Alice walked around the surgery feeling half like she was in a trance. It took her whole concentration to ensure that she gave the correct meds to the specific animals. She hadn't had much sleep last night, that combined with how ill she felt was making her feel delirious. She was sure she'd had a conversation with a Roycat half an hour ago, the scary part was it had been answering her, and she had found that completely normal. God she needed some sleep! As she walked towards the animals she felt the same irritating little tickle in her throat she'd had all day. All morning she had been coughing, this dry totally useless cough that was doing her head in! She had a cold coming on too, she could feel it. Put simply she was dead on her feet, all this emotional upheaval was taking it's toll on her so when Robbie went for his afternoon nap she intended to go and hopefully get an hour or two of uninterrupted sleep. God knows she could use it, she knew that if she could just get some rest this ill feeling would just disappear. Thing was Robbie had been stuck in his playpen in the office all day and she wasn't that sure he'd be agreeable to go for a nap after being coped up all day long. She hated doing it but she had no choice. Everyone had their own stuff going on and she was his mother and didn't like palming him off on everyone just coz she had stuff to do. After placing the last food bowl in the final cage she went to the office.

"Mama!" Robbie called lifting his arms.

She lifted him and called Ed making sure that he was covering all the call outs. When he assured her it was fine she almost threw the phone out of her hand as to ensure he didn't have time to change his mind, she didn't though, she calmly thanked him and placed the phone in the cradle. As she carried Robbie up to the house she talked to him.

"Bottle then sleepy time little man, sorry mummy hasn't had much time for you today but later on after a sleep I'm all yours." she promised. The only time they had spent today was when he needed changed or when she fed him his dinner. "So if my baby will go straight to sleep then we'll play." She talked nonsense to him while she collected him a bottle, he began drinking it eagerly. She saw his eyes drooping tiredly. He fell asleep before finishing. She carried him into his room and lay him in his cot. Placed his blanket over him gently and opened his window a crack in case he got too warm. She shuffled her weary body into her room and flopped onto the bed, felt its warmth and softness envelope her. She closed her eyes and let herself drift…..then heard a cry over the baby monitor.

"Robs…." she groaned. She should have known that was too easy. Pulled herself back up, went to Robbie's room and tried for twenty minutes to get him to settle. She couldn't be bothered for this, usually she would never do this but she was so tired and had no other choice she picked up Robbie blanket and all and took him into her and Danny's room. She used her free arm to move the blanket out of the way and lay him in the middle of the bed. After that she folded the blanket and used it as a shield to make sure he didn't fall off, then popped the pillows on top to make sure. She then lay down on her side and put her hand on his small chest. She felt it moving up and down rhythmically and felt herself growing drowsy. Robbie was still wide awake though so while he babbled she imagined doing the most intricate surgery she could think of. She was half way through when she saw his eyes close. Thank God, she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep going, if that animal hadn't been in her imagination then she was pretty sure it would be dead by now, even in her mind she was falling asleep! Since she was free she allowed her mind to drift, inevitably her thoughts led her to the same place it always did when she drifted, to the copy, to Danny. She smiled as he took her hand looking at her so intensely like he used to. He led her around a corner and there was blanket with a picnic, champagne glasses glistening. He knelt down, picked them up and handed one to her.

"To us."

She tipped her glass and it hit his with a clink then he put his arm around hers and as they linked they drank from their glasses. She giggled in her dream but couldn't know that in reality her smile was wide. After placing the glasses down he took her in his arms gently and kissed her murmuring how much he loved her. Nothing had came between them here, they were happy. She was in heaven.

(X)

Rosie and Max lifted the two girls from the car after they had arrived at Leopards Den. Rosie carried Gloria, she felt wobbly and not from the weight of the child, she knew she was barely holding on to her control. As Max had drove Ally had began to cry in her sleep, Rosie had did her best to comfort her but she begged for her mum and Rosie heart had broke. Finally she had fallen back to sleep but the helpless feeling had remained with Rosie and she needed some time to gather herself.

"This place hasn't changed." Max murmured as she walked up the stairs. "Apart from a lick of paint."

"Things have been updated." she told him. "But some things never really change." not like life! Life changed so damn quick sometimes and there was nothing you could do to stop it from spiralling out of control, all you could do was hold on tight and hoped you survived. She couldn't do this! She checked her watch. It was after two, Alice would be putting Robbie down for his nap, perfect time for a chat...and meltdown.

"Max I have to go see Alice, will you settle the girls in the living room and I'll be there in a little bit."

"Yeah sure."

She handed him Gloria in his free arm and headed for her brothers room, found it empty. Alice would be in the surgery so when she was down the stairs she broke into a dead run down there. She really needed someone right now, she was glad it was Alice and not her dad. Alice would tell her straight while he would tell her everything she wanted to hear, which while kind was not really helpful. She almost screamed when the surgery was empty too. She trudged back up to the house hands in her pockets when she realised that Alice might be in her room. Maybe Caroline had taken the kids for the day and Alice was tidying or something. She jogged up the stairs and headed straight for Alice's room, knocked softly then popped her head in. She saw Alice lain half on her stomach her arm stretched out to her left. There was a heap of blankets obstructing the view and she knew that her baby brother was lain on the other side. She hated to wake Alice up, she needed her sleep but she had no one else right now. She walked to her side and knelt down. Shook her arm. "Alice." she whispered not wanting to disturb the sleeping baby.

Alice moaned and buried her head in the pillow, she heard her murmur her dad's name. Alice was sleeping deeply, which made Rosie's guilt deeper. She shook her harder. "Alice!" firmer then before.

Alice eyes popped open and when she saw Rosie hovering over her with such ain in her eyes she sat up sharply. "What is it?" voice thick with fatigue and slurred from sleep.

Rosie got up and sat on the side of the bed.

Alice took in the sight of her step daughter. "Rosie are you ok? You look terrible." cleared her throat when her voice was croaky.

Rosie stared at her, the terrible comment coming from someone who's eyes were so bloodshot they almost glowed and had bags under them that looked like sacks of potato's. She was reminded of the sleeping children and rubbed her mouth. "Alice I have to ask a favour."

"Anything." Alice lay back down rubbing her face.

"Well see….." Rosie's face crumpled and the last of her reserve broke away. Soon her head was bowed and she was sobbing.

Alice was instantly wide awake. She sat up taking Rosie in her arms hugging her tightly. "Rosie sweetheart what's happened?"

"My friends…." she breathed, more sobs being torn from her. "They've been killed. I've been at the hospital all morning."

"Oh Rosie." Alice hugged her closer and put her hand on her head, like she did Charlotte when she was trying to shield her from anything that may cause her harm, physical or emotional.

"Now me and Max need to care for their two girls and I don't know what to do." she buried her face in Alice's shoulder and clung to her. "I'm so scared!"

"You'll be fine Rosie." Alice promised.

"Can we all…."

"Rosie you don't even have to ask, you Max and the kids can stay here as long as you need to."

Rosie nodded and pulled away, her eyes red rimmed. "Alice what if mess up…"

Alice shook her head.

"I mean they don't even know their mum and dad are dead, this is so important and I know that somewhere I'll…."

Alice knew that Rosie was about to go on a tangent, one Alice wouldn't let her follow through on. It would only plant the seed of doubt firmer into her mind. Alice cupped her face in both her hands "Listen to me Rosemary Trevanion, you'll be fine! I know it! It won't be easy and sometimes you'll want to scream but if you and Max work together you'll be fine, better than that, you'll be amazing."

"Max and I are divorced though." she whispered.

"Support each other, learn to listen." and Alice lowered her hands.

Rosie looked at her, eyes bleak. "I'm sorry for disturbing you."

Alice shook her head. "It's fine, stuff to do anyway."

"Do you mind if we go to a hut or something, the girls need to grieve in private."

"The luxury lodge is all yours. it has the separate rooms or the …." if Alice's brain hadn't been so addled from sleep deprivation she wouldn't have nearly mentioned the flat, the same flat Rosie and Max had lived in when they were newly married. She trailed off.

"The lodge is fine, has all we need."

Alice stood up and stretched, watched Rosie pull a hand through her hair.

"I know it's hard Rosie but try not to worry."

Rosie stood up and Alice hugged her once again. "I'm here for you anytime day or night." Alice murmured in her ear then kissed her cheek.

"Thank you." then Rosie exhaled and left the room.

Alice felt her entire spine lose consistency and her body slumped as she stood. She rubbed her tired face trying to force it to wake up. So much for sleep, unfortunately after ten minutes rest she found it impossible to go back off. She was awake for the duration now, even if she did feel like death! She picked her son up and took him back to his room then collected her paperwork. Saw Rosie and Max in the living room heads together deep in conversation. Rosie put her head in his chest and he hugged her close, placing his face on her hair, those two were gonna find a way to do this she knew it. She hurried away before they noticed they were being watched and became self conscious. Alice knew what was happening between them even if they didn't…. yet.

(X)

While the girls slept Max had returned home to collect his clothes, his wedding ring and was once again stood on Leopards Den. This place had been his home once, somewhere he'd been sure he would never be again, yet here he was, two small girls bringing him and Rosie together once again. It was six o'clock now and the girls had awoke, he and Rosie had decided that the best course of action would be to give them something to eat first then tell them about their parents. Neither he or Rosie truly knew what they were doing but they were both in the same situation and talking, which they hadn't done a lot in the dying days of their marriage. It felt good, better than good actually. Too bad the reason they were close existed. Right now they were sat on the little veranda in the lodge. The night was warm and the crickets were playing their song. Darkness was beginning to fall. the four people sat at a table eating. The only sound was the cutlery moving against the plate. The girls took sporadic bites but mostly pushed their food around their plate.

"So Ally Gloria is this food ok for you?" Rosie asked. Nomsa had sent down so of her home cooking. Jackets potato's with steaks and gravy.

"We want mum and dad!" Ally spoke up. Gloria's blond head nodded vigorously beside her, a plea in her dads blue eyes. Rosie placed her cutlery down carefully and nodded at Max. She rubbed the back of her neck as tension made it feel like stone, then stood up. "Lets go inside girls." took a hand of each of the girls. They walked inside and she sat them down on the sofa. Knelt in front of them. Max did too.

"Girls…" she began. "Your mum and dad…." Rosie moistened her lips as it felt like her whole body suddenly had became like a prune.

The girls stared expectedly.

Max put his arm around Rosie and began. "Your mum and dad got a really important message last night, they got told that someone had a really special important job that only they could do. This was why they had to leave, they went up to heaven to look after all the little angels."

Ally's eyes widened. "So they are…"

Max nodded. Rosie wrapped her in her arms as she started to scream and sob. "I'm so sorry sweetie." stroked her hair holding her tight.

Gloria being three didn't quite understand. "When will they come home?"

Max lifted the child onto his knee and looked at her little face. "They won't be sweetie, they are angels now."

"Never ever?" she asked lower lip trembling. "I want my mummy and daddy though. Daddy reads me stories always every night and mummy makes my favouritest food."

"That's why we are here." Rosie cut in. "We aren't your mummy and daddy, no one could ever replace them but we will be looking after you both and love you with all our hearts."

Rosie's heart broke as she heard Ally still weeping uncontrollably in her arms.

Max picked Gloria up and motioned for Rosie to bring Ally. Rosie carried the girl outside and they sat on the stairs and looked at the sky which was darker than before. Ally was bent double so Rosie sat her on her knee. Max pointed up to the dark blue night.

"See those stars up there? Those two big ones that are twinkling at us? That's your mum and dad together in heaven. Although they aren't here in person they are still here, around us everyday. And every night as you sleep you can rest easy knowing that they are watching over you. Anything you want to say tell it to those stars and even though they can't answer you they can hear you. You ever hear of wishing on stars? Well wish on those stars and they'll do their best to make sure it comes true."

Gloria buried her face in his arm. "Will you teach me the song?"

He nodded. "Say after me, Star light, star bright, two stars I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I make tonight." he had changed it just slightly for the girls.

Gloria said it softly.

"We'll practice every night ok?" Max promised.

Gloria nodded.

Ally was still wrapped up in Rosie shuddering.

Rosie was all choked up, unable to talk past the lump in her throat. Her eyes glistened. Max saw her close her eyes. He reached past the girls and put his hand on her shoulder. She looked at him.

"You ok?" he mouthed.

She nodded. "Thank you." she replied silently.

He blinked and turned. The two children wept silently, held by the two adults who stared up at the sky, wishing on the stars that things were different.

A/N awwww alice rosie support was so sweet, then at the end there with Rosie and Max, you can only hope things stay this way when Danny returns in the next chapter x