Chapter 3: Marie Elizabeth DiMiranda

November 1, 2013

Vinny is playing with Danny and Brian in the backyard.

"Daddy, watch this!!" Danny exclaimed to get Vinny's attention.

"In a minute, Danny." Vinny answered trying to keep an eye on Brian.

"Daddy, watch me!!" Danny then pleaded.

"What is it Danny?" Vinny then asked.

Danny kicks the football a few yards.

"Did, you see that?!" Danny asked in excitement.

"That was great." Vinny smiled.

While Vinny is distracted Brian gets into the bag of leaves and rips the bag open.

"Where did you get that?" Vinny asked Brian, when he saw Brian with a leaf.

"From there." Brian said pointing to the bag.

"Brian, you ripped the bag open!!" Vinny said aggravated.

"I didn't mean too." Brian sniffled.

Vinny looks at Brian and sees that he's about to cry.

"I'm sorry Bri." Vinny said as he picked him up.

Brian puts his head on Vinnys shoulder.

"Let's go inside." Vinny said to Danny and Brian.

They walk into the house.

"Vinny, there are leaves all over our backyard again." Lorraine said to him.

"Brian ripped the bag open." Vinny explained.

"I thought you were watching him." Lorraine then stated.

"I guess, while I was watching Danny kick the football, he ripped the bag." Vinny then told her.

"How far did you kick it, Sweetie?" Lorraine smiled at Danny.

"I don't know." Danny shrugged.

"He kicked it pretty far for a five year old." Vinny explained.

"Look at my turkey, Daddy." Kate D said.

"That's beautiful Honey." Vinny stated.

The front door opens, Jake, Mike and Sarah walk in.

"What happened to your yard?" Sarah asked.

"Brian ripped the bag open." Lorraine answered.

"I thought you were watching them?" Sarah then asked Vinny.

"I was but, I don't have eyes in the back of my head." Vinny told her.

"Great father you are." Sarah scoffed.

"So, how is your boyfriend, oh, wait that's right you don't have one." Vinny sarcastically said.

"I don't know what you see in him." Sarah sighed.

The phone rings.

"Hello?" Vinny answered.

"Who is it?" Lorraine asked him.

"Robert's wife Amy." Vinny told her.

"How are they?" Lorraine then asked.

"I'm trying to get that information." Vinny said.

Lorraine turns her attention to Danny, Brian and Kate D at the table.

"Okay Amy. I'll be there as soon as I can. Bye." Vinny said as he hung up the phone.

"What happened?" Lorraine questioned.

"Robert was shot. He's in the hospital." Vinny explained.

"Is he all right?" Lorraine then asked.

"He's fine. He was shot in the shoulder." Vinny then said.

"We should go visit him." Lorraine stated.

"Lorraine, you're in no condition to travel to New York." Vinny told her.

"Vinny, he's family we should be there for him." Lorraine then told him.

"I'll go see him. I'll only be a few days." Vinny sighed.

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to leave your wife while she's pregnant." Sarah chimed in.

"Robert is my cousin. I have to be there for him." Vinny replied.

"I agree with Vinny." Lorraine smiled.

"I'll be back in no time." Vinny smiled back.

Vinny packs and leaves for New York.

November 15, 2013

Vinny still isn't home from New York.

"I'm going to kill him." Lorraine sneered.

"If you want my help, just ask." Sarah suggested.

"Thanks, I will." Lorraine replied.

The door opens and Vinny walks in.

"What the hell happened to a few days?" Lorraine asked with rage.

"Robert needed help around the house." Vinny answered,

"He moved into your Aunt Marie and Uncle Frank's house across the street from your cousin Ray after your Aunt Marie died." Lorraine explained.

"Yeah but, he had to go on the road with the Jets." Vinny then stated.

"He still had Amy and Debra there to help him!!" Lorraine screamed.

"Stop screaming you're going to wake the kids." Vinny told her.

"Vinny, you told me a few days." Lorraine stated lowering her voice.

"I see them once every six months." Vinny sighed.

"It's just that I'm pregnant with our fourth child." Lorraine then told him.

"I wasn't completely honest with you." Vinny replied.

"No kidding." Lorraine sneered.

"Robert wasn't shot in the shoulder. He was shot in the back; the bullet barely missed his heart and lungs." Vinny said.

"Why didn't you tell me that?" Lorraine questioned.

"I didn't want you to worry about Robert." Vinny sighed.

"Is he okay?" Lorraine then asked.

"He's fine but, for a while they thought he might die." Vinny answered.

"How long did they think that?" Lorraine then asked.

"A few days after he was shot." Vinny said.

"Oh my God." Lorraine gasped.

"I had to stay there until I knew he was going to be fine." Vinny replied.

"Vinny, I didn't mean to yell." Lorraine apologized.

"It's my fault for not calling you and telling you everything." Vinny told her as he hugged her.

"Vinny, I'm sorry about your cousin." Sarah said.

"Thanks." Vinny smiled.

"Come on, let's go to bed." Lorraine told him.

"That sounds good." Vinny agreed.

Sarah leaves as Vinny and Lorraine go upstairs.

"Make sure you lock the front door." Lorraine said.

"I always do." Vinny smirked as he locked the front door.

November 16, 2013

"Vinny, get up." Lorraine said.

"Why, what happened?" Vinny then asked.

"My water just broke." Lorraine replied.

"Let's go to the hospital." Vinny told her.

Vinny helps Lorraine out of bed and wakes up their kids.

"Do, we have everything?" Lorraine asked as she got into the SUV.

"All three kids, your over night bag uh, that's everything." Vinny replied.

"Did you call my parents?" Lorraine then asked.

"I'll do that when we get there." Vinny then replied.

"I'll call them now." Lorraine told him.

Lorraine calls her parents house.

"Hi Mom, its Lorraine. My water broke; me and Vinny are on our way to the hospital right now. We'll met you there." Lorraine told Kate B.

The Bakers get into their mini van and drive to the hospital.

"Is Lorraine okay?" Tom asked Vinny.

"She's fine. She's done this before." Vinny smiled.

"Why aren't you back there with her?" Kate B then asked him.

"I wasn't going to leave two five year olds and a three year old alone in a hospital." Vinny replied.

"Well, we're here now." Tom told him.

"I'll see you guys later." Vinny said as he went to be with Lorraine.

"Vinny, wait." Kate B said.

"What?" Vinny then asked.

"I have seen the birth of all my grandchildren. I'm going back there with you." Kate B told him.

"Every single one?" Vinny then questioned.

"Every single one." Kate B then replied.

Vinny and Kate B go to Lorraine's room.

Eighteen Hours Later

"You did great Sweetie." Kate B said to Lorraine.

"You always do." Vinny smiled.

"Where is she?" Lorraine asked them.

"They're cleaning her off, calm down." Vinny answered.

"Here she is, Marie Elizabeth DiMiranda." The nurse said as she handed the baby girl to Lorraine.

"She's beautiful." Lorraine smiled.

"Just like her mother." Vinny smiled.

Vinny walks into the waiting room.

"You guys want to see her?" Vinny asked.

"Can I be the Godfather?" Mike asked.

"No, Mike. Henry is this child's Godfather." Vinny told him.

"But, he's not even here." Mike complained.

"He'll be here by tonight." Jake told Mike.

"So, how may more kids are you and Lorraine going to have?" Mike then asked.

"None." Vinny sighed.

Vinny and Mike follow everyone else to see Marie.