Ok, so this is the last chapter of Volume I...but as you have probably worked out, there will be a second Volume of this story - don't worry Avery's journey isn't over quite yet! Thank you guys for all the support on this story! :)

2 MONTHS LATER

Avery was walking to the precinct from school - where she'd been volunteering with younger groups, as everyone was coming round to Erin, Jay and Avery's for a team game night once their shift ended, even Voight. Erin said they'd order pizza and play a ton of board games, Avery was really excited. She missed having Lottie around the apartment, as a month ago Lottie moved in with Hailey - the two got on quite well and Hailey enjoyed the company of the younger girl.

Lottie and Avery had officially graduated High School, and graduation day was emotional for Erin, Jay and everyone from Intelligence who came. Avery graduated with honours, and was taking a gap year before University, after all she was only sixteen...almost seventeen now. Lottie had passed her classes and graduated with offers to the University of Chicago, to study Fashion and Design. Avery wasn't sure what she wanted to do, she wanted to work with her Mom for some time maybe...but Erin encouraged her to go on to bigger things, after all she did graduate two years early. She could see herself doing something good for the world...maybe journalism, but she wasn't really sure, she just knew that for the next year, she'd enjoy spending time with her Mom and Jay, hopefully staying out of trouble.

She arrived at the precinct and smiled at Trudy, before heading to the Intelligence door and putting her hand print down - they'd logged her on to the system as she was there so often. Avery ran up the stairs to a partially empty bullpen, only Jay, her Mom and Hailey sitting together in the break room, discussing something over coffee. They all smiled when they saw Avery walk towards the break room.

"Hey sweetheart, how was it?" Erin said, pulling Avery in for a hug.

"Good...some of those nine graders are kinda dumb though." Avery said hugging her Mom back. She went to the coffee machine and poured herself a mug, before sitting down on the chair next to her Mom.

"Don't I get a hug?" Jay said, with faux outrage, Avery rolled her eyes and got up to hug Jay who ruffled her hair up playfully. "Thank you Avery Leonie." She chuckled and sat back down.

"So...where is everyone?"

"Chasing down a lead, Voight didn't want us going." Jay said simply. "I hope they hurry the hell up because I'm STARVING and I want pizza..and beer."

"All in good time Halstead...all in good time." Erin laughed.

The team got back an hour later, and Voight called it a day for everyone. They all left the precinct and headed for the Lindsay-Halstead apartment, which Erin and Jay had frantically tidied during their break from work.

They all walked in and headed straight for the sofa, Jay getting everyone the drinks they wanted from the fridge and Erin phoning in for the pizza. Hailey and Kim picked out the games: Trivial pursuit, Cards against Humanity and Monopoly (for some British spirit).

About five minutes later, someone knocked at the door and Erin went to answer it. Lottie was standing in the doorway, looking excited to see her best friend. "Hey Lotts, so glad you could make it!" Erin said, smiling and hugging her.

"Of course! I've missed you guys." Lottie said, walking in. Avery ran and launched herself in to Lottie's arms, the girl returning the hug gratefully. "I've missed you so much A."

"I've really missed you too." Avery said, as they walked back to the sofa. Erin got herself, Avery and Lottie a soda, who looked up at her pleadingly.

"Erin...please...just half a beer. Please?!" Lottie said.

Erin arched an eyebrow. "Uhhh, absolutely not young lady." Erin said sternly, with a hint of humour in her voice.

"But Hailey lets me have whiskey!" Lottie said, causing Erin to shoot Hailey a faux glance of outrage.

"Hey! That was ONE TIME Lottie. ONE TIME, and I only gave you the tiniest amount." Hailey said, putting her hands up. Lottie rolled her eyes and accepted the soda.

"Enough bickering, lets get on with these games!" Voight spoke up, setting up Trivial pursuit. Erin and Avery gave each other a sly fistbump - they'd decided to team for the night, much to everyone's dismay.

They all played the games, drank beer and ate pizza. The room was filled with laughter and play fights between everyone...Jay the sour loser made a return and chased Avery round with a cushion for laughing at him. Everyone stayed until late, before all calling cabs home because they'd all drunk alcohol. Hailey and Lottie went home together first, hugging everyone before heading out, and then eventually it was just Erin, Jay and Avery left sitting on the sofa, all cuddled up together. Erin looked at her little family, Jay and Avery - her two favourite people. She'd never seen herself with a family like this, she'd always thought it would just be her and Avery once her daughter was born...but now, things were different.

Erin hadn't told anyone, but she'd been having morning sickness for about a week, and she had a hunch about something. To cover all bases, she'd purchased a pregnancy test from the drugstore earlier and planned to do it later that night. She'd pieced the puzzle together, she'd missed a day of her pill, and then that night Jay and her...without protection. Erin excused herself from the room, Avery and Jay just nodded and carried on watching TV together.

She slipped off to the bathroom and grabbed the pregnancy test box from her bag. Taking a deep breath, she opened the box and completed the test, tapping her fingers against the sink as she waited for the test to determine the result. After the required amount of time she turned the stick over and put her hand over her mouth at the results. Two lines.

Erin was pregnant.