Growing up, Dani never imagined herself as Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman or any film where the underdog woman got the man. She never dared to dream that she could meet someone that would accept her despite her nightmares. When she arrived to Jax's house, she was beyond surprised. She expected an easy night of Netflix, but instead she was smack dab in the middle of her very own romance movie.

"Uhmm...Jax? What is all this?" she asked, waving a hand at the candlelit picnic he had set up in his living room.

Jax scratched the back of his head with one hand, looking chagrined, "Well, our first date was kind of ruined...so I thought maybe I should make it up to you. Consider it our first date...part two. I hope you don't mind."

"I...of course I don't mind," Dani whispered as she took in the red roses that were still in their clear wrapping, laid out for her perusal. A wicker picnic basket was opened with a bottle of wine chilling next to it. A blue cashmere blanket was laid out with matching silk pillows. "This is really fancy."

Jax laughed nervously, "Is it too much?"

Dani giggled, "Is Jax Michaels blushing?"

He looked away, "I don't blush."

"Yes you do. That's so cute."

"Panda Eyes...come here," he gently grabbed her arms and pulled her forward until she was close enough to rest her hands on his chest. "Do you like it?"

"The picnic or your chest?"

Jax grinned, "I already know you like my chest."

"Narcissist," Dani laughed.

"No seriously, is it too cheesy?"

"No, it's not cheesy. Well...maybe a little cheesy but I like cheesy. It's all romantical and stuff," Dani smiled.

"Romantical? Are we making up words, Panda Eyes?"

"Don't be a Jax Ass and ruin the moment."

"Well, I'm glad you worked the day shift so you can have the night off. You're spending the night, right?" Jax asked, kissing her temple.

Dani stilled and looked away, "So what's for dinner?"

Jax didn't miss her obvious change of subject, "I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

"Don't lie. What's for dinner?" Dani asked, as she sat in front of the picnic basket and began pulling out the contents. There was chicken, potato salad, and other dishes that Jax had clearly picked up from a restaurant. "You didn't make these from scratch? I'm taking off points Apple Jax."

She was joking but Jax crossed his arms, "I'm good at other things besides cooking if you'd just let me show you."

Dani removed the lid from the potato salad, "Yum, this looks delicious. You know the new guy at work can make a mean potato salad."

"New guy?"

"Yeah," Dani nodded, scooping a dollop of the yellowish substance onto his plate. "His name is Donovan. He wants to be a French cook but he's still putting himself through school so Oliver's letting his work at the diner."

"Are you comparing me to a cook at the diner?"

Dani laughed, "No. I'm just saying that he knows how to cook."

"I can cook some things," Jax muttered. "Ask Roberto, I can make fish sticks."

"Forget it, Jax," Dani laughed. "I'm sorry I brought it up. Besides, Dolores wants a crack at him."

"Dolores wants a crack at everyone. I saw her pinching a customer's butt once," Jax admitted.

"What? You're lying!"  

"I'm serious. The customer seemed shocked at first but then laughed. In truth, I think he kind of liked it."

"No way she would do that. I mean she's pretty pervy but no way!"

"She did. I can prove it," Jax held up a hand.

"How?"

"Ask Roberto."

"Roberto? Dani asked. "Did he see it too?"

"No, it was his butt she pinched," Jax answered, causing Dani to break into a fit of laughter.

After a few moments, Jax became quiet, "Dani? You're really close with Dolores and Oliver, right?"

"They're like family to me. Why?"

"I was just thinking...I know it's hard for you to get close to anyone. I get that and I'm willing to wait but-"

"But what?"

Jax cleared his throat, "But I want to be in your circle too."

"My circle?"

"Your safety circle. You know. Those people that you let get really close to you. I want you to lean on me. Does that make sense?"

"No. Not really," Dani said quietly.

"Why not? Is it that hard to imagine getting close to me?"

"No," Dani answered. "It's just that you keep saying you want me to lean on you and you want me to let you in my 'safety circle' but the truth is...you're already in, Jax. You've been in. You're probably closer to me than anyone since you're the only one that knows my secret. As for leaning on you...sometimes I get scared that I'll lean too much on you. Don't think that I didn't notice you're not wearing Vivian's ring anymore. I realize what a big step this was for you. Believe me...I get it."

"They why-"

"I don't know. I guess I'm still shy when it comes to everything involved with intimacy. I'm nervous."

"You know I think you're beautiful, right?" Jax asked, slowly inching closer to her.

"Do I? I don't remember you telling me you thought I was beautiful," Dani joked.

"How rude of me," Jax whispered. He was close enough that she could feel the soft tickle of his breath against her cheek. "You're beautiful Dani. Absolutely gorgeous."

"Liar."

"Should I prove it?" before she could answer, he leaned in and settled his lips against hers. What started off as warm and slow quickly became hot and frenzied.

Dani felt Jax's hands sliding up her back when his phone went off, "Jax...your phone."

"Ignore it," his breath was ragged as he continued planting kisses on her neck.

The incessant ringing couldn't be ignored by Dani who lightly pushed him away to catch her breath, "It could be important."

Jax sighed and kissed her lips one last time before answering his phone, "This better be good, Montoya."

Dani grinned as she pulled out some grapes from the basket.

"What did you say? Gladys is missing? You're at the school right now? What the hell? Why didn't you call me sooner? I'll be right there. No, stay put. Running around like a madman isn't going to help. Stay put dammit!"

Dani's eyes widened at the mention of Gladys, "Is everything okay?"

"No, Roberto's wife is missing. He'd been waiting for her but she didn't come home and she wasn't answering her phone. Now he's at the school and the janitor unlocked the door but she's not inside even though her car is still outside. He's freaking out. I'm sorry Dani. This is twice now that our date's been interrupted."

"Are you kidding? Gladys and Roberto are more important," Dani stood up, following Jax who was putting out the candles.

"I'll drop you off at your place before I head to the school," Jax said, grabbing Dani around the waist. "I'll make this up to you. I promise."

"Find Gladys and I'll get over it."

Jax smiled, "You're a keeper. You know that?"

"Of course," Dani smiled. "It takes one to know one."

------

After dropping Dani off and driving to the school, Jax found Roberto pacing around his wife's car.

"I don't get it, Michaels. Where could she be? The cops won't even start looking for her! What's the point of being a detective if the police won't overlook the missing person's rules?"

Jax watched his partner rub his face with his hands repeatedly.

"Roberto, we're going to find her. I'm sure there's some logical explanation that's going to have us all laughing our asses off when she turns up."

Roberto stopped pacing and stared at his partner, his eyes dark and worried, "We have to find her Jax. I-I can't live without her. I just can't."

Tears were threatening to spill from Roberto's eyes and Jax felt something squeezing his chest. After his fiancée Vivian was gone, he remembered feeling so empty and lost that he wasn't sure how he would continue. If the pain in his eyes was any indication of how he felt, then he knew exactly how Roberto was feeling.

Jax crossed over to his partner and laid a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry. We're going to find her. Maybe she went with a friend somewhere and her phone ran out of energy."

Roberto was about to disagree when his phone dinged, notifying him of an incoming text message. It was from Gladys.

"It' her!" Roberto swiped at his screen to read the message. His face fell and his features contorted into an expression of utter pain. "No! No! No!"

"What the hell did she say?" Jax grabbed the phone as Roberto fell to his knees, pounding the pavement.

Jax pulled up the message and read it.

"I'm sorry I wasn't brave enough to tell you in person but I'm leaving you. This baby isn't yours. The truth is I've found someone else and I want a divorce. I can't face you right now but I'll be in touch."

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A/N: AMAZING readers that have been sending me DAX art! You all are so amazing. It means a lot to me. I'm sharing NnennaStephanie's image in this chapter. What would you do if you were Roberto and your spouse suddenly left you via text message?