RECAP - Danice had a child together long ago, after some bad stuff went down they lost him and split up, 15 years later the boys adopted parents died and Alice got custody, Danny found out and wasn't happy and moved to S/A with his partners kids who died (Sarah) where they argued but when Thomas almost got hurt they decided to put aside their differences and work together for their son. Alice also cared for her kid sister who's dad is currently tormenting Alice.

Danice went to a party and Alice had her drink spiked by Rosie's 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. when Alice is home from hospital Danny turned up at her house and kissed her and they went to Alice's bedroom. they are now a couple, but keeping it to themselves at the moment having a rare moment alone someone called Alice regarding Thomas, Danny picked up the phone, heard that Thomas was at fault for Sarahs death and walked out, when Danny returned they spoke about it and Thomas overheard and was gutted especially since Liv is his girlfriend.

Max told Rosie that her dad was still at large and she decided that to make sure Alice and Thomas was safe the best thing for her to do was run away to keep them safe. So Max made his way to Rosie's...

Enjoy, DanH2010 :)

Nomsa, Caroline and Dupe were sat around the breakfast table before a breakfast that on a normal scale was bigger, but substantially less that was Nomsa was normally capable of. The sun was tentatively shining outside, and it looked like it was going to be another glorious day. Nomsa and Caroline were having a spirited discussion about theirs neighbours most recent transgressions while Dupe was telling anyone who would listen that a massive storm was coming, bigger than anyone had ever seen before, he could feel it in his water. Alice had entered right as he said that and said in a voice rough with sleep in no uncertain terms to keep his water to himself! She headed straight for the refrigerator to get herself some cold orange juice, as she was debating whether to risk it and rink straight from the carton she found, to her surprise, that Rosie had been in here earlier and rook a plate of breakfast to her room.

Alice froze with the bottle of orange juice in mid-air, "Excuse me?" was this the same Rosie she had to drag from bed hours later than this?

Nomsa nodded, "Yes dear, it was quite a shock. She simply grabbed a plate and popped on some toast, bacon sausage and eggs then sauntered back off to room. By the time I had recovered the use of my voice her bedroom door was closing."

"Well." Alice said absently and taking a long drink of orange juice. "That's a turn up for the books. Its not a leap year is it? Or Friday the 13th?"

"Before she disappeared she did ask tie be left alone, she was going back to bed." Caroline chirped up.

"Now that's more like Rosie!" Alive said heading for the mountain of breakfast Nomsa had prepared. Thomas had already been up too, his hair rumpled, eyes slightly bloodshot. No sound came from his room now either so Alice decided to leave him be.

"It's going to rain I tell you!" Dupe declared loudly again between bites of food. "I think I'll take the kid and check on our fences."

Alice snorted and grabbed piece of bacon Dupe was aiming for. He glared at her and she grinned, "Is that the same fences I've been asking you to look at for weeks?"

Dupes face took on an innocent expression, "That is simply a coincidence."

"Yeah yeah." Alice replied laughing, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. Danny was currently still sleeping soundly. She had debated on waking him up, especially since no one was aware of them as a couple yet, she left him sleeping. This wasn't a fling, not for her anyway. She was starting to get scared to be honest. She'd managed to fall back asleep to her surprise, not for long, but as she came to wakefulness she saw him lain beside her looking so relaxed and vulnerable and her heart has started thudding as she realised how much he had come to mean to her, as more as just a father to her son, as more than a surrogate father to her sister, to her! And that terrified her. She didn't like relying on people not to hurt her, that was out of her control and if there was one thing she needed was to be in control of everything, that way she didn't lose anything like she had lost her son.

Feeling slightly sick she pushed her plate away and the subject of her musings walked out of her room rubbing his eyes and expelling a large yawn, Alice felt her stomach flip, he had a day's work of stubble on his jaw, it was that sodding stubble that started this! Caroline however had noticed from which room he exited and alerted Nomsa which then alerted Dupe and Danny, who had been padding slowly down the Hallway came to a stop as he released he was being stared at. Nomsa and Caroline shared a knowing look beaming like Cheshire cats, Danny was looking at her waiting for someone to speak. Dupes expression gave nothing that he was feeling away. Alice decided since the cat was well and truly out of the bag she might as well confirm it. She got up and headed for him, he looked like a dear in the headlights caught in the other people's scrutiny.

"Good morning." She told him softly, with a smile, her earlier fears forgotten she reached up to kiss him.

Danny looked to the breakfast table then back at her, "Why didn't you wake me?" he asked trying to whisper, but it came out much louder than he liked.

"Why did you fall asleep in my room?" she retorted then shrugged, "Plus you looked peaceful, why not?"

Danny smiled at her and for a moment they were the only two people in the world never mind this house. Dupe coughed theatrically, and it brought them both back down to the ground.

"I'm going to get washed up." Danny told her and headed for the bathroom making a quick escape. After the door closed Alice returned to the dining table and her orange juice.

"So…" Caroline asked pointedly.

"So?" Alice echoed taking a bite from some toast nonchalantly.

"How long has this been going on for?" Nomsa asked.

"Years." Alice replied hearing a chuckle from Dupe, Since we were kids." She smiled at the older man, who was so much like a father to her. She thought about everything that brought her and Danny to this point too.

"Stop being pedantic, recently!" Caroline added, "C'mon you have to know!" taking her silence as unknown.

Alice sighed knowing the gruesome twosome were going to question her to within an inch if her life.

"Leave the girl alone." Dupe cautioned.

"Are you even the slightest bit curious?" Nomsa admonished.

"Nope." He replied sharing a look with Alice.

"LIAR!" Caroline retorted. "I remember what you were like a few weeks ago, saying if Danny had designs on Alice, or even went near her you'd shoot him."

This time it was Alice who looked at him, he squirmed in his seat, "It was taken out of context." Dupe told her.

"Seemed pretty clear to me," Alice murmured. "Thanks, though Dupe."

He smiled at her gave her a curt nod.

Alice turned to the older women, "Look we got together officially after I got home from hospital, but you have to keep it down because we haven't told the kids yet." Her voice low.

"Who said I love you first? Caroline asked.

"Did you kiss him or him kiss you?" Nomsa added.

"Vanessa said she saw you two cuddling up at the party." Caroline said with a grin.

"I was drugged." Alice retorted with disbelief.

"Really?" Nomsa said to Caroline regarding her statement, "You never told me about any cuddling."

Caroline shrugged, "Like Alice said, she'd been drugged, how was I to know it actually meant something."

"Dear God!" Alice said mouth slightly agape.

"Well c'mon!" Caroline told her. "We need details!"

Alice was just sat looking between the two women, totally mute, knowing in the back of her mind if she told them anything she'd be the biggest topic for gossip in miles for weeks.

Dupe, who was used to being double teamed decided to take pity on Alice and deflect their attention, if she was smart enough she'd take the distraction and run! "Leave the poor girl alone! She wants to enjoy this not be interrogated."

Caroline looked at him, "You have changed your tune, I expected that you would be the most outraged."

Dupe painted on a smug look knowing what he was about to do was akin to taking a bullet, "I knew about it."

Caroline stared at him for a moment and when she saw he wasn't lying was so outraged that her head looked like it was about to swell to twice its original size, glared at her husband, eyes almost glowing. "You knew? You KNEW?" she almost screeched.

"When?" Nomsa spat.

"HOW?" Caroline followed.

"Why you and not us?" Nomsa finished.

While the two women continued their diatribe Dupe looked at Alice, "Quick save yourself."

Alice dived up and kissed his cheek. "Thanks." And she dashed around the table and down the hall.

"Where do you think you're going?" Nomsa asked, "We have ques….."

Alice however had already joined Danny in the bathroom.

EARLIER

Rosie who had collected breakfast motioned Max out from under her bed. She had her bag of supplies already packed and hidden in the wardrobe. Max crawled out from his hiding place and was still wearing his concerned expression.

"Piece of cake." She told him. "I told you they don't know you're here, even when I took loads of breakfast." She whispered smiling, mistaking his concern for what it was.

"I'm not worried about that." Max replied and leant over sweeping the dust off his hair. "God Rosie dust under there will you."

Rosie gave him a look at bpth his comment and insult.

"Ok yes." Max conceded with an apologetic grin. "If I'm caught in here they'll kill me slowly but I'm more worried about running away." the comment sobering.

"You have a portable charger and signal amplifier, right?" she asked separating the food onto two different sides of the plate.

He nodded sitting on the bed, scrubbing his face with hands, he wished he'd never mentioned that stupid idea now.

"To start with we'll head to Elizabeth's point, get stuff sorted then pedal out of here the back way and head straight for Jo'burg to charge your iPad," Rosie carried on trying to make him understand. "Oh, and we need to turn off that find my iPad feature too it's a sure-fire way to be found."

He sighed frowning but nodded.

"Don't worry," she said confidently with a wide smile, "Eat up, we'll be leaving soon."

Max was still concerned and as he looked outside he saw the sky was a weird shade, it made him think that maybe there'd be a storm later. Great!

Thomas was peddling to Mara, he had to see Liv, he had thought long and hard about this and he knew that he couldn't keep a secret of this magnitude from her. He knew by telling her they were going to break up and that's what he was going to do, but what reason could he give her? And would she even believe it? He hated the thought of her hating him but either way that was going to happen.

He sighed and pumped his legs harder, lowering his head when he felt a slight wind tickle his cheek, Dupe had been adamant it was going to rain, and he was starting to believe it, there was a feeling in the air and something stirred uneasily within his stomach.

It shouldn't take too much longer to get to Mara, he had wanted to ring her, but he didn't want to upset her when she was with her dad, that would come later. Plus, he should do this face to face, at least see what he had caused, it was the very least he should have to face up to. He knew she would never refuse to see him, so he dropped his bike off by reception and text Olivia that he was waiting for her by the animal hospital. While he waited he was looking in the direction of the pool, saw the way the sun glittered off the water and felt depression fill was his life always so complicated?

In no less than 5 minutes Liv came around a corner looking so beautiful and he felt acid pool in his stomach. Her smile widened when she saw him, and he gulped, he couldn't do this! He couldn't tell her he had killed her mother, she would never look at him again, never mind see that beautiful smile. He should have done this by text, he knew that but that would be callous and as much as he used to act like an uncaring bully that was never really him. It never seemed to compute that no matter what he did or said he was going to come off badly. He was a killer! He killed innocent people! Whether he meant it or not was irrelevant. It was only due to Alice that he had managed to stay out of jail. He had to do this, it was the best way, the worse the better, she was going to hate him anyway when she found out the truth. At least this way it was on his terms.

"Hi," Liv said slightly breathless, her smile never leaving her face. "I managed to get away from my dad for 5 minutes. I can't wait until he leaves. He has a new girlfriend and he is trying to impress her…."

"Liv stop!" he interrupted.

"What?" she said, suddenly aware of his serious face and tone.

"Look I…. I…." he made the mistake of looking at her and exhaled closing his eyes for a moment. Clenching his jaw, he out on his bad boy persona.

His entire demeanour changed in an instant, he straightened his spine, so he towered over her and he face held a malicious expression, his face almost sneering at her…he hated how easily it had all came back to him.

Liv frowned, "Thomas?"

"Look Liv." He started, forcing more sneering into his tone. "Me and you, we're not really a good idea."

"Why?" she asked.

She had thrown him there, he began to scramble for an answer, "Well, um, look at me and look at you. You're just not my type."

"What?" she asked in disbelief, then realisation dawned, "What are you saying? Are you breaking up with me?"

"Finally, she gets it!" he said nastily and raised his head even higher, feigning cockiness. Inside he felt like he was burning, but it was better this way he repeated, a mantra now.

He saw her eyes fill with tears and he felt his façade begin to melt away, he hated this, the nauseous feeling increasing. Was this how his mum and Danny felt when they broke up?

"What have I done?" she asked voice soft and full of hurt.

Thomas rubbed the palms of his hands on his legs uncomfortable, he thought he'd say this and then she'd run off then he could go home, there was no answer to her question, she was so pretty and funny and she made him feel all calm when he was in turmoil, he couldn't stand to see her face when she realised what he had caused. She didn't deserve to believe that a murderer liked her, it was best to destroy that and how she felt about him too he was scum and he had to make her see that too. "You better run along now Liv, daddy is waiting." motioned her away haughtily. "I need to go anyway, I have a date, she's at the same stage as me if you understand. I considered waiting for you but to be honest I didn't see the point in wasting my time, I'd love to say it's been nice but…." He shrugged.

Liv's chest was heaving now, and she was staring right into his eyes, like she knew he was lying. He went one step further, she had to believe…. "To be honest it was so easy with you, you really fell for all the bull I spun you, someone that gullible isn't worth hanging around for. Where is the challenge with a girl who believes whatever you say so willingly?"

Liv finally turned to leave but not before he saw a stray tear fall, she dashed off, head bowed, clearly upset and he watched her go and felt anger at himself bubble up. Thomas turned and punched a wall, he grazed his knuckles bit it did nothing to dispel the rage that was burning. He felt like lashing out and kicking it until he was exhausted, but he knew it was futile. Nothing helped at times like this, yes, he had been in a gang, but he had never liked the hurting, scaring or intimidating people that went along with that.

Evan stalked from the area Liv came from and looked livid, "Hey you!" he spat at Thomas. "What have you done to Liv?"

Thomas felt himself bristle instinctively at the tone, who did he think he was talking to like that? Ignoring him he turned to go get his bike, he had to get out of here before things got out of hand….

Footsteps increased behind him and before he knew it he was grasped by the arm and spun, "I'm talking to you!" Evan said seething.

Thomas yanked his arm away and pushed Evan for good measure, the one benefit of having Danny as his dad, height. "Don't touch me again, ok!?" he snarled. One way of making himself feel better, he was spoiling for a fight and one had came right to him, older and bigger and no doubt harder. Yeah it would hurt but he'd dealt with pain in his gang. If his mum knew the stuff that they'd done it would break her heart. He'd had to prove himself though….

Evan pushed back, "What have you said to Olivia? She's crying!"

"Not my fault she doesn't like the truth!" Thomas spat.

"What the hell does that mean?" Evan raged, totally unaware that he was being baited.

"What do you think it means? It's probably best you stay out of it! This is nothing to do with you!"

"Excuse me?" Evan said taking another step towards Thomas, "That's my little sister you're upsetting!"

"Do I look like I care?" he smiled maliciously once again, the same expression as the one he used with Liv. "She's lucky though, I considered using her like the other girl's, but I decided not to for the simple reason that she is not worth the effort!"

Evans face reddened, and he was obviously fuming, his fists clenched, "You're lucky you didn't use her or I'd…."

"You'd what exactly?" Thomas laughed, "I'm not scared of you!"

Evan was still a moment and looked like he was about to throw a punch when he stepped back, "I'm walking away before I do something I might regret."

Thomas wasn't getting what he wanted, he wanted a fight and Evan was walking away? Why? If some guy said that about Rosie he'd kill him! So, before he even thought about what he was doing he started shouting, "What kind of man are you? Not only do you let me disrespect your sister but I'm also the person who caused the crash that killed your mum! You gonna let that fly too?"

Evan froze, his spine rigid, he turned slowly, "What!?"

Thomas didn't say a word just stared him right in the face.

"LIAR!"

"Blue Vauxhall, license plate DH17 6AS, my parent's car. I was in the back kicking my dads seat, he was driving. Mind from what I heard it was her fault! She drove right into their path killing my parents!" he yelled the anger encompassing. "She had internal injuries, was crushed…."

Evan stalked towards him and was in front of him by taking 2 steps, and before Thomas could react Evan had swung a tight fist and impacted the side of his head. Evan hit him with so much force Thomas fell to the floor skidding slightly. His head was spinning but he felt himself being dragged onto his feet again only this time to feel an impact to his face. He fell once again, this time onto his stomach. Once again, he felt a rough yank on the back of his collar and he was once again on his feet swaying, his vision blurry.

"HEY!" he heard someone shout then a moment later was dropped to the floor.

Danny was practically skipping through Mara, smiling to himself feeling like he was walking on air. Alice had told Dupe Caroline and Nomsa about them being a couple. This was a big step and he was happy she was comfortable doing that. Yes, he still had the Sarah, Thomas issue to deal with but he knew that he and Alice would do that together when the time came. As he walked he was sure he heard what he thought was Thomas' raised voice but couldn't quite make out what he was yelling about. Thomas and Evan came into view and they were both angry about something. His jaw dropped when he saw Evan hit his son. By the time he reached them Evan had picked Thomas up to hit him for third time. Thomas fell to the floor while Danny trying to pull Evan away who kept lunging in his direction trying to get to him with single minded ferocity.

Thomas was groaning as he rolled over, blood was trickling down his nose and he had red marks where Evans punches had obviously connected.

"Stop it Evan!" Danny shouted pulling him away.

"He told me he killed my mum!" Evan screamed, "He knows it all, the car involved, the cause…."

Danny looked at his son in shock then Evan. Knowing immediately that only space was going to calm the young man down he dragged him to the surgery and pushed him inside, "Calm down." He ordered.

"But he…."

"Evan Thomas is just a kid. A messed-up kid! I need to find out how he knows this stuff bit I can't do that with you trying to kill him ok!"

"He deserved…." Evan snarled.

"Evan, I need to speak to my son, please."

"Well of course you'll take your sons side." Evan spat and looked at him in disgust, "He's your kid unlike me, and you're sleeping with his mother again! We're nothing to you!"

Danny felt himself bristle at the words, "When have I ever treated you like you were nothing?"

"You think I don't know stuff?" Evan retorted, not thinking about what he was saying just feeling like he had lost his mum all over again. "Like how mum didn't love you and was going to break up with you. You two were always arguing! Now I find out your son killed her!"

"Evan…" Danny started.

But the boy wasn't having any of it, "Screw you Danny! Go to hell!" and he stomped out of the office. Danny followed, only to make sure he didn't walk to where Thomas was and to try finish the job. He relaxed when he saw Evan begin to walk in the opposite direction. He headed towards Thomas and saw him sat where he left him holding the sleeve of his jumper to his nose to try stem the slow trickle of blood. When he reached Thomas, he held out his hand to help him up. Thomas took it and Danny pulled him to his feet. "So, you know?" Danny asked without preamble, it was pointless.

Thomas nodded grimacing as his ribs protested and his head started to pound.

"How?" Danny asked.

"Does it matter?" Thomas ground out. "I just do."

Danny raised his eyebrow at him and Thomas relented. "I heard you and mum talking in the kitchen." A frown marring Thomas brow.

"Oh." Danny sighed. He'd ask Alice about the mum later, that was new development.

"I came here to tell Liv what I did but how can you tell someone something like that? So, I decided to break up with her instead." He swallowed hard, "I guess I'm better at it then I thought because Evan saw I had upset her and came over to give me both barrels. I was already feeling pretty crappy, so I provoked him and everything about him mum just came tumbling out when he refused to rise to it." He shook his head and closed his eyes as pain shafted through his head. "I'm sorry about Sarah." He murmured head bowed low.

"We didn't want you to find out what happened like that." Danny told him.

"Or at all!" Thomas spat, anger simmering at the lies they always seemed to tell. Anger always seemed to be his default emotion. It felt safe, familiar.

"We did intend to tell you Thomas, just not right now, not when everything is so up in the air."

"NO!" Thomas shouted, "You were going to lie to me, like I've been lied to my whole life! I don't even know why I'm surprised you'll never change!"

"Thomas…." Danny started in an attempt to reason with him.

"I don't want to hear it!" and Thomas too stormed off, but he was headed towards Maras exit.

Danny considered going after him but decided to leave it. He'd best ring Alice to warn her though.

It was at that exact moment someone called his name, there was an emergency. He'd ring her as soon as he could, he was needed.

Thomas rode back to Leopards Den; the blood had dried on his face and his body seemed to ache all over as he cycled the rutted roads. He felt every bump as his wheels rolled over them. What made him more hurt was what he heard Evan say while he was with Danny in the surgery, he and Alice were sleeping together. So, were they back together then? Or was Danny using her? Was Alice using him? Or was this just a for old times thing…. his face twisted in disgust. No one needed to know that stuff went on, it was just too much! One thing he did know was that them getting back together was unthinkable! He knew that Rosie had harboured hopes that they'd fall for each other again, but nothing was worse in his needed to talk to Rosie about all this, he probably should have spoke to her before he went all guns blazing at Mara, but no him being impulsive as he always was meant he ruined everything and got his backside kicked too.

He arrived at the house minutes later and hopped off his bike before it had even come to a stop, instead of putting it away he tossed it on the floor and trudged up the stairs towards the front door. It was in that moment that Alice stepped outside, her eyes widened in alarm when she saw his bruised and blood smeared face.

"Thomas!? What happened?" ran to him and put her hands on his cheeks cradling his head in her hands.

"Danny's idiot step son." He seethed not wanting to see the concern in her face, he was worried it would weaken his resolve.

Alice frowned at his words, "Evan did this? That didn't sound like him."

"Yeah." He spat and swatted her hands away.

"Thomas come in the kitchen and we'll get you cleaned up and you can tell me all about it."

"What?" he retorted, "So you and the sperm donor can lie to me and withhold stuff again?"

Alice physically deflated at the expression on his face, it spoke a thousand words.

"It's ironic don't you think?" he asked angrily. "That it was his fiancé in the other car. I couldn't have planned it better if I tried!" his voice raised slightly. "And once again you and him were gonna lie to me!"

"Son," Alice started.

"NO! I don't want to hear it!" he fumed, "Oh, and I know you two are…well whatever you are doing! How can you even consider it? You lost me coz of him and now it's a good idea for you two to be together again? I heard him convincing you not to tell me about Sarah! You stay with him and I'll go! I mean it! It's him or me!" and with that he stomped off to his room and slammed the door, hard.

Alice scrubbed her face not knowing what happened but knowing that she had to speak to Danny. She went off in search of her phone knowing her best course of action was to leave Thomas to calm down.

As soon as the hallway was clear Thomas slipped quietly from his room and into Rosie's, "Rosie." He whispered. But found the room empty. He pulled out his phone and text only to hear the buzz of her phone on the nightstand. He went to it and picked it up concern creasing his brow, what was going on with Rosie? She went no-where without her phone, it was like it was surgically attached to her. He tossed it on her pillow and saw it crease, as it did he saw the corner of a note peeking out from the pillow. He picked it up, read it and paled. He was gonna kill Max he was genuinely going to kill him, and Rosie for agreeing to this! He shook his head and ran to his room dropping the letter on his bed as he grabbed a holdall. He threw in a torch and pulled on his boots, then dashed to the kitchen and dropped 3 bottles of water in there. Zipping his provisions up he ran towards he door. He had just hit the veranda when the first droplet of rain fell and thunder began to rumble.

"Oh great!" he muttered and ran down the stairs scanning the ground for tracks. It didn't take too long to find traces of the direction that Max and Rosie had gone in. keeping his eyes glued to the ground he began to run.

A/N hi all, after reading some chapters from a few chapters from you it inspired me to at least get to finishing this story, i already had this chapter written, but to be honest its been that long i think i've forgotten how to write Danice. :/ the next chapter is half written you'll probably be able to tell the exact place i got up to when i stopped. i will try to get this up fairly regulary but with work ect i cant promise quick updates

ANYWAY - the danice is out of the bag anf Thomas has told Alice him or Danny, what will happen? Evan beat Thomas up, will it end there? especially knowing what Thomas did to his mum! But most of all Rosie has ran away and her dad is out there in hiding! Oh and a storm is coming, a storm on Leopards Den is never good news!

If anyone has hung around this long reading this thank you :)