Millie thoroughly enjoyed her first summer as a Reagan. While Jack, Sean, and Nicki all went to sleep-away camp for a couple of weeks, Millie spent time with Henry, intent on learning how to read since she would soon be starting kindergarten. Each morning, they would read the USA today together and then work the crossword puzzle. In only four days, Henry had Millie reading the entire front page. When Nicki and the boys came home, they all spent a few days at Frank's house, camping out with Henry in the backyard, learning the names of the stars, and eating more roasted marshmallows than would be approved by Linda or Erin, if they had any clue exactly how many marshmallows were being eaten.

As summer came to a close, Linda quickly got into new school year mode. "We need to go get new uniforms," she announced one Friday morning.

"Mine are still good," Jack assured her, trying to get out of it.

"You've grown at least two inches this summer. No way your pants still fit. I'll get them just a little longer than I got those dress pants the other day so you will be good for the year.

"I haven't grown," Sean sighed.

"We'll see if Jack's pants will fit you. If so, you may avoid this particular shopping trip as well."
"What about me?" Millie asked.

"You definitely have to go. You're going to be in real Kindergarten this year. We've got to get you official uniforms."

"So I can't wear my purple skirt anymore?"

"Nope."
"Or my rainbow tights?"
"Nope."
"I don't think I like Kindergarten."

"You will," Linda chuckled. "And not to rain on your parade, but we also have to go to the doctor today and get your shots for school."
"WHAT?!" Millie's eyes got as wide as saucers. She definitely didn't like school now.

"It will just be a couple of shots and then we'll go meet Daddy for lunch in the park."
"I don't want to."
"Sorry. You have to."

"Nooooooo." Millie began to cry as Danny put on his suit jacket and made his way into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee before he had to leave for work.

"What's going on?"
"Mr. Uncle Danny, tell her no!" Millie squealed as she ran and jumped into Danny's arms.

"Tell who no about what? What's wrong?"
"I just told her we have to go to the doctor today for her shots."

"Oh and you're scared?" Danny asked as Millie buried her face in his shoulder and held on to him for dear life.

"It's… gonna… hurt…"
"Well, you're right. It will. But it'll be real quick and then Aunt Linda's going to bring you to eat lunch with me in the park."

"I don't want to go!"

"But you have to go. If you don't get your shots, you can't go to school and show them all how good you can read."

"I don't care. I don't need school now. Pop can teach me everything."

Danny chuckled. He could only imagine what all Henry may teach her.

"If you don't get your shots, you might get sick again. Like the time you got meningitis. Remember that?" Linda asked. "We don't want you getting sick again."

Millie wasn't convinced. She didn't go in kicking and screaming, but she definitely didn't go in willingly. She was skiddish about everything the doctor and nurse asked her to do. She didn't want to get weighed or put on the gown or let them check anything. She was on full alert for the shots and started crying before they even touched her with the alcohol swab. Four shots later, Linda picked her up and headed to the park.

"How'd it go?" Danny smiled as he opened Linda's door. She looked to him and back at Millie, whose eyes were still damp with tears.

"You're up for the next round," she smiled as she got out and gave him a kiss.

He walked back and opened Millie's door. Her bottom lip was stuck out and she still had tears on her cheeks. "Hey, Silly Millie. Looks like they gave you some pretty cool bandages." She unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for him. "Guess what."

"What?" Millie sighed as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I talked to Grandpa today and he said that he wants all of us to go to a hockey game tonight."

"Really?"

"Yep." He kissed her forehead. "What do you think?"

"Is Mr. Uncle Jamie coming?"
"Uh huh. Doesn't that sound like fun?"
"I guess. Mr. Uncle Danny, my legs hurt."
"I know, but they'll feel better later. You won't even think about it."

"Tell him what else we found out at the doctor," Linda smiled.

"I grew 1.2 inches."

"You did?"

"Let's eat," Linda said as she unpacked the sandwiches and handed them each one. "Millie, hop down so Daddy can eat and get back to work."

"I can't hop. My legs hurt."
Danny chuckled as they sat down and put her on his lap. "You know what? I know how you can get those legs feeling better before the game."

"How?" Millie asked as she took a bite of her sandwich.

"Well, when you and Aunt Linda go home…"
"Uh, we're going to buy uniforms," Linda reminded him.

"Right," Danny corrected. "First when you go to get your uniform, you've got to do a lot of walking. Because shots work like this. They put the medicine right there in your legs, right?" he asked, pointing to the brightly colored Band-Aids on her tiny thighs. Millie nodded. "So right now, all the medicine is right there. But you need to do a lot of walking so that it moves it all through your body. You know why?"

"Why?"
"Because that way, when you go to school and some germy kid has one of these diseases like chicken pox or mumps, it doesn't matter where the germs touch you, you won't get anything." Linda was trying to best to keep from cracking up as Millie took in every single word that Danny said.

"What do I do after that?"

"Then, you go home and ask Aunt Linda real nice to let you take a bath in our bathtub. But don't splash around, just sit real still and let the warm water relax all of your muscles."
"With bubbles?"

"Oh yes. The bubbles will get rid of all the germs. When you get out, look in my dresser drawer and find one of my sweatshirts. It doesn't matter which one. Put that on, then lay down and get Aunt Linda to put a pillow under your feet so they're propped up just slightly. Lay there for about an hour and whala! You'll feel so much better."

"Did you hear that Mrs. Aunt Linda?!" Millie asked, wide-eyed.

"I sure did."
"Don't forget. Do we need to write it down?"

"No. I think we're good."

Millie was already feeling better by the time lunch was over. Danny had planted a seed in her head and Linda was especially grateful. "She would've been a bear to shop with if you hadn't devised your master plan," she whispered as she and Danny walked hand-in-hand to the car. "Thank you."

"You can thank me later," he grinned as he kissed her.

Millie cleared her throat and crossed her arms. Danny and Linda stopped kissing and looked down at her. "No kissing. It's gross."

Danny rolled his eyes as he kissed Linda once more then turned and scooped up Millie in his arms before kissing her on her cheek a couple of times. Millie died out laughing.

"Mr. Uncle Danny, you're crazy."

"Crazy about my two favorite Reagan women."

"I love you," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and his heart melted.

"Love you too. Be good for Aunt Linda."

And good she was. Millie was an angel. Linda was able to outfit her in 3 skirts, 6 shirts, 5 pairs of knee socks, 1 sweater, 1 blazer, and two pairs of shoes. Millie didn't ask for ice cream or a toy or even a red lightbulb. She was fully focused on getting home and doing exactly what Danny had told her to do. Linda was thrilled. She put her in the tub the moment they walked in and then when the water got chilly, Millie got out, put on Danny's sweatshirt, and crawled in his bed. Linda tried to assure her he meant her own bed, but that wasn't a fight worth fighting, so she propped up her feet, tucked her in, and left her to nap.

When Danny came home an hour later, Linda was even more in love with him than when she left him in the park. She pulled him down on the couch and climbed on top of him to kiss him.

"What in the world is this for?" he asked.

"We had a fantastic trip. What could've taken all afternoon and lots of tears literally took forty-five minutes. Then we came home, Millie is bathed, and she has been napping for the past hour. I've had time to do literally every bit of housework that I wanted to do and I even had enough time to read a few chapters of this new book."

"Want to take this up to our room for a few minutes?"

"We can't."
"Why?"
"Millie's in our bed." Danny's own plan had backfired. "Care to make a trip to the basement?"

Linda rolled her eyes as she giggled. "We've got to get ready. Go get your boys. They're shooting basketball with the Laraby twins."

Linda made her way upstairs and rifled through Millie's closet. She finally found the hockey jersey that Henry had purchased each of his grandchildren for occasions like this, a pair of black leggings, and red, blue, and white stripped socks. "What else do I need?" Linda looked around the room and picked up Millie's tennis shoes, a hair brush and two white hair ribbons.

The boys both blew past her as she was making her way to her bedroom. "Hey Mom."

"Hi boys. Your jerseys are hanging in your closets. Take a shower first!"

"Do we have time for all that?" Sean asked.

"Yes. We always have time for a shower. Go." Danny appeared at the top of the stairs as Linda shook her head and laughed at the boys. "That goes for you to, Mr. Reagan. Shower now."

"Yes ma'am," he grinned as he made his way into their room ahead of her. "But let's wake up Millie first."

"Nope," Linda said as she pushed him straight into the master bathroom. "Shower. Now." If it weren't for Linda, the Reagans never would get anywhere on time. She walked over and put all of Millie's clothes on the bed then dug through the closet and found an outfit for Danny. "Danny, I'm leaving your clothes on the counter."
"Thanks Babe, wanna jump in?"
"No. I'm clean and need to get a five-year-old dressed."

"Not even for a second?" he smiled as he pulled back the curtain.

"Later," Linda grinned as she kissed him. "Hurry up. You know how your grandfather gets when we're late."

"Love you."

"Love you more," she called as she made her way out and over to the bed to wake up Millie.

"Love you most," Danny sighed as he returned to the shower to get the soap out of his hair.

Linda sat down on the bed and stroked the side of Millie's face, moving her hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear. "Millie. Millie. Ready to get up and go see Grandpa?"

Millie stretched. "Hi Mrs. Aunt Linda. Is Mr. Uncle Danny home?"
"Yep. He's in the shower. Ready to get up and get ready so we can go to the game?" She yawned, sat up, and stretched again. "Here. Let's get you dressed and I'll fix your hair."

"Can I wear this?"
"Daddy's Brooklyn sweatshirt? No."

"Please?"

"No. You can wear it to bed tonight, but not to the game. You've got to wear the jersey Pop got you. Sean and Jack are wearing theirs."

"Then why do you have this shirt too?"

"You need an undershirt. It will be cold in there. Come on. Up up up."

Millie got up and stepped into the leggings Linda was holding up for her before putting on her undershirt and jersey. "Ok. Have a seat on the bed and put on your socks while I work on this hair. How do you feel about braids?" Millie shrugged as she pulled on her stripped socks.

Linda gently brushed her hair and began braiding as they heard the water turn off. "I think Daddy's finished." Millie grinned as she anxiously awaited Danny's arrival.

"Mom, do I have any clean jeans?" Jack asked as he ran by in his jersey and boxers.

"Look in the dryer. I just washed a load a little bit ago."

"Thanks. Hey Mil. Ready for the game?"
"Yep."

Jack ran off as Danny walked out of the bathroom and joined the girls.

"There she is," he smiled as Millie attempted to jump up.

"Hold it," Linda instructed. "Not done yet."

Millie frowned so Danny sat down in front of her to keep the peace. "Mr. Uncle Danny, did you catch any bad guys today?"
"Nope. No bad guys, but I did catch a bad lady."

"Good job."
"What did you two do? Did you get some uniforms?"

Millie wrinkled her nose, signifying she was still not excited about the whole uniform situation. "We did," Linda answered. "We were in and out in under an hour and have her set for the entire year of St. Mary's Kindergarten."

Danny helped Millie with her shoes while Linda started the second braid. "Hey, let's practice tying these shoes. Your kindergarten teacher will love it if we send you to school reading and tying your shoes." They practiced long enough for Linda to finish Millie's hair and tie her ribbons.

"Ok. Let's go see if the boys are ready. We've got to leave in ten minutes," Linda said, looking at her watch. "I'm assuming traffic will be a nightmare."

"Probably so. Mil, you want to drive?" Millie cracked up as she jumped on Danny's back and they followed Linda.

"There they are!" Frank smiled as the Reagans all piled in the aisle where he, Henry, Erin, and Nicki were already sitting.

"Where's Mr. Uncle Jamie?" Millie asked.

"He'll be here. He got caught up in some paperwork."

Frank was right. About ten minutes later, Jamie arrived to all of the children's excitement. He ended up taking a seat between Jack and Nicki, with Millie in his lap. It had been a long day and all of the adults could see it on his face, but his nieces and nephews didn't notice.

"Why didn't you bring Ms. Officer Eddie?"
"She uh… she had some paperwork to finish."
"So did you," Nicki pointed out, clearly understanding that there was more to the story.

"Yeah. She just had more than me. It was a long day."

Frank's keen sense of hearing and ever watchful eye looked their way. "Who wants something from the concession stand?"
"Ohhh. Me!" they all shouted.

"You just ate!" Linda exclaimed.

"Don't worry. It's just a snack. Jamison, come help me."

"You got it. Be right back, guys."

Danny and Jamie made their way down to the concession area. "How'd your debrief go?"
"We got cleared. It was ruled a justifiable shooting. Eddie's blaming herself though."

"Sounded like you didn't have any other options."

"Yeah." Jamie walked up to the counter. "Chocolate or popcorn?"

They returned to their seats with a little bit of everything, much to everyone's delight. Danny was just as excited as the kids about the Milk Duds. "I haven't had these in forever!"

"Hey Mr. Uncle Jamie," Millie said as she jumped back in his lap. "How about we take a picture and send it to Ms. Officer Eddie to let her know what she's missing."

"Ok," he chuckled as he pulled out his phone. All of the kids leaned in as Jamie snapped the selfie.

"Tell her we miss her."

"Will do."

Jamie sent the message to Eddie with the simple message, "Told you to come. Cricket says hi."

Eddie noticed her phone notification as she filled a glass with wine. She knew who it was before even looking, but picked it up all the same and opened the message as she took a sip. It made her smile more than she thought it would.

"Tell them I'll be there for the next one she replied."
"U okay?" Jamie shot back.

"Getting there. Call me tomorrow. Have fun!"

"Copy that."

"What'd she say?" Millie asked as Jamie smiled and put his phone back in his pocket.

"That you're the coolest ever and she hopes you have fun."
Millie grinned. "You got to marry her, Mr. Uncle Jamie. I like her."

"I second," Nicki agreed.

"I third," Jack added.

"I don't know what we're talking about, but I fourth!" Sean yelled across Nicki.

Jamie just laughed. "Watch the game."