Author's Note: I don't own any of these characters or CSI: NY at all.
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Dinner had gone pretty well – Lindsay had stifled a laugh when Danny tried his first bite of elk, but he had been a champ and actually declared he liked it. Now the women were in the kitchen, washing dishes and chatting, while the men were in the living room watching football. All the men except for Danny, that is. He'd become an instant hit with the kids at dinner with his vast Disney movie knowledge – something Lindsay made a mental note to ask him about later. He was currently sitting on the floor in the playroom, with Gracie is his lap, playing cars with Jack and Sam. Lizzy had been playing with them too, but she had just darted out of the room without so much as a word.
Lizzy ran into the kitchen, and jumped up onto Lindsay's lap. Lindsay had put down her glass of wine just in time.
"Whoa, missy! You almost knocked me over!" Lindsay exclaimed, laughing. Lizzy looked up at her aunt seriously.
"Aunt Lindsay, are you going to marry Danny?" At Lizzy's question, the whole kitchen went quiet. Lindsay blushed, and when she looked up she saw her mother, her sisters-in-law, and her niece all looking at her expectantly.
"Why do you ask that, Liz?" Lindsay asked, still a little red.
"Well, because when my friend Amelia's aunt got married she got to be the flower girl and she got to wear a beautiful dress and shoes that go 'tap-tap'," Lizzy explained excitedly. "And I really want to do it too! Even Gracie could do it with me. We'd be so good!" The women in the kitchen laughed.
"Well you know what, Lizzy? When Danny and I get married, you and Gracie can be flower girls, I promise," Lindsay said, and Lizzy scampered off with a wide grin.
"Married, eh?" Kate said, washing dishes.
"Mom," Lindsay said warningly.
"Oh, Lindsay. Come on. We all know you're going to marry that man, it's just a matter of time!" Kate said with the air of definiteness all mothers possess. Lindsay chuckled, and then smiled in defeat.
"You know, Mom, I think you might just be right."
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"Hey Danny, guess what?!" Lizzy yelled as she raced back into the room.
"What's that?" Danny asked, as Lizzy jumped up and down with excitement.
"Aunt Lindsay says that when you guys get married, me and Gracie can be the flower girls!" she squealed. "Isn't that the best?" Danny laughed.
"Yeah, Lizzy, that's the best," he replied. It really was the best, he thought. Did Lindsay really mean that? Does she really think about marrying me?
His thoughts were interrupted as Sam rolled a Tonka truck over his head, and Sukey appeared in the doorway.
"Hey guys, it's time to go, okay? We'll come back tomorrow for the real Thanksgiving, but I need you guys to go get your shoes and stuff, okay?" she said, and the kids reluctantly followed her. Danny noticed that Gracie had fallen asleep in his lap, so he gently rose and carried her into the kitchen where the others were getting ready to leave.
"Don't forget this one," he joked, and handed Gracie over to Jake, but not before he noticed Lindsay looking at him, almost wistfully.
The families left, and it was just Danny, Lindsay, and her parents.
"Gabe," Kate said, "why don't you take Danny with you as you lock up the barn?" she suggested.
"Alright – Danny, put on your coat and we'll head out."
Danny did as he was told, and he and Gabe left the house. They walked towards the barn in silence for a while.
"Danny," Gabe began, "I'm sure you've been expecting this. The "lindsay is my baby girl and if you hurt her I'll kill you speech". Am I right?" Danny laughed.
"Actually yes, I have been," he replied. "Look, before you say anything, I just wanted to let you know that I love your daughter very much. And I respect her just as much. She's basically the best thing that has ever happened to me, and even though I've been known to be kind of an idiot at times, I don't think I could live with myself if I ever screwed it up with her." Danny delivered this speech quickly, due to nerves, but sincerely, and Gabe could tell.
"You know, Danny. I believe you. I haven't seen Lindsay this happy since she was a little girl. She's all lit up, and if you're the reason – well, then how can I argue with that? But not only is Lindsay my little girl, she's my only little girl. She's the baby, and to let her go is the hardest thing me or her Ma has ever had to do. One day you'll understand. When you realize you're no longer the only man your little girl truly loves," Gabe said, looking to Danny, who nodded.
"So, you take care of her, you hear?" Danny nodded again, and smiled.
"Of course." The two men locked up the barn, and then returned to the house, this time their conversation about baseball. When they entered, Lindsay looked up from the table quickly, biting her lip. She had known her parents would love Danny – eventually. She just wasn't sure how long it would take. Danny flashed her a reassuring smile, and then the couple bade Kate and Gabe a good night and headed upstairs. Once in the privacy of Lindsay's room, Danny grabbed Lindsay's hand.
"What're you so nervous for, Monroe? Thought your Daddy wouldn't like me?" he teased, and Lindsay smiled.
"So did he give you the "my baby girl" talk?" she asked, and Danny grinned.
"Yup. But we're all good. And damn, Montana – you never told me your father was a baseball trivia machine!"
"Do we really have to talk about my dad right now?" Lindsay said, straddling Danny on the bed and kissing him hard.
"Montana," Danny moaned as they finally broke apart. "We can't do this here – I mean, I can't, not with your parents…"
"Why Messer, I never figured you for a square," Lindsay said cheekily, pulling him in for another kiss.
"No seriously, Linds. I mean, I wanna – but, we can't!" Danny said when they finally broke apart for the second time.
"Oh you're no fun!" Lindsay pouted. "Alright cowboy. One more goodnight kiss?" she said, sticking her lower lip out.
"How could I resist?"