To the guest Alex and ki4pak thank you for your reviews of the last chapter. Also thanks to Donnie88 for reviewing chapter 16.

Contains no references to any episodes.

About two and a half weeks after Thanksgiving, Anna's friend Becky caught up to her in between classes. "Quick, what are your plans for Christmas?"

"Uh, probably Brooklyn with the fam. Game's on Christmas Eve and then dinner on Christmas Day," Anna answered, scattered.

"And if I could make your Christmas in nine words?"

"I'm listening," Anna said curiously.

"Jets, Giants, on Christmas Eve, in person. Merry Christmas," Becky told her.

"Uh ... What?" Anna asked confused. Nothing Becky had just said made any sense.

"We have to go out of town for Christmas because my grandpa is sick. My dad won the non-returnable tickets in a raffle at work. Told me to give them away because it wasn't right to sell them. I know you love the Giants and this game only comes once every four years. They're on the 50 yard line on the visitor's side. I'm sure you'll appreciate that more than whoever you take with you."

"Why?"

"Look up the game and have fun." Becky handed over the tickets and rushed off. Anna stood there flabbergasted for a moment then she too went to class. School couldn't end quickly enough for Anna and when it did she rushed home and pulled up the Giants schedule to see that they were the away team for that game. Since the Jets and the Giants both played their home games at the Met Life Stadium they had to trade off playing as the home team when they played each other. That happened every year in the preseason, but only once every four years during the regular season since the Giants were NFC and the Jets were AFC. It was often called the shortest road trip in the NFL.

Anna approached her mom as she made dinner and the boys finished up their homework. "Mom, you hate football, don't you?" Anna sked.

"I hate playing it. I tolerate watching pro-ball for your dad and I love watching my boys play, why?" Linda answered, turning to look at her daughter.

"I got tickets to the Jets-Giants game from my friend Becky. Her dad won them at work and she said they have to go out of town for her grandfather."

"I would love to go with you, sweetheart, but as much as I love a good mother-daughter day, I think this is something you have to ask your father. He's a bigger football fan than I am, plus you're always saying how you feel like he doesn't spend enough time with you."

"You really think he'd go?"

Linda could see the doubt clearly on Anna's face as she toyed with what Linda was sure were the pair of tickets in her hands. She knew things were a little rocky between the father and daughter but didn't realize it was that bad. The girl looked so terrified to ask her dad or that he wouldn't want to go that Linda realized why Anna came to her first. "It's a Jets' game, sweetie, the last one he went to was when Sean was a baby. He'll love to go, even more so because you want him to go."

"I guess you're right," Anna said. Her entire body relaxed and Linda smiled as she went back to cutting carrots for dinner.

"When's the game?" Linda asked.

"One o'clock," Anna said softly.

"That's great, afternoon game you'll be home in time for dinner. Friday game right?"

"Uh, no ..." Anna swallowed. "Christmas Eve."

Linda put down the knife again and looked at her daughter. "Did you just say the game is on Christmas Eve?"

"Yeah. I know that's not ideal but it's the date the NFL schedule picked. Most games are on Christmas Eve since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. Week 16 football is on Saturday."

"Okay," Linda said slowly. "Just be sure you tell your dad about the game."

Anna nodded then gathered the stuff to set the table after putting the tickets back in her back pocket. Over the following two weeks, Anna couldn't find the right time to tell her dad about the game and soon Christmas Break was upon them. It was an unseasonably warm Christmas Break with most of the daily highs reaching anywhere from the mid-40's to the lower 60's. All three kids loved the heat though they were a little sad they wouldn't have a white Christmas. That was usually the best part of living in New York.

"Anna, have you asked him yet?" Linda asked, right before Christmas.

"It's never the right time," Anna said softly.

"Anna, the game is in two days."

"I know, I just ..." Anna sighed staring down and avoided her mom's eyes. "The longer I put it off, the more hope I hold on to that he won't say no."

Linda stared at her daughter sadly. She felt so bad for her. "Just ask him, Anna," Linda said gently.

Anna took a deep breath and slowly walked over to the couch where her dad sat watching some TV show. "Uh, Dad?" Anna said nervously.

"Yeah, kiddo?" Danny looked up from the TV.

"What are—I mean are you—Do you—" Anna asked haltingly. She stopped and looked down. "Never mind." Anna shook her head and went upstairs.

Danny stared after his daughter confused until she was out of sight. When she didn't return, he turned his gaze on his sons, leveling them with a look but they both shrugged not knowing what that was about. When he asked his wife later that night, she was disappointed her daughter didn't ask but refused to tell him, stating it was up to him to figure out how to get her to tell him. Danny sighed but knew he couldn't change his wife's mind. After dinner the following night, Danny pulled Anna aside in the kitchen as Linda and the boys sat down to watch a Christmas movie. "Okay, spill it; what do you want to ask?" Danny asked.

"I ... It's nothing," Anna answered.

"Anna," he prodded gently, "I know we haven't been close but you can tell me anything."

"I ... what are we doing tomorrow?" Anna asked hesitantly.

"Well, if it snows tonight, I plan on a snowball fight with my kids followed by pizza and football at your grandfather's."

"Oh ... Well first, it's not going to snow, plus it's been too warm so if it did, it won't stick," Anna said matter of factually. Then she looked down. "Do we have to watch the game at Grampa's?" Anna asked.

"It's the Jets and the Giants. I thought you'd be hyped for this game but you don't have to watch it if you don't want. I'm sure you and Nicky can find something else to do."

"Oh. Okay. Never mind. I'll ask Uncle Jamie."

Anna turned to go and join her mom and the boys but Danny caught her arm and turned her back towards him. "No, what is it? Why don't you want to watch the game at your grandfather's? You think we have a better TV or something?" Danny said. Anna looked down at her hands, her blonde hair falling into her face. "Anna, talk to me."

"I ... Well, um ..." she blew out a deep breath and was completely unsure how to answer him. She had never been so nervous in her life. Not even when Frank had asked her to speak at Joe's funeral or when she had to tell them about the Blue Templar. Finally she pulled the tickets from her pocket and handed them over. "Merry Christmas, I understand if you want to take Uncle Jamie or one of the boys. Just ... have fun okay?" Anna asked, avoiding his eyes and trying to pull away.

Danny took the tickets and kept a tight grip on her arm as he looked down at her. "Hold it," Danny said. He looked from her to the tickets. She stubbornly stared at the floor and nervously toyed with her fingers. The faster he let her go the sooner she could get over her disappointment. "These are for tomorrow's game. Section 239. That's on the visitor's side. Do you really think that I wouldn't want to take my only daughter to see her favorite team try and fail to beat the greatest team in the league?" Danny asked.

"You mean try and succeed to beat the second team in the AFC East?" Anna asked, her eyes shooting up to Danny's face for a moment before she went back to staring at the floor.

"Yeah," Danny said. He sighed then let go of her arm to cup her chin, directing her face up to his. She still wouldn't look at him though. "These are your tickets, Anna. If you would rather, you can ask your uncle or your grandfather and I won't be offended," he told her. It would hurt him if she did pick Jamie or Frank but he'd never show that to her. He wanted her to be happy and he knew how hard it was for her to ask him or to do anything with him. So he gave her an out. One he hoped she didn't take but knew it was definitely the one with the most likely outcome.

"You don't ... want to go?" Anna asked. She did her best to hide her disappointment and he almost missed it, except as a detective he was trained to pick up on the minute changes in someone's eyes. The way she looked down and to the right before going back to focus more on his neck than his face was the biggest clue.

"I would love to go," Danny said and instantly he was rewarded. Her eyes shot to his face, almost if she was trying to read the sincerity of his answer and in those few brief seconds that they combed his face, her brown eyes shone with true happiness. Danny instantly knew he had said the right thing. It wasn't as if he was lying to her either. He really would love to go with his daughter even if the game had the worst result ever, his team losing to hers. Anything to give him more memories with her. Good memories; memories that weren't him shouting at her or being disappointed or ones where it was the reverse. Then her eyes dropped from his face to the ground as though she was expecting a but. "Really, I would," he added hoping that would be enough.

"No buts?" Anna asked plainly.

"No buts. You, me, Giants and Jets, tomorrow. I promise," Danny answered. And that's when the most amazing thing happened, he released her face and dropped his hand to her shoulder and she flung her arms around him.

"Thanks, Dad," Anna muttered. Danny wrapped an arm around her back and kissed the top of her head. Now, not only would he be getting to see a great game of football in person but he'd also get to spend the day with his little girl. Something he hadn't done in a while.

The following day, Linda took the boys to Frank's as Anna slept in a bit longer then she and Danny packed a bag of snacks and headed to New Jersey for the game. As it closed in on kick off time the Reagan family gathered in Frank's sunroom for the game. Jamie walked in handing his two nephews bottles of water then took a swig from the bottle in his hand. "Where's Danny? He never misses kick off," Jamie said.

"Don't tell me he caught a case," Erin added.

"A case of taking Anna somewhere," Jack said. "Don't know where, he wouldn't tell us."

"With the game of the year on TV? Jets-Giants, it's the one day of the year they don't fight over the TV," Erin said.

"They won't miss the game, they just won't be here," Nicky said, seeing the text she just got.

"Anna got tickets from her friend Becky," Linda said.

"Tickets for what?" Frank asked.

"The game," Linda said simply.

"The Jets-Giants game?" Henry asked.

"No fair, how come we couldn't go?" Sean asked.

"Because Becky's dad only got two tickets through work. Becky is a Bills fan and her dad prefers baseball. She knows Anna's a big fan of the Giants and that Danny loves the Jets so she offered Anna the tickets. Of course it took about two weeks for Anna to ask her dad but she finally did it," Linda explained.

"Danny must be thrilled," Henry said.

"Yeah, more so than Anna realizes. Even if the Jets lose, he'll have a good time. He's been looking for a way to get Anna to spend more time with him. The fact that she asked him definitely helps," Linda said.

"Blasphemy, the Jets won't lose," Henry said.

"Where are they sitting?" Frank asked.

"Section 239, it's on the visitor's side," Linda said.

"That's on the 50 yard line," Jamie said. Linda nodded. "That's a really great Christmas present."

Danny spent more time focused on his daughter's face than the actual game. He knew this was a crucial game for his team but it was even more crucial for his relationship with his daughter. Watching her facial expressions was almost more interesting than the game itself and they made him smile. She was definitely his child. He could tell what was going on in the game just by the look on her face and her reactions. First downs made her light up, penalties made her frown, and blown plays made her sink down deep in her seat. Then there were the times she'd throw her hands up in the air and mutter 'Come on'. That always meant that his team had scored. A couple times during timeouts she'd look over at him and catch him staring. She'd grin, ask him what, and then look away when he said 'nothing'. There were only two times when she bounced up out of her seat cheering her heart out. The first came with only two and a half minutes left in the first half. The Giants on their own one yard line, Manning made a 10 yard pass to Victor Cruz which turned the play from a third and 10 to a touchdown for the Giants and a 99 yard reception for Cruz. Danny sighed heavily, at his team's inability to stop the play. He was glad his little girl was happy but hated that it came at his team's expense.

The second time she was up out of her seat came at the very end of the game when she was cheering for the Giants' win, 29-14, just like nearly everyone around them. The win gave the Giants an almost sure shot at the play offs. That win however almost completely knocked his team out of the playoffs. Well they'd be knocked out unless six or seven teams lost in the next week. Even with all that, he couldn't help but allow the happiness to bubble up inside of him. Anna was wearing the biggest smile he had seen on her face in just over two and a half years and as they left the stadium, she was going on about some of the greatest plays of the game. It was one of those nights that he would never forget and ranked up there with one of the best Christmases he had ever had.

It reminded him of the first time he had taken her to the range when she was ten, the princess movie he had taken her to when she was eight, and the first time he had taken her to the zoo when she was four. He had carried her out of the zoo as she was tripping over her own feet, but that didn't stop her from going on and on about the goats. Then when she was eight, she was walking on her own out of the movie, still singing one of the songs but holding his hand and looking up at him as he grinned back. He loved seeing her happy. It was a nice change from the more reserved nature she had taken up lately. Not that he blamed her for that.

It took them close to two hours after the game to return to Brooklyn but he could tell Anna was still very happy. Inside his father's house they were instantly greeted by Jack and Sean first, then the rest of the family. The two boys clamored for their dad's attention and Anna fell back to give them space as they moved towards the dining room.

"Boys," Linda snapped, "give your dad some space. He just walked in the door."

"How was the game, Anna?" Jamie asked wrapping an arm around her shoulders and steering her into the dining room.

"You saw it, you know how it was."

"Yes, but now I want to hear about it from you."

"The game was great." They sat down to a dinner of hamburgers and French Fries. "I always love it when the Giants win, especially against the Jets. As much as I wanted my brothers there, part of me was glad they weren't. There was this really rude guy behind us and he had some choice words for the Jets when they did something he didn't agree with," Anna said as her brothers protested her not wanting them there.

"Anna," Frank said. She looked up at the patriarch curiously. "Grace," he said. She nodded and everyone bowed their heads as Anna said grace.

"What kind of stuff?" Jamie said as they dug into their dinner.

"Anything from incompetent to things I can't repeat in mixed company," Anna said.

"Things you shouldn't repeat at all," Danny said.

"Wow. Big Giants fan?" Jamie asked.

"Really big," Anna said, going on about the game as Danny looked at his wife. She was smiling softly at the happy look on her daughter's face.

"Thank you," Danny said softly.

"For what?" Linda asked.

"Convincing her to ask me. I will never forget today."

"I told her she should ask you, I didn't convince her of anything. If I did she would have asked two weeks ago, not last night."

"It was a great day; terrible day for the Jets, but a great day overall."

Linda's smile spread, as did Frank's, both by what his son had said and by the smile on his granddaughter's face. "Can we talk about something besides football?" Nicky asked.

"In this family?" Anna asked.

"What do you suggest?" Erin asked her daughter.

"I don't know, but the game ended two hours ago."

"Boys?" Anna suggested.

"No way. Neither my daughter nor my niece is old enough to date. Boys should still be icky to both of you," Danny said.

"Come on, Uncle Danny, boys aren't all that bad," Nicky complained.

"Are you forgetting I was a teenage boy? I know just how bad they can be."

"Yes, but not all boys are terrible. Besides even the bad ones need love too. Just look at what Mom's love did for you. You're a great detective, an amazing man, and a really great father," Anna answered.

Danny swelled with pride. It had been a while since she had said that about him. Part of him wondered if he was only saying that because they were in front of the family and because she was in a good mood because of the game but most of him took it at face value. "Yeah, after I hurt a lot of girls," Danny answered.

"Sometimes you have to have your heart broken to realize how great the right guy is," Anna said.

"Stop that."

"Stop what? Waxing poetically?"

"Growing up."

"Can't help it. Everyone grows up. Besides, it's good for me. At least that's what everyone says," Anna told him.

"She's got you there, Danny," Jamie said.

"Still. You shouldn't grow up so fast," Danny said. Anna rolled her eyes and the topic turned to Christmas and what the kids really wanted.