A/N: Thank you for your interest in our newest story. This is unlike our last collaboration, Meet Me In Montana, although it is still definitely Jamie and Eddie centric. This story line contains graphic violence and deals with the aftermath of such violence. This is a powerful story. If you're a Jamko fan this will be a hard read but well worth your time. It was hard to write but very rewarding.

This will not be for everyone, and we respect your decision if you choose to read or not based upon this warning, but that having been said, don't say you were not warned!

This story will post each week on Thursday, however, to get the ball rolling, for this week only, there will be an update on Friday The rating will change tomorrow as well due to the content of the story.

Prologue

Jamie caressed Eddie's huge baby belly as their little one moved and caused the skin to ripple. "I can't wait to meet her," Eddie smiled at him.

"Me neither," Eddie sighed. "You staying home again? I don't think she's going to come today."

"No, but I hate leaving you alone this close," Jamie fussed kissing her head.

"Don't worry," she whispered. "No action today." Eddie said that daily until one day she said it on the couch curled up as Jamie rubbed her belly. He shook his head, "No, it's today."

"What makes you so sure," eddie asked relaxed-at the feel of his touch in her stomach.

"I just know," he replied. "I just know you and I can tell." He snuggled her closer. "I'm staying close today."

Eddie smiled not really complaining about having him close laying her head on his chest.

Jamie sent their two older kids, Mary and Joe to Frank's early that morning. He sat with Eddie holding her and gently massaging her back and belly. "Jamie, she isn't coming today."

"I like to be ready in case , because I think she is Eddie," Jamie held her tight

Eddie turned her head and looked up, "We can always encourage her to come..." She batted her eyes at him.

Jamie laughed meeting her halfway the kiss soft. "We could yeah."

They started off with slow gentle kisses, soft caresses, then Jamie led Eddie to their bed. Jamie laid Eddie down locking eyes with her.

They had been careful making love with all three pregnancies, but this one, Eddie had more of a drive than the other two. The last few months they had no choice but to make love using different positions given Eddie's size, she had ballooned out much more with this third pregnancy and Jamie found her adorable.

He held her, rubbing his hand over her belly and up to her breasts. His body stirred at just this simple gesture, he was so attracted to her beauty as her body prepared to give their third child life.

Jamie turned Eddie to him and took her lips in a deep, long kiss. Their arms wrapped around each other, their legs entwined…Jamie held Eddie fast to him, they didn't even want air between them.

"I love you," Jamie whispered. "And I know our girl is coming, I feel it in my heart."

Eddie slowly blinked her eyes, "Then I trust you…but let's give her a little help."

It was no more than an hour after they had made slow and gentle love that Eddie felt a sharp pain in her back and a gush of warm water down her legs. "Jamie, my water just broke! I think you're right, she's ready," Eddie winced reaching for his hand grimacing in pain.

He smiled, "There you see, I did my part, now let's get you ready for yours. Breathe in and relax, we'll start timing them." Eddie squeezed his hand breathing in and out slowly until it passed.

They timed the length of the contractions and the time in between whispering soft sweet nothings until it was time to leave for the hospital. "Jamie, you have the bag we packed?" Eddie asked holding onto the dresser.

"Already in the car," he smiled.

"Okay, I'm ready. Oh, here comes another!" Eddie grimaced. Jamie held Eddie closer as they waited out the contraction.

They headed slowly to the car, the contractions we're eight minutes apart, but bad, very painful.

They headed slowly to the car. Eddie was breathing hard each time a contraction came, closing her eyes tightly against the pain.

Jamie quickly checked on her. "How you doing, Eddie?"

"They are hurting so much!" she gasped. " Really bad."

"I know Eddie, hang , I'll get you to the hospital," Jamie changed lanes.

Eddie took a long breath, they wanted to hold each other as soon as they got to the hospital.

Jamie was able to make good time getting Eddie to the hospital. Since Eddie was preregistered, she was sent up to the maternity floor.

A nurse gave Eddie the gown to change into and left them so Jamie could help her.

When Eddie was settled in bed, Jamie called Frank and let him know what was going on. "Give Eddie a hug for me and send a picture of my grandchild," Frank requested.

"Thanks Dad," Jamie replied. "Thanks for respecting that Eddie and I want to be alone for this. You know I'll keep you posted."

"Of course, I understand. Let me know when she arrives," Frank assured.

Jamie went back to Eddie's side. They walked the halls discussing her past labors, this one was already going slower.

"Wish she would come already," Eddie said through gritted teeth.

"I wish I could feel it for you," Jamie sighed. "I'm so sorry. What can I do? Want to stand up and dance a little?"

"I wouldn't give this up for the world. Let's dance, I'll try anything," Eddie sighed grunting in pain.

Jamie eased Eddie close and held onto her as they swayed back and forth gently. He pressed into her back to provide counter pressure, then contractions got closer together and more intense, but they didn't produce the baby girl. "Why is she taking so long Jamie?" Eddie breathed out once back in bed.

"The doctor is going come soon, we will know then," he soothed.

Eddie sighed, "What if something is wrong? The others didn't take this long to come."

"Don't worry." He sat on the bed and slowly rubbed Eddie's back up and down. "The others were probably Reagans, this one is more you..."

"I can't help it," Eddie rested her head on his chest sucking in a breath as another came. The doctors gave her something to dilate her faster; after an hour of that Eddie was in terrible pain. Things were finally accelerating.

She held Jamie's hand the entire time crying out, "It hurts!"

Jamie climbed on the bed with her and wrapped his arms around her rocking ever. so slowly, just enough for her to feel. "Ssh, I love you so much. Try and relax, breathe in, I'm here. I'm right here."

"I can't! It hurts so much," Eddie squeezed his hand tightly.

Jamie knew right now Eddie could not fight for herself, he had to do it for her. He buzzed the nurse, "She needs something now!"

The anesthesiologist gave Eddie an epidural to help with the pain. "Don't worry, Mrs. Reagan. This will help immediately."

"Remember when we held Mary for the first time?" Jamie asked. "Remember how that felt?"

"Hmm, that was the greatest feeling," Eddie agreed.

"You are going to feel that again, I promise you. Soon, this will all be a memory," Jamie soothed many times as the labor pressed on.

The doctor came in to help Eddie push. Eddie took Jamie's hand, "Ready? She was finally ten centimeters after 15 hours of labor. She bore down and pushed with all her strength. "Good, Eddie, good honey!" Jamie encouraged.

"I'm right here, I am not leaving your side," he assured her. "Don't be scared." He could read her so well.

"Jamie," Eddie grimaced taking a deep breath.

"Right here," he soothed. "She is on her way, honey. You need some help?" She had been pushing for an hour.

After another half hour, Eddie was told urgently by the doctor, "Stop pushing!"

"Doc, what's wrong?" Jamie asked holding Eddie's hand.

"They baby's head is out, but her shoulders are wedged. I have to reach in and adjust her shoulders. He looked at the nurse who put an oxygen mask on Eddie, then pushed her knees up towards her head to open the birth canal. She was sobbing.

"It's okay, Eddie I'm right here honey the doctor will help our girl," Jamie said.

"It hurts too much," she sobbed in the panic only a mother could know for her child.

"I know it'll be over soon," Jamie held Eddie assuring her.

"Okay Eddie," the doctor instructed. "Big push, really big."

Eddie took a deep breath and bore down pushing hard.

The baby popped out of birth canal and began to cry in earnest.

"She's here honey! You did great!" Jamie hugged Eddie teary eyed.

Eddie sobbed and leaned back into Jamie's chest as the little baby cried and let the world know Isabella Reagan had been born.

"I'm so proud of you honey," Jamie whispered kissing her head

Eddie snuggled to Jamie and he held her tight. "I love you so much... I want to see her."

The doctor did a thorough check bringing the new baby over to the anxiously waiting parents.

Eddie held her baby girl close to her breast and Jamie held them both to him. They kissed over the baby's head.

Two Days Later

Linda was reading a story to Joe and Mary when Frank arrived with Jamie, Eddie, and new baby Bella. The kids jumped off the couch going to hug their parents and meet their new sister.

"Hey, easy guys," Jamie whispered. "Mommy's still a little sore. Let her sit down then you can see the baby. " They followed to the couch eagerly climbing up on both sides for a peek.

Jamie held Eddie's arm and helped her to get settled, she was very tired after the long difficult birth. Mary sat on her knees smiling. "She's little," she gently rubbed a finger over the baby's hand.

"Yes, she is," Eddie smiled. "You were this little too when you were born, so were you Joey. But look how big you two are now."

Joey looked up from staring at the baby, "Me?"

"You," Eddie nodded and snuggled him tight. "You were tiny like this too and fit in Mommy's arms like this."

Joey looked back at the baby wordlessly. Mary smiled "What's her name?"

"Her name is Isabella, after Mommy's grandma," Jamie replied. "We're going to call her Bella because she is so beautiful."

"She is beautiful," Mary agreed.

"Mommy, Daddy, we have to do the candle for her," Joey said. Joey slid off the couch and ran to get a candle from the kitchen drawer. He was so adorable when he did that. He brought the candle over and wiggled between Jamie and Eddie, "Wish and blow, Mommy," he smiled. "Wish and blow!"

Smiling Eddie closed her eyes thinking of a wish for her daughter

When the children were in bed that night, Jamie and Eddie cuddled in bed, "Joe is so cute with that wish and blow thing."

"He is, it's a really sweet idea. We are lucky, Eddie, our kids are so sweet."

"I just wonder where he got the idea, you know?" Eddie replied. "Must be from the birthday candles, he started this after your birthday, happy moments, wish and blow..."

"Yeah maybe," Jamie held eddie thoughtfully. "Either way, it's a really cute tradition to do."

"It is..." Eddie replied snuggling closer even as Bella cried.

Jamie sighed, "I got her." He kissed her head and got up to check on their daughter. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked softly picking her up.

She was working her tiny lips, showing how hungry she was. Jamie carried her to Eddie, only she could fix that issue for now.

"Here Mommy, she's smacking her lips in the crib," Jamie said gently placing her in Eddie's arms.

Eddie smiled and held the baby to her breast, not realizing at the time this would be the beginning the most difficult time in her life.