Notes: Thanks to Mari and Sammy for being their always awesome selves.

Readers and REAL McRollers - Thank you for your amazing support! It is always appreciated.

Hope you enjoy!

Batter Up (A McRoll in the REAL World Story)

"You know, it's not too late to run and get a tee to practice with," Steve said as he and DJ walked toward an empty ballfield in a park near their home.

DJ shook his head adamantly. "I want to play real baseball, like Rizzo."

"Okay, if you're sure."

"You taught me how to swing at home," DJ reminded him, holding a plastic wiffle bat while Steve carried a bucket of wiffle balls.

"I know, but that was just swinging the bat with no balls. It might be good to get the feel for hitting off a tee before I start pitching to you."

DJ, normally very amenable, shook his head again. "But I'm not gonna play tee-ball, I'm gonna play real baseball, like–"

"Like Rizzo," Steve said with him, smiling. He reached over to ruffle his son's hair. "All right, let's do it. Get over there to the batter's box." He nodded toward home plate.

DJ ran over excitedly. "It looks just like the Cubbies'," he exclaimed.

Steve smiled at his son's enthusiasm as he set the bucket in the grass halfway between the mound and home plate. He knelt down and picked up a ball. "Okay, knuckles on top of each other," he said, waiting for DJ to grip the bat. "Now show me how you're gonna swing."

DJ lifted the bat over his shoulder and swung at an imaginary ball.

"Remember to lift your front leg before you swing," Steve said.

"Oh yeah." He tried again and Steve nodded.

"Good. All right, I'm gonna toss the ball right over the plate. I want you to keep your eye on it just like when you're catching and swing, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy."

Steve couldn't help but flash a little smile at the word, even after all this time. "Okay, here it comes." He tossed the ball in a gentle arc. DJ closed his eyes tight and swung just as the ball hit home plate.

"Oops," he said, bending down to pick up the ball.

"That's all right. Just toss it behind you, we'll pick 'em all up when the bucket's empty." He grabbed another ball. "Okay, don't close your eyes this time," he said and smiled reassuringly. "I've got pretty good aim, I promise I'm not gonna hit you with the ball."

DJ smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Daddy."

"It's okay, just … you're gonna have a better shot at making contact if your eyes are actually open," Steve said with a wink.

DJ grinned. "Okay."

"You ready?"

DJ gripped the wiffle bat over his shoulders. "Ready."

"Here it comes. Remember, lift your front leg and then swing." He tossed the ball underhand in a perfect arc over the plate and DJ swung. "That's a good try."

"I missed again," DJ said dejectedly.

"That's okay, you're still learning. Everybody misses sometimes. Even Rizzo, right?"

DJ brightened at the mention of his favorite player. "Right. Then he hits a homer!"

Steve chuckled. "Right." He grabbed another ball from the bucket next to him. "Try again."

" 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again,' " DJ said, raising the bat. "Ms. Lane says that."

Steve smiled. "Ms. Lane is right. Are you looking forward to school starting next week?"

DJ nodded eagerly. "Yeah. Mommy says most of the kids in my class last year are going to be there again, and so is Ms. Lane!"

"We're really lucky she's moving up a grade just like you are."

"Jacob said she did that with his class, too."

"That's right." He held up the ball. "Are you ready for another try?"

"I'm ready."

This time when Steve threw the ball, DJ did make contact, swinging over the top of the ball so it went straight down then rolled a few feet into the grass.

"I hit it!"

Steve smiled. "Good job. Remember to swing straight through the ball so you hit all of it."

DJ nodded.

Steve grinned. "Little more practice and you'll be hittin' 'em over the fences like Rizzo."

DJ looked down at the ball he'd just hit and then out at the fence beyond the outfield. His eyes widened. "Maybe a lot more practice," he said.

Steve chuckled, following his gaze. "Okay, maybe a lot more practice. The important thing right now is to just keep swinging. Every ball, okay?"

DJ nodded, dutifully raising his bat again. "I'm ready," he said without prompting.

Steve smiled proudly at his perseverance. "Yes, you are."

"DJ!" Angie squealed as she and Catherine walked toward the diamond a half hour later. "Daddy!"

"Hi Angie! Hi Mommy!" DJ called back, waving with one hand. "Watch me hit!"

Catherine scooped Angie up when the three-year-old made to run onto the field, whispering, "Let's watch your brother a minute, baby girl."

DJ turned back toward Steve, gripping his bat and focusing on the ball in his father's hand. He inhaled, lifting his left leg as Steve tossed the ball toward home plate. Swinging, he made solid contact, causing Steve to dodge sideways as the ball came back directly at him.

Steve laughed. "Right up the middle! Good one, buddy."

"Yay, DJ!" Angie cheered, lifting her arms in the air. "You did it!"

"Good job, honey," Catherine called.

Angie squirmed to get down and ran for her brother. "Let's go, DJ! Wun!" She grabbed the bat from his hands and started running toward third base.

"No, this way, Angie," DJ called, motioning the other direction. "To first base."

Angie kept running until she reached the bag, dragging the bat behind her. She stepped onto the base and jumped up and down. "Yay!"

DJ laughed, running toward her and they continued their backwards route around the basepath.

Steve rose and walked over to Catherine, draping his arm over her shoulder as they watched their kids enjoy having the ballfield to themselves.

"That was a pretty good hit, Coach," she said, smiling up at him.

"There were a lot of misses before that, but he never gives up," Steve said proudly.

She smiled, watching his face as his eyes followed the kids running. "You know, I've seen you in a lot of roles, Commander, but this might be one of my favorites."

He glanced over at her and smiled, leaning down to press a quick kiss to her lips before they turned their attention back to diamond. After reaching home plate, Angie kept going, running up on top of the pitcher's mound where she finally stopped and dropped the bat, lifting her arms triumphantly.

"I sco', Mommy!" she called. "See?"

Steve and Catherine laughed, and Catherine shook her head. "Don't ever change, baby girl." She pulled out her phone to take a quick picture. "At least she didn't try to slide in her leotar–" She stopped as Angie bellyflopped onto the dirt and pushed herself down the mound.

"There it is," Steve said, grinning.

DJ turned toward them, eyes wide. "Sliding!" he exclaimed. "You gotta teach me that next, Daddy."

Steve smiled. "Next," he agreed. "But for now," he nodded toward home plate, "batter up."

Hope you enjoyed!

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