The ride back seemed quiet and peaceful. Ronnie had chosen to see Doctor Lake because she wasn't kean on using Walford's surgery. The thought of everyone knowing her business and everyone gossiping making up rumors was something Ronnie wanted to avoid. Issues and problems between Danielle was strictly between the two of them,nobody else. Ronnie kept her eyes firmly on the road,she always stuck to the speed limits with Danielle in the car. People driving fast upset Ronnie as she had her child with her,the thought of anything happening now wasn't worth thinking about. Danielle had been quiet throughout the whole journey,the soft sound of the radio filling any awkward silences between the two of them. Believing that Ronnie had changed for the better,Danielle knew they had a lot to work through,people were still talking about the wedding and the horrific events that occurred that night.
Danielle gazed out of the window,it seemed everyones life seemed so much easier than hers. Having gone through so much to finally get what she wanted,Danielle always felt like she could only give half of herself to Ronnie. Things were still uncomfortable between them no matter how hard they tried to ignore it and paint over the cracks. After being in hospital for three weeks the need to be looked after and cared for was the only thing Danielle wanted. To have Ronnie there every single day was all she had been wanting for months on end. The engine stopped and Danielle looked over to her mother,she watched as she carefully took the key from the ignition and let out a long sigh. It was now six in the evening and the residents of Walford were starting to settle down for the evening. Locals were piling into the pub drinking another boring night away.
"What did you talk about?" Danielle asked turning in her seat. The sight of her mother still made Danielle feel incredibly insecure,many people commented on how much they looked alike but Danielle could never see it. Looking in the mirror Danielle saw a plain,blond nineteen year old girl,nothing like Ronnie Mitchell.
Ronnie shrugged her shoulders,"Nothing really" she answered bluntly,the first session she had with Doctor Lake Danielle demanded a detailed account,wanting to know exactly what Ronnie said and spoke about. Ronnie didnt mind,but she wanted a little privacy,the sessions were confidential even though she only spoke about Danielle. "Lets get inside,its gonna rain" she looked up at the dark clouds looming in the sky.
Danielle shut the door behind her and walked through into the living room,it still didnt feel like home. A few nights staying with Ronnie and the rest of the time she spent with Stacey,nothing felt permanent. Partly because Danielle was afraid of loosing Stacey and the other part because it seemed like a massive step. Moving in with Ronnie excited Danielle but she could hear the alarm bells faintly ringing in her head,telling her that once Ronnie had a firm grip on her she would let her go and reject her all over again. "Fancy going to the pub later? I really wanna see Amy" Danielle grinned taking her coat off.
Ronnie threw her keys on the coffee table heading straight for the fridge,living off ready meals and takeaway started to take it toll on Ronnie. She wanted to be the perfect mother and role model for Danielle,everyday she told herself she would try harder,do better. "Im not sure,how about I cook us something?" she suggested peering into the fridge. Going to the pub was something she wanted to avoid,the Mitchell's were falling apart after what happened at the wedding. Archie had vanished leaving Roxy confused,hurt and most of all distraught and Peggy seemed to be drowning in never ending heartache.
"Yeah I dont mind,we could get a takeaway?" Danielle grinned,she pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and picked up the takeaway menus.
Ronnie shut the fridge door and snatched the menus from Danielle,"No,you need to eat something proper we cant live off takeout" she smiled lightly kissing the top of her head. All her life she dreamed of living with her daughter,the one person that would never hurt her on purpose or make her miserable. Danielle was everything Ronnie wanted,the more she got know Danielle the more she fell in love with her. She wasn't aware of it yet but Danielle seemed to have a good influence on Ronnie,the ice queen had well and truly melted away and disappeared forever.
Danielle smiled and watched as Ronnie fussed over pots and pans,"So what was the session about?" she asked again wanting to know if she had been spoken about. All she wanted was for Ronnie to open up and fight all her demons off and be free of them. This new Ronnie Mitchell was sometimes hard to swallow,the transformation happened so quick,ever since she found out who Danielle was.
"Just talking,boring stuff really,all about feelings and how I felt about this and that" Ronnie laughed a little whilst filling a pan with water. Its not that she didnt want Danielle to know about her talks with Doctor Lake,it was bad enough digging up old memories and feeling to one person let alone go through it all over again once she got home. Ronnie turned around and watched her daughter,Ronnie had scarred Danielle for life,something she had to live with every day. "You know maybe you should talk to him to,i think it could really help you..us" Ronnie knelt by the side of Danielle and placed a loving hand on her knee.
Danielle frowned,"I dont need to go,i dont need any help" she grunted not wanting to discuss the topic any further. Ronnie had been badgering on about a joint session for a few days but Danielle seemed adamant not to attend. The wedding night felt so raw and still extremely painful that Danielle sometimes couldn't even think about it,let alone talk about it. Refusing to meet her mothers eyes she turned away slightly,the tears pricking her baby browns at the thought of reliving that night.
Ronnie turned Danielle's chin to face her,"You dont have to do anything you dont wanna do ok?" she spoke softly brushing her thumb over Danielle's cheek. "Sweetie if you wanna talk to me about it thats fine and if you dont thats ok too,i just want you to be ok" Ronnie nodded encouraging Danielle to do the same.
Eating in front of the tv and snuggling up on the sofa together was Danielle's idea of total heaven. For so long she had only been able to dream of being so close to Ronnie and feeling so comfortable. Sure there were times when things were tense between the two,but after everything that had gone on it was only expected. Danielle finished off the last of her pasta and placed the bowl on the coffee table. The room was beginning to get darker as night time approached. Danielle shifted uncomfortably against Ronnie whilst the tv lit the whole room up. "Think I might go to bed,Stacey needs help on the stall in the morning" she glanced at her mother.
Ronnie seemed engrossed with the program she was watching,she could never understand why fashion experts put people in the most terrible,unflattering clothes. Ronnie smiled as she felt Danielle's hand in hers,she reached for the remote and switched it off. Silence echoed around the room causing a little tension,neither wanting to spoil the mood. "Im gonna have a quick shower,i'll be in soon babe" she promised leaning over and kissing Danielle's forehead.
After a nice hot shower and time to reflect on today Ronnie brushed her teeth and got dressed ready for bed. Bedtimes were now something she looked forward to,not longer did she have to lay all alone and cry,she had her baby. Ever since the accident Danielle always insisted that Ronnie slept in the same bed,wanting protection and that feeling of always having someone there. Carefully creeping into the bedroom avoiding the creaking floorboards her heart melted as Danielle lay fast asleep. Ronnie walked over holding onto the locket hanging from her neck,she sat on the edge of the bed moving the hairs from Danielle's eyes. Watching her baby sleep had become routine,she knew she could stay up all night just to make sure she was still breathing. Although Danielle looked so peaceful and adorable whilst she slept Ronnie wanted to poke her and wake her up,demand to know more things about her she didnt know. She watched as Danielle's lip twitched in her sleep making Ronnie grin like she had won the lottery. Carefully pulling back the bedsheets she pulled Danielle in close draping a hand around her waist. Tomorrow was another day to worry about,but right now Ronnie Mitchell was happy.
Seems like a slow start but I promise it will pick up and become clearer throughout the story. Had the weekend to think of some stuff for this fic so looking forward to writing more. Please review if you can,let me know what you think! x