Secrets? Never.

1. Winning A Battle

"Welcome home, Danny!" Daniel whispered to the sleeping baby in Emily's arms as she smiled into Daniel's video camera, walking through the front door of the beach house, the sun-dappled porch, though, somehow demanded her presence. "Daniel, I'm gonna go sit out on the porch, okay?" she asked wistfully, taking a few steps back, as her bemused husband put away his video camera, looking on intently as she walked back, towards the porch swing, appreciative of the warm sun hitting the top of her back.

Gazing out at the sea, it never seemed like any time ever passed in this place. Everything is as it always had been ever since she was a little girl, and, although she and Daniel had mocked this attribute, nicknaming the Hamptons 'the land that time forgot', she hoped, in her heart of hearts, that it would continue staying the same. She loved the way the waves glistened in the sunlight, how the sunset was always the most powerful shade of magenta, and how, on the hottest of days, a cool breeze always made its way over the white sands of the beach to her face.

Daniel sidled up to the porch swing, careful not to disturb his wife, who was deep in thought. "Room for one more?" he questioned hopefully "Don't worry- the video camera is inside" he added. Emily patted the empty space on the swing next to her with her free hand, as the other cradled a sleeping Danny.

"Do you remember the first time you ever told me you loved me?" Emily brought up, out of the blue, turning ever so slightly to stare into Daniel's eyes. "How could I forget? I had been so angry with you that evening, I think it was something silly, maybe to do with Jack? But I'd gone for a walk after you'd told me you loved me, and, as I drifted up the shoreline, I caught sight of you, on this porch swing, staring off into the nothingness in the distance, and I just thought to myself how beautiful you were. Naturally, I stopped walking, but it got me thinking about all the things I love about you. You know what stood out the most?" he asked, taking her free hand in his. "What?" she half-smiled in return. "It was, how starkly different you were to my family. In that moment, I just knew I loved you, and it hit me how much I needed to tell you that." Daniel finished with a wistful hint of a smile.

The baby stirred in Emily's arms, reminding her that she should probably put him to bed. After all, he'd only been inside the house for all of about three seconds, before being dragged out again.

She tiptoed upstairs, careful not to wake him, and set him down in the crib. The sight of the bright, blue walls was a refreshing change for her, after the years of nothing but pink. Daniel followed her up, video camera in-tow, eager to capture his son's first few moments at home.

"He's amazing, isn't he?" she marvelled, in awe of what she'd managed to create. "You're amazing" he replied. He was so blissfully happy. Nothing could get him down. "The girls didn't seem all that thrilled about him though" Emily sighed. "Well maybe" Daniel replied matter-of-factly "if you hadn't promised Soph a sister, she'd be happier with a brother" he broke out into a smile, in spite of his words, playfully scolding his wife.

Isabella shuffled in quietly, careful not to wake the sleeping baby. "Between you and me," she whispered though a grin, "I am so glad he's a boy." Her statement, said in all sincerity, was met by puzzled expressions from her parents, so she continued, "I couldn't be dealing with another little Sophia running around, annoying me. At least this way, we'll be separate enough interest-wise that he'll leave me be!" Emily looked down at her daughter, with a loving smile as the little girl leaned over into the crib, "Oh, you know you love Sophia. She's your little sister!" Noticing that she still wasn't getting through to her daughter, she continued "You know, when I was your age, I would've given anything in the world for a little sister. You're very lucky that you have one, and although you mightn't see it now, when you're all grown up, you and Sophia will be the best of friends."

At that moment; she felt normal. She was dealing with normal person problems. Not her hostage getting free; not her enemy murdering her intel; not a bomb; not death; not vengeance; just a little girl, moaning about her little sister.

In a way, it wasn't just as though the whole point of Danny's existence was to keep his father from straying; but also, as Emily had just realised; to make her feel more normal. More like someone she'd walk past on the street, who wouldn't notice the worried look on her face, or how stressed out she was; purely because they were blinded by their own happiness.

© Sarah Egan 2014 - 2015. All rights reserved. This story is subject to copyright and may not be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the author.