Danny held Mary closer, determined not to break the kiss until he had to breathe. But it was broken prematurely when Mary pulled away with a gasp. She stepped away from him, a look of shock and surprise on her face.

"Mary, I'm…" He started to try to explain when she leaned forward, taking his head in her hands and kissing him deeply. They pulled apart after a couple of minutes and Mary walked to the other end of the couch.

"We shouldn't have done that," she stated.

"Yes, we should." Danny walked toward her.

"No. You just stay over there."

"Why?"

"Because if you come over here, we won't talk."

"Okay," he motioned with his arms to calm her down. "Let's talk."

"Why did you kiss me?"

"You kissed me back." He accused.

She stomped her foot. "Danny!"

"Fine, I kissed you."

"Why?" She begged.

"Because I wanted to. Because you wanted me to. Because it's what I've been dreaming about every night for five years."

"Really?"

"Yes." He answered softly.

"Then why did you leave?" She pleaded.

"I was scared." Danny admitted.

"Of what?"

"Of ending up like my dad."

"Would that have been so bad?"

Danny rested his head in his hand, walking tiredly in a circle before collapsing in a side chair.

"Mary," he began.

"Your dad is a wonderful person."

"I know. But working in the desert sun for hours everyday, losing the woman he loved and never getting over it…I couldn't do that."

"Why not?" Mary sat on the couch.

Danny leaned forward. "When my mom died, neither one of us could deal with it. For a long time I wondered why dad couldn't move on. Then you moved in and I…I realized how desperately I loved you. And I didn't want to get close in case I lost you too. But then, I lost you anyway, and I realized just how alike my dad and I are." He sighed. "When my dad wrote that you had disappeared, I was devastated."

"So. Now I'm back. What now?"

"I don't know." He got up to leave. "But I'm going to prove that you can trust me not to leave again." He stood with the door open and turned to face her as she watched in the hallway. "Can I take you and Joshua to lunch tomorrow?"

Mary nodded. Danny shut the door behind him, smiling just a little bit.

LAS VEGAS

The next morning Mike greeted Mr. McCoy as he entered the hotel, several packages in his arms.

"Hey Larry! You here to see Danny?"

"No, Mike. I'm here to see my grandkid. I owe him years of presents."

"Wait, to see your what?"

"You didn't know? Darn it, Mary'll kill me."

"No she won't. Tell."

"Mary's got a little boy—Joshy. He's adorable. Looks just like Danny. I gotta go. See you later, Mike."

Mike turned around, his mouth an 'o'. "Well, now that explains a lot."

LAS VEGAS

In the surveillance room at 12:30, Danny saw Mary walking down the hall to her room. Once she entered, he called.

"Yes?"

"Mary? It's Danny. You ready for lunch?"

"Yeah, come on down."

Danny hung up and walked to Ed's office, sticking his head through the door.

"Ed, I'm taking lunch."

"Wait a second, you never take lunch." Ed paused. "Unless…"

"Unless, what?"

Ed stood up and headed menacingly in Danny's direction. "You seeing someone new?"

"Beg your pardon?"

"Don't get cute with me."

Danny sighed. "Actually, someone old. The new special events director, Mary, is an old friend. So, I'm taking her out to lunch."

"You know about her kid, right?" Ed checked. "You gotta be careful with single moms."

"Actually…" Danny stammered.

"Don't finish that sentence. Just go."

"Thanks Ed."

"I expect details!" Ed called after him.

Danny jogged out of the surveillance room, stopping quickly in the locker room to put on jeans and a casual shirt. He hurried to Mary's suite. He paused to draw a deep breath and knocked.

Mary opened the door with a brilliant smile, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Joshy hid behind her legs, peeking carefully out at Danny.

Danny knelt to Joshy's level, "You ready for lunch, buddy?"

"You remember mommy's friend Danny, right Joshy?"

Joshy shyly nodded his head. Danny looked up at Mary's smiling face. "You ready?"

She nodded. Danny stood up and grabbed her hand.

"So, where to?" She asked, holding Joshy's hand.

"Well, I thought we'd visit a local institution."

"Not Topless Pancakes."

"No," he leaned close to her ear, "Lucky Burger!"

"Really? Oh, I missed Lucky Burger. Let's go!" She nudged Danny to pick up the car seat and they headed out.