It was a chilly night but Danny didn't mind, nothing could ruin this day. Nothing!
Today was the day Alice Collins had finally agreed to marry him. There was no one he loved more than her.
He'd thought after losing his wife, he'd never move on, never feel the same again but he'd met Alice. She'd whirlwinded her way into his life and turned it upside down.
She'd pieced him back together and for that he was eternally grateful.
He'd called Rosie in Capetown, to tell her the news and both of them had sat crying for nearly the whole duration of the phonecall. Rosie loved Alice just like a mum and knew just how much she meant to her dad.
Olivia, much to Danny's surprise, had been absolutely brilliant and had obviously got over her aversion to Alice. She had phoned Evan to tell him the news and he'd promised to fly over for the wedding.
The Wedding. Danny grinned.
He couldn't wait to get Alice down the aisle and make her his wife. As he stood with a lovestruck grin on his face looking up at the stars, the woman herself appeared in the doorway.
"You thinking about coming inside anytime soon?" she said joining him.
Danny wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately. "your hands are freezing!" but she leant into him all the same. They stood in comfortable silence, savouring each other company. "Oh Alice I can't wait" he hugged her closer to him.
"me neither Danny, the sooner we get married the better!" He laughed before kissing her again. Alice grinned looking up at him
It still all seemed like a dream to her. If someone had told her 2 years before she'd be where she was today she'd have thought they were mad yet here she was. In the embrace of the man she was head over heels in love with, she had a good home, a loving family, everything was perfect.
"Did you phone Rosie?" She asked as she leant back into him.
"yeah, she's delighted" he laughed, "Did Rowan get away okay?"
"mmhm he's on his way back to Glasgow but i made him promise to come back for the wedding" She smiled as she felt Danny press a kiss to her head.
She shivered, it really was cold, even with Danny there.
"Come on, we'll go in" Danny said kissing her once more before joining their family.
Everyone was in the living room. Charlotte and Olivia had appointed themselves as wedding planners much to Danny's dismay.
"How about everything... pink!" Olivia was saying, she and Charlotte knew exactly how to wind Danny up.
"Right bed time i think-" But Alice cut across him.
"I like the sounds of that" she said winking at the girls who were doing their best not to explode with giggles.
Danny looked helplessly across the room at Dup, who shrugged. "It's not my wedding Trevanion"
"oh and sparkles too!" Charlotte piped up.
"Thats it bed !" Danny exclaimed. The girls burst out laughing, Caroline and Nomsa couldn't even keep a straight face. "Before you have me riding in on an elephant"
"Thats not bad" said Olivia in mock seriousness, "Charlotte write that down"
"eh Charlie don't bother" He laughed shaking his head as the girls wandered off to their rooms. Five minutes later he could still hear them giggling.
Alice stood up. "Beer?"
"Go on then" Danny smiled standing up himself. "I'll go check on the girls"
He knocked Liv's door first. "Come in"
He entered to find her watching TV on her bed. "Just saying goodnight and thanks Liv, for everything"
Liv said nothing but just gave Danny a big hug. "I love you Danny."
"I love you too" He said pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "You and Evan both mean so much to me you know that don't you?"
"I know, I think mum would have really liked Alice" Liv's eyes glistened as she said that.
Danny nodded "I think so too" He gave her another hug before standing up. "Night"
"Night Danny, we will have you in a pink suit" She added grinning evilly.
"Keep dreaming!" He laughed and closed the door behind him.
Still laughing he crossed the hall and entered Charlotte's room. She was already tucked up in bed struggling to keep her eyes open.
"Goodnight Charlotte" He whispered ruffling her hair gently.
"Danny?" She murmered sleepily. "i'm glad you're going to be my dad"
Danny thought his heart was just about going to swell out his chest. "Me too kiddo" he replied kissing her forehead. He waited till he was sure she was asleep before standing up.
He closed her room door and turned straight into Alice. "How long have you been standing there, Miss Collins?"
"Long enough, Mr Trevanion" Her eyes sparkled as she wrapped her arms round his neck and pulled him down for a blistering kiss.
"how about we forget drinks?" Danny murmered pressing his lips to her neck and grinning as he felt her breath catch.
"Hmmmm I like your thinking" She giggled as Danny took her hand and lead her towards their room.
As soon as the door was shut they couldn't keep their hands off each other.
"I love you Danny"
"I love you too" and the night continued from there.