Danny Reagan loved his girlfriend. He'd do anything in the world for her, even if that meant straight up lying to his own parents to protect her from hers. And he told her he'd do whatever it took to keep her safe.

Linda looked at the house in front of her. For some reason, it was much more daunting in the dark. She bit her lip and stood on her toes to reach the spare key. She unlocked the door and put the key back, hoping against hope the occupants wouldn't be mad with her. They had said 'stop by anytime', she just hoped they meant it literally.

Linda looked the front door again and quietly snuck upstairs. She slipped into a bedroom and quietly closed the door. She knelt down next to the bed and gently shook the sleeper's arm.

"Go sleep with Joe, kid," Danny Reagan sleepily answered, not opening his eyes.

"Danny, it's me."

"Linda?" He sat up and turned the nightstand lamp on. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"My parents are fighting again. I just need to be here with you for a bit. You said stop by anytime, and I hope I'm not taking that to literally-"

Danny's kiss cut his girlfriend off. "Need some jammies?"

She smiled and nodded, "thank you."

"Hi, Ma," Danny tried to act casually as he secretly slipped an apple into his sweatshirt pocket.

"Hi, honey. What're you doing?" Mary pretended not to know what Danny had been doing for a whole day.

"Just walkin' around. Y'know How fidgety I can get. I'm going back up now."

"Bring her up some real food. A girl needs more nutrition than cereal and peanut butter crackers," Mary smiled as Danny looked utterly surprised. "I know Linda's hiding out in your room."

"But- How di- why di-" Danny stumbled. She couldn't have known. It was in the middle of the night! How'd she know?

"Danny, you don't have to hide Linda in your room. She's welcome to walk around the house, and she's welcomed to stay anytime she needs. And although I don't like the fact you two sleep in the same bed, I'll look past that as long as you're respectful and don't try anything."

"Ma!" He rolled his eyes, "I wouldn't do that. You know I wouldn't do that." Not with Linda, anyway...

"Not with this one. But the other ones..." Mary let her voice trail.

"No," her son argued. "How'd you know she was up there?"

"Your father always said cops make lousy liars."

Danny smiled, "thanks, Ma. You're the best!" He ran up the stairs to his room. "Hey, you can stop hiding now. Ma says it's okay to stay as long as you want."

Linda smiled, "good. I was getting bored readin' 'bout cops and robbers," she teased him.

He smirked and moved closer to her. "Oh really?"

"Mmhmm, But now that you're here, I don't think I'll be bored." She smiled then kissed him, hugging his neck, bringing him closer to her.

Danny hugged Linda, never wanting to let go. He knew they couldn't really do anything, because, after all, the house was filled with people who didn't believe in knocking. But he also knew he had to thank his mother for this.

A few days later, Danny took his mother out to lunch and gave her a pretty necklace as a thank you. When she asked what it was for, Danny shrugged and simply stated, "for being you."