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Hank Voight was pacing around the bar. He hadn't been surprised that Dixie had called him, but he was surprised that she had insisted on meeting with him tonight in their old hangout bar. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Hank spun around. "Jesus Christ, Dixie! Don't sneak up on a cop like that!"

"You weren't saying that 34 years ago." She reminded him.

"That's a lifetime and a half ago. Things changed."

She went over to the back corner of the bar. "You still drinking Manhattans?" She sat in the corner booth.

Hank sat down and nodded. "Yep."

The server came over and smiled. "Whatta y'all have?"

"2 Manhattans." Dixie smiled. She handed the server her Visa. "Start a tab."

"Of course!" The server grinned, turned and left.

"A tab, Dixie?" Hank asked. "Just how long is this discussion going to take?"

"It isn't necessarily the length of the conversation… but the subject."

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"You playing dumb, Hank?" Dixie took the drink from the server when she returned with the drinks and her Visa. "It doesn't really suit you." Her New Orleans accent was subtler than it was when they had first met, but it still was there.

Hank took a sip from his drink. "A lot has changed since that night 34 years ago."

"Oh, don't I know it. I married a man that I didn't really love, raised my daughter to think he was her father… all while the man I really loved moved up the ranks of the CPD while being in love with his high school sweetheart. I was truly sorry to hear that Camille passed away a couple years ago."

"Thank you, Dixie. It was hard… I don't know how you and Josephine did it when Billy… you know."

"It was hard, but we weren't together anymore… then when he found out he wasn't Josephine's dad…"

"Wait… Billy… wasn't… wasn't Josephines's dad?" Hank stammered.

Dixie ran her thumb around the rim of her glass. "He wasn't… um… that's why I'm here. What blood type are you?"

"That is the most random question I've been asked in a long time." Hank leaned back in the booth. "O-negative. Wait… Josephine… her hospital… are you telling me… is Josephine… she's my daughter?!"

Dixie nodded slowly. "Yeah, she is… you were the only other guy I had been with in that time frame."

Hank was speechless. He downed the rest of his Manhattan and signaled for the server to bring him another one. "How? What?" He downed his second Manhattan. He looked to the server. "Keep 'em coming."

The server looked to Dixie. "Yeah, he's going to need it." Dixie nodded while sipping her Manhattan. "Bring me a water too, please."

Hank just stared at her. "All these years! You couldn't! Jesus Christ, Dixie!"

"Hank, I couldn't tell you because I didn't know for sure until Billy was dying. I had always questioned some aspects of it, because she couldn't have gotten the traits from Billy or me."

"So… what traits made you question it?" Hank took his third Manhattan, and began to sip it slowly.

"Her auburn hair… the freckles… the temper…"

Hank ran his hand over his hair. "Okay, but does… does she know?"

Dixie shook her head. "She knows that Billy wasn't her dad… but I never told her more. As far as she and Antonio know, I don't even know the truth. I made it seem like… like I slept around."

"Why would you do that?" Hank leaned in. "Other than that one night… you were always faithful to Billy." He took her left hand. "You haven't remarried either."

Dixie's cheeks flushed with colour. "Hank."

"Dixie, it was one night… we both admitted it was wrong and we put it behind us…"

"I know… you started seeing Camille shortly after, and I married Billy as soon as we found out I was pregnant… I was 19… I didn't want that for Josephine… but she and Antonio…"

Hank spat out his sip of Manhattan. "Antonio is Xavier and Zoë's dad too!"

Dixie handed him a napkin. "You didn't know that?"

"I… I hadn't thought… oh fuck!"

"Hank, breathe."

"My second in command… is the father of my grandchildren! He knocked my daughter up when she was 17!"

"Hank… HANK!" Dixie shouted to get him to snap out of his rant. "You can't tell her… she can't know."

"Why the hell not!?"

"Because, she can't get upset… she can't… she can't know I've been lying to her all this time… it's been about 10 years since Billy died… the same amount of time I've been lying. I can't risk her losing the babies."

"Babies?"

"You know she's pregnant, right?"

"Yeah, and I need to kill Antonio for knocking her up again."

"Well, please… don't… those kids need their dad… she's having identical twins… the doctor confirmed it tonight."

Hank finished his 4th Manhattan. He was extremely thankful to have had Al drive him here. He sighed. Al was still by the bar nursing the same glass of Burgundy as when they'd sat down almost an hour ago. "So, you don't want me to kill him?"

"No… I was mad at Antonio for a long time, but seeing how much Josie loved him, her determination to get him to at least know the twins… I'm not going to stand between them trying to make some sort of relationship work, even if it's just for the sake of the kids."

"Do Eva and Diego know about all this?"

Dixie sighed. "Antonio was supposed to tell them tonight. He's more worried about Eva than Diego… because she still remembers her mother."

"I can see that being a problem." Hank took another Manhattan from the server as well as the glass of water she offered him. "Did Josephine tell you the offer I made her?"

"No, she didn't."

"I offered her a position in Intelligence."

"Wow… but won't it be a conflict of interest because Antonio is in that unit?"

Hank shrugged. "At this point, I don't really care. I've seen how much he cares for her… and after 33 years of her not knowing, I can't really pull the 'Dad' card."

Dixie sighed, squeezing the lemon wedge into her water. "I was kinda hoping she'd leave the CPD now with the babies on the way."

"And do what, Dixie?"

"She's a nurse too. She wasn't just faking it as a cover… she took nursing before she became a cop." Dixie said. "She could easily do nursing until she needs to take leave… it's a steady job… it's safer than being a detective… I can't lose her… not like Billy… No, I don't want her to take it."

"Evangeline," Hank used her full name. "She's a grown woman with a mind of her own. If she wants it, she's gonna have it."

"Can't you withdraw the offer?"

"Dixie, let her make her choice… if she chooses Intelligence, I'll make her ride a desk until the babies come… then we can discuss assignments."

"Hmph." Dixie huffed. "Both of them working Intelligence is a recipe for disaster."

"Dixie, I won't tell her now, but I can guarantee this… she'll keep looking for answers. I'd like to get to know her as more than a detective or a nurse."

"Hank… what about Justin? Or that other girl you basically adopted, Erin?"

"Justin is still in Statesville for driving under the influence and Erin works in Intelligence."

"What would Justin say to having a half-sister… an older half-sister, from before you met his mom?"

"Probably the same thing Eva told Antonio to having half-siblings. I'd deal with that bridge when I get to it… but Dixie, you can't just… drop this in my lap and expect me not to want to at least tell her the truth."

"You won't give this up will you?"

"Dixie, we've know each other a long time… we have a child together… we moved on… but I'm still have the same values as I did back when I was 25 and we had that night."

"Fine… but only after she has the babies." She said.

"I can live with that." Hank smiled. "It's been good to see you again."

"It has." Dixie nodded. "Maybe… we can do it again."

"I'd like that." He took her hand and squeezed it. "Don't be a stranger."

"I'm heading back to Paris with Zoë for another couple weeks, then we're back in Chicago for the summer."

"I'll see you when you get back. Be safe." Hank finished his drink and took his jacket. "Thanks for the drinks… and the news." Hank left and headed to Al's car. Al was not far behind him.

Dixie finished her drink and sighed. This was going to be a long 4 more months.


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The next morning…

Josie had asked the nurse to take her for a shower before Antonio, Eva and Diego arrived. He had called the hospital late the night before saying that they would be by before she went to meet with her physical therapist. She was nervous. She knew that Antonio had been worried about Eva and Diego's reaction to their news. She knew that Eva would be taking this harder than Diego and it was because she had memories of her mother.

Josie felt better after the shower. She was brought back to her room. Zoë and her mother were there waiting for her, Xavier had gone to the cafeteria. They had brought her a couple changes of clothes to pick from and they helped her style her hair and apply a little make up.

"Mama, why do you want to be all gussied up for… Antonio and his kids?" Zoë asked. She really wanted to say 'Dad' but she wasn't sure if it was too soon.

"Because… I don't want to look like a victim anymore." Josie smiled. "Plus, we have to make a good impression. I don't want to put Antonio through hell because his kids don't like me… or think I'm trying to replace their mom."

"So, how old are they?" Xavier asked as he came in the room, bearing cups of hot chocolate.

"Eva is going to be 13 in July and Diego turned 7 in February." Jes answered as she put a headband in her now styled hair.

"So, we're the oldest?" Zoë asked.

"Yeah… look, this is going to be weird… we know that… just, take it slow… they may feel that Antonio didn't really love Laura." Jes turned around. "Mama, why do you look so tired?"

"I didn't sleep well last night."

"Mimi, why did you come home so late?" Xavier asked.

Dixie groaned. "I went out to see a friend whom I haven't seen in a long time… we lost track of time."

Josie bought that, but she figured her mom was also nursing a hangover. She'd talk to her about it once they were home and away from the twins' ears. "Can you help me with my make-up?"

Dixie set to work and in 10 minutes, Josie was feeling a lot better about her appearance. Her mother had managed to cover up the fading black-eye as well as other bruises and cuts. "How's that?"

"I look normal." Josie smiled. "Thanks, Mama."

"No problem. How are you feeling?"

"The babies are active… I'm still dealing with the nausea but I'll be okay." Josie put her hand on the prominent baby bump. "What time is it?"

Xavier looked at his watch. "It's 8:30." He yawned. "It's really freaking early for a Saturday morning."

"Sleeping in won't be much of an option come October." Josie reminded him.

"Yeah, I know." Xavier stretched. "I seriously wish you'd let me drink coffee."

"Nope… not until you're done high school." Dixie stepped in. "You're not done growing yet."

Xavier rolled his eyes. "Yes, ma'am."

Dixie went and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You'll be fine. Just drink that hot cocoa and you'll wake up. Plus, your mama is coming home today… you need to be awake for that."

Xavier nodded and drank the rest of his drink.

Josie was fidgeting with the heart pendant she had her mother bring to her. She hadn't worn it in over a year because she'd been undercover. She still remembered the night Antonio gave it to her. She remembered the twins playing with it when they were babies. A brushed away the tear that was forming in the corner of her eye.

"Mama, you okay?" Zoë asked.

"Yeah, Zo… I'm just remembering some stuff."

Xavier reached into his back pocket and put something in Josie's hand. "I… uh… thought you may want this back."

Josie looked in her hand. In it lay the ring Antonio had given her as a promise ring. "Xavier… how…?"

"I found it when I was cleaning your room for you to come home… it was under the dresser."

Jes couldn't stop the tear this time. "Your father gave me this as a promise ring… right around the time we started dating way back in the day."

"Isn't that his grad ring?" Zoë looked at it.

"Yep." Josie smiled. "I just… I don't know if I can wear it again… so soon."

"Maybe, talk to him about it?" Zoë asked. She was really hoping that they'd be able to make it work, that they could truly be a family, even if it were blended.

There was a knock at the door. Savannah, Josie's co-worker, poked her head in. "Hey, Detective Dawson and his kids are here… you ready?"

"Yeah, Savannah… I'm as ready as I can be." Josie smiled.

Savannah nodded and spoke to Antonio outside. "She's ready."

Antonio stepped in followed by Eva and Diego. Antonio walked over to Jes and kissed her cheek. "Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be happy to get out of here." Josie laughed. "I hate hospital food. With a passion."

"Well, you'll be out in a little bit. Anyhow, I'd like to introduce you to Eva and Diego. Guys, this is Josie."

Eva and Diego stepped forward. "Hi." Diego smiled.

"Hi Diego, Eva. It's nice to meet you." Josie smiled back. "Um, your dad has told me a lot about you guys."

"He told us about you last night… he, uh said that he didn't know you were still alive." Eva whispered.

Josie nodded. "I know that it was probably really hard to hear that news too, for you guys."

Eva nodded. "Um, yeah… I… I kinda lost it on Dad last night." She sighed. "I'm going to be honest. I'm not so sure how I feel right now… but I did promise Dad that I'd keep an open mind about all of this."

"That's all your dad or I could ask for, Eva. It isn't easy on anyone…" Josie said. "Well, I should introduce you to, well… your half-brother and sister. This is Xavier and Zoë."

The twins stepped out from the shadows. It wasn't long before all four of them realized that there was no denying that they were actually siblings. They all shared the same dark hair and tanned skin. Eva and Zoë had similarly curly hair. Xavier and Diego kept theirs fairly short but if they grew it, it was almost certain that it would curl to a certain extent.

"Well, we're definitely related." Xavier said.

"Yep." Diego concurred. "No denying it. Only major difference is you guys have your mom's eyes."

Eva nodded. She was in shock. She did have another brother and sister and there was no denying they were related. She extended her hand and said honestly. "It's nice to meet you."

Xavier and Zoë took turns shaking her hand. "It's nice to meet you too… hopefully we can get to know each other a little better in the next little while."

Diego shook their hands. "Could we maybe go get, like a drink or something, from the cafeteria… give our parents time to talk?"

Xavier patted his back. "Good plan. I'm buying."

Diego looked to Antonio. "Can we?"

Antonio nodded. "Just don't leave the hospital."

"You got it." Xavier smiled. The four kids left the room, already chatting about themselves.

Dixie watched them leave. "I'll follow them. You two definitely do need time to talk about some stuff." She left the room before anyone could say anything.

"What's up with your mom?" Antonio asked.

"I have no freaking clue." Josie sighed. "She said she met up with an old friend last night and they lost track of time."

"Do you know said friend?"

"Nope. I don't remember her having friends while we lived here. Once we moved back she was focused on helping me with Xavier and Zoë."

"Hmm… I could investigate for you."

Josie shook her head. "Nope. I'm gonna ask her tonight."

"I see." Antonio smiled. "You still have that?" He pointed to the pendant.

Josie nodded. "I couldn't just get rid of it. It was a big thing for us… I wore it up until last year when I went UC."

"Wow… Jo…" He sat next to her wheelchair. "Look, I don't know what to say or do… I couldn't sleep last night. I was tossing and turning the whole night."

"Why?"

"Eva literally flipped lost it because I told them about you and the twins. She thinks I'm going to toss them aside because I could never love their mother like I love you."

"Love… present tense… not past?"

"Yes, Josie… I still love you… that never changed. If you want, I can just not say it until we both get back to that point."

"Antonio, I think it's more than just dating. Between the two of us, we'll have 6 kids. Three of whom are teenagers… in October… we'll have two infants. I don't think traditional dating is going to be possible."

"Are you saying you don't want us to try?"

"No, Antonio… God no! I want to be with you. I want us to be a family… all of us… but I don't know how to make it work anymore than you do. Um… Xavier found this…" She opened her hand and laid his grad ring in his open palm.

"My grad ring… the one I gave you?" He looked at it closely.

"Yep. I never got rid of it either. I just haven't worn it since the twins were born. I couldn't risk losing it… so I put it in my jewelry box for the last 15 years."

"Josie, I'd be so happy to see you wearing it again. I'd be happy to just take you for dinner… catch up on everything. Let the kids get to know each other… at least once before Zoë and your mom head back to Paris."

"I'd like that Antonio."

"Then, it's a date." He kissed her cheek and slid the ring onto her finger where it belonged. "Tomorrow night, I'll pick you up. For now, wear this… if it's too much, you can put it back in that jewelry box… just… I'd like to think that we can go back to where we were, or at least closer…"

"Fair enough." She beamed. "So what do you think our children are talking about right about now?"

"Who knows?" Antonio laughed.


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"So, you guys have lived in Chicago all this time and you didn't just pop over?" Eva asked.

"Because our mom told us that… well… your mom said she didn't want us near your dad… so we listened. We figured once we were 18, we could tell him."

"You would've waited that long?" Diego was shocked. "I couldn't."

"That's because your still young." Zoë laughed. "It's okay. We have time now to get to know each… and see how we can help make this work for our parents."

"We want Dad to be happy, trust me… but, personally… I don't want a new mom… no offense to yours, she seems great, but I already had a mom." Eva said.

"We know that, Eva… and Mama doesn't want to replace her. She just wants all of us to be able to get along and know each other… to let our dad have a family… even if it's a little unconventional." Xavier said.

"Yeah, Eva… I mean… I never knew our mom… but Josie could help you with some of your girly stuff… or Zoë could… like come on… I think it's cool that we have a big brother and a big sister. Think of all the things we could do together."

Eva had to admit that was a pretty good point. "I would like someone other than Tia Gaby to talk to about boys and school and stuff."

"I would love to be able to talk about that stuff with you, Eva." Zoë grinned.

"But… aren't you going back to Paris this coming week?"

Zoë nodded. "Yeah, but only to finish the term. I'll be back July 1."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Zoë laughed. "Maybe you and I can do some cooking together this weekend before I head back."

"Your mom lets you in the kitchen unsupervised?" Diego asked.

"Of course she does." Xavier grinned. "Zoë wouldn't be in this program if she wasn't trustworthy in the kitchen. How about you, Diego? What kind of things do you like doing?"

"I love baseball."

"Well, I know that our dad…"

"Why don't you just call him 'Dad'?" Eva interrupted. "Sorry, but you can, you know… he is your dad."

"Because we didn't want to just jump to any conclusions until we knew we could be a part of his life." Xavier replied.

"Oh."

"Like I was saying, Diego… Dad works a lot and it's almost summer… how about when you wanna play ball, we go together?"

"Will you come watch my games?"

Xavier nodded. "Of course! I'll probably be the loudest cheerer there."

"I don't know." Eva snickered. "You'd have to be louder than Tia Gaby and Abuelo. Wait, have you met the rest of Dad's family?"

"Yeah… we met them when we came back. Tia Gaby baby-sat us a couple times when we were younger." Zoë replied.

"Do Tio Thiago and Tia Rebecca know about you guys?" Diego was full of questions.

"They met us and know about us, but their kids haven't met us yet." Xavier looked to Zoë for a little help answering these questions.

"Hmm… I… I think that family gatherings will be a lot more complicated now." Eva added.

"Not if we take it slowly. I think the only people who are worried about this are Mama and Dad." Zoë said. "I know they've been stressing about this a lot… Dad… he told us how he had planned to propose the night Mama 'died'."

"He told us that too… but you don't think they'd just get married, do you?" Diego questioned.

"I doubt it. I think they'll go out a bit, but once that ember is a full flame, it won't be long before we're all living in one house as a family." Xavier replied. "Think about it… we all know that they still love each other… even though Dad got married to Laura… but this is their 2nd chance… I think we should at least let them see where it goes."

Eva had to agree with them. She barely remembered her mom, but she did remember that before Diego was born, her parents fought a lot. It had scared her. "We're going to need a bigger house if there's two adults and 6 kids."

"So, you guys know about the twins?" Zoë asked.

Diego nodded. "Yep. Dad kinda dropped it on us all in one go."

"It wasn't easy news to hear, was it?" Xavier asked.

"Eva flipped out… like she actually hit Dad."

"Diego!" Eva blushed. "I was a little mad."

"Understatement, Eva, major understatement." Diego rolled his eyes.

"Hey, Eva…" Xavier said. "It's okay… we know… it isn't easy… try going to a graveyard and seeing your mom's tombstone… knowing she's right next to you. That was hard to understand when we were younger."

"Wait, they actually played it like she died?" Eva gasped.

"Yeah… they're just removing the tombstone now… 15 years later."

"Oh my God." Eva was mortified. "I still can't believe that no one was allowed to tell my dad the truth."

"I'm pretty sure that they had their reasons." Diego rationalized.

"If he had known, you guys wouldn't be here…" Zoë pointed out. "I'm kinda happy he didn't know… because now I get a little sister and a little brother."

"So, you're not weirded out by this?" Eva asked.

"Nope. I've always wanted a little sister or brother… mainly because I don't want to be the youngest anymore."

"But you're the same age." Eva was astonished.

"Yeah, but I'm about 3 hours older than she is." Xavier laughed.

"Wow."

"Eva, I wanna be a big brother too!" Diego said in a mock whine.

"Well, you're going to be one." Zoë messed up his hair. "Just because the twins are going to be your half-brothers or half-sisters, doesn't mean you won't be their big brother."

Diego grinned. "Sweet!"

Eva laughed. "You may not say that when they puke on you or steal your toys."

"At least they'll know us right away." Diego rationalized. "It's not going to be like what we're going through now… and they'll have two parents from the get go."

The table agreed and there was more laughter and it was then that they knew it would all be okay. Dixie sat at a table a little further back in the cafeteria. She could see that there wasn't going to be a conflict or problem getting the kids to be civil to each other, or to have them be accepting of this new situation. She only wished it would be that easy to tell Josie the truth about her father.


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"So, she's good to go?" Antonio asked.

"Yep. She's got her exercises, all she has to do it follow them, ice her shoulder and avoid strenuous activities with that shoulder for the next month. She'll be good as new." Alexa, Josie's physical therapist, grinned. "Healthy eating, and take all the medication or vitamins the docs tell you too, and you and those babies will be just fine."

"Thank you so much." Josie smiled.

"If you have any questions, just shoot me a text or give me a call. I'll always be there." Alexa handed her her card. She looked to Antonio. "Spoil her… she deserves it."

"Oh, I know. I have 15 years of spoiling to make up on." Antonio grinned. "Thank you."

Alexa shook their hands and left.

"So, shall we get the kids?" Antonio asked.

"We can… but we have an issue."

"What issue?"

"Well, I can't drive… and we have 4 kids… they can't all ride in one vehicle."

"How'd your mom get here?"

"Probably drove the car I'm going to be selling to upgrade."

"Upgrade to what?"

"Antonio, do you remember how much space babies take? We need two car seats, and strollers… we need double of everything… I can't keep driving a small car."

"Won't your mom need a car?"

"Then I need to buy one." Josie sighed. "I hate car shopping."

"The CPD can help get you a new one." Hank's gravelly voice came from the doorway.

"Sergeant." Josie exclaimed. "I didn't realize you were coming by."

"I came to check how you were doing. I heard that you're being released today."

"Uh, right now, actually… yeah." Josie smiled. "I can't wait to get home… start getting back to normal."

"Sarge, what did you mean the CPD could help her get a new vehicle?"

"If she stays with the CPD… they can help her get a new vehicle… especially if she joins Intelligence."

"Boss, I'm in Intelligence… you said no relationships in your unit."

"I could make an exception… I need the best in my unit… Josephine is one of the best… just because you're dating her doesn't mean she'll be any less of a cop."

"He makes a good point." Josie said. "I don't want to quit being a detective… I've worked too hard."

"So, you're going to accept his offer?" Antonio asked.

"I haven't decided anything… but I am strongly considering it."

"If you don't want the CPD involved, I can personally help you out… consider it an apology for pulling you away from Chicago all those years back." Hank said. "No strings attached. I do want you in my unit, but I won't buy your involvement in it. I will however help out the daughter of one of my closest friends and former partners."

"Sergeant…"

"Hank, please."

"Hank… I… I can't accept that… you were following orders…"

"Josie… I didn't have to follow them… my gut was telling me to just let you stay… but I did what the Ivory Tower told me to."

"Hank, I do appreciate the offer… but I don't want to put you out of your way."

"It would be my honour… it could also be a gift for the babies."

"How did you know?" Antonio questioned. He hadn't even told Jules that they were having twins again.

Hank froze. He stammered. "I overheard it."

"From who, Voight? We haven't told anyone other than her mom and the kids… I haven't even told Jules." Antonio got up.

Josie looked between Antonio and Voight. "Sir?"

Hank looked to her. "Yes?"

"Did my mother tell you?" Hank's eyes grew. That's when Josie put two and two together. "You're the friend she was out to see last night."

Hank closed the door behind him. "What did Dixie tell you?"

"Xavier asked her why she came home so late… she said she went to see a friend that she hadn't seen in a long time." Josie answered. "She didn't say anything more… but she's been acting weird. What did you do to her?"

Voight scratched his chin. "It's not what you think… and Josie, I didn't do anything to her… she told me some things…"

Antonio glared at him. "What did she say?"

Hank could see the kids coming back. He knew they deserved the truth too. "Antonio, can you come by the district with Josie a little later… I'll tell you everything."

"Yeah." Antonio nodded.

Hank shook his hand and headed out before Dixie and the kids got back to the room.

"What the fuck was that all about?" Josie asked.

"I have no idea, but I'm going to find out… I'll go to the District… you keep your mom occupied."

"Antonio… he said both of us."

"Jo, you don't know him like I do… I've been dealing with him long enough… hell I locked him up last year… I'm not letting him get his claws into you."

"Antonio, I've been undercover for multiple cases, raised twins almost completely on my own… I think I can handle him."

"Jo, please? For the babies… let me go first."

Josie huffed. "Fine, but you tell me absolutely EVERYTHING that he says."

"You got it." He kissed her forehead. "The kids are back; we'll have to figure out the car thing."

Diego ran into the room. "Hey Dad, can I ride back with Xavier and Dixie?"

"Sure… if it's okay with them." Antonio smiled. "Josie and Zoë can ride back with me."

"Cool!" Diego turned back to Xavier who was just coming into the room. "Dad said I can ride back with you."

"That's great. Now, I can give you some tips on how to throw the perfect curveball."

"Baseball tips?" Josie laughed. "Just… promise me not to break any windows, please?"

"I promise, Mama." Xavier hugged her. "So, we're good?"

"Yeah, we can go." Josie sighed. "Take me home, please."


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Antonio was pacing around the rollout. He had left Josie, Dixie and all 4 kids at her house. He had texted Voight to let him know he was there.

"Where's Josie?" Hank asked as he came into the rollout.

"Resting… the move back to her house took a lot out of her."

"So, what are you doing here then?" Hank crossed his arms.

"I wanna know what exactly Dixie told you… or what your plan is with Josie. You took her away from me once, along with my children… I'm not letting you do it again."

"Watch yourself, Antonio… I'm still your boss."

Antonio stepped in towards Hank. "Oh, don't worry… I'll never forget that… But I'm not about to let you take her away or alienate her from me… not this time… I'm older and a whole hell of a lot wiser."

Hank took a couple quick steps towards Antonio and before he knew it, his punch had sent his right hand man reeling backwards.

"What the FUCK?!" Antonio grabbed his jaw. "What was that for?"

Hank shook his hand. "For getting Josephine pregnant."

"Why is that your business? We're adults… we weren't forcing each other to do that…"

"Before, Antonio… when she was still a teenager."

"Voight, that's like 16 years ago!" Antonio shouted. "Why the fuck does it matter to you? She's nothing to you."

"She's my daughter!" Hank bellowed.

Antonio's jaw dropped. "What did you say?"

Hank knew there was no going back now. "Josephine is my daughter."

"Dixie said she didn't know who her father was… that there were too many guys."

Hank shook his head. "No… Dixie wasn't that kinda girl… she slept with another man once… she stepped out on Billy once… because she had misinterpreted his interaction with a CI. She was 18… she started it and she didn't say stop and I didn't stop her either."

"What about Camille?" Antonio was still rubbing his jaw.

"I hadn't met her yet… I met her a week later… Dixie introduced me to her… after we agreed that what we had done was a mistake and we should never talk about it again. Then she was pregnant and she and Billy got married right away. No one thought that Josephine could have another father other than Billy."

"How long have you known?"

"Dixie… dropped it on me last night… she didn't want me to tell Josephine… too much stress… but since I blabbed that I knew about the twins… and twins run in my family… it makes sense… I missed out on 33 years of being her father… I get how you feel now… only difference between me and you right now… I'm the reason you didn't know Xavier and Zoë… No one thought about Billy not being Josephine's father."

"So, you think that buying a new car for her… giving her a job under you is a way to get to know her?"

"I offered her Intelligence before I knew she was my daughter. I still want her in Intelligence. She's a damn good cop and has skills that we can use."

"And her being your daughter, the mother of your grandchildren isn't going to be a problem?"

"Am I gonna worry about her being out on calls? Fuck yes… but am I gonna stop her? No… I've learned that with Erin."

"My jaw still hurts, by the way." Antonio glared at him.

"Sorry." Hank said. "Look, I knew you back then… I saw the potential… and honestly… I kinda basically gave you permission to sleep with her back then… as long as your hormones didn't blind you."

"I remember that conversation… I also remember having to bury an empty casket and go to a tombstone…"

"That tombstone's been removed and the record has officially been corrected to show the truth." Hank said. "Look, I get you want to protect your kids and Josephine…"

"Hank, she prefers Josie… you ever wanna play the 'dad' card… call her Josie."

"Josie… but can you two honestly just hop back to being a couple… after everything you've been through?"

"No… we know we can't, but all four kids need to get to know each other… and we need to get back to a better place for the sake of having a new set of twins come October." Antonio said. "Just know this, I never stopped loving her… I never stopped thinking about her or the future we could've had. We have that chance now, and I'm not about to let anything or anyone stop it."

"Is there something I'm missing here, 'Tonio?"

"Yeah, Sarge… I was going to ask her to marry me that night… instead, I got flung into a snowbank with broken ribs, ruptured ear drum, a concussion… I had to be there when they buried an empty casket with her name and my unborn child's name on a tombstone… I lived a lie all these years!"

"Antonio, I get it… I wish I could go back, but I can't… look… I just want to do right by her and the kids."

"Well, you shouldn't have decked me."

"You're the father."

"We were both consenting adults!"

"Not the first time."

"Voight, she was of age… and I made sure she understood what she was getting into… I wasn't just going to take it… I never was that kind of guy… still not."

"Fine… but what am I supposed to be doing?"

Antonio sighed. "Did Dixie say anything about what she wants you to do?"

"She doesn't want Josie to know yet… she thinks it'll be too stressful."

Antonio groaned. "So, now I know the truth… what the fuck am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know… Antonio… I'm in a bind… and I just put you in one."

"Fuck, Hank… I promised Josie that we'd have no secrets… that we have a chance to have the future we planned…"

"Then tell her… if Dixie finds out… blame me… I'd rather take the shit storm than you… I just want to be a part of my daughter's life… the same way you want to be a part of the twins' lives… have them know Eva and Diego."

"Look, Sarge… I get that… I'll break it to Josie… but just think about the domino effect that's going to come from this… Justin, Erin… how about Josie's feelings towards her mother's lie?"

"Dixie… lied about me being the only possible other man who could be father because she didn't want to ruin my marriage with Camille… especially with Camille being sick at the time."

"Shit… I'm sorry."

"Don't." Hank put his hand up. "It's the kind of woman Dixie is and always was. She always put others ahead of herself."

"Josie obviously takes after her mother." Antonio sighed. "Are you still gonna want to kill me or are we all good?"

"Just do right by her… She deserves a family… a good man… I know… that you are a good man… always were, always will be."

"Good, because when we get this smoothed out, and we can have some semblance of a family, I plan on putting the right ring on her finger."

"You're not asking permission?"

"Boss, sorry, I had asked permission last time, and then we almost all got blown to hell… this time, I'm just gonna ask…"

"Well, I'd give you my blessing no matter what…"

"Sarge, you okay?"

Hank sighed, running his hand through his hair. "I see my grandkids… 15 years old, they look like you and Josie… but, I don't even know if they would want to know who their real grandfather is."

"Let me and Josie figure that out… right now, I need to fill her in… and try and prevent Dixie from flipping out on it."

"Fair enough. Listen, Antonio… Tell Josie I have a line on a really nice Buick Enclave. Holds 6 passengers in the back, lots of space for the kids and the stuff babies need…"

"I'll let her know." Antonio turned to leave. "Look, a little bit of unsolicited, if Jo comes to work here, you're gonna have to let her be her own person, not play the 'dad' card, and just let her be happy."

"I know that Antonio… I see how happy she is with you… just keep her that way… because you hurt her or any of the kids, that goes for Eva and Diego too… I'll do more than punch you."

"Oh, I know… I have a feeling I'd end up at the bottom of the river… or buried out by the silos."

Voight laughed. "Probably. Let me know if Josie wants to talk… or anything like that."

"I will. Have a good night, Sarge."

"You too, Antonio." Both men shook hands and went their separate ways.

Antonio's head was spinning. Not only was Hank Voight his boss, but he was also, one day, going to be his father-in-law. He couldn't believe it. He knew he had to tell Josie, but he no idea on how to tell her and he definitely had no idea on how she'd react.


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A/N: Let me know what you think… this is going to get a lot more interesting… a new Chapter of 'The Rose' will be up this week too! Lots of Love! Nicole