A/N: Again please forgive any typos - the premise of this chapter came about based off the Season 13 episode 8 family dinner scene.

Chapter 37: Memorable Moments

Driving home after Sunday Dinner, Eddie sits in the passenger seat of the Chevelle in thought "Is it just me or did Sean run out of there unusually fast today?"

Jamie shrugs "Didn't really notice."

Silence.

"That game we played after diner was fun though wasn't it?" Eddie questions.

Jamie glances at his wife in the passenger's seat and can't help but grin a little "Informative too." he notes "So marrying me is your fondest memory huh?"

Eddie nods in confirmation "Yes."

"Interesting…" Jamie ponders.

"What does that mean?" Eddie questions.

"Well we've done some other pretty memorable stuff…" Jamie suggestively insinuates.

"Hah!" Eddie immediately laughs "Like I was going to say any of that at the table! Besides marrying you made all those other things possible." She points out.

"Very true." Jamie relents.

Silence.

Eddie curiously looks over at her husband "And proposing to me was seriously the scariest thing you've ever done?" She wonders in awe.

Jamie nods in confirmation "100% without a doubt. I'd already been dumped by one fiancée and my feelings for you are way stronger – besides if you'd said no, I realized at the time that I would likely lose you as a work partner too so double the loss, double the pressure..."

"But come on Jamie…" Eddie prods as she turns partially in her seat to face him "…how could you have even possibly thought I would say no?" she wonders.

"Eddie, we never even really dated and there I was getting down on one knee…"

Eddie lets out a boisterous laugh "Oh we dated." She insists "We just told ourselves we weren't dating but looking back, now let's just admit it… we dated."

Jamie thinks about his wife's words "Huh." He realizes "I guess you're right. We just dated without the benefits that usually come with dating."

Eddie again nods in agreement "So true."

Silence.

"Jamie…" Eddie begins "You ever wonder if we would actually be where we are today if we had given in to our feelings sooner?"

Jamie shakes his head "No. I can't live my life on what ifs and the path we took that got us here because here is pretty damn amazing so no, no need to think about anything else."

"I guess you're right." Eddie relents before shaking her head in awe "It's just you've looked down the barrel of a gun and faced multiple other horrible situations on the job so I still can't believe you were scaredest of little 'ol me saying yes…" she chuckles.

"But none of those situations were going to have a direct impact on my life." Jamie points out "Asking you to marry me – and more importantly, you saying yes, was. I still remember it like it was yesterday…"

FLASHBACK May 2018

"Seriously?" Eddie inquires with a laugh as she stands at the beginning of a minigolf course with Jamie "Minigolf?"

"What?" Jamie defensively counters. "This is our 1st official date. It needed to be different."

"Different?"

"Yeah, we've already been out to bars and restaurants hundreds of times doing that again wouldn't be special enough."

"But minigolf…" Eddie slowly challenges "…is?"

"Look around." Jamie prompts "It's a Sunday morning and we are the only ones here. We have the entire course all to ourselves."

"Only because the rest of the world is sleeping." Eddie points out.

"And…" Jamie slowly and reluctantly admits "…nothing else is open."

"That's true." Eddie heartily agrees with a laugh "Not even a movie theater or bowling alley is open this early."

"Sorry." Jamie sheepishly apologizes.

"No, its fine." Eddie dismisses "Really." She insists as she walks over and gives Jamie a sweet kiss. "It will be fun." She decides as she looks around. It is kind of nice being the only ones here…

…..

"Hah!" Eddie cries in delight as she makes her shot "Beat that!"

"Watch and learn, Eddie." Jamie warns as he sets up his shot "Watch and learn."

But at that moment the strange sound of an old children's TV show song wafts through the air causing Eddie to stop and listen for a second "Is that Barney?" She asks looking around trying to figure out where it was coming from.

"What?" Jamie absently asks only half listening to her as he concentrates on his shot.

"That Barney song." Eddie presses "You know the big purple dinosaur? That annoying song for adults that once it gets in your head you can't get it out? I haven't heard that in YEARS." She laughs "You know I've never admitted this to anyone before but I secretly used to love that song!" She reveals as Jamie, hearing the enthusiasm in her voice lifts his head to look at her "It is such an earworm." She adds as she absently takes a few steps towards Jamie before singing along with the lyrics "I love you." She sings as she points from herself to Jamie "You love me." She adds as she points from Jamie to herself "We're a happy fam – a – lee." She gleefully sings with a laugh. "It's so cheesy!"

Watching the joy on Eddie's face, the words she just sung repeated in his mind 'We're a happy family.' and they truly sunk in. They were a family.

And that was it.

Why wait? he realizes so reaching into his pocket, Jamie's hand circles around a little black box and before either one knows what's happening, Jamie is pulling the ring box out of his pocket and getting down onto one knee.

Oh man what am I doing? Jamie suddenly thinks What if she says no?

She'll say yes. Another little voice tells him. Just do it…

At seeing his actions, Eddie immediately stops laughing and her eyes go wide "Jamie…" She breathes out in shock "…w… what are you doing?"

Hopefully not about to make myself look like a complete idiot and ruin everything. Jamie silently and very nervously replies in his head but he was already on one knee with a ring box in hand so…

"Eddie…" Jamie calmly begins – god love all those years of practice hiding his true emotions "From the moment we first met, you took my breath away – literally when you slammed that RMP into drive and we took off on our first tour together."

Eddie can't help but laugh at the memory as tears form in her eyes.

"We started as partners and became best friends." Jamie continues as his confidence starts to grow "We've laughed, fought, comforted, protected and loved one another – even if that last one up until very recently was only from afar. You once asked me if I was just waiting for my soulmate and I said maybe I just hadn't met her yet. Well, truth is I had met her, she was standing right in front of me the whole time. She's you. I was just too scared - or stupid - to admit it and I know this might seem fast, but like I said earlier, I don't want to waste anymore time. You're already my family in every way that matters - you have been for a while - this is just making it official so Edit Marie Janko – will you marry me?"

Overcome with emotion, Eddie tries to find her voice but can't. She just stands there crying.

"Eddie?" Jamie tentatively asks at her silence Oh god she's going to say no, crap, crap, crap…

Knowing she actually needs to respond, Eddie tries again to speak but still nothing comes out so she just begins to furiously nod her head up and down yes in confirmation.

Jamie's heart skips a beat Is she nodding yes? Is that what that is? Is she saying yes? but he isn't about to take anything for granted "I…I need the words…" He nervously presses.

"Yes." She finally manages to squeak out so quietly she herself can barely hear it.

"Was that a yes?" Jamie hopefully questions.

"YES!" Eddie suddenly cries in joy as Jamie stands and she throws her arms around his neck in a huge hug "Yes! Yes!"

Letting out a breath of air, Jamie's nervousness immediately disappears and is instantly replaced with nothing but happiness. Smiling from ear to ear, Jamie lifts his newly minted fiancée slightly off the ground a moment before gently putting her down and breaking free from her grasp "Here." He softly offers as he picks up her left hand and slides her engagement ring on her finger.

"Oh Jamie, its beautiful." Eddie cries staring at it a moment before lifting her eyes to meet his "I love you."

"I love you too." Jamie replies as he leans in to kiss her.

The newly engaged couple is suddenly startled when they hear sparse clapping.

Turning towards the sound, Jamie and Eddie see an elderly couple standing off to the side behind them on the course holding their mini golf clubs under their arms clapping.

"Congratulations." the elderly gentleman calls "Now do you mind?" he inquires as he swings his golf club out from under this arm and gestures forward down the course.

"HAROLD!" The woman beside him admonishes as she lightly backhands him on the chest.

"What?" the man counters "We have brunch reservations in 30 minutes. I don't want to be late."

"Sorry!" Jamie apologetically calls as he and Eddie step out of the way allowing the elderly couple to move ahead of them on the course.

"I'm so sorry." The woman apologizes as they pass "Again, congratulations."

"Thank you." Jamie and Eddie reply in unison laughing as Eddie wipes away her happy tears.

"That will be us in 30 years." Jamie offers as he once again pulls his fiancée into his arms "only in… reverse?" He questions as he ponders which of the elderly couple they each resembled more.

Eddie giggles "I can hardly wait." She whispers softly before reaching up to kiss Jamie.

"You ah… wanna get out of here?" Jamie suggestively offers. "Suddenly not really in the mood to finish the game."

"No?" Eddie coyly inquires "You have something else in mind instead?"

"Uh huh." Jamie playfully replies with a nod before leaning down to whisper something in her ear.

Eddie's eyes grow wide at his words.

"Yup. Time to leave." She definitively declares as she grabs his hand and leads him off the course.

INTERCUT PRESENT DAY

"I will admit it was a surprise when you proposed." Eddie admits as she and Jamie continue driving home "But very much a welcomed surprise." She reassures him "I still shake my head at the fact that you had that ring in your pocket a mere 36 hours after we officially got together."

Jamie glances over at his wife and gives her a small arrogant shrug "Always prepared."

Eddie heartily laughs "That's my boy scout. You remember the conversation we had after we got home and 'celebrated' our engagement?"

"Do I?" Jamie laughs "I'll never forget the look on your face when I told you you were coming to Sunday dinner that day…"

FLASHBACK Jamie's Apartment Sunday midday after getting engaged

Huffing in exhaustion, Jamie and Eddie fall backwards onto the bed trying to catch their breaths.

"So what do you think?" Eddie gasps out "Is… is engaged sex better then boyfriend / girlfriend sex?" She wonders before scrunching her nose up in thought at her own statement. "Boyfriend / girlfriend." She repeats "We just skipped right over that part didn't we?"

Jamie turns his head to look at his new fiancée beside him "No, it was a lovely 36 hours." He retorts causing Eddie to laugh.

"True. Very True." Eddie relents "Guess we've never been that conventional type of couple have we?"

"Nope." Jamie agrees.

"People are going to think we are crazy." Eddie points out.

"Maybe not." Jamie counters "Everyone assumed we were together anyway."

"Sure but denial, denial, denial straight to engaged?

"You want me to take the proposal back?" Jamie challenges.

"No!" Eddie immediately counters "Do you want to take back the proposal?" She tosses back.

"No." Jamie immediately replies.

"Then its settled." Eddie decides in satisfaction "People are just going to have to deal!"

"Speaking of people." Jamie interjects "It's Sunday."

"Yeah, so?" Eddie absently questions.

"You get to come to your first Reagan family diner today." Jamie reveals.

Eddie immediately bolts up in bed and while tugging the sheet around her, all color drains from her face "I'm sorry what?" she stammers out in shock.

Never before had Jamie seen Eddie look so scared to death of anything - if she got any whiter she would match the color of the sheet wrapped around her… "We're engaged Eddie." Jamie calmly points out "You've agreed to be my wife and they are my family. Do the math."

"Well sure." Eddie reasons "But today? Do we have to tell them today?" She whines and pouts "Your Dad is our boss Jamie, OUR BOSS…" She emphatically reminds him "…and we haven't figured anything out yet about how we are going to balance work / home life!"

Jamie tries to stop himself from grinning. God he loved all hot and bothered Eddie but hot and bothered Eddie naked in his bed? Well that's just a WHOLE other level of goodness he now gets to enjoy… "Yeah, I've been thinking about that..." Jamie begins.

"And?" Eddie hopefully presses.

"Nothing yet." Jamie shrugs knowing that would set her off more.

"Jamie!" Eddie cries as she runs a hand through her hair in frustration.

"Mmmmmm." Jamie deliciously mutters at the exquisite sight before him.

Eddie immediately looks up at hearing him and narrows her eyes at him "Did you just say Mmmmmm?"

"Do you have any idea how hot you look right now?" Jamie tells his fiancée.

Eddie's mouth drops slightly open and her hand flies out to lightly swat him on the chest "I'm seriously freaking out over here and all you can think about is how hot I look?" She admonishes.

"Yes." Jamie immediately admits.

"You're an ass." Eddie throws at him.

"Oh come on." Jamie heartily dismisses "It will be fine. It's just my family."

"YES!" Eddie cries in utter disbelief "YOUR FAMILY!"

Jamie happily smiles at her causing Eddie to eye her new fiancé suspiciously "Why are you taking this so lightly?" She demands "Who are you and what have you done with my methodical, always thinking things though, has a plan, by the book, Jamie Reagan?"

"He's in love with the hottest, bravest and most amazing girl around." Jamie replies with a happy grin like it is the most obvious answer in the world "He's also newly engaged to said girl and would really just like to enjoy the moment for the next few hours alone with his fiancée before having to deal with the outside world again. Is that alright Miss Janko, soon to be Reagan?"

A deep blush creeps up onto Eddie's face at the same time a small smile appears. "Oh okay." She quietly relents.

"Good." Jamie retorts in satisfaction with a suggestive raise of his eyebrows. "Now where were we?" he prompts as he leans forward to kiss his fiancée and lower her backwards onto the bed.

"Jamie!" Eddie giggles "We just came up for air!"

"And now we're going back down under." He seductively returns as he lifts the shirt and starts kissing his way down her body. "Besides you're the one that said we had to make up for lost time."

"Oh god." Eddie groans in satisfaction at his touch as all her previous worries seem to magically fade away.

END OF FLASHBACK

"That was when I realized I made the right decision proposing…" Jamie reveals "Because damn. Naked, hot and bothered Eddie is the best thing life has to offer."

"Oh you're asking for it!" Eddie warns.

"I definitely am." Jamie easily agrees.

"Did you want me to hit you like I did then?" Eddie warns.

"Not now I'm driving." Jamie deflects before a small grin creeps up on his face "But ask me that again later and I'll have a completely different answer."

"Or you could just pull over now." Eddie simply states.

Surprise by her words, Jamie slowly turns his head to look at his wife.

"Hey." Eddie chides "Eyes on the road please. Wheels are still turning and I'm not sure this car could take another head on collision."

Jamie turns his attention back to the road in front of him "Then stop saying things like that when I'm driving!"

Eddie laughs "All I said was you could pull over. It's your mind that put that in the gutter."

"Oh don't play all innocent with me."

Eddie shrugs then glances behind her "That back seat does look inviting…"

Jamie throws his one free hand not on the steering wheel up in the air "See there you go again!"

"What?" Eddie innocently counters.

"You just suggested we make out in the backseat!"

"I did nothing of the sort." Eddie dismisses.

Jamie shakes his head.

Silence.

"I'm flat out saying we should have sex in the backseat." Eddie suddenly announces.

"And pulling over." Jamie decides as he takes the next exit.

"But alas…" Eddie dramatically sighs "That would be against the law."

"Unless its on private property." Jamie points out.

Eddie slowly turns her head to look at her husband "And where exactly are you going to find private property that would be okay with that?" she challenges.

"Oh ye of little faith." Jamie tosses back.

"We could just go home you know." Eddie points out "It's not that much further."

"Not the point." Jamie counters.

"Sex isn't the point?" Eddie inquires "Cuz I'm pretty sure that's the point."

"Sex in the car is the point." Jamie clarifies "Not sex at home."

"Does it matter?"

"Absolutely it matters!" Jamie states "We have sex at home all the time but sex in the car… well that's rare."

Looking out the window, Eddie scrunches her face up "Where are you even going?"

"Private property." Jamie repeats.

Eddie tries to take a deep calming breath "Did you want to elaborate on that? Because if you want sex I highly recommend you do."

"Our private property." Jamie reveals.

Eddie's mouth drops open in realization "You are going to drive all the way out to our house just so we can what? Have sex in the car in the driveway?"

"The garage." Jamie corrects.

"You're insane." Eddie decides.

"Nothing makes the reward more satisfying then when you really have to work at it."

"Driving an hour in a car is working for it?" Eddie challenges.

"It's the anticipation." Jamie reveals.

"Or utter boredom!" Eddie tosses back.

"Besides its off hours…" Jamie reasons on "…so I say 35-40 minutes tops."

"Jamie come on, let's just go home." Eddie pleads "I promise I'll make it worth your while."

"We are going home." Jamie reminds her "Our other home."

"So now you're actually calling that house home?"

"Well until someone buys it from us, it is."

Suddenly Eddie sighs in defeat "Maybe we should have just accepted Sydney's offer."

"Oh please don't bring up the ex." Jamie groans.

Eddie turns slightly in her seat to face her husband "We've had no other offers Jamie. We turned her down because I didn't want her living there but if this goes on any longer without another buyer we are going to have to start sinking money into that house to stave off any further deterioration."

Jamie sighs "I know. Especially the roof."

Silence as both Jamie and Eddie ponder the pickle that would put them in.

"I'm not really feeling in the mood anymore." Eddie sullenly admits.

"Me neither." Jamie half heartedly agrees.

More silence.

Eddie glances at the road, then at her husband then back to the road "So why aren't you turning around and heading home?"

Jamie crinkles his forehead "I don't know… something is…it's telling me we need to head out there."

Eddie eyes her husband "Is it that Reagan gut feeling?"

"Yeah." Jamie slowly admits.

Eddie sighs and settles into her seat for the journey "We should have at least brought snacks."

….

Turning onto their street, Jamie eases off the gas as they approach their house.

"Um…why are the lights on?" Eddie questions in confusion.

"And why is there a car in our driveway?" Jamie suspiciously adds…

….