"Are you ready Mr Trevanion?" Alice asked as she saw Danny walk down the stairs trying to fasten his cufflinks. He nodded as he continued to struggle, causing Alice to smirk and shake her head fondly, "Come here you..." She said softly, humour to her tone as she almost effortlessly fastened them tightly.
"Thanks..." Danny laughed looking down. She giggled too, putting her hands on his hips in reassurance. Danny was about to compliment her on her looks when her phone unexpectedly began to ring. Alice frowned at Danny who shrugged clueless, handing her her phone and waiting as she answered it.
"Hello? Yeh, yeh that's me... Oh?... Tomorrow? What time?... Ok, um... yeh... that's fine...Bye."
"Who was it?" Danny asked her, running his hands down her arms.
"The hospital. They had a cancellation and have moved me forward to tomorrow at eleven in the morning." Alice told him shakily.
"That's good!" Danny enthused but looking in her eyes he could see the lining of fear, "Hey..." He whispered, cupping her face in one hand, "You'll be completely fine... I promise."
"You're right, of course I will, you know it's just sudden..." Alice replied,
"I know..." Danny smiled, "Now come on, you are meant to be taking me to dinner!"
"I'll just say bye to Rowan... and Charlie and Robbie..." Alice grinned, her grin widening as Danny took her hand leading her through to the living room where Rowan was sat with Robert and Charlie.
After a quick goodbye (only made quick due to the fact Danny dragged Alice away before she could lecture Rowan on the same old, same olds), the pair were out of the house and as they walked to the car Alice threw Danny the keys.
"You can drive..." She beamed as he unlocked it with the remote.
"Ah, so you take me to dinner but I've to drive?" Danny asked her as she opened the passenger door for her smiling with humour.
"Of course Mr Trevanion."
"Very well Mrs Trevanion..." Danny said, closing the door and climbing in the driver's side. "Actually, it's not a bad thing..." He murmured connecting his iPhone to the stereo system, "I heard a song today and reminds me of us... Where we going?"
"Italian Restaurant around the corner from Georgina's..." Alice replied, "What song?" She asked as he scrolled through his music.
"Listen." Danny murmured as he pressed play, turning the volume up before setting off.
She's a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
She looks great in cheap sunglasses
She looks great in anything
She's I want a piece of chocolate
Take me to a movie
She's I can't find a thing to wear
Now and then she's moody
She's a Saturn with a sunroof
With her brown hair a-blowing
She's a soft place to land
And a good feeling knowing
She's a warm conversation
That I wouldn't miss for nothing
She's a fighter when she's mad
And she's a lover when she's loving
And she's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
'Cause she's everything to me
She's a Saturday out on the town
And a church girl on Sunday
She's a cross around her neck
And a cuss word 'cause its Monday
She's a bubble bath and candles
Baby come and kiss me
She's a one glass of wine
And she's feeling kinda tipsy
She's the giver I wish I could be
And the stealer of the covers
She's a picture in my wallet
and my unborn children's mother
She's the hand that I'm holding
When I'm on my knees and praying
She's the answer to my prayer
And she's the song that I'm playing
And she's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
'Cause she's everything to me
She's the voice I love to hear
Someday when I'm ninety
She's that wooden rocking chair
I want rocking right beside me
Everyday that passes
I only love her more
Yeah, she's the one
That I'd lay down my own life for
Danny smiled as he glanced across at Alice, who had tears welled in her eyes. He slowly reached his hand across, stroking her knee before singing along to the final two verses.
And she's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She's everything to me
Yeah she's everything to me
Everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She's everything to me
"Danny..." She whispered quietly,
"It's perfect no?" Danny replied smiling, "I had my iPhone on shuffle when it came on and it made me think of you. It always has." He added as he pulled the car into the car park.
"I Don't Know by Will Young makes me think of you..." Alice replied as both clambered out of the car. Danny took her hand as they walked towards the restaurant. "You fixed my broken bones, put them back together..."
"I'll find it later." Danny promised as they walked in, "Trevanion."
It was two hours later when Danny and Alice had finished their meal and now, as Danny awaited Alice to finish in the Ladies, he was busy texting Rowan asking if he was ok for another hour and a half to two hours. He wanted to take Alice somewhere special and give her something special in return. He wished they were in South Africa as his plan would be one hundred times more spectacular in the bush than on a hillside fifty minutes out of London. Still, hopefully she'd enjoy it.
"You ready Mrs Trevanion?"
"I am." Alice replied, "Have you had a nice evening?"
"The best, thank you." He replied kissing her as they walked out into the cool night air.
It wasn't long before they were speeding down the road when Alice realised they were going in the opposite direction to home.
"Danny it's the other way." Alice pointed out looking at him as he took a left out of the city.
"I know."
"The kids... Rowan..."
"Are fine." Danny replied, "Mrs Trevanion, you must await your surprise..."
"Surprise?"
"Surprise."
Alice frowned, allowing him to concentrate on his driving, a steady stream of chill out music playing as he drove. She turned to look at him, gazing at his expression. It was full of excitement and anticipation tinted with a deep concentration as he kept his eyes firmly on the road. His eyes darted right and left in a split second checking his mirrors before they once more returned to the road. She wondered where on Earth he could be taking them. They'd been driving for forty-five minutes and now they seemed to be going up a hillside.
"Here." Danny murmured as he pulled over.
"Here? A Hill?"
"A hill." Danny repeated jumping out and rushing round to open the door for her. He led her quickly to a flatter area before rushing back to the car leaving her confused for a moment, however her confusion soon disappeared as she heard the song she'd mentioned earlier begin to play. She welled up as he made his way back over to her, a soft and passionate smile upon his face, his eyes gentle. "Would you care to dance Mrs Trevanion?" He crooned holding out his hand to her.
"I would love too..." She replied, taking his hand and allowing him to pull her into his arms.
As the singing began, both began to slow-dance to the lyrics that meant so much. Alice smiled up at him, her eyes never leaving his as he danced with her in the moonlight. She moved slightly to rest her head on his shoulder as he looked down at her, pressing a soft kiss to the top her head as they shared the tender and romantic moment. Alice's eyes closed as she began to thank all her lucky stars for brining her to this man. She didn't care about her illness, in this moment it was forgotten as the man she loved sent her into a whirlwind.
As the music began to slow, leading to the end of the song, Danny stopped their dancing, instead he moved to cup her face in one of his hands forcing her eyes to meet his. Both were smiling as they gazed at one another with love lorn expressions, their eyes full of feeling and clarity about how they felt about one another.
"I was all alone, I was nearly gone... You don't know what you did for me, took my broken bones and put them back together..." Danny sang gently.
"You took me in." Alice finished before reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a tight hug. She sighed as she buried her face in his neck, a shaky breath leaving her as emotion caught up. He never failed to surprise her, especially with his rare romantic moments. This meant so much to her.
"Dancing in the moonlight with my beautiful wife." Danny murmured into her ear, "What could be more magical?"
"Danny..." Alice's voice cracked as she whispered his name, "You have no idea how much this means to me."
"It was nothing..." Danny replied, "I just wanted you to have a great night and, I wanted to give you something to fight for." He paused and looked down at her, smiling as he saw her confusion, "When you're better we'll dance again under the moon and stars - in Africa, at Leopards Den."
"That's emotional blackmail." Alice smirked causing him to laugh, "Seriously, Danny, thank you. You found the song, you found this place... You amaze me, day in and day out. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Danny said nothing but simply kissed her deeply, holding her close before pulling back. He sighed as he once more pulled her into his arms, inhaling the scent of her perfume and fruity shampoo.
"I love you." Alice told him sincerely, looking into his eyes.
"As I love you." Danny replied, kissing her once more. "But it's time for us to make a move..."
"Back to reality." Alice smiled as they walked hand in hand back to the car. "It's a perfect reality though."
"Of course." Danny replied as he opened the car door for her, helping her in.
As he climbed in and shut the door, Alice smiled. She'd be ok, she'd be fine.
"Hey Danny..." Alice murmured as he started the car, "I look forward to the African version."
Her Husband said nothing, he simply smiled, kissing her hand as he gazed into her blue eyes.