A/N: This followup to "The Conference" will read like a series of one-shots highlighting important parts of Jamie and Eddie's relationship as they build on everything that started in San Diego. Mostly I'm really excited about the next installment of the story, so this sequel is basically just a bridge to get there. First scene divided into two chapters because it ended up being so long. Read, review, enjoy! -Sandy
Sunday, March 12
"And don't mind Erin and Danny," Jamie said for about the fifteenth time since they'd finalized their plans to bring Eddie to her first Sunday dinner. Other than running into Erin while testifying for another ADA's case earlier in the week, today was Eddie's first time seeing any of the Reagan family as Jamie's girlfriend. "They're annoying but they're harmless."
Eddie smirked. "Mind them? I won't mind them at all. I'm looking forward to hearing all the embarrassing Baby Jamie stories they've got."
"What? That's not fair," Jamie whined. "You're supposed to stand up for me, not gang up on me with them!"
She snaked her arms around his waist from behind and pressed her chin into his shoulder. "But what fun would that be?" she grinned.
Jamie turned his head to kiss the side of hers. "Fine then," he said, freeing himself from her grasp. "I'll just tell them your hockey team—see how they like you then."
"You wouldn't," Eddie gasped.
He flicked his eyebrows at her. "Then you better behave yourself. Come on, we have to go."
"I didn't think you'd hit below the belt, boy scout," Eddie said as she walked out the door of Jamie's apartment.
Jamie closed the door and locked it. "Self-defense. Anything goes," he called after her.
"But the Flyers thing? I thought you want them to like me. And your life will be hell just like mine if they don't." She stuck her chin out defiantly as he caught up to her. "So you might want to think twice about that little plan of yours."
"Damn," Jamie muttered. "There is no way for me to win this, is there?"
"Oh, don't worry," Eddie crooned. "If we're too mean I promise I'll make it up to you later."
Jamie's eyes went wide, humoring her. "Well then," he said, swallowing hard. "If that's the deal I'll tell you every embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me—myself."
She hoped she covered it well with the jokes, but Eddie was much more nervous about family dinner than she let on. She'd heard Frank's reaction firsthand, having been in the room when Jamie made the phone call after work on their first day back from the conference, and Jamie had assured her that everyone else was just as excited—but that didn't help loosen the tightly wound knot floating behind her belly button.
Jamie threw his Mustang into neutral and toggled the gearshift a couple times. "You ready?"
"Are you?" she shot back, hoping once again that her external confidence might actually turn genuine this time. It didn't.
"Ready as I'll ever be, I guess," Jamie said.
"Let's go then!" She blindly swatted at the door until she finally landed on the handle and opened it.
"Yes, let's," Jamie said, raising his eyebrows suspiciously as he climbed out of his own side. He rounded the front of the car and took Eddie's waiting hand to lead her around back to the kitchen door.
"You know, embarrassing stories are great, but I'm really hoping we can break out the naked baby pictures today," Eddie teased.
"Oh, no, please don't say that in front of my sister," Jamie pleaded.
"Okay, alright," she sighed dramatically. "We can save the naked baby pictures for next Sunday."
Jamie opened the door and ushered Eddie past him. "Hey, everyone," he called over her.
Nicky, Jack, and Sean stood side-by-side at the counter as they chopped salad ingredients. "Hi, Uncle Jamie," the boys intoned.
Nicky glanced up as Jamie closed the door. "Hey," she said quietly. She was the only member of the family who was less than happy about Eddie's new position in Jamie's life. It wasn't that Nicky disliked Eddie; she was just still embarrassed about the results of her recent ride-along, and she worried that Eddie still blamed her for everything that had gone wrong.
"Boys, this is my girlfriend Eddie," Jamie said. "That's Jack, and this is Sean. And Eddie, you know Nicky."
Nicky offered a tight-lipped smile and quickly turned back to her work as the boys shook Eddie's hand.
"Hang on, hang on—I want to hug you but my hands are a mess," Linda said. She swooped around the island to get to the sink.
"And that's Linda," Jamie laughed. "Have you two met before?"
"We've run into each other at the hospital," Eddie said.
"Oh, good, I couldn't remember."
Linda dried her hands on a towel and shoved it at Jamie as she moved in to hug Eddie. "I'm so glad you're here," she gushed. "I've been hearing all about you for so long—"
Eddie glanced at Jamie questioningly, a move that wasn't lost on Linda. "Oh, from him, from Danny and Erin too," she continued. "They've both been saying for ages how you're perfect for Jamie. I'm just excited to get to know you better myself."
Eddie just smiled. So far, so good, but she always knew Linda and the kids would be easy—she wasn't sure what was up with Nicky, but she didn't care about that right now. She still had two police commissioners, the detective, and the ADA to greet—though she reminded herself, they were just Jamie's dad, grandpa, brother and sister. There would be no hiding behind professional courtesies today, and that was what scared her.
Jamie's gentle squeeze of her shoulder brought her back into his childhood kitchen. "Where's everyone else?" he asked.
"Aunt Erin ran to the store," Jack said.
"And Henry went with her," Linda added. "Danny and your dad are in the other room."
"Well, can we help out with anything in here?"
"Um, everything's just about done, but you can pour the wine."
"Perfect." Jamie started to open the bottle as Eddie busied herself moving the glasses that Linda had set on the island.
"Jamie. Glad you made it."
Jamie and Eddie turned to see Frank's imposing figure in the doorway.
"Eddie," Frank continued, nodding at her. "We're glad to have you here. Seems like it was long enough in the making."
She smiled bashfully and forced herself to keep her eyes forward, no matter how badly she wanted to shrink sideways and look at Jamie. She felt his hand high on her back, between her shoulder blades, which helped a little. "Thanks. I'm really excited to finally be a part of the famous Reagan Sunday dinner."
"Famous?" Frank repeated. "Now is that among all the officers, son, or only the ones who've ridden in a radio car with you?"
Eddie tried not to physically cringe—was the Commissioner really taking a crack at their partnership? Did he think they'd crossed the line while they were still partners? Sure, during the phone call when he found out, Frank had praised them for "doing the right thing" and requesting a change at work as soon as they decided to date. But what if he didn't believe that it was the truth?
"I think Danny got word out to half the patrol division before he got his gold shield," Jamie said smoothly, "but Eddie has heard plenty of stories, too."
She exhaled a controlled breath and silently willed Jamie to keep his hand on her back. It was the only thing grounding her as her mind and stomach turned nauseating somersaults.
"Hopefully good ones," Frank said. "Tell me, Eddie, do you have a big family? If you don't, well, you're in for a spectacle."
Her family? Five minutes in the house and they'd already touched on her and Jamie's partnership and now her family? God, this was a disaster. She knew Jamie had told his father about her background—so why would he ask? It was like he was trying to make her feel as if she wasn't the right—
No, Eddie mentally screamed at herself. He was just making friendly conversation. If she kept overanalyzing every word out of Frank's mouth she'd drive herself insane before they even sat down to eat.
"I'm an only child, but I grew up with a pretty big extended family," she said in what she hoped was a casual tone. She didn't mention that she hadn't heard from most of that extended family in years. Her father's business dealings had wiped out the wealth of all her aunts and uncles on both sides, and those relationships had never been repaired.
"So you've got an idea what you're in for," Frank said with another nod and flat smile. "Need me to take anything to the table, Linda?"
Eddie closed her eyes for the length of one deep, stabilizing breath and hoped that dinner itself would go a little more smoothly.
Danny appeared and Erin and Henry returned from the store at some point, but there wasn't time for anything except quick hellos in the flurry of activity as dishes were carried to the table. Then Eddie found herself sinking into a chair on Jamie's right, cattycorner to his grandfather, and bowing her head as Frank said grace.
"Now Eddie," Henry rumbled as everybody looked up. "You'll have to learn to speak up around here if you plan to get what you want. Don't be shy."
"Eddie's never had a problem being shy, Pop," Jamie said. "Especially when there's food involved."
For once Eddie didn't even pretend to be bothered by his quip about her diet.
"So tell me," Danny smacked through a mouthful of green beans, "who won the precinct pool? All I know's it wasn't me."
"Uh, what?" Jamie asked.
"Come on, you're saying you didn't know? Maldonado out of your house has been taking bets since two Thanksgivings ago, when you two would get your heads out of—"
Linda loudly cleared her throat and shot Danny a look.
"When you two would figure out that you shouldn't be partners anymore," Danny finished. "It was just open to patrol in the Twelfth but I got in on account of I'm family. Closest date without going over wins. Somebody musta gotten five hundred bucks…"
Frank frowned. "Are you telling me that I have officers running gambling operations out of my precincts based on other officers' personal lives?"
"What? No," Danny scoffed. "It was just this. Maldonado's been running the March Madness pool for ten years and he just thought it would be funny, you know, since nobody ever thought the kid would grow—"
Linda cleared her throat again.
"—up and realize he should be with the person who makes him happy. Geez, Linda, what'd you think I was gonna say?"
Eddie stole a glance at Jamie, whose focus was across the table on his brother. With a plate full of food and Danny on the hot seat instead of her, she could feel her nerves dissolving just a little.
"He thought it would be funny is all, Dad," Danny continued in response to Frank's probing look.
"I knew about it," Eddie admitted. "I didn't know there was that much money on the table but Kara Walsh asked for my input before she made her guess."
"She did?" Jamie said, furrowing his eyebrows in disbelief. "What did you tell her?"
Eddie shrugged. "It was last year. I don't remember—I probably just told her that it was never going to happen."
Danny waved his fork in Eddie's direction. "See? Even she didn't think he'd ever do it."
Jamie met Eddie's eyes with a smug smile. "And yet here you are."
"You know what? It's sweet that you guys waited so long," Erin said.
"Yeah," Linda agreed. "The best relationships start from a long basis of friendship."
"Exactly. There's no awkward getting to know each other, no weird surprises—you can just progress naturally and there's a whole lot less to worry about," Erin continued.
Sean leaned forward to look at his mother. "Were you and Dad friends for a long time before you were boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Danny ignored his son and opened his mouth before Linda could answer. "But there's also something to be said about being honest and acting on your feelings when you know you have them. No need to skirt around it like you're in middle school." He shifted his entire body to look at Jamie. "And don't even start with the whole partners thing. Why would you ever think that sitting in a car with her all day could measure up to being her boyfriend if you knew you felt that way?"
"Danny," Henry warned.
"If he wants your opinion he'll ask for it," Linda added.
"We're dating now, Danny, so can it," Jamie said.
"I'm just saying, you both could've saved yourselves some trouble if you'd seen what's right in front of you a year ago."
Eddie narrowed her eyes and smirked. "A year ago? Is that the date you put in the pool?" she asked, her voice low.
"Valentines Day 2016," Danny mumbled with a shake of his head.
"Valentines Day? Really?" Erin scoffed. "You thought he'd do something that cliché?"
"Hey, what's more cliché than hoo—" Danny covered himself with a small cough without even having to see the look on his wife's face. "Than two coworkers getting together on a work trip?"
"You know, sometimes the change of scenery and a different pace is exactly the push you need," Linda said. "I think it's great, you two."
Eddie grinned at Jamie, an expression he returned. She was still a little nervous, but every second it became easier to cover it up.
"And anyway, Jamie's always moved slowly when it comes to the ladies. You know that, Danny," Erin said mischievously.
"Oh, here we go," Jamie groaned, falling back against his chair.
Erin smirked. "How long did it take you to work up the nerve to ask Hannah Pearson to be your date to your senior banquet? Three weeks? A month?"
"He had a crush on her from the ninth grade," Danny said.
"I did not," Jamie argued.
"You did—I saw it every single time I was home. It was Hannah this, Hannah that, guess what Hannah said at lunch today…"
"She didn't transfer in from public school until sophomore year, Danny," Jamie corrected. "And I dated a different Hannah junior year. Hannah Lazerson. That's who you're thinking of."
"What? No," Danny insisted. "There was just the one."
"There were two, but sure, go ahead and claim you know better than I do."
"Whatever. But there are some stories that we definitely know better than you do," Danny said. "And there are at least a couple that prove that you haven't always had this shyness around girls."
"Eddie, have you ever heard about my ninth birthday party?" Erin smirked.
"Um, no, I haven't," Eddie said, shooting Jamie a quick grin as she leaned forward to see Erin.
Jamie grimaced. "What, did you guys rehearse that lead-in?"
"I had fifteen girls over," Erin said, ignoring him. "We're in the backyard, having a great time—both my parents are out there with us, and my brothers are all supposed to stay inside until Mom lets them come eat the extra cake. But right as Mom is lighting the candles and Dad's videotaping and my friends are getting ready to sing, Jamie marches out on the back patio, stark naked."
Eddie glanced at Jamie and giggled as Erin continued.
"I'm at the end of the table facing the patio but everyone's looking at me so I'm the only one who sees him at first," she went on. "But then he goes and falls down the little step at the end of the patio and he just starts screaming and crying—"
"I was two," Jamie cut in. "Danny and Joe sent me outside."
"It's not our fault you always took your diaper off when you woke up from a nap," Danny shrugged. "I sure as hell wasn't going to put another one on you."
"I was so surprised by the sound that I panned over with the video camera and caught a good few seconds of Jamie lying on the ground before his mom put the matches down and got to him," Frank added. "All you can hear is me yelling for Danny and Joe to come out and get him—I knew exactly what was going on. Oh, we should see if we've still got that tape."
By now everybody at the table was laughing except Jamie, who leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. "I don't know why you all think this should be embarrassing to me," he said. "Danny, you're the one who got in trouble in front of all Erin's friends."
"That's true!" Erin confirmed. "Mom told you that you couldn't have any cake and so you spent the rest of the party pouting and whining like you were the baby."
"Did not," Danny scoffed.
"You did," Frank nodded. "There's video evidence of that, too."
Finally Jamie let out a chuckle. "Really, guys, if the best you can do is embarrassing stories about Danny—"
"Oh, I'm sure we can come up with something better," Erin said.
"Yeah, how about anything to do with that drum set you got for Christmas when you were seven?"
"There's nothing embarrassing about that either," Jamie said. "Man, you guys are off your game."
"Well, it's just been so long since you brought a girl home, we're all out of practice," Danny explained.
"Ohhh-kay," Jamie groaned. "That's enough. Nicky, could you pass the salt?"