Over the course of the next week, Eddie's morning sickness so far had proven to be just that, morning sickness and that was something she was immensely grateful for. She still didn't know much about what to expect yet, and google was her sole resource of knowledge for now. When she first researched that particular symptom, she had read that many women reported having morning sickness all day long and she was terrified that if that was the case for her, there was no way she would be able to stay on full duty.
Fortunately, her nausea would subside by mid-morning, but the early morning hours were spent hovering over the toilet, and her new regular breakfast was crackers and ginger ale. She had convinced Jamie to make his killer pancakes for dinner one night, and she was thrilled to find out that she had no adverse reaction to the smell or taste of her favorite breakfast at that time of day and made Jamie promise to cook them for dinner at least once a week. He agreed because whatever she wanted throughout this pregnancy, he was going to give her.
Eddie was looking forward to their appointment so they could finally tell everyone. She was getting tired of making excuses or avoiding people, and she just wanted to share her and Jamie's good news with everyone she knew. They only had one more family dinner to get through and they were still nervous Erin was going to crack their secret wide open in front of everyone that night.
At family dinner Sunday, with the anticipation of their appointment less than 24 hours away, Jame and Eddie were unusually quiet through the meal. Neither was sure if asked directly by Erin one more time, that they would be able to fabricate any more excuses or hasty topic changes, but unbeknownst to them, Frank had made Erin promise before dinner to keep her suspicions to herself.
Both Jamie and Eddie had taken Monday off. Their appointment was scheduled just before lunch and Jamie was startled awake by the newly routine sounds of his wife heaving in the bathroom. By the time he was out of bed and at the door to check on her, just like every morning for the last two weeks, she was walking out with a defeated look on her face and heading to the kitchen for the only thing that seemed to help in the morning, crackers and ginger ale. She's just about had enough of that particular breakfast, and Jamie smiles sadly as he follows behind her, hoping this part of the pregnancy passes quickly. He hates that she feels this rough every single morning, and hates even more that there is nothing he can do to help her feel better.
They spent the next few morning hours lounging lazily around the apartment until Eddie's nausea finally dissipated and it was time to get ready for their appointment. Eddie had taken a shower after Jamie and had been in the bathroom for longer than usual when Jamie finally pushed the door open to check on her and couldn't contain his laughter at the sight before him. Eddie was standing in front of the mirror, half-dressed in just her jeans and bra focusing intently on her cleavage spilling over the lacy fabric of her c-cup and trying desperately to push everything inside.
"What are you doing," Jamie asks, chuckling at his wife's attempt at what, he's not quite sure yet, but the image of her fondling her breasts is having an effect on him that he knows he has to ignore for now, because they have to leave in ten minutes and they certainly don't have time for anything before then.
"Do my boobs look bigger," she says as she turns to him. She is serious and Jamie grins at the look of concern that spreads across her face.
"I don't know, let me see," he says as he takes a step closer and reaches his hands out to her waist.
"I think they're bigger," she says with a smile now as she watches Jamie's eyes examine her chest and his hands glide up her sides, stopping at the edge of her bra.
He hasn't really noticed until now and he loves everything about it as he grips her ribcage a little tighter. He doesn't answer her and instead presses a soft kiss just above the lacy lining of her bra and drags his lips slowly across her chest as he kisses a path from one breast to the other.
"Jamie," she mumbles as she grips his forearms and her eyes follow his head down to her chest. They don't have time for this, she thinks, but it feels good and she can't make herself push him away.
"Hmm…" he manages between kisses as he sneaks his fingers underneath the elastic of her bra.
"We can't do this right now," she moans as she drags her teeth across her bottom lip because the feel of Jamie's mouth on her skin is not something she can easily say no to. But Jamie isn't thinking about the fact that they have to leave in a few minutes if they don't want to be late and as if he has no self-control, he trails his path of kisses further up her chest, along her collar bone and stops at her neck as his fingertips press harder into her back.
Eddie tilts her head to the side and closes her eyes as Jamie's warm breath on her neck is causing little flutters in her stomach, but she knows she has to finish getting ready, and she probably needs to find a bigger bra, because this one isn't really comfortable anymore, and she's about to let Jamie take it off of her when she finally pushes him away. She grins at the pout on his face and the look of desire in his eyes.
"We really need to leave," she tells him as she drags her hands from his forearms down to his fingertips and pulls apart the grip he still has on her.
"Yes…" he says with a smile.
"Yes, what?" Eddie asks. After enduring the pleasure of her husband's seduction over the last few minutes, she forgot what her question was.
"Yes, they look bigger, and I love it," he grins again, and as if his eyes have a mind of their own, he glances back down for another peek and then meets her eyes again.
"Okay, hand me my shirt, please," she giggles as she pushes him away. She's glad he likes the bigger boobs at least because she's not sure how attractive she's going to feel when her belly is so big he can't get his arms around her. Jamie can't wait for that part either though.
The waiting room in the doctor's office is empty except for Jamie and Eddie and one other lady. Eddie thinks the woman looks like she's ready to have her baby any day now, and she feels a tinge of sadness for her and the fact that she's there alone. She doesn't think Jamie will ever miss an appointment, at least she hopes and she watches as the woman is called back and struggles to get out of her seat by herself, and then she smiles at the sweetness of her husband as he springs from his own seat to offer assistance to the struggling woman across the room.
The woman is appreciative and offers a smile of gratitude to both Jamie and Eddie as she takes Jamie's hand and he doesn't let go until he's sure she's standing steadily on her own.
"That was sweet," Eddie says as Jamie returns to his seat beside her and she smiles up at him.
"Well, not that I ever plan on missing one of your appointments, but I hope that if for some reason, you're here alone and struggling like she was, that someone would help you," he says honestly as he lands his palm on her thigh, which is bouncing nervously and he rubs her leg gently.
"What do you think they're going to tell us today," Eddie asks as she tries to remain calm. She's nervous and grateful for the presence of her husband beside her as he continues to rub her thigh.
"I don't know...maybe your due date, and probably some dos and don'ts. Are they supposed to do one of those ultrasound things today?" Jamie questions.
"Yeah...I'm kind of nervous," she admits.
"Why? Jamie says, smiling at her admission because it is obvious that she is, but he's not sure why, or what about exactly.
"I don't know. I mean, what if something is wrong," she says and nibbles at the inside of her lip as Jamie's brows furrow in confusion. "I guess I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. You live your life that way for so long it's hard to stop waiting for something bad to sneak up on you," she adds.
"You don't have to live that way anymore Eddie. I'll always have your back. You know that," Jamie says as he moves his hand from her leg up and around her shoulder.
"I know," Eddie sighs. She hates that she's always waiting for the good to turn bad, but that's how most of her life went, until she met Jamie, at least, and even the first five years of their partnership, just when she would let herself believe they were getting somewhere with their true feelings for each other, the other shoe would drop and they were catapulted back to square one. She knows she doesn't have to live that way anymore, but old habits are hard to break, especially when things get as good as they are now.
"Hey," Jamie says softly as he tugs her closer into his side. "Don't stress over something you have no control over right now, okay," he adds as he presses a soft kiss against her temple.
"Edit Reagan…" a voice across the room announces and they look up together as she's being called back. Jamie offers a smile of encouragement to his wife as they stand, and he places his hand along her lower back and guides her through the door.
Eddie's sitting on the exam table in the gown the nurse gave her, with a paper blanket covering from the waist down. She certainly wasn't expecting an invasive exam today and she's feeling a little ridiculous at how uncomfortable she is that Jamie is going to be in there for it. She's not sure why it bothers her, other than she's never had anyone else besides the doctor in the room for these kinds of exams and it just seems a little weird to her right now. She silently tells herself to get over it, or get used to it, fast, because she knows Jamie is going to be there with her for every appointment, and that's the way she wants it anyway.
Jamie feels a little uncomfortable too, but he won't let Eddie see that. They are both quiet as their eyes browse the room, taking in the surroundings. Machines, medical instruments on a tray beside the exam table, and pictures of the female anatomy lining the walls. They both inhale an anxious breath at the sound of soft tapping on the other side of the door.
"Mrs. Reagan, I'm Doctor Landry," the man says as he reaches for Eddie's hand.
"Eddie Reagan, this is my husband, Jamie."
Doctor Landry shakes both their hands and he can sense the nervous aurora around the new parents-to-be.
"Is this your first," Doctor Landry asks as he glances between Jamie and Eddie and makes his way to the other side of the exam table.
"Yes," they answer quickly together.
"You're probably feeling a mixture of emotions...excited, nervous, overwhelmed…" he says.
"You have no idea," Eddie responds and Jamie scoots closer to her and reaches for her hand and Doctor Landry smiles sheepishly as her as he begins to prep his tray for her exam.
The doctor asked a serious of routine questions and then began her physical exam. Jamie stayed at the end of the table, by Eddie's head. He knew she was a little uncomfortable when the doctor began the invasive part of the exam and she turned her head away from Jamie, but he never let go of her hand.
"Okay, hard part's over," Doctor Landry says. "Let's take a look at your baby now," he adds as he lowers the stirrups on the bed for Eddie to readjust and pulls the ultrasound machine closer.
Jamie smiles sweetly at Eddie as Doctor Landry raises the end of her bed up a little, so she's slightly elevated now, and Eddie smiles back, thankful that the awkward part is over and excited to see the first images of their baby.
"Go ahead and pull your gown up to your chest...this is gonna be just a little cold," he warns as he squirts a blob of gel on her stomach and begins to move the transducer around her belly.
After a few minutes of silence, while the doctor conducted the ultrasound and Jamie and Eddie stared intently at the screen, not sure what they were looking at, Doctor Landry adjusted the monitor for a better view.
"Everything looks great so far, this is your baby," he says as Jamie and Eddie squint and move their heads a little closer, unsure if they're looking at the right thing and the doctor can see that the new parents-to-be are both struggling with the image on the screen.
"Right here," he says as he points to a tiny blob on the screen. "Looks like we have a heartbeat," he adds and a tear trickles down Eddie's cheek and Jamie's eye's glaze over.
"We can't hear it yet, but it's there, and it's strong," Doctor Landry says as he smiles at Jamie and Eddie. "This little one is anxious to let mom and dad know he or she is alive and growing well in there.
Jamie leans down and presses a gentle kiss on Eddie's lips as Doctor Landry prints the sonogram pictures and then wipes down Eddie's stomach. Jamie pulls the gown down for her as she sits up. Seeing their baby's heartbeat this early was such a relief, especially for Eddie and neither of them can contain the smiles on their faces.
Doctor Landry hands Jamie the images and sits down across from them.
"So everything looks great. I'd say eight weeks is accurate, and we'll estimate meeting your little one around February 5th," Doctor Landry says with a smile. He sets Eddie up with prenatal vitamins and a few pamphlets to read through.
"Well, if you don't have any questions, we'll get you set for another appointment in about four weeks," the doctor says as he glances between Jamie and Eddie.
"Actually, I do have a question," Eddie says. "Is it safe for me to work," she adds, and realizes quickly why her question has triggered a confused look on her doctor's face. "I'm sorry, I guess I didn't mention before...I'm a cop, we both are," she says as he points her thumb towards Jamie. "And I was just wondering if it's safe for me to stay on regular duty, at least for a little while," she asks
Jamie was wondering the same thing and wanted the doctor's honest opinion, but neither of them expected the perturbed expression on Doctor Landry's face. Eddie's sort of bothered by his reaction. He's looking at her like he's never heard of such a thing and she wonders if the concept of a pregnant cop is really such a hard thing to grasp.
Doctor Landry begins to stammer as Jamie and Eddie look on in amusement, baffled by his behavior.
"Normally, I would suggest you keep as regular of a routine as you can. It's good to stay active as long as you can, since a few months from now, regular activities will be much more difficult. There's no medical reason at this time for me to tell you not to continue working for now as long as you've considered all the risks," the doctor says. All of his words seem forced and Jamie and Eddie are still confused.
"The risks?" Eddie asks as she creases her eyebrows at him and glances quicky over at Jamie.
"Well, yeah . I mean, it's not just your life out there anymore. Before you were pregnant, did you ever get shoved into a wall, or thrown to the ground by someone you were pursing?" he asks, and Eddie figures he has a point because those things happen all the time, but the way he's going about it right now seems kind of strange and judgemental to her.
"Ultimately it's your decision, as long as your department allows it, but is that a risk you are willing to take? Just think about it. Both of you," Doctor Landry finishes.
A/N: Well, that was weird...Doc sounds a little strange, what's up with that, but at least Jamie and Eddie got to see their baby's beating heart. More to come soon.