Two days later….Port Douglas…

Tess, Stevie and Rose are loaded up with bags of new clothes after spending the morning shopping.

'You do realize we can only wear this gear for another week and then it will be too cold." Rose observes.

"Don't think about that Rose it's actually a little more than a week." Tess explains.

Stevie laughs and says. "Two days Tess."

"Shhh don't say that." Tess growls playfully.

…..

Nick and Alex are sitting drinking coffee when the girls meet up with them.

"You look comfortable." Tess muses.

"We tuckered them both out at the wildlife park." Nick replies.

"Sight and sound overload and they bombed out." Alex chuckles.

"Do you girls want a coffee?" Nick asks.

"No I think we should head back and get settled in." Stevie remarks.

"Yeah Auntie Mae has already rung to ask what time we'll be back." Alex agrees.

"Well come on then. "Stevie urges without sitting down.

Alex looks at Rose and asks. "Did you but some new gear Rose?"

Holding up her hands she replies. "I sure did! Mind you my bank balance is looking worse for wear."

His smile drops and he looks straight at Stevie.

"Don't say a word Alex I tried to pay for her things and she wouldn't let me." Stevie offers.

Screwing up his face he shakes his head. "Tarred with the same brush the pair of you."

Rose smiles at him and replies." I'll take that as a compliment Alex, thank you!"

Again he shakes his head.

Kilareny the old homestead…..

Dave Brewer sits in the living room deep in thought.

Placing his beer on the coffee table he rises and lifts another log onto the fire before grabbing the poker to stir up the coals.

Resting back in the chair his eyes shift as the back door bangs closed.

Even before Patrick comes into view Dave knows it's his younger brother.

"Hey you're home early! I thought you wouldn't be home until seven." Patrick questions.

"No I started earlier because we knew they'd forecast a cold snap." Dave replies.

"Yeah we've spent all day bringing the lambing ewes into sheltered paddocks." Patrick replies.

"Are you going out tonight?" Dave asks.

"No I've got an assignment due, so Taylor is staying on Drover's. I'll see her tomorrow night." Patrick replies.

Dave nods and says. "Casserole will be ready in half an hour, grab a beer."

….

Sitting together as they finish their meal Patrick glances at his older brother several times before asking." Is everything ok? You're really quiet tonight."

Dave stretches as he sits up straight. "Just tired mate that's all."

Patrick looks thoughtfully at him.

"I know we haven't seen each other a lot in the last few years but I know you Dave and this isn't tiredness. You've got something on your mind."

….

Standing up Dave grins at his brother and replies. "No you're wrong mate I'm just tired.

So I'm going to have an early night I'll see you in the morning."

Patrick shifts his eyes to the clock ad frowning says. "It's not even seven o'clock Dave."

Dave smiles and answers." My body says its midnight so I'm going to listen to it. Night!"

"Your body thinks you're an old man." Patrick calls after his brother.

"Night." Is all Dave offers as he closes his bedroom door.

….

Port Douglas….. Earlier in the day...

After the initial shock of seeing Auntie Mae's home Nick and Tess have unpacked and settled into their room.

Claire had fallen asleep in the car so Nick had carefully lain her in the little bed Auntie Mae had purchased especially for her.

In their absence she'd also purchased monitors for both sets of parents to keep tabs on their sleeping infants.

Leaving Claire asleep Tess and Nick venture downstairs.

Auntie Mae is busy in a meeting on the deck upstairs when Alex walks across the room.

Noting she has guests he is about to turn back when she spots him and calls him over.

With an affectionate greeting to both Alex and Xander she tells him she'll be finished in half an hour and then they'll have afternoon tea.

She re introduces him to her lawyer.

Several other men are standing by the guardrail and Alex moves closer and looks over the edge.

One comments. "The things you see when you don't have a pair of binoculars."

Stevie and Rose are lying sunbaking completely unaware they have an audience.

Through gritted teeth Alex says softly. "If you know what's good for you you'll keep your comments to yourself and your eyes off my wife and daughter."

Startled they swing to look at him and offer apologies.

He disregards them and moves quickly away not before saying to Auntie Mae." I didn't bring my family here to be a peep show for your employees."

…..

Kilarney….

"Are you ready yet Marcus?" Grace calls from the bottom of the stairs.

With a grin on his face he answers. "We've got the entire weekend together Grace there's no rush'.

"The weather's supposed to turn nasty and I'd rather not be on the road in it Marcus." She replies.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs he hugs her and gives her a short kiss and says. "We could just snuggle up here for the weekend."

Pushing back she laughs and says. "We're already late getting away because of you and your snuggling! You promised your Father weeks ago you'd do this for him and you can't put it off any longer. Now get in the car!"

Walking in front of her he jumps when she slaps his backside.

"Ow." He yelps making out in was worse than it was.

She laughs and with her hand on his back says. "Keep moving no sympathy here."

He laughs and she smiles at the sound.

….

Port Douglas…

Angrily Alex arrives by the pool and flings two towels across Stevie and Rose.

"Cover yourselves up!" He orders.

"What in the hell are you doing?" Stevie growls flinging the towel back off.

"If ya god damn bathers were any skimpier you'd both be naked. Cover up." He growls.

Rose doesn't wait around to listen to the fight as it escalates.

She's misunderstood his remark and feeling wounded hurries upstairs.

Stevie calls for her to come back then continues arguing with Alex.

As the back of Rose disappears from view Stevie rounds on him.

Inside Rose almost bowls Nick over as she storms through the doorway.

"Oh I love your bathers Rose they look great!" Tess remarks.

"Yeah well take a good look at them because they're going in the bin." Rose yells over her shoulder.

Tess and Nick exchange looks before moving outside.

"Sounds like trouble." Tess whispers.

"Hmmm wonder what it's about?" Nick replies.

"Bathers and an over protective step father is my guess." Tess states.

"I'll take that bet and raise you a lack of communication and or delivery of the same." Nick chuckles.

"I'll see your bet." Tess quips as they reach the arguing couple.

…..