Claire comes around and Tess is next to her bed. She is going to be fine
and she hasn't lost the baby. It's the night of the accident. Nick has gone
off with Alex and finds out Peter has left. His mother has tried to get in
contact with Alex but he's all confused. Claire's near death experience and
recent revolution has shocked both Claire and Alex, making them both think
in a different light, or at least making them question things, and make
certain decisions.
Claire was so grateful to Alex for what he had done for her, but the big question was what would happen next? After she had come to and found out she and her baby were fine, she managed to get Tess to go home. This gave Claire a chance to think about everything. Did she love Alex? She had to get her own feelings in order so she could handle everything else. The answer to that was easy. Yes! She always had, but deep down, she knew nothing would ever come of it. She still didn't think any differently, but for her own satisfaction, she did wonder. They had always been best friends. They had argued, fought, physically, tried to get a rise out of each other and were always there to help each other when they could. That was a true friendship, but could it ever be more? When she told him about marrying Peter that day, he just wanted to cut all ties with her. Why? Was he trying to make a point? Was he trying to make her choose between her best friend and the man she supposedly loved? Or was he jealous? Did he not want to be around her if she was with someone else? But if he did love her, would he react that way or just tell her, or make it more obvious? She wondered then thought better. He was just trying to stop her from making a big mistake. He was just a friend doing what friends do, like look for her when she'd raced Peter and fell off the horse. Then he had, as a friend, helped her to face her fears and jump again. But he had told her he loved her. He was drunk though. He was totally out of it. He couldn't have meant it. No matter how true she wanted it to be. But she did really want it to be. She had nearly died; maybe she should bite the bullet and tell him the truth. If it all went wrong she could. could, say that it was her hormones and his fault for saying he loved her in the first place. She couldn't though. She didn't even think she could face him. Claire knew she would have to because it wasn't like she could run away. She was stuck in that hospital bed for weeks, although not if she could help it. She thought she may have done something terrible, putting Alex in that situation. The next question, was, was Peter still around? If not, would he be back? She thought for ages and finally made the decision that had to be made. She would have to tell the truth. She may not like it, but she couldn't hurt Alex, or even ask him to lie for her. Peter may be the person she hated the most, but her was unfortunately the father of her child. It may not be so bad now, knowing that she was not going to lose Drovers. He had no other hold over her
Why hadn't she told him? They were supposed to be best friends, yet Claire hadn't told him about something so important. What did she want from him? How did he feel? And what was he willing to do? These were the questions going through Alex's mind. He knew he would have to talk to her at some point, but wasn't looking forward to it. Seeing her unconscious already was painful enough. She was in a bad way and just thinking about what she must have gone through turned his insides. He had to admit it now. He loved Claire! He, Alex Ryan, loved Claire McLeod and had for probably most of his life, but more so recently or at least noticed it recently. He hated her being upset. Even if they only ended up being 'best friends' he still had to help. The next day he went to see her, having not spoken to anyone. She was asleep when he got there, so he watched her, a smile creeping onto his face. She seemed so peaceful he thought to himself as he pulled a piece of hair out of her face. As she woke up though, he regained his composure and there was a lot of tension between them. Claire was shocked. Especially to find him that early and waiting around for her to wake up. "Alex? Hey" she said feebly "How you feeling McLeod?" she felt tense, especially when he was using her second name. He seemed to do it to keep a distance between them. She tried to sit up but she was still in a lot of pain. He looked concerned, but tried to keep his cool. He was Alex Ryan after all, the same way she was Claire McLeod who tried desperately to not show just how much pain she was actually in. "there you go, cant you do as your told for once eh? Typical of you McLeod!" the doctors had told her not to move if she could help it and she was going to try and sit up. She didn't say anything back. She bit her tongue which was hard. There was a moment's awkward silence between the two until Claire couldn't take it any more! "Alex, I'm so sorry about what happened yesterday. I didn't mean it to happen. It just kind of did, and I'm going to tell Peter the truth. I can do that now I have the letter" "What letter?" something else he hadn't told him, he thought. "To stop us loosing Drovers" "You nearly lost Drovers? What else haven't you told me? First of all you were going to marry him, then he was gonna take your home, I presume that was his fault, then you tell him I'm the father of the baby that I'm guessing is his. I thought we were friends Claire. Why didn't you tell me anything?" Everything Claire had been bottling in for days, the fear, anxiety, her hormones, feelings, and her pain came gushing out. She couldn't hold it in anymore. And as much as she didn't want it to be then with Alex there, she just started crying. Alex felt rotten. He didn't mean to lose it. What started out as a civilised conversation, run away with him as his feelings grew. He went to grab her hand, to say how sorry he was but she turned away in embarrassment. Alex started to pace, pissed off with himself. He had only seen Claire cry once before when they were tiny. It was when she cut her finger. It wasn't even a big cut, but it was after her mother had died. She was trying to be so strong, as Claire did, and then something so tiny set her off. Claire finally calmed down. As she slowly turned around, she noticed Alex was turned away form her, standing at the side of the room, as if he wanted to get away from her. He did, but because he hated seeing her like that and not being able to do anything about it. A quiet voice came from the bed when she finally plucked up the courage to say something. "Alex" He wanted to pick her up into his arms, wisk her away and make it all better. "So McLeod, what you got yourself into this time?" She actually felt slightly more at ease that time. He had his Alex element about him, trying to make light of it. She could handle that Alex, the one she was used to. He was still keeping his distance though. She slowly told him the story. The baby, Drovers and the marriage proposal. ".I was confused and just needed time to think, which I have done now. I'm going to speak to Peter as soon as possible and tell him the truth. I'm sorry I dragged you into my mess Alex, I had no right to do that to you" "You can't tell him the truth, he's gone away" He could see the relief in her face even though they weren't really looking at each other but avoiding eye contact. It made him feel better. "He'll find out sooner or later though." She knew deep down he would, but at least him not being there then was a relief to her. "Do you love him McLeod?" "No!" she was a little surprised by that question. He knew the answer but just needed to make sure. "I'll do it McLeod!" "What?" "Be the baby's father" "You cant" she was very shocked at what he'd said. Why would he even offer to do something like that? "Why not?" he was shocked to. He'd offered to do this for her and she'd refused. But then she was independent Claire McLeod! "You don't understand Alex, what having a child means. There's no point being called the father when you won't be one. You'd have to move in or something so we'd have to act like a proper couple. Having a baby is a full time job. You can't be there until you get bored or when it's convenient. You couldn't just slot us in around your social life. There would be no more other girls. Your life would be put on hold. What would you do when your one true love came along, and you couldn't do anything? All of the questions, how, when, why, do they love each other, are they going to get married? And if we did pull it off and you decided you'd made a huge mistake, I couldn't bare to have my heart broken again!" Alex was about to defend himself and Claire knew it so she said spoke quickly. "I think you should leave" "But Claire" "I've made up my mind! I can do this on my own. It's my problem. I think you need to go and tell your parents the truth. I need to get some rest!" Alex stormed out and punched the wall. Claire was in agony. She hated what she had said, even though it had been for the best. All she had to do now was hope that Peter never found out. The next thing Claire knew, Alex had stormed back into the room. He was fuming. Claire was just about to tell him to leave when he shouted "shut up McLeod!" they made eye contact for the first time. "Claire." he said in a softer voice ".do you love me?" "What?" "It's a simple question!" He said in a harder voice "What do you think you can just waltz in here acting like my knight in shining armour and save me, because you can't and I'm no damsel in distress!" "Just answer the damn question McLeod!" He was starting to get angry and Claire didn't know what to do or say. Of course she loved him but she couldn't let him know that. Could she? "Just leave Alex!" her heart was beating faster and faster she thought it was going to leave her chest. "If you won't be honest. I will. I would gladly be your baby's father. I would have no problem changing my life, and I wouldn't have to lie and you wouldn't have to worry about me finding 'the one', Claire, I love you!" "Come on Alex, we both know that's a lie" she didn't mean to say that, it just kind of came out. "Claire, you're 'the one' you always have been" at that moment he kissed her. She knew he wasn't lying. "Alex I love you to" He got to hold Claire in his arms and finally made everything ok. He felt fantastic. He loved Claire, and she loved him.
Claire was so grateful to Alex for what he had done for her, but the big question was what would happen next? After she had come to and found out she and her baby were fine, she managed to get Tess to go home. This gave Claire a chance to think about everything. Did she love Alex? She had to get her own feelings in order so she could handle everything else. The answer to that was easy. Yes! She always had, but deep down, she knew nothing would ever come of it. She still didn't think any differently, but for her own satisfaction, she did wonder. They had always been best friends. They had argued, fought, physically, tried to get a rise out of each other and were always there to help each other when they could. That was a true friendship, but could it ever be more? When she told him about marrying Peter that day, he just wanted to cut all ties with her. Why? Was he trying to make a point? Was he trying to make her choose between her best friend and the man she supposedly loved? Or was he jealous? Did he not want to be around her if she was with someone else? But if he did love her, would he react that way or just tell her, or make it more obvious? She wondered then thought better. He was just trying to stop her from making a big mistake. He was just a friend doing what friends do, like look for her when she'd raced Peter and fell off the horse. Then he had, as a friend, helped her to face her fears and jump again. But he had told her he loved her. He was drunk though. He was totally out of it. He couldn't have meant it. No matter how true she wanted it to be. But she did really want it to be. She had nearly died; maybe she should bite the bullet and tell him the truth. If it all went wrong she could. could, say that it was her hormones and his fault for saying he loved her in the first place. She couldn't though. She didn't even think she could face him. Claire knew she would have to because it wasn't like she could run away. She was stuck in that hospital bed for weeks, although not if she could help it. She thought she may have done something terrible, putting Alex in that situation. The next question, was, was Peter still around? If not, would he be back? She thought for ages and finally made the decision that had to be made. She would have to tell the truth. She may not like it, but she couldn't hurt Alex, or even ask him to lie for her. Peter may be the person she hated the most, but her was unfortunately the father of her child. It may not be so bad now, knowing that she was not going to lose Drovers. He had no other hold over her
Why hadn't she told him? They were supposed to be best friends, yet Claire hadn't told him about something so important. What did she want from him? How did he feel? And what was he willing to do? These were the questions going through Alex's mind. He knew he would have to talk to her at some point, but wasn't looking forward to it. Seeing her unconscious already was painful enough. She was in a bad way and just thinking about what she must have gone through turned his insides. He had to admit it now. He loved Claire! He, Alex Ryan, loved Claire McLeod and had for probably most of his life, but more so recently or at least noticed it recently. He hated her being upset. Even if they only ended up being 'best friends' he still had to help. The next day he went to see her, having not spoken to anyone. She was asleep when he got there, so he watched her, a smile creeping onto his face. She seemed so peaceful he thought to himself as he pulled a piece of hair out of her face. As she woke up though, he regained his composure and there was a lot of tension between them. Claire was shocked. Especially to find him that early and waiting around for her to wake up. "Alex? Hey" she said feebly "How you feeling McLeod?" she felt tense, especially when he was using her second name. He seemed to do it to keep a distance between them. She tried to sit up but she was still in a lot of pain. He looked concerned, but tried to keep his cool. He was Alex Ryan after all, the same way she was Claire McLeod who tried desperately to not show just how much pain she was actually in. "there you go, cant you do as your told for once eh? Typical of you McLeod!" the doctors had told her not to move if she could help it and she was going to try and sit up. She didn't say anything back. She bit her tongue which was hard. There was a moment's awkward silence between the two until Claire couldn't take it any more! "Alex, I'm so sorry about what happened yesterday. I didn't mean it to happen. It just kind of did, and I'm going to tell Peter the truth. I can do that now I have the letter" "What letter?" something else he hadn't told him, he thought. "To stop us loosing Drovers" "You nearly lost Drovers? What else haven't you told me? First of all you were going to marry him, then he was gonna take your home, I presume that was his fault, then you tell him I'm the father of the baby that I'm guessing is his. I thought we were friends Claire. Why didn't you tell me anything?" Everything Claire had been bottling in for days, the fear, anxiety, her hormones, feelings, and her pain came gushing out. She couldn't hold it in anymore. And as much as she didn't want it to be then with Alex there, she just started crying. Alex felt rotten. He didn't mean to lose it. What started out as a civilised conversation, run away with him as his feelings grew. He went to grab her hand, to say how sorry he was but she turned away in embarrassment. Alex started to pace, pissed off with himself. He had only seen Claire cry once before when they were tiny. It was when she cut her finger. It wasn't even a big cut, but it was after her mother had died. She was trying to be so strong, as Claire did, and then something so tiny set her off. Claire finally calmed down. As she slowly turned around, she noticed Alex was turned away form her, standing at the side of the room, as if he wanted to get away from her. He did, but because he hated seeing her like that and not being able to do anything about it. A quiet voice came from the bed when she finally plucked up the courage to say something. "Alex" He wanted to pick her up into his arms, wisk her away and make it all better. "So McLeod, what you got yourself into this time?" She actually felt slightly more at ease that time. He had his Alex element about him, trying to make light of it. She could handle that Alex, the one she was used to. He was still keeping his distance though. She slowly told him the story. The baby, Drovers and the marriage proposal. ".I was confused and just needed time to think, which I have done now. I'm going to speak to Peter as soon as possible and tell him the truth. I'm sorry I dragged you into my mess Alex, I had no right to do that to you" "You can't tell him the truth, he's gone away" He could see the relief in her face even though they weren't really looking at each other but avoiding eye contact. It made him feel better. "He'll find out sooner or later though." She knew deep down he would, but at least him not being there then was a relief to her. "Do you love him McLeod?" "No!" she was a little surprised by that question. He knew the answer but just needed to make sure. "I'll do it McLeod!" "What?" "Be the baby's father" "You cant" she was very shocked at what he'd said. Why would he even offer to do something like that? "Why not?" he was shocked to. He'd offered to do this for her and she'd refused. But then she was independent Claire McLeod! "You don't understand Alex, what having a child means. There's no point being called the father when you won't be one. You'd have to move in or something so we'd have to act like a proper couple. Having a baby is a full time job. You can't be there until you get bored or when it's convenient. You couldn't just slot us in around your social life. There would be no more other girls. Your life would be put on hold. What would you do when your one true love came along, and you couldn't do anything? All of the questions, how, when, why, do they love each other, are they going to get married? And if we did pull it off and you decided you'd made a huge mistake, I couldn't bare to have my heart broken again!" Alex was about to defend himself and Claire knew it so she said spoke quickly. "I think you should leave" "But Claire" "I've made up my mind! I can do this on my own. It's my problem. I think you need to go and tell your parents the truth. I need to get some rest!" Alex stormed out and punched the wall. Claire was in agony. She hated what she had said, even though it had been for the best. All she had to do now was hope that Peter never found out. The next thing Claire knew, Alex had stormed back into the room. He was fuming. Claire was just about to tell him to leave when he shouted "shut up McLeod!" they made eye contact for the first time. "Claire." he said in a softer voice ".do you love me?" "What?" "It's a simple question!" He said in a harder voice "What do you think you can just waltz in here acting like my knight in shining armour and save me, because you can't and I'm no damsel in distress!" "Just answer the damn question McLeod!" He was starting to get angry and Claire didn't know what to do or say. Of course she loved him but she couldn't let him know that. Could she? "Just leave Alex!" her heart was beating faster and faster she thought it was going to leave her chest. "If you won't be honest. I will. I would gladly be your baby's father. I would have no problem changing my life, and I wouldn't have to lie and you wouldn't have to worry about me finding 'the one', Claire, I love you!" "Come on Alex, we both know that's a lie" she didn't mean to say that, it just kind of came out. "Claire, you're 'the one' you always have been" at that moment he kissed her. She knew he wasn't lying. "Alex I love you to" He got to hold Claire in his arms and finally made everything ok. He felt fantastic. He loved Claire, and she loved him.