This is the very last chapter. This story was well liked considering, so I may write a sequel at a later date. Enjoy and Feedback/reviews are always welcome.

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"Is there a reason there are three extra chairs at the table?" Jack asked.

"And nobody has started cooking yet?" Nikki added.

"We're expecting company," Sean said. "Aren't we?"

The grandchildren were asking so many questions that Eddie, helping them set the table, wasn't sure what to tell them. "We are having company and they are bringing the food," she told them.

"That's not right," Nikki protested. "They're guests and they're bringing the food?"

"Yeah," Jack put in.

Sean stopped them both. "Does this have anything to do with that case that had Dad freaked last week?" He asked as Frank came in the room.

"Yes, Sean," Frank said. "Come in the study and I'll tell you what's been going on."

"Is someone dying?" Nikki asked.

"Yes and no," Frank said as he waved the kids to sit on the couch. He took a deep breath before he began. "Do you remember when your grandma died?"

"I do," Nikki said. "I remember you took off and Mom worried herself sick."

"I think I remember that," Jack said. "I remember hanging out with Pops while mom and dad went somewhere for a couple hours. We played Chutes and Ladders."

"I remember playing Chutes and Ladders," Sean said. "I wish I remembered Grandma, but I can't."

"It's OK, Sean. You were young," Frank said. "It has to do with what Nikki said. I was… not doing well…after your grandma died and I was feeling a bit disconnected so I took off."

"Where'd you go?" Sean asked.

"I don't know if you kids still call it this, but I went on a bender," Frank said. The three looked at each other.

"So you got drunk and stayed that way for the whole week?" Nikki asked.

"Most of the week," Frank replied. "I ended up staying with a woman who got me talking and pulled me out of my drunken stupor." He looked at them, gauging how much detail he could give them. "She saved my life then, and again when she pushed me out of the way of a truck a couple of weeks ago."

"That's the case that Dad was working on," Jack said.

"That's right," Frank replied. "I never talked about that week while I was gone." He paused, trying to decide how to word what he wanted to say. "I was ashamed of the way I had acted that week. I also didn't want them to hate me for what I had done after I got sober."

"Grandpa," Nikki said. "You didn't."

"Didn't what?" Sean asked as Jack began to understand.

"I don't think we really need to hear about any extra-curricular activates you did with her," Jack said as understanding crossed Sean's face, too.

"Without going into specifics," Frank said. "You're old enough to know and you need to know."

"Why?" Nikki asked.

Frank took a deep breath and said it. "Because she is coming here for Sunday dinner with her twelve-year-old twins."

The three just looked at him, unmoving and slightly bewildered. It was Nikki's mind that wrapped around it first. "They're family," she said softly.

Jack and Sean looked at her so she turned to look at them. "Grandma died in 2005," she said. "They are twelve years old." She looked back to Frank. "You're their father aren't you?"

Frank waited until the three kids were looking at him before he nodded.

"Boys?" Nikki asked. "Girls?"

"One of each," Frank said.

"Does everyone else know?" Jack said.

"Yes," Frank replied. "They met earlier this week. And before you ask, DNA tests were done and confirm it." He looked at each of his surprised grandchildren in turn before he went on. "You have an aunt and an uncle and they are coming to dinner this evening."

He could tell that they had a million questions. "I know you have things you want to know," Frank said. "I'm sure a lot of your questions will be answered during dinner…" the doorbell rang at that moment. "Why don't you three help me get that?"

Nikki looked at her cousins as Frank stood and headed to the door. They shrugged at each other and followed.

Frank opened the door to admit the children, followed by their mother, who was on crutches. "Cora's chef is coming in with the food," she told Frank. "She'll be in in a minute."

"In the meantime, I want you the meet the grandchildren," Frank said. He patted Nikki's shoulder then pointed out the boys as he said each one's name. Then he introduced Anna, Katie and Mason to his grandchildren.

The five kids stood awkwardly watching each other then Mason perked up suddenly. "Hey, I know you!" he said with a gesture to Sean. "You help coach my soccer team!"

Katie smiled. "He does!"

"Yeah," Sean said. "Maybe we can kick around the ball in the back yard after dinner."

"That would be great," Mason said.

Jack waved them in the direction of the kitchen. "Come on, we'll show you the yard."

Nikki smiled at Katie as the boys went off. "What kinds of stuff do you like to do?"

"I like soccer, too," she said. "But right now I'm trying to stick close to my mom."

"You know she's safe here, right?" Nikki pointed out. "She's surrounded by cops."

"Really?"

Nikki nodded. "Tell you what," she said. "How about you and I help bring the food in while my grandpa gets her settled in the dining room?"

Katie looked at her mother. "I'll be fine," she said. "There's a retired Police Commissioner and former cop plus the current commissioner who is also a former cop. They are backed up by a police detective, a sergeant and a beat cop. I think I will be fine."

Finally, Katie nodded and followed Nikki out the front door.

"She going to be OK?" Frank asked.

"I think she's trying to wrap her head around the fact that she has a bigger family now," Anna replied.

"Then let me help you into the dining room," he said.

"Best to let me do it myself," Anna said as she waved him off. "But you can take this." She handed him an envelope.

"What's this?"

"Just paying off an old debt," she replied as she hobbled on the crutches towards the dining room.

Frank watched her, puzzled then opened the envelope and pulled out what was inside as he was joined by Erin. He unfolded the paper and began to laugh.

"What is it?" Erin asked.

"A check for $751.88," he replied. "Repayment in full for a loan of $500 given in December of 2005. Plus interest."