I needed some fluff in my life, here's some pre-Christmas kiddo fluff, not exactly the time of year for it i know but hopefully you all enjoy. ps thank you so much for your kindness re my previous stories ps. if you've got any prompts for the Halstead family - feel free to pm me xx
"It suits you, babe." Hailey just about hides the smirk that's taking over her face.
Jay turns away from looking in the mirror, carefully looks around to see if they're alone, and on seeing they are raises his middle finger.
"I hate you."
"Say it again without the heart eyes, Jay and maybe one in a million will believe you."
Jay shakes his head, his head that's covered, aside from his face, along with most of the rest of his body with fabric.
Fabric with baubles attached to it, and tinsel. Lots of tinsel. It makes a light tinkling noise anytime Jay moves.
Hailey's smirk widens. "You sound like Rudolph and all the reindeers Jay."
Whatever Jay's about to come back with gets forgotten by the sound of two pairs of running feet.
"Daddy, you're a kissmas tree." exclaims the owner of the smallest pair of feet.
"Not kissmas, Ellie, Christmas." explains the older of the two, a now 8-year-old Daniel Halstead, who then as he regards his father adds, "Daddy, you look funny."
"Thanks kiddo," Jay replies drily ruffling his son's hair before he reaches for their youngest child, Elena. Ellie for short.
4-year-old Elena. Whereas Daniel's grown ever more into a blonder child, a mini male version of Hailey, all traces of red now gone, Ellie's definitely more like her dad. Brown hair, freckles, her eyes match the color of Jay's.
"Hey El," Jay says holding Elena now as his daughter's hands reach out to one bauble hanging from his costume, "You were right first time, I am a kissmas tree," then he presses a gentle kiss against his daughter's cheek.
As Elena's expression turns from curiosity into sheer delight, Jay meets Hailey's eyes as she smiles at them both.
"What?"
Hailey shakes her head, "Just when I think you can't get cuter, you outdo yourself."
"Aww, you want a kiss from kissmas tree too, honey." Jay responds, leaning down toward Hailey who takes a step backward.
"Uh-uh no, what I would like though is a picture for the family album."
"Which you'll probably share with Adam and Kev and everyone so no way."
"Come on daddy," Danny pipes up.
"Yeah, come on daddy, also as if I would so stop being all suspicious Sergeant Halstead for a second and let's take a family picture."
"I'm suspicious Sergeant Halstead for a reason around you and you know it or are we forgetting about the ice cream cone costume incident?"
"That was 2 years ago and you still won't shut up about it, you looked cute then too," Hailey says as she pinches Jay's cheek, grinning as Danny giggles and recognizing her impending victory as a look of resignation appears on Jay's face.
"OKKKKK, and you promise no one's coming to see the play?"
"Jay, they all have families, they're all doing a ton of these shows just like this for themselves and their families, why on earth would they want to take in another show just to see you in your natty little Christmas tree outfit?"
"Kissmas!" Ellie exclaims as she pats a bauble distractedly that narrowly avoids hitting Jay in the eye.
"Sorry Ellie, kissmas it is, now come on say cheese guys," Hailey instructs as she lifts the camera higher.
Quite where a christmas tree with tinsel appeared within the whole Christmas story Jay's always been familiar with, he's not sure.
He's waiting in the wings for his cue alongside other parents. This play is for Ellie's pre-school, next week it's Danny's where it's just the kids taking part and hopefully crime will take two hours off so both he and Hailey can attend again.
From Jay's vantage point, he can see Hailey and Danny. Danny's holding up the camera while Hailey coaches him, the room's full, some parents and wider family are stood up at the back and around the sides.
Will said he'd try to come, but his shift had clashed with today. Next week maybe he can come. Soon, it'll be him dressing up too as Josh is almost 2.
Jay's attention returns to the stage where the children are singing. Christmas songs of all kinds, traditional and also pop songs.
Ellie's part will be when Jay's on stage, too. Her part practiced over and over in the living room with her mom, hidden from Jay when he was at work and grabbed in the times when Hailey wasn't at work with Jay.
There's an older lady hovering around busily backstage. She's got a pen and a pad, not for her the modern ways that every other person running the show holds a tablet.
She's in charge of getting the Christmas tree, the extra large donkey standing on 2 rather than 4 feet, and the giant Christmas turkey.
The three wise men are already on stage, crammed into the corner.
The tap on the shoulder from the lady with the notepad is quick, and her hurried, "Go on, go on," has Jay shuffling onto the stage, the light tinkling echoing around his head as he finds his place.
Just as more children appear and Jay looks out for Ellie. Hears the strains of Little Donkey and twenty children's voices all at different levels and pitches fill the room.
When Ellie appears, Jay's not sure what he expected, it's still better than he imagined as he sees her being ushered onto the stage, a gentle push from one of her teachers prompting her to shuffle on.
Ellie appears with two other kids. Dressed as a mini version of Jay. Baubles twinkling as the spotlight beams on her and the other two, one dressed as a donkey like her dad and the other, just like her mom, a Christmas turkey.
Against his better judgement, he hopes Hailey and Danny are capturing his reaction and particularly the moment Ellie reaches the place where Jay's stood and peers up at her dad and waves before she turns back to facing the audience and loudly joins in with the song.
That's when Jay does the same, that's when he spots Hailey looking behind her and waving and Jay figures it's at another of the parents they've gotten to know.
Except a hand from the back of the room waves back, followed by another, and they're so familiar.
"Oh Jeez," he says aloud before he fixes Hailey with a stare and shakes his head at her butter wouldn't melt smile before he gives up, it's too late now after all and he lowers his hand to touch the angel on the top of Elena's Christmas tree costume then joins in with the song as loudly as he can muster.
Jay feels a LOT lighter now the costume's off, though he suspects he'll be finding remnants of glitter on his person for days to come, hundreds of showers done or not.
Ellie refuses point blank in that typical 'if you tell me to do this before I'm ready I'll scream the whole theater down daddy, just try me,' 4-year-old way that they'd had with Danny in similar circumstances.
She runs ahead of him as he slows, nearing Hailey and Danny.
Not just Hailey and Danny, though.
"Ruz, Burgess, I got a mind to stick you both on stakeouts for the next week for this."
Adam's pretty good at the mock shocked glances Jay reckons as he holds his hands up.
"Whoa man, Hailey said you were cool with us being here."
"Thanks Ruzek," Hailey says drily as she lightly slaps his arm.
Kim shakes her head at Adam, "I love you Adam but it really is amazing how you've been undercover for so long at various parts of your life given how quick you folded then," then turning to Jay, she smiles sweetly, deceptively sweetly, "Jay, honestly I think you found your calling, it was even better than the ice cream cone outfit."
"You, both of you, can leave and if I see any of these pictures on Facebook, Instagram, on any social network, paperwork and stakeouts."
Adam laughs, "You'd be a hell of a lot more menacing, man without that splodge of glitter on your nose right now, just saying."
Jay curses, brushing at his nose, staring down at his fingers which are covered in glitter.
Hailey hisses at him, "The kids, Jay," though she steps in front of him smiling and brushes his nose.
"Mom, you say it too but you told us to say fudge instead." Danny says matter of fact-ly.
"is that right, Danny? That right, Hailey?"
Hailey huffs, "You know what I think, I think it's time to go for some food, you coming guys?" she looks toward Kim and Adam.
Kim nods, "Honestly, I could a whole room full of food this little person in my stomach would have me eat you all right now if it was socially acceptable so lead the way, please so I don't consider it as an option."
"Where's Josh?" Jay asks.
"With his grandpa." Adam replies with a smile.
"Cool, and where's Kev? I expected Kev to be here leading the camera crew and Voight, I would have laid even money on him being here if you two are."
Kim grins as she leans in to Jay, "Voight's out of town and well, rumor has it Kev's practising for a play too, we're just trying to find out where it is so we can go support him there too."
"You call that support?" Jay scoffs, thumbing back toward to the stage, "Also, how'd you two get out of any plays so far?"
Hailey coughs, trying to disguise a smile as Adam and Kim look away.
"Wait, when did you-?"
"I was dressed as one of the 3 wise men and if you think I was gonna let any of you guys see it, well it absolutely would never happen."
"And you knew?" Jay asks Hailey.
"You were busy with that case, Jay."
Jay shakes his head, "You think you know your wife and your friends, well next year, I'll be making sure I find out all this information first. "
"O-kay Jay," Hailey says before she calls to the kids, "Ellie, Danny, come on we're going for tea with Uncle Adam and Auntie Kim."
They watch as Danny looks their way, his face lighting up, and reaches for his sister's hand. Ellie, who'd been playing with one of her best friends while fidgeting continuously with the bauble that's caught her attention the whole time, cheerfully waves to her friend and walks with Danny over to the small group.
Danny snuggling into Hailey and letting go of Ellie's hand as she pulls on Adam's coat and looks up at him.
"Merry Kissmas!"
"Hey little miss bauble, merry kissmas to you too," Adam responds, scooping Ellie up who giggles delightedly as Adam tickles her stomach.
Jay exchanges a glance with Hailey, who reaches out her hand to Jay as Danny holds onto her other hand, watching as Adam, Kim and their daughter walk ahead of them.
"Sometimes in the middle of the year when the city's crazy, when the scars of everything that's happened over the years weigh heaviest on me, on you, when between us we're barely, if ever, getting home in time to see the kids to bed, never mind anything else, when I have to watch you go out and I'm stuck behind the desk or vice versa when it's so different to how we began, I forget how good it can be then this all happens, and I'm good again and that's all down to you, down to them, down to the friends we have, the family we got, most of all you though."
Hailey squeezes Jay's hand lightly as they follow the others and as Danny sings cheerfully from the other side of Hailey.
"I think you got a little to do with it too Jay."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, merry kissmas Sergeant Halstead."
Jay laughs lightly, "Merry kissmas to you too, Detective Halstead."