This story takes place in an alternative timeline and universe.
April 28, 1920, San Francisco, California:
Erin Reagan Silver rolled over in bed and snuggled against her husband. Today was her 55th birthday and she damn well wanted her best present immediately. She grinned as her left hand found its way below Sloan's waist and located its intended target, hoping that this would signal sleepyhead that he had obligations to perform for the birthday girl.
She thought back through her past and the joys, sorrows, gains, and hardships that she and her family endured, allowing her to reach this special day in this most wonderful of American cities, her home for nearly 25 years.
When she had told Sloan her family's story back in 1895, he was astonished, but her family had all assured him that it was the unvarnished truth.
She had begun the story with her father.
Francis Xavier Reagan had been born on July 14, 1844 in the city of Chicago, Illinois, the second child of Henry, a Chicago cop, and Elizabeth (Betty) a housewife, both of sound Irish stock.
Peter Christopher, Frank's older brother by five years, had died shortly after his second birthday.
In 1862 at the age of 18, Frank considered following his father into the Chicago Police Department, however the American Civil War had commenced the previous year and Frank decided that serving his country far outweighed serving his city, so he promptly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
In 1863 Frank was stationed in New York City, a fabulous metropolis compared to the Cowtown that was Chicago of the 1860's. Little did Frank or Henry know that the Great Chicago Fire was only eight years off and the city as they knew it would cease to exist, paving the way for the future urban wonder that would earn it the name "America's Second City."
One hot and humid summer's night, Frank elected to tag along with a few of his fellow Marines to a nearby musical revue. What Frank did not know was that this decision would forever alter his life as he would meet and begin courting the future love of his life, Mary Margaret Riley.
Mary Margaret was a native New Yorker of means and privilege and she loved her city. She especially took great pride in showing it off to Frank, hoping that he would never want to leave. Her plan worked because within a month of meeting her, Frank wrote his parents informing them that after the war, he would be remaining in New York City, and would seek employment with its police department. Three months later, a subsequent letter would inform his parents that he and Mary would marry in the summer of 1864.
The Civil War ended in April 1865, and while things around the country were beginning to quiet down from the war and from President Abraham Lincoln's assassination, things in the Reagan household were anything but still as on April 28th, Frank and Mary welcomed their first child, Erin Riley Reagan.
Frank's heart melted as he held his baby girl for the first time and he knew that whatever the world had in store for her, she was a Reagan and would face it head on, for even as a newborn, Erin's dark eyes held a look of forceful determination.
Three months after Erin's birth, Frank's parents were visiting from Chicago when Betty became ill. Three weeks later she died in her sleep. It was decided that Henry would come to live with Frank, Mary, and Erin in New York City, and that he too would join the NYPD.
1865 gave way to 1866, which passed into 1867. Two year old Erin was proving that Frank's initial predilection of his daughter was spot on. While polite, Erin had a forceful personality and insured that things were done to her liking. Mary on the other hand brooked no back talk from her daughter, but she had her daddy and grandpa each snugly wrapped around her pinky fingers. If she had been a concert violinist, Frank and Henry would both have been named Stradivarius.
By now Frank was a Sergeant in the NYPD, and Henry was a Captain, and their professional futures looked bright and promising.
Henry had never sold the family home and properties in Chicago, electing to rent them out in the event he or Frank and his family elected to return one day. One summer afternoon in August 1871, Henry received a letter from a Chicago attorney representing a client who wished to purchase all of his real holdings. He promptly showed Frank and Mary the letter that night.
"It's a lot of money Francis, but I always felt that maybe one day we'd move back there." Henry stated.
"I know Pop, but I've been here for almost ten years, and you for over six. We have a great career with the NYPD, and a wonderful life here. Do you really think either of us would trade that in? Besides, I have to think of Mary and Erin and I know that Chicago can't offer what New York City does." Frank replied.
"Mary?" Henry inquired of his daughter-in-law.
"Henry, I'm a New Yorker through and through. If it were just Frank and me, I'd give it a try but Erin just started school and we have the best education system in the country here, and I want her to grow up to be a presentable lady which is something I can't see occurring in Chicago." Mary answered.
"Then it's settled." Henry exclaimed. "I'll head back to Chicago, pack the place up, and square things away with this lawyer."
"I have a better idea Pop." Frank replied, smiling at Mary. "Mary and I have never had a proper honeymoon. How about she and I go to Chicago with your Power of Attorney and I'll take care of things. You can stay here with Erin." Frank offered. "Beside which, I'd like to show her where we come from."
Henry chuckled. "That's some choice Francis. Two weeks with my old buddies in Chicago or two weeks alone here with Erin."
"The two of you are as thick as thieves." Mary noted. "I can only imagine the grand time you'll be having with us away."
Frank nodded: "It's a three day train ride from here to Chicago. If we leave on the third, we can arrive on the sixth, take care of things over a three day period, leave on the ninth, and be home by the twelfth. That means I only have to take a week off allowing for weekends on either side."
Mary smiled as she snuggled up to Frank. "Nine entire days and nights with you all to myself."
"Maybe I'll get another grandchild out of this." Henry grinned.
"Pop!" Frank blushed while Mary laughed and affirmatively nodded.
On October 3rd, Mary and Frank bid goodbye to Erin and Henry.
"You listen to your grandfather and behave yourself" Mary warned a precocious Erin before giving her a kiss.
"Yes Ma'am, I will." Erin cooed back as she hugged her mother.
Frank picked up his little angel. "We'll miss you beanpole, but before you know it, we'll be home again."
"I know daddy, I'll miss you too, and when you come back you can tell me all about Chicago." Erin stated.
"It's a date sweetheart." He said before kissing her goodbye.
Erin and Henry watched as Frank and Mary boarded their train. As it began pulling out of the station they waved goodbye, but something was unsettling Erin and she began to cry.
"What's wrong honey?" Henry asked as he picked up his granddaughter, who was visibly shaking.
"I don't want them to go Pops, something bad's going to happen, I can feel it." She sniveled.
Henry had no idea how accurate Erin's premonition would turn out to be.
Frank and Mary arrived in Chicago on the morning of October 6th and spent the day packing up the Reagan house. A moving company would collect everything the following day and forward it to New York City.
On the afternoon of the 7th, Frank closed on the sale of the Reagan properties and deposited the proceeds in his father's account, which he then directed to be transferred to Henry's New York bank. This left the rest of the day and all day on the 8th for him to turn the tables and give Mary the grand tour of the city of his birth, as she had once done for him.
Plans were they would wake up on the 9th, breakfast, and then leave for the station in order to catch the 10:04 a.m. train bound for New York City.
The best laid plans of mice and men…
After a true night on the town Chicago style, at least for as much of a town as Chicago was in 1871, Frank and Mary returned to their hotel room 9:30 p.m. and exuberantly labored on producing Henry's next grandchild until exhaustion and sleep claimed them.
Meanwhile, on the south side of the Chicago River as the tale is told, a good Irishwoman's cow kicked over a lantern which was why two hours later, Frank and Mary Reagan were rudely awakened by the hotel manager and told to get out of their room as quickly as possible.
Frank quickly assessed the predicament they were in and noted the big difference between New York City, built out of brick and mortar, and Chicago, which was constructed almost entirely of wood. The city was feeding on itself and with the Chicago River to his south and west, and Lake Michigan to the east, the only way out of town was to the north however glowing embers from the fire burning south of the river had made their way across the water and were igniting structures along the north shore. Fanned by a southwesterly wind, the fire was now beginning to spread to the northeast, directly into Frank's escape path.
Exiting the hotel presented Frank with his first taste of mass chaos. Even in war there was an order and civility to events, but in the early morning hours of October 9, 1871, the streets of Chicago consumed the book of law and order, and all common sense as masses of humanity tried to escape being consumed by what could only be described as Hell on earth.
Steam fire engines, pulled by teams of frightened horses barreled against throngs of fleeing humans, colliding into one another, with the wagon wheels finishing the job on those unfortunate enough to have fallen in their path, including Frank's beloved Mary.
Even many years later, Frank could not recall the two of them becoming separated, but he could clearly recall her scream and the sickening sound of a body being stomped by a horse. When he turned around and didn't see his wife, Frank ran to the site of the recently stampeded woman to note with horror who that unfortunate soul had been.
Two burly policemen grabbed Frank by the arms and lifted him. "You can't be standing around here or you'll be the next one run down." One of them stated to Frank, who came out of his state of shock long enough to identify himself and explain to the officers what had happened.
One of the officers, having a father Henry's age had put two and two together realizing that he and Frank had known one another through their fathers' respective service on the Chicago P.D.
He commandeered a horse drawn buckboard and the three men gently loaded Mary aboard. Frank thanked the men and accompanied his late wife to the makeshift morgue.
The City of Chicago continued to burn through the night of October 10th before finally being brought under control. Over 300 people had lost their lives, including Mary Margaret Riley Reagan.
On the afternoon of October 15th, Frank Reagan stepped off the train at New York City's Grand Central Station. He had not telegrammed or contacted his father or daughter, though news of the fire had been reported in the New York Times.
Frank waited until Mary's body was offloaded and placed aboard a wagon, before accompanying her to the funeral home.
Later that evening he opened the door to his house and entered. His father looked up and Erin ran into his arms.
"Daddy, you're back"! She excitedly uttered as he picked her up, hugging her as tightly to him as possible.
"I missed you Sunshine." Frank replied, kissing his little girl's cheek.
"Where's mommy?" Erin asked.
Frank looked at Henry who had quizzical look on his face that quickly turned to a look of dread.
Henry, fully aware of the Great Fire that had just consumed his beloved Chicago, shook his head from side to side not wanting to believe what he was thinking.
Frank closed his eyes and nodded that Henry's had correctly surmised the unfathomable.
Erin hadn't missed any of this and looked her father directly in the eyes.
"Mommy is dead, isn't she?"
"Yes Erin." Frank answered, not knowing what else to say.
Erin looked to her grandfather and nodded as if to confirm her earlier fears.
She then asked to be put down, and in the first of many instances throughout her life which would define her as the strong woman she would grow up to be, she looked at her father.
"Then we have a funeral to plan, and friends and relatives to notify. I know where mommy kept her ledgers so I suggest that we begin by sending out telegrams to those she would want to attend."
Frank Reagan knew in that moment, that whatever happened in life, he would always have his daughter to lean on, and to draw his strength from, for Erin would always remind him of Mary.
Mary Reagan was laid to rest on October 21st. While many attempted to console Erin, she ended up being the consoler. No tears flowed from her young eyes, but a very adult 6 ½ year old young woman greeted and thanked those who had attended, and insured they understood they were loved and respected by her late mother.
One of those attending was a red headed beauty by the name of Casey Stanton Fitzgerald, of the Boston Fitzgerald's, complete with her very refined Brahmin accent.
Casey liked to regale that her parents had married for the most logical reason of all. To mingle the Stanton and Fitzgerald family fortunes.
While Mary had been outspoken, she knew how and when to both edit and reveal her opinions. Casey on the other hand was a bull in a china shop and whatever was on her mind, immediately made its way out of her mouth. The concept it wasn't what you said but how you said it never once crossed her mind, nor did she much care how others would take to her views.
She was direct, energetic, sassy, and most of all, she didn't take any shit from anyone. She was beautiful, rich, polished, educated and she knew it, but at the same time, she could fight, brawl, scrap, and swear with the best of men.
Casey also happened to be the late Mary Riley Reagan's third cousin as her maternal grandfather Stanton and Mary's maternal grandmother had been brother and sister.
Most people would say that it is in bad taste to flirt with a widower at his late wife's funeral, and those who actually regarded such etiquette as sacrosanct would have honored that dictum, however Casey Fitzgerald couldn't have cared less about rules and social norms unless of course, they were ones that she had authored.
Casey made it well known that she intended to remain in New York City for the foreseeable future and would be available to help Frank with Erin or with any matter where he may require a woman's assistance.
Frank clearly received both the intended, and nuanced meaning of Casey's message.
One night during a peaceful family dinner with her father and grandfather, 6 ½ year old Erin looked up at Frank, sat back in her chair, and folded her arms.
"Don't you think it's about time that you asked Casey out on a proper date?" She inquired.
"Erin Riley Reagan!" Frank replied.
"She's right Francis" Henry stated in defense of his granddaughter. "Invite Ms. Fitzgerald over for dinner."
"Pops, it wouldn't be right. We just buried Mary a month ago." Frank stammered.
"And Mom would be the first to tell you that you deserve to be happy, and that I deserve a new mom, not that Casey would ever replace mommy, but being a girl, there are things I can never discuss with either of you." Erin fired back.
"She's quite the looker Francis, and she's smart, cultured, and has the guts to stand up to you." Henry told his son.
"I receive more than a sufficient sum of that from Erin." Frank responded while staring at his daughter.
Erin raised her eyebrows in feint hurt and then smiled back. "That's beside the point, Casey would be good for you and for me." Erin advised.
"Fine, I'll ask her over for Sunday dinner, but just remember that if this works out, she may become your step-mother." Frank warned.
"But I'll always be your first and oldest child and the one who reminds you of mommy, your first true love. I can deal with the rest." Erin responded.
Sunday night found Casey Fitzgerald seated to Frank's right, with Erin to his left and Henry across the table.
Everyone held hands while Casey led them in grace, following which Henry's Cornish hens and mashed potatoes were passed.
Henry and Erin couldn't help but notice the interest Casey had for Frank, nor could they deny that while Frank remained grieving over Mary, there was a part of him responding to Casey.
"What the heck, I might as well just jump off the cliff and see where I land." Erin thought to herself before addressing the adults.
"I know that I am only a child, but it's clear to me that there is an interest you both have in one another. Daddy, I know that you feel that you have to honor Mom and stay faithful to her, but she's gone and you and I need to move on. Casey, I know you have good intentions with my father and while there will always be a part of him that was my mother's, there is plenty of him for you, but he's going to need you to pull him out of his hidey hole. As for me, I miss my mother more every day and nobody will ever replace her, but I am open to a new mother figure in my life. What I'm trying to say is the two of you should explore where this can go, and know that I am open to it, so don't use me as an excuse." Erin concluded.
"She's right" Henry piped up from across the table. "Come on Erin, help me clear the dishes. We'll give these two some privacy."
Casey looked at Frank. "That's some daughter you have. Not afraid to speak her mind. I like that a lot."
Frank smiled back. "Reminds me of you in that way."
"Is there any truth to what she said?" Casey inquired.
"A whole lot of it." Frank answered.
"And your thoughts?" Casey asked.
"Let's take a walk around the block and become better acquainted." Frank said as he stood and held his hand out to Casey, who smiled back in taking his hand.
Henry and Erin watched as the two exited the house holding hands, as they headed down the front walkway.
"Good job kiddo." Henry said, hugging his granddaughter.
"Now we'll see if this works or not." Erin cautiously observed.
"Your father is right; you and Casey are a lot alike." Henry noted.
"Sometimes you just have to speak your mind instead of beating around the bush." Erin replied. "I learned that one from you Pops." She smiled back.
"I always said you were a smart kid. Now I know it." Henry chuckled back.
Frank and Casey spent the next two hours becoming better acquainted. By the end of the evening, both were sure there was a spark between them both wanted to develop. What cinched it for Frank was when Casey informed him….
"Mary was your first love, your first wife, and the mother of your first child. I would never try to replace her in any of those roles. What I have to offer you is my love, and while I will never be Erin's biological mother, I can be her friend, her confidant, and provide her with maternal guidance. Most importantly, I can offer you another child should you so wish."
Frank's heart melted and he held Casey close and kissed her. Nothing more needed to be said.
Frank and Casey waited one year out of respect for Mary, and were married on November 5, 1872 with Erin serving as the Maid of Honor and Henry as Best Man.
Nine months later, on August 5, 1873, they all welcomed Daniel Fitzgerald Reagan into their family.
Frank looked down at his son. "He's smirking at me." Frank commented to Casey.
She chuckled. "Gets that from my Grandpa Fitz, a mean old cuss of a sailor from Cork County, Ireland."
"Something tells me this one is going to be a handful." Henry observed.
Frank placed Danny into his big sister's waiting arms. "He's adorable." Erin stated, leaning in to kiss her baby brother.
"And he has a wonderful big sister to keep him in line." Casey stated.
"Me?" Erin remarked out of surprise.
"Of course you, he's as much your brother as if your mom and dad had another child, and I expect you to help us out in raising him. Don't worry Erin I'm sure you'll show him in no time that we women rule the roost." Casey firmly stated.
A week later Frank brought Casey and Danny home. Erin was waiting with Danny's bottle, and had everything prepared for his first bath.
Frank and Casey looked on as eight year old Erin bonded with her baby brother, both commenting later on what a wonderful mother she would someday make.
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