Author's Note: Hello everyone! I wanted to get this update posted a lot sooner than this, but I had a lot to do. I made it my mission to have it posted before the weekend was done. I thought I was getting a little carried away, and I had to take a step back. Thank you to all the people that sent me so many messages, asking for the update.
I'd also like to thank all the salty shade masters on tumblr. You know who you are and I see you. I'm not going to call you haters, because that word gets used too loosely. I never thought I would get this much shade and drama thrown my way over some fanfics. It is what it is though. I'm sorry that my fans won't allow me to pass the torch. Pat yourselves on the back because you guys make me want to improve my craft even more.
Things written in italics are flashbacks. I hope it isn't confusing. Let me know if it is.
I DO NOT own the lyrics to "I Don't Wanna Cry" by Mariah Carey, "All Cried Out" by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, or "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" by Alicia Keys. Those lyrics were used for entertainment purposes only.
I hope you enjoy. Reviews are hugs! :)
Lacey continued to stare at Danny and the grave look he had on his face. She really thought that she was hearing things. Did this woman just say that she's Danny's wife? How in the hell does he have a wife? How can he have a wife when I'm his girlfriend? Lacey was extremely hurt and confused. But she needed to get out of Danny's condo and far, far away from him. Lacey didn't want any explanations or for anyone to interrupt her getting the hell out of there. She ignored the sound of the smoke detector going off and the smoke that was in the kitchen from the forgotten food on the stove. She did hear him throw the pans in the sink and turn the water on. She just walked into Danny's bedroom with a mission on her mind. She was far too upset to realize that Danny had followed her. She was completely blanking him out. She refused to look at him or listen to anything he had to say.
"Lacey, wait. I can explain. Just calm down and let me explain." Danny pleads and gets nothing in return. He watched as she snatched off his tee-shirt and sweat pants and just dropped them into a pile on the floor. She wanted his clothes off of her body and she wanted to be away from him immediately. She didn't even want him looking at her just standing in his bedroom in her panties. It felt wrong for her to be that naked in front of him when he has a damn wife.
Lacey was suddenly mad at herself for having so much of her stuff at his place, but she didn't have the time to go around and collect it all. She would have to take it as a loss. She put her clothes and her shoes on faster than Clark Kent removed his suit in a phone booth to turn into Superman.
Danny grabbed Lacey by her shoulders to stop her. "Lacey, please stop. We need to discuss this. Could you please just listen to me?" Danny pleads again to no avail.
Lacey forcefully removed his hands from her body and grabbed her briefcase and purse and was out of his room and walking towards the elevator in record speed. She tried but failed to not notice Regina, Danny's wife sitting on Danny's sofa like she was waiting for something. She said nothing, she just watched the exchange between Danny and Lacey like it was a spectator sport. Lacey pressed the elevator button and nothing happened and that really, REALLY made her angry. She figured he must have turned it off to keep her from leaving like he did that one time before. Only this time, it wasn't funny and she wasn't nowhere near in the mood to play games with Danny. She turned to look at him. She mustered up the strength to ask him to turn it on so she could leave. " Turn the elevator on and let me out of here." Lacey says while avoiding eye contact with him.
"Not until we talk and you let me explain." Danny says in a desperate tone.
He has nothing to explain. She already understands. He's married and he didn't tell her. Case closed. Lacey closes her eyes and says a silent prayer before she speaks. "There's nothing to explain. Now let me out of here, please." Lacey says in the calmest voice she has.
"I can't just let you leave, Lacey. We need to talk. You need to let me explain." Danny says.
Lacey's rage takes over. "YOU NEED TO LET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" Lacey screams at the top of her lungs. She says it in a tone so harsh, it makes Danny jump. He reluctantly unlocks the elevator and she disappears inside of it and is gone.
Danny leans towards the wall and presses his forehead against it. He curses profusely as he balls up his fist and pounds his fist against the wall. Danny faced the agonizing choice of following Lacey or confronting Regina. He thought which one would have the better result. He really didn't want to leave Regina alone in his place. There's no telling what she might do. He made the conscious decision to let Lacey leave and not follow her, to let her calm down. From the way she just shouted at him to unlock the elevator, he knew that she was beyond mad and it made him feel uneasy. He already knew how feisty Lacey could get, but he had never seen anything like that. Even during her years of hating him. The look on her face was anger, hurt, and confusion and he hated that. He had to put Lacey out of his mind and focus on the matter at hand. He slowly turned around and finally really looked at Regina. The look on her face was enough to make Danny kill her. His rationality was gone with one look at her. He was angrier than Lacey was. "Why did you come here?" Danny asks harshly as the beating of his heart changed dramatically.
Oh, he's upset. Regina thought. This is like stealing candy from a baby. Regina puts on her biggest smile and crossed her legs. "I had to see the reason you finally wanted to end our marriage." Regina says smugly.
Danny looked at her with fury in his eyes and just utter disgust in how she came in and completely screwed him over.
Lacey left Danny's condo and got into her car. She sped off so quickly, her tires screeched. She had a thousand different options, thoughts, and emotions running through her mind. How in the hell can Danny be married? How is that even possible? How was he able to hide a wife? Even though they had just gotten together, they have known each other and worked together for years. She had no idea he was married. She doesn't think anybody did. Not even Whitney who knows everything about everybody. It was hard for her to picture a guy like Danny married. Lacey had always considered him a man whore that slept with everything with a pulse, until she got to know him. All of the rumors about him floating through the building weren't true. He was a huge cocky flirt, but that's it. As far as she knew, she was the only woman he slept with in that building. But now that she thinks about it, maybe that's just not the truth. Maybe he really was the walking erection that she thought he was.
Lacey continued to drive and she knew for a fact that she was not going to go home. Danny would come there. She wasn't going to her mother's house either. She had a feeling he would come there too. And she didn't want to discuss this with her mom and sister. She knew they would support her and wipe her tears, but she wasn't ready to face them. Especially Clara. She would be ready to fight Danny and Regina.
Lacey thought about her options. Where could she go? She could go to Phoebe's or Whitney's. Then she realized that she didn't want them in her business. If they didn't work with her and Danny, she would go to one of them and ask to stay for a while. She didn't want to put her friends Tammy and Sonia out. They were both married with kids. She hated that she couldn't go to her own house and cry in peace. She just knew Danny would come to her house and try to explain. She didn't want to see his face or hear a damn thing he had to say.
Lacey finally came to the realization that she would have to stay in a hotel. At least she knew no one would know she was there, and she would be left alone. What about work? Lacey thought. Hiding in a hotel room seemed counterproductive if she was going to go to work and face Danny. Lacey decided that she would take a few sick days. She was due for them. Plus, she didn't have anything important going on at work. She would start her weekend early. She was glad that the next day was Thursday. That gave her four days to get things together. Four days to think. Four days to figure out how she would face this asshole at work. She was so mad at herself for ever getting involved with a coworker. She knew better. Now she had to deal with the aftermath of a relationship gone wrong.
She felt like an absolute moron for ever getting involved with Danny in the first place. He played her for a fool from the very beginning. She knew he was an asshole, and she got with him anyway. She felt like an idiot. She loved him. She really did. And he lied to her and hurt her. First Archie, now him. Lacey started thinking that she might be the problem. She knew for certain that she was done with men and relationships for a while. She was inherently tired of men using her heart, her emotions, and her body for a playground.
Lacey drove until she reached the Hilton. She was glad she had enough sense to remember to bring her purse because she would be up the creek without a paddle. Then she would have to go home. She knew he would come to her house. Hopefully, he knocked loud enough to disturb Sarita. She would not be pleased with that and would either tell him off or call the cops. Lacey was ok with either scenario. To hell with Danny.
Lacey parked her car and went into the main entrance and booked herself a room. She would have to check out by Sunday. She had nothing but the clothes on her back. But she would be ok for the night. She would wait until the morning and confirm that Danny went to work, and then she would go home and get her things. She was hiding from him and their relationship was officially over.
She went to her room and immediately crashed on the bed. The first tears fell before her head even hit the pillow.
Danny continued to look at Regina with pure hate in his heart for her. He doesn't think he hates another human being more than he hates her.
"All you had to do was sign the damn papers. You didn't have to come here and ruin everything. Why would you do that?" Danny asks as he tries to calm himself.
Regina chuckles. "It is not my problem that things are ruined for you now." Regina says.
Danny just stares at her. "You should consider my problem, your problem. Being happy that you ruined things or me isn't good for you." Danny says.
"Why shouldn't I be happy? Since I got those papers from you stating that you wanted to declare our marriage as a voidable marriage, I felt that it was within my right as your wife to come and discuss things with you. Plus I figured that the reason you finally contacted me was because of a woman, and I see that I'm right." Regina again says in a smug tone.
"You keep saying marriage and calling yourself my wife like we had a real marriage. You know we didn't . And now you've ruined things for me with the woman I really want to make my wife." Danny says as he rubs his head in disbelief.
"I'm sorry I ruined things with your girlfriend. Lacey, is it? She is very pretty, I'll give you that. I'm pretty sure you can find another one where you found her. She's probably only with you for your money anyway." Regina says smartly.
He just looked at Regina and the smug look on her face, knowing she screwed him over. She had been screwing him over since the day he met her. Danny let his anger take over and he walks toward Regina. The look on his face frightens her and she jumps from the couch to get away from him. She has never seen him this angry before, even when he found out the truth. She was afraid. Very afraid.
Danny backed her up into the wall. He wasn't going to hit her, because he would never, ever, hit a woman. Not even her. "Don't you ever fucking say Lacey's name again. Do you hear me?" Danny sneers. He saw how afraid she was at the way her breathing sped up. He loved that he put that amount of fear into her.
"Yes." Regina manages to get out as she tries to hide her fear but it is much too late for that. Maybe coming there wasn't a good idea at all. There is no maybe in it. She should not have come there. She thought after all those years, it was safe for her to return.
Danny tried to control his anger and think back to when he had different feelings towards her before he went too far. At one point in his life, he loved Regina. He thought she was a great girl. She didn't come on too strong, and he really thought that she loved him. He had no idea at the time that it was all a ploy by his cunning and deadbeat father...
Danny looked up to his father like he was a super hero when he was younger. Even when he was a drunk and talking crazy. He just thought it was the booze. His father was worse than even he imagined. Karen knew what he was capable of, but she never expected him to be out to hurt his own son. Vikram only cared about himself, his many women, and money. Vikram got himself involved into some things he really wasn't ready for. He soon figured out the only way to get out was to die or disappear. He had no intentions of dying. Vikram tried and tried and thought of a way to get enough money so that he could disappear. He then remembered their life insurance policies. He could get rid of Karen, and get the money. But he actually thought that it would look too suspicious if his wife died, and then he disappeared. That's the only thing that saved Karen. Then he finally decided that he would be the one to die, leaving Danny the life insurance. It would make him look good that he left that kind of money to his son. Then he had another idea. He even thought about killing Danny himself, but then he decided that Karen would probably get the money, and not him. He would be "dead" after all. So when he was devising his plan, he met up with the young, strawberry blonde beauty, he figured out a way to get the money that he was willing to die for. The bastard actually faked his own death for the life insurance policy that he left in Danny's name. That's how they got there.
While he was still married to Karen, and still screwing most of the women in Green Grove, he started screwing Regina too. The fact that she was his son's age was irrelevant to him. She was over eighteen, so it didn't matter. It also didn't matter that she would be screwing his son also. He cared nothing about Regina. He barely cared about Karen and Danny. He charmed and manipulated Regina into helping him with his plan. He told Regina everything to say and to do to seduce Danny. No virile young man could resist her charms. Regina was a bombshell, and Vikram knew Danny wouldn't be able to resist her. And he was right. Regina had Danny wrapped around her finger in no time. She was there to help Danny mourn the loss of his father when he was an older teenager. She made him believe that she didn't care about his money, just him. Regina made Danny feel like he was the most important guy in the world. And truth be told, Regina probably would have liked Danny under normal circumstances. But Danny was young and not as sure of himself as his father was. Vikram was hot and sexy to her, and she would do anything he asked. Including seducing his son. It meant nothing to her. She was in it to please Vikram and to get her cut. Regina had no idea just how cunning, manipulative, and dangerous he really was. Regina thought she was just playing a game, but the game really played her. Vikram had no intentions of giving Regina anything. He was going to take that money and really disappear. People already thought he was dead anyway. Regina truly trusted Vikram at his word. Why she thought that a man willing to screw over his own son would be worthy of trusting and being honest to her is unknown. She would find that out the hard way when he disappeared on her too.
Vikram didn't know that the people he was hiding from and faked his death for were on to him and watching his every move. He underestimated the people he was dealing with. He really thought he would get away with it. That is until Danny started to get suspicious of Regina's actions and followed her one day. He couldn't believe his eyes or his ears when he saw Regina meet up with his "dead" father.
Vikram cut right to the chase. "I didn't ask you to seduce my son so that you could get your rocks off." Vikram says in a snide tone.
"I know you didn't. If there's any consolation, I prefer you because you're more experienced. Though your son did inherit more than your looks." Regina says as she stokes his crotch.
"What is taking so long then, Regina?" Vikram asked impatiently. Her stroking his crotch did nothing for him at that moment.
"I'm handling it, Vikram. It will look suspicious if my new husband just up and dies after I take out a huge life insurance policy on him and he changes his will. You're going to have to be patient. We'll get our money." Regina says as she continues to stroke his crotch. Vikram pulled her closer and they started kissing. Seeing his wife kissing his father and stroking his crotch after hearing them talk about him, made something snap inside Danny.
Things made sense to Danny now. His "chance" meeting of Regina at the track at college. Danny was an avid soccer player and enthusiast. Vikram was good for one thing, teaching Danny to play soccer. Danny was an awesome soccer player as a winger and a sweeper. He was running around the track when Regina just fell in step with him. He immediately thought she was pretty. She struck up a conversation with him and actually asked him out. They had so much in common, and her love for soccer bonded them as well. Danny thought he had found the perfect girl. He was nineteen and horny. It was hard to not think of Regina as perfect when his penis was inside of her. When his father died, she was there for him. She was a dedicated and devoted girlfriend to him during that time. She didn't even bat an eyelash when he inherited millions from Vikram's life insurance policy. But that was all a part of the plan. Danny decided he wanted to marry Regina for being so loyal to him. Karen was furious and thought he was making a mistake getting married so young. When Danny mentioned to her that she and his father got married young, she couldn't object. She strongly recommended that he get a Prenuptial Agreement. Danny thought Karen was being ridiculous because Regina was there for him and loved him before he got rich. He never even thought to get one, but lied and told Karen that they did.
Regina really laid it on extra thick not wanting to have a big wedding. She just wanted something simple for their close family and friends. Regina didn't have any family, from what she told Danny. Her father split when she was a child, and her mother died from complications of Type 1 diabetes. She was an only child. She moved away for college, because there was nothing holding her back. Again, all part of the plan.
They started their life as a young, married couple in college. Regina was a truly devoted wife and was Danny's biggest cheerleader at soccer games. Regina didn't cook, but she really played her role. That didn't matter to Danny because he was used to Karen not cooking. Girls all throughout the campus wanted Danny. Most of them didn't care that he had a wife. Who really has a wife at nineteen that he doesn't cheat on? Nobody took that marriage seriously. Regina pretended to. And then somewhere along the lines, things started to change. Regina stopped caring about school, and she just started disappearing all the time. Her actions didn't make sense to Danny and he wanted to get to the bottom of things. So he followed her. And got the shock and surprise of his life when he saw her meet up with Vikram. Danny was naturally hurt, but he didn't want Regina to know that he was on to her. He stopped being sad about his father "dying" and mourning his death. He discreetly cancelled the life insurance policy Regina had on him. He made sure that if anything happened to him, Karen would get it all. And then Danny just became cold towards Regina. He started sleeping around. Danny started sleeping with all of the women at college that wanted him. Some wanted money, but Danny wasn't falling for that. He used other women to numb the pain. He vowed never to let another woman get close to him. Eventually, the feelings he had for her went away. He started to just treat women as objects to satisfy his needs. He turned into this cocky, confident ladies man. Regina sure enough didn't understand what had gotten in to Danny. She really didn't care, she just wondered what the deal was. She had no idea he knew the truth until she confronted him one night. She came home one evening from god knows where. She really played the role of the hurt wife whose husband was cheating on her.
Danny was just sitting on the couch, watching a football game when Regina decided it was time to talk. "I want a divorce, Danny. I'm tired of you cheating on me!" Regina says as she fake sobs.
Danny is unmoved. He took a sip of his beer. "You do?" Danny calmly asked.
"Yes, I do. I'm tired of you making a fool out of me by sleeping with everything that walks. I don't deserve this." Regina says and cries some more.
"Well, Regina. Then I think you should leave if you want a divorce. It's not like our marriage is real any way." Danny says without emotion.
"What?" Regina asks incredulously.
"You're only in it for the money. Right, Regina?" Danny asks casually as he looks at the expression that has appeared on Regina's face.
Regina feigns ignorance. "What are you talking about, Danny?" Regina asks.
"I'm talking about you being involved with my father to get my money." Danny says.
Regina looks flustered and can't believe he knows. "How did you..." Regina starts but can't finish.
"How did I know?" Danny asks as he laughs heartily. "I followed you. My father sure looks good for a dead man." Danny says.
There really isn't much Regina can say because her cover is blown. But she remembers her rights. "You do realize that we don't have a prenup, right?" Regina asks as she folds her arms across her chest and smirks at him.
"Yes, I know that. But you can't get half of nothing." Danny says surely.
"What do you mean, nothing? You have millions. And I will get half of that." Regina says smartly.
"Check our account. Go ahead." Danny says as he waits for her to do just that.
When she sees that the account only has $5 in it to keep it open, she's livid. "How were you able to do that without my consent? They said we both had to sign for large withdrawals." Regina retorts.
"You'd be surprised how far $1,000 can go. Broke college students will do just about anything. I just found your look-alike and we took a trip to the bank." Danny says smugly.
"Oh my god." Regina says.
"You can leave now. I'll let you pack your bags. It's the least I can do. Tell my father I said hello." Danny says as he goes back to watching the game.
"You're not going to get away with this! I'll hire a lawyer, and get what's rightfully mine." Regina says.
"Good luck with that with no money. Finding my money won't be as easy as you think it will be." Danny says as he laughs.
Regina admits defeat and quietly leaves. She has to meet up with Vikram to tell him the plan is no longer a go. Danny knew everything. Regina was a little afraid to tell Vikram that she failed. She called him to meet up at their usual spot. As usual, he didn't answer because he was supposed to be dead. When she got to their spot, she found Vikram dead. Regina was scared to death. She didn't know if the person that did it was still there, watching her. Their meetup spot was pretty hidden and secluded, so somebody finding it by accident was close to impossible. She wondered what to do. She didn't know if she should just leave his body there. Regina wasn't taking any chances. She fled the scene and hopped on a bus and left Green Grove for good.
Danny never gave his "wife" any more of his thoughts. He put her and their marriage behind him. He didn't care that he was still legally married to her, because it didn't matter. He would never, ever get married again.
Well, that was his plan until he met Lacey. And now Regina ruined that.
Regina looked at Danny, and the absent look on his face and in his eyes. He didn't seem to be in the same room with her. She continued to be frightened. He's much scarier than his father. Vikram was a kitten compared to Danny. I may have made a mistake. Regina thinks as she looks for a way out.
Danny snapped back into reality. "I'm not the young guy you seduced and tricked into marriage anymore. I will cause you lots of pain. I have money. I can make you disappear, and then it won't be an issue anymore. I can make happen to you what I should have done when I found out what your plan was. You're going to sign those fucking papers and go away. And stay away for good this time. Do you understand?" Danny asks through clenched teeth.
"Yes." Regina says again. The look on Danny's face and the darkness of his eyes have scared her. She didn't know Danny had that in him. He really isn't the young guy she married anymore.
"I was very generous with my offer. But now since you came here and destroyed things for me, I'm taking that offer away. And if I don't get Lacey back, you'll go away." Danny says with certainty. He really didn't mean to scare her like that, but he meant business.
"Go away, where?" Regina asks in a scared voice.
"The same place Vikram, your boyfriend went." Danny answers gravely.
Regina's eyes got wide with fear. She thought she was the only one that knew about Vikram actually being killed after he faked his death. She knows Danny knew that he was still alive. She didn't know Danny knew he was killed. How does Danny know that part? Regina asks herself. "But..." Regina says.
"Bye, Regina." Danny says as walks into his bedroom, leaving her alone.
She left quietly, after having the second fright of her life.
Danny got dressed quickly and left his bedroom. He turned off the water that was still running in the sink. He had forgotten all about the food and the water running. He just thinks back to how two hours ago, his life was great. He and Lacey were playing around and cooking together like a real couple. He assumed that his relationship with Lacey was over. He would have a lot of explaining to do to get her back.
He thinks back to how he wanted to avoid this extreme inconvenience and not ever let Lacey know he was married...
Danny continued to have that aching feeling in his chest. He knew it was love, but also something else. His secret was nagging him. The sooner he took care of it, the better. He drove to his place and got his place ready for his impending absence. He also made the phone call he needed to make to start the ball rolling on the great cover up. Hopefully, most of it would be handled while he was out of town with Lacey. Then he could rest easy.
The phone rang four times before he finally picked up. "Rico Benetti."
"Hey, Rico. It's Danny. I have a problem that I need solved." Danny says matter of factly.
"On a Sunday night?" Rico asks.
"Yes. It's important." Danny says.
"You didn't get arrested, did you?" Rico asks.
"Of course not. You are my lawyer, so if I did get arrested, you'd be the first person I'd call." Danny says.
"Then what is it? Do you need a large sum of money or something? I can't get you a lot of money tonight, Danny." Rico says.
"No, I don't need a lot of money tonight. I need to make my Regina problem go away." Danny says.
"Finally? Why now?" Rico asks.
"Because I think I may want to get married in the future. For real this time." Danny says.
"You must have met someone. Are you in love, Danny?" Rico asks as he laughs.
Danny smiles just thinking about Lacey. "Yes. I'm in love. And I can't exactly be married to another woman, now can I?" Danny asks.
"Ok. Are you prepared to give her what she asks for? She's not going to sign divorce papers and not get anything in return." Rico says.
"Is there a way I can make it go away without a divorce? I know we can't just get it annulled because we've been married for so long. I don't want Lacey to know I was married. I didn't tell her and she'll think the worst. She won't understand that my father hired a woman to seduce me for my money." Danny says.
"Danny, we can get it annulled. Annulments aren't just for marriages that just happened. You could have done that a long time ago though, Danny. I can get it written up as a voidable marriage due to fraud. It's too bad you didn't know that was an option after you married her." Rico says.
"I was young and dumb then. We didn't have a prenup. She wanted to take everything I had. I was too stubborn to let her have it. It was hard admitting that she duped me." Danny says.
"So, where is she?" Rico asks.
"I don't know. I haven't seen or heard from her in years. She could be anywhere." Danny says.
"Do you really think she'll sign the papers now?" Rico asks.
"I'm willing to offer her something to get her out of my life for good. She doesn't deserve a dime, but I'll give her a few pennies to get her to go away forever. How much do you think it's going to cost me?" Danny asks.
"Who knows? She was willing to take everything you had. Who's to say that hasn't changed?" Rico asks.
"I need this done quickly and quietly, Rico. I don't ever want Lacey to know that I was married before, even if it wasn't real." Danny says.
"Let me get one of my private investigators on it to see if they can find her. I'll give you a call in a few days." Rico says.
"No, don't call me . I'll call you. I'm going out of town for a few days for work and Lacey will be with me." Danny says.
"So you found your future wife at work? I still can't believe I'm saying this to you. I never would have thought you would be ready to really settle down with a woman after Regina." Rico says honestly.
"Yeah, well things have changed. I've changed. I don't feel the need to play around any more. I took her to meet my mother. She loves her." Danny says.
"I've got to meet her one day. Keep in touch." Rico says before he hangs up.
Danny checked to make sure Regina was really gone and left his place. He got in his car and drove as fast as he could without being pulled over to get to Lacey's house. He was thinking of what he was going to say to her to get her to calm down. He figured he would just tell her the truth. He hated that he would have to admit the truth about his father. He only told her that his father was drunk and drove himself off a cliff. That's what happened when he faked his death, but that isn't the whole story. How was he going to explain that? How was he going to explain that he revealed to her what he wanted her to know. How would he tell her that his father really is dead, but that's not he real reason he died? How would he tell her that he knew more about his real death than anyone, other than his mother and one other person?
He pulled on to Lacey's street and started to get nervous. He slowed to a stop in front of her house. He didn't see her car in the driveway, and her house seemed eerily dark. He parked his car and got out anyway. He started to bang on her door. He didn't get an answer. He thought she might have been ignoring him. He started to bang again while yelling her name.
"Lacey! Lacey! Please open the door!" Danny says as he continues to knock. Suddenly the front door to her neighbor's house opened. A small, brown woman with a mass of dark curly hair opened her door. She just folded her arms and stared at him like he was really annoying her and disrupting whatever she was doing.
The way she was looking at him made him uncomfortable. Danny figured that was Sarita. He knew her name but they had never officially met. "Are you Sarita?" Danny asks.
"Yes. Lacey is not home. You can leave now. Your banging and yelling is disturbing me." Sarita says in a snarky tone.
"I'm sorry I'm disturbing you. I really need to find Lacey. When is the last time you've seen her?" Danny asks.
"It's been a few days because she's never home anymore. Bye, bye now." Sarita says in a sarcastic tone.
Danny ignores her sarcasm, but decides to leave. "I'm sorry for disturbing you. Have a nice night." Danny says as he gets into his car and speeds off.
Sarita closed her door with the lingering thought that this guy better not come back knocking on her neighbor's door like he was crazy.
Danny just drove towards Judy's house. He should have known Lacey wouldn't be home. She probably figured he would come there first. He made the drive to Judy's house, remaining cautious of his speedometer. He didn't want to get pulled over. He pulled on to Judy's block and stopped in front of her house. He again didn't see Lacey's car. He still decided to knock anyway.
Clara answered the door, surprised to see Danny. Especially without Lacey. "Hey, Danny. What's up?" Clara asks. Maybe Lacey was going to meet him there and he arrived before her, or he had to drop something off for Lacey. She didn't want to think of anything bad.
"Is Lacey here?" Danny asks hopefully.
Clara starts to get suspicious. "No. Why?" Clara asks in a semi harsh tone.
Danny ignores her question. "Have you talked to her?" Danny asks.
Clara folds her arms across her chest. "No, why? Should I be worried?" Clara asks.
"I don't think you need to worry. I just don't know where she is." Danny says regrettably.
"Why don't you know where she is? Did something happen?" Clara asks.
Danny sighs out of frustration. "We just had a little disagreement and she left my place. I thought she went home, but she isn't there. And she obviously isn't here. I just need to talk to her and apologize." Danny says. There is no way in the world he's telling Clara the truth. He figured she'd probably hear the truth pretty soon from Lacey anyway. He already knew he'd have to face Lacey's wrath, and he didn't think it would be a good idea for him to subject himself to Clara's wrath too.
"You didn't hit her on cheat on her, did you?" Clara asks in a dour tone.
"No. I would never hit Lacey or cheat on her. I would never hurt her Clara. It was all just a misunderstanding." Danny says. It was more than a misunderstanding, but he's entirely truthful about never hitting Lacey or cheating on her. He didn't want to cause her any pain at all.
"Well for your sake, I hope that's all it was. I'll give her a call." Clara says. She wants him gone so that she can find out what's going on with her big sister.
Danny swallows hard. He already knows how Clara is, especially about her sister. "Tell her I love her and I'm worried about her. Ask her to call me. Please." Danny says before he turns to walk away, defeated.
Danny got in his car and drove off. He decided to go back to Lacey's to see if she was there yet. Maybe she was just driving around. He drove past her house and it looked the same as it did when he left not too long ago. Danny felt emasculated.
Where in the hell is Lacey? Danny thought to himself.
Clara went into the house and went up to her mother's bedroom. She was lounging on the bed watching tv. Judy smiled and looked up at her youngest daughter. "Did I hear the doorbell?" Judy asks.
"Yes. Have you talked to Lacey lately?" Clara asks.
"No, not in a few days. Why? Who was at the door?" Judy asks.
"That was Danny. He was looking for Lacey. He said they had a disagreement and she left his place, but she's not home." Clara says.
Judy thinks for a moment. "Maybe she just went somewhere to clear her head. Probably got a drink or something. Call her and see where she is." Judy suggests.
"You're probably right. I'll give her a call." Clara says and she leaves her mother's bedroom. Clara goes to get her phone to call Lacey. It went straight to voicemail. Clara left her a message telling her to call her. She didn't want to worry, but in the back of her mind she was thinking that she would probably have to hurt Danny if he did something unforgivable to her sister.
Lacey had a good crying fit until she realized how hungry she was. She was so preoccupied with the shenanigans of Danny and his wife, that she momentarily forgot that she never ate dinner. She didn't feel like leaving the hotel, so she decided to order room service. She decided to make the best of not being able to go home. After she placed her order, she turned her phone back on. She had several messages from Danny. She deleted them all without even listening to them. She got a message from Clara too. She didn't feel like talking, but she decided to send her bestie a text instead.
I'm ok. I'm staying at a hotel. I will explain later. I don't want to talk right now. I love you, Sister. Lacey sent the text and received an immediate response from her sister.
Danny came past here looking for you. He told me to tell you he loves you and he's worried about you. He wants you to call him.
"I knew he would do that shit." Lacey says out loud to herself.
I figured he would do that. I'm ok but I'm not ok. I'll talk to you soon.
Ok. Just making sure you're ok. I'm here when you're ready to talk. I love you, Sister.
Before Lacey had the chance to turn her phone back off, it rang. She looked and sure enough it was Danny. She slid it over to 'ignore' and turned her phone off. She had nothing to say to Danny. She wondered why he was calling her. He should be getting it on with his wife. Wife. Just thinking that he had one enraged her. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. She started to feel dirty thinking of all the things she did with a married man. She never wanted to get involved with another woman's husband. Even though it wasn't her fault, she felt extremely bad about what occurred. Had she known he was married, she never would have gotten involved with him.
Lacey rolled over on the bed and grabbed the remote. She turned on the tv because it was way too quiet in that room. She got lost in watching House Hunters when her food arrived. She gave the waiter a tip and dug into her food. She tried to enjoy it but she was too heartbroken to do so. She finished her meal and put the cart in the hallway and put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door before she ripped her clothes off and got into the shower. She felt dirty and used and needed to make herself clean again. She went back to crying again thinking of how stupid she was and how she should have stuck to her guns of hating Danny.
Danny returned to his condo, defeated. He just sat on his couch and started to sulk. The quiet was deafening. He missed hearing Lacey laugh as they played games, missed hearing her sing when they were just doing nothing. He let out a frustrated sigh. He decided to try and call Lacey again. He got hopeful when the phone rang instead of just going straight to voicemail. He felt the same as before when it went to voicemail. Of course she was ignoring him.
He had to put Lacey and Regina out of his mind because thinking of them gave him so many contrasting emotions. He loved Lacey, wanted to be with her and missed her. He was willing to do anything to get her back. He hated Regina and never wanted to lay eyes on her again. He was angry enough at her to kill her. Of course, he wouldn't. But twice in his life this woman has screwed him over. He just knew that he wouldn't have to deal with her ever again after she signed those papers and they went to court. He thinks he put enough fear into her to get her to sign those papers. He started to get mad at himself for not doing that sooner. Then Lacey would still be his and he wouldn't feel like somebody ran over his chest with a truck.
Danny didn't remember feeling like this when he found out about his father still being alive, when he allowed him and Karen to think he was dead. He didn't feel like this when he found out his father hired his wife to seduce him. He didn't feel this bad when he saw his wife and father kissing like they were the ones that were married. He was hurt when he found out the truth, but it didn't hurt like this. He didn't love Regina as much as he loved Lacey. His father didn't deserve his love to do what he did to him. All he felt now was agony and defeat. Perhaps he could have told Lacey the truth when they were really getting to know each other. He assumed she wouldn't understand. He didn't think anybody could understand it.
His hunger started to get the best of him and he walked into his kitchen. He dumped the burnt food down the garbage disposal and loaded his dishwasher. He just made himself a sandwich. When he was finished, he made himself a stiff drink because he needed it. He retreated to his bedroom. He looked around and saw all of Lacey's things in his room. He picked up the shirt she discarded earlier and inhaled the scent. He was glad that it smelled like her. He got in the bed and it just felt so wrong for Lacey to not be there. Even the nights when she stayed home, didn't feel like this. He let out another frustrated sigh before he turned over to go to sleep, still clutching the tee-shirt that smelled like Lacey.
Lacey awoke early to call her job to let them know she was sick and wouldn't be in. Lacey got dressed and just watched tv. She was waiting for the time she knew Danny would be at work, so she could go to her house and pack her bag. She wanted to go and stay in her own home, but she wasn't in the mood to face Danny. She was too hurt and too upset. Her emotions were getting the best of her. She felt fragile, like she would break into a million pieces in seconds. Once she knew she was at the point where she knew Danny was at work, she left the hotel and headed home. She packed a bag and fixed herself something to eat. She wasn't going to stay the whole day, but she figured she had hours before she had to leave again. She wanted to stay in her own house. It felt unfair that she had to hide. Lacey then decided that she wasn't going to hide. She did nothing wrong. She left out again and went to check out her hotel room. She would go to her own damn house and live in it. If Danny came over to cause problems, she would have his ass removed by the police.
Lacey unpacked the suitcase she thought she needed while she took time to wallow in heartache. She felt entitled to do that in the privacy of her own home. She turned on her iPod and listened to the saddest music she could find. She listened to Mariah Carey's, I Don't Wanna Cry
Once again we sit in silence
After all is said and done
Only emptiness inside us
Baby, look what we've become
We can make a million promises
But we still won't change
It isn't right to stay together
When you only bring each other pain
I don't wanna cry
Don't wanna cry
Nothing in the world could take us back
To where we used to be
Though I've give you my heart and soul
Given you my heart and soul
I must find a way of letting go
'Cause baby I don't wanna cry
I don't wanna cry
Too far apart to bridge the distance
But something keeps us hanging on and on
Pretending not to know the difference
Denying what we had is gone
Every moment we're together
It's just breaking me down
I know we swore it was forever
But it hurts too much to stay around
I don't wanna cry
Don't wanna cry
Nothing in the world could take us back
To where we used to be
Though I've give you my heart and soul
Given you my heart and soul
I must find a way of letting go
'Cause baby I don't wanna cry
Uh, I don't wanna cry, No
All the magic's gone
There's just a shadow of a memory
Something just went wrong
We can't go on make believing
I don't wanna cry
Don't wanna cry
Nothing in the world could take us back
To where we used to be
Though I've give you my heart and soul
Given you my heart and soul
I must find a way of letting go
'Cause baby I don't wanna cry
Even though she didn't want to cry, she did. She was more hurt than when she broke up with Archie. She would take that feeling back in a heartbeat. Then, she listened to All Cried Out by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam.
All alone on a Sunday morning
Outside I see the rain is falling, oh
Inside, I'm slowly dying
But the rain will hide my crying, crying, crying
And you, don't you know my tears will burn the pillow?
Set this place on fire 'cause I'm tired of your lies
All I needed was a simple, "Hello"
But the traffic was so noisy that you could not hear my cry
Ah, I gave you my love in vain
My body never knew such pleasure
My heart never knew such pain
And you, you leave me so confused
Now I'm all cried out over you
Never wanted to see things your way
I had to go astray, oh, why was I such a fool?
Now I see that the grass is greener
Why, oh, why?
Is it too late for me to find my way home?
How could I be so wrong?
Leavin' me all alone
Don't you know the heart will cause an inferno?
Romance up in flames, why should I take the blame?
You were the one who left me neglected
Oh no, no, no, no, I'm so sorry
Apology not accepted, add me to the broken hearts you collected
Ah, I gave you all of me
Gave me all of you
How was I to know you would weaken so easily
I, I don't what to do, now I'm all cried out over you
I'm all, I'm cried out too, oh, oh
Ah, I gave you my love in vain
My body never knew such pleasure
My heart never knew such pain
I left you so confused, now I'm all cried out
Now I'm all cried out over you
For some reason, listening to those songs actually made her feel better. She cried and cried, but she really started to feel better. She was glad that those songs were like therapy to her. Sure, she was still hurt beyond belief. She was heartbroken, hurt, and mad as hell. But she wasn't crying any more. Her iPod shuffled to Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart by Alicia Keys.
Even if you were a million miles away
I could still feel you in my bed
Near me, touch me, feel me
And even at the bottom of the sea
I could still hear inside my head
Telling me, touch me, feel me
And all the time, you were telling me lies
So tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
I'm gonna hold on to the times that we had
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
Have you ever tried sleeping with a broken heart?
Well, you could try sleeping in my bed
Lonely, own me, nobody ever shut it down like you
You wore the crown
You made my body feel heaven bound
Why don't you hold me, need me?
I thought you told me you'd never leave me
Looking in the sky, I can see your face
And then I know right where I fit in
Take me, make me,
You know that I'll always be in love with you
Right till the end
So tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
I'm gonna hold on to the times that we had
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
Anybody could've told you right from the start it's 'bout to fall apart
So rather than hold on to a broken dream,
I'll just hold on to love
And I can find a way to make it, don't hold on too tight
I'll make it without you tonight
So tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
I'm gonna hold on to the times that we had
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
Lacey settled down and calmed her nerves. She would be alright. Relationships end every day. She was stronger than her broken heart. She did the same thing she did with Archie when she broke up with him. She got a trash bag and went around and collected all of Danny's things. For some reason, it was harder this time than that time when she collected Archie's things. It was much harder to throw the things that Danny gave her in the trash. She shook the thought from her mind. She grabbed the bag and headed for her car. She quickly drove to Danny's place and dropped the bag off at the front door of his building. She hoped he had the decency to give her the things she had at his place. She then hopped in her car and drove back to her home and hideout for the moment. She did hide her car in the back of her house though. She didn't want him to know right off the bat that she was home.
She was unofficially a single woman again. She would stay that way for a long time.
Danny awoke the next day restless. He didn't sleep well at all. The only thing that made him get out of the bed was going to work and seeing Lacey. He showered and dressed, and headed out to work. He made a stop at Starbucks because he needed coffee to keep him woke. He spent the entire night thinking of Lacey and missing her. He thought of what he would say. The first part was pretty easy to tell her since she already knew he was married. Once he explained that everything isn't what it seems, he hoped they would be back to where they were. He knew he had a lot of explaining to when she asked him why he never told her. He just decided he was going to be honest and lay everything on the table. Lacey deserved that much. She didn't deserve to find out the way she did. He started to get angry again just thinking about Regina and her tactics.
He walked to his office and drank his coffee to get his nerves and thoughts together. He didn't want to bombard Lacey with explanations. He would just close her office door and tell her everything she needed to hear. He knew that Lacey wouldn't get too angry or shout the way she did the previous night while at work. That worked in his favor. He got up and made the trek to Lacey's office. As he was walking down the hallway, Whitney spotted him and started talking to him.
"Hey Danny. What are you doing in this neck of the woods? I know you already know Lacey isn't here. Is she ok?" Whitney asks.
Lacey isn't here. Shit. She really is avoiding me. Lacey never takes days off of work. Danny started to get that aching feeling in his chest again. He hated that he hurt her that much that she didn't even want to come to work. He noticed that Whitney was looking at him expectantly. "She's fine, she was just feeling a little under the weather. I came to get something from her office before I forgot." Danny lies.
For some strange reason, Whitney didn't believe him. She wondered why she thought that. "Ok. Well tell her I hope she feels better." Whitney says while trying not to eye Danny suspiciously.
"I will." Danny says as he tries to hide his cringe and heads back to his office.
Whitney looked at him completely forget about going to Lacey's office. She knew she was right, thinking that he was lying to her. She decided she would call Lacey herself and find out what's really going on.
Danny returned to his office to sulk. He picked up his phone and called Lacey. Her phone was still going to voicemail. He needed to speak with her. The fact that she didn't come to work, made him feel totally guilty. Even though it was Regina's fault, he still had to take the blame in his part. He should have told her. Point, blank, period. There's no other way to get around it. He had to accept responsibility for hurting the woman he loved.
He felt the need to leave work. He was unfocused and nowhere near where he needed to be to be productive. Danny figured out a way to leave. Maybe he could just feign an illness, and leave. He had never done that before. But he decided to take a giant leap and tell his boss that he was ill and needed to leave. Or he can lie and say he has some sort of family emergency and he needs to leave. He needed to see Lacey and it couldn't wait until that evening.
Danny just had to say to hell with his job for a minute. Even if he got fired, he was going to leave. He picked up his phone again and called Mr. Wheeler's office. He was the boss most likely to let him leave without a hassle. Once he explained that he felt sick and needed to leave, Mr. Wheeler gladly let him leave. He didn't want any sick employees in his building when they could be home resting. Danny grabbed his keys and headed straight for the elevator. He was inside his car and driving towards Lacey's house in a matter of minutes. He pulled up in front of her house and again didn't see her car. Something was nagging him and telling him to check anyway. He knocked on the door while also ringing the doorbell. He was shocked and flabbergasted when Lacey yanked the front door open. He did not like the look on her face.
"Can I come in? Please? So we can talk. I need to explain." Danny begs and he really hopes she lets him in.
Lacey stepped to the side to let him in without a word. He entered her house and just stood near the door as she closed it. He turned and expected to see Lacey's face.
He saw something else instead.
Author's Note Again: I forgot to add that I made Regina Danny's wife because I can actually stomach the idea of Danny with being with Regina. Jo will not ever be Danny's wife, girlfriend, friends with benefits, ANYTHING of the sort in a fic I write. Danny and Jo is just gross and I won't even entertain that notion. Like I said before, he pretended to be her boyfriend in Dangerously Dark Duo.
And another thing I must reiterate. PLEASE, PLEASE do not leave reviews on my tumblr page. I have a few people that I communicate with on there, but that isn't the place to leave them. Thank you.