Chapter Twelve
She's not really comfortable driving around on her own but knows she needs to get used to it. They both do. 3 weeks post John's courtroom surprise and she's still not convinced she's safe. That it's over but she figures driving over to her mother's for dinner is a good start.
"I don't like being this far away…"
"I know.' She says, 'but he's in jail and there hasn't been anymore contact." She reasoned, seeing him nod, helping her with her coat. "I have my phone."
"Text me when you get there?" He asks softly and she nods, watching as he does as well. His hands are still on her shoulders though and she lets him have a moment, takes a moment for herself.
"I feel stupid.' She mutters and he chuckles, "I know that he is in jail. I know that he can't get me… I'm armed."
She feels his hand slide around her shoulders, hugging her tightly from behind and leans back against him. Lets her hands curve around his arm, returning the embrace as much as she can. Taking the comfort he gives her. "I know he can't get you either…' Danny whispers, 'still don't want you to go by yourself."
She closes her eyes, letting her head rest against his. Lets them both have a final moment before taking a deep breathe. "I'll text you when I get there."
"Okay." He lets her go and opens the door. Watching as she walks out to his vehicle and gives him a small smile as she climbs into the SUV.
—-
She tells her family about the baby, that she is still staying with Danny for now and no… she didn't have a plan. But she was not quitting her job, was not surprised that it led to a fight. Ana berating her for being selfish, for putting herself in danger. Putting her child in danger.
"This is my life Ana… my choices."
"And look where you are… alone… with a baby whose father is in prison!" It feels like a slap to the face and knocks the air out of her lungs.
She's shocked when her mother stands up for her. Voice harsh and rapid as Carmen lays into her sister. Effectively stopping her sister's words. She's surprised again when Carmen turns towards her, hands taking both of hers firmly in her grasp.
*You are going to be a great mother. You don't need anyone to be a great mother.*
"Thank you,"
*Call your friend. Go home and rest. I'll take care of your sister.*
Maria nods, shrugging into her coat and heading back downstairs.
She takes a moment in the car before starting it, sending him a quick text that she was heading back. It's an easy drive but she is glad that she had the time to pull herself back together before she saw him.
—-
She pushes open the door, shrugging out of her jacket and hanging it up. She turns the corner and pauses, catches him holding the sonogram with a small smile. The last couple of weeks had been different, not a bad different, but Maria could sense the change in them both. The talks they had been having lasting longer. They were quicker to reach out for comfort. A hand on a shoulder. A hug at the end of the day. A hand squeeze. But it was these quiet moments. When she caught him alone, thinking, that she knew that what they weren't talking about was becoming too big of a thing to ignore. She steps forward, watching his eyes dart to her and give her a smile. Making no attempt to hide what he was looking at, was holding.
"15 weeks today...' She says softly, sees him nod. 'Hard to believe it's only been 10 weeks."
"I know…' he feels her lean against his side, rotating the sonogram so she has a clear view too. '... I think we're in trouble."
"Yeah…' Maria licked her lip slightly before focusing on the picture he was still holding 'You know John kinda had one point."
"About?"
"That I would rather be spending time with you than him…'
"Oh?" Danny asks softly, head tilting to face her.
"I don't know how to deal with that…'
"No one is saying you have to deal with it at all Partner."
"I don't want to move out."
"Then don't. No one is asking to you too.'
"That's not fair to you."
"Hey… I got no complaints.' Danny said softly and she nods, giving a small smile. 'The boys obviously got no complaints way they keep shutting that topic down."
"You noticed that too…' he gives wide smile at her tone, bumping her shoulder carefully with his own. "If it was just me' she said as she held his eyes 'I'd be all for this."
"This…' he says as he holds up the photo, 'this is a part of you. As much as the boys are a part of me."
"It's not fair of me to ask…'
"You're not asking… I'm offering Maria… free and clear. I want this...'
"You're my partner."
"And I will be always be your partner… partners leave me. Not the other way around."
"Lies."
"I'm just saying…. record speaks for itself. I'm always gonna have your back."
"I know…. I know that.' She takes a slow breathe before covering his hand with her own, feeling him lace their fingers. 'I want this too."
The kiss is soft, questioning, a hello more than anything and she pulls back, letting her forehead meet his own. "We got plenty of time…' Danny says softly and she smiles, feels herself relax beside him. 'We can figure it out."
"Thank you."
—-
It's a quiet week, Maria smiling as the boys pin her sonogram photo on the fridge. Danny and her talking at night, after the boys have gone to sleep. The kisses that follow the talks were exploring, lingering.
It's Friday, Jack was over at a friends and Sean was staying at Frank's. The dinner had been simple but the company perfect. She's pressed against the counter. The kisses blending together until they both are breathing hard. Danny watching as she gives him a small nervous smile but she pulls him into another kiss.
The half pause when his hand meets skin causes him to stop, meeting her eyes, "We can stop."
"I know.' She says softly and he raises an eyebrow, 'I know. I do… I don't want to stop…"
"But…'
"I'm nervous."
"Yeah… me too.' He said with a small smile,
"Same and different reasons."
"I'm not going to hurt you…' he promises and she nods, her hands playing with the buttons on his shirt.
"My head knows that…'
"Bodies remember trauma… you were cleared?"
"Yeah. First appointment with my OB… everything is healed."
"We don't have to do this…'
"I want too…'
"Come on then."
—-
It works, that's all Maria can think is they get used to the new aspect of them. From the beginning of their partnership, they have always worked. Their normal routine hasn't really changed but Danny takes at least one day during the week to have to themselves. A date night even if it's just to watch movies and have dinner. The boys game for going to their friends house or hanging out with their grandfather.
They have always gone to bed after the boys and one of them is usually awake before them. But it still feels like sneaking around, hiding and even though it's barely been a month. She's never felt like this, felt this safe, this sure, so fast.
She wakes to Danny's arm sliding around her, low on her stomach. His hand sliding beneath her shirt to rest against the skin of her stomach.
"We need to tell the boys."
"Yeah. You think…"
"They are not going to care."
"It's different than me just staying here. Being with you. The baby."
"You mean the baby they pinned to the fridge?"
"Danny…' she rotates to her back, watching as he blinks at her. '... this is a lot."
"It is… but honestly, Jack put the sonogram on the fridge. Sean changes the subject anytime someone brings up apartments. Sean was looking at baby clothes the other day on amazon. Wants to surprise you with something. Jack is planning something with Erin that they won't clue me in on. I honestly don't think they are gonna have an issue. I think they will have an issue if we hide it from them."
"Okay… are you sure? Because I would understand if you weren't..."
"I'm sure Maria… I know it's fast but it doesn't feel fast.' She knew what he was saying because while some days it felt this whirlwind had started a moment ago the next it felt like they had been doing this forever. "I don't know if it's because I've known you so long but this, us, is working and this,' his hand is low on her stomach, feels her hand cover his own, '... this is going to be great. I'm gonna ask you the same. Are you sure? Because I need you to be sure if we're doing this. The boys are gonna need you to be sure…' His hand still covering the baby, his eyes holding hers and she breathes because even though she's scared, she is sure and nods.
"I'm sure."
—-
They settle at their normal places at the breakfast table and Danny waits until they all are seated. "So… we got something to tell you."
"What?"
"You're not moving out are you?" Jack asks as his eyes dart towards her.
"No…' Maria said with a smile, ' That's not it. I'm not going anywhere."
"Except across the house." Danny says with a small smile, both eyes swinging back towards him and the tension leaves their body.
"Thank god… I thought we were gonna have to hit you over the head with it!" Jack says with a wide grin.
"Yeah. I mean it's been weeks since the asshat went to jail… we were talking about putting up a sign." Sean says with a wide grin.
"What about work? Are you two still going to be working together."
"We are… limited overtime for that one."
"What about the baby?" Sean asks, head swiveling back to Maria and watching as she gives a smile but doesn't say anything.
"Family is not always blood Sean. Family is a choice...' Danny says softly, 'we're making a choice to be a family. Maria for you guys. Us for this baby."
"So we can officially consider this baby a sibling?' Sean asks 'just explicitly asking."
"Yes." Danny says firmly and Maria blinks back the tears as Sean gets up and hugs her tightly, leaning against his stomach and returning the hug. Jack doing the same from the other side. Both eventually sinking into their chairs again.
"What are you gonna tell Grandpa?" Jack asks softly and Danny tags Maria's eyes across the table.
"As it comes."
"Roger that." Both boys echo.
—-
