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

Abby stood from a distance as she watched Claire get slight dressing down for her antics from the policeman, she smiled, typically Claire McLeod always taking charge. As Claire walked away with Charlotte, Abby approached her.

'Claire McLeod can you go anywhere without causing trouble? Abby said with a smile on her face.

Claire heard a familiar voice, 'Abby,' she whispered, she smiled and turned around.

Abby stood there, her arms held out as the two women embraced. Claire held on to her cousin tightly.

'Claire, I think your suffocating me.' Abby joked.

'Oh god.' Claire quickly pulled away. 'I'm sorry.'

'That's ok. I'm happy to see you to.' Abby and Clare both laughed 'So this must be the newest member of the McLeod family then.' Abby said as she bent down beside Charlotte's pram.

'Yeah.' Claire smiled.

'She's beautiful Claire.' Abby told her, reaching out to touch Charlotte's hand.

Claire watched her cousin and her daughter, she didn't realise until now how much she had actually missed Abby. The arrival of Tess had filled a void in her life that had been missing but when Abby left another void was created. Abby was more then a cousin to Claire she was her baby sister, when Abby had been born her aunt had told her that Abby was going to need someone to look up and that person would be Claire, she would be just like a big sister to her.

When Claire had first been told this she hadn't believed her aunt, part of her thought that her aunt had only told her this to make her feel better about Tess, although she had been gone some years Claire still missed her sister. But very quickly Claire found herself and Abby becoming close, just like Tess and her had been and their closeness was only heightened when Lily died. Claire saw it as her responsibility to look after her cousin she knew what it was like to lose a mother and she was determined to may sure that Abby had a happy childhood, to make sure it was as painless as possible. Abby could never replace Tess in Claire's affections just as Tess could never replace Abby. When Abby was born Claire thought that might be the case and that thought scared her, but she soon grew to realise that was not the case. When she was about four Abby found a photo of Claire and Tess and as four years olds do she asked a million questions, curious to know who that was in the picture with Claire. When Abby's mother had explained to her about Tess, Abby wondered why Tess never came to see them, she became pretty upset when she found out that Tess wasn't going to come and see them and she couldn't go see her. The older she got the more questions she asked about Tess. She even went as far as to suggest that Claire find Tess and try to contact her. Claire had dismissed this suggestion right out, although at times she wished she hadn't, she would of loved for her father to of met Tess again before he died, she love Abby to finally met Tess.

Claire had been so excited when she had told Abby all about her trip to the city and was delighted when Abby had mentioned that she was going to be in the city at the same time and that they should met up. Claire had called Abby after she had left Alex and told her that she was going to be in the park, Abby told her that she would try and meet her in there.

'Can I hold her.' Abby asked Claire interrupting her thoughts.

'Sure.' Claire smiled.

Abby gently picked Charlotte out of her buggy, 'Hey look at you, aren't you beautiful. Do you know who I am I'm Abby I'm your...' Abby paused for a moment wondering what she was, she was about to speak but Claire spoke up.

'Aunty, aunty Abby.' Claire said firmly. Abby looked at Claire a strange look on her ace as if to say "are you sure", Claire smiled at Abby. 'Second cousin Abby just doesn't seem to cut it.' Claire told her. Abby smiled.

'Aunty Abby, I like that it has a nice ring to it. So how's things? 'Abby asked.

'Good, good.' Claire nodded.

'Everyone ok at home? Abby asked.

'Yeah everyone's fine.' Claire told her.

'Good.'

'So when's your meeting with this guy?' Abby asked.

'Actually I was just about to head off and try and catch him at this rally.' Claire told her.

'Ok well I'd best let you get on.' Abby said as she put Charlotte back in her buggy.

'You can come if you like, it's not going to be very interesting but.' Claire trailed off .

Abby shook her head, 'Nah, that's ok I can't stay long, dad's got a few 'business' meetings so I best go check how there getting on. Maybe we could meet up tomorrow, before you leave.' Abby suggested.

Claire smiled 'Yeah that would be good. I can't wait to see Alex's face when he sees you.'

'You haven't told him your meeting me?' Abby asked.

'No, I thought I'd surprise him.'

'Claire McLeod that very devious of you.' Abby joked.

Claire didn't reply to this comment she just smiled. 'So I'll met you here tomorrow what time suits you?' She asked.

'Anytime, I'm free all day tomorrow.'

'About ten.' Claire suggested.

'That's a bit of a late start for you Claire.' Abby joked

Claire laughed, 'Well I want to give Alex plenty of time to get up and ready. I don't know how late he's going to be tonight so.'

'Ten would be good, I'll see you tomorrow.' Abby smiled. 'Bye BOM.' She waved to the small baby.' I'll see you tomorrow.' Abby said giving Claire a hug and a kiss goodbye.

'Ten o clock.' Claire told her.

'Right.'

'See you later.' Claire watched as Abby walked off in the other direction, she couldn't wait till tomorrow.

Abby sat on the bench in the spot Claire and her had agreed on. She smiled and got up as she saw Claire approach her.

'Hey.' She greeted her with a hug. 'No Alex.' Abby looked around.

The two women pulled apart 'No he had some stuff to sort out with his father so it's just us three.'

'What happened? Abby asked her voice full of concern.

'I tell you later.' Claire told her, Abby nodded understanding what Claire meant.

'But were going have fun, just the three of us aren't we .' Claire told her daughter as she bent over to check on her. Abby watched Claire as she did this she couldn't put her finger on it but she could swear that there was something different about Claire from yesterday.

'What? Asked as she stood up and saw the puzzled expression on Abby's face.

'Nothing.' Abby told her shrugging her shoulders.

'Well what do you want to do then? Claire asked.

Abby shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

'That's helpful.' Claire muttered.

'Well what do you want to do? Abby asked.

Claire thought for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. The two women burst into laughter. In truth they didn't really care what they did, spending some time together was enough for them both.

'Just walk around and.......'

'Yeah.' Claire agreed

'My my Claire that's very.'

'What.'

'Spontaneous of you, usually you like everything to be controlled and organised, I thought you'd have this whole day planed out.' Abby smiled.

Claire looked at her cousin she smiled she knew Abby was only teasing her. 'Yeah well since Charlotte came along I've had to be a little less organised.' Claire told her.

'I see.' Abby laughed as the two began walking.

'How'd he take it.' Abby asked sympathetically.

'He was very Alex about you know,' Abby nodded. 'But I think he was pretty upset about you know two fathers and there both bastards.' Claire told Abby. It was a few hours later and Abby, Claire and Charlotte had settled down at a small cafe, Claire had been updating Abby on a few things in particular the previous nights events with Alex's and his father.

'Come on Harry's not that bad.' Abby replied.

'Your only saying that because he worships the ground you walk on.' Claire told her, Abby gave a small smile.

'Yeah well what can I say I'm just the world's most fabulous god daughter,' Abby smiled. ' He does love them, Alex and Nick, he just , he's just got a funny way of showing it that's all.'

'Yeah, a real funny way.' Claire muttered.

'So what else is new.' Abby asked. Her suspicions were raised slightly when Claire started to blush slightly.

'Nothing much really.' Claire mumbled reaching across the table for the sugar.

'Sure.' Abby asked.

'Yeah.'

Abby looked at her cousin trying to guess what was up.

'What?' Claire exclaimed. 'Your been looking at me funny all morning.'

Abby remained silent for a few moments before answering. 'You look different.'

'What.' Claire was caught by surprise "she couldn't possibly know she thought".

'No I don't.' Claire gave a small laugh. 'I look exactly as I did yesterday.' Claire told her.

'No you don't.' Abby said disagreeing with her cousin, 'You look different, there's just something different , I just can't put my finger on it.'

Claire gave another small uncomfortable laugh. 'Now your just being stupid.' She wriggled in her seat starting to feel a little uncomfortable.

'Have you met someone? Abby asked.

'No.' Claire smiled.

'You have haven't you, that's what it you've got that I'm in love aura about you.'

'I've got what ?' Claire asked.

'You know what I mean.'

Silence descended over the table both women sat in silence contemplating their thought, Claire 's was about her and Alex, she was puzzled was it that obvious that she was in love, Abby meanwhile was trying to guess who Claire could be with, she couldn't of met anyone in the city and she only came with Alex... An all knowing calm descended on Abby. She began smiling, they couldn't she thought it was too much to hope that Claire and Alex had finally got together. Claire watched as Abby's face lit up, she knew her cousin knew her secret.

'Oh my god.'

'Abby.'

'It's Alex, isn't.'

Claire looked at her cousin in shock.

'Oh I'm so happy for you.' Abby said her voice slightly raised.

'Shhh keep your voice down.' Claire told her looking around the cafe. Abby turned and looked around wondering what Claire was looking at a look of puzzlement on her face.

'Claire ! Abby exclaimed.

'What if someone hears.' Claire replied.

'And.' Abby asked still confused as Claire behaviour.

'I just don't know if I want everybody to know yet.'

'Claire this is the city not Gungellan, the likelihood of running into someone you know is very slim.'

'Ok, ok I get I'm being a little paranoid.'

'You think.' Abby muttered. 'You should take advantage of this time in the city cause once you get home, oh boy are the gossips gonna be out.'

Claire smiled a nervous smile, 'I guess I'm just a little ...' Claire struggled to find the words to describe how she was feeling, she gave a small laugh.

Abby smiled.

'So you think it's good news?

'I think it's great news, I can't believe it took you this long.' Abby smiled and reached over the table to give her cousin a hug.

'So I want all the details.' Abby told her cousin, Claire gave a small smile and blushed slightly. Slowly she began to tell Abby of the previous night events.