"No, I think your hair is beautiful the way it is, Mrs. Fatone. I think the grays are distinguishing." Danielle said, sitting on the couch next to Joey's grandmother in the Fatone family living room.
"Please, dear, call me grandma. I feel like your a part of the family now."
Danielle smiled. "All right. Grandma, I think your hair is beautiful."
Just then, Joey came into the living room fro helping his mother do the dinner dishes.
"Joseph!" Grandma cried. "Where did you meet this lovely young lady?"
Grinning, Joey sat down on the couch. "At an interview, grandma. Isn't she amazing?"
"She's such a sweet heart!"
By now Danielle was blushing.
"Yeah, she is, but, can I steal her away from you for a moment?"
"Sure. But bring her back soon!" she chuckled.
Joey stood up and took Danielle's hand, pulling up, and lead her outside.
"What?" Danielle asked.
"Nothing. I just want you to myself for a little bit. I don't get to see you as often as I'd like, I don't want to share you with them!"
Joey wrapped his arms around her waist, as a smile crept across her face. For a moment, they just starred at eachother.
"God, how do you do it?" Joey asked.
"Do what?"
"Get everyone to love you so much? Everyone in there loves you! Even Janine, and she never likes any of my girlfriends."
Danielle shrugged. "I guess I'm just good like that."
"I think I know why."
"Why?"
"Because I love you, too." he whispered.
Danielle froze. "What did you say?"
Joey's face flushed with embarrassment. He knew it was to early in their relationship to say that. Why had he done it? Well, he couldn't take it back now. "I. . uh-I love you."
"Nobody in my whole entire life has ever said that to me before." she said quietly. She looked up into his eyes. "I love you, too, Joey."
Joey sighed with relief. "You do?"
She nodded, and rested her head on his shoulder, lightly kissing his chin. "Yeah, I do. I love you."
Joey tilted his mouth downward meeting Danielle's lips softly with his own.
"Joseph!" his mothers voice called. "Telephone!"
Sighing, Joey pulled away. "I guess I better get that."
"Yeah."
"Stay here," Joey grinned. "I'll be right back."
Danielle giggled. "All right."
As Joey jogged inside, Danielle walked over to a white wooden lawn chair, and sat down.
Seconds later, Joey ran inside, a huge grin on his face. "Oh my God!"
"What?" Danielle asked.
"They want me in the group!" he cried.
Danielle's eyebrows furrowed. "What? Who?"
"Remember last night, Chris and JC at the club? How they are starting a group?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
"They want me to come down now and audition. But JC said there's a rea llygood chance I'm in!"
Danielle jumped up and threw her arms around him. "That's great, sweetie!"
"So, are you gonna come with me?" he asked.
"Now?"
"Yeah," he nodded, eagerly."
"I think I probably outta get home before dad suspects something, ok baby?"
Joey's face fell. "Yeah. . . all right."
"Come on. Let me say good-bye to your family." Danielle took his hand and led him inside.
"That was the first time you told mommy her loved her?" Destiny asked.
"It was the first time I told any woman I loved her. The first time I honestly meant it." Joey gazed lovingly at his wife's lifeless body.
"Well, how did your audition go?"
"Great. I met with the guys, we harmonized, and it sounded good. The next day we met up with the guys manager, Lou Pearlman and he loved us together. He was ready to start us with vocal lessons, dance rehearsals, the full nine yards. But, when Danielle watched us rehearse, she pointed out that something was missing. . . "