Had this idea after watching an old episode of 'Not Going Out' (which I love BTW) and I thought I'd change the story a little bit and make it apply to Danny/Alice. The only thing is, it only can only work properly if they aren't together, so even though I promised myself I wouldn't do anymore Pre-Series 5 fanfics...I had to make an exception for this one. This took me about a week of writing random bits when I could be bothered, so as per usual was not planned...I'm pretty surprised at the ending. I was gonna leave it open for interpretation...but I thought...WFT...let's go for it. Anyway, I'm rambling, so I'll just let you read the friggin' story! The quote below is from 'Let's Pretend' by Plain White T's...which is quite a coincidence as that's what the story's called...it's a good find on my part. I just typed 'Let's Pretend Lyrics' on Google and...BOOYA! Right...on with the story...ENJOY :D
Set during Series 4
Chapter One
"I can't take anymore of the make believe romance, it's killing my make believe heart, but I'd rather pretend we're together than know we're apart"
"Please tell me you're joking" Alice hissed, standing in the darkness
"No! I'm serious!" Danny whispered back, awkwardly stood between an eroded and dirty brick wall and Alice, who was standing a little too close for comfort, thanks the huge pile of boxes Dup had lazily dumped in the cupboard. He could feel her chest raising and falling against his and her hot breath on his face. She was stood nervously inspecting the dusty walls as her eyes adjusted to the light, jumping every time she thought she had spotted a spider.
"Danny..." She frowned, jumping again, "Why are we standing in this bloody cupboard?"
"So they don't hear us!" Danny explained
"I think they'll be more concerned when they see us get out of here" She sighed, "It won't look good.
I doubt they'll think we've just popped in here for a chat..."
"Well, we HAVE!" He shrugged
"Then why are we whispering?" She asked
"Alice! Please!" Danny begged, "Do this...for me..."
"They're gonna realise we're lying!" She protested, "No photo's...no ring..."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there!" Danny replied "Pleeaasseeee"
"...It's never gonna work..." Alice told him, "But...I'll do it..."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He grinned, almost jumping up and down
"...If this all goes wrong, don't blame me!" Alice warned
"THANK YOU!" He repeated, planting a kiss on her cheek and hugging her tightly.
They stood there awkwardly for a few moments, before suddenly realising they desperately needed cool air. The pair stumbled out of the cupboard, looking rather flustered, and were met by several pairs of eyes.
"What the...?" Dup began, but stopped as soon as he saw both Danny and Alice shoot him a threatening glance
"We were just...uh...having a chat" Danny mumbled, shuffling away
"Chat?" Dup snorted, "Is THAT what they call it now?"
"I told you" Alice gloated quietly, hitting Danny lightly on the back, following him as they weaved around the crowd of people, and dropped onto the living room sofas.
"What's going on Daniel?" Danny's mother asked, as he shot Alice an apologetic smile
"...It's Danny..." He sighed
"Whatever..." She shrugged, sitting down on the other sofa, closely followed by Danny's father, and a very attractive blonde woman.
Alice had no idea what she had gotten herself into. Danny's family were convinced that he needed a new girlfriend...and it just so happened that they had managed to find the most idiotic and fake women they could. They were trying to get Danny to MARRY her! Alice winced slightly. Pushy parents really got on her nerves. Anyone could see that Danny was NOT interested. And that wasn't just Alice's jealously talking. Not that she was...jealous. Either way, it meant now Alice was faced with an impossible task...
"This is Alice..." Danny said, waving a hand in her direction "...my wife..."
Yes. She had to pretend that she was married to him! As if pretending she didn't want to be with him was bad enough...
Dup suddenly started chocking on air. He knew the pair was up to something...and by the looks of things...this was something he knew that didn't require his input. Especially as he knew things were awkward enough for Alice as it was. To be honest, he knew he could have a lot of fun just watching them try to pull this off, without getting involved.
"Where's the ring?" Judith, his mother frowned
Alice coughed innocently, looking towards Danny
"A lion ate it..." He lied, averting his eyes from his mothers stare
"I know you're lying. You never look at me when you lie" Judith declared, "Tell me the truth"
"Ok, ok!" Danny sighed, "I know that...ummm...sorry, what was your name?"
"Layla" The blonde women replied
"Right" Danny nodded, "I know that Layla is probably a really nice girl and everything...but..."
"The truth is..." Alice interrupted, watching Danny struggle, "We're not married. We're engaged...only, we can't afford a ring yet and Danny's a bit embarrassed"
Everyone turned to look at Alice with blank faces. None more so than Danny himself.
"You look confused, son" John, his father remarked
"I...uhh...wasn't expecting her to tell you...We agreed Alice!" Danny scolded, as convincingly as he could
"I know..." Alice nodded, patting Danny's leg softly, "But now everything's out in the open...no more secrets...just like we said"
"Hmmm" Danny agreed, slightly taken back by Alice's delicate tone. She was normally so...aggressive!
"Well then...stop complaining! Would anybody like a drink whilst I'm making one?" Alice asked, standing up. A resounding 'no' came from the room in the form of a low grunting noise. She turned around to face Danny, so that everyone else in the room could only see the back of her body. "How about you...dear?"
"No thanks...darling" Danny chuckled, as Alice spoke sweetly as she could
"Ok...sweetheart" She smiled, before sticking her tongue out at him and sloping off.
Dup raised his eyebrows at Danny, who had a grin plastered on his face. Danny suddenly realised and stood up suddenly
"Anyway...I've got LOADS of work to do, so I best go and..." He excused
"Sit down!" Judith ordered, "We've just found out that our son is engaged! Tell us EVERYTHING!"
"What do you want to know?" Danny laughed nervously, sitting back on the sofa reluctantly
"Why don't you tell the story of how you two got together, eh?" Dup suggested. Who was he kidding? Of course he wanted to make them as uncomfortable as possible! It was one of his favourite pastimes...
"Good idea Dup" Danny agreed, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, aimed directly at his business partner "It all started when there was an outbreak of rabies here, and Alice was sent to..."
"...And the rest...as they say...is history!" Danny concluded, slouching down into the sofa as he finished
"But, son..." John frowned, "That's how you met! How you..er...you know..."
"Well...I...WE...uhh..." Danny babbled
"Now THAT is an interesting story" Alice interrupted, entering the room just at the right moment "And a very VERY long and complicated one at that...so I'm afraid it'll have to wait for another time as the food is ready...so if you all want to go in the kitchen...no wait...Danny...not you...stay here a sec"
Alice waited impatiently as everyone left quickly, leaving her and Danny alone.
"What is it?" He asked, "I'm hungry..."
"You idiot!" Alice hissed, batting his arm forcefully, "Why the hell did you let them talk you into that one? In case you haven't realised...WE HAVEN'T GOT A 'GETTING TOGETHER' STORY!"
"It's Dup's fault!" Danny argued, "He was the one who suggested I tell them that!"
"You've live with Anders Du Plessis for what...four years? And you STILL can't tell him where to shove his 'suggestions'!" Alice snapped
"Excuse me...but I was good and ready to tell them the truth, but YOU had to make up some ridiculous story about the two of us being engaged!" Danny protested
"It was your idea to convince them we were married!" Alice reminded him, "You're such an idiot!"
"Thankfully I'm an idiot that doesn't have to put up with you as a wife!" He shouted
"You dick head!" Alice screamed
"Well, that I may be..." Danny nodded, "But at least I'm not an incapable of loving anything, aggressive and heartless bitch that you are"
End Of Chapter One