Tess hurried up the stairs, baby Claire on her hip as she abruptly walked into Claire's room, where she lay fast asleep. Tess walked over to her and pulled the covers off,
"Come on, move your bum," Tess chirped, Claire rolled over to face Tess, she still hadn't caught up on all her sleep, but she had a good excuse for getting up early today, today would be her first day back at work. She sat up and stretched as Tess stood impatiently waiting for Claire to get out of bed,
"I'm coming Tess," Claire yawned as she swung her legs out of the bed, she rubbed her eye, still they were heavy with fatigue,
"Breakfast is ready," Tess said before leaving Claire to get dressed, not that she had many clothes in her wardrobe. Tess had given most of them away after thinking her sister was dead, but there were two shirts left, a blue and a red work shirt, her checker jacket was also hung in the corner. Her jeans wouldn't fit her anymore, after losing weight she had to stick to her dress jeans. Claire made her way down the stairs to the kitchen, where the crew was situated: Jodi and Mat, Grace, Regan, Jaz, Tess and baby Claire. Claire sat down next to Jaz, it was still awkward having your cousin you've only just met in the same house, but after all they were McLeod's they had every right to live here,
"Once we've had breakfast I want Grace, Regan and Jaz to muster the cattle from skinny Jims, me and Claire will go to town for supplies and Mat are you free?" Tess asked giving her order's firmly. Claire felt even more out of her depths, she was always the one giving orders, never taking them, especially from her little sister,
"Yep all yours," Mat smiled as Tess went through the list of jobs,
"Do you think you could get the truck load of sheep from Neil Thompson's?" Tess asked as she took a piece of toast, Claire followed suit taken two pieces, Mat nodded,
"Alright well we better get going," Grace stated taking the last mouthful of her coffee, her two sisters followed her out the door,
"As for you, I've got a surprise," Tess said pointing at Claire with a devious smile, Claire smiled back intrigued, gifts already! She followed Tess up the stairs as Jodi made her way to baby Claire and the dishes, Mat off to Thompsons,
"I thought this might help," Tess said as they walked up the stairs,
What might help?" Claire asked frowning as they entered Tess' bedroom, Claire stood eager at the end of Tess' bed,
"They wanted to bury this with your coffin, but I stopped them," Tess stated as she turned around with Claire's old grey felt hat, Claire smiled her old hat she had worn for years, which had seen her through a million days of summer, winter, love and heartbreak and even the birth of Charlotte. Claire took the hat in her hands and put it on, it just felt right. Tess smiled as Claire tucked her long strands of hair behind her ears,
"Thanks Tess," Claire smiled embracing her sister, they parted and Tess' smiled turned to a worried look, Claire furrowed her brow at Tess's caginess,
"What's wrong?" she asked as Tess stood somehow glued to the floor with worry,
"I think you should have this," Tess said turning back to her cupboard and pulled out a black felt box, Claire's frowned to turned a curious glare, Tess handed the box to her, "It's your engagement ring," Tess said as Claire finally came to terms with what she held in her hands. It was her only link to Alex; she opened the box star struck. Her mouth gapped as she saw the diamond encrusted gold band, she gently picked it up between her fingers it felt so fragile; she slipped it onto her finger. Tess watched as her sister was for once lost for words, the ring really did suit her,
"It's gorgeous," Claire smiled admiring it on her hand, but she sighed. She missed out of Alex's proposal, his kiss, him putting the ring on her finger, she missed him so much. Tess saw a grimace come across her sister's face, a feeling of guilt hit her, had she done the wrong thing by giving the ring to Claire,
"Alex," Claire sighed containing her tears as she kissed the ring, before slipping it off,
"You're not going to wear it?" Tess asked as they began to walk out of her room, Claire began to put the ring back in the soft felt box,
"Not yet, I need a little more time," Claire said as she placed the ring on the cupboard as they passed her room. Tess nodded as she took Claire's arm and walked down the stairs, "And I don't want to lose it," Claire added as they continued out the door,
"Stevie put hers on a necklace," Tess stated as they made their way down the path out to the driveway. The sun warmed through their shirts and smell of dust circled them as they opened the doors to the Ute. Tess felt the tension rise when she mentioned Stevie, by accident of course, "Claire she was your friend, she wouldn't have done that to hurt you," Tess said as they got into the Ute, Claire slammed her door shut, even thinking about Stevie made her blood boil, "she didn't know you were coming back, we all didn't," Tess added quietly as she started the Ute and reversed. Claire sat quietly, stewing over her bad luck in love,
"I can't stand looking at that baby," Claire said through gritted teeth,
"What Xander?"
"Yes Xander, he looks so much like Alex," Claire snapped as she glanced across the paddocks, to the sheep and cattle, they had such an easy life, eat and sleep all day,
"Well you should celebrate it Claire, for Alex, he'd want you to do that," Tess said turning off at the driveway, the gravel could be heard as it flicked up against the Ute. Claire was quiet for a moment, Tess was right Alex would want her to do that, but it was just so painful to see what should have been hers, she blinked her eyes hard as she looked to Tess,
"Once we're done in town I'll go see Stevie," Claire said rather emotionless, Tess smiled her feats of grovelling were getting fantastic results, "But I can't guarantee anything," Claire added pointing at Tess. Tess rolled her eyes rather comically,
"You haven't changed one bit Claire McLeod," Tess said glancing to Claire as she smiled.

Tess lent on the side of the Ute as she waited patiently for Claire to come out from the hairdresser, it wasn't long before she did. Claire walked out of the hairdressers, now she really felt like the old Claire. Tess smiled broadly, that was Claire through and through, it was at that point Tess actually came to terms with the whole thing. Her sister Claire was actually right in front of her,
"I'm driving," Claire said as she walked around the back of the Ute, flashing a mischievous smile to Tess, who laughed,
"Do you still know where Killarny is?" Tess asked joking around as they did their belts up, Claire glanced at her through playful eyes,
"Of course I do," She replied turning the key,
"Looks like you don't have to go after all" Tess interrupted seeing Stevie pull up a few cars ahead of them. Claire wasn't feeling cocky and confident now; she'd rather just ignore Stevie. Tess could tell that, by the look of Claire's face,
"Off you go," Tess chirped cocking her head towards Stevie who was getting out of her Ute. Claire sighed as she opened the door, she really didn't want to do this, she even contemplated running across the street and bailing, but Tess would never let her live it down,
"Claire," Stevie exclaimed surprised seeing Claire walk up to her reluctantly, she smiled as she looked up at Stevie. They held there stare for a few seconds, judging each other carefully, "Look I don't know what you've been through, but I'm sorry," Stevie admitted as she leant against her Ute, "I never meant to hurt you," She added as Claire took her stare from Stevie to the ground below her boots, the dirty gravel seemed to calm her down a bit,
"I'm sorry," Claire sighed as she glanced back up to Stevie she didn't truly mean it, but after all Alex would have wanted the two to work together to remember him,
"So am I," Stevie smiled, Claire smiled slightly as she looking off into the distance were she caught the glimpse of the pub, reminding her of the day she had lost everything, the day that changer her life and herself forever,
"If you want to come back," Claire suggested , she was trying her best, not to erupt in fits of anger at how rude and selfish Stevie was to take Alex, to change her room, but she'd better keep the piece,
"I'd love to," Stevie smiled up at Claire,
"Well there's no room's left in the house, but there's still the cottage," Claire stated as she fiddled with her nails, a habit she had kept all these years, when she was reluctantly nervous,
"Sounds good, thanks," Stevie answered smiling back at Claire. Tess watched carefully she could see the tension in Claire's shoulders and Stevie facial expression, Stevie was smiling so that was a start. She rested her head on her hand and that's when an awkward hug was seen. Tess smiled to herself, again she was victorious. Claire walked back to the Ute as quickly as she could without running; she jumped in the Ute and shut the door,
"See I told you it wasn't that bad," Tess smiled still on a high from her victories these last couple of days, Claire nodded rather flushed,
"Right well I'm driving, I have something to show you," Tess said as she got out from the car and swapped with Claire, her smile increasing by the minute. Tess drove off quickly, Claire was still struggling with the belt when they reached the Fisher turn off,
"Tess Drovers is back there," Claire said as she glanced up and saw the sign,
"I know," Tess exclaimed elated, the last instalment of Claire's life was about to happen. Claire started to worry a bit, but didn't admit it she felt weak and vulnerable enough. The roads weren't busy so it only took them half an hour to get there. The summer sun had gotten almost to boiling point as Tess pulled up to a house. Claire looked out the window to the house then back to Tess,
"What are we doing?" Claire asked strangely as she glanced back to the house, Tess got out from the car a smile still plastered on her face. She knocked on Claire's window as she looked around, almost dreading for a moment being here,
"Where are we?" Claire asked as Tess opened the door and led Claire through the garden,
"In Fisher," Tess answered joyfully, Claire rolled her eyes, of course they were in Fisher,
"I know that!" Claire said rather annoyed, she didn't get a straight forward answered, but in seconds Claire would get answer, the answer to at least some happiness. Tess knocked on the wooden door; Claire was about to object and walk away when she heard footsteps, she still didn't take her confused stare from Tess's face, still plastered with a smile. The door opened slowly, it was killing Claire, all this waiting. Claire's breath got caught in her throat as the door opened fully, her expression was now one of panic,
" Hello Claire," the woman said as Tess watched on closely, her sister was shell shocked. Claire's breathing quickening as fear bolted through ever vein she had,
"Tess," she said as she glanced away and then back to the woman she recognised as Julia, Peter's wife. She didn't know where to look or what to do,
"Claire it's alright, she's not going to tell," Tess assured Claire with a gentle hand on her back. Claire was lost for word's as she scanned Julia, this was as close as she had ever been to Peter's wife,
"Did you want to come inside?" Julia asked as she smiled. Claire was still lost in the moment of fear and shock. Claire didn't know where to look, this was the woman she envied for so long, she looked back to Julia, catching her eye though was a little girl who peaked her head around the corner. Claire felt Tess usher her inside, but she was to fixated on the shy young girl as she walked forward, a smile appeared on the girls face,
"Auntie Tess!" She squealed as she ran past Julia and into the arms of Tess,
"Hey BOM," Tess smiled, Claire looked in she felt hot tears, dare to streak from her eyes, her breath getting caught again, that was her daughters, that was Charlotte, she was there, she was so grown up,
"Auntie Julia never told me your where coming," Charlotte smiled as Tess put her down. Claire looked up to Julia, Charlotte hadn't called her mum, which must mean Charlotte knew, wouldn't it? Charlotte was lost in the excitement of seeing her auntie Tess, almost ignoring the tall strange, but somehow familiar woman next to her auntie, but she looked up at Claire and held her stare, she squinted her eyes slightly as she furrowed her brow,
"Charlotte do you remember how we told you your mum had to go somewhere," Tess said as Charlotte reluctantly broke the stare from Claire, Claire when weak at the knees, she knew, Charlotte knew! Charlotte nodded eagerly,
"well she's come back Charlotte," Julia said as Claire looked bewildered at her daughter, she had grown up so much, she was eight and so tall. Charlotte turned around automatically, noticing the strange but then again familiar woman as her mother, every child knew their mother, and Claire had the presents of a mother,
"Mum?" Charlotte asked frowning as she looked up to Claire, she then turned back to Tess for reassurance, and Tess nodded. Claire smiled as she knelt down to be eye level with her daughter, her eyes the brightest blue she'd ever seen,
"Hey BOM," Claire smiled victoriously, Charlotte smiled, she recognised the voice, the voice that carried her one week shy of eight months and the voice that nurtured her as a baby,
"Mum," Charlotte stated smiling, she was still hesitant, Claire's smiled increased before she embraced her daughter, her own flesh and blood. Charlotte wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, the smell she remembered clearly, vanilla and frangipani,
"Why don't you come inside," Julia smiled as she and Tess watched mother and daughter.

Claire sat on Charlotte's bed, her bedroom lit brightly by blues and pinks. Minutes had passed by filled with question after question from the young bright eyed girl, until there was a silence in as Charlotte took out a pictures frame,
"Aunties Julia said Dad went somewhere too," Charlotte said handing the picture to Claire. It was of her and Peter when they were going out,
"Where did you get this from Charlotte?" Claire asked grimacing at the picture, how could she have been so blinded by love to see he was a sleaze,
"I stole it from Dad's things,' Charlotte giggled as she sat next to Claire, "Where did you go mum?" She asked her eye's the bluest of blue staring up at Claire's own,
"Everywhere," Claire answered handing the picture back to Charlotte,
"Like America?" Charlotte asked with joy, Claire laughed,
"No, I went to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide," Claire answered smiling back her the young girl, almost a spitting image of herself when she was eight, minus the blonde hair. Tess and Julia were seated in the dining room, giving mother and daughter some bonding time. Tess took the last sip of her coffee,
"I suppose Claire will want Charlotte now," Julia stated with an upset sigh, although she hated Peter and Claire for having an affair behind her back and getting pregnant, Charlotte had become a part of own family, especially when she saw Natalie, now at boarding school and Alana now at high school, bond and play with her,
"Well she is Claire's daughter,' Tess answered as lightly as she could. Julia nodded as they walked to Charlotte's bedroom; her chatter was heard as well as a giggle, from mother and daughter. Tess opened the door slowly and walked in, Julia followed as Claire looked up to Tess, pleading with her to give her more time with her daughter,
"Charlotte would you like to stay at Drovers for a while?" Tess asked, Claire's worried expression, filling with joy, she glanced back to Charlotte her face lit by the mid-morning sunlight and a wide smile,
"Yes please!" Charlotte jumped up quickly before sitting back down; she was definitely a handful, just like her mother,
"We'll help you pack while your Auntie Julia gets your bags," Tess said kneeling besides Charlotte and Claire, Tess grabbed Claire's leg and squeezed it reassuringly, Claire took Tess's hand with a smile, everything was finally going right, things were falling into place. The warm sunlight beat heavy through the lace curtains as Charlotte's life was once again packed up, but this time for good.