Eddie linked an arm Jamie's giving a nervous smile outside the family house. "They'll love you relax," Jamie assured her with a soft kiss. Arms linked they walked up the front steps together entering as Jamie pushed open the door
"Hey anyone home," he called closing the door behind. Turning back around Sean and jack ran to him tackling his legs. "Hey buds," Jamie smiled hugging both nephews.
Jack pulled back first ready to ask his uncle a question when he noticed their guest standing off to the side. "Uncle Jamie, who's she?"
"This is my girlfriend Eddie, Eddie my nephews Jack and Sean." Eddie smiled at the boys shaking their hand.
"You're right Uncle Jamie, she's really pretty," Sean smiled looking her over.
Eddie smiled at the memory as she dressed baby Maggie in a very pretty little sleeper. It was pink with faux pearl buttons and a cotton eyelet collar. The little feet her roses on them to resemble show buckles. Eddie put the matching cap on Maggie's head and smiled, "There you ae all ready to go with Grandpa for your first Sunday dinner. Yes you are…"
"Okay," Eddie told Frank. "I have three bottles for her that I pumped and she has about ten diapers too. I put her paci on her outfit and I packed two extra in case you have a mess but that should hold her for dinner."
Frank took in Eddie's appearance, she was in dirty clothes, with black eyes under her eyes and her usually gorgeous hair all askew. The baby was only nine days old but Eddie looked as if she hadnt' slept in months. "You sure you don't want to come? It might do you some good."
Eddie smiled, Frank meant well, but what she really needed was time to take a shower and a nap. "I'm sure, next week. I'm just too tired this week. You're doing me a favor really. I need a little rest."
Frank smiled and took Maggie and her carrier. "You ready for your first big day out?" he asked the baby who had fallen asleep in her carrier. "I'll have her back around seven."
"Thanks Frank," Eddie replied and reached up and gave him a hug. "You be a good girl, Maggie May," Eddie told the baby as Frank backed away with the carrier and shut the door.
Maggie slept until Frank arrived at the house with her. She'd been warm in the car and now there was cold air on her face. Maggie kicked her blanket and began crying before Frank even got her in the house.
"What are you doing to that baby?" Henry asked reached out to take Maggie out of her chair. "Oh, no crying, no crying…" Henry put Maggie on his shoulder as Frank shut the door.
"Where's Eddie?" Henry asked.
"Home, she didn't' want to come. She looks awful, Pop," Frank sighed "I wish she listened to us and stayed here."
"She has to do this her way, Francis, "Henry advised. "And if she needs a little break to miss…miss Jamie and to sleep then that's what we give her. Let's take this princess inside. We are having food sent over by Jacob Morganthal, he heard I was a great grandpa to a little princess. We have all afternoon to play with the baby."
Henry entered the living room where Maggie immediately became the star of the show. Erin confiscated her quickly and fed her the first time when she started to fuss not ten minutes later. Next Nikki, Jack, and Sean played with Maggie until her bottle came out the other end. Sean quickly turned her over to his mother who changed her diaper. "Danny, didn't Eddie say she was going to come when you two talked last night?"
Danny and Eddie spoke for a few minutes each night, Danny's way of ensuring that he was keeping his promise to Jamie. He assured himself his sister-in-law and niece were well before going home to his own family. The night before while Danny was visiting, Eddie had all but fallen apart in his arms. If not for having promised his boys breakfast out before church he'd have stayed over.
"She didn't really talk too much about today, Lin," Danny replied recalling the heartbreaking moments he shared with Eddie.
"She finally went down," Danny sighed sitting on the sofa beside Eddie. She looked tired, smelled of spoiled milk, and was in stained sweats. "It's the stress you know? Linda's mom was really sick when Sean was little and he cried all the time, he didn't eat very well. It's not you. Don't feel like it's you."
Eddie wiped her tears, "It's just that I promised him. He was dying and I promised him that I would make sure our baby was safe and that he or she grew up well and...This has been my dream forever. I have it and it's here and I'm screwing everything up. I'm failing, Danny. I'm failing..."
Eddie leaned forward and put her head in her hands and sobbed. Jamie had been gone nearly three months and it still hurt like it was an hour ago. Danny's heart lurched, he'd seen such strength in his brother's wife the last few months, she had held it together when the rest of the family was falling apart. Jamie was the glue that kept everyone together, now it felt like they lost their anchor.
Danny slid closer to Eddie and put his arms around her. He had made his brother a death bed promise too, he would protect and care for his brother's young widow. "You are not failing," Danny said emphatically. "You are doing a wonderful job with baby Maggie. She's happy and well adjusted, she just had a hard time tonight. You are not failing. Jamie is watching and his heart is broken seeing you say so."
Danny dropped a kiss on Eddie's hair and felt her respond to his hug. She turned in his arms and rubbed her cheek on his chest. Danny smelled like Jamie sometimes, and if she thought about it he felt like him too, strong and safe.
"I hope she's getting some rest at least," Linda offered in hope as she put Maggie in her carrier while the family ate.
For her part, Eddie as resting, or at least trying too. Shortly after Frank left, she got into the shower and sobbed along with the hot spray. Her entire body was sore and she as so tired. The hot water soothed the ache in her muscles but not the ache in her heart. Eddie changed out her stained NYPD sweats into an old pair of Jamie's Harvard sweats. With a cup of hot tea, she curled on the couch with their wedding album on her lap.
As Eddie sipped the tea, she slowly paged through the album. Their beautiful day with so many hopes and dream for the future. Jamie waiting for Eddie at the alter in his dress blues, smiling his trademark smile; Eddie herself walking down the aisle toward him in a princess lace gown. It was their fairytale day…Eddie sighed and shut the book. "I'm sorry Jamie," Eddie sighed and wiped her eyes. "I don't think I can do this anymore."
As Frank packed Maggie into her carrier to send her home with Danny and Linda, he spoke softly to his eldest son. "Make sure you go in and check on her, she is not…there's just something not right and I'm worried. Yes, she misses Jamie, but I think with all the hormones…"
"I know Dad," Danny replied. "I know and I got this. I held Jamie's hand as he was dying and I swore to him…I'm going to drop Linda and the boys off and then take this little one home. If I have to stay over and nurse Eddie through I'm there. I'll have Pop come to back me up. I got this."
Frank smiled, "I know you do, Danny." Frank clapped Danny on the back, proud of his Danny's devotion to his brother's memory.
A/N: I've decided for the foreseeable future, that I won't provide tidbits at the end of these chapters considering the story is no prewritten and I find it's hard to write to a particular idea. I am testing out several things with this new piece and don't wish to restrict myself. Keep the reviews coming.