Sunday

Danny woke, knowing that something was wrong.

It took him a few moments to realize he was alone in the bed. He looked but could see she wasn't in the bathroom; he sat up, listening for any sounds that would tell him where she was, but he couldn't hear her. He got out of bed and stood for a moment still trying to hear some sound that would tell him where she was but the apartment was deathly quiet. He frowned; this was very out of character. He pulled his boxer shorts on, telling himself he was worrying over nothing………

He found her standing by one of the large windows in the lounge, a mug of coffee in her hand as she stared sightlessly out over the park, lost in thought. Her face was reflected in the glass but Danny couldn't read the expression on it. He stood watching her for a moment aware of a cold sensation creeping over him; he had never seen her like this….

She turned suddenly as if she felt his stare and the smile on her face drove the cold from him as he headed over to the window and took her into his arms. She returned the kiss he placed gently on her lips before resting her head on his shoulder for a moment, her arms tightening around him and he felt the concern start to return

He took a deep steadying breath before asking; 'is everything ok?'

She picked her head up and smiled faintly at him before she again rested her head against his chest; he tightened his arms about her and stroked her hair trying not to let his imagination run riot. After a few seconds where his mind had run the gauntlet of her being incurably ill, to pregnant to wanting to end the relationship he couldn't bear it any longer. Sliding a finger beneath her chin, he raised it up so that she was looking at him

'Can I do anything to help?'

She smiled and he felt the tension in him start to ease again. She stretched up and kissed him softly on the lips; 'sorry, did I worry you?'

Danny smiled, feeling a little easier although still certain that something was wrong; 'yes you did a bit'

She stepped back and caught him by the hand; 'breakfast first then we talk, there's something I need to tell you'

Danny kept the concern from showing on his face as he allowed her to pull him toward the kitchen. A memory of the previous night came back to him….of her telling him that she needed to talk to him about something right before he had got into it with Pete………that must mean it was something to do with her work. He began to feel a little easier……….

She pushed him in the direction of the stool by the breakfast bar, poured him a coffee and then handed it to him; 'what would you like for breakfast? I have healthy cereal and fruit, I have substantial ham and eggs or I have indulgent croissants?'

Danny relaxed a little more, pulling her toward him for another kiss, 'you know that I like to 'indulge' on a Sunday morning'

She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back; 'Croissants it is then'

He watched while she put the croissants into the oven to bake and started to make a fresh pot of coffee. She was dressed in one of his t shirts and, from what he could see, nothing else. Her hair was loose and she kept tucking it back behind her ear as she moved around the kitchen but she was clearly lost in thought about something. The coffee finished percolating and the croissants were ready; she came and sat on the stool next to him and for a few minutes they ate in silence, Danny reluctant to force her to speak before she was ready.

Eventually she looked at him; 'Last night…….that conversation I had with Roger and Pierre……….they've offered me a junior partnership'

Danny stared at her astonished. He knew that it was unusual for someone to be offered a partnership so early on in their career, but what was even more surprising was how unhappy she looked about it…………

'That's amazing'; he knew he sounded cautious but he wasn't sure of his ground at all, he hesitated before continuing 'I don't understand why you don't look….happier'

She rested her elbows on the breakfast bar as she took another mouthful of coffee; 'They offered me the partnership right after telling me that Pete had been transferred to the Boston office'

Danny was still feeling confused, unsure why Pete moving had any impact on Gabi's career. He waited for her to continue

'It seems that Mindy isn't happy having Pete working in the same office as me and so they want me to transfer…..the partnership is a couple of years early because they want to keep me sweet…..probably worried I'll sue them or something'

Danny gave up trying to make sense of all of this. He took hold of her and turned her so she was looking at him; 'I don't understand, what the hell has Mindy got to do with all of this?'

Her eyes suddenly focused on him; she lent forward and smiled; 'sorry, I'm not making much sense am I'

Danny grinned; 'nope'

She laughed, 'Mindy is the daughter of the firms chairman………' she broke off as she saw a look of comprehension, and then amusement, come over Danny's face

'Yes, Pete married the Chairman's only daughter….his pride and joy…..' her tone was sarcastic. 'You know that Pete specializes in Tax and Corporate Law and the company has recently restructured so that the main office for that is in Boston. He has been given one of the teams to run….'

'The benefits of nepotism?'

She kissed him again before she answered his question; 'well, Pete is a good lawyer, not brilliant but certainly good, and he plays the corporate game much better than I do. I knew a team was being formed but didn't know until last night that he would be running it. What I also didn't know until last night was that Mindy has told Daddy that she doesn't want Pete and I in the same city because, it seems, that she is worried that I will try and lure him back' her voice suggested she found this thought hilarious

Danny raised an eyebrow at her but didn't try and interrupt as she continued; 'so they want me out of Boston…………'

'Well, that's good isn't it? Can't you just tell them you want to go to New York?'

He trailed off as he saw the amusement had gone from her face; 'no, because it appears that out of the city isn't enough…..they want me out of the country as well……………the partnership is conditional on my agreeing to work in the Paris office for 5 years'

Danny stared dumbstruck at her, now understanding completely why she had not seemed happy at the offer of a partnership. He remembered Pierre…………..

'To work for that idiot we met last night?'

She was laughing again; 'how could you know he was an idiot….you didn't do anything other than shake his hand?'

'Ahh, mademoiselle Gabrielle, enchanter'

She giggled as he mimicked Pierre DuBois from the previous night; 'OK, you're right, he is an idiot, and yes I would be working for him'.

She met his eyes and the amusement died from her face as she saw the expression in them. Danny took a deep breath

'You always said you wanted to work in Paris……you know, use your French, be closer to your parents…………'

Gabi didn't say anything, just watched as he tried to take in what she had said

He took a deep breath; 'that's pretty amazing, being offered a partnership already, they must really rate you…..I mean I know that there are reasons but to offer you a partnership……..'

She nodded still watching his reaction but he couldn't think of what else to say; his mind was in a whirl thinking about her so far away………..

'OK, look. If it's what you want to do then I say you should do it and we'll find a way…….' He stopped then tried to smile, 'I mean, Paris is only 8 hours by plane……….' His voice trailed off, aware of just how difficult it would be. She still didn't say anything, she was still watching him, still waiting for something………………

'Fuck it Gabi, if it's what you want then go for it, but I wont lie to you, I don't want us to be so far apart and as I don't speak French I doubt I could get a move to our Paris field office, even if they had any vacancies….Madrid maybe….' He shrugged his shoulders and saw that she was smiling finally, relief evident in her eyes

'You don't want me to go then?'

Danny hesitated then decided to be honest; 'no….I know it's selfish but no, I don't want you to go'

She threw her arms around his neck, almost knocking him off the stool in the process

'Whoa there, what's this all about?' Danny was totally confused now

'I just needed to hear you say it' she kissed him, pressing close, running her hands over his chest and smiling as she felt him respond

Danny felt himself sinking into the kiss, his hands slipping beneath the t-shirt………….then he suddenly pulled back

'Oh no you don't, you're not going to distract me until we've finished talking about this'

She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout, looking adorably sexy and Danny's resolved nearly crumbled. She reached out with one hand, tracing a line down his chest and heading for his boxer shorts……..he grabbed her hand

'No, no, no……….not until we have finished this conversation' he tried to give her a stern look and saw her pout change to one of interest

'You know you are incredibly sexy when you get cross; last night and now this morning………I find it a real turn on' she shot him a look that had him give serious consideration to throwing her to the floor and having her right there…………., but...

He took hold of both of her hands; 'Gabi……….'

She grinned; 'Oh ok' she settled into his embrace as she continued, 'you know I've not been enjoying the work that much for a while now…..' Danny nodded, watching her closely as she continued, 'well…………………….' She hesitated then finished in a rush 'I told them I resigned………..'

'You resigned?'

She nodded, watching his reaction closely but he couldn't think of anything to say. She smiled hesitantly

'I told them we had decided we wanted to live together, that I had been about to ask for a transfer to New York………they told me it was Paris or nothing………….I told them in that case it was nothing. They told me to take some time to think it through but I've spent all morning thinking about it and the only thing I feel is relief……….I don't want to be doing this anymore'

'And you don't want to work in Paris?' he needed to be sure

She smiled; 'look I confess, for a moment I was tempted, but only for a moment. My life is with you now, I don't want to be anywhere that you're not……..I love you Danny'

He cupped her face with his hands, knowing that he was smiling from ear to ear; 'that is the best news………' he kissed her and felt her cling to him as she returned the kiss………..felt her hand slip under the waistband of his boxer shorts

She pulled back slightly and looked at him through half closed eyes; 'now…..where were we?'

He felt the blood race through his body; he stood up pushing her backwards until they reached the kitchen wall, his hands sliding beneath the t shirt and pulling it up over her head. Her eyes widened

'Here?'

'Damn right'

His boxer shorts disappeared as he pushed her against the wall and supported her as her legs wrapped themselves around his waist. She threw her head back, and he trailed kisses down her throat and onto her shoulder as he heard her moan. He could feel the pressure build within him and he thrust harder, felt her spasm and cry out and then felt his own release.

His legs felt shaky and he had to put her down, fearing he would drop her otherwise, as he leant against her, his hands on the wall for support

Her head was resting on his shoulder and he felt her kiss him gently where his shoulder and neck joined……….

'Wow', his voice was as shaky as his legs were feeling. He looked at her and saw the glaze to her eyes and the flush on her face. She smiled at him and he straightened up and then pulled her in the direction of the bedroom

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They both fell asleep, waking up a couple of hours later and then lay in each others arms as they talked about New York.

'You know Roger told me if I did go ahead with the resignation they would put me on garden leave…………………..'

Danny grinned happily; 'so you can move to New York sooner rather than later?

She propped herself up on one elbow and began tracing a pattern on his chest; 'hmmm, looks like it….…..although I'll need to get this place sold and everything packed up……….'

'and you can look for a new place for us in New York………………….'

She laughed, 'I'm glad you said that…………'

'I don't expect you to move into mine, it's only just big enough for me….I figured we could find somewhere bigger, somewhere we've chosen together'

'That sounds like fun…………'; she was giving him that look again and he knew she wasn't just talking about apartment hunting. The pattern she was tracing had swirled down to his stomach and was dropping lower……………………Danny decided that the conversation about where they were going to live could wait………………