Thanks to jlmayer, Pharmergirl, smilychick89, kirbyschoice, Donnie88, and Alex for all reviewing the last chapter. Thanks to everyone else who read or put it on their favorite or alert lists. One minor side note, Anna does understand that people can get pregnant before they get married, her main issue is she doesn't believe that her mom is that type which is why she questions her paternity.

The worst part of being a father for Danny, was when he had to punish any one of his kids. Especially when he could see where their actions had come from, but letting them continue to get away with unruly and unacceptable behavior wasn't doing anyone any favors either. "Your mom is right," Danny told Anna as he looked at her. "You come with a C or better on your next test then I will take you driving within three days, however, and this is a big but, Anna, if you come home with anything less than a C, you will miss the next week of baseball practice and games, you will study here, and you will be grounded for a month," Danny said.

"Yes, sir," Anna said.

"I wasn't done," Danny said. Anna swallowed as she looked up at her dad. "You fail this test and not only will you be grounded for six months, you will also be benched for the rest of the season and you won't drive until at least Christmas."

Anna swallowed hard. She didn't like being threatened like that but she knew that her grades had to come first. It's a deal they had all made when they had started sports. "Yes, sir."

"Grades come first," Danny said slowly. "You know that and I will not have you failing out of high school. Your mom and I may not agree on college but I will not have you sacrificing your high school degree for something that is pretty much a dead end. I know that you love playing baseball but have you thought about your future in the sport? Even if you could ride it all the way to the majors, it's still better to have something to fall back on. You're not dropping out of high school. What you do after you graduate is your business but until then and while you live under my roof, it's my business and all three of my kids will graduate high school like your mom and I both did."

"Yes, sir," Anna said, wrapping her arms around her middle and looking down.

"Good, now anything else?"

Anna looked up at him and then looked back down. "You're not going to spank me?"

"Anna, you're 15, and while it is something that my dad would have done, I think you're past that point now. I don't think it has as much effect on you as grounding you or taking away the internet. Not anymore. The world has changed and as much as I hate that I know I have to change too," Danny said.

Anna looked back up at him and bit her lip. "If I ace the exam, will you come to my game?"

"Game?"

"Baseball game. Promise? You've never broken a promise before and you haven't been to a game in a really long time. If I work this hard, couldn't I be rewarded for it?" Anna asked softly.

"Okay, ace the test I'll come to the game. C or better and I'll take you driving, anything less—"

"I know. I understand. Speaking of driving, you know until I get my actual license, I'm not allowed to drive on any MTA bridge or tunnel. That means no driving into Brooklyn."

"I know that. Just like I know that you can't get your junior license until the Tuesday after your birthday. Not my rule, DMV's."

"Why?"

"They're not open on your birthday and the Monday after is a holiday."

"It's your fault that I was born on Labor Day."

"Not my fault," Danny said with a hint of a smile. "That's your fault. And it was the day before Labor Day. Sunday, the first."

"No, I was born on a Monday," Anna said lightly.

"I was ready to go out the door for a late shift after Sunday dinner when your mom went into labor right there in your grandfather's kitchen."

"Uh-uh."

"Uh-huh."

"So how is that my fault?"

"You were a week late." Danny said quickly. He kissed the top of her head and stood up. "Night, kiddo."

"Night, Dad."

"Remember, no internet for a week." Danny left the room and Anna went to sleep. Danny walked back downstairs to his wife. She gave him a look and he sat down beside her. "One week, no internet, but her computer stays in her room. I'm hoping it teaches her control. What she told me does not excuse what she did."

"But does it explain it?" Linda asked.

"Yes. When did I lose her?"

"When Joe died. All we can do now is be there for her. She told you of the deal I made?"

"She did," Danny said then explained the additional deal he had made her.

"Well, let's hope it works," Linda said.

"And if it doesn't?"

"We may have to get her professional help."

"Can we afford that? Not that I'm saying it's a good idea."

"Not everyone is averse to talking about their problems. Seeing a child psychologist could be good for her. It could actually help. Maybe we should have done it for her after Joe died. Anger management or grief counseling. Then we wouldn't be facing this now."

"You're saying it's my fault?" Danny asked, staring at his wife.

"Not at all. I'm just thinking about what we could have done different. You're not the only one that lost that happy, bouncing, bright-eyed little girl. I miss her being happy too, Danny," Linda said.

"I know." Danny slipped his arms around his wife and tried not to think of how upset Anna had been lately or what would happen if it went further downhill.

Friday, Jack looked at his sister as they ate dinner. "Don't you have a game tomorrow?" he asked.

"I do; against Brooklyn Heights High," Anna answered.

"Will you get to play?" Sean asked. "You haven't gotten to play in forever."

"I don't know. Right now Drew is on fire and they got to stick with what's working. Coach is going to use him until he's not hot anymore," Anna explained.

"Don't you want to play?" Sean asked.

"Of course I do, but I'm a sophomore and I have two more seasons. Drew is a junior and is looking at college scouts. He needs the attention for a scholarship."

"So when this science test?" Danny asked, changing the subject.

"Tuesday or Wednesday. I don't remember."

"Have you talked to your uncle?"

"Yes. And he didn't mention anything about Sunday. I guess he figures you had it handled."

"Oh?"

"Yeah." Of course that didn't mean that Frank wasn't curious about Anna's outburst and had a long talk with Danny about it the following day. When Frank didn't press the issue on Sunday at dinner, Anna figured that Danny had gotten through to his father and that the matter had been dropped.

The following Thursday, Danny pressed again about the science test. "So, science test. If your pushing it off, I'm going to call your teacher," Danny said as they sat at dinner. "How'd it go?"

"Okay. I think. I'm sure I messed up a lot but I'm sure I brought home at least a C," Anna said.

"When do you get the results?" Linda asked.

"I got them today, I just couldn't look at it," Anna said. She tipped her chair backwards onto two legs and reached back, grabbing the test off the credenza. It was folded in half and Anna stared at it for a second or two before extending it towards Danny as her chair landed with a soft thump back on four legs. Danny plucked the test from her fingers and once her hands were empty, Anna buried her face in them.

"Well, kid, Saturday or Sunday?" Danny asked after a second.

"What?" Anna asked, peaking between her fingers.

"What day do you want to go driving?" Danny clarified.

"I passed?" Anna asked. She lowered a hand nervously.

"Yep. How about Saturday after your game?"

"The game?"

"You didn't just pass," Danny said, he turned the paper toward her, "You got an A. Though part of me wants to call your teacher to make sure this is real." He smiled at her and Anna relaxed.

"It's a pointed A. It couldn't have been an F," Anna rationalized. Since the top of the A was pointed, it had to have been an A to begin with. However if the top had been flat she could understand why they thought she had changed it. Drawing a line down the open side of the F was the easiest way to turn an F into an A though that would only work if they didn't look at the rest of the test and just took the A for what it was. "You're going to come to the game? You promise?" Anna asked, lowering her other hand from her face.

"I promised, didn't I?" Danny asked, handing the test to Linda.

"You did. Becky's going to be so impressed. She bet I couldn't do it."

"You definitely did it," Linda said, perusing the rest of the test. Sure enough, Anna had only missed two questions and the rest weren't tampered with.

"Can I go call her?" Anna asked, as a grin spread across her face.

"After dinner."

"But I'm done."

"Finish your peas," Linda said, barely looking up from the test. Anna sighed but finished her peas then put her plate in the dishwasher and raced upstairs to call Becky.

Scanning the crowd on Saturday was easy and it sure didn't take long to find the Reagan family. There were so many of them that they stood out. Anna plopped down on the bench in the dugout at the game that day as she found them and the rest of the team took their spots on the field. The entire Reagan family was there, to include her dad. She smiled brightly then turned her attention back to the game. It passed slowly and by the bottom of the fifth inning they were down 7-3. Her coach looked from her to Drew and back a couple of times. Finally, he walked over and looked down at her.

"Think you can get us back on track?" her coach asked.

"Yes, sir," Anna said, nodding. With only two innings left it would be difficult and would rely on more than just her pitching, but she could at the very least stop them from scoring any more runs.

"Good," he said. He walked back to the dugout opening and called a time out. After the coach spoke with Drew on the mound, he motioned to Anna. She pulled her ball cap down on her head more firmly and grabbed her glove, joining them on the mound.

"Good luck," Drew said, dropping the ball in her mitt. The coach patted her on the back then he and Drew headed back for the dugout.

Anna swallowed as her eyes landed on her dad and then after a moment shot over to Jamie who gave her a thumbs up. She looked back at the catcher and he motioned from himself to her, basically telling her to focus on him and not the crowd. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. The ump gave her a few warm up pitches and once those were completed, the batter stepped into the box. The first pitch was way outside the strike zone and the second below it. The catcher signed for her to shake it off and focus, then threw the ball back to her. Anna swallowed, wiped her hand on her pants, then pulled her hat down a bit as she took another deep breath. She glanced at the coach who was stone faced then found her dad in the crowd. The silence settling over the stands was starting to unnerve her. Anna scratched the back of her neck and checked back over her shoulder to Jim who smiled and nodded. Finally, she felt calm. She settled into her pitching stance and less than two minutes later, she struck that batter out.

The home fans cheered loudly, causing her to feel better. The nerves went away as she heard Jamie cheer for her. "Wooo! Let's go, Anna!" Jamie called.

"Way to go!" Erin added.

Two innings later, they were tied 7-7, two outs and no one on. "It's clutch situation of the year," the announcer said. "One more out and we go into overtime, but a hit here and St. Agatha's could hold on for the win." As the announcer went on about who was next in the lineup and what the best strategy would be for their team, Anna's coach stopped her as she grabbed a bat.

"Are you up for this? I can send in a pinch hitter. This guy is pretty tough," Coach said.

"Come on, Coach, you believe in me, don't you?" Anna asked. Part of her was worried that her coach didn't believe in her but most of her knew he was giving her an out if she wasn't ready or was unable to take the pressure.

"I believe in you."

"Let's go!" The umpire called to them.

Anna swallowed, shouldered her bat and walked out to the batting box. "Looks like they're sending in Reagan to bat. She's not known for her power hitting but she has a decent record. One wonders why—" The announcer started.

"Wait for your pitch, Anna! You got this!" Jamie called, cutting off the announcer's voice in Anna's ears. Anna took a deep breath and stepped into the batter's box. She faced down the pitcher to see him smirking at her. She knew he was thinking it would be an easy out.

"Oh, yeah? Let's see what you got," Anna muttered under her breath. The first pitch was low and outside, a ball. The second clipped the corner of the plate but below her knees, another ball.

"Give her something to hit!" Erin yelled. Anna inwardly smiled but kept a neutral face as she stared at the pitcher. She swung at the next pitch, but sent it into foul territory making it an automatic strike. The next pitch did the same thing. On the next pitch, Anna connected and sent it deep into right field.

"It's deep, it's back, oh, it is out of here!" The announcer cried. "I don't believe it, Anna Reagan has hit the only homerun of the game and singlehandedly handed Thomas John Christian their first loss of the season. Anna took her lap around the bases and met her teammates at home plate. The minute her foot hit the plate, the ump called it official and her teammates mobbed her. The crowd was cheering nearly as loud as the team. The team shook hands with the opposing team then headed back to their bench. They'd pack up their things and head for their parents. Anna looked at her team and found Jim talking to Drew. Jim was standing, packing his bag and Drew was sitting on the bench next to him. Anna walked over to them, grabbed Jim's shoulder, and shoved him around forcing him to plop down on the bench next to Drew.

"At least show me some decency and own up to it," Anna demanded staring them both down.

"Own up to what?" Jim asked confused.

"That you put him up to it."

"Put—?" Jim started.

"Drew," Anna snapped, turning to the other pitcher, "you ever tank the start of another game the way you tanked this one, and I'll make sure Coach no only knows but also makes you pitch the next three games then switches you with Dave. And don't even get me started on you, Jim. I don't need your pity or your charity. I—"

Anna was cut off by her coach's booming voice. "Reagan, DeMarco!" He shouted.

Anna and the team's statistician, John DeMarco went to their coach who was standing just outside the dugout talking to an umpire. "What's up, Coach?" Anna asked.

"The other team is trying to claim that you can't be on the team," the coach said.

"Because she's a girl? That's gender bias," DeMarco said.

"No, they're claiming she's not old enough," the umpire said.

"Not old enough?" Anna snapped. "I'm 15 and a sophomore. I know I look like a kid but really? I bet this is because I handed them their first loss of the season. They can't handle losing to a girl."

"We just have to be sure, Ms. Reagan," the umpire said.

"Reagan, Reagan," DeMarco muttered under his breath as he searched through his backpack. "Ah, here it is. Anna Reagan." He handed the file to the umpire and the official read through it.

"Okay, this is official right?" the umpire said.

"Mr. Umpire, see those nine people over by the fence? Four of them are cops, one is an ADA, and one is my mama. They will all vouch that I'm 15 in the tenth grade," Anna said.

"That's good enough for me." The umpire walked back to the other team and that coach threw his clipboard then stormed off in the direction of the away team busses. The rest of his team followed slowly. Anna looked up at her coach who clapped her on the shoulder.

"You always carry our files in your backpack?" Anna asked the statistician.

"Ever since they made Ray and Benny prove they're under 19 and still first year seniors," DeMarco said.

"Well, I gotta go. Thanks." Anna grabbed her bag from the dugout and went to her family.

"There's our little slugger," Jamie said, hugging her.

"Gotta do what you gotta do," Anna said.

"Not bad, kiddo," Danny said. "21 strikes and a home run?"

"Thanks, Dad." Anna beamed with pride.

"So what was that all about with the umpire?" Linda asked.

"The other team's coach is upset his team lost to a girl so he tried to say I wasn't old enough. Good thing they keep good records."

"Now, who wants ice cream?" Erin asked.

"Yea!" Jack, Sean, and Nicky cheered.

"We have to take a raincheck on that," Anna said.

"We?" Frank asked.

"Dad promised to take me driving today, right after the game," Anna said.

"He did? I thought he told you not in his jeep, ever?" Henry asked.

"He did; which is why he's about to ask his brother if he can borrow his car," Anna said as they headed for the parking lot.

"He is?" Jamie asked, curiously.

"Come on, kid, your car is easier to learn on plus it's cheaper to replace than my wife's van," Danny said.

"Don't you want me to learn to drive, Uncle Jamie?" Anna asked, batting her eyes at her uncle.

Jamie softened. "Of course I do, but does it have to be in my car?" Jamie asked.

"Do you really think Aunt Erin would let me drive her car? No offense," Anna said.

"None taken," Erin said.

"Come on, Uncle Jamie, It's just for an hour and you're the best uncle I got."

"Anna, you know the standards for that are very low," Jamie said as they reached Linda's van. Anna put her equipment bag in the back as everyone watched her and Jamie.

"Uncle Jamie, may I please borrow your car so Dad can teach me to drive? Please?" Anna said, giving him puppy dog eyes in the hope of making it harder to say no. "You can even come with," Anna said, clasping her hands together.

Jamie looked at her then at Danny and back. "Sure, why not?" Danny said.

"Fine," Jamie agreed.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Anna said excitedly as she threw her arms around her uncle.

"But change your shoes. You're not driving my car in those cleats," Jamie said. Anna quickly changed her shoes then said goodbye to the rest of her family. When they reached the car, she held her hand out to Jamie who shook his head. "Nope, first things first, you start out in the graveyard like we all did," Jamie said.

"Telling me how to teach my kid?" Danny asked.

"My car, my rules. You want to start her on the road, you can use your car," Jamie said.

"It's okay," Anna said quickly. She didn't want anything to spoil this time with her dad or for either of them to back out. Jamie climbed into the driver's seat and Anna climbed into the back leaving Danny with the passenger seat.