Part 2 to my Annie oneshot. I have her at around 8-9 months old. I hope you enjoy!
...
"Hi baby. Hi sweetheart" Eddie said softly as she and Jamie approached Annie's crib at the foster home.
Eddie and Jamie had decided adopt her. She had no family members who came forward to claim her so after many long discussions they had decided to take her. Annie looked over at them and gave them a smile. The three of them had really bonded since Eddie and Jamie spent most of their time with her whenever they could.
"Hey guys" Annie's caseworker Mara said as she made her way over to them.
"Everything is done and ready to go so all the two of you have to do is take this little beauty home. Congratulations."
"Thank you so much Mara for all of your help. We couldn't have done this without you" Eddie said as she gave her a hug.
"It was my pleasure. I hope you guys don't mind if I check in on her from time to time. I do it with all the kids I work with. She's definitely a precious girl." Mara reached out and caressed Annie's little head.
"Not at all" Jamie said. "Come by whenever you want." Jamie reached out and gave her a hug.
"Thank you. Now go on you two. Take that baby home."
"Come on Annie" Eddie said excitedly as she lifted her out of the crib. "Let's go home."
...
"Welcome home Annie" Eddie said as she carried her into the apartment. Annie had been a little quiet on the way home due to the unfamiliar surroundings. The apartment was a complete 360* from what it once was. Their spare bedroom was turned into a nursery. They had completely baby-proofed the entire place.
Eddie walked over to the living room and tried to put Annie on the ground so she could crawl around but she was not having it. She clung on to Eddie for dear life and began to whimper.
"It's okay sweetheart. It's okay" Eddie cooed as she walked around rubbing Annie's back.
Jamie looked over at them in concern. It took awhile for Annie to warm up to him but when she finally reached her little arms out for him to hold her, he couldn't have been more ecstatic.
"Is she alright babe?" he whispered quietly as he walked over to them.
"Yeah. She's just not use to being here so she's a little overwhelmed. Mara said most babies are when they're brought into new surroundings."
"Alright." He reached out and rubbed Annie's tiny back. "What do you need me to do?"
"Well... it's almost time for her nap so you need to get her bottle ready."
"Got it." Jamie walked in the kitchen and started to get the bottle ready for Annie.
Eddie sat down on the couch with her. Annie cuddled herself more into Eddie's chest. They sat their for a few minutes with Eddie running her hand over Annie's tiny head.
...
"Here you go" Jamie said as he walked over with the bottle. Annie immediately grabbed for it, laid back and put it in her mouth. Eddie and Jamie softly chuckled at her.
"How do you feel with her home?" Jamie asked Eddie.
"I feel really good. I know I didn't want kids at first but something was different with her Jamie. It was just like it was meant to be, you know?"
"Yeah I know." He looked down at Annie to see that she already had fallen asleep. "We made a good decision Janko. She's perfect."
"She definitely is" Eddie replied. "I'm gonna hold her for a couple more minutes then I will put her down in her crib."
...
"She should be out for a bit. She didn't even stir when I put her down" Eddie said as she walked out of Annie's room.
"That's great" Jamie replied. "It's been a big day for her so she definitely needs some sleep. My dad is about to come over. He wants to see her before everyone else fights for her."
The entire family had been surprised when Jamie and Eddie had announced they were going to adopt Annie. They eventually got over the shock and gave them their full support. Erin and Nicky were excited to have a baby girl to spoil. Pop and Frank were excited for a new granddaughter since Nicky was born almost 23 years ago.
Knock. Knock.
Jamie got up and answered the door.
"Hey dad" Jamie said as he let Frank into their apartment. He came in bearing some new stuffed animals and toys for Annie. Frank was an intimidating figure in most aspects of life but when it came to his grandchildren, he was a major softy no matter their age.
"Hi Frank." Eddie walked over and gave him a hug.
"Hey guys. So... where is she?" Frank said as he looked around the living room.
"She just went down for a nap. She was a little overwhelmed when we got here but once Jamie gave her the bottle she relaxed."
"That's great. If you don't mind, I'll just wait around until she wakes up. I have to get to her before the rest of the Reagan Calvary does." Eddie and Jamie both laughed.
...
Almost an hour later, they heard a soft cry coming from the nursery.
"Oh... I think she's up now" Eddie said as she stood up. "Let me go grab her." Eddie walked into the nursery.
"How's it been going son?" Frank asked Jamie as Eddie tended to Annie.
" Its been going well. I mean she hasn't been here for more than a few hours but I think slowly but surely she'll start to adjust. Eddie's been doing so well with her. She's been very attached to her ever since we got home."
"That's good" Frank replied. "Give her sometime because it's a lot for a child her age to take in. She might be spooked for the next couple of days but just help her ease into it."
"I know. Hey look who's up! Hi sweetheart" Jamie said as he looked over at Annie and Eddie standing in the doorway. Eddie walked over and sat on the couch with her. Annie immediately started looking at Frank with a confused look because she had never seen him before. Frank and the entire family had seen many pictures of her but never in person.
Annie soon took interest with all the presents that Frank had gotten her. Eddie had set her on the ground so she could play with them. After a while, she ended up being pulled onto Frank's lap without protest.
"She looks very relaxed" Eddie said as Annie sat there playing with a stuffed animal.
"You two did good with this little one. Everyone's going to be obsessed with her. I know I already am." Frank looked at Annie with warm affection.
"Thanks dad" Jamie said as he reached out to grab Eddie's hand.
"Are you going to bring her to family dinner on Sunday?" Frank asked.
"I'm not sure" Jamie replied. "It's in two days and we don't want to overwhelm her with all of it just yet. I want her to get used to being around here and us first. Maybe next week dad."
"That's understandable. Pop and I can come over with some food to eat with you guys if that's alright?" Frank asked.
"That'd be great" Eddie said with a smile.
"Good. Well... I have to go now. I have my detail waiting outside for me." He leaned down and kissed Annie's head. "Bye bye sweetheart. I'll see you soon." He handed her off to Eddie. Annie waved bye to her newly minted grandpa.
...
Later that night, Eddie had gotten out of the shower after bathing Annie earlier. She stopped in her tracks when she was about to pass the door of the nursery. She peeked in to see Jamie sitting in the rocker with Annie on his lap.
" I hope that I become the father that you deserve." Annie looked up at at him in her little blue and white sleeper and snuggled further into his embrace. Jamie looked at her and smiled.
"You already look so much bigger from the first time I met you and I'm not ready for you to grow yet. I knew from the first time I went to see you that you were gonna be our baby girl." Eddie smiled as she leaned against the doorway.
"I know I won't be able to protect you from everything. But I'll do everything in my power to try. Me and your uncle Danny are going to have to fight off all the little boys who are going to want to get near you. You won't date until you're 30, right?" Annie just looked at him and giggled.
"Babe it's time for her to go to bed" Eddie said to make her presence known. Annie's eyes were slowly starting to close as Jamie rocked her back and forth.
Eddie kneeled beside the rocker and caressed the side of Annie's face. "She's a beauty babe. I'm glad she's ours now. You're gonna be a great daddy."
"And you're gonna be a great mommy"Jamie replied as he leaned over and kissed Eddie's forehead. "She loves you so much already. Let's just have her sleep with us for tonight. I don't want to leave her alone." Eddie gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Alright" she said softly. "Let's go to bed."