Chapter 23: Coming Home
Two days after the birth of their twin girls, Danny gently helped Maria up the front steps of their home, Elena and Sophia secured in their carriers that were sitting by the front door to their house. The door opened to reveal their entire family waiting inside, smiles lighting up every face.
Erin said with a grin. "Welcome home, you two!" stepping to hug Maria.
Maria laughed, though she looked exhausted, and she beamed at her family gathered around. "Thanks, everyone. It's so nice to be home."
Frank walked over to hug Maria and then turned to Danny. "Let us take over from here. You both need some rest," he said, motioning for Jamie and Eddie to take the babies.
Danny gave Maria a look, unsure if she was okay with letting the twins go, but she nodded with a soft smile. They then exchanged a grateful glance, both of them hadn't realized just how tired they were until the offer was there. "Are you sure?" Danny asked, looking over one of the babies.
"Of course!" Eddie said, carefully take Elena out from the carrier. Jamie was next to take Sophia out from hers, rocking her gently. "Go get some sleep; we'll keep an eye on these little angels."
"Thank you, everyone. We'll be upstairs if you need us." Danny says.
Relieved, Danny led Maria upstairs to their bedroom. As they reached the bedroom, Maria lowered herself onto the bed and let out a tired sigh. Danny sat beside her and pulled out a small envelope and a wrapped box from his pocket. "I almost forgot. Ana gave me these at the hospital. She wanted you to have them."
Maria's eyes widened as she took the letter, gently unsealing it and unfolding the paper. "Want me to read it out loud?"
"Only if you're comfortable with it," Danny said, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
Taking a deep breath, Maria began to read:
"Dear Maria,
I've been meaning to say this for so long, and it's only now that I find the courage. I owe you an apology for everything—my attitude, the resentment I let cloud my heart, and for not being the sister you deserved. You deserved better from me, and I failed as a sister. Watching you help our family even after the way we treated you, I realize now how strong, compassionate, and forgiving you truly are. I know I don't deserve it, but I hope you'll consider this a step toward a new beginning between us.
You've always been the brave one. Javi would be so proud of you, as am I. You're an amazing sister, and person—and I know you're going to be an amazing mother.
Love, Ana"
Maria's voice caught as she finished reading, and she wiped a tear from her cheek, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the words sink in.
Danny took her hand, squeezing it gently. "That's a big step for Ana. And for you, too."
Maria nodded, wiping a tear from her cheek, her fingers trembling as she held the letter close to her heart. "It means a lot. I just never thought I'd hear that from her. But I'm glad I did."
After a pause, she gave Danny a small smile, lifted the small wrapped gift, unwrapping it carefully. Inside was a delicate silver necklace adorned with small charms and a framed picture of her, Ana, and Javi from childhood. Maria gasped, a soft smile crossing her face as she held up the necklace, recognizing it immediately.
Maria's eyes glistened. "This was from our grandmother. She always had this vision of passing it down, adding a charm for every child in the family."
Danny smiled, his gaze softening. "Looks like we'll need to add charms for Elena and Sophia."
Maria nodded, her voice soft. "It feels right to continue this tradition. I'd love for our girls to know their heritage, to feel connected to their roots."
Danny wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. "They're lucky to have you as their mom, Maria. And this step Ana's taken—it shows there's hope for all of you."
Maria's head rested on his shoulder, her body relaxing into his warmth. "I hope we can have a real relationship someday. Something normal."
She looked up at him, eyes shining. "Thank you, Danny… for understanding all of this. For supporting me, being my shoulder to lean and cry on. Thank you for everything."
Danny kisses her, pulling her close. "You don't have to thank me. This is what family is for."
They stayed in that quiet embrace, the weight of the past few days settling into a calm stillness as they drifted off to sleep.
A few hours later, Danny felt Maria stirring beside him and kissed her temple. "Let me go grab the twins. You ready?"
Maria smiled, still looking a little tired. "I'm ready. Bring them here."
Downstairs, Danny found Jamie and Eddie watching over the twins, each gently rocking a baby in their arms. Jamie raised an eyebrow as Danny approached. "Here to steal them back already?"
"Afraid so, it's feeding time" Danny said, chuckling. He took Elena from Jamie's arms, as Eddie followed Danny upstairs with Sophia in her arms as they made their way to Maria.
Back upstairs, Maria was waiting eagerly, and she immediately took Elena from Danny, settling her in her arms. They spent the next little while feeding, burping, and changing the girls, working as a seamless team.
Afterward, they headed downstairs to join the family for dinner. Erin, Henry, Frank, and the others had created a warm, cozy spread, and the entire family gathered around the table.
"So, tell us more about these little ones," Erin said with a warm smile, a glint of curiosity in her eyes. "How did you decide on their names?"
Danny glanced at Maria, giving her an encouraging nod. She shifted Elena gently in her arms and smiled. "Well, Danny had Elena Marie at the top of his list for a girl's name, and it felt perfect. Elena is my middle name, and it means 'shining light.' Marie means 'beloved.'"
Danny grinned, looking down at his daughter with pride. "I wanted something meaningful and beautiful—just like her mom. And I've always loved the name Elena. It felt like it was meant to be."
Maria smiled at him before continuing. "As for Sophia Rose, that was my top pick. Sophia means 'wisdom,' and Rose represents beauty and love. It's also a tribute to my grandmother, who adored roses and always taught me to see the beauty in everything." Her voice grew tender. "It felt like the perfect way to honor her."
Henry leaned back in his chair, his eyes crinkling with warmth. "Beautiful names for two beautiful little girls. You both did well."
The family nodded in agreement, their smiles reflecting the joy in the room.
Frank raised his glass, prompting everyone to follow suit. "To Elena Marie and Sophia Rose, the newest additions to the Reagan family. May they always feel the love and strength of this family around them."
"To Elena and Sophia," the family echoed, their glasses clinking in unison.
Maria looked over at Danny as he held a sleeping Sophia in his arms, her heart swelling. She leaned in close to him, whispering, "I think we did pretty great."
Danny met her gaze, his smile soft and full of love. "Yeah, we did."
——
A few days later, as Danny was finishing up paperwork at work, Eddie stopped by Maria's house. They spent the afternoon feeding and tending to the babies, Eddie helping Maria settle them down for a nap.
Once the twins were asleep, Eddie turned to Maria, her expression unusually quiet. Maria noticed the pensive look on Eddie's face and raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay, Eddie?"
Eddie hesitated, then exhaled. "I've been feeling… overwhelmed. About work and… other things."
Maria's face softened, her tone gentle. "Do you want to talk about it? I can make us some tea."
Eddie nodded, and they moved to the kitchen, where Maria prepared tea and set it on the table. Eddie took a deep breath, staring down at her cup. "Maria, can I ask… how did you feel when you first found out you were pregnant?"
Maria's gaze softened, sensing the hesitation in Eddie's voice. "Honestly? I was scared. I didn't know how Danny or the family would react. We weren't married then, and it felt like I was going to be alone in it all."
Eddie looked at her, her eyes widening slightly. "I see… that must have been difficult."
Maria took Eddie's hand gently. "Alright, I'm just going to ask, and if I'm wrong please don't be upset with me. Eddie, are you pregnant?" she asked softly, her voice filled with understanding.
Eddie's eyes widened in shock. "How did you—?"
Maria smiled warmly. "I'm a detective, remember?"
Eddie gave a small laugh, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Jamie and I have talked about this and we want to start a family, but I thought it'd be a little while longer. I didn't expect it to happen so soon, and now I'm… scared."
Maria squeezed her hand. "He's going to be thrilled, Eddie. The sooner you tell him, the sooner you'll both be able to enjoy this. Trust me. You and Jaime are going to be great parents. Don't let fear ruin this joyous time of your life."
Eddie looked down, smiling a little through her tears. "Thank you, Maria. I really needed to hear that."
"Anytime, Eddie," Maria smiles, blinking back a few tears herself. "Know that Danny and I are her for you and Jaime for anything."
——
Later that evening, Maria and Danny enjoyed a quiet dinner together. Danny looked over at her with a smile. "So, how was your day with Eddie?"
Maria smiled, still touched by their heart-to-heart. "It was nice. I think she just needed someone to talk to."
Danny nodded, relieved. "I'm glad she has you. Eddie's always been one to keep things to herself, and I think you've been a great influence on her."
After dinner, they spent time with Elena and Sophia, marveling over every little detail. Danny gently rocked Sophia in his arms. "You know, sweetheart, your mama and I are so grateful for you and your sister."
Maria smiled, brushing her fingers over Elena's tiny hand. "I can't wait for them to know this family. They'll be so loved."
When the babies were asleep, Danny finished tidying up the kitchen and texted Maria to bring the baby monitor downstairs. As she walked in, she noticed the kitchen lights had been dimmed, soft music playing in the background. Danny was leaning against the counter, his eyes lighting up as she entered.
Walking over, he took her hands, pulling her close. "We never got to have a first dance, and I wanted to make up for it."
Maria laughed softly, touched. "Right here?"
He nodded, wrapping his arms around her as they swayed to the music. They held each other close, letting the calm and quiet wash over them.
After a while, Danny murmured, "So I've been thinking about our church wedding I promised you. What if we make it official soon?"
Maria looked up at him, her expression a mix of surprise and joy. "Really? You're serious?"
Danny nodded, his gaze steady and sincere. "More sure than I've ever been. I want us to have that moment—the one we didn't get to share with everyone we love. I want to stand with you, in front of our family and friends, and say our vows again."
Maria's smile grew, tears glistening in her eyes. "I'd love that, Danny. But if I agree, let's keep it small, okay? Just close family and friends. Nothing over the top."
Danny's face softened as he leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Agreed. How does three months from now sound?"
Maria blinked in surprise. "Three months? That's right around our first anniversary. You think we can pull it off in time?"
Danny smirked, leaning back slightly. "Are you doubting my planning abilities, Mrs. Reagan?"
Maria chuckled, playfully nudging him. "Of course not, Mr. Reagan. Okay, so we've got the when. Now, the next question is where."
Danny straightened up, his expression brimming with quiet pride. "I've already done some digging. I've got three great places in mind—each one has availability for when we'd need it. I can show you the details on my computer now if you want, or we can visit them in person in the next few days."
Maria stared at him, her lips parting in astonishment. "Danny Reagan, I'm so impressed. You've really thought this through, haven't you?" She paused, her voice cracking as tears started to well in her eyes.
Danny's brows furrowed in concern as he cupped her face, his thumbs brushing away the tears gently. "Hey now, what's with the tears?"
Maria let out a shaky laugh. "They're happy tears, I promise," she breathed. "You know, for a long time, I thought I'd never have any of this—you, our girls, a family, a home. And now you're giving me this wedding, too. But, Danny, you don't have to do this. Our civil ceremony was beautiful, and it was more than enough for me. I don't need anything else—I just need you."
Danny leaned forward, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "I know you'd be happy with what we already have, Maria. But I want you to have this, too. I want us to share this moment with our family. I want Elena and Sophia to look back at this one day and know how much love they were born into. So, what do you say? Are you in?"
Maria exhaled deeply, her tears falling freely as she smiled. "Danny, you make me so happy—every day." She pulled back slightly to look him in the eye. "Let's do it. Let's have the wedding."
Danny grinned, pulling her into a tight embrace. "That's my girl."
For the rest of the evening, they stayed close, slow dancing in their dimly lit kitchen. They talked about their wedding plans in hushed, excited voices—deciding who they'd invite, what kind of ceremony they wanted, and how they'd tell the family. By the time they finally headed to bed, Maria couldn't stop smiling, her heart full and her future shining brightly ahead.
Later, as they were getting ready for bed, Maria's phone pinged with a message from
Eddie: I told Jamie… you were right, he's thrilled! We're telling the family this Sunday. Will you help me plan a creative way in telling the family?
Maria grinned, feeling a warmth in her heart as she responded.
Maria: Of course. I'm so happy for you and I can't wait to celebrate with you! Plus, got something exciting to share with you as well. I'll give you more details tomorrow.
When Danny asked what Eddie had wanted, Maria simply said, "Just some girl talk, really." She gave Danny a reassuring smile, hoping to keep Eddie's secret until Sunday.
Danny nodded thoughtfully. "I'm glad Eddie has you to talk to. She's always been close to us, but I think she sometimes felt like the odd one out. Having you here has brought her closer to everyone."
Maria reached out, wrapping her arms around him. "I feel lucky to be part of this family, Danny. And Eddie is like a sister to me."
He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Well, we're lucky to have you."
They climbed into bed, feeling the warmth and quiet contentment that had come to define their lives since the twins arrived. As they lay together, their fingers intertwined, they drifted off to sleep, hearts full of love and excitement for the days ahead and the family celebrations waiting around the corner.