A/N: Hey guys thanks for the reviews! I loved them all. For all of you who asked, the tournament went well; my team finish in 5th place after a 4-3 loss to the number 1 seed. Here is my 4th of July present to all my readers…sorry I kept you waiting.


Chapter 4: Going Home

"Danny, tell me again how you got Mac to give us both the week off?" Lindsay questioned for the second time in the past two hours, which was the equivalent of the plane ride from New York to Montana. The man standing beside her laughed at her curiosity and persistence. They were two of the many things about her he had fallen in love with.

"For the eighteenth millionth time, we'll just say Mac loves me." He answered simply. Mac had done it out of generosity and that fact that he knew how Lindsay was feeling. Most of all Mac thought it was best that Lindsay not be alone in the emotional state she was in.

"Just let it go, Montana." Danny leaned over and kissed her as they walked off the ramp and entered the airport in Montana.

Lindsay stood on her tipsy toes in search of her parents. She waved when she caught sight of them. "Come on, time to meet my folks." Lindsay laughed and pulled Danny along with her.

"Oh, so now you're gonna go all western on me." Danny laughed along with her.

When they got close enough to her parents, Lindsay let go of Danny's hand and towards the man Danny assumed to be her father. "Daddy!" Lindsay cried as she ran into her dad's open arms.

Her father embraced her tightly. "My baby girl's back." He spun her around finally putting her down. Lindsay exchanged another love filled greeting with her mom before turning her attention back to Danny.

Lindsay grabbed Danny's hand and pulled him towards the group. "Mom, Dad, this is my boyfriend and co-worker Danny Messer."

Danny extended his had to Lindsay's dad, "Nice to meet you Mr. Monroe." He dad accepted Danny's hand but shook his head.

"Nice to meet you, Danny, but please call me Kyle. Mr. Monroe is my father." Danny nodded in understanding and laughed.

"That is exactly what Chris said to me on the phone." Danny turned to Chris, "Nice to talk to you again."

Chris pulled Danny into a hug which Danny gladly returned even though he was a little surprised. But then again he was Italian so it wasn't quite a shock. "You too, Danny. And thank you again for talking her into coming home."

"We'll have time for catch up later." Kyle interrupted the conversation that was about to begin. "These two are probably exhausted."

Danny and Lindsay nodded in agreement. The four people headed to baggage claim and headed to the Monroe family ranch.

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"You two can stay in the guest house." Chris informed the couple when they finished unloading their bags from the SUV. "Becky Lynn, Brad and the twin will be here for dinner." She added.

Kyle spoke up after his wife had finished, "I hope you like barbeque. We're going to have a picnic of sorts. In a way to remember Matthew." Lindsay and Danny nodded and Lindsay guided then to the guest house. They settled themselves in and by the time they were finished they had an hour until they had to be at dinner.

"Come 'ere." Danny motioned for Lindsay to join him on the bed. She did so and settled herself in Danny's arms. There in his arms she let the tears fall, while Danny whispered comforting words in her ear and stroked her hair. In his arms was the only place Lindsay felt safe to show her emotions; it was the only place she really felt protected anymore. After a short while they both fell asleep.

Forty-five minutes later, Danny shook Lindsay's shoulder lightly in hope of waking her up. He hated to do it because she looked so peaceful for once lying there asleep, but he didn't want to be late for dinner.

"Mmmhmm." She mumbled softly and her eyes flickered open. Her gaze focused in on Danny and his heart-warming smile.

"Come on, sweetheart." Danny coaxed, "You've gotta get up. We've got a total of fifteen minutes to change and meet up with you family at the house for dinner."

Lindsay groaned when she let Danny reluctantly pull her out of bed. She was really dreading facing her whole family, but she knew that Danny would be right by her side the whole time to catch her if her fell.

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"Aunt Lindsay!" Two little voices filled the air and two kids rushed up to Lindsay, nearly knocking her down.

Lindsay smiled. "Hey Josh and Jaime." She greeted them and started to tickle the two toddlers and the three soon fell to the ground.

"You must be Danny." A young blond woman walked up next to Danny and stood beside him. "I'm Becky Lynn, Lindsay's little sister."

Danny smiled warmly in return. "Yup, I'm Danny Messer. And I'm guessing these little guys belong to you." He gestured to the kids that were now in a wrestling match with Lindsay.

Now it was Becky's turn to smile. "Those are the twins, Josh and Jaime. They'll be five in October."

Lindsay looked up from her current position from the grass below and was glad to find Danny and her sister talking. "Hey Becky." Lindsay said when she got up. "I guess you've met Danny."

"I approve." Becky whispered in her older sister's ear. "You want to come n and help mom and me with the food?" She asked a little louder. Lindsay nodded and gave Danny a kiss before following her sister, who was walking toward the house.

Danny's attention was pulled away from Lindsay when he felt a tugging on his pant leg. He looked down to find a small child who was the spitting image of Becky Lynn. Danny automatically assumed that it was Jaime.

"Who are you?" The little girl asked with a smile. Within seconds she was joined by her brother.

Danny wasn't sure how to answer the question. "I'm a friend of your Aunt Lindsay." The answer seemed simple and appropriate not to mention it was the truth.

Jaime turned to her brother after looking Danny over and whispered in his ear. All of a sudden the two started running around yelling, 'Aunt Lindsay has a boyfriend', in unison. Danny started to laugh. These are some pretty smart four year olds.

"I think they like you." A man's voice came from behind Danny and places a hand on his shoulder. Danny turned and was met by a man maybe a year or two younger than him.

"I'm Brad Cashman, Becky's husband and Lindsay's brother-in-law." He introduced himself offering Danny a hand. "You're Danny I presume?" Danny nodded in amazement as her shook Brad's hand.

Brad laughed at the look on Danny's face. "News travels fast in this family. You'll get used to it."

Danny nodded, "I guess I'll have to." He gestured to the twins who were still running around chanting their new found knowledge. "Are they always this perceptive?" Danny asked.

"Don't worry." Brad chuckled. "They did the same thing to my brother Brian's daughter's boyfriend. I think they like you."

Within a few moments the two men were joined by Kyle. The conversation quickly turned to sports. Although he was not a born New Yorker, Danny learned that Kyle Monroe was a very avid Yankee fan. That was not the only thing about Lindsay's family Danny learned throughout dinner. He got to hear lots of stories about Lindsay's childhood, including that the Cashman's had lived next to the Monroe's forever and the kids grew up together.

Many times that night the conversation turned to Matt and they shared stories. Danny, during these times, would steal glances at Lindsay, who in-turn had a death grip on his hand underneath the picnic table. He knew she was hurting inside but she was trying to keep a brave face. Lindsay had done the same thing with him until he got her to break down her barriers, now she was doing the same this with her family. She didn't want them to see the pain she was going through.

"So Danny, what is it like to work with my crazy sister?" Becky Lynn's question brought Danny out of his thoughts. Before answering, Danny looked over to Lindsay who seemed to be relieved that the topic had been changes. He even thought her saw a small smile play on her lips.

Danny gave her hand a reassuring, gentle squeeze, "Well…"


A/N: I know the end wasn't the best but I'll make it up to you inlater chapters!Hope you all have a great holiday! Review please if you have time. Until next time…Ash