Disclaimer: Do not own anything McLeod's Daughters belongs to channel 9, and the writers and creators apart from Abby, Lily and Charlie.

As the car drove up to Drovers run its driver couldn't help but be apprehensive she stopped and for

one last time contemplated her next actions, it was now or never she thought as she started up the car again. Parking her car at the front of the house she step out of her car and took a moment to look at her surroundings, a smile began to form on her face. She decided to go in search of the occupants of the house making her way to the back she called out. 'Hello, anyone home.' she called out but no one seemed to be around. She decided to sit and wait .

The women of Drovers run had been working hard all morning and were looking forward to a semi relaxing afternoon. As they made their way toward the house they noticed a figure standing on the veranda but where unable to make out who it was from such a distance.

' I wonder who that it.' Tess thought out loud.

'Jodi you weren't expecting anyone where you ? Tess asked

'No.'

'Meg, Stevie.' The women shook their heads. Tess bit her bottom lip she was beginning to feel slightly nervous.

'Don't worry, I'll get rid of them if you want.' Stevie offered.

'Thanks.' smiled Tess ' But we'd better see what they want first.'

As figure saw the four women approach she stood to greet them and it was then that Jodi recognised the 'Stranger'.

'Good to see that some things never change around here.' she half yelled.

Jodi gave a sequel of excitement and ran up to meet the young woman. Stevie turned to Meg.

'Is that who I think it is.' she asked as she watched Jodi and the young woman in embrace each both giggling hysterically.

Meg smiled that all knowing Meg smile and replied 'Yes.'

'Who.' Tess asked now feeling more then a little confused that everyone seemed to know who this strange young woman was but her.

'That's Abby.'

'Abby as in Lily's Abby? Tess asked.

'As in Abigail McLeod, Lily McLeod's daughter, your cousin.' Meg confirmed for her as she walked up to greet the young woman.

Tess stood there for a few seconds in shock she had ever met Abby as she was born several years after she had left but she remembered her aunt Lily with great affection. She had been one someone who had influenced her greatly. She was a free sprit and spent a lot of her time travelling around the world, she would always return to Drovers with fantastic stories to tell and extraordinary present for the girls. Much like Tess was now her aunt believed in fate and destiny, Tess remembered that her aunt would sit her and Claire under the stars and tell them such magical and wonderful stories something she missed greatly when she left Drovers. Tess watched as Meg went to greet the young woman. She didn't know that much about Abigail only that she was born and raised on Drovers Run but had left not long after Jack's death to be with her father. She had even spoken to her on the odd occasion when she had called to speak to Claire.

'Are you alright.' Tess heard Stevie's voice.

Tess shook herself from her thought and looked at Stevie 'I'm fine.' she replied as she began to walk over to her cousin.

Meg smiled as she looked at the young woman in front of her. Abby stop chatting with Jodi and looked at Meg she shrugged her shoulders and gave a small smile. 'So.' she asked.

Meg just kept on smiling. 'You're the image of her you know.'

'Yeah.' Abby smiled.

'Welcome home.' Meg smiled once more and her eyes filled with tears as she moved to give Abigail a hug. When they parted Abby caught sight of Stevie.

'Stevie hi.' and she moved to give Stevie a hug to.

'Look at you.' replied Stevie breaking away to get another look at her 'I haven't seen you since you were that high.' she said as she showed the height that Abby was the last time she saw her.

'You look good to Stevie.' Abby replied laughing.

Tess was feeling slightly uncomfortable. Here was her cousin, her only living relative apart from Charlotte and everyone else seemed to know her better then she did. Abigail then turned to greet Tess an she finally got her first proper look at her younger cousin, of course she'd seen photo's but this was different. If Tess and Claire where the image of their mothers Abigail was certainly the image of her a small fact that brought some comfort to Tess, although she was not sure why.

They was a slight uncomfortable atmosphere between the two as they meet for the first time both unsure of how they should react. Should they hug, shake hands what?

In the end it was Abby who decided to take the first steps and stepped forward to give Tess a hug just as she had all the others.

'It's nice to finally put a face to a voice.' Abby told Tess.

'Same here.' she replied ' Not that I didn't know what you looked like, I mean I'd seen pictures and things.' Tess stood there blabbering away her hands waving about in mid air as she tried to explain things it was the way she always got when she was nervous.

Abby smiled at the sight in front her, exactly how Claire had described her she thought. She took her cousin hand to stop it before she poked herself in the eye.

'It's ok Tess I know what you mean.'

'Oh, good.' Tess replied finally taking a deep breath.

After a few seconds of silence Meg spoke up 'Why don't we go inside have some lunch?

'I think that would be a good idea.' replied Abby who had still not let go of Tess's hand realising that she was still holding Tess's hand she let go. The women began to head inside the house.

'I can't believe you're here.' Jodi told Abby her voice still brimming with excitement 'Are you gonna be staying for good?

Abby looked back at Tess who seemed to be in some kind of daze 'I don't know, we'll see.'