Jamie stood outside the familiar door of his dad's house taking a deep breath. His blue eyes fell upon the baby boy fast asleep in the carrier. "This is it buddy, ready to meet everyone?"
It was Sunday at five which meant all the Reagans gathered around the table for family dinner after going to church, a tradition started by Jamie's great grandfather so the family could see each other once a week.
Jamie sighed nervously at introducing the newest addition to everyone, scared of their reaction, but mostly of their faces when he tells them the other news.
"Anyone home," Jamie asked after finally gathering enough courage to push the door open.
He was met with silence probably shock as none of the Reagans were expecting him thinking he was still in Paris with his wife t Sydney.
A minute later Frank appeared in the door volunteering to check himself, his eyes widening seeing his youngest son
"Jamie, what a nice surprise son. We were just sitting down to dinner." Frank moved closer embracing him, his eyes falling downward finally seeing the carrier Jamie was holding.
"Good to see you too dad, is everyone here?"
Frank looked down again at the carrier his son held making sure he wasn't seeing things, sure enough spotting a sleeping baby boy inside who resembled Jamie when he was a baby. Jamie didn't seem to notice his father's surprised expression as he continued into the dinning room to see everyone.
Henry grinned happy to see his grandson again after Jamie moved to Paris with Sydney. Jack, Sean and Niki jumped out their seats and went to hug their uncle all at once while Erin stared in shock. Danny, continued eating giving his baby brother a simple head nod greeting.
"Uncle Jamie why are you carrying a baby around," Sean asked innocently looking up at him turning everyone's attention back to Jamie.
"Well buddy it's because I wanted you to meet your new cousin Jackson."
Niki knelt down quietly taking in the baby breathless at how round his little face was and how his cheeks puffed out. One little hand wrapped around the blanket that Jamie lay to keep him warm.
Danny, who just took a bite of chicken coughed hearing Jamie telling his sons to meet their new cousin. With tears in his eyes Danny managed to cough out "cousin that means?"
Frank returned with a setting for Jamie allowing him to sit with them feeling everyone should be sitting down when Jamie explained. Jamie set the carrier carefully on a chair behind chair in case Jackson woke up sighing ready to explain.
"Jackson is a month old Syd found out she was pregnant before we left. After she had Jackson she seemed fine but a few days ago she said she couldn't do it anymore and was leaving us. I thought it was the post pregnancy depression but Syd really did leave us so I came back. "
Danny responded with a narrowing of his eyes a tell he wasn't happy with Sydney breaking his little brother's heart or leaving them. Even Erin shook her head disappointed in hearing Sydney left them knowing it must be eating away at Jamie.
"I'm sorry Jamie, but better for you then," Henry encouraged with a raise of his glass supportively.
"You're more than welcome to stay with us for as long as you need son," frank agreed softly.
Jamie smiled knowing as long as there were Reagans close by he would be okay. "I have to get pull ups and formulas, would you mind watching him? He usually sleeps and I won't be long."
"Of course, between all of us he'll be fine," frank chuckled at the eagerness in Linda's and Erin's eyes at having a baby in the house again. Niki slid so far forward she would fall off the chair if the table wasn't there.
Laughter filled the room as the Reagan dinner table was full again exchanging teases mostly between Danny and Erin.
After dinner Jamie drove to the local store for supplies over stocking up on diapers, formula, extra clothes, and any other items he thought Jackson would need until they could find an apartment of their own. He purchased a car seat to take Jackson for rides to doctor appointment and shopping.
A half hour later, Jamie exited the store struggling to find his car keys while balancing the eight bags in his hand. Just as his finger gripped the cold metal a bag slipped out of his grasp onto the sidewalk.
"Here you go sir."
In his struggle Jamie noticed the petite blond officer picking up his fallen bag from the ground, holding it until he got settled. He managed to grab the keys and unlocked the doors freeing his hands. He smiled taking the bag catching her deep blue eyes watching him carefully.
"Thank you," he said softly.
Jamie waited until someone she walked off a bit to place the bag in the back with the others before closing the door and driving back home smiling big.