Hi All, things are still chaotic. I haven't even had a change to do my final proof read so please forgive any typos or anything.

Chapter 36: Cats and Bingos

"Ugh." Erin groans with a roll of her eyes as everyone sits around the dinner table eating "Another boy! Why couldn't Reagan have been a girl!"

"It's a cat Erin." Jamie points out.

"It doesn't matter…" Erin dismisses "…Eddie, Nicky and I are already outnumbered!"

"I don't know Erin." Eddie counters "There is something to be said for now having the ability to call 'Come on Reagan! Good boy!' when he comes." She jokes.

All the men at the table groan while Erin laughs.

"Oh man that's priceless." Erin admits in realization as she lifts her glass towards Eddie.

"I know, I thought it was funny too." Eddie admits with a grin as she lifts her glass "But apparently we are the only two that think that." She adds as the two women clink their glasses together in a private toast.

Everyone at the table continues to eye them in disbelief.

"Oh come on, it could have been worse." Eddie points out "The cat could have answered to say 'Jamie' or 'Danny' then that really would have been funny!"

"See now I feel like going to a shelter and calling 'Hey Eddie Come 'er girl!' and see if anybody comes." Jamie deadpans.

"And if you do that, I'll bet she'll try "Hey Jamie, come here girl!" Danny points out "And there is a way better chance she'll get an answer before you do." he laughs.

Realizing his brother is right, Jamie turns to his wife "Truce?"

Eddie nods in acceptance.

"Who names a cat Reagan though?" Sean suddenly wonders "It just doesn't feel like a cat name."

"Yeah its more a dog name." Danny agrees.

"A dog?" Frank queries in disbelief.

"Like a big pitbull or a lab!" Henry chimes in " A German Sheppard! Something strong and majestic."

"I don't know…" Eddie ponders "Cats are stubborn – Reagans are stubborn. Cats are self sufficient – Reagan's are self sufficient."

"Oh they are great hunters…" Erin chimes in "They always get their mouse – Kind of like a Reagan always gets their perp."

The entire table laughs in agreement at that.

"They can be gentle, playful but also fierce and don't put up with crap…" Eddie adds on "All qualities of a Reagan."

"You would know." Jamie tells his wife.

"But what are the odds that Mia ends up with him?" Sean inquires.

"What are the odds that someone wins the lottery." Frank points out "Yet for some people it happens."

"I want to meet this cat!" Henry decides "As patriarch I need to welcome him to the family."

Franks looks at his father across the table "Really Pop? It's a cat."

"A cat named Reagan!" Henry proudly boasts.

"Baez has met him." Danny tacks on "Says he's pretty cool. He gets along great with all the kids. Elena even pulled on his tail and he didn't attack or anything."

"Yeah that was Rosa's big worry." Eddie adds "Whatever pet Mia chose had to fit in with her daycare. She thought she might have to leave him locked away in Mia's room while Mia was at school and she had kids over but turns out Reagan is a pretty good babysitter. Keeps the kids occupied for hours."

"Another Reagan trait!" Henry proudly boasts "Always helpful!"

"How come we never had a pet?" Sean prompts his Dad.

Danny shrugs "Just never did."

"We never had a pet either Sean." Erin offers.

"You didn't?" Eddie queries in surprise.

"No." Frank confirms "Mary had her hands full with four children and I was at work most of the time. I think taking care of a pet too would have put her other the edge."

Eddie nods "I can see that."

Silence.

"So are you having any food cravings yet?" Sean nonchalantly inquires.

Eddie nods "Actually I am." She laughs. "Smoothies and French fries."

"Okay anybody have smoothie or French fries?" Henry suddenly queries.

Danny raises his hand "I called the French fries!"

Most at the table groan while Eddie looks around confused.

"What?" Danny defends "I watch her eat lunch five days a week. I know almost as much about her as Jamie does."

"Oh I don't think so." Jamie immediately rejects.

"I said ALMOST." Danny repeats "You're crown as the knower of all things Janko is perfectly safe."

"But he's right." Erin points out "He does have more of an inside track then the rest of us. He shouldn't get to play either."

"WHAT?" Danny immediately rejects "Oh no." he definitively decides "I'm playing!"

"Hang on." Eddie states as she looks around the table "Play what? What are you all talking about?"

Everyone looks at one another – all silently trying to get someone else – mainly Jamie to be the one to tell Eddie.

"Oh no." Jamie immediately rejects at seeing their looks "Leave me out of this."

Eddie's eyes narrow as she watches everyone "Wait. Are you telling me you have a bet going on about what my food cravings will be?"

"It's not really a bet." Danny finally speaks up "More like a bingo."

Erin laughs "Not more like, it IS a bingo."

Eddie's mouth falls open as she slowly turns her head to look at her husband.

"I don't have a bingo card." Jamie immediately promises.

"Yeah he's not allowed…" Danny explains "…he's the spouse. I wasn't allowed either with Jack or Sean and let me tell you I'm super happy I finally get to play again because I only got to play once with Nicky."

"You knew about this?!" Eddie questions in shock to her husband.

"Oh come on!" Erin laughs "Are you really surprised? We are after all the family that…"

"Wait, wait!" Eddie interrupts "Don't you dare say it! This is the Code Blue version for Babies isn't it? I have no idea why I'm actually surprised at that, I shouldn't be and let me guess its got this really cute name like Baby Blue Bingo or or Blue…"

"Baby Blue Bingo?" Erin interrupts as most of the people around the table laugh.

"Good thing we don't let her name things!" Danny tacks on in amusement.

A sad frown appears on Eddie's face "You don't like my name?" She questions hurt as tears form in her eyes.

Everyone stops laughing.

"It's a great name." Erin immediately states as she looks promptingly around the table silently demanding everyone agree with her.

"Love it!" Henry tacks on.

"So appropriate." Frank adds with a warm smile.

"You're all just saying that!" Eddie tosses out "You hate it!"

Danny looks at Jamie "A little help here." He lowly prompts.

"Oh she doesn't need my help." Jamie counters "She's doing just fine guilting you all into submission all on her own."

"Oh so you're going to take her side?" Danny questions.

"If he wants to live he will." Erin replies "After having two children of your own I'm surprised you don't know that."

Suddenly Eddie gets up.

"Eddie." Henry tries to soothe "Please don't get upset."

"I have to pee." Eddie grumbles out as she walks away.

"Sunday dinners are always so fun." Sean tells the table before a silence befalls the family.

After a while Henry finally looks at Jamie "You think you'll still be alive tomorrow?"

Jamie sighs "I'll do my best."

"Might be a couch night for you." Danny adds "Mine was."

Sean looks curiously at his father.

"Your Mother made me sleep on the couch after she first discovered the bingo when we were having your brother." Danny explains.

Sean turns his attention to his Aunt "What about you Aunt Erin, did you make Uncle Jack sleep on the couch?"

"Uncle Jack isn't a Reagan so I doubt it." Danny replies "For once he wouldn't have been responsible…"

"He did." Erin flatly interrupts.

Danny pauses in thought at hearing his sister's response "Huh. My mistake."

"What's the prize?" Eddie's voice inquires as she walks back in the room.

All eyes turn to her.

"What's the prize?" She repeats as she moves to retake her seat "It's a Bingo so there must be a prize. What is it?"

Everyone kind of just looks around at one another unsure how to answer that.

Eddie looks at all their faces "Seriously? No prize?" She deduces "Then what's the point? You people suck at games. Fine I'LL decide the prize. Hmmmm let's see… winner of the bingo gets to pick the baby's middle name."

Jamie's head whips in the direction of his wife to look at her with wide eyes "I'm sorry what?" he asks in disbelief before looking around at his family "No." He rejects "No one else here besides me and Eddie are picking any names."

Eddie indifferently shrugs "Okay winner gets to be a godparent then."

"NO!" Jamie again immediately rejects "No offense." He quickly tells his family before again turning his attention to his wife "Eddie what are you doing?"

"I'm pointing out how ridiculous you all are." She tosses out "Your code blue had a purpose, I get that but what's your purpose for this Baby Bingo other then to make the Mother feel bad hmmm?" She challenges as she looks around "Just purely for your entertainment?"

No one gives her an answer so she turns to look at Erin "You can't possibly tell me you were okay with it and I'm sure Linda wasn't either!" She adds as she turns to look at Danny.

Danny sighs "I did sleep on the couch." he repeats.

"That's what I thought." Eddie surmises "So here's what going to happen." She decides. "You're going to play your little game and at the end, there will be a prize. A prize for this baby you get me? The winner of this game has to buy something nice and meaningful for the baby. That's what you're playing for got it?" She demands as she looks around the room just daring anyone to challenge her.

"Yup." "Got it." "Uh uh." "Understood."

"But…" Henry challenges.

All eyes turn to look at him with wide eyes.

"I think we all want to get something for the baby." Henry slowly but cautiously explains "Not just the winner."

"And you all can do that." Eddie agrees "But only the winner will have bragging rights as the winner of the Baby Blue Bingo challenge – oh and that name must somehow be incorporated into the gift."

"Are we really going with that name?" Danny inquires to everyone around the table.

"YES! We are." Eddie insists "Anymore questions?" She challenges.

No one replies.

"Great." Eddie accepts "If anyone has peas marked on their card you may now mark it off because baby wants some. Pass them over." she instructs with a snap and point of her finger.

Jamie reaches for the peas to pass them to his wife while everyone one else just sits there not entirely sure what to do.

"Come on, get those cards out." Eddie demands "Let me see them." she instructs.

It takes another second but suddenly everyone pulls out little folded up bingo cards out of their pockets.

"Okay start under the B." Eddie instructs "Read off the food and I'll tell you if I've craved it."

"Are we seriously doing this?" Danny inquires to Jamie in awe.

"Cheese." Erin reads off.

"No." Eddie replies.

"Hey I have just vegetables listed." Sean chimes in "And you just said you are craving peas, does that count."

"Yes." Eddie accepts "Anyone with the word fruit or vegetable can mark that off. Jamie, list off the ingredients for the smoothie please I'm eating."

Frank looks at his daughter in law and quietly chuckles as his youngest son begins to start listing food items...

"Pineapple, Kale, apple…"

She is definitely a force to be reckoned with... Frank notes.

"Oh I got apple!" Henry giddily declares as he marks it off.

"Hey who won my Bingo?" Sean curiously inquires "I like Aunt Eddie's idea. Maybe I want a gift too."

Jamie can't stop himself from smiling "I think we just started a new tradition."

Danny scrunches his face up in thought "Who did win your bingo? That was so long ago…"

Erin sighs "Jack did."

Danny looks at his son "Oh yeah you ain't getting anything out of him now unless you sue for it."

Henry lets out a scoff "Ain't that the truth!"