A/N: Special thanks to Adia Rose who really helped me in seeing where I went wrong in my last chapter. I sort of try to fix it here but to little avail. Thanks for all the great reviews guys, constructive and really helpful!
I'll be the one to tell everyone I'm gone
I've fallen in
To a place I can begin to understand.
I'm just happy you're here to hold my hand
Danielle heaved her bag through the tube doors. She took a good look around, relieved to have finally reached London. A five hour journey was more than enough to stress out the best of people. It hadn't been the easiest of trips and more than once she'd found herself debating whether she'd made the right decision. It was weird how much she was missing her dad already. As soon as she'd lost sight of him at Telford Central, she knew she was alone. Again, she depended on her. There wasn't anyone else on the planet that could make her feel safe, welcomed, and worry-free. Sure, she had Stacey, Charlie and maybe even Ronnie, but it wasn't the same. There was nothing like being wrapped around her father's arms, or stepping over the threshold of number 24, home sweet home. Back in London, one responsibility after another called her name.
Danielle looked up with a dirty look set upon her face as a large man in a checked red and white shirt slammed into her shoulder. He hadn't even had the decency to apologise for his inconsiderate stride. The collision had sent her arm flying backwards along with her bag, which ended up punching the leg of the woman directly behind her. Danielle instinctively spun around to apologise, but the woman just snarled and hurriedly walked past. Arriving at what had been dubbed 'rush hour' was not the best way to relieve herself from the tight confinement of the tube into Walford, but Danielle did her best to ignore the ignorant occupants of the capital. She just wanted to get to Stacey's, have a long bath and then maybe head to the pub to get a glimpse of Ronnie. Not knowing what she would be faced with was horrible, but if Ronnie's text message had been something to go by then Danielle was quite excited at the thought of being fussed around. It made her feel wanted and somewhat important, something she'd missed whilst away from home.
All I want to do is stand close to you
Be by your side
All I want to do is make the world revolve
Around you and I
What I would give up
What I would go through
To get it right
All I want to do in this lifetime is make you mine
All I want to do in this lifetime is make you mine
Danielle sighed as she reached the top of a very steep set of stairs. Within the small gaps between the vast amounts of hustling people, she had her first sighting of daylight for what had seemed an eternity. The comparatively short girl awkwardly weaved in and out of the mechanically moving Londoners, hoping to catch Stacey before she packed up for the day. Just before she rounded the corner, Danielle stopped, causing one man to collide directly with her and many people to push past and make their annoyance very audible. Danielle raised herself on tiptoes. Was that…
It was. Ronnie was standing a few feet away, head cranked and trying her best to scan every face emerging from the station. She checked her watch again before pulling out a mobile phone from her purse. She sighed heavily at the lack of messages prior to returning her gaze to the never-ending wake of people going about their routinely lives.
Danielle took a few steps back and leant against the far wall. Ronnie was looking ever so elegant, sophisticated and beautiful. Clearly dressed for work, her dark trousers, white blouse and matching jacket guaranteed she was to be taken seriously. She resembled the Ronnie which Danielle was more used to passing in the street, risking awkward glances towards her and trying to win her approval. Danielle hadn't seen the dressed-for-business woman in over two weeks, a lady who had seemed to not have time for anyone else, but Danielle shouldn't have anything to fear… hopefully.
The young blonde held back for a few more minutes despite Ronnie's visibly diminishing patience. It was quite touching to Danielle how Ronnie had spent – by the looks of it – a considerate amount of time waiting at the tube station.
Just as Danielle was prepared to face the moment of truth – what side of Ronnie was she to be faced with? – She noticed the woman of her dreams turn to face a well built man, clearly shorter than his associate. On closer look, Danielle noticed Ricky Butcher being handed an envelope by Ronnie, looking around and then walking away. Ronnie also took a fleeting look around, in the process making a mockery of Danielle's attempts to go unnoticed.
"Danielle!" She grabbed her purse and ran towards her daughter with open arms.
My secret's out
It's been hidden in my heart
That's over now
I want everyone to know I found it all
You're the everything I've never had
And baby I got it bad
The next few minutes passed in a haze for the young girl. All she could remember was hearing her heart beating in her ears and being overwhelmed with happiness and relief. Danielle didn't mind that slight burning and aching sensation running through her abdomen as Ronnie literally squashed her and lifted her off her feet. "God I didn't think you were coming back!" Ronnie showed no sign of releasing the returning resident of Albert Square.
"I told you I left on the 12'O'clock train, where else was I gonna go?" She inhaled the strong perfume subtly lingering from Ronnie's neck, a new found confidence in her voice.
"I missed you so much. You young lady are never leaving my side again, you hear!" Ronnie spun from left to right with Danielle tightly moulded into here. They were attracting a little attention as Ronnie led the couple in their spinning. "How 'bout we head to the Vic?"
Danielle sighed. She didn't want to ruin the moment, but… "I should really go see Stacey and I could do with a shower."
Ronnie released her captor and sighed. "Yeah of course, sorry…maybe later?"
It was painful to see disappointment gradually consume Ronnie's face. A face Danielle knew she never wanted to see again. "Okay, well how 'bout a quick drink?"
***
And it's far too hard to see (to see)
What the future will be
Everywhere I go (everywhere I go)
Everywhere I go now you're with me
Ronnie kept a tight hand on her daughter's as they made their way over to the pub. She had insisted on carrying Danielle's bag after the girl had described the draining journey she'd endured, her story clearly not exaggerated as the shy, well mannered girl had not objected to the offer. "So… How's your dad?" It was a conversation which both knew would come up, but for Ronnie, she needed to know where she stood. One thing was certain. The only thing going to stop her from interacting with her daughter was if Danielle requested so.
"He's… coping I guess. I…" Danielle sighed heavily. She looked to Ronnie and nearly lost herself in the woman's wide, loving eyes. After so long, here was Ronnie Mitchell giving a damn. "I left for London at the wrong time. It was too soon and I should have known."
Ronnie wanted to tell Danielle it was wrong to think like that, but then what right did she have to interfere? She had no idea what had been said between father and daughter. It was the not knowing which angered Ronnie the most. Were these Danielle's words or words which had been put in her mouth?
The shorter of the duo suddenly stopped and turned to the woman burdened with her luggage. She didn't know where her words came from, but all the thinking her brain had insisted on during the bromidic journey was now taking its toll. She just had to let it out, regardless of who the conversation took place with. "Have you ever answered a question kind of truthfully but knowing that you yourself don't know the actual answer?"
Ronnie tried to take in Danielle's confused expression, bizarre question and cute being all at once. This girl effortlessly melted Ronnie's heart, it was amazing. "Um… I don't know Danielle. What do you mean?" she asked, trying her best to help her daughter when she noticeably hinted things with Andy had not gone as well as they'd wanted.
Danielle hoped she was not taking the warm and joyful welcome to the pits. "It's just something Dad said." She smiled, and swung Ronnie's arm with her own. "Never mind…"
"No! Dani if you wanna talk, we can." Ronnie cupped the shorter girl's cheek and forced her to make eye contact.
Her hand felt so warm, soft and comforting. Danielle put her own hand on top of Ronnie's, firstly to make sure it was for real, secondly to guarantee it didn't leave. The truth was, Danielle was looking for much more than just answers. The difficulties arose when she realised she didn't know what the subjects of this cross-country search were, so how could she even begin to describe them to anyone else? "Are we still going with the one-day-at-a-time thing yeah?" Such a hopeful, almost pleading voice, it broke Ronnie's heart. As long as everything was on her terms, if she was happy with the pace, then surely the answers would come. Danielle had to trust that she would find what she wanted in time, whether or not she knew what that was.
Ronnie smiled. "Of course we are honey, have I done something wrong?" The seed of ill-temper needed answers to suppress it before growing into something much greater. Her girl had left so alive and happy, and to look at her now… It was harrowing to see Danielle start to fall apart. She was totally lost and all Ronnie wanted to do was shake the fellow blonde and hand her the map.
Danielle smiled, quickly assuring Ronnie in fear of her starting to back away. As a feeble attempt to prevent this, the fatigued blonde pressed Ronnie's hand even tighter onto her cheek. "No. Just one day at a time yeah?" Her puppy-dog eyes returned and Ronnie was quick at answering. "Yes, 'course darling. We'll take it at your pace, I promise."
The two blondes were rudely interrupted by the booming voice of a brunette.
"Oi! You tart are fired!" Stacey Slater was walking up to them with two full bags of repeatedly-unsold stock, pointing at Danielle and placing emphasis on the offensive description by taking a pause before uttering it.
Ronnie wasn't sure if it were wise for her to step in, already struggling not to. She looked to Danielle but was a little hard to read. She seemed puzzled more than horrified, was that a smile even?
Just as Stacey took the last few steps towards the tender-loving pair, Danielle released a whisper of a giggle. "Hello boss, nice to see you too!"
Stacey wasn't moved. "I don't know what's so funny Dan. You didn't fill out a holiday form before you left. I'm trying to run an internationally-renowned, multi-billion business here and I ain't got time for people who think they're above my holiday form, you hear!?"
Ronnie didn't know what to make of the situation. Stacey hadn't even acknowledged her presence.
Danielle put on her most pensive face. "Umm, Stace? You don't have a holiday form for me to fill." It was proving difficult to suppress the laughter dieing to break out.
Stacey couldn't help but laugh on the inside as she watched Ronnie Mitchell of all people bite her tongue. It was clear the baffled woman was ready to pounce on anyone who confronted the girl by her side. It made Stacey go green; She wasn't jealous, but the idea sure made her want to puke. She looked Danielle in the eye for over twenty seconds before letting her head fall. "Ah, these puny technicalities…" She tutted and shook her head, placing two fingers on her cheek and a thumb under her chin, faking a moment of deep concentration. Both girls burst out laughing. Stacey dropped her bags and opened her arms widely, executing a come-hither motion with both hands and rolling her eyes.
Danielle bounced into Stacey, almost knocking them both over which only fuelled their giggles.
***
"Stace, we're heading to the Vic for a drink, you wanna come?" Danielle was desperate to have Ronnie all to herself, but only now had she actually discovered how much she'd missed Stacey the past few days. It'd only been three days, but at the lack of her female companion, Danielle's daily dose of laughter had gone a miss. Stacey always knew what her best friend needed.
The brunette looked from Ronnie - who gave a gentle smile, - to Danielle and then back to Ronnie. She looked warmly to her friend, 'It's for Dan…' she convinced herself.
"Na Dan, stall aint gonna pack itself is it?" She raised an eyebrow, again having a playful dig at Danielle's time off. "You two have one on me though." She eyed Ronnie for a while and held eye contact. Stacey had no intention of breaking it first, forcing Ronnie to look away as Danielle started to walk towards the pub.
(Make you mine)
(All I want to do is stand close to you)
(Make you mine)
(All I want to do is stand close to you)
It was a sunny day, the pattering of the trees indicating a refreshing breeze which Danielle much appreciated after hours of being cooped up in a small cabin.
"So, what have you been up to then?" The daily life of Veronica Mitchell had always been of great interest to the young girl, but only now did she feel she had the right, as well as the confidence to ask.
Ronnie smiled and bowed her head to hide her embarrassment. "I worked up a load of miles on my bike." She sighed and became very playful with Danielle's hand. It was proving a little difficult to open up to the girl, but Ronnie knew she wanted to do it. "I missed you Dani, riding just seemed to pass the time. There's no feeling like being on that bike."
There it was again; the bubbly, fluttering feeling of Ronnie's warm and loving words. The addictive drug being affection only made Danielle wish she'd revealed herself earlier.
Unexpected by her associate, Ronnie steered them towards the back entrance. Little things like this meant a lot to Danielle. It was completely stupid but they were hints of acceptance and her heart cherished these moments.
Entering the pub, Danielle's nostrils were overcome with the scent of liquor. The warmth of the room and lingering scent of alcohol unique to a pub made her smile. Looking ahead of her, Danielle could make out the figure of Tracey behind the bar and by the sight of her actions, it couldn't have been a very busy shift. "Come on, Ben and Auntie Peg have been baking cookies all afternoon."
Danielle just about managed to stay on her feet as Ronnie excitedly took to the stairs, somehow forgetting their hands were linked.
The upper floor of this beloved building was active with noise. The smell of home-baking was miraculous and Danielle found herself standing behind her towering companion like a shy but excited little girl.
Her shelter was not long useful. "Danielle love," Peggy turned around and embraced the newest arrival. "Oh darling it's good to have you back."
"Thanks…" Danielle nervously murmured, barely managing to escape Peggy's hold.
"Hi Danielle!" Ben popped into view, speaking in his monotonous bold voice.
Danielle turned towards her right and smiled. "Hey Ben, how's the violin practise going?" She made room for Peggy to pass who had suddenly began cursing at the light puffs of smoke emerging from the oven.
Before anyone else could get a word in edgeways, Phil barged into the room. "Right, the jets in the shower are finally ready to use so if…" So many blonde women around here it was hard to keep count. "Oh Danielle, you back then."
It was time for Danielle's timid side to shine. Phil had a way of sucking out the welcoming atmosphere. Nothing seemed to shake him; he just took things on as they came, as if life was nothing more but a series of events.
Danielle had no time to give a well mannered answer before Ronnie jumped in. "Hey Danielle why don't you have a shower here? Those jets are amazing!"
It was a thoughtful gesture, but the recipient's face filled with horror at such a direct question. There was a hidden pledge within Danielle's voice. "Oh no Ronnie I should be getting…"
It was no use. Again Danielle found herself being almost dragged around the Mitchell hub. "It's the perfect way to relax. You must have some clean clothes in here right?" The 'mother-tells-child-to-bathe' procedure was being executed for the first time in this relationship; Ronnie was in a world of her own, pulling out various bath towels from a range of wardrobes and piling a diverse mix of bottles from her pamper kit all into Danielle's little hands. The girl could barely see where she was going, but Ronnie lovingly assisted her by shoving her into the bathroom. "Enjoy!"
Na na na na, na na na na na, Yeah
Na na na na, na na na na na, Make you mine
Na na na na, na na na na na, Yeah
Na na na na, na na na na na, Make you mine
Na na na na, na na na na na, Yeah
Na na na na, na na na na na, Make you mine
Na na na na, na na na na na, Yeah
Na na na na, na na na na na, Hey hey
Na na na na, na na na na na, Yeah (make you mine)
Danielle trod carefully within the bathroom. The plumping may have been finished, but the clean-up hadn't even begun. The tiled floor was sowed with various colours of plastic from the walls and the distinct smell of bath seal lingered around the warm bathroom.
Danielle placed her towel on a rail and her clothes on a nearby shelf. She tried to clear as much of the mess as she could before stepping her naked body into the shower cubicle. It was an amazing feeling as every muscle in her upper body began to relax. Ronnie's shower kit incorporated the biggest brand names which all claimed to assist in tranquilising, therapeutic for body and soul. Danielle was cautious as to not use too much, or to let the jets spray water around the newly sealed tiles. It was magical to think this was only the beginning to her new life. As the last remaining suds washed away any remaining apprehension, Danielle stopped the shower and stepped out onto the mat. She could just make out the muffled sounds of Peggy and Ronnie having a carefree giggle in the kitchen. Who would have thought Ronnie Mitchell could be so… normal.
***
"Oh Danielle you're out." Ronnie had now changed out of her work clothes and was dressed in a skinny pair of jeans which emphasised the curves of her legs. A yellow flowery top accompanied these to yet again provide her with the most stunning essence with minimal effort. Danielle wondered, from waiting for her at the tube station most of the day to now waiting on her hand'n'foot, had Ronnie actually stepped into the office today? It was a question she had no time to ask.
"Come on we've got 'bout half an hour before the sun sets." Ronnie smiled at Danielle's bemused expression. Taking the girl's hand was becoming second nature to Ronnie. She wasn't sure if Danielle was up for yet another journey, but she knew that if they made it in time, it would defiantly be worth it. "Come on I'll explain on the way!" She was a typically persistent woman who once again found herself yanking her daughter's arm.
"Wait, Ronnie!" The woman showed no sign of stopping, causing Danielle to laugh. "Ronnie!" She managed to bellow between giggles just before they took to descending the stairs.
"What?" She replied sheepishly with a smile smeared across her soft, loving face.
"Am I gonna need my shoes?" There was no escape from this tow-truck, so Danielle decided to make the most of Ronnie's colourful outbursts
"Oh yeah, good idea!" Both of them burst out laughing again. Danielle promised the dominant woman she would meet her outside after finding decent foot-wear.
***
Danielle stepped out into the gloomy alleyway. The sun was cooler but still producing warm shades of red across the horizon. Taking quick strides towards the gate, Danielle wondered what Ronnie could possibly need to do before the sun set. Her curiosity soon turned to presage.
Ronnie was leaning on a very intimidating looking machine. One which she described as the best means of travel.
"There you are, common, we're not gonna make it in time…" The fear in her daughter's eyes made Ronnie instinctively realise it may have sounded as if she was blaming Danielle for the lack of time, but it soon became clear that this was not at the heart of her baby's apprehension.
"Uhh… Ronnie!" She backed away a little, trying her best not too sound scared.
Ronnie gave a reassuring smile. "Danielle it's fine, it's completely safe, I promise you." She reached out a hand and took a few steps forward.
Danielle looked up and down at the motorbike, taking fearful note of Ronnie's loving but adamant tone. She giggled nervously at Ronnie's suggestion. "No seriously Ronnie, I'm no good on those things. I can barley balance a bicycle!"
The more confident of the two took a helmet from the handlebar and held it out at arms length. "I do all the balancing Dan. You just have to trust me." She took another few steps forward.
Danielle looked Ronnie straight in the eye, attempting to put the situation into perspective, but all she found was love and concern. It was hard to believe how a few weeks ago she'd wanted to show Ronnie how brave she was; funny how that need to display courage instantly disappeared. She gave another little smile, attempting to add humour to the predicament as to not offend the bearer of this outrageous invitation. "Ronnie I'm serious, me and a two-wheeler? Complete hazard."
Ronnie's eyes showed no hurt, nor any frustration. She seemed not to have registered Danielle's last comment. Instead she smiled softly, not daring to break eye-contact with her fallen angel. "Danielle? You do trust me?" Her smile didn't fade despite Danielle's delayed response.
"Ah… What? No Ronnie I'm being serious, I've never been on the back of one of…" She fidgeted nervously with the hem of her top.
Ronnie's voice remained delicate and relaxed as she interrupted. She stretched her arm further to bring Danielle's attention to the helmet hanging from its edge. It wasn't a trick question. "Do you trust me?"
Danielle stared, wide-eyed at Ronnie. There was no escape from such a simple question, but an honest answer could only be found deep within.
A/N: Ronnie and Ricky?? I wonder what's in that envelope. (well not really 'coz I already know)! Thanks for all your reviews, keep them coming. Is this chapter below par? I'm not sure what I make of it yet. BTW, do people mind the lyrics between text?