Always Home for Sunday Dinner

K is for Kids

After infuriating traffic, they had finally pulled up the auditorium. It was a special day in New York; a day of bittersweet endings and exciting new beginnings. Detective Danny Reagan turned the engine off and stepped out of his car while his children, Jack and Sean followed suit. He adjusted his tie in his sideview mirror, before turning around to see his youngest Sean draped in his graduation gown placing his cap on his head. Today was the day Sean finally graduated from high school. Danny smiled lovingly as he walked over to his son and adjusted the crooked cap sitting on top of his head. He moved the tassel on the one side to the other and that's when his son tried to stop his fidgeting.

"Dad," Sean stated simply, "Stop it's fine."

"Sorry," he shyly muttered and looked at his youngest up and down while a proud smile grew across his face. He felt like saying something but he just couldn't find the words. He was too proud.

"Don't tell you're gonna start crying," the younger man stated sarcastically but Danny couldn't even react the way he normally would. He was too much in awe of the accomplished young man standing before him.

"Just can't believe you're graduating," Danny voiced out loud, still in awe of the young man standing before him. 

"I guess miracles can happen," Jack poked fun, receiving a light swat from his brother in return. Just then Danny's younger sister and Sean's aunt A.D.A Erin Reagan peaked out from behind Danny holding her camera up to her eye, pointing the flash at Sean.

"Smile," she said before snapping a picture.

"Really?" Sean voiced, not too impressed by all the attention.

"Well we have to capture the moment Sean," Erin defended, and he finally gave in allowing her to capture the perfect photo before they were interrupted once again.

"Guys come on," shouted Henry Reagan from the building's entrance, "Let's go." The rest of the Reagan clan had arrived for the big day everyone from his father and grandfather to his brother and his fiancé, and now they were filing into the auditorium with other celebrating families. Sean departed from his family members, heading to the waiting area with the rest of the graduates while the others went to find their seats. Danny sat down looking around at the room around him, as he felt his emotions running through him. He was thinking about everything; from the days leading up to the day, to the events currently taking place. He was so lost in his thoughts, he barely felt the slight tap Erin gave him on his shoulder.

"Feeling old yet?" Erin asked jokingly, and he smiled at the statement.

"Yup," he said, and Erin then noticed his mind was venturing off again.

"What's on your mind?" she asked him.

"Just thinking about all these years," Danny started honestly, "About the boys. About Linda. What she's missing. She'd love to see this." Danny's mind started to wander as so many thoughts of all the years he had with dearly departed wife and his now grown up children. From the start of it all to now.

He remembered the day he had come from work and Linda was in the bedroom. He took one look at her and he knew that something was going on. He walked over to her and could see her still watery eyes and tear stained cheeks. He slowly placed himself next to her preparing for the worst, but when he received the news, it was now his turn to cry. She was pregnant. They were going to have a kid; become parents. And then some kind of panic set it, one that he never let her see but that he confided in his father. The fear that he would screw up. That he wouldn't be the father that his child needed. That he wouldn't be the husband that his wife would need from him. But his father did what he always did, and gave him serious words of encouragement. And before he knew it his first son Jack was born. And everything changed in more ways than one.