Liv smiled gratefully at Alice as the older woman handed her a steaming mug filled with hot chocolate. Liv coughed slightly as she took a first sip, not expecting the little extra something Alice had put in.
"Baileys." Alice smiled sitting down beside her. They were currently in Liv's new room at Leopards Den. After a hearty cry and a lot of talking, Liv had finally calmed down - her once heavy sobs now silent sniffles. "It will work out you know Liv."
"I know it will." Liv sighed, "But won't he hate me? For keeping it from him, from taking the decision out of his hands?"
"He might do..." Alice admitted placing an arm around Liv, "Or maybe he'll understand, respect you for telling him instead of building a relationship on a lie."
"If this was Danny..."
Alice looked down - in all honesty, if she was in this position she wasn't all that sure if she'd be able to tell Danny. She was a coward, and would have no doubt run, instead of being mature and facing up to the consequences like Liv had, but that wasn't what her stepdaughter needed to hear.
"What you're doing is very mature Liv." Alice conceded, unable to lie and say she'd tell Danny in the same circumstances. "I'm proud of you and you have the full support of this family."
Liv glanced sideways and nodded, smiling. For all her early woes, she was glad she had Alice, in fact, she was more than glad, she was immensely grateful, and always would be.
(x)
Three hours later and everyone had finally left the house, off out on their business. Danny and Alice had taken off for what they were now coining 'date night' and Caroline and Nomsa and Charlotte had headed off to Winna's for a quiet birthday celebration. Only Liv, Thabo, Rosie, Max and Bobby remained, with Evan already asleep determined to be prepared for his therapy the day after.
Max sat beside Bobby, watching the little boy doze off as he read him a bedtime story. A longing filled him as he stroked a stray hair out of Bobby's relaxed face. He opened his eyes for a moment before they drooped back to closed. He mourned the chance he once had with Rosie and dreamed of a life where this was him, with his little boy. He'd felt the longing pulling on his heart strings for so long and then seeing the smile on Danny's face every time he so much as saw Bobby had intensified the feelings stirred within him.
"One day." He whispered, kissing Bobby's forehead softly, parroting the words Caroline had spoken to him.
As he left the young boys room, his monitor hooked to his belt, he bumped into Rosie looking so natural and normal. She was covered in dirt, and dressed in a simple shirt and shorts. His heart lurched at the very sight of her looking so... so Rosie-like.
"Max." Rosie squeaked running a hand through her hair.
"Rosie." Max breathed. "Why? Why do you want me?"
"I don't know." Rosie said quickly, "I feel short changed?"
"You win."
"I what?"
"I can't say no to you anymore - and not when you look so much like my Rosie." Max admitted, "One last time. I leave tomorrow."
"Dylan comes home tomorrow." Rosie whispered, "Come on." She giggled, grabbing his hand and pulling him into her room.
(x)
"You look simply stunning Mrs Trevanion." Danny smiled, holding Alice's hand as they sauntered towards Fatani's bar. She was wearing an open backed, black, knee length dress, with her hair hanging half up and half down, slightly curled. At his compliment, she smiled, her cheeks gaining a slight pink glow as he wrapped an arm tightly around her. Her hand came to clutch his that hung over her shoulder.
"You don't look too bad yourself." Alice smiled as they walked quietly into the bar. They'd decided to have a couple at Fatani's before going elsewhere. Despite the fact Liv had broken up with the owner, it was still their local and Alice had insisted they didn't change their plans despite Danny's earlier protests.
"What are you two doing here?" Fatani snapped as they walked up to the bar, "You're not welcome, none of you are."
"Fatani, grow up." Alice sighed, placing her hand bag on the bar.
"You're barred. All of you." Fatani spat, throwing her hand bag menacingly back at her, which only riled Danny, causing him to step in front of Alice.
"Don't give me an excuse Fatani." Danny warned. Upon hearing the news that Liv was upset, and hearing her cries, he'd naturally had every intention of storming round to Fatani's and knocking seven bells out of him until Alice had stepped in and reminded him to stay calm and indeed, stay out of it.
"Look Fatani. I get you're upset, but barring the entire family based on a spat between you and Liv?" Alice laughed slightly, "You gonna terminate the contract to supply us then?" As Fatani glanced away, Alice shook her head. "What happens between you and Liv, is between you and Liv. We've just come for a few quiet drinks in our local before we head off to dinner. So, are you going to serve us or not?"
Fatani nodded, slightly embarrassed by his behaviour and intimidated by Danny's angry glare. "I'm sorry, I just... I really liked her. Usuals?"
Alice glanced to Danny who was still giving Fatani what could only be described as a death glare. She nodded quickly to Fatani before taking her Husband's hand, squeezing it covertly. He smiled, glancing down at her, before kissing the side of her head.
"Sorry." Danny murmured to her, pausing as Fatani placed the drinks on the bar.
"On the house." Fatani smiled sheepishly.
As Danny and Alice retreated to a secluded, quiet area of the bar, Danny continued his apology. "I didn't mean to stare at him or react like that - I just... it annoyed me when he threw your bag at you."
"He's hurting Danny and to be honest, I think he'll be hurting a lot more." Alice sighed, "Liv and Thabo..."
"Parents and kids, the never ending dance? Speaking of which - do you think Rosie's been acting strange?" Danny murmured, "She's been distracted in the surgery, I had to remind her to stitch one animal back up and that's not Rosie..."
"I don't know. I suppose it can't be easy having Max back here and Dylan away. Maybe it's bringing back painful memories." Alice suggested, "Anyway, enough about children, this is meant to be about me, and you." She smirked, stroking his arm. "Now where you taking me for dinner?"
"Nice try." Danny chuckled, taking her hand into his and kissing her knuckles gently. "It's a surprise Mrs Trevanion and I'm not going to tell you no matter how much you nag me."
"What if I persuade you?" Alice murmured, her tone suggestive.
"I'll take a lot of persuading." Danny teased, enjoying seeing his wife smile and laugh with him. It seemed such a long time since they'd been together, alone, having fun without any worries or prying eyes.
"Oh trust me, you won't." Alice beamed, leaning over and kissing his lips chastely.
Danny smirked, kissing her back. He'd intended for the kiss to be a chaste, touch of the lips, almost a tease, but as Alice wrapped her arms around her neck, he couldn't resist the urge to deepen the kiss. He'd always found her irresistible especially when she was in this kind of mood. So irresistible, he didn't notice her hand moving slowly towards his trouser pocket where he always kept his mobile phone on a night out. Alice smirked slightly on his lips, sliding it out of his pocket, opening her eyes and opening his emails. She tapped on one titled 'Your Reservation', pulling away quickly as she read the email.
"Four Corners? My favourite!" Alice laughed, waving Danny's phone in front of him. He shook his head, unable to stop himself from laughing along with her. He should have known better than to keep the email! Then again, she'd have probably gotten it out of him anyway.
"You're a pain. Still, I know you like it there so..." Danny trailed off, holding his hand out for his phone. "Phone?"
"You can have it once we've had a picture." Alice smiled. Danny grumbled slightly, but otherwise wrapped his arm around her, smiling contently as she took a quick shot. Both glanced down at the photo. "I love it." Alice whispered.
"It's like beauty and the beast." Danny retorted.
"Get out of it Danny, you're not a beast!"
"I wasn't talking about me!" He smirked, his expression that of a cheeky school boy as she swiped at his arm.
"Hey!"
"No, it's a great photo." Danny conceded. "And it's going to be a great night." He promised, "Come on, let's down these and get going. It's not often I get you all to myself these days."
Alice smiled warmly at her Husband, running her hand gently down his cheek before picking up her bag. Danny quickly downed the remainder of his beer, leaving only the empty bottle behind as he escorted his wife through the tables and chairs and out towards the taxi rank in the township. As he glanced down at her, he felt a bubbling in the pit of his stomach, a smile forcing it's way onto his lips. He couldn't believe he'd ever lost sight of her, even for one moment, and when they were like this, so strong and unified, he wondered how they ever reached for dark times, stuck in a rut. He felt indestructible and it was all down to the woman on his arm.
(x)
Thabo stretched, trying to rid himself of the aching muscles in his back, as he finally closed the bonnet on Liv's car. He'd finally managed to fix the problem for her, thanks to a new part arriving. He sighed, as he noticed a key ring hanging off the keys - a key ring he'd bought for her long ago. His mind ran away to a few hours previous, she still loved him - or so she said, but if she didn't why would she leave Fatani? She had it made there didn't she? A man who earned a good wage, a good home, a business and a family - not to mention a job - so what more could she want other than love? But then she said there was something he had to know and he was sure she'd have told him had it not been for Danny calling him back to his work. Since then, a whole variety of scenarios had been running through his mind - including some that had no merit - after all, Liv deciding to be an astronaut seemed a little far-fetched.
"Thabo?"
He turned, and felt his breath leave him as the subject of his musings stood just a few meters away in a dressing gown. He gave her a warm smile, rubbing his oily hands upon on an old rag.
"I fixed your car."
"Oh, thanks, how much do I owe you?" Liv asked.
"Nothing." Thabo smiled, "It was a cheap repair." He lied.
"No it wasn't." Liv retorted, "You're a crap liar."
"I want to pay." Thabo shrugged, "So, we gonna talk?"
Liv remained silent, gazing into his chocolate brown eyes a moment, remembering a time when she'd been sure they held every answer and every comfort she would ever require - maybe they still did, once she'd broken down the barriers. Without thinking, she nodded, robotically preparing herself to admit the truth.
"Do you want to go inside?" Thabo asked.
"No, no the evening's nice." Liv admitted, scared of his reaction. The last thing she wanted was the family hearing this.
"Ok... what were you gonna say to me earlier?" He asked, "It seemed important."
"Thabo." Liv breathed. She closed her eyes trying to calm her nerves. "Please don't hate me... I was young, stupid, and I was scared."
"Liv?" Thabo squeaked.
"2 weeks after you left, I discovered something... something I should have told you about. I knew it had to be yours, it couldn't be anyone else's... Thabo I was pregnant." Liv admitted quietly.
"Pregnant?" Thabo gasped, his face the picture of shock.
"Yes..." Liv sighed, "Thabo, I aborted our child..." Liv cried, tears beginning to fall.
Thabo stood still a moment, before bursting to life.