Chapter 40: Grateful for Family

Author: zeusfluff.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. I do own all originals though. Date Started: 3/1/25. Date Finished: 3/11/25. Enjoy! -

Jamie lightly tapped on his glass once everyone had a few bites of food. Every other week Frank and Henry would host dinner at the Reagan family home, and Jamie and Eddie would then host it at theirs. They split the hosting. As long as their large family was together.

"I just want to say how grateful I am for family. Our family as a whole has been through so much over the years. But we're strong together. I am very grateful to have all of you here today. Having dinner with each and every one of you."

Jamie raised his glass towards Henry. He knew he was really getting up there in age. He was having a harder time walking now than before when the kids were really little. Henry smiled as held his glass up.

"Here. Here."

Jamie was trying not to think about it, and his dad was getting up there too. He loved his dad and Henry, but he knew that they weren't going to live forever. Erin was the first to compliment Eddie on her roast beef.

"Eddie, I have to say, your roast beef tastes really good."

Eddie gave a nervous laugh.

"Heh. Pop's been giving me pointers here and there."

Shifting in his chair, Jamie remembered the baby monitor in his back left pocket and then he heard Liam crying upstairs. Taking it out of his pocket, he held it up and apologized.

"Sorry everybody. I'll be right back. He probably just needs a diaper change."

Excusing himself from the table, Jamie left the kitchen and made his way up the stairs. Liam was crying more now, and Jamie had just entered the nursery. Reaching into the crib, he scooped Liam into his arms.

"Ok bud. Daddy needs to change your diaper."

Liam wasn't having it. His arms and legs were flailing as Jamie set him on the changing table.

"I know bud. Daddy is going to get you all cleaned up and into a nice dry diaper. Let's get your onesie off here. There we go. Ok, lets wait a minute before we change that diaper. All done? Alright, let's get you cleaned up. See? Isn't that better?"

Liam gurgled and smiled up at Jamie. Throwing the soiled diaper away in the diaper pail under the changing table, Jamie looked up when he saw Patrick standing the doorway.

"Here dad. I'll take him. Go wash your hands."

Jamie gave Patrick a perplexed look.

"Is everything ok?"

Patrick shook his head.

"Grampy and poppy went home. I guess poppy wasn't feeling good."

Jamie had a concerned look on his face.

"Grandpa should get his detail to take them home. If poppy isn't feeling well, he shouldn't be walking the three blocks home."

Patrick nodded at Jamie.

"Grampy had that covered dad. I hope poppy is ok."

Now Jamie became concerned for Henry. Henry had always been the strong type. Not one to get sick easily. But the past few years had been hard on him. Nodding his head in understanding, Jamie kiss Liam's forehead.

"I hope he's ok too bud. Listen, can you take your brother downstairs put him in the bassinet next to the couch?"

Patrick nodded and exited the room with Liam. Carefully going downstairs, Patrick felt Liam moving around in his arms.

"So wiggly baby bro."

Liam smiled up at Patrick as he got down to the bottom of the stairs and gave a laugh. Patrick raised an eyebrow and spoke to him.

"Did you just laugh? Dad!"

Patrick raising his eyes towards the stairs, saw Jamie clambering down them. His heart racing.

"What? What is it Pat? Are you two ok?"

Smiling up at his dad, Patrick spoke.

"We're ok dad. Liam just laughed."

A 100-watt smile erupted on Jamie's face as Eddie and the other kids entered the living room.

"What's going on bub? Is everything ok in here? I heard Patrick call for you."

Still smiling, Jamie looked over at Eddie.

"Liam just laughed for the first time."

Now Eddie had a smile on her face.

"Liam, can you laugh again for mommy?"

Patrick made a face at Liam and a bright smile came to his face and he let out a fit of laughter, Eddie meanwhile catching it on video with her phone. His laughter continued as Jamie kissed Liam's forehead a third time.

"You are getting so big bud. Soon, you'll be learning to crawl."

Patrick rolled his eyes at both his parents.

"Ugh. Were the two of you like this when I was that age?"

Both Jamie and Eddie smiled at Patrick. It was Jamie who spoke.

"We were like that with all of you guys."

Patrick only rolled his eyes.

"You guys are so weird."

Eddie only continued to smile and rolled her eyes.
"We remember when each of you were born. Your dad was over the moon when he brought you into the world."

Patrick smiled as Jamie pulled up a photo of the two of them.

"This was you almost 13 years ago. You were barely 10 minutes old when this was taken."

Patrick shifted Liam in his arms and then Eddie took him.

"I'll take him honey. Talk with your dad."

Liam gurgled at Eddie as she sat on the couch with him. Patrick took a seat next to his dad on the far end of the couch. Jamie found a video and pushed play for Patrick. The father and son pair listened to Jamie speak to Patrick's younger self.

'Hey buddy. I'm your daddy. Jamie. I know its bright out here in this new and unknown world, maybe a little colder than your used to, but your mommy and I will do everything to keep you safe. We love you."

Patrick made a face as the video continued and he heard his younger self make noises.

"Why am I always so red in everything you've shown me?"

Jamie shook his head.

"It's like I said before, when babies are brand new, they usually are wrinkly and red. It's not until a little later that changes and it's no longer red."

Patrick changed the subject as the video stopped playing.

"Dad, we should bring some soup to poppy. It'll make him feel better."

Jamie nodded and ruffled his hair.

"That sounds like a great idea. We should make him his famous Rosemary chicken soup. That'll brighten his spirits."

To Be Continued…

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