"I'm so sorry if I've hurt you in some way Danielle". Ronnie wasn't really sure what she was apologising for; but she was tired, she had no energy left to argue with this silly little girl, this child who had somehow forced her way into her life. She had followed her for months, draining her, a constant, niggling reminder in the back of her mind of something she did not have. Something she would never have again.

If anyone should be apologising, it should surely be Danielle. Apologising for being that reminder; for throwing her 19-year old existence in her face so forcefully. She didn't realise what she doing, of course. But should that really matter?

"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about Ronnie". Danielle was shouting now. Her eyes were wild. Ronnie approached her cautiously; she was worried for her niece who was nestled within Danielle's cradling arms. Holding her own arms towards the baby she tried to reason with Danielle, almost sure her efforts would be in vein.

"Amy is not your child, Danielle. I've tried to help you, but you need to leave now. This is an important day for this family".

An important day for this family, Ronnie's harsh words rang in Danielle's ears. She tried to back away, but her impulse was to move closer, to shout at Ronnie again and again; to tell her exactly how angry she made her feel. To tell her that she hated her, but most of all, to tell her that she loved her with all of her heart and mind. But she just couldn't.

Instead, she tried to shout the words "You're sick. Just sick". But her voice stuck in her throat; she choked and her body shook violently.

"I have no idea what you're talking about Danielle". As if mirroring Danielle, Ronnie shook with utter rage. What was this girl talking about? Why would she not just leave her alone? What had happened to her? These questions and so many more ran through Ronnie's mind. She wondered why she was so bothered; this girl clearly had nothing but hatred for her.

"Don't lie. He told you. He said he you knew". Danielle no longer had a problem with her voice. With each sentence she grew louder and moved closer and closer to her mother. She finished within inches of Ronnie, looking up into the face she had imagined and revered for so long. And all for nothing.

"Grandad said he told you", she claimed, broken. She went no further. It was up Ronnie to admit everything. To admit that after all this chasing, all of this waiting to talk, that it was her, Ronnie, who had been in the wrong. All Danielle wanted was acceptance, but that was exactly what Ronnie did not seem to want to give her.

"Told me what", Ronnie demanded, at the end of her tether. Danielle gasped. She could not believe this outright denial. She knew Ronnie could be closed, but she had no idea that she could be so cold towards her own family, her own daughter. Family was everything to the Mitchells, wasn't it?

"That you're my mother". Danielle spoke the words as if she was being sick, as if they were a toxin to be got rid of.

Ronnie looked across the room at her father. She stood up as she began to speak; after all that had happened between them, she knew these words would only go a small way towards healing their fractured relationship. She knew it would take effort on his side as well as hers, but after the scene upstairs just moments before, a bit of stability was everything she needed. A stable family around her was everything. So she thanked Archie, first and foremost for being her father, despite their differences.

She knew it was time for those differences to be laid to rest. Her daughter was lost so long ago – it was time to move on. This confrontation with Danielle showed her that. In truth, she had wanted so badly to believe Danielle. But, of course, she couldn't. Danielle was just a delusional child, in need of help. Serious help, and she wasn't going to get that help from Ronnie. Archie knew that, Ronnie knew that; now Danielle knew that as well.

Roxy passed a champagne glass across the room to her sister, who raised it in a toast to her father and her aunty. This was her family now, she needed to concentrate on them. Lifting the glass to her mouth she shut her eyes and prepared to swallow.