I mentioned in a Twitter group chat that I was thinking about doing a series of one-shots maybe based on things that you guys wanted to see in Undercover Honeymoon and didn't or maybe I'll mix it up. It all depends on if that's something that you guys would want to read or not.
This is a missing one-shot from Undercover Honeymoon, with school starting back and me heading back to work, it sort of came to me one night.
Anyway, I had this idea for awhile and thought I'd put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Whatever the cool kids are saying today (Although I'm sure it's probably not "fingers to keyboard")
I hope you like it.
AN: I don't own anything having to do with Chicago PD or NBC.
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Jay stood in the doorway to Everly's room and watched her as she walked back and forth from her small bed to the table that was in her room.
Today was the day, his oldest was starting school.
Where had time gone?
It felt like just yesterday he'd first laid eyes on that little girl.
And just like that she was suddenly four and every bit the personality of her mother.
"You OK?" Erin asked as she walked up behind her husband and wrapped an arm around his back.
"Yeah" Jay assured as he looked at his wife and forced a smile.
"Do you think she's ready?" Erin asked exhaling as she tried to fight back tears.
"She's ready" Jay assured. "Where are the twins?"
"Down for a nap finally. The terrible twos are twice as bad with these two. They're smart, they know how to gang up on us" Erin yawned and ran a hand through her hair.
"Maybe we'll luck out with the next one" Jay teased as he reached down and laid his hand on Erin's stomach.
Erin looked down at Jay's hand on her stomach and then back up at him. "It's funny how a back massage turned into another baby"
Jay shrugged his shoulder and his smile grew as he looked at his wife. "I do have pretty good hands"
"You're an idiot" Erin laughed and looked down at her watch. "We better get going if you're going to drop her off before we go to work"
"I changed my mind. I think you should take her" Jay said.
"You said all week that you were going to take her because me crying would only upset her" Erin explained raising an eyebrow at her husband.
Jay nodded "That I did. But I got to thinking about her therapy sessions down the road and if this is going to be a traumatic moment for her...then I want her to have the memory of you leaving her. Not me"
"Jay!" Erin smacked his shoulder and shook her head. "Don't say things like that. If you don't thinks she's ready for this, maybe we can just keep her home for another year"
Jay wrapped his arm around Erin and pulled her to him. "No, you're right. She needs to go. God forbid that Hank have to hear about us not sending her to school. I mean, I'm still trying to work off the fact that I uprooted you and the kids and moved you down here to Virginia"
Erin smiled and shook her head "No, babe. You're still working off the fact that you married me. You've got a long way to go before you ever get that far down the list of things Hank is mad at you over"
"There's that Erin Halstead wit that I fell in love with" Jay sighed and followed Erin's gaze into Everly's room.
Erin laid her head on Jay's shoulder and sighed sadly. "I remember right after we brought her home from the hospital and I found you two dancing in the kitchen. I didn't think it was possible for me to be that happy. It made me heart ache, but in the best way possible"
Jay placed a kiss on top of Erin's head. "I remember that. It seemed like being a husband and a father was so far out of my reach and then I met you and I was in love from the moment I saw you. Even though it took you a little while to feel the same"
"Yeah yeah...I was worried about what Hank thought. I was worth the wait though" Erin mumbled.
"You were worth the wait" Jay agreed. "Besides without you I wouldn't have three...soon to be four of the best things in life"
"I just can't believe she's already four" Erin said her eyes still watching Everly.
"She's ready, Er. We've just got to be ready to let her go" Jay explained.
Erin nodded and exhaled a shaky breath. "Let's take our baby to school"
Erin walked the rest of the way into Everly's room with Jay behind her "Are you ready, Evie?"
Everly pulled her backpack off of her bed and looked at her mom and dad "Do I hafta go to preschool?"
Erin nodded and reached for Evie's hand "Aren't you excited for school? Remember how we went and bought you new clothes and a backpack?"
Everly looked over at her Disney Princess backpack and nodded "I do, I just not have friends"
"You're going to make friends, pumpkin" Erin explained "And you know Lucy, remember she used to babysit for Noah before he started school. Remember how she came here to visit and she told you about all the fun things that you were going to do at school?"
"Yes" Everly said "But...who is gonna help you with the babies?"
Erin smiled and looked at Everly "They'll be OK. They're going to stay here with the babysitter today"
"I'm gonna miss you" Everly said as she walked to Erin and wrapped her arms around Erin's neck.
Erin felt her eyes sting with unshed tears as Everly hugged her. Her pregnancy hormones weren't helping with her mix of emotions she felt about Everly starting school.
Erin looked over at Jay who pulled Everly in his arms so she wouldn't see Erin upset.
"You know what Everly?" Jay said.
"What daddy?" Everly asked as Jay pulled her up on his lap.
"They have so many fun things at preschool and you're going to get to learn all the things that Noah learned" Jay explained
"I will?" Everly asked.
Jay nodded "Preschool is such a cool place, there's only one problem"
"What?" Everly asked. Curious as to what her father was talking about.
"You have to be four years old to go to school" Jay said.
"I'm four years old!" Everly said proudly holding up four fingers.
"Then you get to go!" Jay said with excitement.
"Yay!" Everly said clapping her hands. "Let's go"
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"This damn thing" Jay complained as he tried to focus his phone on Him, Erin and Everly so he could take their picture from their place in front of the school.
"Jay! Language" Erin sighed as she adjusted Everly on her lap.
"I got it" Jay said as he shifted for a comfortable spot on the bench in front of the school. "Say cheese"
"Cheese" Everly said behind a wide smile.
Jay snapped the picture and Everly quickly moved off the bench. "Let's go"
"Wait for us, Ev" Erin said as she stood from the bench and reached for Everly's hand.
Everly held her parents hands tightly as she ran into the classroom, dragging them behind her. "Come on guys hurry up."
"Slow down Everly," Erin warned her daughter placing a hand on her four month pregnant belly. "We're shaking the baby up in there." Everly looked at her mother skeptically and slowed down.
"Yeah," Jay grinned, sweeping his daughter up into his arms. "We didn't shake your little brains when you were a peanut in your mom's tummy." Everly giggled and wrapped her hands around Jay's neck.
"You're silly Daddy. I was never a peanut was I mommy?" Erin laughed and adjusted Everly's french braid.
"You weren't a real peanut, but that's how big you were."
"How big is the new baby?" Everly asked, turning towards her mother.
"Well," Erin rubbed her daughter's back. "The baby is about as big as a peanut right now." Everly furrowed her brows and looked down to her mother's swollen belly.
"Then how come your belly is so big?" Erin's jaw dropped and Jay began to laugh.
"Thanks Jay," she said sarcastically, running a hand over her belly self consciously.
"Don't listen to them," Lucy came up behind her, patting her belly gently. "I think you look beautiful. Very radiant." Erin wrapped her arm around Lucy's shoulder and gave Jay a mock glare.
"You see."
"I never said a word, Baby," Jay grinned moving to her side as he placed Everly on the floor. "Okay bug, are you ready?" Everly frowned again and took Lucy's hand.
"You're gonna stay with me right, Lucy?" Everly asked.
Lucy smiled and tugged the little girl's braid.
"I promise. Now why don't you say goodbye to Mommy and Daddy and go find the cubby hole and the hook with your name on them."
Everly returned to her parents and reached up.
"Bye Daddy," she sighed as Jay straightened her dress. "Are you gonna miss me?" Jay grinned and looked in her eyes.
"Every second of the day. Now give Daddy a kiss." Everly leaned forward and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
"I love you Daddy."
"Love you too sweetheart, you have a good day and behave for Lucy."
Everly nodded and reached over for Erin who lifted her out of Jay's arms and squeezed her tight. "Have a good day baby," Erin sighed sadly. "I'll be here to pick you up right after school, okay?" Everly nodded and released her hold on Erin's neck.
"Don't be sad Mommy. I'll only be gone for a few hours, right Lucy?" Lucy nodded and placed a hand on Erin's shoulder. "I promise I'll be good and I'm gonna paint a picture for you and Daddy, okay?" Erin nodded and ran a hand over her daughter's tiny back.
"Okay baby, I'll hang it up on the fridge." Everly nodded and slid out of Erin's arms to the floor. "I love you Everly."
Everly took Erin's hand and kissed it softly. "Remember, it's not Lucy when you're at school, it's Miss Huston."
"I love you too Mommy and I remember." She smiled and placed a gentle kiss on Erin's belly. "Bye bye baby. You be nice to Mommy today, she's not feeling well." Erin grinned and took Jay's hand.
"Bye Mommy, bye Daddy." With that she ran off to find her cubby hole. "I'm gonna go find my damn cubby"
"Everly Katherine! We don't say that" Erin scolded.
"Daddy said it" Everly explained as she once again waved bye to her parents and walked into the classroom.
Erin turned and looked at her husband and sighed "Jay, is there anything else you'd like to teach our four year old before we leave?"
"Nope, I think that pretty much covers it" Jay said before he smiled.
"It's not funny, I'm sorry, Lucy. If she spreads that word around. Be sure to give them Jay's number at work. Angry parents can talk to him" Erin explained.
"She'll be fine you two, I promise. You've left her in my capable hands before. This time I'm teaching her in a more official capacity." She leaned over and hugged Erin.
Erin smiled and moved to Jay's side, as they watched Everly talking to a little boy beside her.
"That kid is dead," Jay deadpanned as Erin laughed and hit his shoulder.
"Relax Jay," she grinned. "She's too young to know she owns him."
Jay was unimpressed as he took her hand and led her out of the room, taking one last look at their baby girl on her first day of school.
Erin and Jay walked out of the school hand in hand and over to their car. They buckled their seatbelts and Erin checked her phone.
"Everything OK?" Jay asked.
"Yeah, everything is fine. My meeting got cancelled so I have some time before I have to be at work"
"Funny, I have some time before I have to be at work too" Jay said as he too checked the time.
"Well, since we both have time, what should we do?" Erin asked with a signature raise of her brow.
"I could think of something" Jay's voice trailed off as he started the car.
"Pancakes?" Erin asked her voice full of hope.
"Pancakes" Jay said as he reached for her hand and drove out of the parking lot.
~*The End*~
