Chapter 4

Danielle's POV

Pennsylvania, PA February 18

Two days. Two fucking days until I would finally see Tommy again. I felt like I was going mad. I was staying with my sister and her husband, James, since they lived relatively close to Brendan. I knew exactly what I was going to wear and exactly when I would arrive. When Brendan texted me, he said I should show up a little later to surprise him. I also wanted to give Tommy time to catch up with his family so I added an hour or two. I had gone through a million scenarios of what would happen and how he might react, in my head.

I ran into Anna's room and jumped her bed.

"What the hell's the matter with you?' She laughed turning down the TV. James was out of town on a business trip.

"Oh, nothing." I smiled. I picked up her pillow and screamed into it.

"Hey...relax you're gonna wake up Beth." She finally understood. "This is about Tommy, isn't it?"

"Yes," I nodded. I couldn't stop smiling.

She rolled her eyes. "I'd be careful if I were you. If you act this annoying around him, he'll probably pummel you. "

"Oh, shut up." I retorted. I really didn't have anything to say to her. I just wanted someone to express my feelings to.

"So - Tommy the fighter, eh?"

"Yeah - " I raised an eyebrow at her. "What are you trying to say?"

"Oh, nothing -" She got up to use the bathroom. "I just can't say I'm surprised."

I frowned at her.

"I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree", she whispered on her way out.

Tommy's POV

The icy wind whipped past me, burning my face. "Ah, fuck!" I grumbled under my breath. Brendan's car edged closer to where I stood inside the prison gates. The car stopped and Brendan got out of the car, smiling like an idiot.

"What the fuck are you so happy for?" I teased and he pulled me into one one of his burly hugs. After he released me, we headed towards the car.

"You hungry? Tess made dinner back at my place. Shane, Mike, Pilar and the kids, they're all there - Paddy too." He looked at me, unsure of how I would react. I didn't. I shrugged.

"Yeah, I'm hungry." I told him.

"Uncle Ben and the gang are coming down from Memphis. They'll be there a little later. It's nothing big, just - "

"What - like some kind of welcome home party? Hey - I hate that kind of shit, man. Everybody hugging up and telling each other memories and their life stories and shit."

"It won't be that bad, trust me." He assured me, while opening my door.

"Whatever." He laughed, while I threw my things in the back and sat down.

"What? They don't let you guys shave in there?." He questioned, looking at my fully grown beard.

"Some pussy tried of kill themselves a while back, so they said it's too "high-risk". They don't let no one use razors no more."

On the way home, Brendan didn't talk to me. He could tell that I wasn't in the mood. I didn't want to talk. Not about the fight and definitely not about what prison was like. I mean I was heading home after six months and wasn't in hiding anymore. I was a free man. Everything that happened in the past, I was putting it behind me.

I didn't regret anything that had happened in Iraq though. Those fuckers almost killed me - they killed my brothers and they expected me to just come back and say "Oh, everything's OK now, I'm back to fight for my country." Those bastards can kiss my ass.

I'm glad I got discharged. They wouldn't want a fuckup like me anyway.

"Hey, Tommy, we're here." I looked out the window and saw people standing outside. Brendan must have texted Tess when I wasn't paying attention. Isn't that illegal? Texting while driving? I thought Brendan was Mr. Law Abiding Citizen, I scoffed as I got out of the car.

"Tommy!" Pilar smiled warmly, and ran towards me. I pulled her into a bear hug and kissed the top of her head. "How are you?"

"I'm good. Where are the kids at?"

"Oh they're inside. They're both inside." She paused. "Your dad is there too." She added. I didn't get why people were acting so weird about bringing him up.

I knew that Brendan was giving him a chance, you know little visits with the kids every now and then. I mean I thought I made it clear that I was willing to move on. I was the first to acknowledge him, long before Brendan ever did. They think that all I do is hold grudges against everyone and walk around with my head down.

I saw Mike and Shane, my old high school buddies, standing to the side with open arms. "Tommy!" They yelled.

"You guys came all they way down here? What have you guys been up to?"

"Nothing much. It's all good man. My wife is out here visiting her parents with the kids. I thought I would stop by, catch up with an old friend." Mike responded.

"My work's out here, so I live out here now." Shane chimed in.

"Good. That's good." I stood there, unsure of what to say next.

"Yeah, don't forget you're taking me out for beers before I leave." Mike added.

"Alright - alright." I agreed.

I stopped smiling. Tess was standing there as well. There was a brief silence.

"Hi, Tommy." she smiled, while standing in the doorway. I nodded. She stepped out to embraced me and I hugged my sister- in-law for the first time. "Welcome home." She said as I kissed her on the cheek, which I think took her off guard little. Why not? I thought. She blushed.

Brendan smiled. "Come on everyone. Let's all go inside. It's freezing." Brendan ushered us all indoors.

"Tommy? That you?" Paddy slowly got up from his sitting position on the couch.

"Yes, pop. It's me" I grinned and took my old man into my arms.

Dinnertime

"Okay, okay you two settle down. Dinner is gonna be ready soon." Tess called after her children. It was after six and I was just about starved.

Emily, Rosie, and a few younger cousins were taking Pops upstairs to see their playroom. Maria and Manny followed closely behind. The women were helping out in the kitchen. Two hours had passed since I arrived and all had finished catching up.

I sat around the table listening to the guys talk about their jobs and that bullshit, a few steps away. I leaned back and took another swig of my beer.

"Is she here yet?" I heard Tess whisper into Brendan's ear.

"Yeah, she just got here. She's outside." Brendan replied a little too loud for Tess's liking. She nudged him, then looked at me. I didn't think nothing of it. Then, the doorbell rang. Brendan stood up. "I'll get it." Again, I didn't think nothing of it and returned to my beer.

A few moments later I heard the sound of heels clicking on tile floors and raised my head to see who it was. It was some girl. She was tall with a nice body and she was staring right at me.

Then, I got a better look at her face. My heart began to beat faster, even though I wasn't completely sure she was who I thought she was. Then, she smiled. A smile I would recognize anywhere.

It can't be...

A/N: Edited.