Alice arrived at the house to find it empty so she loaded up the computer and printed out the invoice Fatani requested, as the printer whirred and she waited for the document her eyes strayed to the frame which rested by the laptop. It was a small wooden frame, not ornate at all, the picture inside was a nice one. It was Caroline and Dupes wedding photo. Caroline looked as elegant as always, her hair a lot shorter then, Dupe looked absolutely haggard, his clothes tatty, torn and dirty, his hair dishevelled but the mans smile, it was almost like she could read his thoughts, they were right there shining, this was a man who was getting everything he ever wanted. Of course the whole day was a shambles and Dupe almost lost the woman he loved due to a stag do mishap. He spent most of the day missing but came to the rescue just in time, in a hot air balloon no less! The man adored Caroline more than was logical, more than you might think a man like Dupe could love, but there was nothing he wouldn't do for her.

She'd heard those words before too, 'I'll do anything for you,' had been whispered in her ear on a day not too dissimilar to Caroline and Dupes day…..as the words echoed she practically tore the invoice from the printer and stomped from the study.

She halted by her bedroom door, debating about whether she was going to go in there and torture herself with memories again….and even though she knew it was futile and would only put her in a foul mood she couldn't ignore the impulse. She entered her bedroom closing the door behind her and pulled her suitcase off the top of her wardrobe. The zip opened almost effortlessly and she removed a small locked box. Alice put in the combination, it opened with a squeak. There were a number of things in this box, photos, keepsakes from happier times and a small velvet box. Nomsa and Caroline was wrong or maybe they were right depending on how you looked at it, she wasn't a girl, hadn't been since she was seventeen. Alice opened the box to reveal a simple gold band, there had been a matching engagement ring but she had threw that at her husband in a fit of rage during the dying embers of her marriage, yeah marriage, she had been married for a little over three years. Alice removed the ring from the box holding it in the palm of her hand. This wasn't supposed to have happened, they were supposed to last forever.

Everyone had been right, they had been far too young, rushing to become adults instead of enjoying being kids, at the time though nothing had felt so right before, she wanted to belong to Danny in every sense of the word, she wanted nothing to stand between them, she wanted to share his name, his life, everything! She had loved him so much, she had loved him pretty much from that first day, even as arrogant as he seemed at times….

Alice sat on her friends bed looking at her as he friend was doing her make up. They were both thirteen and her friend was trying to convince her that she needed her to come to the local football field with her.

"Tell me again why I have to be there with you?" Alice asked.

Her friend glanced back at her, eyes shining with mischievousness, "Coz mum will never believe I'm doing homework otherwise, Alice Collins is a good girl remember."

Alice rolled her eyes, "Yeah, but if I come I have to sit on a dirty field while you and Scott eat the face off each other, not my idea of fun Ash!"

"You might meet someone." Ash grinned nodding.

"On a field full of sweaty boys? What a selection, I can hardly wait!" Alice said dryly, looking in the mirror and running her fingers through her hair fixing it.

"C'mon Alice I'll need someone to talk to while Scott plays."

At the pleading look on her friends face Alice relented, "Ok, but only because it is sunny and I'll be able to work on my tan!"

Ashley grinned at her.

Alice put her hand on her friends shoulder halting her, "But don't bother kissing Scott in front of me, I can do without that image!"

Ashley cackled and they both picked up their bags of 'homework' and left. An hour later Alice was sat legs stretched out in front of her face raised to the sky a slight way from Scott and Ashley who were engrossed in each other. Alice was absolutely bored to tears, football wasn't her thing and sweaty boys were definitely not her thing! I mean all they seemed to do was run from on end of the field to another. A tall boy ran past her kicked the ball hard and scored. He fisted the air then winked at her.

Alice rolled her eyes and sighed. A lad from behind the tall boy ran from behind him absolutely dripping with sweat. Her eyes widened and she withheld a grimace please don't let him…..

He took a seat bind her before she could fish the feverent prayer that he'd find his own patch of grass leaving hers sweat free!

"Hi." he said cockily.

"Hey." Alice replied leaning away slightly, her face twisted in disgust.

"I saw you watching me."

"Really?" she breathed, "I doubt that." she had actually been looking at a tall boy who scored, she looked for him and found him leaning against the goal smiling at her.

"No need to be shy, I'm Brandon." and he sidled closer to her.

Alice sat there praying none of his bodily fluids touched her. "Don't your team need you, looks like they about to play again."

"Thought I'd keep you company." wiped the sweat from his forehead onto his sleeve. Alice made a face.

"Look, they are about to kick off, you better get on the pitch!" she practically pleaded.

He leaned in closer to her. "Only if you promise to cheer for me."

"Fine!" she agreed.

"And give me you phone number."

"Maybe…."

"And a good luck kiss?" Suddenly he was moving towards her, Alice was about to scramble away when a ball flew over their heads. She shrieked and moved.

The tall boy she'd been watching jogged over. "Take my place in midfield will you Brandon, I think I pulled my hamstring or something," and he rubbed his leg.

Brandon glanced at Alice then on the pitch, the position he was being given was his favourite and he decided to take the offer, he retrieved the ball and ran on the field.

Alice exhaled in relief she glanced at the boy as silence fell.

"No thank you?" the tall boy asked looking at her with his arms crossed.

Alice stood up and she still had to look up at the boy. He was very tall with moss green eyes and he was smirking at her, his eyes shining in delight, like he knew she needed his help before….and that irritated her.

"Why?" she asked nonchalantly. "I had everything under control."

The boy laughed suddenly and his face transformed, "So Brandon wasn't about to plant his sweaty hands all over you?" he whispered bending down, his eyes locked on hers.

"If you don't back off I'll show you exactly what I was about to do to him." she warned voice cold.

"Ohhh." he murmured taking a step back. "I'd better do that since you were about to run from him screaming, we don't want that do we?"

She narrowed her eyes, something flaring in her chest, anger…..and something else.

"Actually it might actually just be worth it to see what you'd do." he added winked and then jogged back on the field.

Alice clenched her jaw and found herself watching the boy, he acted like that and hadn't even told her his name! She listened intently but they all seemed to call him Trevanion, that was a weird name. He looked over at her and caught her staring, he seemed to grow taller a few inches and the look on his face told her he knew she was watching him. Eugh! Arrogant boys! And she took off her jacket, bunched it up and rested her head on it.

She lay there for a while looking at the clouds and telling herself not to think about the boy who was currently unnamed…..he did have nice eyes though, and a nice smile too and she had kinda noticed his bum when he bent down to pick up the ball earlier…..damn it Alice, stop it now! She peeked over at him, did he know she was thinking about him? Or telling herself not to. Was he thinking about her? Grinding her teeth she continued her perusal of the clouds... without warning a ball appeared from nowhere aiming directly for her face. She shrieked certain she was about to be pulverised when the sun was blocked out by the tall boy. His arms were out stretched and he caught the ball. Alice sighed in relief, then she realised who it was and groaned.

"That's two you owe me!" gave her a knowing look and returned to the group. She decided to quit while she was behind and leave. Ashley wouldn't even notice anyway! She noticed the boy approaching again and shook her head.

"Before you say anything I'm going ok!" she snapped.

"Sorry. Brandon aimed the ball at you coz he's an idiot I came to warn you that he's going to do it again. I think he realised you don't like him."

"Marvellous!" she shook her head, "How does he know I don't like him? By the way I didn't want his sweat on me?" tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Coz he saw you watching me."

Alice stood up to face him and was once again struck by how tall he was, "I wasn't watching anyone!"

"I know but he's an idiot, want me to sit with you for a while?"

She shook her head, even though he was acting a lot better than he did before she was ready to leave. "I'm going to try and prise my friend off her boyfriend and go home." looked around and saw Ashley was gone. She actually couldn't believe this, her friend ditched her, for a boy? Alice rang Ashley but it was the third call before Ashley picked up.

"Where are you?" Alice asked barely holding on to her temper.

"I went to the shop with Scott, he needed a drink."

"Way to abandon me Ash!"

"Well you were lain on the grass and it looked like you were asleep. I didn't want to disturb you."

Alice couldn't believe what she was hearing, "So you leave me asleep with almost fifteen teenage boys? Do you realise what could have happened to me? Its nice that my safety is such a priority for you!"

"Alice…."

"No! Go to hell Ashley!" and she put the phone down, looked to see Danny hadn't moved. "I'd better be going." she murmured.

"Were you worried about wouldn't have happened to you? You shouldn't have, you were safe even if you were asleep."

"What?" she asked.

"You were worried about being….well attacked coz you're alone, it wouldn't have happened."

"How?" she asked dryly.

He smiled at her so sweetly she almost melted, "I wouldn't have let them hurt you." his voice was low. "Let me walk you home."

She snapped out of it immediately. "Sorry, its not safe to walk home with someone I don't know."

"I'm Danny Trevanion." and offered his hand.

"Alice Collins." and they shook briskly.

"So can I walk you home?" he asked with a wry smile.

"If you want." and she shrugged.

Danny jogged over to beside the goal and was sorting through some stuff. Alice had picked up her jacket and bag when Brandon kicked the ball in her direction almost hitting her. She was sick of that and already angry at her friend so she decided to give him taste of his own medicine. She waited until he turned back collected a ball put it on the grass and kicked it with all the power she could muster. She was aiming for him but didn't expect to it to hit him. Brandon seemed to move in the final second though and the ball impacted his midsection sending him slumped to the floor holding himself. Alice nodded feeling pleased with herself, even more so when she looked at Danny to find him grinning at her. The sight of his smile started a fluttering in the pit of her stomach.

Danny frowned suddenly and Alice saw Brandon was on his feet, limping slightly but heading right for her. She could run, that was the instinctive reaction, but decided to instead stand her ground. He started this by kicking the ball at her, it wasn't her fault that she finished it better than him! So she crossed her arms, steeled her spine and gave him a belligerent look. When Brandon reached her he didn't say a word just grabbed a fistful of her collar getting in her face trying to intimidate her. Alice tried to pull herself free but he had her in a vice grip. Alice was starting to worry when Danny stepped in.

"You've proved your point." Danny said coldly and removed Brandon's hand from Alice's collar.

The rest of the boys were stood watching.

"No I haven't." Brandon replied coldly glaring at Danny. "Would you let her get away with that?"

"Yes if I started it and yes because she's a girl. I don't know if you know this but real men don't hit girls! Or didn't your mum tell you that one!"

Brandon seemed to swell with indignation, "Who told you about it then Danny you don't have a…."

Danny's whole demeanour changed and he was face to face with Brandon, "You want to start on me now, is that it? Go ahead!"

Alice's eyes widened, she didn't want anyone fighting for her or over her! She put her hand on Danny's forearm, "C'mon Danny we'll just go yeah?"

"Listen to her Danny, you think you could actually win?" Brandon hissed.

Danny moved even closer to Brandon getting right up into his face, "You think I couldn't?"

Alice yanked his arm so he was a step away from Brandon, "Danny, c'mon you said you'd walk me home."

Danny finally looked at Alice and read the unspoken plea in her eyes. He took a step away from Brandon and picked up his bag jerkily. As he turned to leave he turned his head keeping his eyes on Brandon not trusting him to not hit him from behind. When they were in the distance Danny finally turned his head to see Alice had her head bowed. "You ok?" he asked going in his bag and pulled out a bottle of lucozade and offered it to her.

"It's fine." she said declining the drink.

"It's ok if you want it, I have two." and he pulled out another grinning.

Alice felt the feeling in her stomach again and realised they were butterflies, so much stronger than before. She flipped open the cap and took a drink trying to chase them away. "He won't go after you now will he?"

"Awww Alice worried about me?" he asked cockily. "If I say he will are you going to protect me?"

"Forget I asked." she drawled, she hated when boys acted like that, there was nothing attractive about it at all!

He heard her tone and backtracked, "Sorry I don't know I do that." he admitted, a sheepish expression on his face.

He looked so cute Alice forgave him instantly. "Well?"

"He might." he shrugged answering her question then took a long drink of his bottle. "I'm not really bothered."

"Thank you." she told him as they came off the field and walked down a residential street, "He was kind of angry."

Danny shook his head, "There is no excuse for hitting girls ever, even if they are bigger than you, which you will never be!"

"Hey!" she swatted his arm, "Little things come in better bundles!"

"Not entirely true, you can fit a whole lotta awesome when you're as tall as I am!"

They laughed as they walked.

"Anyway like I said, no excuse, ever!" smiled at her.

"Your mum tell you that?" she enquired softly, wanting to know what Brandon had been about to say.

"No." he shook his head, "it's just obvious." he was being evasive so Alice let the subject drop.

They chatted until they reached her house, "Anyway this is me, thank, I guess that's three I owe you now?"

He laughed and tingles ran down her spine. "Well since I live two doors away from you I'll make sure I collect." he sent her a smile. "See you later Alice." then he walked down the street,.

Alice watched him go into his garden, when he was out of her sight her heart began to slow down into a regular rhythm, she had even known it was racing! Alice found a smile blooming on hr face, she was going to make sure she seen him again, to pay him back what she owed him of course…..

The wedding ring remained in her hand as the memory came to an end, everything came to an end, it was the story of her life. Once again she tried to tell herself it was time to let go of the ring, ten years had passed since her divorce, it was passed time! But she knew she couldn't, she couldn't bring herself to destroy the lat connection she had to Danny, she couldn't forget him.

Something big had came between them, something even she couldn't think about. After it happened she and Danny just stopped talking, she had left their flat needing space. He didn't call or visit once in that time and neither did she. After a few weeks and no word she began to get on with her life, sure they would cross paths eventually and work things out, then she had been accepted at a university in Liverpool she had applied to but instead of calling him she posted a letter on the day she left telling him she was moving and started divorce proceedings. It had been the wrong thing to do, she knew that, she should have went to him, talked things through. He had been such a massive part of her life and cutting herself off completely felt wrong.

Now they were hundreds of miles apart and sometimes all she could do was think about him, wonder if the things she did were right, would they still be together? What could they have become? It had been so long since she felt complete, he had been right there by her side ever since she was 13, keeping her safe, being her support when she needed it, her shoulder to cry on and it had been hard standing on her own two feet at first. She got used to it though and that was when the distance between her and Danny really began to grow, it was harder to approach him so she didn't try and neither did he. They were over! And with that final thought she placed the ring back in the box and locked the safe placing her case back in its spot.

She left her room quickly needing another distraction. She found one in the form of Fatani, he paled when he saw her but she didn't notice.

"Fatani, hello, I have that invoice you need, I just need to get it from my room."

"Um, no, I mean yes." he stammered.

They stood in silence, Alice wondering why he was acting so weirdly, he was sweating profusely, his forehead dripping!

"Nomsa said you needed to talk to me about something." she prompted.

Fatani scratched his forehead obviously in some sort of mental pain. "I um, well are you, erm, see I…."

"C'mon Fatani spit it out!" She'd never seen him so frazzled before!

"I have a bar!" he blurted then cursed himself.

"Yeah I know, it's a very nice bar, I like it." she nodded.

"Well do you want to go?"

Alice frowned and studied him, "You want me to come and work for you?" she asked.

He shook his head, "Do you want to go to my bar with me?"

"Sure, I'll sort the others and we'll come down for a few later."

"Just you." he squeaked.

"Me alone?" now she was confused, "Why?"

"Like for a date?"

It seemed Alice was really slow on the uptake today. "With who?"

"Me." he breathed.

She studied him again, "You want to go out with me?"

"It seems so." he replied dryly.

Alice couldn't stop staring, Fatani? He was a great friend but as she looked at him she saw him as a slightly crazy but sweet younger brother, someone she needed to look out for, take care of, she couldn't date him! What if he tried to kiss her? It would be like kissing family! "Fatani have you really thought this through?"

She saw his eyes flick towards the kitchen and closed her eyes a second as it occurred to her what was going on. When she opened them he was nodding. "I have."

"You know I have been thinking of finding some nice men to go out with…."

She saw pure fear flash across his face.

She decided to let him off the hook, this wasn't his fault. "But I don't think we'd be compatible. Thanks for the offer though."

Fatani's relief was palatable. "Ok Alice."

"I'll just get you that invoice and let you get back to your bar, I'm sure you're busy." and after she handed him the bill and he left she found Nomsa and Caroline locked in a discussion at the kitchen table. The anger overflowed and before she knew it she was shouting. "Shame on both of you for using Fatani!"

Nomsa and Caroline looked at her shocked at her outburst.

"I have no idea what the poor man would have done if I had agreed to go on a date with him? Actually I think he may have packed his bags and moved to another country! He was terrified, he may have actually passed out had I agreed! If I want a date with anyone I am capable of doing it myself ok! Don't meddle in my life!"

"Alice we only want what's best for you." Caroline told her.

"And what's best for me is getting a man who doesn't want to be with me to ask me on a date neither of us wants?" Alice was exasperated. "What IS best for me is letting me live my life how I choose, not blackmailing someone into going out with me! No more! Am I clear?"

Both Nomsa and Caroline nodded reluctantly and Alice left them alone.

"You were right, Fatani was a bad idea." Caroline whispered.

"Alice needs someone stronger, someone who'll fight for her." Nomsa added. "Someone who isn't scared of her."

"She doesn't let anyone in close enough to do that." Caroline shook her head. "Keep looking, we'll have to be more careful, she'll be watching us!"

Tea that night was a stilted affair, no one really talking. Poor Dupe was caught in the middle. After barely touching her meal Alice declared that after doing her final rounds in the surgery she was having a long bath so anyone who needs the bathroom was to get sorted now. All she wanted was for this day to be over and she filled the bath the room filling with steam and the scent of her bath salts. Caroline called her name from the veranda. "Alice!"

Alice rubbed her forehead. She had asked to be left alone! "Caroline I'm busy!"

"You have a visitor."

If this was another potential date she was gonna blow her stack. "Can't they comeback later? Ask them to leave a number!" yes this was rude but she was eager just to draw a line under today and move on!

"They say you know them but its impossible, I've never seen them before. They say they're family…."

Alice frowned, could it be? No….. before she knew what she was doing she ran for the door, yanked it open and was out of the bathroom, down the hallway and out of the front door in a flash. When she saw her visitor she couldn't believe it….

A/N ahhh so who is the mystery visitor? and why are they here? hmmmm you will find out soon!
Straight up unchecked so any mistakes are due to that, anyone who has updaed recently i'll get to them 2moro xxx