Thabo and Liv were sat cross legged on her bed. Both were wrapping up their Christmas presents whilst conversing very quietly about Alice returning. Thabo was pleased Alice was returning so soon; if only to see a smile on Liv's face. He liked Alice and had a great deal of time and respect for her; she'd always been there for him and he was grateful of that.

"Alice is gonna love this." Thabo smiled picking up her present. Liv nodded and handed him a small box and a lot of tissue paper. "I know, wrap it well cos it's breakable." He drawled before she could open her mouth. Both smirked slightly as he got to work.

"Danny is gonna love her returning... it's the best Christmas present she could ever give him." Liv murmured as she pushed Evan's presents to one side and picked up Dup's.

"Yup..." Thabo agreed as he wrote the tag for Alice's present, his usual scruffy scrawl getting ever so slightly neater. "Oh! That just reminded me..."

"What?" Liv frowned,

"We can give them the album for Christmas... well when we make it." Thabo grinned, "Wanna go town when we've finished up these? I might even buy you dinner." He teased with a wink.

"It sounded appealing until you said dinner." Liv teased back, "But I'll take pity on you."

"Pity?" Thabo exclaimed smiling, "Oh that's it, McD's for you!"

"I look forward to my chicken nuggets." Liv winked, patting his knee gently and standing up. Thabo simply grinned dumbly. He had the best girlfriend ever!

(x)

Danny walked through the animal hospital glancing in the cages as he passed them. He was hoping to have a word with Ed. He'd been to the bank and settled a few affairs and also had a word with his financial manager. He had enough. Now all he needed to do was speak to Ed. He gathered that this would go well, Ed had always preferred Mara to Leopards Den.

"Ed..." Danny smiled as he noticed his rival sat at the desk.

"Hello Danny." Ed replied, "What's up?"

"Not a lot it's just... look, you don't like Leopards Den, you've always preferred Mara..."

"And you want to split the two up again." Ed finished, "The problem is Danny as much as it would make a lovely present for Alice, I need money off you... I lose my job, quite a large amount of land. I'd have to set up a new practise and that would be all rivalry."

"And for such a reason I have the money in place. With your go-ahead I can get in touch with Alice..." Danny gestured onwards, "Anyway... you and Fiona were talking about eloping... extra money would come in helpful."

"Hmm... sit down. Let's talk." Ed said, watching as Danny took a seat. Both men began to form a plan, arguing their points vividly.

(x)

"Charlotte?" Alice asked knocking on her daughter's door, she heard a muffled come in and so she entered, closing the door behind her. "Hey."

"Hey Mum." Charlotte smiled continuing to draw on her notepad. Alice moved to sit next to her, she looked over at what she was drawing and smiled as she noticed a very well drawn lion.

"That's a great picture you know." Alice complimented, "You got a talent there."

"Thanks." Charlotte mumbled, shrugging off her mother's praise. Alice smirked slightly; Charlotte reminded her of someone she knew... herself!

"I came to tell you something..." Alice told her. She waited as Charlotte put her notepad and pencil under her bed, "We're going home."

"Home? As in Leopards Den?" Charlotte exclaimed gasping.

"Leopards Den." Alice promised, "We're going setting off late on the 9th and arriving on the 10th in Cape Town. Max is gonna take us home... hopefully."

"YES!" Charlotte shouted, her grin wide and shining, she wrapped her arms around her Mum gently yet tightly at the same time. Alice laughed, a huge grin on her face as she wrapped her arms around her daughter. She held her tightly. "Thanks Mum." Charlotte whispered as she pulled away.

"There's no need to thank me... I'm just glad your pleased." Alice smiled, "So, how about we get started on some packing! Oh by the way, it's a surprise, only Liv and no doubt Thabo know!"

"Awesome!" Charlotte grinned, pulling her suitcase out and opening it wide.

Alice sighed, feeling lighter and happy. Seeing her daughter so animated was amazing.

(x)

"I knew you wouldn't make me have chicken nuggets." Liv grinned as Thabo pulled out a chair for her at one of Jo'burgs finest Italian's. He winked before sitting down opposite her, placing all the bags under the table.

"I knew you wouldn't just go shopping and buy one thing! Seriously Liv!" Thabo moaned, "My poor arms!"

"You're meant to carry my bags, it's your purpose in life." Liv smiled grabbing a menu. "Ahh... spag bol... they do a mean one here!"

"Spag bol?" Thabo repeated in disgust, "I'm gonna go for a pizza though... oh do you have some disgusting British slang for that too?"

"Oh hold on, just now... just now, means literally like now... not in a while. Your slang is stupid!"

"It's not as stupid as yours! Reyt? What's reyt?" Thabo asked, both stuck their tongues out at each other. They enjoyed an easy banter. Neither were serious and both respected the other's culture but this banter always made them smile.

"Whatever, oh look waiter!" Liv beamed as she noticed a young and rather good looking man making his way over. As he asked them their orders and drinks, Liv was quick to announce her order first. Thabo rolled his eyes slightly before drawling his order out too. As the man walked off with a smile, Liv sighed...

"Liv... your eyes should only be for me!" Thabo announced, pretending to be hurt and offended.

"But Thabo they are..." Liv grinned, "Cos baby, all I want for Christmas is you..." She sang with a wide grin as Thabo laughed, squeezing her hands. He couldn't wait for Christmas!