Hey there! Well, I'm back; I just can't stay away from this ship, I guess. I know the last thing I should be doing is starting another story right now, but this has been eating away at me for weeks now and I need to get it out.
I feel like I want to bore you with a little backstory first, though: I'm such a die hard lover of angst that I'm in Chicago PD hell and Chicago PD paradise right now. I'll never be over what happened to Nadia but Sophia's acting is so incredible and I love how Erin's spiral is playing out. The only thing that would make it better would be, obviously a tad more linstead in this mix. Anyway, with how depressing everything has been for us shippers lately, I wanted to do something more on the fun side.
As much as I will cry and sob and break down at Jay's love declaration which, when it inevitably occurs, will be charming and sweet and every good quality that he embodies, I'm actually a lot more interested in how Erin's 'I Love You' will play out. She's so guarded and desperate to keep people at arms length that I thought it would be a good challenge to write a series of scenarios in which Erin confesses her love for her partner. I just hope these aren't too OOC at times and can be conceived as actual potential occurrences.
I have a few angsty ones ready to go but I thought I'd start with a total fluffball, since I think we could all use a pick-me-up right about now.
Songspiration goes to Phillip Larue's 'Found'.
I hope you enjoy this one!
"When you invited me over for a game of scrabble…" Jay's voice trails off as he narrows his eyes at the tiles in front of him, struggling to form a word. "This isn't exactly what I had in mind."
Erin eyes him from across the board, a thin smile veiling across her lips as she takes a sip from her wine glass.
"You're just bitter 'cos you're losing."
"Am not."
"Board speaks for itself, Halstead."
To his dismay, his partner's right. Despite Jay's efforts, Erin's words have been adventurous high scorers, while he's stuck with basic four lettered ones.
"Cut me some slack; I didn't know I needed a thinking cap for tonight."
"Somethin' else on your mind?" Erin inquires, feigning curiosity. As she speaks, she leans forward, shuffling her low-cut shirt even further down and flashing a mischievous grin. She takes another sip from her glass while Jay whines from across the board.
"You're killing me, you know that?"
Lindsay lets out a low laugh before making her word. She knows exactly what effect she has on him.
"In your own time, Jay…"
"Give me a second."
Jay looks at the tiles in front of him. Erin has an outrageous lead and honestly, he's getting overwhelmingly tired.
He rubs his hand across his jaw and nervously makes a play.
"S. U. P. P. O. S. A. B. L. Y." He dishes out the tiles as he speaks, under his partner's watchful glare full of scrutiny.
Erin lets out a light laugh when he's finished. "Nice try, genius. Not a word."
With an eye roll, Jay relinquishes out another groan; not his first of the night. Unfortunately for him, it's not the kind of groan he was expecting to let out when making his way over to her house that evening.
"Can't you just let that one slide? Come on," He urges, leaning forward. "Throw me a few pity points."
Her smile is broad, despite her efforts. And with a soft eye roll she chooses to note down his pity points.
"You're lucky I love you. But for future reference, 'supposedly' would be a safer bet." She says with a smile, unaware of the words that slip her lips.
"You love me?" Jay mumbles softly, disbelief flooding through him. He watches Erin, the way she flicks her head up, the instant recognition in her face of what she's said. He then watches her face relax slightly, deciding to play it cool.
"What?" She doesn't make eye contact, instead focusing far too intently on the tiles in front of her.
"You just said you loved me." He says, crossing his arms and a grin of smugness consuming his face.
"So?"
"So, that's the first time you've said that."
She scrunches her face up, hoping to god she isn't blushing.
"No it isn't."
"Trust me, it is."
"Big deal, you've said it before."
"No I haven't."
She's definitely blushing now. Her palms are sweating; had she really just told him she'd loved him? She's never told anyone that before. Well, never meant it anyway.
She takes a final gulp from her wine.
"I can't believe you love me."
"You're still on that?"
She looks to his face, the grin expanding across his lips and his eyes wide and joyful. Creases across his forehead form in his laughter. Yeah. She loves him.
"You're never letting this go, huh?" She asks, trying her hardest not to smile.
"Nuh-huh." He shakes his head, pretty sure this was never leaving his memory.
"Well, what if I said we call this a draw…" She slowly brings herself to her feet, watching his eyes follow her body with childlike enthusiasm. Her hands find the hem of her shirt and slowly bring it over her head, tossing it to the side. With her eyes deep in his, her fingers go for the button on her jeans.
She continues with a rasp in her voice that makes him shiver. "…And move onto your version of scrabble?"
She barely pops the button on her jeans before Jay is up and on her, hoisting her over his shoulder and carrying her away, doing a best to conceal a hearty chuckle.
She wakes up with a full heart and Jay's warm body next to her. She's never been a snuggler, but there's something comforting about tucking herself into his side through the night. She looks over to him, and feels a smile unfold across her lips at the sight.
7 AM sunlight snakes through the blinds and lights up the freckles on his face. His hair is morning mess, and she barely resists the urge to run her hands through it.
Erin slips from the bed quietly in an attempt to keep him sleeping and exits the room, needing a glass of water. After retrieving the much needed drink, she passes the couch and the scrabble board on the table. Something catches her eye.
All the pieces had been put back apart from several tiles, spaced out and smiling up at her.
'I LOVE YOU TOO'
In that moment she feels her heart soar, and wonders if she's ever been that happy. Staring at the message a second longer, Erin returns to her room and slips back into her bed. Her home.
She shuffles down back into his side. Gently and slowly, his forehead creases and he opens one eye at her. He closes it and let out a smile. His face snuggles against hers.
With her nose against his cheek and her legs tangled in his, Erin whispers to Jay. "So we're just a couple of idiots in love, huh?"
And she feels his smile in every crevice of her body. She feels her soul burn and her heart vibrate against her ribcage.
He lets out a low laugh and she feels his body shake slightly against hers.
"Supposably."
Yay for cute linstead scenes that we never got but, hopefully, will get plenty of when these two dorks get back together!
If you have a spare second please drop a review, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Exams are almost over, and I will surely spend my summer writing. Updates are coming, people!