Come on, buddy" Jamie said as he packed his almost two-year-old son's backpack. "We're going to Grandpa's house."
"Pop house?" Flynn said walking around the corner.
"Yeah, we're going to Pop's house."
"Mama go?" the toddler asked.
"No, she's not going. Remember she's at work."
"Work with Rach?"
He chuckled and patted Flynn's head. "Yes, she's working with Auntie Rachel."
This particular Sunday, the family dinner table would be pretty empty. Eddie got called into work last minute, Danny was working overtime on a case but promised to try and drop by for a few minutes, and Erin was in California visiting Nicky while also taking a much-needed vacation. So, that left Frank, Henry, Sean, Jamie, and Flynn for dinner.
"Dada?" Flynn said patting Jamie's leg. They couldn't get a full "daddy" out of him yet.
Jamie looked down. "Yes?"
"Take dis one?" The little boy held up his toy police car that his uncle Danny had given him a few weeks prior because the other he had ended up breaking. "Dis one to?" He then held up a fire truck that he had been given by much beloved grandmother Lena on his first birthday not really being failiar with the NYPD and FDNY history.
"I think you're pushing your luck with the fire truck son" Jamie said with a laugh. "Your grandpas and uncle almost had a stroke seeing you play with that. You can only take one."
Flynn looked between the police car and the fire truck deciding to return the fire truck to his toy box in the living room. He and Eddie were trying to reduce the number of toys they had to travel with so they would give Flynn a select few options of toys to take. Plus, he had a toy box at Frank's house anyways.
The youngster walked back to his dad and took his hand. "Let's go" Jamie said. He slipped on the backpack and walked out the door.
Almost an hour later, they walked in the Reagan house with two grandpas, a cousin, and an uncle Danny waiting for them.
"Pop!" Flynn said running over and hugging Frank's legs.
He bent down and picked up the little boy. "There's my boy. You want a snack?"
"Dad" Jamie called out. "We're about to eat."
"One cookie won't hurt, Jamie. I'll even share it with him" he said carrying Flynn off to the kitchen.
Jamie shook his head. The whole family was crazy about the kid. With the huge age gap between Sean and Flynn, they couldn't help it. Frank, Erin, and sometimes Danny were really bad about it.
"Where's Eddie?" Danny said walking up and patting his younger brother on the shoulder.
"She got called in this morning then called a little while ago saying that her tour got extended."
"Damn, that sucks" Danny replied. "I remember those days."
"Yeah. She said that she'd try to make it over here but I told her to not even bother. Told her to go home and I'd bring her something. I thought you had work?"
"Yeah but I just needed a break. Baez and I are meeting back up at the precinct later."
Jamie nodded.
"Dada!" Flynn said running in the room. He held up the cookie in his hand. "Good!"
"The cookie's good?" he asked. Flynn nodded and ran back in the kitchen.
Danny laughed. "That kid has all of us wrapped around his little finger. I can't even imagine how it'll be if you and Eddie have another one."
"Me neither." Well, he could because it was already happening. They weren't planning on another baby until Flynn turned three but a weekend away to the Catskills with a bottle of Patron and their first born being looked after by his loving Aunt Erin changed all that. They weren't planning on saying anything until the next family dinner when they were sure that all the Reagans would be present.
"Dinner!" Henry called out.
Danny walked in the direction of the dining room. "Come on kid! I'm starving."
The whole table was chuckling at Flynn who had his mash potatoes all over his face. Danny was laughing about the amount that had landed onto Jamie's shirt.
"Looks like someone is going to need a bath" Danny said smiling over at his nephew.
"It good!" Flynn called out happily. He still proceeded to make a mess with his food.
Jamie stood up. "Okay buddy, you're done for today" he said wiping Flynn's hands and mouth. He lifted the toddler out of his high chair, kissed his cheek and placed him on the ground. "Go play."
"He's just like you" Frank said as he watched Flynn run into the sun room. "A carbon copy."
"His looks and mannerisms is me but his energy is all Eddie. She says as he gets faster, we get slower."
The whole table laughed. "That's very true" Henry said. "Happened to Betty and I with Francis. Then, with the grandchildren."
"Same with Jack and Sean" Danny added. "One day, you're play fighting with them in the living room then they end up being 5'11 and actually being able to beat you."
Sean chuckled. "I still got the video on my phone."
"Shut up, numbnuts."
A little while later, Flynn was playing in the sun room with Danny and Sean, Henry went up to his room to rest, and Jamie and Frank were cleaning up in the kitchen.
"We still have a couple of slices of cake left, Jamie" Frank said sealing off the Tupperware and handing it to him. " Why don't you take it because I know between you, Eddie, and Flynn, it will get finished."
"Oh, well thanks dad." He placed it on the table beside Flynn's backpack.
"How's everything going at home?" Frank asked.
"It's going good" Jamie replied.
"You, Eddie, and Flynn are all alright?"
Jamie turned and looked at Frank. "We're fine. What are you getting at?"
"Well, when I was in the sun room with Flynn earlier, he kept saying baby. Baby this and baby that. And when I asked him what he meant, he said mama, baby."
Jamie bit his lip hard. He knew that he wasn't the best liar. Everyone told him that he had a tell.
"Do you have anything to tell me son?" Frank said looking at him. "Or is this something that you'd rather hold off on."
He sighed. "Well, I mean, the cat's already out of the bag. But you can't say anything! We weren't planning to say anything until everyone was back."
Frank smiled and pulled him in for a hug. "I'm so happy for the two of you. Flynn is going to be a great big brother."
"Thanks dad." He pulled out his phone and showed Frank a picture of the sonogram. "She'll be 14 weeks on Wednesday."
"That's great. How does it feel? You're going to be a dad of two."
"It's exciting but a little nerve racking considering what happened with Flynn's birth. That's the only thing we're nervous about. I just want everything to go well."
"I pray to God that it will for both of your sakes. I know that was difficult then Flynn being in the NICU for as long as he was."
"Yeah..." Jamie trailed off.
"Look at it this way, Flynn turned out just fine with everything he went through at such a young age. And, God forbid, that it happens to this new baby but if it does, then he or she will persevere just like their big brother did."
Jamie nodded. "You're right."
All of a sudden, they heard small footsteps running toward them. Then, Flynn stood in the doorway of the kitchen.
"Go home?" he asked rubbing his eyes. He walked up to his father and held up his arms so he could be held.
Jamie picked up the little boy. "You wanna go home?"
Flynn nodded. "Mama."
He smiled at his grandson. "I can finish up in here, Jamie. Take the boy home."
"Alright" Jamie said. "Say bye to grandpa."
He handed off Flynn to Frank while he gathered their things. Frank gave his grandson a big kiss on the cheek and handed him back to his dad.
"Be careful getting back" Frank called out as the father and son walked out the back door.
Jamie looked back and smiled. "I always am."
"Hey" Eddie whispered as Jamie carried a sleeping Flynn back into the apartment. She gave her husband a kiss on the lips and took the sleeping boy from him. "I missed him today" she said snuggling Flynn tight. "How'd it go?"
"It was good" he replied. He walked over to the kitchen and placed all of the leftovers on the counter. "Danny and Sean wore him out pretty good. They said you're welcome."
She chuckled softly and sat down on the couch. "I'll be sure to thank them next time. Is Pop doing okay? I know he's still getting over being sick."
Jamie walked over and joined her and Flynn on the couch. "He's fine. He did ask if you could make your chocolate chip banana bread for next week's dinner."
She nodded. "I was thinking about making some this weekend anyways."
Flynn started to stir then looked up at his mother with a sleepy smile. "Mama." He patted her face. "Hi."
"Hi peanut." She kissed his forehead. "Did you have fun at Pop's house?"
The youngster nodded. He then reached down and touched his mother's stomach. "Mama baby."
Eddie smiled. "Yeah sweetheart. There's a baby in mama's stomach."
The little boy smiled and drifted back to sleep.
"How was tour?" Jamie asked rubbing his son's head. "You didn't get sick at all?"
"A little bit" she replied. "I had Rachel pull over so I could get some ginger ale and crackers. I felt better after that."
"That's good. I'll make sure to hit the grocery store and stock up on it." He then chuckled. "It looks like our little man decided to let the cat out of the bag."
Eddie looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"When dad and I were cleaning up in the kitchen, he said that Flynn kept saying baby when they were in the sun room. When dad asked him what he meant, he said mama, baby. That's when he put two and two together."
She chuckled at Flynn and shook her head. "Oh peanut. Of course it would be you to spill the news. I'm guessing they all know now, huh?"
"Just my dad. He said he'll keep it a secret until we say something."
"We're gonna have to before Flynn does it for us!"
"That's true" Jamie said with a laugh. "You wanna eat?" he asked.
"Yeah but I want to put him down first."
Jamie nodded and they both stood up. He put an arm around her shoulders and led his young family off toward Flynn's bedroom.
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