It was morning. Danny had been at home all night alone. Brooding. It was 7:30 time to collect the kids from Caroline's and Dupes. He climbed in the truck.

"Hello." he said as he arrived.

Amie ran out. "Daddy!" she yelled. "I missed you last night. Was the suppliers good?"

"Boring without my Ames."

She beamed at him.

"Time to get you and Daniel home."

Daniel appeared at the door.

"C'mon son."

"They haven't had breakfast yet. I was just making it." Caroline told him.

"Don't worry about it Caroline. You jump in the truck Ames. I need to talk to Caroline."

She walked to the truck as did Daniel.

"How's Lexi?" she asked softly.

"She was involved in a crash and stabbed. She's awake. Even though they thought she was gonna die. I don't know much else." he didn't mention about the fact she forgot him.

"O Danny she'll be ok you know."

"Sort of ironic in a sick way. I just get back and I almost lose her." he shook his head to disperse the thought. "I better get the kids home and thanks Caroline."

"No bother Danny. They keep Dupe out of my hair. I swear he's as much a kid as they are!"

He was laughing as he climbed in the truck.

"Where is mum?" Daniel asked coldly.

"Daniel you shouldn't talk to dad like that!" Amie told him.

"I'll do what I want!"

"Not to dad you won't!" Amie warned.

"What you gonna do about it?" he projected a warning in his eyes. He lifted his arm a fraction.

Amie's hand flew to her neck and she quieted.

"What's going on kids?" Danny asked sternly.

"Nothing." Daniel said.

"Amie?"

"Nothing Daddy." she said scared.

They were all soon home. Daniel climbed from the truck. Amie followed slowly. Dragging her feet.

"Amie are you ok baby?" Danny asked softly.

"Can I move to another house by myself?" she asked.

Danny was confused. Took her hand and led her in the kitchen. Sat her on his knee. She hugged him. "When do you wanna move out? Do you not like living with mum and dad? It can get scary living by yourself sometimes."

She nodded. "I do like living with you and mummy."

"What is it then baby? I'm real good at keeping secrets."

"It's Daniel he scares me." she said quietly.

"He's your big brother. He might scare you but he'll never hurt you!"

"But he did daddy. That time in the living room remember?"

"What happened in the living room?" he asked calmly.

She frowned. "When he put his arm around my neck coz I wouldn't say sorry."

Danny saw red.

Amie remembered that she didn't know he was her dad then.

"He won't hurt you again baby."

"Mum promised but he lifted his arm in the truck and his eyes told me he was gonna do it again. So I wanna move out so he won't do it anymore."

Danny pressed a kiss to her long black hair. "I know you don't know me too well yet but I'll tell you that daddies only make promises they know they can keep. And I promise you that if I say he won't come near you again he won't!"

Amie nodded.

"Is toast ok for your breakfast?"

She nodded again.

"Did you have a bath at Caroline's last night?"

"No me and Daniel fell asleep in the truck."

"You wanna bath after breaky?"

She shrugged. "My mermaids and ponies need a wash." she said to herself. "We were playing in a muddy filed the other day." she elaborated.

"Well why you have your breaky I'll run you a nice bath. For you and your mermaids and ponies of course!" he said seriously.

"I'll go sort them while you make breakfast then daddy."

She jumped down.

Danny put toast in the toaster and plonked a bowl down in front of Daniel. "here." he said and gave him the milk.

He gave Amie her toast. She sat and nibbled at it.

"I'll be in the bathroom for 2 minutes ok."

Amie nodded. Daniel looked down at his bowl. He poured some Mr Bubble in the tub and swished the water around. The room filed with steam. Amie toddled in with her ponies and mermaids. Then walked back to her room and returned with more.

"Are they your favourites?"

"Mermaids are." Amie said.

"You know Lexi was little her favourites were fairies."

"How come you were there for when Lexi was little but not me?" she asked.

"Daddy bumped his head and forgot for a little while but I'm back now."

She thought then made a show of making her mermaids dive in the water then the horses make comical jumps.

"hey Ames how do mermaids ride horses if they don't have legs?"

She looked at him when he stupid. "They sit on sideways silly."

"Daddy could do that too." he said.

"You couldn't silly. They have special mermaid magic. You'd fall off." she said smiling.

"I wouldn't coz I have special daddy magic!"

"Really?"

"You bet!" he checked the water. Ok Amie here's your bath. Just give me a shout if you need anything."

She nodded. He heard her climb in then was talking and singing as she was cleaning her horses.

Danny went to see his son. "Me and you need to talk later Daniel."

"I have nothing to say to you Danny." Daniel replied insolently.

"Trust me Daniel I have a lot to say to you!" Danny walked away.

Right Daniel had to get rid of this clown once and for all. He picked up the phone.

(X)

Amie had been bathed. Then her friend Lissy had phoned and asked if she could go over to play at Mara. He was happy actually. He didn't want Amie to hear what he and Daniel were going to talk about. He wasn't going to go mad or hit him or anything but if there was shouting involved she didn't need to hear it. So he had taken Amie over to Mara and been introduced to Vanessa for the first time. She was married to Rowan but still looked at him like he was a piece of meat. Not in a bad way like she would cheat on her husband. He hoped. Just sort of like she was sizing him up. She had mentioned his resemblance to Daniel and Lexi. He had talked a little while then mentioned that he had Daniel waiting in the truck. She had smiled. He had thanked her for taking Amie for the day.

So now he was home again. Daniel was ignoring him. He went to get a glass of water. Then went in search of Daniel. He was in the study putting the phone down. He started typing at the computer.

"How about that chat Daniel?" Danny asked.

"How about you leave me alone Danny." or you'll regret it Daniel added silently.

"Turn off the computer Daniel!" Danny told him.

"I don't do that when mum tells me to. What makes you think I'll do it for you?"

"All that is about to change!" Danny said stubbornly. Pulled the plug on the computer. "I'm here now and you will do as me and your mother tell you to do!"

He lost his temper. All those activities with Ethan flying out of his head. "Whose gonna make me? You? How? Hit me til I do it?" he stood up. "Try it!"

God his 7 year old son was acting like he was 14. He'd had a very similar reoccurring conversation with Ethan at 13. Except now Daniel was playing Ethan's part.

"I found out what you did to Amie Daniel."

He turned shiftily. He felt nasty threatening her like that.

"What possessed you to choke your younger sister?"

"Is that what you wanted to talk about?" Daniel asked bored.

"One of them. Why'd you do it?"

"None of you business!" Daniel replied belligerently.

"See your wrong Daniel it is. Coz that was my 6 year old daughter!"

"Like you even care!" Daniel yelled.

"You're a big lad Daniel like me. You choking her is like the equivalent of me choking you."

"Are you threatening me?" he asked incredulous.

"Of course not!" Danny said shocked. "I'm just saying imagine your Amie and I was you."

Daniel thought. Did scare him actually. Which is why he was doing what he planned.

He walked from the side of the desk to the opposite side and sat on the edge. Opposite Danny.

"What else you wanna say. I'm not gonna do that anymore. Ethan is helping me. And I am sorry. I'm just stupid. She gets in my nerves but she'd my little sister." Daniel shrugged.

"That's good to know." Danny paused. "I guess I wanna know why you hate me so much."

"You left us, I'm entitled. I'm my own person with my own thoughts and feelings which are mine and I don't have to explain them to you."

God this child was intelligent! Danny thought.

"No I guess you don't. I think I just want to understand my son."

Daniel face turned angry. "Don't call me that. I have no father!"

"You do Daniel and I'm home. If you give me a chance you won't regret it!"

Daniel looked at the floor and crossed his arms.

"Did you miss us?"

"Subconsciously yes, every day."

Daniel heard a car. Smiled . "Can I…will you…hug me?"

"If you want." Daniel walked towards him and Danny hugged him.

"Got you dad!" he hissed. Saying the name with a sneer. Spun moved Danny's arm so it was around his neck. "Danny no!" he yelled.

"Daniel what you doing?" he asked trying to move his arms. Alice appeared at the door. Saw Danny and Daniel struggling.

"Mum help me!" Daniel pleaded.

Danny got his arms from around his sons neck and raised them.

Daniel hit the deck.

"What the hell was that Danny?" Alice shouted angrily. She was beside Daniel making sure he was ok.

A/N daniel is a nasty child with a devious mind. me finks he mite have ben swapped at birth? my next story maybe? na lol he's thiers trust me lol x :D