A Fresh Start

Chapter Five: Life Changes

Four months later Jamie was busy with ESD training, spending time with Eddie and Betty and chief Arborghast had recruited him to work as part of his detective squad and work on the critical case division.

Thankfully it was the fourth of July and Jamie and Eddie both were lucky enough to get the same three days in a row off. Eddie and Betty had come over the previous night to eat popcorn and watch movies. Jamie had been even busier than normal in the previous weeks because he was planning on asking Eddie a very important question. He'd even flown back to New York over Memorial Day weekend for a day and a half so he could get something very important from his dad.

Spencer was planning another one of his big blowout parties. This time it was a pool party, and a few of the attendees were guys that Jamie was in training with and a few friends of Eddie's from dispatch. They had all been slowly integrated into the monthly Harvard crowd. The parties had evolved from mainly Harvard alumni to just a big group of friends.

Eddie and Dana had become good friends. Jamie was surprised at first and made sure that Eddie knew that he and Dana had briefly dated when he ran into her in New York, but they had both decided that they were better as friends than a couple.

The fourth of July party was great. This was the third party with other kids for Betty to play with. Spencer had set up a bunch of chairs for anyone that wanted to watch the fireworks from the boats in the ocean from his upstairs living room. Jamie had moved to LA to find his independence and he ended up teaching Spencer that it was time to grow up. Spencer and Dana had found that they had a lot more in common than just Harvard and before they knew it, they had been dating for over a month. Sydney had finally understood that it was time to move on and realized how much not only Jamie, but how much she had changed. She had started dating one of Jamie and Eddie's friends. He worked with Eddie in dispatch, and although he worked odd hours and dealt with a lot of the mental anguish because of the calls that came in every day he wasn't in any more danger than she was every day. Life was good and they were all enjoying their time together.

The following morning Jamie, Eddie and Betty made their way to breakfast and then they were going for a bike ride on the beach. Before they knew it they made their way over to a spot on the beach that he'd never forget. Where Betty had run into him and changed his life forever.

"Let's sit for a few minutes." Jamie said to his girls.

"Okay, are you okay? We normally ride a lot further." Betty wondered. She usually ended up taking a nap when they got home because they would ride so far.

"Yeah, Betty, I'm okay. I know that we normally ride further, but do either of you remember this spot at all?" Jamie watched them look around and try to remember.

"This is where I ran into you when you hurt. I'm sorry about that. I know that I could have hurt you more that day." Betty said remembering the conversation that she and her mother had when they got home that day.

"You're right, but ya know what, and Eddie you can yell at me when we get home, but that was one of the best days of my life, and I can only thank you for not paying attention where you were going."

"It is cause it was Christmas and Santa came that morning?" Betty said unsure of what Jamie was saying.

Eddie knew where he was going and was holding back tears now. The last six months had been amazing for her, and she wouldn't change a thing.

"No, it's because I met two smart ladies who changed my life."

Betty was excited because she knew it was them, but she didn't understand why her mom had tears running down her face. It had been a happy weekend. They'd gotten to spend the entire time with Jamie.

"It's us mom. Jamie made us happy too, right?" Betty questioned.

Eddie wiped her eyes and looked at the two people she loved the most in the world. "Yes, Jamie's makes us very happy. Do you love him?"

"I love him very much. He's great."

Now Jamie was trying not to cry. "Well, I love the both of you very much, and I can't imagine my life without either one of you."

"We can't imagine our lives without you either." Eddie said as she watched Jamie pull something out of his pocket.

Jamie had his mom's ring and a heart necklace for Betty if they accepted.

"Edit Marie Janko and Elisabeth Marie Janko, would you both do me the honor of officially becoming my family. Eddie, will you marry me?" Jamie was worried that he messed it up. He had thought of so many different to say what he wanted.

Eddie and Betty had walked a little ways down the beach and were having their own private conversation. He knew they would come back when they had an answer.

"Betty, do you understand what Jamie asked?" Eddie wanted to make sure that she understood what was going on and what changes could happen if they said yes.

"I think so. Grammy and Grampy are married right?"

"Yes, do you know what that means?"

"I think so, would we live with Jamie if we say yes?"

"Yes, we would live with him and get to see him every day. He would take care of us when we're sick or need help and we would do the same for him. Is that something that you might want?" Eddie was nervous. She wanted to say yes, because she knew Jamie was a great dad for Betty and she knew that no better man existed, but when Betty was born, she made a promise to herself and Betty that they would decide things together.

"Yes, but will that make Jamie my daddy?"

"Yes, it would. Would you like that?"

"Yes, can we go tell Jamie now?" Betty was so excited.

"Yes, one more thing though we might not live right by Grammy and Grampy anymore, is that okay?"

"Yes. I love them, but you're happier when we aren't with them all the time."

"Okay."

Jamie had been sitting trying to stay calm while they talked, but if they said no, he had decided that was it he wasn't meant to find love and be happy that way. He was going to focus on work. Being alone would be better than being without Eddie and Betty in his life.

"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting for so long." Eddie was nervous that it had taken too long.

"Its okay." He didn't know what else to say.

"Yes, we would love to be your family."

Jamie grabbed everyone in a big hug and put his mother's ring on Eddie's left hand and the heart necklace on Betty.

"Mom said that you'll be my daddy now."

"She did, did she." Jamie smiled.

"Yes." Eddie was nervous that perhaps Jamie was questioning himself now that they'd said yes.

"I wouldn't like anything more than to be your daddy if you'll have me." He smiled and Eddie immediately relaxed.

With that they decided to head home so they could celebrate and tell their families. Since it was Sunday, they only needed to call his dad, and everyone would be at the house. After their call they were going to head to Eddie's parents. Jamie had asked Armin for Eddie's hand and although he said yes it was clear that he didn't really approve of Jamie, but he knew if he said no, he risked never seeing his daughter or granddaughter ever again.

Jamie's family had been ecstatic with the news and the only thing they demanded was to be invited to the wedding.

Eddie's dad and brother hadn't been as happy, but Eddie's mom was ready to dive in and start planning the wedding of the century for her little girl. Lean wanted the entire Hollywood Glam Wedding for her princess.

A week later and Eddie had enough wedding planning. Jamie promised her whatever she wanted within reason and budget. It didn't matter what hours Eddie was working her mom would leave, samples, questions about appointments and venue. One of the things that bothered Eddie the most was that he mother was only focused on her and had hardly said anything about Jamie. Eddie wasn't sure if her mom approved of Jamie any more than her dad or brother.

"Mom, you do know that I love Jamie, right?"

Lena stared at her daughter. Eddie had been happier since she met Jamie than she had been in a very long time, and Betty had told her all about how Jamie asked them to be his family.

"Yes, I do. Now what's going on?"

"Everything we discuss is focused on me or Betty and it's almost like Jamie doesn't exist. Mom I really don't want a big wedding."

"But Edit, I thought you always wanted a big wedding?"

"At one time I thought I did, but what I really want is to be married. I love Jamie more than anything and Betty will have a good dad who cares about her so much."

"You know for sure that he loves Betty and will take care of her no matter what?" Lena worried about both her girls.

"Yes, mom, he volunteers to watch her when I have to work. She's been with him more than Haley, you, or the nanny when I've been at work or just needed to run an errand." Eddie smiled think of all the times he asked to spend time with Betty.

"Really, I thought that she's been with Haley. He seems very nice, and he obviously cares for you. We just worry that he won't be able to give you the life you're used to."

"I know. Dad keeps offering him different positions in the firm, so he could give me this life, but what you guys don't understand is that all I need is my family. I know that Jamie and I will never make this kind of money, and that's okay."

"As long as you're happy and safe is what matters the most to us. Now, what kind of wedding do you and Jameson really want?"

"Small, family only, and we would like to get married before the end of the year."

"Are you pregnant?" Lena didn't know what she wanted the answer to be.

"No, we're just ready to be a family. He wants to get through this training before we decide if we are going to expand the family or not."

"Okay."

The remainder of the summer went by quickly. Labor Day weekend was upon them and there were big changes on the way.

It was another long weekend and Jamie, the Reagans, and Janko's were on their way to Las Vegas for a wedding. Eddie and Jamie got their wish for the wedding that they wanted. Eddie's parents paid for everything. The only non-family members were Spencer, Dana, as his date, and Haley.

"Are you ready?" Jamie asked as they made their way to the room her parents had gotten for them.

"For the wedding yes, to meet the rest of your family, I'm not sure." Eddie was nervous. She loved his dad and grandpa, but the stories that he'd heard about his brother and sister made her very happy that they lived on the opposite side of the country.

"They'll love you. My grandpa called me when they got home, and they couldn't have been happier that I had someone in my life. They were happy that I have something more in my life than just work."

"Ok, when do we meet them?" Eddie asked thinking out a timeline for when she had to pick Betty up from Spencer and Dana.

"In about five minutes out by the pool, we need to go though because we gotta get Betty."

After picking up Betty they made their way down to the pool in the area reserved for them over the weekend. No one was there yet, so Jamie let out a big sigh.

"Are you excited for the wedding?" Jamie asked Betty knowing Eddie was mentally preparing to meet the remainder of his family.

"Yeah, I can't wait until we move into the house too."

"I can't wait for that either. Are you going to be okay not seeing Grammy and Grampy everyday?" Jamie was worried, but he and Eddie agreed his house was the better option and Spencer wasn't ready for him to move out. Jamie had spent weeks looking at apartments that would work and had yet to find anything that really liked and would work for their needs. It seemed like any apartment that he or Eddie liked the other had a reason to cross it off of their list.

"Yes."

Betty was sitting on Jamie's lap while they worked on a puzzle that she brought with her. Eddie was reading a book sitting next to them.

"Jamie, I'm sorry we're late." Erin said feeling bad but was taken back by the kid sitting on his lap.

"Uncle Jamie, we've missed you." Nikki made her way over to him for a hug.

"I've miss you guys too. I'm glad that you all could come."

Betty was now being held by Jamie. She was acting shy and didn't want to be put down.

"Who's this?" Erin questioned.

"Betty, this is my sister, Erin, and her daughter Nikki. Can you say hi please?"

"Hi." Betty said quickly and hid her head again.

Jamie just shook his head. Danny wasn't even here yet. Eddie had made her way over to them.

"Eddie this is my sister Erin and her daughter Nikki."

"Nice to meet you."

Erin went right in for a hug. She hadn't seen her brother in a while, but when she did or when she talked to him, she could tell he was happy, and she figured that this little lade and her mom had a lot to do with that.

"Nice to meet you too." Eddie said surprised by the hug.

Betty had finally gotten tired of being held and she and Nikki had made their way to the pool to play. Eddie and Erin were happily talking away, so he made his way to the pool to be with the younger girls.

"Hey kid, you're finally getting married." Danny yelled at the top of his lungs.

Jamie just hung his head.

"Dad, who's that?" Betty asked and it was weird to Nikki for someone to call her Uncle Jamie dad.

"That's Danny. You'll get used to him."

"Linda, Jack, Sean, its great to see all of you." Jamie said as he gave each one a hug.

"We've missed you, Jamie. Sunday dinners are not the same without you." Linda missed him so much.

Jamie walked them over to the pool. "Danny, Linda, Jack, Sean, this is Betty. Betty this is my older brother, Danny, his wife, Linda, and their sons, Jack and Sean. Boys want to swim a little?"

"Yes!" They both screamed.

"Not long, we do need to eat dinner." Linda said.

"Dinner will be down here Linda. We got that taken care of. You guys don't need to worry about anything this weekend."

"Thank you, Jamie." Linda said surprised. They had budgeted for this weekend for a few months.

"Excuse me, Eddie, this is my older brother Danny and his wife Linda. Their boys Jack and Sean are in the pool with Betty."

"Nice to meet you."

"It's really great to see my little brother so happy, thank you for that." Danny says, something that's very uncharacteristic for him, but Jamie can hear the truth.

"He makes Betty and I very happy too."

"Are Frank and Henry coming down too?" Linda askes surprised that they aren't there yet.

"No, dad and gramps are having dinner with Eddie's parents tonight, and Alex, Haley, Spencer and Dana are going to enjoy a night without kids."

"I understand that." Danny joked. With Jamie gone they'd lost a sitter, although since he'd become a cop, he hadn't been able to sit for Jack and Sean as often as he did before.

"Who's Betty staying with?" Linda wondered.

"With us, we're in a two-bedroom suit." Jamie said and couldn't imagine another scenario.

"What about the wedding night kid?" Danny wondered out loud.

"We'll be home Sunday night, so that won't be an issue." Eddie said not realizing that they didn't know.

"What do you mean?" Danny asked. They were supposed to spend the entire weekend together.

"Eddie and I both have to work Monday, so we fly out after dinner on Sunday."

"What about Betty?"

"She'll be with us. She'll spend a few hours in daycare after my day starts before Jamie's ends." Eddie said like it was nothing to get married one day and head to work the next.

Danny just stared at Jamie. Jamie didn't seem fazed by any of this. As much as he loved his kids, he couldn't imagine having them right when he got married. He was surprised to hear Betty yelling for dad, and Jamie just went right to her.

"He's always been good with kids." Linda said watching the same thing Danny was.

"He'd come home from Harvard, and he could meet up with friends or any other thing a young guy would want to do, and he'd volunteer to watch our kids or Nikki or all of them. I never understood it because when I was his age I was at the club as often as I could. I even worked as a bouncer for a while."

"We hadn't been dating that long when he told me he'd be happy to watch her if I had to work or wanted to go out with friends. He even decorated one of his extra bedrooms for her. Jamie is one of the best people that I've ever met in my life."

Linda, Erin, and Eddie had all gotten comfortable and were all talking about their kids and found that they had more in common then they would've ever thought. Danny made his way over to the pool and the kids and his baby brother who he was finally beginning to see as an adult.

Danny just sat on the edge of the pool and watched Jamie with all of the kids. They were hanging all over him and asking him questions and were just so happy. Jamie was happy too.

While all the adults were talking or playing with the kids the food was set out and ready for all to enjoy. The last few weeks of training had been intense and hadn't let Jamie spend a lot of time with his family, so when they arrived at the hotel, Jamie told Eddie to relax and enjoy herself.

Jamie had gotten plates ready for Betty and made sure all the kids had what they needed and wanted and were good to go eating before he made his way back over to Danny.

"Hey Danny, you can go and eat whenever you're ready."

"I know, thanks for taking care of the kids. You didn't have to do that."

"Someone had to, and it's no big deal. Between work and training I haven't been around much lately." Jamie said with a frown.

"I get that. You know how much I work, and by the time I do get home I'm just tired. It's why I wish that Linda didn't have to work. The kids are enough without dealing with the craziness of the ER."

"Oh, I know. Eddie's in dispatch. She hears the horrors and there are many days that her days are worse than mine just on what she has to listen to all day, and then take care of Betty when she gets home."

"What are you doin' later?"

"Going to the gym and for a run and then getting Betty to bed. Dad and Pops are going to spend some time with her after dinner while I get my workout in."

"Let's grab a beer after you get Betty to bed. I'll see if dad and gramps can sit in our room with the boys while we head out."

"If it works let me know. Other wise there's a second bed in Betty's room where the boys could sleep and then I could help you take them back to your room when we're done."

"That could work too."

Three hours later Betty was exhausted and fell right to sleep after her bath. She'd had fun with Frank and Henry while Jamie kept up with his training schedule. Linda, Erin, Haley, Lena, and Dana were all in the next room with a few bottles of wine and Jamie was having some chocolate dipped strawberries sent up later while he was out with Danny.

"Ya know kid it's supposed to be the bride that's worried about their figure on their wedding day." Danny joked.

"Shut up Danny, it has nothing to do with that."

"Ok, sure. How's life in LA? I wasn't able to spend much time with you when you came home over Memorial Day."

Jamie just laughed. "It's okay Danny. I get it. You had a big case that weekend and the only ones that knew I was coming to New York were dad and pop. Just like when I was at Harvard, I don't expect you to stop your lives for me when I make it back."

"We know, but we miss you. You couldn't have gotten a job closer to home?"

"Moving to LA has been great for me. I went where the opportunity was."

"Listen, I know being a cop at home was very different for you than it was for me or Joe."

"Yes, it was, but it was what I wanted to do more than anything. Working in LA has been nice because no one cares who my family is and everything that I've achieved I've earned on my merits."

"Kid, the things you achieved in your first couple a years on the force were great. Now that you're doing ESD, you're unstoppable, but do one thing for me. Don't do anything heroic. You not only have your family waiting for you at home in New York, but a beautiful little girl who calls you dad now waiting for you at home." Danny emphasized heroic, little girl, and dad so he hoped that Jamie would understand his worry.

"I know Danny, I want to come home to my family every night too. I've waited too long for this family to do something stupid that stops me from coming home each night."

That puzzled Danny for a minute. "What do you mean, Jamie?"

"Oh, come on, if Syd and I had gotten married, we would've been married for four or five years by now and who knows we might have had a little girl like Betty and maybe a second on the way. Don't get me wrong, I have never been happier in my life. In some ways I feel like after Syd left, I was just sitting there watching all my friends have a life without me."

Danny felt bad. He'd never really known how his brother felt. He was surprised that Jamie was sharing. Jamie never shared anything about what he felt. "Why didn't you ever say anything before?"

"Because I knew that you wouldn't understand. Hell, dad told me that he had to explain to you and Erin that I'm and adult and old enough to get married and have a kid Betty's age." Jamie was frustrated after that conversation with his dad but felt better that his dad sounded frustrated for him too.

"Ya know you've been gone for over a year now and you only came home for like a day and half during that time. It's hard having another empty chair at Sunday dinner for all of us, and I think it's going to be even harder for dad and pop to know that there should be three chairs filled now instead of just one."

"Danny, has anyone ever question the choices that you've made in your life?" Jamie was upset but trying to control it because he knew it had been so long since they had seen each other, and he didn't want to have a big blowout fight with his brother in a Las Vegas bar.

"No, but."

"No, buts. No one has ever questioned your life choices." Jamie said hoping that the topic would be closed.

"Ok. So, are you getting nervous about getting married?"

"Not really, Eddie and Betty mean everything to me, and Tuesday at lunch Eddie and I are going to the courthouse to turn in the paperwork, I'm officially adopting Betty." Jamie smiled. He was nervous that Eddie would say no when he asked. He didn't care how Betty came into the world, but over the last nine months he couldn't think of her as anything other than his daughter.

"That's good. I was so nervous I think I could hardly breath when Linda and I got married. So how long has she been calling you dad, and has dad heard you called dad yet?"

"Since we got engaged on the fourth of July. They were staying at the house that weekend and the night I asked, and I was up in my room reading when Betty came in nervously and asked if when Eddie and got married if she still had to call me Jamie or if she could call me dad and tell all her friends that I'm her dad."

"That's really great kid. Was Eddie happy with Betty calling you dad or not?"

"She was happy about it. She's always wanted a dad for her, but wasn't willing to risk the ridicule and possible abuse that could come from some unknown situations in the dating world."

"I'm happy for ya. I guess since you have a kid, I should stop calling you kid, huh?"

"That would be nice, but I don't think that'll ever change." Jamie laughed.

The wedding was held in one of the chapels, and Armin had rented out an entire restaurant for their big family dinner. Eddie looked beautiful and Betty stood up at the front with them during the ceremony. It was important to both Jamie and Eddie that Betty be involved and feel like she was a part of everything. Frank loved not only seeing Jamie happy, but he couldn't be prouder than to see Jamie as a dad. It was hard for Jamie's family to watch them leave the dinner because they knew that wouldn't get to see them again since they were headed back to LA. At least they knew that they would get to see the happy family again at thanksgiving.

Danny and Erin were both finally beginning to see Jamie as an adult and were happy that he finally seemed to be happy. Frank and Henry were over the moon. They both had been worried about Jamie after Sydney left him, and then when Vinny died it added to Jamie's angst. Frank knew how much Jamie, like himself would throw himself into his work, and the more things happened to him the more he worked. When Eddie and Betty came into his life were the best thing to happen to him.

Once home Jamie and Eddie's focus moves to work and Jamie adopting Betty. It's important to him that Betty knows that he loves her as much as he loves her mother, and he feels like going through the adoption is best way. Jamie hopes that everything will go relatively smoothly since Betty's dad gave up his rights, but Jamie's a realist and wants to be prepared for anything that could happen.

A month later the adoption was finalized, Betty was officially a Reagan and she couldn't be happier she had to call her new grandpa and pop, and had plans to call Uncle Danny and Aunt Erin too.

Jamie's training hadn't allowed him to celebrate the adoption like he would've wanted to, but they were still able to have a nice dinner at home. At this point Jamie was just ready to be done with the training and get back to work full time. He was ready for a better work life balance.

Finally, November arrived, and Jamie got confirmation that he passed all of his training, and didn't just pass, but managed to score top two in each class. He'd find out more about what that meant later, all he knew was that he was ready to be a fully certified hostage negotiator and working as a detective in the critical cases division.

Jamie and Eddie were finishing packing up for their weeklong trip to New York. Jamie had taken a few hostage calls in the two weeks since he finished his training, but it was his work with the critical cases division that had him thankful for the week off.

"Boop are you ready for New York?" Jamie asked as he carried the last suitcase out to the car.

"Yes, I can't wait to see grandpa and pop. They said that we are going to stay with them instead of a hotel."

"Yep, they have a big house and plenty of room for us."

"Are you ladies ready to head to the airport?"

"Yes, let's go!" Eddie said ready for a break from home.

Frank was so excited to see his youngest and his family that he got off early and headed over the airport to pick them up himself with his detail. Henry was at home making dinner and was so excited. He was making macaroni and cheese and fried chicken. He'd learned it wasn't only Jamie's favorite but Betty's too and had since learned that Eddie just loved to eat.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Jamie was surprised, his dad didn't have a lot of time to come and pick anyone up from the airport. He'd planned on just getting a cab since he could tell Eddie and Betty were tired and with their bags, he knew that the subway and walk would be a lot for them.

"I heard that you might be taking a cab, and I have the space and am heading in the same direction that you are." Frank laughed. His dad had been happy to let him know Jamie's plans.

"Thanks, dad." Jamie said and they all piled into the bat mobile and made their way to Bay Ridge.

Once at the house Betty got settled in her room and then went to help Henry with cooking and making cookies for dessert. Eddie was tired, since she had gotten off work and got on the plane, so she went to take a quick nap before dinner and Jamie decided to go for a walk. He was still struggling with his last hostage call and needed some time alone to work through it. He ended up at the cemetery.

"Hey Joe. Sorry it's been so long since I've been here, but it's not so easy to get here now that I'm living in LA, but you already know that. Things are going well, I went through Emergency Services training, and now I'm part of the hostage negotiation and rescue team and a critical cases division. Life has changed a lot since patrol. Life has changed a lot in general. I got married and adopted a little girl. Joe she's the best. I love being a dad. The funny thing is that I haven't even known them a year and I can't imagine my life without them. I wish that you were here. I miss you so much."

Jamie talked to his mom and grandma before heading back to the house. He knew that dinner was almost ready, and he didn't want to get in trouble for being late. He could only imagine what was happening at the house while he was gone anyway.

"Hey Jamie, you doing, okay?" Henry asked.

"Yeah. I'm good, I just needed to walk after the long flight."

"Well, you're right on time, dinners ready."

Everyone gathered in the dining room and was met with a great smelling table of food. Frank and Henry had asked Danny and Erin to stay away the first night they didn't want Eddie and Betty overwhelmed. Thanksgiving would be here before they knew it and it was set to be a busy day.

"Pop this all looks amazing, you didn't have to go through all that trouble for us." Eddie said feeling very thankful for her new family.

"You're family, we would do anything for you dear." Henry smiled. "Eat up everyone, Betty and I baked cookies for later."

Jamie rolled his eyes. He was going to have to get training time in everyday if his grandpa was going to be cooking the entire time that they were there.

"Do you have have something to say Jameson?" Henry questioned.

"No, I'm good. That was nice of you guys to do."

"And that was his nice way of saying that he'll be working out as much as he can to stay in shape for work with all the food he'll be eating over the next few days." Eddie laughed.

Frank just laughed. He loved all of his kids, but Jamie had a way about him. He never wanted to hurt anyone's feelings in any way.

"Are you going to meet up with anyone else while you're here?" Frank wondered if he kept in touch with anyone from the 12th.

"Yeah, tomorrow I'm meeting up with Renzulli while Eddie and Betty go shopping. When I told him that I was leaving he was worried that all the time he spent training me would be lost." Jamie laughed remembering the conversation.

"He thought that you were going to do something else?"

"Yeah, he met Spencer one time when he was visiting, and he thought that with Vinny that Spencer had finally be able to talk me into joining the law firm." Jamie laughed again.

"What's so funny?" Frank wondered?

"Spencer works for Eddie's dad. When I met her parents, they didn't believe that I attended Harvard and just thought I was a dumb cop. Her brother still isn't my biggest fan, but we get along when we have to."

"Wow. You went through something similar with Sydney and her parents when you switched gears."

"Yeah."

"My brother didn't necessarily think that you were a dumb cop, you just weren't good enough for me, and I'm fairly certain that he wanted me to marry one of the attorneys on staff so they could talk me into law school." Eddie wanted them to know that wasn't how her family saw Jamie. Her families' issues had more to do with herself than Jamie.

"Eddie, dear, don't worry. We've all had those reactions. It drives Erin nuts, but the rest of us, as much as we may not like it, we know that it's not true." Henry said trying to console Eddie a bit.

"And one thing that you're brother seems to forget when he says those negative things is that you are included in that group. Last time I saw him, I reminded him of that." Jamie smiled. It hadn't been a bad conversation, but an enlightening one for Alex.

"Ya mom, dad's right, Uncle Alex doesn't think about you when he says those things." Betty said with a smile, because her Uncle had never hid his feelings about what her dad did, and the mean things that he said made her mad.

"Betty, lets go and get the wonderful cookies we made for everyone and then when desserts done you can tell me all about what you and your mom have planned tomorrow." Henry said worried that the conversation had taken a negative turn.

When they returned from the kitchen the feeling in the room was much lighter and they talked about times when Henry, Frank and Jamie all worked patrol during the parade. Most of the stories were funny. Jamie loved talking about his time on patrol with Renzulli.

Eddie tried to imagine Jamie in an NYPD uniform and tried to figure out if she'd seen him during their yearly venture to the parade. Even if she had seen him she knew that he'd be busy working keeping them safe.

The evening wound down quickly, and Jamie wanted to go for a quick run before bed. Frank made to sure to remind him that he wasn't in LA, and it would be cold out. Jamie just laughed and reminded his dad that he hadn't been gone that long and he would run all year long when he did still live in New York.

The next morning Eddie and Betty were getting ready for their girls' day out. They were getting their hair and nails done, and then they would finish the day with some shopping. The big difference this year was instead of heading back to the hotel they were going to meet Jamie at the 12th where he would be spending some time with his old friends.

Jamie wanted to start the day by heading to his old boxing gym for a workout, and Renzulli was going to meet him there like he used to before they would start their tours for the day. Jamie was planning on spending a couple hours there and was able to spend some time in the ring. Betty was worried that he was going to get hurt, but he reassured her that it was just a workout and he used to go there all the time.

Jamie was focused and didn't hear or see Renzulli come in. He was still going over the last call he'd taken before starting his vacation.

"Hey kid."

"Hey Sarge, feels like old times you picking me up in here?" Jamie smiled. This was something that he missed.

"Yeah, but we aren't headed out to twelve hours on the street not knowing what the hell we'll find." Renzulli joked. "I'm kinda surprised that they let you in here."

"One of my friends gave me a visitors pass while I'm here. I gotta keep up my training. Hey, give me ten minutes and I'll be ready to go."

Ten minutes later Jamie was changed and ready to head out he guessed to one of their favorite old lunch stops.

"So, are you chief out there in LA yet?" Renzulli joked.

"Funny, sarge, not but I am part of the hostage negation and rescue team and critical case division. So, I've gotten a promotion. A lot different than here." Jamie joked. He knew that Renzulli understood how he felt.

"That's great kid, and you're married now. How does she handle the job?" That was always a concern. Renzulli couldn't believe what his previous fiancé had done.

"She works dispatch, so she understands. She doesn't love the extra risk that came with Emergency Services, but we're both finding my detective work on critical cases has been more challenging so far."

"Okay kid, I know that you've always been a natural overachiever, but why the two teams?" Renzulli wondered if he still thought that he was trying to prove something. Maybe some of his peers figured out who his family was.

"No, it's not like that. It's just that things are different in LA, and my primary team is Emergency Services, and I have dedicated training days, and I fill in if someone's out on say SWAT or something, but since I'm on HNRT, we don't field as many calls thankfully that we all have a secondary team that we're assigned to."

"That's a lot. I'm glad you have a support system." Renzulli knew that the kid would do big things he just hated that he had to leave for it to happen.

"Me too Sarge. How's Marie, she still cooking eggs all day everyday?" Jamie joked.

"No not as much. She's moved onto different pasta dishes now. Ya, know I haven't had another rookie like you. You would've made a hell of a training officer."

"Thanks, I don't know that I was ready for that yet. I was in a better place when I left, but I still wasn't in a great place, and six months after I got to LA, we were responding to a domestic and my partner was hurt, and I thought that I was going to lose him too." Jamie looked down and took a deep breath.

"Yeah, kid I heard about that. I tried calling you, but Danny told me that you had shut off your phone at one point." Renzulli could only imagine what the kid was going through.

"Yeah, that pissed off my family, but between them and all my friends in LA, my phone was just ringing non-stop. I turned it back on Christmas Day and everyone except my dad and grandpa tried to talk me into moving back. You'd think with my family they would understand that what happened in LA could happen anywhere." Jamie laughed, but it wasn't a good laugh more of a haunted laugh.

"Yeah, but they'd already had that call once this year, I bet getting it a second time was worse than the first." Renzulli could only imagine what they were all going through.

"And I get that Sarge, but you remember what it was like when you rode with me, they were always checking on me. I remember when I had that hit put out on me, I told my grandpa that everyone treated me like I was made out of toothpicks and Danny was made out of iron. Everyone just assumes because I don't act like a hard ass that can't handle the pressure or reality of being on the job." Jamie said it felt like in one breath. It was nice to get it all out to someone who he knew understood.

"I know kid, and as soon as you're a parent you'll understand too." Renzulli didn't know what else to say.

Jamie pulled a picture out of his wallet and put it on the table. "I'm a parent now, and I love her more than anyone could ever understand. Betty is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I do get what your saying, but I also know that she has enough people giving her a hard time that my main focus is to support her in any way that she needs. I'm the dad that she can come to for anything that she needs, and I'll listen to anything. I know what it's like to always have someone question your choices because they aren't the ones that someone else would make."

"That's great kid, how old is she?" Renzulli was happy for his young boot. He always knew he would make a great dad.

"She turns six next month, and I know you want to ask, her biological father is not in the picture, and never has been." Jamie smiled. That was always the first question everyone asked when they saw her picture.

"Kid, I'm just glad that you're happy. So, you goin to the parade?"

"Yeah, found out Eddie and her entire family usually go every year, but this year its just us, her dad surprised her mom with a trip to London. Her brother Alex is meeting his girlfriends' parents this week. That's going to be interesting." Jamie chuckled a little at the thought. Haley and Alex were very different people, but the more he thought about it people probably thought the same thing about Eddie and himself.

"You seen anyone else yet?"

"No, I'm headed to the 12th after we finish here. I know Atwater's working and a couple other guys will be finishing their tours. Eddie and Betty are going to meet me there."

Renzulli laughed. "I'm going with you. We'll make sure that little girls gets a real good look at what a real police precinct looks like not those fancy LA ones."

"Sounds good."

Jamie and Renzulli talked for another hour before Jamie noticed the time and new that Eddie would be making her way to the 12th.

Once at the 12th a new tour was coming in and so Betty was going to get to see roll call. What was the biggest surprise was to see Frank walk in and address roll call. Jamie knew that he found out about their plans today from Henry. He knew that his dad wanted to show his newest granddaughter what he did. He had a feeling that they were headed to 1PP and then to dinner too.

Jamie's intuition was right after an extensive tour of the 12th they made their way to 1PP for another tour and Frank had Abigail order food in so they could enjoy the view from the 14th floor. Betty loved seeing everything at the twelfth and then where her grandpa worked.

It was a great day for Betty, she couldn't wait to tell all of her friends all about her adventures in New York.

Thanksgiving day came quickly, Linda and Erin both got the holiday off. Jamie and Eddie volunteered to help Henry cook. Jamie hadn't helped with dinner since his mom was still alive and helping this year had Jamie thinking back to a couple years earlier when they almost lost Henry. He couldn't imagine not having his grandfather around. He'd already lost so many people.

Danny and Erin were both in rare form not pulling any punches during dinner. They both loved having their kid brother home with his new family. It was still a little odd to them both to see Jamie married with a kid of his own. Frank and Henry were both elated that they didn't have any empty chairs for the holiday. When the meal was over all the kids went to play in the sunroom while the adults did the dishes. Plans were made for a big dinner Saturday evening before Jamie, Eddie and Betty made their way home to LA.