JESSIE'S POV:

I woke up the next morning, feeling the best I had done in months. For once I had no worries and it didn't feel like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, and it was all thanks to the man who was lying next to me. Turning over in his embrace, I smiled at his appearance. He was unshaven, just the way I liked him, and his chest was bare. Smiling to myself, I ran my hand from his cheek down his neck and down his chest, stopping just above where his boxers sat…

"Don't you dare" his sleep addled voice whispered

"Don't you dare what?" I questioned, smirking up at him as he opened his eyes

"Tease me" he replied, moving a piece of hair from my face "we need to talk"

Panic arose in me and it must've shown on my face as he gave me a reassuring smile and pulled me closer to him…

"It's nothing to worry about. I just want to know whether you have any regrets about last night?" he asked, his fingers running through my hair absentmindedly

"Absolutely none whatsoever" I informed him, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips

"Me neither" he breathed against my lips, moving my body so it was pressed against the bedsheets

Emerging from my bedroom that morning, we made our way downstairs and into the kitchen, greeting my Mum, both of us kissing her on the cheek…

"Morning, you two" she greeted us as we made our way to the fridge, Danny fighting me for the carton of orange juice I grabbed from the door "what do you want for breakfast?"

"Whatever's going. Hey" I proclaimed, trying to reach for the carton Danny had grabbed from me in my moment of distraction "thanks, Mum"

"Come on, shortie. Come and get it" he chuckled, holding it well above his head

Smirking at Mum, I turned and hit his stomach, retracting the carton from him as his hand came down to hold his winded stomach. Turning back to Mum, we both burst into fits of giggles as I moved to the kitchen table, sitting myself down…

"Well played, Cornish, well played" he stated as he joined me at the table a moment later

"Thanks. I do try" I replied, smiling at him as I poured myself a bowl of cereal and Danny organised himself some toast

Later that morning, when Danny had left and it was just me and Mum alone cleaning up after breakfast, she broached the subject of earlier that morning…

"So, I'm assuming Danny stayed last night?" she questioned as she placed another plate on the drainer

"He did, but you said it was okay to stay whenever he liked" I informed her

"I know I did, darling, and I don't mind him staying. It's nice to see you laughing and smiling again. But I want to know he won't hurt you again. You two slept together last night, didn't you?" she inquired

I swallowed, pausing my movements with the tea towel on the plate and nodded… "But he didn't take advantage. I instigated it. I wanted to feel something more than hurt and pain"

"Jessie, I'm not going to lecture you" she replied "you're old enough to make your own decisions. If what happened last night is what you want then I can't stop you. All I want is you to be happy"

"I am, Mum. I know it's not the right time to be but I am. Danny returning is the best thing that could've happened, and he knows my main focus is Dad, but he's promised me he's going to be here whenever I, whenever we need him, day or night" I informed her

"But what about London? Does he not have to go back?" she asked

That thought hadn't run through my mind… "I don't know"

DANNY'S POV:

Mum and Dad were at work, and I was home alone, Jessie needing some time with her family. As I watched TV my phone rang, reaching for it from the coffee table, I swallowed before answering, seeing management's caller ID on-screen…

JESSIE'S POV:

"I don't think I'm coming back"

They were the words I heard leave Danny's mouth as I arrived at his front door. Sighing with relief, hoping he was on about what I thought he was on about, I knocked on his front door and let myself in, a wide smile appearing on Danny's face as I walked into the living room…

"Listen, I'm gonna have to go. Something's coming up. We'll talk about this some other time. Yeah, okay, bye" he sighed, hanging up the phone

"Hey, everything okay?" I questioned, walking towards him as he held his arms open to me

"Management are pissed" he admitted "but there's nothing new there"

"Why are they pissed?" I asked, biting my lip nervously

Smiling at me, he pulled my lip from between my teeth… "Because I've told them I'm not going back to London. Not yet anyway"

"Because of me?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow "Danny, I don't want you to risk your career because of us"

"I'm not. Well I am. But you need me. It's a risk I'm willing to take" he informed me

"And what happens if you don't go back?" I questioned

"I stay here with you and I support you like I need to. I get myself a job and whatever else happens, happens" he replied

"You make it sound so simple" I sighed as I pulled away from him, running my hands over my face

"That's because it is, Jess. I love you. You need me here. This is where I need to be. This is where I want to be" he stated

I turned to him... "What did you just say?"

"Here's where I need and want to be?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion

"No, the part about loving me. You love me?" I inquired

"You know I do. And you love me too" he replied

"I can't do this, Danny" I sighed

"Jess, come here, please" he begged "I know you can't, and that's why I'm not going to push you into anything you don't want. I'm here for you as a friend, for now. And when, if you're ready for more, I'll be here then too"

I stepped the two steps needed to be in his personal space and leaned up on my tiptoes, pressing a kiss to his lips before pulling away, winding my arms around his neck, resting my head on his chest, immediately relaxing as I inhaled his scent and listened to his heartbeat…

So Danny's not going back to London and he's admitted he loves Jessie, but is he in love with her? You'll soon find out…