Once they finished saying Grace Eddie let out a quiet sigh of relief. She was worried about the prayer, she didn't know it and she didn't know if they would be offended she didn't know it. Jamie told her it was fine and no one would expect her to know it but she didn't want to do anything to further drop a bomb on the dinner. She had Googled it on her way over but there were so many versions and only so much time before Jamie and brought her to the pier. They said their vows, their peace that hopefully would keep them as partners but she knew that Frank Reagan wouldn't show favoritism and she frankly didn't want it. However she wished that they could stay partners. She was drawn away from her thoughts when Jamie unclasped his hand from hers and took his napkin off his plate and put in her lap. She instantly got nervous again and felt like she could have been eating dinner with the Queen of England herself, she essentially was eating dinner with New York royalty and the king of Bayridge. She wasn't even sure she was hungry until she put her napkin in her lap and Jamie started passing food to her.

Once they had passed the food between them, each other putting on the stuff they knew they would like, Jamie instinctively slid his salad plate to her and she, without hesitation put her tomatoes on it and took some of his carrots.

"What just happened?" Sean asked looking between the two of them back and fourth confused.

"So you're late for dinner, practically get married before we even get to eat and now don't pass the food?" Danny asked in mock horror

"Um" Eddie said blushing instantly

"This is the mother of I told you so's" Erin said grinning

"We eat most of our meals together" Jamie said sheepishly

"You didn't even communicate in words" Sean said still shocked at what happened in front of him

"I don't like tomatoes and Jamie doesn't like an abundance of carrots" Eddie said so casually she could've been talking about the weather

"I don't think I've ever seen something done so gracefully" Nicky

"We do that all the time, there's other food we do it with too. It's just instinct" Jamie said

"We already know it's gonna happen as soon as we get our food. Usually we're talking about a million other things when we're doing it" Eddie said

"That was something" Henry said

"Maybe there is more that should be considered about cops in a relationship being partners" Frank said

Eddie and Jamie both looked at each other and knew that was the closest they were going to get to an I'll think about it, it was like when you were waiting on a hail Mary pass when trying to convince your parents to let you do something and they said maybe, we'll see.

"Next time pass to your right Uncle Jamie" Jack said leaning over

Jamie just laughed as he and Eddie passed the food to the rest of the table. They all sat there quietly eating for awhile until Jack was curious.

"So Grandpa do you think you will let Uncle Jamie and Eddie stay partners?" Jack asked

"I think it's going to depend on what my Chief of D's thinks. I have to have a more hand's off approach since I have a personal interest in it, but they will have to look at precedent, any other major cities decisions. I can't arbitrarily say yes or no"

"If it was up to you what would you do?" Sean asked

"Honestly?" Frank asked

"No one's asking you to shovel a load Francis" Henry said

"I wouldn't be for it, I'm for the nonexistent rule. I think letting personal feelings in the way can potentially complicate a partnership and put lives at risk"

"But dad" Jamie started

"No buts you asked for the honest answer"

"Sir, I can only speak for myself but my feelings towards Jamie didn't just start yesterday. They've been around for quite a while and it's never once impacted our working partnership. I mean we kissed four years ago and went to work the next day and worked perfectly fine" Eddie said and as soon as the words were out of her mouth she turned bright red and wished that she could just melt into a puddle right there in her chair. Talk about putting your foot in your mouth. Eddie didn't need to look at Jamie she could practically feel him shooting her a death glare.

"Huh" Danny said smirking

"Eddie" Jamie whispered

"Um I mean I think I dreamt it, fluish fever my rookie year" Eddie said stammering

"Jamie?" Frank asked

"I think I have a right to not incriminate myself per the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Did you know that the founding fathers started working on the Bill of Rights, which includes the first 10 amendments as soon as they ratified the Constitution since they compromised on somethings in the Constitution this was the way of making up for it"

"I do think we all had a basic US History lesson son, but thank you for the refresher" Frank said smugly

"Don't I get counsel or something?" Jamie asked with a nervous laughter looking down towards Erin.

"Counsel has a conflict of interest" Erin said laughing

"Which is?" Henry asked

"I wanna hear the story" Erin said hysterically laughing

Jamie just ran a hand over his face and gently squeezed Eddie's thigh with his left.

"Now that Erin is done laughing like a hyena do you two want to explain?" Danny asked

"Jamie all you, you kissed me" Eddie said

"I did not, you totally kissed me" Jamie said

"I don't remember you exactly protesting it or the one in your apartment" "Oh no" Eddie said immediately after

"EDDIE!" Jamie said shocked

"Oh God" Eddie said looking down

"I told you I was nervous" Eddie said whispering

"Here we go" Danny said laughing

"Alright, alright, you all can stop enjoying this so much" Jamie said rubbing his hand on his ear.

"Can we start over?" Eddie asked

"It's ok Eddie" Frank said smiling "As Frank I'm actually quite amused"

"You want to explain or you want me to?" Eddie asked

"I'll start" Jamie said

"Was this before our little chat in my office?" Erin asked

"Uh" Jamie said blushing again

"Wait so you knew since Eddie was a rookie?! And you were mad that you thought that I knew that he was proposing" Danny said

"I'll explain it, jeez, nothing is sacred in this family" Jamie said

"I'm sorryyyy" Eddie said again

"Yea Eddie and I kissed, it was a double date, her and Spence and she set me up with her best friend Hayley. I walked her home and I don't know we were arguing over lyrics to mom's favorite song and then she started singing it and we both were feeling pretty good and I don't know, we just kinda kissed on the sidewalk. Is that enough or do you need a play by play?" Jamie said

"Was there tongue, any touching?" Danny started before Frank cut him off

"That's enough Danny"

"It was innocent, you spend that much time with each other, both single, both good looking, it's bound to happen" Jamie said

"Uh-huh" Danny said smirking again

"We worked perfectly fine, yea it was a little awkward but we agreed it was just the alcohol and as soon as we got a call we both knew the other had our backs, it never interfered. The one time Eddie was mad at me she went with the decoy unit for the day and we talked about it. I think that our feelings towards each other made us better at our job. We were more in sync with each other, wanted to make sure nothing happened to the other. I knew I could always count on her and she knew she could always count on me. There were never any questions about it. We were good at separating our personal and private lives" Jamie said "We would get mad at each other or disagree but never once did I question whether or not she had my back, even when I mouthed off she usually went along with it. Except for the time that my IAB investigator had it out for everyone named Reagan and tried to get me to turn on Eddie"

"I never one questioned whether or not he had my back even in the beginning when the Inspector General got involved. Telling me to keep my head down and mouth shut was his way of supporting me, even if I didn't know it. We always had each other's back when we went off half-cocked trying to save the world" Eddie said

"So when was the second kiss?" Erin asked

"I gave you one, that's it" Jamie said shoving a forkful of food in his mouth to make him point.

"But it can't be a universal rule, what works for one set of partners may not work for another" Frank said

"So give the bosses the discretion" Jamie said

"You don't think that Renzulli would side with you?" Danny asked "I mean you two were partners for two years"

"I would like to think that he would be impartial, do what's best for the greater good of the precinct and what's safer for the partners and the community. Plus he threatened to separate us years ago, at the end of Eddie's rookie year"

"That's when you talked with Erin?" Eddie asked

"Yea, when I told her you ate too much, were bossy and opinionated and you were making plans and decisions without ever consulting me" Jamie said laughing

"And I said oh so you do have feelings for him" Erin said

"When you got all weird about our off time together and celebrating our anniversary" Eddie said

"Yea, like I said we may not have always had the personal life part worked out but did I give you any reason to not trust me on the job?" Jamie asked

"No I was mad that you made me look back in front of Renzulli by turning into the hulk but even though you were being weird I never questioned our professional partnership" Eddie said

"Even after she admitted she was jealous, twice, we still worked fine together" Jamie said shooting her a smile and Eddie just rolled her eyes.

"Yea and then I barged into his apartment after work one night, told him how I felt, yelled at him for not letting me finish what I was saying, he said what he wanted and then I kissed him and left and told him I'd see him at roll call the next day" Eddie said

"It was a little awkward but once we got a call it was all business and that conversation was tabled" Jamie said

"She was also with me the night I spent in county lock-up" Jamie said

"Maybe she does have what it take to be a Reagan" Danny said laughing

"Yea the NYPD cracks were not the whole story, part of it was I was jealous some guy kept hitting on her. Then we went into a weird limbo of knowing how the other felt and I guess what normal people would call going on a date, where we actually cared about what we looked like after a ten hour tour but then we saw other partners that had been sleeping together and how it got ugly and we both agreed to cool it until we figured it out. We never took it that far but there was definitely more than just partnership feelings there for awhile and we did fine. Everyone thought we were doing it, one of the bosses accused her of being my girlfriend but only yelled at us for not following orders with Billy, not for him thinking we were together" Jamie said

"No matter what was personally going on, we knew as soon as we got a call it was game faces on. We joked around a lot too but any call we knew it could be life or death. I understand why he waited so long, the fear of not being able to protect the person you love is terrifying. But I don't run the NYPD so it's up to you" Eddie said

"I think is going to take time to sort out, it will come down to what your CO wants, the results of Eddie's Sargent's test and what the Chief of D's thinks we should do. I mean all this time no one has ever brought it up, leave it to my son to read through everything to find the loophole" Frank said

"Law school was good for something" Jamie said shrugging

"I also would like to think that it we would call each other out if we thought the other was out of line. We've done it with other things before" Eddie said

"I think we should be allowed to stay partners" Jamie said looking at Danny hoping his brother would help him

"I don't know, I mean it does make sense for the unannounced rule. I get that Eddie kept her head on yesterday and you did when she got shot and I think while it might just work for you two, I'm not sure it can be a blanket rule for everyone. I also told you that you were being too overprotective when Eddie went undercover, you were acting like a boyfriend not a partner"

"You even admitted that 30 seconds later and it would've been a lot worse, I mean thank God she thought to tell him to shower and hit him with the toilet tank lid. It was her first UC, it was thrown together, there was a lot wrong with that OP" Jamie said

"Thy protestith too muchith" Henry said

Jamie just rolled his eyes and Eddie giggled.

"Ok Pop what do you think then?" Jamie asked

"I'm for the rule" Henry said

"Seriously? All your back in my day stuff and you're for a rule?" Jamie asked

"Because in my day, most cops were men so it wasn't a problem and if there were feelings between two cops it got shut down" Henry said

"So you also side with the unofficial rule?" Eddie asked

"I do. I think that while it may work for you two, it would be the exception. I don't think most partners involved with each other could work that way. I also think it could open up a big can of worms" Henry said

"Like?" Jamie asked

"You two claim you never went there because you thought it was a rule, but if it comes out that it is not a rule then more partners may be likely to sleep together and figure it will all be fine, but it you know what the locker rooms are like it's worse than highschool. I think it could end up complicating too many partnerships"

"I don't think if it comes out that all of a sudden all partners are gonna sleep together. Most partners don't fall in love either" Jamie said

"Wow we actually get to stay for a juicy conversation" Jack said

"I think you are all old enough, do any of you have opinions"

"Oh great why don't you just do an Instagram poll at this point" Jamie said groaning

"Jamie" Eddie said laughing

"I think that they should be able to stay together, if they think that they are the best partners to keep each other safe" Sean said quietly

Danny put a hand on his son's shoulder, knowing this had to do with losing Linda. Eddie had been around a lot after Linda was killed since her and Jamie were still on a mandatory separation.

"If everyone thought it was a rule, why was it never made official? Why didn't anyone ever check? If it was that important wouldn't it have been the patrol guide?" Nicky asked

"Why can't it be on a case by case basis? I mean dad complains that Jamie has more collars than him this year and if they have been able to work together for years like this why would anything be different if the feelings are still there?" Jack asked

"It's not even close to Christmas and they are trying to get in good" Jamie said laughing

"I think I will have to stay out of this decision" Frank said

"Come on dad, screw the nepotism for just this once. We all know those two should have more accommodations than they do and Jamie should have been promoted before. And your the PC dad, you can't sit this one out" Erin said

"Alright let's not start a fight at Eddie's first dinner. She doesn't have a ring yet she might flee" Jamie said putting an arm around her

"Never" Eddie said smiling leaning into him

"So it's tabled for now" Danny said agreeing

They cleared up from dinner and put out the dessert and coffee, the earlier conversation forgotten and everyone back to happily talking about their week.

"So when are we gonna get the whole story?" She asked squealing

"Um, I don't know if Eddie wants to share all of it" Jamie said

"Come on we're dying to know" Nicky begged

"I told you that nothing would ever be private ever again" Jamie said laughing

"I guess we should tell them how we went from partners to being engaged" Eddie said laughing

"I'd rather let them wonder" Jamie said

"Sometimes things can be put into perspective when your lives keep being threatened" Eddie said

"We had a few close calls this year" Jamie said

"So what changed it?" Nicky asked

"I had a nice chat with Erin a few weeks ago about how I would have felt it things went differently when Eddie was shot and I was just working up the courage to tell her and change everything but then she comes along and saves my life"

"When I head the radio description and looked back I couldn't see a plate number but something told me he was in trouble, I know it sounds crazy but I was warned and all I could think of as I ran out of there was that I wasn't ok with just being friends and partners and that he meant more to me than anything in the world. I needed to save him to tell him I loved him. I knew I couldn't lose my best friend and the fear of losing him is what I think gave me laser focus to fire that shot" Eddie said tearing up

Jamie just quietly took her hand in his.

"It's not crazy" Henry said smiling

"I didn't know we would need tissues for this" Erin said

"I fully believe Joe had your backs yesterday" Henry said

"Someone did, I really should've had my head blown off" Jamie said

"Don't talk like that kid" Danny said

"Well whoever it was, I am eternally grateful for" Eddie said

"Me too" Jamie said smiling at her

"So the rest of the story?" Nicky said smiling

"Ok relax, we're both still a little overwhelmed. It hasn't even been 24 hours yet" Jamie said

"You have to tell us. At least me, I've listened to this long enough over the years" Erin said

"After Eddie fired the first time he drove away, I got out, she fired again, we chased then I cuffed him and that's when everything hit us" Jamie said

"He told me I saved his life and I told him that I felt like something warned me, that I knew he was in trouble that I couldn't lose him. Then we just stood there hugging"

"Then we had all the pomp and circumstance and once we calmed down, we just went back to her place and had pizza and talked and just went to bed early. The adrenaline crashed and we were beat. We just didn't want to be apart"

"We just realized what was in front of us and what we almost lost" Eddie said

"I knew I couldn't keep hurting either one of us" Jamie said feeling his throat tighten and giving Eddie's hand a squeeze.

"So I started planning the proposal last night when we stopped at my place to get clothes, I knew where she kept the glitter and put it all together when I woke up in the middle of the night"

"Glitter?" Jack asked

"He's getting there" Eddie said laughing

"That's why I was jumpy at church, I was hours away from proposing to her" Jamie said

"That explains it" Frank said

"I asked her to come to dinner, she thought it was just to come clean about us being together but I had other plans. I took her to the pier and we walked out to the end and I proposed with Joe's Claddagh ring and the box of bullets I was supposed to give her the other day"

"It said will you marry me in blue glitter" Eddie said laughing

"The ring was a little big, but I wanted to make sure she had a ring, and Joe's obviously means the world to me, like she does" Jamie said blushing

"There were no dry eyes on the pier, I think even the fish were crying. A photographer was taking pictures of the skyline and captured it and is going to send them to us"

"I wanted to make it special but a whole big thing wasn't us but this ... was" Jamie said grinning

"It's perfect" Nicky said

"It was" Eddie said smiling

"I'm glad you two finally got your head's out of your butts" Henry said

"Pop" Jamie said shocked

"What? Anyone with half a brain knew there was more than just a partnership" Henry said

"I liked her from the beginning" He added

"He didn't" Eddie said laughing and poking him in the stomach

"Rich daddy's girl, 4-feet tall, wise-ass attitude" Jamie said laughing

"We made it work" Eddie said shaking her head

"She turned out to be a solid partner ... and friend" Jamie said smiling

"So did I miss the part where you dated?" Sean asked

"No you didn't. We didn't want to waste anymore time and we already knew everything about each other. Pretty much to what brand of hair-ties she uses" Jamie said

"To his favorite brand of flannel shirts" Eddie said

"And apparently silent communication" Jack said referencing their dinner

"Yea that too" Eddie said

"I knew I loved her and I didn't want to wait around and date. We know each other's habits, flaws, likes, dislikes. There isn't much we don't know about each other"

"Don't even go there Danny" Jamie said stopping his brother from opening his mouth

"Alright" Danny said holding his hands up in defense.

After dinner everyone was sitting around when Danny pulled Jamie outside to the deck and Eddie was talking to Erin.

"I'm so happy for you two. I mean you saved his life!" Erin said

"I had to, none of us could lose him" Eddie said

"I'm glad we're going to be sisters" Erin said hugging her

"Me too" Eddie said shocked, but hugged her back. She always liked Erin and was thankful for her constant support of their relationship.

"He was really upset after you were shot, I really didn't know how he was going to keep working with you. He felt like he failed you and then when he saw Barry I thought he was going to be unhinged" Erin said laughing

"Yea, that wasn't the finest moment I had. He never failed me, not once, ever. Even when he was mad at me for something. He always had my back and I always had his" Eddie said

"We're lucky to have you in this family Eddie" Erin said

"I'm the lucky one, I know it sounds crazy, but I am so happy I'm getting a family. Over the years I heard Jamie brag and hate on all of you and I always wanted to know what that felt like. I mean you helped each other no matter, even if it ended with someone getting mad. I am honored to accepted into that"

"Yes Danny" Jamie said as they went out the kitchen door.

"We can't talk brother to brother?" Danny asked

"No. I know you're gonna tell me that we shouldn't have rushed it that it was incredibly hot and sexy and it's what dreams are made of and that we went to fast and I don't know what I'm doing and I'm being a dumb kid and"

"Will you shut up already" Danny said cutting him off

"Fine"

"I was gonna tell you I am happy you finally grew the balls to tell her you love her. But it sounds like she told you" Danny said smirking

"Yea she was always more sure of it than I was. She was fearless when it came to taking the next step, I was the one that was hesitant. And I think I loved her so much that I didn't want change anything. Until Barry showed up no guy lasted more than a few weeks if that and I mean I spent almost every day with her. The only time we were apart was when we were sleeping. I got to spend around 15 hours with her everyday. It's how we know each other so well"

"It's been evident how much you two care about each other. I, I miss that. Linda would've been so proud of you two" Danny said, his throat tightening

"I know. She was by my side through every second of that. Dad and Pop were worried I was taking too much on from you and the boys, but Eddie listened, day or night. We were still separated and I was gonna tell her how I felt but after Linda, I was scared. Scared of losing that and I couldn't change anything else. She understood that and had my back through it all, even when I blew up because I was trying to keep everything together"

"Why did you wait almost a year then?" Danny asked

"I thought we were too far past that, I was the one that axed it after two partners in our house were caught fighting on the job. And how I dumped everything on her, I was worried that it was too much for her. I didn't want to hurt her" Jamie said

"Well she waited this long for you I'm not sure what you could have done to push her away"

"I just can't believe I fell in love with my partner. I'm the one that follows the rules, doesn't make waves, do what I'm told"

"You have quite a few insubordination rips there kid. But sometimes the greatest things in our life are the most unexpected"

"Linda should never have fallen in love with me, I used to get in trouble with her older brother. I mean she loved me through hell and back after my deployment and while I would do anything to get her back I'm thankful for this new relationship with the boys. It's made me stop and listen to them and be more involved in their lives. Sometimes the biggest upsets in our life can bring the greatest joy" Danny said

"Vinny"

"You were scared of losing another partner. I get it"

"I always tired to make sure what some of the other guys in the house said about the female cops never bothered her. I protected her when she didn't need it. I mean she kicks some serious ass. Clearly or we wouldn't be standing here having this conversation"

"Looking back there's things that I smile at and realize it was us getting closer and then all of a sudden before it was even a year we were spending all of our time together and"

"Making out on the sidewalk" Danny said laughing

"Yea that" Jamie said blushing

"I'm happy for you kid. I'm glad you two took the next step. You both deserve happiness and it's evident you make each other happy. I've never seen two people so comfortable with each other"

"She's pretty great" Jamie said

"So are you" Danny said

"Thanks Danny" Jamie said, truly touched.

"Hey your dad wants you both back inside" Eddie said poking her head out the door.

"Thanks for saving my kid bother Eddie, and welcome to the family" Danny said hugging Eddie.

"Of ... course" Eddie said shocked at Danny. She had known he wasn't exactly the touchy feely type and was shocked at his hug and genuine thanks.

"What was that?" Eddie asked giving Jamie a hug once Danny went back inside

"He's missing Linda, and he couldn't have lost another brother" Jamie said hugging her tightly

"God I didn't even think how us would affect him"

"He's ok. I really believe that for the first time in awhile. I told him that I leaned on you when Linda died so I could support him and the boys. He hadn't known that" Jamie said

"We better get back in" Eddie said

"You're handling your first family dinner perfectly" Jamie said kissing her

"Jamie come here" Henry yelled from the other room.

"What's up?" Jamie asked walking in and seeing his dad and grandfather sitting in their chairs.

"We have your mother's and grandmother's rings. We want you to use one of them for Eddie, or even take the stone's and make a new ring if Sydney wearing your mother's is a hangup" Henry said

"Really?" Jamie asked surprised

"Of course son. I know I didn't have the warmest reaction but I couldn't be happier for you two. You compliment each other very well and just seeing you interact with each other away from work is something special. I wish you had found this happiness together sooner but nothing like a kick in the butt, or a hit out on you to shake things up" Frank said

"We're proud of you" Henry said

"I'm glad Eddie is now apart of the family" Frank said genuinely smiling

"Thank you" Jamie said feeling himself get choked up

"You deserve to be happy Jamie, and Eddie; she truly makes you happy. She's a perfect fit in the family" Frank said

"I for one can't wait to see her go head to head with Danny" Henry said laughing

"Oh she will don't worry" Jamie said laughing

"Well take the rings and go" Henry said

They walked back into the sun room and everyone was sitting around talking when Jamie walked over to Eddie and Pulled her up by her hands. He knelt down and took the two rings from his pocket.

"Eddie, you mean the world to me. You're my bestfriend. I promise to always have your back, so Eddie Janko will you marry me and be apart of this crazy, overbearing and overprotective family?" Jamie asked feeling his emotions betray him again.

"Of course, I would love nothing more!" Eddie said tearing up herself and hugging him

"She accepted twice!" Jamie said happily

Jamie looked around and saw that his family was truly happy for the first time in almost a year. It had been a tough one for the Reagan's but hopefully this was the start of more memories and another family.

I loved writing this! Thank you all for the support! I am going to put this story on hiatus until season 9, I want to keep in line with what they are going to with them as partners and the test and wedding. I want to be able to fill in the gaps and add to what the show will give us. Don't forget to leave a review!