It was late as a car winded it's way towards Leopards Den. A man sat in the car listening to Snow Patrol - You Could Be Happy. There was a line in the song that encompassed his feelings about a lady sleeping up there.

You could be happy, I hope you are

You made me happier than I'd been by far

But he had left of course. And then circumstances meant that he'd stayed away. The whole song reminded him of all of his family actually. Different lines represented different people. He just prayed someone was awake. The car slowed and came to a stop at the front door. The place was shrouded in darkness. He left his bag in the car thinking that with how dark the place was he'd have to go. He could just imagine everyone's face if they walked in and saw him asleep on the sofa! He stood at the bottom of the stairs. Checked his watch. 23:07. He supposed that was quite late but he'd known Alice to go to bed earlier when she was shattered. And there were 2 kids in the house too! As he walked in the house on soundless feet he inhaled and smelled familiar scents which had been washed from his brain. He felt like he was coming home. He missed everyone so much. He headed for the study to see if Dupe was awake. Ok he should have rang first give everyone advanced warning that he'd be here but firstly he had Forgot Leopards den phone number. And second he was just plain scared to phone them in case they had moved on and told him to stay away. He phoned Lexi though. He'd bottled speaking to her. She had sounded so happy and content he didn't wanna make her angry. Like all the times they spoke. He knew he had been wrong leaving her like that but it had been for the best at the time. They both had a lot of growing up to do. He had did it and now he felt calmer and clearer and content. The feeling that had eluded him for so long had finally washed over him. Yeah Ethan was happy, he thought. He hadn't been at first though. He had missed her so much. But at the same time hadn't been able to forgive himself for what he did to her! Cheating. God he wasn't a cheater. Never had been. The final reason why he hadn't phoned had been that he wanted to surprise them. He hadn't planned on coming back. He'd just woke up from being on his final shift at the FSNZ and his degree was finished too. He had worked nightshift and he felt like he was at a crossroads in his life and then he just thought I wonder how the weather is in south Africa. And then it steamrolled and he just wondered how much a ticket had cost. Suddenly he was buying one over the internet and had like an hour to get packed and get to the airport.

Anyway everything was quiet in the house so he decided to go and stay at a hotel for the night. He turned and was about to walk down the hallway when a voice stopped him.

"Excuse me!" a female voice said in a deadly tone. Then he was whacked on the head with something hard and metal. He was dazed. He was rugby tackled to the floor.

"You picked the wrong house buster!" she hissed as she turned him over.

"Huh?" he was soon lying on his stomach. And his hands were being bound behind his back. His head pounded. Ouch but they had hit him hard!

"A…" he tried to say Alice's name but she quieted him.

"Quiet or I'll brain you again!" she warned.

he went silent. He could do without a trip to the hospital tonight.

"Right your hands are tied, I am going to get up. You stay lying there till I say you can move. When I do that walk to the end of the corridor and turn the light on!" she whispered.

He nodded. Opened his mouth to speak.

"You were warned!" she said coldly.

She got up and he didn't move coz most likely she had a gun and she'd shoot him!

"right up and light!" she said menacingly.

He struggled to get up onto his knees. And then used the wall for leverage to get himself standing. It's hard to get up without using your hands. He then walked to where the light switch was. Had to use his forehead to turn it on.

"Right let's see who this is shall we?" she looked as the light came on. Her jaw dropped.

"Don't shoot me! I'd put my hands up but they are otherwise engaged." he said smiling as he looked at the gun in her hand. He was half serious.

"Oh God Ethan!" she put the gun down and hurried over to him. Wrapped him up in a hug. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I tried but you threatened to brain me again!" he said. "Untie me please."

She turned him and undid her knots.

She hugged him again. "Look at you. Your so grown up! And handsome too!" she touched his face softly. "Aw my wee man grew up!" she murmured.

Ethan was embarrassed.

"Wow it's so amazing to have you back! We didn't even know if you were alive!"

He frowned. "You didn't get my letters?"

"Not a one!"

Daniel appeared at the door of his room. Rubbing his eyes. His eyes narrowed as he saw Ethan standing close to his mum. Took a step forward. "Are you ok?" he stared menacingly towards Ethan.

"Wow that can't be…."

She nodded at Ethan.

"I'm fine Daniel. Go back to bed." she kissed his head.

"What about him?"

"This is your big brother Ethan." she said happily.

Daniel scrutinized Ethan for a moment. "G'night mum." he sent a silent she so better be alright in the morning look to Ethan.

Ethan smiled. So much like Danny.

He closed his bedroom door.

"Wow he is huge! And so much like Danny!"

"Tell me about it." Alice murmured.

"You mind if I crash here tonight?" Ethan asked.

"Sure thing. your room is empty. Your family you don't even have to ask!"

"Tell Danny if he's awake that we'll talk in the morning. I'll let you both get some sleep." with that he left the hallway and walked into his old bedroom. He hadn't noticed the way Alice stiffened when he spoke of talking to Danny.

Alice walked into her room. So he didn't know. He obviously hadn't been on the plane and somewhere they didn't get much coverage of English news. She looked at the family photo beside her bed.

"We got problems Danny. Big problems!"

(X)

Lexi climbed from her bed at 6am. And showered quickly. By the time she dressed Evan was stood on the veranda waiting for her.

"Good morning." she told him with a wide grin. "How is my handsome boyfriend?"

"Feeling handsome." he joked.

"Sleep well?" she asked.

"Like a baby. I knew I was going to see you so I was happy as a clam!"

They stood.

"You waiting for an invitation?" she murmured.

"Maybe." he replied.

"Well I invite you to come over here and kiss me!" she said softly.

"If you say so!" he told her and lowered his head to hers.

(X)

Ethan was lying in bed. God this was something he'd never get out of. Working as a volunteer fire fighter meant he'd have to be wide awake and ready to go at 4 so if a slight noise woke him he was alert and ready to go. He was surprised he's slept for so long actually. Him sleeping in till 6 was a lie in. he lay in bed and listened to the sounds of leopards den as it came live. The shower trickling and the pipes groaning. No noise from dupe, he was usually up with the first suns rays. Weird. Then he smiled a little. He missed this. Was gonna asked Danny and Alice if he could bring Natalie down with Bonnie and Chase. He wanted them to meet his family. He climbed from the bed and noticed his shirtless body in the mirror. Or shall he say the mottled scar and raised skin on his neck. Frowned at it. Didn't think about how he got it. Brought bad memories along with it. He knew it snaked along his back too. He blanked the scar from his mind. Left the room to shower quickly. When he was dressed decided to go outside on the veranda for a deep breath of African air. He walked out and was about to inhale deeply when he saw Lexi. Stood in a mans arms kissing as if there was no tomorrow. He'd been about to walk away when they pulled away and smiled at each other. Then she looked and noticed him.

His mouth was agape as he realised who she was kissing. Then he composed himself.

"Hello Lexi, Evan." he said calmly.

All Lexi did was stare at him. Wondering if he was actually there or if he was dreaming.

He was far to real. Far to hand…. She cut off her train of thought right there.

"Ethan?" she asked in wonder.

He stood and looked at her. "Yep."

Evan stood staring between them decided to give Lexi the space she so obviously needed. I mean she had just been caught kissing him by her first love she was bound to feel weird. He kissed her cheek and put his arm around her possessively. "I need to go inside for abit ok honey."

She nodded.

Gave Ethan a warning look. Who glared straight back.

Ethan jammed his hands in his pockets.

"Ethan." she said with a smile across her face. Took a step towards him then remembered all their history and stopped.

He saw the second her face changed.

"So how you been?" he asked making conversation.

"Good. Fine." she said stiffly.

He nodded.

"You?" she asked out of politeness. To be honest she couldn't care if he'd been in hell.

He shrugged. "I lived obviously."

They stood both feeling awkward. She was about to bring up the weather when she looked at his eyes. Those once warm chocolate eyes which had once looked at her with such love were now hard and cold. She forgot what she was going to say.

"I didn't…" he started.

"Why did you…" she said at the same time.

"Go on." he said softly.

"Don't matter." she said crossing her arms.

"I know you think I should apologise for leaving but it was for the best at the time!" he told her calmly.

"It was best to leave me. Alone scared and pr…"

"Yes Lexi it was!" he said interrupting. "I know you think it wasn't but is was the best thing I could have done at the time. And your obviously happy with Evan if that kiss was any indication!" he said nastily.

"And what the hell do you mean by that?" she shouted,

"Nothing at all." he said innocently in a snide voice.

"Don't bullshit me Ethan. I always knew when you were lying." she spat.

"Well you just moved on to the lad closet to you didn't you." he said and gestured his arm to around the land.

"YOU have NO right to criticize who I moved on with or when!" I waited till we broke up!" she fumed.

He blanched. "You know?"

"I have my ways!" how could you do that to me?" she shouted.

He put his hands up. "I didn't come to replay the past and argue with you. I'm gonna talk to your dad."

"That will be hard Ethan. He's dead!" she yelled meanly at the back of his head.

"What? No way I spoke to your mum last night. She would have told me!" he said turning to face her again.

She was steaming angry. "And you know what else? It's your fault!" she yelled louder.

He took a step back she had physically hit him. "Why would you say that Lex?" he asked upset. He was breathing heavily. His anger flowed. "It's sick lying about your dad being dead and even worse blaming me for it. I wasn't even here!"

She opened her mouth.

"Don't you dare Lex. Don't dare say anything else!" he warned.

"Why, you copying your dad now? My dad will be turning in his grave!" she spat. Knowing exactly how to hurt him.

"You know what Lex. Why don't you just curl up and die yeah?" he walked off fists clenched tightly.

A/N and ethan is back will he throw a spanner in the works for the blossoming evan and lex relationship?