Here is the first story, the one before pushed too far? Sorry if the posts are really long but I have set it out in as around 4 short stories about Ronnie and Danielle that lead on to Pushed too Far....
Danielle sat alone in the Slater's kitchen, pen in hand staring blankly at the table below. All she had managed to write was 'Ronnie' on the envelope; she had no idea how to start explaining the situation to her mother... 20 minutes had passed and Danielle had only managed to write a couple of lines, but she felt it was enough to explain the pain and fear she felt about her being rejected by her mother, both now and when she was born. She carefully placed the letter in the envelope, leaving a note for Stacey asking her to give it to Ronnie. Danielle knew she could never have the courage to tell Ronnie the truth, running away was the only option. She picked up her rucksack that she had hidden in the cupboard and rushed out the front door, leaving it slightly open. Danielle walked across the square, planning to never look back.
Ronnie stood at the window of The Vic, staring at the people in the Square. She couldn't help but wonder the troubles they had, she felt guilty assuming that they she had in much worse than anybody else. She grieved for her lost daughter every day, knowing that they would never be re-united. But recently another person had entered her head, too much for Ronnie's liking. She didn't know why she cared for Danielle, the girl had no connection to her but she still cared. Ronnie decided she needed to talk to Danielle, try and work out who this girl was to her....Ronnie grabbed her coat and headed out of The Vic and across the Square. As she headed into the Square Danielle walked past, missing Ronnie by only a moment. Danielle headed through the market stalls and towards the tube, disappearing around the corner.
Stacey was upstairs in the bathroom, getting ready for a girlie shopping trip with her best friend. She had taken time to do her make-up and her hair, after all the problems with Bradley and Callum she wanted to make herself feel better. Stacey had finally finished putting the finishing touches to her eyeliner and she made her way down the stairs calling out Danielle's name. Stacey called out Danielle again when she got no response. There was silence again, confused Stacey headed for the kitchen. She paused at the kitchen door and slowly pushed it open, before her was an unexpected sight. "What are you doing here?" she said as she stared at Ronnie, who had tears running down her face as she held the letter up for Stacey to see....
*End of Episode*
"What is that?" Stacey asked Ronnie, confused. But Stacey could see the shocked look on Ronnie's face; she must finally know the truth.... "Is it true?" Ronnie asked. Stacey nodded, prompting Ronnie to burst into tears again, holding her hands up to her face, unable to contemplate the shocking revelation. Ronnie couldn't understand how this could be true, but after dreaming of finding her daughter for so long, Ronnie didn't care. She didn't care that it didn't make sense or the fact that she thought her daughter was dead. Even her father's lie didn't matter; she would deal with Archie later. Danielle was what was important, suddenly all the times she had cared for her, thought of her, it all made sense. All Ronnie knew was that she wanted to find Danielle, find her daughter. Ronnie stuffed the letter in her coat pocket and pushed past Stacey, heading to the front door. "Where are you going?" Stacey called. "To find my daughter" Ronnie replied, not even turning back to look at Stacey as she answered her question. Stacey chased after Ronnie, grabbing her coat of the hook and heading out the door after Ronnie.
She had reached the tube, rucksack on her back and ticket in her hand but Danielle stood still staring at the ticket barrier, she knew she could move, move on from Ronnie and Walford but something was stopping her. As angry commuters started queuing up behind her Danielle realised her phone was ringing. As Stacey's name started flashing on the phone screen, she moved aside into a quieter corner of the station. She looked at the screen, her finger moving back and forth from the accept call button. She knew what Stacey was calling about, she had found the letter. For that one moment Ronnie left her mind, something that had not happened for months, she thought of Stacey. Her best friend, she owed it to Stacey to say goodbye. With that she decided to answer the call, but she was too late the phone line went dead. Danielle knew she needed to say a proper goodbye to Stacey so she picked up her bag and headed back to Albert Square, hoping she didn't see Ronnie, which would make trying to leave for a second time even harder.
Ronnie and Stacey had searched desperately round the Square and market for Danielle but no-one had seen or heard from her. They both sat on Arthur's bench, shattered both physically and mentally. Tears started to roll down Ronnie's face as she contemplated the fact that she had lost her daughter all over again. Stacey tried to comfort her, placing her arm on her shoulder but she didn't know what to say, no words would ever console Ronnie at that time. But when both had given up hope Stacey looked up and noticed a small blonde figure walking back down the market. The girl looked lost, scared and alone but she instantly recognised her. "Ronnie" Stacey said quietly as she pointed towards the figure. Ronnie looked up, wiping the tears from her face. She stood up and looked at the figure; even though her back was turned she knew who it was, Danielle. Ronnie's heart skipped a beat, this was the moment she had been waiting for, wishing for but a moment she thought would never happen. Impulsively she shouted "Amy".
Danielle was standing just outside the Vic, staring back down the market, her eyes searching for Stacey but she was nowhere to be seen. But just when she contemplated heading back to the tube, Ronnie's voice caught her attention. The tone, the sound of Ronnie's voice was different, but when she realised what Ronnie had called out her heart skipped a beat. She had said "Amy" and she knew she wasn't calling after her niece, it was her, Ronnie knew the truth. Terrified but delighted at the same time Danielle began to cry, both tears and tears of joy. She slowly turned on the spot and looked towards the direction of where the voice came from. She then clapped eyes on her, Ronnie standing in front of her, tears also running uncontrollably down her face. They moment they had both been waiting for was in front of them but neither moved, both just staring at each-other overcome by the moment. As Danielle went to step forward, the revving of an engine came closer and closer, until Danielle turned momentarily to look at the car as it hurtled towards her, it wasn't going to stop. Danielle's and Ronnie's moment was gone.
*End of Episode*
Peggy and Archie had enjoyed a magical wedding, the perfect day when all the Mitchell family came together; even Ronnie grudgingly attended as a Bridesmaid. After the wedding Peggy and Archie had blissfully gone away on honeymoon, a week in the Caribbean. As they drove back from the Airport the rain came down harder and they both wondered why they had ever left the Caribbean. They finally reached the road that led to Albert Square, the rain had now stopped and they both appreciated being back home. The Vic came into sight and the happy couple shared a sneaky kiss as Archie drove round the final bend. This foolish moment distracted Archie for only a second but the second was long enough, with his eyes on his new wife rather than the road ahead Archie's car slammed into a person standing in the road. The shock caused Archie to slam on the brakes, both Archie and Peggy looking out of the widescreen window at Danielle, who was lying motionless in the road.
The delighted expression on Ronnie's face soon turned to horror as one moment her daughter was standing in front of her, the next she was lying in the road. Ronnie screamed but she was helpless. Stacey and Ronnie ran straight to Danielle's still body, blood masking her face and hands, leaving a pool in the road. Ronnie desperately tried shaking Danielle, desperately trying to wake her daughter. Stacey had dialled 999 to call an ambulance but she was crying so hard that it became hard to speak. A small crowd had gathered around the scene, all powerless to help but still standing watching in shock. Roxy had come out from the Vic to see what the commotion was about and she was shocked to see her sister hysterically cradling Danielle in the road. She went closer to comfort her sister. At the same time Peggy jumped out of the car, shocked at being involved in the accident. She pushed through the crowd to get to Danielle. She had not expected to see Ronnie lying with Danielle, just repeating the words "I can't lose her again". Peggy, just like Roxy was confused but she went to help regardless. Struggling through the tears, Stacey began to explain the shocking truth about Ronnie and Danielle to Peggy and Roxy, as they heard the truth both wiped back tears and put a hand on Ronnie's shoulder, offering some comfort. Archie sat alone in the car, but it was unclear whether the expression on his face was one of guilt or triumph that he had finally beaten Ronnie, finally taught his daughter a lesson she would never forget.
They burst through the hospital doors, Ronnie was managing to run and keep up as the doctors wheeled Danielle through to surgery but Roxy, Stacey and Charlie were struggling to keep up. As Ronnie rushed down the hospital corridors nothing seemed to matter, everyone else, every object were just blurs. All Ronnie could see was Danielle's limp hand hanging over the trolley side as they wheeled her away, further and further away.
Over 2 hours had passed and Ronnie, Stacey, Roxy and Charlie sat in the same chairs, staring at the same blank walls. Ronnie had been rocking on her chair, occasionally repeating the words "I can't lose her again, I can't". Roxy had tried to offer support and comforting words the first few times but nothing had got through to Ronnie, only the doctor or Danielle's words mattered at that time.
All four had sat silently for many minutes, only feint noises from outside could be heard in the hospital's family room.
"What happened to Aunty Peg and Archie?" Roxy asked tentatively, hoping that only Charlie would hear her.
"They could rot in hell for all I care?" Ronnie barked. Roxy wanted to shout back, scream at her sister for saying such a horrible thing about their family, but she thought better of it and part of her, deep down felt the same. She had felt Ronnie's pain for so long and she wasn't sure how she could forgive her father for not only lying to Ronnie but then running Danielle down, whether it was a accident or not.
"Ronnie" a voice whispered as a face peered around the family room door. Ronnie jumped up, hoping to see a doctor ready to deliver good news but she was created by Peggy. Her aunt was shivering uncontrollably, mascara running down her normally spotless cheeks. Ronnie's face was cold when she looked down at her aunt but her attention was diverted by the tall silver haired figure standing just behind her. Without hesitation she launched herself at her father, throwing punch after punch, and kick after kick at his body.
"Look what you have done, look what you have done!" Ronnie screamed, pushing Archie's face against the window glass of Danielle's hospital room so he could see the damage he had caused.
It had taken 2 nurses and Roxy to final tear a hysterical Ronnie away from her father. Ronnie was now sitting alone in Danielle's hospital room, clutching Danielle's hand and resting her head against her daughter's legs. She lifted her head up and looked down at her daughter. "I remember when you were born; you were so beautiful, so small and fragile. I never wanted to let you go, I hope you know that. If it had of been my choice I never would have let you out of my sight." Ronnie whispered, placing a hand on Danielle's cold forehead, tears now running down her cheeks again.
"Ronnie" Roxy whispered as she poked her head round the door. Ronnie jumped slightly, she had forgotten that they were other people around, it seemed like it was just her and Danielle alone, together. "Ron, the doctors need to do more tests. Shall we go and get a cup of tea?" Roxy asked her sister, entering the hospital room and placing her hand on her sister's shoulder. Roxy knew Ronnie wouldn't want to leave Danielle's bedside so she slowly started to urge Ronnie out of her chair, not waiting for a response to the question she had asked. The two sisters left the room quietly, both continually looking back to check on Danielle.
Archie had been watching his daughter's from inside the family room, far enough away so that Ronnie wouldn't notice his presence watching over them. Peggy, Stacey and Charlie had headed back to the square to pick up some clothes and food. Archie and Peggy had spent many hours earlier being interviewed by the Police, but both were released pending further investigations. Archie slowly rose from his chair and left the family room, heading across the corridor and quietly entering Danielle's empty hospital room. All that could be heard was the noises from the ventilator and rushing of nurses in the corridor outside. He stared down at Danielle, emotionless. He walked around the side of the bed and sat down in the chair Ronnie had vacated only moments earlier, as he leaned into Danielle her gave her a kiss of the forehead.
"I'm sorry" he muttered, obviously struggling to say the words. "This was never about you. It was about teaching Ronnie a lesson, you just got in the way. This has always been about me and my girls. Peggy the whole Mitchell family, they don't matter to me." Archie said, staring back at his reflection in the glass of the room window. "You know I see a lot of Ronnie in myself, though she would never admit. Roxy was always my special little girl but Ronnie, with Ronnie it was different. Whatever I did to her, to you, it was done with good intentions, I hope you remember that." Archie said, clutching Danielle's arm hard. "You look so much like your mother" Archie chuckled to himself. "I knew, the day she told me she was pregnant that she would want to keep you. But how could I let her. She couldn't look after herself, her family, me. How could she look after a tiny little baby? I did you a favour, believe me. You wouldn't want to be part of the Mitchell family, and to be honest I don't want you to be. If Roxy knew what I had done, she would never forgive me." Archie said. As he became more and more angry, Danielle's wrist started to turn Red as Archie gripped harder.
Peggy made her way through the hospital corridors, towards Danielle's room. She hated hospitals and she hated the fact that her family had ended up in one so many times. As she turned the final corner she noticed Danielle's room door was slightly ajar. Panicking Peggy ran quicker and quicker, only stopping as she reached the door. But she was surprised to see Archie sitting alone with Danielle, muttering words under his breath. She listened carefully from behind the door; tears bubbling in her eyes as she heard the man she loved finally reveal his true colours. Peggy slowly closed the door as Archie had finished speaking, shocked and upset. She slid down the wall outside Danielle's room, crying uncontrollably as she realised that once again the man she had let into her heart and life, had betrayed her.
Outside the hospital Ronnie was standing alone, leaning on a wall clasping a hot cup of tea. She had asked her sister for a moment alone, to think and get some fresh air. She placed the tea on the ground and reached for her mobile phone in her bag. She slowly pressed the keys 999. "Police I would like to report the attempted murder of my daughter" Ronnie said, not stopping once to think about what she was about to say.
*end of episode*
After hearing the shocking and unexpected truth Peggy picked herself up and headed inside the family room. She needed time to compose herself, time to think. As she entered Charlie and Stacey burst through the doors, dropping bags of clothes and food on the floor. "Any news?" Stacey asked desperately. Peggy just dropped her head in silence; Stacey knew the answer and sat back down next to Charlie.
After hearing the noisy Slaters return in the corridor outside, Archie decided it was his time to leave. He stood up and left the room, not looking back at his injured granddaughter once. As he turned right and headed down the corridor he noticed Ronnie and Roxy headed towards Danielle from the opposite direction, he quickened his pace so that his daughter's didn't notice him. Ronnie headed straight into Danielle's room, sitting back into the chair next to her daughter as Roxy went into the family room, to be greeted by Peggy, Charlie and Stacey.
"Any more updates?" Roxy asked.
"No I'm sorry love" Peggy answered. Her voice was shaking and Roxy immediately noticed her aunt's distress and upset. She sat next to Peggy, grasping her hand and smiling at her aunt, "It will be fine, Aunty Peg, I promise" Roxy whispered kissing her on the cheek.
"Fine" Stacey barked, lifting her head of Charlie's shoulder. "How is any of this fine?" Stacey screamed, looking straight at Roxy angrily. "My best friend is lying there dying, your sister is losing her daughter all over again and you were the ones that have put her in this place!" Stacey screamed, pointing down at Peggy. Charlie tried to hold Stacey back but it was impossible as she vented at Roxy and Peggy.
Neither Peggy or Roxy answered Stacey, they both were too upset and they both knew Stacey was right, it wasn't fine, far from it. Upset, Peggy rushed out of the family room only to bump straight into Archie, who had returned to enjoy watching the damage he had caused. Archie saw how upset Peggy so he offered his wife a hug, opening his arms. Peggy stared up at Archie for a second; she couldn't understand how he could be so cold. He was not crying, not upset not even guilty for what they had done. Peggy angrily pushed past Archie, not wanting anything to do with the man she had married.
A crowd had gathered outside Danielle's room as Stacey, Roxy, Charlie, Peggy and Archie all looked into Danielle's room. She was still hooked up to machines, with Ronnie stroking her face and running Danielle's hair through her fingers. The moment of silence as they all looked on was interrupted by two policemen walking towards the group. "Archie Mitchell" the two police officers called. Archie turned and looked at them, unsure about how to react. "Yes officers" he said calmly. "We need you to come down to the station for further questioning" one policeman said. Archie's was still calm, he felt in control and he was happy to answer questions.
"Can I ask why officers please, I thought we were questioned enough earlier this evening" Archie said, pulling Peggy into a false hug and smiling. Peggy pushed him away as he loosened his grip. "It has come to our attention that the earlier incident may not have been an accident Mr Mitchell, so we need to ask you some more questions." Archie's heart rate suddenly quickened, he was no longer in control of the situation and he felt the pressure as those around him stared at him puzzlingly.
Ronnie had now noticed the commotion outside Danielle's room and she had gone to see what was happening. "This is ridiculous" Archie barked. "Sir if you are not willing to come voluntarily we will be forced to arrest you" the policeman stated. "Dad" Roxy whimpered, looking to her father for answers.
"It was an accident, I would never do anything to hurt my family. Ask my wife, she was in the car with me." Archie claimed. Peggy felt the anger boil inside of her as Archie continued to lie until one of the policemen turned to her. Peggy froze. "Madam you were in the car with Mr Mitchell at the time of the accident, where you not?" one policeman asked. Peggy nodded, not looking directly into their eyes.
"In your opinion, did Mr Mitchell deliberately run into Miss Jones?" they asked. Peggy stood still, unable to look at those around her. She looked up at Ronnie and Roxy, both arm in arm with tears streaming down their faces. She then turned slightly to look at Danielle, a member of her family, lying motionless on the bed. Peggy contemplated the damage Archie had caused her family, the lies and manipulation. "Mrs Mitchell?" the policeman asked, trying to catch Peggy's attention.
Peggy knew what she had to do, Archie needed to pay for what he had done. "Yes" Peggy stated nervously. Everyone gasped but Archie looked down on Peggy in disbelief as the Policemen nodded between themselves and dragged a hand cuffed Archie down the corridor. Desperately Archie called to Roxy, "Roxy love, you know this isn't true, I wouldn't do anything to hurt you". But Roxy just looked on as her helpless father was dragged around the corner and out of sight.
Ronnie tried to smile as her father was taken away but she couldn't. However much happiness she momentarily felt that her father was finally going to get what he deserved, her thoughts instantly went back to her critically injured daughter. She turned back into the room and sat next to Danielle.
Peggy, who was being comforted by Charlie, Roxy and Stacey all stood outside the window and looked in. Peggy knew she would need to answer more questions from the Police later, she knew she would need to lie again but all she could or wanted to think about now was her family.
Ronnie stared at Danielle. "Please wake up, please" she pleaded with the lifeless body that lay before her. Suddenly Danielle's hand jolted as it lay on the bed and Ronnie was overjoyed as Danielle slowly opened her eyes to see her mother watching over her. Danielle went to lift the oxygen mask of her face; she had waited 19 years to finally speak properly to her mother, waited so long to tell her how much she loved her. But Ronnie stopped her. Ronnie grasped Danielle's hand in her own. "It's going to be alright, everything is going to be alright I promise" Ronnie whispered, and for the first time in her life Ronnie actually believed it would be.
*end of episode*
One month had passed since Ronnie and Danielle had been re-united as mother and daughter. Danielle had moved in with Ronnie shortly after being released from hospital and their relationship was going from strength to strength.
Late one Saturday evening Danielle and Stacey stumbled back through the market, drunk and merry after many hours drinking in town. It had been the first time that the pair had been out together since Danielle had moved in with Ronnie after her release from hospital.
"Are you coming back for more drinks at mine?" Stacey slurred, throwing her arm over her best friend's shoulder. "Nah, better not. Ronnie is expecting me." Danielle replied. Stacey looked disappointed but she nodded to Danielle. Stacey knew that she shouldn't but she felt slightly resentful of the relationship between Ronnie and Danielle. She knew that her best friend was happier than she had ever been but she felt like she was losing Danielle, never getting the chance to spend time with her as her relationship with Ronnie grew.
"I will walk you back to Ronnie's then" Stacey said, forgetting her previous negative thoughts to make sure Danielle got home safely.
Back at her flat Ronnie sat alone on her sofa, flicking through the endless channels on her television. As the clock hit 1am she knew she should go to bed but ever since she had got Danielle back she worried about her and she never liked going to bed not knowing where her daughter was. She picked up her phone, wanting to dial Danielle's number and check she was ok, but she thought better of it. Her daughter was now 19 and she needed to remember that Danielle wasn't the little baby she once remembered that needed constant care.
Just as Ronnie put her phone down it started to ring, she looked at the screen hoping it was Danielle so she didn't need to worry but she didn't recognise the number, Ronnie wondered who could be calling at this late hour. Out of caution she tentatively picked up the phone and accepted the incoming call.
"Hello, who is this?" Ronnie questioned.
"Hello V, it's your father" the voice answered. Ronnie froze on the spot, terrified to hear Archie's voice on the other end of the line.
*end of episode*
Ronnie couldn't speak, paralysed by the shock of hearing her father's voice for the first time in nearly a month. "You not going to say hello?" Archie questioned, Ronnie was still silent. "After all it is your fault I am in this place!" Archie screamed down the line.
"Why are you calling me?" Ronnie asked, managing to stay calm but only getting these few words out. "Am I not allowed to call my daughter now then?" Archie questioned again. "I don't want to speak to you or see you ever again, do you understand me?" Ronnie barked.
"Thanks to you, I might never see any of my family again ever. I don't deserve to be here V, you know that. Everything I did, I did for my family." Archie stated.
Ronnie couldn't believe what she was hearing, her father continued to lie even after all that had happened the last few months. "You deserve everything you get. I hope you rot in prison for the rest of your life!" Ronnie screamed.
Ronnie could hear Archie breathing heavily down the phone as they both got more and more angry. Archie was silent and with that Ronnie decided to end the conversation, not wanting to hear her father's lies or manipulation anymore, until....
"How is she V? How is Danielle?" Ronnie knew by the tone in Archie's voice he didn't truly care, he had asked to wind Ronnie up; Archie had always known how to push the right buttons. "Don't you dare, don't you dare say her name" Ronnie screamed, struggling to control her emotions as tears started to flow. She hated the fact that Archie now knew he had got to her, he had hurt her even from behind bars.
"Just stay away from us, you hear me. Stay away." Ronnie screamed, slamming down the phone on her father. Ronnie started crying uncontrollably, unable to deal with the contact from her father. She was holding her head in her hands when she heard a noise from downstairs.
Ronnie wiped away the mascara smudges from her cheeks and went to the top of the stairs of her flat. She could hear giggling and the sound of keys as she released Danielle was home. She didn't want her daughter to see her upset so she quickly ran to the bathroom to wash her face and then she sat on the sofa, waiting for Danielle to enter.
Danielle said goodnight to Stacey and headed up the stairs, struggling to make the steps as the large amounts of alcohol she had consumed had an effect. She managed to reach the top of the stairs and looked around for her mother. "Mum" Danielle whispered, not wanting to wake Ronnie up if she was already asleep.
Danielle entered the lounge and saw Ronnie sitting on the sofa. She went up to Ronnie and sat next to her, leaning in to give her mum a hug. Ronnie smiled as she noticed that Danielle was drunk.
"How much have you had to drink?" Ronnie asked, smirking. This was the first time she had to deal with her drunken teenage daughter and she didn't know how else to react except jokingly. "Not much" Danielle slurred, giggling to herself.
"How was your night?" Danielle asked, trying to sit up straight and divert the conversation away from her drinking. Ronnie just nodded, not wanting to lie to her daughter but at the same time she didn't want to tell her that Archie had called. Danielle noticed her mother's hesitation and then saw her mobile on the coffee table, the screen was slightly smashed.
"What happened to your phone?" Danielle asked. "Oh nothing" Ronnie answered, taking the damaged phone and slipping it into her bag. "Why are you lying to me?" Danielle blurted out, before she thought about what she said.
"What?" Ronnie said, looking shocked at her daughter's question.
"You're not telling me something, what is it?" Danielle demanded as the alcohol took effect.
"You're drunk, let's talk about this is in the morning" Ronnie said, trying to lift her daughter up of the sofa.
"No, get off me" Danielle screamed, flinching away from Ronnie's grasp.
"Why are you being like this Dani?" Ronnie asked, confused by her daughters attitude.
"I'm not being anything. You're the one being a liar, just like him" Danielle said, pointing her finger at her mother.
Ronnie instinctively grabbed Danielle's arm, reacting angrily to the mention of her father. "Don't you dare compare me to him" Ronnie screamed, as she felt herself losing her temper for the first time with her daughter. Ronnie instantly let go of Danielle's arm as she realised she was starting to scare her daughter.
"Just go to bed" Ronnie ordered, trying to calm the situation down.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Danielle screamed, rebelling against her mother's orders.
"Why are you being like this? Why are you making it so hard?" Ronnie paused. "Sometimes I wish..." Ronnie stopped herself, terrified of what she was just about to say in the heat of the moment.
But this had not gone unnoticed by Danielle, who looked shocked and upset by her mother's words. "You wish you never found me again" Danielle whispered quietly, tears streaming down her face.
"No, I never said that" Ronnie replied, trying to reach out a hand and comfort Danielle.
"That's what you were thinking though, wasn't it?" Danielle asked her mother. Danielle and Ronnie now stood opposite each other, looking straight into each other's eyes, Danielle waiting for a response. Ronnie paused for only a second, but that second was enough of an answer for Danielle.
As tears filled in Danielle's eyes she ran out of the living room, down the stairs and out of the flat, into the night. Leaving Ronnie standing alone in her flat, devastated by her mistake that may have pushed her daughter away again.
*end of episode*
Danielle sat alone on Arthur's bench, staring up into the night sky. She couldn't stop thinking about what Ronnie said, or what she was about to say. Though she was upset with Ronnie for saying what she did, Danielle was also upset with herself for losing her temper with Ronnie.
Danielle rifled through her pockets wanting to call her mum and explain, say sorry; it may have been an easy way out but Danielle didn't have the guts to talk to Ronnie face to face after their first proper fight. After checking both pockets she realised she had left her phone and bag at the flat because she left in such a hurry. Danielle sighed and lent against the bench, she decided to stay put for a bit longer and let the situation calm down.
Back at the flat Ronnie sat alone, crying into her hands after the fight with Danielle. She kept going back over Danielle's words in her head, 'you wish you never found me again'. Just the thought of her daughter so upset broke Ronnie's heart. She had sat in the flat for a few minutes, just in case Danielle returned straight away, but she hadn't. It was now 2am and Ronnie decided that she needed to find Danielle herself. Ronnie picked up her coat and headed out the door.
As a cold winter breeze blew across the square Danielle decided to go for a walk and clear her head, she headed down the market, missing Ronnie only by a second as her mum headed across the square to the Slater's.
Ronnie banged on the door, hoping to catch Stacey attention. After the second attempt she heard loud footsteps coming towards the door and it slowly opened. "What the hell are you doing at this hour?" shouted the voice, but to Ronnie disappointment she was greeted by a tired and angry Mo. "I need to speak to Stacey" Ronnie asked desperately. "Well you can't, have you seen the time?" Mo barked, trying to keep her eyes open.
But Ronnie refused to accept Mo's answer and she barged past Mo and into the Slater's front room. "I told you she won't be able to help" Mo repeated. Ronnie sighed and looked down at Stacey, who was flat out on the sofa fast asleep and snoring after her night out with Danielle. Ronnie angrily stormed out the Slater's and into the night looking for her daughter.
As Ronnie walked across she heard a voice in the distance, "If this is about Danielle, you better not have hurt her, otherwise you will have us to deal with!" Mo screamed, slamming the door before she headed back to bed. Ronnie ignored the threat and carried on searching.
Danielle had reached the tube, which was closed. She stared at the tube station, momentarily wondering whether leaving would be best for her and Ronnie. But her thoughts were interrupted by a voice over her shoulder. "You alright love? Maybe I could help you?" the voice said.
Danielle felt a hand on her shoulder. She didn't recognise the voice and as she turned round slowly to face the person, she realised she defiantly didn't know the man. Danielle's heart started to beat faster as she stared into the eyes of the stranger in front of her.
*end of episode*
"No I'm ok thanks" Danielle said nervously as she tried to slowly edge away from the man. But the man kept his grip on Danielle, moving hand down from Danielle's shoulder onto her waist. Danielle flinched. "Are you sure love?" the man said, leaning towards Danielle.
Before Danielle could answer heard a familiar voice from across the road. "Oi, what you doing?!" the voice screamed. Danielle looked over the man's shoulder and she was relieved to see Roxy, pushing Amy's buggy towards her. The man turned round and in the face of an angry Roxy storming towards him, the man let go of Danielle's waist and ran off into the night.
"You alright?" Roxy asked a clearly shaken Danielle. Danielle nodded, smiling at Roxy to thank her for arriving just at the right moment. "What are you doing out at this time?" Danielle asked. Roxy lent down to check on Amy, who was sleeping in the buggy.
"I was just trying to get Amy off to sleep" Roxy smiled as she looked down at her beautiful baby, who looked peaceful as she slept. "I could ask you the same question" Roxy added.
Danielle looked away, feeling awkward at Roxy's question but she felt Roxy staring at her, waiting for a response. "I had a fight with Ronnie" Danielle admitted. Roxy smiled at Danielle's answer. "Ah, I know what fights with Ronnie are like" Roxy joked. But Danielle started crying, trying to wipe back the tears in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I was only joking." Roxy said, placing a comforting arm around her niece. "Look I am heading back to The Vic, why don't you come and have a chat?" Roxy said. Danielle looked up at Roxy, smiling and nodding as they both headed back to the pub with Roxy's arm wrapped around Danielle's shoulder.
Danielle sat alone on the sofa in the Queen Vic lounge as Roxy put Amy back into her coat. Even though she was a Mitchell, Danielle felt awkward and uncomfortable being in the Vic. Her nerves were calmed by Roxy re-entering the lounge. "Do you want a drink?" Roxy asked as she opened up the alcohol cupboard and poured herself a small drink. "No thanks" Danielle said shyly, she knew that she had already drunk enough that night and alcohol hadn't helped the situation earlier.
Roxy joined Danielle on the sofa. "So what happened?" Roxy asked, trying to get Danielle to open up. This was the first time that Roxy and Danielle had the chance to have a proper chat alone and Roxy wanted to get to know her niece better.
Danielle hesitated at first and then the words and feelings started to pour out uncontrollably. "It was all a mis-understanding really. I just got annoyed with her and then she said...." Danielle paused for a moment. "Well I just felt a bit rejected and I didn't know what to say or do so I ran" Danielle admitted.
Roxy edged closer to Danielle and hugged her, offering comfort to her clearly upset and confused niece. "I just feel like sometimes she doesn't really like me" Danielle said. "What? What are you talking about?! She loves you so much" Roxy said, interrupting Danielle.
"I know she loves me, I Love her. But what if she only loves me because she has to, because I'm her daughter. I want her to like me as a person too. Before she knew who I was she didn't like me, I wanted her to like me so much but she didn't. She screamed at me, threatened me, got me arrested and all I was trying to do was get close to her, get to know her better so she would like me for who I was, who I am now."
Danielle could feel herself welling up again as she confided in Roxy. Roxy noticed this and gently placed her hand on top of Danielle's. "The thing is with Ronnie, she is very closed off. She has been hurt so many times that she finds it hard to let people; she finds it hard to like people. She only did what she did to you because she didn't know how to react around you. It wasn't about hate or not liking you, believe me. And as for now, well I know that she is so proud of how her little girl has grown up and she loves you more than anything in this world."
Danielle had now stopped crying as she listened to Roxy's words, they made her smile and she felt a connection with her aunt. The moment was interrupted by Amy crying again. Roxy sighed and went to check on her daughter, lifting her out of the cot and bringing her into the lounge.
Danielle smiled as she saw baby Amy being cradled in Roxy's arms. "May I?" Danielle asked quietly, not sure of what Roxy's response might be. "Sure" Roxy said, smiling and holding out her daughter, carefully placing her in Danielle's arms.
Danielle looked down at Amy, part of her wandered if she looked similar when she was younger. But the thought of Ronnie holding her as a baby only upset Danielle. "Hey" Danielle whispered, gently stroking Amy's face, "I'm Danielle, your cousin". "You know I used to be Amy Mitchell once" Danielle said, leaning forward to kiss Amy on the forehead as she drifted back off to sleep.
Roxy wiped back a tear after watching the emotional moment between her daughter and niece. "She likes you" Roxy said, Danielle smiled as she looked down at a now peaceful Amy, who was sleeping in her arms.
Ronnie had searched everywhere close by she could think of but she still had not found Danielle. She was heading back disappointed to her flat when she noticed that the light was on in the Vic's lounge. Ronnie headed through the Vic's back door and up the stairs, using the spare key she had in her coat pocket. Ronnie had reached the top of the stairs and she could see the light on in the lounge, she heard quiet voices but she instantly recognised them both.
Relieved she quietly popped her head round the door of the lounge and she was overcome to see Danielle sitting on the sofa, cradling Amy in her arms, with Roxy sitting next to her. She smiled to herself and she took a moment, wanting to remember this image of all the people she loved the most happy and together.
"Hi" Ronnie whispered, not wanting to wake Amy. Roxy and Danielle both jumped as they heard Ronnie's voice, turning round to look at Ronnie. Danielle nervously smiled at her mum, unsure about how to interact with her after their fight.
Roxy noticed this tension and she lifted Amy from Danielle's arms and left the room, leaving Ronnie and Danielle to talk. Ronnie joined Danielle on the sofa. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I didn't mean it. I was just angry." Ronnie said. She didn't want to tell Danielle about Archie's call but she knew she couldn't keep secrets from her either.
"Just before you came back Archie rang" Ronnie said. Danielle looked shocked and nervous again. Ronnie put a hand on Danielle's leg to reassure her, "Its fine, he just called to wind me up. He is locked away now; he can't hurt us anymore I promise." Ronnie said, kissing Danielle on the forehead and bringing her in for a hug. "I'm sorry to mum" Danielle whispered in her mother's ear as they embraced.