BABYSITTING DAYS Chapter 6, a mcleod’s daughters fanfic

Okay, here it comes – chapter that I believe ya all waited unpatiently:) Last night I finished with writing this story, so all I have to do is type it and post it down here! I should tell you that Chapter 9 is the last one! But, I already started to write another story – "FAITH IN LOVE!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of McLeod's daughters characters!

CHAPTER 6: STEVIE'S BIRITHDAY

Tess went out of the bathroom, wipping her hair with towel. She went to her room and put ABBA s CD on. The song "The name of the game" started to play.

I've seen you twice, in a short time
Only a week since we started
It seems to me, for every time
I'm getting more open-hearted

I was an impossible case
No-one ever could reach me
But I think I can see in your face
There's a lot you can teach me
So I wanna know..

What's the name of the game?
Does it mean anything to you?
What's the name of the game?
Can you feel it the way I do?
Tell me please, 'cause I have to know
I'm a bashful child, beginning to grow

And you make me talk
And you make me feel
And you make me show
What I'm trying to conceal
If I trust in you, would you let me down?
Would you laugh at me, if I said I care for you?
Could you feel the same way too?
I wanna know..

The name of the game

I have no friends, no-one to see
And I am never invited
Now I am here, talking to you
No wonder I get excited

Your smile, and the sound of your voice
And the way you see through me
Got a feeling, you give me no choice
But it means a lot to me
So I wanna know..

What's the name of the game?
(Your smile and the sound of your voice)
Does it mean anything to you?
(Got a feeling you give me no choice)
But it means a lot, what's the name of the game?
(Your smile and the sound of your voice)
Can you feel it the way I do?
Tell me please, 'cause I have to know
I'm a bashful child, beginning to grow

The name of the game
(I was an impossible case)
Does it mean anything to you?
(But I think I can see in your face)
That it means a lot
What's the name of the game?
(Your smile and the sound of your voice)
Can you feel it the way I do?
(Got a feeling you give me no choice)
But it means a lot, what's the name of the game?
(I was an impossible case)
Does it mean anything to you?
(But I think I can see in your face)
That it means a lot

Tess smiled, thinking about events that afternoon. She laughed while drying her hair. He was so different, more friendly, more warm toward her...She wondered where has this all came from. She asked Claire did BOM said anything, but Claire said that Alex told her that they didnt even mention Tess. What was it than?

Did he missed her those seven days? Tess sighed, totally confused. She didnt knew what to think about him, still she enjoyed in his attention.

It was 18:30 and Nick went to Wilgul to change his clothes. Him and Alex will come around 20:00, so Tess had plenty of time to prepare herself.

Fire was burning beautifull in the darkness. Stevie, Jodi, Claire, Tess, Alex and Nick sat around fire talking jokes, laughing. Stevie opened her presents with Alex giving his «brilliant» comments on each one, and everybody laughed more and more.

Stevie and Nick brought guitars and played few songs while evrybody sang.

Tess was sitting between Claire and Stevie when Jodi bumped out with a suggesstion:

JODI: «Tess, sing us something!»

Tess smiled and shook her head.

TESS: «Aw, no, Jodi, I dont want to make everybody run away and spoil this evening!», she laughed.

ALEX: «Come on, Tess! Any song you want!»

STEVIE: «Coomeee ooon! Sing at least Chiquitita for me! Pleeeeaaaaseeee!»

TESS: «I dont know...»

CLAIRE: «Its her birithday», said Claire, snuggling in Alexs embrace «You cant say no!»

Tess smiled to cover her blush and in that moment Nick just started to play «Chiquitita» solo on his guitar. Tess looked at him and started to sing:

TESS: «Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong
You're enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow

How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet"

Stevie joined her in singing:

TESS & STEVIE: "Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I'm a shoulder you can cry on

Tess glanced at Nick as she sang, and he glanced back to her:

TESS: "Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on"

, and her and Stevie sang in duo:

TESS & STEVIE: "You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you've broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together"

Everybody joined during chorus:

ALL: "Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita"

Stevie and Tess continued:

STEVIE & TESS: "So the walls came tumbling down
And your love's a blown out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you're oh so sad, so quiet"

And everybody else joined in chorus once again:

Nick looked at Tess while she was singing. Her voice was like voice of an angel to him…

STEVIE & TESS: "Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita"

Stevie stopped singing and Tess sang alone:

TESS: "Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita"

Everybody applauded. Tess smiled. Stevie hugged her and kissed her cheek. Tess hugged her friend back and caught look from Nicks eyes…

NICK: "That was beautiful, Tess."

ALEX: "Yeah, even I am speechless!", he smiled and Tess chuckled. Claire winked to her sister and Tess smiled to her.

Tess opened her eyes and looked around. Everybody were sleeping.

Quietly, that she doesnt wake anybody, she snuggled out of her sleeping bag.

She needed a walk to clear her mind. Walking down the field, she thought about this evening; her and Nick sounded great in duo – he played guitar and she sang. Tess was surprised cause Nick knew how to play all ABBA – songs…

She stopped by the fence and leaned on it, watching up the stars. Night was beautiful and crickets were singing their song. Tess inhaled beautiful scent of flowers.

Roys short barking woke Nick up from his bad dream. He was dreaming about Tess, that she had an accident. His eyes flew opened and he looked around himself. Everybody were sleeping. Still under influence of his dream, Nick turned to look to Tess to make sure that she is all right – than he noticed that she isnt in her sleeping bag!

He was awake in a second, got up from his sleeping bag and quietly went from the camp.

He searched the near area, but Tess wasnt anywhere in sight.

Nick didnt wanted to fright anybody, but he sensed that he started to panic. Where is she, is she okay?

He checked the barn and house and than went to a field.

NICK: "Tess?", he called her every minute, but not loud enough that she could her it.

Nicks heart jumped from fear on thought that something bad might happened to her.

NICK "Tess? Tess, where are you?", he ran down the field and he noticed her beautiful blonde hair. She was standing beside fence, leaning on it and watching the stars.

Nick was soooo frightened minute ago that he forgot all his doubts and exclaimed:

NICK: "Tess!"

Tess snapped from her trance and turned around to see Nick rushing toward her. And before she could reacted, Nick came and pulled her in his embrace!

NICK: "God, I got sooo scared that something bad happened to ya!", he breathed, hugging her more and more tightly.

Tess was shocked at first, but warmth of Nicks arms around her calmed her down and she closed her eyes, leaning her face on his chest, sighing deeply.

NICK: "Ya okay?", he asked concerned.

TESS: "Yeah, I m okay", she whispered. Nick started to let her go, but before she realized what is on her mind, she heard her own whisper:

TESS: "Dont let go…"

Nick looked down at her and without a word tightened his hold on her as Tess hugged him around his waist, leaning her face again on his chest. She felt that she could stay like this for whole life – it was soooo safe and warm in Nicks embrace! It felt heavenly, it felt … right.

Tess was afraid of letting him go. She was scared that he will back off and stop this magic between them. She did not wanted that. Only thought of that frightened her soooo much and she unconsciously started to cry.

Nick felt like he held happiness of whole world in his embrace. He missed holding her like this, he missed to inhal beautiful scent of her hair.

Suddenly, he felt her shaking…like a leaf on a wind; she was crying! Nick let her go a bit and asked concerned:

NICK: "Tess?"

Tess unwrapped her hands from his waist.

TESS: "I cant, Nick…I cant go on like this anymore…", her voice trailed off in tears. Nick stood there, watching her without word. Tess wiped her tears away, but new ones continued to run down her cheeks "I cant stand all this anymore, pretending that we are just friends when I know how I feel about you! It is killing me to see you everyday and nt be able to hold you, to kiss you…", she broke free from his embrace and turned away from him. Despite her heart was telling her different, she breathed "I think you should go."

NICK: "Tess…"

TESS: "Just go, Nick…", she whispered.

Nick turned her around to face him.

NICK: "Look at me, Tess."

Tess didnt looked at him.

TESS: "Nick, dont…it is too painfull…I cant…", before she even finished her sentence, Nick pulled her again to his embrace and placed soft and gentle kiss on her lips! Sigh escaped from her mouth and she wrapped her hands around his neck. Their kiss deepened and became passionate…

He broke of their kiss and smiled warmly to her:

NICK: "Can you look at me now?"

Tess looked up to his eyes, eyes that she loves soooooo much. Nick gently caressed her cheeks with his palms.

NICK: 'I am sorry, Tess, I am so sorry. Sorry for not believing you, for not letting you explain…for everything", he cupped her face in his palms kissing her again, longly. After they drew apart, Tess said:

TESS: "I am sorry, too. I should discuss it with you and not put you off. I am so sorry for hurting you like that, Nick."

NICK: "It is okay, it is in the past."

Tess nodded and they kissed again.

After a minute, a thought went through Tesss mind and she pulled away, smiling.

TESS: "Can I ask you something?"

NICK: "Sure."

TESS: "I noticed that…that you have changed a lot toward me after I cam back from Melbourne. In a good way, of course. What, um…what happened?"

Nick smiled:

NICK: "It is because of your niece."

TESS: "Charlotte?"

NICK: "Yup", he told her all about conversation that morning and they both laughed. Nick went with his fingers through Tesss silky hair "Thats when I realized what kind of fool I was", he kissed her again.

After kiss, they gazed to each other and suddenly Tess remembered something.

TESS: "Wait a second! Was Alex there while you and BOM had that conversation?"

NICK: "Oh yeah! He enjoyed it!", he grinned. Tesss mouth went wide open.

TESS: "I cant believe it! Theyve tricked me out like a baby!"

NICK: "Who?"

TESS: "Claire and Alex! I was afraid that BOM will mention something about my conversations with Claire about you! She promised me that she will make sure that Charlotte doesnt say something she shouldnt!", Tess was astonished.

Nick tightened his hold on Tess and asked with sparkle in his eyes:

NICK: "Well…do ya mind that she told me?"

Tess happily smiled, melting in his embrace.

TESS "No, of course not!", with those words, they sank to each others arms. Words werent necessary.

Tess was trembling, still couldnt believe that she is not dreaming. He was really here; he was kissing her, hugging her, caressing her…

Nick went down her back with his hand, gently and he whispered:

NICK: "I love you, Tess…Always have and always will…"

Tess smiled.

TESS: 'I love you, too…"

Nick gave her his special smile, smile reserved only for her and he just held her…He couldnt stop looking at her…