Summary/Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: Thank you for the wonderful praise. You responded and so I shall give you all your kiss.

As Nico stood to go after finishing his coffee, even for having slept all night in his suit he still looked impeccable and his hair was still firmly in its place. Dani thought she saw a glimpse of grey but it could have just been the sun coming through the window, regardless she wasn't going to say anything. Walking Nico to the front door instead of allowing him to leave through her office door was a different change of pace for them, normally he was used to sneaking out the back. As Dani stood there leaning on the door for support since her coffee had yet to start taking effect she noticed how relaxed Nico seemed today compared to the other day.

"Thank you again for not listening to me."

"Anytime. I promise you DanI, I will get those tapes back."

"I know you will, until then the whole thing just is unsettling." As the sentence finished on her lips he placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze a silent gesture of support. "Well I have clients to cancel, I'll see you later."

No words came out of his mouth, instead he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss across her lips. Dani was sure she imagined it for before she knew it he was up the drive and getting into his car. She was unsure of what had just happened but she knew things were now changing.

Dani had done her best to avoid Nico for the next week leading up to the season opener, but that however did not stop her from looking her best every time she had to set foot in the Hawks facility; just in case they happened to be alone together. There had still been no word on Marshall or the master tapes and it was causing her to close her practice for the time being, she hoped not for good. Since that night with Nico her mind drifted off to another place thinking about what if's and all the things a recently divorced, recently broken up woman thinks about when she is alone, those thoughts had managed to interrupt her dreams and now it was affecting her sleep, but she wasn't going to tell anyone that, especially Nico.

The news of Marshall's plane going down and Nico's desperate race to find him and make sure he didn't run too far to fast was pushing Dani to the limit. Somehow she managed to keep her lunch down, despite his driving like a NASCAR driver at the season opener just to get to his destination. Once in the hotel and hearing all about what had happened between him and Marshall all those years ago, Dani now had a bigger piece of the puzzle that surrounded Nico and knew that for him to confide in her meant a lot more than she realized. Getting the call about TK and his desire to escape rehab only halted their conversation from advancing further.

As Nico grabbed the cash box and Dani her purse they ran full force into each other. Looking up into Nico's eyes she knew that this was it, this was now the moment that everything was going to change. Standing up on tiptoe as much as her shoes would allow her Dani placed a hand on his cheek and placed a tentative kiss on his jaw. The look Nico gave as she pulled away perplexed her, but at the same time gave her hope for things to come.

Two days later when he showed up at her house, she wasn't surprised, he always seemed to know just when she needed him and she always knew when he needed her. She was crying for Mr. Fishy, he had become one of the few people she could talk to, but in the end he was now gone and she felt alone. Outside it was still warm for September and it was nice to sit outside and thing all the while grieving for the fish she held in her lap. When Nico walked up she instantly knew something was off, but was willing to hear what he had to say.

"The package from Marshall it was for you."

"The tapes?"

"Yeah. You lost your friend?" Pausing he knew he needed to tell her otherwise he never would and they would be stuck in limbo. "I lost mine too. They found his body."

"Oh Nico, I'm so sorry." She wasn't sure why she needed to hug, why the sudden need to be close to him overcame her, but she pulled him in close and held on tight for it was a rare moment when Nico let anyone get close to him.

"He was the only person who knew me. Other than you."

Pulling back but not far enough way to completely separate them, Dani was shocked by his admission, she knew things but not everything like she had known with Ray or even Matt.

"I don't know you."

"You do." The look in his eyes was that of pure honesty, she couldn't believe that he really confided in her that much to trust her whole heartedly. As she looked deeper his dark eyes drew her in and she knew right then that this was their moment. Leaning in she placed her hand on his jaw and leaned in close enough to kiss, she pulled back giving him the option to back out now and leave everything just as it was. When he didn't move she closed the gap and allowed herself to kiss Nico.

Dani may have started the kiss, but in the end it was Nico who had control over it. The arm that he had around her back brought her in closer as his other hand went up her arm to cup her face. The small moan of delight that Dani let escape was enough of encouragement for him to continue forward. Pulling her flush against him he wound his hands in her auburn hair in order to deepen the kiss further. Why had they waited so long for this, the tension was there the attraction and yet they ignored it while she chased Matt knowing full well that when he was done with her, she would be the one hurting in the end. Dani's arms stretched as far as they could considering their height difference, but it still wasn't enough for her to get the angle that she needed in order to be closer to Nico.

Sensing her frustration Nico pulled her to sit on his lap giving her the needed height adjustment and pull her even closer to him. He knew the kids were with their dad and that there was no one around, so he was content to let this go as far as Dani wanted it to, he wouldn't push it, but he would do everything in his power to enjoy it and make sure that she did as well.

A/N: Yes I am leaving you there, if you want more that little box at the bottom is where you say so.