A/N: I have to credit my nieces and nephews for being the inspiration behind Nicky, Jack and Sean throughout this story. I love being an Aunty!

SATURDAY

"Let's get this party started!" Jamie enthused. It was Saturday lunchtime. Jack's team had won their game, Danny and Linda had left for their picnic, Erin was out of town, and Frank, Henry, and Jamie had brought Nicky, Jack and Sean back to Frank's house. Frank was happy to let his youngest organise the meal.

"Nicky, you, Pop, and Grandpa do the chicken and nachos. We'll do the pancakes."

"What do we need?" Sean wanted to know.

"Flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, vegetable oil and an egg. We also need a bowl, measuring cup, teaspoon, tablespoon and paper towels. Work together and don't break anything. I'll get the electric frypan."

"Why don't we put some stuff in it?" Jack suggested.

"Good idea," Jamie praised.

A little while later, Frank checked on his boys.

"I knew there was a reason I was going to delay this till dinnertime," he groaned, eyeing the flour-and-batter-covered bench, floor, and beaming boys.

"Great work," he congratulated them, taking note of the variety of pancakes that had been, more or less successfully, made – circles, squares, fishes, hearts (for Nicky, Sean claimed), and even one that looked suspiciously like a Monster Truck. "Now, go clean up."

In short order a veritable feast of fried chicken, nachos, and pancakes with ice cream was on the table. In even shorter order it was gone.

"Okay, peoples, let's gather up everything we need and get these gutters cleaned."

Frank was reading the newspaper and falling asleep when suddenly he heard a horrified scream from outside. Jumping up, he raced toward the source of the sound. As he rounded the corner he heard Nicky squeal, "Uncle Jamie, what is that? It's got a rat's tail and bird's legs!"

"And you're scaring the boys," Frank said mildly.

"Sorry," Nicky murmured.

"It's a bird that's choked on a rat. Don't ask me how it got stuck in the gutter," Jamie called down. "I'll get rid of it. We'll be finished soon, Dad."

"Okay, I'll go finish my paper then. Good job, Uncle Jamie." Jamie looked up, startled. He suddenly realised that for the first day in ages he had not thought of work at all. Erin had not been at Jack's game, and he was still studiously ignoring Danny, preferring to spend his morning with his niece and nephews. He was under no illusions that a meeting with Danny would have to happen sooner or later. He hoped it was later, much later. Right now, he was having too much fun being Jamison Clarence Reagan, son of Frank, grandson of Henry and uncle of three.

"Can you pass me the hose before you go?

"Sure."

As he entered the dwelling, Frank heard an outraged shriek.

"UNCLE JAMIE! YOU WET US!" Jack screeched.

"Sorry!" Jamie was contrite, but when he and Nicky had finished and packed up, they twigged that the "victims" had disappeared with the hose.

"Uh oh, not good," Jamie gulped.

Sure enough, after they had emptied their arms and exited the garage, the boys attacked – Jack with a Super Soaker, and Sean with a barrage of water balloons.

"This is war," they vowed, ducking back into the garage to gather supplies.

Twenty minutes later, Nicky disappeared to get towels. The three boys were gathered around the outside tap, hosing off dirt and grass.

"Uncle Jamie?" Jack's voice was hesitant.

Jamie looked up at him. "Yeah?"

"Can you please be friends with Daddy again? He's angry 'cause you won't talk to him, and I don't like him when he's angry. He's scary."

Jamie was instantly guilty. Sure, he was still livid at Danny. But, was it worth torturing his nephews like this? Jamie found himself at a crossroads: he could either watch his nephews suffer, or he could forgive his brother and hope it never happened again.

A/N: Next: The feuding brothers accidentally meet.