BABYSITTING DAYS Chapter 4, a mcleod’s daughters fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own any of characters from McLeods daughters!

CHAPTER 4: IT IS GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK, TESS

Claire and Tess were sitting in pub drinking coffee. They just finished with meeting at Farmers Council and came to pub tom drink cup of coffee.

Claire was furious about discuss at the meeting.

CLAIRE: "I can not believe that Ted! Does he have any idea how much it costs to transport sheeps like that! I am telling you, Tess, if I had stayed there for two minutes longer, I would rip his head off!", Claire looked to her sister. Tess was stirring her coffee with little spoon, seeming distracted...

Claire immediately forgot about argue with Ted and gently covered her sisters hand with her own palm. That snapped Tess from her trance.

TESS: "Sorry...I got lost in thought...", she slowly took cup in her hand and took a sip of coffee.

CLAIRE: "It is okay", she comforted her "Wasnt some issue anyway", Claire warmly looked to Tesss eyes "You are thinking about next meeting with Nick, arent ya?"

Tess nodded, leaning her hands on her cheeks.

CLAIRE: "What are you gonna say to him?"

Tess sighed deeply.

TESS: That I cant go on like this anymore...That is if I will have enough courage to confront him...

Claire made her face serious.

CLAIRE: "Why not? He is not gonna eat you!", she joked. Tess gave her a look.

TESS: "That is not funny", she tried to hide her smile, but Claire continued with charade:

CLAIRE: "Since you are not organic...

TESS(allready laughing): "What do you mean by that!"

CLAIRE: "Well, all those cosmetic stuffs that you use, not to emntion all make up - it brings you far away from being organic! So, that brings you OFF Nicks menu!"

That was it for Tess - she bursted to laugh and Claire joined her.

TESS: "Imagine that; 'Whats your specialty today? Chicken Tess in McLeods sauce!", with those words, another wawe of laugh came and both girls were laughing for next ten minutes!

Claire wiped her tears away that laugh brought to her eyes.

CLAIRE: "Poor Nick! When he tries that, he will become vegetarian!"

Tesss mouth went wide open as she pretended to be insulted.

TESS: "CLAIRE! What are you trying to say - that I do not taste very well!"

CLAIRE (giggling) : "No, no, I am just suggesting that maybe you should add some more spices to that chicken! Cause you know, Tess, the way toward mens heart leads through his stomach!"

New eruption of laugh broke between sisters. Claire was glad to see smile back on Tesss face.

Stevie was putting table on and chatted with Charlotte while Nick and Alexwere taking care of animals on Drovers, giving food to them. Jodi took CD player downstairs and put ABBAs CD on. She turned to Stevie, smiling:

JODI: "It is perfect music. Tess would kill us if we would play anything else!"

In that moment they saw car approaching and Charlotte happily exclaimed:

CHARLOTTE: "THEY ARE HERE! ", child rushed outside yelling "MUUUUMMYYYYY! AAAUUUUNTIIIIEEE TEEEEESS!"

Tess stopped the car and Claire rushed out of it, running toward her daughter. Child crushed to her embrace, hugging her tightly.

CLAIRE: "Oh, honey! I have missed you sooooo much!"

Tess smiled to the scene and turned around to see Alex, Jodi and Stevie approaching - and tahn she noticed Nick. He just stood at barns doors and wawed to her as "Super Trouper" from ABBA played from CD player:

Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue
Like I always do
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you

I was sick and tired of everything
When I called you last night from Glasgow
All I do is eat and sleep and sing
Wishing every show was the last show
(Wishing every show was the last show)
So imagine I was glad to hear you're coming
(Glad to hear you're coming)
Suddenly I feel all right
(And suddenly it's gonna be)
And it's gonna be so different
When I'm on the stage tonight

Tonight the
Super Trouper lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun
(Su-p-per Trou-p-per)
Smiling, having fun
(Sup-per Troup-per)Feeling like a number one
Tonight the
Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue
(Su-p-per Trou-p-per)
Like I always do
(Su-p-per Trou-p-per)
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you

Facing twenty thousand of your friends
How can anyone be so lonely
Part of a success that never ends
Still I'm thinking about you only
(Still I'm thinking about you only)
There are moments when I think I'm going crazy
(Think I'm going crazy)
But it's gonna be alright
(You'll soon be changing everything)
Everything will be so different
When I'm on the stage tonight

So I'll be there when you arrive
The sight of you will prove to me I'm still alive
And when you take me in your arms
And hold me tight
I know it's gonna mean so much tonight

Tonight the
Super Trouper lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun
(Su-p-per Trou-p-per)
Smiling, having fun
(Su-p-per Trou-p-per)
Feeling like a number one
Tonight the
Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue
(Su-p-per Trou-p-per)
Like I always do
(Su-p-per Trou-p-per)
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you
Sup-per Troup-per lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun
(Su-p-per Trou-p-per)
Smiling, having fun
(Su-p-per Trou-p-per)
Feeling like a number one

Tess managed a smile and wawed back to him. In that moment, Jodi came over , hugging her. They have all greeted each other and Charlotte asked, grinning:

CHARLOTTE: "Did you brought me soemthing?"

Claire touched the top of her daughters nose with indexfinger and BOM giggled.

CLAIRE: "What kind of question is that! Of course we did!", she put Charlotte down "Go behind car, so we can get your presents."

As child ran toward car, Claire rushed toward Alex and they sank in each others arms.

CHARLOTTE: "Mum! Dad! Come on! ", exclaimed child, unpatient to see presents. Claire and Alex broke their kiss, laughing and than went toward car.

Stevie, Jodi and Tess headed toward house pass the barn and Nick approached. Jodi and Stevie shared a look and quickly dissapeared from the view, leaving tess and Nick all alone.

Nick spoke first:

NICK: "Hey."

TESS: "Hey", replied Tess , trying to sound relaxed, but she felt her palms sweating. For a moment, they both fell quiet , and than Nick asked:

NICK: "How was your trip?"

TESS: "Good, thanks. It was nice to spend some time with my sister", Tess honestly said.

Nick smiled:

NICK: "Yeah, I can imagine that sleep was out of the question", he warmly smiled "Knowing your sister-talks in the evening."

Tess chuckled:

TESS: "Yeah, something like that."

NICK: "Here, let me help you with those bags", he took bags from her hands and they ehaded toward house "How was at the Council?", he asked and Tess rolled her eyes:

TESS: "Aaaah, as usual ; Claire arguing with Ted, others are just listening..."

Nick laughed:

NICK: "Some things never change, huh?"

TESS: "You can say that again", she laughed , too "I wonder will those two ever agree on something!"

NICK: "Hard to imagine!"

They smiled to that and than Tess asked:

TESS: "How was it over here? How did you two handle with BOM?"

NICK: "Aaw, it was great! Alex acting 'mentally ill horse' ..."

TESS: "Acting?"

They both chuckled.

TESS: "Really? What kind of business?"

NICK: "Oh, we discussed it over tea at Charlottes castle; she suggested to Alex that they can start a training club for horses; Alex will train horses and BOM will decorate them with flowers for race!"

Tess laughed and so did Nick and he continued with smile:

NICK: "As for me, she wants to come in OGRANIc business with me. Not organic, but ogranic."

Tess laughed again.

TESS: So, you are replacing me, Nick Ryan?", she teased him.

Nick laughed:

"It is tempting offer, I must admit that I am thinking about it!", with those words, he earned light punch in his arm from Tess as she laughed. Nick put bags down in hallway and looked straight to Tesss eyes.

NICK: "It is good to have you back, Tess", he hesitated a moment and than placed soft kiss on her cheek. He looked back to her eyes and said with warm smile "See ya later", and he went outside.

Tess stood in hallway for a moment longer while it sank to her what had just happened. She slowly touched her cheek as smile spreaded on her face.