"Eddie?" Jamie quickly scanned the empty room as he stepped inside, already reaching for his off duty. "Eddie?"
Hearing his familiar voice quickly brought Eddie from her hiding spot around the bed to greet him. "What are you doing home so early? I thought you were supposed to work until morning. You scared me Jamie, I thought it was someone trying to break in."
Taking her hand in his Jamie set the scissors on their dresser and brought Eddie out to sit in the living room. They just sat when Eddie noticed his face, a cut over his eyebrow with significant swelling around the bandage that covered it. "Oh my god Jamie, what happened?"
"It's not as bad as it looks honestly. I was chasing a perp down some stairs and lost my footing. My Sergeant, the one you met he was right there by my side. Made sure I got looked at and sent me home," Jamie breathed out the rehearsed lie. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her so she worried about him on the job.
Eddie reached a hand up over his cheek gently studying him. "What are you doing up so late? You should be sleeping Eddie," Jamie replied softly meeting her eyes.
"I kept getting sick so I came in for a little while to watch tv. That's when I heard the door and got scared," Eddie looked up into his eyes as their hands found each other. "I grabbed the first thing I could find."
Smiling he kissed his wife then put an arm around her waist. "Well ninja what do you say we go to bed? It's late and you need rest. I'm here now Eddie, you're safe."
On their way back to the bedroom Jamie cleaned out the trash can and brought it in with them. They snuggled under the covers in each other's arms, both needing sleep. "I love you Eddie," Jamie whispered in her arms smiling. Her body felt warm beside his as they drifted off together.
After a long night they slept in late, staying in the apartment for breakfast then on the couch to study. During a break Jamie took Eddie's hand to stand her up across from him. "This neighborhood is safe but I still want to teach you basic self defense just in case okay?"
When Eddie nodded slowly he lifted both hands up in front of her. "Tight fists up always in front of you to protect yourself. This way you can block from an attack to your head, side, straight or down. When you block cut across, using their momentum," Jamie demonstrated the blocks first.
"Okay your turn. I'm going to punch slowly and you'll block. Then we'll do some punching," Jamie explained. " He slowly threw a punch straight in front of her, from overhead and a hook to give her practice of different scenarios. Eddie managed to block each one mostly out of reaction but before he was able to attack her. He praised her and corrected her hands when they lowered.
"Always hands up just in case. You never know when the next attack is coming or from where so you always have to be ready," Jamie smiled.
She grinned waiting and after blocking a middle punch lightly threw her hand out to his stomach just above his dropped hand. "Always keep your hands up," she teased.
"Oh yeah." Jamie smiled, easily pulling her into his grasp allowing him to kiss her neck as they rocked back and forth laughing. Engrossed in laughter neither heard the knocking at their apartment door until Henry spoke.
"Oops, seems I'm interrupting something."
They looked over into the hallway that led in without parting, both smiling at him. "Hey Pop. We didn't hear you knocking. I was just teaching Eddie some self defense just in case. She's actually pretty good," Jamie slipped his hand into hers to sit on the couch with his grandpa who refused a drink offer.
Henry smiled taking the minute as they settled to look Eddie over. Her face remained youthful with a glow in her skin and twinkle in her eye. He noticed she wore Jamie's shirt from Harvard and though it was some sizes to big fit her just comfortably. The shirt hid her stomach but the old detective noticed a little pop in her midsection.
He chose to keep the observation quiet and smiled. "I didn't mean to just drop in. I was in the neighborhood and wanted to see how you were doing."
"Do you remember a Doctor Brian, Pop? He's a family friend of Eddie's dad and said he knows dad as well," Jamie said softly. Henry nodded that the name sounded familiar. "He said everything looks good as far as the baby's progress."
When Henry looked to Eddie she sighed, "I've been getting overly sick at different times during the day and I think that's why I'm always overtired but I guess other than that and the fact that my clothes are tight already I'm okay."
"Well you are glowing already and so beautiful. If there is anything you need don't hesitate to call," he turned a warning look to grandson. They would need advice and support not only through this but when the baby comes. Henry had a feeling based on what he was seeing.
"When do you go back for a check up," Henry added as an afterthought.
Jamie slowly smiled, "In another couple of weeks. We're going to see an apartment in the city that Eddie found. It's nice, three bedroom and an office with a reasonable price. Eddie wants to be in the city and this apartment would be to small for us when the baby comes."
"Well you let me know and I'll bring up some food to celebrate," Henry leaned against the chair smiling. "I still want to be able to see my great grandbaby you know."
"Of course you can Pop. Has uh dad said anything or you know talked to you about us. I haven't heard from him since that night. Danny has text me but he's working a lot," Jamie slowly held out some hope that his father would come around and be part of their baby's life. Ever since that night he hadn't attended Sunday dinner.
Henry sighed, "We talked about it. Well mostly I talked to him about being so damn stubborn. He doesn't know I come see you at least I don't think he does but you never know. He said that he isn't ready yet. Just give him time and I'll keep trying to get through."
They talked a little more before Henry took leave to head home. After his incident Jamie was given a few days off, which he would spend with Eddie and check in on Renzulli in the hospital with a concussion. He hated lying to Eddie but she would freak out if he told her what happened.
With Eddie so tired she laid in his arms to nap until another bout of nausea kicked in. While she was awake Jamie helped her study for classes which she took online to avoid traveling.
The following day they took a ride up to 92nd street for a look at the apartment. The streets were lined with buildings but they could see Central Park just two blocks down the road. "We can take the baby for a walk through the park," Eddie told him as they headed upstairs to meet the realtor.
After a quick handshake Eddie excused herself to get sick in the bathroom. She came back smiling tiredly ten minutes later, "Sorry about that. We had a long rain ride and I'm three and a half months pregnant so it's been a common occurrence."
"Oh well congratulations and please don't worry about that," the realtor Ingrid turned without commenting that she looked more then three months pregnant. "So this house is quiet as you can see with a beautiful view. There are a lot of working families on this block."
Ingrid took them from the hall over a tan brown carpet through one door that led them into an open kitchen. The two rooms were separated by a wall, one side the fridge, stove and cabinets with the other a pantry, all with black and white tile. Next door they found a dinning room already furnished with a black table and red cushion chairs.
Eddie's eyes rounded as they exited into the hallway that led to the living room. A single white couch with two love seat chairs faced the far wall where a flat screen television hung. Below that behind a grate was a small fireplace and a table in front of the couch. Light filled the room through wall to wall windows.
"It's even nicer in person," Eddie whispered under to breath once they broke away from the following realtor. "Look how bright it is in here." She lifted her eyes to his and exchanged a smile that let her know he agreed.
They exited into the hallway through two sets of doors. The main bedroom furnished a large bed that faced the window with a view of the city. Next door they found a smaller room that could be used as a nursery. Directly across from the main room they found two other bedrooms large enough with walking space around the furniture.
Jamie cupped Eddie's hands just in front of the window quietly meeting her eyes. She affirmed his silent question with a nod. "You," she asked after answering that she loved it.
"It's perfect," Jamie met her halfway to exchange a kiss. It would take time for the paperwork to go through but Jamie had no doubt they wouldn't get it. They both had good credit and though it was a little pricier then they expected Eddie assured she had the funds from her savings. Considering what the cost of living was in the city this was a steal for four bedroom in a quant neighborhood.
All they had to do was wait.