Disclaimer: I don't own McLeod's Daughters, or any of their cast.

Summary: A botched wedding, a pregnancy, a happy couple, a little girl, a working farm (or two), someone leaves, people cry, hearts are broken.

A/N

Sorry it has taken like 2 months to update. CRAZY CRAZY life I lead!!! Drama production's coming out of my bum, exams, school, started new job, basketball, social life… It's all there.

Now I am on summer break! Woo! Two months off!!! YES!!! I'll attempt to update more now… ok? (Although I go away for two weeks its not that bad!)

MdLove: Sorry, it was a little later than the weekend!

Sarie-belle: Thanks for reading it… sorry it's taken to long.

Rebecca Ingersoll: Everything will be revealed in good time…

Afw: I don't plan to stop the story, it's just the motivation to keep writing needs to be there!

Enjoy. Read and Review.

xdopex

Fools Like Me

Chapter Six

"Happy Birthday Alex"

Tess lay on her bed thinking. Briony had left her so that she could get some sleep before she worked, but Tess couldn't sleep. She was in trouble. She really needed her family and friends around her, but knew she couldn't go back to Drover's. Not now.

Tess rolled over and stared at the picture of her and Claire when they were younger. Call Claire, that's what I can do. Picking up her phone, she dialled the familiar number. It rang for quite a while and then it was picked up.

"Drover's Run, Nick speaking."

Tess hung up the phone as quickly as she could. What is Nick doing at Drover's and why is he answering my phone? She asked herself. Rolling out of bed she showered and looked at the time. Time for work, she thought and dressed in her uniform and headed off to the café.

"Nick, Sally, how nice to see you." Claire said as she approached them. "What took you so long? You're the last here."

"Sorry Claire, Nick didn't remember about Alex's birthday lunch here and wasn't ready when we were meant to be coming." Sally hit Nick playfully on the arm and kissed his cheek. "Who else is here Claire?"

"The normal Drover's crew, Dave, Harry, Sandra, Moira and her family, some of Alex's mates and ex's… I'm not sure why they are here though." Claire said as she scooped Charlotte into her arms.

She escorted Nick and Sally to the tennis courts where the party was being held and left them to their own devices. They sat down on a chair and stared at the attendance to Alex's Birthday bash.

"Nick, I was thinking. I know its Alex's night and all… but I thought maybe we should tell people. Let them know we are going to be parents."

"But Sal, I thought we were going to wait till past the miscarriage stage," he responded.

"I know, I just want to tell everyone the amazing news," she pleaded.

"Alright, alright. If that is what you want we will share the news to everyone."

Everyone was quieting down for speeches and toasts soon after half of the grog had been finished off. Claire stood up and silence fell on the attendees.

"Alex, the love of my life, that's really mushy isn't it?" she laughed at herself. "Alex, you're an old bugger now, but I still love you. May you have lots of happy birthday's after this one. I think it's a good time to bring the cake out and sing happy birthday." She said and Meg brought out the amazing White Chocolate Mud Cake she had made for the special occasion.

"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Alex, happy birthday to you," everyone chorused together and clapped as he blew out the candles.

Claire sat down and Harry said a few words congratulating his 'son' on an amazing 30 odd years. Then it was Nick's turn to speak about his brother.

"Alex, you have been a great brother and Happy Birthday for today. Have a good one… and many more good ones. Now, I know that this is meant to be a time for Alex and his ego," there was laughing while Nick looked at Sally who nodded her head, "but I have an announcement to make. Sally and I are expecting our first child soon," he said with a smile on his face.

Everyone stood and started congratulating them, Harry and Sandra among the first to do so. Claire and Alex stood to the side, Alex looked genuinely happy for them but Claire looked passive. Something just wasn't right to her.

Most people had left Drover's Run; some rather intoxicated, while other's mumbled about early starts. The only people left were the Drover's girls, Alex and Nick and Sally. They were sitting in the kitchen of the main house having coffees as a night cap to the day that went into the night.

"Well Claire, one of the better parties, if not the best I've been to since I've been here," Sally said and leant on Nick she giggled and added, "must be because Tess isn't here." She hadn't realised she had said it out loud until Claire stood up angrily and stormed out of the house towards the stables,

Alex followed her. Stevie was the only drover left in the room and she glared at Sally. The phone interrupted her stare.

"Nick, I think it's time to take your girlfriend home. And answer the phone on the way out, I'm too pissed at you to talk to anyone," she said and went up to the shearers quarters.

"Drover's Run, Nick speaking," he said but they hung up the minute that he finished talking. He thought this was weird; no one ever hung up in the country. His head asked him whether it could have been Tess, he was the only one that would hang up at his voice.

"Who was that darling?" Sally asked curiously.

"I don't know, they hung up," he responded honestly. "Lets get you out of here, you look tired."

"That is because I am tired," she said as she got into the car and drove away from Drover's Run.

"Claire wait!" Alex called to her as she practically ran to the stables.

Claire violently turned around, "you know the worst thing is that she is probably right. Because Tess isn't here there were no major problems. There was no fighting or anything, or running away. It was peaceful and I don't want peaceful, I WANT TESS!!!" Claire screamed at Alex.

Alex smoothed Claire's back to calm her down.

"I know you do, but you can't bring her back. I can't bring her back. Only she can bring herself back. Why don't you call her and talk to her?"

Claire seemed to perk up a bit at the thought of talking to Tess. So she compromised and walked to the house to talk to Tess.

She dialled the number and it rang and rang until she got Tess' answering machine.

'Hi, you've reached the home away from home of Tess, leave a message and I'll get back to you ASAP,"

"Tess, its Claire. Look, you're probably at work but I really need to talk to you. Call me the minute you get back and I don't care if it's three in the morning. Just call me. I love you," tears were running down Claire's face as Alex walked in with Charlotte.

"Let's put this one to bed alright?" Alex said as he handed BOM to Claire.

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