Chapter One

"I would like everyone to say hello to Elizabeth Danielle Reagan," Sean announced as he arrived at Sunday dinner with his newborn daughter.

Dana Rosen had given birth to a baby girl six days before and DNA tests had shown that Sean was the father of the child.

"Oh, my let me see my niece," Rita gushed going to peak in the carrier first of everyone. She had learned she was expecting her first child with Jack two weeks ago.

Sean moved the blanket aside and Rita peered into the carrier. The baby was tiny, with rosy cheeks and a button nose. Her little hands were in mittens tucked under her chin. "Oh she's precious, can I take her out?"

Sean nodded and let Rita take the baby and snuggle her. Reagan and Finn were sitting by the colored ring toy on the floor, more interested in biting the rings than stacking them.

Linda hurried over to Rita and took the baby girl before Rita could really get settled. "Oh, there's my pretty baby. Nana's good girl, yes you are."

Eddie smiled at Linda, "She's thrilled to be a grandma, and she's good at it too," Eddie commented to Erin. "I'm glad that from that horrible ordeal he went through there is something good, that baby girl is precious."

Erin smiled, "She is, and Sean is going to be a terrific Daddy to her. I haven't seen his friend Sarah around though since the wedding."

"Sarah is well, she just did a six week course in Colorado on Native American medicine, a lot of those remedies she used on me already. You might want to consult her about your knee, she might have something before they go slicing and dicing on you."

Erin made light of the problems she was having with her knee. "Is that pork ready?"

Eddie checked the meat, "Yeah, let me just call Jamie and Jack to the table. They've been in the study for over an hour."

"I'll call them," Erin offered. "They are probably going over things for the transition, it has to be perfect if the Mayor is going to appoint Jack to fill Jamie's seat."

"I know, and Jamie is stressing about that, he did such good for this city, they all did," Eddie replied. "Tell them ten minutes to the table, okay?"

Erin left to call Jamie and Jack while Eddie asked Joey to carry the roast to the table. "How's Molly feeling?" Eddie asked her son when he came to get the main course.

"Much better," Joey replied. "I think she had to go home again and spend time with her mom and see for herself she was going to be okay over there. We told Mary that she has a home here, that Dad can help get her greencard going but she insists that she stay in Ireland, that's her home."

"Well, I'm glad she's feeling better," Eddie replied. "Tell her we missed her."

Molly's father had passed away of heart disease six weeks ago and she had not been able to go back to Ireland for his funeral. Two weeks ago, Jamie and Eddie had flown Molly and Joe over to put the young woman's mind at ease, she had to check on her mother. Molly was still adjusting to the emotions she felt about all of this.

"I will, and thanks for lending us the money," Joey replied.

"We'd have flown her over for the funeral honey," Eddie replied. "It's only money and we're comfortable, so anytime that Molly needs to go home or if Mary needs to come here, talk to us."

Joey kissed Eddie's cheek, "Thanks Mom."

The family sat at the table with baby Elizabeth, Lizzy, for short, in a place of honor between her father and her grandmother. Frank took his seat, Lila on one side and Sean on the other. Reagan and Finn sat in their high chairs, each one got some applesauce and some potatoes on their plates. Finn banged his spoon and squealed, he wanted to eat and he wanted it now. "Okay Finny," Lila laughed. "Mommy's got you. Open up…umm…"

Jamie took his seat and smiled at his little girl. Lila was coming into her own as a mother now that her babies were growing. She still needed help, two eleven month old babies were a handful and Steven was often working and not around to assist. Still, Jamie was proud of how Lila was doing.

Frank cleared his throat, "Sean, will you please say grace?"

Sean smiled and bowed his head speaking the familiar prayer as his new baby girl slept soundly beside him. As the food passed several conversations spun around the table. "So, Kid, you ready to stay at home and kick back like the rest of us old folks?" Danny asked.

"Only you could use the word 'kid' and 'old folks' in the same sentence referring to the same person," Jamie laughed. "But yes, Eddie and I have plans to do a little traveling, see something special in each of the states, take a cruise…that sort of thing and of course…" Jamie reached over to tickle one of Finn's feet. "Dote on my grandchildren. You will see, Grandpa Danny, that is a lovely past time."

Frank smiled, "There is not greater blessing than children," he sighed. "Except maybe the grand and great grandchildren you can send home." As if to call him a liar, Reagan blew a raspberry at him. "Unless of course," Frank laughed. "It's this precious little one, she can stay…"

Lila offered Reagan a spoonful of food but the little girl blew it back at her mother, she still preferred her bottle with rice cereal than this new table food thing her brother liked. "Try a small amount on the spoon," Eddie suggested as Rita and Jack watched Reagan spew applesauce back onto Lila's dress.

"Behold our future," Jack laughed. He was thrilled that he and Rita had become pregnant so fast. Jack never doubted his decision to wait to get married but now that he was, he wanted to get on with having a family before he was too old to enjoy seeing it grow to the depths his grandfather had seen it.

Rita rubbed Jack's arm, "It'll be a great future if our baby is as cute as those two…"

Finn kicked off his left shoe, Lila sighed exasperated at his antics "Finnerty, keep your shoe on!" she told him firmly. Finn didn't take her tone seriously yet, he laughed and clapped his hands.

The dinner was noisy and lively. Afterwards, the men cleaned up while the ladies sat in the living room fussing over Lizzy. "She's a good girl," Linda bragged. "She eats well and sleeps almost three hours, Sean told us. He's going to stay with us for the rest of her first month, and of course, I'll be taking care of her when Sean goes back to work."

"You are in your glory," Eddie replied holding a now sleeping Reagan in her arms. "But treasure it, they grow up so fast."

"I can't believe the transition meeting is tomorrow morning," Erin replied. "Seems like yesterday we were holding Jack."

"Jamie has him fully prepared," Eddie replied. "I think tomorrow is going to go off without a hitch. Soon the biggest worries we'll have is how to fit all the required hi-chairs."

Dinner broke up around eight, Lila headed home with the twins surprised to find Steven was already there. "Hey, what are you doing home?"

"Just got in and showered," Steven replied seeing Lila carry in a sleeping Reagan and wide awake Finn. "Let me put her upstairs," Steven replied, and took Reagan to her bed. She went down quickly allowing Steven to return to the couch for some time with his wife. Steve smiled at Lila admiring her holding Finn. "Can you believe how big they got already?"

"I know, it went too fast," Lila sighed. As Lila cradled their son in her arms, she leaned against Steven's arm. Finn kicked his little feet contentedly in Lila's arms. "I love you Lila, in case I haven't told you enough."

Lila snuggled closer to Steven, "I love you too. So much…Dinner was great tonight, Sean brought the baby over. He named her Elizabeth Danielle after great-grandma and Uncle Danny. She's precious."

"Babies are," Steven sighed. "Aww, he's dozing now."

Finn's tiny eyes had closed and he was drooling slightly onto his bib. "Let me take him up."

Steve stood up and took Finn into his arms, "Here we go buddy…" Steven carried Finn to his bed and put the boy into the crib. "Sleep well, little guy."

Steven kissed the Finn on his head and headed to the bedroom for some special time with his wife.

Joey walked into the apartment he shared with Molly, "Hey honey," Molly greeted with a huge hug for Joey. She missed him that day, though the time alone had done her some good.

"Hi, baby," Joey replied wrapping his arms around Molly. "You seem a lot better, Mom and Dad and everyone were asking for you."

"I needed a little quiet time," Molly replied. "I'll be there on Wednesday and next Sunday."

"I know," Joey dropped a kiss on her head. "Mom packed up a whole bunch of food for you…pork chop, kraut, scalloped potatoes, that broccoli au gratin you love…"

"Oh, that sounds really good, I have some cherry wine I got from a patient that might go well. I'll heat up this food and you pop open that bottle."

Joe smiled, his girl was back, she even had that little smile. "Sean had the baby at the house," Joey called as he popped the cork on their wine. "She is so tiny and cute. Aunt Linda all but absorbed her but I got a couple of pictures…."

Molly looked at the photos as she ate and Joey picked on the left over food. "Oh, she's sweet. Look at her little mouth."

Joey smiled as Molly looked at the baby girl. "Maybe that will be us soon," Molly said. "I'm ready to start our family but I understand you want to wait a little longer."

Joey nuzzled Molly's neck, "Not too much longer, Mrs. Reagan…not too much."

Eddie finished the last of the cleaning up and locked the house. On her way up to the bedroom, she stopped by Frank's room to check on him and be sure his tubes were properly placed. Eddie was surprised to find Frank still awake, looking at a picture of his beloved Mary with a wistful smile on his face. The only word that came to Eddie's mind was content as she looked at the old man in the bed.

Jamie had gone upstairs to get ready for bed. When Eddie didn't come up a half hour later Jamie headed downstairs to check on her. Sometimes she would sit down and doze off in the big easy chair under a fuzzy blanket.

Jamie found Eddie standing in the doorway of Frank's bedroom. He gently slid his arms around her from behind, touching his head to hers. "He's just been staring at that," Eddie whispered softly then to Frank she asked softly, "Penny for them, Dad?"

Frank took a breath and spoke softly, not taking his eyes off the photograph in his hands. "I wish she was here to see this, I'm so blessed to have started this beautiful family with such a wonderful woman, to see our children grow and find their own loves, to see them have their own children and to even see my great grandbabies. I've had such a rich life and it all started with this woman."

"She was something special, Dad," Jamie agreed. "Soon there will be more great grandchildren too, but I think you better get some sleep okay? It's really late, you have therapy tomorrow."

Frank nodded and sighed, keep the photograph of his Mary over his heart as he let sleep and dreams of the future claim him together with things of the past.

A/N: Well here it is, story six in the Tough Series. This might be a "tough" read for some folks but it is an important bridge to later stories. I hope you enjoy it. Special thanks to lawslave for previewing this story and to two dear friends who have helped me.

As many of you know, this story is being posted for the author by cousin Melanie. She is resting comfortably after complicated surgery and hopes to be ready to post on her own again soon.

This story will update on Monday and Thursday following this Sunday debut.

Next Update – January 19th – Jamie and Jack learn there is a wrench in their plans, the family receives difficult news.