Hi folks... so I'm back again! so glad you liked the first chapter. I thought you guys might. When I read over it, I realised it wasn't too much DL and more everyone else with DL... but that's gonna change now. Kind of at least. well, you'll see.

Huge, huge, huge heartfelt thanks to those of you who reviewed. With each message that came into my inbox, my heart was lifted a little. I was so scared no one was around anymore. I am so, so glad there are still people there to read the insane things I write hahaha.

Mel, you didn't miss the Stella reference - I debated flying her in from New Orleans, but no matter which way I tried, it didn't flow very well, so I've decided against adding her in this story in this particular instance. Look out for a mention about her though ;)

Now, I'll stop rambling because you guys have lots to read. enjoy!

"What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?"

-What About Now, Daughtry.

"Well I don't know about you baby, but I couldn't eat another thing."

"Let me see what you've got there," Danny smirked as he peered across Lindsay's seat, looking at her plate. "What you wastin' that for, scrape it onto my plate."

"You aren't being serious right now." She implored. When she caught sight of his face – his dead serious face – she cringed. "Oh god, you're serious."

"Hell yeah, I'm not passing this up, let me see it."

"Danny this is a nice- never mind," she sighed as he swept her plate up from the table and placed it on top of his as he began to finish off her salmon. For some reason, when Christine had asked her what she'd like to eat at the after party, Lindsay had thought it would be a good idea to go for Salmon. Clearly an uneducated, uncalculated move on her part; any smell of fish recently had instantly created a churning in her stomach. So when the fish was placed in front of her, she automatically got the churning feeling in her stomach. She'd managed to dabble between some of the many side dishes to go along with the entrée and after a few carrots, potatoes and other additions to the meal, Lindsay had been able to demolish those instead.

"Can I be excused?" Lucy asked, pushing her plate away from her.

"Two more carrots and some more potatoes." Danny instructed automatically without even looking at her plate.

"You didn't even look!" Lucy protested.

"I know you, okay." He smirked as he looked up from Lindsay's plate. He examined Lucy's remaining food on her plate and he licked his lips. "Oh look, two carrots and some potatoes. Eat it up."

"Ugh." Lucy scoffed as she rammed the two carrots and some potatoes in her mouth and chewed half-heartedly. She swallowed and opened her mouth. "Ahh, see? Now can I be excused?"

"Why do you want to be excused so bad?" Lindsay furrowed her brow. "You got a hot date?"

Choking on Lindsay's salmon, Danny spluttered and reached for his glass of water. "Take that back right now, Montana."

Lindsay smirked and wiggled her eyebrows across the way from Lovato, who was looking mighty cosy next to Flack.

"I'm just sayin'." Lindsay shrugged her shoulders. "You better ask your daughter, Messer."

"She's right, where do you wanna go so bad? Dinner's barely even finished you know. Maybe you should just sit for a few minutes."

"But Tucker, Jeremy, Grace and Ellie are playing." Lucy pointed towards the dance floor at the group of children, and Jo's daughter Ellie, dancing in a circle. "Please can I be excused? Please? Please Mommy?"

"It's okay with me," Lindsay said, looking towards Danny.

"Oh sure, put it on my shoulders," he rolled his eyes. "Thanks a bunch Montana." He scoffed at her before turning to Lucy. "You're excused. Be careful in your dress. And don't leave the room, okay?"

"Okay," she sighed heavily. "I'll be with Ellie though, you like Ellie."

"Yeah." He grumbled as Lucy darted off to the dance floor to join Christine's niece and nephews and Ellie.

"You didn't sound too enthusiastic then," Lindsay leant towards him, whispering in his ear. "What's your deal with Ellie?"

"Nothing, she's a good kid… when she's not venturing over to Connecticut to visit her biological Mom."

"That was one time," Lindsay giggled as she squeezed Danny's arm affectionately. "Relax, she's in a room filled with police officers and detectives. She's going absolutely nowhere, baby."

"Not under my watch she isn't." He puffed his chest out and looked over his shoulder, watching her giggle and dance on the wooden floor with Grace and Tucker.

"Will you relax?" Lindsay whispered.

"Yeah Messer," Lovato piped up. "Relax okay? We won't let anything happen."

"Better to be safe than sorry, I say."

"Damn Messer, who turned you into world's most concerned parent, Linds is right, relax okay?" Flack implored. "She's not going anywhe-…. Wait a minute. This has got absolutely nothing to do with you being protective in that sense. That's just fantastic!"

"What is?" Lindsay furrowed her brow, leaning towards Flack with the beginnings of a smile on her face. "What's fantastic?"

"Look at her Linds," Flack pointed at her daughter. "What is she doing?"

"Dancing."

"Who is she dancing with?"

"Tucker."

"What is Tucker?"

"A bo- a boy? You're freaking out because she wants to go and dance with a boy?" Lindsay laughed, slamming her hand on the table as she leant back in her chair. "Baby… come on."

"Hey, it's just too much for me to deal with, ok?" He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "She's adorable and that Tucker has been lookin' at her all night."

"Because he's made himself a new friend." Flack implored. "He's eight Danny. Relax."

"Get her pregnant, have a baby girl and then talk to me, Flack." Danny said, gesturing towards Lovato. "Until then you get no say, alright?"

Flack rolled his eyes and offered his hand to Jamie, telling her something about getting more drinks.

With the table now only occupying themselves, Lindsay ran her fingertips through Danny's hair as she shuffled closer to him. "I think it's sweet you're so protective of her."

"You're probably the only one." He grumbled.

"I'm the only one that matters, so that works just fine for me." Lindsay said softly. "She's our kid; we can say and do whatever we want. Flack doesn't get it. Not yet at least. It's okay to be a little cautious, but he is right, Danny. Tucker's a sweet kid… and he's eight."

"I just love her and want to be the only man in her life for as long as I can, you know?" He sighed, dejectedly. "I get that it's impossible and silly… but it's just one of those things. I just love her so much, you know?"

"I know." She said, pressing a kiss to his temple. "And she loves you too."

"I know she does." He sighed as he turned and watched her giggling as Tucker spun her round. She was on her tip-toes and Danny watched as Tucker ran his hand over the crown of her head and measured her height against him. She stomped her foot playfully as they realised he was taller than her. "I mean look at them, Linds. We used to do that when we were dating."

"So?" She giggled. "Doesn't mean they're gonna get married next week, Danny, does it?"

"No but-"

"Stop worrying," Lindsay laughed. "She'll always be your baby. No matter what."

"Alright, alright," he chuckled, his mood becoming lighter. "Let's talk about somethin' else."

"Good idea," she smirked. "It's a shame about Hawkes and Camille leaving so early."

"Yeah but it makes sense, what with them moving tomorrow."

"Doesn't make it any easier."

"I know." Danny nodded. "Monday at work will be weird without him."

Lindsay nodded. "But it's what he wanted so-"

"Yep," Danny nodded as he scanned the room. "I take it Stella couldn't make it in the end?"

Frowning, Lindsay shook her head. "She couldn't leave the lab, they're in the middle of a big case apparently. Something about a triple homicide. It's a big news story she was telling me and her superiors were putting pressure on her in the lead up to the wedding so she ended up cancelling. I guess it's for the best. It would have been nice to have her here though."

Danny nodded in agreement as he observed the surroundings to which they were in. It was a large, expansive room - and it was a good job it was so big. It was filled with guests from the church, and more new faces. Extended family members of Mac and Christine were jotted all around the room, Jo had somehow managed to sit right near Mac and Christine, deciding against sitting with the rest of the team – which was fine in Danny's eyes. Although he respected Jo, there was still a little sourness from her altercation with Lindsay a while back. Lindsay had let it go, but he'd found it a little harder to accept the way Jo had spoken to his wife. He'd never really said anything about it, but rather felt the need to keep it to himself in order to keep the peace. So when he saw her disappearing to the other side of the room, he figured it would be for the best.

Adam and Michelle's whereabouts were unknown at the moment. They'd disappeared half way through the starter and had completely missed the main course of dinner. He mused to himself about twenty minutes ago that they were probably holed up somewhere, making out… and if he was completely honest, a part of him wondered if they had just gone ahead and left. Especially after the looks Michelle had been sending in Adam's direction after watching him help Lucy down the aisle. And if he was completely honest, he didn't expect to see Flack or Lovato for the rest of the night either.

"So, I think it's just me and you now, babe." He said aloud to Lindsay.

"Just the way I like it," She smiled fondly at him. "I've been watching Christine and Mac for a few minutes now," she began, "And he's over there talking to one of the Detectives from Flack's homicide team and every now and then, he sends a glance over to Christine, and she's just watching him, completely entranced by him. It's so lovely watching them. Like, she doesn't mind at all that he's spent probably twenty minutes with her. She's just so… happy."

"She's perfect for him," Danny concluded. "It's like Claire sent her, herself; knowing that she was exactly what Mac needed."

"You think so?"

Danny nodded. "Just like how I think you were sent to me. I don't know who by but-"

"You were sent to me," She corrected him. "By my friends."

"You think?" Danny pursed his lips together, hiding a small, unsure smile on his lips.

"I know." She nodded. "They would have loved you."

"After I stopped being a jerk."

"I don't know," Lindsay teased. "They always did like bad boys."

"Just because they were so sick of cowboys." Danny reminded her. "You told me this story." He chuckled. "In little old Bozeman it was either cowboys or a bad boy, and even then the bad boy was a choirboy…"

"Alright, that's enough of bashing Bozeman with Danny Messer for now." She rolled her eyes. Just then, the dinner lights dipped low and mood lighting lit the room, enchanting it with a golden hue. Lindsay smiled in Danny's direction as her features were softly lit by the atmospheric light. The music being played suddenly increased in volume and the microphone squeaked from the speakers.

"I'd like to invite the bride and groom up for their first dance. Where are they? Mac and Christine… here's your cue."

From the different sides of the room, Mac and Christine made their way to the dance floor, meeting in the middle. They automatically embraced, uncaring of the hundreds of eyes staring at them. A Josh Groban song Lindsay recognised started playing, and Mac and Christine shared a knowing, secret smile between the two of them as they swayed in time to the music.

"Bit of a strange song to choose," Danny whispered in her ear over the music. "What's he singing? I can't find a reason to be happy in this heartache? Is Mac smokin' crack? What kind of a first dance song is this?"

"I think it's one of those songs that you don't listen to the lyrics to for them. Christine said something about Valentines Day and them going to a bar or something. It's clearly special for them; look at how they're looking at each other."

"I guess," he shrugged. "I wonder what song our first dance would have been to."

She stayed quiet for a moment, clearly deep in thought.

"Sorry honey, I know... I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, it's not that." She said quietly. "I just… we never actually have had our first dance."

"What are you talking about?"

"We never had a first dance." She repeated. "We've never had the chance since we got married to go out dancing like we used to."

"Surely we've danced together before."

"We've goofed around in the kitchen, dancing to the radio and iPod," she said. "But we've never danced slowly together."

"I'll tell you what, next song that comes on after this, we'll get up and dance and that'll be our first dance. How does that sound?"

"What if it's one we don't like?" she pursed her lips together.

"We get a veto each." He shrugged. "Or if we really don't like it we can pass it."

"That's essentially veto."

"Alright smartass," Danny smirked. "We'll wait until a song comes on that we both like. Deal?"

"Deal." Lindsay smiled.

They listened eagerly together for the fading of Josh Groban before another song started. There was a pause and then… nothing. They looked at one another and sighed heavily.

"It's like the universe literally rebels against us." Lindsay implored.

"Wait, look," he said, pointing to the stage, "It looks like there's a band."

Just as Danny had said it, the jazz inspired pianist and bass player and guitarist began playing in sync.

"This works for me if it works for you?"

"Works perfectly for me," Lindsay grinned.

He stood before offering her his hand and he led her in-between the range of tables and empty chairs onto the wooden dance floor. They spotted Lucy not far from Mac and Christine, wiggling out of sync to the slow music.

Lindsay giggled as she wrapped her arms around Danny's neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close and tight, with mindful considerations to their son, growing between the two of them. "This is pretty much perfect," he whispered against her temple as he pressed a kiss to the area, inhaling her scent. "It reminds me of when we used to go dancing at Cozys all those years ago."

"Me too." Lindsay nodded against him as she placed her head on his chest as they softly swayed and moved together as one. "It's perfect."

"Listen, Linds, you know in the church when Christine was walkin' down the aisle?"

"Yeah," she nodded against his chest.

"Why did you kiss me?"

"Can't I kiss you for no reason?" she teased, looking up at him, her head still resting against his chest.

"You can kiss me twenty four hours a day, seven days a week if you so wish." He smirked at her. He let go of her momentarily and hooked a finger underneath her chin so that she was looking at him. "I just feel like you kissed me for a reason."

In the hue of the room, Lindsay absorbed him as he held her close. Her face was inches from his and with the spotlights catching his face every now and then and he'd never looked more attractive. It was strange, life affirming moments like this one in particular that she found it hit home that he was her's. She had somehow managed to fall in love with someone that loved her just as much as she loved him. She'd never envisioned falling in love with her partner and her best friend, but somewhere along the way, things had fallen into place. "No reason," she said softly. "I just like kissing you."

"Hmmm," he pursed his lips together as he pressed a kiss to her forehead as he shifted their position on the dance floor. He took her hand and they began swaying together in time to the music. "I don't buy it."

"I just wanted to kiss you. I was feeling romantic and wanted you to know that I love you. I was in that moment, that's all."

"Still not buyin' it," he smirked. "There's always somethin' more with you."

"I'm just glad that you fought for me all those years ago," she whispered. "I love you and I'm proud of us. Not to mention I'm feeling extra romantic and soppy today."

"Well, in that case," He let go of her hand that he was holding tightly and hooked a finger underneath her chin and closed the distance between them as he sealed his lips to hers. His hand then went to her waist and pulled her tight against him as he led them in their first official dance as a married couple to music on a dance floor.

Feeling a tugging of his pants, Danny pulled away from the kiss reluctantly and looked down to the culprit.

"Can I help you?" he smirked down to his daughter.

"I want to dance too!" She pouted, her hands on her hips.

"I'm dancin' with Mommy." He said, crouching down to her level. "You wanna dance with me right now or can you wait?"

"I wanna dance with the both of you!" she said, fluttering her eyelashes in his direction.

"Alright," he said, picking her up and placing her on his waist. Ensuring she was secure, he reached for Lindsay and laced his fingertips through her's as she held Lucy's hand, creating a circle.

"Why aren't there any songs I know?" Lucy asked loudly over the band playing.

"Because Christine and Mac are grown ups and this is grown up music that Mac and Christine like," Danny shrugged, looking to Lindsay, his eyes wondering if she had a better answer.

"You don't listen to just instruments." Lucy pointed out. "The songs you like have words, Daddy."

"Sometimes though, it's nice to just listen to instruments because they make pretty sounds when you practise and you're talented." Lindsay reasoned. "I'm sure if we find Adam we could ask him nicely and he might let you borrow his iPod. We could see if he still has his Lucy playlist on there and you could have that in your ears and do some dancing,"

"Mommy, that's such a good idea!" she squealed happily.

"Yeah Mommy!" Danny smirked. "What would we do without you, huh?"

"God only knows," she smirked.

The music on the stage died down momentarily and a few people dotted around the dance floor began a string of applause which Danny, Lindsay and Lucy soon joined in on.

"We're going to take a short break. We'll continue in five minutes."

"They played one song; I hope Mac isn't shellin' out a fortune for these clowns." Danny muttered in Lindsay's ear. She sniggered as they retreated from the dance floor and headed back to their table. Lindsay was walking slowly behind Danny and Lucy and watched them affectionately as he playfully tossed her into the air above him before catching her again.

She sighed heavily and smiled as she made a move to catch up with them, but as she did, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and her eyes lit up with the presence of the person behind her.

"Mac!" she exclaimed. "I've been meaning to find you, but I keep seeing you tied up with someone else. The wedding has been so beautiful, I'm so happy for you and Christine."

"Thanks," He smiled brightly; brighter than Lindsay had ever seen him smile. "You look beautiful, Lindsay."

"Thanks," she blushed. "What's on the agenda now then? Where are you guys going on honeymoon? Don't leave it as long as Danny and I did."

"I thought we'd go somewhere quiet for a few days next month when Christine can get time off from the restaurant. We've hired a new manager so we'll see how that goes first."

"Aw, that sounds like a really good idea."

"We thought so," he nodded. "Listen Lindsay, I wanted to talk to you." He said, pulling out a nearby chair and gesturing for her to sit down in it. He joined her and sat next to her. "I want you to know how talented and intelligent I think you are. I can't fault those damn reconstructions you do for me."

Lindsay tilted her head to the side. "Are you firing me?"

Mac snorted. "Oh god, no."

"Okay," she said, still looking puzzled. "What is it then?"

"I've been thinking for a while and I know you came back to work really quickly after having Lucy and I really appreciate your loyalty and dedication to the lab and your job, but I want you to hear me out before you say anything, promise?"

"I promise," Lindsay smiled.

"I want you to take the time allocated for maternity leave, Lindsay." He said softly. "This time is important for you and your family and I know you feel like you need to be at work, but I promise you we'll be okay. I've got some people interviewing for Hawkes' job in the next few weeks and I'm considering extending another position as a temporary part time post for the time being to cover you to give you some time. You can't be working the hours you do now. I know you don't want to do lab work and paperwork yet, but I'm thinking that for now, I want to make this as easy as I can for you. I want you to tell me when you need a break, Lindsay. You didn't last time and with Lucy now it's going to take a lot out of you. You're not just pregnant, but you're a Mom too. They come first, and that's coming from me. Your children and family are important to me and I am not going to overwork you. No matter how much you insist that you're fine. I know you."

"Mac-"

"Hear me out first," He interrupted her. "I want you and Danny to enjoy your family, okay? I made the mistake with Claire; working all hours God sent… thinking that I could do things with her later. Well it didn't work out like that and I lost her. I don't want you to go through the same thing. I want you and Danny to learn from my mistakes. I've learnt from your choices, Lindsay. You and Danny have made me take this leap with Christine. Seeing you both so happy made me realise there's no need to wait and waste time. You two didn't and look at how it turned out for you. So from your due date, you're to take maternity leave."

"Mac, that's really kind but we can't really affor-"

"Full pay." He added.

"Mac." She arched her eyebrows. "You can't-"

"I already did." He smirked. "I negotiated some things and moved some things around. Danny's got a two week paternity period too. So when you go into labour, he has two weeks with you, uninterrupted, paid."

"Mac." Lindsay held a hand against her chest. "But-"

"No buts," he shook his head. "You take the time you need to adjust to this new little life," he said, placing his hand on her stomach. "I still remember your first day," he said, his hand still on her stomach.

"So do I," she smiled fondly.

"I did wonder when I went home after that first day what on earth I'd gotten myself into with you. When you whipped out that buck knife, I thought Danny was gonna pass out."

"Didn't he say something about me being a country girl?"

"I believe so." Mac smiled at the memory. "You were something else."

"Were?" Lindsay arched her brow.

"Alright," Mac paused. "Still are. I think the highlight of your first day was when you shoved the suspect onto the car; I'll never forget that."

"That hurt so bad the next day," Lindsay giggled.

"I thought it might." He chuckled. "In all seriousness though Lindsay, asking you to join the team was the best decision I've ever made in that lab; for both myself and for Danny too. Without you, he'd be a totally different person right now."

"He always had it in him." Lindsay shrugged off the compliment. "He just needed the nudge. The right person would have been able to get it out of him."

"Yeah, and the right person was you. No-one else would have made Danny the person he is now; no-one but you."

"I don't know," Lindsay pursed her lips together.

"Trust me," Mac smiled, pointing towards Danny and Lucy as he made silly faces at her, causing her little giggles to fill the area around them. "You've brought that out in him."

"I like to think Lucy brought it out in him as well. He's such an amazing father. And that's all down to him, I can't take any credit for that."

"He's had quite the example to follow though, Lindsay; you're an amazing mother."

"Thanks Mac." Lindsay smiled reaching forwards and pulling Mac into a hug.

"I love you, kiddo." He whispered softly as he hugged her tight. "I'm proud of you."

"I love you too, Mac."

Lindsay squeezed her boss, mentor, friend and father figure tightly, soaking in the moment. Mac wasn't a man of many words and Lindsay felt herself a little emotional over the expression of emotion that he'd just shared with her.

"Hey, I want a hug too."

They pulled away from each other, and smiled at the little squeaky voice.

"Hello, you." Mac smiled. "Have I mentioned how beautiful you look today?"

"Nope." Lucy shook her head with a grin plastered on her face. "You should though, because I look pretty."

"Oh is that so?" Lindsay laughed. "Who told you that?"

"Daddy." Lucy giggled. "He said I'm the prettiest princess."

"Because you are," Mac winked at her as he pulled her onto his lap as the music started up again. "How about you and I go and have a dance together, princess?"

"Okay!" Lucy squealed as she wrapped her arms around Mac's neck. "Bye Mommy. Go sit with Daddy, he's by himself. I'm busy now."

Lindsay fought the laugh as Mac carried Lucy to the dance floor.

She watched her daughter and her daughter's godfather dancing together, big smiles on both of their faces.

"Could I have this dance, Mrs. Messer?"

Lindsay turned and looked up at Danny with a smile on her face.

"Always." She replied softly, taking the hand he offered her.

They joined the other guests on the dance floor and regained their previous rhythm together; watching Lucy and Mac with misty eyes.

Although the current tune was quite a fast pace jazz piece, they settled on a slow and steady rhythm together. Lindsay once again laid her head against his chest as he took one of her hands in his, placing his other hand on the small of her back, holding her close.

"This is nice," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his jawline. "Could you imagine how different we might have been if you had never gotten the feeling in your legs back?"

"I don't even think it's worth thinkin' about." He drawled as he pressed a protective kiss to her temple. "And anyway, there was no way I was stayin' in that wheelchair. You guys didn't deserve that and it wasn't what you signed up to."

"I signed up to in sickness and in health, Danny. I would have loved you in whatever form I got you in."

"Yeah and I love you for that, but… well, I'm just glad I got a reality check."

"So am I." She said wistfully as the tune began to fade and people began to politely clap.

"Can I cut in?" A voice sounded from behind Danny. "Monroe owes me a dance."

I wonder who that could be? hahaha!

Also, just a note, I've never had a baby, therefore never taken maternity leave, so if there are any inconsistencies with what I had Mac say to Lindsay, it's a case of me eavesdropping into conversations with other people and hearing (at least in their conversations) that maternity leave is at a reduced rate or something. So yeah. if that's incorrect, I apologise. I was just being lazy and didn't really look up the legalities of it; I hope you guys can overlook the minor detail ;)

thanks for checking in and reading, guys. as always I would absolutely love to hear from you. Let me know what you thought; thanks again! :)