Chapter 3

"No way - Danielle?" He repeated my name, though he must have known he was right. I can't believe he recognized me. I didn't think I looked the same as before, but he sure did.

"Yes! Oh my gosh Brendan, Hi. I was just thinking about you. It must be fate. You're just the person I needed to talk to. I'm so sorry about your foot by the way." I smiled embarrassed.

"Brendan, I'll be right back. I'm gonna check on the girls." Tess smiled at me before she walked away. He awkwardly embraced me for a hug.

"You came all the way out here to find me?"

"No, actually, I was heading down to the 'Burgh. I was gonna see If I could talk to Paddy." I searched his eyes for any flicker of anger. "You guys keep in touch now?" I asked.

"Somewhat." He paused." This is about Tommy, right?"

"Yeah - I really want to see him again"I paused. "It's been so long." I added unsure of what to say. I really hoped Brendan didn't think I was just showing up because Tommy was somewhat of a MMA star now.

"He gets out in six months." He added solemnly.

"I know - I mean, I heard it on the news."

His expression changed into a smirk, similar to the one I've always seen Tommy use. "We're throwing him a welcome home party. It's gonna be too cold for a barbecue, but Tess is gonna make dinner and we're inviting close family and friends. It's going to be pretty small, but you're welcome to join us. We're keeping it a surprise. I'm sure he'll love to see you again."

"That sounds great!" I giggled. I tried not to sound too excited, but my heart was racing.

"Here. Give me your number and I'll text you when the details are finalized." He took his clearly upgraded phone out of pocket and handed it to me.

"Yeah, cool" I took it and typed it into his phone

"You still living in Tacoma?" He asked as I handed his phone back to him.

"No, actually. I live in New York now."

"Oh, that's great. What do you do?"

"I'm a journalist. I write for the Times. Sometimes The Daily Post."

"Wow, you must be workin' hard then."

I laughed. "Yeah."

"You probably know now that I'm a physics teacher." He said while rocking back and forth on his heels. Clearly thinking about the tournament where almost everyone saw him get his ass kicked, and then beat the crap out of his brother.

I looked down. "Yes, I do know that, among other things... " I looked up and smiled. "And I never would have imagined you teaching." I added, not wanting to bring it up.

He laughed while two young girls holding copious amounts of snacks turned the corner.

"Where's your mother, Em?" He asked, staring at all the sugar they carried. It was bizarre seeing Brendan all sophisticated and fatherly. I stared at him in awe.

"She's coming, Dad!" The eldest, obviously Em, short for something like Emma or Emily, replied while throwing snacks into the cart.

"Emily - Rosie - this is Danielle. She's an old friend of mine and your Uncle Tommy."

I waved at the girls. "Hello."

"The one we haven't met yet?" Emily asked.

"Yes Em - and what do we say - Rosie?"

"Hi Danielle." They sheepishly said one after the other while hiding behind their father. I smiled, not wanting to intrude on their shopping trip. "Hi, girls!"

Brendan was now helping his kids rearrange things in the cart, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.

"Um, I've gotta go. I'll see you around Brendan. Say hi to Tess for me." I was unsure if I should hug him again so I warmly patted him on the shoulder. I wasn't sure if that was weird.

"Will do." He reassured. "Take care, Dani."

I smiled when he called me "Dani. It brought back so many memories. "I will." I told him.

I pushed my cart carefully this time and walked away. After paying for a few things, I headed back to my car satisfied with my journey. I had gotten all the information I needed and was glad that I didn't have to travel all the way to Pittsburgh. I was going to see Tommy in six months and give him the biggest surprise of his life.

I was grinning all the way home.

Brendan's POV

"Okay, who's gonna help mommy carry the groceries inside?"

"Me!" Emily shrieked. "Me too", Rosie volunteered, following her older sister. I opened the trunk and handed the girls the lightest bags I could find. They ran into the kitchen as fast as they could, while Tess and I carried the rest. On our last trip, Tess looked at me when we got inside.

"Why are you smiling?" Tess teased, playfully nudging my shoulder. We both stopped in the kitchen and started putting things away. Meanwhile, Emma and Rosie, already had Treehouse playing in the living room.

"I don't know, it's weird." I answered. "The last time I saw Danielle she was a cheeky, smart-mouthing kid."

"Always talking back?"

"Always talking back. Always challenging people. Man, I thought she was so annoying - But now, she's grown up into a woman. I mean it's so strange."

"Yeah", Tess said while she nodded and smile. "I'm pretty sure she thought the same about you."

"You remember her too, don't you?"

"Yeah - Tommy's little girlfriend, I remember. They did everything together," Tess exclaimed while she headed towards the fridge to start putting things away. "They hung around at school, right?"

"No, I don't think they hung out at school though. I think she is a few years younger."

"Right.." Tess put the vegetables in the bottom of the fridge before she turned around and looked at me.

"I always thought you didn't like her." I gave her a confused look and shrugged.

"Ah - I think seeing her again will be great for Tommy."

Pittsburgh, PA June 1995

It was about 11 PM and I was on my way home from Tess' place, when I stopped in the park a block away from my street. I sat on a nearby bench. I was trying to stay out as late as possible, hoping to avoid Pop, in hopes that he would be passed out by the time I got there. I sighed. I started to think on Tommy and Mom and how they hadn't even tried to call in over six months. I get not wanting to talk to Paddy, but me - I was his brother. She was my mom - My own mother. Fuck! I picked up a stone from the sand and threw it as hard as I could.

I saw two guys at the end of the slide swearing at each other and getting in each other's faces. One of the guy's shirt lifted, revealing something dark, probably steel. At first, I wan't sure what it was, but then I realized. I started to get up and back away when out of the corner of my eye, there was a thirteen year old Danielle aimlessly walking around with her hands in her pockets.

"Yo kid, get outta here" I called out as I headed towards her, low enough that the thugs didn't hear. Their confrontation increased in volume. She barely seemed to notice.

"I'm waiting for someone. Mind your own business, Brendan." She insisted. I finally reached her, grabbed both her shoulders and spoke right into her ear so she could hear me clearly.

"You need to get the fuck outta here!" I threatened, as menacing as I could.

"What the he" I grabbed her by the shirt and turned her around before she could finish, pushing her in the direction of our houses. She got loose and was started to turn back around when I grabbed her by the arm.

"Let go of me!" She yelled and tried to wriggle free.

"Danielle. Don't be so hard-headed." I said, as I steadied her. "Not tonight . Just go meet your stupid friend somewhere else. I promise you, I'm not trying to be a jerk, just do it." I demanded. She glared at me for a split second, before she finally stormed off.

A/N: Edited.