Chapter Four

Eddie carried in a Tupperware full of her stuffed cabbage and rice to dinner later that day. They were both excited about letting the family in on their news. Max and April asked that morning, with joint hands, when the new baby would be coming out of Eddie's belly and if they could help. Jamie and Eddie didn't know their children had mini-powwows in their bedrooms to talk about things. It was adorable how they went over things together even at such a young age.

Jamie and Eddie told them the baby would likely come around the end of July. They didn't' have the concept of how long that was but it was a satisfactory answer for the little ones. Now, they stood in the family kitchen, Eddie was glowing with happiness.

"Oh, thank you, Eddie," Linda took the food from her hand. "These smell really good. Hi, guys. Do you have kisses for me?"

April and Max both were entrenched in the Reagan fold, even though April was biologically a Reagan, Eddie had been concerned about her fitting in. No more. She was cuddled and snuggled the same as Max, the same as the new baby would be.

Eddie helped Linda and Erin get dinner on the table while the boys took their little cousins to play. Nikki was, by the grace of God, stuck at school to study for finals. That was a relief to Eddie. When the dinner was on the table, Frank asked Jamie to say grace. Jamie looked at Eddie, "Dad, before we do that, Eddie and I…we have an announcement to make. " Jamie took Eddie's hand.

Linda was already gushing, she could see the happiness radiating off the younger couple, but she didn't pry. Still she waited. Jamie held Eddie's gaze as he softly spoke, "Eddie and I are pregnant…"

Then it was okay for everyone that suspected to squeal with glee.

Congratulations," Frank kissed Eddie's cheek and hugged Jamie. "A new baby. Pop is surely smiling down on you."

Linda grinned giving Eddie a gentle hug excited for both of them. "Congratulations that's great, something to celebrate!"

"Yes I'm due in July, a wonderful month..." Jamie slid his arms around his wife and kissed her head.

From behind them Danny looped an arm around his little brother. "I'm really happy for you both, kid."

"Thanks..." Jamie smiled softly as April piped up "Mommom and Daddy make baby in belly...lots of love make it." She wanted to show what she knew.

Danny turned to eddie Eddie then his brother grinning at their quiet expressions. "Teaching them early huh?"

"She asked" Eddie shrugged. " it's that big Reagan brain of hers._

"Can't imagine where she got that from." Danny smiled at Jamie happy for them both that they were adding to their family. Eddie went with Erin and Linda too look at some of the baby pictures of Jamie and of Max while Frank and Danny toasted with Jamie.

"So another kid huh you and Eddie must be excited. Did you talk about what you want to have?"

"I'm thinking a girl but we just want a healthy baby..." Jamie replied. "We just want health for them both."

Frank raised an eyebrow lowering his glass, turning to Jamie with misty eyes, "Both? Eddie is having twins?"

"Oh God, no," Jamie laughed. "I meant Eddie and the baby."

Both older men chuckled at Jamie's reaction. "That's the most important part make sure she follows all the doctor's orders."

Jamie agreed, "She's strong, she's doing so well. I'm so happy. We both are." Frank raised his glass. "To Baby Reagan..."

They raised their glasses each taking a sip. "If you need help setting anything up Jamie let me know.." Danny told smiled and sipped his drink again.

"How's Max's music going? Erin asked as they looked at a picture of Max at the piano with Henry.

Eddie smiled "he's still loving it and had a real talent picking it up just need to get him to focus. He tends to play what he wants."

"He's got a little stubborn streak in him," Linda laughed. "Like Danny. It's good he loves it, it's easy to get him to practice then." Eddie smiled, "He's making little friends too."

"He asked me earlier to come and hear him play at his next lesson," Erin told Eddie. "Is that good with you? We can grab lunch?"

That got Eddie's wheels turning, perhaps Erin and Mick would be a good fit. She was pretty good at playing matchmaker. She prided herself on the Kara and Luke match, perhaps that would help Erin's moods, though she was pretty nice today.

Eddie agreed, "That will be a lot of fun. The kids would love to spend time with their Aunt Erin."

The plans were set for the next lesson on Tuesday.

Eddie took Max to his music class hoping the father would be too. He was waiting when they walked in, Eddie taking a deep breath before approaching. "Hi."

"Hey, Eddie," Mick smiled. "You look really pretty today. Your hair is glowing." Max looked up at Mick and regarded him anxiously. "What's wrong with Max?" the boy was quieter than usual.

"His aunt is coming to hear him play," Eddie replied. "He invited her and he's a little nervous. She was running late so she's going to hear him play with the kids today."

Mick smiled, "Max is going to play piano," he told Ava. "You sing along nice for him, okay?"

The small girl smiled, "Okay, Daddy…"

"We better go in, the lesson is about to start," Eddie directed.

Halfway through the class, Erin snuck in the back. Max was at the piano playing away on the keys, he played the precise notes coming from the teacher's thumb piano. Erin was so proud and impressed by her nephew.

When the class was over, Erin grabbed Max and gave him a big hug. She noticed the handsome man talking to Eddie. She took Max over to them, "You ready to go to lunch?" she asked. "We just have to swing by and get April right? You want deli?"

"Erin," Eddie smiled. 'This is Mick Foster, and his little girl Ava. Mick, this is my sister-in-law, ADA Erin Reagan."

Mick and Erin shook hands and exchanged smiles. "Well, you ladies enjoy your lunch. The deli by the play school is very good, I go there a lot."

Erin and Eddie exchanged looks, he was a nice guy and seemed so lonely. Erin nodded her head to Eddie's silent inquiry, "Would you like to join us? We'll meet you after we pick April up, in twenty minutes?"

Mick agreed and headed to get a table and such for when the ladies got there.

When the ladies arrived with the kids, Mick held the door for them. He pulled out Eddie's chair first and didn't do so for Erin. He smiled at Erin, she was pretty, but Eddie's beauty and personality were captivating. He led both Eddie and Erin in to the table.

"So, tell Erin what it is you do."

Eddie had to drive the entire conversation. Mick was looking mostly at Eddie and Erin was looking at Mick looking at Eddie. She knew one thing for sure, Mick was not interested in her at all. Erin ended up watching the kids, all three of them, while Mick focused his attention on Eddie. He was gentle, solicitous, and sweet. Too sweet for a single man to be toward a married woman.

The conversation went through dessert stopping when the bill came. "I got this, no worries," Mick winked at Eddie.

"That was very generous of you," Erin smiled. "It was a very nice time." Erin enjoyed watching the kids, Eddie was oblivious.

Mick smiled taking out his wallet fishing out enough money to cover with a tip. "Of course, anytime it was really nice."

Mick didn't make any move to give his contact information to Erin, he shook her hand but gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Erin looked at Eddie and laughed, "Eddie...really...this guy is around the bend, he's looped the loop, he's gaga for you."

Eddie sighed "I don't know Erin, he's like that, he's just really friendly, you know?"

"Just be careful, I'm fine with it, but I think he's just a little too friendly," Erin advised. "You want to mention this to Jamie. It's just a little odd. I don't think he's a mean guy, but he's got his eye on you, not anyone else." That was food for thought...

Eddie chewed on that most of the night. She was quiet with the kids, choosing to sit and watch TV and not engage in too much play. This was not something she was interested in dealing with right now and certainly not something that Jamie needed to deal with. Little did Eddie know, Jamie was already aware.

"This guy is into her Jamie,' Erin told her brother after having made at stop at the 12th specifically to talk to him. "She's not aware of it, so I made mention, so don't' get upset she's cheating…"

"Erin, don't even finish that sentence, Eddie and I are happy, we're expecting, if this guy is into her it's on him," Jamie defended.

"Jamie, I don't mean to upset you," Erin sighed. "I'm not here against Eddie, yes I wasn't a fan of this marriage but I have never seen you happier in your life and Eddie did that. I don't want to see her get hurt or get in a wrong place with this guy."

"Okay," Jamie replied, rolling his chair away from his desk. "I appreciate you telling me, especially if you say that Eddie isn't really aware of his flirtation or infatuation or whatever. Still, Eddie's not stupid, she can handle herself, she was a cop."

"I know,' Erin replied. "But I wanted to speak up because I think she feels bad for this guy and being pregnant…you remember how I was with Nikki and the puppies…"

Jamie laughed, oh did he ever. "Eddie picks up a lot of strays as it is, she likes to help…I got it sis, no worries."

When Jamie got home that night, Eddie had dinner on the table and a big smile. She shook off the conversation with Erin, Mick might like her a little, but he was a nice guy, a lonely guy and he sort of held onto their conversations, it was never more than that.

"Hey, have a good day?" Eddie asked giving him a kiss. "You're a little late, I was getting concerned."

"Yeah," Jamie replied. "Today was good, busy but it goes faster that way. I'm just late because Erin dropped by to see me before I left."

"Really?" It was clear Eddie was annoyed. "She just had to go and run to you about her thoughts about Mick right?"

"She's just concerned, Eddie," Jamie soothed. "She didn't' imply you did anything wrong at all, there's no reason to get upset."

"Yes, there is, Jamie!" Eddie replied. "There is a reason to get upset, because there is NO reason she had to bring this up to you. None! Mick is a nice, but lonely guy that is very shy and he was more comfortable talking to me! She is…ugh, I thought she changed, but she didn't!"

Eddie reached for her phone, she was going to have it out with Erin but Jamie stepped in, "Eddie, I need for you to calm down."

"Calm down? You want me to calm down?" Eddie asked. "When I thought we were having a nice time and finally bonding and she goes behind my back and I have to calm down?"

"Yes," Jamie soothed pulling her in tight. "Yes, because you are upset and you are pregnant and this is not worth it. It's not worth it, I'm not upset about it, if you say things are fine, then they are fine. It can stop here, all right?"

Jamie kissed Eddie's hair, but there was no way she was going to let this go. No way in the world! She was hurt, angry, and betrayed and Erin was not getting off the hook without hearing about it. Telling Jamie was underhanded and unnecessary, Eddie Janko Reagan didn't stand by for that.