A/N: Here it is! The next chapter.
Thank-you for all the reviews, follows and favourites. They warm my heart.
Once again, please keep reviewing. I love your opinions and what you do or don't like. I take them very seriously when developing a chapter.
I have read through it and tried to find any errors, but I am only human and there will probably still be mistakes.
I don't know about you, but I have been super wrapped up in all things Jamko this season. The writers are doing a pretty good in portraying their relationship.
I don't own Blue Bloods or anything related to it.
Please enjoy.
Chapter 10:
I glance back to the dining hall; my family still bickering over the news they had just received.
Deciding that now would not be the best time for Eddie to be seen in my childhood home, I usher her outside and quietly pull the door shut behind me.
"What are you doing here?" I question before realising the harshness of my tone and rephrase my question, "Sorry, that came out harsher than I intended. I thought you said that you weren't ready?"
"I'm not really. But I know that if I had the choice, I would procrastinate this meeting for as long as possible.
"Now really isn't the best time to go in. I've just told my family. They're not exactly in the right mood to be meeting you,"
I peek a look at Eddie's face and discover a look of hurt and disappoint. But there was also acceptance and understanding laced in as well. She takes a deep breath before continuing; "I expected that response. And it wasn't exactly my intention to talk to your entire family today."
"Then what are you doing here?" I ask, confused.
"To talk to your Dad."
"You want to talk my Dad, the Police Commissioner, our boss, first?" I ask stupidly.
"Please don't remind me of his powerful titles. I came with the intention of talking to him as the mother of his grandchild, rather than an officer under his command."
Eddie's words are demonstrating a lot of strength and courage. The fact that she is willing to talk to Frank Reagan, of all people, first, tells me that she is extremely serious about ensuring my family's involvement in Malina's life.
"Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, he wasn't exactly in the best mood when he realised that I hadn't brought Malina," I question.
I watch her take in a deep breath, before nodding; "I'm sure."
"Okay. I'll bring him out here. That way it's private, and no-one else will have to know you're here."
She nods in understanding, before stepping back to lean on the pillar.
"I'll just wait here. Take your time; I'm not expecting him to be forthcoming to this meeting," she states.
In reply, I give her a nod and re-enter my family home. I can't turn back now, and I am not going to leave Eddie standing out there. If I have to drag my father out there, then so be it.
I return to the dining room to see only my father still seated; the rest I assume are continuing the clean-up in the kitchen. It would explain the rather loud clattering of dishes occurring in the background. I suppose this is the best circumstance I could ask for.
"Um, Dad. There is someone here to see you," I state quietly.
"I don't think now is the best time for visitors Jamie."
"You're going to want to see them," I state in a more convincing tone.
He turns to look me; an eyebrow raised with intrigue
"It's Eddie. She's here to talk to you."
He nods in response but does not make a move to go outside.
"Dad, did you hear what I said?"
"I heard you."
I place both hands on the table and lean forward. The look of confusion very much evident on my face.
"I don't understand. Why won't you go and meet her?"
"It isn't that I don't want to meet her. What do you suggest I talk to her about? How am I supposed to look at the woman who kept my granddaughter's existence hidden from us? How can I stand there and talk to her, and not react angrily?" he asks.
I hang my head and give myself a moment to collect my thoughts. After a moment, I return my gaze towards my father.
"There is no book on how you are supposed to react. No transcript to follow. You're angry, pissed off and for the first time, you don't know what to do next. I sure as hell don't expect you to go out there and be chummy with her and neither does she. Eddie is fully prepared to receive backlash for her actions; it's why she wants to meet the family before Malina does. But you have to give her credit for the fact that she is here. She knows perfectly well what is at stake," I state with conviction.
It takes only a moment before I witness the effect my words have on him, because he takes a deep breath, and stands. He makes his way to the door and opens it.
Eddie's back is to the door, but upon hearing it open she turns around and moves to greet my father. Given the chance, I think she might even salute him.
"Sir,' she states officially.
"Officer Janko," my father replies with a nod.
"I'm sorry for intruding on your weekend. But I owe you an explanation. Jamie explained to me that you were really looking forward to meeting Malina this weekend. There is a reason why I said no. And I wanted to be the one to tell you that in person," she offers.
"Okay," he nods before he gestures to the front stairs, "Would you like to sit?"
"If you're okay with that?"
Instead of replying, he walks to stairs and sits. His actions alone entice Eddie to follow. Before sitting, Eddie turns to give me a nod, as if telling me that it was okay. Understanding her message, I make my return to inside the house. I wish I could be a part of the conversation that is occurring outside, but I know that what is to be said, must occur only between the two of them.
But that doesn't stop me from at least viewing from the window.
The conversation between my father and Eddie has been occurring for the last five minutes. And there isn't much that I can determine of what is being said when they have their backs to me. There have just been some really enthusiastic hand gestures from Eddie.
"You know, the last time that I caught you staring intently from that window, you were fifteen and watching Stacey Richards wash her parent's car in a very promiscuous outfit," Danny states behind me.
"Dammit Danny, give a warning next time you sneak up on me," I state clutching my chest, as if that would calm my rapidly beating heart.
He gives a smirk, before moving to stand next to me. He looks to see what I am staring at and does a double take when he realises what is occurring on the front steps.
"Is that who I think it is?" he questions.
"Yeah. Came here to talk to Dad. Said that she deserved to give him an explanation."
An impressed look graces Danny's face and he gives a nod in approval; "Girl has got some balls."
I chuckle in response; "It certainly makes for an interesting tour."
Danny and I continue to observe the interaction occurring, when Danny offers the words that I rarely hear; "I'm sorry. For you know, making it worse. I shouldn't have said what I said."
"Wow. Is this Danny Reagan making an apology? To me of all people?" I ask, amusement laced within my words.
He gives me soft shove in response; "Don't push your luck kid."
We continue to watch the scene for a few more moments before Danny chimes in; "You know, Pop's is going to be really mad if Gran's dishes get smashed as a result of a particular female Reagan's anger,"
I close my eyes and grimace; I forgot about Erin.
I gesture my arm towards the kitchen; "I think I'm just going, to um, go see if they need help with anything in there."
"Smooth little bro," he mumbles as I walk away.
I walk into the kitchen with trepidation, wincing slightly as Erin slams another dish into the sink.
I gland around to other Reagans loitering in the kitchen and with a quick glance in my direction, they all scurry out.
"Hey," I say, trying to draw her attention away from the dishes.
The only indication that she acknowledges my greeting is her stiffening, but she only continues to slam dishes.
Taking a deep breath, I walk towards the counter, picking up towel to dry the dishes along the way. I stop next to Erin and begin drying, whilst maintaining silence.
Time seems to drag on and we are running out of dishes to discourage us from talking. I've almost given up on engaging in a conversation with Erin, when she softly begins with a rather vivid memory.
"When you were about five, Dad took all four of us to the park; tried to get us to burn off some energy I suppose. Anyway, Danny and I were doing our normal thing and Joe was hanging with Dad, but you, you were happy playing by yourself in the sand."
"I remember that day," I state softly.
Still without a single look in my direction, Erin continues her story; "Despite minding your own business, an older kid came over to you and smashed the sandcastle you were building. You burst into tears and the first thing you did was come running to me. You only wanted me. Do you know how much that meant to me?"
For the first time since I walked into the kitchen, Erin finally looks at me. Her expression conveying her feelings of hurt and sadness.
"I'm not upset over your daughter's existence. You're going to be a great dad; no matter what age she was when she came into your life. What I'm upset over is the fact that you didn't feel you could trust me."
"Erin, I didn't tell you because I didn't trust you. There is nobody that I trust more than you or Danny. But you have to understand, telling my sister, who is New York District Attorney by the way, wouldn't exactly gone down well."
"What exactly did you think I would have done?" she interjects.
"I don't know. Probably flown off the handle like the typical Reagan," I say, trying to inject a little humour into the conversation.
I get a small response in the form of a smile.
"I thought I was considered the level-headed Reagan?" she retorts back comically
"You're a lawyer. You lost your level-headedness the day you walked across the stage with your degree."
"You do realise you possess a law degree as well, right?" she states, with an eyebrow quirked.
"Yeah, but I'm Jamie Reagan."
We both erupt in quiet laughter, the amusement of my statement enough to take the edge off this conversation.
We continue this way until we remember the reason for this conversation to occur, and we quickly sober up.
"I wouldn't have done anything, you know? To Eddie or Malina. I may be a lawyer, but first and foremost, I'm a mother. I could never separate a mother from their child. No matter how much the situation frustrates me.
I nod in understanding and we take a moment to let the weight of Erin's words sink in. Whilst I believe Erin wouldn't have tried to separate Malina from Eddie, there is a small part of me that thinks this isn't the last time she will express her frustration towards Malina's upbringing.
"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I never meant for you to get hurt in all of this. I've only known about Malina for a few weeks and I'm still trying to process all the information myself. I wanted to make sure that Eddie and I were in a good place before I did or said anything."
"I respect your decision. I don't have to agree with it, or like it for that matter, but I do respect it."
Ah, a typical lawyer response. Wouldn't expect anything less of my sister.
"Are we all good?"
"Yeah. I think we're good. I hope you know that Danny is never going to let go of the fact that he knew before I did," she states
I chuckle in response and pull Erin into a high.
"A don't worry, you have plenty of things you can hold over him," is my response.
"And I will never let him forget them," she states as she pulls away from the hug before adding, "I'm sorry for overreacting."
"Don't be. You just found out you have a niece. I'm actually surprised we still have dishes intact."
She gives me a playful shove in response.
"Erin, in all honesty, it's okay. You're allowed to react in whatever manner you feel best helps deal with the news. I love you sis. I hope you know that."
"I love you too little bro," she states softly.
Our rare, sweet sibling moment is interrupted by Linda's presence in the kitchen.
"Oh sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt."
"Ah, don't worry about it. Erin and I just had a few things to work out. We are all good now."
Erin nods to reinforce my statement.
"Well I'm glad," says Linda, with a soft smile
"Do you need any help out there Linda?" I ask, realising that I left everyone with the remaining mess.
"No, we are alright Jamie, but um, your Dad wanted to see you on the front porch," she says with a confused expression.
"Oh right. Thanks for letting me know," I state and begin to make my way out.
I flick one last look in the direction of Erin and Linda, noting their similar perplexed expressions, before I continue towards the front day. I notice the front door ajar, with only my father's back visible. Stepping onto the porch, I pull the door shut behind, still only seeing my father. I come to stop next to his leaning stature.
"Scared her off, did you?" I say jokingly.
In all serious, I'm hoping he hasn't.
He turns in my direction and gives me a small smile.
"It took a lot for her to come here today. And I as said earlier, I didn't know how I would react, or how I should react. But talking to her, letting her explain her side of everything, and allowing me to ask questions, gave me some peace regarding this whole situation. I have no means forgiven her for everything, but after today, we are on our way to reach it."
"It means a lot to me for you to say that. And I know that when the news came to light, we were never to going to accept it and move on in 24 hours, but to know that you are open to getting there, makes me think of a good future," I reply softly.
"Eddie agreed to let us all meet Malina," he stated with quiet enthusiasm.
"I'm glad. I can't wait for you to meet her."
"She said she will discuss with you on the best time."
I nod my head in reply.
We continue to stand there for a few more moments, before Dad returns to an upright position and turns to return to the house.
"She's still here. Wanted to wait until you came back out. She's by her car. Said you would know which one."
I gaze up and down the street until my eyes cast towards her car. I thank Dad and as he re-enters the house, I make my way over to Eddie's car. From the distance I am currently at, I can tell that she is seated in the driver's side, the car stationary for the moment. Coming to a stop outside the door, Eddie rolls the window down.
"Hey Boy Scout," she states with her familiar smirk.
I lean down to rest my forearms on the door; "Its nice to see he didn't run you off."
"You know me, abs of steel."
I give my typical scoff and give a smart-ass rebuttal; "More like stomach of steel."
"Very funny Reagan. Your dad may have already told you, but I am happy for Malina to meet your family. Between the two of us, we just have to figure out a date that suits all of us."
"Sounds good."
"Also, you're coming over for dinner on Tuesday. We don't have a tour the next day, and I figured it would be a good chance for you to see how Malina's night schedule works. So when it's time, you can do it yourself."
"Yeah dinner sounds go—wait what! Are you implying that you're going to start letting me look after by myself?"
Putting on her aviators, she starts the car; "You heard me loud and clear. I'll see you tomorrow at Roll Call."
And with that, I watch her speed off into the street.
A/N: Thanks for reading! As always, my lovelies, brutal honestly.