A/N: Hey guys, would have had this up earlier but fanfic wasn't working. No R&D in this chapter, (please don't hate me!), but I wanted to get Andy involved with this story. In reality, the abortion would be occupying a large part of Danielle's mind, but in this story, Andy doesn't know about it (as Ronnie didn't contact him) and to be honest, I just want to avoid the whole topic. It seems horrible for me to make it look like Dani's forgotten, but tough, lol! Also, if you want to know what the really subtle inconsistency was, let me know and I will PM you.
I dedicate this chapter to charlotte93 who found out what the mistake was but hasn't actually realised it yet, lol! Basically your second idea is what I was talking about. Thanks for really going for it though. Oh dear, I've babbled, here's the update!
A short, young, blonde woman stood outside an inviting, decent sized, semi-detached family home. The healthy looking green lawn was bordered with an array of alluring flowers, some blossoming, others just budding. A tarmac driveway towards the right was currently occupied by a squarely parked Toyota Corolla. She casually knocked twice on the front door of number 24.
"Dad!" Danielle jumped across the threshold as the door opened and propelled herself into her father's arms.
"Dear god…" It took somewhat of an effort for Andy to prevent himself falling over as this girl suffocated him. "Danielle sweetie, daddy needs to breathe." He chuckled, patting the blonde's back and gently pulling her away although just as ecstatic to see his daughter.
"I've missed you so much," a beaming girl clung to her father's arm as they delved further into the family home.
"Place aint changed much has it," Danielle took a brief exploration of the home she had grown up in, being very observant and trying to spot any barefaced modifications.
Andy leaned against the worktop in the kitchen and lowered his head. "Well, since your mother died, well… I dunno Dani, can't seem to see the point anymore…"
"Come on Dad, you gotta look after yourself." Danielle moved over to fill the kettle with fresh water. The guilt slowly building - although expected – still caused Danielle to feel a little awkward around her father. She knew he felt abandoned, her and her brother not visiting him as often as they should when the commotion of human presence was vital at fighting the isolated atmosphere within the large house. "I'm sorry Dad. I know I've not been very supportive…"
She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I'd stare too long
I'd probably break down and cry
Andy cut his daughter off. He'd promised himself to not be dragged down by his deceiving anger towards his children. Deep down, he knew it wasn't their fault. "Oh Dani, you've got your life to live my love. You're young, finding your feet. I'm proud of you."
Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine
He stopped Danielle from placing a teabag into her mug, substituting it for three scoops of instant hot-chocolate powder. Loosing her to adulthood was inevitable, but she was still his little baby girl. 'Tea is for grown ups,' he could still remember the day she spent stropping because Lizzie was drinking tea and Danielle wasn't. The Jones' had always tried to stomp Danielle's fears, but Andy saw right through the girl. The look in her eye, the nervous smiles, always wanting to eat what the rest of the family ate, the same as what they drank, trying her best to fit in. It was painful to see day-in day-out how her adoption constantly clouded her judgement as she grew up. Andy always regretted revealing the truth until Danielle was much older, but at the time Lizzie insisted it was the right thing to do. His eyes drifted down to just below the blonde's chin. On her neck rested the one object Andy believed was responsible for her obscured thoughts, the one and only prompt denying her a normal life.
"At least you still phone me Dani, I've not heard from your brother in weeks." He waited for Danielle to finish pouring the boiling water into the cups before standing up straight and grasping each of Danielle's shoulders at arms length, so that they now directly bordered each other. He scanned every inch of Danielle's physiognomy before settling on her eyes. "Look at you Dani, my baby, all grown up now eh."
"Oh Dad! Danielle smiled and squirmed away. "You promised you wouldn't be like this!"
Andy laughed and busied himself with the stirring required to prevent the chocolate from lumping. "You're my little tiger, I can't help it. A father has every right to be proud of his children." He turned around to face the girl. "I am proud of you girl. You've moved away and certainly grown up…"
Father and daughter embraced each other in a less suffocating, but much more emotionally evoked hug.
***
Andy was a well built, average heightened man. He had clean, tidy white hair and was dressed in a pair of dark jeans to which was tucked in a sky-blue shirt. His facial features were distinguishable, an easy to recognise man if you ever passed him twice. He had a broad nose, deep blue eyes - concealed to some extent by his spectacles.
"Do you wanna go see some of your friends Dan? Kayla's always asking after you when I pass her in the street." Andy's arm was starting to numb after two hours of Danielle's upper body leaning on it, but he insisted she keep it there.
"Na, I rather keep my head low this time. I'm spending some time with Mr Daddy aint I eh? I'll go see them next time Dad, I'm gonna be visiting much more often now."
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by
Andy kissed his daughter's velvety blonde hair prior to her speaking again
"Look dad I can't stay for too long this time. I've left at short notice and I've just started a new job." Her mind briefly pondered on Ronnie, but her shame at the thought whilst literally leaning on her father quickly pulled her out of the hole she was digging. Speaking with squinted eyes, "It was really cheeky of me actually."
Andy watched as Danielle drifted in and out of sleep. "You tired love?"
"Hmm," Danielle lazily answered, "Wasn't the best of journeys to be honest, very…" Danielle bolted up, "Oh shit!" She found herself doing these spontaneous jumps far too often these days.
A baffled father looked on, slightly amused at his daughter's cuteness as she franticly searched for something in her pockets. Since when did she curse like that?
Danielle lifted her mobile phone out of her jeans pocket. It wasn't that she feared Ronnie's manner, but more the fact she knew she'd be worried. It was nice to firmly know that Ronnie did care. Danielle smiled as an unread text message reassured her of this. She replied back, apologising for the late comeback and letting her know that she was okay.
"Who was that love, obviously someone important eh?" Andy nudged Danielle causing her to giggle. His insinuation was pointless.
Danielle put on a very posh, British accent. "For your information father, it was… well it was a lady friend… A very good friend." Well she wasn't technically lying right; she was going to tell him when the time was right.
"Whatever rocks your boat honey, I'll always love you!" Andy patted Danielle's thigh twice, his implication a playful one.
"Oi!" she exclaimed in a high-pitch, playful voice. She moved her father's arm to a position more suited to her sleepy head as a punishment.
Andy stroked Danielle's hair, although her jumpy action a moment ago seemed to have vivified her. "Shall we go visit mum tomorrow eh?"
Danielle sighed and replied carefully. "I've got a lot to talk to her about…"
Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Sweet child o' mine
***
Danielle heaved her bag up the stairs to retire for the night and took a good look around the landing. This place truly felt like home in spite of being incomplete. Suddenly all the pressure of being independent, somewhat alone and away from her humdrum life had been lifted. For tonight she had much less to worry about, but greater deals to think.
A damsel's face peaked into the bedroom and smiled. She walked in, dropped her bag and practically fell onto the bed as she let her legs give way. Andy had maintained her quarters quite well. The room showcased minimal dust, clean sheets, roses redolent by the window and neatly seated teddy-bears leaning against the pillow, keeping the bed warm for her.
Danielle had stubbornly ensured that her room remained coloured in its baby-blue pigment, even after the rest of the house had been repainted. The ceiling was scattered with stickers, ranging from Disney characters, to musical notes. The most thought provoking object Danielle's eyes met was a large photo dominating the far wall of a joyful woman, an image which Danielle had insisted on having blown-up a week after Lizzie's funeral. It was one of the girl's favourite photographs. The memorable scene was reproduced in warm shades of yellow, orange and red. It focused on a middle-aged woman sat on a rocking chair. She had one leg on the floor and the other tucked to her chest. Her right elbow rested parallel to her knee, allowing her hand to support her head which was tilted charmingly to the left, causing one's eyes to automatically glare at her infectious smile. Her mother was absolutely beautiful. The yellows and oranges darkened towards the focal point and drastically turned to a mysterious oak colour to represent the chair. Lizzie was glowing in this picture; she brightened up Danielle's room…her life…
Danielle nervously approached the magnificent piece, lifting her arm before her as she walked. Satisfied with the distance, the girl's hand hovered over Lizzie's exaggerated face for a few seconds. The extended limb then slowly drifted forwards to make contact with the image, her index finger brushing over the unique shaping of her mother's features.
"Long time no see eh?" She whispered, a single tear strolling down her cheek.
A/N: Review please; let me know if you've given up on finding the minute inconsistency.
BTW, I was thinking of adding one more chapter to my latest oneshot, 'You've Killed Me, But Here I Am' Anyone think it's a good idea? (Dani isn't a very nice girl in it though…)