A/N: Oh my gosh…thank you all for your kind words after last chapter! I'm so glad you liked it! I hope you like this one as well!

Drew squirmed as Jay tied one of his own ties around his neck, "I don't know if I like this."

"You asked for it," Jay breathed and finished, "There you go; I like it."

Drew hurried past him to go to the bathroom and look at his reflection in the mirror. He smiled at the red tie, "Oh yeah, this is cool."

Jay chuckled and leaned against the bathroom door, "Right? You look awesome."

Drew's eyes slid up in the mirror and he stared at his curly hair, "Dad?"

"Yeah?" Jay asked and stepped further into the room.

Drew turned to look at Jay and looked up at his hair that was definitely not curly and definitely not sticking out in different directions, "I want my hair to look like yours."

Jay raised his eyebrows and glanced at himself in the mirror, "Um, that might be difficult, bud. Yours is a little longer than mine."

"Can you please try?" Drew asked.

"I'm going to have to touch your hair," Jay said and crossed his arms, "Are you sure that's okay?"

Drew bit his lip, "I just want to look handsome."

Jay smiled slightly, "I promise you, you look handsome."

Drew crossed his own arms, "Don't lie. I look nothing like you."

Jay laughed, "Drew, I am not perfect."

"I didn't say you were perfect, I said you were handsome and I want my hair to look like yours," Drew bounced on his feet, "Please."

"Fine," Jay said, "But stay here."

"I can do that," Drew sat on the closed toilet.

Jay smiled and went into the bathroom connected to his room where Hailey was getting ready. He whistled softly while grabbing his gel from the cabinet, "You look hot."

Hailey took a deep breath, "Is it too much?" She spun in front of him wearing a black sweater dress, her hair in a ponytail, and a tube of red lipstick in her hand.

"I mean I love it," Jay grabbed her waist, "But I might not wear the red lipstick if I were you."

Hailey stared at the makeup in her hand, "I guess you're right. Maybe a pink?"

Jay nodded, "Might be more appropriate."

Hailey set the lipstick down and picked up another one, quickly putting it on, "Is he ready?"

"Shoot," Jay hurried out of the room and back to Drew's bathroom.

"Well that took way longer than I expected," Drew said.

"Sorry, I was talking to Mom," Jay squirted the gel into his hands, "Ready? There's no going back once it's in."

"Ready," Drew swung his feet.

"All right," Jay knelt in front of Drew and started putting the gel in his hair.

Drew winced and instinctively grabbed Jay's wrist.

"Want me to stop?" Jay asked.

Drew thought for a second before shaking his head slowly.

"Okay. Take a deep breath for me and I'll be quick," Jay said.

Drew let go of Jay's wrist and squeezed his eyes shut.

"Nice job, buddy," Jay whispered and worked as fast as he could. When he finished, he stood with a smile and washed his hands, "What do you think?"

Drew stood next to him and smiled at his reflection, "I like it."

"Good," Jay chuckled.

"All right, time to go," Drew said and walked out, "Mom! Ready?"

"Yes, yes, coming," Hailey came out of her room and instantly smiled, "You look super handsome."

Drew's face lit up and he spun to look at Jay, "Dad!"

Jay laughed, "I agree with her." He walked over to Drew and whispered in his ear, "What should you say to Mom?"

"Oh," Drew nodded, "Thank you."

Jay chuckled and tried again, "How does Mom look?"

"Beautiful," Drew said.

Hailey softened and put her hands out, "Thank you, honey. Can we get a picture together?"

"Yes," Drew pulled her down the stairs, "Dad, can you take a picture of us please?"

Jay laughed, "I'd love to," he followed them and took out his phone, "Okay, stand there by the door."

Drew's smile was easily the biggest Jay had seen in perhaps ever and he loved it as he took the pictures.

"Now some of just you," Hailey stepped away.

"And then a picture of just you," Drew said, "And I guess we can take a picture of Dad too."

Hailey smiled and winked at Jay, "I'd love a picture of Dad too."

"Can't help it, I'm extremely good looking," Jay took a picture of Drew just as he started laughing.

Hailey shook her head and laughed softly while taking pictures of Drew.

"Okay, okay," Drew caught his breath, "Let's switch," he grabbed Hailey's phone from her, "Do a pose."

"Do a pose?" Hailey giggled, "Like this?" she put her hand on her hip, "Or like this?" she turned and looked over her shoulder.

"That's my favorite," Jay smirked.

"Oh yeah?" Hailey teased and danced around.

"Don't waste your energy!" Drew laughed.

"Fine," Hailey smiled, "Dad's turn."

"Dad's turn?" Jay grabbed Drew and spun him around, "Really? Dad's turn?"

Drew laughed harder, "Put me down!"

"All right, all right," Jay chuckled and set him on the ground, "Go ahead and take a picture of me."

"Gladly," Hailey smiled.

Drew looked at the pictures he took on Jay's phone, "We're all very good looking."

"I completely agree," Jay squatted next to him and took the phone, "Come here, let me get a picture of all of us. Hails," he put his hand out.

Hailey smiled and lightly perched herself on Jay's leg. She looked at the three of them in Jay's screen and said, "Oh yes, we definitely are very good looking."

"I don't lie," Drew smiled.

Hailey laughed softly and kissed his cheek, "You are always so honest."

"Which is a good thing, right?" Drew asked.

"Most of the time," Jay chuckled and looked at the pictures, "Yup, these are good."

"Time to go?" Hailey stood and held her hand out to Drew.

"Yes," Drew took her hand.

"Take care of Mom," Jay squeezed Drew's shoulder.

"I promise," Drew nodded seriously.

"Thank you," Jay smiled then winked at Hailey.

She leaned forward and kissed him softly, "See you later. Have fun tonight."

"You too," Jay quickly hugged her.

"Ready?" Hailey looked to Drew.

"Yes," Drew nodded.

"Then let's go," Hailey whispered excitedly.

Jay sipped his beer then slid his phone across the bar to Kevin, "Look how cute he was."

Kevin chuckled and flipped through the pictures, "He's adorable. Oh dang, I found Hailey pictures."

Jay rolled his eyes and snatched his phone back, "Don't look at those."

"She's cute too," Kevin smirked.

"You were in our wedding," Jay laughed.

"How's she doing by the way?" Kevin finished his beer and signaled to the bartender that he wanted another.

"Um," Jay blew out slowly, "She's definitely better. We've been taking more time at night to just be together. Trying to communicate a little more – I used to think we were good at that, but," he shook his head, "Threw me for a loop."

"I get it," Kevin nodded, "It's hard to know when it's too much or not enough."

"Yeah," Jay breathed and finished his own bottle, "It was terrifying, but eye-opening, so here's hoping I'm a better husband going forward."

Kevin passed Jay another bottle of beer, "You're a damn good husband. Seriously. I want to be like you."

Jay chuckled, "Laying it on thick, don't you think?"

"Telling you the truth," Kevin shrugged.

Hailey held Drew's hands and jumped with him to the song. They were off to the side away from the big crowd, but Hailey was perfectly okay with that because she had Drew all to herself and could keep him right in front of her without fear that he'd get nervous from getting bumped.

The song finished and Drew panted, "Want some punch?"

"I'd love some," Hailey smiled and walked with him to the drink table.

Drew cleared his throat, "Um," he nervously rubbed his arms and tried swallowing against his suddenly dry mouth, "M-My m-m-mom…my mom," he looked up at Hailey and breathed shakily.

"It's okay," Hailey rubbed his back, "Can we have two drinks please?"

The teacher nodded and passed her two cups, "Here you go!"

"Thank you," Hailey smiled and led Drew to a table in the corner.

"I'm sorry," Drew mumbled.

"For what?" Hailey asked.

"I needed to be a gentleman and get your drink for you," Drew said quietly, "And I blew my shot."

Hailey shook her head and squeezed his arm, "It's okay, honey, I understand."

"Do you get nervous?" Drew started scratching his legs.

Hailey took his hands in hers and whispered, "Just cause it's not your arms doesn't mean you can still do it."

Drew blushed bright and nodded slightly.

"And yes," Hailey nodded, "I do get nervous. It's normal."

"I don't like talking to strangers, that makes me nervous," Drew said.

Hailey rubbed her thumbs over the back of his hands, "And that's okay. I'm not judging you and I don't think that teacher was judging you either."

Drew glanced behind him, "You really think so?"

"I do," Hailey squeezed his hands.

Drew freed his hands and drank his punch. He looked in the cup and smiled a little, "This is good."

"It is," Hailey smiled at him and finished her glass, "Want to dance more? Should we find your friends?"

"I only want to dance with you," Drew stood up and pulled her hand.

Jay walked in the empty house and set his keys on the side table before kicking his shoes off toward the closet. He ran a hand through his hair and walked upstairs to change into sweatpants.

Kevin kept insisting he stay at the bar with him and have another drink, but after the second beer, Jay wasn't in the mood and called it a night. He didn't think Hailey pictured him being home before her and Drew, and honestly, neither did he…yet here he was.

Jay walked back downstairs to wait on the couch for the rest of his family came home and again went through the pictures from earlier. He laughed softly at Drew's face and shook his head. That kid was a handful, but gosh he was amazing.

He debating posting a couple of the pictures on Facebook, but his phone started ringing and he bit his lip before accepting the call.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Kevin said you were at the bar with him and left after two beers, you feeling okay?" Adam asked.

Jay chuckled, "I'm fine, just wanted some peace and quiet in my own house for once."

"You sure? I can call Will for you."

"Tattling on me for leaving a bar without a buzz? That's like the opposite of a cop's job."

"Very funny, Halstead. Want me to come over?"

"Do you not believe that I truly want to be alone right now?"

"No, I do, just think it's a little strange. You can do anything you want tonight without Hailey and Drew at home, so why are you sitting on your couch?"

Jay's head whipped around, "Are you here?"

Adam chuckled, "No, must just be a lucky guess. I'm serious though, the Jay Halstead I know never used to go home without a buzz."

"Well, the Jay Halstead you know now has a wife, a son, and a baby on the way."

"I have a fiancé and daughter and still want to get a buzz."

"I didn't mean it like that."

"I know, I know. Hey, Kim's got Cara entertained in her room, feel like playing on Xbox with me?"

Jay smirked slightly and eyed the controllers next to the TV, "Is this why you really called?"

"We haven't played in forever, please."

"Yeah, sure, let me get set up."

"See, we can still have fun even when we're dads."

Hailey waited outside the boys' bathroom for Drew and looked around. She started to notice that a lot of the boys seemed to have come in groups with their moms. As she thought about it, she realized that her suspicion was right – there seemed to be a lot of moms just hanging out together ignoring their sons going crazy ten feet away.

She never imagined herself as one of those moms. She didn't want to be at her kids' events drunk on wine. She could be a soccer mom, but she'd be the one running along the sidelines and staying after practice to yell at the coach for benching her kid for too long, not the mom talking to other moms and not seeing the goal her kid scored.

Even as she looked at their outfits…pencil skirts and high heels? Not really her thing. It wasn't like she only owned pants, but her skirts and dresses tended to air on the comfortable side; even right now she was wearing a nicer pair of Converse she's saved for nights out with Jay when they – albeit rarely – went to a club.

Drew walked out of the bathroom and grabbed her hand, "Okay, I'm ready."

Hailey tore her gaze from the other moms and nodded, "To dance again?"

"Yes, it's fun," Drew smiled.

"I completely agree," Hailey squeezed his hand and walked back to the edge of the dance floor just as a slower song started.

"Wait," Drew looked around, "Wait, how do we dance to this?"

Hailey laughed softly, "We just kind of sway and hold hands like this," she put one of his arms around her waist and slowly moved her feet.

"This isn't fun like when we bounced," Drew said.

Hailey smiled, "I'm sure a faster song will come on next."

"Have you ever danced with Dad like this?" Drew asked.

Hailey's smile widened, "Yes."

Drew raised his eyebrows, "When does this even happen?"

Hailey laughed and shook her head, "At weddings a lot. We danced like this at our own wedding. We've even just danced around like this in the kitchen sometimes or in our room."

Drew's eyes widened, "In the kitchen? That's where we eat!"

"Does it bother you that Dad and I are in love?" Hailey teased.

"No," Drew blushed, "I…no."

Hailey smiled and bent down to kiss his forehead, "It's okay, I love you too." She straightened up and held his hand up, "Want me to show you how this can be more fun?"

"Sure," Drew nodded.

"All right, ready," Hailey squeezed his hand, "Spin!"

Drew laughed and spun while holding her hand, "Can I spin you?"

"Duh!" Hailey bent down and tried spinning under Drew's arm.

They switched on and off throughout the song, both uncontrollably laughing the entire time.

When the song ended, the lights went off and Drew froze, "Mom."

"It's okay," she whispered and held him against her.

"It's been fun!" the DJ said through the speaker, "But are we all ready to take this to the next level?"

A lot of the boys yelled in excitement as some strobe lights started; on the other hand, Drew covered his ears and quickly looked around, "Mom."

The music started again and seemed twice as loud as before with strobe lights and different colored lasers starting to flash around.

"Mom," Drew whined and squatted close to the ground still covering his ears, but now squeezing his eyes shut.

"Drew," Hailey knelt next to him, "Honey, it's okay, they're just lights." She was knocked to the side by a boy and landed on her side with a huff.

"No, no, no," Drew pressed his hands harder against his head.

"Okay," Hailey breathed and stood up, "Let's go," she tried pulling at Drew's arms to get him to stand.

Drew shook his head fast and pulled away from her.

"Drew," Hailey pulled at him again, "We'll leave, I just need you to help a little bit. I will carry you."

Drew remained on the ground and covered his head with his arms.

Hailey sighed and bit her lip. She took a deep breath and used all her strength to lift Drew's dead weight into her arms. "I've got you," she whispered as she made her way to their table to grab her purse and their jackets.

Drew didn't seem to notice what was happening as he continued whining quietly into Hailey's neck.

"You're okay," Hailey tightened her hold on Drew and carried him outside the school. Once they were in the cool air, she sat on a bench and slid Drew off of her to sit on his own. She lightly touched the side of his face, "Feeling better?"

Drew sniffled and slowly uncovered his ears. He blinked a few times and looked around, "I w-want to go home."

Hailey nodded and helped him into his jacket, "We'll get home as soon as possible."

Drew took a deep breath and then started instantly crying, "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry."

"No, don't," Hailey said softly and hugged him against her, "Do not be upset about what happened. It's okay."

"I ruined our date," Drew sobbed into her chest.

"You did not," Hailey rubbed his back.

"I'm so sorry," Drew gripped her shirt.

"Drew," Hailey pulled back as much as she could, "Let me tell you something that Dad and I have told each other so many times before," she rested her hand on his cheek and wiped some of his tears away with her thumb, "You do not need to ever apologize for being upset or scared – ever – understood?"

"But I was so bad," Drew cried.

"You were not bad," Hailey shook her head, "I promise you, I am not mad at you or upset that we're leaving. I'm okay with going home. We can hang out with Dad and maybe eat ice cream in bed. Do you like the sound of that?"

Drew hiccupped and sobbed again, "I don't know!"

Hailey kissed his head and stood, "Let's get to the car," she helped him stand and held him against her side as she led the way to her car.

Jay waited by the front door with his jacket and shoes on, having turned off his game with Adam the second Hailey texted him saying she'd need help getting Drew in the house.

He didn't know what to expect. All he knew was that the dance wasn't supposed to be over for another hour, so the fact that they were coming home and Hailey needed help wasn't the best indication of how the night went – or at least ended.

When the headlights turned into the driveway, Jay quickly went outside to Hailey's car and opened the backdoor to see – and hear – Drew crying in his seat.

"Did we interrupt?" Hailey asked and turned the car off.

"No," Jay unbuckled Drew and lifted him out of the car, "Buddy, it's Dad."

Drew wrapped his arms around Jay's neck and cried harder into his shoulder.

Jay kicked the car door close and walked inside with Hailey's lead.

"Wait," Hailey breathed once the front door was closed and slipped Drew's shoes and jacket off of him.

"Steady me?" Jay asked and waited for her hand on his arm to kick his own shoes off. "Thanks," he breathed and carried Drew up to the main bedroom.

Hailey followed, but stopped at the hall closet and pulled out her old navy comforter before walking into the bedroom, "Let's try wrapping him up."

"What happened?" Jay asked, sitting on the bed and holding a still crying Drew to his chest.

"A lot of lights and loud music," Hailey whispered and tossed the comforter on the bed. She grabbed the weighted blanket from their closet and carried it to the bed.

She was about to suggest they lay down when Jay said, "I'll keep holding him. He's shaking pretty bad."

Hailey bit her lip and put the weighted blanket on them first before wrapping the comforter around them.

Jay closed his eyes and gently started rocking Drew, "You're safe. We're here. You're safe."

Hailey sat to his side and slipped her shoes off, "I got him out and that seemed to help, but he spiraled even further when he realized I was taking him home and our date was ending."

Jay smiled sadly and nodded, "How was it otherwise?"

Drew let out a loud sob into Jay's shirt and kicked his legs against the blankets.

"Tell you later?" Hailey set a hand on Drew's back.

"Works for me," Jay breathed and tightened his arms around Drew.

"Let's count, sweetheart," Hailey said softly. She bent down closer to Drew's ear and whispered, "One, two, three…"

Jay could feel Drew's heart pounding against him and tried not to wince as Drew's fingers scraped through his shirt against his skin. He breathed slowly in an attempt to help Drew calm down, but was terrified it wasn't working.

Hailey had finally reached thirty-four when they heard Drew's quiet voice join in and whimper, "Thirty-five."

Hailey smiled at Jay and winked, "Thirty-six, thirty-seven."

At fifty-nine, Drew's voice faded off again and he slightly curled up against Jay.

Hailey stopped counting and climbed around Jay to peek at Drew's face. "He's asleep," she whispered.

Jay tried looking for himself and smiled, "Good."

"Can we keep him in bed with us tonight?" Hailey bit her lip.

Jay glanced up at her. Her eyes were wide and just barely red as if she were on the edge of crying with her bottom lip tucked in-between her teeth. "Yeah," he breathed and nodded, "He can sleep here."

"Thank you," Hailey closed her eyes briefly in relief.

Jay pulled his hand out from underneath the blankets to brush Hailey's hair back, "Hey, we're in this together, okay? Forever."

Hailey nodded slightly, "Okay."

Jay looked down at Drew again and chuckled, "I…would really like to kiss you Hails, but I'm kinda tied down at the moment."

Hailey shook her head, laughing softly. She went up on her knees and lightly kissed Jay. "I'm so happy we're partners," she whispered.

"Wouldn't want anyone else," Jay smiled against her.

A/N: This chapter will definitely be continued in the next one, so I hope you liked it enough to continue! Have a great day! :)