This story is a bit longer than my last two so hope you will stay with it and please review. As always I do not own any of the characters just borrowed them for a while

No money made from this. Hope you enjoy.

INLAWS & OUTLAWS

Danny kissed Linda on the cheek as he headed to the car. She was standing at the mail box collecting the mail. "Any bills leave them there!" Danny joked, as he turned to get into the car. "No bills," Linda said, holding an envelope in her hand. Danny could tell by the sad expression that was forming on Linda's face that the letter was of some concern to her.

He closed the car door and headed over the grass verge to where Linda was still standing. "You ok babe?" Danny enquired, taking hold of her arm. Linda tried to smile. "Yeah I'm fine," she lied. "What's the letter babe, something wrong?"

Linda gave a small mock laugh. "No it's just a birthday card I sent to my mom been returned." Danny offers Linda a hug. "I'm sorry babe, do you want me to go in a bit later, I'll come back inside for a while if you want?"

Linda is grateful for Danny's concern, she knows he feels responsible for Linda's mom returning the card and she doesn't want him going to work carrying any worries that may distract his day. "Listen to me Danny I'm fine ok. I don't want you worrying about me, just come home safe to me promise?"

Danny hugs Linda tight "I love you babe you know that don't you, how about I get Dad to have the boys for dinner and meet me after my shift. I'll treat you to Chinese?" Linda knows Danny is cut up about her mother not speaking to her because she married Danny and she is touched by his concern. "That would be fabulous but Danny, I would never trade you for anyone ok, I'm fine." This makes Danny feel better but he still wishes Linda had the close family unit he has always taken for granted. "See you at six don't be late." He waves as she blows him a kiss and with that Danny is gone.

Danny rings his Dad when he gets into work and asks if he can have the boy's for dinner. Frank is delighted to have his two grandsons over but is curious as to why Linda would allow them to come over on a school night. "Yeah son, that's fine. Pops will collect them from school, he will be thrilled. But is there a problem, just Linda normally likes them in their routine on a school night?" Frank presses. "No Dad, there is no problem, I really just want to spend some quality time with Linda."

Danny can feel the worry rising in Frank's voice. "You two having any kind of trouble?" Frank asks hesitantly. "No Dad." Danny laughs at how Frank assumes he has done something wrong. "Its just she feels a bit low today. She got a card back 'Return to Sender' that she sent her mom for her birthday so you know….."

Danny hears a heavy sigh down the phone line. "God damn that woman!" Frank scowls. "She should be grateful for every day she has got a daughter as wonderful as Linda. I could shake her when I think what she is missing out on." Before Frank could get into full voice Danny cut him short. "I know Dad, but I got to go so I can finish early, so are you ok to have the boys?" "Yeah let the stay overnight. Pops will take them in to school tomorrow, drop off their clothes on your way out. We will have a midweek boys night, I'll ring Jamie & invite him over." "Thanks Dad. I got to go, see you later." Danny hangs up and rings Linda to let her know the new arrangements and is glad of the excuse to check how she is doing.

When Danny called, Linda was sitting in the lounge looking at old photographs from when she was young. She always missed not seeing her family but days like today magnified the situation.

Linda had been cut out of her mother's life since she got engaged to Danny. Her mother had wanted her to marry a respectable insurance clerk called Alan, who lived across the street from Linda and whose mother attended the same church as Linda's family. Linda had been on a few dates with Alan but had never been that keen on him. He was a bit mean and never wanted to go anywhere too expensive on a date and he always made a point of telling Linda what a catch she had in him. While Linda felt she was dating him out of politeness and pity, rather that feeling lucky to be Alan's date. She also knew he had a temper and had saw this first hand when she told him she thought it best if they just stay friends after he tried to take their courtship a bit further than she was willing to.

After that night Linda, tried to avoid Alan and made excuses not to be around his family. That was how she came to be in the bar on the night she had met Danny. She had gone with a friend to avoid a night at home with hers and Alan's family and that was when her life changed forever, from that moment she saw that smile she knew Danny was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with and to this day, despite everything that they had been through, that feeling had never left her.

Though her mother made it clear she didn't approve of Linda dating a then rookie police officer, Linda's dad was more open minded and liked Danny. Even though he wasn't allowed in the house, her father would always talk about baseball on the phone when Danny rang, ask about his work and try to take an interest in the man his daughter so obviously adored. When Linda told her father she was to marry Danny, it was the first time she had ever saw her dad cry. Her mother made no effort and let Danny's family know Linda was too good for their son and though Mary, Danny's mother, was far too much a lady to argue with Linda's mother, she, like Frank, held her in total contempt for the way she treated their son and her own daughter.

John though was different. A kind loving man who adored Linda and for the first time in his married life, stood up to his wife and insisted that they went to the wedding. He walked his beloved daughter down the aisle with tears in his eyes. Linda spoke to her dad on the phone and visited, but as he got older, he got too weak to fight his wife and Linda knew it was better to stay away than visit and cause upset.

So Linda made a choice. She decided Danny was worth losing her bitter mother for and she vowed to make sure her family would only ever know love when she became a mother. So that is what she did, she had Danny's family to love her and in return, she loved them. Her boys were her world, she adored them and lavished them with all the love she missed out on from her own cold mother. Then there was Danny, he was her rock, the person who could tell just by looking at her, what her heart was thinking. She loved Danny more than life itself, she could feel her breath catching sometimes just when he entered the room.

Linda was broken from her thoughts by the sound of the telephone. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard Danny's voice at the other end. "Hey babe change of plan. The boys are staying out tonight so you can relax this afternoon and we will go out about eight for dinner. How does that sound Mrs Reagan?" "Perfect," Linda giggled down the phone, "See you later and Danny…. Thanks." Danny blew a kiss down the phone before hanging up.

Danny and Linda enjoyed a lovely evening together almost like a date before they were married. Danny was relaxed and full of fun and Linda enjoyed seeing her husband having such a good time for the first time in a long time. They enjoyed a lovely bottle of wine and spent time talking. When they got home Linda felt guilty that the boys were not there as she missed them but she enjoyed having the house to themselves for the night.