Chapter 44: Words of Affirmation

Standing in the kitchen, Jamie is putting dishes away when Eddie walks through the archway from the bedrooms. She notices her husband doing something she's seen him do hundreds, if not thousands of times before yet for some reason today, she finds herself thinking how damn sexy he looks doing it.

She walks towards him…

Reaching to put a glass on the top shelf in the cupboard, Jamie suddenly feels two hands slowly slide around his waist and start roaming…

"Um… Hi." he greets "Can I help you?"

"Oh you most certainly can." Eddie returns "Have I told you how sexy you putting away dishes is?"

Jamie can't help but let out a laugh "Um no you have not."

"Well you are." Eddie insists "So hot."

"Really?" Jamie challenges with another laugh "Since when?"

But Eddie's only response is to slip her hands under Jamie's shirt and continue her exploration.

"Eddie!" Jamie once again laughs "What is with you lately? You…" But Jamie's voice trails off as realization hit him "Oh." He breathes out as he turns to face his wife "Have we reached that phase of the pregnancy with your increased libido?"

Eddie innocently shrugs as her hands dip and skim over his bare skin right above his waist line before hooking her fingers into the top of his pants and giving him a little tug towards her.

Jamie grins "Oh I have soooo been looking forward to this part of the journey!" he giddily states before taking his wife's lips with his.

….

Laying in bed next to her husband, Eddie turns her head to look at Jamie to see him sound asleep. She looks past him at the clock on the night table – 2 am in the morning then rolls onto her back to stare up at the ceiling in defeat. She had fallen asleep after the great sex she and Jamie had but woke up around midnight and no matter what she did since she just could not fall back asleep so sighing, she slowly lifts the covers and quietly slips out of bed so as not to wake her sleeping husband. She exits the bedroom, quietly shutting the door behind her before heading for the main apartment. She walks through the archway and for a moment she pauses wonder what to do and honestly she had no idea. She could make something to eat but she wasn't really hungry. She could watch something on TV but didn't want to wake Jamie – she could clean… nope she quickly decides against that.

She was wide awake, bored and antsy.

…maybe what she needed was a walk in the fresh air to clear her mind so Eddie grabs her jacket and her keys, slips some shoes on and quietly heads out of the apartment.

About 20 minutes later Jamie wakes up. He looks over and sees Eddie's side of the bed empty and ice cold so he deduces she's been up for a while. He gets up in search of his wife to make sure she's okay but starts to get concerned when he doesn't find her anywhere in the apartment.

Suddenly he notices her jacket and keys are gone "What the hell Eddie?" he breathes out with worry thinking of her out there somewhere alone this late at night as he makes a beeline back to the bedroom to grab his phone and dial her but he lets out a frustrated grunt when her phone lights up and rings on her night stand.

Out of nowhere, suddenly Jamie's mind flashes back to her kidnapping and her phone left on her desk…

"Damn it Eddie." Jamie curses as he makes a beeline for the front door – his mind now really panicking. He swipes his keys up and swings the door open to see his startled wife on the other side about to put the key in the lock.

"Jesus Jamie!" Eddie admonishes "Don't scare me like that!"

"Me scare you?" Jamie bites back "Where they hell have you been?"

Eddie looks at her husband a bit taken aback by his attitude "I was wide awake and couldn't go back to sleep so I went for a quick walk for some fresh air. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is it's 2:30 in the morning Eddie." Jamie tosses at her annoyed.

"I'm aware." Eddie counters.

"You scared the living daylights out of me." Jamie admonishes.

"I went for a walk." Eddie reiterates still not at all seeing what the big deal is.

"Well wake me up next time!" Jamie insists.

"Why?"

"So I can go with you!" Jamie tosses back agitated.

"Oh." Eddie realizes in annoyance "This is you being over protective again."

For a moment Jamie just stares at his wife How could she not get and understand all the horrible thoughts that were running through his head when he couldn't find her considering all they had recently been through…. "Eddie do you have idea the panic I felt when I couldn't find you and your phone was left on the night stand? It was like…" But Jamie's voice trails off not actually able to say it out loud.

"Oh." Eddie repeats now really understanding what is going on "It was like when I was kidnapped." She finishes as she watches her husband run his hand over his face on edge "I'm sorry Jamie…" She sincerely apologizes "I didn't mean to scare you I just really felt like going for a walk."

"Please just wake me next time okay?"

Eddie frowns at her husband "Jamie, I'm okay."

"And I'd like it to remain that way." Jamie tosses back "So please just humor me on this one okay? No more late night walks without me."

"Fine." Eddie relents "There was this creeping looking guy following me anyway." She states as she watches her husband's eyes go wide in a full on panic "I'm kidding." She promises.

Jamie takes a deep breath "That's not funny."

"It's a bit funny." Eddie counters.

Silence.

"Okay seriously though..." Eddie decides "...seeing as we are both awake – maybe we should talk about what brought on your little drunk freakout."

Jamie groans.

"I said we would talk about it later." Eddie reminds him "Well it's later."

"You sure you aren't craving anything you need me to run out and get?" Jamie tries to deflect.

Eddie frowns "Jamie."

"Fine. Yes I freaked out." Jamie admits "I freaked out because yes I DO think we are having a girl."

"Okay." Eddie accepts "And why do you think that?"

"Because… because you're the most kick ass woman I know." Jamie tries to explain "A force to be reckoned with so you having a girl is just… a given."

"What?" Eddie laughs "Um you get it doesn't work that way right?"

"I didn't say it was logical Eddie but I just… I know. It's a girl."

"Look if it's getting you this worked up maybe we should just ask the doctor what the baby's gender is at my next appointment..." Eddie offers "...and settle this once and for all."

"I thought you wanted to wait?" Jamie questions.

"Well I was willing to wait because I thought you wanted to wait… Eddie replies "…but it would cut down on a lot of indecision if we knew. Mia would be thrilled."

"Yes let's find out just to put her mind at ease." Jamie flatly counters.

"Well if we found out..." Eddie reasons "...we would only have 1 million names to choose from instead of 2 million."

"Yes because there is no such thing as gender neutral names EDDIE." He emphasizes.

"Hmmmm." Eddie ponders "Point taken."

Silence.

"Maybe that's what I should spend my time doing when I'm wide awake in the middle of the night..." Eddie realizes "Research baby names – that's got to be like counting sheep right?"

Jamie laugh "Oh so choosing a name for our child is so boring to you its going to put you to sleep?"

"Okay that didn't come out right." Eddie admits.

"I should hope not." Jamie counters.

Silence.

"We really do need to start narrowing down names." Eddie suddenly states.

"I know." Jamie agrees with a nod of his head.

More silence.

"So not Summer huh?" Eddie double checks.

Jamie's face once again scrunches up in rejection at that suggestion "Summer Reagan? Ah no. Grace Reagan." he offers instead.

Eddie immediately shakes her head no "Doesn't flow. Still don't want Alannah either."

"And I'm still nixing Scarlett." Jamie returns "David Reagan isn't bad though."

"I thought we were having a girl?" Eddie counters.

Jamie shrugs "We think but we don't know."

"Oh you know what would be great names?" Eddie suddenly declares with dancing eyes "Nancy if it's a girl and Ronald if it's a boy!"

"NO!" Jamie immediately rejects not at all liking her joke "Absolutely not!"

"Bet Summer and Scarlett are starting to look better to you now huh?" Eddie challenges.

Jamie shakes his head "You are relentless! But my answer is still no and will always be - NO!"

"Alright fine." Eddie relents "I'm just teasing you. It's a fun way to pass the time during this insomnia I seem to be having."

"Well the book did say…" Jamie begins.

"I know." Eddie groans "It seems that book is my life lately. It's like if I want to know my future I just have to look at the book."

Jamie shrugs "Cheaper then a fortune teller."

Edie shoots him a look.

Jamie laughs a bit before settling down "Okay seriously though, that's a good thing though right? It's like the title says, its so you know what to expect – what's normal."

"Yes, well next month I'm really looking forward to the indigestion, headaches, swelling – cant wait until it gets so bad I can't even wear my wedding rings anymore – really looking forward to that one."

Jamie opens his mouth but Eddie cuts him off "And don't try giving me some pep talk. You have no idea what it's like."

Jamie sighs "You're right. I don't. All I know you are somehow creating life, it's literally a miracle what you women do and I'm just… I'm in awe."

For a moment Eddie just stares at her husband.

"What?" Jamie finally and very cautiously prompts at the way she is looking at him.

A smile creeps up on Eddie's face "That was a really good pep talk."

"Oh well I didn't mean it as a pep talk…" Jamie admits "I was just being honest – it's absolutely amazing what you're doing… down there." he adds as he gestures at the baby.

"Oh see stop that." Eddie chides as tears well in her eyes "Here you are being all nice and complimentary and all I can think of is when can I be me again? I mean everything is changing on me Jamie, EVERYTHING – I don't even feel like me anymore! And see now I'm crying again! I swear I have cried more since getting pregnant then if you combine all the other times in my life I have cried!"

"But its for a good cause." Jamie cautiously points out.

"I know that!" Eddie whines "I just… I don't feel like the woman you fell in love with anymore."

"Hey of course you are!"

"I'm not Jamie. I'm not the strong, resilient woman you married anymore. I'm emotional and wishy-washy and…"

"Edit Marie Reagan you listen to me." Jamie definitively interrupts "You are my wife and I love you and you are SO the strong, resilient woman I married – now more then ever - you are creating life Eddie. Literal life! And if I haven't done a good job of reminding you of how amazing you are then I apologize and I promise I will do better because I never want you to doubt that Eddie – ever!"

Now getting really emotional at hearing her husband's words, Eddie really begins to cry as she moves to hug Jamie tight "Thank you." she mumbles out.

Smiling, Jamie returns her hug "I love you." He repeats just for reassurance knowing he's going to have to seriously step it up in the love language department "You know…" Eddie ponders "I think I decided what I want to do while I can't sleep." Eddie adds as she lifts herself up on her tip toes and whispers something into Jamie's ear.

A moment later a grin breaks out onto Jamie's face "See plenty of good side affects of being pregnant too!" he decides as he picks up his wife's hand and leads his now giggling wife back to the bedroom.

...