It was around a week later when Danny was finally allowed to go home. He was exhausted most the time and some days he barely stayed awake to talk to his family but he'd been insistent on going home and so at the first opportunity he'd been allowed to go home.

The family adored Danny James, or Little Danny as they all called him. Danny and Alice absolutely doted on him and Charlotte and Olivia brooded over him all the time. Evan had been immensely proud and emotional and had had a tear in his eye when Alice thrust the small child into his arms. He absolutely adored him as they all did.

Dupe had even given him one of his old bush hats. This had immediately brought a tear to Alice's eye as she saw Dupe talk to D.J. The way he spoke in such a soft voice and the way in which he handled him, anyone would mistake him for his grandfather. Alice sighed, he was technically his grandfather.

But that had all been a few days ago and life at Leopards Den was very much resumed for most the members of the family... all except Danny and Alice.

Danny was tired and still in a lot of pain. He was confined to the house and was to use a wheelchair when he wasn't in bed resting. He felt useless and detested it. He missed the animals and was in the process of persuading Alice to take him down to see them. Alice of course had flat out refused and told him she was never ever risking losing him, however his pleading eyes had got the better of her and she'd gone and got Jana to come and see him. Danny had appreciated the gesture, animals were a massive part of his life. He felt like he had a number of missing pieces.

Alice was quite stressed however as usual she put on a brave face. The locum vet couldn't arrive until next week and so she had to juggle Danny's care with Little Danny's care, the rest of the family and her work. It was all beginning to take its toll on her. She was exhausted by the time she got in. It wasn't that the family weren't helping her though. Caroline, Dupe and the children were all working hard to have the animals cleaned, fed and watered. Alice just administered medication. Nomsa had offered numerous times to take Danny James off her hands but she'd politely declined Nomsa's kind offer. Alice felt a need to look after him and didn't want to take advantage of Nomsa, she was already under a lot of pressure and didn't need the addition of a screaming child!

Charlotte was more than pleased to have her mum back along with Danny. She adored her little brother. Danny had commented on how when the two were together they did look quite similar. Alice had smiled softly in agreeance, maybe he did share some of her traits. Danny had said some of his expressions were definitely all his mothers! Alice had laughed and told him his sulking face was most certainly Danny's. Danny had then proceeded to sulk arguing he did not sulk.

Today Danny was on complete bed rest. He'd not had any sleep and was in a lot of pain with his wounds. Alice walked in to see him wincing in pain.

"Hey." She smiled softly.

"Hi." Danny replied in a tired voice. "How's little fella?"

"Fast asleep." Alice laughed. "Miracle... he's been screaming his head off ALL morning!"

"Ahh, fun times?" Danny smiled.

"You could say that..." Alice smiled, she placed Danny James down in his cot and walked over to Danny. She sat herself on the edge of the bed near his head. "So, how you feeling?"

"Tired, useless, rubbish, crap... in a lot of pain." Danny spat looking away. Alice sighed, he'd been taking this attitude a lot as the time he'd been at home increased.

"Danny." Alice sighed.

"You asked me how I felt." Danny replied.

"I know..." Alice looked down. "Right come on! I'll do your dressings."

"Do we have to do them?" Danny asked putting on his puppy eyes and wiggling his eyebrows, his hand began to creep up Alice's knee up to her thighs.

She smacked his hand playfully whilst laughing.

"Yes we do! Unless you fancy an infection and the trip to the hospital?" Alice asked.

"But there's much better uses for this bed..." Danny whined.

"Danny, you are in no fit state for that! Behave! Besides, my body has to recover too!" Alice replied, she began to unbutton his shirt.

"You seem very happy to undress me." Danny winked.

Alice shook her head at him before taking the antiseptic wipe out.

"Please Alice... have mercy! Do you really want me to go through the pain?" Danny teased.

"Not really, but I don't want to go through the pain of losing you again." She sighed. "It was hard Danny, watching you there lifeless... I never want to go through that again."

"I know, I'm sorry..." Danny took her hand.

"It's not your fault." Alice smiled as she began to change his dressings. He winced and groaned in pain as she cleaned the wounds.

"You are such a wimp!" Alice laughed. "Although so am I, urgh I hate looking at these."

"Why? Thought you didn't mind blood?" Danny asked.

"Yeh but I don't exactly like seeing you like this Danny." Alice replied as she put the bandages on. "It's not nice."

Danny nodded.

"You're done!" Alice smiled.

"Not quite." Danny replied smiling.

"Why?" Alice enquired pushing the kit to the side.

"I haven't had a kiss of my rather beautiful fiancée. I would give her one but I'm rather the invalid!" Danny whined. Alice sighed, this was hard for him. Her heartstrings tugged for him.

"I love you Danny." Alice said softly, anyone in the world could tell just how much she meant that too. She took his face into her hands and kissed him deeply, they lingered for a few moments before pulling away.

Danny lifted his arm and cursed as the pain took over, he shook it away though as he put his hand to Alice's face. Alice could see he was in pain and tried to get him to put his hand down.

"Danny you'll..."

"No Alice." Danny replied through gritted teeth. "I..." He took a deep breath finding the strength to carry on. "I love you too... I'd do anything for you."

"Well in that case, you can stop hurting yourself." She smiled softly taking his hand from her face, she kept it in between her palms. "Because I need you and Little Danny James needs you, and Evan and Olivia need you and Charlotte needs you. We all need you."

"I need you." Danny replied, he yawned, Alice smiled and stroked his face.

"Get some sleep!" She winked standing up.

Danny raised his arm and grabbed her hands.

"Ouch!" Danny yelled but not letting go. "Kiss?"

Alice pretended to contemplate the action.

"Hmm... go on then!" She grinned kissing him quickly, Danny pulled her back for another kiss, he used all his strength to throw in as much passion as he could muster up. Alice had responded until the shrill sound of a baby crying broke them apart. They both laughed.

"Welcome to family life." Danny smiled before closing his eyes and following his orders.

Alice had shook her head and walked out with Little Danny out of the room. She'd have any life as long as she had Danny.

A/N – Not the best end but I tried to add some cuteness and lead up to the sequel!

Anyway, thank you to all the peoples who have reviewed, me loves you all!

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