A/N Epilogue! :-)

Epilogue - Eighteen Years Later

Jamie sat the same desk in the family room that his father, and his grandfather, had used to work from at home. Sly was stretched out across the front of it, basking in the late afternoon sun, his black and white coat now peppered with silver strands of fur on his face.

His cell phone buzzed on the desk. Jamie picked it up and angled his head to hold it between his cheek and shoulder while he multitasked with some paperwork. "Captain Reagan."

The Brooklynese voice on the other end was familiar but respectful. "Hey, captain, guess who?"

Jamie instantly smiled. "Hey, sarge! What's up? I thought you were on a cruise this month?"

"Yeah, the wife and I are heading to Alaska. But before we leave I wanted to call and ask a favor if I could?"

"Anything, sarge. name it."

"My niece just graduated from the academy. She's a kid, you know, twenty something and full of vim and vigor. Remind you of anyone I used to know?"

He laughed. "I was a lot of things, Tony, but I don't think I was ever filled with vim and vigor."

"I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about Janko."

He nodded. "I'm way ahead of you. I already had the lieutenant assign her to my nephew's precinct."

"Oh yeah? Back at the 12th?"

"The very same."

"Hey, that's great, Reagan. I really appreciate it. She's a good kid, smart and confident. I want to make sure she gets the right training officer."

"Well, there's not a better cop in the department than my nephew, Jack. He's the best."

"Thanks, kid. I really appreciate it."

"Any time, sarge. You know you can always call me if you need anything."

"Thanks, again. I mean it."

"Be sure to send us a picture from the cruise."

"Will do, captain. Take care."

"You, too, sarge. Thanks." He clicked the phone off and heard Eddie's foot steps padding from the hallway.

"Jeez, it's hotter than hell out." She had on shorts and a t-shirt and held two bottles of beer. She set one down in front of him. "I thought you could use this."

"Thanks," he said picking it up and taking a long pull from the bottle. "Where are the girls?"

She leaned back against the desk, facing at him in the chair. He was still dressed in his uniform, the white shirt and black pants, his shield and commendations now looked similar to his fathers. So much bravery and she was proud of him. "Claire is staying at Jennifer Hanson's house. The girls are practicing their routine for the high school cheer leader tryouts."

He smiled. Claire, their youngest, looked just like him but had Eddie's spirit. "And Mary?"

"She's out with Steve Emerson."

"Here we go." His smile was replaced by frustration. "I don't like him." Mary, their oldest, looked just like Eddie but was his child. Collegiate, a straight A student and more reflective. He trusted her and knew she made good decision, but he knew the power of youth and passion.

She pulled a hair tie out of her pocket and pulled her hair back in a pony tail. "Oh, come on, he's a great kid. He's good looking, was the valedictorian of their class, he and Mary are both going to Harvard—your alma mater—and he's attending college on a Navy scholarship and plans to be a pilot. Oh," she snapped her fingers, "and he's catholic! What's not to like?"

He took another sip and shook his head. "I just don't like him." He glanced out the window. "It seems just like yesterday they were in pajamas having slumber parties in here and watching Cinderella."

Eddie could see the sentiment in his face. She walked around behind the chair and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, crossed her hands on his chest and leaned down and kissed his cheek. "They weren't going to stay little girls forever, Jamie."

"I know. And I know Steve is a nice kid. I just don't want Mary to rush in to anything."

"She won't. And for the record, she's eighteen and I'm sure by now she's figured out that her birthday is only six months after our wedding anniversary."

"We could tell her she was premature?"

Eddie rolled her eyes. "Or we could continue to be her role models and talk about how love is what all of that should be based on."

"I know." He sighed thinking about the past eighteen years, captured in the photos on his desk. "I just didn't think it would go by so fast."

Eddie tightened her arms around him and he patted a hand on hers. She whispered against his ear. "You know, we could have another one."

He turned and looked at her, both amused and intrigued. "What are you saying?"

She brushed her lips against his. "I'm saying we could go upstairs and you can put one of your beautiful babies inside of me." She whispered, kissing him, her passion evident on her lips and the way her hands moved over his chest. "I'm still in if you are?"

She could still say things that took his breath away. Jamie smiled and pressed his forehead against hers. "Sounds amazing. But I'm thinking we have the family we're supposed to have."

"Me, too. I just wanted you to know I love you and I would if you wanted to." One of her hands found his and laced their fingers together. "We could still fool around though."

He was tempted. "The girls could come home any minute."

"Nope," she said, pulling him up and out of his chair, their arms stretched out between them. "I gave Mary and Steve a midnight curfew and Claire won't be back from the Hanson's until tomorrow morning. So we have the house all to ourselves. We're totally alone!"

"Why are we heading toward the dining room, Janko?" She had left force ten years earlier, but he occasionally still used the name had called her as his partner. She leered at him playfully as she backed up against the long dining room table. "Seriously? The dining room table?"

Her arms wound around his neck as she kissed him, her mouth and touch full of passion. "Why not?"

He pulled the hair tie out, releasing her pony tail and her blond hair tumbled down around her shoulders, one of his hands slipping through the wavy gold tresses. His hands found the warmth of her skin under her t-shirt, cupping and caressing her and nudging her up on to the table. "We eat Sunday dinners here, Eddie." His breath was coming in ragged sighs.

"I know. I know." Her fingers expertly worked his belt buckle and pants, finding him thick and ready for her. She chuckled as he reclined her back on to the table, her hair spread out around her. He leaned over her, feeling her as ready as he was, his mouth tenderly nuzzling her neck, his tongue trailing up her throat and around her ear. "Twenty one years together, Eddie. I wouldn't change a thing."

"She arched her neck, enabling his mouth to find more of her. "In a roundabout way, but we found each other." She gazed up at him. "I wouldn't change a thing either."

A block away Claire Reagan sat in the front passenger seat of Jennifer Hanson's parents second hand car with four other girls from school, all wearing their cheerleading costumes. "I can't believe I forgot my phone! I'm so sorry you guys!"

"No big whoop, Claire, just be sure to hurry up so we can get our practice out of the way in time to go to the movies!" Jennifer pulled the car up the street in Bay Ridge and turned in to the Reagan's driveway. "Are your folks at home?"

Clarie rolled her eyes. "Probably because, you know, their old."

A girl in the back piped up. "I think your Dad is hot."

Claire cringed. "Oh my God, that's disgusting!"

The girl looked back at the looks she was getting. "What? Well, he is!"

She opened the car door. "I'll be right back." Claire turned and headed to the front door, surprised that it was locked. She dug in her purse for her key and bolted in to the house as usual. "Mom? Dad?"

The girls in the car sat in amazement at the sight of the Reagan's cat, Sylvester, leaping out a side window. "Wow, he was in a hurry! I wonder what the big deal is?"

Fin! THANK YOU for reading and following this one! :-)