"Family Meeting" Danny hears his father holler up the stairwell.

"What now?" the 18 year old says out loud. The only times they call a family meeting is when something major is going on, or when they have a brilliant new idea on how to bring the kids closer together.

"You better hurry up" laughed 16 year old Erin, Dannys only sister "You might be 18 but dad will still call you to his office for ignoring him!"

The only thing worse then being called to a family meeting is being beckoned to Dads office, alone. Danny grumbles as he gets up and heads downstairs.

Once all the kids were sitting they realized this wasn't a normal meeting. Mary was sitting on a chair with her eyes already filled with tears. "Mama?" questioned the baby of the family, 5 year old Jamie.

"Ma?" piped up Danny "Are you alright? Whats going on?"

"Mom talk to us..." pleaded 11 year old Joe.

"Daddy?" questioned Erin looking to her father for answers.

"Kids, just sit there and be still for a few minutes. We have something we need to talk to you about." said Frank quietly, yet sternly. All the kids sunk back on the couch. Frank looks at them, Danny is sitting on one end, Erin on the other, with Joe in the middle. Jamie crawled onto his brother lap, and Danny automatically puts one arm around him while holding Joe instinctively with the other arm. Erin has a hold of both Danny's arm and Joe's hands. The sight makes his heart fill with pride at the realization that his oldest child will always protect his younger sister and brothers.

"Kids..." starts Mary "My babies. I have to tell you something. Please dont worry, but mama is sick. Very sick. And I have to go away to the hospital for a little while."

"M-m-mom...What is it?" asked Erin with her eyes tightly shut afraid of the answer.

"I'm so sorry baby" she replied crumbling into tears. Jamie doesn't understand what is going on, he is looking at his mom in tears, his sister who just let a sob escape her lips, his brother Joe who had tears running down his cheeks, then finally to Danny. Danny is staring straight ahead, lips in a straight line, showing absolutely no emotion. When he realizes Jamie is watching him he drops his head, snuggles Jamie to his neck, rubbing his back, whispering "its ok kid, its ok."

"Kids, all of you, with the exception of Jamie are old enough to understand," starts their father "Mom has cancer. It hasn't spread and the Doctors believe they caught it in time. We don't want you to worry. Everything is going to be alright."

The all stayed in the family room for the next hour, crying, hugging, and talking. While Danny stayed on the couch the other kids moved closer to their parents. Jamie was sitting on his mothers lap, while she played with his hair. Erin was sharing the chair with her father, with Joe at their feet. After the tears were all dried up, their parents excused them, and asked Erin to help the boys wash their hands and faces and start to get ready for dinner. Danny stood with the kids, but his father placed a gentle hand on his shoulder "Erin can handle it son. Sit back down" he said gently.

Mary quickly moved from her seat, next to Danny on the couch, as he dropped his head towards his lap. "Danny-boy, your face looked like a statue for the last hour. Please tell me what your thinking." begged his mom, while rubbing small comforting circles on his back.

"I'm ok Ma, you and dad both said your going to be ok. You've taught me, for 16 years, my job is to protect the kids. How can I protect them if I fall apart? They will always see me strong. That is what you wanted" Danny says, his voice cracking on the last word.

"Oh baby..." his mother said with her tears starting all over again. "We never wanted you to stop feeling. We didn't mean you couldn't be upset."

"Son, being strong doesn't mean you can't cry. Your still a boy. Its ok to be hurting, and to show it" Frank replies sitting on the couch and placing an arm around his sons shoulders. Frank could feel a slight shudder go through his son, then it stopped at quick as it started.

"May I be excused?" Danny suddenly asks with absolutely no emotion in his voice.

"Yes you may. Please come back down in 30 minutes for dinner." said his mom. She watched him moved off the couch and up the stairs, then turned to her husband asking "what did we do to our sweet boy?"

The kids had calmed down enough for dinner. Frank and Mary were able to answer any and all questions they had. Mary found a lump in her breast, when she went to the Dr she found out it was cancerous. She was going into the hospital to have the lump removed and to start treatments. They were pretty sure they got it in time, and that Mary would make a full recovery. She wouldn't be gone from the family for long, but would need help from all the kids in the upcoming weeks. The kids were still sad, but they seemed to understand. Mary kept her eyes on Danny the whole time who still refused to show any emotion.

After dinner it was time for Frank to leave for his night tour. Once he left, the 3 younger siblings settled on the big couch with their mom for snuggles and a movie. None of the kids wanted to be away from her side just yet. Danny said he had homework to finish and excused himself to his bedroom.

At 11:00 Mary heard a knock on her bedroom door. She expected it to be Jamie or even Joe, waking from a bad dream. "Come on in kiddo" she said quietly. To her surprise, it was her oldest standing silent at the foot of the bed.

"Danny you scared me. I thought you were one of the boys." Mary said quickly, while Danny just stood there, still not talking. "Danny-boy, whats wrong baby?" she asked more gently.

"Mama..." Danny says so quietly she can barely hear him, and he starts to move towards the bed. "I don't wanna be strong anymore."

Mary pulls the boy onto the bed holding him tight as he starts to cry. She lies back on the bed, holding her oldest son, in her arms, just as she would her baby, softly rubbing his back as the tears fall.