A/N it's like really late, and I should be asleep, but who really cares?
On the following Saturday, they had a party planned for Maya. Jamie's whole family was coming, along with Lena, and they invited some of Maya's friends from school and in the apartment building.
Eddie woke up to Maya eagerly tapping her arm. She rolled over and slowly opened her eyes to reveal Maya's excited face. "Angel," She quickly checked the time, 05:42. "it's early. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm just excited, Majka, it's my birthday."
"Yes, angel, I know, but you have to go to sleep for just a little while longer." Eddie said.
"Majka! That's not fair." Maya whined.
Jamie stirred next to Eddie and moved to wrap his hands around her. "What's wrong, kiddo?" He asked as he realised Maya was awake.
"It's my birthday and majka says I have to go to bed." Maya crossed her arms across her chest.
"Hey, why don't you climb up here, and lay with us?" Jamie said.
"Yeah." Maya said a smile spreading across her face as she climbed onto the large bed in between Jamie and Eddie.
Maya was soon asleep again and Eddie turned towards Jamie, "You always have to be the favorite, don't you?"
Jamie smirked and moved to place a soft kiss on Eddie's lips. "Yes, yes, I do. Now, get some sleep, I love you."
"I love you, too."
The family awoke around 08:00 and Eddie and Maya convinced Jamie to make them pancakes. "Please, Athair, pancakes are my favorite, and it's my birthday."
Jamie could never resist Maya and her puppy dog eyes. "Fine. You two are going to be the death of me."
"Yay!" Maya cheered as she ran towards her room.
"Can you believe she's six?" Eddie asked wrapping her arms around his waist no doubt getting in his way.
"Can you believe she's been part of our lives for almost 5?"
"I can't believe that someone's interested in adopting her."
Jamie sharply inhaled. Sometimes he forgot she wasn't theirs, and recently a young couple who couldn't have kids had met Maya and were seriously considering adopting her. "I'm so happy for her because she deserves all the love in the world after what happened to her, but when she gets adopted, God, I'm going to miss her."
"I know what you mean. This sounds crazy, but sometimes I forget she isn't ours."
"I know exactly what you mean. I love her so much."
The whole family and met at Rascal's Fun Zone. Jack and Sean automatically ran outside to the go karts. Nicky took Maya around the arcade helping her win the games, that was until Maya's friends showed up then she wanted nothing to do with her.
Nicky sat down with the family. "That girl has you wrapped around her finger." Erin said to her.
"I know, I know. I just love her."
"A young couple is interested in adopting her." Eddie said.
"What?" Pops exclaimed.
"You knew we couldn't keep her forever." Jamie explained.
"At this point, you're the only home she knows." Danny said.
"I didn't think you'd be able to let her go." Frank added.
Jamie glanced over at Eddie and saw the brief look of hurt on her face before putting on a smile and speaking. "It's what we signed up for when I took the job as her foster parent."
"We provided her a safe, loving home while her permanent one got ready. Now that home may be ready for her." Jamie explained.
"They're a couple in there late 20's and they've recently found out they can't have kids." Eddie added.
"They eloped in college and they have a two bedroom house on the outskirts of Brooklyn Heights."
"They have a dog, a big lab."
"They seem like a perfect family." Jamie ended.
"Have you done a background check?" Danny asked them.
"Please, Eddie won't let a stranger say a word to Maya without carding them."
Eddie scoffed. "That's not true."
Jesse chimed into the conversation. "It's a little true."
"You're both so mean to me." Eddie pouted.
Jamie pulled her to him and laughed. "You know we love you."
"I love you, too." Eddie paused for a moment and spoke again. "Anyway, they're coming to see her again today."
"Today?" Erin asked.
"Here?" Lena added.
"Calm down, they're not the enemy." Jamie said.
"Might as well be." Pops grumbled.
"They are just trying to be a loving home for her." Eddie said.
"Also, don't tell Maya. They don't want to get her hopes up." Jamie told them.
When Amy and Ryan Johnstone walked in they walked to over to the family.
Nicky, Jack, and Sean excused themselves and went to gather all the kids for cake, presents, and ice cream.
"Amy, Ryan, hi." Eddie greeted. "The three that just ran off were Nicky, Jack, and Sean, Jamie's niece and nephew." As she introduced everyone she pointed. "That's my mom, Lena. That's Henry and Frank, Jamie's dad and grandfather. Erin, his sister, and Danny, his brother. Everyone, this is Amy and Ryan."
A round of 'Hi.'s and 'Hello.'s came from the group.
When the young adults returned with the children, they lit the candles and Maya made a wish before blowing them all out. "Majka! Athair! Look! I got them all in one try!"
"I see that, angel!" Eddie got excited right with her.
Jamie laughed his two favorite girls. "Good job, squirt."
They ate cake and ice cream and Maya opened her heaping ammount of presents.
Parents and their kids headed home one by one. Lena, Amy, and Ryan left at the same time. Frank and Pops left followed by Danny, Sean, and Erin. Jack made some comment to Nicky about how he could beat her in a race and they did ran to one more race on the go karts. Jesse had driven seperately and Jamie helped load her car with presents before she went back to the apartment.
Jamie and Eddie sat watching Maya eat a slice of pizza knowing quite well that this could be the last birthday they spent with her.
Nicky and Jack came walking back to the table, Nicky with her hands in the air celebrating and Jack looking clearly defeated. "I crushed you!" She shouted.
"She cheated!"
Nicky scoffed. "You spun out."
"Because you hit me!"
Eddie laughed at the two. "Sounds like you kicked his ass."
"You would be correct. I was half a lap ahead of him the whole time."
"Don't be dramatic. It was only half of the race."
Jamie laughed at his family. "Get used to it, from here on out you'll never beat a Reagan woman at anything. They're too competitive."
"Apparently. She straight up attacked me."
"Your aunt is vicious, you should see some of the things she's done to me." Jamie laughed.
"Hey!" Eddie yelped in protest.
"Not you. Erin. We used to play football in the front yard, that was until she broke my leg, and mom wouldn't let us anymore."
"That sounds like my mom." Nicky said grabbing her purse. "I'm going to go. I have early dinner plans with a friend from college and I smell like pizza."
"I do not blame you." Eddie said as they hugged goodbye.
"I'm going to leave, too." Jack said. "See you all tomorrow for dinner."
"We'll be there."
On the way home Eddie looked at the backseat to see Maya passed out. "Look at her. She's so precious."
"She's not going to sleep tonight."
"Let her sleep. It's a Saturday she can go to sleep late if she likes."
"You're a softy when it comes to her."
"I know."
"I'm gonna miss her."
"Yeah. Me, too."