Alex brushed a hand across his face but the tickling and poking didn't stop. Voices penetrated his sleepy head and he struggled to the surface.

"And the wolf said 'Then I'll huff and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in'." It was Stevie reading to someone.

Alex cracked one eye and was met with a toothy grin and bright blue eyes.

"Da." Kana bounced on her bum and poked at Alex's opened eye. "Da."

Alex let her get closer and then opened both eyes. "Boo."

Kana's eyes widened and she jolted back, landing against Stevie's leg. Alex held his breath waiting for her to begin crying but she didn't. Instead she pushed herself upright and giggled.

Alex smiled and reached out one large hand to pull her closer. "Happy Birthday, Miss Kana."

"Da," Kana said again.

"You remembered," Stevie said with a grin.

Alex frowned. "I wouldn't forget. Our baby girl is one today."

Stevie's eyes watered at his words and he hoisted himself up on an elbow to kiss her. "No tears, Beautiful. It's a good day."

"Al, Kana one today," Kaleb said, struggling to lift one of his chubby fingers in the air.

Stevie grasped his hand and helped him fold the rest down. Kaleb laughed and waggled the one finger. Alex rubbed Kaleb's head and sat up. Kana crawled into his lap and leaned against his chest, playing with the amber stone that hung from the rawhide string around his neck. Stevie had found it in a second hand shop in Fisher and brought it home for him.

"Do you like that, Kana?" Alex tugged the stone from her hand and dangled it in front of her eyes.

Kana grasped it with both small hands and brought it to her mouth, gnawing as if her life depended on it.

"Is she teething again?" Alex asked.

Stevie nodded. "Hence the reason she's in our bed and so is Kaleb. She woke up crying with a slight fever so I nursed her and she fell asleep again. But then Kaleb woke up and joined us and here we are."

Alex sighed and squeezed Stevie's leg. "I don't mind. It's a good life."

"It is, I suppose." Stevie leaned over and kiss Alex.

He closed his eyes and memorized the feel of her lips against his. No matter how many times she kissed him he never wanted to forget a single one. Because you never knew when everything could change.

"Hey, there's the birthday girl," Jodi cried, running from the porch at Drovers. "Did Mommy and Uncle Alex spoil you?"

Kana grinned from Alex's arms and bounced. Jodi took her in her arms and tried to hug her. Kana pushed against Jodi and reached back for Alex.

"Da," she whimpered.

Jodi looked at Alex in surprise. "Since when did you become 'Da'?"

Alex shrugged and took Kana back from Jodi. "Since this morning. Are we all ready to celebrate?"

"We sure are," Regan said, coming out to greet them. "Streamers, balloons, fairy bread and chocolate freckles. This is one party Kana's never going to forget."

Stevie laughed and hugged Jodi and Regan. "She's not going to remember but we sure will. Thanks for organizing this for us."

"No problem," Jodi said. "It's been ages since we threw a real party. Lots of people are coming."

"Look, Al, a horsie," Kaleb said, pointing towards the small black and white horse, standing under the shade of a tree. "Can I ride it?"

Alex grinned and laid a hand on Kaleb's shoulder. "Of course, mate. He's yours and the other one is Kana's."

"What other one?" Stevie asked.

Alex frowned. Where was the other one? He had delivered two the day before. A bark from Turbo pulled his attention to the porch and he laughed. Poking Stevie, he nodded towards the porch where a light brown pony was sniffing at a pot of flowers. Kate came out and squealed at the sight before snagging the pony's halter and dragging it back towards its friend.

"Alex, what in the world?" Stevie said. "What did you get them?"

"Well, Cowgirl," Alex said, enjoying the look of complete surprise on her face. "Every young kid needs his or her own mount and I figured it's never too young to start riding. Kaleb, yours is called Racer and Kana's is Honey."

Kaleb clapped his hands and looked up at Stevie. "Can ride, Mommy? Please?"

Stevie nodded and Kaleb raced off, Regan at his heels. Jodi took Kana, who laughed and pointed towards the ponies.

"Am I in trouble?" Alex turned to Stevie.

Stevie shrugged and made her way to the veranda. Alex followed her and they sat on the bench beside the door. Stevie rested her head on Alex's shoulder and sighed.

"I'm not sure how I feel about you buying expensive gifts for my kids."

"Hey, we're together now. They're my kids too. Besides, you wouldn't let me spend that money on you; I had to spend it somewhere."

Stevie laughed. "Alright, you can buy me something expensive next time you're in town."

"Stevie, I didn't buy the ponies just because you won't let me buy you something. Harry always made us earn what he gave us. I want Kaleb and Kana to have things just because we love them. Racer and Honey are gifts and that's all they are."

"Thank you," Stevie said, kissing his cheek. "And thank you from Kaleb and Kana because they won't think about it later."

Alex looked up at the squeals and watched as Jodi and Regan lead the ponies around the yard, Kaleb and Kana clinging to their manes. Kate balanced Kate on Honey. The little girl giggled and banged her heels against the pony's side. Kaleb let go with one hand and waved. Alex waved back and Kaleb's grin grew bigger.

"See me ride, Daddy."

Alex faltered for a moment before he waved again. Beside him Stevie stiffened and sat up. Alex didn't want to look at her, he had no clue what she would be thinking. They had never had the discussion about what her children would call him.

"I guess your daddy now," Stevie finally said.

"I guess I am."

They were silent for a few more minutes and then Alex shifted so he could look at Stevie.

"Do you mind?"

She slowly shook her head. "You're a better father to them then their real one and I'm okay with that."

"Good, because I really like being a daddy."

Alex carried the last of the party plates into the kitchen. Stevie and Tess leaned against the counter, talking and laughing as only friends could. Tess's hand rested on her swollen belly and she moved her fingers slowly along the mound.

Alex paused in the doorway and watched. A longing to see Stevie carrying his own child filled him and he had to back out of the room. Why was he even thinking about more children? He was lucky Stevie had let into her heart and her bedroom. No, he wasn't even going to mention children. Oh, but to hold his own child, what man didn't want that?

The shrill ring of the phone jolted everyone and Alex jumped. His fingers shook and he juggled the plates. Walking into the kitchen he set them on the table. Stevie leaned into the fridge while Tess reached for the still ringing phone.

"You'd think they'd have come up with nicer ring tones by now," Alex commented, tapping Stevie on the bum as he passed.

"Hey," she squealed.

Tess shook her head as she pressed the talk button on the handset. "Hello, Drovers Run, this is Tess."

Alex snagged an apple from the bowl and bit into it. Tess gasped. Stevie and Alex both turned to her. Her face was pale and her hands shook.

"Nick?" she said.

Alex took a step forward. What had she said?

Then Tess dropped the phone and slid to the floor in a dead faint.

"Tess," Stevie cried, dropping to her knees beside her friend.

Alex picked up the discarded phone. The voice on the other end frantically called Tess's name. His hands trembled as he pressed the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

"Alex?"

Alex closed his eyes and leaned against the table for support. "Nick?"

"Hi, Alex."

"You idiot," Alex murmured. "You bloody idiot."

Stevie looked at him in alarm but Alex smiled. Tears came to his eyes.

"Is Tess okay?" Nick asked.

"What do you bloody think?" Alex whispered. "You were dead. For two months we thought you were dead."

"I'm sorry. I very nearly was."

Tess whimpered and sat up, blue eyes wide in her white face. Alex handed her the phone and reached for Stevie. His hands were shaking and Stevie clutched them tightly to her chest. Tears slid down Alex's cheeks and he buried his face against her neck. She stroked his back and murmured into his ear.

Alex couldn't believe it. His brother was alive. He felt his stomach jolted and strange feelings ran up and down his arms. Nick was alive!