Alice walked out to see Vanessa speeding away in her overly expensive car. She sighed, bit irresponsible she thought as she noticed Georgia and Petal in the back. She looked around for Danny, he didn't seem to be about. She sighed and began to walk down to the animal hospital.
"I'm sure I told you to stay in the bedroom." Danny murmured coming up behind her. She turned round, mouth agape. Completely confused at how he'd got into the house? Then again she had been stood round the back monging before she made a move.
"I got bored, can you blame me? Plus I saw Vanessa having a do at you." Alice explained.
"Don't worry about Vanessa, there's only two people to be mentioned." Danny smiled taking her hand and pulling her to the house.
"Who?" Alice asked stopping at the top of the stairs.
"Me and you." Danny smiled taking both her hands and gently running his thumbs over her knuckles.
"But..." Alice began.
"The house is ours." Danny grinned, "Everyone's gone out!"
"Really?" Alice smiled, her blue eyes soft. Danny nodded. Alice's smile grew as she closed her eyes and gently brushed his lips with her own. As they pulled away, both beamed at the other before walking off hand in hand into the kitchen.
(x)
"You wanna stay here?" Zoe asked as Matt returned announcing Dupe was going. She'd got the impression Charlotte wasn't in the mood for Fatani's.
"Don't you and Matt like have stuff to..." Charlotte stopped.
"I'm just out of hospital!" Zoe grinned with a wink. "No, honestly. If you wanna stay, stay."
"Thanks Zoe." Charlotte smiled, Matt nodded and waved Dupe off before walking back into the front room. He handed Zoe her crutches.
"Half an hour later." Zoe mumbled jokingly.
"Yeh yeh." Matt smiled, Zoe smiled back hitting him with her crutch lightly. Both their eyes caught before Matt walked off to the kitchen, it seemed unspoken, the decision had been made that he was to cook dinner.
"Love is in the air." Charlotte sang under her breath. Zoe laughed and elbowed her with a chuckle.
"Anyway, what's this I hear about a certain boy named Joe?" Zoe winked.
"What?" Charlotte's face dropped comically as her voice reached an octave so high Zoe was concerned for her windows!
(x)
"You did all this... for me?" Alice asked, voice choked with emotion as she took in the appearance of the house. He'd led her to the back first of all, the place they'd got back together, where he'd set up a small secluded table. Candles sat upon it, it was beautiful.
"You deserve treating." Danny smiled. He led her forward and pulled out a chair for her.
"Thank you." Alice smiled, looking at him. He grinned before leaning down to kiss her. Then with an exclusive smile he hurried off to fetch the meal he'd cooked himself, well he'd prepared it earlier then Nomsa had put it in the oven for him. He'd also brought some wine with him.
(x)
Zoe was in the kitchen, she'd left Charlotte momentarily to go see how Matt was doing. Charlotte had fussed over her, telling her not to rush, but Zoe being Zoe had just gave her that sarcastic look that she had perfected so well and carried on regardless. Charlotte had sighed then of course, realising trying to tell Zoe anything could be incredibly hard. Zoe's words were still playing on Charlotte's mind – mostly the stuff about herself and telling her mum how much she loved her. Now Charlotte had been forced to think about it, she realised she never really showed how much she adored and cherished her mum. Nobody in this world meant more to Charlotte than Alice did, and she would quite honestly do anything for her mum. Take any amount of suffering, torture or pain for her. Death even. Her mind drifted to Danny, her dad. She didn't care he wasn't biologically her father, her father was obviously a good for nothing... she stopped, it wasn't about him, it was about Danny. She smiled as she remembered how touched he had been when she had first called him dad. He was her dad though, in every sense of the word, and she loved him just as much, maybe even more than if they were related by blood. Danny had done so much for herself but mostly, he'd saved her mother and made her happy, and for that Charlotte vowed she would be eternally grateful to him. Charlotte realised Zoe was right and she felt like she had taken her parents for granted in some respects. It was strange to think about this sort of thing, to have it brought to her mind. After all, it wasn't something that ran through her mind regularly, and what does a hug matter in the everyday running of life? Yes they were nice, but no one ever thought about it if they didn't hug their mum or dad, or didn't tell the people you loved how much you loved them.
Zoe had battled her way to the kitchen door, but she'd stopped there. She leant against the wooden frame of the door, watching silently as Matt made his way carefree around the kitchen. He was currently messing about with something in a pan, potatoes she gathered. She sighed, he was so perfect. She wondered sometimes how she'd been so lucky. She then remembered what she'd once been told by Alice. Never question it, just be grateful you've got it. She smiled, that had stuck in her mind ever since, and it had come from a heart to heart they'd had when Danny had been away one night. They'd been discussing how lucky they felt and how they questioned it. Zoe couldn't stop the questioning, then Alice had told her that it had taken her until three years later to even start to stop the questions. Zoe had laughed but then Alice had hit her with that one quote, and it had never left her brain. Zoe sighed and made her way forward, Matt turned round and tilted his head at her before turning back to his pans. Zoe simply stood behind him, her arms wrapped around him, leaning on him, watching him.
(x)
Danny and Alice had finished their meal, but Danny wasn't done. He didn't know what Alice would want to do, but he'd had an idea. It could go in any direction and wasn't suggestive. He slowly led her to the bathroom. She frowned at him but he just gave her one of his grins he reserved for her and her alone. As they walked through the door. Alice began to cry softly at the sight in front of her. She was touched deeply as she looked at what Danny had created in what must have been no time. The bath was filled with steaming water and petals floated on them. Blue and green. She smiled at that gesture. A few candles were dotted around but not too close to the bath, they were red. She smiled. Danny always had been clumsy, no wonder he had them in safe places.
"I love you." She whispered, turning round to look him directly in the eyes.
"I love you too... enjoy." He murmured, caressing her cheek with the softest touch.
Alice began to fumble with his shirt. He looked down at her as she did so.
"Share it with me." She said, a plea in her voice.
Danny said nothing, but simply nodded, a smile on his face and a glint in his eyes.
