Thanks for the reviews. Here's the next chapter, enjoy!
"Please Danielle, let me in…" Ronnie spoke softly to her daughter through the door; she just wanted to hold her close. Danielle was unsure of what to do let her mother in or keep her distance. She wanted her mum so badly that every muscle in her body ached but she didn't want Ronnie to cause any more pain. They needed to talk, Danielle knew this but she didn't know where to begin, every memory she had with Ronnie caused her pain. "Please Danielle," Danielle could hear her mother's cries through the door, begging her to let her in. She couldn't see the tears or the pain inside Ronnie that longed for her daughter.
"You've caused me so much pain Ronnie, every memory hurts me inside everything you said and did…"
"I know sweetie, I just want to make you understand…"Ronnie sniffled between her cries, urging Danielle to open the door. She couldn't bear the thought that she was hurting her mother so Danielle slowly opened the door to find Ronnie sat on the floor. Ronnie let a small smile show on her face grateful to her daughter for giving her another chance. Danielle just stared forward whilst tears ran down her face, she daren't look at Ronnie.
"Make me understand then" she gritted through her teeth. Danielle didn't know why she was been so stern, but it helped the pain go away and made her less vulnerable. Ronnie stood up to face her daughter but Danielle wouldn't keep eye contact, she looked everywhere except at Ronnie.
Ronnie had to make Danielle believe her, and if this meant bringing up painful memories from when Danielle was taken from here, she'd do it.
"I've loved you ever since you were born Danielle, my dad, he…he took you when you were born. I had two hours and twenty three minutes with you and then, then he took you. You were crying for me, your mother, and he wouldn't let me hold you. I was only fourteen, I thought my dad would protect me, not take away the most precious thing in my life…" Ronnie started to crack, she just wanted to cry for the baby she had mourned, all the time she had spent and now here was her daughter in front of her, more beautiful than she could ever imagine. "You were my baby, Danielle, mine and he took you. You were so beautiful, and he took you. Away from me, your mother. I never saw you again, Dani, I have this picture of you that I used to stare into every night wondering who was tucking you up at night, were you well, what did you look like…then my dad told me, told me, that you were…dead…and it broke my heart baby…" Ronnie cried. She just let all her emotions fall out, Danielle watched on with a tear in her eye. She wanted to comfort her mother but she wasn't sure how. She held out her hand, hoping her mother would take it. Ronnie immediately did, squeezing it in encouragement. "I thought you were dead…my own dad he lied to me. I thought my precious daughter was dead…had died without her mum by her side. I couldn't imagine how scared my baby must have been…I shut myself off, hoping the pain would go away but it didn't. Then I met you Dani," Ronnie looked up at Danielle hoping they would have eye contact but Danielle was still staring at the floor, tears running down her face. Ronnie moved her fingers up and down her daughter's hand, trying to comfort her. "You brought back so many memories, I thought if I shut you off too things would be easier, but they weren't. I love you so much and I couldn't stop thinking of what my daughter must have been through. I thought you were dead, Dani, I couldn't bear to live without ever seeing my little girl again. It broke my heart." Ronnie let out soft cries, whilst holding Danielle's hand. She could hear her daughter making the same sounds, she just wanted to hold Danielle, never let her go. "Then when you told me the truth…I…I really wanted to believe you but I've been hurt so much…I'm so sorry Danielle. Really I am." Danielle moved closer to her mother unable to see her crying, as Ronnie pulled her into a hug. They hugged, sobbing into each other, whilst their arms were tightly wrapped around the other. They were reunited in their pain at last.
"All the things you said to me, Ronnie, I can't forget" Danielle whispered into her mothers ears, "I want to. But I don't know if I can"
Ronnie's heart leapt. Danielle did want to know. "I'll help all I can, Dani. I hope one day you can forget, but I'll help you to try and forget. Forget the pain I caused you…"
Danielle smiled to herself, knowing now that Ronnie really wouldn't leave her. She knew it wouldn't be easy but she needed to forget. "You hurt me so much…" Danielle had so much to say. How could she let it all out at once?
"I know Danielle, I'd do anything to take away all the pain" Ronnie whispered whilst brushing Danielle's hair with her fingers. "Anything Danielle…"
"Why did you just treat me so badly Ronnie? You could have picked anyone, why me?" Danielle spoke slowly not wanting to upset Ronnie anymore than she already was. Ronnie struggled to think of the right answer. How could she even start to explain? "You attacked me after your…da..dad asked me to get those letters. I hadn't even known you for long and you attacked me. You ripped up my Christmas card in front of me, threw me out the club…you even tried to get me arrested…"Ronnie had tears streaming down her face, she didn't realise the extent of the pain she had caused. Danielle was still holding onto her mother in a hug, she didn't dare let go. "You threw me out at Christmas…when I got…pre..pregnant." Danielle hung her head in shame at her actions, as Ronnie held onto her tighter. "You left me at the second appointment, kept me away from Amy, called me the…the, biggest mistake of your life, threw me out off the Vic and humiliated me, Ronnie. I can't get hurt anymore…I've had enough!" Danielle sobbed going back through all the memories. It was worse than she could remember, but letting it all out made it better, made her feel closer to Ronnie. Ronnie pulled her head away, but still had a tight grasp on Danielle.
"Listen Danielle, I'm so sorry. I can't ever forgive myself so I understand if you can't forgive me…but I want to try and forget…for us to live together and be like proper mother and daughter…" After hearing Ronnie speak, Danielle had the confidence to look into Ronnie's eyes. She could see the sparkle and the tear stained face but all that mattered to Danielle was that Ronnie wanted her. However difficult it could be, she knew she had to try.