Chapter Ten

"I understand you want to go see Danielle at Monica's house so she feels secure and safe," Lila told Frank. "But Monica and Danielle cannot help you if you get too excited or upset. I will just sit in the other room but I'm going or Mom is going or someone has to go too."

Frank coughed, already winded from getting dressed in a slightly more elaborate manner than he usually did. "Okay, Grandpa just take a deep breath, a long deep breath in on the oxygen, you ready?"

Frank did as Lila said then finished getting dressed and headed to the car. "Are you nervous?" Lila asked as she drove the relatively short distance to Monica's house.

"A little bit," Frank replied. "I don't know how she'll take it. I've been part of her life for 38 years but as a friend of her mother's not as a her father. She might be angry."

Lila nodded, "Maybe but she'll realize how lucky she is to have you sooner rather than later too. I just hope the rest of the family takes the news as nicely as Mom did, and Dad, he was shocked but I know he'll be supportive."

"He will be," Frank replied. "That's one of the things I love best about your father. He has a level head, he'll be okay. He takes time to digest things, he's a lot like Joe that way. When your mother was pregnant with you, Joey was not at all ready to accept he wasn't going to be the baby anymore. He was hostile and he was a little angry, then your parents brought you home from the hospital…"

Frank gave a small smile at his granddaughter recalling a time when she was little. Lila knew that look on her grandfather's face meant he was thinking. "What grandpa, what is it?"

"Just remembering that day. It was your first night home and you wouldn't stop crying so your mom got up to calm you and you know what she saw?"

Lila shook her head listening intently to him. His blue eyes twinkled deeply in response. "She saw Joey sitting by your crib reaching through the bars to hold your hand and sooth you. She told me later she knew then you two were special. As you grew, you both always were ready to jump in and comfort…I saw that in Danielle and I think you two will really like each other. Make a right here and that's Monica's house, the white one."

Lila parked the car and got Frank's cane and oxygen out. "There are ten stairs…let's take a couple and stop…" Lila helped Frank tackle the steps. When he was half way up, Monica opened the door. "Do you need any help?"

"No, he's okay just some water and a good chair when he gets inside," Lila replied. "Almost their grandpa, two good breaths and let's go…"

Frank made it into Monica's living room and collapsed into a chair. Lila held the water cup for Frank to drink. "She here?" he asked hoping Danielle wasn't going to see this.

"Not yet," Monic assured him. "In a few minutes. Catch your breath."

It took about ten minutes before Lila could get Frank to the kitchen. He sat with a hot cup of tea and took a few sips when the bell rang followed by and happy call, "Mom, I'm here. Did you see there's a strange car in the driveway?"

"Yes, honey, Uncle Frank and his granddaughter are here," Monica replied. "Come in, there's fresh tea."

If Lila had any doubt about the relationship between Frank and Danielle, she didn't any more. Danielle was beautiful, with shining blue eyes, light brown hair, and a 1000 watt smile that matched her father's tooth for tooth. Danielle leaned over and gave Frank a big hug, then turned to Lila, "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Lila smiled. "Grandpa was excited to come and visit with you today."

"I see you have some albums with you," Danielle smiled. "Showing off those cute great grandbabies again?"

"No," Frank replied his voice gravelly. He cleared his throat. "No, Danielle, those albums we'll get to in a minute but your mom and I need to talk to you first. Lila, maybe you can watch the TV in the other room."

Lila nodded, "I'll be right here if you need me." She kissed Frank's forehead and headed to the bedroom to give them all some privacy.

"What's going on?" Danielle asked. Her mind was as sharp as a her Harvard educated brother, even though her alma mater was Yale.

"Danielle, this is going to be difficult to say and probably more difficult to hear," Monica began. "But recent events have caused us to reveal something to Lila and her parents that we've kept quiet for many years. For thirty eight years…"

Danielle looked at Frank, her eyes matched his, "You're my father. I think I've always known that on the inside. I've always felt like a daughter to you, you were there for all my big events…is that the truth?"

Frank's eyes misted over "Yes," he said softly. "Yes that's the truth, I am your father."

Danielle stood up and moved over to Frank. She put her arms around Frank and held him tight. "I'm so happy to have you finally say that. You know how I knew?"

Frank raised his arms to hug Danielle tight, "No, how?"

"This," Danielle replied. "My other uncles, other friends, they would give me a hug and it felt good but yours were special. Then I saw my smile on your youngest son, Jamie and I knew. I understand why you waited, I'm not angry…I just…"

Danielle pulled back and wiped her eyes. "I just don't know how much more time we have together now the truth is out."

"I have no plans to go anywhere," Frank replied. "None at all."

"Good," Danielle smiled. "I'm going to get my niece and we can look through some of these books."

Monica smiled, "That went very well. I thought maybe she had a clue but she never let on. You always were so good to us…"

Frank smiled, "I even ran off a boyfriend or two," he chuckled. "That big blue book, that has all my kids baby pictures in it. No one has ever seen this book but me I want to show it off now. It has all five of my kids in it."

Monica put the book on the table and opened it to the first page as the girls came back in. "Mom, you didn't tell me Lila just lost her husband I didn't know she was one of the women in the paper."

"Yes, honey," Monica replied. "Lila is Jamie Reagan's daughter, but she changed her name. That's why we spoke, I was giving her a little advice. Are you okay sweetie?"

Lila had tears in her eyes, "Yeah I'm okay. My parents were just on the TV, Dad was declaring a full investigation into the explosion and fire and Mom was standing right next to him. This is going to make Dad stay on and Mom will be so upset again."

"I have a feeling your mother being there was a seal of approval," Frank comforted. "Don't worry about those things now, remember what your Mom and Monica said, take things a piece at a time. It's all right. Today is a good day, we're going to look at pictures."

Lila wiped her eyes, "Oh who is that?"

"That is Uncle Danny the day he was born," Frank replied. "A lot of these are old and I've kept them locked away. You'll see why. He still has that birthmark, you see that when we go to Montauk."

Danielle touched her shoulder and pulled down her shirt, "I have the same one but on the other shoulder. That's cool."

"Mommy will be home soon, Buddy," Jamie soothed his grandson as Finn fussed and watched the door for his mother. Reagan was content and already taking her late afternoon nap upstairs.

"He's teething Jamie," Eddie reminded him. "Remember when Joey was cutting his back teeth, only I could soothe him. Lila promised your dad would be back before his afternoon meds."

Jamie sighed and leaned back rocking Finn in his arms. Ten minutes later, Lila and Frank returned from their trip both wearing bright smiles. "How did it go?' Eddie asked as she took over helping Frank. Lila went and took Finn for a rock.

"It went great, she knew all along I was her father," Frank beamed. "She has a birthmark like Danny on her shoulder, she has you smile Jamie, and she's got Erin's height and poise…I can see pieces of all of you in her. Mainly, she has Joe's calm temperament which she'll need when we let the rest of the family know."

"Danielle is so nice, Dad," Lila said as she rocked. "She has your smile and she eats like you with her hand twisted. She's a urologist and takes care of all kinds of people. She even was an expert witness once, remember that case where the man ran his wife over an blamed his Viagra. She testified for the prosecution."

"Sounds like you had a nice day as well, Kitten," Jamie replied. "Dad, how do you want to proceed?"

"Well," Frank sighed taking a few short gaspy breaths. "I invited her for Wednesday dinner to meet you and Eddie and Joey and Molly, then perhaps Sunday we can tell everyone else."

Eddie detected just a hint of fear in Frank's eyes. "Dad, you've been through a lot with this coming out perhaps after Jamie and I meet Danielle we can break the news, I don't want you having a health set back on account of this."

"Let's see how Wednesday goes, Eddie," Jamie replied. "For now, one piece at a time. It is hard on Dad, maybe telling everyone else right off…"

"No,' Frank said firmly. "I want this out now, I should have spoked up a long time ago but I didn't I cheated you all, it's not fair."

"Okay, don't get upset, Dad," Jamie soothed. "We'll see her tomorrow and then if you need Eddie and I to help we'll help. Why don't you come with me, we'll do meds and you have your nap okay?"

Frank feel asleep with a smile on his face, in two days his two youngest would meet face to face. He couldn't wait to start connecting his family. As Frank drifted off her looked at a picture of his Mary on the night table, "Won't be long now my love, I'm getting my work done." With that he dozed off into a dream filled sleep.

Wednesday seemed to come very quickly for Jamie. He was nervous about meeting his sister and about telling his other siblings about her. Eddie was happy to be hosting the newest revealed Reagan. "I'm making my roast pork with the apricots, scalloped potatoes, and broccoli. Lila did those onion and gorgonzola tarts she makes and we have chips and dips."

"That'll be perfect, honey," Jamie replied. "What do you have in your bag of tricks for a nervous older half brother…"

"A knock in the head," Eddie replied. "Reagan's don't do half way, you shouldn't refer to her that way, it'll make her feel less than. She is your sister too just like Erin, maybe more so if what Lila says is true."

"You're right, I'm sorry honey," Jamie sighed. "You're right. That was insensitive of me."

"You're nervous, babe, that's okay," Eddie comforted. "I hope she likes us, I don't know."

"I know she'll love you, she likes Lila already, there is so much of you in our girl…"

Headlights showed up in the driveway announcing Joey and Molly's arrival. The came in the side door both smiling, "Is she hear yet?" Molly asked.

"No, not yet," Eddie replied. "Soon, Lila is in the living room, go on an in and get settled, we'll be right out."

Joey hugged and kissed his mom and hugged Jamie before heading to the living room to wait to meet his aunt. It was weird this was coming up now after 38 years but the story seemed plausible and didn't hit any red flags. Joey would listen for sure but he hoped to welcome his new aunt with open arms as his mother expected.

A/N: Even though she's my OC, I actually really like Danielle a lot and I am so glad so many of you like he as well. I think as time goes on and we lose characters to age and other things she will flesh the family out a bit. If you have suggestions for Danielle, feel free to send them through review or private message.

Next Update – February 20th – Danielle meet the Jamsion Reagan branch of the family while Eddie and Jamie worry about Lila.

To my Danny fans, his arc begins about chapter 17 and he'll meet his unintentional namesake in chapter 12.