Catagory: Misc
Rating:G-PG
Authors Note:"I dont own any characters (except Robyn) in this fanfiction. Feedback would be great!!"
Chapter One: Heartbreak On The Run
It was a great day.. Tess got the all-clear from her medical tests. She knew she was healthy at last. Alex and Claire had decided to move in together… Everyone were so happy. And they wanted to celebrate that beautiful day… The barbecue party was planned. Claire, Tess and Chatlotte went to town for shopping. When they came back, everyone were there… including Sally!!
Tess was really surprised and disappointed when she saw Sally with Nick!
Sally: Hi Tess! Good to see you again!
Tess: Sally! Nick!
Sally: How are you?
Tess: I..ah… I’m really fine Sally, thanks! Um would you excuse me, i got something to do..
Sally: Yeah sure!
Tess: Nick!
Nick: Yeah, see you later.
Tess was in shock! Was Nick with Sally? AGAIN?!!!
……………………………
Alex was waiting for Claire,
Claire: Hey, you wont believe that…
Alex: Claire…
Claire: I was almost crushing a white brumby on road. I lost control but then… (She stopped, there was something unusual) Hey, whats wrong?
Alex: Claire we need to talk!
Claire: What?
Alex: Please come with me
Claire: OK!
Alex took her to the study where was quiet and empty.
Claire: Whats going on Alex?
Alex: Listen to me… I have to tell you something really important. Probably you’ll be angry, coz i know i sould have told you before, but…
Claire: Alex!!!
Alex: What?
Claire: Just tell me..
Alex: OK… Claire… I…I’m sorry but i was keeping a secret from you. Not just you, from everyone!! I..ah..I have a daughter Claire!!
Claire: WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!
Alex: Claire I’m so sorry! She was living with her mother who’s death now. And Robyn has noone but me. And I’m her father, i have to take care of her..
Claire: Why didnt you tell me Alex?!!
Alex: I didnt tell anyone!!
Claire: I am not anyone! Well, i thought i wasnt..
Alex: You’re not Claire. But..
Claire: BUT BUT BUT BUT!!!! I dont wanna hear a one more ‘but’! I dont wanna hear anything!! You didint tell me, i cant believe that!!
Alex: I am telling you now!!
Claire: How old is she?
Alex: Well… seven…
Claire: It’s too late Alex… I’m sorry, i cant forgive you… Oh god, seven years Alex, you didnt tell me anything!!! Why are you telling this right now?
Alex: Coz..coz shes here!
Claire: …
Alex: Well i better take her to Wilgul and stay there tonight..
Claire: Yeah…
……………………………
Everyone were having goodtime except Tess, Claire and Alex… Especially Nick and Sally were so happy together. And Tess just couldnt stand to see them happy…
At night, when everybody left, Claire went to her room. She was still angry with Alex!! She couldnt believe how come he didnt tell her anything during seven years!! She wanted to sleep and forget. She sat down on the bed. But there was something underneath her pillow! What was that?! She pushed her hand under the pillow and touched a little box!! Her hands were shaking and tears were rolling down from her eyes when she opened the box… It was a ring! “I’m gonna call you tomorrow morning Alex Ryan!” she murmured with a smile. And with that she lied sown the bed and fell asleep…
……………………………
Tess was sitting on her bed and crying too. But the reason of her tears was not happiness… She was so sad, and she couldnt understand why Nick was with Sally again. She just couldnt breath… It was hurting so much… It was so much for her! She learned that she was healthy at last, and she wanted to be happy but she couldnt. “It isnt what i expected…” she thought. Tears kept rolling down on her cheeks… She knew that she had lost him… again…
……………………………
Claire woke up. It was like 2:30 in the morning. It was dark still and the telephone bell was ringing. She went downstairs in a hurry and picked up the phone,
Claire: Drovers Run?
Nick: Claire!!
Claire: Nick, whats wrong?
Nick: Oh nothing nothing.. I just had a bad dream and wanted to know if Tess is OK. Where is she?
Claire: She is in her room Nick, sleeping!
Nick: Are you sure?
Claire: Course im sure Nick!! It’s 2.30 in the morning. Where else can she be right now?!!
Nick: Yeah you’re right, sorry…
Claire: Yeah ok. Hey, is Alex awake?
Nick: No, sleeping. You want me to…?
Claire: Oh no no… Dont wake him up!
Nick: OK. See you
Claire: Yeah see you…
She hung up the phone. “Oh he must have drunk so much” she murmured, and went upstairs again. She was just passing by Tess’ room. Then she stopped. She heard a voice from inside her, telling her to check on Tess. So she opened the door and froze when she saw the room was empty…
Chapter Two: Gone
Alex: Wilgul, Alex Ryan speaking?!!
Claire: Alex!!!!!
Alex: Claire? What happened?!!!
Claire: Shes gone!!
Alex: What? Who, whos gone?!!!
Claire: Tess, shes not here!!!
Alex: What? But…Why?
Claire: I dont know!!! We looked at everywhere. Stevie and the girls are still searching for her. But her car isnt here either!! Shes left with no clue!!
Alex: I..ah..ok.. Are you alright?
Claire: (Sobbing) No im not!!!
Alex: Oh, look.. We are coming there ok?
Claire: Alex,
Alex: Yeah?
Claire: I love you…
Alex: I love you too… I’ll be right there!!
……………………………
(At front side of Drovers household)
Nick: (Shouting) Where is she?!!!!
Stevie: Shes still missing..
Nick: (to the crying Claire) I’m gonna find her Claire, i promise!!
Claire: I’m coming with you!
Alex: No Claire, we are staying here!!
Claire: No i want to go with Nick!
Alex: Just let him go Claire, you need a rest!
Claire: No i dont!! I need to find her!!
Alex: You are not going anywhere… (turned to Nick) Go and find her!! Be careful..
……………………………
(Inside)
Claire: I should have gone with Nick, Alex!!
Alex: No, i said no!!
Claire: Dont tell me what to do!
Alex: Claire, its dark and we have no idea where to go! We must stay here.
Claire: But.. She’s alone… I have to…
Alex: Claire, please let me take you to our room, ok!
Claire: But…
Alex: Shut up Claire!!!
Claire: I…
Alex: I said SHUT UP!!!
……………………………
(In their room)
Alex: Claire you have to calm down!
Claire: She’s out there, doing god knows what! And you are telling me to calm down!! It’s my sister who’s missing right now, in the middle of the night!!!
Alex: She’s not a kid Claire. She knows what shes doing. And Nick’s gonna find her. Everything’s gonna be alright, trust me. Just take a deep breath and try to sleep.
Claire: I just cant sleep Alex, go away from me!!
Alex: You want me to go?!!
Claire: Oh no, I’m sorry…
(There was a awkward silence)
Claire:Where is she?
Alex: Who?
Claire: Your daughter, Robyn?
Alex: Oh, shes at Wilgul, with Sally.
Claire: Sally?!!!!
Alex: Yeah..
Claire: Oh god, thats it!!! Thats the reason!!
Alex: Wha… What reason?!!
Claire: Oh Alex, cant you see that Tess is in love with Nick!! She just couldnt stand to see them together!! Oh god… She must be sad! I want her back!!!
Alex saw the little box on the bedside table. And Claire noticed that he had seen it.
Claire: I just didnt want to wear it when i was alone in this room.
Alex: If so, your answer is…
Claire: You havent asked the question yet!!!
Alex: Well, ok… I ask…
Claire: No, please dont!!
Alex: Why?!
Claire: I love you Alex, with every part of my being… And the answer will be a “yes”, but please dont ask it tonight!!
Alex: Yeah, you’re right.. I’m sorry! What can i do to make you feel better?
Claire: Just stay with me…
Alex put his arm on Claire’s shoulder and she leaned her head on his chest. She was listening his peaceful heartbeats… Then he started to sing:
Someday, when i’m awfully low,
When the world is cold, I will feel a glow
Just thinking of you and the way you look tonight…
Oh ‘cause you’re lovely with your smile so warm,
And your cheeks so soft
There’s nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight…
With each word your tenderness grows, tearing my fear apart.
And thay laught that wrinkles your nose, touches my foolish heart…
Oh you’re lovely, never ever change
Keep that breathless charm, wont you please arrange it
Coz i love you just the way you look tonight…
When he finished, Claire was sleeping in peace…
Nick was in the middle of nowhere… It was so dark and he couldnt see anything but trees… He was so anxious, almost shaking… He didnt even know what to do…
“I just dont know where to find you Tess!! Dont know what to do, how to forget about you, how to be with you… You just locked me up in me!! I cant think, cant talk, cant live without you… I know you worried but I am scared more than you!! Where must I look for you? I love you Tess, since when I first saw you…
I know you left because of me. You are running away from me!! Because you thought I am with Sally. But I am not with her Tess!!! I am with you…in my heart… I have always been with you!! I love you more than anything… more than me…
Oh god, where must I go?!! What must I do to take you back? Damn it Tess, WHERE ARE YOU?!!!!!!!!”
Chapter Three: Pieces of my Heart
She wiped away her tears with a shaky hand as she was driving into the darkness. She didnt know where she was going, what she was doing... All she knew was that she had been doing the wrong thing. She hadnt been a quitter no matter, but this time everything were different.. She felt weak for the first time. She remembered the feeling of belonging to the past and how it was when there were only Nick and her on earth! And she snapped out of her dream, remembered the scene Nick and Sally were holding hands. A feeling of sadness and loss had come over her. She felt like an outsider again...
She had just turned and walked away from the facts. Where was she going? She had nowhere to go!!! She felt regretful..
"You are a bloody f***ing loser Tess McLeod!!! You are running away!! Thats great. Look at yourslef! Miserable... But... What should i have done? There was no way but leaving!! Damn Nick, I've told you not to hurt me!!! Oh god, please waken me from this terrible nightmare!!!"
She kept driving and also crying... Tried not to think of Nick, but she couldnt do that! He was everywhere... in her mind... her heart... everywhere!!! She realized that she couldnt get out by running away! He was going to go with her to anywhere she would go...
"I should be back right now!! I should be brave... I should face him..."
That word had echoed in her head again and again!! "HIM!!!"
"The love of my life... The man who i love with all of my being, my heart, my existance... Him... Nick Ryan!! He could be my prince charming... He could be the other half of me... He could make all the wrongs right, all the dreams come true... He is the love of my life..."
She stopped the car and burst into tears and sobbings:
"If only you could understand my fear! I was scared of hurting you... I didnt want you to be sad because of me!! I told you 'people change', you didnt even care... And now why are you doing this to me?!! All i wanted was to be happy... with you!! You couldnt see that..."
She wiped her tears once more and put on a determined face,
"I must go back for Claire! I must be brave, try to be happy with or without him! It will be hard maybe... Maybe i will suffer so much! But i must cope with it!! Yeah, i am going back to my home!!!"
She turned the key and pressed the starter, but the car wasnt working! She tried again and again, but nothing happened!!
"OH, THATS JUST GREAT!!!!"
Chapter Four: At Last
Nick stopped the car and got out when he saw her car on the road. "What the hell were you trying to do?!!" he yelled seeing her eyes were red and extremely puffy by crying!
"Get away from me!!!" was her reply. She saddened as a look of sorrow crossed his determined face. But she sensed the feeling in his heart - the hesitation at deciding to go or stay; to speak or keep quiet; to cry or smile...
"Do you really want to leave me?" he asked as he was still keeping the distance between them.
"Why are you asking this? You dont care!!" she was looking at the ground, not daring to look at him. Coz she knew if she looked at him, she would never look at somewhere else... She didnt want their eyes to meet..
"I CARE!!! Now answer my question! Do you really want to leave me?" He watched her face tighten, he could scarcely hear her low reply: "yes"!!
"LIAR!!!" He wanted to say everything to her, everything on his mind... He just didnt know where to start.
"Why are you here?" she asked as she was turning to him slowly. Finally she saw his face shining in the darkest night. She felt a joy in her spirit and a light on her face.
"Where you are that's where i wanna be Tess!! That's all... I cant live without you. Wherever you go, i will follow you" he took a few steps towards her.
"You dont love me!! she was backing away. "Dont say you love me, coz its not true!!!" she said as she wiped her tears.
"Right, I cant say I loved you. It's not true. Coz its more than that Tess, I adore you, I'm mad about you... I cant live if you leave... Now tell me, Do you really want to leave?"
"No, but it isnt about you Nick. I wont leave my home because of you, thats all!!"
"Tess look, I know I hurt you.. But you've heart me too..."
"Yeah go on, keep huting me Nick!! It's great.. Why arent you with Sally right now? She must be worried, and must want you by her side!!" It really hurt her to say all these...
"What? Sally!!! Oh.. no!!!! It's not you thi..." he panicked.
"Don't speak!! Stop haunting me!! Go away, just leave me alone!!" she burst into tears and covered her face with her hands... Now she was almost drawn by sobs..
"Tess, is this the reason why you are leaving? Is it Sally?" he was smiling.
"No It's not Sally! It is you!!! Wh.. Why are you laughing? Is it funny?!!" she was furious...
He kept laughing at her, "You are so stupid!! How could you think that I would do the same mistake again? Sally? Oh my... For gods sake, no... I'm not with her Tess, no way..."
"But? You were together at the party!!"
"Yes, because she asked me a favour. It's about her ex. He was disturbing her so much, so we hung out together at town, for him to see us. Then i invited her to your party as a friend."
Tess felt so stupid "So where is she now?"
"At Wilgul!!!" he answered...
Tess started shouting again "Oh I should have known that!!!" she thought he was plaing with her... She was about to cry out again.
"No..no!!! Listen. She's at Wilgul coz Alex and I couldnt cope with Robyn. She needed a lady with her. She liked Sally and didnt let her go.. Thats it. She must be at the spare room right now, sleeping with Robyn..."
"Really?" She felt the light on her face again. She was smiling with embarrassing...
"Yeah, really. I cant be with someone but you Tess, dont you know that? You are my only one.. Dont you do this to me again, alright?" he got closer and closer and kissed her passionately. It took a few seconds for her to kiss him back... They were together again at last...
"C'mon" said Nick, "Lets take you home.." he lifted her up and took her to his ute's passenger seat. When he got in the ute too, he took his mobile and called Drovers.
Alex: Drovers Run?
Nick: Hey Alex, She's with me right now. We will be back soon. But you know, we have to talk first, ok?
Alex: Yeah cool mate, take your time.. I'll tell Claire.
Alex hung up the phone and headed upstairs..
Alex: He found her!!
Claire: Oh really? Hows she?
Alex: Shes alright Claire. They'll be back soon..
Claire: Oh thank god!!!
Alex looked her with a grin on his face. She knew there were something on his mind...
Alex: Umm Claire, it seems like it's morning right now. Sun is shining on the sky!!!
Claire: Well yeah?
Alex: You told me not to ask that question when it was night!! You know, yesterday night!!!
Claire: So? (She had a stupid grin on her face too)
Alex: So... Claire Louise McLeod, If you have forgiven me about the daughter thing, will you marry me?!!
Claire: YES!!!! And I am still angry with you about that "thing"!!!
Alex: Oh.. Dou you think you can get use to that "thing"?
She couldnt speak because his lips was stucked on hers...
Claire: Uh huh!!!
Alex: What about to making a third girl?!!
Claire: Right now?!!
Alex: Yeah...
Claire: Sure, why not
……………………………
Nick stopped the car intentionally and looked at her as he was smiling..
"What happened?" she asked with knowing that he was thinking something fun...
"Umm... I dont know" he said, "It must be the fanbelt!!"
"Again?!!" she wasnt hiding her big grin..
"Yeah, again...So can you please take out your shirt?" he started to kiss her neck...
"One condition!!" she said as she kissing back him.
"What is it?"
"You take out your shirt first!!!!"
"Yeah, If this is what you want...."
THE END
5-9 A?ustos 2004
