"Hey, girls!" Danny's voice reached easily over the parking lot. As the women stopped Erin felt Nicki's hand sliding into hers and squeezed it gently. Whatever conflict they had, it would stay between the two of them. Nothing for the dinner table.
"What do you know?" Erin asked as she hastily kissed her brother's cheeks. Danny winked weakly at Nicki and led them into the hospital, eager to not waste time anymore. "Intensive care for both of them. And Jamie pacing the floors alone again. Why can't he have a little luck, Erin? I mean, why…" he stopped himself as Nicki looked at him, and Erin gently put her arm around his shoulders. "I know, Danny. But we have to be strong for him now."
"Of course. Where's dad?"
"Just waiting for you." Frank stood up as he saw his children and quickly hugged both of them, then his granddaughter. "I know where we've got to go. Come on, pop, you can sleep later."
"I didn't sleep" Henry protested, then grinned at his grandchildren – a grin nobody could believe. Nicki swallowed repeatedly as they approached the corridor, and Erin let go of her brother to wrap her arms around her. "You don't have to…"
"I will." Nicki wiped the tears away angrily. "I'm just scared of what uncle Jamie will look like."
"Not only you, kid" Henry admitted, and Danny nodded.
"Oh my god." Erin's hand flew up to her mouth in a weak effort to stifle a sound that was both a cry and a giggle.
Frank sighed deeply. "Hello, dad" he said, smiling.
Jamie looked up, his face glowing with a light Frank had never seen on him. Not when he had announced his engagement with Sydney, not on his graduation from the academy, not even on his wedding day with Beth. It was a light that spoke of heaven, of a luck and a love so deep that you couldn't understand it, couldn't even imagine it until you felt it.
Jamie had always been a handsome boy, but he had never looked as good as he did now. The small bundle of life he held in his arms, strong and gentle and obviously in love, seemed to have completed him. If there ever had been any trace of a doubt that Jamison Reagan would not be a wonderful father, Frank knew it was erased by now.
He knew the feeling. It was all he had ever wished for his children.
"Hey, dad" Jamie replied softly, beaming, his glance moving between his family and his newborn son. "Hey, guys. May I introduce you…", carefully he shifted the baby so his family could see him better as they came closer, all of them crying, "to Thomas Joseph Reagan."
"Joseph" Erin mouthed as she looked at the baby, unable to decide whether the second name made her sad or happy. "Jamie, he's so beautiful."
"I know. I… I mean…"
Danny laughed, breaking the pent-up silence as he patted his little brother on the shoulders. "Just be proud of him, kid. That's… I am, anyway. I'm proud of you. That's… that boy's the third most beautiful baby boy I've ever seen."
"Make that fourth" Frank murmured, lost in his newest grandson's eyes, "and don't hit me. I'm the grandfather, I don't have to choose who of my grandchildren is the most beautiful. I just have to spoil them."
Nicki giggled. "Copy that."
Jamie's glance was already absorbed by his son again. As he rocked him gently, Erin couldn't help but stare at the ring on his left hand. "Jamie?" She looked at her father and older brother for help. Danny shook his head. Not now. This moment was precious, and there would be enough time to worry about Beth later.
Jamie looked up, and Erin bit her lips. "I… I just think… that's a wonderful name. And you'll be a wonderful dad."