Chapter 18: The backup plan

Three days later Nico and Dani were back on La Gomera. They had arrived in the late afternoon, gone to dinner, taken a walk and were now sitting in the garden drinking red wine in the candle light.

"I am so glad we went to see Jeanette and Gusto. Barcelona is amazing, his new restaurant is great and their little guy is adorable. And it seems to me, like you had fun, too." Dani told Nico.

"I did have fun. The jacuzzi in my hotel room…" he started but was stopped when she placed her hand over his mouth and threw one leg over his, so she was closer.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." She giggled anyway.

"What did you mean?" he asked once she took her hand away and pulled her even more into his body, so she was basically lying sideways in his lap.

"I meant your Tapas cooking contest with Gusto, our night stroll through Barcelona or the trip to the Parc Guell. And mostly playing nanny for little AJ. The little guy really imprinted on you like a duckling."

"It was nice having a little kid around again. I haven't really looked after one since Juliette," he admitted.

"So, does that mean…" Dani started hesitatingly and he seemed confused what she meant for a second.

"It means that I still like kids. Especially those who I can give back to their parents at some point," he spelled it out for her when he caught what she was getting at, and kissed her when she let out the breath she had been holding.

"Just checking."

"Ok, what about you? Have you changed your mind?"

"God no," she shook her head. "The only thing I am willing to look after is maybe another fish. Or a dog at some point."

"How about a cat?" he asked. "You still have to meet Onyx."

"What if he doesn't like me? Will it be like with kids? I can't come over when he's home and won't be able to spend the night?" Dani asked with a squint.

"All it takes for Onyx to like you is a can of his favorite food and some pats on his head," Nico shrugged, but smiled at her concern.

"So, he's a people's cat?"

"He's a sucker for pretty women." Dani leaned up at that.

"Pretty woman? How many has he met at your apartment?" there was an edge in her voice and she didn't like that her jealousy was audible. However her thoughts were running away from her. She had known Nico for years and she had yet to see his apartment. And now he was telling her that he was taking other women there and they even got to meet his cat?

Nico watched her closely and tilted her head up by placing a hand under her chin, before he answered. "Exactly seven," he said then and held Dani captive in his arms when she wanted to sit up. "My mother, my two sisters, my three nieces and Juliette."

"Oh," escaped her.

"Dani, I am not a monk and I haven't lived like one. But you do know, that there hasn't been anyone serious since Gabrielle, and even that is debatable, if it can be seen as serious." His voice was calm, but Dani felt how tense he had become.

"I'm sorry. I know it's stupid, but I can't help but get jealous when I think of you with other women. Especially, because I still have yet to see your apartment," Dani told him and gently ran her free hand up and down his chest. "The fact that I haven't seen it yet, makes me feel like your are still compartmentalising your life, even though I know, that that's not true."

"As soon as we get back I'm going to invite you over," he promised.

"And introduce me to Onyx,"

"And introduce you to Onyx," he confirmed and pressed his lips against hers for a moment. "In the meantime I can show you something else, that I have never shown anyone."

"Really?" she stretched the word and made it sound suggestive. Nico's nervous smile let her know however that sex was not what he had in mind at the moment. "What is it?" she asked quietly and softly kissed him on the lips when he looked like he could use the courage.

"Come with me. Take the wine," he told her and they both slowly got up and untangled. Each carried a wine glass and their free arms were wrapped around each other. Nico led her through the semi-dark garden to what she had learned was the technical house for the pool and the heating. Dani was confused what they were doing here in the evening, but kept her mouth shut for once. Nico opened a metal drawer that held a garden hose, then made a point out of letting her see that there was a secret compartment in it. He pressed the button and a second part of the drawer appeared. In it was a small safe that he unlocked. He pulled out the envelope inside and handed it to her. When Dani opened the envelope the first thing she found were about two hundred thousand dollars in cash. Next passports, drivers licenses and IDs fell into her hands, all with Nico's picture on them, but different names. Along with them came birth certificates and social security numbers. The last thing in it was a gun. She could only stare at it all with wide eyes.

"This is one of my backup plans. These are all government issued, excepts for the gun. There's no number on it. I have three more of these. Two in the states, one in another safe house on an island in the Caribbean. I hope that I will never need any of this, but we all have it. We all need to have it. Because there are still people out there who, if they ever found out who I really am, would stop at nothing to get to me. There is no witness protection program for people like me, but this is the equivalent." Dani felt like her legs would give out when it dawned on her what he was telling her. Slowly she slid down along the wall and sat down on the floor. Nico crouched down in front of her, but simply waited without touching her.

"How likely is it that you will ever need this?" she asked, her voice slightly cracking, her eyes still on the four different passports.

"Not very. But still possible," he replied honestly and handed her her glass of red wine. She suddenly understood why he had made her bring it along.

"And if… if it does… will you be able to tell me?" she asked him, her hands shaking even more than her voice at this point. She dropped the documents on the ground and finally looked at him.

"I would try to say goodbye."

"You wouldn't take me with you?" she was so choked up she could hardly get the words out.

"Dani, I love you. You know I do," he started and took her hands in his. "But I would not take you with me." When she heard this Dani tried to pull her hands out of his, but he didn't let her. "Listen to me, please," he actually begged and that made her stop. "You have two kids who you love more than anyone. You want to be there for them, see them grow up, have their own families and be save. If there ever was a situation when I needed this," he pointed to the documents scattered on the floor, "taking you with me would mean a new identity, a new life and absolutely no contact to anyone you ever knew. Not even your kids. I could never do that to you or to your kids."

Dani couldn't say anything, because there really was nothing to say. So, she just hugged him tightly and let the tears come. "I will always keep you save and once we get back I will make sure that if I ever need this, you will be taken care of and so will your kids, and that's non negotiable. Because when push comes to shove, I know that me taking care of you, even if I am not around, will remind you that I love you." He held her tightly until her tears stopped and then wiped the wetness off her cheeks with his thumbs.

"Well, I pray that one day we can just forget about all of this and just… be. In the meantime we will build our life together as a couple. And if, god forbid, you ever need this, then I have only one request and that is also non-negotiable." Her fierceness was back and for that Nico was grateful.

"Name it."

"You always have to kiss me goodbye. Always! Especially if you ever need this."

"Gladly," he smiled and sealed the promise with a kiss. "I will give you the combination to the safe so you will at least know if I am gone, why I am gone," he said when they broke the kiss.

"Thank you for showing me," Dani said when he pulled her off the floor and put everything back in the safe.

"I'm actually sorry for showing you this, but I owe you honesty and sadly that's part of it. Just, please, don't lose any sleep over it. I learned the hard way that it can drive you crazy. And as I said, the odds are in our favour."

"Can you say that again with a weird accent and while wearing a white and purple wig?" Dani asked him with a giggle.

"Huh?" he had no idea what she was talking about.

"'May the odds be ever in your favour', that's what Effie Trinket always says," she told him and followed him back out of the shed.

"Who is Effie Trinket?"

"She's in the Hunger Games."

"The Hunger Games? Is that like hell week or like this horrible Bachelor show?" Nico tried to follow.

"It's a movie," Dani laughed. "And I am actually shocked you know the Bachelor."

"One of the WaGs was a candidate on that show once and I had to do surveillance. What goes on off camera is even worse than what you see on camera," he actually shuddered when he said it, which set Dani off again with laughter.

She placed her empty wine glass on the table when they reached the kitchen and turned around to him, taking his glass out of his hand as well. "Well, there's one thing that might actually make you feel better about 'the Bachelor'," she smiled at him and pulled his head down to her. "The fact that your bachelor days are definitely over, my friend" she told him once her forehead rested against his. Their laughing eyes smiled at each other before their lips met. Her white top went flying first, followed by his black he wanted to lift her onto the kitchen island though, she stopped him with a hand on his chest.

"Hey honey, wait. Who is taking care of Onyx right now?"

"Seriously Dani? You're asking this now?" Dani shrugged and Nico let out a frustrated sigh. "Must be losing my touch," he muttered, but slowly lifted her onto the kitchen island anyway, before he answered. "You remember those scary girl scouts I told you about, who sold me a shitload of cookies…" he didn't get any further, because by then Dani was laughing so hard she nearly fell off the counter.

TBC