After we bid our goodbyes to the happy couple, Daniel and I made our long way back home. I watched as Daniel drove in concentration. His left hand held his head, supporting itself on the edge the door had, while the other held the bottom of the steering wheel. His jaw, that I'm so used to seeing clenched, was relaxed. 

"Your staring was cute, but now it just creeps me out," he smugly replied and I smacked his arm and chuckled.

"You just seem really relaxed since we went over to Nathaniel's," I stated.

"Is that bad?" 

"No, it's not. We should come over more often to give you a break from all the duties you have at the pack," I replied. "I don't like seeing you so tired and worried all the time. You put up a front, but I can see right through it, Daniel." He gave me a small smile as he looked at me.

"I'm glad I have you as my wife, Chloe," he took the wheel with his left hand and intertwined his fingers with mine, with the right. "You know that a pack can't run itself. It needs someone to guide them and I'm that person. I didn't want to be and Alpha, but neither did Nathaniel. He's older than I am; he was supposed to be the Alpha, but we were both young and he wanted to live his teen years free from any responsibilities. I didn't want him to live his teen years as a someone so alone and business-like. It wasn't the Nathaniel I knew, so I stepped up for him. Not for power, but so that he would be able to live freely and so that at least one of us would get to enjoy life without carrying the responsibilities of leading a pack, on our shoulders.

"Our father had very high expectations for us at a very young age. It made me so sad and angry to see our father expect more from Nathaniel than me, always pushing him past his limits, when I knew that he didn't want to take the position- he didn't want to follow his footsteps and neither did I. So a year before Nathaniel would take over, I told my father that I would prove myself worthy of being an Alpha. Nathaniel was angry because he didn't want me to live like a prisoner- kind of ironic because I was supposed to be the leader. So in order for me to get the position and have him live like he wanted, I lied to him. I told him that I was always jealous of him because our father always looked at him with pride. I pushed him away so that he wouldn't have to worry about what strategies to use so people wouldn't get torn to pieces. He fell for my lie and handed me his position. Up to this day, he still doesn't know my little white lie." He turned to looked at me with soft eyes and my heart clenched, "I would do anything for him and would never actually hurt him- sure I threaten him, but I never mean it. He has a large fragment of my heart, Chloe. Only you and him do," he turned his attention back to the road as I stared at him with a blurry vision.

I was at loss for words. Daniel only showed me his most vulnerable moments, but this, this wasn't just a vulnerable moment. It was a small piece of his past, one piece out of many others that I would slowly glue in place until I had the whole picture. "I'm so sorry you had to do that, Daniel. I appreciate the fact the you opened up to me."

"You're my wife. I think you deserve to know more about me," he chuckled softly as his thumb traced circles on the back of my hand. I smiled and turned my attention back to the road. I noticed he took a different turn than we did the last time we came. 

"I think you made a wrong turn bec-"

"Trust me," was all he said and I leaned back and closed my eyes.

"Okay."

**

I felt a nudge on my shoulder and I opened my eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. It was dark outside, Daniel's face being litten by the moon's light. He held his hand out for me, as he stood outside my opened car door. I took his hand without hesitation and he smiled. He stepped aside and I froze in shock at the sight before me.

It only took a second before my mind registered the lake that had floating lilly-pads with lit candles on top of them. They formed a large heart with a 'C' in the middle. I sucked in a sharp breath as I turned to the willow tree that had bright, white lights hanging from it and a blanket with a basket on top of it. 

"How did you-"

"You're a heavy sleeper," he cut off and chuckled. He rubbed the back of his head and even in the dark, I coud see the tink of pink on his cheeks. "Do you like it?"

"Do I like it? Daniel I frickin' love it! Thank you," I walked up to him and placed a soft and lingering kiss on his lips. His hands wrapped around my waist as our lips detached.

"Good, because every lilly-pad set, was a reminder of how much I love you," I smiled and he took my hand and led me under the tree.

We ate the food Daniel had packed as we talked and laughed about the smallest things. He was such an important person in my life- he was my life and I was afraid someone would take him from me or hurt him. I leaned over so that my lips were on his. He immediately replied and gripped both sides of my hips, pulling me to him. I straddled him as his hands roamed my body. I pulled his shirt off. My mind catches up with my body and remove my lips from his.

"Daniel should we really be doing this here? Anyone could see us," I said softly as I set my hands on his broad chest. A smirk makes its way onto his face.

"I made sure that everyone stayed cleared for a twenty mile radius," Daniel said and kissed my cheek as his arms wrapped around my waist. 

"We're in a public place, though," I mumble as my finger trails down his toned abdomen.

"But we're alone, right now. Just imagine me making love to you," Daniel whispered in my ear, causing a shudder to run down my spine.

I pressed my lips to his, as he slips my shirt off, leaving me in my bra. Cold air hits my skin, but it was quickly chased away by the heat provided by my mate's body. He set me down on the warm blanket and hovered over me. [A/N Go to R.C.]

Daniel gets up from ontop of me and pulls me up with him. Carrying me bridal style, towards the lake.

"Daniel what are-" I'm interrupted by the sound of water splashing. Soon, I felt all sounds block out, except for the water's low and calm movements around me. Under water, I see the bright light of the moon and I don't recall ever feeling so calm and safe. Two arms pull me up from the water and unto the surface. I take in a lungful of air, before splashing Daniel who was laughing his butt off. "You could have warned me!" I exclaimed, but the corner of my lips tugged upwards.

"Sorry, babe. It was supposed to be an unnoticed skinny-dipping moment," he replied with a smug smile and shrug of his shoulder. I rolled my eyes playfully and closed my eyes, floating aimlessly. I heard the sound of water splash lightly. I purposely swam away from Daniel. I heard him growl lightly, causing me to swim full speed. It wasn't long before a hand wrapped around my ankle and pull me towards him. 

"Where do you think you're going?" He whispered in my ear and I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his bare torso.

"No where," I innocently replied as I looked around. He took a deep breath in, attached his lips to mine, and pulled us both underwater. An underwater kiss. 

Maybe it was the way his arms felt, wrapped securely around my waist. Or maybe it was the way his body fit so perfectly- like a puzzle piece, with mine. Or maybe it was the way his lips moved in sync with mine- together with rythym. Maybe it was the sound of our hearts beating at the same time, at the same pace- never missing a beat. Or maybe it was the sounds around us, muffled by the calm waters, lightened by the moon's soft glow. Whatever it was, I was under water and I was breathing just fine.

________********________

**Author's Note **

Finally! Two updates in a day, not bad huh? Hope it makes up for not uploading in a long time before chapter 5. This scene, that I have been planning to write, but couldn't get around to it, is actually an important chapter. It starts a bit serious, talking a bit about Dany's past, but lighter and a bit happier with their love-making lol. Anyways, love ya! (Thanks to Jillbean2 for helping me with the love making smut!)

-MariFer