Chapter 8: Preparations

Author: zeusfluff.

Disclaimer: Do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. I do own all originals though. Date Started: 4/14/24. Date Finished: 4/14/24. Enjoy!

"How about we paint the room a powder blue?"

Jamie had a set of five paint swatches in one hand and another set in the other. Giving the couple a total of ten different potential colors to paint the nursery. Sighing, Jamie held up each paint swatch up to the off-white wall in the spare bedroom that was being turned into the nursery. Eddie gave a slight groan and lowered herself into the rocking chair. She gave another groan as she realized the gliding footstool just a bit out of reach for her to put her feet up. Jamie turned towards Eddie and frowned, concern in his voice as he spoke up.

"Ed? What is it? You ok?"

Eddie nodded.

"Yeah. Could you slide the gliding foot stool over here. My feet are killing me."

Jamie drug a second rocking chair over and sat down in it, also placing the foot stool in front of Eddie and putting her feet up on it.

"Your feet and your legs look really bad today babe. You should get off your feet more."

Eddie sighed and shook her head.

"There's too much to do bub. I can't just do nothing all the time. We've got six weeks until I'm due. We've already got most of the things for the baby in here… Oh, the baby's kicking again."

Jamie stopped massaging Eddie's right calf and moved a left hand and gingerly placed it on her growing belly.

"Someone's awake in there. Hi honey. It's daddy."

Eddie giggled and leaned her head back against the rocking chair as she watched Jamie's hand follow the movement of the baby's foot across her belly.

"Let's go out bub. The baby and I want a steak."

Jamie smirked and shook his head.

"How about I make us something to eat here. You could use some rest."

Eddie shook her head and hoisted herself up off the couch.

"I'm fine bub. I just got my second wind. Help me with my shoes and let's go."

Jamie wouldn't argue with his wife. She was eating for two after all. Pulling her jacket on after Jamie helped her with her shoes, she opened up their apartment door and was three steps ahead of Jamie. He hadn't even walked out of the apartment and locked the door yet.

"Ed wait for me. I gotta lock the door."

Eddie stopped mere feet from the elevator.

"Sorry bub. That steak is just calling my name. Hurry up."

Jamie rolled his eyes, closed and locked the apartment door.

"Coming babe."

Once inside the Chevelle inside the parking garage, Jamie squeezed Eddie's knee and smiled.

"Where would you like to get a steak sweetheart?"

Eddie's eyes lit up.

"Galdos?"

Nodding, Jamie put the Chevelle in gear and started driving. He felt so content. He had everything he could possibly need. HI family was growing, it wasn't going to just be him and Eddie anymore in 6 more weeks. It would be three. They'd had most of the things they needed for the baby. They just needed to paint the nursery. When they got to the restaurant, they were seated quickly and were given menus. Eddie's eyes grew big as she looked at the different kinds of steaks.

"So many options. What do you think baby? Which one to do you think mommy should get? There's the Porter house with garlic butter. What do you think baby? An 8 or 10 ounce?"

Feeling fluttering kicks beneath her rib cage she gave a small laugh.

"Ok, the Porterhouse it is."

Jamie shook his head and closed his menu.

"I think the baby is going to have your appetite babe. Don't know about your craving for steak though."

The couple went back and forth like that all through dinner. Jamie was glad to see Eddie smiling. She'd been uncomfortable the last several days. He was doing everything possible to make sure she was comfortable. He was a ball of nerves, but he knew Eddie had more jitters than he did. They spent another 30 minutes in the restaurant, and they came out laughing. Little did they know, two men all in black were mere feet behind them. Eddie felt a hand cover her eyes and she began to fight the unseen assailant holding her. Then she felt something over her mouth, and it smelled strange. She felt the strength leaving her body and then her vision faded to black.

Jamie's head was throbbing, but he forced his eyes open trying to focus. His vision cleared and he found himself in a well furnished and expensive looking room. It was a bedroom. His eyes focused on a man standing over by the bedroom door. He cleared his throat but found no sound came out as he tried to speak.

"Doctor Stevenson. Welcome to my home. I'm Ronald Rolanil. While you enjoy your stay here with us, you'll have everything you need. Your wife Jessica will be well cared for. Only the best doctors for all the lovely ladies in this house. You are going to be very busy Ben. Lots of babies to bring into the world."

Jamie clenched his jaw. Rolanil continued.

"You will have access to the latest medical equipment to monitor both mother and child. There are 22 lovely ladies in this house. Including your wife in the bed over there."

Jamie felt his nose flare. He wasn't going to let Rolanil touch a hair on Eddie's head. He wouldn't let him take their baby. The other 21 women needed help to get out of this mess. The adoption/extortion ring wasn't gone after all. He was in deep.

To Be Continued…

A/N: So, what'd you guys think? Stay tuned!