XXI

Danielle didn't sleep easy. She never did.

The night had been quiet, the soft hum of the city outside Riley's window the only sound filling the room. But even with the comfort of the bay window, even with the warmth of Riley and Maya's presence nearby, sleep never came easy for her.

She tossed and turned for hours, staring at the ceiling, then at the soft glow of the fairy lights strung up around Riley's room. She listened to the steady breathing of the other two girls—Riley curled up on her bed, Maya sprawled out on the mattress next to her. They looked peaceful. Comfortable. Like they belonged here.

Danielle envied that.

She'd never had a place that felt like home. Her house was big, expensive, but it always felt empty. And her aunt—well, Izzy cared, sure, but it wasn't the same as this. It wasn't the same as having people who wanted you there just because.

Sighing, Danielle sat up, running a hand through her hair. She reached for her phone, checking the time. 4:37 AM.

She huffed out a breath. Great.

For a second, she considered leaving—just slipping out, driving around the city until the morning came. It wouldn't be the first time.

But then Maya shifted in her sleep, mumbling something incoherent before settling again. And Riley, as if sensing the movement, buried deeper into her blankets.

Danielle hesitated.

Maybe she could belong here. Even if just for a little while.

Leaning back against the cool glass of the bay window, she closed her eyes. She didn't sleep, not really. But for the first time in a long time, she stayed.

The morning came too soon.

Danielle had never really fallen asleep—just drifted in and out of consciousness, never fully resting. She was still in the bay window when the first hints of sunlight crept through the glass, casting a soft golden glow across Riley's room.

She heard movement from the bed. Riley stretched, mumbling something incoherent before blinking awake. It took her a second to register Danielle still sitting by the window.

"You didn't sleep, did you?" Riley's voice was groggy with sleep, but there was concern in it.

Danielle smirked, rolling her shoulders. "I got some sleep."

Riley gave her a look.

Maya groaned, flipping onto her stomach. "Why is anyone awake right now?" she mumbled into her pillow.

Danielle chuckled, shaking her head. "It's morning, Blondie. Some people actually function before noon."

Maya blindly reached out to smack her arm but missed entirely, making Riley laugh.

"Okay," Riley yawned, stretching again before swinging her legs over the bed. "I'll get some drinks started. Do you guys want breakfast?"

Maya groaned something about pancakes, and Riley took that as a yes.

Danielle, though, hesitated.

She wasn't used to this—lingering. Staying for breakfast. Being part of the morning routine. Usually, she'd be gone by now, driving home before anyone even noticed she'd left.

But last night, she'd stayed. And now, she wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to leave just yet.

"Yeah," she finally said, standing up from the bay window. "Breakfast sounds good."

Riley beamed before heading out of the room.

Maya cracked one eye open, watching Danielle. "Look at you, sticking around."

Danielle scoffed, nudging her foot. "Shut up."

Maya just smirked, sitting up and stretching. "C'mon, let's go steal all of Riley's good food before she notices."

Danielle rolled her eyes but followed her out the door.

Maybe, just maybe, she could get used to this.

The smell of coffee and something sweet—pancakes, maybe—drifted through the air as Danielle followed Maya downstairs. The warmth of the Matthews' home was different in the morning, softer somehow, like the house itself had woken up but wasn't quite in a rush to start the day.

Danielle had spent plenty of mornings alone in her own massive house, where the silence stretched too far, where the walls felt too big. This? This was the opposite.

In the kitchen, Topanga was already at the stove, flipping pancakes with surprising ease while Riley sat at the table, sipping her juice.

"Good morning, girls," Topanga greeted, eyes flicking between them, landing briefly on Danielle with an unreadable expression—like she was still trying to figure her out.

Danielle wasn't sure if she liked that or not.

"Morning," Maya grumbled, making a beeline for the coffee pot. She poured herself a cup, took a sip, and immediately shuddered. "Ugh. Who made this?"

Topanga raised an eyebrow over her shoulder. "I did."

Maya grimaced. "You drink this on purpose?"

Danielle smirked as Topanga just shook her head, clearly used to this dynamic.

"Coffee is coffee, have some juice instead, Peaches." Riley said brightly, setting a plate of pancakes on the table. "And pancakes are pancakes. Come eat."

Danielle hesitated again, just for a second, before taking a seat. Maya dropped into the chair beside her, already piling pancakes onto her plate, while Riley moved around the kitchen, making sure everyone had what they needed.

It was so... casual. Normal.

She wasn't sure what to do with that.

"So, Danielle," Topanga started, stirring her coffee, "how was your first full Matthews family experience?"

Danielle chewed her bite of pancake a little slower, glancing between Maya and Riley. "Uh... survivable?"

Maya snorted. Riley rolled her eyes but grinned.

"High praise," Topanga said dryly.

Danielle smirked, but the truth was, she hadn't hated it. Maybe she had even—liked it.

She didn't say that, though.

Instead, she focused on her breakfast, listening as Maya and Riley fell into their usual back-and-forth, while Topanga chimed in every now and then.

And for once, she didn't feel like she was just visiting someone else's life.

She just... was.

As breakfast carried on, Danielle found herself settling into the atmosphere more than she expected. She wasn't exactly the type to linger—she usually ate quickly, said her goodbyes, and left before anyone could ask too many questions. But here, at the Matthews' table, there was no rush. No expectations.

It was weird. But not bad.

Riley and Maya were deep in some ridiculous argument about whether pancakes were superior to waffles when Topanga glanced at the time and sighed.

"Well, I have to head to the bakery," she said, standing and grabbing her bag. "Danielle, it was nice having you here."

Danielle looked up, caught off guard. "Oh. Yeah, uh—thanks for letting me stay."

Topanga smiled, but there was something knowing in her eyes. Like she saw more than Danielle was saying. "You're welcome anytime."

Danielle just nodded, unsure how to respond to that.

Once Topanga was gone, Riley pushed her empty plate away and stretched. "Well, I'm officially declaring today a do nothing day."

Maya immediately perked up. "So, we're hanging out all day?"

"Obviously."

Danielle raised an eyebrow. "Am I included in this, or are you two just deciding my plans for me?"

Maya smirked. "What plans? You were just gonna go home and sit in your giant, empty house, right?"

Danielle shot her a look. "You really love bringing that up, huh?"

Maya shrugged, completely unapologetic.

Riley grinned. "You should stay. We can watch movies, go out later if we feel like it. No pressure."

Danielle hesitated. Staying over had been one thing, but spending the whole day with them? That was... different.

Then again, what was she really going to do if she left?

She sighed, pretending to be put out. "Fine. But if you make me sit through some ridiculous musical, I'm walking out."

Maya gasped dramatically. "You don't like musicals?"

"Nope."

"Not even Grease?"

"Especially not Grease."

Maya clutched her chest like she'd been personally attacked. "You wound me."

Riley just laughed. "Okay, no musicals. But we are watching a movie."

Danielle rolled her eyes, but deep down, she didn't really mind.

Maybe today wouldn't be so bad.