Danny and Alice groaned slightly as they heard the door open. They'd been enjoying the time alone, but alas, as always it had come to an end. Alice who had been led between Danny's legs, his arms tightly around her just below his chest, her back to his chest, sat up and stretched. Danny too moved to sit up, also stretching with a yawn.

"Falling asleep." Alice said, there was a hint of sleepiness to her voice as she rubbed her eyes.

"Was enjoying that." Danny murmured, he opened his arm for her and she fell into his chest. Both had ended up in a lazy mood.

Both looked up as the door opened wide. Zoe was stood on the other side of the door, leaning on her crutches.

"Dadaaa!" Zoe beamed, just about managing to gesture her arrival. Alice stared at her in shock for a moment as did Danny before both stood up and rushed to her. Alice immediately had her in a tight hug. Zoe laughed and hugged Alice back.

"What are you doing here?" Alice asked pulling away as Danny leant down and gave Zoe a quick hug.

"Well, I kinda got out." Zoe beamed, "Out-patient for the win."

"It's great to have you back." Alice smiled softly. "Where's Matt?"

"Doing your work." Zoe smiled. Danny laughed and announced he was gonna go lend him a hand. He kissed Alice before walking off. Both grinned stupidly at one another, their eyes bright, which of course brought a huge smirk to Zoe's face. "Oh you are too cute!"

"Shut up." Alice laughed punching her lightly in the arm.

"Hey, you experienced my slap now." Zoe winked, "And I have crutches." Zoe waved one for a effect.

"You're gonna be expert on them." Alice laughed.

"Oh yeh!" Zoe beamed, she and Alice began to walk to the kitchen, when Alice saw Charlotte.

"Charlie? I thought..."

"I gotta go pee." Zoe said quickly, she gave Charlie a quick smile before ambling off remarkably fast for someone on crutches to the toilet.

"I didn't want to. I stayed with Zoe, chatted and dined with her and Matt." Charlotte smiled. Alice nodded happily.

"Well as long as you had a good time." Alice said patting her shoulder. She turned to walk away.

"Mum!" Charlie's voice broke the air. Alice turned round as Charlotte ran up to her.

"What is it Charlotte? Everything ok?" Alice asked with concern. Charlotte looked into her mum's blue eyes, the blue eyes she wished like hell she had inherited! Not her stupid green ones! She then remembered what she was going to say. "I love you."

Charlotte walked forward and wrapped her arms around Alice. Alice touched, slowly wrapped her arms back around her daughter. Both stood, holding one another for some time.

"I love you too." Alice replied finally. It was obvious from her tone that she was touched.

"I feel like I never tell you mum, how much you mean to me." Charlotte said, finally pulling away. "And I just wanted you to know."

Alice was lost for words. She pulled Charlotte back into her embrace once more. Charlotte smiled, she loved her mum's hugs. So open, yet so exclusive. So warm and loving. Tight but not too tight, they were perfect. She closed her eyes remembering how a hug from her mum used to make everything better.

Zoe was stood leaning against the doorframe watching them from a secluded spot. She smiled to herself, as a tear came to her eye. Zoe thought of one word as she watched them. Beautiful.

(x)

Danny was talking with Matt about Zoe's earlier talk with Vanessa. They'd managed to set up a temporary animal hospital but it was not the easiest place to keep on top of!

"Really?" Danny asked as he scrubbed the operating desk.

"Yup." Matt replied. "Zoe like, kicked ass!"

"She usually does." Danny chuckled, "I'm glad she's seen sense. It was unfair on Alice."

"Unfair on us all." Matt countered as he placed some water into a pen.

"I just hope she sticks to her word." Danny murmured as he moved towards the office.

(x)

"I'm off to see Dad." Charlotte smiled. Alice nodded and mumbled a quick bye, before turning round, sitting down at the kitchen table. At that moment Zoe walked in, sitting down beside her.

"What's up with you?" Zoe asked, playing innocent.

"What?" Alice asked, only just registering Zoe had spoke, never mind what she had said.

"I said what's up?" Zoe repeated, she knew full well of course.

"Oh, nothing. Charlotte just... told me she loves me and hugged me." Alice mumbled. "It was..."

"I get it." Zoe said softly. She smiled.

(x)

(Later on)

The whole family was sat outside of Leopards Den. They'd eaten not long ago and now conversation was lively. Zoe of course was back in her old ways. Sarcastic comments, wit, jokes. It almost felt like old times.

Vanessa saw them all together, she saw her two daughters playing with Lyndon and Sam. She sighed, she had to do this now before she bottled out. She walked forward, determination set on her features. Her pace slowed slightly as nerves hit her. She was looking down when she approached the family. Dupe gave her a malovent look as Caroline and Nomsa gave her a look of disappointment. Alice hadn't even noticed her as she was so wrapped up in a game of rock, paper, scissors with Danny and everyone else had either disregarded her or grunted.

"Hello Vanessa." Zoe smiled welcoming her to the table. Of course she knew a lot more than people thought she did.

"Haven't you heard?" Dupe asked incredulous.

"I have ears." Zoe replied dryly. "And so do you. ALL OF YOU." She shouted the last part of her sentence so that everyone turned from what they were doing. All except Danny and Alice. "OI!" Zoe shouted. Danny and Alice grumbled before turning to the table. Both stared at Vanessa.

"I just want to say..." Vanessa began.

"Scuse me."

Everyone looked down including Vanessa. Lyndon was stood there, hands on his hips, an angry expression on his face.

"Lyndon?" Vanessa squeaked. Everyone had their eyes on him. Sam and the twins had stopped playing. Even Danny and Alice were stunned.

"You upset my mummy." He told her. "I don't like." He then glared even deeper into her eyes. "Sort it."

Everyone was speechless as he wandered back to his friends. Everyone had lost their voices.

"I wanted to say." Vanessa finally began. "Sorry for what I've done and well, I want you to come the funeral."

"That's a wise choice." Zoe smiled. "Now, I'd make peace with Lyndon."

"He's a little boy!" Vanessa exclaimed.

"He's more than that." Zoe told her. "Much more and he's likely to be plotting like some sort of punishment for you. Gets it from Alice."

Alice chuckled, she had nowhere to argue. By the age of two and half she'd made Rowan pay for annoying her by putting tomato sauce, mud and worms in his wellies.

"So come on who had something to do with this?" Alice asked a smile on her face. She turned to Danny, "You weren't really planning that big romantic thing were you?"

"Well I was, but it was part of a bigger plan." He admitted.

"You did that for me?" Alice asked. God, why was everyone trying to make her cry?

"Well... I didn't do it alone. Dupe, Liv, Thabo all helped and... I think the person who we also owe thanks to is Zoe. As well as Matt and Charlotte. Everyone played a part."

"His plan though." Dupe added, Danny smiled at the family.

"Danny." Alice said looking up at him.

"Yes?"

"Can you go buy me twenty boxes of Kleenex please? I think I'm gonna need them." She laughed as she wiped her eyes.