A/N RECAP - danice went to a party and alice had her drink spiked by Rosies dad who tried to abduct her because he has a grudge against alice, he was apprehended at mara but managed to escape. whilst under the influence alice kissed danny and ended up in hospital unable to remember what happened. thomas is starting to see Alice as a mum.

Enjoy DanH2010

Alice sat in the car as it made its way over the rutted roads towards her home. She was lost in pensive thought as she watched the scenery speed by, she should be concerned by Dupes driving, not the most cautious people at the best of time when someone he cared about was upset, worried or unwell it made it ten times worse, but she couldn't bring herself to. He was supposed to be concentrating on driving but kept glancing at her, like he was scared she was going to die any second now!

"So, you have eaten?" the old man asked, again!

Alice sighed and looked at him, "Yes Dupe, I have had dinner and managed to keep it all down. I had a bad reaction to whatever they spiked me with that's all." She had spent 2 days in that sodding hospital, they had wanted to ensure that it was all flushed out of her system, her first meal she had been violently sick after eating and they made her stay in, she had been bored stiff!

Dupe looked at her again with a deep frowned. She was genuinely considering faking an illness but if she did that he might panic and crash the car so, no….at home though…

Dupe however had growled low in his throat, "If I EVER find out who did that to you I'll make what the lions do look like child's play! It's a good thing Danny was there and knew what to do to keep you safe until the ambulance showed up. God knows what those scum bags wanted to do to you!" he scowled, "Vanessa has checked her CCTV and she can make out who did it, but his face is covered by a cap!"

Alice nodded silently.

"Scared the life out of the boy and your sister." He glanced at her again, unsettled by how quiet she was.

"I'm guessing it did." She murmured. She knew she had apologies to make, especially to Rosie for what she said. Yes, she had been drugged but still, whatever she said had to have been in her subconscious to begin with!

"Nom, Caroline and me aswell." Dupe tacked onto the end, wanting her to know that they loved her just as much as the kids did, not that he thought she doubted it, she was just so down.

The statement broke her train of thought, she looked at the old man giving him a wry smile, "Isn't that what my job is? I remember you saying when I first moved in that I'll be the death of you." And she patted his leg. "But I'm sorry I scared you all. Not that I remember all that much of what happened." On that subject, she had yet to find out of the kiss she thought had happened was a figment of her imagination, or an actual one. If he been imagined then it was very very vivid! She sighed feeling fed up, Dupe misinterpreted the meaning.

"Don't worry the kids were fine as soon as they knew you were going to be ok." He assured.

Alice gave him a small smile though it held no mirth, "I know."

"Is there something else Alice?" Dupe finally asked, "I just get the feeling that you're holding something back."

She wondered whether to confide in him, he might have experience she could use, deciding she had nothing to lose she looked at him, "Dupe, have you ever done something really stupid when you were drunk? And you're trying to blame what you done on being drunk but deep down it's hollow, it doesn't really ring true, like it's just an excuse." for example kissing an ex-husband when you were already confused about how you felt about him!

"Alice, by the time you reach my age you'll have done countless things, sober or drunk, that you don't understand why you done them, you just did. Especially when you love someone." He told her softly.

"Who said it was…."

He gave her an incredulous look, "I'm old, not blind. Believe it or not I know what love looks like."

She rolled her eyes and slumped back in her seat refusing to cross her arms like a petulant child, even though she wanted to.

"So I'm guessing you kissed him?" Dupe asked, not even needing her to tell him who it was, it was clear as day. He made sure to keep his eyes glued to the road, if he looked at her she might change her mind about talking about this with him.

She remained silent and Dupe decided not to push it. "Mostly," he began, giving her the insight she wanted. "if what I did warrants it I apologize, chalk it up to experience and then move on."

"That's good advice." She replied, except she couldn't go to Danny with this, it could ruin everything. He hadn't tried to discuss it with her, what if he regretted it? Not that he had anything to regret, nope that had all been her!

The old man smiled at her, "I have my moments. Try not to worry too much Alice, you're young, you're allowed to make mistakes, it only matters if you refuse to learn from them."

The roof of the house appeared in the distance so they ceased talking about it, all she needed was the kids finding out she kissed Danny, it was bad enough that Dupe knew it without her even mentioning it! She sat in silence pondering, Dupe was right, she'd just chalk it up to experience. I mean chances are she didn't do it anyway!

Danny had visited her in hospital yesterday and filled her in on Derek, how he had tried to kidnap Rosie, and held Thomas against a wall. She had predicted that Danny had lost his temper, he didn't even have to say it, only this time he had stopped before going too far. That hadn't helped how she felt about it all. He then confided that Derek had managed to escape from the men in Mara. They had discussed whether to tell the kids and decided not to, why worry them. Danny had organised extra security. If Derek was seen lurking around Leopards Den they would tell the kids but they both hoped after getting his backside kicked again he'd do the same as he did last time and disappear. Alice for one was looking forward to some down time. All the stress recently was starting to catch up with her.

They turned the corner and saw the full house materialise, the sun setting behind it.

"Home sweet home." Dupe told her, pulling to a stop at the foot of the stairs.

"Is Danny here?" Again Dupe misinterpreted is as concern for the kids.

"He stayed both nights you were in hospital, he wanted to keep an eye on the kids, the man gets up with the chickens! He had showered dressed and eaten breakfast by the time I was dragging myself out of bed."

Alice smiled and nodded, "He's used to early starts he used to be a postman."

"The boy has been looking pleased with himself recently too." He told her climbing out of the truck. "I'm not used to seeing him so happy, he's usually sulking about something." He headed to the back. "He can stay longer if you want, if you need to talk." He added on the end quietly. "Danny."

Alice sighed loudly, "It's ok Dupe, I'll grab my bag." Avoiding answering his question, did she want Danny to stay? Even if it was just to talk.

He gave her a get real look and picked up her overnight bag from the truck. Yelling greetings as he entered the house. Alice heard a door slam and the pounding of footsteps, Rosie appeared at the door. "Hey Rosie." Alice said swinging her legs out of the truck, climbing out and walking around to the other side. "You ok?"

"Are you ok?" Rosie asked walking down the stairs.

"I'm good kiddo," Alice assured.

Rosie rolled her eyes, "Less of the kiddo thanks."

They walked back up the stairs side by side, but before Rosie could enter the house Alice put her hand on her sisters arm to halt her, "Look about anything I might have said about you and Max or anything, I'm really sorry."

"Alice you were drugged, although I could have done without the air out of Max's mouth comment." Rosie conceded.

Alice looked at her puzzled. "Clarify?"

"Well we were outside and you found us kissing and I said we came out for air and you asked if I wanted it out of his mouth."

Alice looked at her disgusted, "Wow, that's pretty vile."

"Exactly what I said!" Rosie told her smiling.

"It's all forgotten about now anyway. I was just hurt that you didn't trust me with Max or about you and Danny."

"Oh Rosie, of course I trust you. The Max thing, yes I worry but I have the benefit of experience on my side and when you have kids and they are teenagers you'll remember your experience and what you were like and worry too, hopefully in about 30 years' time." Alice grinned. "Joking aside, I lost the three most important people in my life because I was just too young to know how to handle everything that went on back then. And about Danny…." Knew she had to give Rosie something here, let her know she did trust her, "It's so hard you know. What I feel for Danny is big and complicated and I have so many people to consider. What I do doesn't just affect me, it affects you and Thomas and even Dupe and Caroline too to an extent."

"So you do love him then?"

"Rosie!" Alice admonished.

"You're over thinking it." Rosie finally said, "Yeah we are something to consider eventually and maybe involved to a point but you aren't getting married, it's just the same as me and Max, well except for the obvious,"

"What?" Alice said with raised eyebrows, suddenly a little bit worried about how close Rosie and Max actually were!

Rosie grinned, "That I'm so much better looking than you."

Alice cocked her head and laughed in relief, "You wish." And pushed Rosie playfully.

"But seriously, " Rosie carried on, "If you two like each other again, so what! Enjoy it!" Rosie nodded then left Alice alone with her thoughts.

Alice stood thinking of what she said, then walked over the veranda to the fence, rested her hands upon them limply and looked in the distance thinking of what Rosie said, she could hear the strains of music playing inside, she wasn't sure what was playing but it was kind of soothing until she heard the chorus and it made her think of Danny,

When my world is falling apart, when there's no light to break up the dark, that's when I look at you.
When the waves are flooding the shore and I can't find my home anymore, that's when I look at you.

When the lyrics waves flooding the shore played without warning nausea ploughed through her, right in the pit of her stomach. She had no idea why, but as it played again the same thing happened. She tried to dismiss the thought but it refused to leave….

'Mum?"

Alice heard the word initially, but she was so unaccustomed to being called by that name that she didn't realise it was directed at her.

"Mum?" the person repeated and when she realised who was speaking, the music faded into oblivion, she stood up straighter and her eyes widened just slightly. She turned her head slowly and saw Thomas stood there waiting for a response, he was stood slouching slightly hands in his pockets, he was scuffing the toe of his trainer on the veranda, he looked up again and saw he had her attention, "Are you ok?" he asked. "You were miles away."

Alice nodded, her voice escaping her, he hadn't said that as a mistake, right? I mean he said it twice so he had to have meant it, but why? How? When?

"I'm glad that you're home. That you're ok." He told her.

Alice could barely believe what she was hearing, Thomas seemed to be happier to be here but referring to here as home? She was mum now? Don't get her wrong she was over the moon, she was just abit confused as to when all this had happened!

"I'm sorry that I scared you." She finally said when she trusted herself to speak. "Is everything ok with you?" trying to remain calm while alternating between being so excited by the change and terrified he'd change his mind if she was too enthusiastic!

Thomas nodded quickly, "What you first said, when I first came here about it being peaceful, it is. It has helped me in ways I didn't know I needed and I think it'll help me feel, like, well more better about stuff the longer I am here." he scuffed his shoe again, "And having you has…. helped in those ways too" said haltingly shoving his hands deeper in his pockets, his expression, unexpectedly vulnerable.

"That's what I'm here for." She told him softy.

"So yeah." He carried on, his face still uncertain. "Mum."

Alice couldn't halt the smile that bloomed over her face as she heard him call her by that name looking at him for the first time. "That's really great." She found herself walking towards him and engulfing him in a hug. Thomas returned the hug and closed his eyes enjoying the feeling. When they finally parted, he smiled at her, "I better get back inside, I need to shower." back to normal, like their conversation before didn't happen.

"Ok son." She replied as they entered the house together.

Tea time had been and gone, all the kids were in bed in their respective rooms. Alice was stood in the kitchen wearing bed shorts and top sorting out washing, earlier on she had gone into Rosie's room to tell Rosie and Liv to go to sleep, they had been giggling about something! No wonder the kid had trouble getting up in the morning if she insisted being up at, she checked her watch, 12:05. Alice wasn't that tired either, too wired to sleep. Danny had rang earlier on and spoke to Dupe, not long after she had arrived home then stayed at Mara ever since claiming there was some kind of emergency. Evan had disappeared into his room earlier, Dupe was taking him out at 4am and wanted him well rested.

She knew she should be at least in bed but she didn't know if Danny had a key, she knew which room was his, she'd spied in there earlier on. The scent of his aftershave was strong in there and his clothes sat on the chair in there. There seemed to be traces of him everywhere in the house. His jacket tossed across the back of the sofa, his soap, deodorant and aftershave in the bathroom and, she thought as she picked up a t-shirt that was undoubtedly his, his clean washing beside hers in the basket. He had stayed here less than 3 days and he had slotted right in like he had been made to live here.

She was beginning to think he was going to stay at Mara tonight and that might be for the best she had yet to talk to him about their kiss/non-kiss or whatever the hell it had been and she wanted to try get some sleep before….

She heard footsteps trudging up the veranda stairs and the door opened slowly. Danny walked in looking tired, he had a day's growth of stubble on his face and he looked all rumpled and really really good her heart stumbled in her chest. He closed the door and yawned as he walked in, saw her and stopped walking suddenly. Silence reigned as they looked at each other.

"I'm sorry about the kids being here." He told her after a pregnant pause.

She frowned, "Sorry? Kids?" not quite sure what he meant. She had been too busy staring at how good he looked, everything else didn't register. It had been a long time if ever since she had seen him look like this he had always kept himself clean shaven during their marriage, she really liked the look of this Danny.

"I thought the hospital were keeping you in until tomorrow, Dupe should have said when I rang earlier that you were home and I could have sorted their stuff to go back to Mara." He rubbed his face tiredly, he had no energy right now, one thing after another had gone wrong in the surgery today!

"Oh, Liv and Evan." She replied and waved it off and dismissed it. "It's no problem, they are good kids, well except when Rosie and Liv talk all night. Coffee?"

He shook his head, "I came to pick up my shaver, you know what I am like if I leave it one day." Rubbed his stubbled cheek, "The emergency at Mara is sorted, Vanessa told me to get home and leave it with the locum…" seeing her like this, looking so young and fresh he was beginning to change his mind about staying at Mara…. He was just going to have a quick cat nap in the surgery, he knew he shouldn't be here like this, he was much too impulsive when he was tired.

Alice smiled, "It's no problem for you to stay here too you know."

He looked at her intensely, just falling into her clear blue eyes like he always had in the past, "I don't think that's a good idea." He told her softly, voice low and full of meaning. Again, he was tired and not thinking straight, if he had been he wouldn't be here speaking like this. "See," he carried on, "There is something about you being spiked that I really can't stop thinking about." He was pushing her, he knew that, he should just go home right now but he knew what was coming and couldn't bring himself to walk away.

Alice swallowed and knew immediately the kiss she thought hadn't happened actually had! Her face flushed crimson. She cleared her throat and with flaming cheeks tried to change the subject, Danny halted her.

"Are you feeling better now? Healthy? All clear?" he asked head cocked slightly to the left, the intensity never leaving his face.

Alice swallowed again, thankful he didn't want to discuss the kiss, she nodded, "It's all out of my system now. They think the reason I…"

Danny however moved like lightning, took her in his arms and kissed her. He'd hadn't come here intending to do this but seeing her, in the kitchen looking so natural, so beautiful, he had been lost. He had been about to end the kiss when he felt her go on tiptoes to get closer, like she used to and he deepened the kiss. Initially he had felt her shock but then she responded twining her arms around him. He tried to pull her closer but found they were as close as they could be. It was like no time had passed at all, but at the same time he felt like he hadn't kissed her in forever! The kiss began feverishly, both of them impatient but it slowed and they pulled away at the same time, both of them breathing hard.

Alice's eyes remained closed, Danny's warm breath washing over her face causing tingles to erupt everywhere, her body felt sensitised when he was this near to her. It had never felt like before, or maybe it had she just hadn't recognised it for what it was.

"I thought I'd return the favour." Danny told her by means of explanation, when she opened her eyes to look at him. "As much as I wanted to respond at the party I knew I couldn't take advantage of you like that and I'm sor…."

Alice heard the beginning of his apology and placed a finger over his mouth to halt him, she didn't want to hear any regrets or recriminations, she had enjoyed the kiss and she wasn't ready to relinquish having him this close, although she knew she was going to have to at some point! "Don't apologise." She told him quickly shaking her head, "Don't say a word." And making a split-second decision to do something for herself for a change she took his hand and led him towards her room.

A/N sorry about the lack of update i start a new job in 8 days and i have needed to get a new DBS ect sorted for that and im doing a sky dive a day before and have been getting sponsers for that, my son has been on a overnight trip with school ad i had stuff to sort for that never kind work ect. honestly so busy.

anyway yes! speeding towards the end, there are hints towards where this is going, some if it is written!

Thomas and Alice are embarking on a mum/son relationship, but what about Danny? More on that next chapter with a twist you may or may not have seem coming! and are danny and Alice going to change their relationship? or do something extremely stupid? Again stay tuned. i'll try get the next chappie up asap.

Thanks for you patience and continuing to read this story. its appreciated!