A/N : I told you before. This story is not following the show timeline or bible. I'm picking bits and pieces to use for the story I want to write. That said, I know the Reagan family goes to noon Mass. I moved it up an hour. Writer's prerogative.
Chapter 9
Frank woke a little after two the next morning. He knew that because he could see the alarm clock Kate had on her side of the bed. It took him a few more seconds to realize why he was sleeping where Kate normally would. He then smiled, feeling Kate's head resting on his chest, her body curled up in his right arm and lying next to him. Her right arm was lying softly across his lower chest.
Frank gently shook her awoke. "Kate, I'm sorry," he whispered. "I've got to piss."
Kate mumbled and rolled onto her other side. When Frank returned to bed, he smiled. No more sleeping on my back he thought to himself, crawling back in. He eased his left arm around Kate, letting his sore shoulder rest naturally while Frank spooned up next to Kate and quickly fell back to sleep.
Frank woke with the sun shining through the patio door windows in the bedroom. He got up, used the bathroom and walked into the kitchen. He looked at the clock above the kitchen sink. "I've slept eleven hours?" he asked.
Kate pulled him into a hug. "I slept ten. As a doctor, I firmly believe in our bodies telling us what we need."
Frank smiled, drawing Kate's chin to his face and then kissing her. "I needed that as well." By the smell of her hair and it still being a bit damp, he knew she already showered.
"So did I," Kate grinned. "Coffee next?"
"Yeah," Frank smiled, sitting down at the island.
Kate looked at him. "Are you warm enough?" The sweater and socks were missing.
"I'm good," Frank said, handing his sling to Kate. Kate got him in it and then moved to the coffee pot. She came back with a mug, handing it to Frank, along with her own. "So what's up today?" Frank asked as he added some sugar and cream to his coffee.
Kate shook her head. "By the two cryptic things Erin and Linda said last night as they were leaving, I'm guessing St. Patrick's Day for both our families is going to be celebrated here. Thank God Josh put in another case of Irish whiskey last week."
"My group better bring their own," Frank growled. He looked at Kate. "What smells so good?"
Kate smiled. "I've got cinnamon rolls in the oven."
Frank rubbed his face. "Do I have time to shave?"
Kate laughed. "Sunshine, I can't see. What does the egg timer say?"
Frank looked over her shoulder. "I'm shaving after we have our rolls," he smiled.
"Do you want a bath?" Kate asked.
Frank shook his head. "Just my hair washed."
"Easy enough," Kate smiled.
"What time do you expect them all?"
"My crew," Kate said, "after going to nine-thirty church and done by now, will go to their homes, change and then get ready to come here. They should be here by noon. You tell me about your family."
"Eleven o'clock mass, here by one or so," Frank replied.
"Why go to church so late?"
"Kate?"
Kate shook her head. "I love our eight o'clock service. I'm home by nine-thirty and have the rest of the day."
Frank smiled. "It started with Pop's father. In all his years as a beat cop, he always had Saturday nights off. He loved listening to the boxing matches on the radio that night. But that also involved a few drinks."
"Got it," Kate smiled as the egg timer went off.
By noon, Frank was cleaned up and dressed, catching up with Kate's family. He was warmly hugged by Casee, Liam and Sam who called him grandpa. Byron gave him a big hug as well. A young boy walked to Frank. "Hi! I'm Thad. Liam and I talk. Can I call you grandpa too?"
Frank picked up Thad with his right arm. "It would be my honor Thad," Frank smiled, hugging him.
Kate pulled Thad out of Frank's arms. "My mother failure at teaching my sons the birds and the bees," she explained, hugging Thad.
Jay and Traci looked at Frank. "We had an oops," Jay smiled.
Frank smiled, shaking hands with Troy, their second son. "Good to see you again Troy. Starting quarterback this fall?"
Troy smiled, shaking his head. "Next year."
Trey, John McInerney the third, and Jay and Traci's oldest, as well as Kate oldest grandchild, walked up to Frank. "Good to see you again Frank and feeling better," he smiled, shaking Frank's hand. "Thank you for making grandma happy again."
"My pleasure Trey. Congratulations on your appointment to the Naval Academy. That's huge."
Trey smiled. "I just want to serve and get an education in the process."
"That's honorable Trey," Frank smiled at him. "I know you'll make all of us proud."
"Thanks Frank," Trey grinned.
Frank looked at Jeff and Abby's three boys. "Still playing the piano Peter?"
Pete smiled. "With a twist. I may have the gift of being a concert pianist, but I'm also a hard rocker. I'm playing with combining the two."
Frank shook his head. "Honestly, I have no clue what you're talking about." Everyone laughed. "But if you're happy, that's all that counts."
"I am. Thanks Frank," Pete smiled. "I'm glad you're feeling better."
Frank looked at Ben. "When you're not playing cello are you still knocking guys on their asses at the hockey rink?"
"You bet Frank," Ben grinned.
"Good for you," Frank smiled back. Frank looked at the youngest of the three boys. "Charlie right?"
"Yup," he smiled. "I'm the trumpet and lacrosse player."
"What grade are you in?" Frank asked with a smile.
Charlie pointed at his two brothers. "Junior, freshman and I'm in seventh grade."
"Every two years like clockwork," Jake snarked at Jeff and Abby.
"At least we don't have two high schoolers and a first grader," Jeff winked back at Jake.
"At least I've still got it," Jay defended.
"Not any more lover," Traci said. "I'm bullet proof down under and you're firing blanks." The family all roared with laughter.
Frank looked at Kate's family. "I know you all were following mom's and grandma's command to catch up with me that I have no doubt might have also involved a threat…" Kate hip checked Frank. They all laughed again. "That said, it was wonderful. I'm very grateful I have Kate taking care of me. Now go enjoy yourselves," he smiled. The grandkids took off towards the pool.
Jay looked at Kate and Frank. "Do we need to ask?" he grinned.
"At our age?" Kate growled back. The boys smiled at each other. "And you know my medical history. I've got the full Monty bullet proof down under."
"Just keep us away from getting naked in a tub filled with warm water," Frank smiled.
The boys and their wives all laughed as Henry and the Reagan family started coming in the patio door, knowing the security code. The adult children quickly caught up and renewed friendships. Frank joined them on the patio with the kids swimming in the pool while the flat screen TV in the pool area had on the Rangers hockey game. Kate, her daughters-in-law, along with Erin and Linda, congregated around the kitchen island enjoying themselves. All the adults were enjoying a beer and the company.
About an hour later, Frank came into the house with Beans following him. Erin, sitting next to Kate, rubbed her shoulder. "Dad is heading to the living room for his nap."
"No, he's not," Kate smiled, getting off her stool at the island. Beans came to her. Kate, with Beans at her side, walked into the living room. "Frank, please don't get into the recliner," Kate softly said.
"Kate, I need a nap," he said. "You're the one…"
"Easy Frank," Kate smiled. "Let's just move down the hall so the family can still enjoy their day."
Frank walked two steps to her and put his arm around her. "You're the doc and I trust you," he whispered, kissing her cheek. The ladies around the island smiled at each other as Kate and Frank went down the hall.
They got into Kate's bedroom. "First things first," Frank said, heading to the bathroom.
Kate smiled. "I don't care but for reference…"
"I only had one."
"Good to know," Kate smiled at him as Frank came out of the bathroom. "Sit down on the bed please." Frank did. Kate got him out of his socks, sweater and the sling. "Do you want to go down to your boxers?"
Frank yawned. "I won't get as warm so yeah." Kate helped him get out of the cotton lounge pants and helped him swing into bed. "Kate, I don't want to sleep on my back."
"I get that," Kate softly said. "Lay on your side." Frank settled in, lying on his right side. "Now slide over a bit more." Frank did, with Kate moving his pillow. She grabbed her pillow from the other side of the bed, getting his left elbow settled on his thigh. Kate stuck her pillow under the elbow and put Frank's left forearm on the rest of the pillow that went to the mattress.
"It's not you but it will do," Frank mumbled, largely yawning.
"See you in a bit," Kate smiled, kissing his cheek. She went to her side of the bed and pressed the button on her bedside table, shutting the smart blinds on the patio door windows. Frank softly started to snore as Beans hopped up on the bed and settled in.
Kate walked back into the kitchen to the ladies discussing dinner time. Linda shook her head. "It still astounds me how you can do that without Beans," she smiled.
"Lots of practice from bedroom to kitchen," Kate smiled at her.
"Does four work for you Kate?" Abby asked.
"Mine doesn't have homework tonight," she winked. "You all make it work for your families. How much do we owe for dinner?"
"It's covered Kate," Erin smiled. "Don't worry about it."
A couple hours later, Linda and Traci were putting in the two large pans that would be dinner for the families into the oven. Frank and Beans walked across the living room. Frank was wearing his lounge pants, socks and slides. "Feel better Frank?" Traci asked.
"I always do after a nap," he smiled.
"Can I help you with your sling and sweater?" Linda asked.
"I'd appreciate that Linda." They walked out onto the patio together a few minutes later. "I believe I'm a beer or two behind boys," Frank smiled.
"And now the fun part begins," Kate said.
"Mom?" Jake asked.
"He's starting to feel better which makes him more independent," Kate answered.
"Good luck with that mom," Jake smiled, kissing her cheek.
Jack and Sean noticed Frank wearing his slides. They were like their father with their snark at Frank. Everyone roared with laughter.
A bit later, the two families were gathered around the buffet on the dining room table. They said prayers, and moved to dive into the food. "What's up with this corner piece in the Reuben casserole with the toothpicks?" Henry asked, grabbing the first plate.
"That's Kate's," Kelsey answered.
"No cabbage Henry," Josh added.
Henry looked at Kate. "You're Irish and you don't eat cabbage?"
"Thank you Henry for bringing back da," Kate whimsically said.
"Your father?" Henry asked.
"No, my grandfather." Kate responded. "How the flippin' hell can you be Irish lassie and not eat cabbage?" Kate mimicked him.
"You're still loved," Henry smiled, kissing Kate's cheek. He began to fill his plate. Between the Reuben casserole and the other pan with a knock-off of beef stroganoff, the family enjoyed their dinner.
A bit later, they gathered around the table again to enjoy dessert. Danny put a bottle of single malt Irish whiskey on the table. Jay added two more. "There's more of us McInerneys," he winked at Danny. Traci and Linda started pulling glass tumblers out of Kate's china and glass hutch in the dining room, handing them around.
"You two are the oldest," Frank said, looking at Jay and Danny. "Start pouring." Ben came into the dining room from the kitchen and elbowed Sean. They split up the bag of three-leaf clovers to hand out to everyone.
"Traci," Frank said, "hand out one more glass."
Kate looked at Trey. "If you're old enough to accept a commission to the Naval Academy, you're old enough for this," she proudly smiled.
"Amen," Frank added.
"Thanks grandma and Frank," Trey said. His dad handed him a glass with a touch of whiskey and a proud smile.
Sean gave Frank a clover and looked at Kate. Kate held out her left thumb and index finger ready to pinch. "Tell me when Sean," she smiled.
"Now," Sean smiled back, putting the clover between her fingers.
"Got it," Kate grinned.
When all the adults had a glass, they looked at each other. "Erin go bragh," they said together, putting their clovers into their glasses.
Frank held up his glass. "May the road rise up to meet ya…" he smiled.
"May the wind be always at your back," Kate continued, smiling as well.
Jay nodded at Danny. "May the sunshine warm upon your face," Danny smiled.
"May the rain fall softy upon your fields," Jay added, putting his arm around Traci and raising his glass to Trey.
Kate put her arm around Henry, rubbing his back. Henry kissed her cheek and raised his glass. "Till we me again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand." He grinned. "Happy St. Patrick's Day."
"Happy St. Patrick's Day" echoed through the dining room, with the adults taking a drink of their whiskey. They then fished out their clover, tossing it over their shoulder.
"My favorite part," Kate said, trying to find the clover in her whiskey. She pulled out her thumb and index finger, licking them and then diving them back in. Everyone laughed. "Got ya," she beamed, pulling out the clover, sipping off the whiskey and tossing the clover over her shoulder.
Frank pulled her into a hug. "Happy St. Patrick's Day my love," he said, deeply kissing her cheek.
"Same to you my love," Kate said in his ear, kissing his cheek.
Their children and grandchildren all smiled.
-0000-
A couple nights later, after dinner, Frank and Kate were sitting on the patio together having a whiskey and sharing one of Frank's cigars. "I really like being here," he smiled.
"I like having you here," Kate replied, her heart already aching, thinking about how quickly the next few weeks would pass.
"Maybe I could stay a little longer," Frank said.
Kate looked at him. "Frank Reagan, the altar boy and Jesuit taught Catholic is suggesting we live in sin? Your buddy the Archbishop …"
"No Kate," Frank interrupted, taking her hand. "I'm asking you to marry me."
Kate looked at Frank, her eyes brimming with tears. "I am already dreading you leaving. So yes, I'll marry you," she grinned, wiping away tears.
Frank pulled Kate to his chest. "Let's grow old together."
"I like that plan," Kate smiled, kissing Frank.
A few hours later, they were lying in bed together. Frank was spooned up around Kate, resting his shoulder and arm on her left side. He bolted wide awake. "You OK?" Kate asked.
"Kate, do I need to get you a ring?"
Kate softly laughed. "No Frank, I don't need a diamond. I don't measure love by the karat."
XXX
A/N: Did I forget to set out a tissue box?