Rosie's POV
"Nearly there." Max smiled as he drove our rather old, but rather reliable old stead into the drive of Leopards Den. Now I know what you're thinking - nearly there? Yes nearly there, although you may argue we are here, this drive goes on for ever… its part of the joy of living out in the bush!
"God, imagine them never driving down here again. It must be so hard for em." I sighed.
"Yeh…" Max agreed concentrating on the road ahead.
"You know Max, we haven't seen Dad or Alice since they got together." I exclaimed, only just realising that rather bizarre fact.
"That's true! Then again you have all been busy!" Max tried his best to comfort me in his own little way. It worked actually, in some little way!
"Now we're here." Max laughed as the house came into the view.
"Home sweet home." I smiled as Max pulled up outside Leopards Den.
Alice's POV
"Mum! They are here!" Charlotte whispered.
"Right everyone know what's we're doing? Yes?" Danny asked.
Everyone nodded jubilantly as Danny and I casually wandered outside, as though we were just on our way to the hospital. Sad faces on, I held Danny's hand and pretended to be comforting him. Our heads were low and close together, god the temptation to laugh was beyond belief.
"Look Danny it'll be fine." I said, a little louder now we were outside.
"I know, I know. Thanks Alice." He smiled before kissing me quickly.
"I know Alice always has chewing gum that tastes fantastic dad but do you really need to steal it? I'm sure she'd give you some." he joked, as they both pulled away.
"Rosie!" Danny exclaimed as he rushed down the stairs to greet her, I followed happily.
"Hey Alice." Max smiled as he embraced me in a hug.
"Hiya Max, how are you?"
"I'm pretty good thanks." He smiled, before moving onto a man hug with Danny (or a soppy hug, cept they are men so it's a man hug apparently!)
"Alice!" Rosie shrieked as she hugged me, maybe a little too over enthusiastically. I laughed before retuning the hug.
"Hey Rosie." I laughed.
"So, is dad an old romantic or is he a boring old fart?" Rosie asked, god she was like a five year old kid!
"Oh, you know, he's pretty standard really…" I teased as Danny went to protest I reached up and patted his head. "Don't fret dearest I'm only joking." I laughed, Rosie laughed too, that's when she obviously noticed it.
"Dad, no offence, but why on earth have you got make up on your neck?"
I burst out laughing as did Max, although I think Max was more at the fact Danny had make up on his neck.
"Well err… erm…." Danny looked away rubbing the spot.
"Alice!" Rosie exclaimed. "Well well I never!"
"Oh I know, I was just as shocked as your were when I found out about Vera!"
"Vera?" Rosie asked utterly confused.
"Yes your dads bit on the side." I teased.
"So you've named my medallion's now?" Danny asked me.
"Of course!" I retorted.
"Right I'm not gonna ask! Where is everyone?" Rosie asked.
"Inside, erm, everyone's still a bit you know emotional."
"Oh okay, I guess it's challenging times." Max sighed.
"Yep." Danny replied.
We were about to go in when a car pulled up, a taxi. I smiled, it had to be Evan!
Evan's POV
Home. This is where I belong. Leopards Den. I smiled as I inhaled the familiar and safe scents. I noticed Danny and Alice stood outside with Rosie and Max! Wow talk about family reunion!
"Evan!" I heard my name called by Danny and Alice in unison as I climbed out the taxi, and grabbed my suitcase.
"The one and only!" I smiled as Danny brought me into a close hug, when he pulled away I was immediately in a hug with Alice.
"It's good to have you back." She whispered. "Danny needs you."
"Don't worry." I mumbled equally quiet. God, it must be really affecting Danny. I need him too though, I really miss him. He's better than my biological father, Danny's my dad.
I was then pulled into a hug with Rosie and Max. I smiled… a family together.
"Come on let's get inside." Danny grinned happily, slinging his arm over Alice's shoulder. Her arm snaked around his waist, as we all made our way up.
"Everyone! Kitchen!" Alice called as we walked through.
Charlotte plodded in. She grinned and ran to me and hugged me before giving Rosie and Max a hug too.
"It's great to see you!" She exclaimed.
Everyone else then filed in, Gran, Liv, Nomsa, Rowan was here with Vanessa for some reason, Fatani was here with some random woman and her kid, Dupe…. Everyone was here!
After all the welcoming, we all sat down except for Danny and Alice.
"So um… how is everyone, you know coping?" Rosie asked innocently, although I understood her reference.
"It's hard, getting it all sorted but we'll sort it." Gran grinned looking at Alice's left hand. I quickly took a glance. Wow that ring was quite something, it was beautiful. Danny had chosen that? I found it hard to believe but he must have!
"So, where will you go?" Max asked.
Danny and Alice seemed to be up to something, they both looked at each other, and I swear they bit back a laugh.
"England."
"What! You're part of South Africa! It's part of you!" I exclaimed. No way.
"Yeh, we know." Alice replied, what how could she be so easy about this?
"You want to live in England?"
"No, just honeymoon." Danny grinned, "The weddings back on. 2 weeks! See…"
"Danny saved Leopards Den last night." Alice finished for him, before shooting us all one of those grins that just made everyone else smile. It was infectious! The buggars I knew they were all up to something.
"Oh my! That's amazing." Rosie exclaimed, hugging Alice.
"So party tonight?" Danny asked, as Alice allowed Rosie to look at her engagement ring.
"YEH!" Cheered everyone, as conversation began to flow at the table just how it had all those years ago… we were all back together, even with some new faces.
Danny's POV
I stood happily watching my family like a proud lion watching his kingdom. Everything felt perfect. I looked down to Alice, who had wrapped both her arms around me as my hand held her shoulder, and my arms was gently placed on her back. I squeezed her gently, before kissing her gently on the crown of her head.
"Perfect eh?" Alice whispered.
"Yep." I smiled, as she tightened her grip on me.
"I love you." She said looking up at me.
"I love you too." I replied, before kissing her gently on the lips, I began to deepen the kiss forgetting the family but they hadn't forgot us…
"Room!" They all shouted.
"Use it." Dupe added.
"Dupe!" We both exclaimed.
"To get changed, we have to look smart don't we Fatani?" He added innocently.
"Of course, let's go get changed!" Caroline shouted as Fatani nodded.
That's one thing I love about this family - it's absolutely mad!
A/N - Aww another filler! But we needed Rosie and Max and Evan to arrive, the next one will be the night before the wedding ;)
xx
