It wasn't until everyone was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner when Jamie and Eddie finally got a moment alone. They both silently thanked Erin, who shooed everyone off from the table and into the kitchen, giving them a quick wink as she shut the door behind her.
The last twenty one days of being apart had truly been a test for both of them. They weren't a couple who needed to be attached at the hip but damn… it hurt like hell to be away from your best friend. Their communication for the last three weeks was virtually nothing, with Eddie only hearing periodic updates through her father-in-law. Those updates gave her slight reassurance every time but she knew she wouldn't be truly okay until she laid eyes on him again.
Jamie pressed a tender kiss to his wife's lips as they stood in his old bedroom. He had grabbed her by the hand and led her upstairs, wanting to have true privacy where the family couldn't walk in or overhear. He relished with her being in his arms again after so long and he didn't plan on ever letting her go during his short stint back home.
They sat down on the bed together, with Jamie virtually pulling Eddie onto his lap. He leaned up and kissed her again before pulling away and laying his head against hers.
"I love you," he finally whispered after a few minutes of comfortable silence.
Eddie smiled gently, pressing a kiss to his temple, "I love you too… so much. And I missed you like crazy."
He nodded as he tightened his arms around her waist, "I know. I missed you too, hon."
"It's only been three weeks but it feels so much longer than that." Then, she started to let out rapid fire questions that had been on her mind from the moment he walked into dinner. "When did you get back? Are you home for good? Do you have to go back?"
He patted her back calmly to relax her. "I got back earlier today," he answered. "I got dropped off here. And no… I'm not home for good… yet at least. I'm in a good place with the operation so they want me to lay low for a few days."
"How long?" she asked.
"Until Wednesday at the latest," he replied. "Unless they call me in earlier than that."
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight, "I really hope they don't." Then, she finally voiced the number one question that had been on her mind. "How are you?"
Jamie sat in thought for a long moment. If he was being really honest with himself, this undercover operation had taken a lot of life out of him. There were many things that he'd seen or had to do that he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy. But he couldn't let his wife know that. She worried about him enough as it is and he didn't want to burden her with anything else.
"I'm making it, Ed," he finally revealed. "I'm just happy to be here with you though.
She smiled and then traced the snake tattoo that was on his neck, "These aren't real, are they?"
"No they're not," he confirmed. "They took about half a day to put them all on though. I don't know what the hell they did but I know they're going to be a pain in the ass to take off."
"And this beard," she continued cheekily. "I'm really going for this look of yours. Feels like I have myself a whole new man."
"So I keep the beard and the tats when I come home?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Not a damn chance," she responded with a joking smile. "The beard I can live with… to an extent. The tats? Hell no. And I know that Pop would be right with me on that."
"Trust me, I want these off as much as you," he admitted.
"I missed you so much, Jamie," she choked out suddenly, needing to have some closeness as she kissed him again. "Three weeks has felt like an eternity. And I hate that you have to go away again but… I'm so proud of you, honey. I really am. You're doing a lot of good with this undercover operation."
"Thank you," he responded with a small smile. "To hear that from you means… everything. I know I'll never be able to tell you everything that's happening but just being with you here right now is the only thing I've wanted for the past three weeks. And I plan to make the most of the few days with you."
"Oh yeah? And how do you plan to make the most of it ?" she asked with laugh, having a good feeling of what he was hinting at.
He gave her a look, "I don't think I need to spell it out for you, hon."
"Okay… but what if I have to work?" she smirked.
"Then you can call off," he responded matter of factly, pulling her cell phone out of her back pocket and handing it to her. Suddenly, the need for his wife became more apparent and he was ready to get back to their apartment as soon as possible. "You do that and I'll go say goodbye for us."
"Someone's eager tonight, huh?" she let out with a laugh as she stood up so he could stand.
He leaned in and kissed her again. "You have no idea. Three weeks is too long."
"You can say that again," she agreed. "Now go. I'll make the call and meet you in the car."
His eyes lit up at her before he turned to go down the stairs. She let out a sigh of relief after a long moment. He was home... at least for now. She could finally breathe easy and take a step toward the land of the living.