A/N: See intro for that standard stuff. Not mine, don't sue. I hope you all enjoy the next bit. Hit that little button at the bottom. I thrive on reviews. So does my muse. Thanks for reading.

Don tried to fold his long frame into the train seat comfortably. He fiddled with tray table, letting it down and re-latching it a couple of times. He unzipped his coat, pulled off the hand-knit watch cap Tess had given him for Christmas and glanced over at her. Tess had her eyes closed and was taking deep breaths. Her present knitting project was bunched in her lap.

"Ya doin' okay?" Tess shook her head slightly. "The train makin' ya sick?" She nodded a little. "Can I do somethin' ta help?" Don picked up Tess' hand and rubbed it. Tess' morning (and afternoon and evening) sickness really bothered him. He felt so helpless.

Tess squeezed his hand. "Sorry for being such a drag."

Don squeezed back. "Yer not. I jus' wish that…"

Tess smiled slightly. "I know. Thank you." She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. "I should have cancelled this weekend. There is no way I'm going to get through it without Adam and Stephanie figuring things out."

Don flashed her a wry smile. "I think ya tried that. I remember ya calling Adam to cancel. Half a'hour later yer sister was on the phone yellin' at ya 'bout non-refundable tickets and how ya'd better be comin' or she'd come down to New York and haul ya up there."

"Oh, yeah." Tess closed her eyes again. "Maybe if I just go to sleep."

"If yer gonna sleep, can I trade seats wit' ya? Then I won't have ta crawl over ya if I wanna get a bite or somethin'." Tess sighed. Don held up his hands. "I know, I know. I wanted the window seat. Sorry."

"Really, it's not that," she said quietly.

"Yer jus' worried. And sick." Tess flashed him a weak smile.

"Exactly." She stood up and after a little maneuvering Tess was huddled in the other seat and Don carefully stretched his long legs out into the aisle. He took Tess' hand again and slowly rubbed her knuckles. After bit, Don could hear that Tess' had slipped into sleep. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She wasn't the only one who was worried. Don wasn't thrilled with the idea of spending several days with Tess' siblings with this secret hanging over them. Like you've said anything to yer family, a voice mocked him. Somethin' that I'm not real comfortable wit' to tell the truth, he replied to himself. And so? Don glanced over at Tess, took another deep breath and slowly let it out. Not jus' my story ta tell.

88888888888888888888888888888

Tess' phone chirped and she ignore it. Tess and Don were trying to juggle their bags, figure out which was the next train they needed to take and if they could catch it in the station they were in. Tess' phone chirped again. Tess grumbled and fished it out. She glanced at the display before flipping it open.

"Listen, Steph, We're trying to get our heads on straight and figure out where we're headed. Can I call you back?"

"I dunno know about straightening out your head, but if you just quit yammering and turn around, I can help you with the other part."

Tess spun in a circle and spotted a familiar face in the crowd. She dropped her bag, stuck her phone in her pocket and raced over to her sister. The two women hugged each other tightly. Tess grinned down at Stephanie.

"So how did you know when we were coming in?"

"Adam gave me a general idea. We had such a pain getting from Logan to his apartment that we thought we'd form a rescue party and bring you back." At the 'we,' Tess peered past her sister and spotted another vaguely familiar face. She smiled and held out her hand to the red-headed man approaching them.

"Good to see you, John."

John pulled his hand out of his pocket and shook Tess'. "More likely surprised to see me." Tess just shrugged.

Stephanie glanced back and forth between the two of them. "Well, if you would just call more often…" Don had just walked up behind Tess. Stephanie gave him a full appraisal. "Of course, if I had someone like this to distract me." Stephanie held out her hand. "Hi. I'm Stephanie, Tess' big sister." Don suppressed a grin. Stephanie was a good four inches shorter than Tess.

"Don Flack." Don shook Stephanie's hand.

Stephanie nodded. "Adam's told me a bit about you." Don glanced over at Tess. She had turned a little green. He gripped her elbow to keep her from losing her balance over weak knees. Stephanie grinned. "Nothing bad, of course. Just that he threatened to kick your ass after finding you in Tessie's apartment late one night."

"Oh, God," mumbled Tess.

Stephanie's grin broadened. "He's threatened John a couple of times too. It's his way of welcoming people to the family." Stephanie grinned at Tess. "Speaking of welcoming…" She held up her hand. Tess did a double take at the ring flashing there.

"Ohmigod. You're engaged." Don gripped Tess' elbow tighter as her knees did buckle a little.

Stephanie frowned. "Not exactly the reaction I was expecting," she groused.

Tess shook her head. "It's not that, Steph." Tess rubbed at her temples. "I'm sorry. I probably just need to eat something." She smiled at her sister. "This is so great. Really." Tess took her sister's hand and studied the ring. "So have you two set a date or anything?"

"We were thinking sometime in August. Hopefully, before you go back to school. Nothing definite yet."

Tess nodded vaguely. She smiled at John. "So, Steph finally pinned you down. Congratulations."

John grinned and ran his hand down Stephanie' back. "More like I finally pinned her down. Your sister isn't one to give in easily. In fact, I thought for a bit I had finally scared her off completely by asking again."

"I know the feeling," muttered Don. "Must be a family trait."

Tess elbowed Don lightly. She flashed him a warning look. Then she smiled warmly at John again. "John, can I introduce my boyfriend, Don Flack? Don, this is my sister's…fiancé…John Kelly." The men shook hands.

Stephanie looked at her watch. "Well now that we're all well and truly acquainted, we should be heading out or we'll miss our train. Christine's got everything set up for all of us."

Tess stopped in her tracks. "We planned on staying at a hotel. I don't…"

Stephanie rolled her eyes. "We had that plan too, but big brother has got us all set to bunk at his place. Doesn't that sound cozy?" Sarcasm oozed from Stephanie.

Tess slowed, her face was very pale. "Just peachy," she agreed.

Stephanie looked over at Tess. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Fine, I'm just not thrilled with the idea with spending the holiday trapped under big brother's watching gaze."

Stephanie grinned. "Not exactly a relaxing, fun-filled holiday. Reminds me of being back in high school."

"Not me. Adam was long gone before I was in high school."

"Lucky you. He wasn't real keen on letting me live my own life." Tess glanced longingly over her shoulder. Stephanie shook her head. "Don't even think about it. You are completely stuck. You don't get to leave until I do." Stephanie grinned. "Maybe we can run interference for each other." Tess sighed. Don caught her hand and gave it a squeeze. Tess smiled weakly at him. The group stopped on the platform to wait for their train.

Don leaned in to Tess. "Ya sure yer gonna be fine?" Tess shook her head slightly. "I'm right here if ya need me."

Tess smiled. "I know. You might just have to run interference for me."

Don kissed the top of Tess' head. "I'll do my best." Tess leaned back against Don. A knowing looked passed between Stephanie and John.

"So how long have you two been dating?" Stephanie dropped into halting Hungarian.

Tess sighed. "I'm sure you got all the details from Adam."

Stephanie grinned and bumped her sister. "But he can't tell me the juicy bits."

Tess shrugged, "What's to tell? You're out of practice by the way."

John shook his head and flashed a half grin at the two women with their heads together. "They're talkin' 'bout us."

"No kiddin'?"

"I can always tell when Steph is talkin' ta one of her friends from back home 'bout me. Like she thinks I can't tell." John shook his head. "There. Jus' heard yer name."

Don smiled. "Hope it was somethin' nice." Don gave John an appraising look. "So how long ago ya head out west?"

John looked a little sheepish. "Been awhile. Thought I wanted a change of scenery. Didn't work out so well." Then he smiled at Stephanie's back. "'Cept for Steph."

"The change of scenery was voluntary, right?"

Tess spun around. "Relax. You are on vacation. Give your 'spidey-sense' a rest, okay?"

Don looked shocked. "What?" Tess just rolled her eyes and turned back to her sister. An MTA train slid up to the platform.

888888888888888888888888888888

Stephanie walked up to the apartment door and dug for a key. She swung the door open and went inside. The rest of the group followed. Tess spun around and looked at everything.

Stephanie pursed her lips. "Haven't been by in a while?"

Tess straightened and looked her sister squarely in the eyes. "We usually meet up at Mom and Dad's." Stephanie refused to rise to the bait and just shrugged.

"So Tessie, we're in the guest room and the guys get to fight for the couch and this lovely air bed here." Stephanie waved her hand around the living room.

Don groaned and Tess' eyes widened. "You have got to be kidding me."

Stephanie giggled at her reaction. "Unfortunately. No. Apparently big brother plans to keep our virtue intact. You gonna tell him it's too late?"

"What do you mean by that?" Tess choked.

Stephanie gave her a funny look. "I mean, Adam did give me the run down on how he first met Don."

Tess closed her eyes and blushed hard. "Oh. Right."

"I'm guessing this is just to remind us that we aren't married yet. Bless that dear, sweet, old-fashioned, big brother of ours." Stephanie called over her shoulder. "Anyhow. He did leave a stocked fridge. And liquor cabinet." She opened the fridge. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to need at least one drink to sit through the concert in…." Stephanie glanced at the microwave. "Three hours." She looked over at Don and Tess. "Can I get you two anything?"

"I'll just have a water," replied Tess.

"Same," answered Don.

Stephanie planted her fist on her hip. "Come on. You two met in a bar. I know you aren't teetotalers."

Tess shook her head. "I really just want a water. I'll have something later." Don shot her a look. Tess shook her head. Stephanie narrowed her eyes briefly.

"I guess I'll have a beer," mumbled Don.

Stephanie smiled. "I see you respond to a little arm twisting. Good. Means you're trainable."

"Steph!" protested Tess.

"Lighten up, little sister." Stephanie handed Don a beer. She dropped down on the couch. She looked up at Don and then at Tess. "So. I forgot to ask. What did Dad say when you told him you were dating a Yankee's fan?" She looked back at Don. "I assume you're a Yankee's fan." She held up her hand. "Of course you are. Stupid question." Stephanie looked back at Tess. "Did he threaten to disown you?"

Tess shrugged and sipped her water. "It hasn't come up."

Stephanie raised her eyebrows. "Right." She waved her beer bottle at Don. "When Dad found out Alex…You have heard about Alex, right? Anyway. When Dad heard that Alex didn't even like baseball…"

"Steph, just give it up."

"You're spoiling my fun, Tessie. I just want your guy to know what he's in for. You two are serious, right? Of course you are. Tessie wouldn't have drug you up here if you weren't. Anyway. Dad is gonna skin you for getting hooked up with a Yankee's fan." Stephanie shrugged. "Me? He's just happy I'm settling down." John snorted. Stephanie ignored him. "His precious Tessie…." Stephanie just shook her head and tsk'ed. "He took her to her first game when she was two. Tried it with Adam and me too. It didn't stick. Tessie's the only fan. He's gonna be heartbroken," teased Stephanie.

"She's exaggerating."

Stephanie shook her head and mouthed, "I'm not." She leaned back in the chair and reveled in a little fantasy. "You two will grow up, get married and have little Yankee offspring who will dance on Dad's grave every October." At the word 'offspring,' Tess started choking on her water. Don rubbed her back. Stephanie frowned. "You're only drinking water. Shouldn't cause you so much trouble."

Tess looked for a clock. "I assume we're going to eat before the concert. Maybe we should head out and see what there is. There might be a wait." She started to get up.

"Why are you in such a hurry, Tessie? We've got time. You got some deep dark secret you're afraid I'll ferret out?" This time Don chocked on his drink. Stephanie frowned again. "You two are quite a pair. New York giving you some sort of condition?"

Tess bit her lip and shook her head. "Must be the dry air on the train." Stephanie just raised an eyebrow.

8888888888888888888888888888