Alice returned she took her place back beside Danny, he glanced at her quickly and smiled, she nodded at him and turned to face Rowan.
"She's coming." Alice stated, she rubbed the ball of her hands on the table and shook her head. "But you have one hell of a job if you want to make up with her."
"I know." Rowan said softly. "I didn't mean to..."
"Go see Peter Beale." Danny told him, Alice turned to him with a questioning look upon his face. Rowan too did a double take. "Buy Mara back."
"If Vanessa doesn't agree..." Rowan let his voice trail off.
"Then you sell it again." Alice prompted. "Anyway..." Alice's sentence came to an abrupt halt as she heard the voices outside.
(x)
"Zoe you didn't have to do that." Matt told her softly as she helped him out the Jeep.
"Yes I did, no one is treating you like that. Besides, I'm sick of him, I'd rather work a nine til five job than work under that man." Zoe spat as they began to climb the stairs of Leopards Den.
"Zoe we both know that's not right." Matt replied, he winced as pain engulfed him with each step.
"Yeh! And it's not right him getting two security guards to throw you against an operating table. God, Matt look at the state of you!" Zoe was fussing over him, as they made their way into kitchen, Zoe did a double take as she was Rowan, he smiled awkwardly. "Sit." She directed at Matt, who grumbling, complied.
"What the hell?" Alice asked looking at Matt's injuries and Zoe's angered face.
"Beale's idea of fun!" Zoe spat as she threw the first aid kit on the table. "Matt came to see me, and Beale got security guards on him cos he didn't have some stupid access card! They threw him down, made sure he smacked his head off the operating table and then kicked him!"
"So Zoe did a number on one's nose and I think she's crushed one's crown jewels... she then decided to quit her job." Matt said with a sigh.
"Matt, I am not working there." Zoe told him, a final tone to her voice. "I'd rather..."
"Zoe there is no way you could do any other job!" Matt argued, she purposely dabbed at his head harder with the antiseptic. "You did that on purpose!"
"You won't shut up!" Zoe replied.
"Who did Vanessa sell to?" Rowan asked. "You know what, I'm going over there."
Rowan left as Zoe, Danny and Alice looked on. Matt was too busy keeping his head still whilst Zoe attached the bandage.
"Right you're sorted Mr Dillon!" Zoe smiled. "Now away and play with your friends." She teased as she kissed him gently. "Off you go."
"What if I'm concussed." Matt teased standing up.
"Tough, off! You too Danny, shoo!" Zoe flicked her hand in the direction of the animal hospital.
Danny grumbled and kissed Alice on the lips deeply. She murmured on his lips with content. Both were grinning at one another lovingly, before Danny walked off. Zoe and Alice sat down.
"Go on then." Alice spoke with a soft tone as Zoe looked at the table.
"What?" Zoe questioned.
"There's something up with you." Alice expanded.
Zoe took a deep breath before exhaling heavily. She shook her head.
"I dunno anymore Alice. I mean, work, it's always been there for me. But now it's kinda changed. Alice, I have a family and now they are my rock. When I quit I wondered why didn't I just quit ages ago, I didn't feel any remorse. Seeing them do that to Matt shook me to. For a moment, I imagined my life without him... it hurt Alice." Zoe's paused. "It was physical torture just for my mind to conjure something like that."
Alice sighed and took Zoe's hands.
"Zoe you are a mother now, I've seen you change. You're not as reckless as you were, you think about what you're doing. I'm not saying you've changed for the worse or you've lost your character, but you have limits now, you think about what you're doing now rather than just doing it. And then you have Matt, you're stronger than ever now. A true team. Zoe you are not on your own now." Alice left it at that, she knew that Zoe would pick up on her meaning.
"Thanks Alice." Zoe smiled. "So, Mrs Trevanion, any gossip for me?"
"Erm... not really no." Alice replied, a smile on her face.
"Come on!" Zoe laughed.
"It's just Danny." Alice sighed as she said his name. "He's being all sweet and romantic at the minute."
"Aww you two are so cute, so come on what's he doing?" Zoe pestered.
"I dunno, well I do. But it's like, he's all playful and happy. I feel like I'm going to fall over when he so much as smiles at me... and no I am not pregnant before you even start!" Alice laughed.
"You're sure?" Zoe asked, "Cos urgh, I do have a test if you want it."
"It would be a miracle Miss Point!" Alice laughed, "I am on the pill!"
"But it's not one hundred percent." Zoe was teasing her now, enjoying working Alice up.
"Condom as well, double protection so up yours!" Alice declared. "Anyway, my days of babies are over!"
"You're not that old Alice!" Zoe teased.
"Not that!" Alice tutted, "No, me and Danny decided, we've got enough. You and Matt however..."
"Matt wants another, me? I do but not yet, I was banging on about work. But I want to marry him first." Zoe admitted.
"Hmm, you should get cracking... and not the whips." Alice winked.
"Oh! You're a cheeky git." Zoe told her with a smile. She sighed, "It's nice sometimes to have a girly chat."
"Yeh it is." Alice replied.
The radio buzzed.
"Alice, I'm going suppliers, I'll pick Lyndon and Sam up then I'll be back. Matt's off on a visit, he's fine Zoe!"
"Ok, love you and keep safe!" Alice told him.
"I will, love you too, and you keep safe as well. Alice the air seems a bit heavy."
"Storm?" Alice questioned.
"Yeh, I've shut the shutters on the animal hospital. Dupe's banging on about it as well!" Danny laughed, "But I'm not giving him 100 rand."
Alice laughed as she placed the radio down.
(2 hours later)
Rowan had returned, he hadn't had enough money for Mara, and now he was in the animal hospital having a private conversation with Vanessa. The twins who had been happily playing with Alice who was doting on them were now sleeping in the front room, where Caroline and Dupe were sat. Thabo, Liv, Zoe and Alice were all sat at the kitchen table. The winds were beginning to rise.
"I want Danny to hurry up." Alice admitted quietly.
"He'll be home before you know it." Liv told her, Zoe agreed.
"Yeh, then you can get on with being all sweet and playful and romantic." Zoe teased, her blue eyes lit up.
"Shut up!" Alice laughed. "You're just jealous!"
"Jealous?" Zoe exclaimed. "Hah! That is actually hilarious Alice! Matt is..."
"Zoe... shut up." Liv laughed. Thabo shook his head and rested his arm on her chair.
The whole table was in rich conversation when Peter burst through the door. They all glared at him coldly.
"Zoe, I know things aren't good but I don't have anyone to turn to! I need your help! Please! There's a giraffe he's in a bad way in the bush... please..." Pete looked at her.
"You have David." Zoe told him coldly, she didn't know about David's abdication.
"I don't he quit too! Zoe please!" Peter begged her.
Zoe sighed, she couldn't leave an animal in danger. Alice stood up too, although the storm shoved the fear of God up her, she knew Zoe couldn't do this alone, and there was no way Thabo or Liv were going.
"Alice..." Liv began.
"I have too... tell Danny." Alice stopped a moment. "I love him." She then walked out.
Zoe looked after her, in shock, Alice was never like that. She felt guilty. She looked to Liv, both shared a worried look.
"She'll be ok." Zoe promised as she climbed in the Jeep and drove away. The rain began to fall, beating heavily on the ground.