When Alice saw her visitor she couldn't believe it, the brown hair, chocolate eyes, the pissed off attitude...

"Alice…." Caroline gestured wearily.

"Rosie..." Alice gasped. "What are you doing here?"

Rosie was slouched in her chair, in jeans and a superdry jumper, her hair tied back. She was practically hanging off the end of the seat, arms rested casually on the sides, Rosie began to giggle uncontrollably. Alice took a step towards her and was so overpowered by the scent of alcohol she wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

"You should see your face Alice, weren't you expecting me?" began to laugh more.

Alice crossed her arms, "Are you drunk?"

Rosie shrugged and gestured wildly, "Could be, the bottle of vodka in mums cupboard was really strong!" her eyes widened in the last two words almost making a point.

Alice swore and pulled Rosie to her feet, "You're only thirteen what are you doing drinking at all never mind vodka!"

Rosie pointed a finger and jabbed Alice's chest, "You don't tell me what to do!" then began to sway. "Mum says I'm like you." she added a sneer, "Then again I'm not screwing a fifteen year old boy like YOU did!" Rosie wobbled more. "She thinks I am though! You fucked her head up with what you did and left ME to deal with it! Well guess what Alice, I'm your problem now, her words!" and jabbed her chest with her finger once again

Caroline and Nomsa were looking between them, "Alice is this girl…."

Rosie interrupted, "You're about to ask if we are related aren't you?" and staggered towards Caroline, "Do you think I look like her?"

"Rosie….." Alice warned.

"We look VERY alike don't we?" Rosie fell against a wall.

Caroline studied the girl and had to admit although Rosie's hair was a shade lighter than Alice's and the eyes were completely wrong, looking at her, Alice was right there in her face, in her mannerisms.

"We could be mother and daughter don't you think?" Rosie smiled and she resembled Alice more.

Caroline's eyes nearly popped out of her head.

Alice did the only thing she could do, she grasped Rosie by the arm and pushed her through the front door. Looked back at the stunned faces of Dupe Caroline and Nomsa. "I'll explain later, right now I need to get her sorted." as soon as she was inside she found water spilling out of the bathroom door. Grasping a handful of Rosie's jacket by the shoulder she pushed her towards the kitchen, ran into the bathroom and turned the tap off throwing towels on the floor to soak up the water. Alice retuned to the kitchen to sober Rosie up and find out what the hell was going on! Rosie was fumbling around the kitchen looking around.

"Nice place." Rosie said tripping over a chair.

"Sit down!" Alice ordered and began brewing a pot of coffee.

"You haven't changed, always trying to tell me what to do, I don't listen to you!" Rosie spat belligerently sounding exactly like the teenager she was.

Alice turned to look at her, "Either you sit down in that chair or I'll put you in it and you're a scrawny thirteen year old girl so don't doubt I could do it!"

Rosie bristled, "Go on then, I dare you!"

Alice rubbed her face and she saw the triumphant grin on Rosie's face and knew at that moment her mother had followed through on nothing and if she wanted Rosie to listen she was going to have to stick to her guns so she lowered her hand stomped over grasped Rosie by the shoulders, drove her backwards and sat her down. Knelt down and they were face to face, "Stay there ok!" then she got up to retrieve her phonebook. She was fully expecting for Rosie to get back up and try to kick her ass, but surprisingly she remained seated.

"What you doin?" Rosie asked speech slurred.

"I'm trying to find your dads phone number, I need to talk to him." this was an old number please let it work!

Rosie made a face, "Mum said you haven't spoke to my dad in years, she said its your turn!"

Alice rubbed her forehead tiredly, "Ok yes me and your dad don't get along but I know if he needs you he'll come straight away!" she dialled the number only to find it had been disconnected, she swore and rounded the table so she was stood opposite Rosie. "You can't stay here." she breathed.

Rosie smiled maliciously, "They don't know do they? Your perfect little family don't know your dirty little secret." she smiled wider and Alice saw her father in her face. The expression on his face when….Alice blanked her mind and had to look away

"Well they're gonna find out now!" Rosie added.

Alice was bent over the table looking at Rosie intensely, hands braced against the wood, "I don't have to put up with this crap from you ok!" her eyes flaming, "Now shut up while I think!"

"Mum says we look alike when we're angry, do I look like you Alice?"

"No actually!" Alice retorted, "You look like your dad!" then tried to ignore her knowing that Rosie was only trying to bait her. "I'm going to let you stay here tonight to let you sleep off what you've drank but tomorrow you're going home, I'll ring mum tell her you're safe."

Rosie laughed again crossing her arms, "She really didn't get in touch with you did she? You think she's still in the country? Don't you get it yet? Mum chucked me out, she's back in the UK by now. She left at 5am this morning, didn't leave no contact number or nothing I'm your responsibility now! Before she left I managed to swipe the vodka from her bag, I was kinda worried about stuff til that made all my cares fall away. Then I remember what mum said and I knew I could come here, I know your secret!"

Alice paced a little while then halted, "Fine you can stay until I find mum." then she lowered her voice. "But only if you agree to keep your mouth shut about the past!"

"But your past is so colourful." Rosie swang on her chair and it wobbled.

"Rosie!" Alice hissed reaching the end of her tether then collected herself while she made the coffee. Rosie shrugged when Alice placed the mug in front of her. "Drink it, I'll bring on the others to introduce you. Be polite!"

Rosie rolled her eyes and made a face at Alice's back. She picked up the coffee and wrinkled her nose at how strong it smelled, no way was she drinking that mud!

Alice went outside and gestured for Dupe, Caroline and Nomsa to follow her, "Mind the floor I left the taps on in the bathroom I'll clean it up when I have Rosie's room sorted."

"Who is she?" Caroline whispered as Rosie's form came into view.

"She looks like you." Nomsa added.

Alice felt a tension headache take root as she entered the kitchen and saw Rosie's devious expression. When everyone was in the kitchen Alice began to make introductions, "Dupe, Caroline and Nomsa this is my…."

Rosie stood up abruptly, "Hello everyone I'm Rosie Collins and Alice is my mother!"

Alice swore profusely, "Rosie!"

"And you told me to be polite!" Rosie chided Alice. "Have you just heard half the words out of your mouth? What would mother say?" and Rosie sat back down.

"Everyone Rosie is not my child but my little sister!" and glared at her.

Rosie glared back petulantly.

The other three in the room were looking between Alice and Rosie, coming to the obvious conclusion, there was no denying they were alike, apart from the obvious differences they were like two peas in a pod, same facial expressions, same voice and tone. Alice could see the cogs turning, especially from Caroline, she was doing the maths and coming to the same conclusion everyone else would. She covered her eyes with her hand.

Rosie on the other hand was just warming up it seemed, not only satisfied with planting the seed of doubt she had to nurture it too.

"Have you ever had a child Alice?" Rosie challenged.

Alice looked at her with a dark expression.

"Have you ever been married?" Rosie added tone filled with venom.

Alice pointed down the hallway, "Get out of here now or I swear to god…."

"What?" Rosie stood up again. "Do they not know about me? Do they know about Danny? Your husband?"

Caroline and Nomsa's eyes bugged. "HUSBAND?"

Rosie looked supremely pleased with herself and Alice found her hands fisting by her sides she was almost shaking she was so angry.

Dupe took pity on Alice and took both Nomsa and Caroline by an arm and guided them from the kitchen leaving Alice and Rosie alone.

"You are going to go after them and tell them the truth!" Alice hissed. "I am your SISTER Rosie, I am NOT your mother! You are going to tell them that!"

Rosie shrugged, "Ok, I'll tell them that you told me to tell them I'm your sister."

Alice closed her eyes her breathing audible. "I'm in no mood for this!"

"Yeah? Well neither am I am and I'm the one who had been lied to my whole freaking life!" and Rosie kicked the chair.

"Lied to?" Alice gasped.

"You walked out and left me with her!" Rosie shouted.

"Rosie I….." Alice shook her head. "Why are you doing this?"

"Maybe coz you abandoned me, I needed my mother!"

"Rosie you had your mum ok I'm sorry I left you but I had to get away, everything was so messed up. Do you remember the last time I seen you?"

Rosie crossed her arms and looked away.

"I told you I was sorry….."

"You told me you'd try to see me! Why do that if you're not my mum!"

"Coz you're my baby sister. There was stuff with your dad back then….."

"Yeah I know all about Danny!" she sneered.

Alice paced in the kitchen, "Rosie I don't know the lies mum told you but…."

"Was she lying about Danny? About you two being married? I remember him you know, he always used to bring me chocolate bars and tickle me until my face was red!"

"Rosie you were barely three when we divorced, I hadn't seen him in at least six months before that, we didn't go anywhere together for another six months before the split so I doubt you remember him."

"Oh so that's where he is? Out of your life like I was, tell me was I not his, is that why you didn't keep me!"

Alice covered her face with her hands.

"You're not as perfect as you like to make yourself out to be!"

"I've never pretended to be perfect!" Alice growled then shook her head. They were just going around in circles and it was doing her head in. "I'll sort you a room you're drunk. We'll talk in the morning."

"You think my attitude will be better then?"

"It damn well better be." Alice muttered under her breath. Then gestured to the hallway. Rosie followed her down and Alice took her into a room and took out some bedding from the drawers in there. "I'll go get your bags, have you had anything to eat yet?"

"Awww is mummy worried about me?" Rosie sneered.

"No, your big sister is worried about you. So have you eaten or not?"

"I'm not hungry." Rosie answered dismissively.

"Fine! I'll put some spare towels in the bathroom incase you want to shower." Alice left the room, she was about to close the door when Rosie blocked it with her foot. "I'm not going to make life easy for you Alice, mum whatever you are to me!"

Alice rubbed her face tiredly feeling like the weight of the world was weighing down heavily on her. She was painfully aware she was going to have to explain this to her housemates and then find her mum and sort school and what not for Rosie in the meantime…."We'll talk tomorrow, get some sleep." Alice requested feeling beaten.

She had only taken two footsteps down the hallway when she heard Rosie's bedroom door close. She halted bowed her head hands clasping it tightly, barely resisting the urge to have a panic attack right there in the hallway. Her heart was pounding, she was sweating and she felt breathless. A multitude of thoughts were swirling around in her head like a vortex. What on earth had gone on with Rosie to make her act like that? I mean the worst was drinking at thirteen! What? And why was she angry at her? Alice needed to get to the root of this problem, unfortunately the only person who could answer these questions didn't really want to sit down and have a civil conversation with Alice right now, all she felt like doing was spit lies and tell everyone in close proximity all her secrets…..and that was why Alice had to get her out of her and soonish! There were skeletons in her closet she wanted to make sure were kept hidden!

Once again it seemed Alice needed to find an escape and she had one sanctuary….as she exited the house she noticed the veranda was dark, Dupe sat on the two seater beside two glasses and a bottle of whiskey.

"I figured you needed this." he told her gruffly raising a glass to her.

Alice looked in his eyes and saw nothing but concern in his them so she took the glass and sat beside him. The night was quiet and Alice exhaled tiredly looking into her glass. She swished the liquid watching the ripples lap at the edges of the glass they smoothed and disappeared leaving the liquid like before. Secrets were like that she mused. They caused ripples in your life, eventually it smoothed over and you returned to normal, unlike the boundaries of the glass though life had no such barriers and secrets could come back to haunt you causing a tidal wave of hurt. Alice down the drink in one gulp ignoring the burning sensation in the back of her throat.

Dupe lifted the bottle, Alice nodded and he refilled her glass. "I told Caroline and Nomsa no questions." he told her gruffly.

She smiled at him though it didn't reach her eyes. "Thanks, I'm not quite sure how to explain it…."

Dupe shook his head and took a drink from his glass, "The truth is sometimes crazier than fiction."

Alice looked into the distance, at the land she had been admiring just this morning. At the moment it felt like a cage she couldn't escape from, Rosie being the chains which shackled her. "I have no idea why she's doing this….." came out on a breath, her face confused.

"Who knows why women do anything, you're all crazy!" Dupe told her trying to lighten the situation.

Alice bowed her head.

Humour wasn't working so he dropped it, "Maybe she's just angry." Dupe suggested. "Kids obviously got a temper…."

"She always did, even as a child, she takes after her dad that way. When he lost his temper…." Alice shook her head again trying to dispel painful memories.

Alice saw a question in his eyes but respected that he kept it to himself. "Go on Dupe, you can ask me."

"No…" he began and gulped another swallow.

"You're the closet thing I have to a father here Dupe, go on."

Alice felt the battle within him then he sighed, "So you were married?"

Alice looked at him frowning, she had been expecting a question about Rosie's parentage. "Aren't you going to ask about Rosie?"

Dupe shook his head and poured himself another drink. "You say you're her sister so I believe you. I cans believe it too, I expect when you have kids they'll be quiet little things, Rosie is a spitfire, far too firey to have come from you."

Alice raised an eyebrow, "This you saying I'm soft?"

Dupe shook his head, "Far from it, but Rosie right now is hitting out hard to really hurt, deep down I don't think you're capable of that, you like to think you are but…." he shook his head.

Alice sighed, "My mum fell pregnant with her when I was 16, she wasn't planned, or at least I don't think so. I think mum was under the impression I would do it all for her, being older you know but me and Danny had our own stuff going on."

"Danny is your husband?"

Alice nodded, "We married when I was seventeen." she smiled wistfully and her eyes were suddenly lost in the past. "He looked great in his suit! Coz we were young I usually saw him in jeans, chinos or jogging bottoms stuff like that but he really made an effort to make the day special. It was one of the best days of my life."

Dupe studied her, "So what went wrong then?"

Alice was still lost in her memories, "We made the mistake of growing up." when she looked at him he saw the sadness in her eyes. All she saw in his was how perplexed he was by her statement so she elaborated. "Things are so easy when you're a kid, your parents feed you, clothe you, make sure your warm, dry that sort of thing. Suddenly though I was a wife and it was our responsibility to do all this stuff. Its very easy to be in love when you have no worries. We had wants and dreams of being together but we also wanted things separately like Uni and what not but we had a household to support. We lasted three years before it all fell apart. I haven't seen him in ten years, he could be remarried by now, have a family…."

"Why not get in touch?" Dupe suggested breaking off her thoughts.

Alice looked at him filled with doubt. "And say what? Hi, you might remember me I'm your ex wife and….." then Alice shrugged. "What do I have? Nothing. Anything we have to say should have been said long ago."

"How about just to say hello? You were friends once right? I think you need to do this Alice, for yourself more than anything."

Alice shook her head slowly, the idea appealed to her but she couldn't. "Too much water under the bridge now Dupe, and even if I could the number I have is wrong and I don't know where to send a letter."

Dupe nodded and sipped his drink thoughtfully. "You sound like you miss him when you talk about him."

Alice exhaled, "I do miss him," finally admitting it. "Or I think I miss his memory, the good parts of him. We both changed so much after we married though, made decisions….."

The deep sadness in her eyes made Dupe pause, he wasn't going to press her to talk anymore, this was straying into territory that was obviously very painful for her, instead he patted her back, a fatherly gesture. "I'm always here if you need to let off steam."

"Thanks Dupe and thank you for not judging me, I got a lot of stick off my mother when my marriage failed."

Dupe raised his hands, "There is no judgement here at all, we were all young once, we all thought we knew it all and were invincible and we all wanted to prove the whole world wrong. There are many things in my past I'm not proud of but you learn to live with them and move on."

"What if you can't move on though?" Alice whispered staring intensely into the distance. "What if there is this one mistake which haunts your every waking moment?"

Dupe was quiet for a while then turned her so she was facing him and spoke with surprising logic. "Then you reconcile yourself with the fact that you did the right thing at that time in your life. It had to have been or you wouldn't have done it."

Alice seemed to fold in on herself, Dupe wrapped his arms around her and she buried her face into his side. Dupe held her tight wishing that in some way he could make this all better, this kid didn't deserve this. "Try not to worry too much huh?" he told her softly. "We all miss our ex's once or twice and this stuff with Rose will go away eventually, then everything can go back to normal."

Alice had her eyes closed, face still pressed into Dupes ribs, trying so hard to believe that everything he was saying was true….unfortunately she had the feeling that all this was just the beginning.

A/N Ah so Rosie has turned up! And she seems to not like Alice very much. Do you believe what Rosie is saying? Or is Alice lying? Mother or sister? Hmmmm. Danny still isn't there either...more to come! Awwww Dupe and Alice had a little moment at the end too :) x