"It seemed like yesterday that you were only a little girl, and now look, you're all grown up and graduating high school," Donna cooed, wrapping her arm around her daughter.

"Muum!" Sophie whined, wriggling away from her mother. As they walked down the main street, Donna reminisced over the years. Even though their lives so far had been great, Donna Sheridan knew something was missing in her life. 'A partner.' She sighed, looking down at her daughter.

A few blocks away from the restaurant, Sophie stopped in her tracks. It took a few moments for Donna to realise she wasn't following anymore.

"What is it?" she asked, walking back to Sophie.

"It's Alana!" the teenager cried excitedly, pointing across the street.

Donna suddenly turned her head in the direction her daughter had pointed. Scanning the street, Donna didn't see that mysterious stranger who stepped onto the island all those years ago. 'It has been well over ten years since Sophie saw her last. She must've been mistaken,' Donna shrugged as she continued to walk down the path. The blonde looked over her shoulder, secretly hoping that Alana had been across the street. She wanted to confront her and demand an answer, but Donna was a single mother and the owner of her own business. She couldn't just fall apart over a stranger who stayed with them for a while.

/ - x - x - x - /

Alana was walking back to the hotel after spending the morning at her niece's fifth birthday party. Half way down the street, Alana paused in her step seeing two women across the road. Squinting her eyes to get a closer look she realised it was Donna and Sophie. 'A grown up version of Sophie,' she mused.

"It was over ten years ago," she mumbled under her breath. Alana felt her heartbeat steadily increase at the sight of her love. She began to panic seeing the young teenager stop and point at her. Just as Donna turned her head, Alana dived into the nearest alley.

'This is ridiculous,' she snapped, leaning against the wall as her knees buckled from nerves. 'Tell her you love. You regret leaving but thought it was best at the time,' Alana argued with herself. 'I would be the last person on Earth Donna would want to see, let alone talk to,' she sighed, slumping down onto the ground. Alana buried her head in her hands and tried to calm herself.

Alana was not aware how long she had spent cowering in the dark alley. Getting to her feet, she brushed away the dirt on her jeans and poked her head around the corner. Donna and Sophie were nowhere in sight. Straightening out her shirt, Alana hurried down the footpath.

"I am so sorry," she mumbled, colliding into someone. Looking up, her body froze.

"Why didn't you write?" Sophie asked, standing before Alana.

"What?" Alana questioned.

"Mum said you had a family emergency and that you would write to us. You never wrote." Sophie explained. Alana smiled faintly down at the teenager then looked over at Donna.

"I…" she choked.

"Come along, Sophie." Donna ordered. "We are going to be late for lunch," she added.

"Can Alana come?" Sophie asked suddenly. They all turned and stared at her.

"We only have a reservation for two, Sophie." Donna spoke.

"I'm sure the restaurant will have no issue changing the seating arrangement," her daughter shrugged.

"Thank you for your offer, but I already have plans for this afternoon." Alana lied.

"Come on Sophie," Donna said, dragging her down the street. Alana watched the pair go. It was quite obvious Donna still held a grudge after all this time. 'Maybe… maybe, it is something else,' Alana thought as her hope soared. She quickly chased after them and tapped Donna on the shoulder.

"Maybe we could catch up tomorrow?" Alana suggested, with her heart in her throat. Sophie looked over at her mother with hope.

"The ferry doesn't run tomorrow," Donna hissed.

"That's fine. I have a boat."

"You have a boat?" Donna repeated, surprised.

"I bought a boat," Alana confirmed. "It's very relaxing just sitting out on the water," she continued.

"We'll see you tomorrow then," Sophie confirmed enthusiastically before Donna could argue any further.

/ - x - x - x - /

Alana sat on the side of the pier, dangling her feet just above the water's surface. She positioned her body so she could keep an eye on the road. Alana's heart began to race seeing a blue jeep driving down the hill. Rising to her feet, her legs felt like jelly as she began to walk towards the car, pausing in her step, Alana pushed the hair from her face as she stared at the blonde hair blowing in the breeze from the jeep. Alana had been waiting for this moment for a very long time as she approached the car.

"Surprise," Sophie said, removing her sunglasses. "Mum didn't want to come," the teenager quietly added.

"Fair enough," Alana choked, looking away. Sophie turned off the engine and jumped out of the car.

"Why don't we go for a walk," she suggested.

"Yeah, I'd like that," Alana mumbled, wiping away a tear.

"Besides we have ten years to catch up on," Sophie chuckled.

"Hi Sophie," a dark haired teenage boy said.

"Hello," Sophie replied, her cheeks turning red. Alana looked at the teenage boy who had a lopsided grin and a twinkle in his eye. Alana looked back to Sophie to find she wasn't there but disappearing towards the beach. Alana ran to catch up to the teenager.

"Whoa, slow down and tell me what's going on," she said, placing a hand on Sophie shoulder.

"Nothing is going on," Sophie said with a shrug as Alana hand fell away.

"Sophie Sheridan," Alana growled softly.

"His name is Sky. He hangs around the island," she explained quietly.

"And you like him," Alana teased.

"I do not!" Sophie retorted.

"Your face was red," Alana informed.

"Was it?!" Sophie asked, horrified, covering her face.

"Hey," Alana paused and pulled her hands away. "He likes you back," she continued with a wink.

"Really?" Sophie squeaked.

"Mhmm" the red head murmured, wrapping her arm around the teenager.

The pair walked in silence, letting the soft sand squelch beneath their feet. Sophie stopped and stared out at the ocean. Alana looked over at Sophie, lost deep in thought. A cool breeze brushed past her face, making lost memories surface about the last time she was on this beach. Alana pushed the memory away. 'Donna isn't here, no point reminiscing about good times in the past that won't be repeated,' she thought and forced herself back to the present. Alana blinked a few times and jumped seeing Sophie standing right in front of her.

"Did you say something?" Alana asked.

"No, but there is something I want to ask," Sophie explained.

"Sure. What is it?" Alana questioned.

"How come you never wrote to use or visited?"

"Let's sit down," Alana said turning around.

"Was there someone else?" Sophie shouted, chasing after Alana to the shade of a fallen tree. "Was there someone else?" Sophie asked again as Alana sat down and turned her body away from the teenager.

"There isn't anyone else. There is and will only ever be your mother," Alana explained quietly.

"I don't understand then," Sophie said with a frown. Alana let out an exaggerated breath as she stared into the horizon. "Well?" Sophie called softly. Something in her voice made Alana look at her. Taking a deep breath, the red head looked down at her feet, not knowing how to start.

"Do you remember all those years ago, when you made a drawing for school about 'Your Family'?" Alana asked, glancing over at Sophie who nodded her answer. "Then that night there was a storm and you crawled into your mothers bed, I got scared. You needed a normal life growing up. Not to be bullied or teased because you might have two mothers instead of a mother and a father." Alana explained. "If I had told you back then you wouldn't have understood, and I hope you understand know," Alana paused again.

"So, let me get this straight…" Sophie paused, "You left because you didn't want to hurt me?" the teenager added softly.

"Yes," Alana said, looking up with a tear in her eye.

"Job well done," Sophie retorted.

"What?"

"I was hurt. I liked you Alana. I saw how Mum was upset yet tried to hide it for my sake. I get that you wanted to protect me back then but you still caused Mum and I hurt. When I was younger I didn't know why you had suddenly gone without saying anything. You never came back no much I hoped you would just show up at the island again or that at least you might write, once!"

"I'm so sorry Sophie," Alana muttered.

"That doesn't matter. You are here now." Sophie smiled. "And going to stay…?" she quietly added.

"I don't know," the older woman whispered.

"Do you still care for Mum?"

"I never stopped loving her." Alana answered, looking over at Sophie. "What?" she asked.

"This is great!" Sophie rejoiced excitedly as she jumped to her feet suddenly. "I always thought Mum never found anyone else after you left because she was too busy with the Villa. What if she was never with anyone else because she still loves you too?!" Sophie exclaimed.

"Sophie…" Alana started to protest, but Sophie placed her hand over her mouth to stop her from saying anything else.

"You have to come back to the Villa with me!" Sophie protested as she pulled Alana to her feet.

"She doesn't want to see me," Alana said. "She isn't here," she added.

"Just tell her you still love her and never stopped; she'll change her mind."

"I don't know Sophie."

"Too late!" Sophie cried as she grabbed Alana's wrist and dragged her back to the jeep.