Six months had passed and Danielle and Ronnie were getting on better than ever. Ronnie was also back with Jack for the last two months, their relationship blossoming again. But it was no longer one of lust it was a relationship based on family; the family of Ronnie, Jack and Danielle.
It was mid October and Ronnie and Danielle had planned a secret birthday party for Jack at R & R. The pair had spent the day blowing up balloons and arranging banners in the club. "It looks great doesn't it" Ronnie said, beaming at Danielle.
"Yes, I'm sure Jack will love it" Danielle replied. Ronnie walked over to Danielle and handed her an envelope. Danielle looked inside to see a birthday card to Jack, confused as to why Ronnie had given this to her.
"Don't forget to sign the card for Jack" Ronnie said, busying herself finishing of the last decorations for the party. Ronnie walked into the office, leaving Danielle alone by the bar. Danielle looked at the card, opening it up to see the message inside; "With all our love, thanks for everything you have done. By most of all thanks for making us a family."
A tear rolled down Danielle's cheek and onto her mother's writing, Danielle quickly tried to stop the ink for running as she wiped the tears from her eyes. It was only a small message but the words Ronnie had written and the fact she wanted Danielle to sign it as well filled Danielle with a sense of joy and pride.
She was finally part of a family, Jack may not be her dad but she felt like they were a proper family. For the first time in her life Danielle truly felt like she was where she belonged with people that loved her.
It was 9pm and the party was in full flow, with the residents of Albert Square enjoying the free alcohol and good atmosphere. Ronnie was talking with Jack in the corner as Danielle looked on. She watched as her mother, placed a hand lightly on Jack's hand, whispering something into his ear.
"You alright Dan" Stacey said, making Danielle jump. "Oh yeah, I'm fine thanks" Danielle said, sipping her glass of wine. "And how are things going with the lovebirds over there?" Stacey asked, gesturing towards Ronnie and Jack.
"Yeah fine" Danielle said, again taking a sip of her wine. Stacey looked at her friend and realised she was holding something back. "You know that you will always be her number one priority don't you" Stacey said reassuringly. "But how do you..." Danielle said, pausing when she realised that her best friend had managed to read her mind about how she was feeling.
Danielle smiled and finished her sentence, "but how do you know that?"
"Because she is your mum Dan, nothing will change that. I have known Ronnie for over two years now and before she found you again she was this ice queen, never smiling or laughing. But now, just look at her" Stacey said, looking over at Ronnie and Jack.
"I am happy for them Stace, I'm just worried that I will get pushed out. They will want to get married, start their own family. I'm just the older daughter, who is all grown up and in the way" Danielle sighed.
"You should talk to her Dan, talk to them both." Stacey said, and Danielle agreed. She decided to talk to Ronnie and Jack together later; all she wanted to do now was enjoy the party. Danielle grabbed another glass of champagne and headed onto the dance floor with Stacey.
Jack had watched Ronnie leave, heading out the door to get some fresh air. Jack was transfixed by Ronnie, he always had been. He smiled to himself as he thought about what he had; Ronnie back in his life and Danielle, a girl that her cared for greatly.
Jack only saw Amy occasionally and Penny very rarely so Danielle was becoming more like a daughter to him every day that passed. He felt protective over her, just like he did with Ronnie.
Jack headed to his office, wanting to take a moment away from the crowds. He closed the door behind him and poured himself a drink. He sat at the desk and looked at the pictures in front of him. His eyes scanned over the frames, moving from a picture of Penny to one of himself, Ronnie and Danielle and then his eyes stopped, pausing on the last photo.
It was a picture of his daughter Amy, being cradled in the arms of Roxy. Jack stared at the picture, wishing that the place of Roxy would change to Ronnie instead.
This picture always made Jack hesitate. Though his relationship with Ronnie had never been better the situation with Roxy and his daughter always lay in the background, playing on his mind.
Jack felt this bond with Roxy. He didn't know whether it was because of the tension between them, the fact she was Ronnie's sister or the bond they shared because of their daughter. Jack still stared at the picture when he was interrupted as Roxy stood in the doorway, waving a bottle of alcohol around merrily.
Danielle limped onto a stall, exhausted from dancing with Stacey. She giggled to herself as she watched Stacey continue to dance with a mystery man in the corner. Danielle pulled her heels of and limped towards the R & R office, hoping to find a spare pair of her mum's shoes to wear.
As she approached the door she looked through the office window and saw Jack sitting at his desk, but he wasn't alone. Danielle squinted her eyes, trying to see who was there with him. As she pressed her head against the glass she was taken aback to see a blonde figure leaning over Jack's chair and kissing him passionately.
Danielle looked again nervously. At first she thought it was Ronnie, Danielle felt uncomfortable and embarrassed to see her mum with Jack. But these feelings were soon forgotten when Danielle watched in shock as she caught a glimpse of the women she believed to be her mum. To Danielle's horror it wasn't Ronnie, it was Roxy.
*end of episode*
Danielle stepped away from the door, shocked by the scene she had just witnessed. She felt a surge of anger, how could Jack and Roxy do this to Ronnie again. Danielle felt crushed as her family started to crumble round her once again.
She didn't know what to do, the old Danielle would run away, forget it ever happened. But she felt so much anger towards them both, that she wanted to confront them, it was a stronger side to Danielle that she got from her mother.
Danielle headed for the door, placing her hand on the door handle, ready to burst in and attack them both until, "Hey, you alright sweetie?" a voice called. Danielle turned on the spot to come face to face with Ronnie.
Danielle froze, a sense of panic pulsated through her. She hated the fact that she was the one standing in the way of her mother finding out the truth, but she couldn't bear seeing Ronnie's heart broken again.
"Yeah I'm fine" Danielle said, trying to think of a way to stop her mother finding out the truth. Danielle knew that Ronnie needed to know, but she couldn't find out like this. "I...I...was just coming to find you actually" Danielle nervously said, hoping that her lie sounded convincing.
Danielle was facing her mother, but her hand was still tightly gripped onto the door handle behind her back. "Oh ok, did you need to talk to me about something?" Ronnie asked.
"No, no I just wondered if you wanted to get some fresh air, maybe a walk?" Danielle asked, trying desperately to get Ronnie away from the office.
"Well I just got some fresh air, so maybe later? I just need to get something from...." Ronnie said. She leant towards Danielle and Danielle realised she was heading for the door into the office. "Drinks then, let's get a drink" Danielle stated firmly before dragging her mother away from the office and to the bar before Ronnie had time to protest.
As Ronnie and Danielle stood at the bar, deep in conversation Danielle had one eye on the office. Neither Roxy nor Jack had left and it made Danielle sick to think what was happening between the pair.
"I'm just going to pop to the ladies" Ronnie said as she walked away from Danielle. This was her opportunity to confront them both. Danielle felt a surge of confidence and anger as she marched towards the office.
Danielle grabbed the door handle and swung the office door open, slamming it loudly behind her. She didn't know what scene she expected to be witness to but she relieved when she opened the door to see Jack sitting in the office chair and Roxy perched on his desk, the pair involved in a heated conversation.
"Danielle" Jack said, surprised to see her standing in the doorway. "Can you just give us a minute please" Roxy said. Danielle noticed the angry tone in Roxy's voice. "No, not really" Danielle said bluntly, before she could think about what she was saying.
Roxy and Jack also looked surprised, both taken aback by Danielle's firm tone. "What are you two doing?" Danielle asked with a disappointed look in her eyes. "We are just talking" Jack said nervously.
"Not now, earlier. I saw you two" Danielle said, angry that they were trying to cover up their kiss. Roxy stood up, panicking that her supposed secret had been rumbled. Roxy stumbled towards Danielle.
"I don't know what you thought you saw Danielle, but you were wrong, Ok?" Roxy said, putting a hand on her niece's shoulder as she tried to convince Danielle that she was telling the truth. "No I'm not, why are you lying?" Danielle said, angrily pushing Roxy away.
"Look Dan, it was just one moment. Nothing else happened, I promise" Jack said, realising that he couldn't lie to Danielle. "Roxy just had too much to drink and...." Jack continued.
"Don't blame this on me" Roxy screamed, turning to point her finger at Jack in anger as she struggled to stay on her feet. Jack looked on at Roxy, disgusted by what he had just done with her.
"I know you don't want to lie to her Dan, but please just don't tell Ronnie" Jack said, with a look of desperation in his eyes.
"Tell Ronnie what?" said a voice, as the office door opened. Jack and Roxy froze, both falling silent. Danielle's heart sank as she recognised the voice; she turned on the spot to see Ronnie standing in front of her.
Danielle stayed silent, staring at her mother. Jack and Roxy stood behind Danielle; they're eyes scanning each other in panic. Ronnie noticed the shifty looks on the faces of Jack and Roxy. She then looked at Danielle. Ronnie was alarmed by the upset and clearly distressed look in her daughter's eyes.
"Dan, what's going on?" Ronnie said, holding to hand out to Danielle. "It's not my place to say" Danielle said, looking nervously down at the ground. Ronnie was becoming more and more confused by the situation.
"Jack?" She looked at her boyfriend, hoping he would have the strength to explain. Jack looked at Danielle, who had a look of disgust in her eyes. He knew Ronnie would have the same look but he couldn't lie to her, not again.
"Me and Roxy, we....Danielle saw us...." Jack struggled to say the words but the look in his eyes told the story for Ronnie. Ronnie's face dropped as she realised the truth, she held her hand in her hands as tears started to stream from her face.
"It was only one drunken kiss, Ron. I'm so sorry" Roxy said, walking towards Ronnie. Roxy started to cry as she saw how crushed her sister was.
"Get out" Ronnie whispered as she pushed Roxy away from her. "GET OUT" Ronnie screamed again, pointing at the door.
Roxy knew not to argue with her sister this time as she quickly left, not making eye contact with anyone as she went. The room was again silent. Danielle looked at her mother, who had now collapsed on the sofa in floods of tears.
Danielle didn't know what to say or what to do. She wanted to comfort her mother, make it all better but she knew she couldn't. At the same time she wanted to throttle Jack for hurting Ronnie again.
"When did it happen?" Ronnie muttered. Jack was unsure whether it was a question or Ronnie just talking to herself, trying to get her head around what she had been told. "About an hour ago" Jack said, not wanting to go into any more detail.
"And you saw them together?" Ronnie said, looking up at Danielle. Danielle nodded, ashamed that she had kept this from her mother. "Why didn't you tell me?" Ronnie asked desperately.
"Because I didn't want you to get hurt again. I was going to tell you, I just needed to find the right moment. I didn't want you to walk in on them" Danielle said.
Ronnie looked up at Danielle, surprised at what she had just heard. "They were in here together. That's when you stopped me from coming in the office, because they were in here together?" Ronnie asked, as she got more angry and upset.
Danielle nodded again. Jack watched on as mother and daughter talked, he felt guilty that all this mess was his fault. "I think you better go" Ronnie said, looking down at the floor. Jack heard the words and sighed, dropping his shoulders and admitting defeat.
As Jack headed for the door, Ronnie stopped him. "No, not you" Ronnie said. Danielle turned her head suddenly to look at her mother again. The pair looking into each other's eyes, tears rolling down their faces.
"Please, just go. I need to talk to him" Ronnie said. Danielle's heart sank as she heard her mother's words. She wanted to fight back, explain her situation but she had never seen the look in Ronnie's eyes before. Danielle saw it as one of disappointment and with that she shot out the office and out of the club.
Danielle slumped on a wall outside R & R, devastated by what she saw as Ronnie's rejection and disappointment in her. She could hear the music and laughter from inside the club but all she wanted to do was shut everything and everybody away.
Danielle was heading home when she bumped into a familiar face. "Danielle is she ok" Roxy said desperately. "What do you think!" Danielle said bluntly.
"You saw it was just a kiss" Roxy said, looking at Danielle for some kind of forgiveness. "It doesn't matter, you still betrayed Ronnie again. Why did you have to ruin everything Roxy! Things were going so well and you just mucked it up" Danielle screamed.
Roxy was shocked by Danielle's outburst. "So are just upset because I hurt Ronnie or because I ruined your perfect family?" Roxy said, pointing her finger at Danielle.
Danielle knew Roxy was drunk and she probably didn't mean the things she was saying, but they still hurt and she wanted to fight back. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Danielle screamed, unable to control her anger as her blood boiled inside of her.
"She your sister and you just keep breaking her heart again and again" Danielle continued. "You don't know me, we may be related but you know nothing about me, or Ronnie!" Roxy screamed back, stumbling in front of Danielle.
"Don't you realise that soon she will just grow bored of you. The novelty of finding her dead daughter will soon wear off and then she will move on. Start a proper family with someone else." Roxy said viciously.
Danielle felt tears welling in her eyes again as her aunt attacked the insecurities she had been hiding. She didn't want Roxy to see her fears, she didn't want to let her see how much she had hurt not only Ronnie but herself as well.
"Well thanks to you that family won't be with Jack will it!" Danielle barked. She stormed away from Roxy, wanting to have the final word with her so she couldn't bite back and hurt her again.
Roxy watched as Danielle stormed away, clearly devastated by their argument. Roxy felt guilty about what she had said, but it was too late now so she headed back to The Vic to get some sleep.
As Danielle and Roxy argued on the street outside, Jack and Ronnie were still in the office, neither moving nor speaking; all that could be heard was Ronnie sobbing. All Jack wanted to do was hold Ronnie, say he was sorry and go back to how things were, but he knew he couldn't.
Jack bravely stepped towards Ronnie, sitting next to her on the sofa. He went to place an arm around Ronnie, offering comfort but he thought better of it as Ronnie shot him a look of disgust and anger.
"It was just one moment, a moment of weakness." Jack said softly, trying to reason with Ronnie.
"But it wasn't, was it Jack. And your little girl is proof of that" Ronnie said, as she wiped her tears to look at Jack. She wanted to look like he hadn't hurt her, like she was strong and unaffected but she couldn't; she couldn't control the tears streaming down her cheeks.
Jack didn't know how to respond. He wanted to tell Ronnie that she was all that mattered to him but he would be lying to himself and the woman he loved; he had Amy and Ronnie had Danielle and that would never change.
"What are we going to do?" Jack asked, with a defeated tone in his voice. "I know now that this won't work, you can't be in Amy's life as well as mine. And I can't take you away from your little girl" Ronnie said, as she spoke the realisation of what she was saying hit her.
"You need to be there 100% for Amy and I need to do the same for Danielle. She is the most important person in my life and that will never change" Ronnie stated firmly.
Jack looked at Ronnie, trying to pretend that their relationship wasn't falling apart in front of his eyes. He knew he could fight back, but Ronnie was right. Too much had happened for their relationship to work.
Jack took one last look at Ronnie, a tear rolled down his cheek as he walked away from the women he loved.
Danielle sat shivering outside the club, she knew she should have gone home but she couldn't bear the thought of leaving Ronnie when she might need her. Danielle wrapped her coat around her and looked at her watch once more.
Danielle looked up to see Jack leaving the club, visibly upset and shaken. Danielle immediately stood up and headed back into the club and down to the office. She nervously looked through the window in the door, not sure what mood Ronnie would be in.
Danielle's heart sank as she saw Ronnie lying on the sofa, crying hysterically into a pillow. Danielle slowly opened the door and sat next to her mum on the sofa, placing a hand on Ronnie's leg to let her know she was there.
"Mum" Danielle whispered. Ronnie looked up and saw Danielle sitting before her. She managed a smile for her before Danielle wrapped her arms around her mum, with Ronnie crying on her shoulder.
After a few moments Ronnie pulled away from her daughter, looking up and wiping back the tears. "Thank you" Ronnie said, hugging her daughter. Ronnie still felt devastated at the split but she felt like she couldn't cry anymore tonight.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you straight away" Danielle said. "It's ok, it wasn't your fault" Ronnie said back, placing her hand on Danielle's face to wipe back her daughter's tears.
"I just need some time on my own ok" Ronnie said. She could see that her daughter didn't want to leave her. "It's ok really" Ronnie nodded at Danielle, offering a small smile to convince her daughter. Danielle grudgingly walked out the office, and Ronnie sat on the sofa, alone once again.
As Danielle left the office, she turned back to look at Ronnie. She saw her mother looking straight ahead, with a lost look in her eyes. Danielle wanted to help but she knew she couldn't, she respected her mother's wished and walked away to join Stacey at the bar.
As the clock hit midnight Stacey and Danielle were enjoying drinks at the bar. Although Danielle was enjoying herself she couldn't help but look over at the office door every few minutes, hoping that her mother was ok.
Ronnie was busying herself in the office, trying to take her mind off what had happened earlier. She filed through paperwork as Jack's desk, taking little notice of what she was actually doing. Ronnie had a bottle of vodka sat next to her, she poured herself a small glass as see quickly flicked through the paperwork. A picture caught her attention; it was of herself, Danielle and Jack together, happy.
Ronnie couldn't help but stare at the picture of what she had thought was her family. Ronnie could feel the pain and hurt rising in her chest again so she quickly slammed the picture face down on the desk. Her eyes scanned the next picture; it was one of Roxy and Amy. Her eyes fixed again but this time she was interrupted by raised voices from the bar.
She quickly stood up, grateful for the distraction away from the pictures. The voices became louder and Ronnie noticed that screams were laughter were soon fading to be replaced by screams of fear. Ronnie heart raced faster as the sound of an alarm drummed into her head. She headed for the door to see smoke filling her club, people rushing around uncontrollably.
Ronnie burst through the office door, into the smoke. "What's happened?" Ronnie called out desperately. But no one heard her as the screams of the crowds grew louder. Through the smoke she couldn't make out faces but she could see the crowds running for the exits as smoke and fire engulfed the club.
She tried unsuccessfully to calm the crowds down, trying to make sure everyone left safely. But one person jumped into her head, Danielle. "Danielle" Ronnie screamed, desperate to somehow pick out her daughter through the smoke.
"Danielle" Ronnie screamed again. But as she tried to walk forward a hand latched onto her arm, pulling her towards the exit. Ronnie tried to resist and head back down the stairs but the person's grip was too firm, she looked up at the figure; it was Jack.
"Jack, I've got to go back, she is...." Ronnie tried to finish her sentence but she started to choke as smoke filled her lungs. Jack and Ronnie reached the top of the stairs, reaching fresh air.
People had started to gather outside the club as the crowds poured out of the R & R exit. Ronnie finally managed to loosen Jack's grip and pull away from him, catching her breath. Without caring for her own safety Ronnie went to charge back down the stairs but Jack once again stopped her.
"Jack get off. It's Danielle I think she is still in there!" Ronnie screamed.
*end of episode*
Jack's heart sunk as he watched Ronnie become more and more hysterical, he hated to see her like this. Without saying another word Jack broke free of Ronnie and stormed through the smoke and back into the club. "JACK!" Ronnie screamed as she watched the man she loved heroically enter the burning building.
The crowds had now been pushed back by Police and Ronnie was standing next to Peggy and Roxy, who had come from The Vic after hearing the sirens in the square. Peggy held onto Ronnie tightly, trying to support her niece as Ronnie's legs shaked with fear at the thought of not only losing Danielle, but now Jack as well.
As much as she hated Jack for what he had done earlier that evening, part of her still cared for him, like part of her cared for Roxy. Her sister was standing behind Peggy and Ronnie, wanting to be close to her sister at the distressing time.
Ronnie watched on as familiar faces continued to pour out of the club. Jane and Ian burst out, brushing the ash of their faces, followed by Tanya and Max. Ronnie couldn't help but feel guilty that all she could think about was that she wished it was Danielle rushing out the club alive, not her neighbours.
"Phil!" Peggy shouted, letting go of Ronnie. Ronnie looked up to see Phil stumbling out of the club, his clothes covered in ash. Peggy rushed to his side as he struggled to catch his breath. "Phil, did you see Danielle, did you see Jack?" Ronnie asked frantically but she was left heartbroken as Phil shook his head.
Inside the club Jack had managed to reach the bottom of the stairs as he struggled to move against the bodies rushing past him. "Danie....." Jack tried to call out, struggling to finish her name as the smoke suffocated him.
Jack found his way over to the bar, waving his hand in front of his face as he tried to see in front of him. He managed to sit on a stall, trying to catch his breath. He knew what he was doing was crazy but he had to find Danielle, for Ronnie.
On the other side of the bar, two bodies lay flat crumbled on the floor. Danielle and Stacey were lifeless as the flames and smoke billowed around them. They lay only millimetres apart but both were a long way away from safety.
Jack jumped to his feet, determined to not let the smoke overcome him. He staggered around the bar, darting his eyes around in case he caught a glimpse of Danielle. Jack's heart was racing faster and faster as he realised time was running out fast.
As he reached the other side of the bar Jack felt a shape at his feet, scrambling around he leant down and saw the blonde haired body of Danielle lying in front of him. "Dan, Dan" Jack screamed, trying to wake her up. But Danielle wasn't moving.
With little hesitation he scooped Danielle up in his arms, trying to cover her face from the smoke and flames. Jack slowly staggered away from the bar, struggling to walk and carry Danielle to safety.
He could feel the heat burning his body as the flames burnt stronger, taking hold of what remained of his club. Jack stumbled into a wall, nearly dropping Danielle as he struggled to stay on his feet. Jack managed to reach the stairs and started the uphill climb to safety, with Danielle unconscious in his arms.
Outside the club fire engines and ambulances were surrounding the exit as local residents received treatment. Ronnie stood in the same position, rocking back and forth on the spot. Ronnie felt like her life was slowly slipping away from her again as she watched the flames blaze away.
Firemen were organising themselves to one side, ready to tackle the blaze. "I can't lose her again, not again" Ronnie whispered. Peggy leant into Ronnie, kissing her on the forehead. Peggy had always known the right thing to say but this time even she was lost for words, knowing all she could offer he inconsolable niece was a shoulder to cry on.
As a group of four firemen approached the club entrance a sudden explosion of flames, threw them back as the crowds jumped back in shock. Ronnie's knees gave way as she screamed in horror; she crumbled to the ground; broken and devastated. Peggy was unable to hold her up any longer.
But even though hope was lost a figure could be seen moving from within the smoke. Firemen and locals looked on as Jack stumbled out of the club, with Danielle cradled in his arms. As Jack made it onto the pavement outside the club he collapsed, throwing Danielle to the floor.
Ronnie looked up as she heard the gasps of the crowd; she had expected to see her daughter lying dead before her. But to her relief and joy Danielle's arm twitched and she started to cough uncontrollably, vomiting on the ground next to wear she laid.
Ronnie jumped to her feet and bolted to wear Danielle lay, moving so fast that no one could stop her in time. "Sweetie, Dan...please be ok" Ronnie asked desperately as her tears rained over Danielle. Danielle managed to turn her head and slowly open her eyes, "mum" she whispered.
Ronnie let out another scream, but this time it was a scream of joy as she stared into the beautiful brown eyes of her daughter. Paramedics rushed around Danielle, pushing Ronnie away. But Ronnie didn't mind, Danielle was safe and she knew she needed treatment. Peggy and Roxy ran over to Ronnie, each taking an arm to lift her off the ground.
Ronnie looked round at Roxy, who smiled at her sister, offering Ronnie support. But Ronnie pushed Roxy off, instead falling into the arms of Peggy for an embrace. "She is going to be ok Aunty Peg" Ronnie exclaimed, struggling to hold back the tears of joy. "I know dear, she is going to fine" Peggy replied, trying to support her niece. Roxy watched on rejected as her aunt and sister embraced.
Paramedics helped Jack off the ground, as three firemen headed into the blazing club behind him. As he was taken over to a nearby ambulance he looked over at Ronnie, who was huddled next to Peggy. She looked up at him and smiled gently, mouthing the words "thank you".
Four paramedics were crouched round Danielle as they placed an oxygen mask around her face. To Ronnie's relief she watched on as they supported Danielle's back as she sat upright, talking to Danielle slowly and checking her over. Ronnie watched on, not wanting to disrupt them as they checked Danielle.
The fire had nearly all gone out as the firemen got the flames under control. A sense of relief seemed to wave over the crowd as they realised that the nightmare was over. But in the distance as the last smoke cleared another figure could be seen in the doorway.
This time it was a fireman, carrying a lifeless body in his arms. The crowd feel silent as they watched the fireman carry the body away from the club, placing the body on the ground not far from Danielle.
Danielle looked on in horror as she watched paramedics rush to the side of Stacey. Raised voices could be heard as Mo, Jean and Charlie pushed to the front of the crowd and through the Police cordon.
"I'm her mother!" Jean cried as a policeman unsuccessfully tried to hold them back. The three ran over to where Stacey lay as paramedics desperately tried to revive her. Danielle looked on in shock as a female paramedic looked up at another and shock her head.
The silence that filled the crowd was hit by a deafening scream as Jean cradled her dead daughter in her arms, surrounded by a hysterical Mo and inconsolable Charlie. Danielle watched on as she sat alone on the pavement, the paramedics had left her alone to go and help Stacey.
No one had spoken or moved, each person holding their heads in their hands, shocked by the loss. Danielle heart jumped as she started to choke again, a sick feeling rising in her stomach.
Danielle felt a hand on her back and she looked round to see Ronnie squatting in front of her. Danielle fell into her mother's arms crying, devastated that she had just lost her best friend.
*end of episode*
Ronnie carefully guided Danielle up the stairs, trying to support her daughter's legs and she was still shaking from the shock. Ronnie slowly helped Danielle onto the sofa, waiting for a response from Danielle.
But Danielle didn't say a word, sitting perfectly still on the sofa. Ronnie looked at Danielle, looking at her pale face and red eyes. She was shocked that there was such an empty look in Danielle's eyes, a look she hadn't seen before.
"I will make us a drink" Ronnie said, she left Danielle and went to the kitchen to make the tea. As she took the mugs out of the cupboard and turned the kettle on Ronnie kept an eye on Danielle, ready to be there the second Danielle needed her.
Ronnie finished making the tea and walked over to Danielle, placing her cup on the table. "You should drink something" Ronnie tried to encourage Danielle but nothing was getting through to her daughter.
"Are you sure you don't want to go for a check up at the hospital?" Ronnie asked, leaning into Danielle trying to make eye contact with her. But still Danielle was silent, staring past Ronnie like she wasn't even there.
Ronnie didn't know what else to say or how to help Danielle so she sat next to her on the sofa, taking Danielle's hand and gripping it tightly. Ronnie knew no words would help Danielle but she wanted her daughter to know that when she was ready to talk, Ronnie would be there.
An hour passed and both Ronnie and Danielle still sat on the sofa. Danielle still had not spoken and Ronnie was becoming increasingly concerned that Danielle was bottling up her emotions, struggling to deal with the grief.
"Sweetie, listen to me" Ronnie started, placing her hand under Danielle's chin and moving Danielle's fringe out of her eyes. "I know this is hard but you need to talk about it. Please don't bottle it up inside, believe me it only makes it worse."
"How could it be worse?" Danielle muttered to Ronnie, her voice quiet and cold. "She's gone mum" Danielle said as she realised that saying those few words made it all real and not just a nightmare. "I know sweetie" Ronnie said, wrapping her arms round Danielle as her daughter cried uncontrollably.
Ronnie woke the next morning, squinting her eyes as the sun shone through her bedroom window. She turned to look at the clock and was stunned to see it was already 11am. Ronnie never normally slept in, she was always up early, ready and organised for the day.
Ronnie jumped out of bed and threw her dressing gown round her, desperate to check on Danielle. She had stayed up late the previous night with Danielle as she started to open up and grief but even after she had put Danielle to bed she had heard her daughter sobbing during the night.
Ronnie approached Danielle's door and knocked softly, opening it slightly as she heard no response. Ronnie poked her head through the door but instead of seeing Danielle sleeping peacefully her bed was empty.
Ronnie started to panic as she flung the door open, scanning her eyes around Danielle's room but she wasn't there. Ronnie's heart began to race faster; ever since she had been reunited with Danielle Ronnie hated losing sight of her daughter, not knowing where she was. But this time it was worse because Ronnie knew the state Danielle was in last night.
Ronnie felt a sense of guilt that she had left her daughter alone last night, wishing she had stayed with Danielle in her room. She reached down for her mobile and tried to ring Danielle but she recognised Danielle's ring tone, noticing that her daughter had left her mobile on the kitchen table before she had left.
Ronnie bolted to her room, ripping of her Pyjamas and throwing on an old pair of jeans and a jumper. She ran down the stairs and out of the flat, not knowing where to start in her search for Danielle.
Ronnie burst through the doors of The Vic and headed straight to Roxy, who was behind the bar. "Have you seen Danielle?" Ronnie screamed, not realising how loud she was. "How is she doing?" Roxy asked, trying to reach and connect with her sister.
But Ronnie ignored Roxy's question, "Have you seen her Rox?" Ronnie barked again. "I was only asking!" Peggy had heard the commotion and walked towards the pair. "What's going on? Oh hi Darling, how are you today?" Peggy said as she noticed Ronnie standing on the other side of the bar.
"Aunty Peg, have you seen Danielle?" Ronnie asked. "Yes, she's other there love" Peggy said, nodding towards the table in the corner. Ronnie's heart sunk as she saw her little girl hunched over a full glass, sitting alone.
"She's been there for about an hour. I have tried to talk to her but she said she was fine, wanted to be on her own" Peggy explained. "Thanks" Ronnie said, smiling at her aunt and heading over to Danielle.
"You should be more sensitive" Peggy said to Roxy, noticing the annoyed expression on Roxy's face. "She nearly lost her again last night and she's worried about her, after everything that has happened and all" Peggy continued but Roxy just grunted turning away to serve a customer.
Ronnie cautiously approached Danielle, slowly sitting on a chair opposite her. Ronnie placed her hand on top of Danielle's, which was resting on the table. "Dan, I was worried about you" Ronnie said quietly, wanting to keep the conversation between herself and Danielle.
"Why?" Danielle said quietly back. "Because I woke up this morning and you were gone and after last night...." Ronnie explained, but Danielle interrupted. "I'm fine now ok" Danielle said, pulling her hand away from Ronnie's.
Ronnie wanted to argue back, point out that she clearly wasn't ok but she thought better of it, choosing instead to say silent.
The doors next to the table where Ronnie and Danielle were sitting opened and the pub fell silent as Jean, Mo and Charlie entered. Everyone felt on edge and they walked towards the bar, wanting to talk to Peggy.
"I am so sorry about your lose" Peggy said as she approached them from behind the bar. "Thank you. We were hoping to talk to you about the wake" Jean said, speaking very quickly, her voice trembling.
"Don't you think it is a bit soon dear" Peggy said, trying to offer support and advice. But their conversation was interrupted as Danielle left the table and Ronnie and approached them.
"Jean, Charlie, Mo I am so...." Danielle started to say. "What does she want?" Jean barked, turning round to stare at Danielle angrily who was taken aback by Jean's outburst. "Jean, please" Charlie said, trying to calm her down.
"No Charlie, don't try and calm me down" Jean cried hysterically. "Why do you even care about Stacey? She wasn't your friend, not after you found someone better" Jean continued, looking over at Ronnie as she spoke.
Tears started to well in Danielle's eyes. "Stacey was there for you when you needed her but then you just forgot about her, moved on. After all we did for you..." Jean said, shaking her head in disgust at Danielle.
"Look I know you're upset, but that's not fair" Ronnie blurted out and she stood up to defend Danielle. Charlie and Mo tried to hold Jean back but they struggled as she continued to attack Danielle and now Ronnie.
"Not fair, I will tell you what is not fair! It's not fair that Jack dragged you out of that fire last night, leaving my little girl to die, all alone...." Jean screamed but she stopped as the tears overcame her.
"C'mon Jean, its best we go" Charlie said as tears started to roll down his cheeks. Mo and Charlie both put their hands around Jean and guided her out the pub.
Everyone was silent as they stared at Danielle. Danielle couldn't move, shocked at Jean's cruel attack. Tears started to roll down her cheeks as Ronnie bent down and looked into her daughter's eyes. "She didn't mean it, she was just upset" Ronnie said, trying to convince her daughter.
"She meant it" Danielle said quietly, feeling devastated and guilty over what Jean has just said. "Let's get you upstairs" Ronnie said, as she guided Danielle through the pub and up the stairs.
The pub was still deadly silent, awkward eyes darting from one face to the next. "Shows over" Roxy said, breaking the silence as the locals started to quietly talk and whisper amongst themselves.
Danielle stared in the mirror, slowly running a brush through her hair. She looked at herself and up and down, reminded of her the sadness and grief that lay ahead today when she looked at the black shirt and skirt she had chosen to wear.
She stared at herself in the mirror, wondering if they lost and hurt girl in front of her would have enough courage to get through the day. Danielle tried to reassure herself in her mind that she was a Mitchell and her mum had taught her that Mitchell's are strong but all she felt was lost and scared, more like the Danielle Jones that first arrived in Walford over a year ago.
Danielle brushed herself down and picked up her jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders. "You look beautiful" a voice said from behind her. Danielle turned around and saw her mum smiling softly at her. Danielle wondered how Ronnie could still look stunning and radiant dressed in all black.
"I don't feel it" Danielle muttered. "Listen to me Dan, you look lovely. Just like me when I was your age" Ronnie said, trying to cheer up her daughter. Danielle managed a little smile in return.
"You ready to go" Ronnie asked, placing her hand on Danielle's shoulder. Danielle turned to look at her mother. "What if they don't want me there, after what happened last week..." Danielle confessed an anxious look on her face.
"Of course they want you there; you were Stacey's best friend. Jean was just upset last week. Anyway Stacey would want you to be there, to say goodbye" Ronnie said, smiling at her daughter. Ronnie wanted to believe what she was saying but she was hoping that Jean wouldn't attack Danielle again; she wasn't sure how much more her daughter could take.
Danielle nodded, reassured by her mother's kind words. The pair left the flat and into the cab that waited outside. Ronnie grabbed Danielle's hand as they made the way to the church, wanting Danielle to know that she would be there for her.
As the cab pulled up outside the church Danielle looked nervously outside the window. She saw Jean, Mo and Charlie huddled in a corner and many of her neighbours waiting outside the church, each with a glum and saddened expression across their faces.
Ronnie got out the cab and went round to open the other door, gesturing for Danielle to join her. She took her mother's hand and took a deep breath, steeping onto the gravel and walking towards the crowds and the church.
As the congregation started to fill into the church Danielle caught Jean's eye, smiling sweetly at her. But Jean ignored Danielle, looking past her like she wasn't even there. Danielle dropped her head, upset by the rejection.
Danielle looked up to see a familiar face looking down on her. "Thanks for coming" Charlie whispered, taking Danielle's hand and kissing her on the cheek. Danielle watched as Charlie walked away, catching up with Mo and Jean. Danielle felt a rush of warmth in her heart that Charlie had reached out to her at such a tragic time.
Ronnie and Danielle walked into the church, Danielle paused momentarily as she saw Stacey's coffin lying before her. All Danielle wanted to do was run away but Ronnie gripped her hand and walked Danielle up the aisle. Danielle felt the tears welling in her eyes as they took steps closer and closer to the coffin.
They finally sat down, three rows from the front, next to Peggy and Roxy, who had already arrived and taken their places. Danielle looked around at the faces in the packed Church, pleased that so many people had come to say goodbye to Stacey.
As the service began Danielle took another deep breath and held a pack of tissues in her hand, she knew this would be a very long and heartbreaking next few hours.
After many prayers and a moving speech by Charlie the Church fell silent again. "Would anyone else like to say something?" the vicar asked. Danielle looked round the church, her eyes darting from a clearly devastated Bradley, back to Jean and Mo. But no one was moving or saying a word.
Danielle looked at the picture of Stacey that was on top of her coffin and suddenly Danielle felt a rush of strength. Danielle had struggled to talk about Stacey over the last week since her death, even to Ronnie, so she Danielle knew this was the last chance to tell Stacey and everyone what she really felt.
Danielle rose from her seat nervously, "I would like to say a few words please" she said, her voice trembling as all the faces turned to stare at her. Jean's head shot round, tears streaming down her face and an angry look in her eyes.
"Go on love" Charlie said, nodding his head. Danielle let get of her mother's hand and walked to the front of the church. Ronnie watched on, proud of her daughter's strength but nervous about what she was going to say.
"I haven't known Stacey long, well not compared to a lot of people anyway" Danielle started, her voice trembling with fear as everyone's eyes where fixated on her. "But most people know Stacey here, they know she can make you laugh one moment and then scream the next. But what some people might not know is that when I was upset or lonely she would stay with me all night, just listening or if I locked myself in my room she would slide a little piece of paper under the door, with a little smiley face on it that would make me laugh, make me forget about everything else just for that second."
Ronnie watched her brave daughter speak so kindly about Stacey; tears rolling down her cheeks as she listened to Danielle speak about her feelings. Ronnie felt a sense of guilt that the times Danielle was talking about were because of her.
Danielle continued, "She may have seemed loud and strong but deep down everything Stacey did, all that Stacey was, was because of her family and how much she loved them. Stacey wasn't my best friend, she was more like a sister to me and I will never forget her."
Danielle finished, wiping the tears from her eyes and heading back to her seat. As she walked past Stacey's coffin she laid a hand on it, unable to look at the where her best friend lay. As she made her way to her seat she felt a hand reach out and touch hers.
"Thank you" Jean said quietly, smiling at Danielle. Danielle smiled back and walked back to sit with her family. "That was beautiful" Ronnie whispered in Danielle's ears as she took hold her daughter's hand once again.
As the funeral finished and Danielle walked out of the Church she decided to move on from all the pain and misery of the last two years; she grabbed Ronnie's hand and smiled sweetly at her mother, wanting to finally look forward to a happy future.