Danny shook the funeral directors hand before seeing him out. Vanessa stalked behind him angrily, the minute the funeral director pulled away, Vanessa finally exploded.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Vanessa screamed hysterically, Danny laughed and walked away to tell Dupe to get everyone out of Leopards Den. "Don't you dare walk away from me!"

"Or else what?" Danny asked.

"I..." Vanessa paused. "This doesn't change a thing!"

"2 weeks ago you and Rowan were not even talking." Danny reminded her.

"Shut up!" She shrieked. Danny smiled, he'd cracked it.

"So that's why you're being like this. What's up didn't make up with him before he died? Never told him how much you loved him. Too embarrassed to say in front of the family cos you're afraid of how they'll treat you?"

"You know nothing!" Vanessa replied shakily.

"So that is the reason." Danny sighed. "Do you think this is what he'd have wanted?"

"I know best." Vanessa growled.

"Whatever... but Vanessa... Alice is going to that funeral, like it or not." Danny then turned round and walked away, leaving Vanessa speechless. Danny had uncovered her reasons.

(x)

Alice was bored, she'd actually done everything possible to save herself from boredom. She had straightened her hair, then curled it, then straightened it again, then finally plaited it over her right shoulder. She had painted her nails. She had read a book. She wished Danny would hurry up!

She sighed and stood up, walking over to the window. She looked out and frowned as she saw Danny walking away from Vanessa. He seemed... she thought a moment. Kind of angry? Upset? Up to something. Right she'd had enough! She decided she was going to change out of her joggers and vest top and into some work clothes! She'd waited long enough and she wanted to know what Vanessa was up to now!

(x)

"Home sweet home!" Zoe beamed as Matt drew up at their house. "A quick pit stop before we go Leopards Den?"

"Yep... but make it an hour or so." Matt commented as he turned the engine off.

"What why?" Zoe frowned in confusion.

"Danny's treating Alice or something..." Matt shrugged as he walked out the Jeep, helping Zoe out.

"Ahh good. She deserves it." Zoe smiled. "Did she rest?"

"She did." Matt promised her as he carried her into the house.

"You know, I could kinda get used to this." Zoe winked at him, her arms around his neck.

"Well don't get ideas!" Matt countered, both laughed as he set her down on the sofa. He kissed her softly on the lips. She smiled up at him. He grinned before walking off. She sat on the sofa thinking to herself. Everything seemed so clear now. She didn't need a stupid job, all she needed was her family... Sam, Matt, Alice. She needed all the family!

She turned her head as she heard a Jeep approaching. There was a rumble of laughter before the door opened. Sam grinned and ran straight up to Zoe. She laughed and took him into her arms, the grin on her face never fading away. Sometime after, Lyndon walked in. Calm, cool, chilled. He walked over confidently and gave Zoe a hug before he and Sam walked off together. Zoe shook her head laughing.

Zoe watched them as they began to make some master plan. No doubt to cause havoc! She sighed, what were they going to be like at twelve? She sighed, how about in their late twenties? God, if they were anything like her and Alice were she felt for the world! Thankfully they were the same age, unlike Zoe and Alice who despite their ten year age gap still acted like they were five!

There was a timid knock that brought Zoe back to the real world. She turned her head and saw Charlotte standing there. She shuffled on her feet nervously.

"Hey." Zoe said softly.

"Hey." Charlotte replied walking forward, Zoe gestured to the seat beside her.

"So, how are you?" Zoe asked Charlotte. "And remember, honest with me young lady!"

Charlotte laughed slightly before sighing. She twiddled with her thumbs, looking down at her hands.

"I dunno." Charlotte finally murmured.

"You upset about your Uncle Rowan?" Zoe asked. She noticed Matt walking in, Zoe gave him a look and he nodded, gently ushering Sam and Lyndon back to Dupe's Jeep. They were off to Fatani's to play with Cashile and Junior.

"There's just a lot happened." Charlotte muttered, she turned to Zoe. "I kinda think a month ago everything was fine."

"Charlotte... in life, shit happens and you know what, yeh a month ago everything was fine but we're never gonna get that month back." Zoe sighed. "I'd love to go back in time, change things but I can't and we just have to live through what this cruel life throws at us. We have to help one another through, that's what family is for. I just wish I hadn't taken so long to realise it." Zoe ended her sentence with a sigh, she rested on the arm of the sofa.

"Well I'm sick of it." Charlotte exploded. "Why does crap always happen?"

"Because that is life." Zoe sighed.

"And who can I speak to? Everyone gets upset!" Charlotte burst. She was frowning. "And then family do nothing but lecture."

"Hey." Zoe stopped her there. "What the hell is wrong with you Charlotte?" Zoe's patience was wearing thin. "Everyone in this family loves you and is there for you! Don't give me that crap!"

"What so you wanna talk about how it felt knowing I could lose you! And Uncle Rowan as well?" Charlotte asked bitterly.

"If it makes you feel better yes!" Zoe replied. "But why not your mum? Your dad, Liv? Charlotte... how long have you been keeping this in?"

"Since it happened." Charlotte sighed.

"Speak to me." Zoe said softly. Charlotte looked at her unsure. Zoe sighed, Charlotte was a teenager now. "Charlotte. Don't bottle things in ok. Don't push your family away. Show your mum everyday you love her, show your dad how much he means to you. Remind him that anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad ok? You're a teenager, we're the adults. Speak to us, we can deal with it and we have people behind us just as we're behind you. Don't make my mistakes, your mum's mistakes..."

"What do you mean?" Charlotte asked.

"I pushed my family away Charlotte. I ran away. Slightest bit a trouble and I ran away. I wasn't as lucky as you, my childhood wasn't like yours, it was horrid." Zoe paused a moment. "I kept everything inside me, big strong woman. Pfft, yeh right. Got myself into stupid situations, then threw myself into work. Pushing my family away, I had no one. My brothers were all out there working hard, I was too proud to admit I needed them... Don't be like me Charlotte. Open up." Zoe sighed stopping before she upset herself too much.

"I just..." Charlotte groaned.

"Take your time." Zoe said quietly.

"When the storm came and you and mum were out there, I had my own flashbacks. But more than anything I was scared. Scared that you and mum were gonna get hurt, maybe not even come back. Then you got back, then the animal hospital collapsed on you! I didn't know what to do but sit in my room on my own. Everyone was going crazy and stuff..." Charlotte stopped, controlling her emotions.

"Let it out Charlie." Zoe told her softly leaning over to grab her a tissue.

"I thought you were dead." Charlotte exclaimed at a hoarse whisper before throwing her face into her hands. Zoe moved with discomfort to hug Charlotte. Charlotte clutched Zoe tightly.

"Then mum and dad... and... then Uncle Rowan then there was all this stuff with you!" Charlotte spluttered. "I... I kept dreaming that mum died too!"

"And that's why you couldn't tell her hmm?" Zoe asked her, her arm wrapped around her.

Charlotte nodded.

"Then there was this voice telling me things come in three. Then I'd wake up." Charlotte spurted.

"I know how it feels Charlie... but hey, I'm here and I'm not leaving, the man upstairs can't handle me! He's not built enough defence yet!" Zoe grinned cockily, Charlotte sniggered. "And your mum will never leave you Charlotte, cos she's always in here." Zoe touched the place on Charlotte's chest where her heart was. "Although, your mum is going through a hard time... so I want you to do something for her."

"Anything." Charlotte answered.

"Look after her." Zoe simply said.

"Thanks for this Zoe, can we keep it between ourselves?" Charlotte asked nervously.

"Keep what?" Zoe grinned. Charlotte hugged her step-aunt once more. Zoe held her tightly, rocking her slightly. She jumped as Charlotte's hand touched one of her cuts.

"Sorry." Charlotte mumbled.

"You will be." Zoe mumbled back, she pulled away, "Now, go get me a drink!"

"Where's the please?" Charlotte asked teasingly.

"In my vocabulary." Zoe winked. Charlotte laughed before walking off.

A/N – ok, i didn't even plan a heart to heart between zoe and charlotte, it just kinda came out lol!