Chapter Five

Six Months Later

Eddie bundled Maggie up smiling as the little girl watched her mommy with crystal blue eyes cooing. Maggie was a very active and intelligent little girl; Eddie's pride and joy and the apple of Danny's eye. In just a few minutes, Danny would pick them up to visit Jamie's grave, the first time for Maggie. "I think we're ready baby," Eddie told her as a knock tapped the door. Maggie was dressed in tiny brown jeans with a soft pink sweater and bundled in a sweater set, complete with hat and tiny gloves. It was only October but there was a chill in the air.

"Eddie?" Danny appeared in the doorway hands shoved deep in his jacket pocket. "Ready?"

"Yeah," Eddie replied tying her long sweater jacket and picking Maggie up. "Say hi to Uncle Danny, baby," she told her small daughter. Maggie cooed and smiled big. She loved her Uncle Danny, he was tied for her favorite male with her grandpa Frank. The drive to the cemetery was quiet, before they knew Danny was parking just outside the gate. The path led to several Reagan graves, Grandma Betty, Mary, Joe and now Jamie.

Eddie took Maggie out of her car seat and followed Danny up the path. It still shook Eddie to see Jamie's name, Jamison H. Reagan – 1983-2017. Still Eddie sensed from the tension in Danny's body that she had to hold it together. As they grew closer Danny inhaled unevenly. "Go ahead," he croaked in a cracked voice.

"I'm right here," Eddie reminded shifting Maggie to rub his back. Nodding Danny moved forward with her letting Eddie speak first. "Jamie, we're here lambchop. Maggie, she wanted to see you. Oh, you must be so proud of her, Jamie. She is so smart and she's already making friends in her daycare. Of course, I know you know this, you're looking down on us always, watching us, making sure we are okay."

Danny listened, and squeezed his eyes overcome with emotions. "I miss you kid, so much..." Danny had to pause, he felt his knees give way, so he knelt next to Jamie's headstone and sobbed.

Eddie knelt right beside him and put her arm around the older man as Danny openly cried for his brother. "I know," Eddie whispered softly. "I know, I still can't believe it and most days I still can't go through without crying. If not for you and your family, I don't know what I'd do. If not for Maggie…" The infant cooed in her mother's arms, then looked up at Danny and frowned.

"Uncle Danny is sad, baby girl," Eddie told Maggie as if she could understand. Maggie was content to kick her feet and move her arms around while Eddie focused on Danny. "I know how much it hurts," Eddie comforted. "I'm actually glad to see you are crying and having feelings and not just taking care of me. I'm so sorry Danny for not…"

Eddie's apology made Danny cry harder. Eddie knew just by looking at him that his tears were not just for his brother but her Maggie, for her and for himself. Eddie pulled Danny sideways until he was lying against her chest. Eddie rocked Danny offering the same silent support he so often offered to her. "That's it, let it go. Let it all go…"

"It's not fair!" Danny hiccupped. "It should have been me. I saw my kids, I met them…I don't have anything else to offer…I wish it had been me…"

Eddie took in a long breath and slowly rocked with Danny and Maggie. "Don't say that. Please don't say that, don't even think it. Your boys need you, Linda needs you…we all need you."

"You wouldn't if Jamie was here," Danny sighed. "My boys are almost grown up, they need dad now, someone even tempered…"

"No, trust me, they need you," Eddie confirmed. "Enough of this sad talk. Let's say Happy Birthday to Jamie and go have lunch at one of his favorite places. What do you say?"

Danny looked at Maggie, she laughed and reached out to try to grab his nose. "You want Uncle Danny to come out with you?"

Maggie cooed and laughed, a little drool coming down her chin. "Okay, let's say Happy Birthday to Daddy."

Danny held Maggie, "I'm keeping my promise Jamie," he whispered. "They are doing so well. I love you, kid."

"I love you, Jamie," Eddie whispered. "Thank you for Maggie. She is the best of both of us. I'll come see you soon."

Danny put his arm around Eddie's shoulders and Eddie put hers around Danny's waist. To anyone passing by, they looked like a young couple perhaps visiting a deceased parent not a still grieving widow and brother trying to survive.

Danny drove them to Jamie's favorite restaurant in Chinatown but found it was closed. They chose a small luncheonette down the street Eddie had been meaning to try. The hostess sat them in a booth with a high chair for Maggie. Eddie took out Maggie's baby food and her bib and began to feed her while Danny looked over the menu.

"The chicken salad looks good," Danny said. "Jamie would have loved that, he loved those sort of health foods."

"I want the surf and turf burger," Eddie said after quickly looking at the menu. "Maggie, here…carrots…" Eddie offered the baby the spoon and she took the mixture with a smile.

The waitress came over and took their order, "I'll have the chicken salad with bacon, surf and turf burger medium for the lady and maybe some napkins for the little one."

"She is adorable," the waitress smiled. "Such a good girl sitting with Mommy and Daddy eating all your food."

The waitress left, and Eddie looked down at the table. It stung that Jamie wasn't there to hear that, but it also embarrassed Eddie in front of Danny.

"It's okay," Danny replied. 'She doesn't know. It doesn't bother me."

Danny looked across the table at Eddie turning her attention to Maggie with a sigh. "She is a good baby though we make a really good team."

"That we do," Eddie replied. "I'm glad you are here for her Danny, but I know you have your own family and I'm better now, you know? I'm better I can start to move on."

Danny sighed, "You shouldn't have to move on, if you aren't ready. I'm happy to do this for you and with your Eddie. Sometimes…" Danny took a breath. "Sometimes this is the only thing that makes me happy anymore."

Their food arrived before Eddie could reply to that, but a comment like that from Danny was not something she was willing to let go.

A/N: So Danny is letting his guard down big time in front of Eddie, but is she his new best friend or something more. Baby Maggie is just too cute. As I've said before this story has no real direction yet, I'm writing it similar to how I wrote Pillow Talk, as the mood strikes me so please feel free to give suggestions.