A/N – I was gonna write the whole Vanessa leaving chapter, but it seemed pointless as it wouldn't fill a chapter, so I'm gonna skip to what would be about 4 months on. This is the last chapter :'(
It had been four months since the terrible accident that had occurred at Leopards Den, four months since the storm that had reminded everyone that many of their wounds were still there and four months since Zoe had been seriously injured and Rowan had passed away. Life had of course carried on for everyone at Leopards Den, and now the old atmosphere was back. It had taken a while, of course it had but in the end it had brought the whole family closer together. Zoe and Alice were also a lot closer and more appreciative of both one another and their family.
Today was a special day, a very special day for Danny and Alice. It was their wedding anniversary and both had a full day planned. Matt and Zoe were taking over the animal hospital for the day as a favour to the pair. Although Zoe was still on her crutches she insisted that she was not an invalid and could do some of the work. Danny had a full day planned for Alice, a full day Alice was bound to love, well he hoped so anyway!
Danny looked down at Alice and smiled, she had her arm lazily over his body, her legs were entwined with his. He sighed and was about to untangle himself when Alice suddenly tightened her grip.
"Don't you dare." She mumbled sleepily pulling herself closer to him. He laughed and wrapped his arms around her.
"Happy anniversary." He whispered in her ear.
"Happy anniversary Mr Trevanion." Alice replied, her voice still laced with sleep. Somehow she managed to find his lips without even opening her eyes. Both kissed deeply before pulling away, Alice found her original place, her head resting on his chest. Danny smiled stupidly to himself before settling back down himself. It was decided. They were having a lie in!
(x)
"Man! I feel like a woman!" Zoe sang jokingly as Matt walked past.
"God, you are so annoying! I feel for David having to put up with you for these past couple of years." Matt laughed. "How's he doing anyway?"
"David?" Zoe repeated his name before continuing. "Yeh he's doing good. Peter rang him up yesterday and asked him back and so David has agreed to go back to Mara as head vet."
"That's good." Matt replied, "Peter's changed since the storm hasn't he?"
"Yeh, suppose he has." Zoe agreed leaning back in the chair she was sat in.
Matt was right, Peter had changed. The storm had scared the American hotshot and he'd certainly mellowed. His once harsh attitude had been replaced by a softer, much more relaxed one and slowly he'd become part of the community. Leopards Den had reconciled with Mara, and even Danny and Alice had made their peace with Peter. He'd sold his sports car and bought a luxury four by four. He didn't wear a full suit but a simple shirt and trousers, and he'd learnt what made him popular and what didn't. He'd changed.
"People do change after all." Matt murmured as he sat across from Zoe and looked at the small amount of paperwork Zoe had left to fill in.
(x)
"Finally up..." Evan remarked sarcastically as Danny and Alice strolled lazily into the kitchen, arms casually wrapped around one another.
"Happy Anniversary." Nomsa smiled at the pair.
"Thanks Nomsa." Alice said softly.
"There's cards and gifts on the table." Nomsa told them before walking off. Both Danny and Alice stared open mouthed at the table.
"Happy anniversary." Evan said softly as he stood up and handed them a card. He proceeded to hug the pair before walking off leaving them alone.
Alice sat down at the table as Danny leant on her chair, he leant forward and rubbed his hands upon her arms.
"Hungry?" Danny asked her quietly.
"I'm saving my appetite." Alice laughed referring to their party at Fatani's later, she didn't really know about what Danny was up to or what he had planned for the day. Danny smirked and turned away from her to make drinks. Today was going to be amazing.
(x)
"So Danny's taking Alice out for a meal?" Caroline questioned Dupe as she made the bed in the guest hut.
"Yep." Dupe replied leaning on the door frame.
"Does she not think it's weird they are apparently going Fatani's at five?" Caroline asked him.
"Nope." Dupe replied, "But we need to make sure she doesn't click." Dupe commented. "Trevanion didn't plan that part."
"Ok... expand."
"We all go in our rooms reckoning to get ready... then when they go, we'll be ok." Dupe smiled, proud of his logic which Danny had hastily agreed with when they'd discussed it last night.
"You told everyone else?" Caroline pestered with a sigh.
"Yeh." Dupe replied.
She nodded in agreement. Dupe kissed her on the cheek before rushing off.
(x)
"How about a drive before we get ready?" Danny asked Alice as she admired the bracelet he'd bought her, it had been just one of her many presents from him. She too had bought him a number of gifts.
"Sounds amazing." Alice beamed wrapping her arms around his neck before going upon her tip-toes to kiss him softly. Both smiled at one another as they pulled away before climbing into the rattly old Jeep.
"Foot on gas, key in ignition, can't stop now cos I'm on a mission!" Zoe sang jokingly as she hobbled past the Jeep.
"I am a woman on a mission." Alice continued.
"WOAH WOAH WOAH!"
Danny let his head drop onto the steering wheel as Alice and Zoe began singing... god they weren't even drunk!
"We're going." He announced firmly but with humour in his tone. "Au revoir Zoe."
"Salut Danny et Alice!" Zoe smiled with a wave watching them drive off. She sighed before carrying on her journey. Alice was one very lucky lady... then again so was she!
(x)
Danny and Alice were stood upon the very ground they sealed their love forever. Spoke vows that gave one another they key to their own heart. The place where they'd slid the small bands of precious metal onto their fingers, a sign that they were together. Danny had her wrapped in his arms, as Alice's hands gripped him gently.
"We need to get back." Danny murmured kissing her hair gently.
"I know." Alice replied, turning around in his arms so she was facing him properly. She looked up into his endless green eyes, counting every shade of green within them. She sighed with contentment, a smile playing on her lips. Danny too was looking back down at her with a soft, loving expression. He was lost in her intricate beauty, her stunning blue eyes trapping him within her aura. He desired no escape, he desired no one else. The only thing he desired in that moment was the woman that was in his arms. Alice.
Danny slowly lowered his head towards hers as her arms leisurely wrapped around his neck. Both felt a spark of electricity as their lips crashed a strong current flowing through them as their kiss grew in intensity and passion.
Alice patted his upper arms as they pulled away, "We best go."
Danny pecked her quickly before both made their way back to Leopards Den.
(x)
"Do you reckon he's let it slip yet?" Zoe asked the family as they all stood around the kitchen table.
"Danny's not a good liar..." Evan commented.
"Lying is naughty." Sam piped up looking around at everyone as they chuckled. Lyndon rolled his eyes and gave Sam a 'you're stupid' look.
"It's a surprise for my mummy poopy." Lyndon replied raising his hands in a gesture that made it seem obvious.
"MUM!" Sam whined, "He called me poopy."
"Cos you are!" Lyndon replied.
"Are no..." Sam began but both the boys were soon cut off by Zoe.
"Boys!" She exclaimed. "Behave yourselves." She sighed, both grumbled an apology before sitting back down quietly. Zoe looked around the table and noticed Charlotte wasn't about. "I'll be back in a minute." Zoe told everyone, kissing Matt as she breezed past him. He smiled watching after her.
"Hey man, when you getting married?" Dupe asked him abruptly.
"As soon as I can get her down the aisle." Matt replied laughing, although a seriousness was evident in his sentence.
Zoe knocked on Charlotte's door before walking in. Charlotte smiled at her from her position on her bed. She'd sat up slightly as Zoe approached.
"Hey young one." Zoe smiled softly slowly setting herself down onto the bed. "You nervous?"
"A bit." Charlotte admitted, messing with her hands.
"Nothing to be ashamed of Charlie, but hey... you're gonna absolutely rock this! You're mum and dad are gonna be like two old biddies in an old episode of heartbeat, like erm... the one where the ginger one dies. That was sad." Zoe commented looking around, Charlotte laughed at her aunt.
"Thanks Zoe..." Charlotte smiled looking to Zoe. Zoe grinned at her and gave her a hug, a very tight hug too. "Choking." Charlotte teased.
"I'm your aunt, it's what aunt's do... oh as well as this." Zoe giggled as she kissed Charlotte's forehead about twenty times and began to play with her cheeks.
"Right get off." Charlotte exclaimed laughing pushing Zoe off her. Zoe too was laughing as she grabbed her crutches.
"Right, I'm off." Zoe grinned, "I'll see you when we've finally got rid of your mum and dad... urgh... so sickly." She hit Charlotte playfully with her crutch. "Zoom zoom."
"Save me." Charlotte muttered falling backwards onto her bed, Zoe chuckled before rushing off to get everyone into their positions.
(x)
"Zoe and Matt are still here..." Alice mumbled as Danny slowly let the Jeep steady to a halt.
"They'll just be finishing up, come on! We need to get ready!" Danny pestered ushering her inside eagerly. Please god let them all be hidden in their rooms, Danny thought as he led her through the house.
"It's quiet." Alice commented looking around.
"Yeh they all headed over there." Danny told her quickly, she nodded and shrugged before walking into their room. Danny followed her keeping the door wide open. She smiled at him and grabbed a few bits and bats before making her way to the bathroom. She stopped as she noticed he wasn't following her. She questioned him with her eyes.
Danny was suddenly in an impossible situation. On one hand he was absolutely dying to get in there with Alice. On the other hand, the WHOLE family was in. But if he didn't she'd surely suspect and...
"Danny, you look like you are having a world war internally?" Alice laughed. "Am I so repulsing?"
"No, you're absolutely stunningly beautiful. Breath taking." Danny said truthfully, she smiled, her cheeks slightly pink she walked up to him and kissed his cheek softly.
"Don't worry about it Danny, I know Matt and Zoe are here..." Alice smiled, she lowered her voice to a seductive whisper, moving closer to him so her hot breath sent tingles all around his neck. "But that better not count for later." She then walked off, her powerful legs taking each stride with confidence. Danny stood mouth wide open in awe of her.
"DANNY!" Zoe shouted stomping through the hallways of Leopards Den, she heard the shower running, B-I-N-G-O. She walked up to him and smiled. "All systems go?"
"Yep!" Danny beamed, "Listen Zoe, can you like, get everyone kind of like out of here, maybe down to the animal hospital or something very quietly?"
"Umm sure, May I ask why?" Zoe teased knowing full well the reason why, just enjoying making her brother in law feel uncomfortable.
"Umm..." Danny began.
"Don't worry. Get your ass in there and keep her very occupied." Zoe told him sternly. He smiled at her gratefully before walking in.
"Danny!"
Zoe managed to stop the snigger when she heard Alice's half shocked and half overly joyous exclamation. She sighed before dragging everyone out of their rooms.
"Animal hospital, quietly." Zoe whispered they all nodded and made their way down, all in shock at how well the plan was working!
(x)
Danny quickly wrapped a towel around his waist as he climbed out of the shower. Alice too began to get out but slipped, almost falling. Danny laughed as he caught her, gently helping her out of the shower. She smiled thankfully at him as she wrapped a towel around her. Danny grabbed another towel as they exited the bathroom, rubbing his hair gently with it before draping it over his shoulders.
"We are so incredibly late." Alice laughed looking at the clock as she grabbed the red dress she had decided to wear.
"Be fine." Danny said as he grabbed his grey suit. Alice smiled as he picked out a red tie, she'd trained him well. Soon they were talking generally as both rushed to get ready.
(x)
"I need a wee!" Lyndon whined.
"Me too." Sam added.
"Lads, you're gonna have to wait." Zoe sighed, "Can you not hold it for another ten minutes?"
"No." Lyndon replied.
Zoe groaned, she'd have to be very quick. She quickly picked them up before running up to Leopards Den, she stopped as she heard voices.
"Alice you look gorgeous." She heard Danny tell Alice.
"No Danny, you look gorgeous, I look stupid." Alice replied.
"No you do not!" Danny argued. "You look very very..." Zoe decided to close her eyes, X-rated comments were being said. She quickly took the boys round the back of the house.
Danny caught sight of Zoe as Alice walked through the kitchen towards the front door. He raised his arms in disbelief as Zoe signalled to Sam and Lyndon. He rolled his eyes and quickly ushered her into the bathroom before running off.
"Come on Alice, let's go." Danny said quickly. Alice frowned before nodding, he rushed her into the Jeep before setting off.
"Danny we aren't that late..." Alice sighed.
Danny carried on regardless before stopping when he was sure it was safe to. Slowly he took out a spare tie he'd brought with him. Alice groaned as he signalled for her to turn around.
"No." Alice said laughing as he titled his head. Alice sighed before turning round, allowing him to tie the tie that was to act as a blindfold around her eyes. "You're so annoying." Alice muttered as he drove off. She crossed her arms moodily as she heard his laughter rippling through the air.
(X)
"Coast is clear!" Zoe announced as all the family piled out of the animal hospital, clearly relieved. All of them ran off to get changed. Matt, Sam and Lyndon all stayed behind.
"Right, so we off?" Matt asked.
"Yeh, just grab Lyndon's stuff and then we'll head home." Zoe smiled softly, he nodded and took Lyndon and Sam to the Jeep to strap them in. As he finished Zoe returned with a small bag of stuff. "Let's go." She said jumping in the Jeep.
(x)
"I'll let you take that off now." Danny smiled as he drove into the centre of Jo'burg. As much as he'd be given the game away he also valued his life. He knew Alice would be likely to murder him if he drove through the city centre with her still blind folded.
"Finally. We've been going for ages!" Alice whined as she took it off. She did a double take as she took in the scenery around her. She turned to face him, a questioning look on her face.
"The party at Fatani's doesn't start until later this evening." Danny finally admitted. "And everyone was in by the way when we left, just in hiding... mainly down the animal hospital."
"What?" Alice exclaimed, her voice slightly higher pitched than usual.
"I didn't want our anniversary to be all about the party at Fatani's. I didn't want to just share it with the family, I wanted us to share it together too, if that makes sense." Danny sighed as he turned right down towards where most of the restaurants were.
"Yeh it makes sense. Thanks Danny." Alice said softly before coming to life again. "So where you taking me?"
"Well I do recall my lady does like the restaurant over the east side of town where they have the water feature inside?" Danny smiled.
"No way! But that costs a fortune!" Alice exclaimed.
Danny said nothing as he pulled into the car park. Alice was now on with nagging him about how he didn't need to, how much it was going to cost, how he was the best and she didn't deserve all this. He'd given up arguing with her and instead was just leading her through tenderly by the arm.
(X)
Charlotte, Evan and Liv were all sat around the bar at Fatani's chatting. Everyone had arrived to make the final preparations. Dupe however had seemed to have forgotten his role in the preparation and was 'testing the beer'.
"Hey guys!"
Everyone turned round slowly, mouths slowly dropping as the owner of the northern voice walked through.
"Rosie!" Olivia squealed as everyone ran towards her and Max. The young couple were soon both engulfed in tight hugs as the family greeted them.
Sam and Lyndon suddenly burst through the family to see what they were crowded around. Lyndon hugged his sister excitedly, his arms just reaching her waist. Zoe who was walking towards the crowd with Matt frowned, what was going on?
Rosie looked up from talking to Lyndon and Sam and spotted Zoe. She hadn't seen Zoe since... forever! Rosie quickly stepped out of the crowd towards her and Matt.
"Oh my god!" Zoe exclaimed laughing, "Rosie!" The two women fell into a tight embrace, "Why didn't you say you were coming?"
"I didn't know myself!" Rosie laughed as they pulled away.
"Your dad and Alice are gonna be so pleased to see you!" Zoe promised her, "They'll be here soon, you dad took Alice off to a posh restaurant... oh word of warning, they are in the most loved up mood ever. If you're within earshot I suggest some sort of sick bag."
Rosie laughed as both women turned to see where their better half's had ran off too. Both were at the bar, typical men!
"So, you and Matt all loved up?" Rosie asked Zoe as the two women began to walk away.
(x)
The intimate, romantic meal for two was over and Danny and Alice were en route to Fatani's to celebrate the anniversary of their marriage with their family and friends. Both had loved the meal and enjoyed the alone time they'd had together.
"Thanks for today Danny. It's been amazing." Alice said softly as he indicated towards Fatani's and drove into the car park.
"It certainly has." Danny smiled as he stopped the Jeep. He put his hand on her knee and both their eyes caught. "Thank you Alice."
"What for?" Alice laughed, "I've not done much!"
"You married me." Danny replied.
Alice's heart melted as he spoke those words. Slowly she made her way towards him and leant in to kiss him tenderly on the lips. The kiss soon escalated into a more passionate embrace.
Zoe and Rosie were walking out to one of the Jeeps. Rosie had typical lady pains and Zoe had some paracetamol in her jeep. Both had a look of disgust when they saw Danny and Alice making out rather passionately in the Jeep.
"Sure you don't want anything stronger than paracetamol?" Zoe asked dryly as she and Rosie ignored them making their way to the Jeep.
"Therapy?" Rosie suggested, Zoe laughed silently as she found the pills. She handed them to Rosie.
"Do we split them apart?" Zoe asked putting on an evil tone.
"Would be fun to see em jump apart, but it is there anniversary." Rosie began to drawl, Zoe gave her a look of disgust.
"What is happening to you dear girl? You are going far too soft!" Zoe laughed, "Toughen up old bean!" Rosie laughed at Zoe's humour. "Anyway, you are not telling me what they aren't doing, or have done."
"Urgh Zoe, please!" Rosie giggled, she stopped as she saw where her dad's hand was going. "DAD! ALICE! Stop that right now!"
Danny and Alice sprung apart staring in shock at Rosie. Alice had gone bright red much to Zoe's amusement and Danny was clearly embarrassed, however he didn't waste time being embarrassed and was soon out of the Jeep and in a tight embrace with his daughter. Alice who had finished sorting herself out had now also climbed out and hit Zoe lightly as she approached. Zoe grinned at her cheekily as Alice moved forward to hug Rosie.
"So, are you two going to stay here or are you going to be decent and actually join the party and save those activities for tonight?" Zoe asked looking at them. Danny and Alice nodded before grabbing one another's hands. Zoe and Rosie shared a look before walking ahead in front of them. As they all entered, everyone cheered as Danny and Alice made their way through.
"Happy anniversary!" They all chorused together. Danny kissed Alice on the cheek which gained an 'aww' from around the bar.
The night went on and Danny and Alice barely left one another's sides as they socialized happily and freely with their family. Zoe meanwhile was stood behind the small stage where the music was being played by a live band. She was giving Charlotte a pep talk giving her the confidence to perform the gesture she'd been planning for her parents for months.
"You ready?" Zoe asked her. Charlotte nodded, taking a deep breath. "You'll ace it! I promise you!"
Zoe nodded towards the lead singer who made his way off. Zoe ran on dragging Charlotte with her.
"Everyone." Zoe grabbed everyone's attention. "Oi, love birds." She directed kind heartedly at Danny and Alice who were still gazing into one another's eyes. "Thank you. Right, now I have your attention, I would like to introduce the magnificent Charlotte Collins-Trevanion who has been planning this for months. Give her some noise!" Zoe clapped towards Charlotte before taking her own position at the piano. Charlotte nodded her head nervously.
As Charlotte sang the song that she'd been preparing for months. Danny and Alice swayed in a gentle hug. Alice was in tears and Danny was also extremely emotional... life was perfect at the minute for all of them and the family had never been closer than they currently were.
3,809 words but I'm done. This is ze end of this story I'm afraid, many thanks to all who have read and reviewed, I will have another story like this soon hehe :)