A/N: Family lunches. I've never liked them really, but here we go. And who said these Mitchell lunches always go badly? I'll have to check my reviews for that, and thanks for being so patient. (well that'll be justified when I see the amount of hits + reviews I get, lol)! Extra long chapter guys, so please do review. I was considering splitting this into tow, but thought I'd be generous.

"She looks gorgeous don't she mum?" Stacey and Danielle were looking into the mirror as Jean entered their bedroom.

"Ooo very pretty, special occasion is it?" Jean beamed at Danielle as she placed her cup of coffee down on to the dressing table.

Danielle was wearing a black sleeveless dress with straps running up from either shoulder and around her neck. She had wanted to tie her hair up, but found it to short to do anything with, so instead opted for Stacey to straighten it for her.

"I have a lunch date with Ronnie," Danielle sounded quite excited at the whole idea, which surprised Stacey.

"eeww, leave out the details will ya Dan, I've just had my lunch I don't wanna see it again thank you."

"Oi you dosey cow, I didn't mean it like that. Gosh, some people - so immature…" She looked to Jean and pointed at Stacey with her finger.

Stacey pulled a face at Dan when she had turned around.

Jean giggled, "okay, well I'll leave you two girls to it then…"She decided to leave even though she hadn't got what she came in for. She couldn't remember when she had seen Danielle looking quite so happy.

"Right make-up's flawless, you're dressed - which is always a good sign, hair's done, handbag's sorted, I'd say you're good to go!" Stacey bustled around with Danielle's fringe.

"Believe me, there's nothing you can do about that, it haunts me." Danielle was still standing before the mirror with Stacey behind her. Both girls stared into it smiling before Stacey broke the silence.

"Dan you know I'm happy for you, but you really seemed to have changed your attitude…"

Danielle looked down from the mirror and played with a loose thread hanging from her dress. "Yeah well I am a little worried, of course I am. It's just I keep saying it over and over again you know. I've just gotta be me and if they don't like it, that's their problem..."

Stacey squeezed Danielle's waist and placed her head on the shorter girl's shoulder as they both looked up to their reflections once again.

"I knew some of me would rub off on you one day." She pretended to wipe tears away from her eyes and sarcastically sounded as if she was crying. "I'm so proud of my Dani," She then sniffed loudly before Danielle slapped her across the back.

"Stace shut up yeah, look your making me late." She hurriedly picked up her phone and clutch bag from the bed.

Stacey recovered from her outburst of giggles. "Oh, and if Peggy asks how you find her salad, you better say you like it - trust me." Stacey glared at Danielle with her most serious face.

Danielle had picked up on her friend's sarcasm, "I'll tell her exactly what I wanna tell her. I don't like salad anyway!" She beamed back at Stacey who pretended to look disappointed in not being able to fool Danielle.

"That's my girl…"

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Danielle was fast approaching The Queen Victoria pub. She noticed a note stuck on to the door which normally would not reside there. It was typed in bold font on letter-headed paper. She had a gut feeling it was intended for her. Maybe no one was in, or what if they wanted her to stay away. Danielle found herself slowing down, but there was only one way to find out.

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The Queen Victoria – East London

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The pub will be closed until 4pm on Saturday the 20th June. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Thank you for your understanding.

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The Queen Victoria – East London

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Danielle sighed at her stupidity and tried to recompile her confident countenance. She kept reminding herself to just be her. She owed them nothing…

She knocked on the red door, only to find they were made from solid wood and most likely would not be heard. She then knocked on the glass windows.

"It's open!" Roxy's shouted out. Danielle was relieved the first person she would meet wouldn't be Peggy. Even after everything Ronnie had said, the fact that Danielle had compromised on Peggy's pride did not bear thinking about.

Without even realising, Danielle left her confidence behind as she shyly stuck her head around the door.

"Oh Danielle come in." Roxy emerged from behind the bar to greet the guest with a hug. Danielle was taken aback but patted Roxy's shoulders. Ronnie's sister seemed to be taking this quite naturally, but then again, this was Roxy.

"Everyone's upstairs at the moment, head on up, I'm just sorting the drinks."

"Thanks… Oh, would you like any help?" Danielle turned around before entering the back. Seeing the pub look empty seemed so unreal. It was no longer so hard to believe people lived in here. Danielle had been weary about coming to the Vic after the wedding, but it just seemed so different now. She figured it was facing the gossip from the locals which she actually feared.

Roxy couldn't help but smile at the girl's manners. "No I'm fine you go on up, I'll be there in a sec.

They exchanged a smile as Danielle went on upstairs. She was familiar with the layout of the upper floor; after all she had worked here for the best part of a year. She could hear laughter coming from the front room but was rather reassured when she heard Ronnie's voice. Ronnie was the one whom Danielle would feel most comfortable with.

As she pushed the door open, she could see the figures of Phil, Ronnie, Ben and Peggy scattered around the room. Phil looked his usual self. He was dressed in a dark shirt and trousers. Ronnie had obviously made a bit more of an effort. She wore a blue glittery top with dark jeans with a simple silver chain hanging around her neck which flowed down to her chest. She was fussing with Ben's shirt as Peggy reached behind the TV to switch it off.

You could never have guessed that the host had been married, split up from her husband and prepared this gathering all in the space of a week.

Danielle decided she had waited around long enough and tapped the door. Suddenly all eyes were on her and she felt her cheeks burn up. She was quickly rescued as Ronnie tripped over herself to greet her.

"Danielle, I'm so glad you came, come in." She took Danielle by the arm and led her into the room.

Danielle felt quite embarrassed and out of place, but she was quite thankful that Ronnie was by her side.

"Danielle dear, come here," Peggy had her arms wide open and was getting closer. Wow, these guys don't really hold-back do they? Danielle was still quite unsure about Peggy and was shocked at how normal she was acting, but had no time to act as Peggy embraced her in a tight hug.

"Ms Mitchell, I'm…" Danielle spoke shakily, not quite sure of any words she could say.

"Shh, you don't worry about a thing love. You have nothing to feel bad about." Peggy spoke softly and quietly in Danielle's ears so that even Ronnie, who stood only inches away, could barely hear.

Hearing this from Peggy fragmentally calmed Danielle. She looked to Phil who smiled over. He seemed more uncomfortable with the whole state of affairs than his mother, so he and Ben excused themselves to arrange the table.

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"Right guys, lunch is served" Danielle wondered if Roxy had intended to be heard all across London. Ronnie smiled when Danielle had jumped. It only further emphasised her innocence and child like features.

"Right come on then." Ronnie stood up and walked across the room. "There's no need to look worried Danielle," Ronnie smiled over to her daughter and reached out her hand.

Danielle was yet to find a time since last week where Ronnie had sounded like her usual, cold-blooded self. Was it possible that this unseen version was indeed her genuine image? It was all mind-boggling, but Danielle knew which Ronnie she preferred, and the more she thought about it, the easier it became to see that this adaptation was planning on sticking around. Danielle lifted herself from the sofa and gave Ronnie a warm smile as she hurriedly checked her hair in the mirror.

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"Oi, get your hands off my tacos!" Roxy slapped Phil's wrist which was in mid-air

"You said lunch was served!" He looked back with his grumpy composure.

"Yeah but wait for the other's will ya!" She started placing glasses around the table.

Phil looked over to Danielle and pulled a face, obviously imitating Roxy's annoyance. This made Danielle laugh, and Phil ducked as he saw a tea towel being thrown across the pub towards him.

Danielle took her seat next to Ronnie. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad after all…

"Where is aunty P…"

"She is right here. Rgiht Now Ben, you can sit here next to Dad, and I'll sit next to you Roxy." Peggy huffed as she took her seat.

"Well well aunty, to what to I owe this breathtaking pleasure?"

"Oh behave Roxy. Now, is Amy settled alright?" She started dishing out the potatoes as Ronnie placed a hand on Danielle's thigh. This caused the young girl to turn to her left.

"You alright sweetie," She whispered, so that only they could here.

Danielle still looked quite nervous, and Ronnie knew that however much she reassured the girl, it was only natural. It would take time for her nerves to descend. Ronnie herself was completely on edge for Danielle's sake; she just hid it very well because Danielle was all that mattered. The need to submit a face of high confidence to alleviate Danielle's worry was greater than anything else. It was essential no one said the wrong thing.

Danielle gave a quick nod to Ronnie as a tray full of roast potatoes was sent her way.

"Now Danielle, help yourself, there's no need to feel shy." Peggy lifted the tray which Danielle had passed back and persisted on placing a few more potatoes on Danielle's plate. This made her smile shyly and insist that she would take some more if she wanted.

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Half an hour later, Danielle was trying her best not to seem rude. She had been the first to finish, and truly felt that if anything else was to be forced down her throat, she would explode. Peggy however did not seem to realise this, and was adamant that Danielle at least have some more wine.

Roxy downed the remaining content of her drink before she spoke. "So Danielle, I bet your keen on hearing the most embarrassing stories about your mum right? Well Your aunty Rox has the entire series…

"Roxy!" Ronnie suspended the sentence, giving her sister a stern look. Roxy was used to this, but what surprised her more was Danielle's eyes firmly fixed on her wine glass.

Danielle didn't know what had come over her. She could fell herself getting angry against her will. Memories of her childhood suddenly filled her mind. It took everything she had to prevent tears descending from her cheeks.

These words: Aunty, Uncle, Mother, Father, they all stand for something. They represent respect. Danielle already had a mother, an aunty, a father; the people who she had grown up to value. The family who had turned up to every birthday, to every music recital, the people who had earned the esteem that came with those terms.

But now, the family sat before her expected the same level of respect at a click of their fingers. This family who she found herself having lunch with, they deserved none of it. They had insulted the very people closest to her heart. For them to have considered themselves worthy... If anyone deserved a single ounce of this respect, it was Ronnie. Miss V. Mitchell: The woman who had nourished her for the initial nine months of Danielle's being. The same person who had held her hand as she prepared to have an abortion…

"Danielle!" Roxy clicked her fingers at a dazed nineteen year-old.

At a click of their fingers.

"Wha… Oh sorry," Danielle quickly composed herself and looked around, reminding herself of her surroundings. Stacey had always teased Danielle on being a deep day-dreamer. Normally her mind was filled with thoughts of Ronnie, it was odd for Danielle to be thinking of her family back home. As they constantly say, it's always the people closest to you that you take for granted.

"Are you okay?" Ronnie was caringly stroking the girl's back. "Phil get her some water!" She turned her head and snapped at her cousin.

Danielle could feel all eyes on her. She felt so small, so childish. It was crucial she got away, "Yeah, um sorry I'm just gonna nip to the loo." She scraped her chair back and rushed to the public toilets.

As she locked herself into the furthest cubicle, she sat on the toilet seat and rummaged through her bag. Stacey's clutch bag was tiny, but Danielle always carried her most valuable items on her in some shape or form. She carefully pulled out her phone and scrolled through the gallery. Opening the images folder, she selected her favourite picture. It was a family picture of their trip to the Shropshire cycle track. Danielle studied the image of her mother and father, hand in hand as they held on to their bicycles. Danielle and Gareth were crouched in front of them.

"I love you mum," tears fell down her cheeks. She understood how stupid she had been. It was just Roxy, the spontaneous one, the thoughtless speaker. She hadn't meant any harm. A slip of the tongue, that's all. Ronnie knew Danielle wanted to take things slow. She had snapped back at Roxy the moment the words had echoed around the room. It was all down to what Danielle wanted. Ronnie had made that crystal clear. Roxy thought of herself as an aunty, well she would have to live up to the name. This was a life-long commitment, but Danielle now got the feeling that this family would welcome the prospect with open arms. Time was requisite, but the significant factor was that Danielle remained in control. She was not obliged to refer to Roxy as an aunty, or Ronnie as a mother. It was a fact they would have to live with… for now.

Danielle left the cubicle and tidied herself up before entering the heart of the building.

She gave Ronnie an encouraging smile to let her know she was okay, who returned the gesture with a sigh of relief.

"So Roxy, it's about time I had the upper-hand over this woman." Danielle patted Ronnie's thigh. It amazed her how things had changed over the past week. She never thought she could possibly feel so comfortable with Ronnie at her side.

"Yeah me too. I'm pretty fed-up with being bossed around in my own home. It's just not my thing really." Phil looked over to Danielle and chuckled.

"Well I'm afraid there's not much I can say at the dinner table without having to run from Aunty Peggy for the rest of my life..." Roxy was pleased to see Danielle smiling. The thought that she had offended the girl earlier had scared her half to death.

"…Although I'm sure there'll be plenty of time for it all." She winked at her niece, who giggled back when she saw Ronnie's sarcastic look.

It didn't take long for Danielle to see how reachable her dreams had been all along. But it was no good dwelling on the past. It was time to move on, to grab this chance of contentment. However, her stomach seemed to resent the feeling of being content as Peggy dropped a few more potatoes onto her plate.

A/N: Guys please review, (with a little more than "please update". Oh and sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been taking a break after my exams finished, but I'm hoping to get an update every day from now if I can.