"How's the munchkin doing?" Jamie asked. They were finally back on patrol after getting a bit of time off after the operation was over.
"She's doing better, thank god. The first couple of nights were rough but we made it through."
"I'm glad." He paused before he brought up something that had been weighing on his mind for the last week. "Did you change your mind?"
She gave him a perplexed look. "What are you talking about?"
"That night in the hospital, you said that you were going to leave the force. Were you still planning on that?"
"Oh." She shook her head. "Not anymore. I thought about it like you said and I love this job too much to leave. And it's provided my daughter and I with a pretty great life so far."
He smiled. "I'm glad. I really didn't want you to leave." He then changed the subject. "What are you two ladies doing tonight?"
"Me and Scarlett?" she asked.
"Yeah" he replied. "What other two ladies would I be talking about?"
"Oh" she laughed. "I was planning to take her to the park after work. Did I tell you that she started school again?"
"No. I just thought that was a temporary thing just to keep her occupied when we were doing the operation. You actually put her in?"
"Yep. Peartree Preschool. She's getting older and she needs to associate with more people than me, Hattie, and sometimes you."
"How's she been doing then?"
"She loves it. I thought she'd be a little spooked she was kidnapped from her other school by Ashley but she's having a blast."
"Good. I was wondering if I could hang out with you guys tonight? I haven't seen Scarlett for awhile and-," he looked away from her and she could see his cheeks get a rosy color, "I've really missed you guys. I know we all lived together for only three months but it's weird going home and you two not being there."
She gave him a soft smile. "Yeah. Absolutely. She's been asking about her Mr. Jamie."
"Is 6:30 good?"
"Definitely".
He smiled and put his eyes back on the road.
Their shift ended at 3:00 and they headed their separate ways until they met again later. Jamie went home to his apartment and Eddie went to pick up Scarlett.
"How was school, sweetheart?" They had just left the school and were headed to the park.
"It good! Me have a lot of fwends."
"That's great baby. What are their names?"
"Gigi, Hannie, Katie, and Georgie. We sit at a table together."
"That must be fun."
"Wait Mama." She let go of Eddie's hand and pulled off her backpack to open it. "Georgie is having monster twuck party for hims birthday." She pulled out the invitation and handed it to Eddie. "May I pwease go?"
She scanned the invitation. "I don't see why not. It looks like it's on Saturday at Georgie's grandpa's house in Bay Ridge. Yes, we can go."
"Oh thank you, mama!" She hugged Eddie's legs. "I can't wait to tell Georgie!"
Eddie smiled at her daughter's excitement. Scarlett happily chatted away as they walked to the park.
Jamie was just killing time before he headed over to Eddie's apartment. He decided to meet up with Danny for a couple of minutes because they hadn't hung out together for awhile.
"So how's Eddie and her kid?" he asked. "It was rough what they went through."
"They're fine" he replied. "Scarlett is doing a lot better. She had a rough time sleeping for the first couple of nights."
"Poor kid. I'm glad she's doing better though."
"I am too".
Danny paused then cautiously approached a subject that he'd been hearing about for awhile.
"So," he started out, "I've been hearing some things about you."
"Yeah?" he replied. "Like what?"
He smirked. "You and Janko."
"Shut up, Danny."
"What?" he laughed. "I haven't even said anything."
Jamie just shook his head.
"I think you should go for it. She seems like a great girl and her kid is adorable."
"I am but things are more complicated than that, Danny."
"What's complicated?"
"She's my partner. Partners aren't allowed to date."
"And you went to Harvard? Go to your boss, request different partners, get it approved, then take your butt to her place and ask her out. Do I have to think of everything for you?"
Jamie laughed. "Whatever. I have to go. I'm meeting up with her tonight."
Danny winked. "Oh really?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter. Her daughter is going to be there too. See you Sunday."
"See ya kid."
Eddie was straightening up the apartment waiting on Jamie. Scarlett ended up falling asleep on the way home from the park after running around for a few hours.
Knock. Knock.
She went and opened the door to find Jamie standing on the other side.
"Hey you" he said. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Hey. Come on in."
He walked in and looked around. "Where's peanut?"
"She's asleep. She had a blast at the park."
He smiled. "I'm glad".
"You want some dinner? I made a lasagna with a salad. The lasagna still has like 10 more minutes though.
"That's fine. I need to talk to you though."
"Yeah?" she replied nervously. "What about?"
"Well," he pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around her waist, "I realized that we ended that operation a few weeks ago and I still haven't taken you on a date. Are you free this Saturday?"
"Ohhhh" she drawled out. "I'm actually taking Scarlett to a birthday party. You know, you could come with us. We could have a trial run date before the real one."
"Hm, okay. I'll go. Where is it?"
"In Bay Ridge."
"That's where my dad lives. I'll pick you guys up so you two don't have to go all that way by yourselves."
She smiled and nodded.
He started to lean his head down and was almost an inch away for her lips when they heard a little voice pipe up from the other side of the kitchen.
"Mama?" The little girl started walking towards them rubbing her eyes. "I hungry." She looked at Jamie and smiled. "Hi Mr. 'aime."
"Hey munchkin" Jamie said. He leaned down and opened his arms. "Can I have a hug?"
She nodded and hugged him. Eddie smiled as she watched them interact. They've definitely had a special relationship from the first time they met. He's a father figure that she's always wanted for her daughter. But she wasn't going to get ahead of herself just yet.
After dinner, they were all sitting down on the couch winding down. Scarlett nodded off in between Jamie and Eddie.
Jamie chuckled as he looked down at the sleeping toddler. "This is the most still I've ever seen her."
Eddie smiled looking down at her little girl. "Yeah. I think I should put her to bed. She has school in the morning."
He picked up Scarlett and put her on his shoulder. "I'll take her for you."
They walked into the bedroom and Jamie gently laid down the young girl. "Goodnight sweetheart, sleep well" he said as he kissed the little girl's forehead.
Eddie kissed the little girl's cheek. "Love you baby."
They quietly walked out of the bedroom and shut the door.
"I think I'm going to head out, Eddie."
Eddie tried not to let her disappointment. "Oh. Alright."
"Trust me, if we didn't have to work tomorrow, I'd definitely stay but you need to get to bed and I do too."
She smiled. and opened the door. "Don't worry, I understand. Are we still on for the birthday party on Saturday?"
He cupped her cheek and kissed her twice. "For sure. Text me the time and I'll be here early."
"Okay" she replied with a rosy blush to her cheeks.
He smiled and kissed her one more time. "G' night Janko. See you in the morning."
"Goodnight".
She leaned against the doorway and smiled as he walked down the hallway.
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