Chapter 125: Nap Time
"Jamie I really don't want to go." Eddie tiredly admits "You go. I'm just going to stay here."
"No, no." Jamie rejects "Trust me on this you want to come. In fact after today I will guarantee you Sunday's will now be your new favorite day."
Eddie looks at him unsure – she really was too tired to deal with all the family drama.
"Trust me." Jamie pleadingly repeats again "Please?"
Edie reluctantly nods her head yes.
…..
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Eddie yawns as she carries a couple of bags with her up to the front door of the Reagan family home "I would think just having a baby would qualify as a valid reason for not attending Sunday Dinner." She adds while Jamie carries another bag and Jessie in her car seat "Let alone coming THIS early!"
"In about 10 seconds you will be thanking me." Jamie states before turning the knob and opening the door "We're here!"
The new family of three barely get inside the door and shut it before both Henry and Frank descend upon them.
"Where is my little great grand daughter?" Henry eagerly greets as he holds his hands out.
"Hi Pop." Jamie chuckles as he hands the carrier over "Nice to see you too."
"Yes yes of course." Henry absently returns but his attention is focused solely on Jessie.
"Well hello little Jessica." Frank greets with a happy smile before looking at Eddie "Bags please." He instructs with a smile as he holds his hands out for them "Everything we need is in here?" Frank asks his youngest son.
Jamie nods yes.
Looking a little confused by the exchange, Eddie slowly hands everything over and looks at her husband quizzically.
"Off you go." Frank prompts with a knock of his head towards the stairs.
"Thanks Dad, Pop." Jamie accepts before placing his hands on Eddie's hips and gently guiding her towards the stairs.
"Where are we going?" Eddie curiously inquires.
"Too sleep." Jamie whispers in his wife's ears before picking up her hand "Now come on." He prompts as he starts up the stairs gently pulling her with him.
"What do you mean asleep?" Eddie questions as she follows.
"Exactly what you think it means." Jamie replies as they reach the top of the stairs and Jamie walks them to his old room "Until it's time for dinner, you and I get to have 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep."
Eddie abruptly stops walking and pulls on her husband's hand to stop him as well.
He turns to face her…
"Don't toy with me Reagan." Eddie seriously warns.
Jamie smiles at her "No joke." He promises as he starts them walking the last couple of steps to his door again "It's a new parent tradition in this household." He explains as he opens his door and he and Eddie enter "We hand the baby over and the family takes on full care giving duties allowing us… to sleep." He adds as he crawls onto the bed and lays down then gestures for Eddie to join him "Come on."
"I think I just died and went to heaven." Eddie breathes out as she makes a beeline for the bed and lays down in front of her husband "Ahhh." She moans in contentment as Jamie wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her back into his chest "If we skip dinner can we make it a full 8 hours?" She murmurs.
"I guess that will depend of if Jessie runs out of milk before then or not." Jamie sleepily replies into her hair.
"Hmmm." Eddie breathes out almost already asleep "I guess… we'll…see…"
And without another word the light in front of the new parent's eyes fade to black as they both fall asleep.
….
"Oh don't they look cute." Danny's voice sounds through the darkness.
"I remember that look." Erin's sympathetic voice chimes in "I kinda just want to let them sleep."
"Then do it." Jamie mutters unimpressed as he reluctantly cracks one eyelid open a bit and light floods his eye to see Danny and Erin hovering over him and Eddie in bed "Go away." He grumbles as he closes his eye again and tries to resettle himself to sleep.
"Can't." Danny replies "It's dinner time and someone is out of milk. That kid of yours eats a LOT."
"She takes after her mother." Jamie mutters into the back of Eddie's neck.
"How can she be out of milk already?" Eddie mumbles out without opening her eyes "We just went to sleep."
"No you've been asleep for 6 hours." Erin corrects.
Eddie slowly opens her eyes at hearing that and groans "It feels like we just closed our eyes."
"We know." Both Danny and Erin sympathetically reply.
"Do you want me to bring the little screamer up here?" Danny inquires to Eddie.
"Yes, thank you." Eddie replies with a yawn and a nod as she slowly sits up.
"K, back in a flash." Danny states before exiting the room.
Unhappy that his warm wife pulled away from him, Jamie slowly sits up "Did we miss dinner?" He asks his sister.
Erin nods "We made you plates."
"Thanks." Jamie replies as slowly the sound of Jessie crying gets louder and louder and louder and his face scrunches up "Geez, how did we not hear that?" he wonders out loud as he rubs a hand over his face and shakes his head trying to wake up.
"Has she been doing this the whole time?" Eddie states in alarm.
"No, no…" Erin promises "She's been really good as long as we keep her changed and fed but like we said we ran out of milk so…"
"Got it." Eddie accepts in understanding as Danny walks in the door with the screaming baby "I know. I know you're starving."
"Give her." Jamie demands as he immediately gets off the bed and holds his arms out for his daughter.
"Yup you go scream at your Dad now…" Danny instructs his niece as he hands Jessie over "Uncle Danny is clocking out."
"Shh, Shh…" Jamie soothes trying to calm his daughter down "You're okay."
"I brought your bag up." Erin tells Eddie as she points to a chair. "You should consider just leaving some stuff here. Both Linda and I did that. It makes it easier."
"Thanks." Eddie states as she stands and walks over.
"We'll leave you to it then." Erin states as she and Danny head for the door and Erin pulls it closed before they leave.
"I know. I know." Jamie soothes the unhappy baby "Mommy's getting ready just hang on food is coming."
Eddie pulls out her cover and supplies from the bag then walks back over to the bed and starts to unbutton her shirt "Okay give her here."
"You want to sit on the bed or in the rocking chair?" Jamie asks as he knocks his head in the direction of a solid wood chair in the corner of the room.
Eddie follows her husband's nod and for the first time see the chair "When did that get here?"
"It was here when we arrived you were just too tired to see it."
"Henry and Frank bought us a rocking chair?"
Jamie laughs "Um no. This chair has been in this house for decades. Mom used it, Erin used it, Linda used it. Now you can too."
Tears begin to well in Eddie's eyes. She always knew traditions ran deep in the Reagan family but this… using the same rocking chair that Jamie's Mother would have used with him was a bit overwhelming and deeply touching to her "Um the chair." Eddie quickly decides as she moves to settle into it "Okay give her here." Eddie instructs.
Walking over Jamie carefully transfers Jessie over to Eddie and helps position her so she can start eating which she eagerly does "Oh yeah you're hungry aren't you." Eddie quietly laughs as she watches her daughter "Wow, you'd think she hasn't eaten all day!" she quips as she glances up at Jamie but she does a double take when she sees him just staring at her and Jessie "What?"
"It's the most perfect picture." Jamie simply states "You and Jessie in that chair its just…" but his voice trails off.
Eddie smiles at her husband "I know."
"You want to hear something crazy?" Jamie inquires "I can almost feel her here."
"Who?" Eddie absently questions as she focuses her attention on Jessie.
"My Mom." Jamie replies causing Eddie to immediately look up and smile at her husband.
"I don't think that's crazy at all…" Eddie reveals a moment later "…because I never even met her but yet somehow… sitting here… I can almost feel it too."
"You two are my world." Jamie suddenly states "You know that right?"
Eddie nods "And you're ours. Our Army of Three."
"No." Jamie rejects "For now, still an army of two with one very loud and demanding passenger along for the ride."
"Along for the ride?" Eddie laughs "Try driving the ship!"
"That's navy." Jamie corrects "Army is ground so she's driving the car."
"Whatever." Eddie dismisses "I still feel like she's the one actually in charge."
Jamie smirks at his wife "Pretty sure that's because she is."
…..
Jamie and Eddie with Jessie descend the stairs into the living room and come to a stop at the bottom when the see the rest of the family – Henry, Frank, Danny, Erin, and Sean all standing just off to the side in a line blocking the entrance into the dining room - all brightly smiling back at them.
Jamie looks up and down the line "What?" he finally prompts.
Without a word, the line parts and Jamie and Eddie see the dining room table decked out in a pink party theme complete with a cake.
"What is all this?" Eddie questions in awe.
Danny looks at his sister in law and then around at the rest of the family "How long has she been a member of this family now? How can she not know what this is? It's the first Sunday after the birthday of a member of this family!"
A touched smile creeps up onto Eddie's face in understanding "Oh."
"We saved eating dessert until you came down." Erin adds with a grin "Come on." She prompts as she gestures for Jamie and Eddie to follow her to 'their' side of the table but before Jamie and Eddie can take more then a couple of steps into the entrance way of the dining room Henry appears in front of the couple holding up a hand and blocking their path.
"Stop please." Henry instructs the new parents so Jamie and Eddie have no choice but to stop and watch as Erin walks up to stand behind her chair.
Suddenly Danny and Sean walk around the couple and as Danny moves to stand behind Eddie's chair, Sean moves to stand behind Jamie's chair.
Erin, Danny and Sean all look at one another and then in a coordinated move, Erin picks up her chair and moves around the table behind Frank's spot to place her chair to Frank's immediate left now while Danny and Sean both grab the backs of Jamie and Eddie's chairs and pull them apart creating a space between them.
The next second, Frank appears around Jamie and Eddie from behind rolling a portable bassinet in front of him. He moves to slide the bassinet into the newly created spot between Jamie and Eddie's chairs.
Satisfied, Henry lowers his hand "You may now proceed." He cordially invites his youngest grandson and his family before he and the rest of the Reagan's all move to stand behind their chairs as well to watch and wait.
For a moment Jamie and Eddie simply stand there looking at them all to see them all grinning in amusement back at them.
"Hey." Frank prompts a second later trying to gold back an even bigger grin as he looks at his youngest son "You're not the only one that can just walk in here and start rearranging chairs."
Jamie gives his father a slight conceding nod of his head "Noted." He accepts but Eddie looks around at everyone in apprehension "You really want her sitting around the table with us?"
"She's family!" Henry defends "All family sits at the table."
"Even when she's screaming?" Eddie challenges.
Frank's smile grows "That's why its on wheels." He arrogantly quips.
Jamie points a finger at his father but looks at his grandfather "That's more like it."
Henry shrugs in deflection but then Jamie's eyes drift over to look at Erin now positioned next to Danny "Are we all sure that's wise?" he questions of the table as he swings his finger away from his grandfather and towards his brother and sister "Sitting those two together?"
Slowly Danny and Erin turn to look at one another.
They eye each a moment before Danny suddenly turns to look at his son "Move." He instructs.
"What?" Sean questions in surprise.
"Move!" Danny repeats as he gestures for Sean to step back from the chair so as Sean steps back in compliance Danny takes a side step and moves to stand behind Sean's old seat.
Not seeing any other option Sean moves to stand behind his Dad's old chair.
Satisfied at the new seating arrangements, Danny turns his head to look at his younger brother "Better?" he challenges.
Jamie looks at his brother now directly across the table from him and frowns "No."
Danny flashes him an arrogant smirk "Too bad." He quips as he pulls out the chair and moves to sit down "Your idea!"
Grinning, Henry pulls out his chair to sit "Who wants cake?!" he quips so taking that as a cue Frank, Erin Sean and finally Jamie all move to sit as Eddie moves to lay Jessie down in the bassinet before taking her seat herself…
….
"Do you have the diaper bag?" Eddie questions of her husband as she and Jamie stand near the front door of Frank's house packing up getting ready to leave."
"Yup." Jamie confirms as Frank walks up with a file folder in his hands.
"One more thing before you go." Frank states as he holds the file out to Jamie.
Curious, Jamie takes it and opens it up. He reads and a moment later his face scrunches up in amusement "Since when does the Police Commissioner take care of menial paperwork tasks?"
Frank shrugs "Hey if you don't want to still get a paycheque while you are both on leave I can take that back." He states as he moves to take the folder back but Jamie moves it away and out of his reach.
"No that's okay." Jamie reassures his father so smiling, Frank reaches into his pocket, pulls out a pen and offers it out to his son "You need to sign both."
Jamie takes it then moves to put the file down on a hard surface before signing his name once on the first form and then the 2nd form "No seriously…" Jamie presses as he hands the file and pen to his wife "…how come you're giving us this?"
Again Frank shrugs as he watches Eddie take the items "This way you don't have to make a special trip in just to sign paperwork." He reasons as he watches Eddie sign her one form.
Jamie looks at his wife "That was pretty good." He tells her "Did you think that was good?"
"Very convincing." Eddie agrees as she flips the file closed "Would have bought it too if it wasn't for the fact that the Deputy Commissioner and Captain Gormley could have brought us these forms earlier in the week when they came to visit." She points out before handing the items back to her father in law.
Frank looks between his son and daughter in law "Oh they visited you?" he questions in a bit of surprise.
Jamie looks at his father "You sound surprised at that Dad. As Commissioner I thought you knew everything?"
"Apparently not." Frank admits.
Getting an amused expression on his face, Jamie pulls out his wallet "Bet you didn't know about this either then huh?" he asks as he holds Jessie's 1PP ID out to his father.
Frank takes it, looks down and a second later he shakes his head "I did not." He again admits.
"Will make things easier when we all arrive for the medal ceremony don't you think?" Jamie reasons.
"Oh." Frank notes in understanding "Made a decision on that did you."
"Well she made a decision on that." Jamie admits as he points at his wife "I'm just along for the ride."
"Hey!" Eddie protests causing Frank to chuckle.
"Good job listening to your wife Jamie." Henry offers in passing as he walks past everyone on his way to the sitting room.
"And you!" Jamie calls out to his grandfather causing Henry to pause walking and turn to look back at everyone "Yes?" he sweetly returns as he watches Jamie reach to take Jessie's ID back from Frank and display it up for Henry to see "This was your doing wasn't it? I know because it came with your calling card." He adds referencing the toy shield.
Henry shrugs "It's like you said will just make things easier all around for everyone."
"Calling card?" Frank questions.
"Toy NYPD shield." Eddie explains to her father in law.
Frank looks at his father "Starting early are you?" he challenges.
Again Henry shrugs "I'm old." He dismisses "Don't have time to waste."
"How am I getting a medal?" Eddie suddenly inquires out of nowhere to her father in law.
"You are?" Henry states in true surprise.
"I am." Eddie replies to Henry but she continues to look at Frank "Medal of Honor no less."
"Oh." Henry notes impressed "Well makes sense." He adds.
"Why does everyone keep saying that!" Eddie suddenly states in exasperated frustration "I'm only getting this medal because you feel guilty!" She tosses at her father in law before looking around to see a stunned Jamie, Frank and Henry staring back at her so she mumbles out a "We're missing a bag." in deflection before moving around Frank and heading for the kitchen.
The three men silently watch her go before Jamie sighs and takes a step to follow but Frank holds up a hand "Let me." He insists as he moves to follow instead.
He walks into the kitchen to see Eddie at the kitchen table forcefully taking stock of the contents of the 'missing' bag.
"Eddie." Frank sighs.
"I'm sorry." Eddie apologizes.
"Are you?" Frank seriously challenges.
Slowly Eddie stills her movements, takes a deep breath and looks up. "I didn't do anything except get myself into a situation that required Maria and then Jamie and Danny to come save me. That is not medal worthy."
"Is that really how you see that?" Frank inquires.
"What other way is there to see it?" Eddie counters.
"Eddie we were only able to get into that clinic because of you." Frank points out "You know that."
"I do." Eddie agrees "And then I went into labor and had Jessie early and you feel guilty for that because you're the one that asked me to do it in the first place so that's why I'm getting a medal."
Frank looks at his daughter in law a bit floored at her reasoning "Eddie you have been a member of this family long enough to know that I don't work that way. I would never award any of my officers a medal they didn't earn and didn't deserve."
Eddie looks her father in law square in the eye "Even if you feel guilty for me going into labor early?" she challenges.
Frank takes a deep breath and meets his daughter in law's eyes "Yes." He seriously promises.
Frank and Eddie eye each other a moment then Eddie lets out a breath, pulls out a chair and sinks down to sit in it.
"Are you sure?" She presses one more time.
"Are you questioning your Commissioner Sergeant?" Frank challenges right back.
Eddie sighs at Frank's flip into professional mode "No Sir."
"Good answer." Frank commends.
Silence.
"Look Eddie." Frank begins as he pulls out a chair to sit at the table as well "You would not be getting this medal if you didn't deserve it so if you need me to make it an order that you accept it and like it, I will.
Slowly a small smile creeps up onto Eddie's face "No." she mumbles out.
Frank smiles at his daughter in law "Again, good answer."
"But the Medal of Honor?"
Frank turns his head and gives his daughter in law a stern look.
"Sorry Sir." Eddie sheepishly apologizes.
….
Henry eyes Jamie who sits on the stairs, hands clasped together staring at the floor waiting "What's that all about?" Henry inquires of his grandson as he knocks his head towards the kitchen.
Jamie sighs "Eddie doesn't think she deserves the medal."
"Oh course she does." Henry counters.
"And hopefully that is what Dad is reiterating to her." Jamie adds.
"Oh." Henry notes in understanding as Jessie over in her bassinet fusses a little so he watches as Jamie gets up to check on her.
"Hey sweetheart." Jamie gently greets "What's wrong?" he questions but then he notices her feet are sticking out from under the covers "Oh you got cold feet huh? Let's fix that." He prompts as he readjust Jessie's cover around her.
"I always knew you'd make a great Father." Henry suddenly tells his grandson.
Jamie glances in the direction of his grandfather "Had great role models." He simply counters back.
Henry smiles a little "Enjoy and treasure these moments." He seriously advises his grandson "Life passes by way too quick."
...