A/N: I know there have been many fics posted over the years that fill in the missing gaps between Eddie saving Jamie and them announcing their engagement in the season 8 finale but I'm throwing in a part of my version now with a slight twist to the storytelling…
Chapter 9: The Day That Changed It All
Sitting at the kitchen table about to eat her cereal, Eddie gets up to head to the kitchen realizing she forgot her vitamins. She rounds the corner past the built in shelf where her eyes catch sight of hers and Jamie's framed wedding photo so instead she stops, smiles and picks up the picture. Some days she still really couldn't believe they actually made it to the place they are today.
Entering the main apartment through the archway from the bedrooms, Jamie stops short at seeing his wife holding the picture. "Yes you married me." He states as he starts walking again and moves past her into the kitchen "You can't take it back now."
"Never. I promise." Eddie laughs as she puts the picture back down.
"Good." Jamie accepts.
"Sometimes I still can't believe we're here." Eddie admits in amazement "That we actually finally admitted our feelings and went for it."
"I know and all because of some crazy hit man." Jamie tosses out.
"Ugh." Eddie groans out. "Don't remind me because now when our child asks 'Mommy, Daddy, how did you get together?' we can say Mommy saved Daddy from a hitman and the shock of that finally knocked some sense into us."
Jamie looks at his wife slightly offended "Hey. That is a one of a kind, unique story to be able to tell!"
"True." Eddie admits with a laugh before blowing out a breath of air and turning serious "But that day Jamie…"
"I know." Jamie agrees with a solemn look of his own "That day changed everything…"
FLASHBACK MAY 2018 – The evening after Eddie saves Jamie…
Leaning against Eddie's Porsche on the street outside the 12th precinct waiting, Jamie runs his hand over his face tired as he talks on the phone "I'm fine Erin, I promise. No, I don't need anyone to come over. Like I told Dad and Pop and Danny, I'm just finishing up at the precinct and then I'm going home. I'll see you all on Sunday. Yup, love you too. Goodnight."
Sighing, Jamie puts his phone away and then checks the time on his watch. Not that the actual time mattered. He would wait as long as it took.
He would wait for her forever…
Jamie looks back towards the 12th precinct's front doors just as the door opens and she walks out.
Eddie.
Walking out the front door, Eddie takes in a deep breath of fresh air. It was over – all the paperwork, interviews, congratulatory 'nice shot' comments. All she wanted to do now was find Jamie.
On instinct, Eddie's eyes drift over to where she parked her car and a small smile graces her face as she sees him leaning against her car waiting - his mustang parked right behind her Porsche.
Jamie.
Even over the distance, their eyes lock as Eddie walks down the stairs and starts over to him. They only break eye contact long enough for both to check for traffic to make sure its safe for her to cross the street.
"Hey." Eddie softly greets as she comes to a stop in front of the man who's life she not more then 6 hours ago saved from a hitman.
"Hey yourself." Jamie just as softly returns "You okay?"
Eddie begins to nod her head yes but now that she's standing right in front of him, looking into those gorgeous green eyes of his, she can't stop the harrowing events of the day from replaying in her mind and that wall of toughness she'd built up around her in order to be able to get through the rest of the day begins to crumble and crash down to the ground and honestly she didn't care. This was her Jamie and she could have lost him she thinks as tears begin to well in her eyes. So instead, she shakes her head no and let's her emotional tears fall.
"Hey…" Jamie immediately soothes as he steps forward and envelopes her in a protective hug just like they shared in the middle of the street that she eagerly accepts in need "You're okay." He promises reveling in the feel in her wrapped up in his arms again. "I'm okay." He softly reassures her in her ear knowing where her mind is "Okay?"
Nodding in acceptance, Eddie steps back, sighs and wipes the tears from her eyes. "Sorry." She apologizes. "I know."
"Don't apologize." Jamie states as he picks up both of her hands in his "I almost died. You're freaking out a little. A few weeks ago, you almost died, I was freaking out. I get it."
Eddie laughs a little laugh in awe as she looks down at their joined hands before lifting her eyes to meet his "You always do, don't you?"
A goofy little grin appears on Jamie's face "It's a gift." He quips before a silence befall the pair and they simply stare at each other.
Each wanted to say so much but neither one had any idea where to start.
"You hungry?" Jamie suddenly offers "I can call for take out." he adds.
A small smile forms on Eddie's face. He knew her so well... She nods yes.
God he wants to kiss her… "My place?" he hopefully questions.
He's got that look. Eddie notes as her stomach does flip flops. She knows that look. She craves that look. Once again, Eddie nods yes.
"Okay, ah… I'll meet you out front?" Jamie asks.
Eddie nods as they both get into their cars.
…..
Opening the door to his apartment, Jamie lets Eddie, who is carrying the pizza, walk in first. She walks over to his extended counter and places it down as he shuts the door.
Eddie places both of her hands on the edge of the counter in a moment of contemplation as Jamie walks over to her.
Making up her mind, a look of determination appears on Eddie's face as she turns around to face her partner "Jamie…" she begins but she is cut off when Jamie swoops down and crashes his lips into hers as one hand snakes around the back of her neck into her hair and the other reaches around her waist to pull her flush up against him. It's so forward and primal and Eddie is caught off guard by the move. This is not at all the Jamie Eddie knows, but it is most definitely the one she's repeatedly dreamt of meeting. It only takes a moment for Eddie to respond but when she does her hands fall onto his shoulders and then make their way up his neck and into his hair as she eagerly matches his urgency.
This isn't a light kiss. It's hard and full of passion and desire and love. It's full of everything they feel for one another but have yet to verbalize out loud with those 3 very specific, heavy weighted words. Finally coming up for air, the pair leans their foreheads together gasping.
"When I said…" Jamie rasps out "…I'd spend the $5 Million on you what I really meant was I love you."
Eddie smiles a little smile "I know. I love you too."
And there it was. Finally. They both think No point stopping now…
"And I want more than just partners on the job." Jamie declares.
"Me too." Eddie admits.
Smiling himself, Jamie moves to kiss her again but after a few moments Eddie's stomach starts to rumble so they break apart.
"Sorry." Eddie apologizes embarrassed as Jamie just laughs in amusement.
"Eat first." He instructs as he steps away and moves into the kitchen to grab napkins and plates "We have all night for… that." He suggestively states as he glances back towards Eddie and hungrily eyes her up and down.
Hearing his tone and seeing the look in his eyes, Eddie again grips the edge of the counter - this time in an attempt to maintain some level of composure and self control "Well, aren't we ambitious." She lightly quips.
"Oh you have no idea." Jamie promises with a slightly exasperated laugh trying to keep his cool and not just sweep the pizza off the counter and take her right there. Feeling the sexual tension, Eddie's breath hitches in anticipation as she watches him walk back towards her but all he does is place the plates and napkins down next to the pizza box then turns and walks back towards the fridge.
Eddie releases the air in her lungs she didn't even realize she had been holding "Oh, I think I do." She heatedly promises in return as she opens the pizza box but she is staring at Jamie's backside the entire time as he opens the door and grabs two beers.
Turning back around, Jamie catches Eddie devouring him with her eyes and it sends blood rushing to all the right places.
They lock eyes.
Sucking in a breath of air, Jamie shuts the fridge then walks over to her and places the 2 beers down on the counter with a determined thud never once breaking eye contact. The look on Jamie's face combined with the unexpected sound of the bottles hitting the counter causes Eddie to jump slightly as all her senses shift into overdrive. As they stare at one another, the air around them is electric. The simmering embers from years of denial are flaming up in anticipation and all it would take is just one tiny little spark for everything to explode.
One tiny spark… they both know as they somehow find themselves leaning towards one another again…
The magnetic pull between them had always been there but now it was overwhelmingly strong and undeniable and both want nothing more then to just forget about the food and feast on each other so they inch closer and closer to one another - their lips now mere inches apart and they can feel each other's warm intoxicating breath – the anticipation and the delicious reward that awaits them…
Just
One.
Tiny.
Spark…
But then the sound of Eddie's stomach rumbles up between them snapping them out of the spell.
They pull back and sigh in defeat as they both silently grab a slice of pizza and each takes a determined, but ever so frustrated bite…
INTERCUT – PRESENT DAY
"I never saw you eat pizza so fast and with such determination!" Jamie laughs.
"Yeah, well I had plans." Eddie tosses back.
"Oh I remember!" Jamie laughs before getting a delicious look in his eyes "That first time was…"
Eddie sucks in a breath of air at the memory "Yes it was." She wholeheartedly agrees as she smiles at her husband and he smiles at her.
"I believe you said it was like fireworks going off." Jamie arrogantly boasts.
"Yeah well you said I wore YOU out!" Eddie tosses back before laughing "And then when we were beyond spent, you had the goofiest grin on your face."
"And you didn't?" Jamie challenges.
Eddie nonchalantly smiles and shrugs in deflection "You know it still amazes me you didn't figure out that whole no rule about couples being partners thing sooner – you are after all supposed to be the smartest person I know."
"HEY!" Jamie protests "I AM the smartest person you know."
"Wow. Touchy!" Eddie defends "Are you sure you aren't pregnant too?"
"Funny." Jamie flatly retorts.
"That first night I woke up in your bed though…" Eddie admits "I really did think it was just another dream."
"Well, it wasn't…" Jamie reminds her.
"But it felt like it." Eddie reiterates "Especially when I woke up alone!"
"Hey I was trying to plan our future!" Jamie defends.
"Alright fine…" Eddie relents "…you get credit for that one…"
FLASHBACK RESUMES
Fluttering her eyes open, Eddie reaches over expecting to find Jamie there next to her in bed but is surprised to discover nothing but cold empty sheets. For a moment she fears it is all a dream but as her eyes adjust to the darkness, she scans the room. No, its not a dream, she realizes. She's in Jamie's bedroom – naked in his bed - but where is he? Her eyes are drawn to a small strip of light emanating from the living room through the bottom of the closed bedroom door. Getting up, Eddie reaches for some clothes.
…
Sitting at his extended kitchen counter with his back to the bedroom and his elbow on the counter, Jamie's head is propped up in his hand as he concentrates heavily on the books and laptop in front of him researching.
He is startled when he hears Eddie's voice behind him say "Hey."
"Sorry." She then quickly apologizes at his reaction as Jamie glances back to look at her.
"Did I wake you?" he questions as Eddie walks over to him "I tried to be quiet."
"What are you doing?" Eddie asks as she walks up behind him and slides her hands down onto his chest from behind – completely revelling in the fact that she could touch him like that now - as she peers over his shoulder and reads "The Patrol Guide?"
"There's nothing in here Eddie." Jamie informs her as he keeps scrolling through pages "I can't find one rule or regulation that says couples can't be partners on the job."
"Jamie..." Eddie begins as she pulls back.
"No, I'm serious Eddie." Jamie insists as he turns to look at her. "I've been over everything. All this time we've been assuming it's a hard fast rule but its not."
Eddie looks at Jamie a moment in silence then without warning she walks to the fridge, swings the door open and pulls out the left over pizza box. Jamie watches as she plops it on the counter near the sink with a thud, flips the lid open with purpose, grabs a slice and takes a big bite as she stares out the kitchen window. She chews it down in thought and once she swallows, Eddie turns her head to look at Jamie "Seriously?"
Jamie nods. "Seriously."
"So, all this time we've been dancing around our feelings because we didn't want to mess up the job when we could have had both? We could have been doing this…" she adds in disbelief as she gestures between them "…the whole time?"
"Apparently." Jamie offers.
"Wow." Eddie states before simply taking another bite of pizza.
Silence as they both ponder their new discovery.
"You want any?" Eddie suddenly asks Jamie as she gestures to the pizza.
Jamie shakes his head no as he watches her closely.
"Then why does it seem like everyone thinks it's a rule?" Eddie wonders.
"Because it does actually make sense to be a rule." Jamie offers with a sigh. "We saw first hand what it did to Kelsey and Paul BUT… " he then counters "…with us its different. These feeling we have for each other didn't just develop overnight but yet we never let that affect our jobs. We can do both…" He confidently declares "…and there is no rule that says we can't."
Eddie scoffs "I doubt your family – especially your Dad – will see it that way."
"Likely not." Jamie agrees.
"So now what?"
"We convince him to see it our way."
Eddie bursts out laughing in disbelief "And how exactly do we do that?"
Jamie blows out a breath of air "I haven't quite figured that part out yet." He admits.
"Great." Eddie mumbles in defeat before she takes another bite of pizza and chewing.
Watching her, a slow smile spreads across Jamie's face.
"What?" Eddie questions at seeing his look.
"You're wearing my shirt." He states in realization as his eyes roam her body.
Eddie looks down at his NYPD shirt over her body in confusion "Yeah, so?"
"And by the looks of it…" Jamie hungrily and deliciously notes "…nothing else."
"Oh." Is all Eddie can manage to reply at his insinuation – her knack for snappy comebacks completely failing her in that moment.
"That's one damn lucky shirt." Jamie admits with a lick of his lips as he continues to just drink her in. "And it looks way better on you then it does me." He adds.
A slow sexy smile spreads across Eddie's face.
She'd always been beautiful to him but in that moment, standing in his kitchen in nothing but his shirt, her hair just the right amount of messy and doing what she loved most – eating – and god that smile - she was perfect and she was actually really his.
"But it would look way better off of you." Jamie brazenly decides "Drop the pizza." He suddenly and huskily orders as he gets up and makes a beeline for her.
Mesmerized by the look of sheer want and desire in her new lover's eyes, Eddie's eyes never leave Jamie's face as she obediently releases what is left of the pizza slice in her hand and lets it fall back into the box right as Jamie reaches her. He wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her flush up against him before dipping his head and placing a searing kiss on her lips.
Melting into him, Eddie wraps her arms around his neck then in one swift move, Jamie lifts her up and Eddie wraps her legs around his waist straddling him. He turns and walks them towards the bedroom on a mission.
…..
INTERCUT PRESENT DAY:
"You really did look amazingly hot and sexy in my shirt." Jamie compliments at the memory. "Still do."
"Good answer." Eddie commends before sighing "I still can't believe I finally had to give up that shirt."
"It was falling apart Eddie." Jamie points out.
"I know.." Eddie pouts "... but still."
"You have the others." Jamie points out.
A smile plays on Eddie's face "That really was the start of us going from zero to sixty in three point five wasn't it?" She laughs once again referencing Rhianna's song Shut Up and Drive.
Jamie shrugs "Like I told you that next morning, I wasn't wasting anymore time."
Eddie laughs "Oh that you did!"…
FLASHBACK RESUMES
Stirring awake, Eddie realizes her body is still very much intertwined with Jamie's laying next to her "Hmmmmm." She moans in appreciation as she shifts slightly against him and does a little exploring letting her hand run from Jamie's stomach up to his chest savoring the feel of his bare skin under her fingers "This is more like it."
"Morning." Jamie contently greets as the feel of her moving against him wakes him up. He shifts and tries to stretch without moving Eddie off of him – he liked her right there – so warm and soft, so inviting - so he leans down to kiss her wanting to pick up right where they left off before sleep finally over took them but she suddenly pulls slightly back.
"Wait." She protests in a slight panic "Do you have morning breath because I definitely have morning breath after eating that late night pizza."
"Won't know until we test it out." Jamie murmurs not really caring as he again leans over to kiss her but Eddie pulls completely away and gets out of bed causing him to fall face first down to the sheets.
"Not cool." He mutters.
"Sorry." Eddie lightly apologizes with a chuckle as she grabs his shirt once again "Let me just brush my teeth…" she begins as she slips the shirt over her head but then she realizes she's not actually at her own apartment with her own things "…or at least rinse my mouth." She corrects as she disappears out the door on her way to the bathroom "You got any mouthwash?"
Lifting himself up, Jamie props his back against his pillows along his headboard and brings an arm up to rest it behind this head "In the cabinet!" he calls as his mind starts to think. "There might be a spare toothbrush in there too!" he calls as an after thought "Feel free to use it!"
"Oh! Found it!" Eddie calls "Thank you!"
Looking around the room, Jamie's mind then starts planning changes. Now that he and Eddie were together he wanted her to feel comfortable and at home in his apartment. She'd need at least a drawer for some clothes, maybe some closet space too, he reasons, hell she could take whatever she wants he chuckles to himself, he really didn't care as long as she was there with him.
Now on a mission, Jamie gets up, grabs his boxers and pulls them on before moving to his dresser. He pulls open drawers and starts seeing what he can either amalgamate together or just completely get rid of.
Walking back into the bedroom expecting to see Jamie still on the bed waiting for her, Eddie stops short at the sight of him pulling clothes from his dresser and tossing some aside into a pile. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making you room."
Eddie looks slightly taken aback by his answer "You're making me room?"
"Yeah, for your things." Jamie explains as he tosses another shirt to the side and then moves another one to a different drawer "You're gonna need a place to put your clothes."
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa." Eddie protests.
"Whoa what?" Jamie questions.
"Aren't you going a little fast there sport?" She cautiously inquires.
"Fast?" Jamie repeats with a laugh. "You think almost five years from 'Hi, are you Reagan?' to finally admitting we love each other is fast?"
"No, it was excruciatingly slow." Eddie admits.
"Exactly my point." Jamie offers as he takes out the last of the shirts and looks through them. "And I have no intention of dragging things out unnecessarily anymore do you?"
"Well, no." Eddie slowly admits as she watches him toss another shirt into the discard pile and places the rest into a different drawer.
"Good." Jamie accepts "So drawer." He simply offers as he gestures to the now empty storage compartment with his hand.
Eddie stares at Jamie in silence a second before pointing to the shirts he just tossed aside "You getting rid of those?" She inquires.
"Yes." Jamie answers.
Turning, Eddie takes a step towards the pile. Jamie watches as she picks up the first discarded shirt opens it up, looks it over front and back then tosses it over her arm before picking up the next one and doing the same thing but this time tossing that shirt once again to the side.
"What are you doing?" Jamie asks as he watches her do this over and over again.
"Those..." Eddie informs her new boyfriend as she points to the pile she has tossed aside "…you can get rid of but these..." She adds as she gestures to the shirts draped over her arm "…are now mine." She declares as she walks over to the now empty drawer and haphazardly plops them back in with purpose.
Smirking, Jamie crosses his arms in amusement "You gonna fold those or just leave them in a crumpled mess like that?"
Testing the waters, Eddie says "And what if I said I liked the crumbled mess?" She challenges as she moves close to Jamie, wraps her arms around his neck and leans up to kiss him. "Good Morning." She murmurs into his mouth.
Jamie's hands drop to rest on her waist "Morning." He softly greets returning her kiss but then when they break apart he adds "Then you would be on laundry duty until you learn how to fold properly." He jovially declares before lightly slapping her butt causing her to jump. "Get folding Janko." He laughingly instructs as he moves to walk out of the bedroom "Or I'm only making breakfast for myself."
Pouting, Eddie calls "NO FAIR!" after him.
"TOTALLY FAIR!" she hears him call back.
Shaking her head, Eddie turns her attention to the shirts. She sighs in defeat and starts folding them. "FINE BUT I WANT BACON AND EGGS!" She calls a second later.
"YOU GOT IT BABE!" Eddie hears Jamie call back causing her to happily smile.
Babe. She liked that.
INTERCUT PRESENT DAY:
"And that was the first time you called me Babe." Eddie declares.
Jamie shrugs "Clearly it fit because it stuck."
"Yeah Sweetheart never did, did it?" Eddie ponders.
Jamie shakes his head "No it just seemed too… I don't know… not us."
"Excellent explanation." Eddie laughs "But then you did have a way with words that morning at breakfast as well, didn't you?"
"Hey I was being straight up."
"Can't denied that!" Eddie laughs.
FLASHBACK RESUMES…
Sitting on a stool at his extended kitchen counter, Jamie wipes his mouth with a napkin then pushes his breakfast plate away "I'm gonna need to run out and pick up a few things, need anything?"
Surprised by his statement, Eddie lifts her head from cleaning up her own plate to curiously look at her boyfriend "You're running out on me already? What could be so important that you're going leave me here all alone on our first morning together?"
"Condoms." Jamie simply states with an internal smirk as he watches her face closely waiting for her reaction.
A deep red blush appears on Eddie's face "Oh." She stammers out.
Jamie smiles. Yup, that's the reaction he was looking for because damn! Flustered Eddie is so hot and he actually gets to reap the rewards of that now!
But then the next second her face turns to one of disbelief "Wait a minute, we've had sex twice and you're already out of condoms?"
"I have one left." Jamie simply reveals now enjoying hot and bothered Eddie too.
Eddie lets out a boisterous laughs "That's not being very prepared there Boy Scout."
Ouch. Sting. Jamie notes Good one. he can't help but admit.
"Yeah, well…" Jamie shoots back "…haven't really needed any in a while so restocking wasn't top of my priority list."
Reading between the lines, Eddie's face softens. She knew Jamie's love for her was the reason he hadn't been more socially active recently and that just made her heart swell "Well you should probably just buy them in bulk." She bossily decides after a moment "We'll be needing to make up for lost time." She reasons before raising her eyes suggestively and smiling wickedly at him. Because she definitely planned on making up for lost time… over and over and oh god… she thinks as her mind quickly runs through replaying everything they did to one another last night …over again…
Jamie groans in desire at seeing the look on her face. He shakes his head in awe at her forwardness and her ability to somehow just make him feel everything all at once because in the span of 20 seconds he's gotten flustered, hot and bothered, bossy and sexy Eddie all rolled into one! And the best part is he now has the ability to actually do something about that so Jamie reaches over, pulls her up from her stool and pulls her towards him "God I love you."
The ease at which that rolled out of his mouth now simply amazed him…
"That's good." Eddie satisfactorily quips as she comes to stand right in front of him between his legs – her stomach now doing flip flops like a silly school girl from Jamie's declaration and his nearness to her "Cuz I've been thinking…" she adds as she wraps her hands around his neck and he wraps his arms around her waist "…and I don't think a drawer is going to be enough."
Because honestly who are they trying to kid anymore right? They are inevitable and they both know it…
"Oh really?" Jamie counters in mock surprise as he tries but fails miserably to hide the huge smile appearing on his face while tightening his arms around her gently forcing her closer to him…
"Yup." Eddie triumphantly decides – her body now pressed right flush up against him and yup - he was ready to go for round three… "Pretty sure I'm going to need some closet space too."
"Whatever you want." Jamie easily concedes as he moves in to gently kiss one side of her neck.
"You know…" Eddie begins to think as her eyes drift closed at his touch "While you're um out…" she begins to say but Jamie's gentle kiss turns more intense and his hot open mouth on her skin and his roaming hands are making it very difficult for her to remember single words let alone full sentences "…I'll um… go… go home…and um…oh Jesus Jamie." She breathes out as Jamie moves to kiss the other side of her neck giving her just enough of a reprieve to finish her thought "…grab some of my stuff." She rushes out before his hungry mouth connects with her skin again "What do you think?"
"I think…" Jamie answers as he trails kisses up her jaw line to her mouth "… it's time to use that last condom…"
"Oh hell yes." Eddie breathes out in complete agreement before their lips meet in an eager kiss and with his help she crawls right on top of him into his lap…
END OF FLASHBACK
"Man you remember condoms?" Jamie tosses out in thought "That seems like such a lifetime ago."
Eddie snorts out a laugh "Oh trust me, you will once I give birth to this kid or else!"
"I'm kidding!" Jamie promises "I absolutely promise you it will be the first thing on my list because we don't need two of those together at the same time." He states as he gestures at their growing baby.
"No we don't." Eddie 100% agrees "No we don't…" She repeats in thought as something makes her eyes drift over to the clock on the wall "Jesus Jamie!" she cries out in alarm "We're going to be late!"
"What?"
"Look at the time!" Eddie presses "We're going to be late for church! Mia's going to be so mad that we are late!"
"Oh crap." Jamie realizes "Well you're the one that started the trip down memory lane!"
"But I'm the pregnant one!" Eddie tosses back "You're the one that's supposed to keep us on track! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!" she demands as they both get up from the table and hurry to get ready.