Danielle stood looking up at Ronnie's flat, the May air hitting her face as Ronnie paid the taxi man and returned to her daughter, grasping her hand and giving her a gentle smile.

"Lets get you inside" Danielle looked at her mother's warm gentle smile, it now held so much warmth and comfort, dissolving the pain in which she had felt from her mothers words at the wedding, had now subsided although never forgotten and was now replaced by her mother's love.

Ronnie guided her daughter up the steps and into the front room of the flat, feeling a sense of relief to be bringing her baby home, Danielle had done so well earlier she thought to herself, it was such a tough situation and her baby held it together so well.

A wave of pride washed over Ronnie at the thought of her daughter's strength. She was everything Ronnie had ever hoped her daughter would become, she had such beauty, such strength and warmth and comfort radiated from her.

"Are you ok?" Danielle questioned feebly her, concerned by her mothers daze and silence. Ronnie couldn't help but smile, this was exactly what she loved about Danielle even through everything she was worried about her.

"of course, I am now come on sit down and I'll make you something to eat, I'm the one who is supposed to be worrying about you.." Ronnie stated slightly embarrassed at being caught out in her day dream, Ronnie turned to make her way toward the kitchen just as Danielle grabbed her hand pulling herself into her arms needing her mothers comfort. Such security was held in her mothers arms, this was everything she needed.

Ronnie's heart fluttered at her daughter's show of affection - this was everything she had dreamed of for 19 years.

___________________________________________________________________________

"Dan, this was on the bathroom floor" Ronnie stood in the living room doorway with Danielle's phone in her hand. She gestured it towards Danielle, who was absentmindedly playing with her food as she sat in front of the TV, she shook her head not wanting to accept it, frightful almost of the contact with the outside world.

Ronnie sighed, she had thought when they came back from the hospital that everything was going to be ok, but Danielle once again became distant and vacant.

"Stacey's being ringing you, she is probably worried about where you are" Ronnie looked at Danielle waiting for some sort of recognition at her words and seen Danielle flinch as she said it.

"why don't you give her a ring or text, I'm sure she is going out of her mind".

"she didn't care last night, why should she care now" Danielle stated bluntly, her daughters words shocked Ronnie, she sounded so cold. Although Ronnie was mad at Stacey for last night's events she couldn't really blame her, she blamed herself for letting the things get out of control with Danielle, she was her mother, she should have protected her but had once again let her down.

"Danielle don't say that, Stacey wasn't to blame, she is your best friend don't let this come between you" Ronnie advised her daughter as she sat on the edge of the sofa stroking her daughters face, mesmerised by the beauty held within her eyes.

"I don't need Stacey" Danielle stated in a mild roar, matter of factly, "all I need is right here"

Ronnie's heart melted at her daughters words, she knew she was in no position to think straight but it was everything Ronnie had ever wanted- her baby wanted her as much as she did.

"we are going to get through this sweetie, me and you together. It's us against the world" tears sprung to Danielle's eyes at the recognition of her mothers words, the thought of her best friend angered her, she had dumped her for a bloke, what sort of a friend did that, she wasn't there when she had needed her but Ronnie was, that was all Danielle needed was her mum and now she finally had her.