Alice frowned slightly as she received yet another text off Danny asking her if she was coming on Skype. She shook her head and text him for what felt like the hundredth time yes, the laptop was loading. She didn't quite understand what on Earth could be so urgent that it required her direct and utter most attention but either way she knew unless she went on now he would not let it go and she'd be annoyed all day! Something had obviously excited him; he'd never been able to hide his excitement and passion for anything. The extremities could set his complexion into a blaze or a smile to occupy his face. His eyes and eyebrows gave everything away about him – if you could read them of course.

The minute she was logged in, a video call came up. Alice rolled her eyes, he'd obviously been waiting with his finger hovering over the button! She clicked accept and waited, smiling as he appeared.

"Alice! Hello!" Danny beamed. Alice smiled back at him, waving. He was sat out on the veranda alone. She was envious of his sunshine! Outside it was typical wintery England, full of frost and ice!

"Hey! So come on Mr Urgency..." Alice teased, "What is so important?"

"Well... I just wanted to say I love you." Danny smiled sweetly.

"As sweet as that is... and as much as I love you... if that's all you have to say you are going to get your ass kicked the minute I get back to Africa." Alice warned him, her 'look' well and truly on.

"Ok, ok! I was just being a charming husband... I have some news for you!" Danny beamed, "News you shall love..."

"I kinda got that... I want to know what the news is!" Alice giggled excitably. She was bouncing slightly; he was always like this when something really good was happening.

"Well, I spoke to Ed. He's willing to split Mara and Leopards Den with him taking Mara." Danny told her, "But obviously he'd require some money from us to cover his losses and costs. With him losing his job etc. I see where he's coming from..."

"As do I, what about Dup?" Alice enquired.

"He's more than happy. I think we've resolved it." Danny explained, referring to their earlier fall-out.

"Good... well it sounds fantastic." Alice beamed.

"So you're good for us to go ahead, I mean, I spoke to our finance manager and we can afford it. I've transferred some money into our joint account from mine and with the existing..." Danny gestured onwards, "We're good to go."

"That's brilliant! Go sort it Danny!" Alice laughed, "I'll keep phone handy, I can't exactly come authorise it if they start..."

"Oh god, I know, stupid policy or what?" Danny chuckled, "I'll speak to you tonight anyway, sooner we get the ball rolling the better!"

"Yes! Go! Sort it out! I love you." Alice smiled, blowing him a kiss.

"I love you too, talk to you later." Danny smiled before both waved and signed off.

Alice put her laptop away before jumping up, smiling to herself. She placed a hand on her rounded bump, rubbing gently. She sighed before putting her coat, scarf and hat on and going outside. She walked over the frosted grass lightly.

"We're going home." She whispered as a robin caught her eye causing her to smile with joy. Life was on the up.

(x)

"Some great times were spent in here." Rosie smiled as she made her way behind the bar. Buhle was run off her feet and with Dup and Fatani out Christmas shopping she needed all the help she could get.

"I bet." Buhle winked, "Thanks for helping out."

"It's not a problem." Rosie smiled before looking to the next customer, "Yes please."

Danny walked into the bar, almost immediately spotting Ed and making his way over to him. He'd been to the bank and all was in order. All they needed was paperwork sorting and some legally binding documents and they were sorted.

"It's going ahead." Danny smiled as he reached Ed, "Alice is happy, the bank is happy."

"We're all happy." Ed smiled, "We should keep in some partnership though Danny. No wars between Mara and Leopards Den. Co-operation is key."

"Of course." Danny grinned as the men shook hands, "I'll buy you a drink."

"Good man." Ed said as Danny walked over to the bar. He was shocked to see Rosie serving. He'd not seen her doing anything remotely like bar work (not that she did a right lot anyway) in years. She smiled at him as he made his way over.

"You? Behind a bar?" Danny teased.

"Buhle needs help... probably therapy later too. Fatani and Dup are Christmas shopping." Rosie said, mocking a wince.

"Ouch, 2 beers love and whatever you're having." Danny smiled, watching her as she expectedly made her way around the bar, "You remind me of Alice sometimes!" He chuckled, "She knows her way round a bar."

"Yeh, she worked in a few at uni didn't she?" Rosie asked placing his beers on the bar and taking his money off him, "She's a legend to drink with. Seriously, Alice's hen party, best party I've ever had! Dad, she can be wild! I see why she had her full on get drunk hen party 2 days before and then a light 'freedom' party the night before. Party animal!"

"Tell me about." He laughed picking up Ed's bottle, "I'll be back in a second."

He soon returned and Rosie continued talking to him, leaning on the bar casually, playing with the tinsel.

"I heard a lot about that hen party." Danny chuckled, "Bar tops needed cleaning afterwards apparently?"

"Alice started it." Rosie protested.

"You ended it."

"Dancing on the bar is fun... when really drunk..." Rosie giggled.

"You weren't here one Christmas. Oh God, Rosie. She almost drank Dup under the table!" Danny laughed, "Then professed her undying love for me stood on a bale of hay." He laughed, "She's brilliant. Can't wait for her to come home though no drinking for the next 18 years I guess!"

Rosie laughed, "Yeh... what you doing about Charlotte's Christmas?"

"Dunno." Danny sighed, taking a swig from his bottle, "It's an awkward one..."

"Yeh... still, last day to send stuff is the 14th so you got time yet!" Rosie smiled, "I've told everyone I'll take the stuff on the 14th so..."

"Sure thing." Danny smiled, "I got most her stuff."

"See everyone is done for me! But Max... but..."

"You and Max will sort this out." Danny promised her, "I'm not proud of what you've done but I'm proud of you."

"Thanks Dad." Rosie grinned.

"No problem, I'm gonna go nag Liv and Thabo for a bit... go see how awkward I can make them!"

"Get some mistletoe Dad." Rosie laughed, her laughter increasing as Danny winked and pulled a strand off the bar. She shook her head, Alice had made him merciless!

A/N- bit of a filler again, it'll get better when Alice comes back ;D