Danielle perched on a nearby bar stool, placing her head in her hands, she allowed her eyes to close for a second. Ronnie stood where she had been left, watching her daughter in awe, but unsure of what to do next. Relenting, Ronnie followed Danielle's lead and went back to her own seat, taking a second to look in her locket, before placing her own head in her hands, it was only now that she realised how tired she had become.

The thought of leaving had once again become fresh in Danielle's mind, she couldn't take anymore tonight. It would only lead to more problems because she wasn't ready to forgive Ronnie or even really talk to her. Danielle glanced back over to the door; surely no one could stop her from leaving now? She glanced over to Ronnie and saw her delicately close the locket she had cradled in her palm, Danielle instantly knew what was inside, she couldn't believe Ronnie was still wearing it, despite everything and all the time that had passed. Guilt crept under her skin as Danielle knew she had momentarily considered running out on Ronnie again without even so much as a good bye.

Ronnie stood up, with concern etched into her face, as Danielle cautiously approached, looking down at her tightly clasped hands. "Are you ok sweetie?"

Danielle slowly looked up, she appeared more tired than anything else, "I want to go home, Ronnie" Her voice was soft and quiet, but also pleading.

Fear tore through Ronnie's expression, "What, why? Is it something I've..."

"No" Danielle interrupted Ronnie's nervous objections, "I just want to go, please"

Ronnie's face dropped as she desperately tried to work out a way to stop her daughter from leaving, "If, if you want to stay here, I'll go instead. You can stay with Roxy; I promise I won't bother you."

Danielle shook her head; she had to make Ronnie understand, "No, I just want to go. I need space, from everything, not just you. Please Ronnie, let me go."

The hurt in Ronnie's eyes was easily detected, but Danielle refused to give in to her mother's pleas. She had decided she was leaving soon regardless of whether Ronnie tried to stop her or not, but she still felt like she needed Ronnie's permission, not to ease her guilt, but to make the situation so much easier. Danielle had no idea how she would feel tomorrow, whether she would want anything to do with Ronnie, or any of the Mitchells, but if Ronnie would let her go now, it would make the prospect of facing her again much easier to comprehend.

Roxy entered the room again just in time to witness the uncomfortable moment between mother and daughter. She opened her mouth to ask if they were ok, but was quickly interrupted by thundering fists against the Queen Vic doors. All three girls jumped as the noise filled the room, Danielle turned to face the doors with her back now to Ronnie, wearing a confused expression. Roxy looked annoyed at the rude interruption as she walked around the bar heading in the direction of the door, "We're closed!"

Ronnie seemed uninterested in the intruder to begin with, as she continued to watch Danielle, still terrified of losing her baby again but knowing she could not intervene, any objection would fall on deaf ears. However, Ronnie forced herself to acknowledge the situation as she saw her sister begin to approach the door that was still being relentlessly hammered against, "Roxy, wait! What if it's..." she didn't need to finish, it was obvious from the look on her face that she had Archie in mind.

Danielle turned to look at Ronnie just in time to see her worried expression meaningfully glance from Roxy to Danielle and back again, Roxy answered her sister's unspoken question "Ron, it's ok, I won't let him anywhere near her."

Despite Roxy's attempt at reassurance, Ronnie expression refused to change and her hands began to shake slightly, it felt like the night her baby had been born, the same fear of losing her. Danielle began to feel nervous, she hated Archie and found him threatening and cruel, but seeing Ronnie scared was what really scared her. Ronnie noticed the look in Danielle's eyes change and she quickly convinced herself to be strong for her daughter's sake, "Don't worry. I'll look after you."

Danielle felt relieved to see Ronnie offer her a small smile, even if it was fake, it somehow made her feel safer and she really believed her mother's words; she knew Ronnie would protect her. Knowing that despite her just demanding to leave Ronnie was still willing to protect her, and against Archie of all people, added a new confidence that Danielle hadn't felt before. It felt like she could push to the limit, but it was still safe, because her mum would still want her, now all she had to do was find the limit.

Roxy continued to approach the door, still unsure of who was on the other side, after all, they were in a pub, it could just be a drunk, "I said we are closed!" Roxy shouted clearly at the door, she now expected some sort of response.

Sorry I haven't updated for a while, I had to revise :( Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter, I know its not as exciting, but bare with me. I'm trying to round the night off now so we can start to see some morning after effects ;D The last chapter's reviews were fantastic!!! Many thanks, please keep reviewing, and if anyone has any ideas I am all ears! Unfortunately I can feel some writers block coming on, which is irritating because I've got more spare time again now!!! I have started the next chapter though, so that should be up soonish ;D