In Case You Didn't Know

Chapter 9

I know there's been a lot of talk if Eddie should take Jamie's mom's ring or if she should get a new one. I touched upon it in the previous chapter and I liked the direction that I took with that first step. Not sure all of you agree but this is how I would like for it to have been played out. This chapter will focus to some extent on the final result. We will get an answer in my version of what happens and how it transpires.

Reviews as always are welcome and encouraged. I do not own BB nor their characters. I simply adore them and want to put my own grain of salt on how their lives should be via fan fiction. It has taken them so long to be together. I just want to take sneak peeks into what their life should be according to well…me! Ha!

Jamko…Jamko…Jamko…Jamko

Jamie tossed and turned in bed. He finally turned around and saw Eddie sleeping peacefully. He loved to see her like that – in bed, safe, protected and without a care in the world. Knowing that come what may he was going to be there to protect her from what may. But he couldn't sleep himself. He kept on replaying their conversation tonight and he couldn't help but meld that conversation with the one that he had with Erin. What is really worth having Eddie have his mom's ring just because it was so important to him? There had to be some compromise. He knew Eddie was still hesitant. But she would do it for him. That's how deep her love for him ran. But was it fair? His love ran just as deep as hers and for that reason he didn't want her to do something that she wasn't totally comfortable with – like wear his mother's ring.

He would never...and quite frankly he didn't know if he wanted to bring this up with Eddie again. They had both been affected by that conversation and by the whole Sydney debacle. He had thought and talked about Sydney more today than he had in the six years or so they had broken up. But what he couldn't forget was what Erin said and what he had been thinking since he fell in love with Eddie years ago. Would he still have fallen for Eddie if Sydney was in his life? As his wife? He didn't know the answer to that. He had loved Sydney and he had wanted to marry her. But these feelings for Eddie? He wondered if spending so much time with her working and bonding would have made him question his relationship with Sydney? Because he didn't know how he would not have fallen in love with her given everything they have gone through. He was a man of faith but he was a man. And in his heart and in his gut, he knew that Eddie would have gotten under his skin no matter his marital status. They were meant to be. If any two people were meant to find each other – it would be them. He respected the institution of marriage and he knew – with no hesitation – that he would love no other but Eddie. Had he been that sure of Sydney? For the life of him he couldn't remember.

His mind was going crazy – in circles – and he got out of bed. His family was Irish Catholic and they did not believe in infidelity but Erin had gotten divorced and Danny had his issues with Linda. Not that they had not fixed them. No marriage was perfect and you pulled through, however, he couldn't help but wonder if he had gone ahead with the marriage to Sydney - would he have been a victim of divorce? Because the God to honest truth was that he could not conceive his life without the woman with him in bed right now. Eddie Janko. She was it for him. He secretly thanked God – and it was the first time actually – that he did not marry Sydney. His life was perfect with Eddie and Sydney was a blip in his history and one that he rarely looked back on. And one that quite frankly, after he figured out what to do with Eddie's engagement ring, he may never think of her again.

So, his thoughts came full circle and he was still in a conundrum. What to do with the ring? He knew that he wanted to talk to his Dad about it. And he wanted to see it. Touch it. Hold it in his hand. See what he felt when he saw it. Wanted to see if he could let it go and buy her a new ring that would not haunt her. Because if he was honest with himself – from the way she had reacted when he told her the news she was doubting how much she would embrace the ring. But she would do it for him. And he didn't want that either. He wanted both of them to be happy. He just needed to figure out how.

He walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. He grabbed a water and sat down on the couch, grabbed the remote and turned the TV on. Not too loud. He didn't want to wake up Eddie and truly he just needed a distraction from his thoughts. He just knew he wasn't going to get sleep tonight. Hell, he wouldn't get a decent night's rest until he resolved this issue. Why? Because they had a ton of other issues heading their way. And he wanted to chip away at the easy ones. Problem was? He couldn't find any easy solutions for any of the problems that were being presented.

After about 30 minutes he gave up pretending to watch TV and made his way back into the bedroom. If he wasn't going to sleep, he would rather be next to Eddie and watch over her sleep. He got back under the covers and turned towards her. He didn't touch her. He didn't want to wake her – just in case. But he did inch as close as he could to her. He didn't know when she became the single most important person in his life. But – in his gut – he knew that whether he was single, or married to Sydney, he would feel something for her. It was inevitable. He was destined to be with her. He felt it in his soul. So, for maybe the hundredth time in the span of knowing her and loving her so deeply he was thankful that Sydney had walked away. She did him a favor.

"Babe…" he heard Eddie say, groggily. "Hold me. And try to go to sleep. Our problems will be here tomorrow. Just try to relax."

He smiled and held her tightly against him. "I love you."

"I know you do." Eddie said. "I love you and we will figure it out. Sleep babe. I would attempt to distract you – and if I have to I will no worries – but truly I am exhausted."

"Not that I wouldn't take an offer like that from you. I'm not that selfish. Sleep honey. All will be well. I am going for a run early in the morning. Clear my head. Don't freak out if you don't see me.:

"Kay…" she said, as she turned to him slightly and kissed him on the lips. "You worry too much."

"Yeah." Jamie sighed, as he closed his eyes and willed sleep to come his way.

Jamko…Jamko…Jamko…Jamko

"Dad?" Jamie called out as he opened the back door to the Regan family home. He had gone for that run at 5:00 am – been home by 6:30 am – and still Eddie didn't stir. He decided to bite the bullet an make his way to his dad's house.

"In the study." Frank called out. He scrunched his brow. First Jamie showing up at 1PP and now at the house bright and early in the morning the next day. Was he coming to finish the conversation? He didn't think so. Frank knew his son. Jamie was going to give him some space to think about their conversation. This had to be an entirely another issue. One that seemed to weigh on him as well as he saw his face and as he saw how early it still was and he was making the trek down to the family house.

"You got a minute?" Jamie asked, as he sat down in the recliner next to him.

"Sure." Frank said, closing his book. "What's up?"

"I came to ask you for some advice. But also…to…well…"

"Jamie quit stalling son. What is it that you want? You know if it is in my power I will do what I can to help you."

"Mom's engagement ring." Jamie blurted out. "I was wondering if I could have it back."

"Oh." Frank had forgotten that Jamie had handed him back the engagement ring after he broke up with Sydney. "No problem son. That ring has always been earmarked for your wife."

Jamie smiled and nodded his head. The conversation with Eddie popped in his head. He was ecstatic that Eddie had finally said yes to wearing the ring but she also had said that she was still a bit hesitant and truth be told so was he since mulling it over all night. He had heard everything Erin had told him and Eddie as well. Yet there still was something quite not right about how he felt giving Eddie his mom's ring.

"Jamie?" His father said. "What's on your mind son? It just seems that you are not telling me something.""

Jamie nodded his head: "I talked to

"I spoke to both Erin and Eddie about the ring. I wasn't sure if Eddie would be happy with mom's ring because Sydney wore it before her. Erin told me – in a nutshell – that I needed to tell Eddie and to Erin about how important it was to me that Eddie wear mom's engagement ring. But I also told her that she had to decide since I didn't know how she would feel that Sydney wore it for a short time."

"Okay." Frank said. "What did Erin say?"

"She told me that it was a hard decision for anyone to make but if Eddie wanted to wear a ring that was worn by someone who came before her she was the only that had the right to choose. And I had to be accepting of whatever her decision was."

Frank nodded his head. He could see the truth to that. "And you told Eddie I assume last night. Hence you being here so early. You didn't sleep well."

Jamie half smiled: "It was tense for a bit but she ended up accepting wearing mom's ring."

"Well that's great son." Frank said. But Frank could still see that something was bothering Jamie. So he waited. Jamie would tell him in due time.

"But Dad the more I think about it? I'm not sure that she feels confident about it. She told me that this is the first time she's engaged and that I had felt this love for someone else. That I had wanted to propose to someone else that was not her. That I thought someone else was my soul mate. How do I make her understand that this is new for me too? That while I was engaged before – she is the only one for me? That I love her. Only her. That Sydney is in the past and will remain in the past. That I'm actually grateful that Sydney left me. Because if she hadn't? And I had gone through with the marriage? And Eddie would've ended up being my partner anyway? What then?" Jamie confessed.

"Then take the diamonds and make her a new ring. A whole new setting. A brand-new ring with heirloom diamonds that mean the world to the Reagan family. But that represent a new beginning with her as the sole wearer of that new engagement ring. With mom's blessing and dad's blessing." Danny said, as he and Pop made their way into the study.

"What?" Jamie turned, confused.

"Mom's ring is important to all of us Jamie. But it doesn't necessarily have to be the exact same one. You will be giving Eddie a brand-new ring with a beautiful new setting but they will still be mom's diamonds. It's a win-win."

"She may not have the ring for a few weeks but it will be worth it." Pop added. "Besides, I do sort of see her reasoning. We all liked Sydney. Did we think she was the right fit for you? Eh. I guess I can tell you now at the time you were engaged yes. But as you became a cop? Started to see things as a cop? Not really. But we liked her and respected her because she was your choice and you were gun hoe at making it work."

"But Eddie?" Frank continued the conversation. "She is perfect for you. Not only because she's a cop. No. It goes way beyond that. She brings a smile to your face that lights up a room. Sydney never brought that type of happiness to your life. Even when you guys were perfect – with no issues or fights - just plain in love. You being on your way to being a big shot lawyer and she the wife on one. You never smiled or quite frankly looked at Sydney the way you look at Eddie."

"Yeah." Jamie acknowledged. "I told Eddie that at that point in my life Sydney fit. But as soon as things changed, our relationship did too. And our feelings for one another as well."

"Back to the ring." Danny said, bringing them all back to the subject at hand. "Here is the phone number for the jeweler that helped me with Linda's ring. Go see him. Take mom's ring. Tell him your predicament and he will help you out. And you and only you Jamie pick out the setting that reminds you of Eddie. That makes your heart stop when you see that finished piece. And you know it will be right and it will be perfect when you cannot wait to place that new engagement ring on her left finger. And for her to wear it for the rest of her days."

Jamie got up from the recliner and took the piece of paper with the phone number that Danny offered him. He then reached out and hugged him. They didn't do much hugging in his family but this meant everything to him. And also, he had offered his support for him and Eddie riding together. This is the most that Danny had ever done for him and he was grateful. "Thank you."

"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah." Danny said, getting slightly uncomfortable. "It's nothing. I just thought about it. And I happened to overhear your conversation and his number is on my phone.

Jamie nodded and turned to his father. "Dad…it was mom's ring. I don't want to do anything that you are not okay with."

"Son…I gave that ring to your mom and we had many years of a happy marriage – raising children, loving one another and taking care of each other through hard times. It's not the ring per say, it's the meaning of it. I think that Danny's idea is the most perfect one. You will still have a piece of your mother and of her blessing for your marriage to Eddie. But you will be erasing Sydney from the picture. Which is what I think concerns Eddie. And I understand how it concerns her. It will be your mother's diamonds – her ring actually – accompanying the woman you love and have chosen down the aisle. I approve wholeheartedly."

"Thanks Dad." Jamie said, truly touched.

"And I approve wholeheartedly of your choice in a wife. And I know for a fact that your mom would love Eddie as well."

"So, it's settled then." Pop said. "Jamie, go and fix that ring for that beautiful fiancé of yours. No ghosts of relationships past will haunt you."

"I know I don't say this often enough but I love you guys. I truly do. Thank you for walking me through this. From Erin to you guys – it's wonderful to be able to bounce off ideas. Even though we don't do it often, when we do, it's worth everything."

"Okay!" Frank said. "Who's up for breakfast? I'm starving!"

Jamko…Jamko…Jamko…Jamko

Jamie walked in the door and smiled. "Where have you been?" he heard Eddie ask, as she put a mouthful of Honey Nut Cheerios in her mouth. "I wanted to wait for you but I got hungry."

"I went for a run. Really early in the morning. Then I ended up going to Dad's house." Jamie stated, looking directly at Eddie to see if she would have any type of reaction. After their talk last night, he felt they were okay but he knew that their conversations on this topic were not over.

Eddie scrunched her face. "You took the trek?"

"Yep, Honestly I couldn't sleep. So, I decided to just head over there. Clear my head on a few things. And ask dad for the ring."

"Oh." Eddie said. She had told him she would wear it and she would and she would grow to love it she was sure. And she promised herself that any thought of his ex-fiancé would stay in the past.

He was going to tell Eddie a white lie - because now that he knew exactly what he was going to do, he wanted to surprise her. "Dad said he needs to get it out of storage so it will be a short while till we have it. Is that okay?"

"Sure." Eddie replied, as she put the bowl of cereal down and approached him. "I told you I don't need a ring to make me feel engaged to you. I already feel like I'm your wife. When you give me the ring I will wear it with pride. But please know that to me knowing you love me above all else is enough for me."

"I do love you." Jamie said, as he wrapped his hands around her waist. "And I do recall last night – you being half asleep – offering to help me with my insomnia."

Eddie laughed out loud and flung her head back. "I do recall something of the sort.'

"Yeah? Well here I am to claim my offer."

Eddie kissed him as she jumped up and Jamie knew exactly what she wanted. As she jumped he grabbed her upper thigs and helped her circle his waist. Exactly where she should be. Wrapped around him. Close to him and about to be carried to the couch. "Couch okay?"

"Anywhere is fine. I just want you and need you."

"Couch it is."

"I love you Jamie."

"I love you sweetheart. Always and forever."

Jamko…Jamko…Jamko…Jamko