Chapter Two

"How are you feeling, Lila?" Linda asked as they women worked on Sunday dinner.

"Okay, the morning sickness tends to end by about 2 or 3 in the afternoon and I have to pee about three times an hour but aside from that I feel good. The doctor is happy with my weight and all, I'm doing really well."

"That's good to hear," Erin replied hugging her goddaughter with one arm. "Did you get a picture?"

"Yeah, we have a couple of pictures but I figured I'd just show you after dinner," Lila brushed it off and worked on the mashed potatoes. She and Steven planned to tell everyone else about the twins including her brother during the meal.

Eddie hid a smile as she worked on snapping green beans. She was having some trouble with them given her left hand was swelling again more than it had been. Jamie hadn't noticed it yet and she didn't plan to mention it.

Linda however notices when she called for the beans and Eddie was only half done. She took Eddie's enlarged left hand in her own, "How long has it been like this?"

Lila turned to see, "Mom? Was it like that at the doctor?"

Eddie shook her head, "It's fine, I slept on my arm the other night, and it made some fluid build. I'm fine, stop fussing and not a word to Jamie."

Erin raised an eyebrow, "Eddie, he should know so he can help."

"He's got new hires coming and he's looking to fill two seats on the EDP commission, he's under stress and I don't want to make it worse."

"Mom, if it's still like that when we have Wednesday dinner…" Lila warned but Eddie brushed her off. "Help me finish these beans."

"Steven, you are very quiet today," Joey commented as the men watched basketball on TV. "That was some fire on 96th the other day."

"Yeah, it was. We got everyone out alive, that's a good day at the office," Steven replied sipping his beer. "I read in the paper that you finally got that Easter Bunny guy."

Joey nodded, "Yeah, he raped fifteen women but we got him."

"All that counts at the end of the day son," Jamie reminded his boy. "You worked hard on that case, you treated each and every woman with dignity and compassion and slowly through that you got enough information to nail him. You did me proud, you did this family proud."

Danny and Frank quickly agreed raising their glasses to Joey. "He was attaching older women, you know? All the while I kept thinking about Mom, Aunt Erin, Aunt Linda, if it was one of them, how would I want the detective to react."

"That's a good rule of thumb in SVU," Frank replied. "I was always surprised that your Dad never tried to transfer into it."

Jamie raised an eyebrow at Frank, "You'd never have signed off on that and by the time I was able to move up, I had two kids and an ailing wife. I did my best and I liked working with the kids."

"You did well son, the department has never had clearance rates as high as it has now, and you're training of young Jack…"

Danny smiled, for all the times he poked at Jamie, he was glad he took his Jack under his wing. Jack had a fiancée now, a girl ten years his junior, but with spunk and fire. Rita and Joey's girl, Molly got along very well.

Jamie was watching the clock, "I'm going to see what is going on with dinner."

Jamie pushed up and headed to the kitchen just as Erin emerged with the first of the side dishes, "I was just about to call you. Dinner's ready."

This weeks' table was missing Jack and Sean, but included Rita and Molly. They had each lent a hand to the preparation of the family meal. "Steven," Jamie said surprising everyone, even Eddie. "Would you like to say grace?"

Steven smiled, "I would." He bowed his head and asked the prayer over the food and the family. Jamie carved the roast and began to pass the plates. As the aroma of the roasted lamb met Lila's nostrils, she covered her mouth and bolted towards the bathroom with great speed.

Erin laughed, "I guess it was too much for her." Steven started to rise to check on his wife but Jamie held up his hand, "Let her have her privacy, son. She'll call you if she feels the need."

Steven had a hard time sitting still, but soon Lila returned, offering a smile and resumed her seat. Joey had made her plate minus the offensive lamb. No one mentioned her hurried departure from the table, no one wanted to embarrass her.

The table talk centered on Steven's fire and Joey's big collar until the family began to sit back, satisfied. Lila looked at Steven, "Go ahead honey," she pressed.

Steven smiled, "Uh, while most of us are here together, Lila and I have an announcement."

"You can't know the sex, not already," Linda surmised.

"No, no that's not it…but we figure that we might as well give you all a head start on your shopping. This week, Lila and I found out we are going to have twins…"

"Oh my goodness!" Linda hurried to hug Lila followed by Erin and Danny. Finally Joey hugged his little sister, "Way to go, Sis! You're going to name one after me if you have boys right?"

Lila hugged Joey back, "We shall see, brother dear," she laughed. "I think one Joseph Reagan is enough for now."

"This calls for a toast," Frank announced. "Danny, pour the champagne except for Lila…there's cider for her."

"You mean you knew?" Danny asked looking at Frank. "We police commissioner's know everything."

When the house was quiet and Frank sound asleep, Jamie and Eddie went upstairs to their room. Jamie sat on the bed, removed his pants, socks, and leg brace. "Eddie, can you get me some of that triple a cream?"

Eddie quickly produced the cream and handed it to Jamie, "Is your leg swelling in the brace, honey?" she asked.

"No, it's just so hot that my foot starts to sweat and it's rubbing. Do you think it'll go over my sock?"

Eddie thought, "We can try tomorrow. Do you need help with your shirt?"

"No, I got it." Jamie sighed. It wasn't likely Eddie could help him with his buttons anyway. He'd caught a few glimpses of her hand at dinner, it was swollen so badly that it would certainly impede her ability to use her hand.

Jamie undressed and got into bed. Eddie spent time in the bathroom putting on her creams so Jamie didn't notice how swelled up she was. If he wasn't working so hard, she's tell him outright, but he was and she was concerned for him.

When Eddie got into bed and rolled over to curl next to Jamie, he moved away. "What's wrong? Didn't we have a lovely evening? Everyone is so happy for Lila."

"I'm happy for her too," Jamie replied. "I'm very happy that our daughter is having twins and that she's settled and happy."

"Then what's wrong?" Eddie asked again. "We always cuddle up?"

Jamie sighed and pulled her in close. She was going to ignore it again, and in a few days he's wake up to her running a fever and feeling sick. Jamie put a kiss on her head then got up. He reached for his cane taking very careful steps without the security of his brace. He tossed two pillows on to the bed.

"Your leg is hurting you that much?" Eddie asked growing concerned.

"Move over and switch sides with me," Jamie told her. "If you aren't going to look out for your health, then I will."

"Jamie it just started and I did my pumps twice today," Eddie replied. "I slept on my arm a few nights ago…"

Jamie got back into bed with a warm massage oil in his hand. "Give it here…" When Eddie held back her said it again. "Give it."

Jamie took her hand in his, the rings he'd had sized were cutting into her flesh. He shook his head and gently began to rub the oil into the tender stretched skin. Jamie frowned as his fingers left indents on her hand. "You remember when you were having Lila. Your feet and ankles would swell like this and I would rub them for you. Eddie, I'm not sick anymore, baby. Stop hiding…understand me?"

Eddie nodded, "I know, I know, I'm sorry…" She hissed as his hands worked on the tender skin. "I'm going to wrap you and you'll get this arm elevated and you will not leave this bed until I say it's okay. I want this hand back to normal by Wednesday dinner or I'm taking you to Dr. Brady. We have too much going on in our lives now to risk your health. Joey is finally happy, he's getting a commendation, and Lila…she needs you, Eddie. She will need you more now more than ever."

"Oh that feels so good," Lila moaned as Steven rubbed her shoulders. She had a headache, a common symptom of her pregnancy but couldn't take anything for it.

"I'm glad I can help with this at least," Steven replied kissing her neck. "I'm glad everyone took the news so well."

"My family always did love babies, don't worry, honey your folks will come around, if not now, when they are here." Lila reached up to rub his arm.

Steven sighed and finished his massage, he lie down beside Lila and pulled her close. "I hope so, baby, I really do."

Lila kissed the tip of her husband's nose, "I know they will. These babies are the best part of us, Steven. The very best part of us."

Lila dozed off in her husband's arms, for him, sleep was a bit more elusive, but finally as he held all that mattered to him in the world in his arms, Steven finally relaxed and slipped off to dreamland dreaming of the life he'd share with his Lila and the babies she carried.

A/N: The response to the first chapter was overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story! This story is much longer than the previous one as Lila and Steven become parents, Joey and Molly begin to consider a future, and Eddie and Jamie continue to stand together through thick and thin. Please continue to read and review, your feedback is always cherished.