A/N Danny and Alice were married when they were kids when Alice unexpectedly got pregnant they seemed to make it work until (due to circumstances out of their control) their son was taken away and adopted to another family. although a very hard decision they decided to leave him their which culminated in their divorce and going their seperate ways.

they met up 12 years later as Danny visited LD for a holiday and found that the old attraction still simmered under the surface but ignored it he went home. a year later Alice got a call from a social worker in England telling her that Thomas' birth parents were dead and she had the chance to adopt him if she so wished.

We then go back to find out that Danny's finance Sarah had just passed away and he had been in a fog which is why no one managed to get in contact until his old social worker called in and told him that Alice had custody of Thomas. He then made his way over to South Africa and decided to go see Alice. He got a surprise when he arrived at Leopards Den and found Thomas pushing Alice around in the hallway...

Thomas turned to Alice and took a threatening step forward, "You going to stop me?" he shouted. "Huh? So called mother!" he pushed her harder. "C'mon then!" gave another shove. "Stop me!" pushed her down the hallway once again.

"Thomas calm down." Alice requested gently, hands up in a pacifying gesture, knowing this was quickly spiralling out of control.

"Calm down?!" he shouted, his voice echoing throughout the house. "I'm…."

The sun which had been shining through the front door was obscured a moment, Alice's stomach dropped when a familiar voice resounded.

"What's going on here?" Danny asked, voice harsher than he intended.

Alice looked up at him and saw his face was more than slightly annoyed.

"Thomas go to your room please." She requested shakily, "We'll talk about this later…"

"No," Danny said walking towards them shaking his head. "He'll stay." came to a stop in front of him. "What were you just doing there?" Danny asked him before any formal introductions were made.

"Thomas go to your room." Alice repeated feeling panic rise.

Thomas remained staring at Danny insolently. "I don't see how it has anything to do with you what I was doing!"

Danny cocked his head and studied the boy before him, "It doesn't make you big or hard pushing girls around, especially when you are bigger than them. It makes you a bully and a coward"

Thomas narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms, "No one asked you!" his expression slipping momentarily as Danny's words sunk in.

Danny continued to look at the boy and it killed him to even think it but he could see his father in him, especially when his father was on the verge of one of his rampages. He could see himself too though. Cutting off thoughts like that he turned to Alice, "Why are you letting him push you around like that?"

"Da…." She quested and looked at her son, "Thomas go…."

Thomas straightened his spine and turned on her, "Don't tell me to go to my room again or I'll…."

"You'll what?" Danny interrupted.

"Da…." Alice began.

"No Alice I want to hear this." He crossed his arms scowling. "What makes you think you have the right to treat people like that huh?"

Thomas stared at Danny darkly. "You have no idea what she and the sperm donor did to me so keep out of this yeah!"

Alice winced and covered her eyes with her hand hearing how he referred to his father, "Thomas this is…."

"What did they do?" Danny asked putting his hand up to quiet Alice.

"She's no perfect person! She gave me away like I was nothing!" smirked at Alice looking all smug expecting some sort of reaction from the visitor.

"Have you ever thought that maybe it was for all the right reasons?"

Thomas twisted his face, his expression contorting with fury. "I knew you'd take HER side, I'm the victim in this! Who are you? The boyfriend or something?"

It was at that moment that Rosie chose to leave her room. "What's all the noise about?" she asked scanning the area. Her face lit up when she saw Danny, "Danny! You're back." And she ran to him hugging him tight.

Thomas heard the name and surveyed the stranger seeing him properly for what felt like the first time. He saw familiar green eyes and the height he'd inherited.

"Definitely not the boyfriend." Danny told him simply. "More like the sperm donor."

Thomas glared at him rage filled for a moment then spinning on is heel he finally went to his room and slammed the door. Seconds later a chorus of thumps followed.

Alice sighed and rubbed her forehead tiredly, then focussed on the issue at hand, Danny; him being here could only mean one thing. She looked in the direction of her ex-husband and sister and saw they were still hugging tightly.

"I guess you are here to see Thomas?" Rosie asked, pre-empting Alice's own question.

Danny looked at Alice, everything he was thinking and feeling clear to see within his eyes. "Not quite, I'm staying here for good now."

Alice's smile fell.

"What? Since when? Where do you live?" Rosie babbled excitedly.

Alice was barely resisting the urge to scream. Danny was simply smiling at her with a warmth-less grin. She couldn't help but note how much it resembled Thomas' cold smiles. She had no time to dwell on that however as the next word out of his mouth almost floored her.

"Mara."

Rosie was overjoyed, Alice however…. "Danny can I talk to you in the study? Now." She added the final word as a snarl.

"I wondered when this would be coming." He glanced up at Alice dismissively then smiled down at Rosie. "We'll catch up later. How about you come over to Mara later and meet Evan and Olivia."

"Who's…." Rosie began.

"Later." He assured and impulsively kissed her head. Headed for the study.

Alice followed him and closed the door swiftly. "What are you doing here!"

"What no hello? It's been over a year and we haven't been in contact." He told her snidely.

Alice ignored him trying to bait her, "So you're here for Thomas then?" no point beating around the bush, especially since he was being so facetious.

"Why didn't you get in contact with me as soon as you found out?" he fumed.

"I obviously didn't have to, you're here aren't you?" being as flippant as he before.

"You were trying to keep him from me!" his voice raising. "That's not fair, what happened to staying friends for his sake!"

Alice had been about to fire a missile then she looked up at him and saw genuine hurt in his eyes, she exhaled loudly. "I was going to get in touch with you when he settled."

"And meanwhile you were going to let him push you around?" he asked in disbelief. "He wasn't going to stop there Alice! You know what happens unless you nip this is the bud immediately. First he pushes then he raises his hands!"

Alice felt her anger rising again as he questioned her parenting skills, "I wouldn't have let it get that far." She said through clenched teeth.

"God Alice!" he sighed then scrubbed his face with his hands trying cool the ire inside.

"We're going to have to sort out some sort of schedule for Thomas. "Alice finally said after a pregnant pause.

"Schedule?" Danny gasped indignant. "Oh no, see I would have done that willingly before you tried to go behind my back and keep my son from me. As it is I'm going to see a solicitor and get Thomas with me full time. Shouldn't be too hard with how you let him treat you!"

Alice took a step towards him eyes flaming, "No one is taking Thomas away from me again. Not even you!"

"We'll see won't we?" he told her finally then left her alone in the study wanting to break something.

Alice sat on the stairs of her veranda as darkness fell reflecting on what Danny said, whether or not she would win custody of their son and how much pain would be involved in doing that. She covered her face with her hands feeling like her stress levels were going through the roof. Not only that but she was struggling to find a way to help Thomas, she had no idea how to deal with the aggression. Danny was right, this sort of thing only escalated if left unchecked. Thomas couldn't possibly be like that, this couldn't be the real him. She had met his mother, she wouldn't have let that happen, she loved him. Then there was the fact that neither she nor Danny were like that either. Granted his maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather were total messes but that wouldn't have affected Thomas surely!

"Danny wants Thomas then?" came a voice from the doorway.

Alice looked back and saw her younger sister leaning against the doorframe looking at her sympathetically. She exhaled, "Don't worry about it Rosie." Alice said tiredly.

"You're my big sister, how can I not worry?" Rosie thought for a second. "He is almost family too. Danny." She elaborated.

Alice grimaced at the mention of his name; she had her own thoughts on the matter but kept them to herself.

"What happened to the two of you anyway?" Rosie asked walking towards her. "When he left the two of you were all close and now…" she sat beside her sister and shrugged.

The same thing came between them that always did, Thomas. She couldn't say that so shook her head.

"Did you go see him when you were in the UK?" Rosie chewed her lower lip. "Or I'm guessing this is about you not telling him about Thomas."

Damn her little sister was perceptive. "What do you think about Thomas then?" changing the subject from her ass of an ex husband.

Rosie smiled, "He's just like you."

Alice raised an eyebrow.

Rosie noticed the look, "Well I mean yeah he looks like Danny, especially around the eyes but the way he says stuff, the tone, even what he says, it's all you. It's kind of scary." Rosie nodded. "I like him though. I've never thought of myself as an aunt before."

"You two should have brought up together." Alice murmured sadly, then cursed her loose tongue when she saw Rosie's expression. "Anyway did you go to Mara?" she asked changing the subject.

Rosie nodded, "You won't believe it, Danny has step kids. Evan is 16 and Liv is 13."

Alice's eyes were as wide as saucers.

"Their mum just died in the UK which is why the social workers found it so hard to get in touch with Danny about Thomas."

Alice frowned, Danny had obviously reconciled with his ex and then she died. He'd been grieving while she'd been plotting. Now she really did feel guilty.

"Leon's back too. He has a teenage son called Max who may or not be joining him over here." Rosie grinned. "I was hoping for more boys, I thought only my nephew was coming and he doesn't count and Evan? I just can't see it. Hopefully Max…."

Alice crossed her arms and gave her a pointed look.

"….won't come over." Rosie finished quickly.

"Yeah that's what I thought you were going to say." Alice drawled and sighed looking up at the stars which were slowly beginning to appear in the sky.

Rosie got up to leave and stopped, "You're worried about Thomas behaviour aren't you?" she had noticed her sisters perplexed expression and carried on. "I know he was pushing you around, Danny was pretty annoyed about it not that he would give me any details. I'd heard Thomas yelling."

"I don't know him well enough to deal with it." Alice admitted. "And it kills me because I'm his mother and I should know!"

Rosie jogged down the stairs and sat opposite her sister making sure they were looking at each other. "Just do what you did with me." She told her simply. "You're no good to him a pushover. Deep down he will learn you love him but not if you let him get away with murder. He doesn't need a friend, he needs a mum, like I did." And before Alice could answer she left her alone outside with her thoughts.

Alice thought hard about what Rosie said and knew it made sense. The issue was she felt like she owed Thomas something. Yes everything they had done had been with his best interests at heart, and how were they to know that this is what the future held it still didn't change facts, it still didn't change that he was a damaged young man hurting in so many ways in part from a decision made when he was still a baby.

Deciding to play it by ear she went to his room and knocked, waited a moment then walked in, saw him knelt on the floor gathering up pictures from the floor. One was by her foot and she picked it up. "Here, you missed one." Saw it was an old picture of a very young Thomas with his arms around his mums shoulder. He had to be around six as he had his front teeth missing, they were both smiling widely, carefree it seemed. Thomas took the picture quickly and shoved it to the bottom of the pile out of sight then pushed them all in a drawer slamming it closed with finality. Head bent he walked to the other side of the room, his eyes obviously swiping at his eyes, even with his back to her.

"If you want to put some pictures up I can sort you some frames or bluetac." She offered.

"What do you want." He barked at her voice gravelly from tears, ignoring her offer.

"I wanted to make sure you were ok after Danny turned up unexpectedly."

He finally looked at her though red rimmed eyes; he crossed his arms and glared.

"I would have planned your first meeting with him better than that." She murmured.

He snorted, "I never wanted to meet him at all, or you!" and flopped down onto the bed, closed his eyes emotion obviously still coursing through him.

"Look Thomas I know that you aren't happy here right now and I know there's a million other places you'd rather be but we can't carry on like this. It isn't helping either of us. I want you to settle here. When the time comes and you're an adult and you want to go back to the UK I won't stop you but right now you are here with me and I'd hate for you to be miserable the whole time." She paused. "I know you aren't a baby anymore and I was thinking how about we set each other a few rules. Nothing serious just normal stuff."

Thomas looked at her, eyes squinted trying to figure out what her angle was. "What would you want from me in return?"

Alice shrugged, "All I ask is to follow my rules and I will follow yours in return."

He looked at the ceiling considering, "How many?"

"Three to begin with, we can switch things around in a few weeks if it isn't working."

"Ok." He said and sat up. "My first is no telling me what to do."

"Thomas I am your guardian, sometimes I need to tell you what to do." She used the word guardian knowing any other description of herself would only antagonise him and possibly shatter the fragile peace they seemed to have tentatively forged in the last few minutes.

"No deal then!" he spat and crossed his arms, face surly.

"How about in your free time, out of school and what not I don't tell you what to do as long as your safe and so on." She looked at him and could see he was considering. "My first rule is no pushing or raising your hands to anyone, even if you are angry."

He nodded. "My second rule is not to make me spend any time with you or the sp….HIM!" stopped the description when he saw her give him a look.

Alice balked at this one, how was she supposed to build bridges with her son if he didn't want to spend time with her? Then again she could negotiate with this, allow him to have his own way up to a point, then create ways in which they could spend time together. "Ok but only if you are safe. If no one is here and I need to go into the bush you'll have to come but I won't make you talk to me ok?"

He again considered and nodded slowly.

"My second rule is no swearing." She added.

Thomas rolled his eyes but agreed. He was quiet as he thought of his last rule, looked at the drawer beside his bed which held his photos and started speaking softly with more feeling than Alice had ever heard from him before. "My last rule is an important one. Don't try to be my mum. I have one, or I had one and it isn't you." He looked out of the window and let out a breath.

Alice moved on quickly, seeing that he was upset from the thoughts of his mum, "My last rule is that you will help out in the surgery with Rosie, which is where your pocket money comes from."

Thomas frowned, "Surgery?"

"Oh God yeah, you don't know." She got up and moved his curtain so he could see down the way. Pointing to a big building in the distance, "That there is where I work. I'm a vet and I tend to animals on this game reserve and for the locals pets. We have the big five here so I you'll find I'm out and about quite a lot."

He sat up straighter looking at it very interested, "A vet? But I thought…what about the…." He finished neither sentence and Alice didn't push it.

"So?" Alice asked. "Are you ok with that? Chores in the surgery, paid chores of course."

"As long as it's not disgusting, fine." His replied appeared grudging but she could tell by his tone he didn't find it as bad as he was trying to make it sound.

Alice nodded. "Good. That's all really. You hungry or anything?"

"Rule 3." He reminded dryly.

"I do the same with Rosie and I'm not her mum. I have to look after you." She told him gently.

He shook his head, "If I need anything I can get it."

"Ok. The shopping list is on the fridge, if you write down some things on it you like to eat I can get some." She went to leave and halted. "If you anything else, help or anything you only have to ask." When he didn't reply she began to leave his bedroom halting at the door, "I was about to ask how hard is it for you to get up for school in the morning?"

"Huh?" he asked with a quizzical face.

"Well it can take me well over an hour to get Rosie out of bed and I need to figure out whether I need to get up early for you too."

Thomas shook his head. "I'm pretty easy in that respect, it's fine though I can get myself up."

"No problem. " Alice replied and left Thomas alone, counting this as a very small but most important first victory. He had only been here twenty four hours though. She had no idea what the biggest teething problems were going to be!

Danny walked around Mara's dusty surgery slowly allowing his fingers to drag along the operating table. It was covered in film of dust; they had obviously been using Alice's services a lot recently. He had a big job ahead just getting this place up and running, he hadn't been afraid of a bit of work though. He had already made a mental list of everything he needed. Cleaning supplies, checking all their machinery worked, animal census and a complete health check on the animals, he hadn't even came to Thomas yet. Thomas. He sighed. He had no idea what to think, just wow…he was so big and so much like his mother. Take away the eyes and shape of his mouth and Alice was there, her shape face, her nose, her acid tongue…..he bowed his head. He had been so angry at her before. He'd thought that he'd feel better ambushing her, that small bit of revenge squashing some of the anger he had felt but he'd been wrong. He just ended up feeling small. It didn't help that she looked stressed out. Thomas acting like that too! What had happened between now and the toddler he had been to make him so full of rage? Oh yeah losing his parents would have affected him and being ripped from all he knew, all that was familiar wouldn't have helped but still he seemed so angry at them.

He glanced up out of his dirty surgery window to see Liv sat on a wall looking up at the darkened night sky, her small body shaking almost imperceptibly. Brushing the dust from his hands he exited the surgery and went to her. She heard him approach and jumped from the wall and wrapped her arms around him hugging him tightly. Danny ran his hand down her blond hair slowly.

"Mum would have loved this place wouldn't she." She murmured against his chest.

Pain filled him as his minds' eye filled with images of Sarah's delight at everything around him. "She would have." He croaked.

He heard Liv sob and held her tighter.

"I really miss mum Danny, I didn't know how much I needed her until she wasn't here for me anymore."

"I know Livvie. We all miss her, we always will but I think being here will help us to heal."

At least he hoped it did.

A/N nothing really happens in this chapter, i struggled with it alot, it was the first thing i wrote after s long hiatus so i apologise for it, it starts to pick up again soon it took me a little bit to get back into my groove Thanks for reading x