Disclaimer: The characters of CSI: NY do not belong to me however this story is of my own and should only be used after permission has been asked and given. No copyright infringement intended and no profit is being made.

Summary: Danny and Lindsay are going to learn that sometimes you must lose, in order to gain.

Notes: Hello? *Taps microphone* Hello? Can everyone hear me? So er, I've kinda been away on this story for a while. I'm back at uni now so free time sometimes seems non-existent but I promise that I will continue with this story – even if the updates are a little slower than they were over summer. Rest assured that this fic is always in the back of my mind, nudging me to write some more so if you're still game then so am I because I still have plenty of ideas waiting to be written yet!

Also… this season… guh! I'm in love :) The amount of DL we've been getting, sans last night's episode, has been amazing and episode four… woweee! So yeah, I don't want to bore you all with my season ramblings but if anyone fancies having a natter about season 9 then drop me a PM, I am definitely up for talking someone's ear off! :)

This chapter is a little longer than usual because, well heck, after that long break you deserved something more! And I'm hoping you'll enjoy the ending. Now, read on, lovelies!

The Parent's Apple

When Danny awoke the following morning, he felt the most rested than he had in months. Cracking an eye open, he smiled sleepily as he spied his wife, stood at the foot of the bed. She hadn't noticed that he'd woken up yet and so he took the time to observe her. She was in front of the full length mirror, stood in profile with her hands lightly resting against her pyjama clad stomach. She bit her bottom lip and Danny could see the barely concealed pain in her eyes. He knew that she was better than before, could see and feel it for himself, but that didn't mean that she didn't bare scars. They both did.

She looked up and met his eyes through the reflection of the mirror. If she was startled to see him awake then she didn't show it. Instead smiling sadly, she said, "I'd look a lot different now, huh?"

Danny thought back to how she'd looked when she was seven months pregnant with Lucy. He rose up in the bed, resting his back against the headboard and opened his arms to her. "C'mere."

Lindsay willingly went to him, falling into his embrace. He placed a kiss to the top of her head.

"We're gonna be ok, aren't we?" she asked.

He didn't know if she realised it was the same question she'd posed the night after the miscarriage, when he'd found her at 3am sat up in their apartment. Danny held her tighter to his body. "Of course we are," he promised. An echo of his response that night however this time, the conviction was firm in his tone.

"Did you know this is the oldest farmer's market in America?" Lindsay asked as she and Danny walked through the French Market's entrance, hand in hand. They'd decided to visit it after she'd told him how amazing it was when she'd gone with Stella. "It's been operating since 1779 and it was moved to this site in 1791. Pretty cool, huh?"

Danny nodded; his usual response when she gave him a piece of trivia. They passed a stall where an elderly woman was sitting, her gnarled hands clutched around her purse and her beady eyes following the passer-by's. Danny inclined his head towards the woman before leaning in close and murmuring in the whorl of Lindsay's ear, "D'ya think she's been here since it opened?"

Lindsay shook her head, smiling, and playfully hit him in the chest. He was still chuckling as she dragged him over to the elderly woman's stall. Hand-crafted jewellery was on display with a bold sign stating:

Hand Crafted Jewellery
Two Necklaces for $40
Three Bracelets for $20

Thieves will be prosecuted.

Lindsay was looking at the beaded bracelets, picking various ones up and comparing the colours before she finally settled on one pink, one turquoise and one green. She passed the three bracelets to the elderly woman whose eyes were fixed on two boys, looking at her displays. Working efficiently whilst still staring at the boys, she put the bracelets into a small paper bag and taped it closed.

The elderly woman cleared her throat loudly and menacingly. The two boys turned and looked at the stall owner whose eyes flicked to the sign, they read the bottom line before putting the necklace they'd been looking at back and slinking into the crowd. The elderly woman turned back to Lindsay.

"Eyes everywhere," she said in a rasping voice.

Lindsay smiled. Since having Lucy, she definitely knew that feeling. Her daughter, whilst mostly well-behaved, could sometimes get into situations which included a lot of cleaning up, mending or telling off. Lindsay handed the money over to the woman before placing the paper bag into her purse and turning back to Danny.

"I didn't think you were big on wearin' jewellery," he commented.

"It's not for me, it's for Lucy," she replied. "I thought she might like it for when she's playing dress up – oh, don't look at me like that. She likes looking pretty at her tea parties."

Danny exhaled slowly, trying not to think of his daughter dressed up in jewellery and, God forbid, make up. It had been hard enough when they'd relented and allowed Lucy to get her ears pierced, an experience he'd refused to attend for he knew that as soon as the first tear welled in his daughter's eye he'd want to take her and run – whether both ears had been pierced or not. He knew that he was often teased about his protectiveness of Lucy but she was his baby girl and nothing, or nobody, was allowed to hurt her. He was still insisting that she wasn't allowed to date for a long time; he'd been a player once and he knew what it was like to break a girl's heart without caring. He wasn't proud of his younger self, especially now that he had Lucy, but he supposed that his past gave him an advantage; he certainly knew what teenage boys were thinking and he would definitely be letting them know that he knew when they inevitably started coming round. He just hoped that he also didn't have the disadvantage of knowing how these boys could have hurt his daughter.

"Lucy's not datin' until she's at least twenty one," Danny stated, his voice mildly strained. Lindsay slipped her hand back into his and gave him a gentle squeeze. She didn't need to know precisely where his thoughts had been to gather what they were about. She knew that they wouldn't be able to stop Lucy if she really did want to date, but they could always be there to pick up the pieces if any relationship did unfortunately go wrong.

They continued walking through the market, browsing the stalls and occasionally buying things that they could put to use. They purchased a handsome lamp for Stella as a thank you for letting each of them stay, although Lindsay's thank you went even deeper and she would let Stella know when the time was right.

It was nearing two o'clock when they left the flea market, having stopped at the end for something light to eat, and they returned to Stella's home knowing that she'd be finishing work within the next few hours. They were both looking forward to going out that evening with Stella and Jackson as an adult couple. When they went out in New York for dinner it was far and few between due to their busy work schedules and usually they had to pick a family friendly restaurant which would accommodate a three year old. Going out as a carefree couple was something they both needed; if nothing else, it would cement their rebuilt relationship.

When Stella had suggested that they wore comfortable and warm clothing for their evening out, both Danny and Lindsay had been intrigued. The elder woman had kept tight lipped, however, merely smiling secretively and promising that they'd have a good time. Now, as they sailed out of South Shore Harbour on Jackson's small sailing yacht, they could certainly say that she'd been correct.

Stella and Lindsay sat together, enjoying the ride, whilst Jackson showed Danny how to work the tiller and rudder.

"How attached is Jackson to this boat?" Lindsay asked her friend.

"Very; why?"

"I was just wondering how mad he'd be if Danny managed to sink it," Lindsay replied. Stella grinned, casting a glance at the two men as they worked; Jackson was seamlessly explaining things to Danny whilst the latter had his face screwed up in concentration. The elder woman lent back on her forearms, soaking up the last rays of the slowly fading sun.

"I have to admit, this is pretty nice."

"I told you Jackson would be good for getting you to try new things," Lindsay commented, nudging her friend in the arm.

Stella gave a somewhat conspiratorial grin. "You'd be pleased to know then that tonight I shan't be coming home with you and Danny."

Lindsay's face broke with delighted surprise. "Oh really?"

"We figured that seeing how we'll be staying in New York next week, we'd better see how things go first."

"A trial run, huh?" Lindsay smirked and Stella rolled her eyes, her smile still in place.

"I hope you realise that this means you and Danny will have the house to yourselves tonight and for the majority of tomorrow…" Stella looked at Lindsay pointedly. Lindsay gave a small smile before looking across at her husband; he certainly did look good as he attempted to sail underneath Jackson's supervision. She turned back to her friend, biting the inside of her lip.

"We'll see."

"What d'you reckon they're talking about?" Jackson asked, casting a glance at the two women as they sat together.

Danny gave a noncommittal shrug. "Not sure, but it can't be anythin' good."

Jackson chuckled. "Surely they're not that bad?"

"Worse," Danny deadpanned before his face cracked into a grin and both men laughed together. Danny had definitely warmed to Jackson but his best intentions for Stella meant that he'd still be on the constant look out for any foul play.

Danny helped Jackson to drop the anchor before the latter excused himself and disappeared below into the cabin. It wasn't long before two slender arms wrapped themselves around Danny's waist and he smiled, inclining his head to see Lindsay better as she rested her chin on his shoulder.

"Hey."

"Hey. What're you doin'?"

"Nothin'. Just thought I'd come and see how you were holding up; the sea smell isn't bringing back bad memories is it?" she asked teasingly.

He rolled his eyes and chuckled. "As long as we don't need to be towed back by the coast guard, I'm sure I'll be fine," he retorted. "Jackson just showed me how to sail but I don't reckon it's somethin' I could properly get into."

She gave a shrug. "Tell him to take apart a Harley and put it back together for no reason at all and I'm sure he'd struggle to get into it, too."

He chuckled, acknowledging that she was the first and possibly only person who truly got him. He pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Are you happy?"

She gave him a soft smile. "More than I ever thought I could be."

They shared a chaste kiss before Jackson returned, carrying a large pot that was still steaming. Stella, who they realised must have accompanied him into the cabin, came behind him carrying bowls and cutlery. Jackson set the pot down and the others gathered around, taking bowls, knives and forks from Stella.

"I thought you couldn't come to New Orleans without trying authentic cuisine," he told them with a grin. "I made gumbo; chicken, because I heard that not everyone likes seafood."

Danny gave Jackson a quick smile, clearly appreciative of the gesture. The silent message was quick and masculine enough for both women to grin at each other behind their partner's back. The foursome served themselves from the bowl before settling down to eat and as Lindsay subtly watched her husband, she acknowledged that tonight would be the beginning of the end.

She rubbed cream into her hands, massaging deep into the calluses which were a reminder of where she came from. Danny stood in the doorway of the bathroom; a towel wrapped low on his hips and water from his hair trickling down his back as he watched her, smiling to himself. It was domestic sights like these that he had grown to love, and perhaps Lindsay knew that and used it to her advantage but he'd never know, for he'd never ask.

Whilst Danny had been in the shower after her, Lindsay had quickly dried her hair and removed any lasting remnants of make up before digging out the nightwear Stella had convinced her to buy during a shopping trip. It was a silk nightgown; long and classical whilst still hinting at an air of mystery and sexiness. She'd quickly donned the outfit with shaking hands before sitting on the ottoman against the wall and beginning her usual moisturising routine.

She'd managed to calm her nerves by the time he'd stepped out of the bathroom and was now waiting for him to make the first move.

Whilst she'd been musing, he'd taken the time to change into a pair of boxers. He was stalling, suddenly nervous as he realised what she wanted him to do and by putting on the boxers, he'd been able to gather his wits. Now that he was calm again, he stepped up to where she was sitting and slowly knelt down so he was at her level. He took the bottle of moisturizer out of her hand and set it on the vanity table next to her. She looked up at him through her lashes, smiling and hesitant but willing to unravel with him. He placed his hands on either side of her on the ottoman before leaning forwards and brushing his lips to hers.

They each sighed into the kiss, relaxing out of their semi-tense states with the realisation that this was something they'd done many times before with each other. They didn't need to feel scared, or worried, or hesitant.

Danny moved his mouth from Lindsay's lips to her jaw, kissing along the line in a well-practised manner. She smiled and her eyes fluttered closed in bliss as she revelled in the sensation of his lips on her skin and his hand on her thigh, skimming across the flesh. She instinctively parted her legs and he shuffled between them, closing the distance between their bodies. She brought his mouth to hers again for a sweet kiss which grew in hunger as they devoured the other's mouth. Her fingertips grazed across his collarbone, over his chest and down his abs until she reached the ridge of the waistband where cloth met flesh.

Neither asked whether this was what the other wanted because, unlike the last time, they both knew what answer they would receive. And so before Lindsay's hand slipped beneath his waist band, Danny pressed his lips to his wife's in a kiss full of promise; this was the final obstacle for them to overcome.

And finally, as they came undone together, they were fully healed.

So, how was that? Fancy making my day and reviewing? :D If there's any mistakes then I apologise, I did check through but I'm a bit rushed because fireworks are calling. Woo for firework night!