Harry (Dupe's friend) POV

"Are you sure about this DuPlessis, you know this is a big gamble and we all know that I'm excellent at Poker." Vern asked. Every muscle hoped that Dupe said no, he couldn't risk Leopards Den!

"Dupe, really just give it up." I intervened, "Think about this!" I pleaded with him, it's not as if him loosing Leopards Den would affect him alone, it would affect all the family. Danny and Alice, they loved it there, it was their home, they were getting married there shortly! Caroline, his wife, it was her home, and hell hath no fury for a woman scorned, especially Caroline! The kids, it was their home, and of course Nomsa, she lived there too. Dupe was risking more than just Leopards Den if he agreed to this crazy game… he was risking his family.

"Of course I'm bloody sure, you'll be sorry Vern!" He spat, I shook my head, maybe I should ring Danny… I watched as the cards were dealt, this was madness. If Dupe won he gained land surrounding Leopards Den, if he lost… the consequences aren't worth thinking about. I shook my head, I had to tell Danny.

Alice's POV

The old phone in the study began to ring. I frowned at Danny, we were both in our room, not in bed, we were just talking, alone. He stood up with a shrug before walking off to answer the phone.

I sat alone, thinking about the wedding arrangements. Danny and I had just been discussing them just before the phone rang. It was going to be perfect, we were both so excited! Suddenly I paused, my thoughts brought to an abpurt halt. Who the hell would ring us at this time? And who would use that phone? An animal emergency would use the other number? The questions spiralled around in my head like an exam question which I could not answer. I was just about to change into my night clothes when Danny burst into the room.

"Come on Alice, quick!" Danny shouted, I immediately stood up, throwing on the nearest shoes which happened to be a pair of old converse which I had no recollection of buying. I didn't know why or where, but I trusted Danny.

"What is it?" I asked as we ran to the Jeep, Danny started the engine and sped off quicker than the fastest cheetah, sand spraying up in every direction like a wave of fine crystals.

"Dupe's playing poker!" Danny simply said, he was driving so fast… it was terrifying!

"What's wrong with… wait, what's the gamble?" I asked as we arrived at Dupe's party place.

"Leopards Den." Danny spat, I gasped. Leopards Den? What the hell was Dupe thinking? Oh, he best be winning! If he loses Leopards Den… I'll…Wait, what the hell will we do?

Danny picked up on my silence as we jumped out the Jeep.

"Come on, let's hope we still have a home!" We ran in too see Dupe's head planted down on the table, and a victorious Vern smiling smugly, a small group of men cheering like a mob of youths down town, others, Dupe's friends were silent, Harry looked at us symphetically as we stood at the door.

"Ahh Danny and Alice I believe." The tall, slimly guy Vern walked over us. I looked to Danny who stood slightly in front of me.

"Yeh, that's right…" Danny growled. "Listen, can I apologize…"

Vern cut him off, "Don't apologize to me, you'll be accepting his. I won Leopards Den fair and square, you have a week to get the hell out or pay me out. " He walked away leaving Danny stunned, speechless, I could sense his anger was about to overflow.

"What! You can't just chuck us out! You can forget it!" Is spat but Harry showed me a signed document.

I shook my head, Dupe looked up at us, Danny strode over, his steps powerful, his manner petrified me, he grabbed Dupe by the scruff of the neck and dragged him outside, but Dupe was so drunk, even he couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened

"You!" Danny shouted, but he quietened down. He just stopped. Silent. He looked at me, I couldn't even give him a comforting smile. There was no way we could afford to pay him out… only if… only if we cancelled the wedding, but even then it's unlikely we'd have enough and… the bigger problem, we'd paid for everything in advance. This was a disaster.

"Come on, let's go home." I whispered, I didn't know what to do, what to say. Danny nodded as he flung Dupe's into the back. He took my hand and squeezed it as I sat in the front, staring straight ahead. I was shocked to say the least. How could Dupe betray us like this?

"It'll be okay Alice." Danny murmered.

"Will it?" I asked rhetorically but Danny answered.

"Yes, we'll overcome this, together, no matter where we are." Danny replied, I smiled, he always knew what to say, even in this sort of situation.

The arrival back at Leopards Den was one that was silent. No one else knew about this. Oh god, how did we break it to the kids, to the rest? Wait, what's gonna happen to us? Dupe would probably chicken out of telling everyone, Danny and I would have to do it of course… we always did. Clearing up his mess! I'm sick of it!

It seems Danny had taken on his calm, deadly silent state… his anger hidden behind his quiet spoken mind.

"Get to bed Dupe, tomorrow we dicuss this." He snarled, Dupe nodded, he had no idea what was going on, as we walked into our room.

I changed quickly and looked across at Danny, he was also changed into just his shorts, it was boiling tonight. Slowly he climbed into bed, as I brushed my hair, when I had finally finished, I crawled into bed beside him.

"Come here." He whispered as he opened his arm for me, I melted into his chest as I wrapped my arms around him, as tight as a vice.

"Danny… what are we going to do?" I asked, resting my head onto his chest, he was massaging my back and shoulders gently with his hands.

"I don't know." He replied gently, I felt myself take a deep breath as all sorts of thoughts consumed my mind, plauqing it with anger and confusion. Danny must have sensed it, he always did, as his grip tightened on me. "Hey we'll pull through this."

"But Danny, Leopards Den is our home. How can we get it back? Its on paper!" I cried, Danny's hand pulled me closer to him, as he stroked my hair, his strong arms providing me protection.

"I don't know but we will…" Danny trailed off, I knew what he was thinking.

"The wedding." I sighed, "We'll have too…" I stopped.

"That's the last resort!" Danny exclaimed. "Why did he do this to us?" Danny cried, I tightened my grip on him.

"It'll be okay Danny, cos we have each other, we'll get through this." I mumbled.

"Let's get some sleep eh? I love you Alice." Danny whispered.

"I love you too." I replied, pushing a smile to my lips, I felt Danny's lips against my own as we both nestled into each other, his arms holding me, as my arms held me to him - we had to get through this, but how do we do it? I sighed, tomorrow's gonna hold, a lot of heartbreak.