Thanks for the reviews. This chapter is just a bit of a filler and was the only way I could think of to reveal Danielle's decision. Hope you like it and please review.
Danielle remained in Ronnie's arms as Ronnie whispered comforting words into Danielle's perfectly shaped ear. She closed her eyes tight hoping that everything would be ok but in reality she knew everything was just as bad as it was to begin with. Whatever Ronnie said, she knew she had ruined their relationship; it would never be the same again if she decided to keep or abort this baby. Now was the time to open up fully to Ronnie and she knew it; they may never get this close again where Danielle felt comfortable enough to release her innermost feelings. She hoped they would but she never took anything for granted, especially not since Ronnie found out. Ronnie's last words echoed through her ears "the most perfect, most beautiful and most caring" that wasn't her not really, Ronnie yes, just not Danielle. She had to let her feelings out, if not to let Ronnie know how she was feeling but to hear and feel the comforting of her mother she had longed for, for so long.
"Ronnie, I'm sca…I'm scared I won't know how to be a mum…"
Ronnie looked down at her daughter, smiling in awe at her cuteness. "Danielle, you will be a great mum," She wrapped her arm around Danielle's back pulling her daughter into her chest "Look how good you are with Amy and I'll be here to help. When I first held you in my arms, I was so in love with you, everything was perfect; your little hands clenched into a fist, your soft blonde hair, your toothless yawn, everything." Ronnie was transfixed in a daydream taking her back to the first time she ever saw Danielle as a baby. It wasn't something she was ashamed of now; she wanted to celebrate her daughter not hide her away due to the guilt she had felt at not being there when her daughter had apparently died. "I will be with you every step of the way sweetie, we can learn together. I never had a chance with you as a baby but I'll be there through thick and thin Danielle, whenever and whatever you want. I'll be there."
"And everybody will know, Ronnie. They already think I'm so kind of freak and I'll be pregnant, you'll be a grandmother"
Ronnie gasped that Danielle could talk about herself like that. "Baby, you are not a freak ok? I never want to hear you talk about yourself like that again ok sweetie?" Ronnie brought Danielle closer to her, why had she been so cruel? Did she never know when to keep her mouth shut? Ronnie was pained with the memories flooding back; she couldn't believe she had said those things. Why had she said it? She cursed herself over and over for causing so much pain to her darling baby girl but she knew that however much she tried to rid Danielle of the memories; it would never work. They had been engraved on her like a name scrawled onto a desk and they would never leave her daughter's body; always at the back of her mind. "I don't care if I'm a 35 year old grandma, I have you sweetie. They'll have other things to talk about baby, look at how quickly they moved on from that Tony and Whitney business. You don't have to have this baby Danielle, and don't let people judge you, everyone who loves you and everyone that matters to you will stand by you no matter what."
"But what if they don't? I thought that Paul mattered to me, I though Callum mattered to me and they all just left me…and you mattered to me and you…you just left too!"
"Danielle, you know I never wanted to leave you, baby, it…it was my dad."
"I know, Ronnie," Danielle gulped "but you still did."
"Danielle, baby, I'm so sorry. I never, ever, wanted to leave you. It wasn't my choice, I tried to fight for you, I really did, but my dad…he…he just took you. Your cries haunted me for years, you were crying for me and I couldn't get to you. I was hooked up to all these machines and couldn't leave my bed. I managed to run out of the room but he…he had gone. I collapsed on the floor and cried for you Danielle. I didn't stop for weeks. I…I felt so guilty for letting you go, for making you have a life without me, without your mum. I…I just wish that I could have been there." Ronnie could feel the soft tears of her daughter landing on her hand and she gently wiped them away, feeling her own eyes well up. "I know you feel like I rejected you but I didn't Danielle. You are all I ever wanted and you make me complete" Ronnie gently raised Danielle's head so there were facing each other and saw Danielle attempt a watery smile; she instantly smiled back, squeezing Danielle's hand which still lay in hers. "I'm never leaving you again Danielle, never. I know what happened in the past…well…it….that doesn't matter now, we are together. The people that really matter, they will also be there for you no matter what, we wont go anywhere baby, we'll be here whenever you need us, ok?"
Danielle gently nodded her head, trusting Ronnie's ever comforting words. "I…I believe you Ronnie but…but what if…nobody will want a single mum. Especially not me…"
"Danielle baby. A man could be crazy to not have you sweetie. You're only nineteen, twenty next week, and you have your whole life ahead of you." Ronnie kissed the top of Danielle's head before stroking the ends of her daughter's hair. Danielle laid her head on Ronnie's shoulder as she closed her eyes. Today had been a long day and it was only just after lunch time, she just wanted to stay here, lying in Ronnie's arms pretending that everything was ok. Ronnie felt her daughter's breathing becoming heavier and her body going into a deep sleep; she loved seeing her daughter sleep and learning new things about her precious baby. She wondered how she could make things better for Danielle, how to stop her feeling so vulnerable and worthless. She knew she had a part to play in how Danielle felt and she knew she had to change her daughter back to how she used to be. She pulled the blanket up, covering Danielle and herself, before gently singing into Danielle's ear. She closed her eyes and within minutes had also fallen asleep, with her darling daughter laid in her arms.
A few hours later, Danielle was awake and trying to cook dinner in the kitchen quietly. They had slept through lunch and Danielle was sure that Ronnie would be as hungry as she was. She had awoken to find herself wrapped in a blanket and protected by Ronnie's arms; something that always made her feel so loved and cooking this food would help to keep her mind off all her decisions. She had made her mind up about what she was going to do with this baby and hoped Ronnie would agree with her; she knew that Ronnie would support her but whether she agreed with the decision was another matter. She had decided to cook one of Ronnie's favourite meals in order to break the news to her; spaghetti bolognaise. She had started to cook the meat and had prepared the sauce and was waiting until Ronnie woke up before cooking the spaghetti, which only took a few minutes. Danielle was so busy that she didn't realise Ronnie had awoken and was sat on the sofa staring in awe at her beautiful daughter before gently approaching Danielle. Danielle jumped as she felt the warm hands of her mother wrap around her waist; she turned her head and smiled into Ronnie's eyes.
"I love you Danielle, thank you for this," Ronnie whispered into Danielle's ear indicating, by a tilt of her head, at the food cooking away. Danielle didn't reply but she moved her head back and wrapped her arms on top of Ronnie's.
"I…I've made my decision Ronnie," Danielle slowly spoke, before turning her head back around to face Ronnie. She made eye contact with Ronnie before smiling again; she hoped it would be the right decision. "You…You're going to be a grandmother, Ronnie!"