Claire fell asleep; she had a long way to go before she would be better and Alex knew she was in a lot of pain even though she would never admit it. As Alex sat and watched her, he thought. He thought about how he thought the baby that was left on the doorstep was his. It was hard at first but he bonded with the baby. His favourite moment was not watching Tess with the baby, but when he was bathing it and Claire was there. It was like they were a real family and he felt so happy, complete and it all fit together. He would now have a chance to have that feeling again, but this time it was real because he was going to be a dad, and with Claire's child It still sounded odd to him. Him and Claire! It sounded good though! He decided that he would have to lay some ground rules though, and there was still a lot to discuss, but at that point none of it seemed to matter. He had Claire and everything was going to be perfect. He had another important matter to attend to first. He loved Claire and there was something that he wanted to do with Claire that he had never even thought about doing before. He gave Claire a kiss on the forehead and left quickly. Alex had really thought this through. He was serious like he had never been before. He went to Drovers run, stormed in the house to Claire's room, raided her draws until he found what he wanted and stormed off to town. He knew exactly what he was getting and when he got it he went back to the hospital. He did get sidetracked slightly. He saw many people in town who knew himself or Claire and everyone was bursting with questions "how's Claire?" "How's the baby?" "I can't believe your going to be a father" "Alex Ryan a father?" "When did it happen?" "What's going to happen now?" He didn't quite know what to say, so he just did the typical Alex thing and stormed through the lot like a bull. He just wanted to be with Claire again. He rode along in his ute with a huge grin on his face, he couldn't help himself, he wanted to see the look on Claire's face. When he got to her room, the first thing he noticed was that she was awake, and looked dreadful, she was so pale and just didn't seem like Claire. When she saw him, she smiled and her eyes twinkled. He just smiled back "I'm glad you're awake" "I'm glad your back, where did you go?" "There was something important I needed to do" he walked over to the bed that she was sitting up in. "I feel a bit stupid" "Alex Ryan, feel stupid? Has hell frozen over?" "ha ha very funny McLeod!" He looked uncomfortable, when it came to doing what he wanted to do, he didn't feel so confidant. Claire started to look worried and when he noticed he laughed slightly "It's ok, don't look so worried" "well why do you look uncomfortable?" Alex cleared his throat and said "I have a question to ask you" he looked more confidant and he stood up straight and looked right at Claire. She lifted her eyebrow as if to say, uh oh, what you done now? In her Claire way. Alex pulled something out of his pocket but Claire didn't see what it was. She was starting to get nervous. Claire hardly ever got nervous, at least not that anyone else would notice. Alex looked so serious. "Claire, you know I love you!" she nodded slowly with a confused look on her face "well.." he got down on one knee at that moment, not daring to lose eye contact with Claire for one moment. He thought he might lose his nerve and he didn't want to miss the astonishment and disbelief that was spreading across Claire's face. ".Claire McLeod, will you marry me?" he opened the box and Claire couldn't believe her eyes, let alone what she had heard. It was all happening so fast. Alex Ryan wanted to get married, settle down, and with her! He was serious! She just stared speechless, a first for Claire. Alex's face dropped from the smile to embarrassment. "Well." he prompted worried for a moment that he had made a complete prat out of himself. She soon came to her senses. "I don't know what to say, I'm speechless" was all she was able to mumble. "You, speechless? That's a first. Yes might be a good answer you silly cow. I don't do this everyday you know McLeod!" She laughed and so did he. "YES!" she exclaimed. Alex felt a wave of relief come over him. He had started to imagine everyone laughing at him when the story of him proposing to Claire McLeod got out and her saying no. Not only that, he would have seriously been heartbroken deep down. He put the ring on her finger and cuddled her so close to him. He gave her such a passionate kiss and she gave as good as she got. He sat down with a smile of satisfaction on his face. She looked at the ring in disbelief. "How did you know what size, and what ring." she trailed off as he looked very pleased with himself. "Do you remember when we were teenagers and I got you pissed. One of the things you started to talk about was you mothers engagement ring. You were upset because you thought you'd never get married and how you wanted a ring that was simple, with one tiny diamond. Then you kissed me just before you ran off into the bushes and threw up." Claire remembered and went slightly red "I can't help it if kissing you made me feel sick" she said. "You never could handle you drink. That was the problem. And I can't help it if I was so irresistible to you" "Like you said, I was drunk, but I can hold my drink now. I could probably drink you under the table!" Alex just laughed "yeah well I'll hold you to that in 9 months" Claire laughed to. No matter what, they could not help but have a dig at each other. It was what made their relationship so special. Claire looked at her ring "I can't believe you remembered" "I loved you deep down then" "why didn't you say anything?" "You were drunk and puking your guts up. I was worried you'd laugh at me or think I got you drunk so I could sleep with you" "I did for a split second, then realised I was the one who kissed you and was throwing up in the bushes. I felt a complete idiot" they both sat there remembering the evening. "I think you'll need this back" Alex passed Claire a ring "where did you get that from?" Claire asked "from your room, I needed to know what size ring you were" Alex said in a matter of fact tone. Claire looked really tired. "Claire, are you ok?" "I'm fine, why, you having doubts?" "No, although we need to set down some ground rules!" he said with a mischievous look on his face. "Yes I think we do to!" Claire said with an equally mischievous look on her face. She felt awful, and Alex could see it in her face. "I think you need some rest. I'm going to go, but I'll be back later ok?" "Give me some time to come up with some ground rules eh?" "I bet you already have a list as long as your arm" he kissed her and reluctantly left. He knew she wouldn't rest unless he had gone. He gave a sigh of relief when he walked out. She had said yes!