4 Weeks Later

Lexi was ill in bed. Common cold. She was off work. Felt like death warmed up. God she hated being ill. Reminded her of the worst time of her life. She lay in bed sneezing her head off. Sore throat. Head pounding. Her dad fussed over her. She still called him Peter but he had said if she wanted she could call him dad. She really did want to. But he hadn't said HE wanted her to. He said if she wanted. Meaning he was still abit funny with the whole extra 4 kids thing. Amie called him dad. Daniel didn't talk to him but he sat in the same room which was progress. Her mum was besotted but tried to hide it. Lexi was used to it which was abit weird coz he'd been 'dead' for 5 years. The other Amy had went back to Bristol a week ago. They had found an aunt and uncle who couldn't have kids. They had said they wanted her. Her dad had took her to Bristol her mum had been a nervous wreck the whole time he was away. He phoned Amy often. She was sad but settling. It was obvious her dad missed her but immersed himself in caring for her Daniel Amie and Ethan. His memories were non existent. He looked through pictures. He asked why hw wasn't in any of her baby pictures. Her mum told him about their separation. She'd left the room. Knew her dad wouldn't want her to see him upset. She had heard him pacing. Her poor dad. Her poor mum having to relive it all the time. Her mum too was miserable. She had seen her mothers face as Shauna had left. Alice had stopped her. Hugged her. Then handed her something. Her mum had walked away wiping away tears. Shauna looked down at her hand and saw the friends forever necklace. It was a 3 way pendant. Missy had one. Shauna had one and her mum had one. Her mum had gave hers back to Shauna. Shauna bit her lip and left it on the table by the phone. Refusing to take it. Then she had left the house quickly. Her mum had burst into tears as she saw it lying on the phone by the table. She had picked it up and took it to her room.

Lexi coughed. Oh god she just wanted to sleep. But whenever she did she awoke having a coughing fit. She thought of Ethan. They were happy together. He still hadn't said the L word though. Now she wasn't gonna say it in case he didn't fell the same and she embarrassed herself. Sure he said he cared. He said it a lot. But love and care were 2 different things. Her period had came last month. And they were being careful now. Hadn't slipped once. They had been drunk a few times but she was sure they had used something well 70 percent sure at best! He seemed happy to use protection. Thought of it most of the time. Thankfully, it was ironic she was the one who wanted to wait and he was the one who did the preventing. Anyway she and Ethan spent time together. Went out. Was how she got ill. They had spent a day outside. He had hired a little boat. Can you see where this is going? Had a nice float on a little lake. She had stood up when they arrived back at shore the boat wobbled and she promptly fell in! Ethan had laughed so hard as he fished her out till he heard her teeth chattering. Saw her covered in Goosebumps. Visibly shaking. He took her home straight away. Gave her his jumper as she took stripped of her wet clothes in the bathroom on the lake. She wrung out her jeans the best she could but still had to wear them wet. She wrung out her hair too but to no avail. She heard a soft knock.

"C'min." she said hoarse.

"I bought you a lemsip. Might help with your congestion." Danny said smiling.

"Thanks." she breathed and sipped. "You made it with lemonade. How'd you know I only like it that way?" Lexi asked.

"it's how I have it. I remember when you were 17 or so sitting in the living room me and you wrapped up in quilts. Sipping one. There were 2 straws in the cup. We sneezed alternatively if I remembered."

Lexi giggled and coughed. "I remember. Mum complained coz we complained."

Lexi put her cup down and rested her head back on the pillow.

"Have we ever had a falling out Lex. It's just you said we were close but I keep getting a flicker of a mans face and feeling dread. like a feeling where you don't love me anymore."

She blinked tiredly. "We were…are close. You're the best dad ever. I mean it too. We had our moments. Like when Josh came. See I was 15 and I found out you weren't my dad coz of what happened to mum."

"I'm not your dad?" he gasped. Face pained.

"Listen." she stressed. "We went through a rough patch. We made up by the time we found out that the original DNA tests you and mum had done were wrong. You are my father." she yawned. "I'm so happy your home dad. I missed you." her eyes closed.

"I'm happy I have you too." he whispered. Then left her. She needed her sleep. He hated seeing her ill. Always made him feel helpless.

(X)

Alice watched Danny leave their daughters room. Went to walk into his own.

"How is she?" Alice asked walking towards him.

"Ill." he paused. "And I hate it!" he muttered.

Alice smiled. "That's normal for you. You were always so protective of her."

"I want my life back! This is so frustrating!" he said angrily.

She was beside him in a second. "Hey." she whispered putting her hand on his cheek.

They both froze and held their breath. Looked at each other. They hadn't discussed it but both had came to an unspoken mutual agreement that nothing physical would happen hence the separate bedrooms. But with the house so quiet with only a sleeping child in it. And the look they were both wearing made it hard to remember his name let alone unspoken agreements.

He pulled her into the circle of his arms. "Tell me no and I'll back off." he whispered.

"I never could tell you no." she admitted.

He smiled a small smile. "You sure?"

They both knew this was gonna happen.

"You always did talk too much. Pulled his head down to hers for a blistering kiss. He responded immediately. Familiar but new feelings flooded him. Along with a sense of rightness that encompassed him. He slowed her fevered kisses. Wanted to take this slow and easy. He kissed her slow and deep and felt her melt. Wanted to seduce her till she couldn't think! He reached a hand behind him.

"No." she said. "Our room." pulled him towards it.

Alice hadn't realised she had referred to it as their room. Mostly she referred to it as hers alone.

They closed the door behind them.

(X)

Danny lay holding his wife as she slept. He rubbed her arm absently their union had been beyond words to be truthful. It was new but at the same time a familiar favourite memory. She snuggled closer to him and he smiled . Hugged her tighter. Danny she murmured. He looked down at her face. He'd call her beautiful but the word beautiful paled in contrast to her. He trailed a finger down her cheek and jaw he thought he loved her but everyday this feeling grew. Like when he walked in the surgery and heard her having a full on conversation with a baby leopard cub about milk. He smiled . He even caught her singing along to Tom Jones what's new pussycat badly. It had been so funny. She had walked over to the lion and sang. What's new pussycat whoa… The lion had snarled and she sang whoa again. She'd laughed then sang the bit in the verse which went

Pussycat, Pussycat You're so thrilling And I'm so willing To care for you.

Then she had laughed like it was hilarious. One of the things he loved the most was she didn't take herself too seriously. She could have fun at her own expense. A lot of the woman he'd been out with had been one hair out of place and they went into meltdown. He wondered if she felt the same about him. A month ago she had told him she was falling for him but he had fell completely in love with her now. Past tense. He was IN love now. Hypnotised by her sorceress smile. He looked at the clock.

"Alice honey." he whispered. Kissed her shoulder.

"Leave me. Sleep in your arms." she snuggled even closer. If that was possible. Too content to move.

He smiled. "Kids need collected from school."

She turned and opened her eyes. Smiled up at him. She was so sexy! She stretched like a cat. He couldn't hold it anymore.

"I love you!" he blurted.

She froze. Arms above her head. She stared at him. "What?" her smile had disappeared. Her arms slowly moved to sides and she sat up.

He sat up too. Grabbed her hands. "I love you." he repeated. "I'm not just saying that coz of what we experienced or because I think it's what you want to hear. I just do. It fills me. When you came here I was incomplete. Had no idea I was searching until I found you. I didn't just feel incomplete coz I couldn't remember my previous life. It went deeper. Like part of my soul was gone. Like my heart was missing. And then I came here and was drawn to you. I have been searching for you the last 5 years Alice. I wanna be a husband again. Your husband. Get remarried."

"Danny I love you too." he smiled. "But we can't get remarried or be together." she rose from the bed pulled her clothes on.

"Why?" he asked confused.

"How do you know that was your feeling is real? That it isn't infatuation or a forgotten memory of the love we shared before. I won't be able to stand it if a year down the line you decided that it's not real!"

"It is real!" he assured.

"How do you know? You don't even know yourself!"

That remark stung. "Why can't you believe that what I feel is real? Tell me please!"

"Coz I've got the feeling the penny is about to drop. Danny as far as I knew you died. I mourned. Grieved. Wanted to die with you. A part of me did die with you. Now your back and telling me you love me. Can't you understand. Everything I have ever wanted is happening and I just know there's gonna be heartache sooner or later coz I know along with the good comes a hell of a lot of bad!"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You want examples? Ok, we found out I was pregnant with Daniel. A baby who was never supposed to be and what happens. Lexi got cancer! We had this amazing weekend together when we were young, we have our first time too and what happens I go home and my dad beats me up and I get attacked. Even the day I met you and fell for you. Sarah started on me. And the last time we were together. We had problems when you left. Were arguing. Which we never used to do. You rang me on the plane. I started with my awkwardness again. Nearly put the phone down on you without saying sorry or that I love you. We made up on the phone. Couldn't wait to get home and kiss and make up properly. It never happened. I didn't even kiss you goodbye Danny. You will never know how much that killed me. The absence of one kiss. We had shared countless kissed. Hundreds over the years. But the only thing I could think of was the one I didn't give you. I'm sorry I didn't kiss you goodbye!" she said clearly upset.

Tears crested and he stood up and enveloped her in his arms.

"Alice honey I'm here." he soothed.

She pulled from his arms. "But your not! Not MY Danny but I love you anyway and I feel like I'm betraying my husband."

"But I am….."

"Trust me your not. Sure there are little nuances I recognise as you. But there are little quirks that are new too. Like when your lost in thought you tap your chin now. And you comb your hair now whereas before you just used to run your hands through it and call it controlled messiness. And the second before you smile you get a devilish glint in your eyes. Which I completely love by the way but…." she tried to calm down. "The list goes on and on Danny." she told him.

"So explain this to me. What are you trying to say?" he asked perplexed.

"You have proved my point. MY Danny would have known what I was trying to say." she said calmly. "We're strangers who share kids. We don't know each other and rushing into a relationship because of the kids would be wrong. I love you Danny but it's for the best."

God that was eerie! she thought. How many times had he said that to her in the best. They had swapped roles. She left him in their room alone as she went to collect their kids.

A/N awww i actaully feel sorry 4 alice coz she is so mixed up. she loves danny even tho he's not danny an shes scared in case he goes again and danny doesn't understand her problem. but there is love there so hopefully they can work this out x