---Hiya, sorry I haven't updated in a few days, had quite a busy weekend. Hope you're not getting bored with this, I know there have been a couple of filler chapters, but things are starting to pick up pace now. Thanks for the reviews, they really encourage me to do more :)
Ronnie flopped down onto the couch, utterly exhausted, at three o'clock in the afternoon. Danielle was sitting on the floor playing with Amy, every so often looking up at her mother with a contented smile. Ronnie, however, was concerned. They still hadn't really spoken about what happened with her dad, and now her daughter was ignoring phone calls from Stacey. It wasn't like her, Ronnie had never seen her angry at someone like this, apart from herself, but that was understandable. She sighed and pushed herself onto the floor, leaning into Danielle and picking Amy up.
"I can't believe how much she looks like Roxy. Normally I can't see it, when kids are this young. When people say, 'oh, she's got her dad's nose' I can't see it at all. But every time I look at Amy...I see Roxy looking back." Ronnie whispered, cradling Amy gently and placing a soft kiss on her nose.
"I think it's her eyes." Danielle commented, brushing Ronnie's fringe back with her finger. Ronnie smiled and murmured an agreement, looking seriously at her daughter.
"They're just like yours, too. I thought you had your dad's eyes, but...I can't believe I didn't realise you're my Amy. My little girl." Ronnie said, a sad smile crossing her face.
"It doesn't matter, hey? We're here now and that's all that matters, right?" Danielle said, smiling at Ronnie hopefully.
"Is it?" Ronnie replied, Danielle's smile faltering slightly. Ronnie looked up at her and kissed her cheek, feeling like she was stepping onto some very thin ice. "What happened with Stacey?"
"Nothing." Danielle whispered, her eyes shooting to the floor.
"Danielle, please. No more lies..." Ronnie sighed, clutching at Danielle's hand.
"We just...we had an argument. It was stupid, and I didn't mean half the things I said, and now I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say to fix it." Danielle said, tears glazing her eyes.
"Just, just try. I don't want you to lose her, she's a good friend. You need to hang on to those..." Ronnie finished sadly, making Danielle's heart break a little. The only person Ronnie had ever had to rely on was Roxy, and now she had no one.
"I will...I just, some of the things she said, I dunno. They were so...horrible. I mean, I know she can be a bitch, that's just the way she is, but I didn't think she'd be like that about me, you know?" Danielle said, frowning a little. She took Amy from her mother and cuddled her close, trying to shake the sombre mood that was falling over her.
"I know, sweetie. But you have to try, ok? You said you said things you didn't mean, it's probably the same for her...just, call her, yeah? Or text? You just have to talk." Ronnie said, wrapping an arm around Danielle's shoulders. "So, I've, um, been meaning to ask. What happened with your dad?"
"Oh, um...just another silly argument..." Danielle said with a little laugh, as things suddenly clicked into place. "Did you, did you get Stacey to come round?"
"Guilty, I'm afraid...I just thought you'd rather talk to her than me." Ronnie laughed, seeing the disbelieving smile appear on Danielle's face.
"Aw...thanks." Danielle said, the smile growing stronger. She couldn't believe Ronnie would do that. If roles were reversed Danielle would have gone for the selfish option every time, and tried to speak to her herself.
"You sure? Sounds like things didn't quite go to plan..."
"Yep. Makes everything Stacey said not true, and therefore completely forgivable." Danielle said, her usual cheery nature shining through. It made Ronnie want to cry, she was so proud of her little girl. "So yeah, my dad. I called him, and he couldn't find a minute to talk to me. I know he was just busy, and I over-reacted...I just, I felt a bit lonely."
"Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry. Look, if you've changed your mind about staying here I completely understand, I didn't mean to upset you." Ronnie said, stroking Danielle's arm softly.
"I know, and you know what, there's no where I'd rather be."
Archie looked over at Peggy, who was sleeping beside him. He slowed the car to a stop outside a dingy looking block of flats overlooking the sea. He shook her gently, trying to wake her. Carrying her in would look a bit suspicious.
"Come on, Peggy. Time to wake up, love." He whispered, smiling as she jerked awake. She looked up at him, tears in her eyes, as she tried to work out where she was.
"We're here now, look. Right by the sea, just like you wanted." Archie said, opening her door and climbing out. He jogged round to Peggy's side and opened her door. She hesitated, then stepped out, the look on his face warning her against trying anything. He took her arm and pulled a set of keys out of his pocket. He hadn't been to the flat for nearly nineteen years, but he'd employed someone to decorate, make the place presentable. He wanted everything to be perfect, after all, this was the start of his and Peggy's lives together.
Peggy walked slowly behind him, keeping quiet. She had no idea what to do. He had completely lost the plot, forcing her to take some kind of sleeping tablet that morning and forcing her into the car. He'd been talking to her the whole way, and she'd caught bits of it. He wanted them to be together, away from all the 'issues' of the square. She presumed he meant all his lies. He stopped outside a door on the third floor. He unlocked it, giving it a slight kick to open it. It was small, quite dark, painted entirely in white, and smelled slightly of damp. She knew instantly where she was. This was where he'd taken Ronnie, where Danielle was born. She wondered how they were. She hadn't spoken to them since she'd got back, and Phil hadn't really spoken to them much. Sensitivity really wasn't one of his strengths.
"Right...I know I didn't give you a chance to pack, so I took the liberty of getting you some clothes, go have a look." He smiled, guiding her towards a large wardrobe in the bedroom. She opened the door and sighed.
"They're lovely, dear." Archie smiled, as he walked over to the door. He locked it, and put the key in his pocket. Peggy sighed, praying that someone would find her quickly. She had no idea what Archie had planned.
---Oh dear, poor Peggy :( A little bit more Ronnie/Danielle cheese for you all, seeing as it went down so well last time lol. Sorry it's a bit short, really should be studying right now...exams in a couple of weeks and I'm screwed! As always, thanks for reading, Fiona x
