Claire felt some one grab her hands from behind her. They were warm and she turned to find Alex. He had just come back from the paddocks chopping the old eucalyptus tree, and he had only his shorts on. Man he is so sexy, she thought. Just as she stared into his eyes, he grabbed her waist and pulled her in giving her passionate kisses all over her neck, moving slowly towards her stomach. Alex loved the feel of her smooth skin on his lips. Claire reached for his pants...

"..Claire? Are you awake? Hey Tess! She's awake!" Alex held her hand tightly and she woke to find him and Tess standing next to the bed.

"Hi Claire!" Tess whispered. "How are ya? How's ya stomach?"

"Uh, Feel much better" Claire said in a hoarse, croaky voice. Dammit, she told herself, it was only a dream!

"Ok, now that you're feelin' better, I'm gonna pop back to Drovers and tell the rest of the worriers that you are alive!"

"What about my baby?" Claire asked.

"It's fine. Phew, that was a close one Claire! Don't get into so much trouble!" Tess stood up and left the room. "See ya tonight Claire! I'll bring you some dinner as we know you don't like hospital food!"

"Claire, Oh my God, im so glad your OK! Though I'd almost lost ya there! Apparently, its lower stomach straining. What have you been doing to cause that?"

"Gee, I don't know Alex, could be anything. I tried to lift the picture off the wall in the nursery, it was quite heavy, but it didn't hurt."

"Ok, just what I thought. No heavy work from now on ok?"

"Right, boss."

"Are you tired Claire?"

"No, just uncomfortable. These pillows are useless, and I need a bath!"

"Yea you stink! Nah, I love the smell of you." Alex laughed.

"Aw, you are gross Alex Ryan!"

"I know, but it's the only way to get a reaction from you." Alex stood up from his chair and asked the nurse in the next room for another pillow. "This should do ya." Alex lifted Claire's head and fluffed both pillows up and placed them down.

After a few minutes of talking about how the rest at Drovers were coping and how scared Claire had been, another nurse entered the room. "Now Claire McLeod, is it? Yes, it's time for your shower. If you're feeling too dizzy to stand, we can bath you."

"Bath sounds like fun, eh? Guess it's one of those SPOUNGE baths. Need any extra help?" Alex smirked. He loved Claire's reactions to his childish behaviour.

"No Alex, I'm having a shower!" Claire told him. "Piss off for now."

"Aw, Claire you are a meany" Alex put on a silly voice, but he stopped when he realized the nurse was still there, and was giving both of them funny looks. "Ok, See ya later then. I'll pick you up at eight o'clock."

"Can't wait" said Claire sarcastically.