set after the season 11 premiere (I may do a part 2)
Danny quietly approached Maria's hospital room. There she lay, tired and injured. "How are you feeling, partner?" He asked in a low voice. "A lot better. Drugs are great." They both chuckled. Danny sat down on the bed and held her hand. "I've been thinking..." He trailed off. "Oh no." Maria said lightheartedly. "How about you come to family dinner with me Sunday?" He suggested. "I wouldn't want to impose on your time with your family." She refused. "Maria. You're coming to dinner. You said yourself that you want to have a family you can spend time with and rely on. Well, that can be my family. Family isn't always blood, Baez. Sometimes you gotta choose your family. I think that you should choose my family because we're a damn good one, if you ask me." He said with a laugh. "Danny, I know there's no point in arguing because I'm not going to win, but I don't want to just assume your family wants me there. What if they don't like me? What if they hate me and I'm just the person they have to see every week because you want me there? I don't want to be that person Danny." She said with a hint of fear in her voice. "You save my life on a daily basis. They love you for that." They both smiled.
*after dinner*
Danny and Maria got into his car. "I think that went pretty well, don't you?" Maria smiled and nodded. "It was nice to spend time with a functioning family." She laughed. "Well, that's because you caught us on a good day." Danny remarked causing them both to laugh. "You wanna go to mine and have a drink?" Maria offered. "Sounds good." He replied as he started the car and began to drive.
They walked up to Maria's apartment and she unlocked it. They went inside and she grabbed two beers out of her fridge. She handed Danny one and sat down on the couch beside him. "Are you doing okay after everything that happened the other day?" Danny spoke up. "Yeah, actually. I don't think I would be if it weren't for you. Thanks again, for everything." Danny smiled in return. "We really gotta stop getting ourselves into those kinds of situations." Maria smiled as she nodded. He placed his arm around her and she snuggled into his touch. They finished off their beers and each had one more. Danny was half way through his second one when he said something unexpected. "Do you ever think about what it would be like if we got together?" He said in a rather nonchalant manner. She was shocked at first, but decided to respond in the same tone as he had used. "Sometimes. Mostly just what would happen if everyone found out." He nodded, taking a sip of his beer. "They'd lose their shit." Danny remarked with a chuckle. Maria chuckled back. "This is definitely the alcohol talking, but I think we'd be a pretty great couple." She said hinting at her feelings for him. "Yeah. We're both badasses and really attractive." He said letting the beer speak for him as well. "Hell yeah we are." They laughed. Maria sat up and let her feelings, and her beer, lead the way. She straddled Danny's lap. He gave her a confused look. She grabbed his face and kissed him passionately. He was shocked at first, but then responded by grabbing her waist and pulling her closer. They were caught up in each other's touch and didn't want this moment to end. Eventually, the need for oxygen became overwhelming and they broke their kiss. "Exactly how drunk are you?" Danny asked with a smile. "Drunk enough that I know I want to do this. Not drunk enough that you should feel guilty about taking advantage of me." She smiled back. "That's the perfect amount." He said as she locked his lips with hers. They continued kissing as he picked her up and carried her into her bedroom.
