"Hand her over Reagan," Eddie chided gently as she stood in the doorway of the nursery watching Jamie and Grace in the glider. "You're going to be late."
"Five more minutes," he replied then looked back down at the baby.
"Bye bye honey," Jamie whispered sadly as he pressed another kiss to his one-month-old daughter's forehead. "I wish I could stay here with you but it is what it is. You be a good girl for Mama, okay? I love you, Grace."
The small coo she elicited didn't help the situation. After one month of paternity leave, it was time for Jamie to return to work. He'd been dreading this day for weeks because he wasn't ready to leave Eddie and Grace yet. He'd been there every moment since her birth and didn't want to miss anything.
"She's going to be fine, Jamie," Eddie said as she walked into the room and sat on the arm of the glider next to them. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"I know. I know,' he responded as he ran a finger down Grace's cheek. "It just sucks. I wish I didn't have to go back yet."
"I know. I wish you didn't have to go back either. But you have to go back sometime. And so do I in a few weeks. Babies are expensive."
He let out a small laugh, "They sure are." Then, Jamie glanced at his watch with a sigh, "I guess I better head out if I don't want to hit traffic on the way."
He stood and carefully handed the baby over to Eddie. "Call me if you need anything. I'm just going to stay in house so I should be able to respond quickly. If I don't answer for some reason, you can call Pop. If he doesn't answer, then call- "
"Jamie," she interjected, then placed a hand on his shoulder. "Look at me. Grace and I will be fine. I got this. We got this. You go be a kickass sergeant. We'll be here when you get back."
He finally nodded and pressed a kiss to her lips then to the side of Grace's head, "I love you guys."
Eddie smiled, "We love you too."
A few hours later, Eddie couldn't help but smile when she looked through the peephole of the door and saw Henry standing on the other side holding a bag of homemade goods.
"Hey Pop," she said as she opened the door.
"Hey you," he smiled. "Do you mind if I come in?"
"Not at all," she replied.
He walked in the door and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"How's our girl doing?" he asked.
"She's doing good. I just put her down for a nap."
"It's a perfect time to eat then," Henry said as he placed the bag on the table and opened it. "I brought all of your favorites and some extra to hold you guys over for a couple of days. I remember how busy it can get with a baby. I don't want you to have to worry about cooking anything."
Eddie smiled gently, "You're too good to us, Pop. Thank you."
"You sit and I'll get the plates," he ordered as he pulled out a chair for her then went off to the kitchen. "I figured it's the least I could do since you've been by yourself today. How's it been going? My great granddaughter hasn't given you too much trouble has she?"
"Not at all. She's been an angel," Eddie said as she sat down. "I was a little worried about today since this would be the first time that it was just me and Grace by ourselves but it's gone really well. I think Jamie was more worried than I was though."
"That doesn't surprise me," Henry replied. He walked back over with the plates and sat down. "Jamie was born with that worry wrinkle in his forehead. Now that he has you two, it's going to be even more so."
"I know," she nodded then flashed a small smile. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Hey kid," Jamie heard behind him. He turned and saw Danny standing in the doorway of his office.
"Hey," Jamie replied. "What're you doing here?"
"Came to talk about a case with one of the other detectives," he said. Then, he walked over and sat down in the chair next to Jamie's desk. He smiled when he spotted a small wallet sized picture of Eddie and Grace in a frame. "I was about to leave then remembered that you were back today. How's it going?"
"It's alright. I'm glad to be back working but I didn't know how much I would miss the baby," Jamie responded truthfully. "It sucks not to be at home with them."
Danny nodded understandingly. "I get it. It sucked leaving Linda and Jack for the first time too. Even though he was in good hands, I couldn't help but worry like hell that something was going to happen and I wouldn't be there to protect them. It's just part of being a parent. And as they get older, that worry will always be there. It'll never change."
"I know," Jamie replied.
"But Grace is a kid that I wouldn't have to worry about, especially with you two as parents," Danny said. "And the rest of us Reagans around too. God help anyone that tries to mess with her."
"That is true. I was telling Eddie the other day that if anyone messes with Grace on the playground, it's more than likely going to be me holding her back than the other way around."
"I wouldn't doubt that. Your wife is scary."
Jamie couldn't help but laugh, "I don't disagree."
Jamie couldn't pack his stuff fast enough once it was time for him to clock out. Eddie had texted him once or twice during his shift, mainly to see check in to see how he was doing. He had video chatted with her earlier during his break and was able to see Grace, who was awake laying in her mother's arms.
He made it home just before six o'clock, bounding up the stairs two at a time. He made it to the apartment door and opened it, then frowned as he walked in and saw no one in the living room.
"Hello?" he called out gently.
Suddenly, he heard a soft voice coming from the nursery. He quietly walked over and smiled when Eddie and Grace came into sight. He perched against the doorway and watched the two greatest loves of his life.
Eddie was reclined back in the glider with Grace on her chest and running a hand over her small head. It was the best sight he could ever come home to.
"Hey," he called out gently.
Eddie turned and gave him a tired smile, "Hey Bub. How long have you been standing there?"
"Not that long."
"How did work go?" she asked.
"Good. Same old, same old." He walked over and kneeled down next to the glider. He pressed a kiss to Eddie's lips and Grace's forehead. "I missed you two like crazy though. Did everything go okay here after we talked earlier?"
"All good," she reassured. "We've just been eating and sleeping. Your sister and your dad came by too after Pop."
"Did they?" he responded.
Eddie nodded, "Yup. They both said that they were just "in the neighborhood." But last time I checked, 1PP and the DA's office is pretty far from East Village." She gave him a look, "I suspect that a little birdie must've told them to swing by and check up on us."
Jamie and Eddie both gave a small smile as Grace suddenly turned her head toward him and stared with wide eyes.
"Well... it's a little bit of both," he admitted as he gently ran a finger over Grace's cheek. "They called while I was on my way to work and asked if it was okay to visit. They didn't want to bother you because they knew you'd be busy with the baby. I told them that it was fine but to check with you first."
"They both texted. I said it was okay. They both brought food too so we have enough to last us for the next two weeks including the food Henry left this morning."
"Good. I won't lie... I was worried like hell when I left here this morning. I knew that you two would be okay but I couldn't help but worry that something would happen and I wouldn't be here."
"I know you were," she said gently, using her free hand to run her fingers through his hair . "We're parents now. It comes with the territory according to your grandpa. I leave Grace in the room by herself for a second and I worry. It'll get better once we get our sea legs."
"I know," he agreed.
"You want your daughter now? I think my right side is numb with how long I've been here," she laughed.
He nodded. Jamie stood and carefully took the baby off of her chest and into his arms.
"Hey there bird," he said gently as he kissed her cheek. "I missed you a lot today. Did you miss me?"
Eddie gave a fond smile as she stood and left the room to give the father-daughter pair their time together.
