May 12th, 2009

Finally the weather was warming up. Bosco liked it when it was like that. He liked seeing his wife in her bathing suits.
"What are you thinking about?" Faith said as she cuddled into his naked body.

"You don't want to know." Bosco shifted slightly.

"Yes I do." She kissed his chest. Bosco sighed.

"I was thinking about your cancer." He said. He felt Faith tense up slightly.

"I have a clean bill of health." Faith croaked out. He took in a shuddery breath.

"I know you do, but I always think about what if. What if it comes back? What if it spreads? What if I lose you?" Bosco asked. Faith looked at him with sad blue eyes.

"Don't do the what ifs." She said, "Live in the moment. Carpe Diem. When I almost lost you, I thought about my cancer. What if you died and then my cancer came back? I had to stop that though because it was bringing me down."

"Yeah it does that." Bosco sighed softly, "We need it pick Vinny up soon." Faith sighed softly.

"I like lying in your arms though." She said, "I like making love to you and making you scream out my name."

"Oh lord." Bosco pushed Faith away from him, "I've corrupted you."

"I've always been corrupted." She said sitting up. Faith sat there for a moment in silence. Bosco watched her carefully. "I'm happy I married you, Bosco. Yes, we've had our share of troubles, but they've made us stronger."

"Glad to hear you say that." Bosco chuckled softly.

"We should get up." Faith said sliding out of bed. Bosco sighed.

"No more hot sex?" He asked.

"No more hot sex." Faith pulled her underwear on. "We have work and Vincent needs to eat." Bosco nodded as he sat up. Faith slid her bathrobe on and walked downstairs. Vincent and Charlie sat at the kitchen table eating eggs, "Who made eggs?"

"I did." Charlie said, "I am fifteen. Old enough to make breakfast." Faith smiled softly as she started the coffee.

"Well, that is good information to know. I may have to hire you out sometime." She winked. Charlie gave her a look.

"If you pay me maybe." He said. Faith chuckled.

"You're dreaming." She reached into the fridge and pulled out the boy's lunch. "Emily is going to pick you up today, Vin."

"Okay." Vincent said swinging his legs. "Is Syd coming?"

"Probably." Faith said putting their lunches in their backpacks. "I'll call Jake's and make sure you're there, Charlie, so go there."

"Can't I borrow the car?" he asked. Faith looked at him.

"You have a learner's permit, not a license." She said.

"I'll have one by Christmas though." he said getting up.

"I know." Faith sighed pouring herself a mug of coffee. It scared her that Charlie would be driving by the end of this year. She wished Charlie was still small, but he was taller than her and getting muscular now that he was working out. He was looking like a man. She sighed again as she heard the school bus outside for Vincent. "Come on, Son." She helped his put his backpack on.

"Mom, I can do it myself." He frowned, "And don't kiss me." Vincent ran outside. Even Vincent was getting big. Charlie looked at his mother.

"Have fun at work." He said softly. Faith smiled.

"I think you're ride is here." She said handing him his bag.

"Thanks, Ma." He said running out to Jake's car. The bass was heavy and hurt Faith's heart. Charlie would be out of the house in a couple of years. Then Vincent would be gone, ten years later. Faith closed her eyes. She hated watching everyone grow up and have lives on their own. They didn't need her as much and that made her sad.

May 26th, 2009

Faith sat in the bleachers next to Fred and Bosco. She couldn't believe this day had come. Eighteen years ago, she had hoped this day would come and now it was here. Emily was graduating.

"At least with her new last name she doesn't have to wait until they call the Y's." Charlie chuckled. Justin chuckled.

"Is that why she married me?" He asked his brother-in-law.

"I've heard other stories." Charlie said with a wink.

"Shut up." Bosco chuckled, "We have minors here." He looked at Sydney and Vincent sitting in front of them. They seemed very excited.

"Daddy, can we get a kitten?" Sydney asked. Justin chuckled.

"No. We have a dog, Baby." He said, "And a mommy."

"Mommy will let me." She said.

"Maybe." Justin smiled. Faith looked at Fred and took his hand.

"Can you believe today has come?" She asked. "Emily is a high school graduate, she's married, and a parent." Fred smiled weakly.

"I remember the day she was born and the first time I held her in my arms. I wondered if she would ever get any bigger than a peanut. She looked so innocent." Fred said, "Then on her first day of school, I wondered how such a cute little princess could grown up. I thought she was going to stay small." he looked at his granddaughter, "Now we have that pipsqueak."

"Hey!" Sydney cried, "I not a squeak." Justin laughed softly.

"Squeak." he said. A few people gave them dirty looks. "I think we're too loud. They can't listen to the boring speak."

"If they only knew Bosco and I were NYPD cops and you were a firefighter. They wouldn't be giving us any dirty looks." Faith said a little loud. The people turned around and Faith laughed.

"Good one, Ma." Charlie whispered.

"Shhh." Bosco said, "They're at the N's."

"Francine Augusta Norris." The principal called out. some girl went up and received her diploma.

"Alexander Charles O'Connell." He called out. Charlie and Faith exchanged bored looks.

"Michelle Maura O'Connelly." He called out. Faith smiled softly.

"I see Momma!" Sydney stood up pointing to Emily.

"Emily Amanda O'Hara." He called out. The family stood up and began to cheer for her. Emily grinned broadly as she walked across the stage. She shook the principal's hand and took her diploma. She had worked hard for this.

"That's our girl." Justin smiled. Tears rolled down Faith's cheek's proudly. Her baby girl.

* * *

Faith sat at the kitchen table watching Emily laughed with a fellow graduate mom. Their children ran around their feet.

"She's starting at the academy soon." Faith said.

"Don't remind me, Faith." Bosco said spooning Alex's potato salad into his mouth. "She'll do fine. She's like you."

"That scares me." She said. "When Justin hurt himself, I nearly had a heart attack. I can't imagine what it'll be like when Emily gets on the force."

"You'll be damn proud of her." Bosco said. Faith smiled.

"Yeah. I will be." She said. "I already am." Faith watched Emily carefully. All grown up. All of them were.

* * *

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