AN: Again thanks for the reviews guys, I'm afraid there won't be an update tomorrow because I'm away for the day. I'll update as soon as I get back on Tuesday :)

Summary: Ronnie managed to save her daughter's life on that fateful night, but saving both Danielle and herself from Archie is going to be a whole different story.

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When Ronnie arrived at the Vic, it was full to the brim of people talking so loudly that she could barely make herself heard over the racket. "Roxy!" she called out to her sister, who was busy serving someone at the bar. Roxy looked up in delight at the sound of Ronnie's voice.

"Ronnie! What you doing here, then? I thought you and Danielle would be glued to the hip," she said lightly, leaning over the bar towards Ronnie.

Ronnie frowned. "She's got a fever, she just practically fainted back at the flat. I've looked around the flat but I haven't got any paracetamol or anything for some reason, so could I borrow some from you lot?"

"She's okay, isn't she?" Roxy queried, looking concerned.

Ronnie nodded, "She's out like a light now. I just wanted to give her something for her head when she wakes up."

"No prob, then," Roxy said brightly, turning to go into the back. Then she stopped and gave Ronnie a troubled look. "I hate going up there. Aunt Peg's been crying her eyes out all day. She was like that all of last night aswell."

"She'll need some time," Ronnie said quietly, thinking of Archie. Her hands balled up into fists, "It's all his fault, you know. All of this. Not only did he break Danielle's heart but he also broke Peggy's."

"I know Ron, he's fooled all of us," Roxy replied, heaving a sigh, "But we've just gotta get on with this. I mean, you've got Danielle now, and Peggy will come around before long. I mean, this is a good thing that's happened. He's out of our lives forever, atleast."

Ronnie smiled, happy to be talking to her sister like this again. She'd practically forgotten the fight they'd had on the day of the wedding. She hadn't however forgotten Jack's words to her, how he'd told her he still loved her. Now she looked at Roxy and wondered if her sister really did have feelings for Jack. She probably did, but what did Jack think of her?

"Ronnie?"

She snapped out of her reverie and looked up. Roxy was peering at her, looking puzzled. Ronnie shook her head, "Sorry, s'just been a long night, that's all. I've been sitting up all night watching over Danielle. I couldn't sleep knowing she was in the next room asleep, and with a broken rib.." she suddenly felt tears in her eyes, "What if he comes back, Rox? What if he tries to hurt us? Or her? I couldn't live with myself if I ever.."

Roxy grabbed Ronnie's shaking hands and whispered, "Ronnie, he's never going to hurt you again. If he even tries, I'll kill him."

Ronnie tried to smile but she was too worried. She kept thinking of Danielle, her innocent daughter, who had gotten caught up in Archie's web of lies.

She turned to Roxy again and said, "I'd better just get the stuff and get back. Danielle might wake up soon."

"All right," Roxy said lightly, "Hang on a sec, I'll go get it."

She disappeared for a few minutes and then returned with the medicines Ronnie needed. Ronnie said thanks, gave her sister a quick hug and bolted back to the flat, anxious to see Danielle again. She had found she just couldn't bear to be apart from her little girl for more than fifteen minutes. However, when she returned to the flat, she discovered she had forgotten to lock the door. Cursing under her breath, Ronnie opened the door to her flat and walked inside. She set her handbag down and brisk walked to her bedroom to check on Danielle. However, when she opened the bedroom door, she discovered Stacey Slater sitting at Danielle's side. Danielle was still sound asleep, fortunately, but Ronnie was fuming at the sight of the other girl.

"Who said you could just barge in here?" Ronnie hissed, not wanting to wake up Danielle.

"The door wasn't locked," Stacey hissed back, looking grim, "I thought you'd be here, but you weren't, so I thought I'd better stay with her 'til you got back."

Ronnie took a deep breath. She wasn't pleased that Stacey had just walked into her home without even waiting for her to return, but she couldn't get angry at her now. She stared over at Danielle. Her little girl. So beautiful, with her short blonde hair, and features so similar to Ronnie's that it was a wonder she hadn't noticed it a long time ago. After a moment, Stacey made an observation.

"You love her, don't you?" This caused Ronnie to look away from Danielle. She fixed on Stacey, and her mouth curled into a smile.

"I do," she whispered softly, "More than I've ever loved anyone."

"Promise me something," Stacey said, standing up, quietly so not to wake her friend, "Just.. don't hurt her again. I know you didn't know who she was before, but please don't put her through hell like you did before. She's a fragile girl, Ronnie, you know that. If you broke her heart again she'd run away and leave, and you'd never see her again. Then you'd have to answer to me."

Ronnie's face hardened. "I don't plan on breaking her heart ever again, Stacey." she replied icily.

Stacey shrugged, "Just a warning. She's my best friend, Ronnie. And even though I don't like you or the Mitchell's, I'm gonna trust her judgement. If she wants to have a life with you, then I'm not gonna stop her. But you'd better not change her, like make her different, 'cos I won't stand for that. She's an amazing girl, so just don't hurt her, please."

Ronnie smiled again. "You know I won't. I'd never change the way she is," she looked at her sleeping daughter adoringly, "She's my Danielle. I'd never want her to change."

Stacey smiled slightly then. "All right then. Let me come back and see her tomorrow, yeah?"

Ronnie nodded silently. She wouldn't deprive Stacey the right to see her friend. After all, Danielle valued Stacey as a friend.

With that, the other girl walked past Ronnie and out of the room. Ronnie heard her close the front door quietly behind her. As if on cue, Danielle stirred and opened her eyes slowly. Ronnie lay down on the bed beside her, stroking her daughter's hair.

"Who was that..?" Danielle murmered groggily, turning to face Ronnie.

"Just Stacey," Ronnie replied mildly, "She just wanted to see how you were."

"Oh..." Danielle yawned loudly, "What happened to me before? Did I pass out or something?"

"Very nearly," Ronnie said with a grin, "I took you back to bed and you fell asleep again."

Danielle's face fell at her words. "Sorry," she replied shortly, looking glum.

"Stop apologising," Ronnie said teasingly, flicking her on the head.

"Ouch!" Danielle exclaimed, and proceeded to flick her mother back.

"Hey! I just did that for a joke, missy!"

"Well, it hurt!" Danielle replied indignantly, but then she grinned, and the two of them burst out laughing.

Ronnie ruffled Danielle's hair affectionately, "What a pair we make, eh?"

Danielle smiled shyly, "I suppose, but you're a lot better than I am."

Ronnie rolled her eyes, "You're so modest, Danielle. I suppose you must get that off your father."

"You're not modest?" Danielle grinned at her own words and chuckled.

"I most certainly am not!" Ronnie replied, feigning shock with a loud gasp. "I think I'll go put the tea on, or do you want a takeaway? I figure we should celebrate."

Danielle seemed to think about it then replied, "You should cook, I've never tasted your cooking yet. Though I bet it'll be terrible.."

"You've got a mouth on you," Ronnie grinned down at Danielle, "I suppose you get that off moi."

"I suppose I must do," Danielle said, smiling.

The two of them stared fondly at eachother, and Ronnie wondered if she could be any happier than she was in that moment. Turned out she could, because then her daughter threw her arms around her and kissed her cheek before burying her head into her shoulder. Ronnie kissed Danielle's hair and wrapped her arms around her tightly, deciding to never let go.