"Home sweet home, eh," Daniel commented with an enthusiastic smile as his eyes wandered around Flora's finalised room at her new nursing home, with Sinead on his arm.
With Daniel and Sinead's help, Flora had spent most of the day moving her stuff into her room at the nursing home and putting everything into place to make it her own. Flora turned to look at the young newly engaged couple with a smile as she sat on the bed, "Well I won't keep you - you have a lot of stuff to do!" She hinted knowingly.
"Now, are you sure that you don't want us to do anything else?" Sinead ensured. Her arm was hooked through Daniel's as she snuggled into his side.
"I'm sure," Flora reassured. She stood up from her bed and walked over to them. "You two get off. Thank you for everything."
"It was our pleasure," Daniel spoke kindly as he wrapped his arm around Sinead. "And thank you," he added, referring to Flora orchestrating his engagement to Sinead even though he wanted it for a long time and also for the money to start up their own business.
"You're very welcome, it's a privilege!" Flora smiled brightly. "You two will come and visit won't you? And make sure you keep me updated on the vintage shop and I'll wait for your invite maybe for the wedding?"
"Of course!" Sinead smiled brightly. She pulled out of Daniel's hold and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Take care of yourself, yeah?"
"And make sure you two look after each other!" Flora pointed out as she accepted Daniel's kiss on the cheek.
"Don't worry," Daniel smiled as he wrapped his arm around Sinead again. He turned to look at Sinead who was looking up at him with warm affectionate eyes, filled with love, for him. "I'm never letting this one go again."
Sinead giggled shyly and reached up to give him a peck on the lips.
Daniel, Sinead and Flora bided their final goodbyes, promising that they will see each other soon before Daniel and Sinead started to walk out of the nursing home, hand in hand with their arms swinging slightly.
"So that's that then," Daniel let out a sigh of relief.
Sinead giggled, "You make it sound like you're glad to get rid of her."
"I will miss her being around but it could be hard work at times," Daniel admitted honestly. "It'll just be nice to have the place to ourselves!"
"Well there is still Adam," Sinead smirked.
Daniel chuckled, "Yeah, that's true." He stopped in his tracks for the moment, keeping hold of Sinead's hand as his mind started to process his current thought. "What do you say about moving your stuff over today?"
"What?" Sinead laughed, "You being serious? You've only just moved Flora out!"
"Why not," Daniel smiled. "There's no time like the present. Plus, it's only three in the afternoon. You don't have to unpack just move your stuff over, we'll find somewhere to put it for now." He hesitated for a moment. "That's if you want to, of course?"
"Of course," Sinead smiled genuinely. Her smile softened as she enveloped her arms around Daniel's neck. "There's no place I would rather be."
Daniel and Sinead shared a deep, sweet kiss before they parted and continued their walk over to the car. Daniel had asked Ken whether he could borrow his car to help with Flora's move to the care home instead of getting a taxi. Once they had reached the car, Daniel opened the passenger door for Sinead to get in and once she was settled, he closed the door and jumped into the driver's side and started to drive away towards the start of their next chapter.
"This is all out of the blue isn't it?" Beth frowned as she helped Sinead sort her clothes out into two suitcases. Daniel had just left the flat with Kirk with a few cardboard boxes loaded with Sinead's stuff to start taking over to the flat.
"Well we are engaged Auntie Beth," Sinead grinned as she folded a top up. "We are going to be getting married soon, would be daft us not living together!" Her subconscious suddenly smirked as she realised that she quoted exactly what Daniel said to her the day before.
"I know that," Beth responded. "I just wasn't expecting you to text me about an hour ago telling me you were moving out!"
"Why not?" Sinead shrugged innocently. "What's stopping us? Plus, I'm sure Maria will love the extra space sooner, even though you and Kirk are moving out on Friday."
"I guess," Beth sighed. She looked directly at Sinead and grabbed hold of her hand which made Sinead look at her auntie with a curious expression. "Don't get me wrong, I'm dead happy for you and Daniel and all that babes, but I have to ask – is this definitely what you want?"
Sinead smiled, nodding her head. "Yeah, it is."
"That's good to know," Beth smiled back. She coughed slightly as she let go of Sinead's hand, "I just wanted to make sure you know as really, it really wasn't long ago that you were preparing to marry Chesney!"
Sinead rolled her eyes at the fact that she had just been haunted by that thought – she realised a long time ago that that was recipe of disaster in the making. "Yeah, well I'm glad a line has finally been drawn under that! To tell you the truth Auntie Beth and even Chesney knew it really, I never stopped loving Daniel. Even when I was organising my wedding to Chesney, I was fighting my feelings but couldn't act on them because I thought it was the right thing to do and was scared of letting people down. This time, whenever that will be, I'm going to walk down that aisle for the right reasons – I'm doing it because I'm really in love with Daniel and I know that he's truly the one for me."
"Alright, queue the black and white screens," Beth teased then laughed. "Well, I'm glad. If we're being honest and I will always stay on your side whatever, deep down I was wondering whether you really loved Chesney or whether you still had feelings for Daniel." She mentioned sadly.
"Mine and Chesney's relationship died a long time ago," Sinead stated honestly, "Before I even met Daniel."
Beth smiled sympathetically before they heard heavy footsteps returning to the flat. All of a sudden, Daniel appeared in the doorway with Kirk lingering behind him.
"Is that everything?" Daniel queried looking at Sinead.
"Mhm," Sinead responded merrily as she started closing the suitcases.
"Come on then," Daniel said as he lifted one of the suitcases off the bed. "Let's get going!"
Sinead lifted the other suitcase off the bed.
"I can take that for you Sinead," Kirk offered as he walked into the room.
"No, it's alright Kirk," Sinead smiled genuinely. "I can manage."
Sinead looked towards Daniel and shared a smile with him before they walked out of Maria's flat with Beth and Kirk following. Sensing that Sinead wanted a moment with her aunt, Daniel gently took the suitcase off Sinead, "I'll get this lot over," he said.
Sinead smiled gratefully at him which he returned before wheeling the two suitcases over to the flat. Sinead briefly watched him walk away before turning back to Beth and Kirk.
"Look after yourself yeah?" Beth said as she opened her arms. Sinead walked straight into her aunt's arms and tightly hugged her. "And remember, I'm only down the road or a phone call or text away if you need me."
"I know," Sinead smiled and pulled away. "I put some of my clothes in the wash, once they're ready, could you drop them round or something?"
"Of course," Beth nodded.
They chatted for a bit until Daniel approached them wearily, worried that he was intruding on a private moment.
"Oi you," Beth warned in a slightly playful manner as she noticed Daniel approaching. "You better look after our Sinead yeah? Us Tinkers have a lot of fire if you don't!"
Daniel smiled and looked over at Sinead, "Don't worry, I will, I promise."
Sinead smiled shyly as she walked over to Daniel, "Come on, let's go." She looked over at Beth and Kirk as she felt Daniel's arm wrap around her shoulders – a safe and warm feeling. "I'll see you later yeah?"
"Ta-rah babe!" Beth smiled.
"Invite us round for dinner soon!" Kirk spoke in a chirpy voice, which resulted in a scowl and an elbow in the ribs from Beth.
Sinead smirked as she wrapped her arm around Daniel's waist and started walking towards the flat.
"You hungry?" Daniel wondered, "We could get Chinese."
"Yeah, sounds good," Sinead smiled.
"Aw, if it isn't love's young dream!"
In sync, Daniel and Sinead cringed at the speaker's voice as they turned in the speaker's direction to find Tracy walking past.
"Can we help you?" Daniel gave Tracy a scornful look.
"Yeah, just make sure you don't set the bar too high for your wedding," Tracy smirked wickedly. "Because there's no way you'll be upstaging my big day!"
"Why? What are you planning?" Daniel frowned, "You going to get married abroad and do us all a favour?"
Sinead smirked in amusement. Tracy gave Daniel a strenuous look, "Oh haha!" she scowled, "To have you know, I have bigger and better plans!"
With that, Tracy stormed off in the direction of the florist where she had left Mary in charge. Sinead and Daniel continued walking towards their flat.
"Does she really have to be my sister in law?" Sinead asked painfully.
"Step sister in law," Daniel reminded Sinead as they reached the flat. "Believe me, she's not my first choice either." Daniel pushed the door open and he and Sinead walked up the stairs and into the flat.
Sinead giggled, "I can tell."
Sinead's eyes wandered around the flat and she frowned, "I don't know why, but it seems weird coming here with Flora not being around anymore."
"Yeah it does a bit," Daniel agreed. "Well at least you've finally got me all to yourself." He teased.
Sinead laughed and she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I'm not complaining!" Sinead kissed Daniel before pulling him into a hug.
After dinner, Daniel and Sinead were cozied up on the sofa, slowly getting through a bottle of Adam's red wine. They were casually talking as they enjoyed being alone in each other's company with music that they both liked playing softly in the background.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention," Daniel started.
"What?" Sinead asked, taking a sip of her wine.
"Dad offered to pay for the wedding," Daniel smiled. "Therefore it means that money really isn't an issue regarding the wedding and the shop."
"That's great!" Sinead responded excitedly but then frowned, "Is your dad sure though? Weddings are expensive."
Daniel shrugged, "I think he feels bad that he missed most of my childhood hence why he's doing this. However, he put his foot in really as Tracy heard him and assumed that he's paying for her's too." He took a swig of wine.
"Well that's going to be some big fairy tale wedding, worth a fortune," Sinead rolled her eyes.
Daniel chuckled, "Well I have a feeling that's not going to happen. I think Dad is planning to have a word at some point."
Sinead smiled softly, "I have you know, I don't need the big fairy tale wedding. As long as I get to marry you, that's all that matters to me."
"Yeah, me too," Daniel said softly. He slowly leaned into Sinead and started kissing her for a few seconds before they pulled away.
"So," Sinead sighed. "There's a wedding and organising a vintage clothing business. Which one do you fancy doing first?"
"I certainly know what I fancy doing," Daniel mentioned flirtatiously before catching Sinead's lips in a kiss. He pulled away for a second in which Sinead took the opportunity to put her wine glass down on the coffee table. Sinead placed her hands on Daniel's cheeks and started kissing him passionately. While kissing, Daniel managed to put his wine glass down on the coffee table before gently guiding Sinead down onto the sofa.
For a while, they were passionately making out on the sofa until Daniel pulled away. He found Sinead's hand and took hold of it as he led her off the sofa. Keeping hold of her hand, he turned the music off.
"Come on," Daniel said as he led her into the bedroom which resulted in Sinead grinning as they entered the bedroom.
As Daniel closed the door behind them, Sinead glanced around the room. She started to reminisce how she stayed with Daniel in this room a year ago when they were living together. Yes, she did spend a lot of nights here when they got back together earlier in the year but this time, it was different. She's officially moved back in. This is now her home again and she felt that she really was home, that she belonged there. Actually she belonged wherever Daniel was. She knew all along really that her heart belonged with Daniel and being with him and where they are now made her the happiest girl alive. She was lucky to have him in her life.
Sinead got shaken out of her thoughts when arms started to circle around her waist.
"You okay?" Daniel asked.
Sinead smiled as she turned around in his arms, "Yeah, I'm fine."
Sinead's arms curled around Daniel's neck as she started kissing him deeply and passionately which Daniel gladly gave just as much enthusiasm as he led her over to the bed without breaking apart.
Finally, after all this time, they were together and they were home.