Linda Reagan sighed as she looked at the big house in front of her. She had been in the house so many times- so many Sunday dinners, so many Christmases, Thanksgivings, New Years, birthdays. But it felt different today. Today it felt eerie, haunting even. It wasn't the house she had been warmly welcomed into all those years ago. Now it was a temporary home, an answer to a problem Linda thought she'd never have.
Earlier that day, Danny, Linda, Jack, and Sean had stood before the ashes of their home. The home where the kids had grown up in; the house Linda and Danny had "christened". All their memories were in that house, and now all of them were buried and mixed in with the rubble and ashes.
Linda had told Danny the house was just that- a house. They, as a family, they had made it a home. She had said "it's a house. We made it a home. Without us, it's just a house", sounding like she was sure they would bounce back okay. In truth, she was just as scared and worried as her husband. Danny had grabbed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile, "I'm gonna lock up the bitch that burned this house. And once I'm done with him, he's gonna for in jail."
Linda walked up the stairs and stood before the open door. She lifted her foot to take a step when Danny stopped her.
"Don't take that step!"
"What? Why?" She put her foot on the brick entry way.
Coming out to stand next to her, he looked her straight in the eye. Picking her up bridal style, he answered, "because the groom always carries his bride over the threshold."
Linda smiled, letting her husband carry her into their temporary home. Once on the ground and tears in her eyes, the blonde said, "you're romantically adorable."
"Adorably romantic."
Sighing again and resting her hands on her husband's chest, she whispered, "we're gonna be okay, right?"
"Yeah, we'll be okay." He hugged her as she let her tears fall.
"For some reason the verse 'ashes to ashes and dust to dust' keeps coming to mind." Danny mused as he and Linda sat up in bed. They were temporarily staying in Danny's old room, until they found a new place.
Linda nodded, looking at their entwined hands, "Maybe we got too comfortable, y'know? We needed a reminder that this world is not our home."
"We were getting pretty cocky, weren't we?"
"I think so... maybe it's a good that this happened now. It's a good time to downsize. I mean, Jack's only got a year or so left before he heads off to college."
"That's true."
"Can you believe our baby's older than we were when we first met?"
"I know... does that scare you?"
"A little... at least nobody was in the house."
"That's right. And no one was hurt."
"It didn't spread... Good happens amidst the bad."
"Linda?" Danny turned to face his wife.
"Yes?"
"I love you. So much. I don't think I tell you that enough—"
"I love you, too. And I don't tell you enough either."
They smiled at each other a little, then kissed sweetly. They were going to come out of this okay, just like they always did. From experience, Linda knew 'okay' didn't mean perfectly. There'd definitely be heightened emotions, harsh words would be flung about, fights would ensue. But every mountain, every obstacle they faced, Danny and Linda Reagan came out with a stronger understanding of each other, of life, making their marriage a fortress.
