A/N: This is my first American Dreams fic. I've been a longtime member of this site under many other categories, and figured I give this category a try.

I've caught most of the episodes of this current season of AD, but have missed a few bits and pieces here and there. Forgive me if some of the situations are slightly AU. I'm trying to keep it as true to the show as possible.

The title was borrowed from the Flogging Molly song of the same name. Great band, check them out.

Reviews are appreciated.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own American Dreams or anything affiliated with it, nor the title of this fic. All credit will be given where credit is due.

WITHIN A MILE OF HOME

November 15, 1965

10:30 PM

MISSING IN ACTION.

The words on the yellow telegram that had been delivered the previous afternoon had haunted her for the rest of the day and all throughout the night. One simple phrase had plagued her every thought and movement, and yet, she hadn't allowed herself to feel any emotion.

The Pryor household had fallen to pieces with the news the telegram had carried. JJ, the prodigal son, brother, and ex-fiancé, was missing-in-action, his whereabouts in Vietnam yet to be determined. It had caught everyone off their guard, and yet, even as the news began to sink in, it didn't seem real. Not yet.

Working with the Blue Star Women over the past few months, Beth had subjected herself to the arrival of many telegrams informing girlfriends, wives, and mothers that their men wouldn't be coming home. She had been the shoulder they had cried on and had done everything in her power to give the other women hope. Every time a telegram had arrived, she had feared JJ would be next. Now her deepest fear had risen to the surface, and she didn't know what she was supposed to do. She didn't know who to turn to, or what to say.

Stiffly, Beth set the East Catholic '63 yearbook on her nightstand and adjusted her position on the bed. Now that she was nearly nine months pregnant, it was hard to move as quickly as she had months before, especially on swollen ankles. A small, contented sigh escaped from her lips as she gazed at the marbleized cover of the yearbook, so many memories contained within its pages. Times had been much simpler, and she and JJ had been so happy together. Of course, there had been fights and trying times, but they had been young and in love. Now she wasn't so sure.

A silent tear began to slide down her pale cheek, followed by several others just as a light knock came from the closed attic door. Sniffling and struggling to regain her composure, she cleared her throat.

"Come in," she called out lightly.

The door creaked open, and to Beth's surprise, Helen entered the room in her silk nightgown and terrycloth robe, carrying a small tray with a sandwich and a glass of milk. Although her eyes were red rimmed, she managed a small smile as she carefully shut the door behind her.

"Hi, Beth," Helen spoke softly. She moved across the room gracefully and set the tray on the old mahogany desk opposite from Beth's bed. "I haven't heard from you all night, and I figured you and my grandchild must be hungry by now, so I brought you a little something to eat."

Beth nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Mrs. Pryor. I appreciate it."

Helen glanced over at the nightstand and noticed the yearbook on it. "Taking a trip down memory lane?"

"Something like that."

She sighed and sat down near the old quilt folded at the edge of the bed. "How are you?"

"I'm…okay, Mrs. Pryor." Another tear slid down her cheek, and Beth quickly wiped it away. "How are you?"

Instantly, a pained expression crossed Helen's face. "He was my son. My first born." She reached over and took Beth's hand. "It's so hard."

"I know." She felt a lump form in her throat. She couldn't break down right now. The wall she had been slowly building over the entire day was beginning to crumble, piece by piece.

Helen smiled, her own eyes filling with tears. "JJ loved you so much, even if he didn't show it all the time."

That was the stone that broke the glass. Beth choked back a sob and covered her mouth with her free hand. "I'm so sorry," she apologized. "I shouldn't be—"

"No. It's okay. Let everything out, Beth." Helen wrapped an arm around Beth's shoulders and gently embraced her. "We'll always be here for you, every step of the way. Never forget that."

"I love him so much," Beth sobbed into Helen's robe. "There are so many things I wish I'd have said. So much I wanted to tell him."

Helen's own tears began to roll down her cheeks. "You can tell him when he comes home for Christmas. He'll be coming home. JJ's a fighter. He always has been." She continued stroking Beth's hair in the dim light, glancing over at the doorway. Jack had quietly opened the door and was now standing in the doorframe, watching the emotional scene in front of him. He too was having a hard time containing his emotions.

Helen gave her husband a forced smile and gently rubbed Beth's back. "JJ will be coming home, Beth. We all just have to have faith."

Two weeks later

Life had continued to go on in Philadelphia for the Pryor family in the midst of JJ's absence. Thanksgiving had come and gone, and with it had arrived a somber 'farewell' package from Vietnam. It had confirmed their deepest fears. JJ was really, truly gone.

Jack immersed himself in work at the store, often staying late into the night, long after Henry and Sam had clocked out. Helen had seemed to have forgotten herself and her responsibilities to her children as she mourned longingly for JJ, taking to her bed. For many days now she had been battling a chronic depression, sleeping on and off. The time that she did spend awake were filled with bitter thoughts and angry outbursts towards Meg, Patty, and Will. Finally, Beth had decided to intervene and insisted that Helen see a psychiatrist that her own mother had been under the care of, much to Jack's dismay.

Meg, Patty, and Will seemed to be faring pretty well under the given circumstances. Meg kept herself busy with Bandstand, while Patty and Will seemed to console each other through the hours spent doing homework together and either watching television or listening to the radio. Even Roxanne had become a regular fixture in the Pryor household again, even after moving in with Luke.

Still, as the holidays approached, Beth couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming unhappiness creep upon her as she finished wrapping the remainder of the garland around the rails of the stairs. She had taken it upon herself to help Helen out with the Christmas decorations as much as possible, even though she was often scolded by her for doing so much in her condition when she should be resting and preparing for the birth of the baby.

As Beth descended the stairs, she smiled to herself and rested a hand over her abdomen. The baby was kicking up a storm again, and it seemed like any day now she would have a newborn son or daughter. It was almost hard to imagine that nine months had gone by so quickly. Everything was prepared for the baby's arrival, right down to the newly assembled crib that Jack had spent a good portion of the night putting together last weekend.

Stifling back a yawn, she entered the deserted living room and pulled her sweater tighter around her shoulders. Her back had been aching on and off throughout the past several days, followed by a few light contractions. Her doctor had assured her that there wasn't any need to worry, and that when the time was coming, Beth would be able to distinguish between the preparatory contractions and the real ones.

She made her away over to the couch and sat down in her favorite corner, pulling the afghan over her body. It was unusually drafty, but a recent cold snap had occurred overnight and it was to be expected. Gently, she closed her eyes and prepared to doze off, but just as she felt the edge of sleep begin to overcome her, the lights flickered and then completely went out, plunging the entire house into darkness.

As her eyes adjusted to the dark, Beth knew that it was only a matter of time before the lights would come back on and decided she would rather sit this one out then search for candles or a flashlight. Suddenly, a strong contraction hit her almost out of nowhere, much more powerful then the ones she had been accustomed to experiencing over the past few days.

She rubbed her stomach carefully, murmuring slightly to her unborn baby. "Hey, do you want to knock that off for a little while? Your Mommy would like to get some sleep. I know you're anxious to come out and meet everyone."

"I don't think he or she is going to listen, Beth. JJ certainly never did listen to us when Helen was pregnant with him."

Startled, Beth glanced to the doorway. Jack and Will were standing in the frame, flashlight in hand. "It never hurts to try," she laughed.

"The power's out all along the block. Helen should be on her way home shortly, and Patty's in the garage."

Beth's face contorted with pain as another contraction hit, gentler than the previous one. "Hopefully it will come back on soon."

Jack sensed the hesitation in Beth's voice. "Have your contractions gotten any closer together?"

She nodded. "A little bit, but they haven't been too bad, up until tonight. It's probably nothing, though. I think he or she will stay put for a few more days, at least that's what my doctor told me yesterday at my last visit."

"Well, have the flashlight at least. If you need anything, just holler. We'll be in the garage with Patty."

"Thanks, Mr. Pryor," Beth acknowledged, taking the flashlight from him with a smile. "For everything."

He nodded and Will smiled widely before they disappeared back into the hall.

Twenty minutes had passed, and the power still hadn't come back on. However, Beth had experienced several more contractions, each getting closer together in time. After the last one that had almost left her doubled over in pain, she had struggled to her feet and gripped the flashlight tightly in her right hand, the other hand pressed behind her back. It was time, and she needed to find Mr. Pryor, Will, and Patty in the garage to tell them.

What was in reality a quick walk to the door that connected to the garage seemed to take an eternity. Halfway there, Beth had to stop and lean against the wall to breathe through another rapid contraction. Baby Pryor sure wasn't wasting any time on making his or her entrance into the world tonight.

Finally, after coaching herself through the searing pain, Beth struggled to the door and opened it. Instantly, Jack, Will, and Patty all looked up in concern.

With a small smile on her face, Beth nodded at them. "It's time," she stated clearly.

Patty's eyes lit up, and a smile formed on Will's face.

Jack nodded. "Patty, help Beth into the car. Will, go upstairs and get Beth's bag."

Patty grabbed onto Beth's elbow and led her slowly to the car. "Are we coming with you?"

Jack shook his head. "No. I need you both to stay home and wait for your mother or Meg. Patty, you're in charge. Keep the doors locked, and answer the phone. Will, be on your best behavior."

"Okay, Dad," Will answered, slipping out the garage door back into the house.

As Beth allowed Patty to help her into the passenger seat of the car, she realized that a new emotion had taken over, replacing the nervous feeling that had settled in the pit of her stomach. It was fear. For the first time in a long time, she was scared. Absolutely petrified. She didn't know if she could go through this all alone, without JJ by her side.

Beth soon realized that she had no other choice in the matter, and that their son or daughter wanted to be born as soon as possible. As she sat down in the leather seat, the beam of light from the flashlight that Patty was holding hit the gold band of the engagement ring JJ had given her so long ago. She had finally put it back on her finger last month, and now a new realization set over her.

If JJ couldn't be there with her in person, he would at least be there in spirit, and she would have all their memories to guide her through everything.