Chapter 43: Family and time Heals

Author: zeusfluff.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. But I do own all originals. Date Started: 12/22/23. Date Finished: 12/25/23. Enjoy!

Family and time heals. At least that's what Jamie was told. Jamie was excited to have him and Eddie spend their first Christmas with Cora. He couldn't believe she was a whole year old. He was currently holding her in his arms and she was helping put an ornament on the tree. It said my first Christmas on it. Cora squealed and clapped her hands. Her sole attention was on the shining lights of the Christmas tree.

"Look at all those lights baby girl. You like that?"

Cora kept clapping her hands and squealed again.

"Dada…"

Jamie's face lit up and he bounced her, spinning slowly in a circle.

"You said dada baby girl. Daddy is so proud of you!"

Jamie saw Eddie appear from the other side of the tree.

"Figures she'd say dada first. I've been trying to get her to say mama for a while."

Jamie could see the disappointment on Eddie's face and with a free hand pulled her towards him. Cora looked at Eddie and gave her a gummy smile.

"Ba…"

Jamie let go of Eddie for a moment and looked at Cora, putting a thumb to her tiny bottom lip and pushed it down slightly.

"Looks like you're getting your first tooth baby girl. Ouch. Just barely coming up through your gum there."

Eddie winced and rubbed Cora's back.

"That explains why you've been drooling so much lately and trying to chew on stuff."

Jamie kissed Cora's forehead.

"We're prepared babe. We have several teething rings in the freezer we can give her. We also have some baby Tylenol if needed."

Eddie followed Jamie into the kitchen and watched as he pulled out a teething ring and placed it into Cora's tiny hands. Grabbing onto it, she put the teething ring in her mouth and began sucking on it. Jamie gave her a sympathetic smile and kissed her forehead again.

"That's better isn't it baby girl?"

Cora lies her head up against Jamie's shoulder and her eyes began to flutter shut and she kept sucking on the teething ring. Jamie began to rock her, back and forth humming some nameless tune he supposed could have a name but couldn't remember the words to. He kept humming as Cora's breathing evened out and she fell asleep. Her tiny hands around the teething ring still in her mouth. Jamie kissed her forehead again and slowly walked towards the nursery, Eddie following behind him. When he got to the nursery, he lowered Cora into her crib, taking away her teething ring. He made sure Cora was comfortable and rubbed her tiny tummy with his seemingly large hand as a comfort measure to her. He waited until she was completely down for the night and pulled Eddie into his arms.

"These are the memories I want to hang onto. You, me, Cora. Our family."

His arms wrapped around her waist, Jamie rocked her back and forth a little. She sat with him for a few minutes and watched Cora sleep. Leaning her head towards Jamie, she began leaving a trail of kisses down his neck. Stopping for a brief moment, Eddie whispered in his ear.

"Do you want your Christmas present early?"

She went back kissing the side of his neck. Jamie let out a groan but thought it amounted to Eddie's name instead.

"Eddie…"

Eddie gave a small frown.

"Do you want me to stop?"

Jamie swallowed and shook his head.

"No."

A smile on her face, Eddie led the two back to their bedroom. It had been a while since the two of them could spend some time together.

Eddie sighed and looked over at Jamie. She was happy. She hadn't been this content for a while. Running a hand over Jamie's cheek, she gave a soft snort.

"Thank you. For tonight. You and I don't get much time to really get to know each other since Cora came into our lives. You need to shave bub. You've got some serious stubble going on here."

Jamie ran a hand up and down her left arm.

"What? You don't like this new look?"

Eddie made a face and shook her head no.

"Nope. I prefer you clean shaven bub."

Jamie laughed and rubbed his stubbly chin against her cheek.

"What? You don't like that?"

Eddie erupted into a giggling fit.

"No! Stop! It's scratchy!"

Jamie complied and pulled her in for a kiss. Pulling away, he pressed his forehead against hers.

"I promise it's out of my system babe. Down to a more serious question: do we want to try for another baby right now?"

Eddie opened her eyes and looked Jamie straight in the eye.

"Let's wait another six months. Until she's 18 months. I mean, she's barely walking, and she's just starting to say her first words. I want to get a little more time under our belts with her before we try for another baby."

Jamie understood. He was patient. He wasn't going to push her. Nodding, he looked her in the eye.

"I respect your decision Ed. I do. But no one said we couldn't have some fun."

Eddie giggled and pulled Jamie closer.

The couple woke to the baby monitor broadcasting Cora's cries. Eddie was about to get up when Jamie put a hand on her shoulder.

"I've got her. She probably needs to be changed and then fed."

Eddie sighed and listened to Jamie speak to Cora over the baby monitor.

"Oh, you are stinky baby girl. Wow. You had a full diaper. I think daddy is going to have to give you a bath baby girl. You had a blowout."

Eddie winced and got up from bed. Walking out of their bedroom and into the nursery, Eddie saw Jamie doing his best to calm a very upset Cora.

"I know baby girl. Daddy knows you don't like being dirty. You like having a bath. Let's get you cleaned up."

Eddie winced again as she watched Jamie continue to clean Cora up.

"You weren't kidding when you said she had a blowout bub. She's got poop almost halfway up her back. Before you get her into the bath, you might want to change your shirt."

Jamie gave Eddie a puzzled look and then glanced down at himself.

"Let me just get into something that I don't mind getting wet in. We both know she loves to splash."

Eddie laughed and kept Cora company while Jamie went to change.

"It's ok sweet girl. Daddy went to change into some different clothes. He got some of your poop on him. Not on purpose."

Cora continued to fuss and called out for Jamie.

"Dada!"

Jamie came back and looked at Eddie.

"I've got her. Wanna help me clean her up?"

Eddie smiled and went to get changed while Jamie filled Cora's tiny tub in their bathroom. She still wasn't having it. She screamed at the top of her lungs.

"I know baby girl. Daddy has to make sure the temperature's not too hot for you. Ok. Let's wait for mommy. There's mommy."

Cora wasn't having it. She didn't like being dirty. Eddie smiled at Cora and got the sprayer shower head down, switching it on. Jamie held Cora up while Eddie rinsed off her back. Cora got fussier and cried louder.

"Dada!"

Eddie gave a sympathetic look to Cora and tried her best to soothe her.

"It's ok sweet girl. Almost done. Then we can sit you down in your tub. It's ok."

Eddie finished rinsing Cora off and turned the shower head off. Jamie carefully set Cora inside her tub, and she almost instantly calmed. Her tiny scrunched up unhappy face was calmer, and she began to coo. Jamie gave her some encouraging words.

"There we go princess. Mommy and daddy are going to get you all nice and clean. We know you like the water. That's it. Almost all nice and clean. Good girl."

Cora gave out a squeal of happiness. Then looked at Jamie.

"Dada!"

He giggled and watched as Cora splashed in the water all around her in the tub. Eddie gently ran a washcloth with baby soap down Cora's left arm.

"Look at you baby girl! You are going to get daddy all wet!"

Cora continued to giggle and splash. Before long, Jamie and Eddie had Cora all cleaned up and dried off.

"Do you like that baby girl?"

Cora was playing with some blocks that Henry had gotten her for Christmas. Jamie was just happy to be around his entire family this year. After everything that had happened in the last year alone, he was grateful to be here with everyone. Eddie came up behind Jamie and kissed the side of his head.

"Merry Christmas bub. Could you imagine a year ago we'd be here?"

Jamie shook his head.

"Nope. But we got through it together. We have each other and the family. Family and time does heal after all."

Eddie smiled and placed a kiss to Cora's head. She had now fallen asleep on the sunroom floor next to her blocks.

"I think she's ready for a nap."

Jamie was about to pick her up, but instead, Frank leaned down and gently scooped his youngest granddaughter into his arms.

"I'll put her down in your old room Jamie. You two have some time together."

The couple smirked as Frank walked away.

"I couldn't imagine our lives any other way babe."

Eddie smiled and leaned into Jamie's embrace. She was just happy they were all together this Christmas.

To Be Continued…

A/N: What'd you guys think? Let me know! Thanks! Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate.