Chapter Eight

"Oh there's my birthday girl!" Frank cooed as Eddie and Maggie arrived at the family home for Maggie's first birthday. Frank took the squirming baby girl into his arm. "Happy Birthday sweetie pie!" Maggie cooed and grabbed at Frank's mustache.

"Who's that Maggie May?" Eddie asked the baby. "We've been working on this all week. Who's that, baby?"

"Pa," Maggie babble. "Pa Pa Pa…" Eddie smiled as Frank beamed and held the baby closer. "Oh such a smart girl! You take after your Mommy and Daddy don't you?"

"Pa," Maggie answered as Frank blew a raspberry on her cheek before carting the baby off to Henry.

Erin smiled at Eddie, "She's Jamie…" Eddie sighed. "Oh, hot dogs and baked beans, mac and cheese…all of Maggie's favorite foods. Thanks so much."

"Anything for my goddaughter," Erin replied. "How are you doing Eddie?"

"I'm better. I'm focusing on her first rather than other firsts." Eddie bit her lip hard. The anniversary of Jamie's death had been very hard on the entire family, especially Eddie. She'd been concerned about leaning on Danny though, hearing from her nephews and father-in-law that Danny's assistance to her was straining his marriage.

After everything that Danny did for Eddie and Maggie that was the last thing she wanted. "Anybody home," Danny called entering the house right from work. Danny paused in the living room where everyone waited for dinner, eyes gazing between Linda and Eddie. Before he could move Jack and Sean ran to greet their father.

Smiling Danny turned his attention to them, hugging his boys. He had limited his visits to Tuesday and Friday with Eddie and Maggie and did not stay longer than an hour or so. Danny felt very badly about himself, he's given Jamie his word and he felt pulled away from that especially by his wife.

Frank smiled holding a beer in salute to his oldest watching with a growing concern as Danny and Linda exchanged an awkward hello, even with Danny's concessions, things were not better.

"Hey, how's my little munchkin?" Danny walked further into the room smiling past Eddie to his niece. Eddie's eyes lifted to meet Danny's for a split second, she smiled at the man who had held her up during the greatest loss of her life. She wanted to help him, to be that friend for him, but they both new continuing to talk and connect was not good for anyone.

"Dinner." Frank breathed in relief at his father's timing leading them into the dining room

Eddie bounced Maggie in her arms one more time before placing her in the high chair between she and Danny. Their eyes catching Danny offered a smile taking his seat. "I still can't believe she's a year," he sighed thinking of how long it's been since they lost Jamie.

"Linda, you're up," Henry instructed wanting to get to the presents.

Everyone bowed their heads hands folded to say the prayer. "Bless us oh Lord for these gifts we are about to receive from your bountiful hands through Christ our Lord." The entire time her eyes never left Danny.

Eddie looked up crossing herself turning to Danny. "I can't either it went so fast. She said Pa today, we were working on it all week long. She's so smart."

"She has good genes," Danny replied as Maggie worked on a piece of hard crusted bread. "Is that good baby girl?"

"Danny, why don't you let that baby eat and work on your own meal," Linda suggested. Eddie bristled, there was a problem with anyone referring to Maggie as "that baby". She held her tongue.

"Here, Maggie, yummies," Eddie offered the baby. "Open up, monkey." Eddie fed the baby a bite of bean and she smacked her lips in delight before going back to the bread.

Halfway through dinner, Maggie had soaked her bread and lost interest the food Eddie was offering. The miniature Jamie had inherited her mother's appetite and interest in a wide range of culinary delight. Maggie's blue eyes fixed on Danny's plate where a bright and glistening glazed carrot caught her eye. Maggie did inherit Jamie's love of veggies so she lifted her little hand and motioned at Danny that she wanted that piece of food, moving her tiny fingers back and forth toward the inside of her hand.

Danny, engaged in conversation, didn't see the baby's motion. Maggie cooed, she babbled, then to everyone's surprise, most of all Danny's she squealed at him, "Dada!"

Eddie blanched white at Maggie's outburst. Danny quickly turned, almost on instinct toward the baby. "What is it Maggie May?

"Oh my God!" Linda gasped as Jack and Sean both giggled. "Dad, she thinks you are her father, that's so cute!"

"It's not cute, Jack!" Linda snapped. "It's pathetic. First you are there day and night, now you she's calling you Daddy! What other roles are you filling over at Eddie's apartment!"

"I beg your pardon!" Eddie snapped as Maggie began to cry. Eddie stood up and picked the baby up. "Danny has done nothing but support me and help me with this little baby since she doesn't have her Daddy. He's been a terrific godfather and friend to us. I'm sorry if that makes you jealous! I thought better of you!"

Eddie was near tears herself. She quickly took Maggie out the back door wrapping the tiny girl as she cried.

"What the Hell Linda!" Danny snapped as he slammed the door to the study. "You of all people should know better!"

"I'm sorry, Danny. It's just when that baby said…"

"That baby has a name. It's Margaret Reagan, and she is just as much your family as she is mine! She's innocent in all of this and your jealousy of Eddie has no bearing either."

"It most certainly does," Linda replied. "You would rather be with her and Maggie than with me and the boys!"

"Linda, I have been home almost every night, I have a promise to keep, a promise I made to my brother and I will not shirk he responsibility, not for anyone. No even for you."

Linda bit her lip and squared her shoulders, "Well, I guess you made your choice Danny."

"That's exactly the problem Linda," Danny said as he pulled open the study door. "I shouldn't have to make a choice." With that Danny slammed the door and went off in search of Eddie.

A/N: This story is beginning to wind down, but no worries I have several other weekly ideas that will follow. I had no idea when I started how big this story would get as far as following. I'm so glad you are enjoying this experiment. More to come.