"Sorry," Remington said, slurring the word slightly. He peered across the room. "You okay?"

"I think I'll- survive," Daniel said, forcing himself to breathe normally. "Now, I'll ask again. What are you doing here?"

"Stopped by for a drink," Remington told him, lifting an empty glass. "Since you weren't here- I decided to help myself."

Daniel recognized the look on Harry's face, knew that the young man needed to talk. He recognized the trill of gratification in the fact that Harry had sought him out as he picked up the empty glass. Going to the cabinet, he found another glass and went to fill both from the bottle that Harry had opened. Then, after handing one glass to Harry, he sat down across from the younger man and said, "So, tell old Daniel what's ailing you, my boy."

"I asked Laura to marry me last night," Remington told him, placing his glass on the coffee table with careful deliberation.

"Really? Too bad I don't have some champagne on hand. This calls for a celebration. But I suppose this wine will suffice for a toast-"

"She said no," Remington said suddenly.

"She- what? Really, Harry-"

"Turned me down, flat. Well, that's not true, really. She asked for some time- but-"

"It hurt, didn't it?"

Remington managed a lopsided grin. "You know me too well, Daniel. Hell, yes, it hurt. All these years, Laura's wanted a commitment. Some- proof that I'll stay here- that she's not goin' to wake up some mornin' and find me gone- and when I finally give it to her- she tosses it back in my face." He sat forward, placing his head in his hands. He'd had quite a bit to drink already, Daniel realized, as he heard the sound of Harry's Irish accent slipping out occasionally. "Sometimes I just don't know what she wants from me. I spent all that time lookin' for who I was, tryin' to track down my name so I could give it to her as some kind of proof- only to find out that it doesn't matter to her anymore."

"Does it matter to you, Harry?" Daniel asked carefully, looking across at the younger man.

"It would be nice to know who I am," Remington said, hands clasped between his knees now. "To know why my father deserted me-"

"Maybe he didn't," Daniel hazarded a suggestion.

"I haven't seen him hangin' about all these years," Remington pointed out. "Wasn't there when I was passed from pillar to post, when I was livin' on the streets in Brixton-"

"Maybe- maybe he had his reasons," Daniel said, studying the wine in his glass. "You said yourself that he probably stole that watch from the Earl- perhaps he was in prison- and by the time he was released, you were nowhere to be found." His eyes lifted to find that blue gaze on him. "Just a suggestion, Harry." He took a deep breath. "Tell me, if your father were to turn up now, this minute, what would you do?"

Remington sat there for a moment. "If you'd asked me that ten years ago, you know what my answer would be, Daniel," he said with a deep sigh. "What was it I always said? That I'd spit in his face and turn my back on him the same way the bloody bastard had turned his on me?"

Daniel rose and tried to move a normally as possible across the room to the bottle of wine. "Do you still feel that way?"

"Honestly? I don't know. I want to know the truth - but I don't want to. I mean, what if he's a mass murderer- or traitor- or-" He drew a ragged breath. "I'd give him the chance to explain, I hope. Then I'd make any further decisions based on what he told me."

Daniel, facing away from Harry, closed his eyes in relief, then picked up his glass once more. "Mildred tells me that you were asking her about my family."

Remington grinned rather sheepishly. "Curiosity," he admitted. "I was just worried that you had family somewhere that might want to know-"

"Trying to get shed of me, Harry?" Daniel asked, but he was smiling. "Pass me off as someone else's problem?"

"No, no, of course not. I just- when you mentioned that your medical problem wasn't hereditary, I suddenly realized that it meant you knew somethin' about your family- and I'd never even bothered to ask about it. Don't be angry with Mildred-"

"I'm not. And I'm not angry with you, either. Tell you what, why don't the four of us, you, Laura, Mildred, and me, all have lunch Sunday afternoon? We can drive out to the house in Malibu and show it to Mildred- and I'll tell you everything you want to know."

"You don't have to-"

"I know, Harry. But I want you to know about whatever family I might have other than those that I've CHOSEN as my family." He smiled warmly at Harry. "Now, about this problem with Laura."

"Oh, I'm not really lookin' for answers, Daniel. I just needed to get out for awhile, clear my mind -."

Daniel picked up Remington's still full glass. "This doesn't clear the mind, Harry. Just clouds it and makes the problem worse."

"I know. And I'm not normally prone to drownin' my sorrows in drink. You know that. It's just- well, you weren't here, and I didn't know where else to go."

"I suppose I should feel honored that you think enough of me to come to me with your problems at all these days. I thought you'd out grown that. But I do have an answer for you- of sorts."

"You do?"

"You won't like it." He watched as the hopeful expression faded from Harry's face. "Why did you call me to Los Angeles, Harry?"

"To help with Laura-"

"And why did you need help? What caused HER problem?"

"Her father's death," Remington answered.

"It's more than that, Harry. His death is all tied in with his leaving the first time, and his return and the things she found out because of that. Laura still associates marriage with her parents' own disastrous union. Did she suggest that you and she stop seeing each other outside of the office?"

"No. That's just it. She wants to go on like we have been- livin' together-"

"Then don't fight it. When Laura's ready, she'll let you know."

"When? I'd like to be married before I'm ninety, Daniel. And- well, I'd like to start a family of my own. Mine- and Laura's."

"A family? Have you discussed that with Laura?"

"Not yet. I was goin' to, but- didn't seem much point to it after she turned me down."

"She didn't turn you down, Harry, only marriage. I think Laura's right. Give it time."

"And how long am I supposed to wait?"

"Harry, do you love Laura?"

"More than anything."

"Then why the rush? Things will work out, my boy. Trust me. Now, we'd better see about getting you back to her. Did she know you were coming to see me?"

"No. I told her I was goin' for a walk-" Remington squinted at his wristwatch. "Two hours ago."

"Good lord. You've been here for two hours? The poor girl probably thinks you've disappeared off the face of the earth. How did you get here?"

"Told you. I walked."

Daniel gave a tug on Remington's arm. "Well, you're in no shape to repeat that at the moment. I'll drive you home and see you safely back into Laura's waiting arms."

Remington laid his arm around Daniel's shoulder as they moved toward the door. "You're a good friend, Daniel," he said. "The best friend I've ever had. Really."

"I just hope you still feel that way after Sunday," Daniel muttered as he fastened the outer lock on the sliding door while Harry leaned against the wall nearby.

"What?"

"Nothing. Let's go, shall we? Laura's probably pacing the floor with worry."

"Think so?" Remington asked, and Daniel shook his head at the optimistic gleam in those blue eyes.

"Mind the stairs, Harry," Daniel warned as they started down the first flight. "Wouldn't do for you to break your neck before Laura has a chance to do it."

***

Laura had the door open at the first sound of Remington's key in the lock. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" she was saying, then stopped as she saw that he wasn't alone. "Daniel."

"Good evening, Laura," he said, moving forward, Remington's arm draped around his neck. "Would you mind-?"

"Oh, of- of course," she agreed, moving to Remington's left side and slipping his other arm around her own shoulders. "What happened to him?" she asked as they started for the bedroom.

"He's had a bit too much of the grape, I'm afraid."

"You got him DRUNK?" Laura said as they sat the semi- conscious Remington onto the side of the bed.

"Not Daniel's fault," Remington told her in a slightly slurred voice. "Did it all- by myself."

Laura removed his coat, and pushed him onto his back before removing his shoes, with a glance at Daniel for confirmation. "He was in the loft when I got back from Mildred's. I think he had already polished off a bottle that I bought yesterday and was starting on another."

She picked up a comforter from a chair and slipped it over Remington. "Get some sleep," she told him.

"Laura," he said, grabbing her wrist to keep her from leaving him. "I'm sorry. Didn't understand. I won't- pressure you about- marriage. Know you're- not ready."

"I'll just- wait out in the other room," Daniel told Laura, and slipped through the open doorway.

"Daniel- explained. Made me realize I was wrong," Remington muttered as Laura tucked the comforter in.

"He did, did he?" Laura said, then leaned forward to give him a kiss on the forehead. "Go to sleep. We'll talk later."

"No rush. Love you."

"I love you," she replied, smoothing the lock of dark hair from his brow. Then she stood and moved toward the living room door, squaring her shoulders as she prepared to do battle.

"All tucked in?" Daniel asked in a quiet voice.

"All tucked," Laura confirmed.

"Well, I'll be going then," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow morning at Mr. Davis-"

"You're not going anywhere until we have a little chat, Daniel," Laura told him. Daniel paused en route to the door and turned to look at the young woman. "Sit," she said, pointing to a nearby chair.

"It's really rather late, my dear, and tomorrow's going to be a long day-"

"We can either do this quietly, Daniel, and not disturb Remington, or we can involve him. It's your choice."

Daniel took the chair she indicated he should, then watched as she came around to sit on the sofa. "What did you want to - chat about?" he asked.

"Why don't we start with how you convinced Remington not to pressure me about getting married? And WHY you did it?"

"I'd like nothing more than to see the two of you married and starting a family of your own, Laura, but I also realize that you've been through quite a lot in the last few months. Harry's not going anywhere. He can wait- if what he's waiting for is important enough to him."

"And do you think it is? Important to him, I mean?"

"More important than his own life," Daniel told her with a dramatic flair. "Laura, never doubt for a moment that that man in there loves you. He'd do almost anything for you- my God, he changed his entire LIFE for you. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Of course it does. But- marriage just seems so-." She faltered.

"I agree that your experience with that estate was less than joyful- but let me ask you something- did NOT marrying that young man- what was his name?- the banker-"

"Wilson?"

"Did that keep him from leaving? And what about your sister's marriage? From what your mother told me the last time we spoke, their marriage is nothing short of perfection itself."

"Mother told everyone that HER marriage was perfect until Daddy left," Laura said in a small voice. Realization dawned. "WHEN did you talk to my mother?"

"A few months ago. We're friends, Laura. Nothing more than that. I was passing through New York, she was there shopping. We happened to run into each other, and had lunch."

"She didn't mention it to me."

"Does your mother tell you everything she does?"

"No, but-"

"I'd wager that she didn't tell you about visiting me in the South of France, either."

Laura's eyes were huge. "She- No, she didn't." Her gaze moved to the closed bedroom door. "Did he know?"

"No. She knew that you would try to stop her- and didn't want to ask him to keep a secret from you. It was during that visit that she and I realized that we weren't at all suited to each other."

"Really?"

"She threw ME over, actually. For a Baron."

"My mother and a - Baron?"

"I introduced them at the casino one evening, and Abigail barely said two words to me for days. He even escorted her on the return home, if I remember correctly." Daniel leaned forward and placed a hand over Laura's. "Let me tell you a story. About a young man who was much like Harry when you first met him- free, answering to no one, until the day he met a beautiful young woman who stole his heart with her laughter. But the young man was too foolish to see what a treasure he'd been given, and he made a tragic mistake which separated them forever. The young man wound up in prison, and the young woman died. The young man had no idea what had happened to the young woman until he was released and went looking for her. He was devastated and never allowed himself to love that deeply again." He started to cough, and mindful of Remington in the other room, Laura moved closer. Daniel shook his head toward her, then quieted. "I told Harry to give you your time, Laura. You're both young, and in love and there's no rush for you marry or have a family yet. But I'm going to tell you something else. Enjoy being together- but remember that no one can see into the future. Take each day as it comes and be grateful for it. You don't usually get a second chance."

"Daniel-"

He brought he hands to his lips and rose from the chair. "I'll see you tomorrow, my dear. Sleep well."

He was at the door when she asked, "How did she die?"

"Who?" he asked.

Laura rose from the sofa and looked at him. "The woman in the story. How did she die?"

Daniel seemed to hesitate before answering, as if choosing what response to give. "She died giving birth to the man's child," he told her, his eyes filled with deep sorrow and regret. "Good night, Laura."

Laura stood there, stunned, as the implication of Daniel's story hit her full force. As a result, by the time she got out into the hall, the elevator was already at the gone, and she missed her chance to question him further.

Returning to the apartment, Laura locked the door out of habit, and went into the bedroom. Remington was sound asleep, curled on his side, her pillow in his arms. She reached out and smoothed his dark hair.

If the story Daniel had told her was true, and based on his own life, then the man she knew as Remington Steele was Daniel Chalmers son . . .

To Be Continued . . .

---

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Original content ©2001 by Nancy Eddy