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

Alex rose at what he thought was an early hour; he didn't expect anyone else to be up. He made he was to the kitchen only to be met by an array of delicious smells.

'Hey, what's cooking.' He joked as he walked into the kitchen

Abby looked up at him and smiled. ' Very funny.'

'Well I thought so.' Alex grinned. 'So what is for breakfast.' He asked.

Abby looked around at what she had been cooking. 'I think it's more a case of what do you want.'

Alex eyed up the food that surrounded him. 'I think I'll have a bit of everything.' He told her.

Abby rolled her eyes, 'Who would of guessed.' She joked.

She started to fill Alex's plate with his favourite things.

'So, how did you sleep last night.' He asked.

Abby shrugged. ' Ok, I guess.' She lied.

Alex knew she was lying but decided to leave it for the moment.

'Her.' She place a plate in front of him filled with bacon, eggs, sausages, fried tomatoes, mushrooms, fried bread. 'A heart attack on a plate.'

Alex grinned and took mouthful of food. 'Tastes great.'

'Uh huh.' Abby nodded.

Abby watched as Alex tucked into his breakfast. A little while later Nick got up.

'I see you've been busy.' He joked as he entered the kitchen.

'Couldn't sleep.' Abby told him.

'Sit down, pull up a chair Nick, have some breakfast.' Alex told his brother through a mouthful of food. Nick shared a 'look' with Abby who just laughed.

'He's already on his second helping.' She told Nick.

'And on my way to a third.' Alex told them.

'You'd think he hadn't been feed.' She joked, Nick laughed. 'What can I get you.' Abby asked him.

'I'll have what he's havin.' Nick told her pointing to Alex's plate.

'Right.' Abby nodded and set about severing up Nick's breakfast. 'Here you go.' Abby said as she placed the plate in front of Nick.

'This looks delicious Abby.' Nick told her as he started to dig into the meal in front of him.

'Sure is.' Alex told him, his mouth full of food, he popped the last of what was on his plate into his mouth. 'Any left?' He asked.

'You want more.' Abby exclaimed, Nick just laughed.

'Sure, pile it on.'

Abby rolled her eyes and laughed.

Tess was running around in a frenzy getting everything ready for Charlotte's first visit, she couldn't believe it had been over a week since she'd last seen her niece. Tess thought about all the drama that had happened in the last week since Charlotte left. She thought of Abby and what Claire would of thought of the whole situation. Tess shook herself from her thoughts and looked at her watch, Alex should be here soon she thought.

Abby looked out of the window as they made the journey towards to Drovers run, she was worried about facing Tess, what would she say, how would she react. Nick turned round as if he sensed Abby's apprehension, a look of concern was written all over his face. Abby smiled at him to reassure him she was ok, even if it wasn't true. Abby looked over to Alex who was driving, a huge grin was plastered over his face, she didn't think she'd ever seen him so excited. She smiled at this thought. Claire had told her how much Alex had adored Charlotte, she smiled a sad smile thinking about how happy had Claire had been the last time she had seen her, she had been radiating happiness, everything was coming together for her. She had everything she ever wanted, she was in love with a man that worshiped her, she had a beautiful baby and her relationship with her sister was better then ever. A wave of sadness washed over Abby she only wished Alex and Claire had, had more time together. It had taken them so long to get together, Abby had never known why everyone had gone on about Nick and Claire. Sure Nick cared about Claire and vice versa, but Abby thought that it was more of an brother/sister thing rather then being soul mates and she was right. Abby sighed as they pulled up in the driveway.

Alex practically jumped out of the car as he his way towards the back of the house, his excitement was obvious. Abby held back slightly unsure if she should go any further.

Nick turned round when he realised that Abby was no where to be seen. He saw that she was standing nervously beside Alex's Ute. He walked over to her.

Abby tried to smile as he stood in front of her.

'It's gonna be ok.' He told her in a reassure voice.

Abby gave him a 'whatever' look. 'I don't know, maybe I should leave it for a while let the dust settle.'

Nick gave a small sigh. 'Take it from me you don't want to leave something like this it's best you should sort it straight away, the longer you leave it the worst it'll get.'

Abby looked at Nick, a curious look on her face. 'You sound as if your speaking for experience.'

Nick look decidedly uncomfortable at Abby's observation. 'So maybe you should take my advice.' He told her.

Abby let out a heavy sigh, 'It's just that I don't want to spoil today for her, what with Charlotte coming and everything.'

'All the more reason to mend broken bridges.' Nick told her. 'Don't you want to meet Charlotte.'

Abby looked to the ground, feeling decidedly uncomfortable, she bit her bottom lip.

'Something up.' Nick asked noticing Abby's sudden discomfort.

Abby looked up she was about to say something but thought better of it. 'No, I fine.'

'Let's go then.' Nick told her and held his hand.

Abby smiled at his gesture of support. 'Ok.' she said as she took his hand and the walked towards the homestead.

Tess sat in the study contemplating her latest find. She had been rummaging though some draws, she couldn't remember what for now, it was her find that had stopped her dead in her tracks. In front of her was an old photo album. The photo's were a couple of years of old, some even older. Tess began turning the pages of the album.

The first few pages were filled with pictures of Dover, the house, the land, the cattle, Tess had to admit they were beautiful pictures. She then came to some pictures that contained people. There was picture's of Jodi an Meg, Harry and Liz some even had a little handwriting beside them, Tess recognised the handwriting, it was her fathers. She turned another page in the album. Tess felt a pang of sadness as she came across the next photos, this page contained photos of Claire, her father and Abby. They were all outside at what Tess guessed must of been a barbeque at Drovers. Tess took time to study the pictures in front of her. There was one of her father and Abby laughing together, another of Abby on her own, one of Jack standing over the barbeque and another of Claire and Jack.

The next photo's Tess came to were ones of Abby and Claire. The first Claire was sitting on a seat in the veranda and Abby was sitting on the arm of the chair her legs across Claire's, both were girls seem to be laughing the next photo was a much more intimate photo empathising what Stevie had said the night before. Abby and Claire were sitting on some steps, Abby head resting on Claire's shoulder and Claire had an arm round Abby both girls were smiling, not fake smiles for the camera but genuine smiles of happiness. Perhaps it was the comment written between both photos that struck Tess the most. 'My beautiful girls' was written in Jack's handwriting between the two photos. For Tess this only emphasised the closeness of Abby not only to Claire but to her father, a closeness that she never got the chance to have.

Tess turned a few more pages, tears were slowly building up. She stopped when she came to a page that was filled was another set of photos at what seemed to be the same event as the ones of Abby, Claire and Jack earlier. In the first of these photos was Alex and Nick casually sitting down, the next was one of Jack and Harry looking like they were deep in conversation, the next one down was of Abby and Harry. Harry was smiling and looked rather happy, which Tess thought was very unusual. The next was a photo of Abby and Alex, Tess let out a little laugh, Alex had picked up Abby who was now over his shoulder. The next photo had to be taken moments later Abby and Alex were now on the ground laughing. The next picture was of a much calmer Abby and Nick. Abby was sitting on the Nick lap an arm around his shoulders while Nick had an arm round her waist. Tess flicked a few more pages before she came to so much older pictures.

The first, was of a teenage Alex with a much younger Abby, Tess guessed she couldn't be more then two years old. The next was of Abby in the saddle with Nick who couldn't be more then twelve/ thirteen Tess thought, the caption beside it read 'baby McLeod learning to ride.' The writing wasn't in her fathers though, Tess struggled for a moment to recognise the handwriting, it was that of her aunt Lily, Abby's mother. There was a few more pictures of Abby learning to ride different people were in each, Claire, Alex, Jack, Lily and even Harry, which surprised Tess. Tess turned the page, this page was filed with pictures of Abby, Lily and Claire. The one that struck Tess the most was one of all three, they were sitting somewhere outside all huddled together, Tess guessed that Abby must of been around about two or three in this picture. They were all smiles underneath the picture read the caption 'the McLeod's girls.' This time the handwriting had changed into her fathers. Tess turned the page to look at the last few photos. They were of her aunt, Tess was a little taken aback by them, they must of been taken before she died Tess thought. Lily looked very pale and had obviously lost a lot of weight, it was a stark contrast to the photos on the previous page of her, Claire and Abby. But Tess could still see that certain spark in her aunt, it may of seemed weaker then before but Tess could still see that slight sparkle in her aunts eyes. Tess began to fall down Tess cheek as realised how ill her aunt had been. Claire had told her that she had been very ill for a long time and in a lot of pain.

Tess was about to shut the album when she saw a flooded piece of paper that didn't seem to belong. Tess opened it. A child's writing was scrawled at the top. 'My family, by Abigail McLod.' Tess smiled at Abby's mistake. She began to look at the pictures that had been stuck on the paper. There was one of her Lily and Charlie, Jack and Meg, another of Lily and Jack there was one of Harry and Alex and Nick. Another of Claire, Jack and Claire another of Lily and Claire, one of Jodi and Abby, another of Jodi, Claire and Abby. One of Jack, Claire, Meg, Jodi and Abby and a small photo of Abby and Nick, next to that was one of Abby and Alex's underneath that was one of Alex, Nick and Claire. But it was a tiny photo stuck in the corner of the piece of paper that struck Tess the most, it was of a young Claire and Tess sitting on horse. Tess was slightly shocked, had Abby really considered her part of the family from such a young age.

Tess looked up as she heard a knock at the door.