Chapter Two:

After exiting the 12th precinct, Eddie suggested to Jamie, "Jamie, it might be a good idea to tell your dad and the rest of your family about Josephine. They would be able to help you figure out what to do next I'm sure."

Jamie looked at Eddie skeptically. "I don't know Eddie… Josephine was born out of wedlock. I have no idea how they would react to that."

"Jamie, they're your family and they love you. Josephine is a part of you so they will love her too. I'm sure of it."

Eddie gave Jamie a sweet, soft smile to help ease his mind.

Looking over at Eddie, Jamie smiled back. He knows what Eddie is saying. He knows that he needs to tell his family about Josephine, and soon.

"You're right Eddie. She needs her family. And I'm going to need their help too."

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Eddie accompanied Jamie and Josephine back to his apartment. They have a lot to talk about. So much to talk about, that while Jamie was driving them over, Eddie was making a mental list of everything that they needed to talk about. Let's just say it definitely was not a short list, that's for sure.

Carrying Josephine in her carrier, Eddie followed Jamie up to his apartment and waited for him to unlock the door. Once inside, Eddie went to the sofa and took Josephine out of her carrier, cradling her against her shoulder.

Jamie brought two bottles of water over to the sofa for himself and Eddie, pulling out a bottle of formula from Josephine's bag as he sat. Carefully taking Josephine from Eddie, Jamie began to feed her.

"You're so good with her already," Eddie remarked as she watched the father-daughter duo interact.

"Thanks," Jamie smiled, but didn't break eye contact with his daughter. "I learned a lot from when I watched my niece and nephews when they were babies."

Hesitantly, Eddie brought up something that she has been wondering about since she heard about the baby. "So Jamie, how do you think you'll handle being a single dad?"

"Honestly Ed? I don't know. I always thought that when I had kids I'd be married. Have someone to fall back in on, you know? But, it's just going to be me."

"I know that I'm no replacement for Dana, or whoever you would've married, but I promise that I will always be there for Josephine."

Jamie looked at Eddie in awe. No one had ever done something like this for him before. "Really Eddie? You really mean that?"

"Yea, Jamie. I really do. Besides," Eddie turned her gaze onto baby Josephine, "she looks just like you. How could I not want to do everything I could to help her?"

"You have no idea how much that means to me Eddie. Thank you."

"I'm taking Josephine over to my dad's house for my family to meet her later this evening. Would you come with us? They don't know that I'm bringing her and I would really appreciate some backup if you wouldn't mind."

"Of course Jamie. I'm you're partner after all. Giving you backup is what I do best."

Eddie was more than thrilled that Jamie wanted her to be an active member of Josephine's life. The only thing that Eddie wished was that the two of them would be able to take this opportunity and move out of this partners/best friend zone that they have been teetering in for most of their partnership. She knows is selfish, wanting more, especially considering Jamie just had his whole life turned upside down. But hey, a girl can dream right?

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Erin was the first of the siblings to show up in Bayridge for the family meeting that Jamie had called. Entering her childhood home, she was able to quickly find her father and grandfather sitting together working on the days crossword puzzle.

"Ah, Erin!" Henry smiled at her, "how was work?"

With a sigh, Erin sat down in one of the chairs nearby. "Well Pop, I didn't get much done after Jamie sent his text to everyone. I'm a little worried about him honestly."

"I'm sure everything is just fine with Jamie," Frank chimed in. Frank was trying to appear calm and unconcerned, but in reality, he was actually worried about his youngest. Calling for a family meeting is something that is generally outside of Jamie's character.

Erin, Pop, and Frank sat in a comfortable silence until Danny and Linda arrived. Linda had just finished a shift over at the hospital, and Danny was working on a case so he was just popping in. Everyone sat together for about five minutes - well, not Danny, he was pacing around the room in typical Danny fashion - before they heard Jamie's car pull up outside.

"Finally," Danny breathed out with annoyance towards his brother. The rest of the family just shot him a glare, ignoring his comment.

Jamie opened the door holding Josephine in her carrier and Eddie following closely behind. "Hey!"

"We're in here!" Henry yelled back.

In a quieter voice, Jamie asked, "Hey Eddie, would you mind taking Josephine and hanging back here while I talk to them for a minute?"

"Of course," Eddie took Josephine in her arms and gave Jamie a reassuring squeeze on the arm.

"Alright Harvard, what's going on? I'm on a case," Danny seemed irritated, which wasn't uncommon for him, especially when he was working on cases.

"Well, I just wanted to let you all know that I will be taking the next week or so off of work."

Frank and Henry's faces were filled with shock and concern. Danny was trying to find a way to form words, but somehow, he found himself speechless, which was not something that happened to him often.

Erin was the first one to regain her composure. "What? Why?"

"Well… an old friend dropped by the precinct today and gave me some news…" Jamie trailed off, hoping that his family would continue the conversation.

"What friend? What news?" Danny was in full detective mode now.

"It was Dana. From law school. I haven't seen her for about a year until today."

"Okay, and? You gotta give us more here kid."

"Well, she left something… someone for me at the precinct."

"Someone?" Jamie hoped he could have slipped that past his sister, but no luck.

Jamie motioned for Eddie to bring baby Josephine to him. While Josephine was switching between Eddie and Jamie's arms, he introduced his daughter to some of the most important people in his life. "Dad, Grandpa, Erin, Danny, this is Josephine Marie Reagan. My daughter."

Every Reagan in the room turned to Jamie with wide eyes and dropped jaws, not believing what they were seeing in front of them or what they were hearing.