Reviews make me happy so please let me know what you think. Emmy

-45-

"Omigod, Danny, this is ridiculous. The baby is going to be born before I get a frozen hot chocolate!"

"Calm down. Maybe we can come back later."

"It's pretty much like this all the time," the young man who stood in front of them helpfully supplied.

They had been standing in line at Serendipity for close to an hour and had yet to make any progress. If it were up to Danny they would have left twenty minutes ago, but he didn't dare suggest that they forego this stop on the itinerary. Mary had been talking about it since they got on the plane in Vegas and he valued his manhood too much to provoke one of her random hormonal tirades. He loved his wife more than life itself, but some days the hope that she would return to normal once the baby arrived was the only thing that kept him sane.

"Look, it's hot…you're tired...," he started but Mary interrupted.

"We're not leaving, Danny!"

"I wasn't even going to suggest that, sweetie, but I'm going to run right across the street and get you another bottle of water and then we'll just make the most of it. You can tell me what you've got planned for the rest of the weekend, okay?"

"Why are you talking to me like you're a hostage negotiator and I'm some psycho?"

He hadn't even realized he'd been using his "crazy Mary" voice. His eyes grew wide and his mouth opened and closed like a fish as he struggled for an explanation that wouldn't upset the delicate balance of his wife's current mood. Fortunately, he was saved from having to explain himself when Mary put her hand up, "…you know what–don't answer that. You said something about a water?"

"Be right back," Danny kissed her quickly and headed towards the small grocery across the street.

Mary sighed and leaned against the building facade as she watched Danny disappear inside the store. He had been so accommodating during their entire trip--not even complaining when she'd dragged him to see Lion King the night before–but she hated that he felt like he needed to walk on eggshells around her. She would definitely have to make it up to him later.

Huffing impatiently, she looked back at the long line. Delinda had spent a good half hour talking about how amazing this place was and Mary's mouth had been watering with the thought of anything chocolate, but this was too much. She was just about to say to hell with the whole thing and go after Danny when she heard her name.

"Mary Connell from the Montecito." It was a statement, not a question.

She turned to see the man who had called out to her exiting a black sedan and her mouth immediately fell open in surprise. "Mr. Seacrest? I can't believe you remember me."

"Of course I remember the most beautiful woman in Vegas."

Mary could feel herself blushing and she immediately felt guilty, looking over the man's shoulder to see if Danny was on his way back.

"Omigod!" the girl behind Mary suddenly said, "you're Ryan Seacrest!"

"Hey," he responded politely but started to glance around nervously. "Look, Mary, I have a feeling I'm about to be mobbed so why don't we move inside. I've been meaning to call you and set up a meeting so maybe we could do a preliminary one now while I wait for my friends."

"Well…okay, but there's a line."

"Mary, I'm a celebrity. We don't have to wait in line," he said confidently, gently taking her elbow and leading her towards the entrance.

"Actually, ummm, Ryan, I'm here with my husband. He should be back any minute now."

"Oh. I didn't realize you were married."

"Yeah and expecting," Mary told him, smoothing her billowy shirt down over her abdomen so he could see the evidence of her child.

"Oh." There was a hint of disappointment in his tone, but he hid it well. "Well, good for you, but hey, why don't you let me get you and….," he trailed off, looking at her expectantly.

"Danny."

"Yeah, Danny. Why don't you let me get the two of you in the door. It will be my little thank you for being so great during our Vegas auditions last season."

"I was just doing my job," she replied as Danny came jogging up. He had obviously thought Mary was being accosted and she smiled a little as she watched his expression relax when he noticed who the man was.

"Is she always this modest?" Ryan asked, reaching out to shake Danny's hand. "Ryan Seacrest."

"Pretty much. And we've met before…I'm Danny McCoy."

"Oh right…the security guard."

"Head of security," Danny bristled, wondering if this guy was playing him or if he really was that self-involved.

"Now, don't get fussy, big guy," Ryan patted Danny awkwardly on the arm and then turned towards the door, leaning over the hostess while he obviously tried to convince her of his prowess.

Mary could barely stifle her laughter when she noticed the irritated look on her husband's face. She quickly put herself between Ryan and Danny and leaned up to whisper into Danny's ear, "He's getting us in so be nice."

"Oh, I'll be nice….but I don't have to like it."

"I promise I'll make it up to you," Mary told him seductively, running her hands up his chest, across his shoulders and down his arms.

"How?" he asked, lacing their fingers together.

"I'm sure you'll think of something," Mary giggled as Danny leaned down to capture her lips.

"You two going to join me or are you just going to stand here and make out all day?" Ryan asked, a look of amusement on his face.

"You didn't tell me that was an option. I may have to change my vote," Danny whispered, as Mary turned and followed Ryan inside, pulling Danny along behind her.

"You promised…," she sing-songed quietly so only he could hear.

"Right behind ya, buddy!" Danny shouted with fake enthusiasm causing Ryan and just about everyone else in the place to look at them strangely, but eliciting another giggle from his wife which was all that mattered to Danny.

---

"Geez, Mary, how much crap do we need for this thing?"

"Stop complaining. It's just stuff for a picnic, Danny."

"For how many people?"

"Well I am eating for two…"

"Two lumberjacks…" Danny grumbled.

"This is it. This is the perfect spot," Mary said, ignoring his attempt at humor.

"Oh, thank God," Danny exclaimed, dropping everything on the soft grass. He reached into the first bag and helped Mary spread out a soft blanket before taking both her hands so she could lower herself to her knees.

"Wow, the concierge did a great job putting this all together," Danny commented, as he watched Mary remove various containers from the bag. Joining her on the blanket, he pulled the lid off one of the bowls and popped a couple of grapes into his mouth.

"I can't believe you don't remember Hector. He used to work at the Bellagio."

Danny just shrugged as he started digging through the other bag looking for something to drink.

"So, this is like a symphony, huh?"

"It's the New York Philharmonic, Danny. They give concerts during the summer here in Central Park."

"Cool."

"You are so full of it, mister. I know you've been dreading this."

"I'm serious, Mary. It's a beautiful night. I've got my beautiful wife next to me…amazing food. That's all that really matters."

"It's all that matters to me too so as a thank you for not complaining about anything on this trip I got you a little treat."

"Mary, I've honestly been having fun. That Lion King thing was better than I thought it was going to be."

"Does that mean you don't want what I brought for you?"

"Well…," he drawled, "since you obviously went to some trouble, I wouldn't want whatever you brought me to go to waste."

"How kind of you," she responded, sarcastically.

"What is it?"

Mary reached into her bag and pulled out the tiny portable radio Hector had given her.
"It should be tuned to the right station for the game."

"Are you serious?"

"I know you don't care anything about listening to the Philharmonic, Danny, but I love that you're here with me."

Danny looked up from the radio and leaned in to give Mary a soft, but lingering kiss. "I love that I'm here with you too."

As the music from the stage spread across the lawn, Danny laid back–his ear phones firmly in place and Mary curled against his side. This was definitely the life.

---

A few hours later, Danny was hurriedly tossing their things back into the bags.

"Did Agent O'Dell say what was so important?" Mary asked.

"No," Danny told her, quickly gathering the rest of their things and helping her to her feet, "but whatever it is he wants to meet at some bar in Newark rather than the FBI offices so that can't be good."

"Danny?" Mary was worried. The phone call had come towards the end of the concert and Mary could tell just by Danny's side of the conversation that whatever Agent O'Dell needed to discuss was serious.

"It'll be alright. You know the problems we've had with the FBI…I'm sure he's just being overly cautious."

"Maybe I should go with you?"

"You're exhausted, baby. It's been a long day so why don't you soak in a nice warm bath and I'll be back before you know it."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," he said, finally hailing them a cab. "You know," he told her suggestively as they settled in the backseat, "you still owe me for the Seacrest thing."

Mary smiled then, leaning close to his ear so she could whisper seductively, "Well, hurry back and you just might get lucky."

---

The cab pulled to the corner and Danny reached into his pocket to pull out a couple of twenties. "Sorry I can't get you closer, buddy. There's something going on up there."

"Don't worry about it and keep the change," Danny told him distractedly as he watched the flashing red and blue lights up ahead. Making his way up the sidewalk and through the crowd an uneasy feeling began to settle in the pit of his stomach. When he reached a police barricade a half a block before the address Agent O'Dell had given him the knot moved from his stomach to his throat. Bystanders had gathered and were watching the scene with interest.

"What happened?" Danny asked one of them–an older man who looked like he'd been there awhile.

"Drive-by. Some guy got shot walking into that pub on the corner."

Danny could see the paramedics working on someone, but the only part of the victim that was visible were his shoes. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his phone and dialed Agent O'Dell. If he was somewhere in this mess of law enforcement then maybe he could either get Danny through the barricade or they could arrange to meet somewhere else. As he held the phone to his ear, he realized it sounded strange–almost as if he could hear it ringing somewhere in the distance as well as through the receiver. Looking back towards the scene, he noticed a uniformed police officer reach down to a bloody jacket on the ground and pull something out, flipping it open and holding it to the side of his face.

"Hello. Who am I speaking with?"

Danny heard the voice in his ear as he saw the officer speak into the phone. Snapping his phone shut he looked back at the man on the ground just as the paramedics pulled a yellow tarp over the body. This couldn't be happening. Had whatever Agent O'Dell discovered gotten him killed? Danny's eyes scanned the sea of faces for any sign of someone familiar, but no one stood out to him. Suddenly realizing he needed to get back to Mary as soon as possible, Danny took one last look around before pushing his way back through the crowd.