A/N Alice saw Rosie and max kissing, she was going to kick off but before she could danny did to save rosie and alices relationship, they are now at home going to have a little chat. Enjoy! Danielle

It took no time at all to reach home, as the truck came to a stop Alice held out her hand, "Phone please."

"Alice." Rosie began.

"I gave you plenty of chances."
Rosie sighed and rummaged in her jeans, pulled out her phone and shoved it into Alice's hand petulantly, "Mum wouldn't do this! Mum wouldn't be bothered!" Rosie spat crossing her arms.

"So you want me to be like mum do you?" Alice asked giving her a look.

Rosie twisted her face.

"I do care Rosie, that's why I am doing this! Wait for me in the kitchen and we'll talk."

Rosie opened her mouth to speak but seeing it was futile hopped from the truck and walked inside. Alice sat there collecting her thoughts. When she knew that she had to play this by ear, that no amount of planning was going to help she walked inside, tossing Rosie's phone onto the bed in her room as she passed. Rosie was fetching herself some orange juice when Alice stood in the doorframe.

Rosie took a seat and looked at the table, "When am I getting my phone back?" she asked after the silence beat on.

Alice went to the coffee maker and measured some beans, decided to go about this a different way to what she first thought, "How long do you think it should be taken away? Seriously?"

"Personally, I think I have been punished enough," Rosie replied face and tone completely serious.

Alice raised an eyebrow, "Really?" and poured herself a cup of coffee when it was ready.

"You embarrased me in front of my boyfriend!" Rosie huffed.

"So Max is your boyfriend?" Alice asked casually leaning against the fridge taking a sip of her coffee.

"No I kiss boys like that for fun." Rosie said sarcastically.

Alice sighed, "I don't appreciate your attitude Rosie, I'm trying to understand. You hid this from me! You could have come to me!"

"You expect me to come to you as soon as I see a boy I like? Or if one shows any interest? Did you do that with Danny? Run to mum or an Aunt or an adult. Or did you handle it by yourself?" Rosie looked at her, "Plus, what is there to understand? You had a boyfriend at my age. The way you talk about him, can you blame me for wanting that?"

"I am trying to give you the benefit of my experience here Rosie? You think it was all fun and games? You don't know anything! You don't know how we became so close! The type of life Danny came from! All this can get very serious very quickly and you won't even realise it until your life is about to change! You can't stop it from happening if you don't see it coming!"

"Has it even occurred to you that I don't need this so called experience!" Rosie told her heated. "I hate that you think I'm stupid enough to get myself into the exact situation that you did. Give me some credit! I know what to do and I know what to not do too!"

"You think I didn't! You think my dad didn't sort all those things out for me when he found out about me and Danny? You think he didn't sit me down and talk about all the stuff I need to now talk about with you?"

Rosie paled, "You mean like THE talk?"

Alice nodded.

"Well don't bother because obviously what he told you was wrong! You ended up pregnant anyway!"

"Rosie I we…..Rosie we were doubly careful. We used condoms and the pill. It happened anyway."

"Condoms are 100 percent though." Rosie told her doubtful.

"The only thing that is 100 percent is abstinence! I don't know how or why but somehow Thomas came along all on his own. I don't want that for you Rosie. Do you realise how scared I was? Do you know how I thought my life was over! I wouldn't change him for the world but I was a kid! Barely sixteen and suddenly having this little life to be responsible for! What if you two end up in trouble?"

"Look I know you were careful but that won't happen to us! We are no where near that yet!"

"How long have you two been together then?" Alice asked.

"Not long, couple of weeks." Rosie murmured.

Alice nodded and rubbed her face with her free hand, "Rosie I want you to feel like you can come to me for anything. You don't have to hide stuff from me. Your first boyfriend, it's supposed to be exciting for both of us."

"It's hard to do that when you act like my mum."

Alice looked at her, hurt on her face.

"Look I'm not knocking you, its great and I know that is what I need but its blurring the lines you know, its hard to see you as a sister when it's like you aren't."

"I don't know how to do this any differently." Alice admitted and sat opposite her. "Sometimes I look at you and I still see the little Rosie who I picked up from mums when they would be drinking or arguing. I see someone I need to look after, I didn't only miss out on Thomas growing up. I missed out on you too. I'm trying to give you something you never had. Something I never had."

"I get it I do and I'm not asking you to change, it's just you keep saying I need to trust you but it's like you don't trust me!"

"We do trust you, we were your age once though. We know what its like!"

Rosie rolled her eyes.

"can I ask you for one thing?"

Rosie looked at her wearily.

"All I ask is when you are starting to feel ready then please come to me. I know I can't stop you, I wouldn't even try. I know having Thomas so young gives me no right to sit and preach to you. All I want is for you to be safe. You said mum wouldn't be bothered, but that is because she doesn't care. I have your best interests at heart, so does Danny, so when you are ready come to me, talk to me and we can sort things. As your big sister, you can come to me. Trust me."

Rosie nodded, then studied her, "Why are you so calm about all this?"

"I wasn't." Alice replied. "It wasn't Danny who saw you first, it was me. I was all ready to go in there all guns blazing. He knew how you would react if I went in there shouting so he went in there for me. He didn't want us destroying our relationship, said he knew how much we need each other."

"So that's not how he really reacted? He was looking after you?"

Alice shrugged, "I guess so."

"He really cares about you, you know Alice." Rosie murmured rubbing her fingers along the grain of the wood on the table. "I see the way he looks at you sometimes when he thinks no one can see him."

Alice looked at her, "That's a pretty drastic change of heart."

"Well if what you say is true then he didn't mean to say the stuff he did, he was just protecting you, I can respect that."

"Oh." Alice murmured.

"Are you 2...is there...you can trust me too Alice." Rosie told her after a moments pause.

Alice knew that although Rosie sounded standoffish the reply really mattered to her, "You and Thomas are our main priority, at the moment that is all that matters. There will always be a spark between us but that doesn't mean you have to act on it. We were kids when we got together, young and stupid. What happened ruined a lot of lives, things happened that cant be changed, things were said that you cant take back." Alice shook her head, "And we aren't going to let that happen again."

"But you two would be so good together!" Rosie protested. "And you still lov…..care about him." Rosie corrected at Alice's look. "I can tell! Why can't you just both try?"

Alice scrubbed her face with her hands unable to believe that they had been talking about Rosie and Max and got on about her non-relationship with Danny! "Tell you what." Alice told her. "Wait a few weeks, after the court case and we'll talk. BUT you have to talk to me about Max too."

"C'mon Alice." Rosie moaned.

Alice shrugged deferentially, "That's my deal, take it or leave it."

"We'll see." Was all Rosie would commit to.

Alice restrained a smile, worked a charm! Of course it could backfire if Rosie called her bluff….Alice doubted it though! "You and Thomas will be in here later for the talk I mentioned."

Rosie froze, eyes wide, "But I don't need the talk, I know the ins and outs of that stuff."

"Nice choice of phrasing there Rosie."

Rosie rolled her eyes.

"If you want a boyfriend then you're getting the talk."

"Dear God!" Rosie muttered. "Does my nephew have to be there?"

"It kills 2 birds with 1 stone."

"Yeah if it doesn't kill us first!" Rosie retorted.

"Hey I've gave you time to prepare. Look online for things that help you repress." Alice laughed.

"Thanks." Rosie replied sarcastically, then eyes Alice.

"You're enjoying seeing me squirm huh?"

"I have to live with the knowledge that my younger sister and my son are old enough to be interested in the opposite sex, so yeah I might enjoy this. Trust me this is harder for me than you in the long run!"

"You're so dramatic." Rosie muttered finishing the juice in her glass.

Alice studied her, knowing she was going to grow up whether Alice liked it or not and trying to keep her from Max would only backfire in the long run, "You can go, your phone is in my room."

"But…."

"I'm putting my trust in you Rosie." Alice told her seriously. "Don't let me down. And remember what I said."

Rosie nodded and departed.

Alice sighed and rested her head on the table. She closed her eyes feeling weary. Being a parent was a pain in the backside and hormonal teenagers were the absolute worst! Always right! Indestructable! Until they ended up in trouble! She and Danny had thought they could overcome anything at that age.

Her mind drifted back to being a teenager with Danny, walking hand in hand along the beach, sitting in the living room watching movies, sneaking sly kisses, the way Danny used to smile, the way he laughed, the way he used to hold her...only he was older in this one, her arms around his waist, her head fitting on his chest as well as it always lowering his head slowly…..

"Alice?"

Alice jumped in her seat and looked around with bleary eyes. Dusk was falling outside, Danny had his hand on her shoulder looking at her face full of concern.

"Times it?" she asked voice gravelly from sleep.

"Not too late, you ok?"

She rubbed her eyes suppressing a yawn, "I put my head down for one minute."

He smiled, it's usually the case, how about I make you some coffee?"

"That would be great thanks." and she stood up, her cramped muscles protesting the movement.

Danny had busied himself at the coffee maker and she felt an impulse to walk up behind him and…..when Alice found herself turning towards him she buried the thought. "I'll go freshen up."

Danny nodded, measuring the beans. Alice headed for the bathroom.

When Alice had disappeared, the breath he had been holding expelled from him in a whoosh. He had brought Thomas home and walked in to find Alice slumped across the table. For a moment he hadn't been able to move, worried that maybe Derek had been for another visit and hurt her. He'd hurried across and found her unhurt, just sleeping soundly. She had been mumbling something and his heart almost stopped when he heard her say his name. After waking she sat up and looked at him and he swore he saw a smile when she saw him. It had been a favourite past time of theirs, a kiss upon waking…..this was getting out of hand! He couldn't stop thinking about her. She was the first thing he thought of in the morning and his last at night.

He grabbed 2 mugs and began mixing coffee, knowing that he should go home and busy himself with something, anything, but he wanted to spend a little bit more time with her. He knew he was in trouble here, in way over his head, but couldn't bring himself to care when he saw her smile or heard her laugh.

"I'm sorry." a voice remarkably like the young Alice told him.

He spun, a hand on his chest, "Bloody hell Rosie, you almost killed me!"

she smiled, "Well you are still standing so I will try harder next time!" then looked at the floor, "About before…." she murmured and looked at him, "I'm sorry for speaking to you like that."

Danny shook his head, "Don't worry about it."

"I didn't mean what I said, the dad stuff. I mean I know you're not but..."

"Hey." he told her gently. "If you need me to be a father figure to you than I will be ok?"

"Really?"

"I wouldn't have said it otherwise."

Rosie went to him and hugged him tight.

"We are only looking out for you Rosie." he told her. "We know you are young and think you can handle everything but things can change in a moment. We are hard on you because we love you and want you to reach your full potential. There is a whole world out there to explore, enjoy your life. Find the right person get married and build a life together. We know you are good kids but we know how intense things can be." and he rubbed her hair gently.

"You should tell her." Rosie whispered to him voice low and serious.

"Huh?"

"Tell Alice you love her again."

"Rosie…." he began.

She pulled away from him, "Will you 2 just give it up? You won't admit it to yourself and she is just as bad!"

"What?" Alice had feelings for him too?

"Yes!" she answered his unspoken question. "And you'd know that too if you just spoke to her!"

They heard a door open down the hallway and Rosie shrugged, "Think about it." and she walked towards her bedroom.

Alice appeared a moment later looking totally awake, she had obviously had a quick shower, brushed her hair and had changed clothes. "Rosie didn't have a go at you again did she?"

Danny shook his head and poured the coffee into the mugs, "She apologised to me, properly this time."

Alice smiled at him and he felt his head become light.

"She's not a bad egg, deserves far more than she has been given. Oh is that my coffee?" and she picked up a mug and sipped. "Eugh! Sugar, this one is yours!" and handed it to him. "I'm more than…."

"Sweet enough." he finished with her.

They looked at each other, a half smile on their faces. He looked like he was about to say something when Alice interjected.

"Anyway..." she began, "Before I never got the answer, why you were ignoring me."

Danny remembered his earlier thoughts about kissing her and as he looked at her beautiful face he found he couldn't find it in himself to say it again. What if he ruined the friendship they had built now? "Vanessa asked me to remind you about the party next week, you know for Leon becoming co-owner of Mara."

"C'mon!" she said playfully taking a drink of her coffee. "Don't change the subject, it can't be that bad!"

Rosie's words returned that Alice had feelings for him too! It was all bogged down by the fear that they'd hurt each other again. "My mind just wandered. Vet stuff." he fudged. "Personal stuff too. I was just miles away." smiled warmly.

"Oh." she murmured. "Sorry."

"Anyway..." he said carrying on. "I also came to tell you…." glanced down the hallway to make sure the coast was clear. "That Rosie and Max aren't our only problem." "I saw Thomas and Liv talking and although there weren't any shenanigans she was fidgeting and he was bright red."

Alice sighed and took a gulp of her coffee, "These kids will be the death of me!"

"Tell me about it! Its funny when you decide to have kids you tend not to think about this stuff!" he agreed.

They walked over to the kitchen table, saw down and chatted.

A/N cant believe how long it took to get this up! I blame too many hours working! Next chapter is interesting mostly written but have no confirmed time off until the beginning of april unfortunately! I will try to get it up before, if anyone is interested in reading it.