The days flew by and now it was time for the moment of truth. Jay would finally meet the person who infinitely helped him cope with his loss all these months. He honestly doesn't know how he would have done it without her. Just knowing he had someone he could open up to again without judgement or pity had been plenty. He knows how sad his friends and family were for him, and for themselves, so it was nice to not have to maneuver through all of those emotions as well. Signing up to find this pen pal had probably been the best advice Hank had ever given him.

So now he sits on a bench on the outskirts of Millennium Park overlooking the lake and waits. They had agreed to meet right outside the entrance. Luckily it was a mild day temperature wise for early December in Chicago. He found that he wasn't getting cold at all and he had already been there for a half hour just reflecting on everything and enjoying the peaceful quiet and serenity of the view. He was nervous. He honestly didn't know what to expect from this. He was still feeling guilt for opening up so much to someone that wasn't Hailey, but he also knew he owed this person. This person… he laughs at that because he still had no idea who they were. He finally signed the end of his last letter, "Jay," but when he saw she hadn't done the same, he questioned it. He messaged her again last night:

~ "Wait, I just realized I still don't even know your name?"

~ "I'll tell you my name tomorrow…"

…was all the girl had said. This whole scenario had been such a help to him that all of his years as a cop and army ranger, he had purposely overlooked those details. Afterall, he had been pretty anonymous himself this whole time. But as he sat there waiting it was starting to unnerve him a little. Why would she need to wait to tell him her name in person? They were going to meet anyway, so he was bound to find out who she really was. Why maintain the secrecy at this point? He started to think back over every interaction they had. Her continually nicknaming him, "Not Really My Thing," being connected to police, "I had to let him go…," "dress silly"-urging him on Halloween, the undercurrent of teasing… it had all been so familiar. And then Hank's words last week hit him like a brick. He had told him this meeting could just be as simple as two lost souls REconnecting. He didn't catch it then, but why would his boss phrase it like that? How do you reconnect with someone you've never met? Why wouldn't he just say: "two lost souls connecting?" or "making a connection." And why had Hank been so adamant with him on doing this the whole time? Sure, he wanted to leave no stone unturned to what would help his longest tenured detective, but he was very confident in this, even when Jay wasn't so sure himself. The dots are starting to connect in a way that Jay doesn't want to think about. Because going there… thinking that, it would give him too much hope. And the last thing he needs is to be setup for heartache again. Hailey's gone, she's been gone, and he's accepted that, he has… except why does it now suddenly feel like maybe she's not? Maybe she has been with him this entire time? And more than just a visionary, supernatural presence. He's trying to talk himself out of these ridiculous thoughts when he hears footsteps behind him, stopping just shy a few feet away. His senses go on high alert, he notices the goosebumps and the hairs on the back of his neck rising, and he feels her before she even speaks. A simple:

"Hey…"

Comes the voice behind him and he feels like he's about to pass out. He'd recognize the softness of that tone anywhere. The one she always used on him. He hears it in the deepest parts of his soul. And he feels the tears start to well up before he even turns around to face her. Because it can't be. He can't be this lucky to be gifted with such a second chance. But he knows he'll be eternally thankful for the rest of his life for it. He finally turns his head and sees her. And before he even realizes it he's up and running towards her.

"Hailey?.." he whispers out before they embrace, both in a fit of tears.

He doesn't know how long they stand there, just holding each other. But he knows it will never be enough. After what he's learned over these months, there will never be enough time. And he'll never take it for granted again. He pulls away slightly to look into her gorgeous, tear-filled eyes. And he knows it's not a fever dream. Her face it a little fuller. But it's definitely his Hailey. He leans down to give her a passionate kiss which she happily reciprocates. And when they eventually pull apart to breath, he wraps his arm around her and they walk back to the bench to sit together. When the spell of shock has finally worn off, he finally finds the words to speak again.

"How is this possible? Are you okay? Where have you been this whole time? Why?" he stammers all at once.

She chuckles lightly. 'God, I've missed you! I know it's a lot to take in…" she replies, grabbing his hand.

She seems to need a minute to gather her thoughts and he lets her. He'll let her take a lifetime if she needs, now that he has her back.

"Do you remember Gael Rodriguez? The drug dealer I planted evidence on to get Vanessa's friend his deal?" She manages to get out after taking a deep breath.

"Of course. That guy was a psycho who brutally killed anyone who crossed him. How could I forget? But why does he matter? I thought he was sent away for at least 8 more years?" Jay asks confused, but the pieces slowly coming together in his mind.

"Yeah, well, apparently he made some kind of deal assisted by new reform. He got released last Fall and supposedly he found out it was me who planted his drugs and got him put away. He put a hit on my life, on my family's if need be…" He realizes what she's emphasizing—you.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he demands. He would have helped. He would have been there with her.

"There was no time. Like you said, he was a psycho. When Voight and the Feds found out they immediately agreed I should go into Witness Protection. Fake my death and make it look like it was all said and done. And the fact that I 'died' in such a brutal way, well that would have been icing on the cake for someone like Gael."

"How'd you guys pull it off? I mean the owner's husband got arrested for that storefront bombing. Someone else died in it."

She shakes her head. "It was all a ruse. The owner agreed to let us use her store because with insurance money and a butt ton of federal aid as a thank you, she would make a goldmine. The 'husband' was an agent, which was all setup too, and there was never another body. Just a story. Although I guess if you count me, there wasn't any dead bodies period that came from it…"

"Wow, and Voight was in on it this entire time? Anyone else?"

"No…" she emphasizes. "Just him. Everyone had to believe I was dead for Gael to believe it."

"I can't believe it. I can't believe he knew." Jay says in shock.

Hailey rubs his wrist. "Hey, don't be mad at him. He hated lying to you. Hated seeing you like that, but he had to. It was the only way, Jay…"

Jay laughs slightly in awe. "You knew, didn't you?... You knew I'd read your letter due to the photo, your caption, and your wording?"

Hailey smiles softly at him. "I was hoping… The link that Voight had sent you was encrypted, so it forwarded the profile you made right to me. He told me how bad you were handling things, and it was killing me that I couldn't be there to help you. So we came up with the idea. We all know how persuasive Hank can be when he wants to, so I knew he'd be able to talk you into it. It was the best thing for me, maybe both of us. It was like I was able to look at you through glass. It allowed me to keep my eye on you, I just couldn't touch or reach out; and this way you were protected from Gael and any potential blowout because you couldn't see me. You didn't know it was me. It was therapeutic for both of us in a way. I had to be able to be there for you somehow…"

Jay shakes his head in surprise. "I can't believe it worked. Especially on me who is so guarded when it comes to opening up to people. You know, I was actually starting to feel guilty that I had let someone else in who wasn't you. Little did I know, I guess."

"Yeah… You were right though. I was proud… so proud of you for opening up despite the pain. I'm so sorry I put you through all this! I heard you came close to risking your life, Jay. You were supposed to be in that hardware store longer…" she chokes out.

"They didn't have the saw…" he shrugs at her sheepishly, like it's not a big deal how close he did come to losing his life.

"I don't know, I don't know what I'd have done if those men didn't stop you from going in. I would have lost it! I can't fathom really losing you. And I'm so sorry because I can only imagine what all these months have been like for you. I'm sooo sorry I put you through this!" she starts to sob.

He pulls her into him again and speaks into her hair. "Hey, no, I'M SORRY. Me? Was it gut wrenching? Of course! But I had everyone around me. You, you were all alone with this…"

She grabs his hand and looks into his eyes again. "I wasn't all alone, Jay."

"Well, of course you got to speak to Voight on occasion." He says confused.

"No, I mean I was never alone…"

She unzips her coat to reveal an enlarged belly and rests Jay's hand on it. His eyes go wide and he feels tears building again. There's no way. He spent these months thinking he lost Hailey for good, and now he not only finds that he gets her back, but they're having a baby as well? Maybe his mother was right to believe in miracles afterall.

"Is this for real?" he gasps in happiness.

She laughs through her tears. "Yeah, yeah it is. I'm almost 8 months. I didn't know before all this happened… had I known I would have fought for something else. Forced them to let you come with me somehow. After I found out, naturally I had to tell Hank. And he was enraged. I knew then that he would find a way for us to get back. Back to you, back to him, back to the team. Find his way somehow. And sure enough… Gael Rodriguez was killed in a drive-by last week. The threat is gone… I didn't ask any other questions…" she drifts off and they both understand what she's insinuating. Hank Voight was Hank Voight, after all. And he fiercely protected those he loved.

Jay practically beams. "So you're back for good? You're home? And we're really pregnant?"

"We are indeed. He's due on January 18th." She smooths her hands over his on her belly.

"HE?" Jay murmurs out.

"Mhmm!"

He leans in to kiss her again and pulls her tight against him. They sit there quietly in each other's embrace for a while longer. Just basking in this moment as the sun sets on the lake around them. There's still much to discuss, and a lot of people to fill in, but Jay doesn't care about any of that right now. He has everything he's ever wanted here in his arms and he never intends to let it go again…

The next month is spent in utter happiness. They shed more tears than most do in a lifetime, between filling in their friends and family, but for the first time since Spring they're tears of joy among all. That first night they kept it to themselves, wanting to just bask in their return to each other. And Jay finally managed to sleep in their bed again. By the end of the week though, they had shocked everyone with the news. Jay had a very sentimental moment with Hank in particular, thanking him for being there throughout it all and for doing everything he did to protect Hailey and him and their future baby. And Jay found that after all the turmoil, he didn't end up alone on the holidays after all. It was like one of Hailey's last letters said: "if we lose hope, then what's really left?" And she had been right. She had to deal with her own sadness of possibly giving birth without Jay and having no idea when he'd actually be able to meet his son, but she had to keep hoping for the best. She prayed for there to be a way she could get back to Jay before the baby was born, and it had come true. And Jay had never been more gleeful to be forced into watching days of cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies cuddled up with her. Before they knew it the new year had arrived, and shortly after that their beautiful baby boy had graced them with his presence…

Hank ελπίδα Halstead

(his middle name was Greek for "hope")

Was born on January 10th at 4:57 in the morning, because leave it to a little Halstead to arrive early in every sense of the word. He brought even more tears along with him, but it was the happiest day of most of their lives… This little guy? He was definitely Jay's kind of thing…

[A/N: That's all folks! I know the dark start to this discouraged and upset some, but I hope the ending makes up for that. To those of you who stuck with it, thank you, thank you. I truly appreciate it. One last tidbit, when I came up with the quick, original basis of this a long time ago, it was going to be Jay getting "killed" … but Hailey seems to suffer enough over him in the show and in stories, so it was time for me to delve into what Jay's pain would be like. Thanks again, and cheers to hopefully getting Upstead in January! Be well!]