"And then Becky scored the winning goal, Uncle Johnny." Jenny chattered on excitedly as they all came into the house after the game. "Did you see that?"

"I did." Johnny told her with a laugh. "I was there the whole time, remember?"

"Jenny, go get in the bathtub." Joanne gently guided her toward the hallway. "You're absolutely filthy."

"Uncle Johnny, you're not going home, are you?" Jenny asked.

"I'll be right here when you get out." Johnny assured her. "Chris, you wanna go with me to pick up some pizza?"

"Sure." Chris answered with a slight smile. "I mean…Mom, can I?"

"Of course." Joanne replied as she pulled her wallet out of her purse. "Johnny—"

"Don't bother, Jo." Johnny cut her off. "My treat, you know that. We'll be back in a bit."

Before Joanne could respond, Johnny and Chris were gone, and she let out a little sigh. Despite Johnny's seemingly cheerful countenance, something didn't seem right with him today. Joanne couldn't quite put her finger on it, and Johnny brushed off any attempts on Joanne's part to ask.

Perhaps it had just been a busy shift. It would do no good to push Johnny. If he wanted to talk about it, eventually he would.

Instead, she went down the hall to the bathroom to check on Jenny. "How are you coming along?"

"Fine." Jenny replied, even as she was obviously struggling to wash her hair.

"Why don't I help you with your hair?" Joanne suggested.

Jenny sighed but turned around so that Joanne could work the shampoo into Jenny's already wet hair.

"Mom?"

"Hmm?"

"Why doesn't Uncle Johnny come stay with us?"

Joanne was completely thrown by Jenny's question. "Why do you say that, honey?"

"Well, we always have fun when he's here." Jenny explained. "And you're not sad when he's here."

Joanne paused before answering Jenny. "Honey, you know that Uncle Johnny has his own place to live."

"I know that." Jenny replied. "But maybe he's sad being there all by himself."

"Or maybe he just likes coming to visit us." Joanne countered. "Maybe it's special when he comes over because we don't see him all the time."

Jenny was silent for a moment before shaking her head. "No, I think I'd like it if he was here all the time."

Joanne smiled to herself. "Why don't we get you rinsed. That way we'll be all ready when Uncle Johnny and Chris come back with pizza."

"Okay."

By the time Johnny and Chris returned, Jenny was out of the tub and dressed. Soon they were all settled in on the couch in what had become a familiar ritual.

It almost felt like a normal family night. Joanne had to admit that she enjoyed these nights. Ever since the morning after the Ladies' Auxiliary fundraiser, she and Johnny had come to an understanding that they would be friends, nothing more, and it had made things easier between them.

Still, she couldn't help the odd fluttering feeling that went through her when he turned toward her with that lopsided smile and reached across to squeeze her shoulder while the kids burst out laughing at the antics on The Muppet Show.

No, it was better this way. He was Uncle Johnny to the kids, and a friend of the family. There was nothing wrong with that.

Eventually, after an evening of television and pizza, Joanne rose from the couch. "Okay, bedtime." She told the kids firmly.

"After Uncle Johnny reads to us." Jenny reminded her.

"Of course." Joanne replied, smoothing Jenny's hair. "How could I forget?"

Johnny and the kids headed off toward Jenny's room, with Jenny chattering the whole way, and Joanne turned her attention to cleaning up. Fortunately, there wasn't much to take care of, and soon she was at the sink washing the few dishes that had piled up.

Once done, she turned out the kitchen light and started what had become her nightly ritual of checking all the locks to ensure they were secure. She could hear Johnny's voice, and she couldn't help but listen in.

"'We shall never see her again,' he said—'never.'" Johnny read softly. "He took the reins, mounted the box, and with Joe drove slowly home; but it was not our home now."

"That's so sad." Jenny sounded as if she were on the edge of tears herself. "Now what?"

"We'll have to find out next time." Johnny told her.

Jenny was silent for a moment before she spoke again. "I wish you could stay with us."

"Oh?" Johnny sounded surprised. "Why's that?"

"Because Mom's not sad when you're here." Jenny replied.

"Jenny, don't be dumb." Chris scoffed. "Uncle Johnny can't stay with us. He's not our dad."

"So?" Jenny responded. "My friend Lizzie's dad isn't really her dad either, but he still lives with Lizzie and her mom."

"Uh, listen, why don't we get you two to bed." Johnny was clearly doing his best to intervene. "We can talk about this some other time."

Chris soon emerged, stopping when he saw Joanne. "Everything okay, sweetie?"

Chris nodded, quickly ducking away to escape to his bedroom, and Joanne decided to follow him. "Chris?"

The room was already dark, and Joanne could just make out the lump under the covers as she carefully sat on his bed. She could hear him sniffling, and she waited until he was ready to talk. "I don't want Uncle Johnny to live with us. He's not Dad."

Joanne let out a sigh. "Oh sweetie, you don't need to worry about that. Uncle Johnny has his own place to live. He's just going to visit sometimes. Is that okay?"

"I guess." Chris answered quietly. "But Jenny said he should come stay with us."

"Oh, you know Jenny gets a lot of ideas in her head." Joanne assured him. "That's just how she is."

Chris shifted in his bed. "I like Uncle Johnny. I just really miss Dad."

"I know you do." Joanne told him. "I miss him, too. And Uncle Johnny is just our friend, okay?"

"Okay."

Joanne left him with a kiss on his forehead and gently closed the door behind her. Johnny was doing the same coming out of Jenny's room.

"Hey." Johnny smiled ever so slightly. "Is he okay? He was kinda upset."

"I think so." Joanne answered. "You know how he is. He just misses Roy terribly."

"Don't we all." Johnny replied softly, a tinge of sadness in his voice. "Don't think me staying here is gonna help that much."

"Oh, Jenny." Joanne couldn't help laughing a little. "She certainly gets some strange ideas in her head."

"Yeah, she does." Johnny managed a slight smile at that. "So, hey, maybe there's some movie on or something. If you don't mind the company, that is."

"Of course I don't mind." Joanne assured him.

Joanne turned on the TV and flipped through a few channels until she found an old movie. Johnny was already settled in on the couch as Joanne sat down beside him.

"This was one of Roy's favorites." Joanne told him. "He'd watch it every time it was on. Usually he'd fall asleep halfway through. I'm not sure he ever watched the whole thing."

Johnny laughed a little at that. "Not sure I'm gonna do much better."

"Rough shift?" Joanne asked.

Johnny's face fell a little at that. "Yeah, you could say that."

He didn't seem inclined to say much more about it, and Joanne was unsure if she wanted to push him. If he didn't feel like talking about it, that was his right.

He let out a sigh, reaching out to trace along the back of her hand with one finger. "Got called out to a structure fire late last night. Well, early this morning. You know. Things got a little hairy when we were getting this guy out. I…I kinda freaked out a little."

Something clutched at Joanne. She could only imagine what might have gone through Johnny's head at the time.

Johnny swallowed hard, his fingers curling around Joanne's hand. "Thought I was gonna lose Reggie. You know, just like I lost Roy. And then I was gonna have to face his wife, just like…"

His voice trailed off, and he took in a deep breath before exhaling. "I don't think I could live with myself if something had happened. What kind of partner would let that happen twice?"

Joanne covered Johnny's hand with her own and shifted to face him. It was obvious his emotions were starting to get the better of him. "I'm sure that Charlene understands the danger of being married to a firefighter just as well as I did. And if something had happened, she wouldn't have blamed you, no more than I do."

Johnny's eyes flicked up to meet hers, his stricken expression cutting right through her. "Maybe you should, Jo."

Joanne let go of Johnny's hand and reached up to brush back a bit of his hair, resting her hand on his cheek. "I never could, Johnny. Never. And I don't know how to make you understand that."

She moved to wrap her arms around him, and he laid his head on her shoulder while doing the same. All was quiet save for the movie playing in the background. Joanne supposed they didn't need words to express the shared grief, the understanding between them, and how that grief seemed to crop up at the oddest times.

"Sorry, Jo." Johnny finally told her, his voice somehow equal parts soft and rough. "I didn't mean to dump all of that on you. Again. Just kinda feels like you're the only one who gets it."

Joanne couldn't help letting out a soft laugh as she gently rubbed between Johnny's shoulder blades. "You know, someone bought the Porsche last week. He came to pick it up, I handed him the keys and the title, and the minute he drove away I just started sobbing. It was like losing another piece of Roy."

"Yeah." Johnny responded quietly. "And every time I think I'm doing okay, something comes along and throws me off, kinda reminds me that he's gone, and he's not coming back."

"Every time one of the kids does or says something, I still think 'I can't wait to tell Roy when he comes home'. Sometimes I still find myself waiting for his phone call."

Johnny went quiet for a long moment before responding. "Kinda forgot about that." He pulled back, tilting his head with a thoughtful expression. "Would it be weird if I started calling you from the station? You know, just to check in, say hi to the kids."

Joanne was only slightly surprised at the suggestion. "No, I don't think that would be weird at all. The kids might really like that."

Johnny looked slightly troubled. "Well, Jenny might. Not so sure about Chris."

"He'll come around." Joanne assured him. "Don't mind him."

Johnny nodded slightly. "Pretty tough thing, losing a dad. Don't really blame him for how he's acting."

It occurred to Joanne that she didn't know that much about Johnny's background. She knew about his aunt that he talked about, but not much beyond that. "I suppose you're right."

Johnny shrugged. "I probably wasn't much older than Jenny when my dad died, so I don't remember him all that well. And my mom tried after that, you know, but…well, anyway. You don't need to hear all about that."

Joanne reached for Johnny's hand. "It's okay. I don't mind."

Johnny looked thoughtful as he stroked along her hand with his thumb. "It's not that interesting. Forget it."

Joanne didn't see any point in pressing him further. She lightly squeezed his hand and let it go, and they settled back in to watch the rest of the movie as if by mutual agreement.

It wasn't long before Joanne felt something hit her shoulder, followed by soft snoring. She couldn't help but smile to herself, turning ever so slightly to kiss the top of Johnny's head.

Joanne had to admit that there was something oddly comforting about this. While it certainly wasn't the same, having Johnny here did ease some of the loneliness she often felt.

Maybe Jenny did have a point. Johnny's presence was a bright spot in their lives, certainly. And Johnny always seemed to perk up when he was here.

But that didn't mean, still, that she and Johnny should be anything other than friends. No, that question had been settled.

Hadn't it?

Johnny stirred next to her, sitting up and rubbing his hand over his face. "Did I miss anything?"

"Oh, I don't think so." Joanne assured him. "You weren't asleep that long."

Johnny nodded at that, reaching out to squeeze Joanne's hand lightly. "Suppose I'd better get home."

"You don't have to." Joanne surprised herself by telling him. "Not right this minute."

Johnny's thumb traced over the back of her hand as his brows knitted together. "You don't have to worry about me, Jo."

"But I do." Joanne replied softly. "I worry about you as much as I used to worry about Roy."

"And look what good that did you." Johnny's tone was unexpectedly sharp.

"Johnny—"

"Forget it, Jo." Johnny answered fiercely. "Just forget it."

"I will not." Joanne replied with equal fierceness, moving in closer.

Johnny shook his head furiously. "No, Jo. I won't put you through this. Not again."

Joanne was a little baffled. "Johnny, what are you talking about?"

Johnny looked troubled, his brows knitting in a deep frown as he curled his fingers around Joanne's hand more tightly. "We kinda agreed to be just friends, right?"

"We did." Joanne answered carefully. "But we're more than that. We're family."

"Right, yeah." Johnny nodded.

Joanne knew there was more. It was just a matter of whether Johnny was willing to say more.

Finally, the frown smoothed out, and Johnny took a deep breath before exhaling, squeezing Joanne's hand one more time before letting go. "Okay. I'm heading home."

He rose from the couch before Joanne could say anything. But what was there to say, really? Joanne wasn't sure of her own feelings, and it was apparent that Johnny was similarly conflicted.

Joanne followed Johnny to the door as he started to open it. He paused with his hand on the handle for a long moment before removing it and turning to face her.

"Jo." The word came out breathlessly as he gathered her in his arms and pulled her close. She could hear his steady, rapid heartbeat, feel his chest rise and fall.

He pulled back ever so slightly and lifted her chin with one finger, his eyes seeming to search her face. His conflicted feelings were immediately apparent, but he didn't seem as if he were in much of a hurry to do anything about them.

In that moment Joanne made that decision for them both, closing the distance between them and briefly kissing Johnny before pulling back.

Johnny seemed stunned for a moment, unsure what to do, and Joanne couldn't help wondering if she had just made a fool of herself. Finally, he let out a short sigh, leaning in and kissing her hard, nearly taking her breath away with the sheer intensity of it.

It was somehow fierce and rough and raw and tender all at once, and Johnny pulled her in even closer, his hands spreading out over her back as Joanne slipped her arms around his neck. Everything they had been trying to hold back all this time was coming out now, all the conflicted emotion and desire between them making itself known.

Eventually, they pulled apart, both of them breathless. Johnny touched his forehead to Joanne's. "Tell me what you want."

Joanne took a deep breath before replying. "I want you to stay."

Johnny's brow wrinkled ever so slightly. "If I stay, you know what's gonna happen, right?"

Joanne nodded. "I know."

"Okay." Johnny's response was soft. "Okay. And, uh, if it gets to be, you know, too much…you just say so, okay?"

"I will." Joanne replied quietly.

"Promise?" Johnny still looked concerned.

Joanne laid a hand on his chest. "Yes, I promise."

Johnny seemed to relax at that, a slight smile lighting his face. "Suppose that settles it, then."

"I suppose it does." Joanne replied lightly before kissing him.

The kiss almost immediately deepened, and Joanne started stepping backward, all but pulling Johnny into her bedroom.

The door closed behind them, and Joanne found herself instantly lost in Johnny's mouth and hands, the last of her doubts fading away. If this were a mistake, so be it. Right now, she was right where she wanted to be.