A/N: ARGGGGG EXAMS!!! Anyway, here's the longer chapter as promised, continues directly from the last chapter. I was considering splitting this chapter as well, but thought that was harsh, I hope people are still interested in this story, I know there has been a lack of updates, but bare with me please.

Thirty minutes later, the ladies had finished their lunch. Danielle had tried to make small talk just as much as Ronnie had, but it was proving to be more difficult than either had imagined.

"Ronnie, are you okay? You've hardly touched your sandwich." Danielle's mind was racing at the idea that Ronnie didn't really want to be here. Danielle had tried her best. She wanted to seem confident, smart, and proper. A person Ronnie could relate to, a person who deserved the time of day. But it was hard. Ronnie was quite distant, and it was difficult for people to really get close.

"What? Me? I'm great, just not very hungry" Cheese and onion hadn't changed at all since the last time Ronnie had tried it. As a way of confirming she was okay to Danielle, she took another sip of her coffee.

"Danielle, I was thinking, you know about us spending time together, well, it's completely up to you, but I remember you saying you were job hunting, and well… we're in need of staff at the club right now. I just thought it would be a great way to be together." Ronnie trailed off looking hopeful towards the young woman before her

"Working at the club?" she huffed at the idea, "But I have no experience, and I mean we tried that before remember?" Danielle looked down into her coffee mug "That interview went horribly, I acted so immaturely when and I screamed at you..." Danielle's face changed to horror as more memories of Ronnie washed through her. She remembered how Ronnie had though it best if Danielle went back to Telford. Was that what she wanted now?

Ronnie tried to point out the positives in hope that Danielle would at least consider the proposal. "I know, but you said you're a quick learner remember? We all have to start at the beginning and I was really impressed at your interview, you stood your ground." Ronnie ended in hope that Danielle would listen. She knew she couldn't push the idea if Danielle didn't want it. "I mean I would pay you of course, I'm not just trying to take advantage, that's the last thing I want you to think. It's just it would mean we could see so much more of each other." Ronnie's foremost fear was that she wouldn't see Danielle ever again after today. What if Ronnie wasn't good enough, or said the wrong thing? She needed to be assured.

Danielle tilted her head to her left, placed a sarcastic look on her face and looked Ronnie in the eye.

Ronnie let out a whisper of a smile. "Okay fine, maybe you shouldn't yell at your interviewer and then storm out," She laughed out a little, "but it's worth a try surely, right?"

Danielle considered Ronnie's proposal. It seemed perfect; earning money – which she desperately needed – and spending time with the one person she wanted to get to know.

"Well, I really could use the extra cash, and it's a great way to… um… see more of each other." Danielle's previous fears of Ronnie playing a game returned. The way she tried to convince people, it resembled the way Archie had talked to her. How his way seemed so perfect, easy, and sensible. She still wasn't convinced this was what Ronnie really wanted. She held her stare until Ronnie decided to say something.

"So you'll try it out? That's great; maybe we can pop down later yeah? I can show you around, it'd be perfect," Ronnie was so pleased. For the first time in her life, things seemed to be on the way up. Danielle was her beautiful little girl, they were making progress.

Danielle circled the rim of her mug. "Um… no," Ronnie's face fell; she looked on at Danielle for an explanation. "I want an interview first..." Danielle looked up at Ronnie. She wanted no favours; she needed Ronnie to accept her as Danielle Jones. At the moment, it seemed Ronnie was ecstatic to have found her daughter, but Danielle couldn't shake the memories of what Ronnie actually thought of her as a person, before the truth had been revealed. Surely – and as much as Ronnie may deny it – those thoughts Ronnie had couldn't just vanish could they? From past experiences, it was clear how Ronnie felt. Here was this pathetic, stupid, naïve little girl, incapable of looking after herself and yet getting herself pregnant. All Ronnie could see was her baby girl, but that was not good enough. Danielle was her own person, a woman and Ronnie would have to accept her for who she was. Danielle had to make sure that person was someone to be proud of, someone who earned the right to work at the club – and Danielle knew that didn't come easily.

"…And I want Jack to interview me." Danielle knew having Ronnie around would be all too hard. The fear of disappointing her would overpower all other thought. She knew Ronnie would be too soft, not give her the same interrogation others would receive. Danielle thought about how she really felt. She was sure this is how Ronnie would act; Ronnie would show too much care, maybe too much compassion, after all it was her idea, Ronnie was the one who wanted Danielle to work there. All Danielle was struggling with was Ronnie's intentions. Why Danielle? Was it a way to get close to this girl, and then to tear her down? Was Ronnie saddened at the woman her daughter had become? Was it even worth finding out? On the other hand, Ronnie's biased interview would mean she actually cared; she actually wanted to be close to Danielle, that she wanted all of this as much as Danielle had once wanted. Still wanted?

Ronnie watched on as Danielle thought. She felt hurt that she wanted an interview, but almost proud of the type of girl Danielle was. But why Jack?

"Well, if that's really what you want, but there really is no need. I mean, why Jack? I understand our last interview wasn't perfect but really there's no need for an interview at all darling." Ronnie raised her hand. All she wanted to do was take hold of Danielle's cheek and lift her face so that she could look her daughter in the eye.

Everything suddenly went into slow motion for Danielle. All she could see was Ronnie's upset face, and then her arm rising, reaching out directly for Danielle, her long fingers closing in on her, curling as they approached red finger-nails sharp as cat-claws. Danielle flinched back as Ronnie's cupped hand approached. Her chair screeched as she leant back into it, moving her scrunched up face out of the way, bracing for impact.

Ronnie stared on open mouthed. She held her hand in mid air for a few seconds before slowly retrieving and placing it in on her knee. Thoughts spun around in her head, her heart beat increasingly faster. She felt her throat dry up, tears in her eyes.

Danielle quickly composed herself in hope Ronnie hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary. "I'm sorry…"

Ronnie interrupted knowing exactly what had happened. "You thought….You thought I was going to hit you didn't you?" Ronnie's voice was identical to the cold, stern careless one she had established over the last twenty years. She never intended to sound like that, but the shock had meant she spoke before she thought, this tone was so natural. At the time Danielle needed the most reassurance, Ronnie had spoken so coldly. She had to say something, she had to comfort Danielle, undo the damage which her previous tone may have inflicted on an already cracked relationship, but what words could she possible utter. The one girl she craved, loved so much it hurt, would do anything to protect her and it was Ronnie who was a danger in her eyes. What words could be spoken?

"No, it's me that's sorry," her voice barely above a whisper.

"Sorry for what?" Danielle wasn't quite sure what Ronnie wanted to apologise for. There were so many memories spinning around, so much pain.

"Everything. I've been so cruel to you, I will never forgive myself. The last thing I would do to you is hurt you again. It's unthinkable." Ronnie was adamant not to cry. She had to be strong; their relationship was meant to be on the way up…

Danielle drastically changed the topic. She felt a little guilty, but more than that she felt stupid. She had failed at portraying the strong character she supposedly was. Now Ronnie probably thought she was just a silly little girl, nothing like the creditable Veronica Mitchell. Maybe Ronnie was pleased at the affect she had on Danielle, was her guilt actually for real? Perhaps Ronnie was actually sorry, but it meant so little. "So this interview with Jack, you'll let me know yeah?" The atmosphere between the two had changed rapidly. Ronnie couldn't bear to look Danielle in the eyes, and Danielle was trying to carry on as if nothing had happened.

"I've enjoyed this. We should do this again." She tried to lighten the mood, she was making the effort, but would Ronnie appreciate that?

The threat of tears falling was now fading away from Ronnie. "Yeah, it's been brilliant. We can do this all the time when you're at RnR's."

"That'd be nice. Well, that's if I get to RnR's, still got to impress Jack remember?" She stole a glance at Ronnie just as Ronnie looked up to Danielle and smiled

"I want to be treated like any other interviewee," She then lowered her voice as well as her head and fiddled with her sleeve, "You owe me that much."

Ronnie let out a sigh as she replied "Look, I'll let Jack know that you want an interview with him okay. He'll want to know if it's okay with me, I mean you know, after last night…"

"Yeah… Just let me know if he agrees." Danielle raised her head to meet Ronnie's eyes, she felt a little more comfortable with Ronnie, but was still aware of how exposed she was making herself to her.

Both women had finished their lunch minutes ago, but they sat there, just talking about everything, anything.

"Danielle, you do know I would never hurt you. Ever," Ronnie was looking into Danielle's eyes, trying to look as sincere as possible. She had wanted to take Danielle's hand, but was afraid to do so.

Danielle watched Ronnie's face. She wanted it to stop. She wanted Ronnie to stop bringing it up, pushing her to believe something when no proof was yet available. Could she possibly risk getting hurt ever again? Physically or emotionally, Ronnie had done both. Regardless of if you have given birth to that person or not, no normal person forces others onto the street in such a manner. The way she had been flung out of Ronnie's flat only months ago was fresh on her mind. Why was Ronnie adamant to bring up all these horrible memories? Every time Danielle tried her best to forget, Ronnie mentioned something, someone, and they all came flooding back. Ronnie was hurting her, and she couldn't even see it,

"Ronnie lets not talk about the past. It's… I just want to try and forget, isn't that what you want?"

Ronnie jumped at what Danielle had said. "That is exactly what I want. All I want to make clear is that I can't change the past, but what I've done… If you ever want to talk, or... I don't know maybe tell me how your feeling, I'll understand okay?"

Danielle nodded. She feared trying to speak would reveal how dry her throat had become.

"Right well, lunch is on me" Ronnie stood up and approached the counter. After paying, she and Danielle left the café.

Outside, Ronnie could feel eyes on her. She was walking with Danielle by her side, this was sure to be the latest gossip to hit the square, it took everything she had to stay calm as Gary and Minty approached them from the opposite direction.

"Well well, you alright there Danielle?" Gary smiled over in addition to noticing Ronnie's killer stare.

Danielle looked completely lost, her eyes widened, her hands fidgeted, "ah…Yes thanks, and you?"

Garry nodded in response as him and Minty passed. As soon as they thought they were out of ear-shot, hushed tones could be heard, sniggering, laughter. Ronnie just increased her pace until she saw Danielle back home. Once they had said there goodbyes, Ronnie decided to go find Jack and explain why she wanted Danielle to work at the club. The next time she saw her daughter would not be a minute to soon.

A/N: Anyone remember Dani's last interview?? Hmm… I just watched it back on Utube, gave me a few ideas…

An interview from HELL / HEAVEN next, PLEASE REVIEW!