A/N: This topic/story was suggested by Randi Myers so it is dedicated to her.
We're Having A Baby
Tommy received a phone call and had to go to work for an emergency job and didn't have a sitter because it was supposed to be his day off. His wife, Chloe was at work. TJ, was too young to be left alone, he was only five years old. TJ's mother, Lydia, was out of town so he couldn't call her.
Angela was working or she would have watched her grandson. He called Constance and she and Arthur were both busy. TJ loved Constance and Arthur and they repeatedly told Tommy if he ever needed a sitter to please let them know. He even called Hope and Cailin, they were busy also. Frankie and Nina were working. Short of taking TJ to work with him, Tommy was running out of options.
He was trying hard not to call Jane and Maura. He knew they would watch him but they had been working long hours as they had a serial killer case they were working on. Lt. Cavanaugh had sent them home to relax a little and take a break from the case. It was a chance for them to refuel their bodies. They would come back to work tomorrow fresh.
Tommy knew how things were when Jane and Maura were heavy invested in a case. Time off was precious but he was desperate. This was a huge job and not one that he could really take TJ on. TJ was too active to be at the work site. He bit his lower lip as he picked up his cellphone. He dialed Jane's number and after the third ring Jane picked up. "Hey, little bro what's up?"
"I," he hesitated, he was nervous and hated to be asking his sister this, "I need a favor." Tommy quietly stated.
"Sure, anything for you, well almost anything, what do you need?" Jane asked curious to see what he was going to ask for. Tommy had straightened his life out over the last few years and Jane was very proud of him, but they haven't really talked about it. He had an amazing wife and great son and was very successful in his job.
He owned his own plumbing company, deciding it was easier for him to be on his own than work for a plumbing company. His business was still in the infant stages and he needed to build his reputation. Jobs were very important and he tried not to turn any jobs down. Chloe understood this and agreed with him that he shouldn't turn any work down while building his company and his reputation.
"I got called in for an emergency job and I can't take TJ with me, can you and Maura watch him for a few hours? I've called everybody and nobody is available. I was trying not to disturb the two of you."
"Of course, we can watch him. Anytime you need someone to watch him, we can, if were not working. We love TJ."
"Okay, can I drop him off in 20 minutes?" Tommy asked so thankful that Jane and Maura could watch TJ for him. He really didn't want to take TJ to the jobsite but he didn't want to turn the job down.
"Yes, or you can go to the job site and I can meet you and pick him up so you can get to the job faster." Jane offered knowing that this was the best option for Tommy and would allow her to pick up breakfast for all of them while she was out.
"That would be great. I'll text you the address." Tommy said as he smiled. Jane was a life saver for him. She had always been there and believed in him except for a short period of time when he was in jail.
"Okay, I will leave as soon as I get the address." Jane told him as she changed clothes. Her loungewear wouldn't be appropriate for going out in public.
"Thank you." Tommy said and sent her a text with the address.
She gave Maura a quick kiss and told her, "I'll be right back with TJ and some breakfast."
"No McDonald's for me. Can you stop at the bakery and get me some scones please?" Maura loved scones and lately she had been wanting to eat them more often.
"Sure babe, anything for you." Jane loved pampering her wife and would do almost anything for her. She just needed to remember to get the jam this time. Last time she came home with scones she had forgotten the house jam that Maura loved. Jane thought it was the end of the world they way Maura carried on about not having the right jam for her scones. She told Jane how scones are a work of art and that they need the right jam to further enhance the taste.
"Thanks, love." Maura knew that the bakery was right near the McDonalds that Jane would end up at to get some breakfast for TJ. TJ loved McDonalds and he would be in a great mood after getting some breakfast from his favorite fast-food joint. Maura cringed when she thought of the calories in the meal but TJ was such a fussy eater. Tommy and Chloe had agreed that as long as it didn't eat it every day, he would be fine. She smiled knowing that Jane would get her the jam she wanted to go along with the scones.
Chloe knew plenty of healthy recipes that TJ loved that would offset any junk food that he might eat while he was with Jane and Maura. She knew that Jane loved to eat junk food and tended to get away with it when TJ was with her. Being a chef had come in handy being TJ's step mom. He loved to try the food that she cooked so she was able to expose him to all sorts of food and she noted which ones he liked and didn't like. Tommy pretty much would eat anything that she cooked. He was still in shock that he had married a Michelin star chef.
Angela loved the fact that her daughter-in-law was a chef. They cooked together often and worked on new recipes together, some of which made it on the menu at Chloe's restaurant. Angela had two daughter-in-laws that loved to cook, she was so happy. Now if they would give her more grandchildren, she would be even happier.
Jane arrived at the job site about the same time as Tommy. "Hey TJ." Jane said as soon as TJ jumped out of Tommy's work truck. "You want to spend the day with Aunt Maura and me?"
"Yes, Auntie Jane, I would love that. Can we get some McDonalds on the way to your house? I'm hungry." TJ said as Jane and Tommy both laughed. Tommy hugged TJ and Jane and mouthed, 'thank you' to Jane. Jane nodded as she secured TJ in his booster seat. It was time for her to pick up breakfast and then get back to Maura. She chanted to herself, jam, jam, jam. She needed to remember the jam for the scones. She promised Maura she wouldn't forget the jam.
When they got to the house, TJ went running into the house and ran over to Maura and was just about to jump up onto the couch so he could hug her. Jane yelled, "TJ stop!" TJ stopped and turned and looked at his aunt. "TJ, you have to be careful, you can't jump up on Aunt Maura."
"But I always jump up onto the couch so I can hug her." TJ said as he looked at both of his aunts. He was confused and on the verge of tears. He wanted to hug his Auntie Maura.
Maura could see the confusion on his face and asked him, "TJ can you sit down next to me and then you can hug me?" TJ complied and climbed on the couch and sat down next to Maura. Maura immediately embraced him. She could feel TJ shaking. "Sweetie, you didn't do anything wrong you are not in trouble. You just can't jump up on me, that is all."
Jane had walked over and placed their breakfast down on the coffee table and sat on the other side of Maura. TJ looked at Jane. Jane reached over and cupped his face with her left hand. "Buddy, you are not in trouble, please don't cry."
"But you … you yelled at me, you never yell at me." TJ said as he was still burrowed into Maura's side. Maura kissed the top of his head and rubbed small circles on his back as she tried to comfort him. She kissed the top of his head several more times.
"I know buddy and I am sorry, but there is a really great reason that I raised my voice at you and told you to stop." Jane said as TJ broke the embrace with Maura and looked over at her. He had stopped crying and now leaned over to rest his head across Maura's lap. Jane gave him a few minutes to compose himself. She knew he was upset that she had yelled at him.
When he raised his head up a few minutes later he said, "I'm hungry." Jane smiled at him and he got up so he could get his breakfast. They sat there in the living room and ate their breakfast. When TJ finished eating, he asked, "What is your great reason?"
"Auntie Maura is going to have a baby in a few months. No one in the family knows, you are the first person that we have told. Do you understand what I just said?" Jane asked him as he walked over to her.
"Yes, Auntie Maura is going to have a baby. So, I am going to have someone to play with. I can teach him things." TJ said. Jane and Maura just smiled noticing that he said 'him.'
"Well, we cannot guarantee that the baby will be a boy, but yes you will have someone to play with in the near future. We are going to tell the family tonight at our family dinner. Would you like to help us tell them?" Jane asked TJ who had come over and gave her a big hug.
"I would love to help you. How can I help?" he asked and Jane gave him another big hug. He was such a cute young man. They sat back up on the couch and TJ asked Maura, "Can I feel the baby?"
Maura looked at Jane and Jane replied, "If Aunt Maura says it is okay, you can place your hand on her belly. In a few weeks the baby will start moving and then you will be able to feel the baby as they move. Right now, you will not feel anything but you can talk to the baby and let them know that you are their cousin."
TJ smiled and asked, "Auntie Maura, can I touch your belly where my cousin is?"
"Yes TJ, that would be fine." Maura said as he gently placed his hand on her belly.
"Baby, I can't wait for you to come out and play with me. I am going to teach you everything I know. I will let you play with my toys." He put his ear down to her belly to see if he could hear the baby. Jane and Maura just smiled. TJ looked up at his aunts and said, "I can't wait for the baby to come. How did he get in Auntie Maura's belly?"
Jane looked over at Maura and said, "Maur, you can explain this one."
"Well TJ, I believe at five you are a little young still for that conversation, but just know that this baby is here because your Aunt Jane and I love each other very much and we wanted to share our life with them. We wanted to have a family, like you, your dad and Chloe."
TJ smiled at Maura and replied, "Does that mean that Chloe is going to have a baby because she and my dad love each other?" Jane quickly put her hand up to cover her mouth so Maura wouldn't hear her laugh. Jane thought, 'oh man, now you done it Maur.'
Maura smiled at him and said, "No, not everybody that loves each other have children. Your dad and Chloe may decide in the future to have another child but right now they are concentrating on you and their jobs."
TJ asked, "So nonna doesn't know that you are going to have a baby soon?"
"Correct TJ, nobody in the family knows except for the three of us. They will all find out tonight after dinner." Jane replied.
"Cool, can we play or watch a movie now?" TJ asked and Jane handed Maura the remote to find something appropriate for them to watch while she cleaned up their breakfast mess.
Before Jane left the living room, Maura said, "Thank you Jane for getting the scones and jam for me."
Jane gave Maura a quick kiss on the lips and said, "You're welcome baby. I am going to finish cleaning up and get us some drinks before you start the movie."
Maura opened up Netflix and went to the children's movies. TJ was all smiles as Maura asked him, "TJ do you want to help me pick out a movie?"
"Yes!" He said as he carefully climbed back up on the couch to sit beside her. They selected 'Cars' and Maura set it up while Jane was getting their drinks and throwing out their garbage from breakfast. Maura heard popcorn popping and asked TJ if he could go help Aunt Jane with their snacks. He carefully climbed down off the couch and went into the kitchen to help his Aunt Jane.
A few minutes later, Jane and TJ came out with their snacks and they started the movie. After Cars ended TJ asked if they could go swimming. Maura lit up she liked that idea. TJ had swim trunks in the guest room so everyone went and changed. They were enjoying their time in the pool when Angela arrived.
She already had dinner made, she just needed to cook it. She stepped outside to say hello and then went back in the kitchen to get everything in the oven. She told them to stay in the pool she didn't need their assistance, so they did just that.
Half an hour before everyone was due to arrive, they exited the pool and went upstairs to get dressed. They didn't come downstairs until right before everyone arrived. TJ was laying on their bed telling jokes and trying to get his aunts to laugh. Most of the jokes were silly and they did laugh. They loved TJ and they appreciated that he was trying to make them laugh.
They discussed when they were going to tell everybody and TJ wanted to tell everybody as soon as they went downstairs. Jane wanted to wait until after dinner. Maura was undecided. They decided they would just see how things went and then tell everybody.
They sat down for dinner and Angela took out the wine and poured a glass for herself and a glass for Maura. She passed Maura the glass and before Jane or Maura could say anything TJ did. He said, "No nonna, Auntie Maura cannot have any wine."
"Why not?" Angela was curious.
Jane responded, "Because we decided to be alcohol free. If you notice I am drinking water as is Maura."
"Me too." TJ chimed in and smiled at his aunties.
Angela asked, "What are you three up to?"
"Nothing nonna, my little cousin can't have alcohol so we are having water." TJ responded.
Angela got all excited and looked over at Maura and said, "Maura are you pregnant?"
"Ma, why would you think Maura would be pregnant and not me?" Jane asked trying to distract her mother.
"Oh, come on Jane, we all know that Maura would want to carry any baby that you might have."
"Well, if I can speak?" Maura asked and both Jane and Angela stopped talking. "Jane and I had planned to tell everyone after dinner, so we might as well tell you now. Well, TJ honey, would you like to tell everyone?"
TJ jumped out of his chair and walked quickly over to Maura and hugged her and said, "Yes, Auntie Maura. My aunties are going to have a baby." Tears were coming down Angela's face, she was so happy. Jane had gotten up and was standing right behind Maura and just rested her hands on Maura's shoulders. Everyone congratulated them and then all the questions started. Maura just looked up at Jane and Jane told everybody how far along Maura was and when the due date was.
Maura closed her eyes and took a deep breath and held on to Jane's hands that were on her shoulders. The next 28 weeks would be full of much the same. Now they needed to tell her family. She knew Constance would be excited.