Right, here it is the final chapter :) I've borrowed Joshua from my 'Moments' story for this one as I just can't imagine the Messer's calling there second child any other name now haha :) Thank you to everyone who has ever read and/or replied to this story, it mean a lot to me to know peope have enjoyed it :)
18 months later
"Daddy, when are they getting here?" four-year old Lucy asked Danny who was putting up a banner on the front door.
"Soon, Luce" Danny replied "Pass me that blob of blue tack"
Lucy passed the blue tack to Danny "I'm just so excited to see them"
"I can see that" Danny laughed watching her bounce on the balls of her feet.
"Can I run down the drive and see if I can see them?"
"Let me stick this up and I'll come with you"
"Okay"
Danny stuck the banner on the front door, taking Lucy's hand he walked her to the end of the drive. "Can you see them?"
"No" Lucy replied "Where are they?"
"They'll be here soon, I promise. Shall we find Mummy and Joshua?"
"Okay" Lucy replied. She looked over her shoulder as they made their way back up the drive. She watched as a taxi pulled up just outside their house."Look, Daddy, look" she pulled on Danny's hand.
Danny turned around to see Flack and Adam get out of the taxi, the driver went to the trunk and pulled their luggage out, passing a case to each man.
"Uncle Flack, Uncle Adam" Lucy squealed letting go of Danny's hand and running down the path to meet them.
"Hey Luce" Flack smiled letting go of his case and kneeling down to catch Lucy in his arms.
"I've missed you" Lucy told him as he picked her up.
"I've missed you too, a crazy amount. I love all the pictures you keep sending me though"
"You did?"
"I did, they are all on my fridge and kitchen cabinets"
"Did you like yours Uncle Adam?"
"I did Lucy, I have a couple up in my locker at work" Adam told her.
Flack rested Lucy on his hip, grabbing his case both men walked up to greet Danny "Danno Danno, I haven't missed seeing your ugly mug on a daily basis" Flack laughed.
"Same here" Danny replied. "Although I'm so glad the two of you could make it"
"The others wanted too but we couldn't all get time off" Adam told him "But we've got gifts in our cases from them"
"It's okay, we understand" Danny replied "Mac only came up last month anyway and I think Hawkes and Sid are both planning a visit just after Christmas"
"So where is the little cutie?" Flack asked
"I'm here" Lindsay smiled approaching the group with Joshua on her hip.
"Ahh not you Monroe, this cutie" he replied putting Lucy down and taking Joshua from Lindsay's arms. "Hasn't he got big"
"Yeah he's a growing boy" Lindsay smiled. "Come on, let's get the two of you in and settled"
They all made their way inside and Lindsay showed the two men to their room. "I'm sorry you've got to share"
"It's alright" Flack replied passing Joshua back to Lindsay.
"We've got a bit of a full house right now"
"You've got another guest?" Adam asked.
"Yeah" Lindsay replied. "I need to go down stairs because guests will be arriving soon for Joshua's party, come down when your ready"
"Okay" Both men replied.
Lindsay carried Joshua back down stairs and went into the garden where Lucy was sat with their second guest Stella. "Did they know I was here?" she asked.
"They had no idea" Lindsay smiled "They'll be so excited when they realise"
"Especially as they phoned and asked if I was coming and I told them I couldn't make it"
"Ella" Joshua grinned reaching out for Stella.
"You want an Auntie Stella cuddle, Josh?" Lindsay asked passing the baby over to Stella.
"I can't believe he's one already" Stella said as she bounced him on her knee.
"I know, it's gone so fast"
"How are you finding life back in Montana?"
"It's so great to be back here, Lucy loves it, don't you?" She asked her daughter.
"Yep, I go to school here and I got lots and lots of friends"
"You do?"
"Yep, this many" Lucy replied holding out both her hands.
"Wow, ten is a lot" Stella smiled. "How's Danny getting on, Linds?"
"Great" she replied "When we first arrived he was a little unsettled. He's a born and bred city boy so it was always going to be difficult for him but I think he really loves it up here now"
"I never thought I'd see him leave New York, it really shows how much he has grown up over the years"
"It really does" Lindsay smiled proudly "I just don't think he could face putting his life on the line any more"
"Which is understandable, especially when he has you and these two little angels now"
"Exactly, He did the cop thing for over ten years, he did his part, he put a lot of criminals away in that time and now he just wants to watch his children grow up and be there for them"
Stella nodded as Joshua tapped his hand against her lips.
"Stella Bonasera well I never" Flack exclaimed as he made his way into the garden with Adam just behind him "I thought you couldn't make it"
"I lied" Stella replied moving Joshua's hand away. "Thought I'd surprise you"
"Well you've certainly done that, it's great to see you"
"Yeah, it really is" Adam added.
"Let's get this barbecue started" Danny called as he carried a tray full of sausages over to the barbecue pit.
"You want some help?" Flack asked
"Yeah, if you don't mind, there is some burgers in side that need bringing out" Danny replied.
"Okay, I'll grab them" Flack made his way back inside to get the burgers.
Adam sat on a chair next to Lindsay, Lucy climbed up on to his lap and snuggled up to him. "I missed you" she told him.
"I missed you too Luce, but you've got me for a whole week now"
"Really? A whole week?"
"Yep, me and your Uncle Flack are staying for 7 days"
"We should have a sleep over, Uncle Adam. You can bring you duvet into my room and sleep on my floor" Lucy told him excitedly.
"Luce, Uncle Adam has a bed to sleep on" Lindsay told her.
"But I wanted a sleepover" Lucy pouted
"Well maybe if you're good, at the end of the week Daddy can take you camping like he did the other week with Uncle Adam and Uncle Flack if he wants to go, you can have a sleep over in a tent then?" Lindsay suggested.
"Can Auntie Stella come too?"
"If she wants too" Lindsay replied
"Do you Auntie Stella? Do you want to come Camping?"
Stella looked a little uncomfortable at the question, camping in a muddy field wasn't really her idea of fun but she didn't want to let Lucy down "I'm not sure, Luce. Maybe me and you can have a girly sleepover in my room sometime during the week?"
" I'll get two sleepovers" Lucy grinned.
"You will" Lindsay smiled.
Lucy turned her attention back to Adam "Camping will be fun, won't it?"
"Yeah, I guess" Adam replied "I've never done camping before so you'll have to tell me what I got to do"
"You never camped before?" Lucy asked shocked. "Come with me, I got pictures" she slid of Adam's lap, taking his hand she lead him to the living room where the photos of the family's last camping trip were kept.
Stella picked up the rattle that was sat on the table and passed it to Joshua, looking up she noticed Danny wincing as he leaned across to reach the salt. "Is he still getting pain in his side?"
Lindsay looked over to her husband and Flack "Yeah it still plays him up a bit, he finds it difficult to carry the children on that side but considering what happens to other people who get shot like he did, he got of quite lightly"
"Yeah, I guess he did" Stella replied leaning down to pick up Joshua's rattle that he chucked on the floor.
"Mummy, someones at the door" Lucy called from the back door.
"Okay, I'm coming" Lindsay told her "You're first guest is arriving, Josh. Shall we greet them?" Lindsay smiled taking her son from Stella and carrying him to the front door.
Soon the garden was filled up with Robert Lindsay's dad, 6 of Joshua's little friends from the play group an their parents. Everyone had a great time celebrating the youngest Messer's first birthday, they played in Lucy and Joshua's little ball pit, played with balloons and ate barbecue food and birthday cake.
After Joshua's friends had all left Danny stood by the barbecue and watched his friends and family interacting. Lucy was sat in the ball pit with Adam throwing balls at each other, Stella and Lindsay were sat chatting on the bench and the end of the garden and Flack was sat on one of the plastic garden chairs with a sleeping Joshua in his arms talking to Robert. Danny was so glad he survived the shooting and worked hard to get better because seeing most of his friends and his family together like they were now was something he would never want to miss. He also decided that moving to Montana was one of the best decisions he'd ever made.
He knew it made Lindsay happier to be nearer to her friends graves and to her Father. The children seemed to be thriving in Montana as well, Lucy was doing really well at school, her teacher had told them that she was one of the best readers in her class and Joshua was doing well too, he was starting to pull himself up on the furniture. Danny knew it wouldn't be long before he started to walk. Danny himself, loved Montana. The air was cleaner here than in New York, it was quieter and just easier to get around as you didn't need to fight thought busy crowds or traffic to get anywhere. He missed New York, of course he did but he couldn't see himself ever wanting move back there. Montana was now his home.