Stevie in her ute, heading straight for him. Bringing his horse around to the right, Alex slows down to a canter as he nears Stevie. He's barely pulling his horse back to a halt before Stevie is screeching to a stop and flinging open her car door. Alex swings himself out of the saddle and walks towards Stevie, who's already marching towards him.

"You've got a lot of bloody explaining to do, Alex Ryan!" Stevie demands, coming to a halt ten feet from him, squaring her shoulders, hands on her hips. "Always have been? I've been right beside you for three years! We're best mates!" Stevie brushes away the strands of hair in her eyes and glares at him. Alex. Her Alex. He's always been hers. What did Tess say they have? The slow burn. Oh it's been burning slow for years. They're so close. Alex stands with his hands limply by his sides, eyes burning with yearning and lust and so much more. He wants to touch her. He wants to do so much more to her, with her. But he has to explain.

"Stevie, I-"

"No, you know what Alex? I don't care. Do you know how humiliating that was for me? Everyone who hears this story is going to see me as the other woman!" Stevie yells, her voice carrying across the paddocks.

Alex slowly walks over to her, wanting to make her understand. "Stevie, I'm the bastard here. Not you. I broke Fiona's heart, not you. But that's over now. I never loved her…it's always been you, Cowgirl. I love-"

Stevie holds up her hand to stop him. "Alex! You don't understand. I've been right here for three years and you've never said a word to me about this! Do you remember when you went bush after we thought Nick had died? Your ute got bogged and no one knew where you were. I was so scared that something had happened to you Alex. If something had…", Stevie pauses, gathering her thoughts. "…if something had happened to you, that would have crushed me. I knew I loved you then. Do you remember the house fire I saved you from? I was coming to tell you that I loved you, and there you were, dead, apparently. When you started breathing again, I was so relieved. That was the second time in a few days you'd scared me to hell Alex Ryan! And when you left for the city, I tried calling you to tell you that I loved you! But you didn't answer. Then you returned with her." Stevie looks away from Alex, biting her lip. "You may have broken Fiona's heart today Alex, but you broke mine long ago." Her voice breaks, and a single tear slips down her cheek.

Alex stands, rooted to the ground by the vulnerability in her words. Realizing he hasn't yet spoken in reply to her speech, Alex fights to find the right words. He can think of only three. "I'm so sorry." He whispers, stepping the remaining distance between them easily. Taking her face in his hands, he swiftly leans down and kisses her softly, reveling in the way she tastes, the way she feels against him.

Stevie stills, surprised by the urgency she feels in the kiss. She realizes that Alex is just as affected by her, by their situation, as much as she is by him.

Alex pulls away from the kiss to look down at her, brushing his thumb over the dried tearstain on her face.

"I want to be with you Stevie. Please say you want that too." Alex murmurs, sincerity and love flashing through his eyes.

Stevie's anger fades away; she reaches up to cover his hand with her own and shakes her head in exasperation. "Of course I want to be with you Alex. I love you! It's just…this is so raw and new."

"Are you afraid?"

"No. I'm happy. I'm really happy."

Alex gathers Stevie up in his arms and holds her tightly. She can feel him smiling into her hair.

"So Cowgirl…up for a date at the pub tonight?" Alex laughs, his amusement growing as she playfully slaps him on the shoulder.

"No way Cowboy, I want you all to myself tonight." Stevie replies, eyes gleaming. "I love you, Alex."

"I love you, Stevie."