A/N: A record breaking low of only 3 reviews for my last chapter! Very disappointing. Anyway, here's the next chapter! Does Danielle get her 'dream job'? btw, my longest chapter EVER! 3 times longer than usual to make up for lack of updates recently. (That is if ppl are still reading this of course)!

"Oh Stace get that please," Danielle was sat in the Slater living room flicking through countless TV channels. Three hundred of them and nothing's on…

"Dan get off your ass will ya, I'm making the teas here. I can't believe mum's left her keys at home again," Stacey howled out of the kitchen, which made Danielle lift herself from her cosy position on the sofa. She muttered to herself annoyingly as she approached the front door "That bloody door bell's a nightmare…" She rubbed her eyes as she pulled the front door towards her. "Jean I think someone…" Danielle's face changed to one of surprise, "Ronnie, what are you doing here?" Danielle suddenly became a little defensive, but this was suppressed by her dominating nervous composure.

That was not the reaction Ronnie had been expecting, but on the other hand, it could have been a lot worse. "Well I came here to see how you were really; I mean I know I said I'd call you but…" She trailed off as she realised there was another promise she had broken. She hadn't meant to, Ronnie had just wanted to see Danielle in person. A phone call seemed too distant; it wouldn't satisfy her craving to physically be with her daughter; a craving that had been living for almost twenty years.

Stacey was not going to be a happy bunny tonight. Danielle had promised her a quite night in with a DVD, "Well come in…" She was trying her best not to seem nervous, but Ronnie had a drastic affect on her. She soon noticed the state she was in with her messy hair and baggy hoodie. 'Shit I look crap', but these thoughts were quickly pushed to the back of her mind.

"Mum would you like some tea?" Stacey had assumed Jean had returned from her walk. She seemed not to realise that everyone here lived in the same house, there was no need to bellow as if attempting to gain attention from someone across the square.

"Uh… just go through, I'll be there in a sec." She smiled as she rushed Ronnie into the living room before dashing into the kitchen.

"Stace! It's Ronnie." Danielle hissed worriedly to Stacey, as if she held all the answers to what Danielle should do

"Oh… well? What you doing in here then? Go there and talk to her, maybe it's about RnR's."

"I don't think I want to. I mean, what if she says I wasn't good enough? Or what if she's come here to gloat? I made a fool out of my self in there Stace, I bet she's here to tell me what she really thinks, how ashamed she is that the girl she gave away grew up to become this…" She moved her arms down across her body referring to herself She was on the brink of breaking down,

"Oi, keep your voice down will ya, she'll here you!" Stacey approached her friend and placed her hand on Danielle's shoulder. "Your gonna have to talk to her Dan, just remember all those positives your always trying to get me to see? The different Ronnie you know lies within? Go talk to that Ronnie, yeah. I know you better than you think Dan, whatever happens; the thing you would regret most is if you turned her away now. Give her a chance to explain yeah? I can come with you if you want." Stacey rubbed Danielle's shoulder, which seemed to calm her down a little

"No, I need to do this by myself, although I don't think I'm gonna like what she's gotta say…"Danielle sighed as she lifted herself from the worktop.

"I tell ya, that woman's timing is atrocious. I was really looking forward to watching that film as well, and I've just finished making the teas. I swear if she wants one, she'll bliming have to come in and make it herself" Stacey pointed towards the closed door but kept her voice barely above a whisper. Her words had the result she had been hoping for. Danielle burst into her innocent giggle, "Right, well I'll be upstairs if you need me okay?" Stacey headed out of the door, closely followed by Danielle,

"Thanks Stace," she whispered. As soon as Stacey had disappeared, Danielle tried her best to flatten her hair and push back the messy parts. She sighed and walked into the living room.

"Sorry about that, I left the umm... thing…" She pointed to the door with her thumb. She had walked in looking confident, although still worried about her appearance. But that confidence has diminished as soon as she spoke before thinking and realised she didn't essentially have an excuse prepared, although Ronnie didn't really seem to care.

"You did quite well today Danielle." She looked up proudly at her daughters face. Ronnie had so many things to say before coming here and yet now, her mind had gone blank with Daniele's presence.

"Really? I was so nervous, and I know I said some of the most stupid things…" Her voice was shaky and dry.

Ronnie looked to the floor. How was she meant to do this, it was like releasing an already cracked sheet of glass only to see it shatter. "The thing is, Jack…"

She was interrupted as Danielle's nightmare returned. The room was filled with the painful ringing of the Slater doorbell.

"Sorry, that'll be Jean, she forgot her keys…" Danielle rose from the seat she had taken only moments ago. As she reached the stairs she could hear Stacey shuffling off the bed. "Don't worry Stace, I got it." Danielle turned around and opened the front door. "Jean, you really…" Her face fell to the floor as she stared at the second unexpected caller.

"Danielle, is this a bad time, it's just I was wondering if we could have a chat about your interview this morning," Jack was standing at the front door in his usual business suit. Danielle thought for a moment, was this a bad time? Ronnie was sat barely a few metres away. Maybe Jack and Ronnie had intended to meet up at the Slater's to reject Danielle in person. After all, they both ran the club.

"Uh no… sorry, come in" She had rudely left Jack hanging at the door for a moment to long.

As Jack entered, Danielle closed the door and led him to the living room.

"Ronnie…" Jack looked surprised as his businesses partner was sat on the armchair furthest from him. She looked equally surprised, and by Jack's tone of voice, Danielle gathered that this meeting had not been deliberate.

"What are you doing here?" Ronnie tried to remain calm, but her voice lived up to her signature tone: Icy.

Jack collected himself but decided to ignore her question, "Well, I'm glad you're here actually, now we can give Danielle the good news together." He smiled cheekily over to her, knowing she had no idea what he was talking about.

Ronnie starred on, with her annoyed expression. What the hell did Jack want now? If he was trying to get back into her good books, turning up at the Slaters just after she had was certainly not the way to do it.

Danielle was standing in the doorway behind Jack; clearly the pair had forgotten the she was there. Good news? What was all that about?

Danielle decided to make her presence acknowledged, "Um… can I get you guys anything? Tea, coffee, cold drink?" she now felt even more worried than before. Looking at Ronnie's face brought back numerous memories on how quickly she could change. A few minutes ago she had looked so kind, open, so…normal. However as soon as Jack had walked in, she became cold, almost defensive. Could you actually describe it as a defence mechanism? Maybe this is just how Ronnie is around people. Everyone saw her as a cold, bitchy character. Danielle had seen this side of Ronnie more times than she had liked, so why was Ronnie now trying to act differently towards Danielle? The fact Ronnie knew her true identity changed nothing in this respect. It couldn't reverse the damage already inflicted, so why try to cause more hurt by being someone your not?

Ronnie lifted her head to look at Danielle, "No thanks Danielle; I don't think Jack will be staying long." She spoke softly, a tone rarely heard from her. She then returned her gaze to Jack, looking on expectantly. It was obvious Ronnie wasn't on the best of terms with him.

The woman sat in front of him had made Jack feel quite awkward, so he decided to get to the point. "Right, well Danielle," He turned around to face the girl who stood leaning against the door, "I've had a look at my notes from the interview we had, and I can see you're a very keen, sensible young woman. You live close to the club, so you know most of the regulars already. My only concern is your lack of experience in this field, but…" He sighed, glanced up to Ronnie, whose eyes were now fixed on him, eager for him to finish his sentence. He wondered when he had last seen such a genuine smile of that magnitude slapped across Ronnie's face "…but, if you're willing to make the effort, I'm sure with some intensive training, you should be up to scratch in no time." He smiled over to Danielle, who had her mouth hanging open. "You mean… are you offering me the job?"

Ronnie rose to her feet and stepped forward, "Yes! Umm… yes he is! That is of course if you still want it." Ronnie hurriedly answered Danielle's question before Jack had the chance to answer himself, just in case he had implied something else.

Suddenly, it all started making sense to Danielle. Ronnie's fall out with Jack, Jack coming round when Ronnie was here. This was Ronnie's doing. There must be tonnes of people who Jack could have considered if the club really needed new staff, and after Danielle's weak interview, even she wouldn't have hired herself. Why had Jack decided she deserved a chance whereby others would have failed, why offer the job after a mere few hours? Had this all been planned?

"Are you sure, I mean, thanks but…" Danielle looked from Jack to Ronnie, and then back to Jack again, who was waiting for her to continue. "Thanks Jack, I won't let you down." Danielle wasn't really sure what to make of all this and she didn't want to say anything which may offend him.

He looked to Ronnie, whose phizog had transformed completely from the one intended for him a few minutes ago. "Well, I'll leave you guys to it." He winked at Ronnie before turning around to leave. Danielle walked out of the doorway to let him pass, but as she did so she walked towards the front door so that they were away from Ronnie.

"Jack, I really appreciate you giving me the chance to work at the club, and I really hope you don't take this the wrong way," She unconsciously fiddled with the cord of her hoodie, "But do you actually need me there, or is this just Ronnie's exploit?" Danielle looked over her shoulder to make sure Ronnie was out of audible range just as Jack replied.

"Look, I'm weary of applicants your age. There mostly big headed, arrogant freeloaders who are after free drinks and an easy time. You however, I know I can rely on, there's a sensible head on those shoulders, I mean you must be the first person wanting to work behind the bar that's actually bothered dressing like your attending an interview. You were a strong candidate before you even walked into that door; you just need to believe in yourself more, that's all." He patted her shoulder before opening the front door. "Oh, I nearly forgot, um… Ronnie should arrange days when you can come in and start learning some of the drinks, she and Dawn will probably be training you and so that way she delightfully lumbers me with all the paper work." He pointed over to the wall to which Ronnie sat on the opposite side. Danielle grinned "I'll also need you to fill in some forms, you know, just health and safety, data protection declarations general things like that. Oh and so we can formally discuss wages and things as well."

Danielle smiled over and thanked Jack. She knew working at the club would slowly reveal how her relationship with Ronnie could play out. She still had her doubts about Ronnie, especially after Jack hadn't actually answered her question. Nevertheless, she thanked Jack again and showed him out before going in to face Ronnie again.

"You blew him away you know. I'm so proud of you." Ronnie went to hug Danielle, who in return smiled as she let Ronnie embrace her. Ronnie soon backed away as she discovered Danielle was not hugging her back. It was more like two girlfriends giving a quick squeeze before they departed rather than a mother congratulating her daughter.

"Ronnie, there's something I needed to ask you," Danielle took the seat next to Ronnie's. "Your Dad…" She once again started fiddling with the dangling cords.

"He's not been here as he? I swear I'll…"

"No! It's just…It's been nearly four days since…you know, and I was wondering what had happened." She looked up to a very calm looking Ronnie. Well she looked calm; Danielle found it easier to read Ronnie when she was like this.

Ronnie smiled, "Well, Aunty Peggy insisted she handle it herself. Do you wanna know her exact words" Ronnie continued without letting Danielle answer, "She goes, 'That girl's defiantly got your sense of timing, God, if only she'd screamed at you before I got married, things would be a lot simpler!'" Ronnie giggled at the memory, and then looked over to a smiling Danielle. "You have nothing to worry about Danielle; Aunty Peggy's made sure he won't ever come back. She, um… she wanted me to talk to you actually…" Ronnie raised her head just in time to see Danielle's face cringe in terror. "Oh no, she's not mad at you or anything, in fact she actually kinda wanted to thank you. She goes you opened her eyes and saved her. Her words, not mine. The thing is, Aunty Pegg's a big one for family values, and well she's got everyone fussing over this family meal she's preparing for Saturday. She wants to move on and look to the future with the people she cares for most." Ronnie gulped as she prepared herself for what was to come next. It wasn't very often she lowered her voice when she got tense. "We were all hoping you would join us. I mean, if it weren't for you, that man would still be living under our roof, not to mention the fact I would never have found my… Well, I've found something I thought I could never have…" She trailed off, not wanting to make Danielle uncomfortable, furthermore in her own home.

Danielle was processing all the information she had just been given. Ronnie was right, she really could act. She seemed to sound so genuine, caring, and almost willing for Danielle to accept her invitation. "The thing is Ronnie, I'm not really family I'm I?"

Ronnie's heart dropped. Her baby was so close, and yet they were light-years apart. "Danielle, no one blames you for this. I…" Ronnie was afraid of saying the wrong thing. "Look, I know with everything that's happened between you and I, between you and Archie, I can't just make it all go away. I wish I could, but I can't. I understand this seems like a big step but you're not expected to do anything you don't want to. See it as our way of saying thank you yeah? And at the very least, come and have a go at Roxy for the baby-sitting money she still owes you." Ronnie gently nudged Danielle who smiled.

Danielle remembered how a few days ago she had been eager to get to know the Mitchell family, spend some time getting to know the people whoi shared the blood which flowed to through her veins. "Fine, it'd be nice to meet everyone properly, I'd like that. It's just… I feel like I've split the family in two. All I wanted was for you to see me, I swear I didn't know he hadn't told you" A single tear fell from her eyes but she wiped it away quickly.

"I know sweetie I know. Believe me if that man even thinks about coming anywhere near us ever again, it will be the last thing her ever does. I won't let him hurt you, I promise you." Ronnie pushed Danielle's head onto her shoulder and was relieved when she didn't object. They sat there for a few minutes before the painfully high pitched door bell filled their ears.

Danielle jumped from Ronnie's grasp, rubbed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair. "Arrg, I swear that bests be Jean," Ronnie giggled before rising to her feet.

"I think it's time I left. Listen, maybe we can pop down to the club later on Saturday as well, I can show you around.

"Yeah that'd be good."

Both ladies walked to the door. Danielle threw it open for the third time that night to be faced with a puzzled looking Jean. "Oh, Ronnie Mitchell, what are you doing here?"

Danielle was about to answer for her but Stacey had already barged down the stairs, "ah, mum she just came to talk with Danielle. Let's get you inside yeah, you must be freezing." And with that, mother and daughter entered the living room, leaving Ronnie and Danielle to say their goodbyes.

A/N: wow, these chapter's don't get any easier. Please review with a bit more than "Please update"! I really appreciate feedback on how I can improve! Thanks, and does anyone think this chapter is to long so I know for future reference?