Okay so I feel like I'm saying this too much for the past couple chapters but I'm so sorry that I haven't updated. Nothing happened to me, I just kinda got swept up in Avengers fanfiction for a while and had no motivation for this story. Thank you for checking in to make sure I was alright Pharmergirl. Your words mean a lot.

Thanks to everyone who has liked and favorited this story and me as an author in the time between updates. I still see all these notifications.

Also thanks to seleneplaysgames, decadenceofmysoul, Christopher Joseph Conner, Hedwigwhite, and Pharmergirl, for your reviews of the last chapter. I appreciate all the love.

Side note Hedwigwhite for your review of chapter 59, I think you missed the "and a half" part of that sentence. The part of your review said that she had already turned 16 back at the party where she met Kyle (chapter 37) and that is true but here Jamie mentions she's turning 16 and 1/2 ie it's been 6 months since she turned 16 and the law states that with driver's ed she'd be able to get her full license instead of her JDL.

So no scenes from any episodes though there is a reference to the photos you see in one of the episodes from Season 4. Also it's still set between season 3 and 4 while they're on vacation in Quogue.

Pictures only took most of the morning but after that Anna spent most of the day with Sean on the beach. Anna and Sean talked about Sean's friends, what sports he wanted to play that year, and what he thought school would be like without Jack. He was a little excited to be moving up a grade in school but he also admitted, once he was sure Jack couldn't hear him, that he was mostly scared as it was the first time he'd go more than a day or two without going to school with Jack.

Anna wiped the sand off her hands and blinked at him. "I get it," Anna acknowledged. "When I turned 12 and was going to start seventh grade, I had to do it alone and that was hard. I know it's not really the same as he's your big brother and he's my little brother, but just remember it's going to be scary for him too. Sure, you're three years younger than him but he liked having his younger brother there."

"Yeah, you're right. What about you? When you go off to college next year, is it going to be in New York?" Sean asked.

"I know everyone would like that. Even if it's Columbia, NYU, or upstate New York. That would be better than Cali, Miami, or Texas."

"What about you? What do you want?"

"To get through the next five months or so before worrying about college."

Sean smirked. "Would you pick a specific school just to spite Dad?" he asked curiously.

"Maybe. I would apply to a couple to spite him."

"Oh?"

"And even if I end up clear across the country, I'm still going to talk to you and Jack once a week, I promise."

"Okay," he answered, avoiding her eyes.

"Come on, Sean, it's over a year away, stop worrying." Sean nodded. Anna didn't believe he was okay though. "Hey, it's okay. Nothing going to change. Well, not all that much."

"I get it."

"You're not mad?"

"No."

"Good, besides it's not like I'm going away for good, it's just for school and I can come home for breaks."

"Yeah, okay," he smiled gratefully.

A few weeks later, Anna sat down with Jack. "Are you scared, Jack?"

"Of?" Jack asked bewildered.

"Going to school with me?" Before he could roll his eyes at her, she added. "Going to high school?"

"A little bit."

"Oh?"

"It is high school, even if it's only seventh grade, and you're probably going to enact some kind of rule like we're not siblings and you'd rather not talk to me at school, and it's a new school so I might get lost but despite all of that which scares me, I know that I'm a Reagan and I can handle it plus I have friends in my grade so I'll be okay."

"About that ..."

"Which part?"

"No talking to me during school unless it's an emergency and no referring to me as your sister, especially if it becomes know that you're "that" Reagan. I'm proud of Dad for being a cop and I'd fight hard against it if he wants to leave the department, but it colors perspectives and I like my rep the way it is. The less people who know, the better."

"Got it."

A few weeks later, with exactly two weeks until her birthday, Anna approached her mom after church as she made dinner in Frank's kitchen. "So Mama, I was thinking. I know my birthday is in about two weeks ..."

"I remember that day well." Linda barely looked up from the salad she was making.

Anna pressed on. "And I was hoping that maybe since it could possibly be my last birthday in New York, at least for a while, that maybe we could have my party in the park."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's still warm enough so I was thinking—"

"No. What do you mean your last birthday in New York?" Linda looked up at her daughter.

"If I go to school out of state, it may start before Labor Day."

"Since when are you going to school out of state?" Linda pressed her hands against the counter and stared her daughter down. She tried not to come off too angry. The last thing Linda wanted to do was to push her daughter away. It seemed to work as Anna's next question was more curious than accusatory.

"I know it's not what you want, Mom, but it's an option, isn't it?"

"I guess. We can talk about college later but for now, I'm sorry, a party in the park just isn't feasible."

"Mom," Anna protested.

"Maybe if I had more than two weeks' notice but I don't. I'm sorry."

"Okay, fine. Maybe we can grill out in the backyard."

"Sure, you can invite your friends."

"As long as it's at our place, not Grampa's and it's on my birthday."

"Your birthday is on Sunday."

"And the next day is a holiday."

Linda sighed. It was unusual for them to have a party at their house instead of Frank's but it was what Anna wanted and it wasn't like she asked for much from them. "Alright."

"Thanks, love you." Anna grinned.

"Love you too. Now, help me get dinner ready."

"Yes, ma'am."

Mostly through dinner Anna kept quiet. It wasn't as though she had nothing to say, she could find something if she wanted, rather her thoughts were on her birthday party and what her mom said about college. She knew most of her friends would come and not have a problem with it. The family on the other hand, well aside from Jamie and Erin, she couldn't remember the last time the family had spent an afternoon at their house in Staten Island and wondered how her mom would convince them. That made her think about what her mom said. Could she really go to college out of town? And if she could, how would it affect her family? Should she even care? Of course, she knew she should, but there came a point where she had to do what was right for her whether the family liked it or not.

"Maryanna!" Henry snapped as Jamie nudged her.

"What?" Anna asked a bit harsher than she meant.

"You okay? We've been talking about your birthday for about ten minutes and you haven't said anything." Jamie said.

"Yeah, fine, just thinking," Anna said.

"About?"

"Nothing important."

It went silent for a moment or two before they moved on. "Want to tell me what that was all about?" Jamie asked as they did the dishes.

"It's nothing," Anna answered.

"Come on, Anna, it's your favorite uncle you're talking to. I may not be a detective but I have good instincts, was raised by a pretty good detective and your dad was a cop before I graduated high school. Fess up."

"It's no big deal, really."

"You worried about something getting back to your parents? Fancy, new boyfriend or something?"

"Not exactly." Anna looked around the kitchen then back at him. "Uncle Jamie, would you hate me if I went to college out of state?"

Jamie flinched so subtly, she almost missed it but Anna wasn't sure why he did flinch. "I could never hate you, Anna. You're my niece."

"Really, that the only reason?"

"Of course not. The fact that you're worried about it is another reason I couldn't hate you. Besides I went to college out of state. Where were you thinking?"

"I don't know yet. Haven't really thought about it. I just wanted to know what you'd think about it."

"There are some great schools out of state, some good ones in state too. It's never too soon to start researching."

"I guess you're right." As they hugged, Anna texted him the other thought on her mind. As she went back to drying dishes, he checked his phone.

"Why did you just—"

"Shhh," she cut him off.

He looked around and not seeing his father, he smiled a bit. "He'll be there, Anna. You're his granddaughter and he loves you."

"But he hasn't—"

"Anna, he'll be there, just like your dad will and if not, we can have fun without them."

"Thanks, Uncle Jamie."

"Of course." They went back to the dishes and Anna sank back into her thoughts. "Stop thinking about it," Jamie said when he noticed.

"I can't," Anna answered.

"Alright, come on." Jamie set the cup he was washing back in the sink and took her towel and tossed it on the counter before pulling her out of the kitchen and into the living room.

"Everything alright?" Henry asked, looking up from his paper. Frank looked up too. Anna stared down at her feet.

"Anna's birthday is in two weeks and the party is on her birthday," Jamie said.

"It is?" Henry asked.

Anna swallowed and tugged on Jamie's hand. Jamie ignored her though. "It is and Anna is requesting to have it in Staten Island. I know it's different from what we normally do, but it's her home and all her friends are there. Besides it's also her birthday and she's worried you won't come because it's at her place."

"Of course we'll be there," Henry said.

"Dad?" Jamie prompted after a moment of silence.

"Francis?" Henry asked when Jamie's prompt got no response. Frank seemed a little too busy watching Anna.

That's when she finally spoke. "Look, I know that you come to Staten Island for games and stuff when you can, so I'm not saying you never come out there, but I'm just asking that for once you come out for Sunday dinner. Two pm at my house. I hope it's not much of an imposition," Anna explained. Then she went back to staring at her two feet.

Frank continued to watch her. Anna tried not to shift nervously as her nerves set it. She did her best not to start shaking and tried to put her mind in poker mode. The more she convinced herself it was just a birthday party that didn't matter, the calmer she became. "Of course I'll be there," Frank said.

"Oh, okay," she said stunned. She didn't think it'd be that easy. Now she didn't know what to do.

"See, now that wasn't so hard," Jamie told her.

Anna shrugged.

Two weeks later the party was in full swing in their backyard. "Is he here yet?" Anna asked for the third time since it started.

"Who?" Linda asked. Though it was the third time Anna had asked, each time she had asked a different person as to not seem so desperate.

"Grampa."

"Not yet, but he will be. He just had to run into the city for a bit. Go talk to Jim," Linda dismissed her.

"Can't. He's not here yet either." Anna completely deflated, her shoulders slumping and her hands jamming themselves into her pockets.

"I did see Derrek, didn't I?"

"Going," Anna reluctantly sighed. She pouted but returned outside and sat down on the end of the bench at the picnic table. Derrek wrapped an arm around her, rubbing her shoulder.

"Jim will be here soon, he promised."

"I know. Laura, what'd you do this summer?" Anna asked.

"Nothing interesting, mostly worked. Becky, didn't you go to the zoo this summer?" Laura asked.

"We did. I'll tell you about the time Tyler mistook an alpaca for a llama." Becky said. Becky spun her tale which led into another, told this time by Krista, followed Derrek and a waterpark story. Arms wrapped around her shoulders during that story but she didn't look away from her friend until he finished his story. When she did look up a smile spread across her face.

"Jim," she squealed.

"Hey, beautiful. Happy birthday," he answered and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you." She stood and hugged him. A throat was cleared behind Jim, breaking the moment. Anna looked up and smiled sheepishly at Jamie. "Uh, hi," Anna said. Jim gave her an extra squeeze and then pulled back. Anna turned him around. "You two have never officially met. Jim, this is my uncle Jamie Reagan. Uncle Jamie, my best friend Jim Miller."

"We've met but never been introduced. The night of the car fire," Jim said, "but it is a pleasure to be formally introduced to Anna's favorite uncle." Jim stuck his hand out to Jamie who shook it.

"It's nice to meet her best friend too," Jamie said.

"Uh, guys this is my uncle Jamie, Uncle Jamie, this is Derrek, Becky, Beth, Sarah, Drew, Krista, Tonya, and Laura. Have you seen Dad or Grampa?" Anna asked.

Jamie flinched slightly. "Your dad is manning the grill, your grandpa ..."

"Still isn't here," Anna said disappointed.

"I'm sure he's on his way."

"There's no need to fear, for I am here!" Sofie grinned as she stepped up into a superhero pose.

"Sofie!" Anna squealed.

"Happy birthday," Sofie answered as the two girls hugged. "Where are your brothers?"

"Driveway, playing basketball with their friend Tyler. Nicky's around somewhere too."

"Inside helping your mom," Sofie said. "My mom's with her too."

"You seen Uncle Jimmy?" Anna asked.

"Nope."

"My grampa's not here either. Oh well. Why don't you go say hi to my brothers and Dad then we can talk," Anna suggested.

"Definitely." Sofie smiled and she walked off.

"Somehow, I always forget how happy your cousin makes you," Jim said. Anna's entire face had lit up at the older blonde girl's appearance and it was like she completely forgot about her grandfather not being there.

Anna smiled. "Is there something you wanted Uncle Jamie?" Anna asked.

"Just to meet your friends," Jamie said.

Anna grinned with a challenge in her eyes. He rolled his and made his way back to Danny and Henry by the grill. As Anna went back to talking to her friends, Jamie and Danny watched her.

"So what do you think of Jim?" Danny asked.

"Seems like a nice kid. Definitely has feelings for Anna though," Jamie answered.

"Romantic?" Henry asked.

"You don't have to be a detective to see that," Jamie answered. They all watched as Jim insisted Anna take the last seat at the table and seemed to be fully focused on her.

"Reciprocated?" Danny asked.

"You can't tell?"

"There are some things a father doesn't want to face."

"Doesn't look like it. He's special but she doesn't see him like that," Jamie said.

By the time Frank showed up, they were halfway through dinner and the kids had caught up on their summers. "Your grandfather is here," Derrek said, catching sight of Frank.

"Okay, but I'm enjoying my burger," Anna answered.

"You know what your dad would say," Jim said.

"I know what my mom would say too. Doesn't mean I'm going to stop holding it against him."

"At least he showed up," Jim stated. Anna went stock still then her eyes combed the yard. There were various people all over: friends of hers, neighbors, her brothers and a few of their friends, her dad's siblings, her two cousins, her mom and Aunt Wendy, and her grandfathers. Then she realized that her grandfather had showed up when her own uncle Jimmy couldn't. Anna set down her burger and took a deep breath then stood up and walked around behind her aunt and wrapped her arms around her.

"Okay, sweetie," Wendy said.

"I wanted to say thank you, you showed up and I know you're busy."

"That's what aunts are for. I had to be here for you. Linda would do the same for Sofie. Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"Thank you again. You showed up and Jimmy didn't."

"Admit it, you didn't want Jimmy here to begin with," Linda said.

"Maybe not but he's still family and he should still be here," Anna answered.

"The least he could have done was call," Wendy added.

"I'm sure he's just busy with something," Anna tried to defend slightly.

"It's okay to believe that, sweetheart," Linda told her, but based on the looks on her face and Wendy's neither one believed that.

"Maybe he'll show for Christmas or my graduation," Anna suggested. "Will you come? To graduation at least?"

"Of course," Wendy said. Anna gave her a squeeze then made her way over to Frank.

"Grampa," Anna said softly.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I know that I doubted you'd show up and that's wrong. It's my birthday; of course you were going to be here unless there was something truly unavoidable at the office. Crime doesn't stop for my birthday and I need to understand that. My party being in Staten Island had no bearing on your arrival or participation. I apologize for thinking it could."

"On my granddaughter's birthday, there is nothing that is unavoidable," Frank said. He shifted his plate into one hand and pulled her into his lap with the other. "I apologize for not being here sooner but I left your present at my office and I had to go get it, then I had to stop by the house and pick up something."

"My present? Did you wait till the last minute?"

"You know it's not that at all. Your present was on my desk but what I had to pick up at the house, is a surprise. You'll get it later." What the surprise was turned out to be chocolate cheesecake from Junior's. That was one of the few things that could make up for him being late, not that it bothered her all that much anymore.

Happy early Independence Day to my American readers. Also if you have any questions keep sending them in, I'm happy to answer any of them. Even if you want to PM me so you don't have to ask in front of everyone. Again thanks for reading.