Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 3

Max dropped Daniel off at the apartment as arranged, and Emmie insisted on coming up to see Allie and Michael. Michael was in the bathroom, but the four and a half year old squealed and jumped into Allie's arms as she walked in. "You are getting so big Emmie I can hardly lift you!" Emmie giggled, "I know, Daddy says I need big girl's car seats now." Michael came out of the bathroom and Allie passed Emmie to him where he promptly pretended to eat her, causing her to laugh hysterically, before he set her down, grinning at Max who shook his head in mock disapproval. Daniel picked his daughter up and kissed her, "Now you remember to be super good tonight and do exactly what Max and Margie say okay?" She nodded vigorously, "I will Daddy." He smiled and gave her a final squeeze, "Good girl." Max held out his hand to her as Michael clapped his shoulder. She started to walk off before dropping Max's hand and running back to hug Allie 'round the waist. Allie bent down and she whispered in her ear "You look really pretty Mommy." Allie hugged her tightly, "Have fun tonight sweetheart, and get Daddy to send me a picture of you in your princess dress at the party."

Daniel dropped his bag into the spare room and they left to walk the fifiteen minutes to the Smokehouse, with Michael messaging the group to say they were on their way. Jeremy and Robyn arrived as they got to the restaurant, and everyone else was already inside. Susan, Tina, Carole and Julie shrieked as they came in and each one hugged Allie. John was organising drinks and pushed a cocktail into her hand as he kissed her cheek. Daniel crossed over to Jeremy to congratulate him on moving Robyn in, making her blush in the process.

They all sat down and had food, moving around the table to catch up with one another. Allie slid in next to Jeremy while Robyn was laughing at a story John was regaling her with about the station. Allie hugged him warmly and he said, "Thanks for not telling anyone about me and Robyn before we were ready." She shrugged, "Like I told Dan, not my secret to tell." She laughed, "Poor Dan had like zero idea." Hearing his name Daniel moved to sit behind Allie looping an arm around her waist, "Dan had zero idea about what?" Jeremy smiled, "Me and Robyn." Daniel nodded, "I didn't! And this one" he said tightening his hold on Allie, "she never breathed a word." Jeremy laughed, "Yeah well we needed time to figure it out just the two of us." Daniel kissed Allie and released her and stood up to hug Jeremy from behind, "Well we're all happy for you both, best news this week." Susan was calling across the table so Allie walked around and Michael pulled her onto his lap. "Michael says the house is almost ready honey." Allie broke out into a wide smile, "Yeah the kitchen's just about finished, so hangovers permitting we're going to take a look tomorrow afternoon. Want to come see?" Susan kissed her and then Michael, "Oh my god yes. I can't wait to see it. Come back to us after and we can order take out." Julie called Susan over the other side of the table and Michael pulled Allie close. He held her face to kiss her. For a minute Allie forgot there was anyone else in the room until John leaned across and put two new cocktails in front of them, "Come up for air you two and drink those. You're lagging behind in drunkenness!"

They moved to The Lighthouse bar a few streets away. John pooled the cash and kept the drinks flowing. There was no karaoke but a DJ, and as Jeremy sat with Carole's husband Larry at the tables they'd taken over, he watched the girls dancing with Daniel, John and Michael. Looking over at Allie he couldn't help remember how fragile she'd been less than a year ago and he smiled. Larry said, "She's done amazing hasn't she, Allie I mean." Jeremy took a gulp from his beer, "Yeah, she's like a force of nature. I had no idea the night she came into the ER what a massive impact she'd have on my life. I'd never have even met Robyn."

The night wore on, and even Jeremy found himself on the floor with the music pulsing through their bodies, the alcohol ensuring they moved instinctively to the beats. Eventually John and Larry ordered cabs to get them all home. Daniel held Allie upright while Michael fished out her jacket from behind the table, and they left for the short drive to the apartment. Daniel settled the fare while Michael lifted Allie out. He set her back on her feet at the apartment entrance, as her two escorts laughed hysterically when she immediately tripped over Michael's feet and he had to catch her. "Jesus Allie I'll have to carry you before you break something." Daniel was bent over laughing and he tried to straighten up, but Allie's reply that it wasn't her fault the bloody floor kept moving made him worse. Somehow they made it to the lift and into the apartment. Lifting her easily, Michael tilted Allie so Daniel could kiss her goodnight before he headed into the guest room and Michael laid a giggling Allie on their bed.

Daniel woke with a predictably throbbing head. He made his way into the bathroom letting the hot shower soothe him, and threw his clean clothes on before heading to the open plan area to find Allie grabbing Advil from the kitchen cupboard. She smiled knowingly as he appeared and nodded to the couch, bringing the pills and two glasses of water to the coffee table. They sank down and Allie said, "Michael's gone to grab us real coffee and donuts. He swears that's the secret to surviving a hangover and I have to say it seems to work, well at least a tiny bit." She passed him a couple of Advil and they both slugged them down before they sat back and she tucked her legs up and snuggled up to him. He lifted his arm over and kissed her head, drinking in the scent of fresh shampoo in her damp hair and using his other hand to caress her dainty bare feet beneath the simple blue cotton dress. He allowed himself a rare moment to imagine he'd never married Carrie and could have given full reign to his feelings for her when they'd first met before saying, "I'd better message Max, make sure they're okay keeping Emmie until I feel a bit more human." He got up to grab his phone and typed a message.

Michael returned with three large coffees and a box of warm glazed donuts. "Ooooo Daniel, you look like a bad scene! These bad boys'll fix you up. Twenty shrieking four and five year olds will be a piece of cake after these." Dan groaned, "Oh my god, don't remind me. I hate these parties when I'm not hung over, let alone when I am. Can't you guys come with me?" Allie laughed then clutched her throbbing head, "what, and have Twitter trending #Thruple" Michael snorted laughing as he opened the donuts and Daniel groaned again, "Never did I imagine my four year old would come home and ask me, Daddy what's a thruple? Madison said her mommy thinks we live in one." Michael wheezed laughing and grabbed his shoulders, pushing him down on the couch, "Eat the donuts Dan, best hangover cure in the world, trust me."

They sat discussing the previous night and Daniel's phone pinged. "It's Margie. They're at the park with Emmie, so I can walk over to meet them and grab a lift back to get her ready for the party. Better get my stuff, Max will have had enough by now." Allie smiled, "Don't be taken in by his grumpy act. He loves having Emmie. And he especially loves how happy it makes Margie."