No Man's Land (Private)

[Muffinsquire]

"I've got it," Danny insisted as they moved up the porch steps. It made him feel useful. "You hungry or thirsty," he asked. "You want somethin' to eat or maybe some warm cider?" He squeezed her hand lightly, feeling her cold, stiff digits.
His previous feelings faded rather quickly and were now replaced with simple content and relief. She was back and that was all that mattered.

[WolfumsTheGreat]

"Warm cider sounds good..." Sera whispered. "Although I hate to impose," she insisted. "I didn't come here to do that..."
She squeezed his hand in return. She was very cold and didn't understand why it was so much colder here than in the city. Once they were inside, she noticed how much warmer it was and was glad for this.
She felt sort of tired after the long ride and then the cold weather.

[Muffinsquire]

"Sweetheart, you never impose here," Danny assured her.
He set her bag down by the stairs nearby the entrance then led her into the kitchen. The twins and Daphne were probably still playing outside. His mother must have been in the den. She normally liked to knit or read when it got cold. A soft allegro could be heard coming from another room, fingers running up and down the keys of a piano. It was Delilah.
Danny invited Sera to sit down as he began to fix them both a cup of cider.

[WolfumsTheGreat]

"I feel like I am..." Sera whispered.
She had a seat and waited on Danny, looking around where she was at the moment. She could hear the soft piano playing and appreciated it. She could figure who it was playing as well. She wondered what everyone would think of her just showing up... would they be against it?

[Muffinsquire]

"Well you shouldn't," Danny insisted as he sat down beside her. "This is supposed to become your future home...after all." He took her hand again as he sipped at his cup for a moment. "You're always welcome here." He then leaned forward and kissed her cheek, his lips brushing her chilled skin.

[WolfumsTheGreat]

Sera lifted her eyes to Danny as she took her cup in her free hand. After his kiss and his words, a heavy blush appeared over her cheeks. The fact that he still wanted her blew her mind and she couldn't help to keep the smile off her face, but even through her smile, tears ran down her cheeks. She was so happy to be back with Danny. She moved to lean her head against his shoulder, hiding her face from his site momentarily.
"I love you," her voice choked.

[Muffinsquire]

Danny wasn't entirely sure why she was crying and it took him a little by surprise. But he set his cup down in order to wrap his arms around her shoulders and pull her into his lap.
"I love you too, Sera," he answered softly. "And I'm happy to finally have you back." He kissed the side of her head as he rubbed a hand up and down her back.

[WolfumsTheGreat]

"And I'm.. .h-happy to be back with you..." Sera told him. "I thought about coming b-back sooner... like... o-on your birthday... but I thought that if-if you d-didn't want me... b-back... then it w-would've been the worst birthday pr-present for you... ev-even though I already... got you something..." Sera cried to him.

[Muffinsquire]

"I didn't even know you knew when my birthday was," Danny pointed out. He never remembered telling her. "But Sera...to have you back would have been the greatest present I could ever have. I had been hoping that whole day and night that maybe you would show up..."
He combed his fingers through her hair momentarily as he fell silent.

[WolfumsTheGreat]

"I-I was scared..." Sera told Danny. "And yeah... you told me y-your birthday... and that's h-how we learned we w-were the same age," she continued to speak. She sat down her cider carefully on the table by them and wrapped both her arms around Danny.
"I'm done w-with ba-bands... w-with everything..." she said.

[Muffinsquire]

"Oh yeah..." Danny mused softly, but then turned his attention back to her. "But I thought you liked the band life...I thought you liked singing. It's what you love. Are you sure you're ready to leave it all behind? You weren't even in it very long." He just wanted to make sure that she was making the right decision, one she would be happy with.

[WolfumsTheGreat]

Sera nodded her head.
"I'm sure," she told him. "That's what I went away to decide... to know what it was that I really wanted. It was nice while it lasted... but it wasn't me... it might have been part of me.... but I belong with you Danny... and anything that keeps me from that.. isn't for me."

[Muffinsquire]

Danny leaned his head against hers as he cradled her in his arms.
"You can still do some things like that, if you want," he assured her. "I want you to be able to do what you want." He scratched at her back lightly, wanting to comfort her.

[WolfumsTheGreat]

"I might... one day... but I'm done with that right now in my life," Sera said softly as she continued to hug Danny. She fell silent and then finally pulled away so that she wasn't hugging him, but more still leaning against him so that she could sip from the cider still.

[Muffinsquire]

Danny gave her one last squeeze before letting go of her so she could sit back and do as she pleased. He nodded and then sipped at his own cider, which warmed his throat.
"You'll hafta tell me all you've been up to," he insisted. He did want to know what all had been going on and what she had been doig...if it had all been worth it.