everyone was looking at us, maybe they thought we were wearing too much fake tan?

"Who is it?" asked the receptionist typing into her computer.

"Alice Collins and Danny Trevanion." Alice told her... the receptionist began to tap away at her computer before stopping suddenly.

"You mean, the vets from South Africa?" asked the girl, her brown eyes lighting up, her red hair bouncing behind her glasses, she flung up suddenly.

"Yes, we'll wait on the car park." I said sensing Alice tense slightly. Alice looked up at me with grateful eyes.

When we got outside we leant against a wall. Alice held onto me still.

"Thanks Danny." Alice quietly muttered.

"What for?" I asked confused.

"For getting me out of there... you understood..." Alice continued, her blue eyes gazing into my eyes.

I just smiled and kissed her gently on her forehead. Alice hugged me quickly before pulling away, we heard heavy footsteps... Alice looked at me and forced a smile.

"Can I help y..." Zoe emerged and stopped mid sentence, she looked to her secretary. "Cancel any appointments."

The red haired girl skipped off and began pushing the phone's numbers down... Zoe turned her attention back to us.

"What are you doing here?" she asked quietly.

"We came to see you... and I want to talk to you." Alice said walking towards her and engulfing her in a hug, Zoe responded to the hug, I smiled, before being invited into the hug.

"If this is about Matt..."

"Not everything evolves around him." I answered quickly, Alice patted my back gently, I guessed it was a way of saying thank you.

Zoe breathed in and looked back into her place of work. "You're probably better coming into my office." She finally said, leading the way. "Don't worry Alice, it smells nice, I'm a physiotherapist not an surgeon." She added winking at Alice, who relaxed slightly, she slipped her hand into mine and followed Zoe, who led us to her small office.

"Excuse the mess, hectic morning." Zoe murmured throwing the papers on her desk on the floor.

We sat down on a pair of chairs, Zoe sat in her own chair and stared at her computer screen. It felt, awkward in the room.

"Well, how're you doing?" I asked finally. Zoe looked at me and smiled. "Okay I guess. I'm getting by."

"Well this is a lovely place." Alice commented looking around.

Zoe smiled and looked down, "Thanks, but it's not for me." She looked around the room and leant back slowly. "But it pays."

Alice and I nodded. "So what are you doing at the minute?" I asked.

"Well, I'm working here as the main stationed physiotherapist. I got the job easily due to my experience abroad, but we haven't done a contract yet for a permanent deal and all, I guess you could call this a temporary that could go permanent. In my spare time, I'm doing a few nights on a show performing, you guys should come, and I'm dealing with dad's horses. I better ring him actually get them sorted for me."

"You're back into the swing of things quickly." Alice smiled.

"I needed to occupy myself, I didn't want to end up in my old ways."

Alice nodded understandingly, but I didn't understand, what old ways? Zoe seemed to read my mind and explained in her next part.

"I knew that if I didn't get on with things to get my mind off everything I'd end up back on the drink. It's not that I'm an alcoholic, or anything like that, it's just a case of drowning your sorrows. But anyway, where are you guys sleeping?"

Alice looked at me, her eyes told me I had to answer. We hadn't chosen anywhere, the Hero award gave us money too arrange accommodation so we figured we'd just guess.

"Well, we were just gonna drive round, find a random hotel, sleep there?" I said, shrugging my shoulders.

"No need." Zoe said standing up and grabbing her coat. "You can stay at mine, I'm renting a small house off my dad, two rooms... thick walls too and a very bouncy king sized." She teased. Alice blushed bright red, and I looked away from Zoe's teasing gaze.

"Thanks Zoe." Alice finally managed to say, before following Zoe out, we jumped in our hire car and began to follow Zoe in her Jeep – I was driving this time... I guess Alice trusted me just about enough this time?

Matt's POV

Matt Dillon – professional idiot who messes up the best things to happen to him in life with his large gob that has no real use except for digging holes for the owner. I went about my work sadly, every little thing I did reminded me of her... every little animal, that she would have cared for, every person brought a memory of her. I sighed... Zoe was gone, and it was all my fault.

I'd been left in charge of the animal hospital. A true honour, but not one I deserved. Danny and Alice, surprisingly were very, I don't know considerate towards me. They seemed almost sympathetic. This made it worse, why be nice to me when I drove away one of the best things ever to happen to Leopards Den.

I looked at the Locum Vet, he was a grumpy old school arrogant vet. Very put out that I was in charge. He did most things wrong purposely but of course I fixed them, I only used him for treating the animals. I thought of Danny and Alice, they hadn't told me where they'd gone, I guessed they'd be swanning around in a posh place, staring into each others eyes over dinner, making use of the perfectly made beds, holding hands, kissing, hugging... doing the things they'd never do here. I smiled to myself, stop being spiteful Matt, they deserve a break.

I got on with my work slowly, the locum Vet was sat around doing very little as usual, I sighed, I didn't mind, I preferred things doing my way anyway. I looked at Zoe's desk, it had been tidied. I looked at the old grey man.

"Did you tidy that?" I asked harshly.

"Yes, it was a right mess." He snarled, pointing at the bin where I saw the papers.

I ran to the bin and pulled them all out, throwing the papers back on her desk.

"You don't ever touch that desk, you understand?" I shouted, the smell of disinfectant had musked Zoe's perfume, I felt my throat tighten, what I had left of Zoe was disappearing.

"It's only a bloody desk." He replied smugly.

"Maybe to you." I said, trailing off, I walked out and saw Dupe coming towards me, I sighed, what did he want now?

Zoe's POV

I opened the door to the house that I called my own. Danny and Alice had been thanking me most of the time we'd spent together. I showed them to their room, Alice nodded.

"It's a lovely room."

"Thanks." I smiled before moving closer to Alice. "2nd draw down – chemist round corner if in doubt." I whispered. Alice slapped me playfully, as I began to walk off.

"You off Zoe?" asked an oblivious Danny, I laughed inside at his innocence. He really was perfect for Alice.

"Erm yeh, got some errands to run, plus you guys need some alone time." They both raised their eyebrows. "To get ready for the big show tonight!" I grinned.

As I left them, I thought back to Matt... I wondered how he was getting on. I'd have to ask Alice.

Alice's POV

Zoe's sarcastic sense of humour and witty comments had a strangely calming effect on me... it felt like the Zoe I knew, always making silly comments that made us laugh, or made our jaws drop, one or the other.

We heard the front door close. I looked at Danny who had hauled the bags into a corner of the room.

"So Mr Trevanion." I asked walking up to him as he sat down on the bed.

"Yes Miss Collins?" he replied, I sat so I was straddling him, I played with his hair, running my fingers through it lightly.

"What to wear tonight?" I smirked cheekily, Danny had his arms wrapped around my back.

"I was thinking of wearing my dress!" he laughed, I pushed him gently, he over exaggerated the fall and pulled me back with him kissing me lovingly.

"Oh that's good as I thought I'd wear a swimming costume." I rolled my eyes sarcastically, he laughed joyfully.

"Well I don't mind that." He whispered.

I pretended to be shocked before kissing him yet again, with passion, he tickled me as we pulled away and a whole new dimension of tickle war broke out... I had a feeling, we were going to take quite a while to get ready for Zoe's performance.

Sorry – Crap chapter there but it sets the scene.. im gonna write longer chapters so i can get to the good bits lol! x