Jackie was sitting on the floor playing with Andy when Darlene came pounding on her door. "Darlene? What are you doing here?"

Darlene barged in the house and sat on the couch, red with fury. "Getting away from my dad." She picked Andy up off the floor and put him in her lap.

Jackie stood there concerned, "Yeah? What happened?" Jackie pulled a chair from underneath the table and sat down facing Darlene.

"He didn't tell me he was home and then hes like he kept it a secret because we'd make him drink or something."

Jackie shook her head. "Darlene your dad is recovering from two big things in his life. He's trying to handle everything that's going on in his life in a way that he won't drive his kids away from him. He wanted a few days alone with just the boys so he could get used to a sober life." Jackie watched Darlene's body language.

"His words basically said we'd make him want to drink." Darlene said through gritted teeth.

"Come on, you don't really believe that do you?" Jackie watched as all the hostility left Darlene.

"No I guess I don't. I just feel a little betrayed that he didn't tell me he was home."

Jackie leaned forward and touched her niece. "Are you sure this isn't your hormones talking?"

Darlene's face changed and she slid down in the couch.

"I don't know what to think anymore. I just wish mom was here."

Jackie stood up and sat back down on the couch next to Darlene. "Darlene, I was concerned about how your dad would react to your pregnancy. I was honestly afraid it would make him start drinking again, and I'm glad it didn't. Your dad loves all of you and you might not be able to see it but he's different. He's quieter, he looks like he doesn't sleep good or eat. Notice how much weight he's lost? He's afraid to death of pushing you kids away. Give him time."

Darlene could have responded a hundred different ways but she kept quiet. Her, Andy and Jackie watched TV all night. Then Jackie put Andy to bed and Darlene fell asleep on the couch.

In the morning Darlene woke up to Andy crying so she went to take care of it and beat Jackie to it.

"Oh Darlene I'm not used to someone taking care of Andy before me."

Darlene held Andy up. "And I'm not used to waking up to crying babies. Might as well get used to it now."

"Hey can you watch him while I take a shower?" Darlene nodded and then Jackie went to take a shower.

In the morning Dan sat at the kitchen table staring at his truck keys. With every passing moment he had an urge to drink. He'd had lots of urges to drink but not as powerful as this. When DJ came down stairs carrying Jerry the urge he had subsided.

"Dad what's for breakfast?" DJ asked.

Dan broke his gaze from the truck keys and then held out his hands for DJ to give him Jerry.

"Cinnamon toast?" Dan asked, as David came into the basement from the utility room.

Dan looked from David to DJ. He was still uncomfortable with David, but he was slowly learning how to be comfortable with him. "Boys, can you watch Jerry for me?"

Both boys said yes and then Dan stood up, gave David back Jerry, grabbed his keys and left without explanation. It was dark and foggy but Dan had no problem driving to the Community Center.

He found a directory on the wall and went to room 4 which was where the AA meetings were held. Some men and women were already seated as they waited for the meeting to begin. Dan felt a little unsettled but he walked to the table with coffee and got himself a cup.

An older man approached Dan cheerfully. "Hello, I'm Benny." The man held out his right hand.

"Hi, I'm Dan." Dan shook Bennie's hand.

Benny studied Dan. "First meeting huh?"

Dan said nothing but shook his head. He knew he shouldn't feel so shy but he was anyway. "Hey you can't do anything without doing it for the first time." Benny was smiling and very friendly. He took Dan's sleeve and led him to a chair. Dan sat down nervously. "How long has it been?"

Dan looked down at his feet. "Six weeks and six days. I uh got out of rehab a week ago." Somehow he couldn't bring himself to look at the man who was making him his friend.

Benny put his hand on Dan's shoulder. "Listen son, it gets easier. You've got to convince yourself that every time you want that drink it's not worth drinking it." Dan nodded as everyone sat down and the meeting began.

Meanwhile at 714 Delaware Street Darlene, Jackie and Andy walked in the door to find DJ and David sitting at the kitchen table.

Jackie walked in the kitchen while Darlene high tailed it to the basement. Andy walked to DJ and DJ pulled a chair for Andy to sit.

"Where's your dad?" Jackie asked both boys.

"Uh he left about an hour ago." DJ said while feeding Jerry.

"Where'd he go?" Jackie was curious and worried.

"He uh was really sad about uh Darlene." David said also worried.

"He didn't leave to go drink did he?" Jackie said with her back to the living room as Dan appeared behind her.

"No, actually I left to not drink." Dan said rather cheerfully. Hearing Dan's voice Jackie turned around and faced up to him.

"Dan we need to talk." Jackie declared and then made her way to Dan's room.

"Ooh a change in rooms…" Dan whined as he followed Jackie.

Once in the room Dan sat on his bed and made himself comfortable with his back laying on the backboard and his legs straight.

"Please tell me how I screwed up with Darlene, because I didn't mean to tell her that she would make me drink."

Jackie stood still as she studied Dan. "'I didn't mean to tell her' is that your way of saying its true but you didn't want her to know?"

Dan shook his head and then rubbed his hands on his face in frustration. "Maybe I felt that for a little bit."

Jackie repositioned her feet. "Dan she thinks your blaming her for your drinking."

Dan went quiet for a minute. "I blamed my life for my drinking, Jackie. I didn't want Darlene to feel like that."

Jackie said something quick before leaving the room.

"You need to tell her that yourself."

When Dan was alone he realized he had a craving for a cigarette and remembered that Roseanne had hidden a pack of Marlboro's in a drawer. She had hid them from him and he never bothered to bring it up to her until the next time he got in big trouble and he could use it as leverage.

He held the pack in his hand, debating lighting up. Then he remembered the time when he found out Roseanne had been smoking behind his back and he gave her a big old lecture. He started to feel guilty for the thought and then went to the bathroom and flushed the cigarettes down the toilet.