CH. 24: Trouble with Andy

Andy was pretty ecstatic with her new room. It took some time but eventually, they had it painted and we're just finishing up on getting everything moved in.

"Two rooms with the same family. That's a record." Andy said it with a smirk.

"Andy," all Linda could do is shake her head.

"What?" Andy looked at her sheepishly.

"The things you say," again all Linda could do is shake her head.

"I am a Reagan," she smirked.

"That you are." Linda agreed wholeheartedly as she helped her daughter arrange her clothing in her dresser drawers and closet.

Andy placed her last set of shoes in the closet when she hesitated before reaching for another shirt to fold.

"I'll be right back," she started for the door.

"Where are you going?" Linda stopped her.

"I'm going to go tease Sean about getting kicked out of his room." A mischievous grin started to spread over her face.

"You lost your room to Andy," Linda reminded her.

"Yes," Andy held up a finger. "But he's getting kicked out of the room he's had since he was born. It's different for me."

"Andrea," Linda started to say something further but was interrupted.

"Hey if you can't have fun with your little brother, what the point in having one."

Andy ran down the freshly built stairs, not giving her mother a chance to interrupt her trek.

"That kid," Linda sighed as she finished hanging her daughter's clothes up in the closet.

"How do you like my room?" Andy waltzed through the open door of her old room.

"It's my room now," Sean clarified.

"Do me a favor and don't do anything in here I wouldn't do."

"Well, that leaves me with an open door."

"Shut up."

"Hey, you're the one always in trouble," the two siblings started to argue. Not even paying attention to their brother Jack coming in.

"Well I think it's obvious I'm mom and dad's favorite," he interrupted saying something so bizarre it made the two stop the argument between them.

"What are you talking about?" Sean was the one to ask.

"You both lost your rooms. I on the other hand get to stay where I've always been and didn't have to go through the hassle of packing, unpacking, and organizing my space.

"I think it's the other way around," Andy wasn't a bit bothered by her brother's observation. "Mom and dad have put a lot of work on fixing our new rooms up for us. You haven't gotten anything."

"I'd prefer that over not having to move my stuff."

"We've also gotten a lot more attention from them than you have," Sean unbelievably joined forces with his sister. "You haven't."

"That's because they haven't wanted you to feel upset about them kicking you out."

"Shut up Jack," Andy shoved him.

"Mom!" Jack yelled. Andy pushed me!"

"Augh!" Linda raised her voice frustrated. Pinning all three of them with a glare.

"How did you know what we were arguing about?" Sean looked at his mother confused.

"Because you are always arguing about that!" Linda crosses her arms in front of her chest.

"What's going on here?" Danny heard the yelling the second he stepped into the house after getting home from work and he was quick to make his way up the stairs.

"Nothing I can't handle," Linda glanced back at him before returning her attention to her children.

"I've had enough. If I hear one more thing about you losing your rooms or us playing favorites you will live to regret it! Am I making myself clear?"

"Yes," the three were quick to respond. Not trusting the look in their mother's eye.

"You better be," she took a second to look each one of them in the eye before walking away.

The three remained in place when they noticed their father had yet to leave them alone and they weren't about to dig themselves in deeper.

"I don't know what you did," Danny took his turn to eye the three of them. "But stop it!"

"Look what you did," Andy shoved Jack. "Now Dad is mad at us."

"Andrea," Danny retraced his steps from the hall.

"I'm done," Andy held her hands up in surrender.

XXXXXXXX

Under normal circumstances, Andy should have been enjoying her new room. Or at least working to unpack. Then again, one could never place a normal label on Andy Reagan.

It was the following day, and the house was relatively quiet. Jack and Sean were both outside playing, Linda was busy working in the nursery while Andy took the opportunity to lock herself in the bathroom. Unfortunately for her, her plan didn't go as described on paper and she found herself in a predicament she had no idea how to get out of without help.

"Hey, Mom!" Andy called from the cracked door of the bathroom.

"What is is Andy? I'm busy."

"Can you come over here?" Andy sounded worried.

Linda could tell there was something in her daughter's voice that didn't sound right.

"What did you do Andy?" Linda sounded concerned as she started for the bathroom.

"I think I did something," she opened the door all the way to reveal the thick strands of green in her hair.

"Andrea Marie Reagan," Linda covered her mouth with her hand.

Silence passed between them for what seemed like an hour, but eventually, Linda drew her mouth from her hand.

"Well, aren't you going to say something?"

"I'm getting to that," Linda assured her.

"It didn't exactly go as planned," Andy ran her fingers through her now blotchy hair.

"I can see that," Linda took a step closer to better observe the damage done.

"What were you trying to do?"

"Highlight my hair."

Linda sighed. "Looks more like it's been dyed."

"What do you think?"

"I hate it."

"What do you think Dad is going to say?" Andy wasn't nearly concerned about him as she was her mother, but that didn't keep her from asking.

"I'd say something very similar to what I did. But you'll know for sure in a minute," Linda took her phone from her pocket.

Linda spent a few minutes conversing with her husband regarding their daughter before she eventually handed the phone over.

"Hi Daddy," Andy tried to sound innocent.

"Why did you do this?"

"I don't know," Andy wasn't sure what to say. "Just thought I'd try something new."

"By the picture, I'd say you've succeeded."

"Like I told Mom, it didn't turn out as planned."

"You shouldn't have done it in the first place."

"I'm beginning to think that."

"Listen, Andy, I got to go. We'll talk about this later."

"I had a feeling you were going to say that," she hung up before handing the phone to her mother.

"Well you can't go around with your hair like that," Linda told her what she already knew. "I'll see if I can get you into a salon so they can fix it."

An hour later, and the two were on their way to the fifth salon Linda had to call before finally finding one with an opening.

"I don't care how much it costs," Linda glanced at her. "But you're paying for this."

"How am I going to do that? In case you didn't notice, I'm ten."

"Don't dig yourself in deeper by being sarcastic. You will be doing extra chores."

Andy sighed, but she couldn't say she didn't expect it.

She wasn't sure how long they remained silent, but she was growing uncomfortable with the surrounding silence and had a feeling trouble was looming when it came to her.

"What are you going to do to me?" She finally found her voice.

"I'm going to take you to get your hair fixed."

"And then what?"

"I assume you're expecting some sort of punishment?"

"Shouldn't I?"

"Haha," Linda laughed. "For sure."

XXXXXXXX

Just as Andy foresaw, consequences were just around the corner. And she found herself not only facing a hundred dollars worth of chores but the removal of television privileges for a week. Then again, in the beginning, it didn't matter much. Between her mandatory play practice, homework, and chores she had little time for anything else. She was given the role of Betsy Ross and she hated it. She was still tempted to quote Patrick Henry saying, "Give me liberty or give me death" despite the death her father threatened but she hadn't completely decided yet. Although she was leaning more towards the first choice.

She had been struggling with her math homework for the past week and it was decided that Nicki would go home with her after school in an attempt to help her raise her grades. It was now almost 6:00 and they had long finished their homework and were now in the middle of sharpening their poker skills, hoping that come Sunday after family dinner, they could persuade several members of the family to challenge them in a game.

Nicki hadn't been paying much attention to her phone, but after a while, she finally decided to pay it some mind.

"Oh no," she read the message. "This is the third time moms had to text me something about being late. She's going to kill me."

"Just set your watch back thirty minutes," Andy suggested, shrugging. Sounding as if it wasn't a problem whatsoever.

"I love the way your mind works," Nicki brightened.

"Nice try kid," Danny looked from his daughter to his niece. "But it won't work."

"Why not?" Andy was the one to ask, but it was obvious Nicki was just as interested in his reasoning.

"You have a phone," he picked up the phone Nicki still had sitting on the table. "And that never loses time."

"I don't like the way your mind works," Nicki shook her head.

"Come on," he picked up his keys. "I'll take you home. I'll tell your mom you were helping Andy study. That ought to keep you out of trouble to some extent."

"Thanks," Nicki mumbled, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.

"I want to go!" Andy dropped her math book back on the table before running out the door to get in the front seat.

Meanwhile, with two members of his family away, Jack took the time to think overall he had been learning in school that week, being it was fire safety week.

He planned to enact a fire drill at home that evening, thinking it would be a wise decision to put one into practice in their own home. He hadn't come to terms with the time he would put his plan into action but when he thought of his sister and all the trouble she caused for him, it wasn't long for him to make his decision. His drill would go into effect that night, unbeknownst to her when his dear sister Andy was in the shower.

Dinner had been a hurried affair, Linda anxious to get back to work in the nursery and being glad her husband was home with his family rather than working a night shift. Sean was in his room playing with a few of his legos while Andy was in the shower and Jack was about to cause trouble. The house was relatively quiet, but the mother of soon-to-be four paid it no mind for the time of night it was. The three children would soon be in bed and she and Danny would have a quiet moment to themselves. At least so she thought.

Jack had been waiting for just the right moment, at least five minutes after the water had been running, knowing that by that time she should have a hair full of shampoo suds.

Pulling a chair into the hallway, Jack climbed atop it before reaching up to press the fire alarm, causing it to let out a loud constant blare.

Jack was quick to shove the chair aside while his scared to death little brother came barreling out of his room launching himself on Danny.

Danny all but ran him and Jack down the stairs before searching for any signs of fire or reasoning behind the alarm going off while Linda hurried for the bathroom to eat her daughter out of the shower.

Linda wasn't even halfway down the hall when the ear-piercing bleeping reached Andy's ears. Leaving her with only one thought on her mind, and that was to get out. Without bothering to turn the water off or grab a towel, Andy ran out of the bathroom and down the stairs screaming. "FIRE!"

Danny and Linda didn't even acknowledge the fact that she was completely undressed, and dripping water on the floor, they were too busy looking for signs of fire.

They were just concluding that there was nothing wrong, being quick to pinpoint their eldest son with a glare. Knowing Sean's reaction and Andy's time in the bath it was obvious they had nothing to do with it.

"Jack," Linda was the one to speak. "Do you have something to tell us?"

Jack didn't even get a chance to speak when Andy lunged for him.

"I'm going to kill you, Jack!"

By the time the parents regained their bearings Andy had Jack pinned to the floor.

"Andy!" Danny grabbed her.

"Let me go!" She yelled.

Being wet, it wasn't hard with all the twisting and turning she was doing to slip out of his grasp.

"You did that on purpose!" She stepped on his stomach.

Jack groaned in pain, while Danny again took hold of his daughter, this time laying her across his shoulder, being sure to land a hard swat on her bare bottom before hauling her up the stairs.

With Danny busy returning his daughter to the shower, Linda escorted her sons up the stairs.

"Sean, get ready for bed. Jack, I'd like to have a word with you."

"I'd rather you didn't," Jack shifted his weight from one foot to the other nervously.

"You should have thought of that before you decided to have a fire drill without permission."

"I didn't think fires asked their parent's permission before starting," Jack figured he had a logical point.

"If you wanted to have a fire drill, you should have told us and we would have worked something out. Instead, you decided to do it on your own and made us worry our home was really on fire. What's worse is, your sister was in the shower."

"Fires can happen when you are in the shower."

"Yes, but not drills."

"Am I in trouble?" Jack had a feeling it wasn't a question he should ask. But he couldn't handle the suspense any longer.

"Oh yes, and you will be spending lots of time in your room because of it."

Minutes later, Danny joined his wife and son. His shirt was wet and he had bubbles from the shampoo in his daughter's hair sticking to his face.

"Do you have this?" He wanted to be sure Linda was handling Jack's wrongdoing before he went in to change his shirt.

"Yes," she replied. "But Sean needs to be tucked in."

"I'm on it," Danny started to leave the room but was called back. "After that, please make sure Andy doesn't use all the hot water so we don't have to take cold showers."

Danny groaned at the mention of his daughter. He never expected his son to have a fascination with fire drills or his daughter to once again come flailing out of the bathroom in her birthday suit.

If the night before didn't hold enough theatrics, for the parents of Andy Reagan. They were faced with more when Andy found an old pair of her father's handcuffs when she was playing in her parent's closet.

"What are you doing in here?" Sean found his sister sitting on the floor of the closet, with one of the cuffs, cuffed securely around her right wrist.

"Look what I found!" She said excitedly as she held her arm up.

"Cool," Sean joined his sister on the floor. "Let me try," he proceeded in cuffing the remaining cuff around his left wrist.

"Now look what you did," Andy jerked her arm away from his causing him to moan in pain. "We're hooked together."

"Just get the key," he rubbed the socket of his arm.

"I don't know where it is."

"Find it," he said anxiously.

"Help me look," she continued to dig through the case in which she found the handcuffs in the first place.

"I'm trying," Sean's voice was showing urgency.

They continued to dig for several minutes until Andy eventually gave in.

"It's no use," she slumped against the wall, next to her brother.

"I think we're going to be in big trouble," Sean told her what she already knew.

"Oh yeah," Andy agreed wholeheartedly. "Dad is going to kill us."

The two sat in silence as they considered their fate, Sean eventually breaking the monotonous stillness that seemed to settle.

"We're going to have to tell mom to call dad."

"I know," Andy nodded. "I was just taking a moment to enjoy the quiet. Because it's not going to be for a long time by the time they finish yelling at us."

Linda's behavior was nothing like what her children predicted as she was stunned to silence and instead stood with her arms across her chest.

"Can you call Dad?" Sean shifted from one foot to the other nervously.

"I can," Linda nodded. "But he said he was going to be really busy today and not to have any problems if we can help it."

"Well we got a problem," Andy was obviously ignoring his work problems.

"That you do," Linda took her phone from her pocket before calling her husband.

Minutes later and she had his response.

"Dad can't come home right now."

"Did he say anything?" Sean was flabbergasted that his father was going to leave him handcuffed to his sister.

"He isn't happy if that's what you are asking."

"No surprise there," Andy knew he wouldn't, the second she chose to mess with his things. And getting handcuffed to her brother was just icing on the cake.

"What are we supposed to do till then?" It was Sean who was having the problem with the whole ordeal.

"I don't know," Linda wasn't all that concerned. "But stay out of trouble and don't fight." She left them to go back to work in the nursery.

Things started out fine for the two siblings as they first played a few hands of Uno before moving on upstairs.

"I want to go to my room," Andy started for the second flight of stairs, jerking her brother's arm in the process.

"Owe!" He yelled in both pain and protest. "I don't want to go up there."

"Then what do you want to do?" She grumbled.

"I want to play with my legos," this time it was his turn to pull his unmoving sister towards his room.

"Stop!" She shoved him to the ground, forgetting they were attached, and fell atop him.

"Get off!" He pushed her off.

The two lay on the floor for several minutes, simply staring up at the ceiling, not only trying to determine something they could agree on, but also something that wouldn't get them hurt.

"This is harder than I thought," Sean complained. "And definitely not how I planned to spend my afternoon."

"Come on," Andy started to pull herself up off the floor before helping her brother to his feet. "I have to go to the bathroom. So you're going to have to close your eyes."

"Well you're going to have to hold it because I ain't going in there," he refused.

"Mom!" Andy called for her mother's help.

"What is it now?" Linda stepped out of the nursery to join them in the hall.

"I've got to go to the bathroom but Sean won't come in and close his eyes."

"So the child that runs out of the bathroom without clothes to tackle her brother is suddenly interested in discretion," Linda had to admit she was having trouble putting two and two together after the previous night's incident.

"You know that's not my fault," Andy tried to pick up for herself. "I wouldn't have come out had Jack not made the fire alarms go off."

"I understand that," Linda nodded. "But without a towel?"

"I was in a hurry," she said sheepishly.

"Where is your father?" Linda was flustered. As she tried to determine just what to do for her two children.

"I've been asking myself that same question for two hours," Andy agreed.

As if Danny could hear his wife's plea, he stepped through the door.

"Linda!" He called.

"Upstairs," she responded. "And the children are all yours." She was quick to leave them with their father.

"You know something?" Danny said just as soon as he saw his eldest and youngest. "Just once I'd like to come home from work to one of you not being in trouble. Especially you," he pointed at Andy.

"Like I said Dad, just trying to keep your life interesting," she shrugged.

XXXXXXXX

The following day, again Andy managed to find trouble. Only this time, she got in so deep, Linda wasn't sure which of them, if either of them would live to see the end of the week. She or her eldest child.

Linda wasn't sure what day it was, she had lost track after all the trouble her daughter seemed to find that week. Unfortunately for her, she was just about to reach the peak. She had given her plenty to do in the nursery to make up for the hair cost but even with that, she knew she had to have some free time. She was just a kid after all.

Andy had been dying to get outside since she got home from school. She had been wanting to attempt her own circus act as a tightrope walker ever since Pop took her, her brothers, and cousin to the circus a couple of weeks ago. It took some time, but she finally came up with a way to do it. She climbed up on top of the roof and secured a rope she found in the backyard storage shed before sneaking into the neighbor's yard and securing a rope to their roof as well. And it was then she attempted her balancing act. She surprised herself by doing fairly well and she had just reached their own roof when her mother spotted her.

"Andrea Marie Reagan!" Linda was furious.

"I'm working on my career in a circus," Andy tried to sound innocent.

"I feel like I live in a circus," Linda placed a hand in the middle of her face, just thinking about what could have happened.

"I did good," she sounded pleased.

"You get down from there," her mother demanded.

"I think it's safer up here," she was quick to decline.

"Andrea," Linda glared at her. "You know I can't climb up there in my condition and you are in enough trouble without me having to call your father to come home early to get you down."

Andy hesitated as she thought it over and she was just beginning to see her mother's point of view when she looked down.

"Would you believe me, if I told you I suddenly developed a fear of heights?"

"No," she said bluntly.

"Well believe it, because it just happened."

"Now don't dig yourself in deeper by lying."

"I'm not," Andy looked almost sick.

"Andrea," Linda repeated, trying to figure out her next step.

Luckily for her, she didn't have to worry for long, when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Linda, what are you doing?"

Linda didn't say a word, but instead just pointed up.

"Oh no," he moaned.

"Can you please get your niece down?"

"Sure," Jamie gave her an apologetic smile.

A few minutes later, both were safe and sound on the ground. At least as safe as Andy could be under the circumstances as she now faced her irate mother.

"Andrea Reagan, why would you even do such a thing?" Linda was furious.

"I was bored," she shrugged. "You grounded me from the tv."

"No," Linda pointed at her. "You don't get to turn this around on me."

"There is plenty more for you to find to do than something as stupid as trying to walk a tight rope."

"Linda," Jamie took her aside. "I know you want to yell and you have every right to. But maybe you could move it inside."

"You're right," Linda took her daughter by the arm to escort her inside before asking Jamie to take the rope down.

"What are you going to do?" Andy couldn't help but sound worried.

"I don't know yet," Linda was trying to remember to breathe. "But I want you to go straight to your room and stay there till I can talk to your dad."

"When's that going to be?"

"I don't know yet. Now go," she pointed for the stairs.

With her daughter upstairs, Linda turned to her brother-in-law.

"I just don't know what's gotten into that child," she eased herself onto the sofa.

"Anything I can do?" He looked at her apologetically.

"Help your brother with the children if I don't survive Andy."

"I think you are tougher than you think," Jamie laughed at her response.

"After the week I've had, I'm beginning to wonder."

"Any ideas on what you are going to do?"

"Some," she nodded. "But I've got to talk to Danny. This roof business has got to stop and I intend to see that it does."

"Well good luck," Jamie offered.

"Did you need anything?" Linda knew there had to be a reason behind his stopping by.

"Yes," Jamie remembered.

"Nicki forgot her geography book here the other day and she has a test coming up. Erin asked me to stop by and pick it up, she's got court tomorrow and has to prepare."

"It's in the kitchen," Linda had to have help getting up and off the couch.

"Thank you," Linda placed a hand on her back after experiencing a sharp pain. "This nephew of yours is being rough on me."

Jamie smiled, "I still can't believe we're going to have another Reagan at the dinner table soon."

"Believe it," Linda couldn't help but smile herself. "Because it will be here before you know it."

An hour or so later, after Jamie left with his niece's school book, Linda ascended the stairs to her daughter's bedroom.

"Andy," Linda walked in.

"I'm here," Andy rolled out from under the bed.

"What are you doing under there?"

"Nothing," Andy hid the pocket knife behind her back.

"We've been through this roof thing before," Linda took a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Did you talk to Dad?" Andy knew her fate wasn't good, but she couldn't help but ask.

"I did," Linda nodded. "He's not happy."

"Am I grounded?"

"What do you think?" Was Lindas one reply.

Andy slumped, "yes."

"For the three days, other than meals you will only spend time in your room or helping me in the nursery."

"Augh Mom, all I ever hear about is the baby or the nursery."

"It's going to be like that for a while. We are going to have a lot of changes when the baby comes and I need the help."

"Fine," Andy grumbled. She wasn't exactly happy with her punishment, but once a Reagan made their mind up, the negotiations were short.

She was just about to walk out of her room and head for the nursery when her mother stopped her.

"You are also going to get a spanking."

Andy's expression dropped, as she slowly turned around.

"Don't tell me, you don't think you deserve it."

"But I don't want a spanking," she complained.

"It's not about what you want. It's about discipline. You could have broken your neck."

"But I did good."

"That's beside the point. Doing things that put life or limb in jeopardy will get you a spanking every time. You know this."

Again Andy sighed, but she slowly returned to her place next to her mother.

"Let's get this over with."

"Afraid not," Linda shook her head. "Your Dad will take care of your spanking when he gets home."

"Can't we just get it over with?" Andy hated waiting for coming punishment.

"No, we can't. In case you haven't noticed, you can't fit over my lap anymore." Linda placed a hand on her growing belly.

"I wonder if young, practicing circus performers ever experienced something like this."

"You are not going to have a circus career," Linda was never going to give her that option.

"I thought parents were supposed to support their children's career opportunities."

"You're ten Andy. I just want you to go to school, get good grades and obey your parents."

Andy dropped her head, finally understanding her mother's point of view.

"Now you are to stay in your room till your dad gets home."

"Yes Mam," Andy nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry."

"Me too," Linda took her daughter in her arms for a hug. "We only punish you because we love you so much and want you to be the best you can be. And we have every confidence, you will grow up to be an exceptional person."

"That's if I survive tonight."

"Since when has your father ever been too harsh with you?" Linda looked at her seriously.

"Never," Andy knew she had to answer truthfully.

"And he never will. He loves you more than life itself."

"I know," Andy nodded. "I love him too."

Andy didn't know how long she had to wait. But she didn't think it was more than an hour and a half.

"Andy," Danny made a quick rasp on the door before entering.

"Dad, I know I'm in trouble and I'm sorry. But I want you to know, I understand.

"Do you know how hard it is for me to come home from work and immediately have to punish you?"

"Sorry," Andy for once in her life appeared contrite before punishment.

"Dad," she looked at him intently. "I've just been thinking about that night."

"That night, sent our lives into a spiral I never expected," Danny took a seat on the edge of the bed next to her.

"Me neither," Andy shook her head. "I never thought you'd be my father."

"I already was biologically," he reminded her. "We just didn't know it yet."

"Do you ever regret it? Chasing after me that night and then staying involved in my case."

"What kind of question is that?" Danny was taken back at just the mention of regret.

"Dad, I have been causing you quite a bit of trouble lately."

"I knew you were going to be trouble," he said pointedly. "Don't forget, you took me for a merry chase through the back alleys of china town."

"That was fun. We should do that again sometime." Andy was slowly beginning to return to her old self.

"No, we shouldn't," Danny obviously didn't agree with her plan. "It was dangerous. Which is kind of why we are up here now," he said returning to the matter at hand. "You put yourself in danger once again."

"If it makes you feel any better, I think I discovered I have a fear of heights."

"For some strange reason it does," Danny nodded. "Maybe it will keep you off the roof."

"I think it will, I was scared up there."

"Take that fear, multiply it by ten and you might understand how your mother felt when she saw you up there."

"I guess I didn't think about that."

"No, you didn't," Danny's voice was stern. "But you are old enough to understand that your actions affect other people. Especially your parents and those that love you. Your mother couldn't climb up there to get you. Did you ever stop to think what could have happened if your Uncle Jamie hadn't been here?"

"No," Andy's voice was low. "But I never expected to get scared."

"Things happen when you least expect it."

"I think I understand that now."

"Then you understand why we are so upset over this?"

"Yes," Andy knew what was coming next.

"Then let's get this over with," he took her over his lap to begin the spanking.

XXXXXXXX

The evening of the 22nd arrived, which meant one thing to every member of the Reagan family. It was play night. They filed into the school auditorium and filled the majority of the row. They didn't have bells on but their smiles radiated on their faces. Andy was backstage awaiting her scene, she knew her decision was going to get her into trouble. But she just couldn't help herself. She hated every moment of this mandatory play production and she wanted to be sure she would never be forced to do it again. And the only way she could be certain that would never happen would be to screw it up intentionally.

The time had come, and Andy took the stage.

"Give me liberty or give me death!" She held the American flag high.

"I'm going to kill that kid," Danny groaned under his breath from his place in the audience.

The program eventually came to an end and it wasn't soon enough for the Reagan family who was ready to duck out the second Andy chose to speak the wrong words.

"I don't even know what to say to you right now," Danny was lecturing before they even got home. "You embarrassed the family tonight."

"Come on Dad, it's not like you didn't expect it.

"Andy," Danny looked at her dumbfounded through the rearview mirror. "How stupid can you get?"

Whereas most kids would be put off by one of their parents saying something to them about acting stupid. It did nothing to deter Andy. So much so, she fired back with a comment of her own.

"You ain't seen nothing yet."

The following day was Saturday and found Andy working with her parents in the nursery.

She spent the morning folding multiple sets of onesies and filling the dresser drawer with pajamas, folded baby blankets, and bibs.

Danny in turn worked on putting the changing table together while Linda sat on the floor organizing burp cloths, diapers and wipes into little bins. She hadn't been feeling the best as of lately, she was tired and emotional and to make matters worse, she was hoarse and almost certain she was developing laryngitis.

"Oh," Linda groaned as she tried to pull herself up so she could go to the restroom for at least the hundredth time that day. "Andy, you are going to have to help me up," she reached for her daughter's hand. "I'm getting so big," she placed a hand on her ever-growing belly.

"You got that right," Andy agreed wholeheartedly. "I've seen lots of shows with pregnant women on tv. But none of the actresses on tv ever got as big as mount Linda here."

"That's not funny Andrea," Linda obviously wasn't in the mood for her daughter's sense of humor.

"Hey," Andy shrugged her shoulders. "You are the ones that told me not to lie."

"There are some things you need to keep to yourself," Danny interrupted. "And this is one of those things."

"So I guess I shouldn't say that I hope Mom continues to lose her voice so we can't hear her call for us to do things all the time."

"Andrea," the parents corrected simultaneously.

"As I said," she grinned. "Just trying to keep your life interesting."
_

This chapter is a little short, but I'm leading up to something and hope to get started on the next chapter soon.

Hope you all enjoyed the update, and thanks for all the follows, favorites and reviews… JST