Lucky for Stevie, the traffic was light. She arrived in the city at the courthouse an hour later. As she pulled into the parking space, a black Ute pulled in beside her. She thought she was dreaming, surely he wouldn't have followed her all this way. She climbed out of her vehicle to come face to face with Alex Ryan.

"What are you doin' here?" she asked in shock. Her tone was weak and low. She wasn't angry, or confused, she was relieved. A familiar face was just what she needed to keep her head above water. She was only scared about what this meant for Alex.

"I couldn't leave you to do this alone," he told her. "Even if you don't want me here, I'm staying. As your best mate it's my obligation to stand by you. I'm just doin' my job!"

She nodded and allowed him to hold her comfortably in his arms. Stevie wasn't crying anymore, her eyes were red and swollen from all the crying she'd already done, but she had her emotions under control now. She looked up at Alex wanting to be completely honest with him.

"Alex…" she couldn't say it. He wasn't hers to love.

"I know mate… me too," he said. She hoped he did.

She nodded. "I have to go in."

"I'm coming with you!" he seemed determined and by the tone of his voice there was no way she could make him step down. Stevie wondered if Fiona knew where Alex was. She was after all his wife. If Alex was going to support her through this, then she needed his complete undivided attention. She wasn't going to depend on him if there was a chance he'd run back to his wife the moment he heard her call.

"What about Fiona?" she pushed him for an answer.

"What about her? You're more important Stevie. You always have been." As she looked at him she could see that he meant it and she smiled, it felt good to know that he would pick her over Fiona. As much as she wanted to stay in the comfort arms of Alex, she had to check in with her lawyer before the trail was to start to run over the final details.

"I have to go in," she sighed heavily. He nodded with understanding – he'd been through those thins before, he wasn't a boy who played by the rules. Alex gently slid his hand through hers and the two of them headed to the courthouse. She was relieved to have him there, as much as she thought it was better not to, it helped her from feeling the only emotion she was without – loneliness.

Stevie checked in with her lawyer and went over the testimony, while Alex waited out in the hall, promising he would be there when she came out. He intended to stay with her throughout the trail he didn't care what Fiona thought about that, Stevie was important to him, maybe too much so. If and when the judge decided she was innocent, he would find a way to make it all better he'd leave Fiona and be with Stevie. That's what he wanted and he prayed it was what she wanted to.

But he mentioned none of this to Stevie. She had far too much on her mind to be burdened with an issue that was out of her control. This was Alex's problem and he was going to deal with it, but right now he wanted to be with Stevie at the trail. Besides, he wanted a chance to talk to Fiona about this before he offered Stevie a future, he didn't know how much trouble she'd cause him when she found out he didn't love her anymore, he wasn't sure he ever did.

Alex wasn't sure if Stevie loved him, but he knew with complete certainty that he loved her, he had for a long time. He had just always assumed that friendship was all she was willing to give back. He wasn't going to make any rash decisions when there was so much at stake – maybe Stevie didn't want him.

When Stevie emerged from the lawyer's office, she was completely stressed out. Alex protectively pulled her into his arms. Stevie could see the concern on his face, but she tried not to think about what it meant or why he was there, insisting to see her through the trial. Their relationship was complicated enough to ask more un-answered questions.

Stevie just wanted to it to be over, she wanted to know either way, but the law was being heartlessly cruel. The trail had been post-phoned until early the next morning. It was barely noon, she would have liked to spend a little more time with Rose if she had a choice or another afternoon on the land.

"Are you okay?" he asked her after she told him what was going on.

She shook her head as tears filled her eyes. "No. Not really."

"It's okay," he said rapping his arms around her shoulders as if that protection would make it all go away. She felt safe and secure with him, but she always did. There was not a time she could remember since arriving on Drover's Run five years ago, where Alex Ryan hadn't been there when she needed someone. Not just anyone but a real friend. A best friend. Alex was her best friend, she wondered if she told him enough.

"Alex… you're my best mate," she said.

He smiled. "I know. It's lunchtime, let me take you up the hotel room and freshen up and then I'll shout you dinner," he suggested.

"I'm not hungry," she told him.

"What's that got to do with anything? Even convicts have to eat," he teased.

She smiled only for an instant. "You should go home Alex," she said stepping out of his arms. He frowned as if trying to understand her. But she knew better, she knew that if he stayed something might be said that couldn't be taken back. She might confess how much she loved him, then what? He had a wife. He was married. She would not have an affair. She couldn't be the 'other woman' no matter how much she believed what they shared was so much stronger than anything he and Fiona might have. Not even that justified having an affair, it wouldn't, it wasn't right.

"No," he said plainly. "I want to take you out to lunch. I'm not taking no for an answer. I'm not leaving you here to deal with this on your own," he insisted.

"I'll be all right."

"I want to be here Stevie… please."

She wanted that too. Maybe if she was strong, they could get through the night without saying something either one might regret the next morning. Besides, she wasn't sure if she could handle being alone in a hotel waiting for the day to end. At least if she had Alex with her, time would fly. It always did when she was with him, it wasn't always fun.

She slowly nodded and he took her hand in his and they headed to the hotel. Five minutes later they came through door number 7 and Stevie dropped her bag on the double bed. Was the universe trying to tempt her? They couldn't share a bed when he was married to someone else, but there was nowhere else to sleep. It had been the only room that was available. Was this Fate's way of telling her something? Not that she believed in Fate.

"I think we have a problem," Stevie smiled shyly.

"Oh come on, this is a dream come true for you Stevie. You can't deny you've always wanted to spend the night with me," she was aware that he was teasing her but she couldn't stop herself from blushing.

Alex's smile disappeared when he saw the expression on her face. She turned away trying to hide the embarrassment, but when he came to her and forced her face on his, she began to tremble. How on earth was she supposed to get through an entire afternoon when he looked at her like that? It was impossible.

"I'm sorry," he apologised. "I shouldn't have said that. It was stupid." She smiled at him shaking her head pretending it didn't matter, and he hugged her.

"It's okay," she lied. "I just don't really feel like joking right now."

"I know," he sighed feeling foolish.