Now that there was a new Reagan in the family, holiday festivities had been extra festive. The entire house was decked out in Christmas decor, and the outside of the house covered in lights, and inflatable decorations on the lawn. They knew Joey was too young to remember it, but it was tradition to go all out for the young kids of the Reagan clan, their holidays needed to be special.
As Christmas Day neared, the pile of gifts under the tree began to steadily grow, making the family room with the decorated Christmas tree nearly impossible to walk through. Jamie and Eddie were fairly certain that most of it was for Joey. Everyone was always wanting to get him things, so Christmas was probably going to be a day filled with all kinds of new toys and clothes for Joey.
Jamie had the day off, and Eddie was working, so Jamie took advantage of this time to go shopping for Eddie's Christmas present.
He didn't quite know what to get for her. Sure, Eddie liked dressing up, being girly, but she was also a bad ass cop, who kicked ass on the regular. Her gift should reflect both sides of her, and suddenly he had an idea.
He wandered the mall, getting many lingering looks from women as he weaved his way through the crowd, headed for the jewelry store. It was quite a sight to see. A young, handsome man, with an infant strapped to his chest in the carrier, and no woman to be seen with him.
"Uhm, excuse me?" The voice caught Jamie off guard, and he stopped and turned around. A highly attractive woman was standing their, facing Jamie. The woman leaned slightly forward, making the v-shape in her shirt show off just a little more cleavage than necessary.
"Can I help you?" Jamie had no idea what this woman wanted, and he rested a hand against Joey's back in the carrier.
The woman turned around and bent over to pick up a pacifier that had fallen on the floor. "Your baby dropped his pacifier." As she said this, she dug in her bag to find what she was looking for, and then handed the pacifier over to Jamie, along with her business card. "You should call me. I think it is so hot to see a guy with a baby. I would love to show you a good time. I can rock your world Mr. Sexy." The woman bit her lip, and winked at Jamie.
Shoving the pacifier into his pocket, Jamie looked incredulous at the woman. "I will not be calling you. I'm happily married. Have a wonderful day, and happy holidays." With that, Jamie turned on his heel, continuing on his mission to get Eddie her gift.
Studying two different necklaces, Jamie couldn't decide which one he thought Eddie would like best. He shot Danny a text asking for advice, and Danny said he would meet him for lunch and help him decide.
Informing the clerk at the store, he slowly made his way to the bathroom so he could change Joey who was now starting to smell from the farts he let out a few minutes ago. Once finished, he made his way to the food court when an arm suddenly wrapped around his, giving it a gentle tug.
"Jameson Reagan, is that you, with a baby?" The familiar voice made all the wind rush out of his lungs, and he gave an uneasy sigh as he turned around.
"Syd. Hey, long time no see." An awkward hug was exchanged as Sydney initiated it by tugging him closer.
"It is so good to see you! We should go out for dinner some time and catch up. You'll have to tell me all about this cutie."
"Yeah, Syd, that's not gonna work out. I—"
"C'mon Jamie, it will be so much fun to catch up! You can tell me how being a cop is working out, and all about this little guy here. I've missed you."
Holding up his left hand, Jamie used his right index finger to point at the gold band around his ring finger of his left hand. "I'm happily married Syd. My wife is amazing, and so is our son. When you left, it hurt, and I know some of it was on me. But I have my wife and our family and That's the only woman I want to see and have dinner with, or a drink with, whatever. You left me, and its done now. Over." While normally not as blunt, Jamie just gave a shrug and a sad smile. "I was sad that things didn't work out between us, but my life now is more than I could have ever dreamed was possible. I'm sorry, Syd. Goodbye."
Walking off towards the cafe, he heard Danny come up behind him. "Was that Sydney? Like you ex-fiancé Sydney?" Danny was pressing Jamie for more info, because he was curious, and when Danny Reagan is curious, he will figure out all of his answers.
"Yeah, crazy right? I haven't seen her since she left for London like ten years ago now." Jamie gave a small chuckle as he and Danny weaved their way towards the pizza place in the food court.
"What did she want?" Straight and to the point, Danny gave Jamie a questioning look. Staring at Jamie until he caved.
"She wanted to go out for dinner. She said she misses me. But I told her its been over for me since she left. Told her I've got a hot wife and a cute kid."
"She didn't look to happy about that. I didn't think she would ever come back to New York after she left."
"Me neither." Jamie groaned, and quickly changed the subject. Talking about his ex-fiancé was weirding him out. "So, caught a tough case?"
"Yeah.." Danny let out a deflating sigh, and went into the details with Jamie to get his input. Soon the two were sitting down, eating their food while Jamie fed Joey his bottle.
"Hey kid, next time we are in public, I'm taking care of Joey."
His mouth full, Jamie looked up at Danny with a deer in headlights look. "Huh?"
Danny let his pizza fall onto his plate. "What do you mean 'huh'? your kid is a chick magnet! How have you not noticed every other girl staring at you and batting their eyes."
Slowly looking around, he finally noticed all the eyes flitting in his direction, and the girls whispering to their friends. "Oh. After we eat you can hold him while we go back to the jewelry store if you want. Ill give you the carrier."
Danny gave a small chuckle. "It's too late now numb nuts. They've all figured out he's your kid. Plus, now if I take him some people may get the wrong impression here. I may not be seen as the doting and affectionate uncle. "
Jamie shook his head. "I seriously doubt that, but who cares what these people think? It's not like you're gonna see them again."
Letting his head fall into his hand, Danny took a moment before looking back up at his brother. "Of course there is nothing wrong with that. But its super weird because you are my brother and that just weirds me out."
"Chill Danny, I'm messing with you." Jamie nudged his foot against Danny's under the table.
"And now you're playing footsie with me. I've gotta hit the head. I'll be back in a minute."
As Jamie watched Danny's retreating figure, He looked down at Joey who was just finishing his bottle. He adjusted the infant so that he was facing over his shoulder, and proceeded to pat Joey's back to elicit a burp from him. At this point, a very attractive girl took over occupying the seat Danny had only recently vacated.
A napkin was slid forward, a phone number written on it. Jamie looked up, confusion written on his features. The girl now sitting across from him started to turn a shade of pink. "I uh, If you ever... oh. You're married. Never mind." As she moved to get up, Jamie was able to stop her.
"My brother, who was just sitting here, he is single. If you want to leave your number for him, I'll make sure he gets it."
The girl nodded and left the napkin at Danny's seat and scurried off to her group of friends at her table. Moments later, Danny was back, noticing the napkin at the table in his place.
"Don't tell me. One of the nice young ladies came and tried to leave her number with you, but because you apparently have lost your eye sight for other women who aren't Eddie, you had her leave it for me instead?"
Jamie had enough sense to look slightly embarrassed over the situation. "Yea, something like that."
Danny crumpled up the napkin and gathered the trash from the table they had been sitting at. "Thanks for the thought, kid." He patted Jamie on the back as he walked towards the trash can to throw away the trash from their lunch, Jamie quickly falling into step behind them as they made their way to the jewelry store so Jamie could pick out one of his gifts for Eddie.
Christmas morning had finally come and Jamie and Eddie drove over to Frank's house, giddy because it was their sons first Christmas. The snow was falling steadily, making it seem like a scene from a movie. Joey was sound asleep in the back seat, dressed in a tiny Santa outfit, complete with a little hat. Jamie took many pictures of Joey that morning in his little outfit, sitting by their Christmas tree in the apartment, all sorts of baby snacks around him, and he had a new blanket gripped in his tiny fists, smiling and showing off his four teeth that had now come in.
When they arrived at Frank's house, they pulled into the space in the driveway into the spot that had been left for them. Eddie grabbed Joey's car seat as Jamie grabbed the few last minute gifts they had brought with them.
Once everyone had arrived, and Joey had been adequately fussed over by everyone, they all gathered in the living room around the tree, hot cocoa with a bit of Jameson (for those who were of age), in hand.
"Ooh's" and "Ahh's" were heard as gifts were opened and shown off. Jamie pulled out the final gift, handing it to Eddie, who looked puzzled as she hadn't seen this gift anywhere and couldn't figure out how Jamie had hid it so well.
Taking the bag, she dug in there to feel a large velvet box. She slowly pulled the box from the bag, eyeing Jamie carefully as she did so. A very audible gasp was heard as Eddie opened the box.
"Jamie..." Eddie trailed off, tears spilling down her cheeks as she fingered the necklace displayed inside. "This... this is so beautiful, Jamie."
Inside was a heart shaped pendant in blue diamonds, with an infinity sign that had regular diamonds, was woven into the heart. "Read the back, Ed." Jamie spoke softly so only Eddie could hear.
Flipping the pendant over, Eddie read the inscription on the back, and her hand flew up to cover her mouth in shock.
'12-David. Spoiled for life. Love, J.'
Slowly pulling it from the box, she handed it to Jamie and turned around so he could clasp it in place around her neck. As soon as Eddie had spun around so that every one could see it, they all commented that it was a beautiful necklace.
Soon it was time for dinner, and they all gathered around the family dinner table to eat, enjoying the memories that were being made this year with Joey's first Christmas in the books. They all were hoping the perhaps for next year, Jamie and Eddie will be able to gift the family with another child. Wishing Joe, Mary, Linda, and Betty were still with them to share in Jamie and Eddie's little family, and enjoy the memories that were being made. They all silently hoped that next year, Joe's son would join them for Christmas.
A/N: if you are curious as to what necklace I had Jamie give Eddie, you can look up 'heart infinity necklace Kay jewelers' to see it.
Only five chapters left! Please read and review!