Kilarney….. The wake..
Marcus and Grace are standing with Patrick, Taylor and Kate.
"Who's Alex talking too?" Marcus asks.
"Fiona Ryan." Kate replies.
Marcus swings around and replies. "Back in a minute."
…
Alex sees Marcus walking towards him and Dave coming from the other side of the garden.
Cavalry to the rescue he thinks to himself.
"Alex do you need a beer?" Marcus asks.
Alex grins and replies. "I'm on enough drugs to drop a horse Marcus I don't think alcohol would be a good idea."
"Chip?" Dave asks arriving on the scene.
….
"Dave how are you?" Fiona smiles at him.
"I'm good thanks Fiona you look well." Dave replies.
"I am it's lovely to see you again." She says smiling at him.
"Marcus this is Fiona my ex -wife. Fiona my brother Marcus." Alex offers.
….
"Brother?" Fiona questions.
"Long story and no time for it now." Alex replies.
"Arhh so you're the bitch." Marcus comments as if he'd just stated she was beautiful.
'Excuse me?" Fiona retorts.
"Oh sorry did I say that out loud." Marcus offers smirking at her.
…
"I think I should get going." Fiona says looking back at Alex.
"Yes that would be a good idea, his new wife is a stunner and makes you look just plain." Marcus remarks.
"Marcus!" Alex growls.
"Hey you're the one always telling me to speak the truth." Marcus says raising an eyebrow.
….
"Come on I'll walk you out Fiona." Dave suggests.
"Good idea Dave." Alex concurs.
Placing his hand on the small of her back Dave ushers Fiona away from Alex and Marcus.
"What in the hell was that?" Alex grumbles.
"Your ex-wife apparently" Marcus quips.
…..
"You were rude Marcus." Alex states.
"Couldn't give a rats arse Alex my loyalty is with Stevie and you shouldn't have even allowed that thing anywhere near her or you or this property." Marcus states.
Alex grins at him and quips. "Remind me never to cross you."
Marcus smiles and grabbing the handles of the wheelchair says. "The air is putrid here come and breath the fresh air over there with your friends."
….
Dave and Fiona are in the middle of the crowd when Nick calls for them to stop.
Both turn to face him.
"Should have known you'd be friendly with the enemy Brewer." Nick remarks loudly.
Dave smirks and replies. " Just giving her a safe passage out of here Nick."
Looking at Fiona Nick snarls."How dare you show your face on this property."
...
Those gathered stop talking and move closer to hear what's being said.
"I only came to pay my respects Nick." Fiona replies.
"Respect." He scoffs. " You don't know the meaning of the word."
"I think I should leave." Fiona remarks making to move away.
...
"Why? You've already damaged this property and my brothers reputation." Nick snaps.
"He's a big boy Nick and quite capable of looking after himself." Fiona retaliates.
"You're a bitch and you used him." Nick retorts.
"Used him! What about me. I innocently thought he loved me." Fiona snarls.
A short distance away Dave, Alex , Patrick Grace and Kate have noticed the crowd have moved into a tighter bunch.
"I wonder what's going on over there?" Grace remarks.
...
"Pffftt you innocent! Hardly !You used the fact he was devastated thinking I was dead. Harry wished it was him that was dead instead of me! He knew that and when he told you that you used it against him. What kind of a person does that." Nick yells at her.
"He needed me and I needed him." She yells back.
"You knew Stevie was in love with him and yet you came between them. You were engaged to someone three weeks before you met Alex and were obviously on the rebound. Then you faked the pregnancy. He was genuinely shattered by that, he desperately wanted to be a Father and you played on that and hurt him deliberately. You're a heartless bitch. "Nick snarls.
"He chose me not her Nick ."Fiona snarls back at him.
...
"Don't give me that Fiona if you'd backed off he would have realized he was in love with her himself but he didn't think she wanted him like that so he tried to move on. You knew that, you could have stepped aside and stopped all the pain and heartache but you were too selfish for that. Then to add insult to injury you took half his share of the farm. After all of the pain you inflicted on him and all of your lies he kept trying to make the marriage work and you let him. It doesn't matter what you say Fiona I know you're a bitch." Nick says in a cold even voice.
"I came to pay my respects to your Mother Nick that's all. She liked me and I liked her." Fiona shoots back at him reminding him why they're there.
"I loved my Mother but the plain simple truth is she was a manipulative bitch so that explains why the two of you got along so well. Get off this property and don't ever show your face around here again." Nick growls.
The gathered crowd collectively gasp at Nick's words.
"Nick!" Alex calls from nearby.
Nick looks at his Brother, shakes his head and storms off.
...
Dave quickly ushers Fiona out to her car and returns to the main group.
"Where's Nick?" He asks.
"Leave it Dave. I've just taken Alex over there to talk to him." Marcus answers.
Dave nods deciding he'll have words with Nick when Alex has finished with him.
...
Kilarney the post and rail fence..
Nick leans on the fence and doesn't even glance sideways when Marcus pushes Alex beside him.
Marcus squeezes Alex's shoulder then moves off.
"What was that?" Alex asks.
"She deserved it!" Nick states.
Alex grins and replies. " I'm sure she did but not from you mate."
...
Nick turns to look at him and replies. " If I was a woman I would have hit her smug face."
Alex almost laughs and replies. " I warned Stevie off I should have warned you as well."
"Why did you warn her off Fiona deserves a smack in the mouth." Nick retorts.
"Out of respect for Mum." Alex replies softly.
Nick turns back to the fence without further comment.
...
"What's really going on Nick you're not normally aggressive like this?" Alex asks.
"Nothing." Nick replies too quickly.
"Nick its me you're talking too . Come on spill!" Alex pushes.
"I was fighting with her Alex I never got to fix what was wrong." Nick offers.
...
"Nick we fought with her and the old man our entire lives. Fighting or not that's just what our relationships were with them." Alex suggests.
"I hate fighting." Nick offers as he sniffs.
Reaching up Alex places his hand on his brothers back and says. " I know mate and its an ironic twist that I was the one talking to her and you weren't ,it was generally the other way around. Don't beat yourself up about it Nick she knew you loved her and that's all that matters."
Again Nick sniffs and Alex rubs his back.
"Is this a private party or can anyone join in?" Stevie asks.
"Good timing Cowgirl Nick needs a hug." Alex replies.
Stevie touches Nicks arm and he turns into her and she remarks " Heard the whole town knows my business now."
Nick hugs her tightly but doesn't reply.
"Thanks for defending me Nick." She whispers.
He hugs tighter.
...
Tess rolls up and sliding her arms around Alex's neck from behind asks . " Are we swapping husbands?"
Stevie and Nick move apart and Stevie quips. "I love him but not like that he's all yours."
Stepping over to Alex Stevie hands him tablets and a small bottle of water.
"More drugs." He whines.
"Don't be a baby they're pain killers and antibiotics, without them you're screwed." Stevie chuckles.
...
"Jake and Becky are waiting to talk to the two of you." Tess tells the boys.
"Your old workers?" Stevie asks.
"Yeah they run a horse stud further south." Tess replies.
"Oh and Alex Auntie Mabel is waiting to meet Stevie." Tess adds.
"Who is Aunty Mabel?" Stevie asks.
"Mums aunt she's alright. I think you'll like her." Alex replies then asks. " Where's the little guy?"
"Asleep." She answers.
"That's all he does sleep and eat." Alex quips.
"And poop he does and awful lot of that." Stevie chuckles.
Nick wipes his eyes with the tissue Tess handed him and the four move back over to re-join the group.
...
'You ok now Nick." Tess asks.
"Not quite but I will be." He replies as he lifts his arm around her shoulder.
"Nick I think we're bogged." Stevie calls from behind them.
Turning back Nick grins and says . " I could get the ute and the winch might be fun to watch."
Alex smiles at him and remarks ." Don't be a smart arse she's in a weakened state or she'd have me out of here easily.
"Yeah what he said." Stevie chuckles as the three help push and pull the wheelchair onto firmer ground.
...
"Jake has a proposition for the two of you." Tess offers.
'What a business proposition?" Nick asks.
'Yeah something about breeding horses." Tess replies.
"Sounds good." Stevie remarks.
"Let's get him walking again first before we take on anything new Ok?" Nick states.
"Ok." Stevie agrees.
...