"I - thank you all so much," Erin whispered, her throat scratchy with tears and her heart full of appreciation because here, right here surrounded by every single member of the team she had come to call family she knew without a shadow of a doubt that this baby girl was going to grow up loved. Loved, appreciated, cherished. Everything that she hadn't been growing up in that abusive and dark and dirty home and for that Erin couldn't be more grateful because Anabel would always have someone to turn to and would always have someone to tell her that they loved her.

It was dark, the dim glow from the lamps perched on the corners of everyone's desks the only source of light in the room because it was well past the time everyone normally clocked out and well past the time everyone usually settled down on a bar stool at Molly's and tried to erase the horrors of the day with a few bottles but tonight was special, and tonight was different because there was a pile of unwrapped baby gifts near Hank's office door, and there was a pink and white frosted cake on Jay's desk with the word 'congratulations' scrawled in an intricate cursive of pastel frosting and there was the constant, unwavering grin turning up the corners of Jay's mouth as he tried really, really hard not to keep kissing the future mother of his child in a pure sense of bliss because his boss and her father figure kept edging closer and though in the middle of his speech his eyes had welled with tears at the mention of his future granddaughter and the thought of the only daughter he had ever known becoming a mother Jay was all too aware of the fact the man had a mean right-hook.

Burgess raised her glass of good wine they'd all splurged on for the occasion in a toast then, and Ruzek followed suit and Erin was able to pick up on the fact that they had been side by side all night, and he'd edged closer to her amidst the flurry of wrapping paper and now his fingers brushed against his ex-fiance's elbow every so often when he thought no one was looking. And yeah sure, maybe it was the happy buzz of activity in the bullpen and maybe it was the affects of the alcohol but nonetheless she was happy to see the two of them getting along and not keep an arm's length from each other as they' tried to do since Adam had returned from his undercover assignment and Erin made a mental note to set up a double date when she was able to safely to handle her booze again and could make it past the hour of nine o'clock without dozing off.

The team erupted into a pleasant chatter and she finally relaxed because the attention was off of her and the focus wasn't entirely on her huge bulge of a belly and her tiny, delicate baby girl who was kicking and squirming and who apparently had her father's liking for chocolate milkshakes because she was slurping away on her third of the night and trying and failing not to feel guilty or gross about the fact but she caught his familiar blue eyes from across the room while he was finishing up with Olinsky, and then he was at her side and snaking an arm around her waist and taking his own drink of the sweet treat and she couldn't help but giggle and feel a little less like a beached whale. Like father, like daughter. "This is the third one I've had, and it's all your fault. She's got a sweet tooth," Erin murmured and she watched his eyes light up with wonder and love and adoration and she stood on her tiptoes to brush her lips against his cheek because damn, Jay Halstead kept getting better looking and more irresistible if that was even possible and she was going to absolutely maul him the second she could do more than waddle around their apartment or lay in a heap of exhaustion amongst her pillows at night, fidgeting to try and get comfortable because she used to fall asleep on her belly and she was still trying to adjust her habits all courtesy of keeping Anabel comfortable.

"At least she's got a sweet something," he whispered in her ear, his warmth breath drifting deliciously over her earlobe and she fiercely nibbled on her bottom lip to keep her impulses in check because they were, after all a mere few paces from Voight. "She's gonna get your stubborn streak and fiery personality so I'll gladly take all the sweet I can get," he teased with his signature smirk and she rolled her eyes good-naturedly because they both knew Erin Lindsay was all kinds of sweet when it came to Jay Halstead.

She was sweet in the way she always saved him the corner sliced of pizza whenever they ordered out because she knew it was his favorite what with the extra bit of crust.

She was sweet in the way she'd let him take over driving duties and even sweeter still because she'd promised that even after the baby was born he'd get to keep that prized position even after she was back as his partner and out on the streets again.

She was sweet in the way she would trace gentle circles over his bare chest in the darkness of their bedroom, her hazel hues never leaving his blue ones because she still couldn't quite believe he'd chosen her and she still couldn't quite believe they were starting their own family.

But most importantly, she was sweet in the way she sat every night in the nursery he had built with his own bare hands because he loved those girls more than life itself, rocking ever so gently in the rocking chair and humming sweet nothings to her daughter, halting the tune only to whisper about her father; how he would always be her fierce protector, how mommy and daddy would both love her beyond any sort of measure, how with only a bat of her eyelashes she would be able to get him to do absolutely anything she wanted and standing there, in the shadows of the door frame so he wouldn't be spotted, Jay couldn't muster up an ounce of disagreement because Erin was without a shadow of a doubt right.

"Halstead, Lindsay."

Voight's gruff tone brought them both back to the bullpen and they widened the gap between their bodies and even though he'd given his blessings and even though they were here celebrating the baby they'd both created, Erin knew it was a respect thing to Jay, and she loved him even more for it. She watched him give a nod and a quick wink, turning straight into Ruzek's rowdy hoots and hollers and claps on the back in congratulations and it took her a moment to remember that Hank was still there, quiet and brooding as ever but his eyes were soft and warm and welcoming and she remembered that stormy night he'd brought her home when she was a mere fifteen years old; how terrified and utterly distraught she'd been because she was damn certain she'd find a way to fuck this chance up, that she'd find a way to earn this kind man's disappointment and disgust, but he'd grabbed her tiny, freezing hand in his bigger one and led her to Camille and to Justin and all the rest was history. He'd given her a family and now she was creating her own and so she couldn't stop the tears as Hank pulled her into his arms, shushing her and rocking softly back and forth to calm her down as he'd always known how to do.

"Hey, kid. Happy thoughts tonight, alright?" He pulled back, keeping his hands on her shoulders and she blubbered out a 'yeah, yeah' before he pulled her back for another squeeze, letting out a throaty chuckle. "I have something for you."

Erin maneuvered away from him then, a soft hint of a frown furrowing her features because he'd already given what had to be a lifetime's supply of diapers that she'd unwrapped, but he pulled a worn teddy bear from behind his back with a tiny pink bow wrapped around its neck and her eyes welled with tears for the hundredth time that night because she knew exactly where it had come from. Camille had bought him for Justin before her son was born, and Erin had always been jealous of the fact he'd had a mother that cared enough about him to buy him nice things but she'd thought she'd hidden her ill feelings well from all those years ago because at least she now had warm meals to ease the painful stabs in her stomach and at least she now had a pillow to lay her head on at night. She should've known Camille would've picked up on what she really felt.

"She kept on me to save it, and even after she was gone it took me years to figure out why. And when Justin passed, it only seemed right to- well, I hope Anabel appreciates it just as much." Erin gently took the bear from his hands and Hank kissed her cheek and gave her hand one last squeeze before venturing over to Olinsky because he'd never been one for mushy except when it came to his grandchildren and Erin had a feeling there was going to be plenty more gifts where that came from.

"Last one, promise." Jay was back at her side and she had to grin because he was wearing her favorite grey Henley and a dark pair of jeans and his blue eyes were radiant the closer in proximity he got but she was momentarily distracted from his piercing orbs by the jangling in his hands. And then he pressed what felt like cold metal into the palm of her hand and her lips turned up into an even bigger smile despite the tears that began to drip down her cheeks. Jay wiped them away with the pads of his thumbs, letting his lips linger over hers for a brief moment before pulling away, his blue eyes twinkling.

"Dog tags," she whispered. 'Anabel Camille Halstead' was printed on one side, with Jay's fingerprints on the other. The quote 'home is always with you' was scratched into another tag, with Erin's fingerprint on the opposite side.

"Next is an engagement ring. Don't think I've forgotten about your present," he murmured, and she pulled him close and breathed in his delicious scent and she tried not to grumble as Will yanked his little brother away from her but she was soon comforted by Owen's sweet smile and Natalie's welcoming embrace and Erin was certain she'd never been this overjoyed in her entire life. This was family. This was home.