"Joe, it's not funny anymore. Just stop it and eat!"

"But there's too much milk on my cornflakes! You made them wrong!"

"How old are you, three? You'll survive this, kid, I trust you!" Danny turned away from his brother and opened his maths book again. Stupid cubic equations, who on earth needed that stuff?

Joe scowled. "I'm old enough to know how I want my cornflakes to be", he grumbled – and flipped another milk-soaked piece towards Danny.

"Heaven's sake, Joe! You…"

"Danny, watch your tongue!" Frank's voice was stern and exhausted .

„Are you sure it's okay, Dad? She's been throwing up for days now!" Erin frowned as she followed her father down into the kitchen.

"I know, Erin"; Frank sighed as he searched the fridge for anything eatable, "I know. And yes, it is okay. Your mom will be fine. Now, where's the milk?"

"Joe's wasting it on the floor." "Danny's wasted it on my cornflakes, they're so soaked not even a dog would eat them!"

"What do you know about dogs? We don't have one", Erin pointed out. Joe shrugged. "I'm pretty sure he wouldn't eat it." Then an idea crossed his mind "Dad, can we get a dog?"

Danny laughed, and Joe quickly added, "it could be a police dog, one that can sniff drugs and blood and stuff. Please?"

"That'd be great!" Erin's voice was filled with reluctant enthusiasm. Eventually excitement won over reason. "Dad, can we get a dog?"

"I thought you were so worried about mom", Danny interjected – and bit his lips as his father shot him a dangerously angry glance.

Erin and Joe frowned at the same time, and once again it struck Danny how similar they were. How close. And how far apart he was from them in so many ways.

"I thought she's okay?", Joe asked innocently. "She is", Frank answered without taking his eyes off Danny, "but I will drive you to school today. We'll buy your lunch on the way, so get ready, everybody!"

"Yeah!" Joe stormed out of the kitchen, leaving his half-eaten cornflakes on the table. "I just say mom goodbye!"

"Danny?" Frank held back his oldest son. "Can I have a word with you?"

"I'm sorry, dad." "I guess you are. And what for are you sorry?" Danny swallowed. "I reminded Joe of mom's throwing up…"

"Which he luckily didn't consider too much."

"…and I cursed him. Kind of. But I didn't mean it, I just… I'm worried, dad." Danny looked straight into his father's eyes. "Mom said being sick was okay for the first two months. She's almost in the fifth now, and she still can't eat anything."

"I know." Frank sighed heavily. "But your mom is a very strong woman, and she says she is okay. I know this is hard for you, son. It's hard for me, too. When you're old enough, you and I will have a very serious conversation about men and women and having babies and…" "I know how babies are made, dad!"

"Make them is just one side of the medal, Danny. It's in really having them that we men must show our strength. And no matter how hard we try, we can never be as strong as a mother is. We don't feel like they do, and we can't help them carrying the baby."

Danny looked sullen and Frank gently laid an arm around his shoulder. "That doesn't mean that you can't help her, though." He smiled as he saw Danny's face light up. "What can I do?"

"Well, it starts with learning to behave properly. You are your brother's role model, Danny. He looks up to you, and though she may not show it, Erin does, too. They trust you. Never forget that."

"I won't, Sir." Danny stood straight. "I will always protect them, and I'll protect the little one, I promise, I also told mom…"

"I know." Frank nodded. "And she is very happy about that. You're a wonderful young man, son. You're making your mom very proud of you. And me, too."

Danny beamed with pride.

"Dad, we've got to go now, your car's waiting!" Erin's voice broke up the moment. Quickly, the Reagan children huddled up in the back rear. "So you said goodbye to mom?" Danny did his best to keep his voice even. Joe nodded. "She smiled when she saw me. But she's pale."

"She's going to be okay, that's normal. You made her pale, too.", Erin quickly said. "You can't know that!" "I do!" Erin grinned as Joe stuck his tongue out to her. Then her eyes flew to Danny, asking for backing up.

They trust you. Never forget that.

Danny smiled. "She'll be okay. Dad says she will, mom says she will, and grandma's not too worried, either. Gonna be alright."

"And if not, I've got an idea", Joe smiled. Erin frowned. "What do you mean, if not?"

"Well, if mom doesn't get better and can't have the baby, of course", Joe explained. "It's not like we need another baby in here…"

"Yeah, because you're still a baby, Joe", Erin smirked, and Danny bit back a grin.

Joe just shook his head. "Girls! No, I mean, if having another baby gets too hard on mom. We could ask for a dog instead!"

I have to admit I don't know how nine-year-olds behave… or if they already know how babies are made. So sorry if I just made Joe more stupid than he ought to be. I promise he'll be much more mature once he's gotten over the shock.