14

Jamie could always count on hockey to distract him, but it was the glass slowly sliding across the table top that had his attention and it was only adding to his concerns. "You okay?"

Eddie sat nestled up alongside him on the couch with one foot propped on the edge of the coffee table. "I'm fine. Why do you keep asking me that?" she asked with a hint of annoyance. That was the third time in the last thirty minutes.

"Because the way you're jiggling your foot against the coffee table, that glass of water has been inching its way to the edge," he pointed out.

She groaned, choosing to cross her arms and her legs to keep still. "I feel like a girl waiting for her date, worrying that the guy isn't gonna like her. Except in this case, the guy is a nine year old boy."

"That's kinda twisted, Ed," Jamie deadpanned with a raised brow.

"Oh, shut up," she snorted and shoved him playfully. "You know what I mean."

Jamie laughed and brought his arm around her. "Eddie, he's gonna love you! He basically knows you already with everything I told him about you."

Eddie grunted but relished the kiss he dropped against the side of her head. One thing was to have her husband talk her up to James, but it was completely different for his son to meet her in person and make his own judgments.

"It's true! Besides, I thought you'd be more nervous about Sydney."

"Oh no," Eddie shook her head. Well, maybe just a little, but James was her bigger concern today. "No, I mean we got that first meeting out of the way, so it should be good, right? Don't get me wrong, it was awkward as hell considering she appeared out of nowhere, but I'm sort of relieved it happened already, you know?"

"Yeah, well, that's good," he guessed. So it was just him, huh? Even though she let him know right away about their encounter on the street, he was the only one still feeling some sort of way about having to be in the same room with both Sydney and Eddie at the same time? Maybe he should give Dana and Dr. Jenn a call and turn this into a big party. They could all compare notes….every guy's dream.

Sydney was on her way over to deliver James to their apartment. They had planned to pick him up later for dinner and Eddie's first time meeting him, but Sydney got a last minute invitation to meet up with an old girlfriend downtown and she offered to drop him off on her way. It was earlier then they planned but Jamie wasn't passing up on the extra time with his son.

As Jamie turned his attention back to the afternoon hockey game, the buzzer sounded. The pair looked at each other and simultaneously thought, 'here we go!'

A few minutes later the knock came and the couple stood side by side as a united front when Jamie opened the door. "Hey," Jamie greeted the pair.

Mother and son responded in unison, Sydney with a warm smile and James with a curious first look at his stepmom.

"Come in," he ushered them through the door. "Glad you guys are here. James, this is Eddie."

Eddie reached out to shake his hand. Somehow, having him here in person and seeing his adorable little face eased her nerves. "Hi, James. It's nice to meet you finally."

"You too," he said, his eyes never leaving hers as he continued to size her up.

Jamie wiggled a finger between the two women. "And you two have met already, I heard."

"We have. It's good to see you again, Eddie."

"Same here and in a better setting than a smelly sidewalk."

"Yes," Sydney laughed. "This is a great place."

"Thank you." Eddie was having deja vu. Except, instead of feeling like the third wheel in the middle of a Twelfth Precinct hallway with Jamie and bi-coastal Dana joking about bad flights and bar functions, she was the one with Jamie by her side as Sydney looked on. "Can we offer you something to drink, Sydney?"

"That's very nice, but I really have to run. We were late getting out of the house and traffic downtown is going to be murder as it is," Sydney said. She was going to be late, not that she really had any time-sensitive plans, but this was all still too new for her to stand around chatting like old friends. Yet, she couldn't help notice how different Eddie looked today compared to their first meeting. Clearly, she expected her to be out of uniform. She pictured a different appearance, as she would with any uniformed member of the department. Today, her blonde hair fell across her shoulders in long, soft waves. She wore more makeup that accentuated her features and brightened her blue eyes even more. She also wore skinny jeans and a gauzy, feminine blouse. Eddie looked great while she was dressed down from a day of running errands with a kid in tow, off to help a friend unpack their new apartment so she can keep busy and not obsess over her son hanging out with his father and stepmom.

"Oh, well maybe next time," Eddie offered. It was crazy. Somehow Sydney effortlessly went from the badass attorney in a power suit to the girl next door killing it with the no-makeup makeup look, Lululemon yoga pants and a matching, oversized, off-the-shoulder sweatshirt. Her hair was twisted into a loose bun and she looked every bit of the busy, yet stylish, Upper East Side mom. How the hell did she do that?

Father and son watched from the side. Jamie was still hoping for an easy handoff while James was wondering when they could have dinner.

Sydney turned to her son and dropped a quick kiss on the crown of his head. "I shouldn't be late. We're just ordering dinner in." Then she turned to Jamie. "I'll text you when I head back up?"

"Yeah, sounds good. Take your time."

"Alright, you. Be good. I'll see you later," she said and turned to the door ready to make a beeline out of there which sent Jamie rushing to open it for her.

"Bye, mom," James called out and turned to wander over to the living room.

After closing the door, Jamie and Eddie traded a glance and followed behind.

"Alright. It's your first time here. I can give you a tour but this is pretty much it with a couple bedrooms in the back," Jamie offered. He hoped that James could use the spare some day soon.

James walked around the living room until the action on TV drew his attention. "Oh! They're winning!" he said and headed to the couch to watch the Rangers flying across the ice. Ever since they went to the game, he'd been paying more attention to the team.

"Yeah, you should have seen the last goal. Slipped it right between the goalie's legs," Jamie said as he joined him on the couch.

"Sweet," James replied as his stomach rumbled. It was early, but he was hungry already. Without hesitation, he turned to Eddie who was watching them from one side of the living room. "He said you always pick the best places to eat. That it's your superpower."

"That's why he was so well fed during the five years we rode together," Eddie smirked and took the spot next to Jamie.

"He said precincts but I don't know where those are. How about I give you a neighborhood and food?"

"Try me," she told him.

"My favorite food is chicken parm, extra cheesy. I'm an expert," he declared rather seriously.

"Is that a challenge?" she asked James before turning to her husband. "I think that's a challenge."

"I think you may have met your match," he replied.

Jamie and Eddie watched as James cut into the plate-sized portion of chicken parmesan set in front of him. His face was expressionless with only the slightest widening of his eyes at the impressive cheese pull as he lifted the first piece off the plate with his fork. Their gaze did not leave him as he took his first bite - Jamie was amused while Eddie was waiting to be proven right yet again.

James chewed slowly and thoughtfully, but gave nothing away as he judged his entree. He went in for a second bite while the adults at the table still waited for a response. When he was done, he wiped his mouth and looked across the table. "It's good."

Eddie frowned at his tepid reaction. This was the best Italian food in all of Chelsea, maybe all of the city. "Come on! There's an actual grandma from Sicily back there stretching mozzarella and stirring sauces!"

James looked between his dad and stepmom - boy that was a weird word, even just thinking it - and his shoulders slumped in defeat. He didn't think it was possible, but it was better than his favorite chicken parm of all time. "Okay, it's really, really good," he conceded. He'd give her this one because there was no way he was going to put away most of the plate anyway.

"Riiight?" Eddie beamed. Victorious again!

Jamie stabbed noodles onto his fork and glanced at his wife, who bobbed her head happily from side to side as she dug into her plate. "Told you so."

James shrugged and focused on the pair. "So, I have some questions."

"I'm sure you do," Jamie smirked. "Alright. Shoot."

James sawed away at another piece of chicken and asked, "Actually, before I forget, what's the real deal with your old car?"

Jamie was hurt by the description of his beloved Chevelle. "Old car? She's not just an old car."

Eddie groaned. She wiped her lips and sat back for this one. "Oh, here we go."

"It's old. I mean, it's cool, but it's old. Just wondering," James shrugged before stuffing his mouth.

"I have so much to teach him," he muttered to Eddie, then turned to James. "She's a classic."

"It's a she?" James said around a mouthful.

"Yeah, it's a she!"

Eddie giggled. "At what age do they teach guys to assign sexes to their cars?" she asked, laughing again at the glare Jamie gave her. "Just curious."

"Figured there's a story there or you'd have something from this decade. They come with computers now, you know," James said.

Jamie held up his index finger as he began to explain two very important points. "Number one, there's not a single computer to be found on it, it's all mechanics. And number two, she was your grandfather's car."

The boy's eyes widened and Eddie knew where he was headed.

"Wow, so it must be like really old."

Eddie covered her mouth with her napkin to stifle a laugh.

Jamie's brow furrowed as he eyed James. "Careful who you say that to. And yes, it's a '71."

"Woah! That's like fifty years old!" he proclaimed.

"Don't ask your grandpas how old they are," Jamie warned, considering his reaction to the age of the car. He then gave him a little more history. "All four of us kids have had that car at some point. There are a lot of memories tied to it, it's not just some car."

"All four of you?" James confirmed.

"Yeah," James nodded.

James mirrored his dad and nodded as well. "I get it."

"Well, good," Jamie said, relieved he didn't have to go any further to explain how much the Chevelle meant to him.

Eddie snaked an arm through Jamie's and patted his shoulder. "Don't take offense, James, but I think that might really be his firstborn," she joked, which earned her a snort from her husband.

James smiled because that took him to his next question. "Are you guys gonna have kids?"

Caught off guard, the couple sputtered together. "What?"

"Are you guys gonna have kids?" James repeated. He pinned them with a look and waited for a response.

Jamie and Eddie glanced at each other first. Sure, they'd discussed it, they just weren't expecting to discuss it with a nine year old too.

Jamie took the lead and asked for clarification. "Why are you asking?"

James put his utensils down and leaned against the table. "Because, I think you're my only chance at having a brother or sister," he proclaimed.

"Oh," Eddie huffed out.

"Mom's not married anymore and she doesn't have a boyfriend," he explained.

"Oh, no, I don't think that's something we shouldn't discuss. Your mom's business, I mean," Eddie warned the boys at the table. That felt like all sorts of wrong.

Jamie still didn't know what to say, but he agreed. He had no desire to discuss Sydney's personal life.

"Okay. But I asked her and she says I'm enough for her so I don't think she wants more kids," James added.

"So you want a brother or sister, huh?" Jamie asked to buy them some time.

"I mean, it would be cool if I could have had a brother or sister close to my age, but I'll take what I can get. You guys are my last hope."

The serious expression, together with his last declaration caused Jamie and Eddie to burst out laughing.

James didn't understand what was so funny. "You had two brothers and a sister. Wasn't it fun having kids to play with?" he reasoned.

"Yeah it was, although they were all a lot older than me."

James nodded his head in understanding. "Oh, so you were an oops?"

Eddie hid her face in her hands.

Jamie's brow's drew together. Surprisingly enough, he was slower on the uptake than his wife today. "An oops?"

"Yeah. Your parents weren't expecting to have you but, oops, it just happened," he explained, although he was confused why he had to.

Eddie giggled. This was turning into the best dinner ever. "I dare you to ask your grandpa that question when you meet him."

"Eddie!" Jame admonished her.

They both wondered if James knew what 'oops' truly meant. They dealt with enough kids to know they were more advanced these days than when they were nine. Regardless, they were not diving into the actual meaning of the birds and the bees over dinner.

James went on to explain further. "That happened to my friend. Now he has a two year old sister. Right now she's just cute, not sure how long that will last though. But he still likes being a big brother."

Jamie ran one hand up and down his face, then turned to look at Eddie who was no help at all. She shrugged, silently telling him, this is all you, but don't screw it up.

With no help from her, Jamie took a breath and said, "Back to your question, it was fun having brothers and a sister. Your Uncle Joe was the closest in age to me, he and I were really close. Your Aunt Erin mainly pretended to be my second mom and your Uncle Danny was the oldest and thought I was a pest. Still, I wouldn't trade any of it for the world."

"See," he said to Jamie, then directed his next question to Eddie. "Do you have brothers or sisters?"

"I'm an only child too," she said.

"Did you want them?"

Eddie thought about it for a second and answered honestly. "I wish I did, especially seeing this guy with Danny and Erin now. But being an only child did have its perks."

"Brat," Jamie coughed into his hand.

Eddie punched him in the arm and laughed, which amused James. "Again, look how amazing I turned out!" she reminded him.

James shook his head as he got back to the point. "So? You didn't answer my first question."

"The answer is," Jamie paused to meet Eddie's eyes to silently confirm they were still on the same page. "Most probably, in the future."

"Yeah," Eddie nodded.

"When we both agree the time is right, but we're still settling into married life," Jamie added.

"Or until there's an oops," Eddie teased.

James covered his mouth to hide a grin.

"Stop," Jamie begged as he shook his head at her.

"So then it's gotta be weird I'm here, huh?" he asked. It was weird they were here in front of him, so it was probably just as weird for them too. He just showed up out of the blue one day.

"It was a surprise," Jamie corrected, preferring that to the word weird.

"But a really good one, James," Eddie assured him with a smile.

Jamie nodded in agreement while lifting his shoulders. "I mean, look at you - no diapers to change."

Eddie was quick to jump in. "He feeds himself," she told Jamie.

"Give him a video game, I bet we'd still have loads of time to ourselves," Jamie added, after which they shrugged at each other.

James' forehead creased but a smile adorned his face. "You guys are weird. But funny."

"We've been called worse," Jamie said.

"Finish your food and I will show you where to get the most delectable ice cream in all of the five boroughs," Eddie smiled.

For this story, Eddie was an only child. I hated the fact they brought up a dead brother one time and never, ever explained it to us (at least I don't think they did, right?). So that never happened here since we don't have anything else to go on.