Epilogue - The New Normal

Eddie padded out of the bedroom and over to the living room where a reairing of Sports Center illuminated the darkened apartment. When she made it to the sofa, she smiled fondly as she found a sleeping Jamie, cradling a sleeping Amelia, swaddled snuggly in the crook of his left arm as a small, empty bottle began to slip out of his right hand.

They'd been home almost a week and both were exhausted, still trying to get accustomed to the baby's schedule. But despite that and all of the new things they were learning about caring for a newborn, they were certain of one thing - they couldn't imagine life without her.

Jamie had taken the week off to be home with Eddie and the baby. He'd been proactive with diaper duty and feedings, especially the late night ones so that Eddie could get some rest before he was back at work at not as readily available to cover the night shifts at home.

Eddie had taken to caring for Amelia flawlessly, Erin's words holding true. It really came instinctively to her, although she still appreciated the words of advice from the other moms in her life.

Eddie approached father and daughter, grabbing the bottle with one hand and placed it on the side table as she ran the other through Jamie's spikey hair. "Hey," she whispered, earning herself a grunt as Jamie's eyes squinted open at the glowing television.

"Time for bed before we gotta get up and do this all over again in a couple hours," she said softly.

Jamie smiled and looked down at the sleeping child in his arm. "I think I fell asleep before she did," Jamie said in a raspy voice.

"I'm sure you did," Eddie replied as she scooped the baby up out of his arms with ease and brought her up against her shoulder, patting her back gently as Amelia let out her own little grunts before settling back down. Eddie carried the baby back into the bedroom and laid her down in her crib, patting her gently until she was sure she was fast asleep. She stood and stared at her daughter until a pair of arms snaked around her decidedly smaller waist.

"This has become your new hobby," Jamie whispered over his wife's shoulder, with some amusement in his voice.

Eddie leaned back and smirked into the darkened room. "Look who's talking," she shot back.

Jamie chuckled quietly. "Guilty. She's like her mom - can't get enough of her," he replied. "Come on, time for sleep," he instructed and led her over to the bed.

Jamie settled in behind Eddie and spooned her to him. They laid there in the dark for a few moments until Eddie broke the silence.

"I don't think I've ever been this happy," she sighed.

"Me too," he agreed and kissed the back of Eddie's neck before falling into a deep sleep.

Frank chuckled as he sat at the kitchen island slicing the roast for Sunday dinner.

"What's so funny, grandpa?" Nicky asked as she threw some hot rolls into a basket.

"I was just thinking about what your uncle said." Frank pointed at the roast. "This baby's almost bigger than your cousin Amelia."

Erin smiled. "I can't wait to see her. Can't wait to hear how the rest of their first week at home has been."

"Exhausting, I'm sure. I stopped by on Thursday and they both looked like tired new parents," Linda picked up a bowl of carrots and walked into the dining room.

Erin followed her out with some dishes of her own. "I saw the same look on Wednesday. I am not missing those days."

"I'm happy to babysit, but not until she's sleeping through the night," Nicky joked as she moved to the middle of the table to deposit the bread basket.

Frank carried the sliced roast to his seat. "Jamie said she's not too bad."

Linda looked around the table to see what they were missing. "He was probably expecting worse after all of Danny's stories."

"I can't wait to hold her again. It's been so long since we've had a little baby in the family," Erin gushed.

Henry shook his head. He looked at his granddaughters as he moved around the table pouring the wine. "I have a feeling she's going to be spoiled with you two around."

"Look who's talking! You turn into a giant, squishy marshmallow just at the mention of her name, Pops," Nicky chuckled.

"She's right, Pop," Frank added.

"Pot, kettle, Francis," Henry shot back.

Frank smiled. "Like Erin said, it's been a long time."

Danny walked into the dining room with the boys in tow. "Well, I was right. The real fun has started - all those poopy diapers and late night feedings. I still remember those."

Linda placed a hand on her hip and faced her husband. "What do you mean you still remember those? You used to play dead four times out of five when Sean would cry at night."

"Why does that not surprise me," Erin commented.

"Hey, I'd get up. I was just slow sometimes….hard to wake up out of a dead sleep," Danny defended.

"I'm sure," Linda smirked.

"Hey, everybody." A smiling Jamie walked into the dining room with a baby carrier in hand and Eddie following close behind.

"Hey, Amelia's here!"

Jamie placed the carrier on one of the dining room chairs at the corner of the table and stepped back as the family huddled around the sleeping infant nestled under a soft pink blanket and knit hat courtesy of her grandmother.

Jamie threw his arm around his wife's shoulders as he observed his family. "So it's true what they say, we become invisible now," said in a mock whisper.

Frank approached the new parents first, greeting them both with hugs. "Never invisible."

"No, but we've been waiting all day to see Amelia," Linda said without so much as looking in their direction, all eyes still focused on the baby.

Jamie pointed at his wife. "Sorry. Took forever to leave the apartment. Eddie kept forgetting stuff."

Eddie slapped his stomach playfully. "Hey, you weren't much help," she scoffed. "And who knew babies have to travel with so much stuff?"

"Wait a few months," Erin warned. "The older they get, the more you gotta lug around to entertain them," she said as she lifted the blanket to get a peak at Amelia's little outfit.

"So, how was your first week at home with her?" Linda asked.

"Exhausting, but good." Eddie glanced at her sleeping daughter with a soft smile on her face.

"Yeah. We're learning real fast to get whatever we need to do done while she's sleeping….so let's eat!" Jamie rubbed his hands together in anticipation of the home cooked meal.

That earned Jamie a few chuckles, but the adults knew there was truth to that statement and sat down to dinner.

"We'll pass her around like a hot potato after dinner," Danny said.

"Who's saying grace?" Henry asked.

"I think we should all say it together. Been a few weeks since we've all been here together, so we should all give thanks." Frank smiled at the new little family down at the other end of the table and reached out to hold Linda and Erin's hands, the rest of the family following his example.

It was good to have the whole family together.

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