I'm sorry for the long absence, I had a rough school year and it was effecting my creativity, I was also struggling with this chapter. I know where I want to go with the story, I just had to get through this chapter. For all those who have asked, I'm not abandoning this story, I'm hoping there won't be any long absences again. I have a plan for this story and there will be many more chapters.

Chapter 9

Pop and Danny were so excited they couldn't help but eavesdrop as Jamie and Eddie talked to Mikey.

"So Daddy isn't my Daddy but Jamie is ? Mikey asked.

"Yes." Eddie told him.

Mikey thought about what he just heard and looked at Eddie then Jamie and back to Eddie, "So I not have a mean Daddy anymore ?

("He really is a mini-Jamie." Danny whispered to Pop.)

"No, honey, not any more." Mikey jumped into Jamie's arms and gave him the biggest hug. It wasn't the first time Mikey hugged Jamie, but this hug meant so much more than the others.

Eddie cried, her heart was both full and sad watching Mikey hug Jamie.

"Why are you crying, Mommy ?" Mikey asked.

"I'm happy that you're happy." Eddie smiled at him. Mikey kept one arm around Jaime and put his other arm out to hug Eddie too.

"How are you doing?" Jamie whispered into Eddie's ear. Eddie just shrugged her shoulders. Jamie rubbed her back for comfort while Mikey hugged his parents even harder.

"So did you find out you're my Daddy 'cause of NDA?" Mikey asked.

"Do you mean DNA ?" Jamie questioned.

"Yeah that."

"How do you know about DNA?" Eddie asked.

"Pop put an ear thing in my mouth because he wanted to see if we were rrlated."

"Related." Eddie corrected.

"POP" Jamie yelled. "GET IN HERE"

("Uh oh." Pop muttered.)

Jamie yelling caused the whole family to descend on the sun room.

"You did a DNA test on Mikey without telling Eddie?"

"Someone around here needed to find out the truth about the kid." Pop defended. "Since no one else was doing it, I did ! !"

"You really should have said something to Eddie about it." Jamie insisted.

"I couldn't, Kara told me not to question Mikey's paternity because it would upset her too much, so I did it on the DL." Pop explained, looking over at Kara.

"I was just trying to protect my friend." Kara stated. Eddie sat on the sofa hugging Mikey just listening to them go back and forth. She was just trying to process and take in everything that was going on around her. Jamie could tell she was starting to retreat into herself.

Frank also saw the look on Eddie's face and intervened. "We'll discuss this at another time. Food is on the table and it's getting cold. We can't have the newest members of this family going hungry.

No one dared bring up the elephant in the room during dinner. The only discussion during dinner centered around passing food until Mikey broke the silence.

"Mommy, does this mean I get to be Michael Joseph Reagan instead of Michael Joseph Cooper ?" Everyone stopped and looked at Eddie and Mikey.

"His middle name is Joseph ?" Jamie asked, shocked.

"Yes, I had a cousin, Josif, that I was very close with growing up, he was two years older but died in a car accident with his parents when he was 15." Eddie explained. "Barry hated the name so I couldn't give it to him as a first name. He agreed to let me give it to him as a middle name but only if we named him Michael after his father."

"I better not ever run into that man in a dark alley." Pop announced.

"POP !" Frank scolded.

"No offense, Gramps, but I don't want to be seeing you in a dark alley either." Danny stated.

Eddie couldn't help but chuckle a bit, Pop always looked after her.

"Yeah, Pop, don't forget we have little ears at the table tonight." Erin reminded him.

"That's Ok", Mikey stated. "I hope he stays in a dark alley, he wasn't nice to my Mommy." Everyone at the table couldn't help but laugh at the four year old.

"You are a very good son to look out for your Mom like that, Mikey." Pop

commended him.

"On that note, " Frank interrupted, "Let's talk about Lieutenant Reagan !"

"No, no, I told you I didn't want to make a big fuss about it." Jamie reminded him.

"Well, making Lieutenant is a big deal and we want to celebrate it." Pop announced.

Just then Sarah started fussing.

"You can celebrate it without me, I need to feed the baby."

"Can I help feed Sarah ?" Mikey asked. "Mikey . . " Eddie called.

"No, it's fine. I don't mind." Jamie told her as Mikey got up and followed him to the kitchen.

While the men and Kara were discussing Jamie's promotion Erin, who was sitting next to Eddie, watched as she just pushed the food around on her plate.

"Hey, how are you doing with all this ? I can't imagine what you're going through." Erin admitted.

Eddie gave Erin a half smile, "Overwhelmed would be the best word. I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or run away."

"Go ahead and do as much of the first two as you want, but talk to one of us before you take that last option," Erin smiled, "just remember we're all here for you."

"Thank you for that, it's going to take me a little while to process all of this."

Mikey followed Jamie to the kitchen to warm up Sarah's bottle.

Jamie grabbed a chair and pulled it over to the counter for Mikey to climb up on. He had Mikey scoop out the formula and put it into the bottle of warm water then showed Mikey how to shake it up. He continued to shake the bottle as they walked to the living room. Sarah was crying by the time they got there.

"Can I feed her ?" Mikey asked.

"I don't see why not." Jamie told him and had him sit on the couch. Jamie put a pillow under his arm and laid Sarah in his arms. Sarah happily took her bottle as Mikey talked to her. Jamie smiled seeing his children together. Jamie was lost in thought and never heard Eddie come up behind him, he startled when she put a hand on his arm.

"Oh hey, I never heard you come in." He admitted. As he turned to face her he noticed the tears sliding down her face.

"Hey, hey, what's with the tears ?" Jamie questioned.

"Look at him, he's so good with her. He would have been a great big brother." Eddie sobbed.

"Well, he actually is a big brother now. Did you forget our conversation from earlier already?" Jamie teased. Eddie smiled and hit him lightly on the arm.

"No, but my initial thought went to the little girl I lost."

"I can't imagine how you're handling that on your own, it's hard enough when you have a partner to grieve with." Jamie sympathized. "I don't want to push but have you thought about therapy ? You've been through a lot in the last seven weeks."

"Kara said the same thing but I told her that's what I have her for." Eddie chuckled.

"Well if you need someone else to talk to, I'm here, I know my point of view is different but I'm happy to talk."

"Mommy look, I'm feeding my sister !" Mikey announced. "She is my sister now, right Jamie, I mean Daddy. Am I allowed to call you Daddy?"

"Yes, she's your sister. If you want to, you can." Jamie smiled looking at Eddie for approval. Eddie nodded in agreement.

"Hey all, sorry we're late, we brought dessert !" Joe called out as he and Kaylee came in with a big box.

"It's about time." Erin teased.

"Ha ha, Kaylee's family surprised her with a cake for her birthday." Joe told them.

"That's right !" Erin remembered. "Happy Birthday, Kaylee !

"Not all of us forgot." Pop smiled. "Happy Birthday, Dear."

"Thank you !" Kaylee replied.

"I thought you'd be impatiently waiting for this." Joe laughed, handing the cake to Erin.

"Jamie and Eddie made us late for dinner." Danny announced.

"Speaking of, where is our new Lieutenant?" Joe asked.

"In the living room with Mikey feeding the baby."

"Daddy, Sarah's finished." Mikey said.

"Thank you for feeding her, you did such a great job." Jamie smiled. "I think she's going to love having a big brother."

"Big brother ? Did I miss something?" Joe questioned. "Did you and Eddie get married since the last time I saw you?

"Ha ha. It's a long story but we found out today that Mikey is actually my son." Jamie told him while he burped Sarah.

"Seriously? WOW, that's crazy !" Joe exclaimed. "Can't wait to hear that story !"

Joe walked over to Eddie and gave her a hug. "Welcome to the family." Eddie immediately started to cry. "What did I say wrong?"

"It's. . . it's, that it's just been an emotional day and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed."

"Well, you're with family now, let us help you."

"Everybody get in here." Danny yelled.

"Daniel !" Pop scolded.

"Well, you wanted everyone to come back." Danny disclosed. The family rushed in.

"Danny, I just put Sarah down for a nap." Jamie announced.

"Yeah, Danny, be quiet, my sister is sleeping !" Mikey said firmly, with his hands on his hips.

Erin laughed, "Looks like he told you, Danny."

"That's Uncle Danny to you little munchkin." Danny teased, going around the table to tickle Mikey. His giggles brought smiles to everyone.

It was just what Eddie needed to see, she smiled seeing how much her son was enjoying his new family. She was glad Mikey already knew most of the family, he was comfortable with them already. Jamie could see that some of the weight she was carrying was no longer there.

Once the giggles were under control, the family finally celebrated the reason they came together - Jamie's promotion to Lieutenant. They all had cake to celebrate. Frank gave Jamie his new shield, Pop gave him the bars he wore as a Lieutenant, Danny gave him his first white shirt and teased him endlessly about it, and Eddie and Kara went in together to get him a nameplate that said, 'Lt. Jameson Reagan.'

After good food, conversation, and playtime with the kids, Kara needed to get home to her boys, Jamie needed to get Sarah to bed and Eddie needed to take Mikey home because he had fallen asleep while watching a movie with Sean.

Goodbyes were said and Kara carried Sarah out and got her buckled into Jamie's car while he helped carry Mikey out to Eddie's truck.

"Thank you for carrying him out, I really appreciate it." Eddie told Jamie.

"I don't mind at all, I would have done it before today too." Jamie laughed.

"I know, thank you for everything today, it went better than I expected."

"They are much more understanding than they appear." Jamie smiled. Eddie smiled back.

"Hey, I'd really like to sit down with you and discuss how we're going to move forward as Mikey's parents. I really want to be part of his life and be the Dad he deserves." Jamie started, "But I understand that you may need time to process everything and I respect that."

"I really appreciate that, today has been a whirlwind, to say the least." Eddie sighed. "Mikey is so happy though and I do want you and Sarah to be part of his life." Jamie smiled and leaned over to give Eddie a hug. She melted into him and let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding.

As they pulled away from each other, Eddie sobbed, "Thank you, I didn't realize how much I needed that.

"No worries." Jamie expressed. "Glad I could help." Eddie laughed. "I'll touch base with you this week.

By Wednesday Mikey was bugging Eddie to see Jamie and Sarah.

"Mommy, why can't I see Daddy and Sarah?"

"Mikey, we just found out Jamie is your father, he and I need to talk about when you can see him." Eddie explained.

The next day, Eddie sent Jamie a text.

E - Hey, are you home tomorrow night ? I'm ready to talk about things. Get back to me when you have time. About an hour later Jamie texted back.

J - I'm done at 3 tomorrow. How about dinner at my house at 5 ?

E - That works, see you then.

J- See you tomorrow.

Eddie and Mikey arrived shortly before five. Sarah was on a play mat in the living room when they got there. Mikey went right over and sat on the floor to play with Sarah. Eddie burst into laughter.

Jamie looked at Eddie confused. "Did I miss something?"

Eddie kept laughing. "He bugged me all week about when he could see you again, two seconds in the door and he's playing with Sarah. Welcome to the joys of parenting children."

"I knew it would happen eventually but I didn't think it would start so young." Jamie laughed.

Eddie and Jamie went into the kitchen, with the open plan of Jamie's house they could see the kids in the living room.

"I'm actually surprised that he's been separating so easily, it was just us for so long he has always wanted me with him all the time."

"He was very cautious with me and the family in the beginning, but warmed up after hanging out with Pop the first time."

"I guess that's why he's separating easily, he's comfortable." Eddie smiled. "He's maturing too fast already, he's only 4."

"Unfortunately, I think he gets that from me, I was way too serious when I was young. I'm sure my Dad or Pop can tell you all about it." he laughed and Eddie rolled her eyes.

Jamie cooked hamburgers on the grill while they talked.

"I know this has been a crazy week for you but I want you to know I am here for you and Mikey. I want to get to know my son, spend time with him, and do the things Dads do with their sons." Jamie told her.

Eddie had tears in her eyes. "I want him to have all that too, he deserves it, he didn't have any of that in Philly. Mikey tries to be a little adult and I want him to spend less time worrying about me and more time being a kid."

"I can definitely do that. We had some good times while you were recovering."

"I know, he told me. Since then he's asked to see you at least once a week." Eddie admitted.

"Well, it's up to you how often I can see him. If you want to start out slow since this is new. That's OK too. I just don't want you to be uncomfortable with all this.

Eddie got up and walked toward Jamie, " I've known you for a really long time, I know you, and your family. I trust you with Mikey. Look at everything you and your family did for me while I was in the hospital. You hadn't seen or talked to me in five years, yet you were willing to help out, even if Kara twisted your arm a little." Eddie laughed.

"Just a little." Jamie smirked. "I knew it was the right thing to do, besides partners are family and family is there for each other - blood or not." Eddie smiled.

Jamie went out to get the food off the grill and by the time he came back in, Eddie had put Sarah in her high chair with her bib on while Mikey went to the bathroom to wash up for dinner. Sarah knowing it was dinner time, was starting to fuss.

"Jamie, where do you keep her food?"

"I got it." Jamie told her.

"Hey Reagan, it really is OK to accept help, sometimes we need it but just never know how to ask.