I Can't, I Won't

Summary: Sequel to Life's Full of Little Surprises. She was the girl that he couldn't forget, he was the man she didn't want to forget. He fell for her on a bus, she fell for him in the rain. After two years apart, they are brought back together. But are they willing to let themselves fall in love again?

Disclaimer- I own nothing but my OC's. It is very sad, but true.

-(-)-

AznIntegra- Thanks! Dani rubbed off on Adam years ago, but he has his own devious moments without her and he's super in love with her. What else can I say? Nothing. Anyway, thanks again. Hopefully Adam will have more devious thoughts.

Tinkerbell821- Yeah, senior stuff is so not fun. I just can't wait until it is all over. Good luck with your projects and whatnot; I hope they aren't too much hassle. Thanks!

Thank you to mdgirl18, Jas120, BrownEyedDreamr, and Sweet-Romantic!

-(-)-

Leah giggled like an idiot and swayed on the chair of the end of Dani's bed. She knew that she looked like she was on a million different types of drugs, but the news that her best friend had relayed to her made her not care. Dani was staring at her with amusement and indignation in her eyes. This wasn't what she had expected when she told Leah that she and Adam were once again together.

"Le, you having an seizure or a stroke or something?" Leah didn't seem to hear her, she lunged forward squealing, and tightly hugged her friend. Dani was knocked back on her bed, gasping for breath.

"Oh my god, oh my God, OH MY GOD!" Leah squealed when she was finally able to form words.

Dani cringed in pain for two reasons. One, Leah was constricting her ability to breath properly, and two, she had just screamed in Dani's ear, "Leah!" Dani gasped out, "Can't... breathe. Need... Air!" It took Leah about a minute to comprehend what Dani had said. She gasped and jumped back, pulling away from her friend. Dani stayed laying down and took several deep breaths.

"Sorry." Leah apologized sheepishly, "But that's really good news!"

Smiling, Dani nodded and replied, "Yeah, it really is."

Leah chuckled, "If you could see the look on your face... I've never, ever seen you with a smile that big." Leah cocked her head to the side and a light emitted from her as if she had just uncovered a massive secret, "You love him that much." She mumbled, "I knew you loved him, but not like this."

"He's..." Dani sighed, "indescribable. I don't know what else to say."

Leah grinned, "So, how long have you been back together?"

"A week." Dani replied, "Since Halloween."

"And I'm the only one that knows, right?" Leah asked pathetically, with an uncharacteristic pout plastered on her face.

"Yeah." Dani sighed, "You are. We were going to freak out Jesse, Charlie, and Teresa the day after but Teresa and Charlie's date ended up falling through, so we never got together to tell them... Don't give me that look, I'd have told you that morning if Charlie and Teresa had gone out."

"Promise?" Leah asked, still pouting.

Dani sighed heavily, "Leah Renee, you have been my best friend since I was five years old. Just because Teresa and I are roomies and friends, doesn't mean that you are less of a friend to me. I love you; you're like the sister I never had."

"Even if Charlie and Teresa didn't go out, why didn't you tell me?"

Sighing again, Dani said, "I just wanted some time to figure everything out. How to tell you, you know. I was thanking my lucky stars that Charlie and Teresa didn't go out that night. I loved the idea of how Adam wanted to tell them and scaring the hell out of them, but I needed a little bit of time for you. They are going out tonight, that is why I told you now."

Leah thought for a moment, the pouting decreasing the more she did so. Sighing heavily, Leah nodded and leaned over to gently hug Dani, "I know... I just feel so terrible. We don't spend much time together anymore and it's mostly my fault. With Gunnar and my parents and school." Leah sighed again.

"Le, it's not like that." Dani replied, "We knew that we would both be busy when we got to college. Besides, with skating and the million extra classes I'm taking, the fault is just as much mine." A small smile graced Leah's face, "Now that is what I like to see."

"Okay." Leah said, "Now, there is one thing I need to know." Dani raised her eyebrows in question, "Is Adam still an amazing kisser?"

Snorting with laughter, Dani felt a blush rising in her face. She smiled for a moment and said, "He was so amazing when we were younger that I thought that he couldn't be better. I was wrong."

"So... What's it like?" Leah urged as she and Dani feel into giggly, stereotypical teenage girl persona's. Nothing like their true personalities, but a special show that all girls were allowed to put on at some point or another.

Dani sighed heavily at the memory, "Like... Something so brilliant and fantastic that no words can describe it." Leah giggled again, "Seriously, it's something that you'd have experience to get... Not like that. Don't even think about it, young lady." Dani warned as Leah's eyes grew and glowed. She loved Leah, but there was no way that she was sharing Adam. Leah held up her hands in surrender and motioned for Dani to continue, which the latter happily did, "When he starts off really slow and careful and it builds from there..." She trailed off as the memory waved over her.

"Wow." Leah whispered, "I am so happy for you, Dan. You have no idea."

"Thanks." Dani replied as Leah's watch beeped, "What's up?"

Leah groaned, "Gunnar has a surprise planned for me tonight. You know that I loathe and detest surprises." Dani nodded, "And he knows that too. We've been planning on going out tonight for forever and suddenly, a couple of weeks ago, he says he has a surprise that he's going to give me afterwards."

"Sounds fun." Dani quipped.

"Ha." Leah retorted bitterly.

A thought popped into Dani's head, one that she knew would cause Leah to flip her lid completely, "Hey, maybe he's going to ask you to marry him."

And she was right. Leah's eyes practically popped out of her head and Dani thought she could see her friend's hair standing on end, "Oh no... No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no. That is out of the question. Gunnar knows that that would not happen, he has to. For crying out loud, I'm 18! There is no way I am ready to get married."

"Jeez, Le, relax. I know that. I just said that to freak you out." Dani said, "I'm sure that that is no where near his thoughts now. Gunnar has his own deal to work out before he gets married as well. Just think, with the NHL and whatever he has going on personally."

Leah sighed, "Don't ever do that to me again, Danielle."

"Sorry." Dani mumbled, "You'd better get going." Leah nodded and stood. She took a deep breath to calm herself. Dani chuckled and hugged her goodbye, "Have fun."

"Uh-huh." Leah mumbled, "You too." She added, remembering that Dani was seeing Adam later.

"I'm sure I will." Dani replied. Leah giggled again, but less exuberantly then before. It was clear that what Dani had said about Gunnar was still on her mind, though she was trying to hide it.

The door opened unexpectedly and Teresa came in, still bundled up, "Oh, hey Leah."

"What's up, Teresa?" Leah asked.

"Not much."

Leah smiled, "So how's it going with you and Charlie?"

Nodding, Teresa replied, "Good." Dani rolled her eyes. She hated that Teresa was so shy around Leah. Teresa had come out of her shell so much, but whenever Leah was around she retreated back into it. Dani had a sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with the fact that she and Leah had been so close for so long. Sighing inaudibly, Dani mused. There was no reason not to bring Teresa into the fray and Leah was more then willing. Teresa was just scared.

"That's good to hear." Leah replied, "I gotta get going, so I'll see you two later. Bye Dan."

"See you later, Le." Dani responded as Leah left, "So, what's up with you and Charlie tonight?"

"I'm going over to his place." Teresa said, "I think he bribed Adam and Jesse to leave for a few hours." Dani nodded, "What?" She asked, noticing the look on Dani's face.

"It's nothing." Dani said.

"Dani." Teresa replied, "What?"

Dani squirmed for a moment. This was for two reasons. First, she wasn't quite sure how she was going to manage to get Teresa to take her to the penthouse without arising much suspicion and, second, she wanted Teresa to wonder. That might help her in getting to where she wanted to go, "Well... No, never mind."

"Stop doing that!" Teresa half whined, half sighed, "Seriously, what is it?"

"Well..." Dani said, "I was just hoping that you wouldn't mind if I went with you." Teresa's eyebrows furrowed low over her eyes, "Not for long, just to say hi. I haven't seen the guys in a while and I just wanted to talk."

"Have you used up all of your self-control?" Teresa asked. Now that Leah had been gone for an fair amount of time, Teresa's shell was cracking again.

"Huh?" Dani asked, genuinely confused.

Teresa scrutinizingly looked Dani up and down. It wasn't lost on Teresa that Dani was wearing black dress pants, dressy flat shoes, and a very nice form fitting red top, "You've tried as hard as you possibly could to stay away from Adam and now you want to go over to their place for a friendly chat? What's up?"

"Nothing." Dani replied, "Adam's a great guy and just because we went out doesn't mean I should avoid him. They're my friends... At least, I think they still are. No one ever told me anything to the contrary."

"Oh... Kay," Teresa said slowly, "I guess that will work."

Dani smiled, but not too big, "Thanks."

"You confuse me." Teresa stated bluntly.

Shrugging and retreaving her coat from the closet, Dani merely said, "I do that to a lot of people."

-(-)-

Turning off the car and pulling her keys out of the ignition, Teresa couldn't help but stare at Dani out of the corner of her eyes. She was staring directly forward, her face completely unreadable, and tapping on the door arm rest to the beat of the song that was no longer playing. Looking down to put her keys in her purse, Teresa scrunched up her forehead in confusion. Dani was certainly the most complex person that Teresa had ever met.

"Ready?" Dani asked, pulling Teresa out of her deep thought. Teresa looked up and saw that Dani was looking directly at her. Dani's face was no longer emotionless. Instead, it was wide-eyed and analyzing, as if Dani were trying to read Teresa's mind. The latter also noticed that there was a twinkle of amusement in those wide eyes as she looked into them. Again, Dani was too complex at times.

"Sure." Teresa replied, opening her door and stepping out. Dani smiled behind Teresa's back. She was confused, Dani could tell, but she still had no indication of the real reason that Dani was with her. Stepping out of the car as well, Dani shot a small glance Teresa's way. Her facial expressions were priceless. Dani could practically see the cogs working in her head, trying to figure out what was going on.

Both girls slammed the doors of the car shut at the same time and Teresa locked it with a beep, "So," Teresa began as they walked towards the building, "what are you planning on doing after you leave."

Dani opened the door and let Teresa enter before her, "Well, I'm not really sure." She admitted after she closed the door behind her, "Just go out for some chow, I suppose." This wasn't technically a lie. Adam had an evening planned for the two of them but all that he told her was that they were going to dinner, he never said where, and that he had something planned after that. It was a good thing that Dani was much better suited for surprises then Leah was.

"By yourself?" Teresa asked. Dani merely shrugged, managing to embitter Teresa further.

Dani chuckled, "You are bitter about something." Teresa turned to look at her, her face still bitter, "What's up?"

"You are infuriating at times, you know that don't you?" Dani nodded, causing Teresa to chuckle acidly, "And you use that on people." Dani nodded again, this time with a smile, "Ugh!"

"I heart you." Dani replied sweetly.

"No doubt." Teresa mumbled as they reached the penthouse door. She knocked, but Dani could see her staring at her from the corner of her eye again. The door opened and Teresa's face lighted up, "Hey Jesse."

"Hey Princess." Jesse said back as he hugged her, "Come on in." Teresa entered and Jesse was going to close the door, but stopped when he saw Dani. He gaped, speechless.

Dani smiled, "Hey Jess."

"Dani?"

"Most days," Dani quipped, "Can I come in?"

Still attempting to figure out if Dani was actually there, or if he was imagining her, all Jesse could manage was, "Um... Uh... Er..." Dani sighed heavily and plastered a convincingly hurt expression on her face. It was fake of course, this reaction was what she had hoped for, "Sure." He managed.

"Thanks." Dani said, smiling again. She walked past him, he was following her with his eyes as she did so, and entered the familiar hallway. The door closed and Jesse slipped past her to the living room. She followed and smiled broadly as she leaned against the doorway. Teresa was lowly and quickly giving Charlie and Jesse the scoop on why Dani was there. Or, at least, what she knew.

Charlie noticed Dani first, "Hey, Dani."

"What's up Charlie?" Dani asked, walking over, "I can't get a hug around here nowadays?"

"Oh." Charlie said, reaching out and hugging her, "How are you Dani?"

"I'm good." Dani replied, "Now why are you all looking at me like I'm Bigfoot or an alien?"

Teresa, Charlie, and Jesse glanced around to each other, "Well, Dani, it's just..." Charlie began, not sure what to see, "We haven't really... Crap." He mumbled to himself, causing Dani to giggle. She watched expectantly as he thought of something to say.

Sighing heavily, Jesse took over, "What it is is, we haven't seen you in a while. We thought that you might be mad at us for... You know." Dani nodded, "So... Are you?"

"Mad?" Dani asked, everyone nodded, "At first I was ready to rip off your family jewels and feed them to you, and then draw and quarter you."

"Descriptive." Charlie cringed.

Teresa sighed, "You don't want to know what she had planned for me."

Shrugging, Dani went on, "Well, it was wrong what you did and if you ever pull another stunt like that again, I will think of something worse then that, but what can I say? Through all of that, I still really care about you guys."

Charlie and Jesse smiled. It was good to know that they were forgiven. Dani would always be an honorary Duck and Ducks fly together, "Skater Girl!" Jesse cooed as he pulled her into a huge hug. Dani chuckled. That had been Jesse's special nickname for her ever since Dean and Kenny had showed the Ducks her performance at the U.S. Nationals. That couldn't have more then two weeks after Dean introduced her to the Ducks, but for some reason Jesse never called her that around the other Ducks. He said it was his nickname for her and that no one else could call her that.

"Jess." Dani said, now no longer chuckling, "You're crushing my spine."

"Oh." Jesse mumbled, letting her go.

The whole group was smiling as large as they could, "Hey, Cake-eater! Look who showed up." Charlie called towards the doorway. Dani turned and looked at Adam. He very nearly took her breath away and vise versa. He was, as usual, perfectly groomed and he looked extremely dapper in his button-up French Blue top and khaki pants.

Adam smiled, "Hey gorgeous." He said as he walked over to Dani and wrapped her in his arms. Audible gasps came from the other three in the room.

"Hey yourself, handsome." Dani replied as Adam leaned over and kissed her. Dani reveled in his kiss and pulled him closer to her, snaking her arms around his torso as she did so.

After less then a minute Dani and Adam pulled apart, "What the hell is going on?" Jesse's voice broke through their bliss.

"I second that..." Charlie asked, looking directly at Teresa. She shrugged, also clearly clueless, as Dani released Adam and turned to look at them. Adam wrapped his arms around her waist and kept her pressed against his side.

"Oh, did we forget to tell you?" Adam asked innocently, but his eyes held a devious glimmer just beneath the surface. Charlie and Jesse gaped at that, while Teresa managed a few nearly inaudible, choked out words. Adam and Dani chuckled as she leaned against him and he kissed her on the very corner of her mouth.

"Oops." Dani replied, though no fake emotions laced her voice. She was clearly sarcastic, admitting what she and Adam had planned though not actually saying the word.

Teresa looked from Charlie and Jesse to Dani and Adam and back, "What? When?"

"Halloween." Adam and Dani replied at the same time.

Charlie's eyes widened at his best friend, "And you didn't tell us?" He asked lividly.

"We wanted it to be a surprise." Dani responded. There was an air of smugness in Dani's words and in the way that Adam nodded next to her shoulder, but only because they were proud of themselves for keeping their secret.

Adam kissed Dani's temple and looked back to the others, "And on that note, we need to get going. Our reservation is for 7:15." Dani nodded as Adam released her and walked over to the closet to grab his coat, "Bye guys." He said to Charlie and Jesse and he put his coat on, "See you, Princess." He added to Teresa, giving her a light hug.

"Bye everybody." Dani said as Adam took her hand and lead her out the door. The second they were out of the door, Dani and Adam heard indignant and exasperated exclamations come from their friends inside. They chuckled, but for a moment Dani worried, "You don't think this will ruin their date, do you?"

Shaking his head, Adam replied, "No, of course not. Jesse will probably stew on it wherever he goes and then attack me when he or I get home, but Teresa and Charlie will probably forget about it in 20 minutes or so. They're too enamored with each other to worry about us for very long."

Dani nodded in agreement, "Until they are apart and remember. They'll kill us when you come home and I get back to the dorm."

"True." Adam said, "So how about we make the most of the time we have alone."

Smiling, Dani agreed, "I like that idea." Adam leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips, but ended it quickly, "So," Dani said, "Where are we going, I'm starving."