"Did you say exactly what I told you to?" Ronnie was patiently waiting in the café for Danielle, but her mood was quickly fading at Jack's cocky attitude being modulated over the phone, him knowing exactly what Ronnie was asking but adamantly playing dumb. The smell of burning bread crept up her nose, causing her to cringe.

"For goodness sake Ronnie, I told her to take as much time off as she needs," Ronnie heard a loud sigh transmitted to her end.

"And did you tell her that there was absolutely no rush?" Ronnie couldn't be like her father could she? He was evil, selfish and crazy. She on the other hand just had Danielle's best interest at heart, even if she did want Danielle back within days, she was putting her own needs aside… right?

"Look Ronnie you've conveniently decided not to come in today, I've got three deliveries and two desks full of paperwork. Danielle knows there's no pressure on this side, can you just drop it? She should be at the café any second so…"

"Jack she's here! Stop calling me for god's sake!" Ronnie slammed her phone onto the table and stood as Danielle walked in with a large rucksack.

Jack looked into the phone; eyes squinted trying as best to make sense of Ronnie's behaviour. 'Stop calling me?' According to caller ID, she had phoned him four times in the space of half an hour, whereas he had commenced only one call the entire day.

***

"Are you sure? I mean I understand but, I didn't think you'd be leaving so soon." Ronnie's attempt to suppress thoughts destined to motivate tears was starting to fail. She was convinced that the moment Danielle left Walford, she would never return. She took Danielle's hand in her own and placed the unified pair at the centre of the table. She watched as the younger woman's hand squirmed as Ronnie gently tickled her palm. "I'm gonna miss you."

Danielle looked down, broken that she was leaving behind the one person who had been the keenest at portraying their love, real or not, it made Danielle feel complete and satisfied. "I know, I'm sorry but Gareth won't be coming and I can't leave dad alone tomorrow, it's gonna be hard on all of us." Out of all the days, her brother had chosen tomorrow to fly to Spain. How could he have been so stupid?

Ronnie looked down to the table but still held Danielle's hand tightly. "I'm not gonna lie Danielle, I'd have you back yesterday if I could..." Ronnie was just swift enough at lifting her head to catch one of the cutest smiles on the girl across from her. "…but I want you to come back when you're ready okay?" Ronnie needed to know, directly or not, she was coming back right?

"Ronnie…" the smile faded, "I'm gonna tell Dad…I mean about you, well not you in that sense…" Danielle hastily corrected herself, not wanting Ronnie to feel she had been committed into something she hadn't intended on. "…But I'm going to tell him the truth on why I came to London…" She looked up to a very worried looking blonde who withdrew her hand from her daughter's.

"He's gonna hate me, he won't want you coming back here," Ronnie sighed. To think how she had treated her own girl. Rejecting her over and over again; Danielle had been the ultimate annoying puppy, forgetting all too quickly the consequences of reappearing at Ronnie's feet. Never again, never! She was not her father!

"I won't be giving him the ins and outs, it's not like he can stop me…" Danielle lowered her head to face Ronnie. Her heart was going to burst. The idea of Ronnie truly missing her, meaning that she wanted her, meaning that there was a chance, the chance to have a genuine life-long friend, the one who would always be there. Danielle wasn't expecting the world here, she knew Ronnie's 24-hour devotion would wear off in the coming weeks, but she was being everything Danielle had wished for: A very maternal, caring and loving presence; A person to lean on for support, to laugh with, to cry with, almost a motherly figure. "And anyway, can you imagine my reference if I left the club before even starting? I'm afraid you won't get rid of me that quickly, I'll be back…" Danielle smiled but Ronnie just stared, open-mouthed and in tears.

Get rid of her that quickly? Well Ronnie's attempts had been useless in the past, but now she wanted nothing more than her Danielle with her all the time. "You keep me informed on when you plan to get back okay? If you need anything just give me a call, whatever it is Danielle…"

***

"Rightl, train leaves in an hour, I better get going" Danielle lifted her bag and heaved it over her shoulder.

"Wait! I didn't get the chance to give you this yesterday" Ronnie furiously rummaged through her jacket pockets.

Danielle looked up to the clock. She remembered Ronnie having something for her. Not wanting to put pressure on an already aggravated Ronnie, Danielle decided to pay the bill so that they could make a swift exit when Ronnie was ready.

"Got it!" She smiled, pleased at herself as she stared at the little box in her hand. She presented Danielle with the small velvet coloured item.

"Ronnie you didn't have… Wow!" Danielle gasped at the blinding chain before her.

"I had it repaired. I hope you still want it, but… I mean I'd understand" Ronnie waited forbearingly as Danielle lifted her locket out of its box.

"I'd forgotten all about it! Of course I still want it, it's mine!" Danielle opened it up and took a peak inside. She'd seen the picture a million times, but today it seemed so different. She felt like a child gifted with a new toy.

'It's mine.' Few simple words meaning an awful lot to Ronnie, she gently requested permission to place the locket around Danielle's neck. Danielle nodded and was gratified as the cold metal drastically transported heat away from her skin.

Her eyes drifted to the clock again.

"Oh shit!"

***

"Excuse me! Sorry!" Danielle spun her head around to give an apologetic smile to Phil whom she had nearly knocked over. She and Ronnie were sprinting to the tube station, hand-in-hand causing passers by to hastily move out their way. "Sorry!" Danielle drastically released Ronnie's hand so that their arms didn't collide with Bradley's head.

As they reached Walford tube station, Danielle rushed to the barriers. She had 50 minutes to get onto her train with a tube taking 45 minutes to get to King's cross with no delays. Danielle regretfully rushed her goodbyes.

Danielle took one final look before disappearing around the corner.

"I love you," Ronnie yelled, knowing that Danielle had heard her.