With Jamie away for three months Eddie was left to care for Autumn without him, waking up throughout the night to feed, comfort and change their daughter. During the day Henry offered help allowing the exhausted mom to get some sleep switching at night with Frank so he could bond with his grand daughter. In between tours Danny and Joe stopped by to check n.
Jamie kept his promise to call and Skype when he could readjusting to training. He felt better knowing the family was around to help Eddie.
"There you are yeah your uncle. Joe has you.." Joe cradled the cooing girl safely against his chest after changing her diaper. His arm secured her developing head and neck offering a slow rock smiling. She was a perfect combination of both parents inheriting Eddie's nose and enjoyment of music often cooing her own melody. When awake she stared up cross eyed with large clear blue eyes cooing away happily as Jamie often did.
Joe carried his niece to sit on the couch for a bit watching her brightly. "Every day your getting more beautiful, I wish your daddy was here to see."
Eddie stepped into the living room after waking from a nap hearing Joe talking. "I do too every day especially when I look at Autumn."
"I'm sure Jamie wishes he could be here with you as much as you wish he was. "
Eddie knew Jamie wanted nothing more then to be home with her and Autumn, he was missing watching their girl grow up. "I appreciate you guys helping though with Autumn I'm so tired still," she sighed sitting on the couch next to Joe.
"Ask for more help," Joe said, settling his arm around Eddie once Autumn was in her mother's arms.
"You all are already doing so much plus work and everything else. It's just adjusting," Eddie glanced down at her cooing daughter wiping the spit up off her mouth. Autumn's face scrunched starting to wail, her little hands and feet moving unhappily.
"Why do you sit nice for everyone but Mommy?" Eddie asked.
Autumn responded with a long, drawn out wail. "She's just telling you something," Joe advised softly.
"Yeah that she hates her mommy!" Eddie cried.
Joe reached over calmly placing his hands on her arms. "No she doesn't just listen I know your tired. When was the last time she was fed?"
"An hour ago, she is,not hungry, wet anything.." the lack of sleep broke through something Jamie was good at steering back and helping with. Eddie didn't want to bother Henry or Frank during the night.
"Then she probably wants to be held tight... try that.."
Eddie took her baby and held her but the baby cried and so did Eddie. "Try rubbing her tummy that worked on Jamie when he was little," Henry advised coming in hearing the crying.
Eddie soft rubbed the babies belly. Autumn brought her arms down settling into her mommy making small cooing noises after burping, smiling.
"Oh I'm,sorry baby.." Eddie sighed. "Mommy is sorry."
Henry smiled joining them on the couch. "It took Francis and Mary time to figure out. Jamie used to cry and I'm pretty sure Danny asked us to bring him back."
Eddie sighed and rocked her girl, she fell asleep before the baby. "Poor girl she's doing such a good job. Give her the couch Joe come on..." Henry pulled the blanket over laying Eddie down gently, taking Autumn to lay in her crib. She kicked, cooed, and snuggled settling in. While they slept Henry went into the kitchen to make dinner with joe' s help.
It took a few weeks for Eddie to find her rhythm as a mom. She was often tired, often frustrated and constantly lonely. Jamie did his best but with a new born baby and PPD that wasn't always good enough.
Eddie put the two month old baby in her baby seat and made a tiny crown for her head. Autumn loved the attention cooing away happily in her seat. "Hey sweetheart, hey there's grandpa's beautiful grand daughter."
"Say we are just fine grandpa," Eddie smiled, "Wave at grandpa...wave..." Eddie made the baby wave and she kicked hard.
"dinner is ready, get it while its hot.." Henry called from the dining room setting the last plate down. It was Jamie's night to call too so he left the phone by Frank's spot.
Halfway through the dinner Frank saw the phone light up. He quickly picked up, "hello?"
"Hey Dad, can you do me a favor?" Jamie asked through static making it hard for Frank to hear his youngest.
Frank smiled, "Yea anything son what's going on?"
"Open the back door, this bag is heavy..."
Frank looked at his father eyes widening as he stood still holding the phone disappearing into the kitchen to unlock the door. There stood Jamie, a little tired and a little dusty but smiling ear to ear..."Sssh...gonna poke in."
Hanging up the phone Frank set it aside hugging his son despite the dust, eyes teary. "It's good to see you son what are you doing back so soon?"
"A little birdie said I'd pull extra duty and extra training if I got out a little sooner..." Autumn began to cry in her seat..."Is that her??
"That's great Jamie..and i had nothing to do with it. Yea that's her she hates not getting attention. Go on they'll be happy to see you," Frank grinned following behind.
Jamie put his bags down and walked into the dining room sure his father's phone call had something to do with his early release but Jamie wasn't going to complain. "Anyone save a seat for daddy?"
Henry looked back smiling wide at his grandpa's surprise drop in. Eddie held Autumn rocking her to sooth the upset baby looked up crying. "Jamie! What are you doing home?"
Jamie beamed, "I'm home early baby...I'm home until I get new orders but we're a family now.."
Tears streamed down her face going into Jamie' s arms still cradling Autumn against her." Jamie kissed them both and held the close to each other. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming home Jamie? I'm so glad your here," Eddie sniffled. "Look baby it's daddy.."
"I wanted to surprise you,' Jamie replied. "HI baby girl..hi..."
Autumn cooed, her arms moving happily a big smile on her face watching him with large round clear blue eyes. "Oh honey, oh baby girl..." Jamie took her and held her tight. "Eddie, i missed you both so."
"She got big Jamie got your smile just lights up a room. We both missed you too.." Eddie leaned against his chest still in shock.
"Later? Are you well enough?" Jamie wanted to be with her badly.
Eddie smiled up at him leaning on her toes to give Jamie a kiss, "Definitely. I'll get you a setting."
"Can I feed her?" Jamie asked. "Please? I just..."
"Sure I have her bottle by the carrier," Eddie went into the kitchen getting a plate, cup and utensils while Jamie fed their daughter, his eyes twinkling with a deep love melting again like the first time he held her.
Jamie ate his first home cooked meal in a few months then sat back and rubbed his neck.
"Neck hurts," Eddie asked, settling on the couch while Henry offered to do dishes and Frank watched Autumn so they could catch up. She reached her hands,around massaging his neck.
"Bad headache," Jamie sighed. "Took a hard hit a couple days ago."
Eddie placed both hands on his shoulders kneading the pain moving to his neck slowly. "Lay down Jamie I'll be right up."
Jamie was so tired now he was home and had Eddie at his side. Before going up Eddie made sure Frank was okay with Autumn meeting Jamie in bed with Tylenol and water curling in his arms after he took the medicine.
"You feel good, Jamie sighed. "i missed you so much.
"I missed you too," Eddie whispered nuzzling against him for a long night.