…"Louie, You're a Messer." Danny shouted back as he craned his neck to see his brother approaching with a pretty girl in toe.

"Thanks for stating the obvious Dan." Louie said as he approached. His hand entwined with the blonde at his side.

"I do my best." Danny said slowly getting up to greet his older brother. He winced a little bit as his shoulder twinged a bit.

"How you doing?" He asked noting Danny's shoulder which he refused to wrap in a sling any longer.

"Getting better. You know." Louie had already gone through an extreme bout of physical therapy about 3 years ago. "So who's your friend?"

"Oh, sorry, Danny this is my girlfriend Katie, Katie Burns. Kate. My brother Danny."

"Hi Danny. Nice to meet you." She said in a confident voice.

"Likewise, it's been a while since Lou brought a girl home. Taken a cue from me big brother." Danny smirked

"Nah, she's not pregnant already." Louie shot back. "speaking of where is my sister-in-law and niece?"

"Open your eyes Lou, and you'll see." Lindsay laughed as she came up from behind Danny Lucy gurgling happily in the sling looking out.

"Lindsay!" Louie through his arms in the air.

"And Lucy!" Lindsay shouted too.

"And Lucy. God she's gorgeous." Louie said as Danny pulled Lucy out of the sling and handed her to her uncle.

"Takes after her Pops." Danny said proudly.

"Nah, I'd say more after Linds, who, by the way, is one hot mama." Louie smirked as he coyly looked up Lindsay's bare legs.

"Uh, eyes, off my wife and on your girlfriend Lou." Danny joked as he watched his brother bounce his daughter.

"Louie, you're here!" Came Maria's excited shout. "Oh, and who's your friend?" Maria asked as she hugged him. Then looked over the leggy blonde who accompanied him.

"Ma, this is my girlfriend, Kate, Kate this is my Ma, Maria."

"Oh wow, first Danny brings home Lindsay and then Lucy, and now You bring home a girl. Did he get you pregnant too?"

"Too?" Kate asked with an embarrassed laugh, "He's gotten others pregnant?"

"You are!?" Maria asked her face igniting, no doubt the thoughts of another grandchild pleased her.

"Oh, gosh no, not yet, way too soon, but has he…." Kate asked as she glanced over at Louie who was laughing with his brother as they teased the baby girl.

"Oh, no, not Louie, just Danny brought Lindsay home, and by the end of the night we learned Lindsay was preggers." Maria waved off airily. "So how long have you and Louie been going out?"

"Oh since January"

"Wow, he hasn't had a girlfriend this long since, well, ever."

"Really?"

"Yea."

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … .. .. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …. … … … … … … … … … …

The group made their way back to the house. Danny had Lucy strapped to his chest and an arm slung around Lindsay. Kate couldn't get away from Maria who was chatting her ear off, and Sal was having a 'talk' with Louie about coming around a bit more.

Mid-morning was shaping up to be a very calming time, the 'men' ended up setting up the patio tent, tables and chairs while Lucy slept and the women shucked corn cobs and snipped green beans. The sir was warm, and the sun was shining, it was the makings of a perfect day.

That was until there was a crash and a loud "FUCK!" cried from Danny. Lindsay jumped up to see Danny, to help Danny, but Lucy let out a wail and the potatoes started to boil over. Maria started swearing and working on controlling the food, but Lindsay was at a crossroads. Danny or Lucy.

Kate jumped up, "Lindsay, go to your husband, I can take care of Lucy." She said heading out of the room, Lindsay had a moments hesitation, but in the last hour Kate had turned out to be a perfectly great person, honestly she was like a sister and it had been a few hours since the play. Jumping into gear, she ran out the door, which shut with a slam.

She found the tent fallen on Danny's end, him on the ground gripping his shoulder, and his father and Louie standing over him.

"Danny!?" Lindsay shouted.

"It's fine Babe, just pulled it a bit." He said waving her off.

"Bull". She said grabbing her bag. Off the counter inside and heading over to him, pulling out a bottle of pills on the way.

"I don't need the pain killers Lindsay."

"Yea, and when you can't pick your daughter up later. What then?" That statement alone was enough to make his father and brother scarce.

"Linds, don't start." He sighed as she sat down next to him. And shook out two pills.

"Oh really, what are you not gonna talk to me for a month, or no, you'll go off and cry to Rikki."

"What?" Danny choked. Lindsay looked him square in the eye when she mentioned that woman's name. She still didn't know about the whole affair, in the affair sense.

"Danny I'm not stupid." Lindsay said shaking her head, "I don't care what went on in those few months between Ruben's death and the rain walk, but damn it Messer, you've had moments since Jess's death, since the drive by, that make me think we've gone back in time a year." Lindsay said sadly.

"Linds."

"Danny, take the pills, stop being stubborn, and please be the man I fell in love with in the first place."

"That man was stubborn too." Danny said taking the pills, she wouldn't look him in the eyes, not since her declaration of the shooting. "and what's with the Messer? I said it to Louie, and I'll say it to you. You're a Messer." He said trying to crack a joke, it seemed to work Lindsay let out a hiccup of a laugh.

"Danny.." Lindsay started.

"Lindsay, I love you, and Lucy, more than life itself. Nothing will ever change that."

"Danny, just let us help you. Yea you got hurt, but you got hurt saving me, there is guilt in that, but listen to me, yea you came back from the drug bust quickly but THIS is more than a broken hand, give it time to heal, if you feel it twinging—don't contradict me, I know you, I saw you when you got up at the parade—Your dad and your brother will understand. Neither wants to see you hurt yourself more by being a stubborn jackass. A traight I hope our daughter doesn't inherit." Lindsay added smiling a little at the end.

"Linds, Babe. You are just as stubborn. I think it's inevitable." He said tipping her chin up and kissing her soundly.

"Lindsay, Sweetheart, is Danny ok?" Maria called from the sliding patio door.

"Yea, he's fine." Lindsay said not looking away from Danny, "How are the potatoes?"

"They'll be fine. And kids, Steven, Caryn, and Kyle are here."

"Good Steven can finish helping with this Damn tent."

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …. … … … … … … … … … … …… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …. … … … … … … … … … … …

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long, real life, its summer and real life, goodness. But I'm really gonna try to finish this story before school starts. Thanks to all that read, and an extra thanks to those that review. ;)