Charlotte swallowed as she stared down at the rolled up piece of paper in her hand. She was sat cross legged upon her bed, her thoughts in turmoil, a vicious cycle of anger and heartbreak. She wondered how things were down in the animal hospital; her Mum was never going to let Danny off with this lightly if ever. Her Mum was very forgiving but whether she could be this forgiving was another matter. Charlotte shook her head with a heavy sigh before slowly unrolling the paper.

It was the picture she'd drawn for Danny; the time he was meant to actually come but didn't. She'd spent three hours a night on it for a week and she'd been so proud of the result. Her Mum had insisted Danny wouldn't mind it being coloured in with poster paints but Charlotte had refused to accept that. She'd spent all her money on watercolours, posh paper and one special tub of black acrylic paint and every time her Mum offered her financial assistance she'd refused – she'd wanted to do it on her own, exclusively for the man she had called her Dad. She knew he'd miss Leopards Den, she had too, and so she'd drawn him a beautiful A3 picture of it including the animal hospital with animals in the pens, the house with various members of the family dotted around and Three the elephant stood in front of the house with Tula. She'd wrapped it in ribbon when it had dried and had been so excited to give it to him – except – she never got the chance.

"You spent ages on that."

Charlotte turned quickly towards her door where the soft Scottish slur of her mother had floated from. Charlotte smiled, a sad laugh coming through her nose as her mother walked forward, sitting beside her on the bed. Both mother and daughter stared at the painting for a moment. Alice marvelling in just how fantastic it was; she was so proud of Charlie when she drew this. She'd imagined Danny's face many a time when she presented it to him but that had never happened and that angered her. He didn't seem to know just how he meant to them. Alice sighed as she saw Danny and her working on an animal, smiling widely as they did so.

"It's amazing." Alice commented, "You should keep it."

"I'm keeping it for the day I can rip it." Charlotte spat.

"What?" Alice asked, her pitch shifting higher.

"One day I'm going to rip it." Charlotte told her mother simply, "It's not a hard concept Mum. I'm gonna rip up the painting I'm so proud of and what took me so long to create. Don't ask me why, or when. I don't know. Just I will and when that day comes my reason, whatever it may be will be clear."

Alice nodded, deciding to leave Charlotte's painting alone for the time being. She hoped that this was just an angry reaction of what had happened but she knew her daughter; one day that painting would be ripped.

"Charlotte... I know you're angry ok? I know you're upset." Alice said softly, "And I am not going to force you to do this but please can you be civil with him. Even if you don't like him at this moment in time, he's been your Dad for the past few years and still deserves your respect."

"He doesn't deserve anything! I can't believe you're asking me this!" Charlotte growled.

"Charlotte... I might not have much time for him right now but he's still the man I love, my husband. Please Charlie, don't put me in an awkward situation where I'm piggy in the middle. I play that role enough as it is. He's Robert's father too... I am asking you merely to cut the cheek not the slack."

"Fine." Charlotte breathed realising that her mother was right. She was just so protective over her. Her Mum had always put her first and now she wanted to repay that favour. "Just promise me you'll make the right decisions."

"Why do you think I returned?" Alice replied, "Charlotte." Alice said changing her tone, "Thank you, for protecting me and I'm sorry you are in that position you shouldn't be."

"Your my Mum, I love you." Charlotte simply replied with a shrug.

"I love you too." Alice whispered as she pulled Charlotte into a hug kissing her hair. "Keep strong yeh?"

"You too." Charlotte smiled, watching her mother stand up and walk out of the room. She quickly rolled up the painting once more and threw it under her bed. The day would come...