Danny's POV

Alice was leant on the stable door, swinging on it slightly as I put the horse's foot back down. Alice had been right, as always and now I had the unsavoury job of breaking the news to Georgina. The Stablehand, Nikki was stood leaning against the wall stroking the little pony's head; she knew.

As I stood up I couldn't help but mouth 'help me' to Alice who in her typical manner gave me that small smile that encouraged to me to tell Georgina. I turned around and looked her straight in the eye, god this was hard and for once I couldn't bail and ask Alice to help me out, it had to be me.

"I'm sorry Georgina..." I said quietly. Alice stopped swinging on the door and moved so she was by my side.

"Maybe we should leave you a while." Alice suggested, saving me as usual. Georgina who by this point had her face in one hand just nodded. Alice sighed and grabbed my hand gently pulling me with her. I noticed Nikki stood awkwardly; seemingly unsure of her position. I nodded to her, signalling she was welcome to follow us to which she swiftly moved forward.

"Thanks." Nikki murmured after a few minutes of silence. "I kinda didn't wanna be there when..."

"I know..." Alice replied placing one hand on her arm. "It's hard..." Alice then stopped us all before turning to me. "Danny, would you mind grabbing some drinks? Maybe get Georgina one?"

I nodded, picking up on the silent message that her eyes gave away. She smiled at me, giving me her 'kiss' face as I called it. I smiled and kissed her chastely on the lips before walking off. I gathered she wanted to have a word with Nikki and if anyone could help her, it was Alice.

Alice's POV

I watched as Danny walked off. I could tell he understood why I'd done what I'd done, he always did and his eyes had given it away too. I wanted to talk to Nikki, find out more about her. I felt... I don't know, she reminded me of myself when I was younger. She's obviously a lot more level headed than me mind, at her age I had been nothing short of a firecracker. One comment and off came the top no matter who it was. I sighed and sat down on a tree stump, resting my hands idly on my bump. Nikki joined me unsurely.

"How'd you end up here Nikki?" I asked softly, "You've got such a great knowledge and understanding of the horses, animals in general..."

She sighed and looked at me and just the look she gave me reminded me of myself. I smiled at her and took her hand.

"Look, how about I talk first?" I asked her. She shrugged but kept her eyes on me.

"Life hasn't always been... good shall we say. Some days all this... well not losing the home and all that but you know, a husband and a family seemed so far away it was untrue. So unrealistic. I was Alice Collins... needed no one – well but for Charlie. I relied on her heavily and sometimes I wonder where I'd be without her you know. Where I'd have ended up, if I'd have ended up if you know what I mean. She gave me something to live for her, something to try my best for. It wasn't just me anymore, it was Charlotte too. I guess Charlotte's half the reason I went to Africa, fresh starts and all that... I didn't have anything holding me back home anymore. My dad hated me, my mum had died years before and I was alone. Single, young, alone and a mother." I stopped a moment, I was never really so open with my past, not to anyone other than Danny and he'd be the only person ever to know the true extent of what my past held.

"Hard?" Nikki asked me.

"Yeh... I had a brother but we lost touch after a year or so. He didn't like it when I left, looked up to me a bit. Anyway, I jetted around Africa. I met a new man, Terry." I shook my head, what had I been thinking? "We didn't last, 3 years of broken promises. Anyway, on my travels away from him, I stumbled upon Leopards Den, Rabies Outbreak and after a bit of persuasion from Danny, a visit from Terry, a bitter love rival and some arguments I ended up staying there. Then a storm came and as they say the rest is history, me and Danny got together, got engaged, got married, now we're expecting our baby." I ran my hand over my bump, "Guess no one would have thought it eh?"

Nikki laughed slightly before taking a deep breath. She turned to face me, looking me straight in the eye.

"I was the youngest of three kids, growing up in not the nicest areas of Glasgow and later on Manchester. My dad, he had no interest in me... I've tried for years, you know to get him to well... take an interest but he doesn't care. Won't even let me find my own family. I know I have an Aunt, don't know her name or anything just know I have an Aunt somewhere." She sighed, "Anyway, as I was saying, I was the youngest and when I was sixteen my mum... she passed away. Drugs overdose. It wasn't that she was a bad woman Alice, she tried her best for us all, she just had an addiction that took over her life and eventually killed her. After her death I tried to find my Dad once more but he'd moved away from Glasgow and they weren't sure whether he was in Africa or America. Couldn't remember. Anyway, I threw myself into the horses. My brothers weren't exactly great... one did drugs, other did crime. They used to mock me a lot and then I met Georgina. She found out about me and offered to take me in. If it hadn't been for her I guess I wouldn't be where I am today with GCSE's and A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and History."

I nodded, "So what do you want to do?"

"I dunno." She shrugged, "I... Well, I used to want to be a vet but you need money for all that kind of stuff and I'm a long way off. I suppose I'm happy where I am for now."

I looked up and noticed Danny returning with drinks. I smiled, he was so sweet; taking his time. I turned to the young girl sat beside me.

"Well... I'm sure you can do it." I said, "And you know if you ever want to talk or anything..."

"Thanks Alice. It's been... great, you know, having someone to talk to. There's no one really round here who, well listens so thank you." Nikki smiled, "It means a lot to me."

"You're more than welcome." I replied before turning to my husband who'd made his way over. I grinned as he handed us both a drink. "Thank you Mr Trevanion."

"You are most welcome dearest." He smiled softly. "Do you think we should go back to Georgina?"

Nikki sighed and stood up with a nod, "We might as well... not gonna change owt is it?"

"Suppose not..." I replied unsurely. She appeared so strong, yet inside it seemed to me that she did care. She wasn't heartless, more realistic. Of the typical kind really of someone who'd been around horses a long time – the type who stay so strong and go by 'have your cry and move on' – realistic as I say.

Suddenly, as the stables just came back into view. Nikki stopped dead, eyes fixed on the place where the pony stood. I followed her eye line and saw Georgina leaning on the pony's back, face hidden on her arms.

"Come on." Danny urged quietly, Georgina's drink still in his hand.

A/N – I know it was Poo but meh!