Sat on the plane she couldn't wait to see Alex again, two weeks had been longer than she'd thought. They face timed every day, sometimes even more if they could. He was pretty busy with his work at the conservatory and she couldn't wait to join him. She'd sent him a text just before the plane had taken off that she was on her way towards Tanzania. She could wait to see the country, to see the animals and help them, to see nature at it's most rawness.

Looking out the window of the plane she could see the Sahara desert stretching out underneath her. It made you really realise how small you really were against the force of nature and it made her appreciate it al the more. How couldn't she?

"I've landed." she sent the text as she started to drag her three pieces of luggage. Why had she brought so many, she only had to arms, it was a real job to get those three suitcases moving through the airport. "I'm here sweetheart," Alex whispered as she felt his arms wrap around her middle, she'd been so occupied with her luggage that she hadn't noticed him around.

"Alex." she grinned, dropping her suitcases as she turned around in his arms. "Hey beautiful, I missed you," he whispered, dropping his head down to hers as his arms tightened around her. "I missed you too," she whispered, nudging his nose with her, before closing the small gap between their lips. "I think we better stop before I have to call gran we got arrested for indecent exposure," he told her, tapping her nose as she let out a small giggle. "Not that would be bad." she agreed as he pecked her lips again. He was over the moon to have her back with him, just seeing her was enough to brighten his day as he took the two biggest luggage. "You really are prepared." he teased her as she smacked his muscled arm. "You told me to be," she told him as she watched him load the luggage into the trunk of the land cruiser.

"Can I drive?" she asked him with a hopeful tone as he handed her the keys. He couldn't deny her at this point as he closed the door, before taking her in his arms again. "I really missed you sweetheart," he whispered, resting his intertwined hands at the small of her back as she looked up at him, her arms wrapped around his neck. "I missed you too, I'm glad the two weeks are gone," she admitted as he dropped his head down to hers. "You and me both beautiful," he told her, rubbing his thumbs back and forth on her waist

"Now I've got you all to myself." he grinned down at her as she let out a small chuckle. "Should I be afraid?" she asked him as he shook his head. "Never love," he promised her as he kissed her lips. "Come on we better get going, it's still a bit of drive. You sure you want to drive?" he asked her as she nodded her head at him. "If you allow me to," she told him as he nodded his head. "I trust you won't kill me yet." he teased her as she nudged him softly before greeting Taylor as he appeared in their line of vision.

"So what did you get up to back home?" Alex asked her as they left the airport and they went on their way. "I went shopping with my sister, I went out to the local park concerts in our home town, spend time with family and friends," she told him as she steered the car through the non-concrete road.

"Sounds like fun, have you told your family yet?" he asked her as she shook her head. " No, they wouldn't believe me even if I told them, we have a few people in the family who love to bring others down, especially me. So I didn't want to tell them, they know about you, they just don't know who you are," she explained to him as he nodded his head, he supposed that was fair for now. He was actually looking forward to meeting her family, especially her grandparents he'd heard so much about. they sounded like really amazing people and he wanted to see it for himself.

"How's your sister?" he asked, knowing from the talks they'd had that she'd broken up with her long term boyfriend. "She's getting there, she just needs some time," Amelia noted as she turned to look at him for a split second, before focussing on the road again.

"And how is Chloe?" he asked her with a chuckle as Amelia rolled her eyes. "Her usual busy self, she's going to work at the retirement home this summer as a summer job," she explained to him as he nodded his head. He supposed they never really let up in their care of others. Even Amelia was back here, helping out animals this time and he couldn't wait to share it with her.

"Home sweet home," Alex said as he pushed the door to his cabin open. "It looks amazing," Amelia noted as she looked around the African decorated cabin. "I hope you don't mind, the cabin with two bedrooms was already taken," he told her as he nodded towards the one Queen sized bed as she shrugged her shoulders. "We're adults right," she told him as he nodded his head, happy that she wasn't making a fuss about it as he went to stand behind her, his arms wrapping around her middle as he kissed the side of her neck.

"I was thinking I could take you to the reserve and introduce you to some of the staff, or we stay here and you catch up on some sleep. But we do have dinner with the staff of the camp tonight," he told her as she turned around to look up at him. "I can sleep tonight, I'm not promising it won't be an early night, but I'll do my best." she told him as he nodded his head at her. "do you mind if I take a shower first though. I want to wash away the grime of travel." she explained as he motioned towards the bathroom in their cabin.

"It's all your sweetheart," he told her as she stood on her toes to kiss his lips before going to her suitcase, pulling out her toiletry bag and heading of the bathroom.

"Oh my god it's a raining shower." he heard Amelia call out in amazement and Alex couldn't help but let out a chuckle. This woman was none like he'd ever met, she was simply amazed by the smallest things from a rain shower to the view of nature like some they'd come across on the drive here. At one point he'd taken over from her when she was more busy looking at the views than at the road. Not that he minded, it was amazing to see her so interested in the things that he was too. To see her amazed by the simple things and she could truly enjoy them it seemed.

"What should I wear?" she asked her boyfriend as she walked into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around her chest and Alex couldn't help but let his eyes wander for a moment. He realised that it was the first time that he saw her legs, she always wore jeans, not that she didn't look great in those, she did. But it was nice to see her in something else. "You pick, it's just a casual dinner, nothing more," he assured her when he saw her pick something out and left for the bathroom again.

"This okay?" she asked, coming out, her hair still wet, but she looked incredible, she was wearing heels for the very first time and he wondered what it would be like to go on tours with her. He had a feeling that she'd make it seem very easy, Amelia just went along with the wind and it amazed him that she had the ability to adapt to so many different things. And looking at her right now, it looked like she was ready for a day of engagements and it made him imagine things a bit more than he already was.

"You look absolutely amazing love," he whispered, walking up to her, letting his eyes run over her. She really looked amazing and he was stunned by her, she always hid in jeans and shirts, but she looked incredible in dresses. She really was an amazing woman and he knew his heart was probably lost forever with her.

"Ready?" he asked her as she nodded her head at him as she picked up her small handbag and they left the resort for what it was and got in the car. The drive towards the preservation centre wasn't too long as the director as Alexander informed her was there to greet them.

"John meet my incredible girlfriend Amelia, Amelia meet John, a great friend of mine as she extended her hand out to him. "It's nice to meet you, John, I'm looking forward to joining your team for a little while," she told him as he smiled at her, sharing a small look with Alexander. he hadn't been able to shut up about this woman. The entire team who knew Alexander from all his visits knew him well enough. Alexander didn't talk about women, sure he checked them out, but he never talked about woman in the way he talked about Amelia. And one look at the young woman and he understood, she had something about her and he couldn't wait to get to meet her even more.

"We're delighted to have you join us, I hope don't mind getting your hands dirty?" John asked her as they started to walk in another direction. "Of course not, the dirtier, the better, I'm looking forward to helping the animals," she explained to him as he gave her a small smile as he led her to the animal enclosures where injured animals were being cared for.

"We had a new Gorilla come in this morning, she's pretty badly hurt and so young," John explained as Amelia let her eyes wander around, not that she could see much yet, but she could see the enclosures.

"What happened to her?" Amelia asked, looking towards John. "Deforesters probably killed her mother and she was left for dead, she needs another bottle," John explained as she gave him a sad smile. "Can I do it?" she asked with a hopeful tone as he nodded his head with a small chuckle at seeing her enthusiasm, she'd fit right in for the time that she was there.

"Oh my, she's such a tiny little thing." Amelia gasped when she saw her in the enclosure with other small gorilla's. "Come here little one, it's alright," Amelia whispered in a soft and comforting tone as Alex and John shared a look behind her back. Alex knew enough with the one nod that John gave him, he approved of his choice.

"We have a towel," John told her as he saw her take the monkey and worried for her dress. "It's just a dress." Amelia said with a small wave as she cradled the little one to her chest. "poor thing, she's so tiny." Amelia noted, looking at both Alex and John as they crouched down beside her, John handing her the bottle as she held her in a cradling hold and started to feed her the bottle.

"She still needs a name," John told her as she looked down in the tiny face. "What does justice mean in Tanzanian?" she asked him, looking at John as he gave her a small smile. "Adla," he told her as he agreed it was a great name for the young gorilla. "Well I think it's fitting, I hope she gets justice," Amelia noted as she stroked the fingers of the little one as he suckled quiet happily from the bottle as another came up to them. He was quite a bit bigger as he reached out to take a strand of her hair. "hello there." Amelia smiled at the monkey as she held the bottle and gorilla in her one hand, years of practice being the oldest of five as she reached her hand out. "She likes you," Alex told her as he saw the money he'd fed with a bottle cup Amelia's cheek in his hand, a compassionate look on his face as he cupped the head of the baby monkey she was feeding.

And his heart swelled even more for this amazing woman. he'd hoped to see her in action with the animals. He didn't know what to expect, but for her to instantly connect as she did. To see her care for little Adla and interact with Faraji, it simply melted his heart. His love for her growing even more as he saw her acting with such love, compassion and care towards them. She truly was a brilliant woman and he hoped that he'd be able to spend the rest of his life with her. he knew now that she truly was his one true love. Nothing would be able to bring him away from that idea. He knew they had so many common interests, she had more, but she simply had a curious mind and he was becoming like her in that aspect.

And to now see that she shared his biggest passion, animals, well it was so amazing and it certainly sealed the deal for him as he rested his hand at the small of her back.

"There you go, all finished little one," Amelia said as John took the bottle from her as she held the monkey, her eyes falling shut and that was more than proof that she felt safe with Amelia. If you wanted to know how someone character was, you had to look at them in how they treated animals and children. And with Amelia, well the proof was right in front of him wasn't it.

When they were about to leave the enclosure the little one wouldn't let go of her and it broke Amelia's heart so she told John she didn't mind holding her a bit longer. She was only just a baby and she'd had to grow up quickly. She wanted to give her the chance to be a baby again. "she feels safe." Alex whispered as he had his arm around his girlfriend, the tiny monkey in her arm, her head resting on Amelia's shoulder and looking at him.

"she just wants to be a baby again. She just lost her mum, you can't ask her to be an adult yet." Amelia noted as she rubbed her hand up and down Adla's back and her eyes closed again. "she's going to become very attached you know." Alex warned her and he had a feeling it wouldn't only be Adla, but Amelia as well. He'd already heard that her fear would probably mean that she wouldn't be able to go out in the wild. She would have the immune system like those in the wild, so she'd stay here at the enclosure.

"Come on meet the rest of the team," John said as a group of people were gathered at the front of the building they'd stopped at. Soon she was introduced to the team of twenty people, They'd have to give her a few days before she knew everyone's name, but they did seem like a lovely bunch. And she'd already won their hearts a little to see their youngest adoptee in her arms fast asleep.

"I did." Amelia smiled at the vet of the team. She was a young woman who'd only graduated five years ago, named Aisha. But she was a force to be reckoned with if she had to believe the stories. "That's great, you can help me out a little then." Aisha smiled, happy she'd have some capable hands, and then she was a nurse as well so she had those techniques as well. To then learn that during her teenage years she'd helped out their local vet for a few years. Well, she'd make great use of what she had to offer as a few of the team were preparing dinner for them. Adla was still fast asleep in her arms. And though she knew it wasn't a good, idea she couldn't let her go like that.

"And would adoption work?" she asked John as she'd started to talk to him. She'd talked to him about having animals be adopted by parent figured. Like in Adla's case, she could go to an adoptive mother and it would be easier for her to adopt to just being a monkey than to be raised by a human.

"It would take a huge organisation, but I suppose we could make a trial run at it. We could raise Adla to be an adoptive mother for in the future." he agreed with her as she nodded her head. "I think it would make the pressure on you guys lessen as well. If you know you don't have to worry about bottles needing to be given, you could focus on the real threats out there." Amelia explained her entire thought process as she felt Alex's hand on her thigh as he was talking to someone else, but he had one ear on her conversation.

"Have you seen it done?" he asked her as Amelia tilted her head to the side. "I've read some things about it, but a friend of mine had a foal and she was kicked to the side by her mother. We gave her to another mare who'd just give birth and she adopted the foal as hers. You'd have to have the right situations. But these guys, they're incredibly smart, I'm sure that with training, we could teach them to look after youngsters being brought in." she told him with a hopeful tone as he tilted his head to the side with a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'll think about it, would you mind if I get back to you on that?" he asked her as she shook her head. "Of course not, I'll give you my number so you can reach me when I'm gone," she explained to him as he gave her a small smile.

"You're incredible you know that?" Alex said as they walked into their lodge later that evening. She'd managed to charm everyone of the members, managed to impress John with her idea and leave an even bigger impression on him. she was a natural at being social, she could talk to anyone, she had something to add and wasn't vague. No, she really had a brain in that head of hers and she put it to great use.

"I'm just me Alex," she told him as he wrapped his arm around her as he nuzzled the side of her neck. "Still I think you're amazing," he whispered, kissing the side of her head as she let her head drop to the side as he kissed his way up her neck before she turned around in his arms.

"You have no idea how incredible you are," he whispered, cupping her cheek as she gave him a tired smile before a yawn erupted from her mouth. "I think it's time we get you to bed," he told her as she nodded her head, she'd really had a brilliant time, talking with those people, sharing ideas. Just being near Alex, it had been a perfect night for her, even the little monkey had been amazing but the exhaustion was catching up with her. She'd been awake for over 24 hours and she was tired.

"The bathroom is yours," she told him as she came out in shorts and top, his eyes roaming over her legs and felt himself get a bit hard. God, she really was an amazing, both inside and out, deciding to go into the bathroom before he embarrassed herself. When he came out, freshly showered he found her rubbing body milk into her legs on the small couch. "come on." he told her as he went to his side of the bed and she walked up to the other side as they crawled in. "I'll behave," he promised her as she let out a chuckle, crawling into his side as she rested her head on his chest. "I'll take you on that," she told him, tilting her head up to look at him, his eyes locking on hers.

Lifting his head and tilting it down he closed his lips over hers as her hand travelled up to run through his hair. "God woman what are you doing to me?" he asked her as they were now lying side by side, both of them panting for breath, his one hand resting on her waist. Her top having risen a little bit. "I could ask you the same thing," she told him, resting her head against his as she let out a small sigh, still trying to catch her breath as he flashed her a grin, before kissing her again. Her one hand running up and down his waist, her other playing with his hair as he pulled her closer to him and she felt what the kiss was doing to him.

Alex had to use every fibre of his being to pull away. "unless we want this to go any further I think it's best if we stop here." he whispered, rubbing his thumb back and forth on the soft skin of her waist as she nodded her head at him, it wasn't a step they were ready for just yet. She had no doubt that it would be in the near future, but for now, they just cuddled up against each other.

Walking up he felt something tickle his nose, a smile appeared on his face when he notices what was tickling his nose. it had been a very long time since he'd slept with a woman, just slept and nothing more and with Amelia, he didn't mind at all. Tilting his head a little more he noticed that she was still asleep, their legs a tangled mess, her arm draped across his stomach as her head rested on his chest.

"Sweetheart, it's time to wake up," he whispered, rubbing his fingers up and down her side as he kissed the side of her head. "Come on sweetheart," he whispered, as she started to move her face against his chest. "I'm still tired," she whispered as he let out a chuckle, kissing the top of her head. "I know beautiful," he whispered, pulling her a bit closer to him.

He felt her stretch against him before her head lifted to look up at him. "morning beautiful." he whispered, leaning down to kiss her lips. "Morning love." she grinned, leaning on her elbow to kiss him again. "I could get used to this," she whispered, her one hand resting above his heart.

"You and me both," he whispered running his hand from her back up to her head as he pulled her closer to kiss her again. That was till their alarms went off. "I think we've got to get up," she told him with a cheeky grin, patting his chest with her hand.

They'd been working all day long, Adla had been stuck to her side for most of the day as she helped Aisha in the clinic or when they went to see injured animals in the field. It was pretty amazing and knew that she'd made the right decision in coming here for two very good reasons.

"Want to come with me?" Alex asked her as she was stood on the porch of the main cabin. "Where?" she asked him, looking back at him with a tilt of her head. "I'm going to make a flyover of the reserve, I thought you might like to see the reserve from up there," he told her as he nodded his head in the direction of a helicopter. "You flying?" she asked him as he nodded his head. "Alright," she whispered as he took her hand and walked her up to it. "Come on," he told her as she got inside of it, fumbling with the straps till he got in.

"Scared?" he asked her as she nodded softly. "I'm afraid of heights," she admitted as he rubbed his thumb back and forth on her thigh as she gave him a small smile. "Don't worry about it, when you're up there you won't even think about it," he assured her as he buckled her into the seat before he did the same to himself. she put the headphone on her head as she turned to look at Alex, going over a checklist as the roter above them jumped to life. "Ready?" he asked her as she nodded her head and the helicopter lifted off as he steered in with an excellent skill he must have learned in the air force.

"wow." Amelia whispered as he flew into the crater and they could see the views even better. "this is amazing." she whispered as she gazed out of the window, to look at all the things that were happening below. "It is, isn't it?" he asked her as she turned her head to look at him and saw him grinning at her.

"It's incredible," she told him as she let out a small chuckle. she truly was amazed by all of it, if she hadn't been swept off her feet already by him, she would have been now as she looked around her. "What are we looking for?" she asked him as he rested his one hand on her thigh. "poachers mostly, when we see them, we call it in and the guys with guns will come in," he explained to her as she nodded her head. "Do they kill?" she asked him turning her head back to him as he nodded his head. "At times they do, they start off with warning shots though," Alex reassured her as she nodded her head. "I guess it makes sense, they won't stop on their own accord I suppose," Amelia noted as she looked around to find any sort of trouble. "I guess that they're hiding today," Alex muttered as she nodded her head in agreement, she could only see animals, not else. there wasn't a poacher inside, that was a good thing for now.

When they touched the ground again she got out of the helicopter, throwing her arms around her boyfriend. "that was pretty amazing, you're a great pilot." she grinned up at him as he smiled down at her. "I'm glad you liked it," he whispered, his head resting against hers.

"Why don't you go back to the lodge and get ready. I've got a surprise for you tonight," he told her as she looked up at him questioningly. "Another one?" she asked him as he nodded his head with a boyish grin on his face. "Yes, I can't surprise you enough," he told her as she let out a chuckle. "Alright, what do I need to wear?" she asked him with a tilt of her head as he shrugged his shoulders. "Anything you like," he told her, knowing that whatever she picked out, she'd look great in it. She had a great style and couldn't wait to see what she was going to wear tonight. He had a bit more work to do however in order to surprise her as he handed the keys over to her.

"So he's going to surprise you again?" Chloe asked her, her phone was resting on the small table beside the bathtub as she let the dirt of today soak away. It had only been her first day with this team and she knew she was going to love it. It would be hard on her to return back to the normal world probably as well. Here it was just her, the team and Alex. Sure Taylor was there, the only reminder of who Alex was exactly. But here it was easy to forget who he was and just be themselves.

"Yea, I have no idea what he's got planned now," Amelia told her with amusement as she leant her head back against the edge of the tub. "I think that with him it could be anything Lou," Chloe told her with a smile in her voice as she shook her head. that had been something she'd learned already with Alex.

"Keep me updated alright?" Chloe asked her as Amelia promised her she would. Before she'd taken her bath she'd already called her grandparents to let them know how today had gone. Everything was alright at the home front so she didn't have to worry about anything at all.

When the water got too cold, she got out of it and got ready for whatever Alex had planned next. With him, it really could be anything, and she was curious to know what it was. Normally she didn't like to be on the receiving end of surprises. She loved surprising people, but she didn't like being surprised much. But with Alexander, she didn't mind so much as she minded from others. It was part of his charm and the thing that had made her fall for him so quickly. She knew she'd already lost a big part of her heart to this amazing man, she just hoped that he wouldn't take it and break it. That was her biggest fear, she remembered how Jens had treated her, the first two weeks had been brilliant. He was caring, loving and attentive, nothing could have stopped him to be with her. And then in the third week, everything had changed. He'd started to distance himself, she had to beg to see him and usually, he'd always come up with some excuse that she was too naive to believe.

Their relationship had exhausted her, she'd put in all the effort, asking to see him, asking if he wanted to talk. She'd been fighting for two till the breaking point six weeks later. It was still fresh in her mind, it had been her last and first relationship. The tried attempt with the guy before that couldn't even be called that. When she found out that he smoked pod, well she'd been out there pretty quickly, never looking back.

Maybe that's why she was being so careful with Alex, she didn't want to rush into this as she'd done with Jens. Sure she'd been 21 at the time and had been charmed by him, they'd slept together rather quickly and she regretted that now. She and Alex were together for almost three weeks now. Sure she'd been in Belgium for two of those. But them talking over the phone had been a great way. It took the physical things out of it, they could only talk. they knew each other better than she'd ever known Jens. And in a way that was already a relief to her, she just hoped that he wouldn't go distant on her as well.

And then there was the other thing hanging above her head. She'd talked to Laure about it when she'd told Jonas. She knew that she should tell him rather than later, just to warn him. If he wasn't who he was, she probably would never tell him. She didn't want the past to hang over her future which she knew it would. Jens hadn't known about it, which had been a surprise seeing how chatty her family could get.

But with Alexander, he'd given her only small warnings here and there. But if and when they got out, they'd root her life up and find everything out about her, including that one thing that hung over her head. But for now, she wouldn't tell him just yet, she just wanted to be herself without him knowing yet.

Outfits

arriving in Africa
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first dinner at the first evening
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going to bed
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So that was the new chapter, I hope you've enjoyed it, please do let me know your thoughts below and if you'd like to read more or not.

HRHAmelia