The Secret Comes Out
A week and a half later it's Sunday. Jamie is getting dressed for church while Eddie continues to lie on his bed.
"Are you sure you don't want to come? We'd save some gas only taking one car."
"I am already nervous enough having to go to family dinner with you, I don't need to go to church and be judged by everyone first. And neither of us cares enough about gas mileage for that to be a problem. You're acting like I'm a flight risk or something."
He looks away shyly. "I think you might be. You've been trying to get out of dinner all week. So once again, I'll remind you that I can't go tell them all you're pregnant without you being there, it'd just be weird. Besides, this way they all get to know you better for a little while before we tell them."
She groans and puts a pillow over her head. "You're dad's going to fire me." She feels the bed dip next to her and then the pillow is taken off of her face.
Jamie laughs softly at her forlorn expression. "He would never do that and you know it. Trust me when I say they'll all be excited and they'll all love you. Danny will probably make comments about our relationship but that's nothing new. Everything will be fine, ok?"
She nods, "ok."
He climbs off the bed and leans down to kiss her goodbye. "If you're not there by two I'll assume you skipped town and come after you."
"Reagan, you know I'll be there, now get going or you're going to be late."
Jamie kisses her once more – neither of them can keep their hands to themselves after so many years of bottled sexual tension – and walks out of the room.
Jamie is in the kitchen with Erin and Linda, slicing a cucumber for the salad. Linda hasn't said anything to him about Eddie coming today but Erin hasn't given him a break since church ended.
"I knew you always liked her, ever since that day you came to talk to me. I just always wondered why nothing ever happened after that, why you never made a move." She gives him a pointed look.
"I don't think I was ready to let myself feel anything past friendship at that point and I definitely wasn't ready to lose Eddie as my partner. I also don't know if she had feelings for me then, I think she might of, but we haven't actually talked about it. Then it got to the point where I was so comfortable where I was that I didn't want to ruin what we had by taking things to the next level. If it weren't for her making…"
The doorbell rings.
All three heads look up.
"Please, Erin, don't give her a hard time, she's nervous enough coming here and she doesn't need any added stress." Jamie gives his sister a short pleading look before going to answer the door. He only wishes he were able to tell Danny the same thing before letting her in.
When he opens the door Eddie is standing there in her usual jeans, blouse, and moto-jacket. To Jamie, she looks stunning. He pulls her inside. "I'm glad you made it," he says while taking her bag and setting it down by Erin and Linda's.
"And before 1:30 I might add." She smirks at him and then looks around the house. "Reagan, this house is crazy nice."
"I'm not sure it compares to where you grew up but we all love it." He gives her a kiss on the cheek. A few weeks back she had opened up a bit about growing up and her childhood home sounded more like a resort than a house.
She starts to respond but is interrupted when the Commissioner comes into the room. Eddie, on auto pilot, straightens and comes to attention. Jamie and Frank chuckle.
"At ease, Officer Janko, you're our guest today so don't think of me as the Commissioner. Call me Frank even." He reaches for her hand and she shakes it.
"I'm not sure I'll be able to do that but thank you for having me. Your house is lovely"
"Thank you, now come on it, dinner is almost ready so why don't we go sit down. It will be nice to have a setting next to Jamie again." His tone is slightly dejected and she knows immediately that Jamie's brother Joe used to sit there.
She follows Frank into the dining room where they find Sean and Jack already seated.
"Boys this is Uncle Jamie's friend Eddie, I expect both of you to be on your best behavior."
"Grandpa, we're old enough to know 'friend' really means girlfriend." Sean says which makes Eddie laugh.
"It's nice to meet you both. Jamie tells me you guys play soccer, I used to play left defender in high school maybe we could kick a ball around sometime."
The boys look at her skeptically.
"You used to play soccer?" Jack finally asks, skepticism written across his entire face.
"Jack, that's not polite." Frank reprimands.
"It's alright and yes, I did play. I was also a cheerleader, if that makes more sense." She says it with a smile so they all know she's not offended.
Before anyone can say anything else Erin, Nikki, Linda, and Henry walk in each carrying a dish.
"Dinner's ready, everybody take a seat."
Jamie and Danny come in, also carrying platters.
"Eddie, good to see you again, how's it having a new partner?" Danny asks as he sets down the mixed fruit bowl he'd been holding.
"Oh, it's great. Bell let's me drive," she looks over at Jamie who just rolls his eyes.
They all take their seats but Jamie, who fills everyone's wine glasses – everyone's except Eddie's.
"Uncle Jamie, don't forget Eddie," Nikki says.
"Uh, Eddie doesn't like red wine." He replies – it's the only excuse he can think of.
"Jamie, why didn't you tell us that, we could have had something different. You were raised better than that." His grandfather chastises him.
Eddie speaks before Jamie can. "It's completely fine, Mr. Reagan. I've been trying to drink only water and coffee, you know, be healthier where I can be." She knows by the end of the day everyone will know the truth about her not drinking but they both agreed to wait until dinner was done before they told their secret.
"Mr. Reagan? I like her Jamie," Henry smiles at the two of them.
"Me too, Pops," Jamie replies as he takes his seat between Eddie and Nikki.
"Whose turn is it to say grace?" Frank asks from his place at the head of the table.
"I'd like to, if that's ok with everyone," Linda says.
"Of course. Eddie, join in only if you want to." Frank says.
They all bow their heads, Eddie too and Linda says a prayer.
"Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us all together today. Please help us to be more understanding, loving, and compassionate and bless this meal to our bodies, Amen."
"Amen," everyone says after she finishes.
They all dig in.
They all sit around the table, each with a partway eaten piece of peach crumble in front of them. Eddie takes her last bite and looks around.
"Whoever made this pie deserves a medal, it's delicious."
Erin looks at her and smiles. "Thank you, I'll tell Maria at the bakery that the next time I see her."
Most of the family laughs.
Eddie, seeing Jamie is also finished eating, looks at him and the two have a silent conversation as everyone else continues to eat.
Jamie clears his throat before addressing the room.
"I'd, uh, I'd like to make an announcement. Eddie and I have some pretty big news that we'd like to share."
Danny cuts in. "Kid, we already know you two are dating, you don't have to make speech." Linda elbows him as discretely as she can.
"Actually this is way bigger news than that. We've been dating for a little over two months and uh, it's been really great and we… we're, uh," Jamie can't form a sentence for the life of him.
"Did you guys elope or something?" Nikki asks with a confused yet interested look.
"Um no but we kind of skipped, we had one ni… no, we…," Eddie sees him struggling and cuts in. She's always been better at speaking up anyway.
"I'm pregnant."
Everyone looks at the two of them, their expressions all blank. Jamie takes Eddie's hand under the table and puts them on her thigh.
Linda breaks the silence, only because she already knew. "Well, that's wonderful news. Congratulations! Danny, isn't that great news?" She looks hard at her husband.
"Mmhmm, that is good news. When did that happen?" For once in his life, Danny Reagan can't think of anything joking to say, he's literally been shocked into silence.
Jack and Sean don't really seem interested – like most teenage boys – but both say 'cool' before digging back into their dessert.
"I think it's safe to say none of us were expecting that, but this is nice news. We could always use more girls in the family," Erin remarks, even though none of them know if the baby's a girl or a boy.
Nikki claps her hands together before getting up to hug both Jamie and Eddie. "This is great, you guys and if you ever need a baby sitter I'm sure I can take a few nights off from studying. When are you due?"
"In about six and a half months," Eddie replies somewhat sheepishly – they can all do that math pretty easily.
"I take it she actually does like red wine then," Henry says with a smile, "and congratulations. The fact that I'm still around for any great-grandchildren is a blessing; I can't wait to meet this one."
"Thanks, Pop," Jamie says with tangible emotion in his voice. He turns to his dad.
Frank looks at his son and his eyes are slightly wet. "I'm happy for you, son, I really am. Being a grandfather is one of the best things in my life and I'll always be happy to have a new granddaughter or grandson."
Jamie smiles and nods his head at his father. Eddie squeezes his hand. He squeezes hers back.
They're all quiet again, but only for a few seconds before the room erupts into questions. Danny has gotten his voice back and starts in with the snarky comments.
Jamie and Eddie look at each other again and let out a collective breath before turning back to everyone and answering their questions as best they can. There's still a lot they have to figure out but Jamie knows that him and Eddie as a couple is a sure thing – a forever thing. And if he hadn't known that before, seeing her keep pace with Danny's jabs would have him knowing now.
Eddie and Jamie leave the Reagan house at the same time – Eddie with some leftover peach crumble and after they received multiple hugs from everyone.
"That went way better than I thought it would, Reagan," she comments as they make their way down the front path.
"Yeah, but I always knew they'd love you," he replies.
She elbows him. "Ok, Mr. 'I can't find my words,' whatever you say." She reaches her car, unlocks the driver's door, and turns back to him. He puts his arms on either side of her, trapping her between him and her Porsche.
"I wasn't sure how they'd take the pregnancy news; I never had doubts that they'd like you." He steps even closer to her, "and seeing you put Danny in his place was kind of a turn on."
She grins up at him. "Was it?"
"Yes," and he kisses her – probably too passionately for the middle of the street and the front of his father's house but neither of the cares.
He pulls away but only a few inches. "Your place or mine?"
"Mine," she says before turning back around.
"Get out that cheerleader uniform I heard you mention in there," he says as he walks away.
She whips back around. "How do you know I still have it?"
He grins, "I'm just taking an educated guess."
She doesn't answer him as she gets in her car and starts back to her apartment – where the uniform is in the back of her closet.
"Ok, so I read over the department's pregnancy policy and it looks like I can stay on street duty for as long as I want to or until I can't, which is cool. It also says I need a doctor's note clarifying that I am actually pregnant but I don't have to tell right away. Things went so well with your family, though, I think we'll be safe to tell Renzulli when I hit the second trimester."
Jamie doesn't want her to stay on the street at all but he knows better than to say anything. He also knows she would go insane on desk duty for months on end, with her arm in a sling she'd been stuck there for about two weeks and she went stir crazy.
"That still gives us a little more time for privacy but it will be nice when everybody knows, I've never felt completely comfortable keeping secrets."
"Well that's because you're a Boy Scout, I have no problem keeping this a secret until I can't hide it any longer, but Renzulli deserves to know. I just don't know what I'm going to have to do when my uniform doesn't fit anymore. Do they make maternity clothes for cops?"
"I have no idea but I'm sure you can find someone to ask about it. Now, can we please go get some dinner? I'm starving which means you must be dying." He smiles at her and grabs their coats while she gets up from her desk.
"Very funny, but so help me, Reagan, if you get a salad again I'm making you go back to your apartment tonight."
"I was actually thinking that Cuban food sounded good tonight." She locks the door behind them and they head down the hall.
"Fine with me."
Three days later the couple arrives at the precinct for their tours. Eddie was cleared for street duty yesterday and she can't wait to get away from her desk.
She goes into the locker room and puts on her uniform, happy that it doesn't fit any tighter than it usually does. She finishes putting her hair in a bun and goes to the break room to get some coffee.
She gets about one step into the small room and stops dead. "What's that smell?"
"Doughnuts, there's even a jelly filled one left for you Janko," Renzulli says from the table.
Eddie turns and sprints to the nearest bathroom. Jamie sees her just as the door closes behind her.
"What happened?" He asks the first person he sees – Baxter.
"I don't know. She walked into the break room, smelled something bad, and ran out again. Women, man, who knows what goes on in their heads." He shakes his own and walks away.
Jamie turns back to the bathroom and knocks on the door. "Eddie, are you alright?"
The toilet flushes before she answers.
"I'm fine, Reagan. Can you get me a cup of coffee though; I don't want to go back in the break room." Her voice sounds rough, scratchy and he knows she just threw up. He's already read the whole of What to Expect When You're Expecting so he feels pretty confident that morning sickness has made its debut.
"Of course, I'll be right back." He goes to get her coffee. Renzulli is still in the chair at the small table and, like always, he doesn't miss anything.
"What's wrong with Jenko?" He looks at Jamie over his own coffee cup.
"I think she might have a 24-hour bug or something." He pours Eddie's cup and walks back out of the room before Renzulli can say anything else.
Eddie is waiting for him and takes the coffee greedily. "Thanks."
"Do you feel okay? What made you get sick?"
"Ugh, the doughnuts. Food has never been my enemy before, Reagan, and I don't like it. Didn't that book say morning sickness only lasts until the second tri? That better be true."
"I don't think it's an exact science but for your sake I hope this is the only time this happens."
"Me too," they go to meet their partners but get all of five feet before Renzulli calls Eddie into his office.
The two share a look before she walks away. Jamie follows her but waits outside the door as she closes it behind her.
"Sarge," she says in greeting before taking a seat.
"Listen, Janko, I'm not going to beat around the bush here. I know I shouldn't be asking you this but was that morning sickness I just saw?"
The two stare at each other for a few moments before she gives in.
"You're right you shouldn't ask me that but you're also right about the morning sickness. We were going to tell you once I got into the second trimester but you figured it out now so…." She doesn't notice her misstep until he speaks again.
"We, huh? I'm just going to take a guess here and say Jamie's the father," he doesn't wait for her confirmation. "I apologize for making you come clean before you wanted to, I just remember all too well my wife's morning sickness and I wanted to make sure you'd be okay for duty today."
"I think as long as I stay away from doughnuts I'll be fine, thanks for asking." She gets up to leave but turns back. "Sarge, I'd really appreciate it if you could keep this quiet for a couple weeks. People still don't really know Jamie and I are even seeing each other and we want to tell them when we're ready."
"I won't tell anyone, Janko, now get to work." He looks down at the paperwork on his desk, dismissing her.
Eddie walks out and meets Jamie.
"Is everything all right?"
"Well, he knows I'm pregnant. I didn't tell him, he just knew because I got sick. He wanted to make sure I was ok to go out today."
"Are you ok for tour today?" His hand brushes against hers and their fingers connect.
"I'm fine." She looks around to make sure no one is watching them before she kisses his cheek. "I'll see you at the end of tour." They break apart and head in different directions to find they're partners.
*This is way longer than I thought it would be – that's why it took so long – but I didn't want to break the story up. I know, just to be safe, most people don't announce pregnancies until the second trimester, but I can't see Jamie wanting to keep the news a secret that long. I also have no idea what the NYPD policy is on pregnant cops so I just made one up with information I got online – hopefully it's not too inaccurate.