Thanks for the reviews. Heres the next chapter, hope you like it!

Danielle was still sat with Ronnie. Roxy and Amy had left a couple of hours ago but Ronnie and Danielle hadn't moved from the sofa. They were both so happy to be in each other's company. Danielle was fiddling with Ronnie's fingers as Ronnie was playing with Danielle's hair. Neither had spoken for a while but the peace made it easier for both of them, they couldn't say anything wrong. Ronnie's stomach rumbled loudly as Danielle laughed at her. Ronnie went red, embarrassed that her stomach had broken the silence. Danielle just laughed even more at Ronnie's bright red face.

"I guess you're hungry" Danielle joked. She was becoming more comfortable in her mother's company, but she still felt weary of what to do. She was so afraid of doing something wrong and Ronnie rejecting her but she was slowly starting to believe that Ronnie had changed. Ronnie nodded while she laughed, she was still embarrassed but happy that her daughter finally felt relaxed enough to joke with her. She knew it would be hard for Danielle to trust her but she prayed that her daughter would forgive her and she could be the mother she knew she was always suppose to be.

"Do you fancy going out for a meal?" Ronnie bit her lip as Danielle stopped laughing. Danielle didn't know what to say, she had wanted more than anything to eat with Ronnie, a simple thing to every other mother and daughter, but after her public humiliation she was unsure of being seen out in public. "We could just go out to the café…or I could go and buy some food, I don't have anything in: Roxy ate the last of it…" Ronnie hoped her joke would make Danielle laugh but it just seemed to make her tenser. Danielle realised that she would either have to eat out or go out with Ronnie to the shop, neither sounded appealing, but Danielle didn't want to stay at the flat by herself, she wanted to stay with Ronnie, with her mum. Ronnie grabbed hold of Danielle's hand and squeezed it as she looked into her daughters beautiful brown eyes. "I promise I wont let anyone say anything, sweetie, I'll stay with you, hold your hand and we can leave when you want…You could stay here whilst I went and got something if you wanted…"Ronnie didn't want to let Danielle out of her sight but she knew that Danielle may want different.

"I don't want to stay by myself" Danielle whispered, slightly embarrassed.

"I don't want you to be by yourself…" Ronnie stroked Danielle's face as she smiled. "I promise Danielle, if anyone says anything or if you want to go, I'll stay by your side" Ronnie knew that Danielle was apprehensive about going out in public. Roxy had suggested earlier that they go to the park but Danielle had refused, she didn't want to be seen by anyone. Ronnie felt guilty, knowing it was her fault. She just wanted Danielle to feel happy but she knew that everywhere her daughter went there was some reminder of the pain she had caused her. Danielle looked up at her mum.

"Promise?"

"I promise baby." Ronnie couldn't contain her smile as she pulled her daughter into her chest, squeezing her body against Danielle's.

After much deliberation, Ronnie and Danielle had decided to go to the Caf. It was close to Ronnie's flat so if Danielle wanted to they could get back to the flat quickly. Ronnie also thought that the Caf might be quieter as it was early evening and it would mean less people for Danielle to face. Ronnie held Danielle's hand tightly as the crossed the square, not wanting to let her daughter out of her sight. She wanted to protect her, emotionally and physically, hold her close and never let her go. As they reached the door of the Caf, Danielle paused. Ronnie turned to face Danielle as she put her hands on Danielle's shoulders.

"We don't have to go in if you don't want baby. I understand."

Danielle managed a little smile. She was still adjusting to the difference in Ronnie. "It's fine, Ronnie….I..want..to go in." Danielle wanted to make Ronnie proud, show her she was as strong as her, that she really was a Mitchell. She wasn't sure if she could cope but she wanted to make Ronnie proud, still afraid that she could turn on her. Ronnie smiled and pulled her daughter into a close hug. Danielle wrapped her arms around Ronnie's back, melting into her mother's arms. She had dreamt so much of moments like this and now it was happening it was so much better. Ronnie led Danielle into the Caf, standing in front of her hoping that Danielle would feel protected. Danielle could feel the stares of people on her but was surprised at the small amount of people in the Café. There was only about seven which made Danielle feel better. She could sense Ian Beale staring at her from the counter but she tried to ignore him. Ronnie and Danielle took a seat in the corner, away from the rest of the customers. Ronnie's smile reassured Danielle as they sat opposite each other, holding hands across the table.

"What do you fancy Dani? You can have anything…don't worry about the cost" Ronnie passed the menu to Danielle worried that her daughter would only pick the cheapest item; she knew that's what she would do. Maybe Danielle was more like Roxy though? Always spending other people's money, she hoped Danielle was more like her, her mother, but she just needed to know that information. Danielle nodded. She buried her head in her menu, trying to choose what she wanted. She didn't want something too expensive afraid that it would put Ronnie off, she didn't want her to think that she always went for expensive items. Ronnie too had her head buried in her menu, wanting to choose something that she thought Danielle would like, hoping she could get it right. Prove to herself that she did know her daughter but she couldn't. She had no idea what Danielle would choose and she felt ashamed. Danielle had asked her once to go out for a meal and she declined. Now she wish she had gone, found something out about her daughter. Danielle put the menu down as she decided what she wanted. She was going simple, just a sandwich and a drink, possibly a doughnut if they got a pudding. Ronnie too decided to go simple, a sandwich and a drink. She decided that if Danielle wanted to go then it would be easier with a sandwich than a full meal.

"Have you decided?" Ronnie questioned. Danielle nodded.

"I'll have a tuna sandwich…" Danielle's voice became quiet, unsure of whether to ask for a drink.

"Anything to drink?"

"I'll just have some apple juice please."

Ronnie smiled as she got up. She loved knowing what her daughter liked and ate, it meant everything to her. Even leaving Danielle for one minute as she went to order made her worry. Danielle watched Ronnie walk up to the counter and order their meal. She looked around the room seeing who else was sat in the café. She saw Tanya drinking coffee, a few people from the market and Dot with Dotty. Nobody seemed bothered by Danielle's presence which made her relax slightly. Everyone had their own problems; they didn't really care what happened in Danielle's life. For the first time in the seven months she had been her, she was glad. Happy that people wouldn't remember what had happened. Ronnie returned with two drinks placing one in front of Danielle before sitting down. Ronnie didn't know how to break the silence; she longed to hear more of her daughter's life but she wasn't sure how to bring it into the conversation. Danielle too didn't know how to approach a conversation.

"Tanya doesn't look well does she? I think its Laurens trial this week…" Ronnie attempted to start a conversation; Danielle looked at Tanya seeing the sadness in her eyes and simply replied with a nod. She didn't want Ronnie to talk about anyone else; she wanted her to tell her about her life and everything about it. Danielle had longed to hear this information for months, planned what she was going to ask but being in Ronnie's presence she wasn't sure what to say. Ronnie continued "Amy's growing up fast isn't she, she loves you, you can tell. You're her favourite cousin"

Danielle looked up. Cousin. She loved that word. Amy was her cousin and she still couldn't Ronnie knew. She could use it freely and whenever she wanted. She knew Amy had loved her from the start, and hearing Ronnie say it made butterflies in her stomach. She smiled at Ronnie who instantly smiled back.

"You can babysit a lot more now, but don't expect to get anything. You know what Roxy's like with money!"

"I'd love to babysit, I love Amy. She's so beautiful"

"Just like you then" Danielle blushed as Ian came over with the meal.

"I hope you realise that you ruined a good night for me. I lost all the money from that stupid wedding…" Ian spoke but stopped as Ronnie glared at him. Danielle just looked at the food wishing that Ian would just go away. Ian walked away as Ronnie held out a hand for Danielle to take. "I'm sorry Danielle, I told him not to say anything…"

"It's ok. He obviously doesn't have anything else to talk about…"Danielle forced a laugh at the end, letting Ronnie know that she really was ok with it. Deep down though, Danielle wished people would stop blaming her. She was still hurting from Ronnie's rejection and how she had avoided Danielle's question about why Ronnie had picked her to treat badly. She just wanted to forget but every breath she breathed and every time she moved, something else or somebody reminded her of the pain that Ronnie had caused her.