Many thanks to Ancilla89 who helped me bridge my two ideas together!

Winter, 1988

Linda watched as Tony walked out the door, "bye, Papa. Have fun at work!"

"Yeah," he scoffed. "Fun."

She thought nothing of his answer, "you're going to another conference?"

"Huh? Oh... yeah. Conference."

"Good luck."

"Yeah," Tony left out the door without another look at his daughter.

Linda walked into the kitchen where Jimmy was eating a snack. "I guess he's doing really well," she peered into the fridge for a somewhat healthy snack.

"Who?"

"Papa. This is like, the twelfth conference this month." She decided to have a cupcake instead of an apple or an orange.

"You really are naive and trusting, aren't you?"

She looked confused, "what do you mean?"

Jimmy looked around the kitchen before lowering his voice. "He's not going to any conference."

"Yes, he is. He's-"

"No. He's not. He's having an affair."

"With who?"

"I don't know. Some chick."

"But he- no, he's at a conference."

"I guarantee you he's not."

She frowned, Jimmy had to be wrong. He just had to be! Sure, things were definitely sour between her parents, but she never thought it'd be as bad as this.

Winter, 1990

Linda sighed as she twirled her cold pasta noodles around her fork. It was official- Tony and Marni were officially getting divorced after two years of a trial split, yelling and screaming at each other, and kid swapping and moving.

"Hey," Danny's voice was quiet. He could tell his girlfriend had been sad all week long.

"Hey," she scratched at her sweater clad shoulder.

He sat down with his lunch tray, "are you okay?"

She didn't even try to hide her sadness, shaking her head morosely.

"You've been sad all week- what's wrong?"

"My parents are getting a divorce. They've been separated for two years now- Jimmy and I have been bounced from parent to parent like a hot tomato."

Danny bit his tongue from correcting her simile. "That must suck... what's it like?"

"Hm?" She touched her shoulder again, seemingly zoning back in from a daze.

"I don't know how anyone could divorce- I don't understand it."

"They were cheaters. Tony was a xerox salesman, and went on conferences all the time. And- Ugh! I am so stupid! I actually believed there were Xerox's he was inspecting!"

"You're not stupid, Linda."

"And Marni- all those times she went to her sister's!" She made a big gesture, wincing when it pulled on her shoulder. "And they keep coming back to each other! He'll leave for... months!... then come back and they'll be okay, until she does something he doesn't like."

He was afraid to ask, "What happens then?"

"Someone gets a beating. Usually m- Marni."

"You were going to say 'me'..."

"No..." had she told him about her father hitting her? She was sure she had...

"Yes, you were. And that's why you keep touching your shoulder. He hit you again."

Linda gave him a weird look, "why are you always so observant?"

"Genetics? Listen, Linda, if things ever get super bad at your house- like you're scared to be there- you can always come to my house."

"I couldn't do that to your parents."

"We have enough food to feed an entire army." Danny was dead serious, "you think I'm kidding. I swear to you, I'm not."

"I still couldn't just... drop in on your family whenever I want."

"It's not-"

"It's okay, Danny. I'll be fine, it's okay," she brushed him off, standing to quickly gather her things. She didn't say bye or wave or give him a brave smile as she walked away.

Danny frowned- how much trouble would he get into for beating up Tony? Would he get into any trouble at all? Once his parents knew what was happening, they'd probably want to beat Tony as well.

Linda groaned as she drank the last of her water in her thermos. She was really thirsty, but it was so cold that night. Did she want to risk cold for a wet throat? She decided yes, and quickly and quietly walked downstairs into the kitchen.

As she was filling her water, she heard something from the family room. Against her better judgment, she went to look at who or what was in their house.

"Papa? What're you doing here?"

Tony jumped, "shut up!" He was holding the fake book where Marni kept some valuables.

"What're you doing?"

He walked to her, backhanded her cheek. "I said shut up!"

She swallowed, a quiet "Papa?" escaping her lips.

"Not a word to your mother, or you'll get more than a slap to the cheek."

"Where are you going with Mama's rings?"

He didn't say anything, grabbing all the valuables in the fake book. He put it back and headed to the door, stuffing his pockets.

"Papa?" Linda whispered, watching him walk out of her life. It would be that last time she saw him for a long, long while. She felt the tears coming as she solemnly walked up the stairs. She cried herself to sleep that night, holding onto the spotted stuffed dog Tony gave her for one of her birthdays.

It was a Saturday, and Saturdays meant family breakfasts. This time, Frank was able to join his family, much to everyone's delight.

Erin had made chocolate chip pancakes, and Mary had made eggs and bacon. They had just blessed the meal when the doorbell rang. The family looked at each other with the same expression. Who was at their door?

Frank stood and walked to the door, hoping it was just a neighbor asking for butter or something like that. He opened the door, surprised in a different way. "Linda?"

"Hi." She looked like she'd been crying for days.

"What brings you here on a Saturday morning?"

"Danny... Danny said-" she rubbed her cheek with her gloved hand, Frank noticing it was pinker than the other one.

"Danny!" Frank called, turning to the kitchen. He didn't notice Linda jump.

"Yeah?"

"Come here."

In under a minute, Danny was standing behind Frank at the door. He noticed Linda, "did it get that bad?"

She moved her head from side to side shrugged before breaking down and nodding. He pulled her inside, making sure to grab her hand and not her wrist.

"Danny." Frank's voice stopped his son from helping Linda off with her coat. "Explain."

"You remember what I told you about her parents?" He turned to his girl, "I hope you don't mind I told them."

She only cried some more, holding her arms out for a hug. She felt immensely better when his arms wound around her.

"I told her she could come by whenever things got shitty in her house. I guess they got really shitty."

"Linda, once you're ready, you can join us for breakfast. We're having pancakes," Frank said, knowing he'd have to get the bigger and fuller story from Danny later.

"I couldn't eat right now," her voice was gravely. She paused before turning her head to Frank, "unless, of course, it's chocolate chip?"

Danny chuckled, "of course they're chocolate chip."

As the three of them walked to the kitchen, Linda knew one thing for sure. She didn't know where life would take her, but she knew she would always have a family with the Reagans.