Chapter 24:- The Mitchell Attitude

A couple of hours later Ronnie and Danielle were sat at a small table in the corner of the Vic each slowly sipping Vodka and Coke, Roxy had demanded they had a "proper" drink to celebrate Danielle's return into their lives, which of course Ronnie couldn't object to, it needed celebrating, Danielle was all Ronnie ever wanted and now she had her.

Ronnie watched Danielle's eyes flicker from person to person as she slowly took a sip from her glass. "You know were being watched don't you?" Danielle said giggling slightly. "I know, looks like were definitely are the topic of the day, we can go if it bothers you" Ronnie suggested smiling. Danielle smiled over at Ronnie, connecting her own hazel eyes with Ronnie's sparkling blue "No, no I'm fine. It's quite funny actually" Danielle said letting out another giggle, turning her eyes back to the others that watched them. "Right" Ronnie said now beginning to laugh. Danielle edged closer to Ronnie, she removed her gaze from the surrounding area and focused on Ronnie. Ronnie smiled realising Danielle was watching her, just at that moment a piece of Danielle's hair fell loosely infront of her face, straight away Ronnie's hand flew up and tucked it neatly behind Danielle's ear, Danielle smiled and looked away at all the shocked faces in the Vic. Sending Danielle into fits of laughter "did you see their faces? Priceless!" Danielle spluttered between laughs. Ronnie let out a little giggle as she watched Danielle laughing, she looked so happy. Ronnie looked at the bar where Roxy stood laughing too, taking a glance around the Vic Ronnie noticed that now almost everyone's eyes were on them.

Danielle was still laughing, clutching her stomach, it was now hurting to laugh, but she couldn't stop. Just then Jack walked over and sat down on the stool opposite Ronnie and Danielle. "Hey Ron, Danielle" Jack said looking at Ronnie, everything about her was perfect in his eyes, he still found himself some nights dreaming about her. He still loved her and he knew deep down, hidden away somewhere there was still love for him too. Ronnie smiled at him and spoke "Hi Jack, Danielle here is away with the hyena's at the moment" Ronnie giggled watching Danielle try to calm her laughs, which was proving unsuccessful at the minute, but she reached up and gave Jack a little wave anyway to show that she was listening, then nudged Ronnie with the same hand. "Hey!" Ronnie exclaimed nudging Danielle back gently.

Jack watched watched as the pair giggled between each other, he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Ronnie so happy, she was even more beautiful when she smiled. "Anyway... Ron, I need you to come to the club tomorrow, there's a heap of stuff that could do with your autograph" Jack said flashing her a dazzling smile, Ronnie smiled back widely "Right yes, I was only there yesterday, but I was going to come in anyway as Danielle's working, so I was going to come and check the place hadn't fallen apart without me" Ronnie replied watching Jack loosen up his tie.

Danielle stood up after finally catching her breath from laughing continuously for the past ten minutes, "right...erm...I'll leave you two to it, same again Ronnie?" Danielle spoke gently picking up the two now empty glasses from the table. "Yes please, sweetie" Ronnie nodded watching Danielle smile and turn to face Jack "Jack?" she asked. "No thanks Danielle, I'm going in a minute" Jack said looking up at Danielle, she was the spit of Ronnie. Danielle nodded and turned round walking off to the bar.

"So how's it going Ron?" Jack asked nervously watching Ronnie as her eyes followed Danielle across the room. Ronnie looked up at Jack and smiled brightly "Brilliant. I'm still in shock, I just can't believe she's mine" Ronnie said a hint of excitement in her voice. Jack smiled "I'm happy for you Ron, you deserve to be happy" he explained locking eyes with Ronnie "Thanks Jack" Ronnie replied, without even realising she began to fidget with the locket around her neck. "Anyway Ron, better get back to the club" Jack stated breaking eye contact to get up "I'll see you tomorrow".

"Yeah, bye Jack, see you tomorrow" Ronnie said watching Jack nod and leave. Her eyes became fixated with the back of Danielle's head who was saying something to Roxy which had obviously made her blush.

"They seem to get along really well" Danielle nodded over to Ronnie and Jack arriving at the bar. "Yeah I guess" Roxy mumbled pouring herself a drink trying to hide the pang of jealousy in her voice. "So anyway, how are you two doing?" Roxy asked changing the subject quickly, Danielle smiled "good...really good I think" Danielle said unsure of a correct answer, things were going well for her but she was unsure of how Ronnie felt towards the whole situation. Danielle glanced back at Ronnie noticing Jack stand to leave, she turned her head back to Roxy. "That's good, but don't jump into anything yet, it's still early days" Roxy said passing Danielle the drinks. Danielle's eyes met with Roxy's "what do you mean?" Danielle snapped, watching Roxy flinch at her harsh tone. "I'm just saying it's still early, you can't expect everything to be perfect, things may not turn out the way you expect, after all you have been apart for nearly twenty years" Roxy explained looking away from Danielle's sharp stir. "Don't you think I know that Roxy! Why won't nobody give us a chance. I think now is about the time when you're supposed to be happy for Ronnie, not try and put down her daughter!" Danielle hissed across the bar, trying not to give anyone else the satisfaction of hearing their conversation. Grabbing the drinks of the bar, Danielle stormed off leaving a very red faced open mouthed Roxy standing alone at the bar.

Danielle slammed the drinks down on the table, spilling them slightly, she sat down next to Ronnie and sighed loudly. "Careful" Ronnie said gently placing beer mats underneath their drinks, "Dani are you ok?" Ronnie asked concerned turning to face Danielle. "Can we go after this drink please?" Danielle asked watching everyone's eyes hover on the pair yet again, making her even angrier. "Yeah sure. Sweetie whatever you want" Ronnie stated watching Danielle's eyes flick through the crowds of people. "Dani what's wrong?" Ronnie asked anxiously, placing a hand on Danielle's knee. Danielle glanced down at the hand, it was just a simple gesture yet it meant so much. Ronnie picked up on Danielle's eyes as they burned through her hand, thinking this annoyed her daughter she removed it gently, causing Danielle to quickly reach out and grab it, holding it in her own. Both smiled at each other as they were now linking hands, the touch of Ronnie soothed Danielle as her bubbling anger melted away. "I just don't see why everyone's gotta be so negative about us? Why does everyone automatically think it's going to turn out badly?" Danielle explained sighing as she spoke looking down at her own and her mothers entwined fingers.

Ronnie lifted Danielle's chin up and looked into her eyes "baby it doesn't matter what other people think, as long as your happy... who said what anyway?" Ronnie asked just loud enough for only Danielle to hear, she could see the sadness in Danielle's eyes and it broke her heart, she wasn't supposed to feel sad about the situation. Danielle tightened her fingers around Ronnie's hand "well Stacey said that things probably wont work out 'cause you're a Mitchell you're programmed to hurt people and she doesn't trust you. Roxy also said that things may not work out and I shouldn't expect things to be perfect and now everyone's watching us, it's like no-one round here can live their lives without sticking their noses in" Danielle explained sighing. Ronnie felt her hand burn as Danielle let go, she watched her gulp down the last of her drink. "Can we go now?" Danielle asked standing picking up her bag from the chair. Ronnie shot up abruptly standing "yes of course" she said quickly grabbing her coat and bag, following Danielle out of the Vic leaving half the pub stirring on with confused expressions and without even saying bye to her younger sister.

Once outside Ronnie pulled on her coat and slid her bag over her shoulder, Danielle waited for Ronnie to ready herself, then held out her hand, which Ronnie gladly took without a second thought. "The two people we expect to be happy for us aren't, why are they like that Ronnie?" Danielle asked anxiously, looking up at Ronnie as they walked through the deserted market. "I don't know baby, maybe they don't want us both to be happy with someone other than themselves" Ronnie explained quietly, pulling Danielle in closer as they walked. Danielle stopped still, causing Ronnie to stop too "I think you're right maybe they're scared of losing us... I don't think I'd ever be able to leave Stacey, we've been through too much together" Danielle spoke softly looking down at the ground, she looked up at Ronnie who was now standing opposite, watching Danielle nervously. Danielle loosed Ronnie's hand whilst locking eyes, Ronnie's face dropped as she looked down at her now empty hand. Danielle leapt forward, wrapping her arms around Ronnie's back much to Ronnie's surprise, but instantly she found her own arms wrapped around her daughter securely "what's this for?" Ronnie asked smiling to herself. "I don't think I could loose you either, you only found out yesterday yet I don't know what I'd do if you left me" Danielle stuttered allowing tears to slowly fall from her eyes. Both were standing in the center of the empty market, Ronnie rubbed Danielle's back soothingly "hey baby, I'm not going anywhere, ok? Just remember that no matter what happens, I will never leave you" Ronnie whispered soothingly into her daughters ear.

Both were now walking hand in hand, "So Dani, what would you like to eat, I suspect your hungry but I don't have enough into cook. So what you say we get take-out? Chinese, Indian, pizza or chips? My treat" Ronnie asked gently smiling over at Danielle. Walking out of the Market, past the chippy, Danielle stopped "I vote chips as been as were here but only if we can have curry sauce" Danielle grinned cheekily. Ronnie smiled "I was going to say the same thing, chips aren't chips without curry sauce" opening the door of the chip shop for Danielle to step into "totally" Danielle replied stepping inside.

The shop was empty apart from Ian sitting on a stool behind the counter, he looked up smiling realising who had entered, "ah Ronnie and Danielle, still together I see. Care to shed a bit of light on the situation" Ian said smiling gingerly. Ronnie sighed "Really Ian we only came here for food. Not to be hassled but if your just digging for gossip I think we'll go somewhere else" Ronnie said turning to face Danielle ushering her towards the door, their movements were stopped by Ian's voice "No. No wait, what can I get you?" he called cautiously "erm...two portions of chips with curry sauce please Ian" Ronnie asked turning to Danielle for reassurance, Danielle nodded in response and edged closer to Ronnie's side. Ian picked up on their closeness while portioning out the chips and spoke "so don't you want to know what people think?" he asked raising his eyebrows to Ronnie. Before Ronnie had chance to reply Danielle was straight in "let me guess I'm Ronnie's cousin, maybe a long lost sister or maybe, just maybe we're dating. Right?" Danielle said grinning at Ian gesturing to Ronnie as she spoke. Ian's mouth dropped open watching Danielle giggle slightly as he wrapped up the chips, tapping in the till Ian sighed "£3.40 please". Ronnie pulled out her purse and handed him a five pound note. Ian opened the till collecting Ronnie's change, he handed it over also placing the packages into a carrier bag. "Well?" Ian asked handing the carrier bag over the counter, "well Ian you can all carry on gossip amongst yourselves as we don't really care what any of you think and by the way your all so far off the mark" Danielle explained walking towards the door, Ronnie slid the bag onto her arm and followed Danielle towards the door. "You know what, I reckon your family, I reckon you're a Mitchell too you've got the attitude, but good luck to ya. Where there's a Mitchell, heartaches not far 'round the corner" Ian called after them as they left the shop, Ronnie slammed the door as they left turning back to give him a dark look through the glass as the walked away.

Ronnie and Danielle walked back to the flat in silence, Ronnie unlocked the door flicking the light switch as she entered, she held the door open for Danielle locking it as her little girl made her way up the stairs. Ronnie felt so guilty Ian was right, there's always heartache where there's a Mitchell concerned and Danielle of all people knew that.

Danielle sat at the table unwrapping the chips as Ronnie got out two glasses and a bottle of wine from the fridge. She sat opposite her daughter and began pouring the wine, Danielle pushed a bag towards Ronnie as Ronnie handed her a glass of wine. Danielle pushed the chair back and stood up "Where are your forks?" she asked opening the nearest draw. Ronnie watched Danielle hover in the middle of the kitchen not knowing where to look and not sure if she should look, this wasn't her house as much as she wanted it to be, everything belonged to Ronnie. "erm...third draw left from the sink" Ronnie answered pointing as she spoke "oh right Thanks" Danielle said handing Ronnie a fork, "thanks sweetie".

Both sat eating and sipping slowly at their wine, hardly anything had been said between the pair since their encounter with Ian Beale. Ronnie stopped eating and spoke watching Danielle eat "Dani Ian's right you know" she explained quietly watching Danielle head snap up at the sound of her voice. "What about the attitude or heartache?" Danielle smiled as she took a sip from her wine. Ronnie pushed a loose strand of hair back "both..." she smiled "...heartache surrounds us, but you had to find out the hard way" Ronnie sighed watching Danielle push her own hair back and sigh "look I really really don't care what Ian thinks. I thought we agreed not to talk about the past" Danielle said calmly to Ronnie looking into her eyes. Ronnie smiled "right ok, I'm sorry. I'm just scared" she admitted, looking down at the food below her eyes. Danielle watched Ronnie's reaction "scared?" she asked hesitantly as Ronnie poked through her food with a fork. Danielle watched curiously. Ronnie's expression was unreadable, Danielle hated this. After everything that was happening between them, why was Ronnie still so guarded? Why did she still feel the need to hide her true emotions?

Ronnie wiped a fallen tear from her cheek "I'm scared. That you're going to leave me, you're going to realise your better off without me and go home. I'm scared I'm going to lose my baby" she explained through a cracking voice, bowing her head , her loose blonde hair fell over her face as tears splashed uncontrollably on the chip paper below. Ronnie quickly snapped her hand up and swiped at her face, wiping the tears away continuously "I'm sorry Dani, I'm not normally like this, I just don't know how I could live if I lost you now" Ronnie explained breathing deeply through every word. Ronnie was being honest if she lost Danielle now her life truly wouldn't be worth living, her baby was everything, losing Danielle again would be like losing her heart and soul she would just be an empty shell full of emptiness.

Danielle shuffled her chair around the table next to Ronnie's and wrapped her arm around her mothers back. She had no idea how to comfort Ronnie but would give it a shot anyway, she hated seeing Ronnie cry. "Hey. Come on Ronnie. Please don't cry. I'm not going to leave you ok. Now please just stop crying" Danielle said soothingly rubbing Ronnie's back with one hand and wiping away her own eyes quickly before her own tears fell.

Ronnie gave a final rub at her eyes and lifted her head to face Danielle, Danielle pushed Ronnie's hair back and smiled, Ronnie's eyes were wide and bloodshot. Ronnie smiled at her daughter apologetically "I'm sorry sweetie I'm just being daft" Ronnie explained letting out an uncomfortable laugh, just to show Danielle she was ok. She leant forward and ran a hand over Danielle's cheek softly pulling her daughter into a warm embrace "thank you Dani. I love you sooo much" Ronnie whispered into Danielle's ear. Danielle felt the warm tickle of Ronnie's breathe on her ear and returned the hug "I love you too". Mother and Daughter sat wrapped together tightly in the center of the kitchen for what seemed like forever but still that wouldn't be long enough.

Hey readers, extra long chapter as been as i haven't updated in what seems like forever, sorry about that, i think everyone's probably given up on my story by now. Thanks to everyone that Reviewed previously, your reviews mean more than you could imagine. So anyway hope you enjoy this chapter and please R&R :D
love charlotte xx