The Next Chapter - Chapter 6

Danny sat up on the couch, drenched in sweat again. He was getting so tired of these nightmares. This one starred him and Riley in their own version of The Princess Bride. Danny was climbing the rope up the cliffs, when he heard Riley's voice call out to him, next thing he knew he was almost to the top when he saw his angel, standing above him. She reached out a hand to him, but instead of grabbing him she grabbed the rope he was holding on to and cut it. The last thing he remembered about his dream was falling off the cliff.

"Danny! You okay? I heard you all the way from my room yelling 'Inconceivable' really loud."

"Yeah I'm fine. Just a bad dream I guess."

"About Riley?"

"Yeah, how'd you guess?"

"You two are the only people I know who like that boring movie."

Normally Danny would've argued with him about his favorite movie, but he was too depressed without Riley and Jamie. He missed them both. He saw Riley for a second the other day, finally dressed and going out into the world. He wanted to say something but couldn't find the words, so he just headed back inside. Now it was a week after the fight and neither of them had spoken since. His thoughts were interrupted by Ben.

"Well Emma and I are off for a day of me chasing her around like a crazed lunatic, preventing her from getting hurt. You sure you don't want to come? No one swings a swing like Uncle Danny, right Emma?" Ben said in a baby voice.

"As much as I love pushing Emma on the swings, I'm pretty sure I would just be a big buzz kill. You guys go have fun, I'll see you later." Danny said as he went to lay back on the couch.

A little while after Ben left with Emma, Danny's phone rang, it was Riley.

He answered almost immediately.

"Riley! Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Danny! I need your help. I'm stuck on the roof. The door closed behind us, and I cant get it open."

"What do you mean us?"

"I brought Jamie with me, I thought we could recreate Wheeler beach, and the door just slammed closed. Please, Danny."

"I'll be right up." he said as he hung up the phone and ran out to the roof access door. When he got there he grabbed the door handle and pulled the door open with all his might. He practically ran onto the roof, and didn't see Riley or his son.

"Riley?" he called out. He watched as she stepped out from the tree house where they got married, and turned on all the twinkle lights they had on their wedding. She was wearing a beige trench coat and some high heels he hadn't seen her wear in months.

"Where's the baby?" Danny asked, very confused.

"He's not here, he is actually with your mom, all night. I just said he was here in case you wouldn't come just to rescue me."

"I'll always come to your rescue." he said softly. "So why all the theatrics to get me up here?" he asked, curiously.

"Well, I wanted to get you up here, to apologize." she said.

"Okay, go on." he said.

"Danny, I am so sorry. I am sorry that I haven't been myself since the baby was born, and I'm sorry that I used him as an excuse for my behavior. And most of all I'm sorry for pushing you away, or making you feel like I was. Honestly, and you have to believe me when I say this, I didn't realize I was doing it until it actually happened. I was so scared that I had lost you." It was at that point she started crying. Danny wanted so bad to run over and comfort Riley, but something held him back.

"and I know that nothing is forgiven overnight but, I promise you things are going to change. I called your mom today when I asked her to baby-sit, and I also asked her something else. I asked her if once a week, she would watch Jamie so that you and I can have a date night. We'll go out or stay in or whatever, but we are going to have some quality husband and wife time. I know its not much, but it's a step I'm willing to take to fix us." Riley said through her tears.

It was then, that Danny realized what was holding him back.

"Riley that sounds great, but I have to say something too." he watched as Riley took a deep breath and waited for what he had to say.

"I'm sorry too." he said. She looked genuinely surprised.

"Danny, what are you talking about, this is all on me."

"No it's not. There are two people in a relationship, and I'm one of them. Instead of running away to Ben's I should've come back inside and talked to you. Because in not doing that, I broke one of my wedding vows, I hurt you. And I'm never not going to be sorry about that."

"Okay." she started. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too.' he said as he ran to her and brought her in for a big hug.

He felt Riley calm in his arms, as he kissed her head and whispered 'I love you' over and over again.

After they hugged for a good 10 minutes, Riley looked up at Danny and smiled as he gave her a kiss. She pulled away from him for a second before she spoke.

"So," she said as she wiped the leftover tears out of her eyes, "There is a second part to this apology. You see, I got you a present for our anniversary, and you never got to open it."

"Aww that's great. Where is it?" Danny wondered.

"Right here." Riley said as she slowly removed her trench coat, revealing a very sexy blue baby doll, similar in color to that maternity dress she bought that drove Danny crazy. He couldn't move, his wife looked so incredible. If this was a dream, he didn't want to wake up.

"Wow," was all he could say, as he was at a loss for words."

"Do you like it?" she asked.

He just nodded.

"I like it too, especially this part." she said as Danny watched her slowly untie the bow right in between her breasts. His jaw dropped as the outfit went from a dress to a robe, leaving little to the imagination. He walked over slowly, almost as if he approached her too quickly she'd disappear. Based on the grin that took over her face, Riley was very pleased with his reaction.

"Wow," he said as she giggled. He was pretty sure his eyes had flown out of his head and wrapped around it. When he finally got movement back in his body, his hands went straight for her exposed mid section. She shuddered under his touch.

"So I guess this means you forgive me?" she asked.

"Well as long as you keep this on, I don't think I'll have any reasons to be mad, ever."

"Happy Anniversary Danny, I love you."

"I love you" he said, as he kissed her with all the passion he had stirring inside him. They were a mess of hands and kisses, but they didn't care.

"Shall we take this downstairs?" Danny suggested.

"How about right here, in the tree house?" Riley said, surprising Danny, but he didn't need to be asked twice. He lifted her up and carried her back to the tree house and sat her down on the edge. As they were getting started, a crack of thunder broke them apart. Danny and Riley looked up to the sky, just as it started to pour down on them. They started laughing, just like on their wedding night. They laughed and kissed in the rain, and as they made love in the tree house, soaked from head to toe, Danny had no doubt in his mind that he and Riley were going to be just fine.