Title: Tears were Falling Story: Alex has been helping Claire through rehab and accidentally misses a day. When he comes to the hospital he finds that this has left her emotionally unstable. (Alex walks into the Hospital and approaches a nurse) Hi I've come to see Claire McLeod, is that all right?? The nurse looks at him funny and then starts to talk. "You must be Alex Ryan." "Yeah last time I checked," he says with a smile. "Well Claire has been very quiet today and the doctor has stated that she is emotionally unstable so be carefully about what you say and do to her." With that she leaves and Alex goes to find Claire. She is in her hospital bed staring at the small window and looking as though she is a hundred miles away. Alex coughs to grab her attention but her glance doesn't move. "Claire, what are you doing," Alex says with a concerned tone in his voice. Claire looks at him and then glances away as though no one is there. Alex moves over to the bed and sits there. "Talk to me Claire, what's wrong." "Did you forget something today??" Claire asks knowing that he did. "Look Claire I'm really sorry, I got a flat tyre and I didn't have a spare as Nick took it the other day. I really sorry I promise I won't forget your rehab again." "Yeah well it was a really intense and then they said I couldn't hack so they sent me to the shrink psychologist and I figured out something," Claire said with tears forming. "I don't fit anymore not with the baby and me, Tess and Nick can have Drovers, you have Killarney and all your women, Jodi and Alberto will marry and Meg and Terry will get back together." Claire was crying with tears streaming down her face and Alex tried to support her but she moved away. "I wished that I had just died in the accident cause it would be easier than hanging round the hospital and everyone thinking how cheap I am with this baby!!!" By this stage Alex had heard enough. "Don't you dare talk like that Claire, you do fit into my world and Drovers wouldn't be the same without you!! I don't care that that baby isn't mine I will still love it just the way I would my own. I love you more than I have loved anyone before but I was stupid and didn't realise until it was nearly too late. Look we will be out of this hospital and this rehab soon and I promise that I will look after you. I will move into Drovers. We can live together and work through this together. It will be alright I promise. That is if you want me too and we will be a family because I love you with all my heart and soul!!" Claire looked at Alex with tears framing her face before Alex held her in an embrace. They kissed deeply and Claire was so happy that she now truly knew how Alex felt.

Look out for the next fanfic!!