Alice bit her lip as she leant on the veranda of Leopards Den looking over the beautiful landscape that had always commanded her attention. She sighed as she remembered happier days; those days when Danny would walk up behind her and wrap his arms tight around her and she'd lean back, closing her eyes, feeling so, so content. She missed him. She did; but she couldn't forgive him.

"He was going to go you know."

Alice turned her head and noticed Caroline stood at the doorway. Alice shook her head and looked down towards the plants that sat below the veranda desperately trying to hold what had quickly become her acid tongue. Why was SHE the one in the wrong all the time? Her damn Husband could do what he liked and it wasn't wrong.

"He was excited to see you... and Robert. It killed him when he realised he'd be unable to go."

At Caroline's pathetic utterance Alice spun angrily, slamming her hands off the wooden veranda. The wood being old and splintered created a splendid gash right across her palm but Alice didn't even flinch as she stared angrily at Caroline.

"Yeh Caroline... so desperate he turned around! Why? Cos he saw an elephant! No! I'm sick of hearing how he got hurt, how he felt. No one gives a damn about how I felt or how I was hurt!" Alice shouted.

"It's not all about you Alice." Caroline told her heatedly.

Alice swallowed, her whole body began to shake as fury took hold. Her eyes darkened and her fists clenched.

"You have the cheek to call me selfish now? No, it wasn't all about me... it was about Robert and Charlotte too! You have no idea what we went through and so, why don't you fuck off with your interfering?" Alice exclaimed angrily.

Rosie upon hearing the commotion had rushed outside just in time to here Caroline's reply.

"I hope he divorces you! You're a poor substitute for Sarah!" Caroline snapped before walking off, pushing past Rosie who had a face of fury but Rosie's attention was on Alice who was staring at the floor. The expression Alice wore was one Rosie had not seen for many, many years.

"Ignore her Alice..." Rosie began but Alice shook her head.

"Rosie... she's only saying what everyone thinks." Alice said, her throat tight, "Maybe it's for the best I do leave."

"What?" Rosie exclaimed, "But you and Dad love each other. I know he's been an idiot and he deserves to be forced to grovel but Alice you can't leave."

"Who'd miss me?" Alice asked, "It would go back to how it was before."

"You think that was preferable?" Rosie whispered, "Dad moping, Dup being an idiot, Liv doing stupid things like Fatani, no Mum." Rosie paused and took a breath as Alice looked up at her softly, "Alice, please... I need you."

"Rosie." Alice whispered sitting down upon the steps. She waited for Rosie to join her before continuing, "I just can't take that. Everyone thinks I'm this terrible person. I mean, Danny, I know he loves this place and I wanted him to leave it for a year just to comfort me. Maybe that was totally wrong? I just needed him, I needed to be in the UK. I tried to get Rowan to come with me but he said he couldn't..."

"I don't think you're a terrible person." Rosie told her, squeezing her step-mother's hand. "I understand and I was angry at Dad for not going to you. I told him so... he cried Alice. I think he felt guilty and disgusted y'know but it doesn't excuse it. Do you want to talk about what you went through?"

Alice smiled and patted Rosie's hand, "Thank you Rosie but I can't burden you with my problems and I wouldn't want to poison you or anything against your father."

Rosie shook her head, "The offer is always open. You're amazing Alice... always have been to be honest and you and Dad, you'll work it out."

"I hope so... but I suppose that's up to me."

"It takes two." Rosie replied, "But you can't do that if you leave can you?"

"I suppose not." Alice laughed softly, "She just hit me below the belt. I've doubted in the past if I've lived up to Sarah and your Mum... if I was a poor substitute..."

"You're better than Sarah... not that I said that." Rosie laughed standing up, "But you must be doing something right for me not to detest you and make your life hell."

"The honour." Alice chuckled as Rosie offered her a hand up which she took. Rosie smiled and hugged Alice as soon as she was stood.

"I'm gonna go do the animals with Ed... keep strong Alice." Rosie murmured before walking away, leaving Alice alone.

Alice sighed with a soft smile as she watched Rosie walk briskly down to the hospital. She was so much more mature now but still as sweet as she always had been; she was such a lovely girl and Alice knew that Rosie was as straight talking as she was and that no bullshit ever passed her lips. Alice shook her head proudly before walking inside the house ready to give Robert his feed. She'd left him with Liv who had been enjoying coo'ing over him but Nomsa also had quite a soft spot for the little boy.

As Alice walked through to the kitchen she was shocked to see no-one was about and even more shocked that upon inspection of the house no one seemed to be around. She realised that she hadn't checked the living room and so with an urgency she rarely used she opened the door the lounge but nothing could have prepared her for the beautiful sight she saw.

Her breath caught as her eyes cast upon her husband and her son. Even though she was furious with Danny the love she had for him radiated from her. Robert was asleep on Danny's chest, Danny too asleep, his hand placed protectively over Robert's back holding him in place. Alice could see the resemblance and her unconditional love for her son shone through. Tears gathered as she watched them.

She must have been stood for a while as eventually Danny began to wake up, he frowned checking his watch before slowly sitting up, gently moving a sleeping Robert tenderly. He sighed before standing up, holding Robert close not aware of his wife's presence until he turned around fully. He smiled sheepishly at her.

"Dozed off. I figured we were over-due some daddy/Robert time." Danny admitted.

Alice nodded, "Well it's time for his feed."

"Oh... sorry."

"It's ok." Alice said taking Robert off of him. "I've got no problem with you spending time with Robert Danny. I'm just angry with you."

"I know." Danny sighed as he followed Alice through to the kitchen where she quickly began preparing a bottle, "I just... I couldn't."

"Yeh?" Alice asked, her tone soft and tender, "Well you know what Danny... I can't anymore either."

A/N – Jam packed chapter. Caroline being a prize cow, Rosie being a babe and a flicker of Danice... will they ever sort it out?

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