Lucy and Ian just cried in each other's arms, so very glad to be with each other. There were no words between them…none were needed. Ian wrapped his arms around her and cuddled her against his chest as she sobbed quietly. In the kitchen, Marty had heard the door, but continued preparing a tray for tea—not realizing what had occurred. Victor and Chris had dropped Ian off at the door—Victor practically dragging Chris away, knowing that Ian and Lucy would want to be alone.

Danny woke up from his nap, and sat up on the sofa. He looked around the living room and saw his father—like Lucy, he had no trouble distinguishing between his father and his uncle. He scrambled over the back of the sofa and ran to Ian calling, "Da! Da!". Lucy let go of Ian with one arm so that he could scoop Danny up into their embrace.

"It's my boy, my beautiful boy, Daniel. Have you been takin' good care of yer ma since I've been gone?" Ian said to him.

Danny nodded solemnly and hugged his father around the neck. Lucy relaxed against Ian's other shoulder, still not saying a word. Marty hurried into the living room—not sure what she was going to find. She didn't know if Danny was confused or if Ian had come home—and she didn't want Lucy to be upset. She stopped short when she saw Ian standing inside the door holding Lucy in one arm and Danny in the other. A smile lit her face and she walked back into the kitchen to set another cup on the tea tray. She called Patrick at the guesthouse to give him the good news, but suggested that he keep the girls with him over there for a little while longer. She had seen just enough of Ian to realize that he wasn't ready to greet the whole family yet.

Lucy leaned back and looked at the face of her beloved husband, and put her hand on his cheek, "I was afraid that I'd never see you again. Do you have any idea how very important you are in my life—it just stopped while you were away. I love you so much. Promise me you'll never leave me again."

"Ahh, Lucy, I would have promised that before—and it would have been a broken promise. I didn't have any control…," Ian started.

She put her finger to his lips, "Shh, shh, I know that. But your promise means that you'll never do it on purpose—and that's all that I can ask of you. I just missed you so much—I can't get enough of you—holding you in my arms and hearing your voice. Just hold me a minute more, then we'll have to get Caroline…I…I left her on the floor!"

Ian chuckled at that last bit, "Doesn't she even rate a crib anymore?"

"I was playing with her. She's full and dry and happy because she doesn't understand that you've been gone," Lucy answered him.

"Tea's ready!" Marty called cheerily from the kitchen before entering with the tea tray. "Ian, it's about time you got home. Patrick and I were beginning to think that you were avoiding us!"

"Margaret! I'd forgotten all about you! …I mean…uh…" Ian tried to explain.

"I know…I understand…and it's okay. Patrick has the girls at the guesthouse, their noise was getting on our nerves just a bit…but they'll be back over soon. In the meantime, we can have a nice cuppa here with the babies. It's so good that you're back Ian—you've been missed," Marty said softly.

Lucy let go of Ian and took Danny out of his arms, "You look so tired, Ian. Are you all right? Have you been sick? What have they been feeding you? Or maybe, NOT feeding you is a more accurate term."

"Aye, NOT is a good way to put it. I don't think it was food that they give us each day…it certainly wasn't edible. And they worked us like slaves…had me workin' in a laundry, sweatin' my body weight away in the heat and then not replenishin' it at meals. Victor…he and Ramsey came to get me…they let me clean up before comin' home. I was a mess, love. I hadn't shaved or had a decent shower in the whole time I was gone…I was afraid to be seen by you…and I still have more prison to wash off me…but all I want to do now is hold you in my arms…you and the wee ones."

"Lucy, I'm going back into the kitchen for a minute. Will you watch Seamus?" Marty said. She went into the kitchen and made up a plate full of sandwiches and grabbed a couple of bottled waters out of the refrigerator for Ian. She wanted to get him nourished and hydrated as soon as possible. When she returned with the food, she found Lucy and Ian reclining together on the sofa with Caroline in his arms, while Danny and Seamus were playing together on the floor.

"Well, I think that's just what the doctor ordered!" Lucy said with a grin when she saw the sandwiches. "Thanks, Marty. Ian, I don't know what I would have done if she and Patrick hadn't been here…they held me together, and took care of our children."

"I always knew my brother was good for somethin'," Ian said with a mouthful of sandwich. "I'll never be able to repay what you've done for me and mine, Margaret. I just know that family is all that matters, ain't it?"

"Yes, it is all that matters," Marty replied. "I've called Patrick and he knows that you're home. He'll be over with the girls in a little bit, but you can take a few minutes to eat and relax before they get here….and, Lucy…"

Lucy took a cup of tea from Marty, "Thanks, again. I seem to always be thanking you, don't I?"

"There's nothing to thank me for, you'd have done the same for me. Patrick and I will take the children tonight so that you and Ian can have some time alone together. You just let me know what you want to do about Caroline. We can take her with us and try to get her to take a bottle, or you can keep her with you. It's your call."

"Ian? What do you think?" Lucy asked him.

"I think the wee lass has always cooperated when we've asked her to," Ian replied. "We'll just keep her with us. You'll have more than your hands full with our other three and your two. Thanks, Margaret."

There was a spring in Patrick's step as he walked across the yard from the guesthouse with the girls to see his brother. He had known all day that Ian might be coming home, but had to keep it to himself for fear of another disappointment. He couldn't wait to see Ian—in fact, he couldn't ever remember being more excited to see his brother. It was funny—they had gone so many years without contact, and now they were closer than ever before. It didn't escape his notice that it was due to two very special women. He was more grateful than words could ever express at the presence of Margaret in his life—and he felt the same way about Lucy with his brother. As different as Margaret and Lucy were, there was something in their souls that made them fast friends almost immediately. In the time since they'd met Lucy, all their lives had been richer.

Aisling and Christina, both yelling for Ian the minute they saw him, preceded Patrick into the house. Christina raced into Ian's arms and hugged him tightly, "You're home, you're home! Mommy said you'd be back soon—but it was a long time!"

"I know it was…and I hated every minute of being away from my girls!" Ian answered her. He held out his other arm for a hug from Aisling, "And how are you my little niece? You've grown at least a foot since we saw you last!" Aisling just giggled and hugged her uncle tightly.

After embracing the girls, Ian stood up and walked over to his brother. There were tears glittering in their eyes as they faced each other—realizing that they were starting a whole new relationship at that moment. They embraced each other warmly, and without comment. The words would come later—but they would come—the silence was finally over between them. Ian then turned around and sat back down. He grabbed another bite of sandwich and motioned for Patrick to get one for himself. Patrick helped himself to a sandwich and sat on the floor near his son.

"I'm gonna have to get used to calling you Ian," he said after a minute. "Pretty soon when I say Seamus you're both going to come running."

"I don't think I'll be runnin' anywhere if you keep callin' me Seamus," Ian answered him. "I've been Ian for a long while now and that's how I like it. Had to spell Seamus for everyone, and it's not even my given name. I finally gave in and just used Ian—now it's who I am. You start callin' Seamus I'll be thinkin' you're wantin' your boy."

Patrick laughed at Ian…he'd heard the story before…but Ian still answered when he called him by his boyhood name. When his own boy got older, though, he'd have to give it up—especially since Lucy and Margaret both called his brother Ian as well, "I'll do my best…but if I slip now and then, you'll have to forgive me."

"There'll be nothin' to forgive, Patrick…nothin' at all. I understand that I have you to thank for my clean clothes. How did you do it without being caught by Lucy?" Ian replied.

"That was a tricky one…I had to sneak upstairs pretending I wanted to look in on Grainne, and hope I could find your bloody suitcase. Later Margaret wanted to know why I went upstairs when the babe was down here with her ma, and I thought the jig was up. But I hemmed and hawed a bit and got away with it," Patrick said with a smile.

"Grainne is it? Have you taken to calling everyone by their middle names now?" Ian said with a smile.

"No…just you and your daughter. You can't name the girl Grainne, even if it is in the middle, and ask me not to call her that. It's such a miracle to have her back again," Patrick answered.

"She's not our Grainne, but she'll do. I'm glad that you approve of the name…I didn't want you to be hurt by it. Did I ever tell you about Daniel's other name?" Ian smiled at his brother.

"No, I don't believe you did—but do you trust me not to use it on him if you tell me it?"

"I've trusted you with a lot more than my son's name and no harm's come. I think I'll risk it," Ian winked at his brother. "He's named after Grainne, too…his middle name is Griffin. It was the closest one I could think of."

"Griffin is it? And you thought that up all by yourself, did you? Well, it's a fine name, but young Daniel's name is what it is…and I'm glad that your children both carry a piece of our sister with them," Patrick answered. "How are you feeling? You look like hell! Did they hurt you at that place?"

"No, they didn't beat me or anything…but they worked us like slaves and fed us hardly anything at all. I'm bone weary and hungrier than I've ever felt in my life. I can't seem to stop eatin'," Ian answered his brother.

"And why is that any different than any other time?" Patrick said with a chuckle. "When we were lads, he was always eating his share and then trying to steal mine!"

"…And then you'd steal Grainne's! Don't any of you believe that he's the saint his name would imply; he was a devil for sure! We both were! Grainne was always warning us to stay out of trouble…but we never listened! Remember the time we put ants in Liam O'Connor's bed sheets? I couldn't sit down for a week after Da tanned my hide! And you…"

"…I played sweet Saint Patrick, and didn't know anything about it! Of course Da never did figure out that it was my idea…but Grainne knew, and she never said a word to anyone."

"Yeah…we could always count on Grainne to keep our secrets. She knew I'd get you back on my own…and she knew I'd enjoy doin' it…" Ian took another bite of sandwich while both men were lost in their memories.

Marty and Lucy watched their husbands reminisce and wished they would do it more often. It was nice hearing stories of their youth—both Lucy and Marty had grown up without parents, brothers or sisters and had a lonely life. Although Marty had money and Lucy hadn't, their guardians were not the most loving of caretakers. They had always felt more like obligations than anything else—and that was probably one of the reasons they made such good mothers to their own children.

Patrick finished his sandwich and stood up, "Seamus, it's been good to see you, but I know you'd rather be with your wife than with me. We'll get the kids all packed up and head over the guesthouse so that you can have some time to yourselves. We'll meet you here for breakfast in the morning, if that's okay with you both."

"It's more than okay, Paddy" Ian said as he rose from the sofa.

"Paddy!"

"Aye, as long as you're callin' me Seamus, I'm callin' you Paddy. Maybe that'll break you from using the wrong name!" Ian said with a laugh. "Thanks for taking the wee ones tonight…Lucy and me, we have a lot of catchin' up to do."