Nicky Reagan-Boyle (Sami Gayle) has been through a lot on “Blue Bloods.” In addition to doing everything expected of a teenager and young 20-something, she’s also had to be raised almost entirely by her assistant district attorney mother, Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan). Even more so than that, she’s been kidnapped and had her life thrown into danger far too many times over the years, to the point where it’s understandable she’d be skeptical about getting into the family business of law enforcement.

That’s why it was bittersweet when Nicky left the show in Season 10, Episode 5, “The Price You Pay.” After graduating from college, she gets a job at a nonprofit in San Francisco, a far cry from the New York streets she grew up on. She’s shown up occasionally throughout the seasons since, but it’s been an adjustment both for fans and her family. However, she didn’t leave them with nothing, as the family dinner sequence in the episode contains arguably the most heartwarming moment she’s had in the series.

Nicky carrying on her family tradition warms the heart

The Reagans are naturally worried when Nicky says she’s moving across the country to start a new job in San Francisco, no less, which isn’t exactly known for being cheap. However, Nicky seems aware of the challenges in front of her and appears dedicated to surpassing them. Of course, it’s one thing to say you’ll be fine but another to actually be away from your family, so all of the Reagans go around the table talking about how they overcame homesickness when they had to be away from New York for various reasons.

It then becomes Nicky’s turn to say how she’ll avoid being too homesick once she’s gone, and she responds by saying, “Is organizing a Sunday potluck too on the nose?” Everyone around the table seems to love that idea. For years, the Reagan Sunday dinners have been an honored tradition in the household. It provides the family a chance to sit down and catch up with one another. They can bounce ideas off of each other when they face issues at work or talk about whatever trivial things they want.

Nicky keeping the event alive at her new home seems to warm her family’s hearts, and no doubt it put a smile on the faces of the millions of people who have watched that episode.