Chapter 171: Reminiscing

Eddie stands in the study waiting for the photo of the full Reagan Family taken earlier at dinner to finish printing and when it does, she carefully picks it up and smiles as she looks at it then turns, exits the office and heads for the formal dining room where she's got a photo album already laid out and open on the table.

She sits down and carefully places the photo down onto a page.

"There you are." Jamie greets as he walks in the room.

"Yup here I am." Eddie returns as Jamie walks over and looks over her shoulder.

"Wow you printed that out already huh?" Jamie notes.

"Procrastination is the enemy." Eddie quips "Besides I love this photo I mean look at it! It's the entire Reagan family together!"

"That is a rarity these days." Jamie notes in agreement as a silence befalls the couple while they both just look at the photo.

"Thank you." Eddie suddenly states.

"For?" Jamie simply queries.

"Making me a part of it." Eddie explains.

"A part of what?" Jamie counters not following his wife's train of thought.

Eddie rolls her eyes "The family!" She clarifies as she gestures to the photo.

"Oh." Jamie accepts now in understanding.

Silence.

"Thank you for accepting?" Jamie counter offers causing Eddie to let out a laugh.

"Well I had no choice." She admits "You kind of wormed your way in there, took hold and nothing I tried to do would shake you free! – And believe me, I tried!"

Jamie purses his lips together and thinks back at all the procrastinating they did before finally getting together "Same."

"Can you believe it's been ten years since we met?" Eddie suddenly questions "On one hand it seems like it was just yesterday but then so much has happened since then it also seems like it was a lifetime ago."

Jamie nods in agreement but then a smile graces his face and he shakes his head a little in awe "I really was not prepared for how you snuck up on me Edit Marie Janko."

Eddie snickers as she starts turning pages backwards in the photo album "What? Little ol' me?"

"Little being the operative word." Jamie tosses back in provocation trying to get a rise out of his wife but Eddie shakes her head in rejection "Not going to work Bub." She simply counters as she continues to slowly flip pages looking at all the photos.

"Oh?" Jamie challenges "And why is that?"

Eddie shrugs "Too busy taking a trip down memory lane – you remember this?" She then queries as points at a picture.

Jamie leans over to look and sees a shot of them in uniform toasting their cups together while leaning against the hood of their RMP.

"Our first anniversary." Eddie reminisces.

"One of many." Jamie adds while noticing a slight frown appear on his wife's face "What?"

Eddie plasters a smile on her face "It's nothing." She dismisses.

"Eddie." Jamie sighs "I think I know you well enough by now to know when it's not…"

"Fine." Eddie relents "I was just always sad you never showed up to celebrate me coming off probation that's all – I just really thought you would."

"I did." Jamie admits.

Eddie's head snaps up to look at her husband confused "You did?"

Jamie nods in confirmation.

"I never saw you."

"I know." Jamie adds "But I came and I saw you – I got as far as walking up to the bar and looking in the window to see you take a shot and I knew in that moment that if I went inside… well let's just say that night may have ended very, very differently for both of us."

Eddie blinks her eyes at her husband "What are you saying?"

"What I'm saying is to answer your question of 'How do I look now?' from that night in the locker room all those years ago the answer was like a vision, a goddess and certainly NOT a twelve year old girl – far from it and it really was taking all my strength to not just slam your back into the nearest wall and devour your mouth."

At first Eddie's mouth drops open at her husband's admission but then a great big grin appears "I knew it!"

"Yup." Jamie simply confirms with an up and down bob of his head.

"But you held it together for years after that." Eddie points out.

"Well that's because that night, I made the decision that we would remain strictly partners." Jamie explains.

Eddie looks at her husband and tries to hold back both the amused smirk that wants to appear on her face and her words but she can't help herself "How'd that work out for ya?"

"You tell me." Jamie tosses right back at his wife causing Eddie to let out a hearty laugh before adding "I still think you could have managed to come in and have one drink."

"Just not going to let that go are you?" Jamie challenges.

"No." Eddie quips in a mix of amusement and defiance.

"Fine." Jamie relents as he suddenly starts to walk away "Be right back, don't go anywhere."

"Wasn't planning too." Eddie mumbles as she turns her attention back to the photo album in front of her and flips another page.

A few moments later she looks up when she sees Jamie place 2 shot glasses and a carton of apple juice down on the table in front of her and she lets out a laugh "What is this?"

"This…" Jamie begins as he sits down, picks up the apple juice and pours 2 shots "…is my long overdue toast to you."

"Oh really?" Eddie again laughs but this time with a hint of impressiveness in her voice "Do go on."

"Okay." Jamie announces as he puts the cartoon back down and they both pick up a glass.

Jamie takes a moment to think before continuing "To Edit Marie Reagan - the bravest most kick ass woman and Mother I know, the best partner I've ever had – both on the job and in life – Congratulations that you made it through your probationary year…" He toasts before pausing for the briefest of moments then adding on an amused "Sergeant."

Hearing that Eddie lets out a laugh "Thank you." She accepts before holding her glass up "Cheers." She then offers as they click their glasses then both down their 'shots'.

"Okay my turn." Eddie decides as she reaches for the apple juice to pour another round.

"What are you trying to do?" Jamie playfully challenges "Get me drunk?"

"Yup." Eddie confirms "All so I can have my way with you."

"Oh, you don't need to get me drunk to do that." Jamie reminds her as Eddie picks up her glass again "All you have to do is ask!"

Eddie laughs in pure amusement "To Jameson Reagan, the best TO I had…"

"I was your only TO." Jamie interrupts in clarification.

"Did I interrupt you?" Eddie admonishes.

"No." Jamie admits.

"Then stop talking and let me finish!"

"Sorry." Jamie apologizes while trying to keep the smile off his face.

"To Jameson Reagan, the best TO I had, best partner, best friend, best husband and best father I know. Cheers."

"Cheers." Jamie agrees as they again clink glasses and down the apple juice shots "Wow that's going right to my head." He jokes.

"All that sugar, I bet." Eddie agrees before smiling at her husband "I love you."

"I love you too." Jamie returns as the partners lean in towards one another to share a kiss when suddenly they hear crying so breaking apart, they both turn their heads to look at the monitor on the table "And duty calls." He declares as he stands.

"That was kind of the story of our life for the longest time though wasn't it?" Eddie suddenly realizes as she also stands "Always a radio call interrupting us!"

"Too true." Jamie admits as they both start for the stairs.

"Mommy and Daddy are coming Sweetie!" Eddie calls as they both climb right as Mia, Jamko and Reagan start to descend the stairs.

"Sorry." Jamie automatically apologizes as they all try to move around one another "Make way. Coming through." He adds causing Eddie to look up in yet more realization.

"God, it really is like patrol!" she laughs out "Even have to make our way through the crowds heading in the opposite direction to get to our call!"

"That's kind of funny." Jamie admits as they reach the top landing "Okay diaper or hungry?" he questions as they walk down the hall "Sounds like a diaper call to me."

"Really, I'm thinking hungry." Eddie counters "Been a while since she ate."

"Okay." Jamie accepts "What are we playing for?"

"Ohhh." Eddie ponders "Loser does next load of laundry." She decides.

"You're on partner." Jamie accepts as they both head into their bedroom.

"While I get to nap." Eddie tacks on.

"Oh someone sounds pretty confident there." Jamie notes.

"Mommy knows." Eddie arrogantly quips.

"Yeah well…" Jamie begins to scoff but then his voice trails off "You're probably right." He admits.

"Oh I love it when you say that." Eddie chuckles in glee.

"Okay moment of truth." Jamie announces as he walks up to Jessie's bassinet and picks up his unhappy daughter "Hi, I know, I know." He soothes.

He leans down to sniff "Don't smell anything." He admits.

"See!" Eddie happily notes "Now hand her over." She requests with gimme hands.

"Okay over to Mommy you go." Jamie narrates as he hands Jessie over to Eddie but as they do the transfer both their noses scrunch up "Wait." Jamie notes "I think we have a delayed reaction."

"What if we're both right?" Eddie wonders.

Jamie shrugs "Then we do what partners do."

"Oh where is the fun in that?" Eddie rejects as she turns and starts for the nursery "I wanted out of laundry!"

"It's that bad is it?" Jamie questions as he follows.

Eddie nods.

Jamie sighs as he leans against the doorframe "Well just like police work no one every said parenthood was all glam and glory."

Eddie scoffs as she places Jessie on the change table "Far from it."

"Still the best thing we ever did though." Jamie points out "Creating her."

"Oh by far." Eddie quickly and immediately agrees "Here, you change her while I get ready to feed her."

"K." Jamie accepts as he pushes himself off the door frame and moves forward tag teaming with his wife.

….

Jamie walks out of the master bedroom bathroom to see his wife sitting on the bed with an open magazine in her hands reading.

"Yup know that one." She narrates as she talks to herself "That one too." She adds before laughing a little "Definitely know THAT one!"

"What are you doing?" Jamie questions his wife.

"Taking a quiz." Eddie absently replies causing Jamie to squeeze his eyes closed while silently praying 'Please don't be a couples quiz...' to himself in his head.

But after reading the next question on the page Eddie suddenly lifts her head thinking "Hmmm that one I actually don't know." She admits before looking over at her husband "Would you ever get a tattoo with my initials?"

Jamie groans "It's a couples quiz." He grumbles out.

Having heard him, Eddie simply adds "Well duh. Now answer the question."

"No." Jamie replies.

"No you won't answer the question?" Eddie tries to clarify "Or no you'd never get a tattoo with my initials?"

"Both." Jamie replies.

"It can't be both." Eddie points out "Because if its both then no is the answer to my question."

"Good point." Jamie admits.

Silence.

"So?" Eddie prompts.

"So what?" Jamie deflects really hoping he can continue to evade all things quiz related but Eddie plasters a sweet and hopeful expression on her face.

"Please?" She sweetly inquires.

"Ugh." Jamie groans out knowing he might as well just give in and get it over with "Fine." He relents as he moves to sit on his side of the bed next to his wife then reaches over and takes the magazine out of her hands "Let me see this quiz."

So like Eddie had done, he starts at the top and begins to silently read the questions to himself "Yup know that one." He narrates "That one too." He adds "Uh huh." He continues on before getting to the question with the tattoo "Okay yeah." He admits "This is the first one I wouldn't know the answer to either."

"So?" Eddie prompts.

Jamie seriously considers his answer "Would you?" He curiously inquires.

Eddie studies her husband's face "Would my answer affect your answer?"

"Maybe." Jamie admits "I mean I'm not exactly the tattoo type but…"

"But if I did, you would?" Eddie questions.

Jamie shrugs.

"Interesting." Eddie notes in thought with an up and down nod of her head.

Beat.

"But this is just us talking and taking a quiz right?" Jamie suddenly adds "I mean we're not really going to…"

"Oh god no!" Eddie quickly reassures him "Just talking – no action!"

"Okay good." Jamie accepts "Then sure, if you did, I would."

Eddie smiles and resettles herself into the bed to get comfortable "Okay, good to know. What's the next question?"

Jamie sighs and drops his eyes to the next question "What celebrity couple are you and your partner most like?"

"Oh good one!" Eddie admits as both she and Jamie find themselves looking up in thought to think.

"Yeah I don't have an answer to this one." Jamie admits.

"Oh come on." Eddie prompts "There must be someone!"

"Well can you think of anyone?" Jamie prompts.

"Not yet." Eddie admits "But I'm still thinking."

"Well if its taking this long to think of someone…" Jamie notes as his eyes drift ahead to read the next question and his interest is peaked "I say there is no answer." He decides "So moving on…"

"You can't just move on!" Eddie rejects.

"Sure we can." Jamie counters "Because I have the magazine and…" but before he can continue, Eddie snatches the magazine out of his hands and back into hers.

"Well now I have the magazine." Eddie counters "So we are NOT moving on!"

"But I actually want to know the answer to the next question." Jamie reveals as he snatches the magazine back and quickly reads "When was the moment your partner fell in love with you?"

Immediately Eddie freezes from trying to take the magazine back "Oh." She notes in thought.

"See." Jamie prompts "This one is much more interesting isn't it?"

"Hmmm…" Eddie ponders "Not sure I can actually give you an exact answer on that." She admits.

"So we kind of snuck up on each other then?" Jamie offers.

Eddie dismissively waves her hand "I wouldn't say that."

"No?"

"No." Eddie confirms before wavering a bit "Well… maybe…" she relents before again changing her mind and adding another definitive "No!"

"Yes." Jamie reiterates.

"You can't tell me when I fell in love with you!" Eddie defends.

"Well neither can you apparently."

"Oh that is so not true." Eddie deflects.

"Well then I'm waiting." Jamie prompts.

"And I'm thinking!" Eddie retorts.

"Times up!" Jamie decides.

"There is no time limit on this!" Eddie rebels.

"But if you can't answer the question instantly then the answer has to be we snuck up on one another." Jamie points out.

"That can't be right." Eddie rejects.

"Started as partners, became friends, then best friends then…"

"Alright fine." Eddie relents "I get your point. I'm just not happy about it." She decides before looking up and wondering "When EXACTLY did I fall in love with you?" She asks herself out loud.

"Okay you know what, forget I asked the question." Jamie decides "Because the only thing that really matters is that you did and that you haven't fallen OUT of love with me."

"Yeah well like I said I tried for years to do that but… wait." Eddie suddenly realizes "I can at least narrow this down." She realizes "I was in love with you when we had our second kiss – that much I know – okay it was sometime between our first and second kiss."

Jamie rolls his eyes "Yeah that's really narrowing it down."

"Well when did you fall in love with me?"

"I already told you, you snuck up on me." Jamie replies "I don't know the exact moment because for the longest time I tried to tell myself I wasn't in love with you but I guess when you got shot and fell down the stairs that was the start of me coming to terms with the fact that me loving you was never going to change."

Eddie thinks about her husband's words "We always have to do things differently don't we?"

"Nobody's perfect Eddie." Jamie points out.

"You can say that again." Eddie agrees "Which segways nicely into the next question - what is your partner's biggest pet peeve?"

Jamie huffs out a laugh "Oh that's an easy one…" He begins.

A look of slight displeasure appears on Eddie's face at hearing that "How is that easy?" She interrupts.

"Look would you let me finish!" Jamie requests as he again reaches for the magazine "You asked the question now do you want to hear the answer yes or no?" he prompts.

"Alright fine!" Eddie retorts.

"Really?" Jamie challenges "Now you're going to throw a 'fine' at me?" he questions as Eddie drops her mouth open aghast before snatching the magazine back.

"See pet peeve." Jamie proudly declares as Eddie narrows her eyes at her husband.

"That is NOT my biggest pet peeve!" Eddie profusely rejects.

"Says you." Jamie retorts.

"Yes says me!" Eddie reiterates in a huff.

Jamie shrugs in indifference "Well you seem pretty peeved to me."

For a moment Eddie's mouth forms an 'Oh'…

"Alright Mister…" She then warns "…you're asking for it!"

A little amused and triumphant smile appears on Jamie's face at his wife getting all hot and bothered "Give it your best shot!" He retorts egging his wife on even further.

"Okay." Eddie accepts as she completely switches gears on Jamie and leans up to whisper something in his ear.

Hearing his wife's sultry words and feeling her hot breath on his skin, Jamie's entire body reacts in want so he deliciously groans, removes the magazine from Eddie's hand and haphazardly tosses it way "You always were the best shot." He admits causing Eddie to giggle in triumph as Jamie rolls towards her and she pulls him over her where their lips meet in a kiss that hopefully – baring any interruptions – leads to so much more...

…..