Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, this is a story based on my own imagination of the fictional characters. Please Review and let me know what you think!
"Join us for a drink?" Frank asked Jamie who was gazing at his partner turned fiancé Edi. He'd been watching them all night, from the moment Jamie asked for an extra place setting to be added to the traditional Sunday Dinner Table right up to Edi kissing his temple before taking a stack of empty plates to the kitchen to be washed.
Jamie tore his eyes away from Edi, who was standing in the kitchen doorway talking to Sean about cars. She looked so comfortable, like she was always meant to be here. He looked up at his father and smiled.
"You know Dad, I was hoping to take my Bride home. Well, to whichever home she chooses we go to. We haven't talked about that yet. And there are some other things we need to discuss as well."
Frank looked at Henry, who looked at Danny who raised his voice loud enough for Edi to hear and said, "Hey Sister-in-Law to be, you mind if we steal him for a few minutes? Jack, Sean – You boys are old enough to come along. Let's meet in the Den."
Edi laughed but couldn't say anything due to being whisked away by Erin and Nikki in a cloud of squeals and questions about Wedding Details. Jamie wondered if she'd want a big wedding. Would she want to wait until her Dad was out of Prison so he could be there? They had a lot to talk about and honestly, he couldn't wait to get started.
"I don't remember you guys whisking me to the den when I asked Sydney to marry me." Jamie stated, half laughing, half annoyed.
"Well, Sydney wasn't Edi," said Danny, "and you didn't look at her the way you even look if your thinking about Edi." Jamie smiled…Sydney seemed like a lifetime ago. He would always hold a special place in his heart for her, but more for the reason that she made him realize what he wanted in a partner. He had always hoped for someone who would not only respect and admire his work as a Police Officer but someone who could also understand it. Then again, he never thought that while still grieving the loss of his partner Vinny, who died in his arms after being shot in an ambush at the Bitterman Housing Project, he would be partnered up with a spunky blonde who would change his life forever. He was so mad at God at that time in his life. He hadn't known what to believe. His Mom, His Brother, His Partner…. all gone too soon. But with every tour with Edi, every meal break where he laughed at how much she could eat and every dart game at the local cop bar, he started to believe that everything would be okay again.
In the den, Frank was already pouring four small glasses of a bottle that Jamie had always seen sitting on the shelf but had never seen anyone drink. It was a Glenlivet 21-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch, which was a lot more than what he normally drank – even with his dad. Danny took the bottle and poured 2 glasses with barely any scotch in them. As Frank handed Jamie and Henry their glasses, Danny gave Sean & Jack the glasses with barely anything in them. "Just don't tell your mother." He said with a small smile. This was a celebration and the boys had grown up so much in the past year. Danny wanted to share this with them.
"Jamie," Frank started, "I want to apologize if it seemed like I wasn't happy for you at the beginning of dinner. We all knew you've had feelings for Edi, but I think I speak for all of us," looking around at his father, sons & grandsons, "that some of us thought you may have missed your shot. Four years is a long time to not act on your feelings. But I am so happy that you finally did. The events you've experience in the last few days have changed you forever, have changed our family forever. And while I wish that you were never in that situation, I'm grateful it finally woke up your heart. Your mother and Joe would both be so proud of you….and they would both love Edi, like we all do."
"Your grandmother would have been proud of you as well. And she would love to see the way you look when you look at Edi." Said Henry.
Danny cleared his throat and Jamie saw Jack and Sean both place a hand on their father's shoulder. "Linda would have been thrilled as well, little brother. She loved weddings and she loved you. She prayed every day that you would find someone to complete you." Danny sniffed and looked down as Jack and Sean both squeezed his shoulders.
"And we're happy for you too, Uncle Jaime. Edi is HOTT!" Sean blurted. Jack busted out laughing while Danny wiped a tear away and chuckled with Frank and Henry.
"Thanks guys," Jamie laughed, "I am so happy and excited to start this new life. Dad, I know that tomorrow you will go in and Discuss with your staff the thought of married couples not partnering on the job. I understand what you believe, but after four years, I have no doubt in my mind that we keep each other safe and we work well together, in the best way partners can on the job. Edi will take the sergeant's exam soon & who knows where I will go. We will work this out, department rules or not. But I can't let the rules of the job keep us apart anymore. I've lost four years of being with her because I didn't want to NOT be with her. I love her in every way and she loves me. So, I Understand where you came from and where you may still take this. And I appreciate your apology."
Frank smiled and raised his glass, quickly followed by the rest of the Reagan men, "To Jaime & Edi Reagan, Partners on and Off of the Job."