Goodnight, Beautiful.

"Can you zip me up?" Bristol turned her back to Daniel, holding up her hair. He answered with a yes as he fixed the knot in his tie. It was easy to see Bristol's nerves were in high gear. Her skin was paler than ever and her veins, vibrant and light blue, rose to the surface. The bedroom was filled with an eerie silence as Daniel pulled the zipper up to her black dress. No one in the Giordano house has so much as spoken to one another as they gathered around the breakfast table that morning. There really was no eating; everyone just picked at the food Matt had cooked. Even Daniel.

The baby doll cut dress fit Bristol's figure perfectly. Daniel didn't think the color did much for her, but it was a funeral and pinks and yellows often weren't worn. A diamond cross had been secured around her neck by her father previous to getting dressed, and the stones sparkled the sunlight which flooded into the room. Per her mother's request, last night Bristol had stripped her once fun orange and black hair dye and it was back to its natural chestnut color. With the hours she had spent in the sun in Philly, freckles and sunspots began littering her arms and chest.

"Are you packed?" Bristol was monotone. Very little emotion left in her. Last night Daniel had held her tight as she cried into his chest; blaming herself for the wrong path she had led Nick down. All he could do was rub her back and tell her over and over that it wasn't her fault.

"Yeah. Once we get home, I have to head over to the hospital and see Mike. His surgery was successful."

Standing in front of her mirror, Bristol pinned her hair up delicately with an assortment of pins, ties, and twists before spraying every strand in its perfect place. She'd probably accompany Daniel to the hospital to drop flowers off by Kris and a few of the other guys whom also went under the knife during the week.

"I'll come with you," Bristol pulled a black cardigan out from her suitcase and slipped it over her arms. The weather outside was sunny but the wind was chilly. Yesterday it had been almost 90 degrees; now it was back down to 60. Living in this kind of bi-polar weather for the rest of his life would drive Daniel crazy. He couldn't figure out why anyone would want to live there...or cheer for the Blackhawks.

"Kris isn't being released for a few more days and I want to drop flowers off by him."

Daniel seemed to tense up at Bristol's request to join him. "Why don't you just stay at home? Relax, watch a movie or something."

"What the fuck is with you and always wanting to leave me at home?" Bristol lifted her index finger and pointed at him. "I swear to god, Daniel, if you're cheating on me, the next funeral I attend will be yours!"

Hating the fact her voice was rising and would most likely catch the attention of Bristols father and brother--whom Daniel had begun to suspect were in the Mafia--he grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her in closer to him. "Calm down, would you? I'm not cheating on you for the last time."

Rubbing her back, he could feel Bristol begin to relax in his arms. Her forehead pressed against his shoulder as she took deep, soothing breaths. "Stay right there for a second."

Bristol dropped her arms to her sides as Daniel let go of her. She scratched at the bridge of her nose while Daniel walked over to his suitcase and unzipped it. Sifting through the pile of folded clothes, Daniel grabbed a box from the bottom which had gone unnoticed by Bristol.

As he walked back to her, Bristol could feel her eyes begin to water. Pulling the white ribbon off the first robin egg blue box, Daniel slid off the top and dumped a matching leather box into his hand. A hand placed itself over her mouth as she blinked back tears. Bristol couldn't believe what was about to happen. The two hadn't talked about their current relationship much and she had no idea he was even thinking marriage. Nevertheless, she had been waiting so long for him to ask.

"I got this a while ago and I wasn't sure when the right moment would be to give them to you,"

"Yes," Bristol had answered before Daniel even asked a question. He opened the box and her expression suddenly fell. He was sure she would like what he picked out at the Tiffany’s store in New York. The woman behind the counter promised him Bristol would be in tears. "A pair of Tiffany earrings."

"Do you like them?" Daniel asked as he handed them over to her.

Bristol placed the box containing the diamond studs on the dresser as she removed the ones she currently had in her ears. She'd be lying if she said no; they were beautiful earrings and she was way beyond grateful to have them. She had just been hoping the princess cut would be set in white gold and slipped on her left ring finger.

Securing the clasp, Bristol watched as they sparkled on her ear. "I do, I love them. Thank you."

Pressing her lips gently to his, Bristol wrapped her arms around his neck. "And, I love you."

"I love you, too."

---

The sun had just begun to set over Philly as their plane landed. Bristol was beginning to regret her decision flying back just hours after her brother had been laid to rest. However, at the moment she purchased plane tickets, it was safe to say her mind wasn't in the right place. The thought of having to stay in the home which she and Nick often partied in together any longer than 72 hours made her sick. The shit that the two of them did together in her bedroom made Bristol wonder how she had made it out of there alive. She no longer had the idea of living fast and dying young; she wanted things. Like a husband and a child. Danny and the boys .

Not a word had been spoken between Daniel and Bristol since the minute they boarded the flight in Chicago. She really had nothing to say to him and Daniel was confused as to why. Hadn't she said she loved the earrings? Her face looked like she had and he could tell if she was lying. From the look she had, Dan really thought she loved the earrings.

After getting their bags and heading to the lot where Daniel parked his car, it was the longest and most awkward car ride they had ever shared. Even the morning after they hooked up hadn't been as awkward as it was now. With her feet placed firmly on the dashboard, Bristol chewed and popped her gum, watching the other cars pass them by.

Sunglasses shielded her eyes from the sun and hid how very red they were. She didn't want him knowing she had cried for nearly ten minutes in the bathroom of the airplane. Trying to reach out, Daniel offered to stop and pick her up something to eat. She declined. Bristol hated eating around people when she was feeling down on herself. When Daniel left for the hospital, that's when she would attack the freezer and eat the rest of the vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Being as emotional eater sucked.

Unlocking the door to their townhouse, Bristol turned on the hall light as she walked up the stairs. Daniel followed close behind; shedding the shirt he had changed into and tossed it on to the floor. Even though Matt had helped clean it before he left, their house once again looked like a bomb had gone off. Bristol would have it back to spic-and-span by mid-week.

From her suitcase, Bristol grabbed her toiletry bag. She planned on heading over to the hospital to see Kris. Sometimes Bristol wished she could go back to the days when it was just the two of them living the single life. Bars every night, sleeping until noon. Not a care in the world.

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror with her toothbrush hanging out the side of her mouth, Bristol moved over to let Daniel in. He wet his toothbrush under the running water of the facet without uttering a word. This could only go on for so long before either Bristol or Dan finally snapped. And lord knows it wouldn't be pretty; at least not with both of their firecracker attitudes.

"Alright, seriously Bristol. What the fuck is going on with you?" Dan held the bottle of Scope in his left hand, recapping it. Bristol snatched it from his hands.

She took a mouthful, swished the minty liquid around before spitting it into the sink. Cocking her head to the side, Bristol set the plastic bottle back on the counter with an angry vibe. "I'm fine." She lied.

Daniel rolled his eyes. Her lie couldn't be more obvious. As he fastened the belt around his waist, Dan watched Bristol carefully as she changed into a pair of yoga pants and a thin, v-neck Chicago Cubs shirt which hung over her frame loosely. He could faintly see the outline of her black bra. Bristol grabbed her keys from atop the dresser and headed for the door; he knew if he let her walk out, there was chance she'd never come back.

Grabbing her wrist, Daniel pulled Bristol toward him as he closed the bedroom door. His sudden action frightened Bristol. "Neither of us is leaving until whatever this issue is becomes resolved."

Bristol rested her hands on hips, clearly un-amused by him. When she saw the look of seriousness wash over Dan's face, Bristol knew he wasn't playing.

"Can I ask you something? She said. "I don't want you to take it the wrong way but, I've been curious."

"Go ahead."

Bristol pinched the bridge of her nose, taking in a deep breath trying to buy time. "I was wondering if you see us having a future together."

Dan stiffened at the serious tone she was now using. He knew exactly where this was leading; Dan thought for sure the earrings bought him a few more years. "Us eventually getting married?"

Her head nodded. "You'd have to ask first, though."

When he paused, Bristol knew she had her answer. She could feel her jaw begin to quiver and he finally did open his mouth to speak, Bristol wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it. "I don't want to get married. Why can't you be happy with the way things are?"

"I am happy with the way things are but I can't play house for much longer. I want a husband and I want a child."

"Bristol, please, don't do this right now." Dan tried to stop Bristol from going any farther. He was beginning to feel guilty. His selfishness was keeping him from asking. In his mind, twenty-six was still way too young. He was at the high of his career, had girls tripping over themselves to sleep him and Dan just wanted to along for the ride. He wasn't ready to give all partying and girls up, just yet.

"Do what? Tell the truth; tell you how I actually feel? Why? Are you going to angry that a woman is actually voicing her opinion and wishes?"

He didn't get angry, instead Daniel stepped back and grabbed his sweatshirt from the bed. "I'm sorry I can't give you what you want, Bristol. I love you and you're an amazing girl, but maybe you and I aren't meant to be together."

"There’s other women, aren’t there?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Standing in the doorway of the bedroom they shared, Daniel shoved his hands into the pockets. He nodded, his voice just as quiet as Bristol's had been. "Yeah."

Backing up against the wall, Bristol could feel every nerve in her body go numb. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think and as she slid down, brought her knees to her chest. Chocking sobs erupted; she could taste the salty tears as they streamed down her face. Heartbroken by the sight in front of him, Daniel look a few steps forward, only to be stopped in his tracks. Bristol picked her head up, her cheeks stained black from the running eyeliner, pointing an angry finger at him. "Get out, please. For your safety and my sanity, please, just leave."

Moisture collected at the corners of Daniels eyes and although he'd never admit it, he knew they were tears. He took her in, watching Bristol sit on the carpeted floor in ball as she cried. Now, not just mourning the loss of her brother, but the loss of the love she deeply felt. He never wanted to leave her, but she wanted things he wasn't ready to give. Scott had been right; he had to be either 100 percent committed to her, or let Bristol go. There was another man who was willing to take care of her; give her what she wanted. As much as it hurt him to let her go, Dan knew Bristol would be happy at some point.

His chest stopped moving for a second as he turned his back on Bristol and headed down the hall, down the stairs and out the door. The sound of her cries were now only fresh memories. Memories that would haunt him for surely the rest of his life.

Back in their bedroom, Bristol stood up, shaking as she balled up a fist. Her anger took the best of her, and while letting out a scream of almost hatred, she smashed her fist in to the wall. Bristol had done it before, leaving good size holes in freshly pained walls. Taking the photo of the two of them off the nightstand, she hurled it against the opposite wall, hearing the glass shatter as it hit the floor.

I would have waited if it meant I’d be with you, she thought.

But, Daniel would never know what Bristol was thinking, because Daniel was gone, and Bristol realized then that it was truly over.

The End.