Drovers Run.. Breakfast time..
Stevie is sitting in the kitchen feeding Xander while Tess feeds Claire her cereal.
" Dave and Kate left early this morning ." Stevie says.
" Yeah they've gone to tell her family all of their news." Tess replies.
" How do you think they'll take it?" Stevie asks.
" Not very well I'd imagine." Tess replies.
...
" Hmmm yeah I wouldn't want to be them." Stevie muses.
" No me either." Tess agrees.
Both girls look up as Alex hobbles into the kitchen.
" Alex what's wrong?" Stevie asks.
"I thought I'd be ok in the swag but my hip is really sore this morning and I think its a little swollen." He replies offering his hip to Stevie.
Gently she pushes around it and remarks ." You're right it is Alex. Maybe we should go and see the Doctor on the way home."
...
"Nah a bit of deep heat will fix it and a couple of pain killers." He suggests.
Stevie hands Xander to Tess and retrieves the rub from the cupboard.
"Undo your jeans." Stevie demands.
Alex flicks the button and then grabs at the front of them as Stevie reefs the back down.
"Ease up." He growls.
"Sorry." She giggles from behind him.
"Yeah that was heartfelt." He grumbles.
...
Stevie begins to gently work the ointment into his hip and the top of his buttock.
"Damn the things you see when you don't have a camera. Nice arse Alex." Grace chuckles as she makes her way past them to make her breakfast.
'Jesus Stevie you could have told me she was there." Alex snaps.
Stevie laughs and says. " Geez Alex half the women in Gungellan have seen your derrier."
"And their Mother's as well." Tess adds.
...
Alex looks indignant and turning grabs the ointment from Stevie's hand and says. "I'll do it myself."
As he limps from the room the three women laugh.
"I think he's upset Stevie." Tess suggests once she stops laughing.
"Yeah are you right with the little fellow." Stevie asks .
Tess nods.
...
Stevie finds Alex outside near the cattle yards.
"Hey!" She calls.
He doesn't respond.
"Alex!" She calls again.
Silence.
...
Placing her hand on his arm she's stunned when he pulls away and says . " Bugger off."
"Alex I'm sorry.' She says softly and with sincerity.
"Hey!" She says again and pulls him around to her.
The look on his face is one of physical pain and something else.
"Talk to me." She pleads.
...
"You worked a topless bar Stevie. I've never thrown that in your face because its something you want to leave in the past. When can I leave my past behind? I don't want Grace or anyone else seeing my bare arse and yet you think its funny. She's my brothers girlfriend for crying out loud." He growls.
"Well your other brother's wife has seen way more than your bare arse." She counters and the minute the words leave her lips she regrets them.
The look on his face instantly brings tears to her eyes.
"I'm so sorry I shouldn't have said that." She gushes.
...
"No you shouldn't but it didn't stop you. It hurts Stevie especially when it comes from you." He states.
"You know I'm only joking Alex and you should know that I don't mean to hurt your feelings." She offers.
"Oh right so how about we drive down to the city and find a display home so we can have sex on the bed? Maybe we'll get caught by the salesman." He snarls.
Her mouth drops open and she exclaims. " How do you know that?'
...
"Your big mouth ex husband told me but I figured it was another part of your life you'd like to leave in the past so I never said anything." He answers.
"What else did he tell you?" She asks clearly embarrassed.
"I wouldn't even bother repeating the garbage that came out of his mouth." Alex answers.
"I thought he always looked out for me." She says almost to herself.
"Yeah well you were wrong. He was trying to big note himself by telling me about the things the two of you got up too."He answers.
...
"Honestly I never thought it bothered you who saw you naked." Stevie states.
" Yeah well it does now Stevie. I'm a husband and a Father and I only want you to see my god damn backside." He retorts.
She can't help but smirk at him.
His face softens when she says." It's such a gorgeous bum Alex."
" I'll show it to ya when we get home." He says cheekily.
" Yeah?" She asks.
He nods.
" Right let's grab your son and go home then." She chuckles playfully.
...
As they walk back to the house he says." It'll be nice having more bubs around the place."
"Yes it will but Tess and Nick will be losing a great overseer." She replies.
"They'd already lost you." He replies.
" I meant Kate."
"Oh yeah right Kate."
" You think I'm a great overseer?"
" The best , well besides me." He teases.
She pushes him.
He stumbles.
" Oh shit Alex are you alright?"
"Yeah just a bit tender."
...
She holds his arm.
"When do you think we'll have another bub Stevie?"
She doesn't answer.
He stops and looks at her and can see she has something on her mind.
...
" Hey!" He states turning her to face him.
She's agitated and looks everywhere but at him.
"Stevie?" He questions.
" I don't think I want anymore Alex."
" But I thought you wanted a big family Stevie? Two is hardly big."
" I don't think I'm strong enough to go through all of that on my own again Alex. I've had two babies and done it all pretty much on my own." She says softly.
...
"Stevie it'll be different next time." He pushes.
" You told me that last time. You extended and I had to tell you over the phone about Xander and then when you did finally come home you went again then the accident." She whispers.
Roughly her pulls her into his arms ." I promise I'll be there every step of the way Cowgirl but if you really don't want anymore I'll be happy if you are. We've got one of each and they're both healthy we shouldn't be greedy I guess."
...
Gently pushing back she looks up at him and says ." Nice try Alex but I know you're lying."
He grins at her and says." Think ya know everything don't ya?"
Hugging into his waist she says. " Thanks for trying to make me feel better."
"Let's just wait and see how you feel in a couple of months time ." He suggests.
...
She nods but asks." No pressure though?"
Hugging her again he rest his chin on her head and replies." Yeah no pressure."
Without moving she says ." You're lying again."
He laughs and hugs her tightly and whispers." Sorry but I can't hide the fact I want more children Stevie I'd like another boy and at least one little girl and I'd like her to be a gorgeous and feisty little red head."
She doesn't answer but hugs into him.
...
The cottage ...Drovers Run..
Matt rolls over and cuddles into Jodi's back and kissing her shoulder says ." Good morning Mrs McLeod."
She laughs and with great effort rolls onto her back ." You mean Mrs Bosnich."
"No we are officially Jodi and Matthew McLeod . I figured after all you gave up for me it was the least I could do. Plus my father is gone and the name Bosnich never brought me any happiness . Considering all the McLeod's are women the name will die unless we do something about it, so you'd better make sure you supply some male heirs to carry on your family name." He explains.
She's shocked and asks." Really you did that for me? You do realise the male decides the sex of babies not the female?"
...
Dragging himself up and leaning over her he kisses her tenderly and says ."Ok I'll concentrate next time and make sure it's a boy ."
She laughs.
"As far as the name change goes I did it for us Jodi. Fresh start and a fresh name. Well fresh for me anyway."He adds.
With his hip resting against her stomach he bends back and laughs ." I think we're having a gymnast."
Pushing up on her elbows she smiles as her tummy changes shape several times.
"I hope it waits just a few more days so you can enjoy all of this." She muses.
Rubbing his hand across her belly he says wistfully." You're amazing Jodi growing our own little miracle."
He looks up and she's smiling but tears are spilling down her cheeks.
"What's wrong?" He asks
" Nothing, my life is perfect because you're here." She answers.
With a brief smile he moves back over and kisses her.
...