A/N: Where are the reviews people? How can I have 278 hits and only 7 reviews?? Good, bad ugly, I don't mind, I just need feedback. Boy, these chapters are becoming harder to write, but some good Danni/Ronnie stuff here (well I think so anyway).

I know 'thewattsrule' wants R & D happiness, but be fair, it would be very boring and highly unrealistic if that happened straight away & all the time!

Please say how I can improve, what bits were good, bad and if you think everyone is in character, thanks!

The ladies walked across the road in silence. Time was running out, they were soon approaching the other side of the square. Ronnie felt it only right she should break the silence

"Danielle…"

"Ronnie…"

The duo let out an awkward giggle as they had both spoke at the same time. Ronnie insisted Danielle go first, to put her need before her own. "Well, Mrs Mitchell, she has every right to hate me right now, but… well… are you mad at me?" she awkwardly ended.

"What? No, no Danielle sweetheart, of course not. Like I said, finding out who you are is the best thing that's happened. I can't bear to think if I'd never found out 'coz it's everything I've ever wanted. You have to know that even if you want nothing else to do with me. I never wanted any of this to happen, you being taken away..." Ronnie fought back the tears. It was difficult. The only way she could stop them from falling was to put her guard up, although the 'cold approach' towards Danielle was unimaginable. This army was going to need retraining.

"He said some things about you." Danielle's pace was now negligible, so they both stopped to face each other. Danielle looked down to her feet; this was going to be difficult. She wasn't sure how much of Archie's verbal torture had been factual.

Ronnie stared at Danielle in confusion before she understood who 'he' was.

Oh, she wanted to do this know. Ronnie prepared herself to hear more of Archie's lies. Most likely, Ronnie would have to deny most of them, and she could understand why it would be hard for Danielle to believe her. Trust was vital to undo Archie's damage, but it required time.

Danielle doubted this was a wise move. If Archie had been right, then this was the worst thing Danielle could say to Ronnie, but it was time someone started to think what was best for Danielle, and she needed to know. She came out with the question quite frankly. No point beating around.

"Have you ever attempted suicide, or had phycatrical help?" Danielle rubbed her arm and raised her head a little. She was now staring at Ronnie's chest.

Ronnie tried her best, but she just couldn't help it. She sarcastically laughed out quite loudly, but quickly stopped, appreciating how hard this whole situation must be for Danielle. A group of girls on a hen night staggered by and stole a glance at Ronnie's over amplified giggle.

"I really can't understand why that man can't bare to see me happy." Ronnie asked the question to herself before copying Danielle by avoiding eye contact. "No of course not. Right, I'll tell you the truth okay. When I had you…" She trailed off and looked to her side as a huge smile crept onto her face. "…God, to say the word 'you' in that sentence feels great…" she was soon snapped back into reality as Danielle smiled, "… Sorry, umm, right when I had you, because of my age I was forced to have weekly sessions with a psychiatrist. It was normal practice with parents having their child, ah… you know, put up for adoption." Ronnie looked up to face her daughter in the eyes. Her face showed only a fraction of how ashamed she felt, but she continued. "I can't really remember what we talked about, it was just general stuff like school and home you know, but I never revealed how I was really feeling. I felt like they had hurt me and by telling them how broken I felt, it would please them. From then on I just stopped believing. I vowed never to get close to anyone again…."

Danielle was a little surprised, but she also felt quite guilty. She had been so quick to judge Ronnie, that she never considered the reasons for the heartless exterior. Danielle wanted to continue, although if the whole Archie experience had taught her anything, it was not to trust people so easily, and Danielle sub-consciously found herself doing this right now. She didn't doubt Ronnie's statement, but it was difficult to feel sorry for her after the past seven months. Archie had been so convincing, but she attempted to block his voice out and listen to Ronnie's. Trust was vital to undo Archie's damage, but it required time.

"He said you've moved on, and that the girl was in the past, that you don't want anything to do with her. Look Ronnie, if that's true then please just tell me okay, I can't stand anymore games, please.

Ronnie's blood was boiling. How dare he, how could he do this to her little girl? She spoke calmly, although in reality, she would be more than happy to repeat herself all night if it would make Daniele identify the truth.

"Danielle, I can understand why it's hard to trust me okay, but I was forced to give you away at birth. I've regretted the fact every day of my life. When he told me my daughter was dead, things changed. There was closure, but then there was also this new type of regret, the regret that I'll never have the chance to see her ever again. I mean, before, regret was still there, but there was always the chance that one day…" Ronnie was revealing her deepest thoughts to this young girl, but what worried her more was that she wanted to carry on. "You can't understand how happy I am that you're safe and healthy. I want to be everything I've always wanted to be, but I now have to take into consideration how you feel. I respect that, but like you said, we can take it one day at a time cant we?" Ronnie finished with a pleading tone.

Danielle felt guilty that she had put Ronnie through this for the second time tonight, but a voice in her head kept telling her it had to be done. Danielle needed reassurance; she wanted to trust Ronnie…

"So they were all lies, all your life, you've wanted to be with your daughter." Ronnie smiled that Danielle had finally seen the truth. What she hadn't noticed was Danielle's tone. It was one of those 'I'm - repeating - what - you've - just - said - to - clarify' tone, but Ronnie took it for a sign of belief.

"That's right, now I know it's been a lot to take in, but I want this so badly. You will call me won't you?

Danielle still wasn't sure about Ronnie, but she ignored that thought and decided to take in the moment. After all, Ronnie had sounded so convincing and it made Danielle's heart flutter up to the clouds. What could she expect; after all, Ronnie was trying her best.

"Yeah, you know, if your not busy then maybe we can meet for lunch tomorrow?" Danielle's sounded very careful. She didn't want to sound to 'needy', but she wanted to sound like she was making an effort, not being difficult or spoilt.

"Wherever, whenever, I'll be there…" Ronnie looked Danielle straight in the eyes.

Danielle broke eye contact and looked to the floor. She spoke with a little attitude. "Right…" She let out a sarcastic laugh, not quite sure how to respond. She wished Ronnie would just listen instead of jumping in all the time with stupid cheesy comments. She sounded desperate, so out of character.

"I'm sorry, I… well what I mean is I'll be happy to meet you for lunch tomorrow".

Both women continued their walk, but neither wanted it to end. "Look Danielle, does Stacey know that I'm your mum?" Ronnie bit her lip as the question left her mouth. Walking on egg shells…

"She knows you're my birth mother if that's what you mean", Ronnie had no right to call herself a mother to Danielle, not yet. She kept her tone to a friendly one. She had no intention of being rude, but just making her point very clear. It was something Danielle was not very good at, unlike Ronnie.

"Right…" Ronnie was taken aback. 'One step at a time Ron', was all she could think to herself. "Yeah, sorry, what I mean is… well… she has a very bad impression of us Mitchells and…"

Danielle felt it only right she interject. "She has her reasons, but I'm more than capable of judging people for my self Ronnie. I know you've explained why you seem distant to people, and I heard you when you said your wearing a mask. You think I'm expecting you to be a saint or something, but I'm not. I just want to get to know you. In the last hour, I've seen you more nervous than ever before, but it's just so confusing you know. I mean, the only way to get to know each other is to take each day as it comes. Never mind what Stacey thinks okay." Danielle could feel the tension she had just caused, so she decided to slice it. "Don't be fooled by my vertically challenged, petite frame yeah, this girl makes her own decisions you know". She put on an 'I'm-a-teen-with-attitude' tone, and Ronnie giggled. She rubbed Danielle's back as they approached the front gate of the slaters'.

The two of them were saddened by the fact they were soon to be separated, however Stacey flinging the front door open brought their daydream to an end.

"Dan, there you are, I've been worried sick…" Stacey's face dropped when she saw Ronnie. "Oh my God Dan, you didn't…" Stacey was eying Ronnie up and down with a sickening gaze.

"I did Stace, I had to" Danielle's voice seemed so worried. Ronnie hoped Danielle was right about what she had said earlier, she hoped Stacey wouldn't change Danielle's optimism.

"Right well, what does she has to say for herself." Stacey expected Ronnie to throw one back, but she looked so drained, so lost, almost child-like, just like Danielle.

"Don't be like that, you're meant to be supportive, you know how I feel about everything", Danielle was upset that her best friend was being like this, but then with Stacey, it was to be expected.

Ronnie felt proud that Danielle had stood up to Stacey to defend her.

Stacey was still throwing looks at Ronnie as she spoke. "Right…I'm sorry, are you alright?" She glared at Ronnie but the question was directed at Danielle.

"Yeah, umm… I think so." She glanced up to Ronnie who beamed back at her reassuringly.

Stacey noticed she had left Danielle standing in the door-way. She was debating a matter in her head. She couldn't believe she was about to do this, but it was for Danielle, and her mom had gone to bed so…

"Umm…" She crossed her arms defensively. 'It's for Danielle, It's for Danielle'. She kept saying it over and over, as she stepped aside. "Well would you like to come in for some tea or something?"

Ronnie was shocked, but quickly recovered. Stacey Slater inviting her for tea? "Umm… no thanks, I'd better be getting back, aunty Peggs gonna be in a right sta…" She could have slapped herself right then, how could she have been so stupid. "I mean… I've left Roxy by herself, and Amy's not to well. Thanks though. You won't forget to call me Danielle?"

Danielle noticed how uncomfortable Ronnie was. She knew the whole square was probably gossiping about her scene at the reception, but the fact that Ronnie was here, reminding her about their lunch arrangements for tomorrow was overwhelming. It was what Danielle's dreams were made of. All other thoughts were discarded.

"Yeah I will do… um… Ronnie", Danielle called out to the walking figure.

Ronnie instantly turned around… speed of light…

"Thanks".

Ronnie replied with a warm smile. No words were needed.

As Danielle entered the warmth of the Slaters, Stacey tugged at her arm and dragged her upstairs. "You madam, have got alota explaining to do." Danielle giggled at her friend. She was just so happy right now, the fact that for at least tonight, she felt wanted.

A/N: So …. REVIEW PLEASE!!!