To everyone who read, thank you. To Pharmergirl, decadenceofmysoul, monkeybaby, tennisplayer1, and cutie1011 thank you all for all your kind words.

Contains scenes from and references to 3x19 and 3x20

Weeks after her talk with Jamie about who her dad was and how she had been treating Danny, Anna's entire school was talking about prom. Anna had successfully made the varsity baseball team, same with Jim and Derrek, and they were on a roll. "So three weeks until prom. Everyone have their dates?" Derrek asked a soggy Thursday at lunch. The general consensus was yes. "What about you?" Derrek asked, turning to Jim who hadn't answered.

"You are going to ask her, aren't you?" Drew asked, staring down the first baseman.

"Ask who?" Jim answered, toying with the mac and cheese he wasn't up for eating.

"Pitch," Dave answered.

"Uh, no offense, but I'm not really into Drew like that," Jim answered off-handedly.

"I'm a pitcher, but I'm not Pitch," Drew answered. "Come on, give it up man."

"Anna? She won't go with me," Jim said, shaking his head.

"How do you know if you don't ask?" Drew asked.

"I've heard she's turned down six guys, at least, three this morning," Dave added.

"You don't, I will," Todd threw in. Jim stared at him.

"Here's your chance," Derrek hissed as Anna walked over. She slipped her tray onto the table and slid into the seat next to Jim.

"Hey, boys, we going to be ready for the game tomorrow?" Anna asked.

"You know it," Dave said. "Who you going to prom with?"

Anna looked up from her chicken at Dave inquisitorially. "You inviting me?" Anna asked.

"Well, I would but Michelle would kick my butt. So ...?" Dave asked.

"No date as of yet but it's still three weeks away. I'm not worried."

"How has no one asked you? A great girl like you?" Drew asked in disbelief.

"You offering, Drew?"

"Had this conversation. Again, you're not my type."

"I didn't say no one asked me, I just said no date especially now that the hunky captain of the hockey team is going with that prissy head cheerleader." Anna frowned and picked at her corn.

"My offer still stands," Jim said, trying to be as nonchalant as he could. He was worried she'd see right through it though.

"Don't think you'll have a girlfriend in the next three weeks?" Anna asked, blinking at her best friend.

"Does it matter?" Jim asked.

"That was the deal. No girlfriend, no boyfriend, I'll go with you to prom, otherwise you go with said girlfriend."

"I'm holding you to that." Talk turned away from prom but Derrek glared at Jim who only shrugged. As they walked to class and Todd lightly flirted with Anna, Derrek turned to Jim holding him back slightly.

"Why didn't you straight up ask her?" Derrek asked.

"Kinda did," Jim answered.

"No, you offered to take her if you don't have a girlfriend. Not once did you ask her to go to prom with you. She'd probably say yes."

"Or I could change everything between us and lose her for good. I don't want to ... I can't lose her, Derrek. Please, don't push that."

"Fine, chicken. If you don't watch out, Todd will steal her right from under your nose."

They both watched Todd and Anna. Jim shook his head. "Doubt it. They're friends but I don't think she's into him," Jim said as Anna stopped outside her classroom. She leaned back against the wall and smiled but Jim could tell she was only humoring him. Todd braced a hand against his wall and smiled at her. Derrek shrugged and as they walked up towards the pair, they heard Todd ask Anna to prom. Derrek gave Jim an I-told-you-so look. Then Anna gently turned him down and Jim returned the look.

"We could be good together," Todd prodded.

"Or we could totally screw up team dynamics. I'm sorry; I don't date guys on my team during baseball season. Please, don't be mad. On top of that the Bay Ridge Derby is next weekend and my little brother is entered," Anna replied gently.

"I get it. Later," Todd walked off and Jim smirked at Derrek. Derrek rolled his eyes.

Anna was working through her homework Saturday night when Danny sat down with her at the table. "Hey, what you working on?" Danny asked.

"Spanish," Anna answered, "Got to have one year before I graduate."

"Hmm. Would you tell me if you had a boyfriend?"

"No," Anna answered, searching through the section for an answer.

"You wouldn't?"

"Nope." She scrawled the answer on her paper.

Danny plucked the pencil from her hand and she glared up at him impatiently. "Why not?"

"Because you are constantly saying I'm "daddy's little girl" and daddies don't like it when their daughters grow up."

"So you'd date him in secret?"

"Probably the worst kept secret. Mom would know, so would Nicky and Jamie, and probably Jack and Sean. We both know you'd be overprotective. Just look at Kyle."

"You think that was my fault?" Danny asked confused. He really wanted to know if that was what she thought.

"Not that he broke up with me, but you were hard on him. You had every right, trying to protect me, but when your dad is this scary Marine/detective, it's a little hard to get guys to stick around. Your dad didn't do that to Mom, did he?"

"No, but it's always been well known that you have to protect the girls from the boys and not the other way around. Your mom's dad did it to me."

"Did Uncle Jimmy?"

"A bit, she's his baby sister, but we were friends first."

"Dad, I really have to finish this. Does this have something to do with your most recent case? Boyfriend kill his girlfriend and no one know he exists or something?"

"Anna, I can't," Danny answered.

"Dad, I'm going to hear about it on Sunday and you know the case is probably already in the papers. Come on, please."

"The girl they found in the cemetery," Danny said.

"They're speculating she was killed because she converted to Islam. Was she dating someone within the faith? Someone who made her Dad angry or something? Either way, Dad, your love has always been unconditional and I know that even though you can be a bit hard on boys that are interested in me, you do it out of love and aren't trying to hurt me. Now, I really have to finish this. Can I have my pencil back?"

"So you do know that you can tell me anything and I'll do my best to be supportive and nonjudgmental."

"Yes, and thanks," Anna said, sticking her hand out. Danny handed her the pencil back and Anna got back to work. The topic of choices carried over to dinner on Sunday, even as Linda tried to ban work topics at the table. Nicky, like Anna, mentioned the newspaper speculation about the young woman's death being related to her converted faith, then asked if it was true to which Danny wasn't sure. That led to her asking if Frank would have been supportive of Erin marrying a Muslim man. Erin wasn't happy about being the theoretical guinea pig but Frank eventually admitted on his good days, he hoped he would be more accepting than his knee-jerk reaction and that it would be more about who the guy was and how he treated Erin. "That sentiment only good for religion or does that include occupation as well?" Anna asked.

"You got a fancy new boyfriend?" Jack asked.

"No. I'm just curious. They're always saying that we should be tolerant and give people the benefit of the doubt but that doesn't seem to apply to anyone who is FDNY."

"You're dating a firefighter?" Danny asked.

"Would it matter?" Anna asked.

"It shouldn't, as long as he treats you right," Jamie said.

"But that doesn't explain if it does," Anna said. It went quiet at the table for several long seconds. The Jack hesitantly broke the tension by stating he wanted to be Jewish. Anna partially tuned out the conversation as she thought over the previous one. A conversation where she got no answer about the FDNY. Of course she didn't plan on ever dating Jim or bringing him to meet the family, but if it happened, she wondered what they'd say.

After dinner, Anna and Nicky sat down on the couch in the living room. "So, you asking because of Jim?" Nicky asked. Anna instantly looked around the room on high alert but relaxed when she realized that no one was around.

"It's not that I like him or anything but think about it. He may be just a friend, but he's the son of a firefighter. If they found that out ..."

"Maybe or maybe they'd see how great he is to you and not care about those four letters."

"I hope you're right."

Then Nicky switched subjects. "Isn't your junior prom coming up?"

"Three weeks."

"Got a date?"

"No, but if Jim doesn't have a date, I'll go with him. Other than that I'm not sure I want to go."

"Why not?"

"Does it make sense to make a big deal about a dance that won't even matter in a few years?"

"Probably not but you should try to have fun while it lasts."

"You going to go to yours next year?"

"I'm not missing any dance if I can help it."

"I guess you're right and on top of that, it's just a dance, I may regret it if I don't go."

"Next guy that asks you, you go with alright?" Nicky suggested.

"Got it," Anna answered. She waited all week and still no one asked. So when Friday rolled around, she angrily approached Jim. "Tell me you didn't sabotage my chance at going to prom with a really cute guy."

"I didn't," he said in disbelief. She stared deep into his eyes suspiciously.

"So it's pure chance that no one's asked since Todd last week?" Anna asked.

He brushed a hand through his hair nervously. "As far as I know. Anna, I would never do that to you. I promise. Is that what you want from me? A proper invite?"

"I don't want anything from you, Jim, especially not your pity." Anna stormed off and Jim sighed. The only person who knew he really wanted to go to prom with Anna was Derrek and his brother and he was more than certain that Derrek would never sabotage Anna's chance at going with someone she liked just for him. Well, Jim really hoped Derrek wouldn't but couldn't bring himself to ask the next time he saw Derrek.

Anna pulled into the driveway that night after work relieved that Monday would start spring break. She could really use a week off of school. As she dragged herself across the front yard towards the house, the shouting coming from inside got louder. She knew it had something to do with her dad's case, it had been frosty in their house all week, but Anna was unsure as to the exact cause. She paused at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the front door just as the house went quiet. Taking a deep breath, she mounted the stairs and pulled the screen door open as the inside door flew open. Anna paused, one hand on the railing the other still holding the screen door open, her brow furrowed, lower lip held between her teeth, her eyes traveling up to meet the matching set. Her dad's eyes expressed several emotions in a flash, looking the briefest bit guilty before settling on apologetic.

"Something came up," Anna stated. "I get it. I'll see you later." She dropped her hand from the rail and slipped past him as he stepped out. The outside door slammed behind her and she let out a long, slow breath before shutting the inside door. She set her handbag and backpack on the floor near the TV and saw her mom standing frozen in the doorway to the dining room. "Mom?" she asked, taking a few tentative steps towards the woman.

Linda opened then closed her mouth as if to respond to her daughter but shook her head. After a moment she asked, "did your dad say where he was going?"

"No, but I figure he was just going back to work. Is that not what happened? Were you two really fighting?"

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Linda answered. Anna walked over to her mom and hugged her.

"If he's not going back to work, then I'm sure he'll just go to Grampa's. He's going to calm down, come to his senses, and realize he was wrong. He'll come home. He has to come home," Anna finished, unsure of who was trying to comfort who as her mom rubbed her back.

"Have you eaten? I've got some left over pizza in the oven and you can tell me all about your week," Linda said.

Anna nodded and hung up her coat before following her mom into the dining room. As Linda fixed her plate, Anna told her mom what had happened and about her prom situation. "What do you think I should do?"

"Is there someone in particular you want to go with?"

"Not really, but I don't want to go alone either. Going with Jim wouldn't be so bad, he's always been a great friend, but I don't want it to change things. What if we go together and by the end of the night, I end up hating him?" Anna asked. She chewed on her pizza waiting for her mom to answer.

Linda did her best to keep from smiling. "Conversely, what if by the end of the night, you end up liking him as more than a friend?"

"What do I do, Mama?"

"I say you march right up to him and tell him you want to go strictly as friends and nothing more. No expectations, no pressure, and you can have fun. If he makes it weird, there's always plenty of guys that go ... what's the word?"

"Stag? Alone?"

"Right, that go stag to prom that you can hang with."

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks Mom." Anna and Linda spent the rest of the night talking dresses, hairstyles, and shoes. When Anna went to get ready for bed, she found her brothers talking in their room. "Everything okay, boys?" Anna asked.

"Is Dad coming home?" Jack asked.

"Of course he is. Why wouldn't he?" she asked.

"Mom and Dad fought. We went up before it got to bad but we did hear him blame her for not catching the guy. Then he said he was leaving. A lot of our friends say that's how it starts. Mom and Dad fighting, one of them walking out and not coming home, and then the big D word."

"Hey, don't talk like that." Anna sat down next to Sean on his bed and Jack joined them. "Our parents aren't like that. They've been married for 17 years. That word isn't in their vocabulary. They love each other and Dad will be home soon. Don't forget that they've been through tough stuff before and they've always made it through. They're just caught on opposite sides of a case and it makes it hard when you're both trying to do the right thing and you can't. It was a no-win situation. On top of all of that, Dad loves us very much and no matter what happens between Mom and Dad, he's going to be there for us."

"Anna's right," Jack agreed, looking more confident, "Dad will come home. Always does." Sean looked skeptical but eventually nodded.

Saturday morning, Linda took Jack out after dropping Anna and Sean at Frank's to finish up on the soap box car. She wanted to make sure her middle child was doing okay after everything he had heard the night before. Anna mostly watched as her brother and uncle worked, occasionally pitching in to help. The same was true of the following day. Anna and Sean worked in the garage with Jamie to finish the derby car as the rest stayed inside after church. Sean was just putting the front wheels on when Danny stepped inside. "Looking good guys," Danny said brightly, coming over to them as Anna leaned against the toolbox.

Sean's face brightened as he looked up at his dad. "Dad, you think you can stay here and work with us?" he asked.

Anna didn't even have to count past one before Danny unintentionally disappointed him. "Uh ... well, I'm chasing a pretty bad guy right now so ..." he trailed off. Sean and Jamie both looked down. Jamie wanted to avoid saying something to his brother and Sean was trying to fight down his disappointment. "But don't worry," Danny continued to cheer his son up, "your uncle Jamie is the best derby mechanic in the family and he taught your sister everything he knows."

"I understand," Sean said, less excited than he had been.

"Okay," Danny said softly.

"Sean here's a natural derby driver. I think we're going to win this thing," Jamie said confidently.

"I hope so," Danny agreed.

Sean grabbed another wheel and walked around the car to put it on. Sean questioned where his dad had been for the past couple of nights and Danny gave the old line of working nights. "Yeah," Sean agreed, "but everything's okay, right?"

Anna didn't miss the tense Danny used when he answered. "Yeah, yeah. Everything's gonna be great. Come here." Sean set the wheel in place then Danny pulled him into a hug. Anna did her best not to roll her eyes, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized he was just trying to spare his son from the fight. Jamie looked uncomfortable but she could tell he was touched by his brother's love for his son. "Alright, get back to work, okay?"

Sean agreed as Anna stared at her manicure realizing she'd need a new one before prom. Being so absorbed in that, Anna missed Danny's next comment but saw him jog down the driveway. Anna raced after him. "Dad!" Anna called. Danny stopped and Anna came around in front of him as he faced away from the garage. "You love mom?" she asked.

"I will always love Mom," Danny answered.

"You coming to dinner?"

"We'll see, kid."

"And Sean's race tomorrow?" Danny only stared at her. "That is going to be one disappointed little boy if you don't show up. I'm used to it, he isn't. Don't blow this for him." Anna ordered, her hands on her hips.

Danny reached out and pulled her into a tight hug, one hand smoothing through her hair. "I'm not leaving, okay, kiddo? I just ... have to get back to work."

"Promise you'll be there," she ordered, trying to resist the hug.

"I promise to do my very best to be at the race. And I promise it's going to take a lot more than a fight over my case and her job to get me to really leave your mother. And if that ever happened I would still see you kids."

"Promise?" she asked unsure as she blinked up at him.

"Promise," Danny answered. "Now I really have to go."

"Okay," Anna agreed. Danny hugged her close again, this one she relished, before leaving. Anna went back into the garage as the wind kicked up.

"You good?" Jamie asked when she returned.

"Yeah," Anna said.

"I didn't know you raced," Sean said as they continued to work.

"Not, soap box, pinewood derby. It's exactly like soap box derby but the car is only about 7 inches long. I wanted to race in the Bay Ridge derby but you got me sick. Three days before registration you came home with the flu from a playdate and by the time I had to register everyone was sick. Mom wouldn't let me."

"Always find some way to blame me," Sean griped.

"Only when it's your fault," Anna sassed.

"Come on, we have to finish this before dinner," Jamie warned. So they got back to work.

The part where Danny and Sean are talking in the garage as he works on the derby car is from a deleted scene from 3x19. I wish I could get them that right.