I hope everyone is having a great summer. I decided to split this chapter into two so I could post one now. Chapter 11 should follow in a few days. Thank you all for your support and following. Please don't forget to review

Chapter 10

The next couple of months were very busy for Jamie learning the ropes in his new position. He missed being on the streets every day but he knew it was best to limit his time in the line of danger to be there for his children and to make sure Sarah didn't lose both of her parents. He and Eddie had decided that he would take Mikey every other weekend and 1-2 nights a week depending on Jamie's schedule. They spent the rest of the summer working on being friends again and learning to co-parent. It was easier than they expected. They also enrolled Mikey in a Pre-K class to start in the fall.

Eddie had finally finished all of her physical therapy sessions and had discussed with Frank what she would need to do to get on the job. Since she was off the job for so long she would have to meet all the new physical requirements, retake firearm training classes, as well as take the updated required academy training classes. Eddie decided to enroll in the spring session for the academy classes since she didn't think she would be physically ready for the session that started in October - about a month away.

Eddie joined a gym to get back into shape. She had a lot of work to do because of the setback of the accident. She even started running again with Jamie's help when Kara or one of the Reagans could watch the kids.

One Saturday, Eddie arrived at the gym and ran into Joe's fiancée, Kaylee, she was a member of the same gym.

"Hey, I didn't know you were a member here?" Kaylee asked, surprised to see Eddie there.

"I actually just joined, I need to get back into shape so I can get back on the job." Eddie told her.

"That's right, Joe mentioned that you and Jamie were partners years ago,"

"Yeah, we met ten years ago and ended our partnership after five years because we wanted to start a relationship."

"I hope this isn't too forward, but what happened to you and Jamie ? Kaylee questioned. "You guys still seem to get along really well."

"It's a really long story." Eddie replied.

"I've got all afternoon, Joe got called into work." Kaylee laughed. "How about we grab lunch after ? I know this great place to eat after a workout."

"Sure sounds good. I'm always up for a good meal."

An hour later, Eddie and Kaylee walked around the corner to The Workout Grill, a new restaurant geared to healthy, protein packed meals without the health food taste.

"How did you find this place?" Eddie asked.

"They had flyers in the gym to advertise it when they opened so Joe and I tried it and loved it." Kaylee replied.

The girls looked over the menu and ordered. Kaylee ordered an extra meal to take to Joe.

"I am so hungry and so sore. It's a good thing Jamie has Mikey this weekend, because I'm going to soak in the tub for a while." Eddie laughed.

"Speaking of Jamie . . ." Kaylee started.

Eddie shook her head and laughed. "Ok, Ok." Eddie went on to tell Kaylee about their history.

"Oh my goodness, I had no idea you went through all that. I'm so sorry." Kaylee went over and gave Eddie a big hug. "You are definitely one of the strongest people I know to go through all of that trauma and come out stronger than ever."

"I had no choice, I had a little boy to take care of and I was pregnant, I needed to give them a better life and without Kara, I don't know where I would be right now. She helped me when I couldn't help myself."

"Who would have imagined an accident finding out the truth about Mikey." Kaylee remarked. "I think this is definitely a case of the truth being stranger than fiction."

Eddie chuckled, "You are probably right, I don't think I could have imagined anything like this.

"So how are you and Jamie doing now, you seem like you are handling everything well.

"Surprising, yes. We've gotten a lot of our banter back that we had from our days on the job but we're different people now.

"Do you think you'll ever get back together?" Kaylee questioned.

"Oh geez, I'm not even thinking about getting into any kind of relationship, even with someone I know really well." Eddie insisted. "I know Jamie feels the same way."

"Are you sure ? I've seen him with you."

"I'm sure, I hurt Jamie very badly when I left. I still see it in his eyes when I talk to him and you can see his hurt after losing his wife. Jamie and I have so much trauma to work through before either one of us would even think about that again despite Henry's attempts to play matchmaker since I got back into town." Eddie told her. "I lived the last five years in hell, so for me, it's going to be a really long time before I can be that vulnerable with another person."

"Not even Jamie ?" Kaylee smirked.

"No, not even him." Eddie replied back. "I think you've been hanging around Henry too long."

"Henry is too funny. He just wants his children and grandchildren to be happy in life and in love. He even tried to get Danny to start dating again." Kaylee told her just as the food was brought to the table.

"Kara and I actually saw Danny out with someone a couple weeks ago."

"Oooh really ? Did you meet her ?"

"No, we saw him but didn't talk to him. The Reagans are up in each other's business all the time and knowing Danny, he wouldn't want to talk about it so we let him be."

"Danny is lucky it was you that saw him and not Erin" The girls laughed.

"This food is really good. I will definitely come back."

"So Joe and I were talking the other night." Kaylee started, on the way back to their cars. "We would love to have Mikey be the ringbearer in our wedding."

"Oh wow ! Isn't it in like six weeks ?" Eddie asked.

"Yes, I know it's late notice but Joe wanted to include him now that we have a young boy in the family. My sister and brother both have girls."

"Thank you for thinking of him, he will love it, he thinks the world of his cousin Joe. Did you talk to Jamie about it?

"No, we wanted to talk to you first."

"Ok, I'll let him know." Eddie told her. "What does he need?"

"The boys are wearing traditional tuxedos. They can go anytime in the next two weeks to get fitted so Jamie could take him since he needs to be fitted too."

"Mikey will love that even more, he absolutely loves having a Dad that does things with him. That will be a great bonding experience for both of them." Eddie smiled. Before leaving the girls exchanged numbers and gave each other a hug, they knew they were going to be great friends.

Two weeks later, Jamie picked up Mikey on Saturday morning, instead of Friday night, due to a late night bust at the 2-9. He was taking the kids to the zoo, this was the first time he was taking both kids out by himself. When he got there he noticed that Eddie looked like she had been crying. Jamie gave her one of his looks telling her he knew something was wrong.

Eddie shook her head and whispered, "Don't worry about it."

"Mikey, will you play with Sarah for a few minutes? I need to talk to your Mom." Jamie asked, putting Sarah down on the floor.

"Eddie, please tell me what's wrong, I can see it all over your face." Jamie asked.

"Don't worry about it, I'll be Ok. I'm just a little down today."

"I understand being down, I've been there. It does help to talk about it."

Eddie thought about it, and took a deep breath, she never could hide anything from him. "Yesterday should have been my due date." she sobbed quietly.

"Oh Eddie, I'm so sorry, that's so hard. "Sarah cried for weeks before and after and she wasn't as far along as you were."

Eddie started to cry harder and Jamie walked over to her and gave her a hug. She buried her head in his shoulder. "You can cry as much as you want, you lost your child. You have every right to be sad." He whispered to her.

Once she calmed down, Eddie pulled back. "I'm sorry."

"No need to be sorry." Jamie told her. "Hey, I have an idea, why don't you come to the zoo with us."

"No, I don't want to put a damper on your day."

"Let's give you a positive memory for the day, besides, Mikey will love that you're coming." Eddie shrugged her shoulders and agreed, she knew Jamie wouldn't give up.

A half hour later, they arrived at the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn. Mikey was so excited he could barely stand still. Sarah was in her stroller squealing when they stopped to see each animal.

"Dad, I need to go bathroom." Mikey told him after about 20 minutes of walking.

"Good idea, I need to change the baby too."

They walked the short way to the bathrooms.

"Will you watch Sarah while I take him in ?" Jamie asked Eddie

"I can change her if you want." Eddie told him

"That's OK, I can do it when I come out."

"Jamie, remember help ? It's OK to have people help you." Eddie teased. "Also, did you forget that I am more experienced in this department?" Jamie just shook his head, laughed, and handed over the stroller.

"Thank you, I'll meet you back here."

Jamie walked Mikey into the Men's room. "Whoa ! This is a lot different than the bathroom Mommy goes to. Hey Dad, what are those things on the wall ?"

"Those are urinals, they're what boys and men use to go to the bathroom." Jamie told him.

"Why they standing ?" Mikey whispered.

"Because you stand at them."

"I always sit to pee."

"Oh, well, we'll have to work on changing that at home. For now let's go into the stall."

When they got out, they sat on the bench waiting for Eddie and Sarah. Jamie knew there was nothing to worry about but couldn't help being anxious without Sarah. About a minute later Eddie was walking out of the bathroom with a giggling Sarah.

As soon as Mikey saw Eddie, he said to her, "Mommy, did you know boys are upposed to stand to pee ?" Eddie and Jamie both laughed at his outburst.

"Yes, I did."

"Oh, can I do that too ?"

"When you're tall enough, yes. Talk to your Dad about that." Eddie laughed, happy to not have to deal with that situation.

"What happened in there?" Eddie questioned, still laughing.

"I'm guessing this was his first time in the Men's room, he was quite fascinated with the urinals and the fact that men were standing." Jamie informed her.

"I guess it was, I always took him into the Women's room with me. Barry wouldn't deal with those things."

"Well, I guess I can thank him for letting me do some of the Dad things I thought I missed. Anything else I need to take care of?" Jamie smiled.

"Hmmm. . . how about riding a bike and playing sports ?" Eddie suggested. "I was going to get him a bike after we moved but with everything, I didn't have a chance. I know he's tried to ride Kara's boys' bikes."

"I can definitely work on that."

Just then they heard Mikey call out, "Look Mom, Hippopomus." Jamie and Eddie laughed and stopped so Mikey could look at the hippos.

They spent about three hours at the zoo, on the drive back both kids fell asleep.

"Jamie, thank you for inviting me, I had a good time and you were right, it did help me feel a little better.

"Good, I'm glad." Jamie smiled. "Are you coming to Sunday dinner tomorrow?"

"I'll be there, I think Henry will hunt me down if I miss one." I didn't think I would be subjected to the same consequences as the family." Eddie laughed.

"Well when you're the mother of a great grandchild, that qualifies you for family status, besides, Pop really likes you and he wants you to have a family."

"Henry is a sweetheart." Eddie paused. "Well, you need to get those two home. I'll see you tomorrow at dinner."