Thanks for all your comments. I love them and they're giving me some new ideas too.
Here's the next part. Have fun.

Thanks to my beta, Isi.

Disclaimer: I don't own McLeods Daughters.

21. Confessions And Realisations

"Claire!" Tess called concerned when her sister and Alex reappeared on the veranda and walked fast towards her, because she had waited together with Nick for at least one of them to return.

The guests had left the veranda a while ago and had sat down at a table in the yard. So there was some private room for them. Although the others were curious what was going on at the veranda they didn't dare to look up there or to stop chatting and eating.

Finally Tess was with Claire and Alex. Immediately she noticed their happy faces. Because of that she had a closer look at Claire, especially at her hand where the most beautiful engagement ring had found its place. "You did it, finally", she thought happy and relieved.

"Do you wanna tell me something?"

"Yes, we do", Alex started to talk. "She has accepted my second proposal."

"Oh, that's great news", Tess said and hugged both of them.

When she was done with that, Claire started to talk. "I need something to drink and I need a hand with that."

Tess caught the hint, took her sister's hand and walked slowly back into the house with her. Every step was more painful for Claire than the last one but once more she stood it because she had to talk with her sister in private.

Now Nick appeared at Alex' side and handed him a beer. Both didn't talk, they just stood together and drank their beers. But the smile still remained on Alex' face, so his brother imagined what had happened inside. It had to be something great otherwise Alex wouldn't be so happy.

Finally they sat down at the table where the older brother had proposed before.

---

The sisters entered the kitchen.

"I'm pregnant…", Claire started to talk but was immediately interrupted by her sister.

"I know."

"…with Alex' baby", she completed her sentence.

"Oh. How?", were the only words Tess was able to say.

"I don't know for sure. It must have happened the night when Jodie and Alberto made dinner for us. We left the kitchen and got drunk with his home-brewed beer. I don't remember much from that night but it seems like we've spent the night together. When I woke up the next morning he lay in my bed, only wearing his boxers, and I was only wearing my panties."

"How can you be sure about that? He had slept here before."

"Not in my bed, Tess. Beside of that the doc had told me at the appointment yesterday that the procreation had happened later than assumed. So it can't be Peter's and I haven't spent a night with another guy beside of him. Only this night with Alex."

"But that's great news, Claire." Tess put her hand on her sister's arm. "Have you talked to Alex about it?"

"No, I haven't because I'm worried. What happens if he doesn't want a real family? After all it's Alex we're talking about who barely keeps a woman for more than a few weeks. Maybe he'll find his true love. What will happen to our family, I mean our baby then? She would lose her father."

"Don't be silly, Claire. I haven't seen him with some girl for a while and I guess that won't happen in the future because he l…" In the middle of the sentence Tess stopped talking because she had nearly told too much. "Beside of that you should think about what he had done during the last days. He moved in with you just to be there, lying about the fatherhood towards his parents which isn't a lie at all and he stays even when you act like a bloody idiot. What do you expect from him beside of that, Claire?"

Tess didn't get an answer to her question but the look at her sister's face told more than thousand words could tell. "I'll need your help for this, Nick."

---

The guests were still sitting around the table.

Liz and Meg talked about gardening, the one thing they had in common.

Meanwhile Jodi listened to Harry's and Becky's conversation about farming. He was really impressed how she had developed since her start at Drovers two years ago. Until now she had learned much about farming, enough to do a good job. But if she wanted to do a great job, she would have to go to farming school.

---

Alex and Nick sat at the same place as before. Until now none of them had said a word.

"Have I ever had a chance?" Alex finally started a serious conversation.

"That's absolutely sure and I think you still have one. Otherwise Claire wouldn't have left the house with you and the brightest smile on her face, right? You know, I've never seen her smiling like that. Actually I guess she has never been that happy before. So don't be silly thinking that you don't have a chance. You have had more than one until now and you have at least one left."

"I'm not silly, I'm just trying to read her signs. Neither does she say anything against my words nor does she say I'm right. I've no idea where I'm standing right now. She doesn't talk to me. I know she is afraid of something but I don't have a clue what it is."

"Alex, are you sure you don't know? Because I could think of at least one reason."

"Which?"

"You have to find out that by yourself. I can't help you. But I think you already know it."

Still Alex hadn't got an answer. "It can't be that hard to find out, when even Nick knows why."

---

Liz glanced at the veranda at her two boys who were sitting there and talking about their lives. There was no need anymore for her to be around At least this one thing she had done right. Alex would marry sooner or later and although Nick had started something with Tess, whom she hadn't the best opinion of, she was happy for him too. Her sons would soon get to know what she already had known for nearly 30 years.

Finally she turned back at the table and met Harry's look. Both smiled at each other knowing the thoughts of the other. Then she continued her talk with Meg.

---

Their talk had come to a stop after Tess' last question and although she still wanted to help her sister, she didn't know what to do or ask. So she first gave Claire the glass of water which was the official reason for their stay in the kitchen. After she had had a sip of it Tess asked again. "What do you expect from Alex?"

Now Claire looked directely at her sister before she started to talk. "Love." She said in a low voice.

Although she had expected an answer by the look of her sister, she hadn't expected it that directely.

"But where is the problem then?"

"I don't know, I just don't want to lose him in any way. After all he is my best friend, too." Once more a tear appeared in the corner of her eye. "And these bloody hormons are driving me crazy. I haven't cried in my life as much as I've done over the last few days. Nobody warns you about that, nobody." And again tears fall down Claire's cheek.

So Tess went to her sister and hugged her. "You know I'll be there for you forever but please make it work with Alex. He's a good guy and he'll be a great father."

After some more sobbs Claire calmed down. "So I'll have another talk with Alex." When she had finished, she took her sister's hand, stood carefully up and pulled Tess up. Together they left slowly again the kitchen.

---

"I am such an idiot." Alex said suddenly.

"Sorry?" Nick.

"Oh, don't bother, I just know."

Nick grinned at his brother and together they got silent again.