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Alyssa woke the next morning to her son poking and prodding her.
"Mommy I'm hungry." He said.
"Okay sweetie I'm getting up now." She said getting out of bed. She got up and walked towards the kitchen. She found the cereal in the usual place but there was no Cheerio's. Max wouldn't eat any other cereal. Just then Ruby walked in. she walked over to where Alyssa stood.
"Damn no Cheerio's." she complained.
"I was just about to go and get some. Would you mind watching Max for me?"
"Fine." She said stalking out.
"Max, be good for Ruby." Called Alyssa before leaving. She walked to the grocery store where she bought a box of Cheerio's and some pop tarts.
When she got to the till she found Brax just ahead of her apparently doing the weekly shop considering the amount of food he was buying.
"Hi." He said when he saw her.
"Hi. What's with all the food?" she asked.
"It's my mum's birthday and we're having a party for her later. You wanna come?"
"Nah you're alright. I have to mind my son."
"Bring him too." He offered. "C'mon. It's one way of re-meeting everyone." He said.
"We'll see." She said smiling at his persistence. After a moment he said.
"So you have a son? How old is he?"
"Four." She said.
"What's his name?"
"Max."
"Ah. Well I'll see you later?"
"Maybe…" she said as he left with his trolley.
When she got back to Leah's she found Ruby and Max playing with his toys. Ruby seemed to enjoy it as much as Max who seemed to love Ruby. She watched them for a moment trying to imagine what it would have been like if she hadn't gone into witness protection. She would be here happy with Brax, Ruby and Max. One big happy family.
"I got Cheerio's." she said.
"Ya!" cried Max following his mother into the kitchen. He sat at the table as Charlie poured him and Ruby some cereal. She left the two of them eating with Ruby pretending to eat Max's food. He really loved her already. Alyssa was glad Max would get to know his big sister even if they didn't know they were related. She wished more than anything that she could tell everyone who she really was but she couldn't. It was the one condition that allowed her to return. She could return to Summer Bay as long as she didn't reveal her true identity. Alyssa agreed. Max needed his dad even if he didn't know he was his dad. Brax had the right to get to know his son.
Xox
That evening Ruby was getting ready to go to the party. She was growing to like Alyssa. She reminded her of her mum. She loved little Max. He was so adorable.
"D'you wanna come to this party with me?" asked Ruby.
"Nah you're alright." Replied Alyssa who was getting Max's dinner ready.
"C'mon. It'll be good to meet people. You know make some friends here."
"I have to watch Max." she replied. Ruby wasn't sure why she was pushing so hard but she persisted.
"Leah can mind him. Please?"
"Well if it's okay with Leah…" said Alyssa. She rushed and asked Leah who agreed. Then she got ready before heading out with Ruby. Ruby didn't understand why but this woman seriously reminded her of her mother. It was scary.
They arrived ten minutes late. By then the party was in full swing. Brax saw them arrive.
"Hey Rubes. You came!" he said to Alyssa.
"Wait you two know each other?" asked Ruby.
"Yeah we met the other day and I invited her here earlier." Suddenly Ruby rushed away to find Casey feeling mad for some reason. Brax left Alyssa to mingle while he went around and acted like a host.
Alyssa made her way to the other side of the huge marquee the had been set up. There she met a woman who looked equally lost.
"Hi." She said to the woman.
"Hi. You new?" she asked. Alyssa laughed. The woman looked confused.
"Sorry. It's just that everyone has said that to me so far." Alyssa explained. The woman laughed.
"I'm Katie."
"Alyssa." She said. The two women chattered away for a while before Katie's boyfriend arrived. It was Heath.
"Uh Heath this is Alyssa. She's new." Said Katie before the two girls started laughing. Heath looked very confused.
"You wanna lift home? The party seems to be breaking up." He said.
"Ok. You wanna lift?" she asked her new friend.
"Nah I'll just go find Ruby." She said.
"I'll call you tomorrow. K?" she said as Heath led her away. She didn't wait for an answer. Alyssa went in search of Ruby. She found her out by the car.
"You took your time."
"I was looking for you. I didn't know where you were." She said.
"Well you found me. Can we go home now?" she asked already getting into the car that Alyssa had just unlocked. Alyssa got in at the driver's seat. She hadn't drunk any alcohol so she was fit to drive.
"Are you okay?" asked Alyssa after a while. Ruby didn't reply.
"Have I done something?" asked Alyssa. Again Ruby didn't reply. When they got to the house Ruby raced inside and headed straight to her room. Alyssa made her way to her room thinking. It was going to take a long time to earn her trust. But she might just do it. Maybe…
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