Oppsie, I've been forgetting the disclaimers... I only own Brianna, Jack and Liam.. Everybody else belongs to Channel 9 Australia and the producers of McLeod's Daughters.

A big thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far – you guys are awesome. It's so great to hear what people think of your work. The story gets going in the next part, which will be up in the next couple of days...

And also – to anyone who is confused by birthday twins – it's for siblings/family who are born on the same day as each other, but different years – and they do exist!! Me and my brother are born on the same day but he's 4 years older than me and my Dad has always called us birthday twins!! And my Dad and sister are birthday twins too!! Weird family huh...

Oh yeah, and I'm still getting the hang of how to use this site, so sorry if all the story is bunched up... I'm trying!! Please bear with me - thanks

Enjoy -  Rach

Part 3: the birthday twins

'She's my daughter and she's coming with me. I'm taking her away from you'

'No, you're not. You haven't seen her in 11 months Peter! You can't just expect me to hand her over to you'

Peter stood in front of a frightened Tess who has clutching a one year old Charlotte. Tess could smell the alcohol on his breath, and she saw the determined look in his eyes. She tried not to show how frightened she was, but didn't know if it was working.

'You'll give her to me now or there'll be trouble Tess'

'You're not taking her in the condition you're in now Peter'

'There's nothing wrong with the condition I'm in'

'Yes there is. You're not taking her away from me and the place where she belongs'

'You really think she belongs here? She belongs with her family, and that's me'

'I am her family Peter, and so is Alex. Family is more than blood ties'

Peter lifted his hand up and hit Tess across the face, his ring catching and tearing her cheek. Tess gasped as his hand hit, and she felt small trickles of warm blood flow down her cheek.

'Oh no, I'm so sorry Tess, I didn't mean to hurt you' Peter's voice sounded desperate. He backed away from Tess towards the bedroom door. He looked up and saw the blood running down Tess face, as Charlotte began to whimper

'It's okay Bom, everything's going to be okay' Tess reassured her niece

Peter took one last look at them, turned and fled out of the room. Tess heard his feet run down the stairs, out the door, and the door banged as it flew shut. Only after Tess heard his car start up and drive away did she gain the courage to go downstairs. She was walking into the kitchen when she heard a car come up the driveway. Tess stood in the pantry as the door opened and Alex came in.

'Alex, thank god it's you'

Alex turned around to see Tess, frightened as he'd never seen her before, tears mixing with the blood as they flowed down her cheek, and a crying Charlotte in her arms. Tess collapsed to the floor, still clutching Charlotte, and Alex crouched, trying to comfort them, but not knowing how to.

As Tess walked towards the girls bedroom, her hand flew up to her cheek and touched the scar that she'd had since that day 7 years earlier. She still couldn't believe what had happened that day. She hadn't heard from or of Peter since he drove away that day, and wouldn't really mind if she never saw him again. Though she felt sorry for Charlotte, that she would never know her father, but she had Nick and Alex, and they were more than enough for her. Charlotte had never once called either of them Dad, and the issue was never brought up. Once more Tess heard the man's voice in her daughter's room, and the girls chirpy voices. Just then, Tess recognized the man's voice, and Tess flung the bedroom door open.

'Alex Ryan, what are you doing here at this time of the morning?' Tess exclaimed.

'Wishing the girls a happy birthday, what else?' Alex replied with a mischievous grin on his face.

'Happy birthday my darlings' Tess said to the girls.

'Oh yeah' It dawned over Brianna's face 'Happy birthday Carlette'

'Thanks Bria, happy birthday to you too' Charlotte replied.

'Where's my new five year old?' Came Nick's voice from the doorway

'Daddy', Brianna yelled as her arms shot up to be picked up and hugged by her Dad.

'What are you doing her so early Al?' Nick asked as he picked up Brianna.

'He came to wish the girls a happy birthday' Tess told her husband and winked at the same time. They both knew that that was only a cover up for the girls, and that he always did something special for them on their day.

'When's Liam coming over Uncle Alex?' Brianna asked

'He'll be over for lunch with your aunty Jaz' Alex told his niece 'Now, where's brekky?'

'Calm down Alex, it'll be ready soon. What do you girls want?' Tess asked

'Pancakes' Charlotte called out, still snuggled in under the covers.

'Hey you' Nick said 'Come over here for a birthday hug'

Charlotte immediately got a huge grin on her face as she pushed her duvet off and jumped into Nick's arms.

'Okay then, pancakes it is. Do the birthday girls want breakfast in bed?'

'Yes Mummy', Charlotte said 'And we can put a table there for you three' Charlotte pointed to the middle of the floor.

'Well then, we better get them made before Jack wakes up. Alex, wanna help me?' Tess and Alex went downstairs to make the breakfast while Nick stayed with the girls.

'Carlette, why do we have the same birthday? Jack's born on a different day, and no one else here shares a birthday' Brianna asked her older sister

'See, Bria, we're birthday twins. We have this bond between us that can never be broken. We'll be together forever'

'Happy birthday Tess' Claire yelled from the hallway

'Shh Claire, there's no need to be so loud' Ruth told her

Claire opened up the door to Tess's room, and went and jumped on her bed 'Wake up sleepy head, me and your mum made breakfast in bed for you'

'Hi Claire' a quiet voice said from under the covers

'Happy birthday sweetie' Ruth said

'Thanks Mummy'

'Guess what Tess? You're five today, and that means you get to start school with me'

'And then I can write my name too'