The Way You Love Me

Written by Elyne

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from McLeod's Daughters.

Summary: Alberto returns to Drovers Run and turns Jodi's world upside-down

Note: This story takes place after Nick and Tess' wedding. To make it myself easier and to make this story easier to read, I did nothing with the fact that Sally came up, being pregnant, right after their honeymoon. So just pretend she was never there or that this all takes place before she came. Hope you understand.

English is not my first language, I try my best to make this story readable!

Many thanks to Vesna and Veronique for reading and the encouraging to post this fanfic!

Intro

The silence before the storm

"Jodi, hurry up!" Stevie was out of her mood today. And Jodi hated when she was acting like that, especially when Luke was with her. "Jodi, ya don't get paid for kissing but for moving those sheep! So get up your feet!" Now Jodi was really mad, but she knew Stevie was right.

"Luke, I better go!" Jodi said and regretted it immediately "I gotta go back to work" and after one last, long kiss they both left.

Stevie was already on her horse, and rode away. "Hey Stevie, wait" Jodi said, but Stevie acted like she didn't hear her and left in gallop. What's wrong with her? Jodi asked by herself. She got up on her horse and also rode away in gallop.

"Hey Stevie, ya know where Jodi is" Kate walked to Stevie.

"Yeah she should be here in a minute" And Stevie walked to the house. Hmmm someone here has a bad mood, Kate said to herself. Jodi came indeed in a minute, in full gallop.

"So what we gotta do?" She asked Kate.

Kate seeing her face: "What's wrong? Everything alright with luke?" She asked worriedly

"Luke and I are fine, it's Stevie with her bad timing!" Jodi replied

Tess asked us to get those sheep closer to Drovers, there might be an upcoming storm" Kate answered her question belated; ignoring Jodi's face and anger. She knew Jodi was only gonna be angry for a few minutes, and then she would forget the whole thing, that was Jodi.

"Let's go then!" They got up their horses and rode away.

"Stevie, where are Jodi and Kate?" Tess stood in the kitchen, waiting for Stevie's return.

"They just left, to get the sheep closer" Stevie said and turned around to leave again.

"Hey wait, what are ya gonna do then?" Stevie turned around again "I'm going to Gungellan, some business" and she turned around again and left Tess in the kitchen.

"Someone's got a bad mood" Tess whispered. "What did ya say?" Nick came up behind her and kissed her cheek. "Oh nothing, Stevie has a bad mood" She turned around; their faces were close to each other now. "We all have that someday" He smiled and kissed her. "Even you" He said and kissed her again. Tess giggled and kissed him back, of course. "Where did everybody go?" he kissed her cheek and was getting to her neck. "Gone" Tess replied enjoying his kisses. "Ah, let's go then" Nick lifted Tess in his arms and brought her upstairs in their room. He laid her on the bed and closed the door.

Stevie rode into town. She was late, too late, and the worst thing was that she knew it. She rode to the bus stop, but the bus had left 5 minutes ago, and no one was there. She had a bad timing she knew it, she always have had that, but today it was even worse. But it already was done and couldn't be undone.

She rode to Terry, to fill up her tank. After she paid she left, got back on her way to Drovers. She was just out of Gungellan, when she saw him. A young man with baggage. She stopped the car next to him.

"Hey where ya heading?" She asked with her head out of the window.

"Drovers Run, any chance you're going that way?" The young man turned his face to her and smiled. A cute smile Stevie thought, and she smiled back. He talked with a slight accent, Stevie couldn't figure out where he came from.

"It's your lucky day, get in" Stevie said and opened the door on the other side. Soon they were on the road again.

"Stevie"

"What! Oh Alberto, pleased to meet ya"

An Italian, interesting. Stevie thought. They were close to Drovers now. Stevie knew the meaning of the word fast.

They were almost there, Alberto had a strange feeling in his stomach, over and over he had practise what he would say to her, when he finally faced her, but he was getting nervous now. He looked at the strange woman next to him, her hair curled like Jodi, he smiled, and look out of the window. He was familiar with this, they were there. He sighed, he was ready.

Stevie parked her car and they both got out. It was silent there. Too silent Stevie thought, the silent before the storm. She sighed, they predicted a heavy storm, Stevie hoped it wouldn't be that bad.

"Let's get something to eat" She said to Alberto, who was looking around, why was he so nervous? Stevie looked at him, there was something about him. They walked to the house. Stevie opened the door. Where was everyone? Alberto walked to the kitchen; he knew his way around here.

"Tess! Nick!" Stevie wondered where they were.

"Tess"

"Hmmm"

"I think Stevie is back" Nick said "Maybe we should go downstairs?"

"hmmm"

Nick sat up, he smiled at the sight of Tess, her hair was spread over the pillow and she looked so sweet, no she was sweet, he kissed her on her forehead and got up. He put on his clothes and left the room.

"Nick" Tess said and she opened her eyes, he was gone.

"hmmm" she closed her eyes again and fell asleep.

"What're ya doing here?" Stevie and Alberto sat in the kitchen.

"I'm here for Jodi" Alberto wondered why she hadn't asked that before or maybe she already knew.

"Stevie you're here?" Nick called from the stairs. Stevie smiled, she already knew why it was so silent.

"Here"

"What're ya…" Nick stopped when he saw Alberto sitting at the kitchen table.

"Alberto!" Nick was surprised; he thought he would never see this Italian again.

"What are you doing here?" Nick asked but he already knew. He knew how crazy in love Alberto was and probably still is with Jodi. He nodded, Alberto didn't need to answer.

"Kate and Jodi aren't back yet?" Nick sat down after shaking hands with Alberto.

"Haven't seen them, they can be here any minute" Stevie replied "Kate is gonna make diner"

Nick looked outside, "looks like there's gonna be a heavy storm this evening."

"Hey, where's everyone!" Jodi and Kate came in.

"Here!" Stevie answered.

Jodi and Kate came in the kitchen. An Awkward silence fell when Jodi and Alberto looked each other in the eyes…

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This is my veryvery first fanfiction ever, and I would love to read what you think of it, so please leave a reply!