A little time passed, and Danny and Maddie continued to grieve the loss of their child. No longer, though, did they grieve individually, but together. Maddie began to show emotion again, smiling here and there, disciplining her students, encouraging them, crying when she needed to cry, sleeping better at night, and loving Danny with all her heart. He, too, cut back on his hours at the lab, putting in less time at work than he had at any point in their relationship, knowing he was needed most at home.

Still, there was one question that nagged at him and he wasn't sure if it was okay to bring up such a touchy subject yet. Fortunately, Maddie did it for him one night after dinner.

They were clearing the table together, carrying dishes and leftovers into the kitchen, when she placed the two plates she'd brought in onto the counter and turned to him.

"Hey slugger, you up for a little serious talk tonight?" she asked.

He glanced over at her as he spooned spaghetti into a plastic container. "Sure, babe. What's on your mind?"

"The Utzieli family."

His hands paused at her words, but he tried to keep cool. "Okay."

"You told me a very sensitive family secret a couple of months ago, and we haven't discussed it since."

He pushed the lid down onto the container of spaghetti and slid it into the refrigerator, turning slowly around to face her. "Yeah," he said, licking his lips nervously. "My father backed off a little when he heard about the baby, so it hasn't really come up."

She took a step toward him. "But it's going to again."

"Yeah," he repeated.

They were silent for a moment before Maddie spoke again. "You want to know what I think of you, now, don't you?" she asked quietly. "You want to know if my opinion of you has changed any since you told me."

He swallowed hard and nodded, unable to look her in the eye.

"It hasn't."

He looked up and met her gaze with a confused expression on his face. "What?"

She took another step toward him and slid an arm around his waist, running a hand over the five o'clock shadow that was growing in along his jaw. "My opinion of you hasn't changed," she repeated. "In fact, it's gotten stronger."

His arms circled around her, hands resting uncertainly on the small of her back as he looked at her, puzzled. "How's that even possible?" He pulled away and walked to the other side of the little kitchen. "I tell you I was affiliated with the Mafia, that I helped cover up a murder, and you think better of me?"

"When you got involved with the Utzielis you were just a kid," she explained. "But when you grew up, you made the choice to leave, despite what they knew about you and despite the danger. You had enough strength to get out, to do what you knew was right."

"But if anyone ever finds out about the Utzielis, about the things I did with the Tanglewood Boys, about the cover-up…I could lose my job, my whole life, everything…"

"Except me," she interrupted.

"Even after what I did to my mother…to you and the baby?"

She walked over to him and slipped her arms around him, nuzzling his cheek. "Your mother's death was not your fault," she said quietly. "You didn't weaken her heart, and you didn't kill that man. You were only trying to protect your father, to take care of your family…just like you did with me and the baby." She smiled and pulled back a little, looking deep into his eyes and playing with his hair. "And you took such good care of us…" He turned his face away, unable to look at her, but she turned it back, forcing him to do so. "You're a good man, Danny. You always try to protect the ones you love because they are what's most important to you, and that's a quality you should be proud of. I know I am."

"You are?"

She nodded. "It gets you in trouble sometimes, yes, but it's because you care so much. And that's not a bad thing."

He brushed a strand of hair out of her face, the corners of his mouth curving up ever so slightly into a small smile. "No one's ever put it that way before."

"Well it's true," she told him. "It's one of the things I love most about you."

She leaned up and kissed him tenderly, feeling him relax as she did so. He still wasn't convinced of his innocence in the death of his mother or child, but knowing that Maddie didn't blame him for either lifted some of the weight off his shoulders.

Don sat at his desk in the squadroom of his home precinct staring blankly at the paperwork he was supposed to be completing. He was thinking instead about the e-mail Stella had given him from Aiden.

He's The One, she had written. …my soul mate…the man I'm meant to spend my life with…

"And what have I been doin' since she left?" he asked himself with disgust in his voice. "I've been sittin' on my ass feelin' sorry for myself."

He shoved the paperwork roughly in a drawer and turned to the laptop computer sitting on the back of the desk, flipping it open as he pulled it to him.

"Well, no more," he decided. He didn't have Aiden's address, or phone number, or even her e-mail address, but he knew that if he wrote a letter, Stella would make sure Aiden got it.

Aiden,

This letter's probably going to come as a surprise to you, since we haven't spoken since the night before you left, but I'm finally ready to write it. You'll remember that I never have been very good at expressing my feelings, but there are two things I need you to know.

The first thing is how much you hurt me when you left, and in the way you left. You never talked to me and told me how you felt, never mentioned anything about how miserable you were here in New York. Maybe that's my fault. Maybe I wasn't receptive enough for you to talk to, but you never even gave me a hint that you were anything but happy here. When I found your note lying on the kitchen counter, it was like you ripped the heart right out of my chest and handed it to me. Mac and Maddie have tried to help me understand why you did what you did, but I still haven't gotten over the pain, and I don't know if I ever will. It wasn't just your clothes you took to Virginia with you. You took my heart, too.

The second thing you need to know, though, is that I still love you. I don't understand why you left, but I know that part of the reason you did it was to save me from whatever it was that was troubling you, and I love you so much for that. I always did, Aid. I loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you, and I never stopped. You were the only woman I told all my secrets to, the only woman I ever took home to meet my entire family, and the only woman I ever felt strongly enough about to move in with. None of that has changed. When I close a case, I still want to run home to celebrate with you. Whenever I pass that stuffy restaurant we went to on our first date, I want to call you up and make fun of it with you. And whenever I see the Empire State Building all lit up at night, I want to hold you close against me and kiss you, because you're The One. You're Miss Right, Aiden, and my life is empty without you.

Stay safe in Virginia, and be happy. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy.

Don

He frowned at the computer screen, knowing his words didn't even come close to expressing his feelings, but also knowing that they were the best he could do. He printed off the letter quickly and stuffed it in an envelope, tucking it in his coat pocket to give to Stella the next time he saw her.

Maddie sat atop a lab table in her classroom looking through a stack of photographs with a sad smile on her lips.

"Whatchya lookin' at?" Danny asked, walking though the door and kissing her softly.

She turned the stack so he could see it. "Pictures of Adrienne's baby. I dropped the film off when I came home from the hospital and picked 'em up at lunch today."

"How's she doin'?"

"She's fine, and the baby's healthy and happy," Maddie replied. "You'll never guess what she named him."

"What?"

She grinned. "Daniel Parrish Mirenzi."

"No kiddin'?" he smiled proudly. "She didn't tell us she was gonna do that."

"She said wanted to name her son after the two people she hoped he'd grow up to be like." Her smile faded as she looked down at the photos again.

Danny rubbed her back. "You okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I think so. It hurts, seeing Adrienne holding little Danny and knowing we never got that chance, but I'm happy for her. She has a beautiful, healthy baby, and her aunt is more than willing to help her take care of him."

He slid his arm around her and squeezed her shoulders, kissing her hair. "I'm glad things seem to be workin' out for her."

"Me too."

A comfortable silence fell over them for a few moments before Danny sighed. "I, uh, have some news for you," he said hesitantly.

"What is it?"

"I got another warning from my father."

Maddie frowned. "Mourning period's over, so let's threaten the family again," she said sarcastically. "Who was it this time?"

"Sonny Sassone," he told her. "The District Attorney's still trying to nail him for killing Paul Montonassi, but the charges were dropped the first time around and the DA hasn't re-filed yet."

"So Sonny's a free man," she finished. "He didn't show up at the lab, did he?"

Danny shook his head. "No, caught me at a crime scene alone while the uniformed officer was checking on somethin'. He didn't cross the tape, or even get that close to me, but he advised me to watch my back. Said a little birdie might drop in on Mac someday and tell him all about my past."

"Why is your father doing this?" she fumed. "Why is he trying to ruin everything you've worked so hard for?"

"He wants me back in the business," Danny told her. "The Utzielis have a few cops in their pocket, but one of 'em got pinched and they're lookin' for a replacement. Who better than a cop who happens to be the son of one of the big shots in the family?"

She was silent for a moment, staring at the photographs she still held in her hands with unseeing eyes, turning a thought over in her mind.

"Would it be so bad if Mac knew?" she asked quietly without looking up.

Danny let go of her shoulders and took a step back. "I can't tell Mac," he almost growled. "He's my boss, my…"

"Mentor," Maddie finished. "I know, and I know how important his opinion is to you. But he knows you almost as well as I do. He'd understand. I did…"

"No," he told her firmly. He scrunched up his face, frowning as he continued, "Even if I forget about what he would think of me, if I tell Mac he'll have to report it to the District Attorney. The cover up makes me an accessory to murder." He started pacing around the classroom, gesturing with his hands as he spoke, his forehead wrinkled in thought. "Let's say I get lucky and cut a deal that somehow doesn't involve jail time, and that I even get to keep my job. I'd still have to testify against my father…against the mob… Do you know what they do to rats? And not just to me…" He paused and looked at her, taking her hand in his and squeezing it gently. "I won't let them hurt you," he said softly.

She took his other hand and pulled him closer, lacing her fingers with his. "You know them better than I do, and you know what they're capable of. But there's witness protection, too…"

He shook his head. "No. I won't run off to Nebraska to play Farmer and Mrs. Brown," he spat out. "I want to marry you here, in Manhattan…"

Her eyes widened and a surprised smile formed on her lips as she realized what he had said. "You what?"

His face fell and he heaved a defeated sigh. "This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen," he complained, bowing his head. "I had the whole thing planned out…nice dinner, roses, candles…I was even gonna get down on one knee…"

Maddie grinned.

"But instead of being a sweet, romantic moment," Danny continued, "I just blurt it out offhandedly while we're trying to figure out what to do about my mobbed up family."

"Did you mean it?" she asked quietly.

He looked up at her. "Of course I did." He released her hands and caressed her cheek, running his thumb over her smooth skin. "I never thought I'd ever meet a woman who'd make me want to settle down. But with you…" He leaned his forehead against hers and brushed a lock of hair from her face. "It isn't settling."

She kissed him softly. "See?" she said, smiling the smile only he could bring to her lips. "There was our sweet, romantic moment."

He returned her smile shyly. "Yeah." Then he pressed his lips together and sighed again. "Look, I can't offer you much; just a life as a cop's wife in a little apartment in the city. In fact, marrying me automatically moves you up near the top of the mob's enemies list and puts your life in danger. But I'm bein' selfish and askin' anyway."

"I like our life," she informed him. "And the mob can kiss my ass."

He laughed at that. "You've been in New York too long."

"And you're asking me to stay," she grinned.

"Yep."

She kissed him again, unable to keep herself from smiling. She pulled back the tiniest fraction of an inch and whispered, "Yes."

He grinned broadly, his lips still almost touching hers. "Yes?"

"Yes."

He tightened his arms around her waist and lifted her off the lab table, swinging her around and laughing out loud.

"She said yes!" he shouted gleefully.

"Shhh! Danny!" she admonished as she tried to suppress her own laughter. "There are still people here!"

"I don't care!" he laughed, setting her down and holding her against him. "I'd shout it from the rooftops, but the department would probably give me another psych eval."

She giggled at that. "So I'm marrying a crazy man?"

"Crazy 'bout you," he smirked, kissing her again. "And at least a little bit prepared for this moment." He released her and reached inside his coat pocket, pulling out a modest but brilliantly sparkling diamond ring.

"Danny…it's beautiful," she breathed.

He smiled softly. "It was my mother's."

She transferred the 'love conquers all' ring from its usual position on her left hand to her right and allowed him to slide the diamond on in its place.

"I'm honored," she said quietly. "I know how much she meant to you."

He brushed a hand over her cheek and smiled again. "She was the only person who ever loved me completely…until I met you."

She leaned up and kissed him gently, holding tightly to his shoulders, feeling his hands move across her back. She felt so safe in his arms, and knew that he felt safe in hers.

"My Maddie," he whispered when they broke apart.

She smiled. "Always."