A/N:

italics flashback, bold Joey observations

I walk the three flights to the Donnellys apartment. I figured since Sean was released from the hospital this morning that Helen needed a break. I decided to bring some food over from the Diner that was sure to last at least three or four days. I stop at the third stair to the top when I hear Tommy say, "Don't get near my mother or anyone in my family again, do you understand me?" Then a man in a leather jacket backs up towards the stairwell. He looked Italian. "The way to avoid that is to pay me my money."

This didn't sound good. Tommy sounds like he's ready to spit nails. "You come here again, I'll kill you."

"You know where to find me, kid." The man says, "Just bring a handful of cash." He turns and starts down the stairs and I recognize him right away. Nicky Cottero.

He winks at me and looks me up and down as he passes by. "I knew it was gonna be a beautiful day today."

Tommy's head snaps in my direction when I reach the top. "That was you he said that to?" He walks two short strides to the top of the stairwell, "Nicky!"

I stop him with my shoulder, "Tommy, don't. Forget about it."

He turns back and starts pacing nervously down the hall. I shift both bags in my arms. "Before you ask me, yeah, I heard most of it."

"He wants money for everyday Louie's not back. He showed up when I was downstairs and was talking to Ma when I came back. Asking her for directions."

That surprised me. As far as I knew, no one ever had the guts to show up at the Donnellys and hassle Helen. Or any of them for that matter. "She alright?"

"Yeah, she didn't even know who he was." He notices the bags. "What are those?"

"Oh, I figured your mother could use some help with food since she's been at the hospital so much with Sean. I brought some stuff over."

"She'd never admit that in a million years, but thanks. I'll take those off your hands." He takes the bags from me and I push the door open.

Helen was in the kitchen and Sean and Kevin were eating breakfast at the table. "What took ya?"

Tommy puts the bags on the counter. "Giving that guy directions. He was all confused. Then this one showed up with food."

Helen gives me a side hug. "Did she now? That was sweet of you. Not neccesary, but sweet."

"Don't worry about it, Ma. Just in case you need something extra the next few days." I glance over at Tommy and he shakes his head at me. I guess he wasn't going to fill Helen in on the situation with Nicky. They all tended to leave her out of everything. I for one thought she could handle it.

Kevin stands up with his cereal bowl in hand and peeks inside the bag. "What'd you bring me, Mad?"

I slap the top of his hand. "Sean has dibs. He was the one in the hospital not you. You've got cereal."

Kevin rubs his hand. "That hurt." He looks at Helen, falling back in the chair. "And you let her just smack me like that?"

She starts putting ingredients in a bowl. "Someone has to. You eat me out of house and home. That's the second damn Lucky Charms box I've bought in a week."

I stick my tongue out at Kevin and take one of the bags to the table and sit next to Sean. "You're gonna love me forever, Seany."

Kevin gets up from his seat and goes into the next room with Tommy, but not before tossling my hair. He ran off before I could retaliate.

Sean's eyes widened when he see's the large blueberry muffins, which I know are his favorite. "You're amazing. Seriously, best future sister-in-law ever."

He kisses me on the cheek and I close my eyes, dreading what came next. This always happend whenever someone brought up Jimmy and I getting married. "When are you two gonna tie the knot already, huh? My Jimmy needs to settle down. Maybe it'll slow him down a little bit. God knows he could use that."

I look down, trying to end this conversation as soon as humanly possible. Sometimes I forget how much in denial Helen really is where Jimmy's concerned. "We haven't really talked about it, Ma. He's been real busy at the bar lately."

"That's an excuse. Married men run bars. He can run a bar and plan a wedding. A summer wedding at the church would be nice."

Sean steps in cautiously. "Maybe they don't want to get married right now, Ma. Lay off a little bit, huh?"

She stares him down. "Eat your cereal and have a muffin. You need to build your strength back up."

I give Sean's arm an appreciative squeeze. I look up when he stands and walks into the room with Tommy and Kevin. Helen looks on, "What's wrong with the boys today? Everyone's on edge."

I shake my head, "I don't know. Must be one of those days. Sean getting out of the hospital and all."

I had been at the Firecracker all morning helping Jimmy with inventory. Joey showed up an hour ago and all he's done is talk my ear off and watch me stock Whiskey. "Joey, why don't you help me with some of this instead of talking my damn ear off? I'm sick of hearing about this cell phone thing. I don't care."

I look over at Jimmy. He'd had his ear glued to that cell phone since I'd gotten there. "It's Jimmy from the office. Your number for the week's four hundred and forty dollars."

I roll my eyes. Tommy was gonna shit twice and die when he found out what Jimmy was doing with collecting for Louie. I still couldn't believe Kevin was going along with it.

Jimmy glances at me as I walk past him to get the rest of the Whiskey in the basement. I didn't pass up the opperturnity to give him the dirtiest look ever. "No, no-- Louie's out of town. I'll be making the payments." He covers the phone, "Joey, I told you before. Help her. She's all pissed off now. You know how she gets."

Joey puts down the shot glass. "Okay, yeah. I'll help. I was writing this stuff down for you."

Jenny comes through the door and walks to the bar. "Joey, seen Tommy?"

I come out of the back with a crate and put it down. Jenny is staring right at Jimmy and looks like she was about ready to kill him. Joey had a blank look on his face. Jimmy on the other hand looked like he was having the time of his life. "I mean the last time Joey here saw you. He was telling me about it. I was upstairs so I missed the big exit. You know it's funny-- sounded to me like you forgot you were married. Does Samson know?"

I look to Jenny. "Since when did you leave with Samson last night?"

Her eyes dart to Joey and then back to Jimmy. "Just tell Tommy I was here, okay?"

She turns to walk to the front door. "I'll be sure to tell Tommy. I mean, Samson. I mean, Tommy."

Obviously I'd missed something. I had no clue what was going on. "Jimmy."

"I'm sorry. I made a mistake. Anyone can make a mistake right?"

And then she was gone. I run out from behind the bar and go outside to try and catch her. "Jenny!" I call, finally catching up.

Everything that was said in the bar was true. Otherewise she wouldn't be crying. She stops walking and leans against a building. I stare at her for a minute, waiting for her to start talking. "I left with Samson last night. We-- God, Mads I screwed up. I screwed up so bad. I slept with him."

My face drops. "Tell me you're kidding."

She shakes her head, "I wish I were. I told him it couldn't go any further, but it still happend, you know? I can't even believe it."

All I could think about what the look on Tommy's face if he ever found out. I don't even think Jenny realizes how much he loves her. "You gonna tell him?"

She didn't answer. If he asked she'd tell him the truth. If not it would stay between us.

Sunday nights were always the same. I'd come to the bar at around seven and play pool with Jimmy, Kevin, Joey, and sometimes Tommy when he wasn't finishing up an art assignment at the bar. Tonight was no different. Except I was winning for once. It must be my night.

I smack Jimmy with the pool stick when he tries to screw up my shot. "Cut that out, Jimmy!"

He chuckles and grabs me around the waist when I lean down. "Cut what out?"

Kevin makes a face. "Okay, seriously. None of that for once? Go upstairs if you're gonna fondle."

Joey nods in agreement. "It's kind of uncomfortable. He's right. Maybe because he hasn't had a girlfriend in-- how long, Kevin?"

Kevin raises his fist. "You want a smack?!"

I grunt loudly and nudge Jimmy harder, and this time he moves. "I'm very serious about this shot."

Kevin finishes his beer, and grabs another from the table. "Since when do you let Mad beat you at pool, Jimmy?"

I take the shot, handing the stick to Joey. I sit next to Kevin. "He's not letting me do anything. I'm winning by myself."

I notice Jimmy looking towards Tommy who's talking to Jenny. She must have just come in. I give her a small nod. Jimmy grabs the stick from Joey, "Screw this. Let's play nine ball." Turning in Tommy's direction, "Tommy, nine ball! Me and you partners, I can't lose again tonight!"

I roll my eyes, motioning for Kevin to grab me a beer. "Jimmy, they need to talk. Just let 'em talk."

Jimmy ignores me, "Tommy, come on!"

Then Jenny screamed at him from across the room. I smiled with Kevin. Jimmy was the only one who could make her yell like that.