Thanks so much to Alex B. Goode for checking in to see when I'd have an update. :) I love to hear from readers (never hesitate to let me know what you think or what you'd like to see). Getting reviews or pms are so encouraging, so thanks to all who have left a review! I'm really busy at work right now, but hopefully things should be slowing down within the next couple weeks. (Hopefully? Fingers crossed).

Chapter 21

"She made it until dessert " Jaime said. "It's better than last time."

Frank stacked the dinner plates left behind by Kate, Joe and Carlos. "I'd like to think this family could have a higher standard than suffering through a meal until dessert."

"She's been through a lot," Erin said, taking the nearly empty serving dishes. She went to the kitchen, Jaime and Frank following with used plates. Setting the dishes on the island, she took the plates from her father's hands.

"Apparently she has," Frank said. His voice was sharper than he intended. "Like becoming a CI." Worry and anger edged against each other.

"At least she's got two of New York's finest keeping an eye on her," Danny said, coming in with the wine glasses.

Frank looked between his children. The ones he still had left with him. "And one of them is Joe's son."

Silence fell over the kitchen. Erin reached a hand out and laid it briefly on Frank's shoulder. He sighed heavily.

"I can't think of anyone I'd rather have with Kate," Jaime said.

Frank heard Erin and Danny's agreement. He had to admit Detective Joe Hill had an impressive record for such a short time on the force. And it did soften the blow to let Kate go, knowing that she had family with her. Even if it was family he barely knew.

But maybe that was what would make it work. Because he barely knew his youngest daughter anymore.

#

"Are you sure?" Kate whispered the words quietly to Lacey. She glanced towards Carlos crouched on the floor in front of Frannie, listening intently as she told him something incoherent about the doll she held out for him. Joe hung back a little, but a smile played at his mouth as Frannie more insistently repeated something and shoved the doll into Carlos' hands.

Kate angled herself so she and Lacey had a slight amount of privacy in the corner of the living room.

Lacey swallowed hard, glanced over at the two men in their apartment. Kate could see the hesitation that Lacey tried so hard to hide. She knew better than anyone what Lacey had been through with the gang, what had her keeping her distance from everyone.

"I…" Lacey faltered. Her green eyes studied the two men she had only just met. Kate saw her eyes linger on Joe before she looked back at Kate and drew a deep breath. "Yeah. Ok. Ice cream sounds good."

If Kate were a more demonstrative person, she may have given Lacey's hand a reassuring squeeze or found an encouraging smile. As it was, she managed a nod. "Good for you, Lace."

She turned back around to find Carlos now held Frannie's favorite doll cradled in his arms, a toy bottle in his hand to carefully feed the baby. Frannie toddled back over to him with a blanket and clumsily tucked it around the baby before giving the doll a slobbery kiss and looking up at Carlos with a wide grin. He answered Frannie's smile with one of his own and Kate wondered if maybe Lacey had the right idea and they should be careful to keep themselves away from men who could get any sort of power over their hearts. Johnny, Wes, and Hux should have been a strong enough lesson.

But then Carlos turned that grin on her and Kate felt her good judgment take the backseat to wanting something good. Something normal. Just for one evening.

"I'll grab the diaper bag," she said. She took the small pouch of diapers and supplies and stuck it into her backpack. She slung the bag over her shoulder and reached for Frannie, picking up her daughter and relishing the slight weight that never failed to anchor her world. She reached her free hand to get Frannie's car seat, but Carlos easily got it without comment.

They left Joe's car and Kate secured the car seat in the back of Carlos' before she and Lacey slid in, one on each side of Frannie. Frannie squealed with delight, more accustomed to walking or taking the subway.

Kate tried not to notice the way the businesses grew more respectable, more prosperous, the farther they travelled from the Bitter End. She didn't want to think about what it said about her that she was more comfortable at the bar where Johnny was running guns than she was at her family's dinner table. She was more at ease in the projects than an ice cream parlor in a middle class neighborhood.

She shoved those thoughts aside, focusing on getting Frannie out of her seat once Carlos had parked, giving her a daughter a smile, trying to join in on the little girl's excitement.

The shop was busy on a Sunday afternoon, in spite of the start of cooler fall weather. Kate found herself crowded against Carlos while they waited in line. The tabloid pages that wallpapered the walls were a chaotic mix of color, echoing the emotions that pushed through Kate. She looked over at Lacey. Lacey had her eyes trained on the floor.

This was a mistake. She should tell Carlos to take them home. She opened her mouth to say that, but was interrupted by a piercing squeal from Frannie.

She had spotted the ice cream and reached two pudgy hands in that direction, nearly falling from Kate's arms in her excitement.

Carlos easily caught her and carried her to the counter, their turn to order coming.

He looked to Kate. "What does she like?"

"Chocolate," Kate said.

"With sprinkles?" Carlos asked, easily juggling the squirming toddler.

Kate nodded. She started to get her wallet from the pocket of her backpack, but Carlos already had his out, paying for the small dish of strawberry ice cream Kate had ordered as well.

Kate frowned. "I can—"

"I know," Carlos interrupted. "You can pay next time." Turning his attention to Joe so Kate had no opportunity to argue, he spoke. "We'll get a table."

Joe nodded then leaned down to ask Lacey what she wanted.

Kate was torn, wanting to stay at Lacey's side, but Carlos was already walking away with Frannie and their dishes of ice cream.

She heard Lacey's quiet voice telling Joe what she wanted and him ordering. Lacey looked ok, so she followed Carlos.

"Thanks," Kate managed when she took her ice cream from Carlos.

He gave her a wink, then turned his attention to helping Frannie with her spoon.

Lacey slid into the chair next to Kate, leaving Joe to take the seat across from her.

Joe let out a small huff of a laugh. Kate raised her eyebrows at him and he nodded toward the wall.

Kate searched the pictures plastered up as wallpaper until she saw what Joe did. An old photo from years ago that had accompanied the press release that her father was being appointed the police commissioner. Kate stood next to her brother Joe in the photo, Danny, Erin, and Jaime in their younger days, her mom healthy and smiling next to her dad.

A bittersweet smile tugged at her lips and she met Joe's eyes, her smile growing into wry amusement.

She heard Lacey's intake of breath when she spotted the picture. Kate jerked her head towards Joe. "Meet my brother Joe's son," she said. She'd fill Lacey in on the nightmare of a family reunion later.

Lacey's lips formed a perfect 'o'.

Carlos let out a snort of laughter.

"Here's to family, in all it's twisted, mixed-up, tangled mess," he said, lifting his Styrofoam bowl of ice cream in a mock toast.

"To secrets and skeletons in the closet," Joe said with a rueful twist of his lips.

"To nephews and aunts…and…cousins?" Kate added, looking at Frannie and trying to figure out how Joe connected to her.

Lacey lifted her dish and the four of them tapped them together. Kate looked around the table, less formal than the dining room and home cooked meal at her father's house, but with her new family seated around it. The family she was starting to realize she couldn't imagine her life without.

#

Joe hung back as Carlos and Kate walked into the apartment building with Frannie, giving them space. It wasn't hard to see his partner's feelings for Kate were starting to run deep.

He took a step closer to Lacey, trying not to crowd her, but needing to shelter her as they passed by the usual group of hardened residents loitering outside the door.

Lacey kept her head down as they passed, staying close enough that her arm brushed against him and she quickly shied away. Once inside, he gave her more space. They didn't say anything as they climbed the stairs to the apartment she shared with Kate. Kate had already unlocked the door and was carrying a nearly sleeping Frannie inside.

Carlos was at the crib, pulling back blankets for Kate to lay her down. Joe stayed just inside the door. Lacey looked at him. Joe held still, letting her green eyes study him for a minute, trying to be as unthreatening as possible. He had no idea what had made her so skittish, but with Kate's involvement in the Dimeboys, he could make at least a couple guesses.

"Thanks for the ice cream," Lacey said.

"Thanks for taking care of me after my concussion," he responded.

Lacey's pale cheeks flushed slightly and she looked down. "That wasn't anything," she mumbled.

Joe wanted to tell her it really was, but didn't want to send her ducking away.

He saw Carlos saying good-night to Kate and took a step back from Lacey. "Night, Kate," Joe said.

Kate stayed next to the crib, but she lifted a hand in response.

"See you later, Lacey," Carlos said.

That time Lacey did step away. But she looked at Joe one last time, her eyes meeting his briefly before she ducked her head.

He and Carlos stepped out into the poorly lit hallway, hearing Lacey close the door and two locks turn behind them.

"I hate leaving them there," Carlos said.

Joe made a sound of agreement.

"How she went from being the PC's daughter to living here, running guns with the Dimeboys…" Carlos' voice trailed off.

"Johnny," Joe said in reply.

"Johnny," Carlos repeated. That was the only bit of information they had really gained about Kate after seeing her with her family. That and the fact that she wasn't having an easy time reuniting with them.

"You doing ok?" Carlos asked suddenly.

Joe didn't answer right away. He wasn't sure what to make of the instant family he had found. The tension around the table. And Kate being family.

"I don't know," he answered honestly. They went down the stairs in silence, out past the group near the door, and down the block to their cars. "I think I'm just looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow. Being with the gunrunners and finding who bombed us. You know, normal."

Carlos' tan face split into a grin. "Yeah. Normal," he agreed.

#