Super short chapter to set up the living situation. Next chapter will pick back up with Riley/Reagan shenanigans.

The Master Plan

"So what's the plan?" Frank asked that night after the kids had all gone to bed.

"Plan for what, Darling?"

"I don't know, Sweetheart… this morning when I went to work, we had four kids in the house and now we have five… I was just wondering what's the plan for breakfast in the morning?" he dead-panned. She frowned at his sarcasm. "What's the plan with Hazel?"

"Well, I was thinking…"

"Uh oh." Frank knew that look in Mary's eyes.

"Hazel and Kyle need time apart. So I was thinking… since it is summer break… and we do have extra room… and we have kids that she could help babysit and keep occupied… how about we let her stay here for the summer? I want us to step in and see if we can help her find her way back to family."

"I know she's been living at school for the past what… seven years? I guess we do have to consider that before hopping on her case about her inability to relate to her dad. They haven't had to co-exist in a long time. She's literally been able to avoid all of that."

"She was so little when they sent her away."
"That's when Laurie got sick wasn't it?"
"Yeah. Kyle said he couldn't deal with them both, so he found a school for Hazel. It was so hard for her, but I think it ended up being her saving grace. They took very good care of her. But she never had a male role model in her life… someone to make her feel protected, you know?"

"I know. That's why I agree with you. I think we should step in. I want to be that for her for a while. I can be a dad. I have references."

"So you're ok with it?"

"Absolutely… on one condition."

"What's that?"

"She's got to work on her relationship with Kyle. We can't just let her hideout because they are going to have to figure this out eventually. Our time with her has to be more… even if it's just us teaching her how to relate to him."

"You up for teaching her how to do that?"

"For this kid, yeah. I'll be dad for a while."

Mary smiled really big as she jumped into his arms and kissed him. "You are the best! Let's go tell her."

"Are you crazy? They are all in bed. Leave them there. We'll talk to Hazel tomorrow after we talk to our four."

"Sounds good. I love you, Frank Reagan."

"I love you, Mary."

Moving In

The following morning, Frank and Mary called a family meeting before Hazel got up and came downstairs. They woke up Erin, Joe, and Danny and drug them into Jamie's room for a quick chat. "So," Frank began as he sat in the middle of Jamie's room with Erin in his lap, Jamie in Mary's lap, and Danny groggily seated beside Joe, "your mom and I were talking last night about plans for the summer. You know it's always a good thing to help somebody when they need help, right?" Everyone nodded. "Well, we have a chance to help somebody this summer. Will it be okay with you guys if we invite Hazel to stay with us for the summer?"

"REALLY?" they all asked, rather excited.

"So it's ok?"

"ABSOLUTELY!" "Yeah." You bet!" came the excited replies.

"Good."

"So what's the plan?" Danny asked. "I mean, I know why she's upset, but what do we do? How do we help?"

"Just be yourselves," Mary said. "She just needs to be around normal, fun, awesome people. I can't think of any better people than the four of you to help lift her spirits… just don't get her and all of yourselves in trouble in the process." All of the Reagan kids burst out laughing. They knew good and well they would find something to get into in a three month time span… at least the older kids did.

"Good. Now that we have your ok, I'm going to go tell Hazel," Frank said. "Meet you downstairs for breakfast?" They all shrugged. Frank and Mary both made their way upstairs where Hazel was making up her bed.

"Morning, Hazel."

"Hey guys," she said, suspiciously. "What's up?"

"Let's talk. You have no foreseeable plans this summer, correct?" Frank asked.

"That would be correct."

"Good. We, along with our four downstairs, would like to offer you a little solitude." He picked up the pillows off the floor and tossed them to her so she could finish up making the bed.

"Huh?"

"We want you to stay with us. Your dad has already agreed and is ok if you want to spend the summer in Bay Ridge."

"Really?"

"We just think you need a break," Frank suggested. "And we want to help you ease back into family life. I know it's been tough after being so independent for so long."

Hazel was so relieved and so excited that she could barely contain her joy. "Um…. ABSOLUTELY! Thank you!" she squealed as she hugged them both.