Title:Girls night out with a twist of events...
Disclaimer: I just own mi computer and some ideas, MD is not mine. I'm just borrowing the characters and some places.
A.N. : I wanted to apologize for the delay updating, but where other people begins holidays or not so tight working schedules... in my line of work everything comes up, your clock looses hours (or are being stolen... not sure yet) and you want to pass your little free time during the heat wave on the beach or the pool. But now I'm got a twisted ankle and 'rest orders by doctor' on my holidays ¬¬ so... I'll be a good girl, and will pass my time neatly seated, writing, reading and the sort waiting for the cast to be out before I've got to catch my plane and enjoy the last of my holidays on the beach.
Enough of me. Here's the next part... enjoy reading! Or not.. anyway, let me know! ;)
Girls night out with a twist of events
part 5
The sweet enviroment at Drovers Homestead was expanding, the house smelled of candles, mingled with the classical air of old wood, humidity... that where distictinctive of the old homestead and rain.
The two adults were seated comfortably on the first steps, watching the little girl they had found, playing happily at their feets, enjoying the attention given to her by the smiling adults as she entertained herself clapping, gurgling and discovering her feets, covered on fluffy yellow and white mittens with a pink decorative bow at her ankles.
"You gotta admit, she's a princess." At the eyebrow rising he got from Claire at his stoping-silence comment, Alex chuckled and explained "She's been smiling, and talking for the last quarter of an hour. Her bottoms on an old rug... and she's got pink bows and dimples..."
"Tess would love it"
"The bottoms on a rug part? Ow! That's why I don't want her near you" Then, he stretched his sore muscles from being in the same position for too long, making some pop sound in the motion, causing Claire to laugh.
"You're getting old Alex" 'yes he is' she whispered conspiratorially to the little girl as she stretched her arms to pick the baby up.
"Watch out Claire... you're next then. And by the way. I might be getting old..." Alex moved with her as she moved to pick the baby, and snifled her neck from behing, making her shiver with the sensation "but you stink!"
With an outrageuos look, an arm arround the baby, and the other turning arround to punch him, Claire answered his accusation "It's not me. Your princess here left a gift"
"That might be, but either way, you two need a shower... NOW. I'm sure that smell will permeate"
"Shut up and move!"
Cautiously, iluminating the ascension with a candle, the three of them made their way upstairs. Having decided that a shower, and change of clothes was urgent, they directed their steps towards Tess room first. Taking some candles from there, and letting their golden glow illuminate the darkness.
On Claire's room, the comforter and some pillows made a 'little fortress for the princess' on Alex words. The dark haired farmer sat in front of her, on the floor, talking with her, making voices and sounds explaining to the little girl, why was necessary a change of clothes and a hot bath for a little miss as her.
"...It's just the way thinks are. You're a princess you need long bubble scented baths...just as Tess does..."
"What do you know about my sister's bathing habits?"
Alex turned arround, once again concious of his best mate, on a beautiful wet blue dress, iluminated by the glow of scented candles, on a warm room, a rainy night... and his eyes couldnt left from her. His voice just a whisper... his answer, the last of his concerns.
"She took one at Killarney not so long ago"
Misinterpretting his whispered voice and his glistening eyes for something related to her sister, and remembering all to well how Alex returned her home late at night... Claire resisted the urge to run somewhere and change inmediatelly of her dress. Thinking that maybe, her best mate was comparing her fair haired and happy sister with her.
Those thoughs, and the poorly iluminated room, making Claire remeber the last time, she wore a dress...
Claire was walking nervously and unconfortable. She didn't like it. Wearing a dress... it wasn't something she could do voluntarially, but it was for her father so she ought to.
Seeing Alex and some of his friends over the door were the party was to be held, she breathed, hoped none noticed her change of clothes and walked decidedly over the door. Or at least as firmly and decidedly she could walk with the nice shoes and dress Meg had put in her room for her.
"Wow!" so much for not being noticed... "Mcleod!"
Feeling Alex aproaching at her back, she tried to walk again, but knowing the Ryan bo, she though she was in for a witty comment 'perfect opportunity to show despite wearing a dress I'm still Claire Mcleod'atleast that was what Claire was thinking while waiting for Alex aproach. But she was in for a surprise, there was not just a coment, or even the words that made her angry "You're a woman after all Mcleod! And a nice one after all!"... it was just the hand on her bum 'that will do' Turning fast and angry she directed her hand, closed in a fist to Alex face.
Before Alex could make any sound, apart from the mufled grunt, too preocupied with his eye and the pain, and trying to be a man while his friends and brother laughed at him... Claire turned again and with her face set she walked towards the party, leaving Alex watching her with just an eye and an apreciative smile.
"Take it" Some time later, in front of Alex appeared a cold beer bottle, the hand holding it, definitely feminine "Are you gonna pick it, or just watch?" That was Claire... a very frustrated Claire.
"Sorry Mcleod. Keeping you from a hot date?"
"Shut up" Sitting at his sidewith another beer, Claire rested her feet on the chair in front of them.
"That's a nice position while wearing a dress Claire"
"What do you want, the pair?"
Watching her and without understanding her, he took a sip from the bottle.
"It was suposed to be for your eye"
"What?"
"The two, really. The comment and the beer. Couldn't pick ice without raising suspicions, so I settled for the beer"
"As if you wearing a dress wont raise anything" seeing the threat on her face, he held up his hand, just just before directing one with the beer towards his eye. "Thanks, but I think my right eye took all the fun tonigh"
"Alex, I punched you on the left eye" a quirked eyebrow directed towards him, and Alex smirked
"Yeah, I know, but it was the right one watching you ... aiming for your bum" That earned him a punch and a 'you're a pig Ryan' from Claire, to wich he answered, clinking the beer with hers and smirking before acomodating better on the chair.
Seeing he couldn't see properly, Alex laughed, making Claire look at him preocupied 'what now?' It has been nearly two hours, sitting out there, just the two of them not inside, on the party, as it should have been. She was glad. At least not so many people had seen her, except the Ryans and Terry, the hand at Killarney that was over lending the place owner something or other, it was just a couple of boys from Fisher when she punched Alex.
"I think I'm going home"
"What, no cake? What'll say Jack when he learn you weren't even in the party being a nice little girl?"
"Get away Alex! Or I might just explain I was entertained using you as a punching bag"
"Fair enough. Come. I'm driving you! Taking the last sip from the beer, he got up signaling Claire to do the same.
"You must be joking. No way are you driving my dad's merc with that eye"
"OK. You drive"
"You can't drive, isn't? You don't see anything with the blak eye" Laughing at him for a bit, Claire composed herself, before asking about Nick.
"Stuff monk can drive himself home. He knows how to drive"
"And you? No cake, no hot date... you're old Alex"
Catching her arm, he pulled her over the car "Come on girly"
"You should say something to Nick. And stop pulling me! I know how to walk"
Once in the aprty, they got separated momentarialy, and when they meet again, Claire was talking to Nick, about going home. Nick, bored said he was going too... and just then, Alex appeared on the picture again.
"Hey, I'm thinking about some cake, what about you two?"
"I'm going home" Claire turned, but luck wasn't on her side, someone bumped her and with heels (didin't matter how high they were, they where heels) and a dress, she coudln't move fast enough and put excesive weight on her foot, making her lost balance and murmuring a swearing at the ripping pain coming from her ankle.
Nick and Alex were at her side instantly, the bigger brother, laughing
"It's the damssel ok?"
"Shut up Ryan! I'm ok"
"If you say so... I'm going for something to drink"
"Don't bother. I'm up to home"
"I'm going too. You can stay"
"Ok. See you later. Dessert time!"
And walking with some dificulties outside, turning a bit just at the door, Claire did see the dessert time... not just the big cake with candles, but Alex Ryan, with a blonde on his arm laughing, smiling...touching his face, pouting... and just loud enough for Claire and Nick to hear him say:
"Battle scar" and something about making it better...
Feeling once again, as if she wasn't enough, Claire angrily launched Alex the towels and murmured something about him giving the baby a bath.
"ME? A Bath? Hey hey hey!! Hold on Mcleod! I can't!"
"It's just a baby Alex! I'm sure there's..."
"Watch what you say Claire!" pulling her arms and turning her to look at the baby he asked "Are you sure you could leave her with me? What if I drown her? No way!"
Five minutes later, hot water running, a naked baby enveloped in a fluffy towel, and two adults seated on the bathroom floor... and everything was set for giving the little princess a bath.
"Ok. Here we go"
"Wait! Isn't there any ducks or boats... or planes... or better yet! Plastic horses!?"
"Alex, it's a bath! WE got shampoo, soap... the baby, four hands to wash her and kep her straitgh and towels for later. And you're thinking about toys?"
"It's not for me. It's for her. Isn't it princess?" The only response was a gurgling sound and some dribbles falling over the chin and then a floppy kiss "That's a yes"
To be Continued...
Drop me a line ;) And if anybody can/want help me with my errors, please... feel free to do so and mark them to me.