Blue Skies

A/N: Fresh off vacation here is a new chapter. Thank you for your reviews, favorites, and follows. Please excuse any grammatical errors! Two months and one day until Season 2. As always read, enjoy (I hope), and REVIEW….Please!

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Chicago PD

Chapter 2

Heartache

Fresh out of the shower, she wiped the excess steam from her bathroom mirror. In her mind she was trying to sike herself up for her partner's engagement party. Everyone will be there and it would be fun she repeated to herself. Erin shook her head as she pushed the idea of the engagement party being fun out of her head. Her mind went to everyone all dressed up, food, drinks, and Meredith. Meredith had gotten under her skin and she couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe it was the way she looked at her or asked her questions. Hearing her ringer go off on her cell phone, Erin gripped her towel tighter as she walked into her living room to check her phone.

"Hey" she said answering it.

"Hey, I'm running a little bit behind but I will be there in about an hour to pick you up."

"Everything alright Kelly" she asked as she could tell that something sounded a little bit off with her boyfriend.

"Just a rough day" he sighed.

"I hear you it's been a rough week but spending some time with everyone and together will be good right?"

Twisting the front of her towel she was nervous as she listened to him talk about a call the fire house had to respond to today. Like her his life was also on the line every day which worried her. Kelly was handsome, sweet, dependable, adventurous, and a hero. With a long list of bad choices in her past he was what she needed in her life.

Hitting the end button on her phone, she headed towards her bedroom before she heard her phone ring again.

"Seriously" she said as she covered the short distance. Looking at the name coming across the screen she smiled.

"Yes"

"Are you dressed? Are you still coming?" the voice frantically said.

"Actually Kelly and I are going to have a night in. You know popcorn, some beers, and whatever else comes along with that."

"No, he is not allowed to eat the popcorn I brought over there. Tell him to bring his own. Wait…your coming tonight aren't you?"

"Jay, I'm coming let me get dressed before he comes to pick me up. Bye I'm hanging up!"

Finally able to get dressed without interruption she ran her hands across the material of the dress. It had been sitting in the back of her closet for some time as she had no where really to wear the dress to. She had decided to curl her hair and pin it in some kind of side swipe do and just as she put the finishing touches on her makeup she heard a sharp knock at her apartment door. Checking through the peep hole she opened the door.

"What do you think?"

"Gorgeous as always" Severide said pulling her into a kiss.

"Thanks you don't look so bad yourself" she said playfully. "I just need to grab my earrings and shoes then I will be ready to go."

Walking into her room she opened her top dresser draw as she move aside some garments she pulled out an earring box.

Last Christmas she and Jay had exchanged gifts for the holidays. She remembered looking at the little box taken aback. Inside where these stunning diamond and onyx circular stud earrings. She had been stalking them at a local jewelry store and there they were in the box. She pleaded and argued with Jay that the earrings were too much but he insisted. He told her "You covered my ass and saved my life. There is nothing I can do to repay you but when there is something that you want and deserve. Here you are Erin…Merry Christmas."

Putting the earrings in her ears she smiled. He, her partner, her work husband, her best friend, meant everything to her and she knew this was the beginning of all that changing. Picking up her speech cards off of her bed she hesitated as she looked back in her apartment and flicked the light switch to the off position.

Erin could feel the knots in her stomach getting tighter and tighter as the rode the elevator up to the fifth floor. She grabbed Kelly's hand as she tried to calm herself and breathe. One of the first things she wanted to do was grab a drink.

As the elevator doors opened they were greeted at the door by what she could presume was a friend of Allie's. The woman opened the door to the intimate room that was beautifully decorate with a stunning view of the Chicago skyline.

Erin smiled as she caught the eye of Voight and Burgess. Hugging and shaking hands with a few guests, she could feel eyes on her. Looking around someone Kelly was saying hello to, she caught his eye. They could often say everything they needed to say in a glance. She could tell that he was happy. If he was happy she knew it meant everything for her to be happy.

"Well check you out" Ruzek said to Erin.

"I clean up well don't I" Erin said punching him softly in the arm.

Before Erin could say anything else, Meredith was standing by her looking like she was ready to pounce.

"Hey there Meredith. This is my boyfriend, Kelly Severide. Kelly this is Meredith Allie's Maid of Honor."

"Nice to meet you" Meredith said excitedly. "It's so nice putting a name with a face" she continued smiling at Erin.

Erin turned as she rolled her eyes. She spotted the girls from the Firehouse and excused herself as she walked over to greet Dawson and Shay. Excitedly they exchanged pleasantries. It was always nice to see everyone under happy circumstances. Erin could see that Meredith was still talking to Kelly and her uneasiness began to show.

"What's up with that one?" Shay said motioning towards Meredith and Severide.

"Someone I don't get a good feeling from. Excuse me" Erin said heading back in the direction of the pair.

Upon making it to the pair Erin interrupted their conversation "Hey let's go say hi to a few more people before everything official starts."

"Erin, your boyfriend was telling me how you guys met. Amazing story…really a firefighter and a police officer."

Erin was getting beyond annoyed as she could feel her skin grow warm. Kelly had excused his self to go and greet some of his coworkers. Seeing the growing tense look on Erin's face, Dawson and Shay handed her a drink and joined the pair.

"So Mere, I can call you Mere right. The venue is gorgeous. Dawson is planning her upcoming wedding and this space is to die for." Shay said trying to give Erin some space.

Meredith smiled politely and ignored Shay's comments. "So Erin…"

"What do you want" Erin said shortly. "I mean do you want my social security number and blood type. You are asking way too may ques…."

Jay had sensed that she was about to blow up. He smiled and gently led her away from the group and towards a door.

"Not cool Meredith" Dawson said taking a sip of her drink.

Meredith's quizzical look did not fool Dawson one bit. "Erin is a good person and we don't like what you're trying to do here. In our line of work we build relationships with our co workers. We become a family. While you're worried about Erin, you should be worried about me. I use to date Jay. Well more like we slept together over and over again."

Annoyed Meredith walked off leaving Dawson and Shay to high five each other.

Standing on the balcony Jay and Erin overlooked the city, the city that they we sworn to protect at all cost.

"I never got to say hello properly" he said giving her a small hug. "I'm so glad you're here."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world" she responded sarcastically.

Shooting her a look, they continued to look out at the city. They could hear the music and muffed voices from inside the hall but they remained still with no words between them.

Finally Jay spoke again "You know all those things people say about being in love. The way you feel, act, and speak."

Erin nodded in agreement "Believe me I understand but sometimes it's like this doesn't feel right. Is this what it's suppose to feel like."

"Nothing's going to change" Jay said matter of factly.

"Of course it is Jay. You're getting married! I don't think that you will be getting away with late night pop ups or sleepover's on my couch."

"Why" he replied sadly.

"I'm sure Allie and Meredith would not approve."

"Meredith?"

"She is coming for me so hard Jay. She is all up in my business and questioning Kelly about our relationship."

Jay put two and two together. In an effort to calm her he put his hand over hers. "It's because you are female and you're my partner. On top of that it's because even though there is a room full of beautiful women in there you still stand out."

Squeezing her hand he continued "Erin I need you to know that I…."

Their conversation was broken up by Antonio popping his head out on the patio. "Hey get in here everyone is about to get seated."

Walking in with Antonio, Erin found her seat next to Kelly. Taking a small sip of wine from the glass placed in front of her. She tried to take subtle breaths to calm her racing heart. As Meredith began her intro for the party, she couldn't think but reflect on her and Jay's conversation several minutes earlier.

Every little girl grows up wanting to fall in love and being loved by that person in return. Her past wasn't pretty but she wanted that love that was so rich and deep that it was undeniable. A love that wasn't hard work it was natural and consuming.

Kelly's slight nudge disrupted Erin's thoughts. It was her turn to speak to the guest and every nerve in her body felt like it was on fire. Walking towards to couple at their table, she fiddled with the cards that she had written her speech on. Taking a deep breath she looked over the guest filled with coworkers, friends, and family members.

This was a big moment and she didn't want to mess it up. Looking at the couple she looked at the ring on Allie's finger. It looked perfect it was perfect. The thing was that Allie's proposal had a lot of the elements that she wanted in her own proposal and how she envisioned that very moment.

She smiled at the guest and began "I don't know how I can follow up such a lovely speech from Meredith. I wrote this speech" she said pointing at the cards in her hand. "I have never written one of these before but I don't think I will need these" she said placing them on the table.

"Know the gift that has been given to you is very precious. Hold onto it, fight for it, nurture it, and never ever give up on it. They say that true love never dies and it only gets stronger with time"

She paused for a moment trying to calm herself as her heart began to ache.

"Allie you are the partner that he has chosen to share in this journey called life. Remember to always have his back, defend him, understand him, and love him unconditionally. In return he will give you everything you deserve and then some. I realize that you may already know some of these things but sometimes we forget the things that should come automatically. I would like to extend a warm welcome to you Allie as a member of our Chicago PD family."

"Thank you so much. That was beautiful Erin" Allie said giving her a hug.

The rest of the night was one big blur. Erin remembered dancing and taking pictures and listening to Allie's parents speak about Jay. They were really nice people that Jay had never forgotten about even when Allie had moved away.

As she sat in Kelly's car on the ride home she starred out the passenger window looking at the city as they rode by it block by block. Something is missing she thought to herself over and over again. As they got out the car and headed up the stairs to her apartment, she held Kelly's hand. Unlocking the door she led him inside tracing his lips with hers, and then she finally kissed him. Leading him to her bedroom she wanted to forget that aching pain and escape the questions forming in her mind.

Waking up in the middle of the night having a sudden urge to drink water, she slid out of her bed awkwardly to not wake up Kelly. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge she opened and drank from it. The notification light on her phone caught her attention causing her to walk over to it. Checking her message inbox she saw a message from Jay.

I almost came over your house tonight but then I remembered your boyfriend and he may not like that. I miss you already.