Friday 9.30pm Fisher ...A Motel room...
Chatting and laughing they return to their room.
"Alex thank you that was so much fun. I've had the best time." Stevie offers as he holds the door open for her.
He smiles and says." Yeah it was. You're a lot better dancing than you think Stevie."
She giggles and replies. "Nah it's just that your legs are so long and your steps are so big I can feel where you're moving."
"Maybe it's because we're in sync Stevie?" He offers as he takes her arm and pulls her back towards him.
Relaxing in his arms she waits for his next move.
Standing in their room he inhales deeply she's so soft, warm and beautiful.
Leaning he kisses her.
...
His lips are so delicious and she can feel the warmth of his hands through the fabric of her dress.
She's aware of her heart beat and her longing to take this further but she's also concerned.
He's had so many partners over the years and she wonders if she'll be enough for him.
Contemplating his next move she's shocked when he stops and again says. "Stevie I really need to talk to you before we go any further."
For the first time her mind throws a negative.
Why talk now she thinks when they both so obviously don't need to talk.
Maybe his promiscuity has caused a problem.
Maybe he needs to warn her!
He told her earlier her was tempted that night at the pub but didn't act on his impulses.
Concern edges its way into her thoughts.
...
Sitting opposite her on the bed he smiles and takes her hand.
She feels dread begin to rise in the pit of her stomach.
"Stevie the night at the pub when you told me you were in love with me." He begins.
She feels kind of strange that he knows she loves him and that he's mentioned it twice.
And it's just like he's saying I know you like red roses.
She nods and feels awkward.
"Stevie..." He hesitates.
"Alex whatever it is we can get through this together." She offers hoping this will help.
...
He laughs.
She frowns. "What's so funny?"
"Stevie I love you. I mean I really love you." He offers watching for her reaction.
She laughs and says. "I thought you were going to tell me you had a disease or something!"
"A disease?" He says sounding puzzled.
She points towards the front of his jeans and says "You know."
He looks amused and asks. "Oh very nice thank you for that Stevie! Why would you think that?"
"Well you've had a lot of partners, you wanted to talk to me when the last thing I wanted to do was talk and you said you were tempted at the pub but didn't act."She responds.
"At the pub you were very drunk and I wasn't going to take advantage of you." He offers.
She chuckles and says. "Oh sorry."
He laughs.
...
She watches him and says. "Alex I already knew you loved me.'
"How could you Stevie?"
"You told me at the pub." She replies.
"No you were asleep." He states.
Grinning she shakes her head and says softly." I was so drunk I couldn't even move let alone speak."
Shocked he quizzes." But you didn't remember anything Stevie. You had no memory of the night at all."
Smiling she replies. "I remembered the important stuff Alex."
He smiles as he moves to kiss her.
She stops him and asks. "So definitely no diseases I should know about?"
He laughs and says. "No we're all good to go."
"I love you Alex."
"Yeah of course you do."He chuckles.
...
Sunday morning...breakfast Drover's Run...
"I wonder how the big date went." Jodi offers.
"Yeah I hope they're having a great time." Tess adds.
"I wonder where he took her." Kate muses."
"Fisher for dinner and dancing." Nick states.
The three women look at him.
"Did Alex tell you?" Tess asks.
"No Stevie did."He smiles knowing they'd asked but she didn't offer any information.
"Ha!" Tess scoffs surprised.
"She thanked me for encouraging her to listen to him Tess, you'll still be her main confidant don't worry." He teases.
Tess smiles at him and says. "Yes I know stuff that you don't."
He replies. "And I know stuff that you don't."
"What do you know?" She asks.
Tapping the side of his nose he says. "Arghh you didn't know I knew things did you? I can keep a secret Tess so I'm not saying anything." He teases.
...
Fisher...A motel room... 8am...
Stevie stretches and yawns.
Mid stretch she feels his arms slide around her and his lips kissing the skin on her shoulder.
"Good morning!" She smiles as she turns towards him.
"Best morning I've ever had Stevie." He replies.
"So I passed the test?" She asks.
"What test?"
"Well you've been around the block a few times and I thought I might not be enough for you?" She states.
He laughs loudly and says." Stevie I'm exhausted."
"Good that's a nice place to be then isn't it?" She giggles.
Kissing her he responds." That's a beautiful place to be."
Snuggling into him she says. "Are you hungry? We should get some breakfast."
"Stevie where do we go from here?" He asks.
"Oh I guess you lavish me with chocolates, flowers and jewellery, for a few months then maybe next year when you're so madly in love with me you can't stand to be without me, you'll ask me to marry you. Which we'll do in spring on Drover's Run, and then we settle down on Kilarney and have half a dozen children. Why what did you have in mind or did you mean are we going straight home from here?" She says laughing at her own jokes.
He laughs too and says. "That sounds exactly like my plan except I think I should ask you to marry me sooner than next year."
She stops laughing and sits up and looks at him.
"I love you Stevie and we've wasted so much time so I think we should step things up a bit."He says seriously.
"Alex I was joking." She explains.
He smiles and replies. "I know you were but I'm not.
She frowns and says. "I love you too Alex and I can't think of anything better than to spend the rest of my life with you but please don't speed things up too much. If we rush this we might ruin it."
Grinning he drags her back onto the bed and flips her so he's leaning over her.
Smiling she slides her arms around his neck.
Lowering his head he kisses her then straightens up to look at her.
"Hey now that we've slept together how would you feel about me calling you Pooky Bear? She teases.
Laughing he quips. "Yeah no problem Bunny."
She frowns again and says "You are not going to call me that!"
"Ok so no nicknames unless we'd say it in public."He grins.
"Yeah." She agrees then asks. "Why Bunny?"
Grinning he says. "Cause you're cute and cuddly and sometimes you're a pest."
"Right! I think it's time I got dressed." She grumbles playfully and moves to get out of bed.
"Or you could stay here and do what rabbits do best." He quips.
She laughs loudly and says. "Now you're getting crude I'm going to have a shower. Anyway you said you were exhausted!"
...
Sunday Night... 7pm Drover's Run...
" Kate that was delicious." Stevie offers.
"Thanks Stevie."Kate replies.
"So is Alex coming back tonight Stevie?" Nick asks.
"I don't think so Nick he was going to see Harry and he's got an early start in the morning." She replies.
"How did you go with bringing the herd up for delousing?" Stevie asks.
"Yeah all good."Tess replies.
"We've also brought up the next mob for dagging Stevie."Nick offers.
Stevie stands and says. "Anyone want a beer or a wine?"
She gets a yes from everyone.
...
Drover's Run dining room...9pm...
"Well that's it for me." Kate states standing.
"Yeah I'm done as well." Jodi offers.
"See you both in the morning." Stevie states.
Tess, Nick and Stevie sit discussing tomorrows work.
Turbo begins to bark .
It's an I'm happy to see you bark.
The trio look at each other and Nick says. "I think you may have a visitor Stevie."
She smiles when she hears Alex's voice speaking softly to Turbo.
...
"You're a bit late Alex we're all about to head up to bed." Tess admonishes.
Grinning he holds up a six pack of beer and says. "Not yet you aren't we're celebrating!"
He moves over and kisses Stevie and sits beside her.
"What are we celebrating?" Nick asks.
"I'm moving back to Kilarney." Alex says smiling.
"What? Why would you do that Alex?" Nick asks.
Alex fills them in on his conversation with Harry.
Nick is stunned but warns Alex to be wary.
Tess agrees.
...
"Don't worry I know what I'm doing guys. Plus now that I've left once I know I'm quite capable of getting by without him and I think he realizes that too." Alex offers.
"And what about Stevie Alex can you protect her every minute of every day." Nick pushes.
Alex grins and says. "I sorted that too I told the old man if he mistreats her I'll walk and later when we get married he can't live under the same roof as us."
"Hey?" Nick asks.
Tess looks stunned.
Stevie glares at him and says. "Excuse me?"
Alex looks at her and says. "What's the problem Stevie we've talked about this?"
She stands and he can see she's really upset. "I asked you not to rush me and that's exactly what you're doing Alex. That conversation was private between us! You and me! Not Nick or Tess and certainly not bloody Harry! That's our business and no one else's. How dare you!"
She storms off.
He shakes his head.
Nick quips. "Well done mate you couldn't even get through an entire weekend without upsetting her!"
" Bloody hell first I'm too slow and now I'm too fast. Relationships need bloody speedometers so you can tell what speed you're supposed to be doing." He says shaking his head.
" Alex it's simple . She's waited for you for a long time. I know it's an old fashioned word but there has to be a courtship so she'll feel special." Tess offers.
Alex looks confused and says . " But I love her and shouldn't wanting to make her my wife make her feel special?"
" What like you did with Fiona?" Tess asks.
Nick and Tess see the light bulb moment on his face.
" Oh shit I've buggered up again haven't I?" Alex laments.
Nick nods .
So does Tess.
Standing Alex moves upstairs.
...