Whatever Happens - Chapter 7

Danny took Riley's hand in his own as they made their way back inside. They were surprised to say the least that it was peaceful. Usually when Tucker and Bonnie were left alone, chaos ensued. But now Bonnie was playing on the couch with Emma and Tucker was in the kitchen getting himself a beer from the fridge.

"Anybody else want one?"

"I'll take one." Bonnie replied.

"Me too." Danny said right after.

"Two beers coming up. And how about you Riley?" Tucker said with a grin on his face, which Danny couldn't understand.

"no I'm fine thanks." Riley replied through gritted teeth. So Tucker handed the beers out and the sat on the stool by the counter. They sat in silence for a moment, Bonnie staring at Riley and Tucker sitting with a smug grin and a soft chuckle, Riley decided to break the uneasy tension.

"I have to pee." she exclaimed a little too loudly. She got up and made a bee line for the bathroom.

Danny just sat there sipping his beer, and as soon as he heard the door close, he heard his mother say

"Aw I remember when I had to refuse beers and pee a lot when I was pregnant with you."

"Mom! Quiet Tucker doesn't know yet."

"Know what?" Tucker joined in.

""Nothing lets just all drink our beers." he said as he got up and made his way to the fire escape, hoping that Ben would be home soon. As he sat out looking at the sun setting behind the Manhattan skyline Danny couldn't help but take a deep breath. He couldn't wait to be sitting out here one day, holding a child of his very own with Riley by his side. His moment of peace quickly ended when he heard the usual bickering of Bonnie and Tucker in the living room.

"Please like you would ever out rank me. I'm the mother."

"Yeah well Riley practically couldn't wait to tell me, so ha."

"Yeah yeah, whatever Mayor of Munchkin Land.."

Danny quickly stepped in, seeing that this little tiff was turning into an all out fist fight.

"Whats going on here?" Danny heard Riley say as she cam out of the bathroom.

"Nothing." Bonnie and Tucker both said at the same time. But then Tucker looked at Riley and said,

"Riley you told me you were pregnant before Mrs. Wheeler found out right?"

"Tucker!"

"You told Tucker?!" Danny asked his wife in disbelief.

"Yes okay I told him like 10 minutes ago at the bar but iny because he caught me telling a waitress about morning sickness."

"Which she doesn't even have." Tucker added. Danny saw Riley give Tucker a look he hoped never to be on the receiving end of. But he was about to.

"Ha! I told you I knew first. Danny blurted it out to me this afternoon."

"He did what!" Sure enough, there was that look, aimed right at him. After that it was a mix of yelling and commotion that was interrupted by Ben walking in and slamming the door. Everybody stopped at that moment, because Ben stood in the doorway, with a completely shaved head.

"Look what they did to me! They said they needed to even it out and I guess that means shaving it all off."

Danny moved out of the way so Ben could make his way to the hand held mirror on the counter.

"I surrender. Forget what I said about Emma and preventing the terrible twos. Because if you try to prevent the inevitable it just comes back and gets you harder."

As Ben continued to touch his hair, or what was left of it, in disbelief, Danny looked at Riley and was happy to see she was already looking at him. He smiled and made his way over and pulled her into his arms. His mom and Tucker stayed on the couch with Emma between them, their smiles mimicking Danny and Riley's. Danny started,

"Riley I'm so sorry I got upset, looking back now it's a pretty ridiculous reason to even be upset."

"Me too Danny. I love you."

"I love you too." Danny said as he kissed her.

"Uh does someone want to explain to me what the hell that was all about?" Danny looked down at Riley as she looked back at him before turning to Ben with one arm wrapped around Riley.

"Riley's pregnant. We're gonna be parents."

"You're having a baby?" Ben said, still a little bit in awe.

"Yeah man." Danny replied as his brother came over to give him a hug, Riley was next. Then Tucker and Bonnie joined in making it one big group clump, that was only interrupted by Riley exclaiming

"Hey don't squeeze the pregnant girl."

Everybody backed away almost immediately with an embarrassed look on their faces.

"Hey I have an idea," Ben started.

"Lets go down to the bar and celebrate." Everyone quickly agreed and within a few seconds everyone exited the apartment, Ben pushing Emma in her stroller, Tucker and Bonnie fighting to see who gets out the door next, and last but not least Danny and Riley, who still had their arms wrapped around each other.

Down at the bar everyone raised a glass of champagne, except for Riley who finally got her ginger ale, as Ben started a toast.

"To Danny and Riley. You guys are going to make great parents and I can't wait to meet my little niece or nephew. Congratulations."

Bonnie and Tucker joined in on the Congratulations, and after what seemed like too soon it was time for everyone to go home. On the walk back to the apartment building Danny noticed Riley and his mom talking and then saying goodbye as Bonnie headed around the corner to her apartment. After waving goodbye to his mom, Danny walked over to Riley and asked

"What was that all about?"

"Oh nothing your mom just wanted to talk you know, mother to mother. She just said if I need anything to let her know. And she also insisted I start calling her mom."

Danny knew Riley didn't want to make a big deal about it, but the tears welling up in her eyes told a different story. So he just pulled her in, gave her a kiss on the forehead and guided them towards the elevator. They said goodnight to Tucker and Ben in the hallway and made their way into their apartment. Both of them immediately headed for the bedroom, tired beyond belief. But who could blame them, it had been an exhausting day. As they settled in their usual position, Riley on the left and Danny on the right spooning Riley from behind, he started their usual nightly ritual.

"Goodnight Mrs. Wheeler."

"Goodnight Mr. Wheeler."

And with putting a hand on Riley's stomach, Danny fell asleep saying,

"Goodnight Baby Wheeler."