The Next Chapter - Chapter 4
To say the night before hadn't gone as Danny planned, would be hitting the bullseye. Not only did he not succeed at getting Riley to change her mind, he didn't even get another chance to try that whole night. She had stayed in their bedroom for 3 hours, and when she finally came out, she avoided touching him at all costs. He felt like he had done something wrong, and what was worse, Riley was completely unaware. He tried again and again the whole rest of the week. On Tuesday, he had decided to sleep naked, claiming it was more comfortable that way. Nothing. On Wednesday, he had placed candles all over the apartment and sprinkled rose petals everywhere, while Riley was out at the store. When she came back, she looked truly touched, but then claimed she was too tired. Thursday was Danny's last day to get anywhere, so he decided to join Riley in the shower, but his timing was off and as she was getting out he was going in. He invited her to join him, but she claimed she was already clean enough. That night he knew, he was going to go def con 1. He took everything else he had tried and put it all into one big romantic, sexy gesture. But Riley fell asleep on the couch as he got everything ready. He took one look at her sleeping form, and all his frustration melted away. As he carried her to bed, he knew that he needed to stop his sneaky way of doing things and just be honest about how he was feeling.
They woke up that next morning to a pleasant surprise, Jamie had slept through the night, and wasn't crying this morning. Danny watched as Riley got up to check on him, and was even more surprised to see he was already awake.
"Well I guess this is your anniversary present for mommy and daddy huh."
She said to the baby in her arms. She took him and walked over to Danny, still in the bed, and said
"Happy anniversary." as she gave him a kiss. After that, for almost the whole day, she never mentioned it again. The day went on and Danny was waiting for the right time to talk to her. Finally nighttime rolled around, and as Riley was putting Jamie down for the night, Danny was pacing in the living room, trying to think of exactly what he was going to say. His heart stopped, for some reason, when he heard Riley coming.
"Okay, baby is down. Now it's time for some quality time with my amazing husband. Which movie do you want to watch first, The Notebook or Princess Bride?"
"Riley," he started to say.
"Of course, duh, obviously Princess Bride." as she went to put the DVD in, Danny called out to her,
"Actually Riley, can you come here for a second."
"Sure." she replied.
Danny took a deep breath, and started talking.
"Riley, we need to talk. Or, I need to say something."
"Okay Danny, you know you can tell me anything."
"Alright, as much as I love The Princess Bride, this is not how I was hoping to spend our first anniversary."
Danny waited for a response from Riley, and when he didn't get one, he continued.
"Riley, I feel as though ever since Jamie was born, there's been this wall between us, separating us. I mean at first I didn't mind, cause we had a new baby and all. But as the baby got less and less new, I felt like you were just using him as an excuse to not get close to me. And I know he needs you, but I need you too. I wanted to do something really special and you squashed those hopes, for what to me, didn't seem like a very good reason. Then I thought you might be depressed."
That's when Riley cut him off.
"You thought I was depressed. Why would you think that?"
"Well you weren't leaving the house, you never got dressed and you just seemed to lose the spark in you."
"Um did you ever think that's because I've gotten no sleep since the baby was born, and taking care of him constantly drains me. I don't get dressed because I don't want all my nice clothes getting spit up on constantly, and for your information I have plenty of spark left in me, I've just been distracted by the baby to use it."
"There you go again. Do you realize how many times you said the word baby in that little speech."
"Yes Danny, I did, because we have one" They were practically screaming now,
"I know we do Riley, and I love him more than anything. But just because we have a baby, doesn't mean we still aren't also a couple. We've barely had time to be one. You got pregnant right after we got together, and now we have a baby. I love you, but I need you to meet me half way here."
"I don't know what you want from me Danny!"
These were the words that sent Danny Wheeler off like a plane in a tailspin. How could his own wife not understand why he was so upset. I mean it's not like it was their anniversary or anything.
Oh wait, it was.
Danny had to take a deep breath before he said something he'd regret. Unfortunately that didn't seem to work.
"Riley I've been very patient with you, but now I just think … I don't know what I think."
"Wait, is this about that?" Riley questioned.
"No it is not about that, it's about how you don't seem to mind as much as I do, and that bothers me."
"Mind! Of course I mind Danny, it's just that things aren't like they use to be. Everything is different now."
"But it doesn't have to be! It doesn't have to be like this Riley!"
Danny watched as Riley just crossed her arms and let out a breath, that sounded more like an aggravated groan. He couldn't take it anymore, he had to get out of there.
"Where are you going?" Riley asked as he opened the door.
"I don't know." he replied, just as softly as she had asked. And with that he was out the door. He stayed outside the door for a moment, before just sitting down right there in the hallway.
"How did we get like this?" he wondered as he sat there. Trying to remember. Finally he stopped trying and made his way across the hall.
He opened it and Ben was sitting on the couch with Emma.
"Hey, shouldn't you and Riley be celebrating right now?" it wasn't until Ben looked at Danny that he noticed the tears pooling in his eyes.
"Whoa, what happened?' he asked.
"Riley and I just had our first fight. Can I … can I stay here tonight?"
Ben just nodded and Danny made his way over to sit next to his brother. Ben put one arm around Danny's shoulders as he held Emma in his lap with the other. Danny felt someone touch his arm, when he turned he saw it was Emma, looking at him with a smile. He reached over and picked her up and put her on his own lap. He smiled back at her, but it wasn't a real Danny Wheeler smile. No he didn't think anyone would be seeing one of those for a long time.