Here comes 2nd part – I know its dramatic, but I cant stand Peter and Julia:)

Disclaimer: I dont own…blab la bla, you already know

CHAPTER 2: REJECTION

Alex opened his eyes and turned to hug Claire – but her bedside was empty.

Alex: "Claire?", he looked at his watch; it was 03:45 in the morning.

Alex got up from the bed and went out of the room. He knocked to bathroom door.

Alex: "Claire? Are ya in theer?"

No response. Alex opened doors; it was dark inside, she wasnt there.

He went downstairs and checked the kitchen and livingroom, she wasnt there either.

Allready concerned, Alex rushed through hall and exited outside – there she was; sitting on verandah, Roy lying down beside her feet.

Alex: "Claire."

Claire turned around and he saw her eyes filled with tears.

Alex: "Oh, Claire!", he went toward her chair and knelt beside her, taking her in his warm embrace. Tears were choking her and she was shaking like a leaf on a wind.

Alex: "Sssshhhh, it will be okay…"

Claire: "I shouldnt let her go when she didnt wanted to go…", she sobbed.

Alex: "Claire, than Peter would go to court again, you know that."

Claire: "But, she doesnt like to be there…"

Alex: "I know, my love, and I promise you – if he do anything that would hurt you or BOM, I will go to court and make sure that he never sees ya again!"

Claire looked to him.

Claire: "I hate him, Alex, I cant believe that I was in love with him. He is so…so…so senseless, I cant believe I did…", her voice trailed once more in river of tears.

Alex kissed her hair and caressed it.

Alex: "We all make mistakes, Claire. Look at mel I had worst case than you – I actually hooked up with Sandra!", he gave her a look 'My God!' and Claire bursted to laugh as she snuggled in his arms.

Claire: What would I do without you, Alex?"

Alex made his "serious face":

Alex: "Aaahhh…probably wouldnt survived!"

Claire laughed once again.

Claire: Ilove you soooo much!", she whispered as she leaned up and kissed him. Alex ran with his fingers through her beautifull brown hair and tightened his embrace…

Charlotte woke up when she heard car outside. At first, she didnt knew where is she. Looking around, she sighed; she was in Melbourne at Peters and Julias place.

She snuggled under the blanket wishing shes at Drovers Run, she wished to hear and see her parents…

Doors opened and Julia came in.

Julia: "Time to get up. NOW."

She took blanket from Chalotte. Child rubbed her eyes.

Charlotte: "What time is it?"

Julia: "Its past 7."

Charlotte: "Seven? Why do I have to…"

Julia: "NO QUESTION! WHILE YOU ARE HERE, YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME!", she yelled and pulled child from the bed.

Charlotte: "Ouch, you are hurting me!"

Julia: "Shut up! Get dressed, we are going out."

Julia went outside as Charlotte got up and went to wear a dress. Tears were threatening ; she wanted that Claire or Alex just hug her now…

Peter, Julia, Alana and Natalie just finished with breakfast when Charlotte came to dinning room.

Charlotte: "Good morning, everybody", she tried to smile, but she just got short "morning" from all and they totally ignored her.

Peter: "Gotta go, bye!"

Charlotte was astonished:

Charlotte: "Where are you going?"

Alana: Hes working, silly!", her and Natalie giggled.

Charlotte: "But, I thought that eh is on vacation…"

Natalie: "Why, you mean because of ya!", they laughed again.

Charlotte looked down to her plate and silently started to eat.

When they finished, Julia took them to her friend as she went to job. Natalie and Alana started to play with dolls, not even inviting Charlotte to join them.

Girl looked up on them and silently asked:

Charlotte: "Can I play with ya?"

Alana looked at her:

Alana: "Did ya bring doll with you?"

Charlotte "No."

Alana: "Than you cant."

Charlotte: "But you have enough dolls…"

Natalie: Im not gonna allow that you play with my dolls!"

Alana: "Me either!"

Charlotte stood quiet for a minute and than went to the corner of the room where she sat and tried not to cry…

Claire was checking fence at East of Drovers whiel Alex was chopping woods.

Claire looked to distance, sighing. Was her little girl okay? Every time she called, Julia or Peter would say that she plays outside with her sisters.

Somehow, Claire didnt believed it. She couldnt reach Charlotte on cell phone because she turned it off.

She looked toward Alex and came to his side. He noticed her troubled face and stopped with his work.

Alex: "Ya okay?"

Claire: "Just worried."

He hugged her. It was already seven days that Charlotte was in Melbourne.

Alex: I know. I am too", he admitted.

Chalotte was in her room; she didnt felt well for three days. She started to cough, but nobody mind.

Julia just exited the room after they had fight. It was because Peters mum was coming today and Charlotte had to listen to Julias lecture about what she should say, how to behave…

She just wanted to stay in bed, but when Mrs. Johnson came, she had to go down. Fever shook through her body while she went downstairs.

Peters Mum Linda saw her:

Linda: Whos this little girl?"

Before Charlotte could answer, peter replied:

Peter: "Thats Charlotte, Alanas friend."

Charlotte couldnt believe to her ears! Her biological father just denied her! She looked to him.

Charlotte: "What!"

Peter gave her a look 'Dont ya dare!', but Charlotte had enough. Her eyes filled with tears. That McLeods proud that she got from her mother woke up in her:

Charlotte: "How dare you to deny me! I am your daughter, for Heavens sake!"

Linda: "PETER!"

Peter: "Its not true, Mum."

Charlotte: "Yes, it is! You signed my birthform!"

Linda was astonished!

Julia: "Charlotte, thats enough!"

Charlotte bursted to tears and she started to yell at Peter:

Charlotte: "Why did y asked to see me if you had itention to treat me like this? Why did ya went to court! To hurt my Mother even more! You cant forget her , cant ya!"

Peter felt Julias eyes on him.

Peter:'You are not allowed to talk to me like that, young lady!"

Charlotte: "Oh, and why is that! Because you are my father! Huh, some father! You didnt came for my birithdays, didnt called or send cards, never came for my Schooldays!You cheated Julia and my Mum and now you dare to deny me! I dont wanna see ya again!", tears were rolling down Charlottes cheeks "Im gonna call Dad to come to take me home!"

Peter: "Charlotte, I am your father!"

Charlotte: "NO! YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER! ALEX IS MY FATHER ! HE WAS ALLWAYS THERE FOR ME, HE TALKS TO ME, HELPS ME WITH EVERYTHING, ", Charlotte cried more and more "HE TEACHED ME TO RIDE HORSES, TO DANCE, COMES TO MY SCHOOLDAYS, HE ACCEPTS ME AND LOVES ME LIKE I AM HIS OWN FLESH AND BLOOD!AND HE INTRODUCES ME AS HIS DAUGHTER TO EVERYBODY AND HE LOVES ME AND MY MUM…", Charlottes voice trailed off in tears. Linda went toward her and hugged her to comfot her and said in shock:

Linda: "Child, you are burning!"

Charlotte: "Im gonna call Dad…"

Peter grabbed her:

Peter:"STOP IT! You are punished and you will spent whole day in room! You are not gonna call him and you will learn to respect me!"

He took her to the room and came down furious.

Linda: "Peter, that child is sic, she has a fever, she has to go to see a doctor!"

Peter:"STAY OUT OF THIS , MOTHER!", shouted Peter.

Julia confronted him:

Julia: "Its true, isnt it?"

Peter: "What are you babbling about!"

Julia: "You cant forget her!", she took vase from table and crashed it on the floor "DAMN YA, PETER!", she started to throw things at him.

Linda: "STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU!"