Taking the Good with the Bad

By: HopelessRomatic

Disclaimer: I do not own Las Vegas or any of the characters. I may wish I owned Danny, but I don't. Sorry!

Summary: Danny and Mary finally realize their feelings for each other, but, as underlying conflict rises, Danny fears he may never see Mary again.

Prologue

"Mary!" Danny McCoy called out to his true love Mary Connell across the Montecito floor. It had been nearly two months since Danny returned from Iraq and proposed to Mary yet she had still not given him an answer and he was too afraid the answer would be no to confront her.

There was no question about their love for each other. Mary had known Danny was her true love since he kissed her behind the swing set when they were four. Danny had secretly known his feelings as well, but feared he would loose Mary like he lost his mother. It was not until he was stationed in Iraq that he came to the realization that he could no longer live without kissing Mary at least once a day for the rest of his life. His original proposal was not very well planned, but all he had cared about was Mary saying yes. Yet she persisted to torment him by not giving him an answer.

Danny walked across the casino floor making his way to his true love. "So, what are you doing tonight?" Danny asked. He could not take his eyes off Mary's radiant smile. Her aroma filled his senses with a smell sweeter than fresh roses.

"I get off at 3:00, but I don't have any plans. Why do you ask?" Mary knew Danny was up to something, but she tried to act oblivious.

"Well I was hoping I could talk to you after you got off work at Mystique. Sound okay?" Danny had been trying to convince Delinda to let him use Mystique for well over a week, and now that his careful planning was finally in action, he could not help but to feel anxious.

"Sounds great! Are you going to tell me what you want to talk about?" She was hoping this was a date like situation but with Danny she knew not to get her hopes up and she wasn't about to push it. She thought that Danny proposing after he came back from Iraq was just him worrying that he'll never get married so he went for the closest two-legged creature. But her heart hurt to think that about the one she loves, so she never brought it up.

"I'll tell you. Don't worry. But later, now is not the time."

"Alright, Alright. You win Danny," Mary surrendered.

Danny leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. "I have to get back to work. Ed's got me on a big case. I'll see you tonight."

Danny wished he could have told Mary every inch of his soul, but he knew she would love this surprise, so he held back.

Both Mary and Danny went back to work half-heartedly, for both their heads were in the clouds.

Later that day:

Mary would be off work in 10 minutes she could not wait to talk to Danny. Talking to him would take her mind off of all that was happening she hadn't told Danny about how she went to see her father's new wife while he was in Iraq. The only reason she had had the courage to confront her was because one of Danny's letters had inspired her.

5 more minutes! It won't be so terrible if I take off five minutes early. It's not like I can get any work done thinking about Danny. Mary thought she might clean up a bit before heading over to Mystique.

She looked in the mirror of the employee's bathroom. Her heart was racing at the thought of seeing Danny. "Get a hold of yourself Mary. He probably just wants to hangout as friends. That's all." She was starting to convince her mind, but her heart was telling her something different. It was all in his eyes. He was excited about something. The question was – what.

She splashed some water on her face and started to head over to Mystique.

When she reached the door she took a deep breath before opening it. "Just friends," she repeated to herself.

She pulled the handle and opened the door, but the club was dark. Maybe Danny is running a little late, she rationalized letting the door shut behind her. She took a few steps further into the room. Just as she was preparing to go wait in front of the club, millions of twinkling lights lit up the room revealing ruby red rose petals making a pathway to the front of the club. Romantic music began to fill the air as Mary's eyes came to rest on the fulfiller of her dreams, her knight in shining armor, the love of her life, Danny McCoy.

He was at the end of the rose petal path looking as stunning as always with a big smile on his face. Mary slowly walked toward him. She could barely speak. Why would Danny go to so much trouble for me? she thought.

She reached Danny and he took her hands into his and said, "Do you like it?"

"Like it? I love it! What is it for?" she finally caught her breath and her mind was running a mile a minute.

Danny looked straight into her eye and spoke with his heart, "Mary, since we were kids I have been in love with you. From the time we kissed behind the playground to the first time we made love. My love for you has only grown exponentially over time, and just when I think it has exceeded the greatest amount possible for a man to love a woman, I see you smile and it grows a hundred times bigger. You are my universe and without having you in my life forever would break my heart into pieces so small you could pass them through the eye of a needle. I would die just your smile. I can't keep living without being able to be the only man in your life." Danny got down on one knee and pulled a little black box out of his pocket. He opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. "Mary Connell, will you marry me?"

Tears were streaming down Mary's face. Never had she heard something so beautiful and so what her heart needed to hear. "Yes, Danny McCoy. I love you!" He embraced her and kissed her so hard that her toes when numb. It had all been worth it just to hear her say those three words. "I love you." And now she would be his bride.

Mary's Father's POV:

That goodie two-shoe daughter of mine has messed up my life for the last time. Her and that bodyguard she's had since she was a kid. What gives her the right to destroy my family? Now I have to borrow money from a lone-shark just to be able to afford an attorney so that my soon-to-be ex-wife won't take everything I've got. I still can't believe that witch wanted a divorce after Mary told her about how I raped her as a child. I had changed but they just can't accept that. I'll show them who I really am and they won't like it. They won't like it one bit. He he!


This was my first FanFic so I hope you enjoy it. I have big plans for the future if you R&R. Thanks for reading! (" )