next chapter, yay !
haha. again, thanks for all the reviews guys, i really appreciate them
ive decided to go with the once a week idea.. well, im going to TRY to get a new chapter up once a week anyway. but you only have to wait 6 days this time because, as you all will notice, today is not wednesday, its thursday. i went to go see transformers last night and didnt get back until around one this morning, so i couldnt finish the little bit of the chapter i had started.
anyway, enough of my blabbing, on with date night !

also, this chapter is dedicated to jude ! (: i hope you and your family feel better kiddo, youre in my prayers !

enjoy (:
--mtc.

Chapter 16

"Let me show you to your table."

"Bailey, sweetheart, what's going on?" Lindsay asked her daughter as the little girl grabbed both she and Danny by the hand and dragged them towards the table.

"I think you know," she replied, turning to face them and wiggling her eyebrows at them, causing them to giggle. She gestured at the kitchen table, urging them to sit.

"Come on, what can it hurt?" Danny asked as he pulled Lindsay's chair out for her. "Here you are madam," he said, playing along with Bailey's little game, causing the little girl's face to brighten with a warm smile. As he took his own seat, he admired the hard work his daughter had done in order to prepare for their "date". The table was expertly decorated, Finding Nemo paper plates and all. He and Lindsay shared a giggle at the plates and napkins that were covered with Bailey's favorite movie character, and how they completely clashed with the plastic champagne glasses she had set out next to it, but they both knew it was the thought that counted. The little girl stood in between their chairs, standing on tiptoes in her Tinkerbelle dress-up high heels, trying to appear taller than she actually was.

"Welcome to the Bailey and Flackie Café," she said proudly. "My name is Bailey. I will be your waistress tonight. Would you like to see a menu?"

They gazed at each other across the table, sharing a smile and trying not to laugh. "We would love to see a menu, thank you," Lindsay replied as she took the pink and blue menus from her daughter's hands, passing one to Danny and keeping the other for herself, stifling a laugh as she noticed that the "e" in menu was written backwards.

"Mmm, it all sounds so good, I don't know what to pick," Danny said overenthusiastically, receiving a laugh from Flack. "Pizza, pizza, and pizza. I don't know Linds, this is going to be a hard choice."

"Danny, it's only pizza, you don't get a choice," Bailey whispered into his ear trying to be inconspicuous. He could only smile and nod in response.

"Can I get you drinks first?" she asked them, returning to her "waistress" position.

"Sure, sounds good. What'll ya have, Linds?"

"Hmm, I think the wine sounds good," she played along.

"I'll be right back," Bailey replied excitedly, taking the glasses with her. They watched in silence as their daughter walked behind the kitchen counter, Don lifting her up so she was no perched on the linoleum, helping her pour the grape juice into the glasses, and spotting her as she carried them back to the table.

"Here you are," she said as she placed the glasses in front of them. "Do you know what you want to eat yet?" As she finished the question, her eyes darted to Danny, winking in response to his earlier observation that there was indeed only one item on the menu.

"Well, it was a tough decision munchkin, but I think we're gonna go with the pizza."

"Sounds good," she replied, taking the menus from their grasps. "It'll be about…" she glanced over her shoulder at Flack, pointing to the spot on her wrist where a watch would be.

"15 minutes kiddo," he whispered back.

"15 minutes. So you can talk if you wanna. Or not. You can just abmire each other's company."

They laughed silently between themselves, watching as she--with the assistance of Don once again--put the frozen pizza in the oven and set the timer. The lights had been dimmed, and two, deep red candles placed in the center of the table. The way her face caught the candle light, the way her eyes sparkled back at him, made him almost melt at her feet. She was absolutely beautiful.

"So, is everything okay here?" Bailey asked returning from the kitchen, hands placed on her hips.

"Mmm, delicious," Danny replied, taking an over exaggerated gulp from his "wine" glass, leaving a purple stain on his lips. The little girl scampered back into the kitchen where Don was standing and beckoned for him to bend down. Danny and Lindsay saw their friend glance over, smile, and then share a laugh with the little girl.

"What're they sayin'?" Danny asked as he saw that Lindsay was partaking in the laughter.

"Danny's gotta purple mustache," she singsonged as he stuck his tongue out at her. "Don't worry, I'll get rid of it as soon as we get rid of them," she whispered, her voice solely audible to him. He wiggled his eyebrows at her, causing her to giggle and blush in response. Almost as if on cue, the timer for the oven went off. Bailey jumped excitedly as Don covered his hands with oven mitts and pulled the pizza out of the oven. They made their way back towards the table, Bailey carrying a cooling rack and a pizza cutter while Flack carried the pizza, a stupid grin on his face like he was trying to hide his laughter. As soon as he placed the pizza in the middle of the table, they figured out why.

Somehow, someway, the conniving duo had carved the pizza into the shape of a heart. Danny and Lindsay didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or just stare at it in shock. They finally understood what this whole thing was about. She had set them up. Their four year old little girl had corrupted their schedules and taken their friend hostage for the day to set them up. It was cute, they had to admit, but where in the hell she had gotten the idea was still a hopeless mystery to them. Looking down, they saw their daughter was staring up at them wide-eyed, looking for approval, her eyes shifting from parent to parent waiting for an answer.

"It looks delicious honey," Lindsay finally said enthusiastically, cutting a triangle out for Danny first, and then herself, smiling as she saw her daughter's face light up at her appreciation.

"Definitely the tastiest lookin' pizza I've ever seen," Danny agreed smiling down at his little girl.

"Thanks! It's a heart. For loooove," she gushed as she wiggled her eyebrows at the pair, both trying to contain their giggles, as was Flack.

"Hey Bay, why don't we leave these two alone to enjoy their dinner in peace, huh? We'll go play a game in your room or somethin'," Flack said as he picked the little girl up and put her on his shoulders.

"Yeah, we'll leave you two alone," she said wiggling her eyebrows once again.

"Let's go monkey," Flack said with a laugh.

As soon as Flack and Bailey were out of the room, Danny and Lindsay erupted in laughter, tears flowing out of both of their eyes as they laughed excessively. Once they had calmed down, their eyes settled into each others as he reached across the table and grabbed her hand with his, stroking the back of her hand gently with his thumb. With his free hand, he reached across and tucked a loose curl behind her ear, causing her to blush.

"You're beautiful, ya know that?" This statement only made her blush more, but rather than looking away from him like she had previously, she smiled sweetly, causing his cheeks to turn red as well.

"Looks like we've been set up Messer."

"Yeah, looks like it. Why didn't you tell my our kid was this smart?"

She laughed. "I knew she was smart, but not witty enough to pull off a shindig like this."

"Well, I say since she was being so considerate, we take full advantage. Food looks edible. Looks like Flack was smart and bought the frozen kind," he said with a chuckle.

"I have a feeling if they would have tried to cook us a meal, it would either end up being Easy Mac or peanut butter and jelly."

"I'm not protestin', PB&J was my favorite when I was her age."

"Really now? I never pegged you as the PB&J type, Daniel Messer," she said with one eyebrow quirked.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me Montana."

He felt her foot slide to his own, and then slowly, she rubbed it up and down his leg, causing a chill to shoot through his spine. He smiled up at her as he admired her beauty; they way her curls shined in the candlelight, the twinkle in her eyes when she smiled, the softness of her skin when his palm touched hers. Everything about her was perfect. He scooted his chair closer into the table so he could be closer to her. He didn't care if the corner of the table was jutting into his gut, he just wanted to be with her. As they gazed into each others eyes, it was as if the rest of the room just melted away with the candle wax. They were the only two people in the world, and nothing would be able to ruin the moments they were sharing. They were so lost in each others eyes that they were completely oblivious to the other two people in the house. Flack and Bailey had silently crept down the hallway and were looking on as their date progressed.

"Uncle Flack, they're holding hands, they're holding hands!" she whispered excitedly. She covered her mouth with her hands to stifle her giggles as she looked up at her uncle who had his finger over is mouth, signaling that she should be quiet before they were caught. She nodded in response, and turned her attention back to her parents, both still sitting at the table with goofy lover smiles plastered on both of their faces. She grinned at Flack who was squatting down next to her, with the little girl partially seated on his knee.

"I think we should get back to our game, kiddo. I don't think they'd like us eavesdropping."

"Ebesdropping on what? They're not even talking, they're just staring at each other like Lady and the Tramp," she replied quite seriously. Her statement caused Flack to scoop her up in his arms and wisk her away down the hall in one swift motion, trying to stop himself from erupting in laughter, at least until they got back to her room.

They took their place back on the floor, returning to their game of CandyLand, which Flack was desperately losing. Bailey's green piece was far more ahead on the board than his yellow piece, and despite his countless attempts to fix the deck in his favor, he somehow always ended up pulling the Mr. Mint card, sending him virtually all the way back to the beginning of the game.

"So, whaddya say we put this game away and pick another one?" he asked hopefully.

"Uncle Flack, stop being such a sore loser," she replied, rolling her eyes in his direction.

"Fine, fine, but I'm just tellin' ya now, I let you beat me, end of story."

"Sure," she said with another roll of her eyes. "So do you think they're gonna get married?"

"Who?" he asked with a disappointed look as he pulled a purple card, only bringing him one square ahead of where he was previously.

"My mommy and Danny."

"I don't know kiddo, you've gotta give them time."

"How much more time? If we play another game, will that be enough time?"

"Not exactly Bay. It takes time to fall in love with someone and decide to get married. It's not just a spur of the moment decision, they've gotta get to know each other again, date a little more. You don't even know if they're gonna start a relationship after tonight. You've just gotta see how things play out."

"Oh, I know they're going to," she told him matter-of-factly. "Did you see them in there Uncle Flack? They love each other, trust me." The look on her face was complete seriousness, he tried not to laugh too loudly as she turned her attention to the deck of cards, slamming down the green card that brought her to the rainbow square at the end of the game.

"HA! I beat you!" she enthused, jumping up and sticking her tongue out at him.

"All right, all right, you beat me this time kid, but I promise you won't win this next game."

"Oh yeah? What game did you have in mind?"

He slowly edged towards her on his knees slyly, extending his arms as he shouted, "TICKLE FIGHT!", tickling the little girls belly and sending her into a rage of giggles.

"Uncle Flack, cut it out!" she screamed in between giggles.

"What was that Bay. I can't hear you?" he teased her as he continued attacking her.

"Please! I can't breathe!" she laughed as his hands tickled her belly.

As they continued their tickle fest down the hall from the kitchen, Danny and Lindsay were enjoying their date, but enjoying the company of one another more than anything.

"Hey, at least they didn't burn the pizza," Danny joked, taking his third slice off the pan.

"This is true," Lindsay replied in between her own bites. "Do you remember the night when we went over to Flack's and he tried to cook for us and Jess, but we ended up having to call the fire department because he started the microwave on fire?"

"How could I forget?" Danny laughed as he reminisced on the old days. "We ended up orderin' take out and you girls made us watch Grey's Anatomy."

"Don't even complain Messer, you enjoyed it," she laughed, shooting him a look.

"I only enjoyed starin' at Katherine Heigl for an hour. Chick's gotta bod," he said, trying to get a rise out of her and smirking when he did. "But she's got nothin' on you Montana. You can throw a million tall, lanky blondes at me, and you're the one I'd come runnin' back to every time."

She blushed in response to his words; she really didn't know what to say. It had been so long since they had really been together alone, despite the fact that their daughter and co-worker were in the next room, but given the circumstances, it was perfect. The food, the candle light, the man sitting across from her making her feel safe. It was all she needed. And to think that their daughter had been the mastermind behind the entire operation made it that much more special. She saw what they had between them and she wanted to give them the night together; that to Lindsay was more than she could ask for from anyone. She reached across the table and stroked his cheek lovingly, his skin so smooth to her touch. He reached up and took her hand in his own, kissing her fingers lightly.

"I love you," she whispered softly.

"I love you too," he replied with a sweet smile. "And I love our daughter, with all of my heart."

She returned his smile, and they continued staring into each other's gazes for a time, neither wanting to break the stare, neither wanting to break the moment. Eventually, Danny glanced at the watch on his wrist, noting that it was almost nine o'clock. They had been there for longer than they had expected, and they both knew that Bailey had to get to bed soon. He smiled up at her with a sad look in his eyes, like a child who's parents were making him leave Chuck E. Cheese's before he was ready to go, and Lindsay was the pinball machine they were going to have to tear him off of. He didn't want to go, he had more tokens to spend, and he would play until they were all used up; he wanted to try and score as many tickets as possible. When it came to Lindsay, his winning tickets were whenever she smiled, whenever she giggle at him in an almost child-like innocence, the smell of her sweet perfume that lingered on his clothing after they had spent the day together making him want to keep his clothes dirty for weeks on end rather than washing them. As much as they both wanted to sit at that table until the candles had melted past the wax, their night had to end. They both stood sadly, Lindsay calling down the hall for Flack and Bailey to come back into the kitchen.

"Is it safe to come in?" Flack asked, his eyes squinted and one of his hands over Bailey's as he carried the child down the hall.

"Shut up Don, it's not like you haven't seen it before," Danny joked as his friend opened his eyes and passed the little girl off to Danny, a yawn escaping her lips as she rubbed her eyes.

"All ready for bed I see?" he asked her as he noticed that she was already in her pajamas, a Barbie nightgown that night.

"Little one was gettin' tired but she wanted to say goodnight to mommy and Danny."

"I gotta take off kiddo, but I wanted to thank you for the amazing dinner. Who do I write the check out to?"

"You don't have to pay Danny, it was a pretend restaurant, remember?" she joked.

"Alright, how's about I pay with this?" he asked, kissing her cheek. "Or this?" kissing the other cheek, causing the little girl to giggle.

"I guess that works," she laughed in between his kisses.

"Good. Well, I'll see you later kiddo. Sleep well, and don't be afraid to call me for anything okay?"

"Night Danny, thanks for coming over. Sorry I lied about the tv being broken."

"Ahh it's okay, I got pizza out of it," he laughed.

"Alright kiddo, off to bed," Lindsay said, interrupting their kiss-fest. "Say goodnight to Uncle Donnie."

"Night Uncle Sore-Loser," she singsonged as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Night princess, I'll see ya later," he laughed as he placed a kiss to her forehead, tapping her back lightly as she scampered down the hall.

"I'll be in in a minute to tuck you in," Lindsay called down the hall. "Thanks for everything Don," she whispered as she pulled the man into a hug.

"No problem Linds. I hope you had a good time. I'll let you two say goodbye," he said wiggling his eyebrows at the pair. "See you back at home, Danno." He patted Danny on the back and exited the apartment.

They were now alone in the foyer, standing inches away from each other. He pulled her into a tight embrace, wrapping his strong arms around her as she wrapped her small arms around his waist. She laid her head into his chest, breathing in the scent of his cologne and simply enjoying the comfort of being in his arms. After a few moments of relaxing into one another's embrace, Danny placed a gentle kiss to her head.

"I had a really great time tonight," he whispered softly into her ear.

"Me too," she whispered back, placing a kiss to his chest.

"I'll see you at work tomorrow, 'kay?"

"Danny, you don't have to go, you can sleep here. I'm not kicking you out."

He smiled at her sadly and brought his hand up to her face, stroking her cheek gently.

"I know you're not, but I don't wanna confuse Bailey. Give her some time to get used to the idea. I don't wanna pressure you guys into anything." He placed another kiss to her forehead. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Not so fast cowboy," she said as he was about to leave. She pulled his face down to hers, his lips crashing onto her own as she pulled him closer in for a fiery kiss. They lingered there for a moment or two before he pulled away, a drunken gaze in his eyes as he tried to regain his balance again. She had literally sucked the breath right out of him.

"What was 'at for Montana?"

She gazed up at him seductively. "I said I'd get rid of that grape mustache, didn't I?"

He quirked an eyebrow before pulling her lips to his again, kissing her passionately as her hands wrapped behind his head, her fingers entwined in his short hair. His lips tasted so sweet against her own, the taste of the grape juice still lingering, causing her to laugh a little against his sweet kiss. He moved his lips from hers to her cheek, placing a lingering kiss on her soft skin before moving to her ear, as he somberly whispered, "I gotta go."

She smiled sadly but sweetly at him as he widened the gap between them, his arms nonetheless still clutching her arms.

"I'll text you, kay? Get some sleep Montana, I'll see you in the morning." He placed one last lingering kiss to her cheek, pulled her into a short hug and smiled as he walked out the door. She sighed as the door clicked shut, walking over to lock and deadbolt it before she tidied up the kitchen. Before she had even made it to the door, her pocket began to vibrate.

Eager much, Cowboy? She thought as she laughed to herself. Pulling out her phone, she smiled hugely, reading the name on display.

Text Message From Daddy :]

I love you Mommy :]

Sweet dreams, I'll call you in the morning.

Love,

Your Cowboy.

"Danny Messer, I never pictured you as the sentimental type," she said into the unresponsive night. She texted him back and shut the lights off in the kitchen, figuring she'd deal with the mess in the morning.

-----------

As he was about to hop back onto his Harley, Danny felt his pocket vibrating. Smiling, he reached for his phone, reading Text From Montana :], and smiling down at the screen.

I love you too, Cowboy :]

Looking forward to your call.

Montana.

He closed his phone, the picture of he, Lindsay, and Bailey smiling up at him from the background, rubbing his thumb across the picture and smiling beforereturning the device to his pocket. He started up his bike and rode off into the night, a goofy smile plastered across his face. When he got back to Flack's apartment, his friend was sitting on the couch in his pajamas watching the Yankees game, his head turning to face Danny as soon as the door had opened.

"Did you really wait up for me dad?" the blonde man joked as he draped his leather jacket across the back of the couch.

"So, did you have a good time?"

He could only smile in response as he took a seat next to his friend, propping his hands behind his head as he continued to smile up into the ceiling.

"I'll take that as a yes," Flack responded with a laugh, turning the volume on the television up. They watched the game in silence for a while before Danny began to speak.

"I love her Flack, heart and soul. She's all I'll ever need, I know it. Just looking into her eyes tonight made me realize I don't need anything else in life but her and our little girl."

"Danny Messer, are you turning into a Hallmark movie on me?" his friend joked. "Here, have a beer while I go find you something appropriate to watch."

Danny laughed as he grabbed a beer out of his friend's hand, chuckling as he switched the channel to MANSwers instead of the baseball game.

"Seriously Flack, I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"I know Danno I know. Just take it slow okay? I don't want you screwin' this up any more than you do."

He smiled in response as he turned back towards the television. Although his eyes were focused on the tv, his mind was focused on Lindsay and his little girl. He settled back into the leather couch as he began to reminisce on all the good times they had had over the past few months. His thoughts were interrupted by his friend's laughter. Turning his head, he chuckled.

"What?"

"Nothin'. You just look funny sittin' over there with that stupid smile on your face."

Danny laughed back at him. "You're just jealous," he replied, sticking his tongue out.

"How old are you Danno, five?" he chuckled.

"Whatever Don, she's my everything," he replied. "And I'm not gonna let her go this time."

-----------

Next Week, in Come Back to Me:

They made their way into the crime lab that way, hands intertwined, smiles present on both of their faces. They wanted people to know they were back together.

--

"Hey Monroe."

As Lindsay turned around, she realized who had been following her.

She was staring into the face of a very angry looking Cameron Burke.

This was not going to turn out well.

--

for the record, i felt like a complete idiot typing out "next week in cbtm" (: